Bboxx releases groundbreaking AI driven payment behavioral tool, based on collaboration with UCL

Bboxx, a data-driven super platform that transforms lives by unlocking access to clean energy and digital products across Africa, has announced the launch of a groundbreaking AI tool on its Bboxx Pulse ® platform. These new insights have been developed in collaboration with University College London (UCL) as part of our long-term partnership that has been co-funded from 2019 to 2024 by Bboxx and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) via its Senior Research Fellowship Scheme. This innovative tool, created by Vasco Mergulhao during his PhD at UCL, uses pioneering Machine Learning techniques to analyse the payment behaviours of Solar Home System (SHS) users.

This new tool simplifies complex payment patterns into intuitive classes, providing both individual users and portfolio managers with a clear view of payment history and trends. As a result, Bboxx can offer smarter, more personalised customer service, improving our response times and support interactions and driving up repayment rates and customer satisfaction.

In earlier work, Vasco’s PhD research revealed the main categories of user behavior and how these can lead to different payment and energy access outcomes. With this new follow-on AI model, it is now possible to observe behavior classes as they evolve over time and intervene earlier with the right support and advice.

Bboxx is excited by the potential for this AI tool to empower our customers, improve service efficiency, and pave the way for even greater strides in providing access to essential services.

Chris Baker-Brian, Bboxx Co-founder and CTO said: “Our investment in advanced AI, in partnership with UCL, enables us to serve our 100’s of thousands of active customers in a more targeted and efficient way, particularly around paying for essential services like energy access. These insights will transform Bboxx’s relationship with our customers over the coming years, creating more value for them and improving our service.”

Professor Priti Parikh, the PI from UCL and the School Director of BSSC added: “This UCL-Bboxx partnership, which now spans over a decade, is making a real difference to human lives. Improving access to clean energy for remote communities is vital, and this AI-driven work showcases the pivotal role of technology in accelerating energy transitions through solar home systems.”

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