This feature lets shared-mobility operators trigger and track interim payments throughout a rental, rather than waiting for a single payment at the end of the trip.
problem
The post-payment model exposed operators to financial losses from unpaid trips.
In free-floating vehicle rental, users could start a trip, use the vehicle for an extended period and pay only at the end. This created a financial risk: some users had insufficient funds when the final payment was due, or simply refused to pay. Operators had no real-time visibility into payment issues and no way to intervene during the trip, leading to financial losses and making fleet operations harder to manage.
approach
I started from the business need and translated it into a technically feasible, user-focused solution.
I began with discovery conversations with the client to understand the financial and operational challenges and the expected success metrics. In parallel, I worked closely with the development team to assess technical feasibility, identify payment constraints and define a realistic scope. I then translated these requirements into epics and detailed user stories with clear acceptance criteria. The solution was built iteratively, with testing at each stage and regular client demos to validate the product direction.
solution
Rolling out incremental payments with real-time visibility and control during trips.
The solution uses interim payment checks and charges throughout the rental. Operators can track payment status in real time, identify failed payments and act before the trip ends. If an issue arises, they can contact the user, limit vehicle use or prevent the trip from continuing. The feature was integrated into the existing flows, validated by the client in staging and then deployed to production.
impact
The feature helped operators move from reacting to unpaid trips to managing payment risk proactively.
With incremental payments, operators gained visibility into ongoing payments and the ability to intervene during trips. This reduced their exposure to financial losses and gave them more control over fleet operations. The solution was also designed to be flexible, adapting to each operator's business rules and configuration.
