Thanks to the invaluable feedback from our Alpha test program participants, our developers have made key improvements to better meet the needs of today’s VCM practitioners. As we prepare to kick off our Beta Test phase, we’d like to share some of the exciting updates we’ve implemented so far, as well as to mention a few important features we’re looking forward to completing soon: 

Newly-Released Functionality

Localization model

During our Alpha test, we had the opportunity to work with participants around the world to test our approach to localization. Seeing the model function smoothly gave us the confidence to finalize it for our production release. Out of the gate, users will be able to change all menus and interfaces within the app to their preferred language, with initial support for English, Spanish, and French; extensive additional language support is also planned for future releases.

AI Assistant 

One of the most exciting additions in Beta is our AI assistant—a built-in reference point for all things project-related. To answer user prompts, it leverages a local knowledge base with project-specific information, as well as a comprehensive library of third-party project methodologies and standards (all project-specific data remains secure and inaccessible to outside models). The assistant synthesizes this information to answer questions about project development, measurement, reporting, and more. Additionally, the AI Assistant will play a key role in powering future platform features such as project documentation generation and storytelling. 

Functionality Currently In Development

Mobile App

The Beta will also introduce the initial release of our mobile app, which is designed to complement the core online platform. The app is expected to streamline data collection, enabling users to answer prompts in remote areas and sync information once connectivity is restored. It will also ultimately allow users to access their accounts, manage tasks, receive notifications, view history, engage with community profiles, and more. 

UI/UX Refresh

Thanks to our Alpha participants’ feedback, we’ve made significant UI/UX improvements to enhance usability and the overall user experience. The latest UX refresh includes a revamped Theory of Change (ToC) design module, streamlined navigation, fewer blockers, more intuitive visuals, and key bug fixes. These updates ensure a smoother and more consistent experience for users. 

Dashboard Initial Release

The Beta will also mark the launch of our project management dashboard, giving users better oversight capabilities. It will help identify critical errors before they occur and ensure projects stay on track for success. The initial release is designed primarily to address the needs of project and program managers, with future updates expanding to support multiple projects and include export/import functionalities.

Documentation Generation

Currently under development, this capability will generate high-quality, contextualized project documentation. By pulling relevant details from project plans and related data, users will be able to create PDDs, co-benefit reports, monitoring reports, and other critical project documents with relative ease.

Thank you to our Alpha Testers!

In closing, we want to say a big thank you to Alpha test participants: DETEC, Forest Futures, EcoForests, Mayur Resources, Eco-Agric Uganda, Moonseed, and Posaidon. Your participation has been critical in providing real-world feedback and helping us identify issues that internal testing might have otherwise missed, leading to improved product quality and a better user experience. Thanks again!