FMO
FMO Flow: intuitive UX transforms complex banking operations
Services
Concept Design
UX Design
UI Design
User Validation
Design Systems
Year
2026
FMO
FMO Flow: intuitive UX transforms complex banking operations
Services
Concept Design
UX Design
UI Design
User Validation
Design Systems
Year
2026
FMO
FMO Flow: intuitive UX transforms complex banking operations
Services
Concept Design
UX Design
UI Design
User Validation
Design Systems
Year
2026
FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, invests in businesses in emerging markets to support sustainable growth and improve lives. Behind that mission are complex investment processes involving many people, systems and decisions. Together with FMO, we set out to make those processes feel a whole lot simpler.
FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, invests in businesses in emerging markets to support sustainable growth and improve lives. Behind that mission are complex investment processes involving many people, systems and decisions. Together with FMO, we set out to make those processes feel a whole lot simpler.
FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, invests in businesses in emerging markets to support sustainable growth and improve lives. Behind that mission are complex investment processes involving many people, systems and decisions. Together with FMO, we set out to make those processes feel a whole lot simpler.
The objective
For years, investment processes at FMO relied heavily on Word templates, Excel sheets and documents moving back and forth through email. Information was scattered across different places, data had to be entered multiple times and it was difficult to see where a request stood in the process.
For investment teams handling hundreds of change requests and credit reviews each year, that meant too much time spent on administration and too little on what really matters: assessing risks, working with clients and creating impact.
Previous attempts at digitisation showed that simply replacing documents with software wasn’t enough. The new solution had to work for the people using it every day. By bringing data and processes together, we could eliminate repetitive data entry, reduce errors and create a more reliable way of working. The challenge was to create one intuitive flow that simplifies complex banking processes, reduces lead times and frees up valuable time, while providing a scalable foundation for 10+ applications.
The objective
For years, investment processes at FMO relied heavily on Word templates, Excel sheets and documents moving back and forth through email. Information was scattered across different places, data had to be entered multiple times and it was difficult to see where a request stood in the process.
For investment teams handling hundreds of change requests and credit reviews each year, that meant too much time spent on administration and too little on what really matters: assessing risks, working with clients and creating impact.
Previous attempts at digitisation showed that simply replacing documents with software wasn’t enough. The new solution had to work for the people using it every day. By bringing data and processes together, we could eliminate repetitive data entry, reduce errors and create a more reliable way of working. The challenge was to create one intuitive flow that simplifies complex banking processes, reduces lead times and frees up valuable time, while providing a scalable foundation for 10+ applications.
The objective
For years, investment processes at FMO relied heavily on Word templates, Excel sheets and documents moving back and forth through email. Information was scattered across different places, data had to be entered multiple times and it was difficult to see where a request stood in the process.
For investment teams handling hundreds of change requests and credit reviews each year, that meant too much time spent on administration and too little on what really matters: assessing risks, working with clients and creating impact.
Previous attempts at digitisation showed that simply replacing documents with software wasn’t enough. The new solution had to work for the people using it every day. By bringing data and processes together, we could eliminate repetitive data entry, reduce errors and create a more reliable way of working. The challenge was to create one intuitive flow that simplifies complex banking processes, reduces lead times and frees up valuable time, while providing a scalable foundation for 10+ applications.
Our approach
We started by mapping the journeys, roles and processes behind FMO's investment operations. This gave us a clear view of where complexity originated and, more importantly, where we could take it away from the user.
From these insights, we created a concept that made FMO's digital ambition tangible. The idea eventually became Flow: an integrated suite of applications designed to make different systems and processes feel like one continuous experience.
Behind the scenes, Flow connects multiple technologies and workflows. For employees, that complexity disappears. There are no unnecessary context switches or disconnected steps. Information moves through the process with them, creating one clear journey from start to finish.
Our approach
We started by mapping the journeys, roles and processes behind FMO's investment operations. This gave us a clear view of where complexity originated and, more importantly, where we could take it away from the user.
From these insights, we created a concept that made FMO's digital ambition tangible. The idea eventually became Flow: an integrated suite of applications designed to make different systems and processes feel like one continuous experience.
Behind the scenes, Flow connects multiple technologies and workflows. For employees, that complexity disappears. There are no unnecessary context switches or disconnected steps. Information moves through the process with them, creating one clear journey from start to finish.
Our approach
We started by mapping the journeys, roles and processes behind FMO's investment operations. This gave us a clear view of where complexity originated and, more importantly, where we could take it away from the user.
From these insights, we created a concept that made FMO's digital ambition tangible. The idea eventually became Flow: an integrated suite of applications designed to make different systems and processes feel like one continuous experience.
Behind the scenes, Flow connects multiple technologies and workflows. For employees, that complexity disappears. There are no unnecessary context switches or disconnected steps. Information moves through the process with them, creating one clear journey from start to finish.
Designing one experience across 10+ applications
Creating Flow wasn't about designing a single application. We needed a foundation that could support an entire ecosystem.
We were responsible for product strategy, UX, UI design and the overarching design system. Together, these created a consistent experience across more than ten applications while giving development teams a scalable set of building blocks for new processes.
The design system combines standard Mendix components with custom components for interactions that required more flexibility. This allowed us to work within the technical landscape without letting technology dictate the user experience.
Designing one experience across 10+ applications
Creating Flow wasn't about designing a single application. We needed a foundation that could support an entire ecosystem.
We were responsible for product strategy, UX, UI design and the overarching design system. Together, these created a consistent experience across more than ten applications while giving development teams a scalable set of building blocks for new processes.
The design system combines standard Mendix components with custom components for interactions that required more flexibility. This allowed us to work within the technical landscape without letting technology dictate the user experience.
Designing one experience across 10+ applications
Creating Flow wasn't about designing a single application. We needed a foundation that could support an entire ecosystem.
We were responsible for product strategy, UX, UI design and the overarching design system. Together, these created a consistent experience across more than ten applications while giving development teams a scalable set of building blocks for new processes.
The design system combines standard Mendix components with custom components for interactions that required more flexibility. This allowed us to work within the technical landscape without letting technology dictate the user experience.
What I value most in our cooperation with Soda is their ability to truly understand the complexity of our business and translate it into simple, intuitive solutions. By combining their design expertise with FMO’s process and business knowledge, we have created a consistent digital experience that works for our users and provides a strong foundation for further digitalization.
René Tromp, Program manager
What I value most in our cooperation with Soda is their ability to truly understand the complexity of our business and translate it into simple, intuitive solutions. By combining their design expertise with FMO’s process and business knowledge, we have created a consistent digital experience that works for our users and provides a strong foundation for further digitalization.
René Tromp, Program manager
What I value most in our cooperation with Soda is their ability to truly understand the complexity of our business and translate it into simple, intuitive solutions. By combining their design expertise with FMO’s process and business knowledge, we have created a consistent digital experience that works for our users and provides a strong foundation for further digitalization.
René Tromp, Program manager
Built with the people who use it
Adoption was just as important as the product itself. That's why FMO employees were closely involved throughout the design process.
Working in short cycles, we continuously tested ideas and designs with the people who would eventually use Flow. Their feedback helped us simplify complex workflows, remove unnecessary steps and make sure the solution fitted the reality of their day-to-day work.
Instead of introducing a new system at the end of the process, employees helped shape it along the way. This created both a better product and stronger engagement across the organisation.
Built with the people who use it
Adoption was just as important as the product itself. That's why FMO employees were closely involved throughout the design process.
Working in short cycles, we continuously tested ideas and designs with the people who would eventually use Flow. Their feedback helped us simplify complex workflows, remove unnecessary steps and make sure the solution fitted the reality of their day-to-day work.
Instead of introducing a new system at the end of the process, employees helped shape it along the way. This created both a better product and stronger engagement across the organisation.
Built with the people who use it
Adoption was just as important as the product itself. That's why FMO employees were closely involved throughout the design process.
Working in short cycles, we continuously tested ideas and designs with the people who would eventually use Flow. Their feedback helped us simplify complex workflows, remove unnecessary steps and make sure the solution fitted the reality of their day-to-day work.
Instead of introducing a new system at the end of the process, employees helped shape it along the way. This created both a better product and stronger engagement across the organisation.
Results
Results
20%
Shorter processing time
20%
Shorter processing time
50%
Faster data collection
50%
Faster data collection
10+
Applications in one suite
10+
Applications in one suite
More time for what matters
The launch of Flow in 2025 marked a turning point in FMO's digital maturity. The most tangible impact is a reduction of roughly 20% in processing time for change requests on active loans. Thanks to an existing integration with Camunda Optimize, every step in the process is measurable, giving FMO direct insight into rising efficiency. Key results include:
Efficiency: The processing time improvement is most prominent in the initial process steps (data collection), which have become roughly 50% faster. Employee "free-up time" has increased as manual administration and data re-typing have been eliminated.
Employee Satisfaction: Despite previous scepticism, user satisfaction is now very stable; the intuitive interface and lack of distractions are particularly praised.
Scalability: What began as a tool for change requests has grown into a suite of 10+ applications. The architecture allows new processes, like credit reviews, to be launched with a reduced time-to-market.
This success is attributable to the synergy between process optimisation and high-quality UX design. The design system ensured consistency, while the technical "flow" ensures data is pushed effortlessly between systems. FMO is thus evolving from a traditional document-based bank into a tech-driven organisation powered by process management and data.
