Informal&Tal

Context

At the time of conducting the research for the Virtual Experience Hackathon, it was estimated that approximately 14 million Brazilians were facing unemployment due to the consequences of the pandemic, with higher rates concentrated in the states of Bahia, Alagoas, Sergipe, and Rio de Janeiro.

Additionally, our data indicated a significant number of individuals expressing concern about social causes during this period. Furthermore, there was a noticeable surge in the demand for domestic services in 2020.

Methodology

How do we know who we want to help?

With the imperative to minimize outdoor activities and adhere to social distancing measures, the concept of a digital platform named Informal&Tal was conceived. This platform aims to bridge the gap between supply and demand for domestic services, enabling users to access resources remotely. Contractors would pay a nominal fee to utilize the platform's services.

In pandemic-stricken Brazil, approximately 6 million individuals are grappling with unemployment. Many of these individuals are informal workers who have been left without employment opportunities due to lockdown measures. The unemployment rate has surged from 12.9% to 14.1% over the past year, with states such as Bahia, Alagoas, and Pará being particularly hard-hit.

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the pandemic has led to record-high average unemployment rates in 20 states in 2020.

> IBGE: Unemployment reaches 14,1% between september and november 2020.
> IBGE: With pandemic, 20 states have record average unemployment rate in 2020.

Hands-on

On the first day of the event, we delved into researching the target audience and their specific needs. We conducted desk research on the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of Brazilian states to determine a suitable region for piloting the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Additionally, we distributed forms garnering over 30 responses and conducted interviews with users, including both potential contractors and service providers, to develop proto personas.

On the second day, we finalized the overall concept of the product and selected the location for its deployment. We concluded the proto persona creation process by consolidating the interview findings and clustering the results. Subsequently, we proceeded to design the screens and user flows of the product.

Survey Insights

When we asked what were the biggest fears and difficulties they faced in the pandemic, these were some examples of the answers we received:

We also identified that the search for domestic workers is the greatest among all those interviewed. So is finding reliable and qualified professionals.

Protopersonas

The solution

Product vision

Given the imperative to minimize outdoor activities and adhere to social distancing guidelines, the concept of a digital platform named Informal & Tal was conceived. It serves as a domestic services platform with a social mission, facilitating connections between users and trusted professionals at fair rates within their localities.

In line with data from the Atlas of Human Development by IPEA, which indicates Alagoas as having the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) in Brazil, we opted to launch the MVP pilot in this state. This decision underscores our commitment to addressing socioeconomic disparities and empowering individuals in regions with the greatest need.

And if there was a v2?

Additionally, I considered and decided to incorporate ideas and potential enhancements for future iterations, including:

Integration with bank systems to facilitate toll payments.
Providing more precise information regarding maintenance milestones such as oil change intervals, brake overhauls, warranties, etc.
Implementing a direct chat feature enabling real-time communication with the contracting company.