Mauritius Commercial Bank secures first-mover advantage with JuicePro SME Banking app
In an ambitious move to meet the needs of its small and medium enterprise (SME) clients, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) launched its JuicePro mobile banking app in record time, gaining a critical first-mover advantage in the region. As the largest bank in Mauritius, MCB needed to modernize its SME banking offerings, which had lagged behind the digital capabilities of its retail and corporate segments.
In just six months, the bank successfully developed and launched an SME-focused mobile app, powered by Backbase, to streamline its digital banking services.
Important stats
< 5 minutes
to complete onboarding in the new app
< 6 months
to launch the new MVP app
78%
customer satisfaction rate
Through this innovative approach, MCB not only reinforced its leadership position in the region but also empowered its SME customers with a banking experience that allows them to manage their finances with ease and efficiency. This move was a key element in MCB’s strategy to ward off competitors and build deeper relationships with the fast-growing SME sector.
Manual, fragmented banking processes for SMEs
Before launching JuicePro, MCB’s SME customers were reliant on manual, branch-based processes. Even routine tasks, such as collecting loan statements, depositing cash, or verifying payments, required significant time and effort. While the bank had a web portal, it was insufficient to meet the demands of its growing SME base, leaving much of their financial management tied to in-person operations.
As the leading bank in Mauritius, MCB saw the opportunity to fill this gap by developing a mobile-first banking app that could handle the specific needs of SME customers. The lack of a dedicated SME app meant there was ample room to gain first-mover advantage and create a more seamless, digital experience for this critical customer segment.
Why Backbase?
To achieve its goal, MCB sought a digital platform that could support rapid innovation while maintaining scalability. Enter Backbase’s Engagement Banking Platform. Backbase’s flexible, modular architecture allowed MCB to accelerate the development of JuicePro, leveraging out-of-the-box components that could be quickly customized. This approach significantly reduced the time and effort required to create a secure, feature-rich SME banking app.
With 80% of the app built using Backbase’s pre-built capabilities, MCB could focus on tailoring the app to meet the specific requirements of its SME clients without worrying about developing basic capabilities. This also meant that future updates and feature releases could be deployed in just 2-3 months, making it easier for the bank to stay ahead of evolving customer needs.
JuicePro— a tailored banking experience for SMEs
The JuicePro app was designed to deliver a comprehensive, mobile-first banking experience for SMEs, including cutting-edge features like biometric login (Face ID and fingerprint), transaction history, account management, payments, and transfers. Importantly, JuicePro streamlines traditionally cumbersome processes into a smooth, self-service digital experience.
The app’s onboarding process, for example, is designed to be completed in just four steps: entering card details, receiving an OTP, agreeing to the terms and conditions, and creating a password. The entire registration process takes less than five minutes, offering the 24,000 potential SME users a fast and hassle-free way to get started.
Thanks to Backbase’s platform, MCB was able to release a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in six months, with the full version of the app going live after an additional five months. The app’s rapid development and user-friendly interface have been key in boosting SME engagement and satisfaction.
High adoption rates and engaged users
JuicePro quickly proved to be a success. Within the first month, 1,000 SME customers had registered, and the numbers have continued to grow. To date, over 1,500 SMEs have adopted the app, with an 85% active user rate—a clear indication that the app is resonating with its intended audience. On average, users sign in 14 times per month, underscoring how integral the app has become to managing their daily banking operations.
This high engagement demonstrates the app’s ability to provide a seamless, effective banking solution for SMEs, addressing their need for fast, reliable access to their financial data and tools. The shift away from manual, branch-based processes has not only improved user satisfaction but has also enhanced MCB’s efficiency, allowing the bank to dedicate resources to other areas of growth.
Future-proofing SME banking: continuous innovation
With JuicePro, MCB has firmly established itself as a pioneer in the digital banking landscape for SMEs in Mauritius. The app’s rapid development and high adoption rates have given the bank a significant competitive advantage, but MCB’s journey doesn’t stop there. The collaboration with Backbase allows the bank to continuously roll out new features every 2-3 months, ensuring that JuicePro stays relevant and up-to-date with the latest in digital banking technology.
"Collaborating with Backbase has been an enriching journey, helping us accelerate our digital transformation and improve the daily operations of our teams," said Emmanuel Courtaud, Product Owner at MCB.
A new era for SME banking
Through its swift development and successful launch of JuicePro, MCB has fundamentally changed how SMEs in Mauritius conduct their banking. By listening to the needs of its SME customers and acting quickly to deliver a tailored mobile banking app, MCB has not only secured a first-mover advantage but has also set a new benchmark for digital banking in the region.
As SME customers increasingly look for convenience, speed, and security in their banking services, MCB’s JuicePro app stands as a game-changer, offering them a digital experience that is both intuitive and highly effective. MCB’s continued investment in digital transformation will ensure that the bank remains a leader in SME banking, driving further growth and innovation in the future.
