Summary
We created a mobile ready platform to enable local level barter transactions that let communities reclaim ownership of both their produce and services, complimenting any-time transactions & remunerations with human-contact led interactions.
Quick facts
- Not-for-profit industry
- Services: Digital Transformation Consultancy, Mobile App Development, Web App Development, Development Retainer, DevOpsTechnologies: React Native, React, VueJS, NodeJS, PHP, Laravel, MySQL
- Technologies: React Native, React, VueJS, NodeJS, PHP, Laravel, MySQL
- Time to completion: 6 months
- User base: 1 million users (in 2 years)
The Strategy
A Human Network
Drishtee’s network of project staff would be the support system critical for overcoming the social-economic & technology divide.
Mobile-first Solution
A location agnostic, digital platform that would be able to track, monitor and match demand and supply would be part of the ideal solution.
Fiat Money Independent
To standardize the demand and supply equations, and curb exploitation, a solution independent of government-issued currency was critical.
Scalability
A solution agile enough to leave room for novel services and produce from any geography would be the only kind that would be sustainable in the long run.
Fair Pricing
Equity in products and services is critical. Normalization of rates to match figures released by Govt. of India with room for customizations.
Regulatory Compliance
Ensuring rigorous regulatory compliance using standardized KYC guidelines (with Government recognized Identity and Address proof).
The Result
We created a barter marketplace for Drishtee built on two user touchpoints: a web application for administrators – to monitor, track and customize parameters in the project – and a mobile application for the on-ground staff.
Easy Monitoring
We built in specific ‘Super Admin’ and ‘Admin’ functions accessible only by the managerial level staff through a web application. This makes it easy to supervise and alter macro level parameters, like price of items listed in or geographies served by our platform.
Technology That Compliments People
We saw the on-ground staff as the face of the platform. They access our platform through an android based mobile app: to register people, list products, initiate transactions and resolve grievances. We created a tool for meaningfully connecting people, not just a faceless app.
Simple User Experiences
For connecting people with people without creating fresh barriers, we designed a simple and easy to use interface that is accessible by everyone and is aesthetically well grounded. Our users can easily navigate the app, find information and make selections.
Parity Through Balance
The most monumental challenge to overcome was the problem of parity – establishing the value of any produce or service in terms of another. Our innovative currency mechanism, combined with our unique ‘Gold Product’ based payouts, meant that barter matching is beneficial for the provider and the consumer and paper currency remains locked out of the system.
Security & Compliance Mechanism
We built in rigorous KYC guidelines, SMS and email notifications, redressals through on-ground staff and easy monitoring of accounts. All these mechanisms make the barter marketplace immensely secure. Of course, security of the app and data is always a given!
Room To Grow
We made our platform sustainable and scalable by leaving room for as yet unidentified produce or service types. With our flexible produce-service listing schema, the barter platform becomes accessible to many forms of livelihoods, now and in the future.
