Customer Challenge
The client relied on a cash-based DSA payment model to compensate training participants. This approach introduced significant operational, financial, and governance risks. Field staff were responsible for transporting and distributing large amounts of physical cash at training sites, often across remote locations and multiple countries.
This model exposed the organisation to risks including theft, loss, fraud, and human error, while limiting visibility and control over fund disbursement. The absence of a digital audit trail made it difficult to verify whether payments were made accurately, to the correct recipients, and in alignment with actual attendance. Resolving discrepancies required manual investigation, increasing reconciliation effort and the risk of disputes.
From a governance and scalability perspective, the process did not align with the client’s expanding regional footprint or internal financial control requirements.
The manual process also created systemic inefficiencies:
- Attendance verification was paper-based and error-prone, leading to mismatches between attendance records and payouts
- Finance teams spent significant time manually reconciling attendance registers, cash balances, and payment records
- Payment delays negatively impacted participant experience and trust, particularly where DSA funds were required immediately for transport and accommodation
- Programme continuity depended heavily on field staff managing large volumes of cash
- Expansion into additional countries increased cost, complexity, and security exposure due to duplicated cash logistics and administrative processes
Partner Solution
Tati Software designed and delivered a custom digital DSA platform on AWS, replacing the cash-based process with a secure, auditable, and scalable digital workflow.
The solution digitises the full DSA lifecycle and enables training participants to:
- RSVP digitally via WhatsApp
- Mark themselves present at training sessions
- Automatically trigger DSA payments directly into their bank accounts once attendance is confirmed
By eliminating physical cash handling and introducing a centralised digital audit trail, the platform improves transparency, accountability, and operational control while supporting rapid scaling across regions.
Primary AWS Services Used in the Solution and How They Were Delivered
The platform was implemented using AWS-aligned cloud architecture patterns suitable for multi-country deployments and variable user volumes. The design accommodates intermittent connectivity commonly encountered in emerging markets.
The following AWS services were used:
- Amazon EC2 (Linux): Hosts the core application services with predictable performance
- Elastic Load Balancing (ELB): Ensures high availability and fault tolerance across application components
- Amazon Route 53: Provides DNS management and reliable regional access
- Amazon S3: Secure storage for attendance records, payment logs, and reporting artefacts
- AWS Backup: Automated, policy-driven backups and data protection
Partner Support Services (Pre and Post Implementation)
Tati Software provided end-to-end services across the solution lifecycle.
Pre-implementation, Tati Software worked closely with the client to finalise the deployment model and define operational workflows aligned to programme delivery requirements. During implementation, the platform was configured to support multiple countries and training cohorts.
Post-implementation, the platform is actively supported through ongoing monitoring, backup management, and operational support to ensure stability, scalability, and continuous improvement.
Results and Benefits
The digital DSA platform delivered immediate and measurable benefits across operations, governance, and participant experience.
Key outcomes include:
- Elimination of physical cash handling at training sites
- Significant reduction in financial and security risks associated with cash distribution
- Improved accuracy of attendance verification through digital check-in
- Faster DSA payments, improving participant satisfaction and trust
- Reduced administrative overhead for reconciliation and reporting
- Ability to rapidly roll out training programmes across multiple countries without increasing operational complexity
The solution established a scalable foundation for expanding educational programmes while maintaining strong financial control, transparency, and operational efficiency.