Disruptor, a word that is being thrown from left to right. Especially so from companies and startups that are introducing a new app. One good example is Grab Taxi, now Grab. A taxi app that allows passengers to hail a cab using their smartphones. With just a few taps you are already on your way to hailing a cab, all you need to do is wait until a taxi driver accepts your request. At that point, you only have to wait for the cab to arrive at your location. Compare that experience with having to wait in line to get a taxi or worst having to battle every passenger who is also waiting for a taxi like you.

Of course, the convenience that the app provides in getting transportation would make one choose this option rather than having to wait for a taxi that may or may not come.

The Situations

Take another example. You browse the internet to buy yourself a birthday gift, or maybe you are looking for something you really need. Maybe you are looking for a GoPro Action Camera or a Kata i3L and  you found one with a huge discount! When you started buying the item you found out that there are two ways on how you can pay the item. Either you pay with a credit card or pay cash on delivery. Of course, the latter would be convenient but sometimes because of the long wait you might have used the money for something else, so you now have to refuse the item, what is worst you might be tagged as a scam buyer, then you realize, that the transaction would have been a lot smoother if you only had a credit card that would allow you to pay online. Because of the complicated application process in acquiring a credit card you aren’t able to get one. Today, however, online transactions through credit/debit card use are now possible without having to go through the tedious process of acquiring a credit card. Fintech apps like Paymaya is revolutionizing the process on how we transact online. By just downloading the app you already get a credit card number, and by loading your account you can now pay online. Not only that, you are also given a physical credit card which you can use for physical transactions, provided it is loaded.

Of course, the latter would be convenient but sometimes because of the long wait you might have used the money for something else, so you now have to refuse the item, what is worst you might be tagged as a scam buyer, then you realize, that the transaction would have been a lot smoother if you only had a credit card that would allow you to pay online. Because of the complicated application process in acquiring a credit card you aren’t able to get one. Today, however, online transactions through credit/debit card use are now possible without having to go through the tedious process of acquiring a credit card. Fintech apps like Paymaya is revolutionizing the process on how we transact online. By just downloading the app you already get a credit card number, and by loading your account you can now pay online. Not only that, you are also given a physical credit card which you can use for physical transactions, provided it is loaded.

Today, however, online transactions through credit/debit card use are now possible without having to go through the tedious process of acquiring a credit card. Fintech apps like Paymaya is revolutionizing the process on how we transact online. By just downloading the app you already get a credit card number, and by loading your account you can now pay online. Not only that, you are also given a physical credit card which you can use for physical transactions, provided it is topped up with the right amount.

Using the Paymaya app and the card would eliminate the inconveniences of using cash for your transactions. It makes it easier for you to purchase items online and offline at the same time. This and other financial based apps are disrupting the way we do banking and purchase transactions.

Apps are Disruptive

We’ve heard it before, taxi drivers, banks and other businesses affected by these innovations are saying that the apps are killing their business. They go further by saying that if only they could build an app then they might be able to compete. Even  some startups have this notion that their business’ disruptive nature comes from their highly technical and well-designed app. Unfortunately, I believe this is not the case.

The Meaning of Being Disruptive

To be disruptive doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to build an app. To be disruptive means you have to create a better experience for your target user. The reason why people are using the Grab app, Paymaya and other popular apps are because they deliver a great experience to the user. It is not the app that brings the great experience, it is the process of which the app serves its purpose. In other words, the app is just a tool to achieve a certain purpose and that is a convenience in hailing a cab or in banking transactions.

If the app doesn’t deliver a great experience to the user it is not going to gain traction as users will find a better app. This is why many apps also die and never gain any traction.

Final Note

To be disruptive you have to disrupt the existing inconvenient process. Not by merely building an app. Always remember to achieve convenience always consider looking for the path to least resistance.