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Managed Team, Embedded Experts: Transforming Digital Health

Digital Transformation Solutions Case Study | Active Health Management

Overview

Amid a global health crisis—we helped Active Health Management build an embedded design team, manage ambitious digital transformation efforts, and triple its user base in record time.

The Challenge

Outdated design, limited capabilities.

Active Health Management (AHM), a subsidiary of Aetna, empowers organizations to improve the health of their members. With data-driven solutions supporting 20M+ people globally, AHM is a leader in its sector. Today, its online portals and mobile applications are widely renowned. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, AHM’s digital products required urgent transformation.

Healthcare needs and digital activity had risen to unprecedented levels. Yet, user engagement on AHM’s platforms hadn’t followed. The problem wasn’t the demand; it was the design. The platforms were built with dated software on legacy systems. The user experience no longer aligned with user preferences. And the challenges didn’t end there. From content to visuals, AHM ordered a complete digital overhaul to support vulnerable populations in their time of need.

iOS. Android. Windows. The project called for engineers that specialized in each operating system and experts across disciplines. Unfortunately, AHM lacked the in-house capabilities to deliver against their ambitious goals. The project timeline was too tight for typical hiring solutions. And traditional outsourcing posed integration challenges. AHM needed a fast, flexible alternative and a trusted partner to manage the project from discovery to launch.

The Solution

Embedded team, limitless possibilities.

The company turned to Onward Search due to our proven track record, enterprise design expertise, and custom solutions. First, we appointed an experienced practice leader to spearhead the initiative. Then, we began a rigorous discovery process, including in-depth stakeholder interviews and competitor analysis. Next, our team developed a targeted recruitment strategy and detailed project roadmap.

The goal was to accelerate success and reduce costs without sacrificing quality of hires or products. To deliver, we leveraged our established talent network and streamlined the hiring process. In under 3 weeks, we built and deployed a managed team of 30+ vetted specialists, including UX designers, software engineers, and more. Finally, we embedded our agile experts within AHM’s internal development ecosystem to ensure effortless collaboration.

Taking a phased approach, the team completed user testing and delivered the first iterations of AHM’s digital platforms within its aggressive 6-month timeline. The seamless navigation, accessible experiences, and engaging gamification features led to a 300% increase in users and wide acclaim. As a result, AHM not only retained its embedded team but expanded their capabilities. The project’s overwhelming success led to a stronger relationship, new feature rollouts and continued growth.

I’ve worked with Onward for several years now, and I can confidently say that they’re one of the most valuable assets to our business. We’re fortunate to have them as our partner.

Robert Denner

Accessibility Engineering Manager

By The Numbers

Relevant achievements and statistics to date:

30+ Hires

Built a team of 30+ pre-vetted design and development professionals in 3 weeks

6-Month Project

Transformed our client's digital platforms on an aggressive 6-month timeline

3x More Users

Empowered our client to increase its digital platform user base by 3x

4.6/5 Stars

Helped our client achieve an IOS application rating of 4.6/5 Stars and wide acclaim

By The Capabilities

Core services provided to Active Health Management:

Strategic Consulting

Digital Project Management

End-to-End Product Design & Innovation

Software Architecture & Development

User Acceptance Testing

Digital Accessibility Audits & Remediation

By The Experts

Examples of roles we filled for Active Health Management:

Business Analyst

Full Stack Engineer

QA Analyst

QA Architect

Software Engineer

Team Lead

Technical Lead

UX Architect

Web Engineer

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