Case Study: HR Data Dashboards for Strategic Decision-Making

Client: Nedbank Group
Timeline: 2022
Role: UX Designer / Data Visualization Lead
Tools: Figma, SAP ecosystem
Team: UX, HRBP stakeholders, data analysts, SAP developers

When I joined Nedbank in 2022, my first project was to reimagine the internal HR data experience. The goal was to empower HR Business Partners (HRBPs), executives, and analysts with dashboards that visualize headcount, attrition, talent movement, succession planning, and transformation metrics across the entire organization — all in one accessible, user-centered platform.

The Problem

The existing SAP-based dashboards were developed with an engineering mindset and lacked usability. Built without input from HR practitioners, the tools were difficult to navigate, scattered, and failed to support decision-making processes. Data was siloed, difficult to access, and not role-optimized — causing delays and confusion in strategic and operational HR tasks.

Discovery & Research

I led interviews and workshops with various user groups:

Group HR Executives needing snapshots and insights for board-level presentations.
Cluster HR Executives needing business unit-specific visualizations.
HRBPs & Line Managers using data to consult and advise teams.
Insight Analysts & SMEs focused on identifying risks and data trends.

Key pain points:

Difficulty pulling reports from the legacy system (SAP Mirror).
No clear entry point or dashboard experience per role.
Metrics were buried or hard to compare over time.
No consolidated "strategic view" of HR performance.

UX Strategy & Information Architecture

I mapped user journeys from the HR dashboard launchpad, identifying role-specific entry points and the key outcomes each role wanted to achieve. This led to a modular dashboard architecture, with filters, drill-downs, and report groupings based on:

Headcount (permanent, temporary, contingent, international, external)
Workforce Movements (new hires, exits, promotions)
Employee Well-being (KRI)
Succession Planning (IDP Dashboard)
Transformation Targets (Actual vs. Targets)
Leave & Retirement (Workforce Lifecycle)

I created clear flows and data groupings so users could easily move from a group-wide view to business unit-level detail (e.g. Group Finance, Group Technology, Corporate, etc.).

UI Design & Visualization

Working in Figma, I designed high-fidelity screens for each dashboard module:

Used visual hierarchy to emphasize KPIs and trends
Created interaction patterns for drill-downs and comparison over time
Defined layout systems to handle large data sets cleanly
Applied visual consistency across the full dashboard suite
Designed a consolidated Strategic Overview Page as an entry point

The dashboards supported Single Sign-On (SSO) and Crew Line access, enabling secure, seamless use by multiple HR roles across the organization.

Outcome & Impact

Clear, role-based dashboard UX improved task completion and reduced training needs
HRBPs were able to generate and share insights more easily across business units
Executives used the dashboards to support strategic decision-making
The solution replaced a complex SAP-driven interface with a user-focused experience