ZAK App: A Digital Lifeline for Wildlife Conservation During COVID-19
Raised from in-app donations
Transactions Handled
INTRODUCTION
The Zoo Authority of Karnataka plays a vital role in managing and developing zoos across the state of Karnataka. Through dedicated animal welfare practices, educational initiatives, and conservation programs, it aims to cultivate a deeper connection between the public and wildlife conservation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented many unforeseen challenges, heavily impacting the Zoo’s revenue. Recognizing the need for digital transformation, ZAK partnered with Codemonk to develop a mobile application that would enable sustainable funding and streamline visitor experiences.
Industry
Greentech
Time Frame
4 Months
Services we offered
Full Cycle Software Development
The Challenge
ZAK's primary revenue streams—ticket sales, animal adoptions, and donations—were heavily dependent on in-person visits. The pandemic-induced restrictions severely impacted these channels, leaving ZAK in a financial crisis. Moreover, the existing processes for animal adoption and donations were cumbersome, based on physical visits to the zoo and paper-based, further limiting public participation. This severely disrupted the ability of zoos to perform essential maintenance and run their operations, as their primary source of income was public funding. ZAK needed a solution that would not only address the immediate financial crisis but also modernize their approach to fundraising and visitor engagement.
Codemonk’s Approach
We approached the challenge with a determination to create a solution that was both user-friendly and impactful. Our development process prioritized user needs. We conducted surveys and interviews with potential app users to understand their motivations, preferences, and what they expected from such an app.
Understanding this helped us tailor the design to resonate with animal lovers and conservation enthusiasts. Next, we carefully prioritized core features that would drive donations and streamline the zoo experience – easy animal adoption, flexible donation options, and digital ticketing were our focus.
Throughout, user-centric design remained paramount; the app's interface was built with simplicity and visual appeal in mind, ensuring a seamless experience for users regardless of their technical proficiency. Recognizing the sensitive nature of financial transactions, we integrated secure payment gateways and implemented the highest standards of data protection.
Keeping in mind the large-scale social impact pumped up all the team members, especially the pet lovers. Till date, this was one of the fastest design and development sprints we have ever conducted to get the product out.
The Solution
The Zoos of Karnataka digital platform emerged as a powerful tool for wildlife conservation:
Animal Adoption
Users can browse animal profiles, select their favorite animals, and adopt them with a few taps. The app facilitates recurring adoption plans for continuous support.
Donations
The app provides flexible donation options, allowing users to contribute any amount starting from as low as INR 50. Donation campaigns for specific causes enhance engagement.
Digital Ticketing
Visitors can purchase zoo tickets and safari passes directly on the app, reducing queues and ensuring contactless entry.
Social Sharing
Users can share their adoptions and donations on social media, amplifying ZAK's reach and inspiring others to contribute.
Paperless Workflow
The app digitizes adoption and donation certificates, significantly reducing paper consumption and aligning with ZAK's conservation goals.
Impact and Outcome
The application experienced immediate success, gaining immense popularity as users actively shared their donations across various social media platforms. This grassroots movement garnered significant public backing and attracted endorsements from celebrities, resulting in a remarkable fundraising achievement of over INR 3 Crores within 1 month for zoo operations.
Additionally, the implementation of digitalization within the zoo infrastructure has effectively reduced congestion at service counters, aligning seamlessly with current safety protocols. The digitization of ticketing, adoption, and donation processes has facilitated smoother operations, enhancing overall efficiency.
The transition to a paperless workflow not only conserves valuable resources but also contributes significantly to wildlife preservation efforts.
Moreover, the app's design and impact were acknowledged at the IAMAI Design Leadership Summit, underscoring its pivotal role in promoting social impact and adhering to bottom-up design principles.
Raised from in-app donations
Transactions Handled