Member Connect - A platform for Tide users to network
B2B Fintech App | 6 Weeks
Member Connect, where SMEs can list their services, connect with potential clients, and establish a strong B2B network.
Understanding the problem
We identified a gap in the market. While there are plenty of platforms for professionals (e.g. LinkedIn), there isn’t a dedicated platform where small businesses can showcase their services and connect with other business owners. SMEs and MSMEs often struggle with visibility, attracting new clients, and growing their businesses.
The challenge
The challenge was to design a user-friendly platform that catered to small businesses to showcase their services and connect with other businesses, providing them with the tools they needed to thrive in a competitive B2B environment.
Research & Discovery
Target Audience
Sole traders and small registered company entrepreneurs
Primary Needs
Visibility: A platform to showcase their services, products, and expertise.
Networking: The ability to connect with other entrepreneurs for partnerships, collaborations, and sales.
Pain Points
Limited Resources: Unlike larger companies, SMEs and MSMEs often have limited marketing budgets and resources.
Complexity of Existing Platforms: Current platforms like LinkedIn are often too complex or not tailored for B2B networking among smaller businesses.
Key insights from research
Easy to use
The platform needed to be intuitive, simple, and provide an efficient, seamless experience for all users.
Useful features
The platform should help lead generation, service listing, and essential small business features.
Credibility
Trust-building features were essential to businesses to establish credibility in the marketplace.
Brainstorming Session
For brainstorming, we used FigJam since we were all working remotely. Each week, we held team meetings to review progress and determine the next steps for the project.
User Flows
Onboarding Flow
Built a simple onboarding so users swiftly set up essential business profiles.
Service Listing Flow
Streamlined service listing allowed businesses to categorize, describe, and price offerings effectively.
Connection Flow
Built feature enabling users to connect by industry, business needs, or location.
Final design
Business Profiles
Comprehensive profiles that allow businesses to showcase their services, certifications, portfolios, and customer reviews.
Service Listings
Easy-to-use templates for listing services, with options to categorize and tag services for better discoverability.
Networking & Connections
A simplified connection feature, allowing businesses to network based on industry, geographic location, and business needs. In-platform messaging for seamless communication between businesses.
Lead Generation
A feature where businesses can post service requests and solicit quotes from other businesses.
List your services
A feature where businesses can post services and solicit offerings of their businesses. Share the basic information about the business and its offerings.
Challenges & Solutions
Balancing simplicity with functionality
Challenge: Ensuring the platform was simple enough for time-strapped business owners while still offering powerful features.
Solution: Conducted multiple rounds of usability testing and prioritized features based on user feedback.
Mobile Usability
Challenge: Ensuring the platform worked seamlessly on mobile devices.
Solution: Designed a mobile-first experience, prioritizing key actions and reducing unnecessary steps in the mobile interface.
Outcome & Impact
The platform launched successfully and continues to evolve based on ongoing user feedback, with plans to introduce additional features like AI-driven recommendations and expanded analytics. The final product was well-received by the beta users. Key outcomes included:
Increased Visibility
Users reported higher engagement and better lead generation compared to other platforms.
Positive Feedback
Users appreciated the platform’s simplicity and the tailored features that catered to their needs.
Network Growth
Businesses were able to expand networks, resulting in new partnerships.
Reflection
Designing a B2B platform for SMEs and MSMEs required a deep understanding of the unique challenges and needs of small businesses. By focusing on simplicity, trust-building, and usability, we were able to create a platform that empowers these businesses to connect, grow, and succeed in the competitive B2B marketplace.
The project highlighted the importance of user-centered design and iterative testing in creating products that truly meet the needs of their users.
Selected Work
