Zilch

React Native App

4.8

The brief:

Zilch provides regulated affordable, 0% interest financing to 3m+ customers, making use of innovative technologies and processes to ensure credit is provided safely and responsibly, reducing the risk of being trapped into persistent problematic debt.

Initially, Zilch offered a virtual Mastercard through their mobile app and website. On selecting a brand from their storefront, the card details could be copied and used for online purchases. Whilst great for online shopping, Zilch wanted to further empower their customers when shopping in brick-and-mortar retailers. Whilst competitors had focused on QR code based systems, Zilch dreamed of a virtual card that could be used via Tap and Pay. This would bring a range of benefits including:

the ability to use Zilch and pay-over-time anywhere Mastercard was accepted in the real world
an increased range in offering, as shops did not have to opt-in to a new method of accepting payments via QR code
a reduced environmental footprint, compared to offering a physical plastic card

Although Zilch already had a mobile app, they needed to bring in an experienced mobile consultancy to deliver the bespoke framework for integrating with Tap and Pay - across Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Our solution:

We helped Zilch build the first pay-over-time virtual card in Europe, across Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay; delivering responsible access to credit and allowing customers to build their credit score.

We embedded within Zilch's engineering team, and led the development of the in-app Tap and Pay card provisioning project - across iOS and Android. Using Swift, Objective-C, Java, and Kotlin, we built a bespoke React Native module that bridged from the React Native codebase to include:

an Apple Pay integration - utilising a technical provider's private framework, alongside additional native code for additional functionality. This also covered an iPad and Apple Watch integration, matching Apple's Tap and Pay requirements
a Google Pay integration - utilising a technical provider's private framework, alongside additional native code
a Samsung Pay integration - utilising Samsung's private Tap and Pay framework, alongside additional native code

At multiple stages during the delivery of the native module and app integration, we worked with Zilch and their technical partners through various audits conducted by Mastercard, Apple, Google, and Samsung - covering each provider's guidelines and requirements. Where required, we promptly delivered updates and fixes to ensure compliance.

We also focused on implementing and enhancing wider engineering processes, including test-driven development, CI support for native code; alongside mentoring Zilch's mobile team to ensure smooth handover of the project on completion.

By delivering the Tap and Pay project, alongside implementing wider engineering processes, we:

facilitated Zilch's mission to deliver responsible access to credit, for demographics that find it harder to access safely
ensured long-term viability of the Tap and Pay program, by providing knowledge-sharing sessions & extensive documentation
cemented business-benefiting values within engineering surrounding best practices, to ensure long-term stability and provide the launchpad for further growth.

Looking for a consultancy that specialises in the obscure within mobile? Take a look at our other projects!

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