Mpesa SSOC offices
We were commissioned to design the M-Pesa Shared Service Operations Centre, a highly technical space designed for 24/7 monitoring and support of Mpesa services.
The challenge
Operations centre staff spend more than ten hours daily monitoring systems, responding to incidents, and ensuring uninterrupted service for millions of M-Pesa users.
Traditional tech operations spaces can induce fatigue, mental exhaustion, and reduced alertness during long shifts.We needed to create an environment that keeps personnel alert and energized throughout extended periods while supporting the intense focus their work demands.
Our response
Color psychology for sustained energy
We chose a bold red paint finish with strategic highlights across walls and ceiling. Red is psychologically proven to increase alertness, stimulate mental activity, and combat lethargy, essential qualities for staff monitoring critical systems around the clock. This vibrant backdrop creates visual energy that helps personnel maintain focus during long shifts.
Balanced contrast for visual comfort
To prevent the exhaustion effect that extended exposure to intense color can create, we introduced black and white as grounding elements. This contrast reduces visual fatigue while maintaining the energizing atmosphere, creating a space that feels dynamic without becoming overwhelming during 10+ hour shifts.
Physical comfort through materials
We specified carpeted flooring throughout the operations floor to provide physical comfort for staff who spend entire shifts on their feet or moving between monitoring stations.
The carpet absorbs sound, reducing the ambient noise from equipment and conversations, while making the space feel warmer and more welcoming than typical hard-surface tech facilities.
Biophilic elements for wellbeing
We integrated indoor plants throughout the space as a final finish.
These biophilic elements improve air quality, reduce stress, and provide visual relief from the constant screen exposure that defines operations work.
The presence of living greenery creates moments of natural calm within the high-tech environment.
In the end, we delivered a technical operations centre that performs its function while prioritizing human wellbeing. Staff enter a space that energizes rather than drains them, supporting the alertness and mental clarity essential for monitoring Kenya's mobile money.
Project status
Complete
