Waze is a community-powered navigation app taking a different position to the likes of Google Maps and Apple Maps. Instead of relying solely on algorithms, Waze receives crowdsource updates from drivers covering everything from traffic jams to potholes and police alerts, this builds a real sense of community, every Waze driver looking out for one another with an update they contribute. This can be done by reporting a hazard on the homescreen, or reacting to live updates to notify drivers if the hazards are still there with thumbs up/down buttons, or adding comments to the hazards.
Waze’s real value lies in the micro time-saving UX decisions that help drivers get from A to B faster.
From predicting where you’re headed the moment you open the app, to surfacing real-time alerts from fellow drivers, Waze obsessively shaves seconds off every interaction. It’s part sat nav, part social network, and full of lessons for financial services apps looking to boost engagement, efficiency and delight.
We took a closer look at Waze’s user experience to uncover what FS providers can learn.
Here’s what we found…
Key Takeaways & Lessons for FS Providers
1️⃣ Build around community, not just customers.
Waze transforms its user base into an active, helpful network. Real-time updates, reactions, and shared alerts create a sense of belonging and trust. FS providers can tap into this by turning passive users into active contributors by using community insights, peer tips, or even social proof on financial behaviour.
2️⃣ Personalisation that feels playful, not heavy.
From voice choices to mood avatars and custom car icons, Waze makes personalisation easy, optional, and fun. Offering light-touch customisation that makes people feel known is exciting, without demanding effort.
3️⃣ Every second saved matters.
Whether it’s pre-suggested destinations or shortcut widgets, Waze obsesses over micro-saves. Financial apps can adopt this mindset: reduce taps, pre-fill wherever possible, and surface timely shortcuts that anticipate user needs.
4️⃣ Real-time, human-led content still wins.
Waze’s alerts aren’t only algorithm-driven, they’re sourced from real drivers. In FS, that might mean surfacing live rates, customer sentiment, or trending transactions in human terms. Trust grows when data feels lived-in, not just processed.
5️⃣ Proactive over passive planning tools.
Features like ‘Planned Drives’ and calendar sync don’t wait for user input, they suggest and remind. FS products can take inspiration here, especially in areas like savings goals, payments, or investment actions that benefit from nudges and forward-thinking logic.
