All Collections
USSD
How to set up a USSD application on Mteja
How to set up a USSD application on Mteja

USSD menu, application

S
Written by Stephany Pagliaccia
Updated over a week ago

Mteja allows users to visually define complex USSD menus and integrates with any system to collect the outcome of USSD interactions. Using our flows functionality users can set up nested menus, monitor and track interactions, and generate reports all from a web portal with a user interface.

One can also access tools such as; sentiment analysis, data validation, integration capabilities, aimed at empowering businesses to have meaningful customer interactions.

How do I create a USSD application?

The scenario below shows how one can set up a USSD application that can be used to collect information.

Once one acquires a USSD code, you will be able to access the USSD flows function.

Steps to be taken on the Mteja platform

  1. Select the USSD button from the navigation bar

  2. Click on the Create button on the right side of the page

3. Add a name and a description, then click the NEXT button

4. From the Steps menu on the LHS of the screen users can select the menu actions via drag and drop to the menu builder.

List of actions available on the Steps.

Actions and their use:

Message response: This refers to the final message that a user will see once they have gone through the USSD menu.

Basic question: This action allows users to collect data based on random choice as numerical or non-numerical information. For instance, data such as name, age, location etc can be collected using this option.

Prompt question: The action allows users to create nested menus within their USSD application.

Web query: This allows a user to be able to query information or data from an external system and fetch results in real time. For instance, to validate a user request made on the USSD application.

a) In the user journey below, we will start with a basic question to collect the respondent's name via the following steps, by selecting the step in the menu actions

You will be prompted to do the following:

  • Type in the question text

  • Key in the field name (data field name) i.e. name

See the completed step below:

b) Using the prompts menu, we will create the step for collecting data for gender

You will be prompted to do the following:

  • Type in the question text

  • Key in the field name i.e. gender

  • Click on the PROMPT button to set up the prompts that correspond with the menu option

  • The sample journey below shows the digits selected that would represent either Female or Male when selected.

The next question would be to collect the age of the respondent, this is done using the basic question. From the steps menu, drag and drop the Basic question action

We shall use the field aggregation option to enable the analytics to be done on this data for trends that can be shown from the data collected.

Lastly, we shall use the validation available on the platform to ensure that the data input would be valid. This is done using Regular Expressions or Regex (learn more), if invalid data is submitted an invalid message response will be sent out.

NB: The above regex will allow the data that matches the input of between 0 - 99 only.

The last step would be to set up the final message that a user will see to let them know that they have completed the USSD menu steps. From the steps menu, drag and drop the Message response action.

  • Click on the Enter message section to type in the final message that would be displayed at the end of the survey.

  • Click on Save to complete the set-up steps, the image shows the completed USSD flow.

How to set up a USSD application to a USSD code

Here are the steps to set a USSD application live

  1. From the USSD menu, click on the USSD Codes button

2. Next to the USSD code, click on the Setup Flow button to link the USSD Application to the code available

3. From the USSD flow drop-down menu select the application

4. Click on the UPDATE button to complete the steps.

The USSD application is now accessible on the USSD code

Feel free to reach us at support@mteja.io with queries regarding how you can set up your USSD application.

Did this answer your question?