SPLIT the check!
Making dining out with friends simple and easy.
Overview
Restaurant bill-splitting can be tedious and cumbersome, especially in larger groups. Should we split evenly just to save time, or are we going to go down the receipt item by item? Tip and tax?
When splitting the check, accuracy and speed are often assumed to be at odds with another. How might we design a mobile app to alleviate bill-splitting stress and discomfort?
Final Prototype Sneak Peek
Research + Problem Scoping
I interviewed 6 interviewees about their check-splitting experience to discover their pain points. I asked about their splitting habits, any determining factors, and their overall thoughts and experiences. When analyzing their responses, I found that their experiences related to a few categories: speed + time, accuracy, and social.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Based on the responses from my interviews, the participants’ pain points dealt with speed/time, accuracy, and social circumstances.
Accurate item-by-item splitting was assumed to take a longer time, especially for larger parties. Speed wasn’t associated with accuracy.
Asking for the check also takes time.
Perceived social etiquette and fear of awkwardness affected decision to split evenly or by item.
Closeness in relationships and number of people also played a role in deciding.
DEFINING TARGET AUDIENCE
For this mobile app, I will focus on people who frequently dine out at restaurants in groups of 2 or more.
DEFINING DESIGN GOALS
Based on my research, my design goals are:
1. Decrease the amount of time to get and pay for the check.
2. Reduce social stress and awkwardness around paying.
UX Design Process
ONLINE RECEIPT CONCEPT IDEATION
After research, my first step was to come up with and sketch out ideas to support my design goals. I came up with the concept of an online receipt that members of the group can access via their phone to pay for the bill.
Once they completed their meal, each member of the group will scan a QR Code located at their table with their phone to access the online receipt. Then, they will select the items they wish to pay for and complete the transaction with their card information they already added to the app.
INITIAL SCREENS SKETCHES
With that concept in mind, I started to sketch out some screens for the app.
WIREFRAMES FROM SKETCHES
USABILITY TESTING
I tested the wireframes with a group of 6 participants to discover any pain points or design issues.
FEEDBACK FOR SOME DESIGN CHANGES
The usability tests shed some light on certain features that were cumbersome to use. This led me to think about other ways to represent the same information but also reducing the amount of effort required from the user.
HI FI MOCKUPS
SCANNING + SELECTING ITEMS FLOW
ADDING TIP + CHOOSING CARD FLOW
Design Decisions
My design goals and decisions that support them were:
Decrease the amount of time to get and pay for the check.
Online receipt system lets all members access the check without having to wait for the waiter.
Selecting their own items from the receipt saves members from having to calculate individual totals for the whole party.
Ability to pre-add cards allows for quick payment.
Available tip percentages to avoid mental calculations.
Reduce social stress and awkwardness around paying.
Accurate check-splitting reduces burden of member adding up individual totals.
Using the app to pay eliminates need to suggest item-by-item totals.
Design Validation + Future Challenges
Another round of usability testing yielded positive results.
This whole payment system is catered to the diners’ perspective, but also requires the restaurant to incorporate the app into their services. My next step would be to design for the restaurant’s experience.
What kind of dashboard would they have to manage receipts? Would they utilize tablets at each table to also allow diners to order?