Fast mode
Fast mode
Fast mode
A reimagined UPI experience that challenges traditional banking flows—cutting clutter to help users complete payments in seconds.
A reimagined UPI experience that challenges traditional banking flows—cutting clutter to help users complete payments in seconds.
A reimagined UPI experience that challenges traditional banking flows—cutting clutter to help users complete payments in seconds.
Investment
Investment
Investment
Mobile banking
Mobile banking
Mobile banking
Project overview
Project overview
Fast Mode is a new feature designed to make UPI payments on Kotak’s mobile app lightning-fast — reducing steps, simplifying entry points, and creating a seamless experience. This was a strategic move to position Kotak against dominant players like Google Pay and PhonePe in India’s growing digital payments space.
Fast Mode is a new feature designed to make UPI payments on Kotak’s mobile app lightning-fast — reducing steps, simplifying entry points, and creating a seamless experience. This was a strategic move to position Kotak against dominant players like Google Pay and PhonePe in India’s growing digital payments space.
My Role
My Role
• UI/UX Designer
• Interaction Designer
• UI/UX Designer
• Interaction Designer
Other team members
Other team members
Sr. UI/UX Designer
Product Managers
Developers
Sr. UI/UX Designer
Product Managers
Developers
Timeline
Timeline
2 weeks
2 weeks
Problem
Problem
UPI payment usage is at its peak across India, but current UPI apps lacked a frictionless, one-tap experience. We saw an opportunity to:
UPI payment usage is at its peak across India, but current UPI apps lacked a frictionless, one-tap experience. We saw an opportunity to:
Cut down the time taken to complete payments.
Cut down the time taken to complete payments.
Create direct access to the most common user actions: scanning QR, viewing recent activity, and checking balance.
Create direct access to the most common user actions: scanning QR, viewing recent activity, and checking balance.
Compete with market leaders by focusing on raw speed and simplicity.
Compete with market leaders by focusing on raw speed and simplicity.
Objectives
Objectives
Designing for Speed and Simplicity:
Designing for Speed and Simplicity:
Designing for Speed and Simplicity:
Enable the fastest UPI payment flow in the industry.
Enable the fastest UPI payment flow in the industry.
Enable the fastest UPI payment flow in the industry.
Reduce cognitive and physical friction.
Reduce cognitive and physical friction.
Reduce cognitive and physical friction.
Build a new interaction-first experience within strict tech timelines.
Build a new interaction-first experience within strict tech timelines.
Build a new interaction-first experience within strict tech timelines.
Target audience
Target audience
Since Fast Mode was a new category-defining feature, we worked with a hypothesis-driven approach.
Since Fast Mode was a new category-defining feature, we worked with a hypothesis-driven approach.
We assumed that most users:
We assumed that most users:
Open their app to scan a QR or check recent transactions.
Open their app to scan a QR or check recent transactions.
Want quick access to their account balance or preferred contacts.
Want quick access to their account balance or preferred contacts.
We validated this hypothesis post-launch via behavioral data tracking.
We validated this hypothesis post-launch via behavioral data tracking.
Design challenges
Design challenges
The integration of this feature is anticipated to have a profound impact on Kotak’s business. By enhancing the customer experience for HNIs and UHNIs, the feature is expected to:
The integration of this feature is anticipated to have a profound impact on Kotak’s business. By enhancing the customer experience for HNIs and UHNIs, the feature is expected to:
The integration of this feature is anticipated to have a profound impact on Kotak’s business. By enhancing the customer experience for HNIs and UHNIs, the feature is expected to:
Reducing Visual Noise
Reducing Visual Noise
Designing a minimal UI that still accommodates key actions like Scan, Quick Links, and Balance view.
Designing a minimal UI that still accommodates key actions like Scan, Quick Links, and Balance view.
Entry Point Exploration
Entry Point Exploration
Entry Point Exploration
We experimented with different entry strategies — to help users discover and adopt Fast Mode more intuitively.
We experimented with different entry strategies — to help users discover and adopt Fast Mode more intuitively.
We experimented with different entry strategies — to help users discover and adopt Fast Mode more intuitively.
Interaction Trade-offs
Interaction Trade-offs
Interaction Trade-offs
Planned interaction details had to be deprioritized during the first release due to engineering constraints.
Planned interaction details had to be deprioritized during the first release due to engineering constraints.
Planned interaction details had to be deprioritized during the first release due to engineering constraints.
Design approach
Design approach
Entry point: We experimented with different ways to let users enter Fast Mode — including deep links, homepage CTA, and gesture-based triggers.
Entry point: We experimented with different ways to let users enter Fast Mode — including deep links, homepage CTA, and gesture-based triggers.
Scan screen: We tested 4–5 versions of the QR Scan screen. Key challenges:
Scan screen: We tested 4–5 versions of the QR Scan screen. Key challenges:
•
Showing recent transactions alongside scan view.
Showing recent transactions alongside scan view.
•
Toggling between scan and other features without confusion.
Toggling between scan and other features without confusion.
•
Keeping UI clean and interaction latency minimal.
Keeping UI clean and interaction latency minimal.
Tab design: We introduced a tabbed layout to toggle between:
Tab design: We introduced a tabbed layout to toggle between:
•
Scan QR
Scan QR
•
Recent Activity
Recent Activity
This helped split intent-based journeys without overwhelming the user.
This helped split intent-based journeys without overwhelming the user.
How Fast mode works
The core idea of Fast Mode is simple: remove steps and let users scan a QR code immediately after biometric authentication. Instead of landing on the home screen, users are dropped directly into the QR scanner, saving 1–2 taps.
The core idea of Fast Mode is simple: remove steps and let users scan a QR code immediately after biometric authentication. Instead of landing on the home screen, users are dropped directly into the QR scanner, saving 1–2 taps.
Step-by-Step Flow for Returning Users
Step-by-Step Flow for Returning Users
App opens → Biometric unlock → Scanner launches instantly → Scan QR code → Enter amount → Biometric/MPIN verification → Payment confirmation
App opens → Biometric unlock → Scanner launches instantly → Scan QR code → Enter amount → Biometric/MPIN verification → Payment confirmation
Payments below ₹2,000 are verified via biometric. For amounts above ₹2,000, additional step for MPIN is required as per regulatory norms.
Payments below ₹2,000 are verified via biometric. For amounts above ₹2,000, additional step for MPIN is required as per regulatory norms.
Why this works
Why this works
"Most users open a UPI app to scan a QR and pay quickly — so we made it the first thing they see. This approach turned a 5-step journey into 2."
"Most users open a UPI app to scan a QR and pay quickly — so we made it the first thing they see. This approach turned a 5-step journey into 2."
By removing friction and putting intent-based design first, we helped Kotak’s app feel faster, smarter, and more aligned with how people actually use it.
By removing friction and putting intent-based design first, we helped Kotak’s app feel faster, smarter, and more aligned with how people actually use it.
Key iterations
Key iterations
Reducing visual noise
Reducing visual noise
Reducing visual noise
Initially, we placed multiple UPI actions on one screen, but it caused visual noise.
Initially, we placed multiple UPI actions on one screen, but it caused visual noise.
Initially, we placed multiple UPI actions on one screen, but it caused visual noise.
Split design for clarity
Split design for clarity
Split design for clarity
We shifted to a tabbed approach for better clarity and focus.
We shifted to a tabbed approach for better clarity and focus.
We shifted to a tabbed approach for better clarity and focus.
Data-driven refinements
Data-driven refinements
Data-driven refinements
Post-launch, we reviewed analytics to make final tweaks like reorganizing quick links and improving visibility for masked balance.
Post-launch, we reviewed analytics to make final tweaks like reorganizing quick links and improving visibility for masked balance.
Impact & metrics
Impact & metrics
The Fast Pay feature is now live in production and widely adopted by Kotak UPI users.
The Fast Pay feature is now live in production and widely adopted by Kotak UPI users.
•
•
29% initiates payment directly from Fast Mode
29% initiates payment directly from Fast Mode
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•
25% engaged with the Recent Activity tab
25% engaged with the Recent Activity tab
•
•
Inside Recent Activity tab, 10% interacted with balance visibility toggle & transaction list,
Inside Recent Activity tab, 10% interacted with balance visibility toggle & transaction list,
•
•
Reduced UPI payment journey to ~4–5 seconds for returning users:
Reduced UPI payment journey to ~4–5 seconds for returning users:
All screens
All screens
Every possible user state was accounted for in the Fast Mode flow — ensuring a smooth experience across different contexts.
Let’s create beautiful
things together.
Let’s create beautiful
things together.
Let’s create beautiful
things together.
Let’s create beautiful
things together.