Should Swile prioritize adding more restaurant partners to its meal voucher network or focus on improving the user experience of its existing mobile app?

Introduction

The trade-off question at hand is whether Swile should prioritize expanding its restaurant partner network for meal vouchers or focus on enhancing the user experience of its existing mobile app. This scenario involves balancing growth and user satisfaction for a fintech product in the employee benefits space. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining the product context, potential impacts, key metrics, and experimental approaches to inform a strategic recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on Swile's market position, I'm thinking they might be facing increased competition. Could you provide more context on Swile's current market share and main competitors?

Why it matters: Helps determine if growth or retention should be prioritized Expected answer: Swile has a strong market share but faces new entrants Impact on approach: Would influence whether to focus on expansion or user experience

• Considering Swile's revenue model, I assume they earn a percentage from each transaction. Is this correct, and are there any other significant revenue streams?

Why it matters: Clarifies the financial impact of each option Expected answer: Transaction fees are primary, with some subscription revenue Impact on approach: Would affect the balance between partner growth and user engagement

• Looking at user behavior, I'm curious about the current app usage patterns. What's the average frequency of app opens per user per week?

Why it matters: Indicates the level of user engagement and potential for improvement Expected answer: 3-4 times per week Impact on approach: Low usage would suggest prioritizing UX improvements

• Regarding technical feasibility, what's the current state of Swile's API infrastructure for onboarding new partners?

Why it matters: Determines the ease of scaling the partner network Expected answer: Robust API, but some manual processes remain Impact on approach: Would influence the resources needed for partner expansion

• Considering resource allocation, what's the current split of the product team between partner management and app development?

Why it matters: Indicates current priorities and potential for reallocation Expected answer: 60% app development, 40% partner management Impact on approach: Would inform the feasibility of shifting focus