TraceTogether(App/Token): How We Could Improve for TraceTogether App
Previously, I had published stories on TraceTogether(App/Token) Information to provide some clarity. Since then, TraceTogether(App/Token) has been integrated fully in Singaporean’s lives.
Background
TraceTogether(App/Token) is to help provide contact tracing which has been mandatory since 17 May 2021. This is to replace the usage of scanning NRIC / SafeEntry QR code from another mobile app.
Where Are We At Now ?
As of article published on 5 Jan 2020, about 78% of the residents are using TraceTogether (App/Token). With the new announcement made that from 13 October 2021 [1] where new implemented measures to be impose, what would we be expecting?
Enter Shopping mall Require Fully Vaccinated Status
Prior to the new measure, users would just need to show their SafeEntry check-in / scanning their TraceTogether token against SafeEntry Gateway Box in order to enter. However, with the new measures, users using TraceTogether token will need to scan against SafeEntry(Business) app in order to enter. While this is an easy process for the TraceTogether token users, it is not the same for TraceTogether app.
For TraceTogether app users, user would need to show vaccinated status and either to scan against SafeEntry Gateway Box or show the check-in status. With multiple steps of uncertainty and enforcer needed to validate a few things from TraceTogether app user, this often lead to long queue upfront at shopping mall entrance [2].
In addition, with many people often eager to enter the shopping mall, little/no safe distancing (1 meter apart) is being observed.
How Could it be Improve ?
Existing system rely on enforcer to validate on fully vaccinated status. While now is mainly focus on checking vaccinated status instead of SafeEntry, it is hard to sustain especially on weekends.
Hence , there is needed to change the way on how things work for TraceTogether token. The team can consider allowing user to check-in only when they are fully vaccinated.
The currently check-in status is show below :
Where current check-in page only shows the location and time that user has entered the premise, it does not show the vaccinated status. As the higher priority goes on checking fully vaccinated status, enforcer would request user to show their vaccinated status which is additional steps before entering. Hence, overtime, this slows down the queuing process to shopping mall.
Proposed Improvement
If user are fully vaccinated , user can check-in successfully and enforcer only needs to check on check-in status. Instead of checking vaccinated status and forgo check-in status( this is unless there are plans that contact tracing is no longer needed).
The proposed improvement is when during the process of check-in to have a vaccination status validation. If only the condition met, user will then be able to check-in. The green background screen is able to distinguish between older versions (white background screen) where you still have to check vaccination status.
In additional, the green background screen could allow enforcer to see from afar which hence speed up the checking process to enter shopping malls.
User that are not fully vaccinated will not be able to check-in successfully. An example of proposed screen of unable to check-in if user is not fully vaccinated:
Hence, user will have to go to counter to show proof of exemption followed by check-in against SafeEntry Gateway Box / SafeEntry (Business) app in order to enter[3,4].
Summary
By implement a simplify step of check-in for TraceTogether app, lesser validation is needed to enter the shopping mall which reduce the long queueing time.
References
