Pair
Pair
Simplifying the receipt management process for over- whelmed business owners
Simplifying the receipt management process for over- whelmed business owners
Simplifying the receipt management process for over- whelmed business owners
PROJECT
DETAILS
Timeline
3.5 Months
Tools
Figma
Swift
Collaborators
Alice Nie
Aashita Grover
Daniel Muñoz
Mari Zhang
Keywords
Product Design
IOS Development
UX Research
OVERVIEW
In the U.S., 33 million small business owners rely on proper receipt management for IRS compliance and tracking costs. DCC Technologies, led by Chris Litwin, asked us to develop a mobile app for immediate expense management.
PROBLEM
Business owners struggle with receipt management, mixing personal and business receipts, forgetting expense details, and procrastinating. Many avoid hiring CPAs or bookkeepers, leading to issues like faded receipts and forgotten expenses.
MY ROLE
As the Design Lead and Project Manager, I executed initial user research, coordinated team efforts, and led the design process during prototyping stages. I ensured the project stayed on track and met deadlines.
PROJECT
DETAILS
Timeline
3.5 Months
Tools
Figma
Swift
Collaborators
Alice Nie
Aashita Grover
Daniel Muñoz
Mari Zhang
Keywords
Product Design
IOS Development
UX Research
OVERVIEW
In the U.S., 33 million small business owners rely on proper receipt management for IRS compliance and tracking costs. DCC Technologies, led by Chris Litwin, asked us to develop a mobile app for immediate expense management.
PROBLEM
Business owners struggle with receipt management, mixing personal and business receipts, forgetting expense details, and procrastinating. Many avoid hiring CPAs or bookkeepers, leading to issues like faded receipts and forgotten expenses.
MY ROLE
As the Design Lead and Project Manager, I executed initial user research, coordinated team efforts, and led the design process during prototyping stages. I ensured the project stayed on track and met deadlines.
PROJECT
DETAILS
Timeline
3.5 Months
Tools
Figma
Swift
Collaborators
Alice Nie
Aashita Grover
Daniel Muñoz
Mari Zhang
Keywords
Product Design
IOS Development
UX Research
OVERVIEW
In the U.S., 33 million small business owners rely on proper receipt management for IRS compliance and tracking costs. DCC Technologies, led by Chris Litwin, asked us to develop a mobile app for immediate expense management.
PROBLEM
Business owners struggle with receipt management, mixing personal and business receipts, forgetting expense details, and procrastinating. Many avoid hiring CPAs or bookkeepers, leading to issues like faded receipts and forgotten expenses.
MY ROLE
As the Design Lead and Project Manager, I executed initial user research, coordinated team efforts, and led the design process during prototyping stages. I ensured the project stayed on track and met deadlines.
Research Overview
Research Overview
Research Overview
RESEARCH QUESTION
RESEARCH QUESTION
RESEARCH QUESTION
How might we support small business owners in keeping track of business expenses so that they can be motivated to organize?
How might we support small business owners in keeping track of business expenses so that they can be motivated to organize?
How might we support small business owners in keeping track of business expenses so that they can be motivated to organize?
PROCESS OVERVIEW
PROCESS OVERVIEW
PROCESS OVERVIEW
1 Research
1 Research
1 Research
3
3
3
Expert Interviews
Expert Interviews
Expert Interviews
15
15
15
Semi-Structured Interviews
Semi-Structured Interviews
Semi-Structured Interviews
15
15
15
Contextual Inquiries
Contextual Inquiries
Contextual Inquiries
7
7
7
Products for Competitive Analysis
Products for Competitive Analysis
Products for Competitive Analysis
2 Synthesis
2 Synthesis
2 Synthesis
Affinity Diagraming
Affinity Diagraming
Affinity Diagraming
Stakeholder Anaylisis
Stakeholder Anaylisis
Stakeholder Anaylisis
User workflow synthesis
User workflow synthesis
User workflow synthesis
Insight Generation
Insight Generation
Insight Generation
3 Visioning
3 Visioning
3 Visioning
Crazy 8's
Crazy 8's
Crazy 8's
Worst Possible Ideas
Worst Possible Ideas
Worst Possible Ideas
Storyboards
Storyboards
Storyboards
4 Prototyping
4 Prototyping
4 Prototyping
Mid-Fi Prototyping
Mid-Fi Prototyping
Mid-Fi Prototyping
Hi-Fi Prototyping
Hi-Fi Prototyping
Hi-Fi Prototyping
User workflow synthesis
User workflow synthesis
User workflow synthesis
INSIGHTS GATHERED
INSIGHTS GATHERED
INSIGHTS GATHERED
Itemizing Receipts as Lifelines - Business owners need itemized receipts to separate business and personal expenses accurately.
Streamlining Receipt Complexity - Business owners require methods to convert diverse receipt formats into a standardized digital space.
Adapting to Diverse Needs -
Business owners face challenges in categorizing and separating expenses from receipts.
Addressing Procrastination - Business owners delay receipt management due to competing priorities, highlighting the need for an easy-to-use solution.
Triggering Action -
External prompts are necessary to initiate and sustain receipt management workflows.
Facilitating Collaboration -
Business owners coordinate with multiple stakeholders, so our solution addresses their needs while centering on the owners' requirements.
Pair's User Workflow
Pair's User Workflow
Pair's User Workflow
From the insights we gathered, we charted out the user workflow. Our research helped us recognize the steps that business owners would need for immediate expense management. We built out our app to have the least amount of steps that a user would need to manage receipts. We pinpointed the features that we would need adjacent to the receipt sorting process.
From the insights we gathered, we charted out the user workflow. Our research helped us recognize the steps that business owners would need for immediate expense management. We built out our app to have the least amount of steps that a user would need to manage receipts. We pinpointed the features that we would need adjacent to the receipt sorting process.
From the insights we gathered, we charted out the user workflow. Our research helped us recognize the steps that business owners would need for immediate expense management. We built out our app to have the least amount of steps that a user would need to manage receipts. We pinpointed the features that we would need adjacent to the receipt sorting process.
Product Features & Pages
Product Features & Pages
Product Features & Pages
Home Page
Home Page
Home Page
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
The home page of the app is intended to be the centralized platform for where they can see all their receipts. On the top they are prompted to sort transactions and it also gives them a status of how much there is to do to finish sorting if they left it uncompleted. They can also see all their previous receipts and can search through them if they want to.
The home page of the app is intended to be the centralized platform for where they can see all their receipts. On the top they are prompted to sort transactions and it also gives them a status of how much there is to do to finish sorting if they left it uncompleted. They can also see all their previous receipts and can search through them if they want to.
The home page of the app is intended to be the centralized platform for where they can see all their receipts. On the top they are prompted to sort transactions and it also gives them a status of how much there is to do to finish sorting if they left it uncompleted. They can also see all their previous receipts and can search through them if they want to.
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
Contextual Inquiry
Contextual Inquiry
Contextual Inquiry
Business owners require a centralized platform for them to be able to view and manage receipts
Business owners require a centralized platform for them to be able to view and manage receipts
Business owners require a centralized platform for them to be able to view and manage receipts
Mid-fi Testing
Mid-fi Testing
Mid-fi Testing
In the event that business owners do not completely finished sorting they should be nudged to prompted to finish doing it
In the event that business owners do not completely finished sorting they should be nudged to prompted to finish doing it
In the event that business owners do not completely finished sorting they should be nudged to prompted to finish doing it
Pre-Sorting
Pre-Sorting
Pre-Sorting
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
Before starting the sorting process, users select if their transaction was personal, business, or both. Personal transactions bypass sorting as they aren't tax-deductible. For business transactions, users scan the receipt and proceed to categorize their purchase. If owning multiple businesses, they may need to sort expenses accordingly. Transactions marked as both require sorting items into personal or business categories, then categorizing business expenses.
Before starting the sorting process, users select if their transaction was personal, business, or both. Personal transactions bypass sorting as they aren't tax-deductible. For business transactions, users scan the receipt and proceed to categorize their purchase. If owning multiple businesses, they may need to sort expenses accordingly. Transactions marked as both require sorting items into personal or business categories, then categorizing business expenses.
Before starting the sorting process, users select if their transaction was personal, business, or both. Personal transactions bypass sorting as they aren't tax-deductible. For business transactions, users scan the receipt and proceed to categorize their purchase. If owning multiple businesses, they may need to sort expenses accordingly. Transactions marked as both require sorting items into personal or business categories, then categorizing business expenses.
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
Contextual Inquiry & Lo-Fi Testing
Contextual Inquiry & Lo-Fi Testing
Contextual Inquiry & Lo-Fi Testing
Business owners often use the same payment method for personal and business expenses and need a way to mark transactions respectively. This pre-sorting step helps business owners either bypass sorting for personal expenses or choose what the receipt includes to enter the required sorting process
Business owners often use the same payment method for personal and business expenses and need a way to mark transactions respectively. This pre-sorting step helps business owners either bypass sorting for personal expenses or choose what the receipt includes to enter the required sorting process
Business owners often use the same payment method for personal and business expenses and need a way to mark transactions respectively. This pre-sorting step helps business owners either bypass sorting for personal expenses or choose what the receipt includes to enter the required sorting process
Sorting
Sorting
Sorting
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
The sorting pages allow users to group their personal and business expenses together by selecting items and pressing the corresponding button.
The sorting pages allow users to group their personal and business expenses together by selecting items and pressing the corresponding button.
The sorting pages allow users to group their personal and business expenses together by selecting items and pressing the corresponding button.
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
Contextual Inquiry & Lo-Fi Testing
Contextual Inquiry & Lo-Fi Testing
Contextual Inquiry & Lo-Fi Testing
Business owners are familiar with excel sheets and find tables to be intuitive.
Business owners are familiar with excel sheets and find tables to be intuitive.
Business owners are familiar with excel sheets and find tables to be intuitive.
Mid-Fi Testing
Mid-Fi Testing
Mid-Fi Testing
Checkmarks are an important affordance for older business owners to understand that the item is interactive.
Checkmarks are an important affordance for older business owners to understand that the item is interactive.
Checkmarks are an important affordance for older business owners to understand that the item is interactive.
Grouping items after they have been sorted help speed up the sorting process of the remaining items.
Grouping items after they have been sorted help speed up the sorting process of the remaining items.
Grouping items after they have been sorted help speed up the sorting process of the remaining items.
Categorizing
Categorizing
Categorizing
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
The categorization page allows users to further sort their business items into IRS categories. Sorted items go down to the bottom of the list. Users see their top 5 most-used categories immediately but can press OTHER for the full list.
The categorization page allows users to further sort their business items into IRS categories. Sorted items go down to the bottom of the list. Users see their top 5 most-used categories immediately but can press OTHER for the full list.
The categorization page allows users to further sort their business items into IRS categories. Sorted items go down to the bottom of the list. Users see their top 5 most-used categories immediately but can press OTHER for the full list.
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
Mid-Fi Testing
Mid-Fi Testing
Mid-Fi Testing
Business owners want the process to be as simple as possible → only see the necessary information.
Business owners want the process to be as simple as possible → only see the necessary information.
Business owners want the process to be as simple as possible → only see the necessary information.
Symbols on the buttons help speed up the process due to faster recognition of what the button is representing.
Symbols on the buttons help speed up the process due to faster recognition of what the button is representing.
Symbols on the buttons help speed up the process due to faster recognition of what the button is representing.
Moving categorized items to the bottom make the sorting process clearer and quicker.
Moving categorized items to the bottom make the sorting process clearer and quicker.
Moving categorized items to the bottom make the sorting process clearer and quicker.
Post-sorted View
Post-sorted View
Post-sorted View
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
Once the sorting is done, the receipt is stored and can be viewed by the user. They have the option to view it as a whole or can use the drop down to choose what expenses they want to see in terms of business or personal.
Once the sorting is done, the receipt is stored and can be viewed by the user. They have the option to view it as a whole or can use the drop down to choose what expenses they want to see in terms of business or personal.
Once the sorting is done, the receipt is stored and can be viewed by the user. They have the option to view it as a whole or can use the drop down to choose what expenses they want to see in terms of business or personal.
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
Lo-Fi Testing
Lo-Fi Testing
Lo-Fi Testing
Users like to see the original unchanged version of their receipts
Users like to see the original unchanged version of their receipts
Users like to see the original unchanged version of their receipts
Mid-fi Testing
Mid-fi Testing
Mid-fi Testing
Users prefer a mechanism to be able see specific sections of the receipts based on what the expenses are sorted as (i.e specific business or personal)
Users prefer a mechanism to be able see specific sections of the receipts based on what the expenses are sorted as (i.e specific business or personal)
Users prefer a mechanism to be able see specific sections of the receipts based on what the expenses are sorted as (i.e specific business or personal)
Dynamic Notifications
Dynamic Notifications
Dynamic Notifications
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
Users receive a notification every time they make a purchase. Users can long-click on the notification to automatically sort it as a personal expense or click into the notification to go to the PAIR app. The user can pick the frequency of these notifications (daily, weekly, monthly) with daily being the default.
Users receive a notification every time they make a purchase. Users can long-click on the notification to automatically sort it as a personal expense or click into the notification to go to the PAIR app. The user can pick the frequency of these notifications (daily, weekly, monthly) with daily being the default.
Users receive a notification every time they make a purchase. Users can long-click on the notification to automatically sort it as a personal expense or click into the notification to go to the PAIR app. The user can pick the frequency of these notifications (daily, weekly, monthly) with daily being the default.
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
Lo-Fi Testing
Lo-Fi Testing
Lo-Fi Testing
Notifications that provide a sense of urgency are more likely to be pressed.
Notifications that provide a sense of urgency are more likely to be pressed.
Notifications that provide a sense of urgency are more likely to be pressed.
Symbols on the buttons help speed up the process due to faster recognition of what the button is representing.
Symbols on the buttons help speed up the process due to faster recognition of what the button is representing.
Symbols on the buttons help speed up the process due to faster recognition of what the button is representing.
Moving categorized items to the bottom make the sorting process clearer and quicker.
Moving categorized items to the bottom make the sorting process clearer and quicker.
Moving categorized items to the bottom make the sorting process clearer and quicker.
Widgets
Widgets
Widgets
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
PAIR comes with 3 sizes of widgets that allow users to sort between personal and business/mixed purchases from the home screen. Pressing the black profile button sorts the purchase as Personal and marks it done. Pressing the PAIR marks the purchase as needing to be sorted.
PAIR comes with 3 sizes of widgets that allow users to sort between personal and business/mixed purchases from the home screen. Pressing the black profile button sorts the purchase as Personal and marks it done. Pressing the PAIR marks the purchase as needing to be sorted.
PAIR comes with 3 sizes of widgets that allow users to sort between personal and business/mixed purchases from the home screen. Pressing the black profile button sorts the purchase as Personal and marks it done. Pressing the PAIR marks the purchase as needing to be sorted.
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
RATIONALE
Lo-Fi Testing
Lo-Fi Testing
Lo-Fi Testing
Business owners don’t need or want to scan their personal receipts
Business owners don’t need or want to scan their personal receipts
Business owners don’t need or want to scan their personal receipts
Users are more likely to take action if there’s only one step involved
Users are more likely to take action if there’s only one step involved
Users are more likely to take action if there’s only one step involved
Design System
Design System
Design System
Process Overview
Process Overview
Process Overview
Mapping out existing user workflows
Mapping out existing user workflows
Mapping out existing user workflows
While we did our user research, the team was given the task to map out the existing receipt sorting processes of business owners to find leverage points with the process that we could create solutions for
While we did our user research, the team was given the task to map out the existing receipt sorting processes of business owners to find leverage points with the process that we could create solutions for
While we did our user research, the team was given the task to map out the existing receipt sorting processes of business owners to find leverage points with the process that we could create solutions for
After mapping out singular workflows, we collectively built a master workflow to represent various different workflows based on who the user was
After mapping out singular workflows, we collectively built a master workflow to represent various different workflows based on who the user was
After mapping out singular workflows, we collectively built a master workflow to represent various different workflows based on who the user was
Affinity Diagraming
Affinity Diagraming
Affinity Diagraming
We combined notes from over 40 different user studies that we did to synthesize our findings and extract actionable insights
We combined notes from over 40 different user studies that we did to synthesize our findings and extract actionable insights
We combined notes from over 40 different user studies that we did to synthesize our findings and extract actionable insights
MedFi prototyping & Color exploration
MedFi prototyping & Color exploration
MedFi prototyping & Color exploration
Our med-fi prototypes allowed us to test colors and granularly test the receipt sorting process.
Our med-fi prototypes allowed us to test colors and granularly test the receipt sorting process.
Our med-fi prototypes allowed us to test colors and granularly test the receipt sorting process.
Closing thoughts
Closing thoughts
Closing thoughts
VALUE
STATEMENT
VALUE
STATEMENT
VALUE
STATEMENT
Pair simplifies receipt management for maker business owners with features like seamless data extraction, spreadsheet integration, and real-time notifications. Designed from extensive research, it reduces administrative burdens, optimizes financial processes, and supports business growth, adding significant value to users and stakeholders.
Pair simplifies receipt management for maker business owners with features like seamless data extraction, spreadsheet integration, and real-time notifications. Designed from extensive research, it reduces administrative burdens, optimizes financial processes, and supports business growth, adding significant value to users and stakeholders.
Pair simplifies receipt management for maker business owners with features like seamless data extraction, spreadsheet integration, and real-time notifications. Designed from extensive research, it reduces administrative burdens, optimizes financial processes, and supports business growth, adding significant value to users and stakeholders.
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
Our vision for PAIR focuses on continuous innovation to meet the evolving needs of maker business owners. Key next steps include:
Usability testing and integration: Ongoing user feedback will refine features and address pain points to ensure PAIR remains intuitive and efficient.
Analytics and Collaboration: Integrate analytics for financial insights and add collaborative features for seamless data sharing with CPAs and bookkeepers, including export options to accounting software.
Feature expansion: Based on user feedback, introduce new features like OCR for data extraction, third-party service integration, and support for multiple languages and currencies.
Our vision for PAIR focuses on continuous innovation to meet the evolving needs of maker business owners. Key next steps include:
Usability testing and integration: Ongoing user feedback will refine features and address pain points to ensure PAIR remains intuitive and efficient.
Analytics and Collaboration: Integrate analytics for financial insights and add collaborative features for seamless data sharing with CPAs and bookkeepers, including export options to accounting software.
Feature expansion: Based on user feedback, introduce new features like OCR for data extraction, third-party service integration, and support for multiple languages and currencies.
Our vision for PAIR focuses on continuous innovation to meet the evolving needs of maker business owners. Key next steps include:
Usability testing and integration: Ongoing user feedback will refine features and address pain points to ensure PAIR remains intuitive and efficient.
Analytics and Collaboration: Integrate analytics for financial insights and add collaborative features for seamless data sharing with CPAs and bookkeepers, including export options to accounting software.
Feature expansion: Based on user feedback, introduce new features like OCR for data extraction, third-party service integration, and support for multiple languages and currencies.