[Case 01]

DCWD Mobile Application

Utility Company

Transforming Billing: A Digital Solution for Seamless Payments & Efficiency

Case Study (For the project proposal, the system is still in the planning stage and has not yet been developed.)

[Project Overview]

A digital billing system with e-bills, online payments, reminders, and additional upcoming features enhances convenience, reduces visits, and cuts paper waste.

[Problem Statement]

The users of Davao City Water District (DCWD) currently rely on traditional paper bills for their monthly water payments. This system requires customers to physically receive, keep track of, and manually process their payments, often leading to inconveniences such as misplaced bills or forgotten due dates.

Additionally, customers must line up at payment centers each month to settle their bills, which can be time-consuming and inefficient. The long queues, limited operating hours, and potential travel costs add to the burden, especially for busy individuals or those with mobility constraints.

A more digitalized billing and payment system could greatly enhance convenience by providing electronic bills, online payment options, and automated reminders. This would not only reduce physical visits and paper waste but also improve overall customer satisfaction by streamlining the payment process.

[Industry]

Utility Company

[My Role]

Lead DesignerLead UI/UX Designer

[Platforms]

IOS and Android

[Timeline]

Target Date - December 2025

[Persona]

Maria Dela Cruz

Resident in Davao City

Maria, a sari-sari store owner, manages her household expenses, including the DCWD bill. She receives a paper bill and must visit a payment center monthly, but her busy schedule makes lining up inconvenient, leading to delays or missed payments.

Age: 29

Location: Davao city

Tech Proficiency: Moderate

Female

[Pain Points]

Long queues at payment centers take up valuable time.

Risk of misplacing or forgetting the paper bill.

Inconvenience of traveling just to pay a bill.

[Goals and Motivation]

Wants a faster, more convenient way to pay her water bill.

Prefers a digital system where she can view bills and pay online.

Values efficiency to focus more on her business and family.

[Process]

[01] User Research

Conducted user interviews with a few participants to understand their pain points and preferences.

Analyzed user behavior data to pinpoint where users dropped off in the process.

Study other digital billing systems to benchmark best practices.

[01] User Research

Conducted user interviews with a few participants to understand their pain points and preferences.

Analyzed user behavior data to pinpoint where users dropped off in the process.

Study other digital billing systems to benchmark best practices.

[01] User Research

Conducted user interviews with a few participants to understand their pain points and preferences.

Analyzed user behavior data to pinpoint where users dropped off in the process.

Study other digital billing systems to benchmark best practices.

[02] Insights

Long waits at payment centers disrupt users' daily routines.

Many customers rely solely on cash payments, with a lack of accessible digital alternatives.

Without automated alerts, users struggle to track due dates, increasing the risk of missed payments.

[02] Insights

Long waits at payment centers disrupt users' daily routines.

Many customers rely solely on cash payments, with a lack of accessible digital alternatives.

Without automated alerts, users struggle to track due dates, increasing the risk of missed payments.

[02] Insights

Long waits at payment centers disrupt users' daily routines.

Many customers rely solely on cash payments, with a lack of accessible digital alternatives.

Without automated alerts, users struggle to track due dates, increasing the risk of missed payments.

[03 Design Solution]

Electronic Bills: Customers receive water bills via SMS, email, or a mobile app.

Multiple Payment Options: Allow payments via e-wallets, online banking.

Automated Reminders: Send notifications for due dates and payment confirmations.

[03 Design Solution]

Electronic Bills: Customers receive water bills via SMS, email, or a mobile app.

Multiple Payment Options: Allow payments via e-wallets, online banking.

Automated Reminders: Send notifications for due dates and payment confirmations.

[03 Design Solution]

Electronic Bills: Customers receive water bills via SMS, email, or a mobile app.

Multiple Payment Options: Allow payments via e-wallets, online banking.

Automated Reminders: Send notifications for due dates and payment confirmations.

[04] Testing & Iteration

Will be conducting A/B testing with few users and employees to compare original and redesigned flows.

Will gather feedback through usability testing and refined the design based on user input.

Designed a mobile-first layout with large text and touch-friendly buttons for elderly users.

[04] Testing & Iteration

Will be conducting A/B testing with few users and employees to compare original and redesigned flows.

Will gather feedback through usability testing and refined the design based on user input.

Designed a mobile-first layout with large text and touch-friendly buttons for elderly users.

[04] Testing & Iteration

Will be conducting A/B testing with few users and employees to compare original and redesigned flows.

Will gather feedback through usability testing and refined the design based on user input.

Designed a mobile-first layout with large text and touch-friendly buttons for elderly users.

[Outcome]

Improved Convenience & User Experience
Cost Savings & Operational Efficiency
Sustainability & Paper Waste Reduction

[Key Learnings]

Real-Time Status Tracking

Users receive updates on repair progress and estimated completion time.

Real-Time Status Tracking

Users receive updates on repair progress and estimated completion time.

Real-Time Status Tracking

Users receive updates on repair progress and estimated completion time.

Integration with Repair Shops

Direct communication between insurers and repair providers for accurate estimates and faster scheduling.

Integration with Repair Shops

Direct communication between insurers and repair providers for accurate estimates and faster scheduling.

Integration with Repair Shops

Direct communication between insurers and repair providers for accurate estimates and faster scheduling.

Repair Scheduling & Coordination

Users can book repair appointments and get estimated completion timelines.

Repair Scheduling & Coordination

Users can book repair appointments and get estimated completion timelines.

Repair Scheduling & Coordination

Users can book repair appointments and get estimated completion timelines.

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