Digital payment methods have become increasingly popular, and QR code payments have emerged as a simple, fast, and convenient way to make payments. This technology offer several advantages over traditional payment methods, including increased security, faster transaction times. Global prediction is that businesses and consumers alike will increasingly turn to QR payment solutions as the digital age reaches a new height. But the adoption has been underwhelming in countries such as Nigeria (the early stage target market of this product) with variety of factors like lesser percentage of tech savvy individuals, technical know-how etc. considered to be responsible for this.
The task was to create a product that exudes comfort, convenience, faster and easier way to make day-to-day transactions without the necessity for the traditional means of paper currency. For the product owner, the solution is to help foster the embrace for cashless policy in day-to-day activities by making people explore digital payment more with the utilization of the QR technology. In his words,
"People do not have to limit a fascinating tool like the QR to just marketing, event management, authentication as it is mostly being used."
In Nigeria, the introduction of the technology by corporate banks is not followed by proper push and advocacy of it usage. Using the sample size of my research of 11 participants, only 20% approximately are aware that some of their commercial bank have the qr payment option.
Luxury (especially foreign) restaurants are the main adaptors of qr payment here. A case of underutilization of the technology. The need to address this mainly brought about Jampay as a solution.
As 'an app for all,' simplicity, minimalistic interface, a short and efficient user flow are the key needs of the product. Target users include individuals and businesses both large and small enterprise such as Public transport workers, retail stores etc.
With that defined, intuitiveness is paramount for the less techy users and people with little education.
I was tasked with visualizing the idea presented in brief with proper design thinking process, working on an identity for the product, design system creation, and overseeing the entirety of the design implementation process by assigning tasks to the Front-End developers.
Minimalism is key given the goal is to enable users make fast and seamless payment. The idea is to keep it simple, fewer clicks possible with the screen intended to maximize result with a one screen one action. Thus, the steps or actions needed to make a payment execution either by qr pay, p2p, or bank transfer was carefully streamlined into a maximum of 8 actions. Taking the qr pay for example, only for actions need to be taken which are:
(i) clicking the feature on home screen,
(ii) input password
(iii) scan code, thus generating the merchant or code owner's details
(iv) input amount and proceed to pay
The Use of basic vocabulary is important in copy texts. Contextual information is available when necessary such as in the collection of sensitive data during account verification. Task within the app were made self-explanatory, allowing users to easily control and navigate through the app without fuss.
One of the goals of the product is to balance what has always worked for fintech apps generally, merging it with introduction of modern experiences with a typical representation of the latter being personalization; a trend predicted to get even more viral in the coming years in interface design. And with catching up with the trend for when the product becomes live, users are able to pick their most preferred theme within the app etc.
Other transaction options like card deposit, bank transfer follow the typical flow thus enabling users execute their transactions without much effort. This is is an intentional decision to not re-invent the wheel. Although modernizing the product was a priority, intuitiveness is quite as important.
To be fair, all approach taken to get the design ready wasn't exhaustive due to certain factors and constraints such as:
It was quite overwhelming at the start, but the challenge to research and tailor certain methods for specific problem coupled with total control of the design implementation with the developers made it a worthwhile experience.
To be updated as when allowed...
