Benchmark Plus: Fund Manager Data Collection Web App

Client

Benchmark Plus

Industry

Financial management

Technologies

ASP.NET, SQL Server, Microsoft Access

Overview

Project highlights

Validated at entryData validation rules make sure information meets Benchmark's standards.
No gaps in historyExtra logic checks that each fund's performance history is complete.
Guided for fund managersA simple design and help screens walk users through the process.
Web plus desktopAn ASP.NET web application, with an Access application for lookup tables and administration.

Before

The challenge

Benchmark Plus, an alternative investment advisory firm, needed a new data-driven website to collect information from fund managers, one they could use anywhere, any time.

Information entered by fund managers had to meet Benchmark's standards, and historical fund performance had to be complete, with no gaps in a fund's history.

After

What we built

J Street designed and built the underlying database, an ASP.NET web application for the fund managers, and a companion Access application to manage the lookup tables and administrative tasks.

A simple visual design keeps fund managers focused on the basic functionality. Help screens guide them through the process, and data validation rules make sure the information entered into the database meets Benchmark's standards.

For historical fund performance, we built a complex grid with extra logic that checks not only that values are valid, but also that there are no gaps in a fund's history. The tabs and grids present the data by year and month, while the underlying data structure is normalized into individual month/year records.

Inside the system

A closer look

A focused, guided interface

The simple visual design of the site focuses the user on the basic functionality of the application. Data validation rules ensure that information entered into the database meets Benchmark's standards, and help screens guide the fund managers through the process.

Historical performance grid

We built a complex grid to allow the fund managers to enter historical fund performance information. We included extra logic not only to ensure that the values were valid, but also that there were no gaps in the history of the fund. Although the tabs and grids present the data in year and month format, the underlying data structure is normalized with individual month/year records.

“

The people at J Street are smart, efficient, and professional. They ask meaningful questions to quickly understand the scope and requirements of a project. During the times we worked together, they quickly came to feel like part of the Benchmark Plus team. The applications they helped create enhance our work efficiency on a daily basis.

Jeremy Gollehon

Chief Technology Officer, Benchmark Plus

The outcome

How it turned out

Fund managers can enter their information from anywhere, any time.
Data arrives already checked against Benchmark's standards.
Historical fund performance is complete, month by month.
The applications save the firm time and money every day.

See more of our work for financial management firms.