ATTAINERP
ERP software to streamline SME operations in Nigeria.
Industry
Enterprise Resource Planning
Client
Attain Base
Service
Product Design
Year
2022
Overview
AttainERP is a powerful yet accessible Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution tailored specifically for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, particularly Nigeria. Designed as a cloud-first, offline-capable platform, AttainERP integrates essential business functions such as CRM, inventory management, HR, finance, and accounting into one seamless, mobile-friendly system. The aim is to empower businesses to manage their operations efficiently without the complexity or high costs typically associated with traditional ERP systems.
The Problem
The current ERP market presents a stark contrast: on one end are solutions like QuickBooks, Kippa, and FreshBooks that serve small businesses but are limited in functionality. On the other end are complex, enterprise-grade platforms like SAP, Oracle, and Odoo that are robust but expensive, hard to set up, and not optimized for local markets. This leaves a major gap for SMEs that need powerful ERP capabilities but require simplicity, affordability, and local relevance. SMEs in Nigeria often struggle with:
Overly complex or expensive ERP solutions.
Lack of local integration (e.g., with local POS and payment systems).
Limited offline and mobile capabilities.
Difficulty configuring software to match custom workflows.
Project Goals
The core objectives of AttainERP are to:
Bridge the ERP Gap between overly simplistic tools for small businesses and overly complex systems for large enterprises.
Provide a Mobile-First & Offline-Capable Solution to meet the realities of infrastructure limitations in Africa.
Offer Modular Flexibility that allows businesses to start small and scale usage as needed.
Ensure Affordability without compromising core ERP functionality.
Enable Extensive Local Integration with banks, POS systems, and payment providers.
Deliver a Smooth and Intuitive User Experience, especially for non-technical business owners.
Research & Insights
To better understand the market and user needs, a competitor analysis was conducted. It revealed:
Global ERPs (like SAP, Oracle, Sage) dominate the large enterprise segment with high functionality but poor local relevance and high costs.
Niche Tools (like Kippa, Wave, FreshBooks) are accessible and affordable but offer only limited accounting and invoicing features.
Local Competitors such as SeamlessHR are expanding but still have limited module support outside HR and accounting.
Key insights from this research:
A full-featured ERP with essential business modules is highly demanded.
Local businesses prefer tools that integrate with familiar local systems and offer intuitive mobile experiences.
Simplicity, configurability, and fast setup are critical for adoption.
Userflow
I began by mapping out the key user flows to understand how small business owners would interact with AttainERP. Given the complexity of an ERP system with multiple interconnected modules, not all flows are represented in the image
Design System
I designed a component-based design system to ensure consistency and scalability. It features clean typography, a professional color palette, reusable components, custom icons
Final Designs
The final designs present a modern, modular, and mobile-optimized interface tailored for Nigerian SMEs, combining simplicity and power to streamline operations with localized features and customizable workflows.
Onboarding
A seamless onboarding process guides users to select the modules relevant to their business needs and input key organizational details, enabling a personalized and efficient setup experience from the start.
Hiring Module
The Hiring Module simplifies recruitment by allowing organizations to manage candidates through a visual Kanban board, track progress across stages, and streamline the process of bringing new talent into the team.
CoreHR Module
Centralizes employee data, streamlines HR processes, and provides easy access to vital information like documents, and leave requests.
Performance Management Module
Enables teams to set goals, give feedback, and track performance over time with structured reviews and progress indicators, fostering a culture of accountability and growth.
Accounting Module
Simplifies financial management with tools for tracking income, expenses, and taxes — featuring localized compliance, automated reports, and real-time cash flow insights.
Lessons Learned
1. Simplicity Wins
We learned that for SMEs, especially those transitioning from manual methods, a simple and familiar experience is more important than feature bloat. Prioritizing the user’s real-world needs and mental models made the product more approachable.
2. Modularity Encourages Adoption
SMEs prefer to start small and grow into tools. Allowing users to enable modules on-demand lowered the barrier to entry and gave them a sense of control.
3. Cross-functional Thinking is Key
This project required tight collaboration between design, development, and Stakeholders. Understanding constraints early helped shape more realistic and feasible UX solutions, especially regarding mobile and offline performance.
