Payment Terms Feature for a Saas Fintech BtoB Platform

My Role

Lead Product Designer & Manager

Client ​

Dash.fi

Teammates

Head of Product, Product Manager, Engineers, Finance, CEO

Responsibilities

Plan and Own Product, Defend product design strategy, Research, Product UX UI Design , Problem Solving

01. Overview

Dash.fi, a Saas FinTech startup catering to digitally native businesses with significant marketing budgets, has unveiled a revolutionary charge card tailored for advertising expenses. This innovative card tackles challenges associated with scaling ad spending, offering solutions to problems like card failures, low limits, payment holds, underwriting delays, unreliable data, rigid authorizations, cash flow constraints, delayed reconciliations, talent shortages, and manual paydowns.

02. Problem statement

On Dash.fi platform, user can currently pas within 1 day. Our customer face the challenge of immediate financial strain faced by businesses with substantial marketing budgets. Many digitally native businesses often encounter cash flow constraints when managing advertising expenses.

03. Process & Experience

Goals

My goal is to develop a buy now pay later feature to address the cash flow problem by offering a solution that allows clients to strategically allocate their budgets and invest in growth initiatives without the burden of immediate payment, providing them with enhanced financial flexibility. My design focuses on making the "pay now, buy later" feature not just a tool but a user-centric solution enhancing financial flexibility for digitally native businesses.

Business challenges

One potential challenge for us in implementing such feature is managing the associated financial risks. Allowing clients to delay payments introduces a level of uncertainty in terms of cash flow for the company. Balancing the need to offer flexible terms with the necessity of maintaining financial stability and minimizing default risks is a delicate challenge. Effective risk assessment, stringent credit checks, and clear communication of terms will be essential to mitigate this challenge and ensure the feature benefits both the clients and our financial health Additionally, striking the right balance between flexibility and responsible lending practices will be crucial to the success of the feature.

Product Challenges

The primary challenge in developing a "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) feature for the Dash.fi platform lies in effectively mitigating the immediate financial strain faced by businesses with significant marketing budgets. The core issue revolves around addressing the cash flow constraints encountered by digitally native businesses, particularly in the realm of managing advertising expenses. Crafting a solution that enables clients to strategically allocate their budgets and invest in growth initiatives while alleviating the burden of immediate payment is complex. This endeavor requires careful consideration of risk management, seamless integration into the existing platform, and a user experience design that not only serves as a financial tool but genuinely enhances flexibility for businesses navigating the challenges of digital commerce. Balancing these aspects while staying attuned to compliance, user education, and robust default management will be pivotal in creating a BNPL feature that truly addresses the financial needs of digitally native businesses on the Dash.fi platform.

Quantitative / Qualitative Research and Analysis

To ensure the effectiveness of this feature, I am deeply engaged in understanding the financial needs and behaviors of our target users. Through extensive user interviews and feedback sessions, I uncovered the unique pain points and challenges these businesses face in managing cash flow associated with advertising expenses. Concurrently, a thorough competitor analysis allows me to identify industry best practices, differentiators, and potential areas of improvement. Complementing this, a comprehensive examination of user feedback, gathered through surveys and interviews, provides invaluable insights into expectations and concerns. Simultaneously, a detailed exploration of the legal landscape surrounding flexible payment terms ensures compliance with regulations and laws, safeguarding both our users and our platform. By synthesizing these research components, I strive to design a feature that not only addresses user needs but also sets a new standard in the financial technology landscape for digitally native businesses.

Competitor analysis

In a market where competitors either lack a flexible term payment feature or restrict users to fixed terms like 30, 60, or 90 days, I am taking a distinctive approach with Dash.fi. While initially considering a binary choice between two terms, I recognize the importance of understanding the diverse needs of our users. Through upcoming user interviews, I aim to gather valuable feedback that will guide the design of a flexible term payment feature, allowing us to offer options that truly align with the financial preferences and circumstances of our users. This user-centric strategy not only sets us apart in the market but ensures that our offering is finely tuned to meet the unique requirements of digitally native businesses with substantial marketing budgets.

General Observations

Considering the product design standpoint for developing this feature, the choice between offering various products with distinct payout terms and a more flexible payment option introduces a nuanced design challenge. Developing separate products tailored to specific payout durations may provide users with targeted solutions, offering a clear and straightforward experience for those who prefer specific timeframes such as next day, 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days. On the other hand, the concept of a flexible payment feature, while potentially more complex in its implementation, could cater to a broader audience with diverse financial needs. From a design perspective, the challenge lies in striking a balance between customization and simplicity. The UI should empower users to easily select and customize their preferred payment terms while maintaining a cohesive and intuitive overall experience. I will create a design that is both flexible and user-friendly, ensuring that whether users opt for specific product durations or a more adaptable payment schedule, the BNPL feature enhances financial flexibility seamlessly within the Dash.fi platform.

User Needs

Users seek a flexible term payment feature to gain control over their finances and better manage their budgets. In businesses with fluctuating income streams, this feature becomes invaluable, bridging cash flow gaps without causing immediate strain. The ability to strategically invest in growth initiatives or marketing campaigns, without the burden of immediate payment, is a key advantage. Users appreciate the adaptability of flexible payment terms to their business cycles, aligning expenditures with revenue highs and lows. Additionally, the option to avoid interest accumulation during a specified period caters to those who prefer a convenient interest-free approach. The flexibility provided contributes to enhanced financial planning, allowing users to allocate resources efficiently and make informed decisions. Above all, users value a seamless and user-centric experience, characterized by clear terms, transparent communication, and easy navigation, ensuring that the flexible term payment feature truly aligns with their financial objectives and preferences.

User Personas and Flow Charts

The primary challenge in developing a "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) feature for the Dash.fi platform lies in effectively mitigating the immediate financial strain faced by businesses with significant marketing budgets. The core issue revolves around addressing the cash flow constraints encountered by digitally native businesses, particularly in the realm of managing advertising expenses. Crafting a solution that enables clients to strategically allocate their budgets and invest in growth initiatives while alleviating the burden of immediate payment is complex. This endeavor requires careful consideration of risk management, seamless integration into the existing platform, and a user experience design that not only serves as a financial tool but genuinely enhances flexibility for businesses navigating the challenges of digital commerce. Balancing these aspects while staying attuned to compliance, user education, and robust default management will be pivotal in creating a BNPL feature that truly addresses the financial needs of digitally native businesses on the Dash.fi platform.

04. The Solution

I have decided to streamline the user experience on the Dash.fi platform by introducing a single, comprehensive product featuring flexible payment terms. Users will no longer need to navigate through different products; instead, they can create individual cards, each tailored to their specific needs, cash flow availability, and business seasonality. These payment terms will be managed at the card level, offering a seamless and adaptable financial solution. The platform will provide users with a consolidated view of their financial activity, encompassing both past and scheduled payments, along with a transparent breakdown of associated fees for the flexible terms.To empower users with real-time financial insights, a progress bar will be prominently displayed, offering a clear visualization of the remaining outstanding balance, monthly and daily spend,, account balance... This feature is designed to enhance transparency, enabling users to make informed decisions about their spending.In the transactions history, users will find detailed information, including payment terms associated with each transaction, ensuring a comprehensive overview of their financial activity.To mitigate risk, the feature will undergo an initial release to a select sample of customers with a proven track record of good financial health and trustworthiness. These users will have a designated credit to test the feature, allowing for thorough evaluation, feedback collection, and refinement before a broader rollout. This measured approach ensures a secure and reliable "buy now, pay later" experience for all users on the Dash.fi platform.

05. Outcome & Iteration

The introduction of the flexible terms feature has been marked by positive outcomes, meeting user needs for flexible spending aligned with cash flow and business seasonality. By offering a single, versatile product with customizable payment terms, the user experience is significantly simplified, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple products and fostering a more seamless interface. Users now benefit from a comprehensive view of their financial activity, including past and scheduled payments, associated fees, and remaining outstanding balances, empowering them to make informed financial decisions in real time.
The incorporation of a progress monitoring tool, such as the outstanding balance and available funds displayed in a real-time progress bar, enhances user awareness and facilitates precise spending management within predefined parameters. The feature's adaptability, allowing users to create cards with varied payment terms, demonstrates a commitment to personalization, catering to individual needs, cash flow availability, and business seasonality.To further refine the user experience, an initial release to a select sample of customers with known financial stability and trustworthiness has provided valuable insights. Users who have experimented with the feature express satisfaction, and ongoing iterations will be implemented based on their feedback. Specific enhancements to the past/scheduled payment history table are planned to facilitate reconciliation, while improvements to the dashboard will offer users a comprehensive overview. As we continue to experiment with and refine this feature, the utmost priority remains on careful risk mitigation, adhering to ethical lending practices, and ensuring the long-term success and financial well-being of our users.

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