Split money in Whatsapp
Whatsapp features: The user will be able to split money in whatsapp through this new feature.
Problem
Whatsapp users generally can decide and discuss the event/trip/hangout with other users through messaging/voice/video calls, and after they are done with the event, they share the photos/videos and the expenses but can’t split money.
Split money: But for the payment process, they have to depend on other apps, from splitting the money to paying and receiving it. Split money is not in Whatsapp.
Older users: Older people are not technology-friendly, and many don't know about other splitting money apps or payment apps for splitting the money; they have to do it either manually/ calculator or ask someone.
Users from rural areas: Whatsapp is popular in rural areas, also. People from rural areas in developing countries generally don't use different types of apps; they don't know about other payments or split money apps.
Cautious users: Some users are uncomfortable sharing their information on multiple apps, so they are comfortable with one app. Research data shows that most people are comfortable with Whatsapp.
Solution
Adding and designing a Split the money feature in Whatsapp will solve the problem of the users.
Users will be able to split the money and then can make payments also on the same platform.
It will add value by providing—
Security: Some users are not comfortable using multiple apps as they don't feel secure sharing personal or bank details everywhere, so for them also, it will be an excellent option to have all the features in one app as they don't have to create an account on multiple apps.
Older people: Older people generally are not that much aware of technology and avoid trying or learning something new. As people from all walks of life use WhatsApp, it will also be helpful for older people.
Globalization of small businesses: People from rural areas in developing countries like India who use mostly Whatsapp can use this feature easily and even for small businesses. It will help grow small businesses.
Conclusion
Lessons from the user:
LET THEM LEARN BY DOING
Legends and tutorials are useful, but people learn best by (frequent) use.
CONSIDER WHAT TO REVEAL WHEN
Make exploration easy and inquiry satisfying by thoughtfully revealing information.
STAY OPEN TO EVOLUTION
Let the process continue once live; users tell you how they want to use the app.
Empathize
User research - summary
Objective: To learn about the wide range of users and their pain points and likings about the split money feature they use.
Participants:
Users: Who use Whatsapp and other split money apps. I took interviews with the following users.
Software engineers: To know the corporate world users. The large techy population is in the Corporate industry.
Students: To understand the preferences of the Youth. Because they live in shared accommodation, they need to share and split expenses. 90% of students use whatsapp and split money apps.
People from other professions: To understand the users of different professions.
Takeaways:
People use Whatsapp mostly for daily communication. Because it is free and user friendly. WhatsApp is widely used in developing countries like India.
Most of the users use Split Money apps for splitting money.
But they have a few complaints related to already existing Split Money apps.
Next is to find the users' pain points, analyze them and then come up with a solution to ease them.
Modes of interview:
Via Zoom
In-person.
Research questions & answers:
Povs and hmvs
Takeaways:
Point of view and How might we help us to understand the users and comes up with a solution related to the problem they are having.
Adding a feature of split money on Whatsapp is the main focus here.
The feature should also have an evenly/unevenly split money option because it will save users time. Users will not have to calculate manually.
If the user presses the “send a reminder icon,” the lender will be notified about the amount he must pay the sender.
Painpoints
Some split money apps are not available for Android users; only iPhone users can use that split money apps.
The user needed help to convert money freely while doing transactions abroad.
The user could not split the money unevenly.
The user has to give bank details while transferring the money after using the split money app.
Motivations
Users want the spilt money feature for all users ( Android, iPhone, Web)
Users like to have a split money app that can split the money evenly, unevenly, and percentage-wise.
Users like to have currency converter available in the app so that it is convenient for them to complete the action with other users with different currency models.
Users like to send reminders about pending bill payments to other users so that they don’t have to remind other users via call or text.
Takeaways:
People use Whatsapp frequently and Split money apps occasionally, so it is a good idea to add a feature of Split money into Whatsapp so that people don’t have to use two different apps for chatting and splitting money.
And adding a feature in Whatsapp is a good idea because most people use Whatsapp for messaging, which is also free. So, it will be more accessible and beneficial for users to use the split money feature via Whatsapp.
There should be an option of payment via Paypal or Venmo so that payment settlement can be done in the app itself and users don’t have to add bank details.
We need to add a splitting option where users can split the money evenly/unevenly or percentage-wise.
There should be the option of sending payment reminders to the borrower.
Competitive analysis
Findings:
We studied the market to understand the current updates about the Split money feature apps.
For that I asked the questions about users favourite split money apps in out user interviews.
And I did our market research also.
Takeaways:
Some apps are available for android users, some for ios users, and some are unavailable for web users.
Some apps can split the money evenly and unevenly, but Ads are there. For the free version, the user has to pay money.
Apps with chat and split features are rare to find. And if those features are available, those are for USA users.
There is a need for the split money feature, which is available for all the users ( Android, ios, and Web).
There is a need for the free version of the split money feature, which can split the money evenly, unevenly, and percentage-wise.
Analysis:
Facebook Messenger: It is a parent company of Whatsapp, and messenger does have a split money option, but the feature can split money only in the group. No currency converter is available, and the main thing is that only people from the USA can use that split money option.
iMessage is available only for ios users. They do have a payment feature where users can transfer money, but they don't have a Split money option.
Splitwise is a very popular Split money app. Ads are there. It is not free. For the free version, the user has to pay money.
The tab is also a Split money app unavailable for web users.
Settle up is also a Split money app, but it can not split money unevenly, and the user has to buy the paid version to add the image of the bill receipt.
User personas
I created a user persona from my user research.
Whatsapp users generally can share the expenses but can't split the money.
Older users: Older people are not technology-friendly, and many don't know about other split money apps or payment apps; they have to do it manually/with a calculator or ask someone.
Users from developing countries: Whatsapp is also popular in developing countries; people from these countries generally don't use different types of apps; they don't know about other payments or split money apps.
Cautious users: Some users are uncomfortable sharing their information on multiple apps, so they are comfortable with one app. Research data shows that most people are comfortable with Whatsapp.
I created a user persona from my user research.
Youth: I chose to show the problem of youth.
As they have less money at the beginning of their career, they have to share in the shared accommodations.
Keep track of expenses: They have to maintain track of "who paid?", "How much paid?" every month.
Fast life: Today's generation wants everything very fast, and they are very technology friendly. For that, they want some feature or app that it can be done automatically, and they don't have to do it manually.
Smart users: As they are technology friendly, they use different types of devices. And that's why they want a feature that can be used on any device.
I created a user persona from my user research.
Youth: I chose to show the problem of youth.
As they have less money at the beginning of their career, they have to share in the shared accommodations.
Keep track of expenses: They have to maintain track of "who paid?", "How much paid?" every month.
Fast life: Today's generation wants everything very fast, and they are very technology friendly. For that, they want some feature or app that it can be done automatically, and they don't have to do it manually.
Smart users: As they are technology friendly, they use different types of devices. And that's why they want a feature that can be used on any device.
Ideate
User flow
Takeaways:
I chose to show the easy path for the user to split the money.
Split money user flow is similar to other split money apps, making it easier for the users to perform the task of split money.
As per my user research added “types of splitting money features.”
Details of the user flow:
The user is on the Whatsapp chat page.
Selects the “dollar icon,” which leads him to the split money feature.
The user selects the dollar icon and then selects friends with whom he wants to share expenses.
Then adds the details of the expenses, like, description, amount, and date.
Then user goes to the split money feature by clicking the split money icon to decide the splitting he wants to do, i.e., equally/unequally/percentage-wise.
After finishing the task of splitting the money, the user comes back to the Whatsapp chat page.
Design
Mid-fi design
See the mid-fi Gif:
Takeaways:
Mid-fi wireframes are according to user flow.
It has a chat page as a default Whatsapp page.
It has a money page, which comes after clicking the dollar icon.
The money page shows the summary of all the expenses.
On the money page, there is an “Add expense icon.”
After clicking the icon, the user goes to the additional expense page, where the user has to add the first friends with whom he wants to split the money.
After that, the user fills in the expense details, and then the user will split the money.
Users can split the money either equally, unequally, or percentage-wise.
And then, after clicking the “Split money” call to action button, the user will see the new page of summary of expenses.
Usability testing
A prototype to test (Mid-Fidelity)
The screens were prototyped and tested in a moderated setting to collect a direct and nuanced understanding of split money features, along with common tasks that a user would complete. Shown here is a flow of chat page and split money feature, add expenses, add participants, edit expenses details, and then split money evenly/unevenly or percentage wise.
Takeaways:
Testing was done in an unmoderated way.
Pain points were studied and analyzed after the usability testing.
Next is to iterate the design and make high fi designs for further usability testing.
High fidelity designs
After reviewing mid-fi usability testing I iterate the design.
Added calendar, so that user gets an idea about how to choose the date.
Added error message for unequally added amount.
See the hi-fi Gif
A prototype to test (High-Fidelity)
Task given to users:
How would you add expenses?
How would you add friends with whom you want to share the expenses?
How would you split the money?
Painpoints:
Some users didn’t understand how to create a group of friends.
Some users could not find the option to add an image of the bill.
Some of the users could not understand the error message after they incorrectly add the amount mainly in a unequally split money page.
Takeaways:
Need to iterate the design according to users’ pain points.
Need to add a “create group icon” for the users to create a group of friends for adding expenses.
I need to create a clear error message; mostly, I will add “text.”
I will add an attachment icon so the user can upload the image of the bill.
Iterations
Before
Before
After
After
Before
Before
After
After
What’s next
I will ask the users to go through my improvised design version.
I will observe their pain points. I will analyze them and decide how to smooth their experience.