When MFIs begin their digital transformation journey, many start with a digital field application (DFA). It’s an understandable first step. Paper forms are inefficient, error-prone, and slow. A DFA promises speed, accuracy, and better oversight.
But time and again, we’ve seen MFIs invest in DFAs—only to abandon them months later. Why? Because the promise of digital falls flat when the solution stops at data capture. A DFA without the right ecosystem behind it ends up creating new bottlenecks instead of removing old ones.
Here’s what we’ve learned: it’s not about the app. It’s about the system around it.
Loan officers work in places where connectivity is spotty or nonexistent. If the DFA doesn’t work offline, it immediately fails in the field. And if loan officers must wait until they’re back in the branch to submit data, it’s no better than paper. In fact, it may be worse—slower, more frustrating, and prone to sync errors.
A real solution lets field officers work uninterrupted. It handles offline data capture, stores core customer information locally, and syncs once back online.
Some MFIs assume a DFA connected directly to the CBS is enough. And yes, this is better than manually copying data from a form into the system. But if that’s where integration ends, it still falls short.
Why? Because this setup only sends raw data from point A to point B. There’s no logic layer. No checks. No real-time feedback. A field officer might submit an incomplete or invalid application—and won’t know until days later. By then, the client may be long gone.
This is the real differentiator. A powerful workflow engine enforces business rules: is the applicant eligible? Are all required documents attached? Does this trigger an automated KYC check or a message to a supervisor?
It routes applications dynamically—flagging issues, triggering escalations, and automating communications. Without it, MFIs still rely on staff to remember every rule, every exception, every next step.
That’s a major operational risk.
Without validation, digital data can be as messy as paper. Missing fields, incorrect formats, and duplicate entries all lead to wasted time and mistrust in the system.
Good DFAs validate inputs immediately. That means fewer errors, faster processing, and more reliable reporting.
When a DFA doesn’t work offline, isn’t supported by workflows, and lacks proper validation, field officers are left frustrated. They fall back to paper. Managers lose visibility. And the organization concludes: “DFA doesn’t work.”
But the problem isn’t the concept. It’s the implementation.
Juakali includes a powerful digital field application that works offline, supports real-time validation, and gives field officers task lists that stay in sync with what’s happening in the back office.
But the real shift happens behind the scenes.
At the core of Juakali is a low-code workflow engine that brings business rules to life. You can define multi-step approval processes, set eligibility criteria, trigger KYC checks, or send applications back to the field with comments. Everything is traceable. Nothing falls through the cracks.
Need a branch manager to approve loans above a certain amount? Done.
Want to send automated SMS messages to clients at each stage? Easy.
Have field officers revisit an application when a key document is missing? The system flags it, routes it, and updates their task list automatically.
This isn’t just a better app. It’s the infrastructure to run your operations with consistency, visibility, and control—without adding complexity.
