How Social Welfare Payments Are Being Successfully Digitised

Financial support for families receiving minimum income support is essential for a successful start to school. Until now, however, the process has been analogue and time-consuming. Together with the Ministry of Social Affairs, &amp has digitised this process in just 9 months.

With the &card, a digital prepaid credit card for iOS and Android, we have proven in the public sector that GovTech can be discreet, secure and efficient.

Goals for the “Schulstart”-App

The goals for the “Schulstart”-App were clearly defined.

1. Increased accessibility: Apply for subsidies via the app, eliminating waiting times and complicated procedures.
2. Fraud prevention and security: Ensure authorisation through the Know Your Customer (KYC) process and the Liveliness Check.
3. Transparency: Live reporting system for the client enables transparent tracking of expenses for EU reporting.

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Roadmap: From Conception to Release

Nine months of intensive development work is difficult to summarise in a few words. Nevertheless, here we provide a concise insight into our roadmap from the initial concept to the successful go-live.

The project not only involved the development of the iOS and Android applications. In addition, &amp developed an upload platform for recipient data, an administration and reporting tool for EU reporting, and the integration of digital payment cards via an external partner.

• User experience: Our team created high-resolution, clickable prototypes. These were used to conduct extensive usability tests with actual voucher recipients in order to validate the user experience at an early stage.
• App-development: The app was developed simultaneously for iOS and Android using Expo, supplemented by platform-specific adaptations for seamless wallet integration.
• Backend: To ensure maximum stability, the backend was implemented serverless in Microsoft Azure. The architecture uses Azure Entra ID for secure authentication and Front Door for optimal routing and performance.
• Wallet-Integration: A technical focus was the deep wallet connection: specially developed app extensions enable direct communication with the Apple and Google Wallet APIs.

How Can a GovTech Solution Be Scaled for Thousands of Users Simultaneously?

Behind its ease of use lies a highly complex technical ecosystem that perfectly balances performance and security. Thanks to a scalable infrastructure, thousands of activations could be processed simultaneously and without delay. Deep Apple and Google Pay integration required mastering strict banking regulations through specific app extensions.

The result is an infrastructure that combines agile software development with the compliance requirements of the public sector.

A Digitalisation Initiative With Impact

The 94% uptake rate proves how well the new technology has been received. While recipients benefit from discreet payment options, the Ministry of Social Affairs has reduced administrative costs and now enjoys full transparency thanks to the new reporting tool.
Through this project, the &amp team has deepened its expertise in highly scalable financial applications for the public sector. This know-how serves as a guide for future projects.
We are now building on this: with a view to the start of the 2026 school year, we are already working on the next features and optimisations.

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Let &amp be your partner in creating innovative and impactful mobile applications. Whether you have a clear vision or are just starting to explore mobile possibilities, we have the expertise to bring your ideas to life.
Let’s talk!

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