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GoDigital Corporation

Gaming Payments, Reimagined with Okto wallet

Okto x Mineski NFC card

About

GoDigital Corporation, the parent company of Okto wallet and a sibling company of Mineski Philippines, is a leading player in the digital solutions space. Leveraging its deep understanding of the gaming industry and its expertise in technology, GoDigital has been instrumental in developing innovative products and services that cater to the evolving needs of consumers.

With Mineski Philippines as its strategic partner, GoDigital benefits from a strong foothold in the Southeast Asian gaming market. This synergy allows the company to tap into a vast network of gamers and understand their preferences, enabling it to create products that resonate with the target audience.

Services Provided

Strategy

Product Design

User Interface / User Experience

Marketing

Okto

Helping micro, small, and medium enterprises on their digital transformation.

Understand

GoDigital Corporation's product and marketing team.

GoDigital Corporation

I had the privilege of being part of the dynamic team at GoDigital, a promising startup based in the Philippines. As a multimedia designer, my role spanned across marketing and technology, making me a sort of product and marketing designer hybrid. It was a fast-paced environment where every team member played a crucial role in shaping the company's future.

Working within a lean yet talented team, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with C-suite stakeholders, developers, and co-designers on the Okto project. Our focus on esports and gaming allowed us to create innovative solutions tailored to the needs of this vibrant community.

Okto

Okto, a revolutionary all-in-one digital wallet, was at the forefront of the digital payment revolution in the Philippines. With its user-friendly interface, Okto offered a wide range of services, including bill payments, game credit purchases, mobile top-ups, and money transfers.

As one of the early pioneers, I played a pivotal role in designing the POSMs, terminals, desktop, and mobile app for Okto. The app was widely adopted by Mineski Infinity and other prominent internet cafes across the country, making it a popular choice among gamers and consumers alike.

Okto's innovative business model, centered around esports and gaming, leveraged the existing community of gamers to drive adoption. The app also offered a rewards program, incentivizing users to continue using the platform and explore its various features.

Revolutionizing Esports Payments with Okto

The rise of cashless payments in the Philippines

As the Philippines transitioned to cashless payments, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of leading e-wallet platforms like GCash, Maya, and Coins. By studying their strengths, weaknesses, and user experiences, we were able to identify opportunities for improvement and apply those insights to the development of Okto. Through quantitative and qualitative research, we delved into user journeys to understand their needs and design features that would set Okto apart.

Okto groundwork UI.
Mineski Infinity Cybercafe. Esports

Gaming as Okto's growth catalyst

Okto's acquisition strategy was centered around the gaming community, targeting internet cafes, gaming events, and esports enthusiasts. We initiated this process by introducing cashless payments via the Okto card at internet cafes. This allowed users to conveniently top up their accounts and pay for computer rentals, in-game purchases, mobile load, and other products.

The goal was to gradually integrate cashless payments into the market, encouraging users to connect their accounts to the Okto app. By transforming Okto into an all-in-one platform for payments, bills, rewards, and more, we aimed to provide a comprehensive solution that would meet the diverse needs of the gaming community.

Amplify delightful experiences through brand partnerships

Okto's strategic partnerships have been instrumental in enhancing user experiences and driving adoption of cashless payments. By collaborating with leading brands, we have successfully disrupted the market and demonstrated the convenience and benefits of using Okto.

One notable example is our partnership with McDonald's Philippines. Internet cafe gamers can now easily order McDonald's food products directly from their seats using the Okto-powered dashboard (Nimbus) on their computers. A simple payment through the Okto app triggers an automatic order pickup and delivery from the nearest McDonald's branch. This seamless integration provides a delightful experience for gamers while generating additional revenue for both Okto and McDonald's.

Okto x Macdonalds PH. Nimbus Cafe and Minseki partnership

Okto

Okto Google Play screenshots
Okto POS for health suppliment shop
Okto merchant application.
Okto

Innovating payments, one feature at a time.

From seamless bill payments to instant money transfers, Okto's innovative features are designed to simplify your everyday life. Experience the convenience of a digital wallet that puts you in control.

Okto Pay bills UI

Seamless Bill Payments

Pay your bills on the go with ease.

Okto send money user journey

Instant Money Transfers

Send and receive money instantly to friends and family.

Okto buy load journey

Mobile Load

Top up your mobile load anytime, anywhere.

Okto but game credits journey

Game Credit Purchases

Buy game credits for your favorite games with just a few taps.

Okto Rewards

Rewards and Discounts

Enjoy exclusive offers and rewards from our partners.

Okto Pay, Rewards, and POS

User-Friendly Interface

Navigate effortlessly through our intuitive app design.

Okto Post-mortem

What worked, what didn't, and the valuable lessons I took away from Okto.

A competitive product in the adversity of the pandemic

Okto faced significant challenges during the pandemic, as many startups in the tech industry did, especially in a third-world country. While our product was competitive, our capital-intensive acquisition model and limited resources made it difficult to compete with well-funded companies during the rise of COVID-19.

The pandemic drastically shifted people's behaviors and priorities. While cashless transactions increased, overall household spending decreased due to job uncertainties, health concerns, and lockdowns. This economic climate made it even more challenging for Okto to gain traction.

Our investors also faced uncertainty, carefully evaluating the product's ability to withstand these challenges and adapt to the evolving situation.

Internet cafes, on-ground events, and other eSports conventions have been put to hold.

The esports and gaming industry has always been Okto's core market. However, the pandemic presented significant hurdles. Lockdowns in the Philippines meant internet cafes, gaming events, and conventions were on hold for extended periods. This limited face-to-face interactions, commuting became difficult, and businesses faced closures, layoffs, and rising COVID-19 cases. While online esports events saw a surge in popularity, Okto found it challenging to translate this engagement into profit.

The pandemic undeniably impacted GoDigital as a startup. Competitors with deeper pockets and more resources made the digital wallet race even more competitive during this challenging time.

Key Insights from the Okto Project

The company have shifted its focus on different digital products. There have been multiple layoffs as the company is having a hard time withstanding the pandemic. Employees benefits have been downgraded, attrition rate has been in all time high, and profitability of the company has been. uncertain and having difficulties to adapt to the new normal as they speak.

I have decided to leave the company before GoDigital Corporation was absorbed by Mineski to continue the technology business on a smaller scale. A great thing that happened though based from the stories I have heard from my former colleagues in GoDigital Corporation was that Okto's system and build has been brought and white labeled by a European brand in which the wallet's foundation and system has been used outside the Philippines.

When I look back, I'm still ecstatic on my experience on creating and being a part of Okto. It is a product design project where problems are like a never-ending battle for the designers and developers in which really have stretched us out in terms of collaboration, quality of work, and techniques. I always question myself, "What if Okto just managed to get funded more, withstand the pandemic and lockdowns, and went all-out in marketing and partnerships? I believe it could have been a 3-way competition in the Digital Bank era in the Philippines.

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Let’s work together!

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© 2024 Kit Cruz / Manila, Philippines