TTC Pay-n-Go
We're introducing a new payment feature to the Presto APP for the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), which is the main organization that operates public transportation in Toronto, Canada. This new feature targets daily public transportation commuters and is aimed at enhancing their daily payment experience. With our latest update, commuters will have the option to conveniently tap and pay directly from their phones at any TTC POS. This addition eliminates the need for physical cards or tickets, making your payment process more streamlined and effortless. The goal is to provide you with a smoother and hassle-free experience during your daily commute, reinforcing your preference for using the Presto APP.
Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How might we make the payment experience of the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) with the Presto APP more seamless and less painful for daily commuters, specifically addressing the pain point of the lack of a tap-and-pay feature on the TTC POS?
Problem Background
The need is to make the payment experience for public transportation commuters more convenient and efficient.
Through consumer research in the form of surveys and interviews with four interviewees, we have learned that daily commuters find difficulty being able to pay at a POS when they forget to bring their presto cards, resulting in 40% of interviews stating that they are highly unsatisfied over the absence of a tap-and-pay option on the TTC POS.
The problem we're addressing is the lack of tap-and-pay functionality on the TTC POS, which leads to inconvenience and inefficiency in the payment process. Commuters have to carry physical cards or tickets, leading to potential delays, especially during peak hours, and adding friction to their daily transit experience.
A 2022 Canada-wide survey by Interac found:
- 69% of Ontarians polled saw debit as a convenient way to pay for transit.
- 69% claimed that tap payments would save time when paying fares.
- 68% were interested in using debit or credit cards to pay for their trips if they had the option.
- 72% believed it would be easier for visitors to pay for transit using their bank card as opposed to tickets, tokens, or passes.
Research Insights
A key takeaway from our user discovery research: is that participants are unsatisfied due to the lack of payment alternatives when using public transportation (TTC).
- 40% mentioned that having a contactless payment could improve their commuting experience
- 75% expressed the desire to be able to link their credit cards to their Presto APP or Digital Wallet
- 48% of participants stated that they are highly unsatisfied with the absence of a tap-and-pay option on the TTC POS.
More information can be found on the Research Synthesis.
Conducted a survey to obtain initial user data with regards to their commuting habits and experience riding the TTC. To address this problem effectively, the questions focused on their payment experience with the Presto APP.
User Pain Points
Using Surveys and in depth interviews, we identified that the Presto APP does not provide an option to pay with the APP directly when riding.
Supporting Data
Based on research, from a Canada-wide survey by Interac, 69% claimed that tap payments would save time when paying fares.
Feedback
Users are clearly signaling a need for a more seamless experience when it comes to payments.
Landing on the Solution
Based on the pain points of our potential users, it was identified that the main pain point for most users was a lack of payment options when commuting.
- As a user, I want to be able to link multiple cards (in case of loss) to one NFC, so I can pay directly using any card from one single account.
- As a user, I want to use my Presto APP to tap and pay directly on any TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) Public Transportation POS, so I can avoid the hassle of carrying physical cards or tickets during my daily travels.
- As a user, I want the option to make quick and seamless payments with my phone on any TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) Public Transportation using the Presto APP, so I can have a more convenient and efficient transit experience.
Future Steps
I plan to use my experience and lessons learned from this project to develop a new product with a team of designers and engineers that could potentially include this payment feature.
Resource: https://www.interac.ca/en/content/news/interac-debit-now-available-for-transit-riders-across-ontario/
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Robert Loo
Co.Lab was a very interesting experience for me. Here are my lessons:
- Understanding how to define the problem: The importance of defining the problem space is crucial in order to gain focus and clarity before jumping into the solution space.
- User Research: The initial discovery phase is crucial to ensuring product success. This helps product teams understand the needs, preferences, and pain points of users, ensuring that the final product meets their expectations and leading to better user experiences
- Done is better than perfect: I realized that in a 4-week sprint, you don't have much time, so making sure you have something that can be delivered allows for quicker feedback, iteration, and validation of the concept with minimal resources invested.
Problem Before Solution: It is easy to jump to conclusions, but as long as you don’t understand the real problem, it's hard to come up with a solution that will really help the end-user.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.