Onah — May 2023

Onah — May 2023

Onah — May 2023

A New Frontier for Processing Payments in Africa

A New Frontier for Processing Payments in Africa

A New Frontier for Processing Payments in Africa

Cover photo
Cover photo
Cover photo

My Role

Senior Product Designer

My Role

Senior Product Designer

My Role

Senior Product Designer

Timeline

12 weeks - Beta Testing

Timeline

12 weeks - Beta Testing

Timeline

12 weeks - Beta Testing

Deliverable

Merchant Dashboard

Deliverable

Merchant Dashboard

Deliverable

Merchant Dashboard

Tools

Tools

Tools

Overview

Overview

Onah is a fintech solution that payment processing solution that enables businesses across Africa accept payments online.

I joined 3weeks after the project kicked off and the goal was to develop an Minimum viable product (MVP). My primary responsibility was leading the designs for the Merchant dashboard working closely with the business stakeholders to properly align design decisions with user and business needs.

Onah is a fintech solution that payment processing solution that enables businesses across Africa accept payments online.

I joined 3weeks after the project kicked off and the goal was to develop an Minimum viable product (MVP). My primary responsibility was leading the designs for the Merchant dashboard working closely with the business stakeholders to properly align design decisions with user and business needs.

Overview

Onah is a fintech solution that payment processing solution that enables businesses across Africa accept payments online.

I joined 3weeks after the project kicked off and the goal was to develop an Minimum viable product (MVP). My primary responsibility was leading the designs for the Merchant dashboard working closely with the business stakeholders to properly align design decisions with user and business needs.

Screen Spread
Screen Spread
Screen Spread

You don't like reading process documentations?

So, what was the challenge at hand?

Simple transactions like buying groceries and placing orders on e-commerce websites are not as seamless in Africa as it is in some other parts of the world. Due to the high numbers of abandoned POS terminals, high losses from fraud and limited channels for making payments conveniently, transactions often fails. This leads to a Low turnover rates for merchant and business owners.

So, what was the challenge at hand?

Simple transactions like buying groceries and placing orders on e-commerce websites are not as seamless in Africa as it is in some other parts of the world. Due to the high numbers of abandoned POS terminals, high losses from fraud and limited channels for making payments conveniently, transactions often fails. This leads to a Low turnover rates for merchant and business owners.

So, what was the challenge at hand?

Simple transactions like buying groceries and placing orders on e-commerce websites are not as seamless in Africa as it is in some other parts of the world. Due to the high numbers of abandoned POS terminals, high losses from fraud and limited channels for making payments conveniently, transactions often fails. This leads to a Low turnover rates for merchant and business owners.

How can we tackle this problem

I envisioned this project to go through 3 phases

Design Process

1.0

The design process

How can we tackle this problem

I envisioned this project to go through 3 phases

Design Process

1.0

The design process

How can we tackle this problem

I envisioned this project to go through 3 phases

Design Process

1.0

The design process

Discovery

As the sole designer on the project, I developed a research approach that combined both new and know approach to this practice. I reached out to stakeholders as well to conduct need findings through user research

Goals and Objectives

  • Leverage findings to inform strategy and design decisions.

  • Research best practices within our sector and discover how we can differentiate ourselves from other solutions

  • Access current solutions to leverage on opportunities.

  • Capture the user's voice so it can be used to inform the design process and strategy.

  • Discover stakeholder's view of success

Discovery

As the sole designer on the project, I developed a research approach that combined both new and know approach to this practice. I reached out to stakeholders as well to conduct need findings through user research

Goals and Objectives

  • Leverage findings to inform strategy and design decisions.

  • Research best practices within our sector and discover how we can differentiate ourselves from other solutions

  • Access current solutions to leverage on opportunities.

  • Capture the user's voice so it can be used to inform the design process and strategy.

  • Discover stakeholder's view of success

Discovery

As the sole designer on the project, I developed a research approach that combined both new and know approach to this practice. I reached out to stakeholders as well to conduct need findings through user research

Goals and Objectives

  • Leverage findings to inform strategy and design decisions.

  • Research best practices within our sector and discover how we can differentiate ourselves from other solutions

  • Access current solutions to leverage on opportunities.

  • Capture the user's voice so it can be used to inform the design process and strategy.

  • Discover stakeholder's view of success

Getting accustomed to this sector

Coming into this project, I was not familiar with the structure of Merchant dashboards and systems. The goal of this research was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue as it directly impacts the users, discovering their frustrations and improving their experience. I was able to gather some insights from existing solutions.

2.0

Dashboards from differnet businesses in this sector

Getting accustomed to this sector

Coming into this project, I was not familiar with the structure of Merchant dashboards and systems. The goal of this research was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue as it directly impacts the users, discovering their frustrations and improving their experience. I was able to gather some insights from existing solutions.

2.0

Dashboards from differnet businesses in this sector

Getting accustomed to this sector

Coming into this project, I was not familiar with the structure of Merchant dashboards and systems. The goal of this research was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue as it directly impacts the users, discovering their frustrations and improving their experience. I was able to gather some insights from existing solutions.

2.0

Dashboards from differnet businesses in this sector

Competitor Analysis

To come up with innovative solutions, I carried out an analysis to understand what our competitors are doing and how they address similar customer needs.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

3.0

User Persona

Competitor Analysis

To come up with innovative solutions, I carried out an analysis to understand what our competitors are doing and how they address similar customer needs.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

3.0

User Persona

Competitor Analysis

To come up with innovative solutions, I carried out an analysis to understand what our competitors are doing and how they address similar customer needs.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

3.0

User Persona

User Research

User research is very critical to this project as there is no substitute to communicating with real users. in addition, user testing is contextual but with most of the users currently using solutions from already established competitors, we try to understand what their pain-points were to understand area for opportunities.

Metrics from insights gathered

25 business owners were surveyed using a multiple-choice questionnaire to identify their
pain-points with the practices they currently adopt.

Fraud & Security concerns

24.5%

Limited payment options

32.9%

Technical Know-How

14.5%

Limited currency options

40%

Book Management

12%

User Research

User research is very critical to this project as there is no substitute to communicating with real users. in addition, user testing is contextual but with most of the users currently using solutions from already established competitors, we try to understand what their pain-points were to understand area for opportunities.

Metrics from insights gathered

25 business owners were surveyed using a multiple-choice questionnaire to identify their
pain-points with the practices they currently adopt.

Fraud & Security concerns

24.5%

Limited payment options

32.9%

Technical Know-How

14.5%

Limited currency options

40%

Book Management

12%

User Research

User research is very critical to this project as there is no substitute to communicating with real users. in addition, user testing is contextual but with most of the users currently using solutions from already established competitors, we try to understand what their pain-points were to understand area for opportunities.

Metrics from insights gathered

25 business owners were surveyed using a multiple-choice questionnaire to identify their
pain-points with the practices they currently adopt.

Fraud & Security concerns

24.5%

Limited payment options

32.9%

Technical Know-How

14.5%

Limited currency options

40%

Book Management

12%

Stakeholders Interviews

Stakeholder interviews are extremely valuable in understanding the strategic and business goals for this project. These sessions are invaluable by giving everyone the opportunity to express their needs and concerns .

During the research stage, I advocated for stakeholder interviews to gain a holistic view of the business side of the project goals. This was done by conducting virtual meetings across various departments.

Due to NDA's, i am not able to share the findings from the stakeholder interviews

Stakeholders Interviews

Stakeholder interviews are extremely valuable in understanding the strategic and business goals for this project. These sessions are invaluable by giving everyone the opportunity to express their needs and concerns .

During the research stage, I advocated for stakeholder interviews to gain a holistic view of the business side of the project goals. This was done by conducting virtual meetings across various departments.

Due to NDA's, i am not able to share the findings from the stakeholder interviews

Stakeholders Interviews

Stakeholder interviews are extremely valuable in understanding the strategic and business goals for this project. These sessions are invaluable by giving everyone the opportunity to express their needs and concerns .

During the research stage, I advocated for stakeholder interviews to gain a holistic view of the business side of the project goals. This was done by conducting virtual meetings across various departments.

Due to NDA's, i am not able to share the findings from the stakeholder interviews

Brainstorming & Iterating

After the discovery stage ended, I gathered all of the findings and used them to define the goals and approach for the design. This is best done collaboratively and since I was solely on this project. I also reached out to other designers on my team to brainstorm.

The goal was to identify our target users, their needs and principles to apply for this project.

Here are the key activities

  • Understanding who are our target users.

  • Understanding what the target users wants to do.

  • Understanding the current state of their experience and how it needs to change.

  • Creating Principles to adopt in the design process

Brainstorming & Iterating

After the discovery stage ended, I gathered all of the findings and used them to define the goals and approach for the design. This is best done collaboratively and since I was solely on this project. I also reached out to other designers on my team to brainstorm.

The goal was to identify our target users, their needs and principles to apply for this project.

Here are the key activities

  • Understanding who are our target users.

  • Understanding what the target users wants to do.

  • Understanding the current state of their experience and how it needs to change.

  • Creating Principles to adopt in the design process

Brainstorming & Iterating

After the discovery stage ended, I gathered all of the findings and used them to define the goals and approach for the design. This is best done collaboratively and since I was solely on this project. I also reached out to other designers on my team to brainstorm.

The goal was to identify our target users, their needs and principles to apply for this project.

Here are the key activities

  • Understanding who are our target users.

  • Understanding what the target users wants to do.

  • Understanding the current state of their experience and how it needs to change.

  • Creating Principles to adopt in the design process

Who am i designing for?

Understanding the users is key to meeting their needs and a persona helps us understand the needs and goals of the people we are designing for and keep them at the forefront of our design. Personas are a representative of entire user groups.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

4.0

User Persona

Who am i designing for?

Understanding the users is key to meeting their needs and a persona helps us understand the needs and goals of the people we are designing for and keep them at the forefront of our design. Personas are a representative of entire user groups.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

4.0

User Persona

Who am i designing for?

Understanding the users is key to meeting their needs and a persona helps us understand the needs and goals of the people we are designing for and keep them at the forefront of our design. Personas are a representative of entire user groups.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

4.0

User Persona

The principles guiding design decisions

Here are the principles I adopted to help guide decision making for designs.

The principles guiding design decisions

Here are the principles I adopted to help guide decision making for designs.

The principles guiding design decisions

Here are the principles I adopted to help guide decision making for designs.

Mirror mental models of users

Explore solutions that mimic models identified from our research. This helps users feel comfortable with the design patterns and makes it easier for them to complete tasks.

Design for security

Multiple levels of security can ensure that invasive events are anticipated and curbed before they happen.

Keep it as simple as possible

Ensure the users are not bombarded with more information than they can handle. optimize with familiar patterns.

Design for accessibility

Consider all user groups when creating visual elements for the user interface. Most of the target users are small scale owner which are not often technically inclines

Mirror mental models of users

Explore solutions that mimic models identified from our research. This helps users feel comfortable with the design patterns and makes it easier for them to complete tasks.

Design for security

Multiple levels of security can ensure that invasive events are anticipated and curbed before they happen.

Keep it as simple as possible

Ensure the users are not bombarded with more information than they can handle. optimize with familiar patterns.

Design for accessibility

Consider all user groups when creating visual elements for the user interface. Most of the target users are small scale owner which are not often technically inclines

Mirror mental models of users

Explore solutions that mimic models identified from our research. This helps users feel comfortable with the design patterns and makes it easier for them to complete tasks.

Design for security

Multiple levels of security can ensure that invasive events are anticipated and curbed before they happen.

Keep it as simple as possible

Ensure the users are not bombarded with more information than they can handle. optimize with familiar patterns.

Design for accessibility

Consider all user groups when creating visual elements for the user interface. Most of the target users are small scale owner which are not often technically inclines

Design Phase

After researching, creating user personas and establishing the needs and motivations of our potential users, I moved into the design phase where i worked on wireframes, a site map and high-fidelity prototypes.

Design Phase

After researching, creating user personas and establishing the needs and motivations of our potential users, I moved into the design phase where i worked on wireframes, a site map and high-fidelity prototypes.

Design Phase

After researching, creating user personas and establishing the needs and motivations of our potential users, I moved into the design phase where i worked on wireframes, a site map and high-fidelity prototypes.

Wireframing

The goal of this practice was to communicate the proposed dashboard and properly iterate to meet the business needs as well.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

5.0

Proposed dashboard architecture

Wireframing

The goal of this practice was to communicate the proposed dashboard and properly iterate to meet the business needs as well.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

5.0

Proposed dashboard architecture

Wireframing

The goal of this practice was to communicate the proposed dashboard and properly iterate to meet the business needs as well.

Amina's User Persona
Johnson's User Persona

5.0

Proposed dashboard architecture

Collaborative Iteration

The goal of collaborative iteration is to integrate insights into design ideas and prototypes to refine your idea. Since I was the sole designer on this project, I decided to recruit other designers/colleagues to collaboratively iterate.

Key Activities

  • Create wireframes

  • Iterate ideas quickly collaboratively.

  • Map out a site map

  • Create high fidelity designs

Collaborative Iteration

The goal of collaborative iteration is to integrate insights into design ideas and prototypes to refine your idea. Since I was the sole designer on this project, I decided to recruit other designers/colleagues to collaboratively iterate.

Key Activities

  • Create wireframes

  • Iterate ideas quickly collaboratively.

  • Map out a site map

  • Create high fidelity designs

Collaborative Iteration

The goal of collaborative iteration is to integrate insights into design ideas and prototypes to refine your idea. Since I was the sole designer on this project, I decided to recruit other designers/colleagues to collaboratively iterate.

Key Activities

  • Create wireframes

  • Iterate ideas quickly collaboratively.

  • Map out a site map

  • Create high fidelity designs

6.0

Wireframes

Preparing a Site Map

In order to keep the key features in mind, I decided to develop an skeletal architecture for the Dashboard. The structure had to be simple with coexisting tiers because there is a lot of overlapping content and the goal is for merchants to easily and seamlessly navigate the system.

A sitemap

7.0

A sitemap (structural architecture)

Preparing a Site Map

In order to keep the key features in mind, I decided to develop an skeletal architecture for the Dashboard. The structure had to be simple with coexisting tiers because there is a lot of overlapping content and the goal is for merchants to easily and seamlessly navigate the system.

A sitemap

7.0

A sitemap (structural architecture)

Preparing a Site Map

In order to keep the key features in mind, I decided to develop an skeletal architecture for the Dashboard. The structure had to be simple with coexisting tiers because there is a lot of overlapping content and the goal is for merchants to easily and seamlessly navigate the system.

A sitemap

7.0

A sitemap (structural architecture)

High fidelity designs

High fidelity designs

High fidelity designs

8.1

An overview of the merchant's dashboard

8.2

Adding a customer

8.3

Enabling Two-factor authenticator

8.4

Creating an invoice

Results

This project is currently still in development but you can view the live website that I also designed below;

Results

This project is currently still in development but you can view the live website that I also designed below;

Results

This project is currently still in development but you can view the live website that I also designed below;

Learnings and accomplishments

I discovered that as a designer I need to complete tasks even though they make me uncomfortable.

A project brief is only composed of the minimum requirements. It is important to take initiative and makes suggestions that would benefit the project

Being able to communicate your design decisions is very important skill. This helps to advocate the value of your work

Working alone on this project was a challenge at some point. I made sure to reach out to other designers and members of the company at large for areas i need suggestions and inputs.

Learnings and accomplishments

I discovered that as a designer I need to complete tasks even though they make me uncomfortable.

A project brief is only composed of the minimum requirements. It is important to take initiative and makes suggestions that would benefit the project

Being able to communicate your design decisions is very important skill. This helps to advocate the value of your work

Working alone on this project was a challenge at some point. I made sure to reach out to other designers and members of the company at large for areas i need suggestions and inputs.

Learnings and accomplishments

I discovered that as a designer I need to complete tasks even though they make me uncomfortable.

A project brief is only composed of the minimum requirements. It is important to take initiative and makes suggestions that would benefit the project

Being able to communicate your design decisions is very important skill. This helps to advocate the value of your work

Working alone on this project was a challenge at some point. I made sure to reach out to other designers and members of the company at large for areas i need suggestions and inputs.

© 2023 Covenant. All Rights Reserved

Made with ❤️ and ♫ plus lots of pineapples.

Local time

1:24 AM

© 2023 Covenant. All Rights Reserved

Made with ❤️ and ♫ plus lots of pineapples.

Local time

1:24 AM

© 2023 Covenant. All Rights Reserved

Made with ❤️ and ♫ plus lots of pineapples.

Local time

1:24 AM