GoPllay is a sports networking app where users can connect with others, play real-world sports matches, and post their scores to build a player career history.

Problem Identification & User Research

• Conducted peer feedback sessions and user surveys as part of a live product management project to identify pain points in user connectivity and privacy.
• Discovered that users were uncomfortable sharing phone numbers to connect with others at local stadiums/sports clubs, which was a requirement to interact and post match scores.
• The only alternative was searching by name, but common names caused difficulties, forcing users to rely on phone numbers for identification.

Solution Implementation: Unique User ID (UID) System

• Identified the need for a privacy-focused identifier beyond names and phone numbers.
• Proposed and led the implementation of a 6-character, system-generated, non-editable UID as a simple yet effective solution for profile discovery.
• Researched industry best practices to design a lightweight and scalable UID system, which was quicker to implement than a full-fledged username feature (which was in the future roadmap).
• Worked with developers to integrate the UID system into the database architecture, ensuring seamless retrieval and profile fetching.

Impact & Results

• The new UID system enhanced privacy, security, and ease of connection, making the app more user-friendly.
• Achieved a 50% increase in profile searches within 30 days of launch, significantly improving engagement and user interaction.
• Strengthened GoPllay’s in-app community, making connections frictionless and safer for users.

The Issue

                                                              New Database Column and PK

                            GoPllay Client Server Architecture