How the Odyssey Project Is Using Old and Cutting-Edge Technologies for Financial Inclusion
Samia Cornelius Bhatti, Dorothy E. Leidner
This paper presents a case study of The Odyssey Project, a fintech startup aiming to increase financial inclusion for the unbanked. It details how the company combines established SMS technology with modern innovations like blockchain and AI to create an accessible and affordable digital financial solution, particularly for users in underdeveloped countries without smartphones or consistent internet access.
Problem
Approximately 1.7 billion adults globally remain unbanked, lacking access to formal financial services. This financial exclusion is often due to the high cost of services, geographical distance to banks, and the requirement for expensive smartphones and internet data, creating a significant barrier to economic participation and stability.
Outcome
- The Odyssey Project developed a fintech solution that integrates old technology (SMS) with cutting-edge technologies (blockchain, AI, cloud computing) to serve the unbanked. - The platform, named RoyPay, uses an SMS-based chatbot (RoyChat) as the user interface, making it accessible on basic mobile phones without an internet connection. - Blockchain technology is used for the core payment mechanism to ensure secure, transparent, and low-cost transactions, eliminating many traditional intermediary fees. - The system is built on a scalable and cost-effective infrastructure using cloud services, open-source software, and containerization to minimize operational costs. - The study demonstrates a successful model for creating context-specific technological solutions that address the unique needs and constraints of underserved populations.
Host: Welcome to A.I.S. Insights, powered by Living Knowledge. I’m your host, Anna Ivy Summers. Host: Today we're diving into a fascinating case study from the MIS Quarterly Executive titled, "How the Odyssey Project Is Using Old and Cutting-Edge Technologies for Financial Inclusion". Host: It explores how a fintech startup is combining simple SMS technology with advanced tools like blockchain and AI to serve people without access to traditional banking. Host: Here to break it all down for us is our analyst, Alex Ian Sutherland. Alex, welcome to the show. Expert: Great to be here, Anna. Host: Let’s start with the big picture. Why is a study like this so important? What’s the core problem they're trying to solve? Expert: The problem is massive. The study states that around 1.7 billion adults globally are unbanked. They lack access to even the most basic formal financial services. Host: And what stops them from just walking into a bank? Expert: The study highlights a few critical barriers. Many people live in rural areas, far from any physical bank branch. On top of that, the high cost of services can be prohibitive. Expert: And while modern digital banking exists, it usually requires an expensive smartphone and a reliable internet data plan, which are luxuries for a huge portion of the world’s population. This effectively locks them out of the modern economy. Host: So The Odyssey Project saw this challenge. What was their approach, as detailed in the study? Expert: Their approach was brilliantly pragmatic. Instead of trying to force a high-tech solution onto a low-tech environment, they built their system around a technology that nearly everyone already has and knows how to use: SMS, or simple text messaging. Host: Texting. That feels very old-school in a world of apps. Expert: It is, but that's the point. It's accessible on the most basic mobile phone, it’s cheap, and it doesn't need an internet connection. The true innovation, which the study details, is the powerful, modern engine they built to run on that simple SMS interface. Host: Let's get into those findings. How exactly did they build this engine? Expert: The study identifies a few core components. Their platform, called RoyPay, uses an SMS-based chatbot as the primary user interface. So, a user can send and receive money just by texting this chatbot, which they named RoyChat. Host: And behind the scenes, it’s much more complex? Expert: Exactly. For the core payment mechanism, they use blockchain technology. This is key because it enables secure and transparent transactions at a very low cost, cutting out many of the intermediary fees that make traditional finance so expensive. Host: So the user sees a simple text, but the transaction is happening on the blockchain. Where does AI fit in? Expert: The AI powers the chatbot. It uses machine learning and natural language processing to understand the user’s text messages. This allows it to handle requests, answer questions, and make the whole experience feel conversational and intuitive. Expert: And finally, the study notes the entire system is built on scalable cloud services and open-source software. In business terms, that means it’s incredibly cost-effective to run and can be scaled up to serve millions of users around the world without a massive new investment in infrastructure. Host: This is a powerful combination. For the business leaders listening, what is the big takeaway here? Why does this matter for them? Expert: I think there are two critical lessons. First, it redefines what we think of as innovation. The study shows that groundbreaking solutions don't always come from inventing something brand new. Here, the innovation was creatively combining old technology with new technology to solve a very specific problem. Host: It’s a lesson in using the right tool for the job, not just the newest one. Expert: Precisely. The second lesson is about entering emerging markets. This case is a perfect example of creating a context-specific solution. You can't just take a product built for New York or London and expect it to work in rural Kenya. Expert: By understanding the constraints—no smartphones, no internet, low income—The Odyssey Project built a solution that was perfectly adapted to its users. For any company looking to expand globally, that principle is pure gold: fit the technology to the market, not the other way around. Host: A fantastic summary, Alex. So, to recap: the study on The Odyssey Project shows us that huge global challenges can be met by cleverly blending simple, existing tech with powerful, new platforms. Host: The solution starts with the user’s reality—a basic phone—and builds a low-cost, secure financial tool using blockchain and AI. Host: For business leaders, it's a powerful reminder that true innovation is about creative problem-solving, and success in new markets requires deep adaptation. Host: Alex Ian Sutherland, thank you for sharing your insights with us. Expert: It was my pleasure, Anna. Host: And thank you for listening to A.I.S. Insights, powered by Living Knowledge. We’ll see you next time.
