Syarpa team approached me to design their cross-border transactions application for efficient services among users. The aim was to create a mobile app and online platform as a comprehensive digital bank, allowing various transactions like bill payments, money transfers, peer-to-peer transactions through both crypto and cash. The MVP would enable Nigeria to U.K transactions.
Despite its ambitious vision, Syarpa was missing one key aspect: a user-centered design. After reviewing their user stories and the original screen designs it was clear that everything had to be recreated from the ground up. I saw this as an opportunity to bring my expertise to the table and create a seamless and intuitive user experience.
They are rapidly growing in Africa, driven by the increased availability of mobile devices and internet access. According to recent studies, the number of mobile money users in Africa reached over 500 million in 2020, a significant increase from the roughly 200 million users in 2015. This has led to a corresponding growth in online transactions, with the value of online payments in Africa.
As this was going to be a complex project, it was important for me to develop a solid grasp of online transactions and transfers. This knowledge enabled me to make informed technical design decisions aimed towards enhancing the user experience on the platform.
After having further feedback from the Syarpa team I was able to break down the project into 4 stages which would inturn become 4 products of Syarpa
Cash Transactions
Crypto Transactions
E-wallet
Peer to Peer Transactions
They are rapidly growing in Africa, driven by the increased availability of mobile devices and internet access. According to recent studies, the number of mobile money users in Africa reached over 500 million in 2020, a significant increase from the roughly 200 million users in 2015. This has led to a corresponding growth in online transactions, with the value of online payments in Africa.
Due to Syarpa's minimal budget, resources were limited, and it was agreed that an MVP of the product would be launched first to make user-led design decisions on future updates. To gain user insight, I explored various approaches.
Firstly, I examined competitors such as Wise, Binance, and World Remit, which had similar platforms. This allowed me to understand how they interacted with their users through their products, and their social media platforms gave me insights on things like tone of voice and target age groups.
Additionally, I studied review websites such as Trustpilot & App Store review which provided detailed descriptions of the pros and cons of the products used by customers. Some notable cons included Lack of decent customer service.and security issues.
I also conducted an interview with the product owner of Syarpa, who had executive banking experience and a deep understanding of the services offered by banks and their reasoning behind them. Through these various methods, I was able to gather insights to inform the MVP design.
After reviewing the initial userflows for the Syarpa app, I started building the wireframes from scratch using simple sketches. This approach allowed me to quickly try out different ideas and improve the designs as I went along. By doing this, I saved time when it came to creating the more detailed screens, making the whole process more efficient.
Due to Syarpa's minimal budget, resources were limited, and it was agreed that an MVP of the product would be launched first to make user-led design decisions on future updates.
I worked closely with the development team to make sure the website looked and felt just like the app. We wanted it to be smooth and easy to use on different devices. Our goal was to give users a consistent experience, whether they use the website or the app. Interestingly, our research showed that most people preferred trying out Syarpa online first before downloading the app. But we still made sure both the website and the app were user-friendly and attractive, encouraging users to eventually use the app for their financial needs.
Reflecting on the journey, Syarpa stands out as one of the most intricate projects I've been fortunate to contribute to. It's been fulfilling to engage in every facet of this endeavor, spanning from establishing the brand identity to crafting the architecture of the Peer to Peer payment systems. Notably, I embraced the chance to collaborate effectively with the remote development team and provide mentorship to junior designers. As the full app takes shape in the production phase, the imminent release of the web version promises even more. Stay tuned for a comprehensive breakdown of my work process across the entirety of this remarkable project!
