OLA App (LinkedIn)
ROLE
RESULTS
UX Designer
Project Manager
App has surpassed target for engagement and hours saved
Global deployment is progressing with rollout to 8 more locations
LinkedIn stands as the world's leading professional networking platform, serving millions of users globally.
When they approached my team with a challenge stemming from their global return-to-office (RTO) mandate, we recognized an opportunity to make a significant impact. Their employees were struggling with fragmented workplace services spread across multiple systems, which was notably affecting both productivity and the overall experience of working on campus. This fragmentation was creating unnecessary friction in day-to-day tasks, hampering efficiency and employee satisfaction. In response, we collaborated with LinkedIn to design and develop OLA ("One LinkedIn App"), a mobile application that has fundamentally transformed how employees navigate and experience their workday on campus.
The challenges facing LinkedIn employees were substantial and multifaceted.
Staff members were losing valuable time as they attempted to navigate through fragmented workplace tools and manual processes to accomplish even the most basic tasks. The lack of integration between various systems forced employees to repeatedly search for resources and navigate complex processes, which created unnecessary friction in their daily work activities. Beyond the immediate productivity impact, the inconsistent experience across different workplace systems was significantly hindering employees' ability to work efficiently. The situation was further complicated by the absence of proactive support or streamlined access to essential services, resulting in employees spending more time managing workplace logistics than focusing on their core responsibilities.
We began our design process by fundamentally reimagining the home screen as the central hub for the entire workplace experience.
Through careful observation and analysis, we recognized that employees required instant access to essential services, such as ordering coffee and tea drinks, booking conference rooms, and navigating around campus. This insight led us to move away from traditional navigation patterns. Instead, we integrated these critical functions as primary entry points on the home screen, ensuring that users could easily access what they needed based on their immediate context and priorities.
A significant breakthrough in our development process came with the adoption of a Personal Assistant approach.
By leveraging comprehensive data on user behaviors, preferences, and even campus location, we were able to design an interface that delivered personalized recommendations and proactively surfaced relevant information. This data-driven strategy proved highly effective, not only reducing the need for manual searches but also streamlining the overall user experience by tailoring interactions to individual needs.
While refining the user experience, we simultaneously developed a distinct brand identity and voice for OLA.
The logo was thoughtfully designed with concentric circles and focal points, intended to visually represent the app's role in connecting diverse workplace elements into a unified whole. Our choice of a vibrant orange background was strategic, ensuring that the app would stand out in a crowded digital landscape while reinforcing its energetic and innovative spirit. Each design element was carefully crafted to align with LinkedIn's brand ethos, ensuring both consistency and clarity in communication.
User research indicated that OLA helped save 5,906 hours in saved time since launch, surpassing the initial target by 120%.
Engagement metrics further validated our approach, with a 69% week-over-week retention rate and a 74% stickiness rate. Notably, café ordering emerged as the primary driver of engagement, accounting for 29% of daily usage, while menu views contributed to 38% of total engagement. These metrics have paved the way for a global rollout, with deployments already occurring in eight locations - including SF, South Bay, Chicago, Omaha, New York, Dublin, Singapore, and Sydney - and plans for expansion to Bangalore.
