API Portal

Launching Self-Service Access

Led the design of Kyivstar's first self-service API Portal, cutting onboarding from 6+ months to minutes for new business segments and automating previously manual processes.

Challenge

Kyivstar's API products were effectively locked behind a 6+ month onboarding process, preventing market growth and frustrating developers:

  • Protracted Onboarding: Manual applications, paperwork, and bureaucracy created a 6+ month barrier
  • No Self-Service: Static PDF documentation, manager-issued credentials, and no sandbox environment
  • SME Exclusion: Small businesses (ФОПs) were effectively blocked from becoming API clients
  • Operational Opacity: No usage tracking or cost management tools for businesses

Strategic Approach

As Senior Product Designer and Lead for the MVP phase, I transformed this developer experience through targeted, research-driven design decisions:

1. User-Centric Research & Prioritization

I conducted qualitative research with three user archetypes whose intersecting needs shaped our MVP:

Business Decision-MakerTechnical LeadDeveloper
Quick onboardingReliable sandboxInteractive documentation
Cost transparencyAPI key managementCode examples
Self-service reportingPerformance monitoring"Set it and forget it" reliability

2. SME Onboarding Reinvention

This application was designed for the Ukrainian market. The following mockups show the interface translated into English for clarity

I designed a revolutionary 3-step process that reduced onboarding from months to minutes:

  1. State Registry Integration: Auto-verification of business credentials
  2. Simplified Authentication: OTP verification replacing paperwork
  3. Digital Acceptance: Streamlined contract process

Design Decision: I chose to prioritize SME (individual entrepreneur) flows first, as our research showed they were most underserved yet represented a significant untapped market.

3. Self-Service Developer Experience

This application was designed for the Ukrainian market. The following mockups show the interface translated into English for clarity

I created core self-service capabilities focused on developer productivity:

  • Client Secret Management: Self-generation and rotation
  • Mock and Sandbox Environment: Testing with sample data and allowed phone numbers
  • Online Documentation: Initial transition from static PDFs

Technical Input: Drawing on my front-end development background, I designed the documentation structure to support future interactive implementations while working within MVP technical constraints.

Impact

The API Portal MVP transformed Kyivstar's API ecosystem:

  • Onboarding Time: Reduced from 6+ months to under 15 minutes
  • New Market Segment: 500+ SME registrations in the first quarter
  • Self-Service Foundation: Users gained direct control over API testing and implementation
  • Perception Shift: Early feedback highlighted the "drastic improvement in ease of access"

Key Learnings

  • Focused Research Drives Prioritization: Understanding distinct user needs enabled focused MVP feature selection
  • Solving for Underserved Markets Creates Momentum: The SME onboarding success drove rapid adoption
  • Technical Background Enhanced Design Decisions: My front-end experience informed API documentation and sandbox design requirements

Next Iterations

The MVP success established the foundation for future development:

  • Interactive API documentation with code samples
  • Enhanced usage analytics and reporting
  • Expanded API product catalog