Truphone

Overview

Company: Truphone - Global mobile network operator specialising in eSIM technology
Role: Senior Product Designer
Team: Reporting to Head of Design

About Truphone

Truphone provides seamless connectivity for travelers and businesses through innovative eSIM technology. Users can switch between multiple mobile networks without physical SIM cards. The company serves both consumer and business clients, including Apple and Bloomberg.

My Role & Impact

As the lead designer for Truphone's consumer division, I spearheaded the complete redesign of the consumer mobile app. My responsibilities included:

  • Redesigning the KYC journey to streamline the sign-up process

  • Creating a flexible plan management system for local, regional, and global data plans

  • Introducing multi-region eSIM functionality for seamless travel experiences

  • Conducting user research to identify new business opportunities

The Challenge

Through stakeholder feedback, support ticket analysis, and user research, we identified four critical problems affecting user experience and business growth:

1. Duplicate Plan Purchases

The Problem: Users were accidentally purchasing duplicate plans when upgrading devices, particularly during iPhone releases (Sept/Oct). They didn't understand how to transfer existing eSIM plans to new devices.

Impact: Increased support tickets and customer frustration

User Quote: "I already have a plan; why was I charged twice?"

2. Plan Type Confusion

The Problem: Users struggled to understand the differences between Local, Regional, and Global plans, leading to purchase hesitation and errors.

Impact: Lower conversion rates and increased support inquiries

User Quotes:

  • "I'm in the USA; how could I buy a plan to use in Italy if I'm not there?"

  • "Why do I need to buy into different EU countries for my travel if all EU plans are roaming-free?"

3. Limited eSIM Functionality

The Problem: Despite technological advances allowing multiple plans on one eSIM, our app didn't support this capability, forcing users to manage multiple eSIMs.

Impact: Poor user experience for frequent travelers

4. Untapped Market Segments

The Problem: The platform wasn't addressing specific user needs identified through research, missing potential revenue opportunities.

Research & Discovery

Methodology

  • Qualitative interviews with existing users and non-users

  • Support ticket analysis to identify pain points

  • Usage data analysis to understand purchase patterns

  • Stakeholder interviews to align business goals

Key Findings

  1. Voice + Data demand: Digital nomads needed calling capabilities alongside data plans

  2. Manual provider selection: Power users wanted network control

  3. Emerging user segments:

    • Business users needing backup connectivity

    • Emergency/temporary 24-hour plans

    • Gig workers requiring network redundancy

    • Immigrants needing SMS verification capabilities

Design Process

1. User Journey Mapping

Created comprehensive journey maps for different personas to identify experience gaps and opportunities for improvement.

2. Information Architecture

Restructured the app's navigation to make plan selection and management more intuitive.

3. Key Design Solutions

Solution 1: Smart Device Transfer Flow

  • Created an educational onboarding for device transfers

  • Added clear CTAs for existing users upgrading devices

  • Implemented automatic plan detection to prevent duplicates

Solution 2: Visual Plan Differentiation

  • Designed clear visual hierarchy for plan types

  • Added interactive maps showing coverage areas

  • Created contextual tooltips explaining plan benefits

Solution 3: Multi-Region eSIM Feature

  • Enabled adding multiple regions to single eSIM

  • Designed intuitive region management interface

  • Created seamless switching between active regions

Solution 4: Flexible Plan Options

  • Designed modular plan system for different use cases

  • Created quick-purchase flows for temporary needs

  • Added plan recommendations based on user profiles

4. Testing & Iteration

  • Conducted A/B testing on plan selection screens

  • Iterated based on user feedback

  • Validated solutions with prototype testing

Results & Impact

  • Reduction in support tickets related to duplicate purchases

  • Increase in conversion rates

  • User satisfaction improvements

  • New user segment adoption rates

Key Learnings

  1. Clear communication is crucial - Technical concepts like eSIM need simple, visual explanations.

  2. Support data is invaluable - Analysing support tickets revealed critical UX issues.

  3. User segmentation drives innovation - Identifying specific use cases opened new business opportunities

  4. Iterative testing works - A/B testing helped optimise critical flows

Next Steps

While I transitioned from the role before full implementation, the research and designs were handed off to the business team for development prioritisation. Key recommendations included:

  • Launching voice + data plans for digital nomads

  • Implementing temporary plan options

  • Expanding into identified market segments

  • Continuing iteration based on user feedback

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