The Problem We Were Actually Solving
The project 'OpenAid' is an OSS platform to help non-profits collect and allocate funds more efficiently to grassroots projects in sub-Saharan Africa. We decided to allow contributors to receive funding through the platform in the form of bank transfers. This was to help reduce transaction fees that come with traditional payment methods like PayPal and Stripe. At first, it seemed like a simple problem to solve but little did I know that I would be venturing into a rabbit hole of international payment systems.
What We Tried First (And Why It Failed)
We initially decided to use Gumroad and Payhip to handle transactions, but it turned out that these platforms did not have a presence in Nigeria. I didn't think much of this at first, assuming that it was just an issue with the platforms since PayPal and Stripe did not work either. However, we soon realized that it was not our problem to solve but rather the platforms we were using. Contributors were getting frustrated with the lack of payment options available, which in turn affected the overall morale of the project. This was when we started to look for alternative solutions that would work in Nigeria.
The Architecture Decision
We decided to integrate the Flatforma platform, which is an open-source platform that simplifies the process of accepting donations and payments from the public, with bank transfer options available for Nigeria. However, this was not without its challenges. One of the biggest issues we faced was the need for international bank account numbers (IBANs) from Nigerian banks that could be easily accessed by the platform. After some research, we discovered that only 2 out of 7 banks in Nigeria supported IBANs. This made it difficult to find a bank that met our requirements. In the end, we decided to go with a bank that supported IBANs and used their API to handle transactions.
What The Numbers Said After
After integrating the Flatforma platform and finding a bank that supported IBANs, we saw a significant increase in payment success rates. We went from having a 30% payment success rate to over 90%. Not only did this improve the overall morale of the project, but it also allowed us to focus more on the technical aspects of the project. According to our analytics, over 80% of our contributors were from Nigeria, and the majority of them reported that the improved payment options made it easier for them to contribute to the project. We were able to successfully onboard new contributors and retain existing ones, all thanks to the improved payment system.
What I Would Do Differently
In retrospect, I would have done my research more thoroughly before selecting the initial payment platforms. I would have realized the risks associated with using platforms that do not cater to specific regions. I would have also communicated more effectively with the community about the challenges we were facing and the steps we were taking to solve them. This would have prevented some of the frustration that came with the initial rollout of the payment system.
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