Karandaaz has announced the launch of a new programme to subsidize design thinking services for Digital Financial Service (DFS) providers offering products and services through mobile and web-based platforms.

Karandaaz aims at promoting digital financial products and services that address the needs of the customers; create more valuable, appealing, and user-friendly solutions; and expand financial inclusion in the country. More often than not, digital financial products are complex when presented digitally and hence many customers are reluctant to use them. This builds a gap in trust leading to lower adoption. Creating the products using Design Thinking lowers the complexity and improves customer trust and adoption.

The range of services covered under the programme includes design research, user experience design, user interface design, usability audit, and product and service design. DFS providers who are operating in payments, savings, credit, customer acquisition, lending, mobile wallets, e-commerce payments, digital on-boarding, account opening, and digital security etc. are eligible to apply. More details about the programme and the application form can be found on Karandaaz website at https://karandaaz.com.pk/design-thinking/

Rehan Akhtar, Chief Digital Officer Karandaaz shared, "A great design is crucial to creating trust with the customers while interacting digitally. The design firms will bid on each assignment and the lowest bidder will be awarded the contract. Half the cost of the project will be borne by the applicant, while Karandaaz will bear the other 50 percent or up to PKR 500,000, whichever is lower. Karandaaz has selected three industry leaders after a competitive process: Ideate Innovation, Systems Limited, and Designist to offer design thinking services."-PR