We deliver information and communications technology solutions at scale in developing countries.
Our mission
Vital Wave believes technology can have a deeply positive social and economic impact in
developing countries. The company provides end-to-end services to scale information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) in low-resource environments. Vital Wave draws on a full range of
enterprise-grade implementation capabilities, proven methodologies, and decades of field experience in
developing countries to achieve sustained growth of ICT4D solutions.
What We Do
Vital Wave applies years of developing-country experience, proven methodologies (quantitative and qualitative research, data-driven analytics, and user-centered design), and deep knowledge of local business systems to deliver actionable strategies for scaling ICT solutions in diverse markets.
Vital Wave implements enterprise-grade solutions with best-in-class project management, engineering, and business-development processes. With expertise in business and technical disciplines, the company achieves maximum efficiency, reach, and return on investment.
Vital Wave optimizes ICT solutions, business models, and partnerships for national and regional scale. The company provides highly localized services that build capacity, support ecosystem development, and enable the diffusion of complex ICT solutions beyond the pilot phase.
Our Work
Vital Wave works with development organizations, private-sector companies, and national governments to deliver information and communications technology solutions that amplify the reach, uptake, and efficiency of development programs. Click the markers on the map below to view our featured case studies.
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Featured case study
Event Facilitation for an mHealth Program in Mexico
A group of public and private partners who had successfully launched an mHealth program in Senegal were asked by Mexican authorities about the possibility of replicating the program in Mexico. Vital Wave was engaged by one of the private sector partners to facilitate a two-day gathering of stakeholders. The workshop provided an opportunity to present an overview of the Senegalese deployment, discuss best practices, and evaluate the appropriateness of the program in the Mexican context. Additional stakeholders were brought in to discuss how the program could be integrated with other national health initiatives.
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Featured case study
UK Education IT Decision Makers
The client, a Fortune 50 technology provider, was seeking a better understanding of the IT purchasing cycle and decision-making process in UK schools in order to better serve this market. Vital Wave gathered psychographic data via in-depth primary interviews with education IT decision makers in England and Ireland to characterize this customer and formulate a calendar of the typical education IT purchasing cycle. This project resulted in recommendations for how best to provide these customers guidance on technology solutions that will best their needs prior to a final purchasing decision.
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Featured case study
Analysis of User Experience for mMoney in Tanzania and Bangladesh
A global foundation engaged Vital Wave to evaluate the user experience for mobile money in Tanzania and Bangladesh. The company identified some barriers to adoption that were regulation-based (e.g., local law required verification by hand to set up accounts), while other issues were attributed to the mMoney model (i.e., bank-led vs. operator-led). Technical issues for operators, banks, phones, networks, and Internet connectivity also compromised the user experience. Results of the analysis informed the design of a new user interface and back-end processes.
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Featured case study
Drug Pricing Strategies for Emerging Markets
A leading global pharmaceutical company engaged Vital Wave to investigate new engagement models and pricing structures in select emerging markets in order to maximize its market share, revenue, and profits worldwide. Vital Wave performed both qualitative and quantitative analyses to suggest pricing and payment schemes, partnership opportunities and a high-level go-to-market plan for two influential countries. These insights helped the company build a global segmentation model and develop effective go-to-market strategies for key emerging markets.
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Featured case study
Digitizing Payments for Beneficiaries in Uganda
A global foundation engaged Vital Wave to facilitate the transition from cash to digital bulk payments for beneficiaries of training and development projects in Uganda. The broader aim of the project was to establish a market environment conducive to the uptake of digital financial services, both formal and informal, throughout the country. Specifically, Vital Wave created a Uganda program office to coordinate and create efficiencies across all stakeholder activities, worked with aggregators to expand their bulk payments capacity, assessed and improved transaction pricing strategies, strengthened MNO operations, and created a risk-management platform (including fraud management, Know Your Customer and anti-money laundering provisions). The engagement left digital payment tools and processes in the hands of NGOs, government agencies, and private-sector players in the Ugandan mobile money industry.
