PayMoor has embarked on a mission to revolutionize banking for individuals who are not tech-savvy or lack access to traditional banking services. By leveraging innovative features and an intuitive, user-centric design, PayMoor aims to provide a simple, user-friendly fintech app that empowers market men and women, making it the banking app for the unbanked.

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‍Background —

‍In today's digital age, technology plays a pivotal role in financial transactions. However, there remains a significant portion of the population, particularly market men and women, who are not technologically inclined or do not possess smartphones. PayMoor recognized this gap and set out to create a solution that caters to their unique needs while ensuring the security of their funds.

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Problem Statement —

The following quote from Technext24 gives us a bird's eye view of the situation.

Smartphone adoption in Nigeria has grown recently, spurred by a growing young population and the accompanying demand for internet services. The country boasts Africa’s largest mobile population, which stood at 222.5 million last December, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Despite this impressive figure, only 10-20% of Nigeria’s population uses a smartphone, according to Statista.

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Small business owners - market men and women, in particular - face challenges in conducting financial transactions in today's digital age. The problem is twofold: a lack of simple, user-friendly fintech apps/services tailored to their needs and the absence of secure and inclusive solutions for the unbanked population.

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Project Goals —

The project's goals can be simplified into the following key points:

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1. Simplify Financial Transactions: Design an intuitive and user-friendly interface that enables individuals without prior technological expertise to easily navigate and perform financial transactions.
2. Foster Financial Inclusion: Develop features that facilitate seamless bill payments and enable users to receive payments without the need for smartphones. Empower market men and women by providing equal opportunities and access to essential financial services.
3. Prioritize Security and Fraud Prevention: Incorporate stringent security measures and anti-fraud protocols into the app's architecture to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and financial scams. Establish trust among users by providing a secure and trustworthy platform for their financial transactions.
4. Create an Inclusive User Experience: Prioritize inclusivity by ensuring that individuals without smartphones or technological skills can easily utilize the app and benefit from its features. Make the app accessible to a wide range of users, regardless of their technical proficiency.

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User Personas — A Diverse Userbase

PayMoor's userbase cuts across various demographics and backgrounds, catering to a diverse range of individuals - those who are digitally proficient and those who are not tech-savvy or lack access to traditional banking services. The app serves market men and women, street vendors, artisans, and other small business owners who rely on physical transactions for their livelihoods. It also addresses the needs of individuals with limited technological proficiency, empowering them to participate in the digital economy.

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User flow —

For a robust system like the PayMoor app, a lot of focus was placed on minimising complexity and simplifying processes as much as possible for our target users.

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Onboarding —

The onboarding process is simple and intuitive, allowing users to quickly and effortlessly sign up for PayMoor and gain access to its features. Users can sign up as agents, business owners (merchants), or customers, and agents can create accounts for merchants who do not have smartphones or have limited digital proficiency.

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‍Key Features —

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‍QR Code Payment

‍PayMoor's ground-breaking QR Code Payment feature allows users to receive payments from customers without the need for smartphones. Each user is assigned a unique QR Code linked to their business. Customers can make payments by scanning the QR Code, enabling a simple and convenient transaction process. Users can then withdraw their funds from accredited PayMoor agents, either into their bank accounts or as cash. This innovative feature serves as the cornerstone of PayMoor, making it a true solution for the unbanked.

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‍Bill Payments

‍PayMoor facilitates bill payments through its intuitive app. Users can conveniently pay for essential services such as electricity, TV, internet, airtime, and more with just a few simple steps. By simplifying bill payments, PayMoor empowers users to manage their expenses efficiently, even without prior technological expertise.

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‍Advanced Security & Anti-Fraud Protection

‍To address the security concerns faced by less tech-savvy individuals, PayMoor implemented robust security measures. In addition to the QR Code, users must authenticate their identity with a photo at their accredited agent before withdrawing funds. These stringent authentication protocols ensure that only authorized individuals have access to the funds, providing peace of mind and protecting users from potential financial fraud.

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Cash Vouchers

In another push for inclusivity consistent with the project goals, we worked on Cash Vouchers, an innovative solution for people who may not have PayMoor accounts. Cash vouchers are like gift cards. They can be redeemed at PayMoor agent shops by the recipient, even if they don’t have a PayMoor account.

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Admin Dashboard

‍PayMoor's admin dashboard serves as a powerful tool for administrators at different levels. With a sleek and intuitive interface, administrators can fulfil their designated roles as assigned by the super-admin. For instance, an admin user may have customer management responsibilities, allowing them to monitor specific user actions. This comprehensive monitoring system enhances the overall health and customer experience of the app and its users.

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‍Challenges —

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QR Code Payment Implementation

‍One of the major challenges was devising a solution for individuals without smartphones who operate physical businesses. The team had to think "outside the box" to generate a unique identifier for such users. This required compromise and innovative thinking to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities for all, while still maintaining the core functionality of the app.

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Security

‍Security emerged as another critical challenge when securing the funds of market men and women. We approached this challenge by implementing a unique authentication process for merchants and business owners, ensuring they retain full control over their funds. By employing stringent security measures, PayMoor mitigates the risk of unauthorized access and financial scams, safeguarding users' hard-earned money.

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Project Scope & Time

The PayMoor project demanded significant brainstorming and continuous adjustments to meet the unique needs of the target users effectively. These adjustments impacted the project's scope and timeline, but were necessary to deliver a robust and user-friendly solution.

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Outcome — Simplicity, Security, and Inclusivity

‍PayMoor's journey to reinventing banking for the unbanked business men and women showcases the power of innovative thinking and user-centric design. By prioritizing simplicity, security, and inclusivity, the team successfully ideated a fintech app that bridges the digital divide and empowers individuals who are not traditionally tech-savvy.

The PayMoor design project was successfully completed within a tight timeline of three months, thanks to effective collaboration and communication that played a pivotal role in its accomplishment. Working as part of a cohesive and dedicated team, we ensured seamless coordination and alignment among all stakeholders throughout the design process. By fostering an environment of open communication, we facilitated the efficient exchange of ideas, feedback, and insights.

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Personal Insights —

Throughout the project, I actively engaged with team members and stakeholders, including a mobile developer, frontend developer, backend developer, and product manager, carefully navigating the intricate landscape of user needs, user data, and requirements. This allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the target audience and ensure that the PayMoor app was tailored to meet their specific requirements.

The collaborative nature of the project truly showcased my ability to tackle complex design challenges while fostering strong relationships with stakeholders. By leveraging effective communication and a user-centered approach, I was able to deliver a simple, intuitive, and valuable solution. This experience has further honed my skills in designing exceptional user experiences and has equipped me to make meaningful contributions to future endeavours.

I am thrilled to apply the knowledge and expertise gained from the PayMoor design project to future ventures, where I can continue to create impactful user experiences and contribute to the success of innovative products.

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