Joel Asemota
WEB3
2024
Suna
dApp Gamification on Solana: An protocol enabler for market prediction and lottery.
01 of 16
Overview
Project Summary
This is a software product of AfreximBank built with the aim of automating the vendor onboarding process of her external partner (vendors) with some of its core business units/internal teams of the bank. After a successful onboarding, vendors are able to receive jobs (called work requests), submit contracts, raise invoices and process receipts for a job done and keep record of all communications for audit purposes.
Visit website
Business Goals
Enhance the vendor onboarding experience from the manual approach it used to be carried out thereby reducing the onboarding time.
Increase the efficiency of the bank's business units from back and forths, as well as keeping correspondence of outsourced jobs to vendors.
Storage of vendors' record and work requests, provide insights into the top vendors and better vendor selection in the upcoming jobs (work requests).
Team Members
1
Product Designer
3
Subject Matter Experts
2
Solution Architects
2
Product Managers
4
Frontend Developers
3
Backend Developers
2
QA
1
Devops Engineer
My Role
Product designer: Research, Web design, Interaction design.
Industry
Finance
Tools
Overview
Suna is a DApps - a decentralised application (which is an application that can operate autonomously, typically through the use of smart contracts, that run on a decentralized computing, blockchain or other distributed ledger system) built on the solana network that leverage on the traditional goals of its users to gamble in a quest to increase their savings through betting on physical events as well as lottery system.
Goal
An easy-to-use interface that allows users deposit on-chain tokens, bet on digital assets on the outcome of real world events by aggregation of staked tokens and a lottery system where winners win the stake.
Value Proposition
Suna aims to generate massive adoption by launching this experiment on the SOLANA network majorly because of the low transaction fees while making the transition of transition users from traditional betting and lottery system seamless in such a way that it appears to be carry out the actions they are used to in just another currency. This would mean holding their hands all through the onboarding till they are able to securely link their wallet and allowing them fly afterwards.
Other nice-to-have features which would increase usage and attract users are the usual staking & farming, swapping of tokens, fixed and flexible investments for specific period of time for an interest reward which pose a low risk, offering loans.
The need for this protocol solution considering competitors already existing:
Ease of use.
Reward system.
Financial literacy.
Why Suna?
Full control on your wallet
01 of 16
Overview
Project Summary
This is a software product of AfreximBank built with the aim of automating the vendor onboarding process of her external partner (vendors) with some of its core business units/internal teams of the bank. After a successful onboarding, vendors are able to receive jobs (called work requests), submit contracts, raise invoices and process receipts for a job done and keep record of all communications for audit purposes.
Visit website
Business Goals
Enhance the vendor onboarding experience from the manual approach it used to be carried out thereby reducing the onboarding time.
Increase the efficiency of the bank's business units from back and forths, as well as keeping correspondence of outsourced jobs to vendors.
Storage of vendors' record and work requests, provide insights into the top vendors and better vendor selection in the upcoming jobs (work requests).
Team Members
1
Product Designer
3
Subject Matter Experts
2
Solution Architects
2
Product Managers
4
Frontend Developers
3
Backend Developers
2
QA
1
Devops Engineer
My Role
Product designer: Research, Web design, Interaction design.
Industry
Finance
Tools
02 of 16
Background
Story
Afrexim, The African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim bank) is a pan-African multilateral financial institution headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1993 under the auspices of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to promote and finance trade within Africa and between Africa and other continents.
Prior to this digital solution that caters for her vendors, jobs were outsourced to vendors (a job could be to supply computer devices to the company) manually through paper contracts and traditional methods for negotiations and overall communications over the years. With a huge amount of businesses done over the years and an increasing amount of vendors to do businesses with, it became important to approach this in a better and more effective way and optimize for time and cost.
This was outsourced to a software agency (Revent Technologies) where I contributed as the sole product designer to bring this solution to life. On team also, there were 2 Product Managers, 4 Frontend Developers, 3 Backend Developers, 2 Solution Architects, 3 Subject Matter Experts (from Afrexim bank) who had hands-on knowledge of how it worked, 2 QA Engineers and a Devops Engineer.
03 of 16
Problem Statements
Some of the problems highlighted by the clients were:
Using a PRD (Product Requirement Document) as a precedent, along with round-table discussions with the client and the product team, we defined the core problems as follows:
Inability to accurately track financials such as invoices and cost limit and keep an efficient inventory.
Difficulty with sorting of documents and contracts that binds vendors activities with the bank.
Difficulty with following the life span of a job (work request) from assignment to completing.
Communication barrier between internal units and her vendors that many result from negotiations and deliberations.
Inefficiency of the overall traditional approach.
04 of 16
Approach
Solution
These problem statements guided the questions we asked during a series of interview sessions with subject matter experts who were most familiar with the vendor processes in the organization. We also interviewed about three of their vendors and a member from each business unit. This approach aimed to address the identified problems and explore potential areas of innovation to create a more efficient process. By understanding their pain points through these questions, additional research, and subsequent meetings, we devised optimal solutions.
Core Modules
This solution is being compartalized in two parts (user personas) for a seamless interplay of processes. The first part pertains to the bank's side (which includes the business units—Compliance, BOSE, Business Departments Users, and System Support/Admin) The second part pertains to the vendors.
Sign up, Onboarding and Sign in
Admins sign in through a third party OKTA portal; Vendors sign up and onboard through another (the vendor's portal) either as an Individual or Corporate.
Work requests
Afrexim's users with the permission creates work requests and assigns it to a vendor; Vendors preview details, does the needful and provide invoices for job done.
Contracts
Admin may request, store and update binding contracts with these vendors.
Dashboard
An overview of activities going on in the system such as total invoices, work requests. Admin dashboard has a more detailed one than the vendors.
Organizational settings
To manage roles and permissions, configure currency and department and provide system support.
Users
Vendor admin especially corporate vendors can invite other users giving them a set of permissions.
How it went down...
I came across some prevalent challenges faced by web3 users from X (formerly twitter) in terms of getting acquainted with the web3 space and carrying out some actions which I considered quite basic. It caught my interest my this gap may exist and the need to validate these hypothetic problems dawned on me. Some of which were:
Challenge 1(DeFi): Design an On-Ramp - On-ramps enable users to exchange their fiat money(USD, AED, NGN) for cryptocurrencies.
Challenge 2(DeFi): Design a lending app that allows users to lock in a fixed rate of interest over a specified period of time. (https://youtu.be/dTCwssZ116A)
Lending protocols are constantly fighting for liquidity thus they offer incentives, protocols like AAVE uses flash loans to gain liquidity, over time if there isn’t already, we might have protocols allowing for under-collarization (maybe the liquidation rate will be affected/increased) - Check out testiest (https://youtu.be/sIIg2owOz3w) Take sensible cut of your borrow limit to be safe
Challenge 5(DeFi): No-loss lottery dApp - Design a platform for users to deposit a variety of tokens into a pool and then connect the pool to a Solana lending protocol which aggregates funds and rewards the interest to a winner over a period of time. Inspo: Check out @stakefair_
Challenge 7(Defi): Design a Liquid ETH 2.0 staking dApp that allow users stake ETH and receive dETH which may be used to participate in other defi opportunities including liquidity provision, lending, leveraged farming etc. A lot of Grammar for newbies, DYOR👨🏽🍳
Challenge 10(Defi): Design a prediction market that allows users to bet digital assets on the outcome of real world physical events.
I needed to validate these problems from users and intending users since I hope to increase the market size as well. Having condcted desk and market research and was sure how to go . I grouped my participants into traditional gamers, crypto gamers so I interviewed 4 persons each. (venn diagram to show mix) wth sweet preference to those involved in both.
I then conducted competitive analysis to figured....
Some questions asked were (Now questions and repsonses)
Beng a pet project, I decied to utilize some recent learnings to enrich my research and dev process and internally compare with how I did others
Hats worn
Testing
Testing
Testing
Testing
Testing
User testing
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User testing
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User testing
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User testing
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User testing
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05 of 16
Process
My Process: From Discovery to Delivery
We kicked off by receiving a business document outlining the core proceses involved few weeks before the first debrief session so as to get a sense of the goal to be achieved and better inform the questions to be asked. After the debreifing session, these questions were asked that resulted in further insights.
Afterward, we held additional internal sessions with the solution architect and product teams to delve deeper into the details. I created moodboards and low-fidelity prototypes of key flows, which were reviewed and refined by the team. The brand team then added more flair to the website. These efforts collectively influenced the direction of the remaining flows and the project as a whole.
EMPHATIZE
DEFINE
IDEATE
PROTOTYPE
TEST
Discovery
Understanding the scope and goals of the project as well as identifying the concerned users and their needs.
Research: Market & User
Reviewing and comprehending the Product Requirements Document (PRD), conducting research using relevant articles to understand unfamiliar workflows, and seeking clarification through questions.
Ideation
Synthesizing insights, brainstorming potential solutions on paper, and creating moodboards and visual cues that align with the modern financial industry.
Prototype
Developing visual designs and interactive prototypes based on the ideation phase
Test
Testing these solutions to verify they meet the intended goals and identifying areas for improvement.
Non-Linear
8-weeks locked in
Research
Interview, Desk research
UX
Hypothesis, Sitemap
UX
User Persona, Userflow
Concept
Sketching, Wireframe, Moodboard
UI Design
Design system, User interfaces, Prototyping
Testing
Presentation, Iteration
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Discovery
Research
Ideate
Prototype
Test
05 of 16
Process
My Process: From Discovery to Delivery
Discovery
Research
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Competitive audit
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
Comparison and contrast of features.
LOGOS
01 of 16
User Research
Some Interview Questions
🧐 Question 1
Can you describe the current process for vendor onboarding and the challenges associated with it?
💡 Key Insights
Understand the specific pain points, inefficiencies, and manual steps that cause delays or errors. This information helps in designing features that streamline and automate these steps.
🧐 Question 2
What are the most common issues vendors face during the onboarding process?
💡 Key Insights
Identify recurring problems vendors encounter, such as unclear instructions or lengthy approval times. Addressing these issues can improve user satisfaction and reduce support queries.
🧐 Question 3
How do internal teams currently communicate and collaborate with vendors?
💡 Key Insights
Learn about the communication tools and methods used, as well as any gaps in communication. This can guide the integration of effective communication features within the platform.
🧐 Question 4
What are the key compliance and regulatory requirements that need to be considered in the onboarding process?
💡 Key Insights
Ensure the design adheres to necessary legal and regulatory standards, which is crucial for a financial institution. This helps in building features that facilitate compliance tracking and documentation.
🧐 Question 5
What metrics or KPIs are used to measure the success of the vendor onboarding process?
💡 Key Insights
Identify important performance indicators, such as onboarding time, vendor satisfaction, and error rates. This allows for the inclusion of analytical tools and dashboards to track these metrics.
🧐 Question 6
What feedback have you received from vendors about their experience with the current system?
💡 Key Insights
Direct feedback from vendors can provide valuable insights into their needs and preferences. This helps in prioritizing features that enhance user experience and address common complaints.
01 of 16
User Research
User persona
Summary
Johnathan is a seasoned supplier manager at TechSupply Co., responsible for managing contracts and supply chain logistics. He deals with various clients, including large financial institutions like Afrexim Bank, and ensures timely delivery of products and services.
Pain-points
Lengthy and cumbersome onboarding process for new clients.
Difficulty in tracking the status of submitted documents and contracts.
Delays in payment processing, leading to cash flow issues.
Lack of transparency and clear communication from the client's side.
Managing multiple communication channels for different clients.
Desires
A streamlined and efficient onboarding process with clear instructions.
Real-time updates on the status of contracts and payments.
A single platform to manage all client interactions and communications.
Timely and transparent payment processing.
Easy access to support and assistance when needed
Jonathan Ebube
Staplers Vendor
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Summary
Lisa is a dedicated vendor relations specialist at Afrexim Bank, managing the onboarding and ongoing interactions with external vendors. She ensures that the bank's vendor management processes are efficient and compliant with regulatory standards.
Pain-points
Managing a high volume of vendor applications manually.
Keeping track of multiple contracts and their statuses.
Ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
Handling frequent inquiries and support requests from vendors.
Lack of a centralized system for vendor management.
Desires
An automated system for vendor onboarding that reduces manual work.
A centralized platform for managing contracts and communications.
Tools to ensure compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
Efficient handling of vendor inquiries through a support portal.
Analytics and reporting features to monitor and improve vendor management processes.
Lisa Usman
Subject Matter Expert
Age: 37
Gender: Female
09 of 16
UI Solutions
Final designs
Dashboard
The Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for both admins and vendors. Admins can efficiently monitor vendor onboarding statuses, manage contract approvals, and track payment processing with real-time insights and notifications. Vendors benefit from an intuitive interface to manage work requests, submit contracts, and track payments, ensuring seamless and transparent communication with Afrexim Bank.
Sign up
The Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for both admins and vendors. Admins can efficiently monitor vendor onboarding statuses, manage contract approvals, and track payment processing with real-time insights and notifications. Vendors benefit from an intuitive interface to manage work requests, submit contracts, and track payments, ensuring seamless and transparent communication with Afrexim Bank.
Onboarding
The Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for both admins and vendors. Admins can efficiently monitor vendor onboarding statuses, manage contract approvals, and track payment processing with real-time insights and notifications. Vendors benefit from an intuitive interface to manage work requests, submit contracts, and track payments, ensuring seamless and transparent communication with Afrexim Bank.
Invite Vendor
The Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for both admins and vendors. Admins can efficiently monitor vendor onboarding statuses, manage contract approvals, and track payment processing with real-time insights and notifications. Vendors benefit from an intuitive interface to manage work requests, submit contracts, and track payments, ensuring seamless and transparent communication with Afrexim Bank.
Work Requests
The Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for both admins and vendors. Admins can efficiently monitor vendor onboarding statuses, manage contract approvals, and track payment processing with real-time insights and notifications. Vendors benefit from an intuitive interface to manage work requests, submit contracts, and track payments, ensuring seamless and transparent communication with Afrexim Bank.
Contracts
The Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for both admins and vendors. Admins can efficiently monitor vendor onboarding statuses, manage contract approvals, and track payment processing with real-time insights and notifications. Vendors benefit from an intuitive interface to manage work requests, submit contracts, and track payments, ensuring seamless and transparent communication with Afrexim Bank.
09 of 16
UI Solutions
Key Takeaways
The Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview for both admins and vendors. Admins can efficiently monitor vendor onboarding statuses, manage contract approvals, and track payment processing with real-time insights and notifications. Vendors benefit from an intuitive interface to manage work requests, submit contracts, and track payments, ensuring seamless and transparent communication with Afrexim Bank.
Invite Vendor
Thank you for reading!
