CredEvolv: A Multi-Year SaaS Modernization for FinTech

Client Background and Mission

CredEvolv is a SaaS-based financial services platform operating in the fintech sector. It empowers consumers, non-profits, and lenders to collaborate in improving credit outcomes. With a team of 11–50 employees, CredEvolv's mission is to streamline financial empowerment through technology, enabling better credit education, smoother enrollment, and measurable progress tracking.

Needs and Challenges

CredEvolv approached OpenSense Labs with several mission-critical challenges:

1. Security Concerns: The platform lacked encryption, had hardcoded credentials, and publicly exposed databases, posing a severe risk to sensitive financial data.
2. Outdated Legacy Platform: Built on Laravel 5, the system was not only difficult to maintain but also failed to support modern features and design standards.
3. Performance Bottlenecks: Poor load times and backend inefficiencies frequently impacted reliability and user satisfaction.
4. Absence of DevOps Standards: With no CI/CD pipelines and direct-to-prod deployments, CredEvolv faced a high risk of errors and downtime.

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OpenSense Labs Approach

OpenSense Labs conducted a phased, multi-disciplinary transformation. Multiple strategies were considered, including platform migration and hybrid deployments. However, the chosen path involved iterative Laravel version upgrades over time, coupled with a DevOps overhaul, front-end rearchitecture, and backend modernization. This approach balanced platform evolution with business continuity.

Strategy

The overarching approach focused on:

1. Objective Realignment: Refocus the platform to meet modern compliance and usability standards.
2. Perception Improvement: Establish CredEvolv as a tech-forward, secure financial services provider.
3. Enhanced User Journey: Improve the experience for consumers, counselors, and lender partners.
4. Clear Content and System Hierarchy: Re-architect the platform to separate logic, data, and user interface layers cleanly.

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Implementation Details

Design

• Created React-based components using Atomic Design principles for the Freddie Mac integration. 
• Implemented design consistency using Storybook and Tailwind CSS.

Development

1. Backend:

• Initiated platform modernization by upgrading from Laravel 5 and progressively moving through successive versions, ultimately reaching Laravel 11.
• Implemented background workers and AWS SQS queues to decouple critical tasks and improve fault tolerance.
• Migrated hosting to AWS, using Serverless Framework and Terraform for scalable deployments.

2. Frontend:

• Re-architected the HomeCoach site using progressive decoupling—React embedded in Laravel for performance and flexibility.

3. Security Enhancements:

• Enforced 2FA across all users.
• Replaced hardcoded environment variables.
• Secured previously exposed environments and implemented PII encryption.
• Introduced GitLab pipeline vulnerability scanning.

4. Data Infrastructure: 

• Established a data sync pipeline between CRM and the core database.
• Built reporting modules using AWS QuickSight.
• Enabled CRM sync with third parties like Total Expert and Insellerate via webhooks.

Clean, Intuitive, User-Friendly

CredEvolv’s new platform is secure, modular, and scalable. With a React-powered UI, background task handling, and real-time data analytics, the platform now delivers:

• A user-friendly and responsive experience for counselors, consumers, and lenders.
• Asynchronous processes that avoid full-site crashes during third-party API failures.
• Unified backend and frontend layers, enabling faster future development.
• Secure, audit-ready infrastructure aligned with financial compliance standards.

The Impact

OpenSense Labs’ partnership with CredEvolv resulted in:

1. Security Overhaul: Fully remediated critical vulnerabilities and implemented security best practices.
2. Growth Enablement: Expanded from 2 to 6 non-profit partners.
3. Operational Cost Savings: Replaced expensive third-party solutions (CRM and payments) with custom in-house modules.
4. Improved System Stability: Resolved site crashes caused by API failures with background job processing.
5. Data Empowerment: Enabled comprehensive, real-time analytics to track credit improvement and enrollment outcomes.
6. Strategic Partnership: OpenSense Labs became a long-term technology partner, owning product vision, infrastructure strategy, and support.

Results at a Glance

This case study reflects OpenSense Labs’ deep expertise in modernizing complex platforms, transforming CredEvolv into a secure, scalable, and growth-ready solution tailored to the demands of the financial services ecosystem.