Clients & Case Studies
Building a World-class Service on a Tight Deadline
External Web Solutions: Credential Securities
The Business Need
Since 2000, Credential Securities has provided credit union members with access to self-managed investing services through the Credential Direct website using customized, third-party tools. When Credential Securities converted its operations to a new carrying broker, Canaccord Capital Corporation, Canada's largest independent brokerage firm, they required a new online trading system for their clients.
Rather than buying another third-party service and risk having to switch again in the future, Credential turned to Habañero to build a new, self-serve, brokerage website from the ground up. Habañero needed to build and launch the new website and client management application, and integrate with Canaccord systems — in only three months!
The Solution
Since there was little time to gather formal requirements, the existing Credential Direct site served as a working example of the required functionality and design for the project. To speed the development process, Habañero adopted eXtreme Programming (XP), a relatively new, "lightweight" methodology for developing software.
The Habañero team maintained constant communication with the client and delivered complete functioning software components biweekly. Credential followed the development progress, tested each biweekly release, and provided timely feedback to the Habañero designers and developers. The XP methodology reduced development risks, decreased the test time required at the end of the project, and improved the overall product quality.
Construction of the new Credential Direct site also involved integration with a new, back-end trading system; a new, front-end market research and information system; and other existing back-end applications. Again, using the XP development methodology, Habañero worked closely with Credential and two partner companies to manage issues and ensure quality.
Even given the time and budget constraints, Habañero still applied design and usability know-how to make many improvements to the functionality and look and feel of the new website. The new Web applications were built using a modular, scalable design, which gives Credential great flexibility going forward. To make the system even more flexible for future implementations, a single code layer was used by both the Credential Direct website and the client management application. The trading system interface code was also built as a separate layer, so Credential can easily modify the back-end trading system if required.
The Result
Through the new Credential Direct website, credit union members receive all of the same services, but with a faster, cleaner, and more user-friendly Web interface. The new site not only provides more ways for clients to look at their investments, it provides live, real-time account and transaction data, a feature still not provided by many discount brokerage sites.
The new client manager Web application allows Credential staff to work with a simple, clean interface and all of the features needed to administer client accounts. Site managers use this application to customize some of the site content and features without the need for a Web developer.
Thanks to Microsoft's .NET technologies and careful design, the new site is faster, more reliable, and able to handle higher volumes of users. Credential can now expand their online membership and know its system is up to the task. Having complete control over the application code, Credential can customize and add features that best suit its clients' investment needs.