Paytm rolled out an improved version of their app recently. I being a regular user of the app, keep thinking about why new changes would have been made, how could they be more helpful. Here are some observation for this iteration.
The new screen looks like a radical change, however functions don’t seem to have changed a whole lot. It packs everything into a single screen with no tabbed interface. Single screen here is a great goal to have, but it’s the current state of the screen that doesn’t convince me.
Here is the old and new versions of the screen for reference.
What has changed?
The entry point to the screen remains the same, which is good. In the new version, the “Scan Code” option is still very prominent. For many users that’s the default option. After the demonetisation driven growth, I see “Pay by mobile number” option being more commonplace, especially at a number of small shops who signed up early in the phase (wondering, maybe this needs a fix). Perhaps, that’s the reason why the “Pay by mobile number” also got a place in the same screen. Screen also has menu items for “add money” (nice, saves two taps!) and “scan from gallery”.
To me, that’s where good experience ends.
The “Show Code” option is more uncomfortable to access now.
- First, it’s the least prominent the screen and needs serious searching immediately after the upgrade.
- Second, every time I go to Chai point (or any shop who use a scanner for payments), I need to look carefully at my screen to access it through the little link or through the menu.
- Third, this being the only offline capable option in the page (afaik), deserves a cleaner treatment.
New option “Scan from Gallery” is hidden.
A new useful option, but may take time to discover for the uninitiated users. Would be nice to know sooner, right?
Alternative approach?
Here is a slightly less radical, smoother(IMHO!) approach. Idea is not to shock the users with sudden change, yet to include the benefits seen in the newer version of the screen. Let me know what you think!
Thought Farming 