How we added a Digital Store next to the Physical Store in PodroShop:
Overview
In this project, I designed a new feature for Podro that lets sellers create a digital product store alongside their physical store.
Many sellers wanted to sell files, online courses, PDFs, and license codes, but the platform did not support digital items before this project.
This work was important because digital selling is growing fast, and Podro needed a simple and safe way for sellers to start selling digital products without changing their existing setup.
My role
Product Designer
UX Research
User Flow & Interaction Design
Working closely with PM, Backend, Frontend, and Support teams
Understanding technical limits and designing around them
Teams involved: Product, Backend, Frontend, Support
The Problem
Before this project, Podro only supported physical products.
Sellers who wanted to sell digital files faced several problems:
No place to upload or deliver digital items inside Podro
Low buyer trust when files were sent manually outside the platform
Slow delivery, which often caused complaints
Some sellers didn’t know how to manage both physical and digital stores at the same time
No automated system for confirming orders and sending files to buyers
Because of this, we needed a solution that was:
Easy for all sellers to set up and use
Fast and clear for buyers
Safe and scalable for the product and engineering teams
Research Insights
After talking to sellers and reviewing support tickets, we found that:
Many small sellers wanted to test digital products next to their physical store
Buyers expected instant delivery after payment
Sellers were afraid of losing files or being blamed when delivery failed
There were clear technical limits (storage, file size, security, automation)
Digital products needed to stay flexible: sometimes a file, sometimes a license code, sometimes a course link
These insights helped us define the right direction for the solution.
Opportunity
We noticed a strong opportunity:
Digital selling can grow faster than physical selling
Sellers don’t need packaging, shipping, or inventory
Podro can attract a new type of seller who only works with digital products
Support tickets can decrease if the delivery flow becomes automatic
Buyers can get instant delivery, which leads to higher satisfaction
All of this made it clear that Podro must support digital products as a core part of the platform, not just as a side option.
Exploring Solutions
I explored three main models:
1. Fully digital store only
Simple to build, but not good for sellers who already have a physical store on Podro.
2. Physical store + manual digital delivery
In this model, sellers add digital products, but send files or codes manually after each order.
This creates too much manual work and easily leads to mistakes and delays.
3. Dual store (Physical + Digital) – final decision
This model was the best choice because:
Sellers can keep their current physical store
They can add digital products easily in the same panel
Delivery stays flexible (file, code, link)
It works with the platform’s technical limits (storage, automation, security)
This model was selected because it solves the needs of both new digital-only sellers and existing physical-store sellers.
UX Flow Design
I designed a simple and friendly flow:
Seller side
Create a digital product
Set the type (file, link, license code, etc.)
Upload the file or enter the details
Receive the order in the panel
Send the file or code to the buyer
Mark the order as delivered
Buyer side
Select a digital product
Pay online
Receive the digital item quickly
No need for shipping or waiting
This flow is easy to understand for both sides and helps reduce mistakes in digital delivery.
Technical Considerations
I had to work closely with the backend team because digital delivery has some sensitive parts:
Files are not stored on Podro (for security and cost reasons)
Sellers send the file or code directly to buyers
The system supports different delivery types
The framework is ready for more automation in the future
Complaints and delays are tracked to evaluate seller quality
This mix of UX decisions and technical constraints was one of the most important parts of the project.
Key Results
After the launch (August–November 2025):
Average weekly digital orders grew from around 85 orders/week before launch (March–June) to about 120+ orders/week after launch (August–November) – roughly a 30% increase.
During the migration in July, weekly orders dropped close to 0–3 orders, but in the first full month after launch they quickly jumped to around 125–136 orders per week.
In late November, during Black Friday, weekly orders peaked at 275 orders, almost 2× a normal post-launch week (typically 130–140 orders).
We saw a strong increase in new digital sellers who started offering courses, files, PDFs, and license codes through Podro instead of manual delivery.
Buyer complaints about digital delivery went down, because the flow and expectations were clearer.
Onboarding became faster for small digital businesses, and trust between sellers and buyers improved.
Overall, Podro entered a new product category – Digital Commerce.
Even though the system is still evolving, the first version showed clear and measurable positive results.
What I Learned
This project taught me:
how to design a product under clear technical limits
how to think about scalability and security as part of the UX, not only as engineering topics
how to balance seller freedom and buyer safety in one flow
how to reduce complexity and guide users step by step
how to work closely with product, backend, and support teams to ship a complete solution
Conclusion
Creating the Digital Product Store for POdro was a meaningful project for me because it connected real seller needs with a simple and smart product solution.
This feature opened a new path for the platform and helped many sellers start their digital business easily.
I enjoyed designing this project and growing both the user experience and the business at the same time.