
Upendra Sharma
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Delhi, India
Toptal member since January 15, 2021
Upendra, a senior product manager with 13+ years of experience, excels in launching B2C and B2B products across Indian, US, and South American markets. Skilled in Agile/Scrum and technology, he drives customer-centric growth, achieving up to 3x increases. With expertise in insurance, banking, and financial services, he leads cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, compliant solutions that align user needs with business goals throughout the product lifecycle.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Agile Product Management
- Backlog Management
- Customer Journeys
- Go-to-market Plans
- Product Requirements Documentation (PRD)
- Product Roadmaps
- Stakeholder Management
- Story Mapping
Work Experience
Senior Product Manager
Leading S2P Audit Company
- Defined the strategic roadmap for an AI-powered system to identify overpaid invoices from client financial data, saving retail enterprises millions of dollars monthly.
- Led discussions and pitched the strategic importance of the Overpayment MVP as a SaaS offering to CXO-level executives, securing alignment and buy-in.
- Developed a comprehensive sprint roadmap, aligning the team with initiative goals to ensure the delivery of high-impact, high-quality features.
- Conducted in-depth user interviews to gather insights, translating them into actionable requirements and overseeing implementation from concept to delivery.
Senior Product Manager
Leading S2P Audit Company
- Enhanced the data pipeline solution with a workflow-driven design to efficiently extract and load client-provided data files, ensuring seamless integration into downstream systems.
- Designed and launched an event-driven microservices architecture for the data pipeline solution, featuring advanced functionalities such as file tracking, safelisting, and dynamic layout configuration.
- Conducted extensive user interviews to uncover pain points, translating insights into actionable requirements, driving a 200% increase in operational efficiency.
- Built pre-processors for diverse file types—including Oracle dumps, email files (PST/OST), XML, JSON, and EDI—automating processes to reduce manual intervention by over 80%.
- Established a robust missing file tracker and scheduling framework, enabling users to configure schedules via an intuitive UI and ensure data completeness.
- Spearheaded automation for build transformations, eliminating manual script execution and significantly enhancing process accuracy and speed.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement a locking mechanism for load processes, ensuring data integrity during concurrent operations.
- Led the development of client-configurable rules for boolean, varchar, and nvarchar fields, enabling greater flexibility in data processing and customization.
Product Manager
Leading S2P Audit Company
- Partnered with UX, Engineering, and Business teams to enhance the data-intensive audit application, leading to a 2x increase in claims management processes.
- Spearheaded the launch of an integrated email feature within the application, significantly reducing manual effort and eliminating reliance on third-party tools like Outlook.
- Collaborated with the engineering team to develop scalable solutions, including a robust workflow rule engine that automated critical audit processes, increasing efficiency and accuracy.
- Conducted user interviews and analyzed workflows to design features aligned with user needs while achieving business objectives.
- Designed and implemented automated email notifications to keep stakeholders informed of claim statuses, saving auditors' time and ensuring process transparency.
- Enabled seamless access for vendor users, facilitating efficient claim approvals and rejections, and enhancing collaboration within the application.
- Launched a recovery feature in the claim module to add recoveries to the claim, increasing the users' efficiency by 40%.
- Set up the vision for the team, prioritized user stories, groomed the backlog, and collaborated with stakeholders regularly.
- Played a pivotal role in shaping the product roadmap, aligning features with market demands and organizational goals, and driving long-term value for the business.
Product Manager
Maropost
- Managed, from concept to launch, the commercial email deliverability product that enables businesses to make sure their emails land upon the customer's inbox.
- Ensured products met or exceeded client expectations by gathering feedback and requirements, communicating needed changes to the development team, and overseeing seamless, high-quality rollouts to an on-time and on-budget conclusion.
- Developed a deep understanding of the business objectives of internal and external stakeholders.
- Evangelized the product vision and built trust by maintaining an accurate and achievable roadmap.
Agile Product Manager
Home Credit India
- Collaborated with business owners to develop a product roadmap.
- Launched critical features for the home credit mobile app to increase customer engagement in daily active user count by 70%.
- Spearheaded the redesign of the home credit mobile app login page, which allowed prospect users to login into the application and apply for a loan instantly.
- Led and managed different push notifications to increase customer engagement by understanding the various use cases with marketing, finance, operations, and CRM departments.
- Deep dove into various A/B tests and data insights to improve the experience of the product.
- Introduced flight booking and personal finance manager features (3rd party) in the mobile app to improve daily active users count by 120%.
- Facilitated focus group sessions among the active customers to understand their pain points and formulated solutions to solve those efficiently and effectively.
Product Manager
Seguros Bolivar
- Handled the end-to-end ownership of the insurance core platform product, including conceptualization of features and workflows, from project initiation to successful delivery involving all product lifecycle and development stages.
- Oversaw various activities, including product definition, design, and scope.
- Wrote business requirement documents, user stories, and UI/UX; also did cross-functional work in integration, development, and go-to-market (GTM) strategy.
- Conducted over 100 customer interviews and focus group sessions for product feedback with suggested improvements—leading to a 98% user satisfaction level.
- Steered efforts in delivering applications for generating online quotes of insurance policy in four months and thus attaining a milestone in career and for the company as well.
- Assessed product requirements and specifications for an OCR-based application for a financial institution – Bancamia in Colombia, which surpassed the client expectations.
- Led six major new enhancements to the existing core insurance platform, which reduced the manual effort by 70%.
- Interfaced with the client to establish problem specifications and solution design.
- Tracked, coached, and supervised the scrum team as a product owner.
- Conceptualized use case models and diagrams such as sequence diagrams, class diagrams, ERD, data flow diagrams (zero to second level), state models, and interface analysis.
Product Owner
Seguros Bolivar
- Led a 6-member team to deliver a key module for Seguros Bolivar's Core Insurance Platform, enhancing claim management, policy administration, and beneficiary management with scalable, modular, and highly available software components.
- Produced comprehensive functional and non-functional documents encompassing FRD, user stories, and UAT cases.
- Designed and executed rigorous testing programs and database evaluations to identify issues, facilitating prompt and effective modifications.
- Participated actively in team meetings, contributing innovative ideas and suggestions to project and business analysts. Consistently communicated updates related to project deadlines, designs, and enhancements.
- Leveraged strong conceptualization skills to create detailed use case models and various diagrams, including sequence diagrams, class diagrams, ERDs, data flow diagrams (ranging from 0 to 2nd level), state models, and interface analyses.
Project History
Mobile App to Apply for a Loan
Led the product discovery sessions using the importance vs. satisfaction framework by taking customer interviews. Introduced features like prospects login, flight booking, and push notifications. The DAU increased from 3% to 7% in the next quarter.
• Improved Loan Application Experience: Oversaw the creation of a mobile application that made it possible for clients to apply for loans conveniently from the comfort of their own homes, doing away with the necessity for in-person presence.
• Increased User Engagement: In just one quarter, DAU increased from 3% to 7% thanks to the conceptualization and implementation of features like interactive push notifications, gamification, and flight booking.
• Enabled Strategic Cross Selling: Developed features for the app that allows EMI payments to be made directly through the app and display customized loan products based on credit history.
• Innovated Customer Centricity: To improve lead management and user experience, features like prospects login were introduced after field trips were conducted to identify sales agents' pain points.
• Balanced Tactical and Strategic Roles: Implemented tactical solutions to provide user-friendly features while driving the product vision by coordinating the roadmap with corporate goals.
• More Prospects for Revenue: increased customer acquisition and retention by promoting cross-sell offerings through the use of app engagement.
Quotation Product for Insurance Company
Steered efforts in delivering quotation applications for generating online quotes of insurance policies in four months, thus attaining a milestone in my career and for the company.
A strong quotation app was required to preserve market relevance and operational agility after a competitive gap was noticed as competitors used customized software. The MVP version was quickly approved by the steering committee after a business case that emphasized the app's strategic importance was developed and presented to them.
Two prototypes were created and presented, with a focus on usability and responsiveness. The more user-friendly design was chosen to satisfy user expectations. In order to ensure alignment with business objectives, I supported the development process and worked with cross-functional teams to create MVP features. Within four months, the initial version of the Quotation App was delivered, allowing agents to create quotes instantly, increasing their productivity and decreasing their reliance on business processes.
Email Marketing Tool
https://inboxaware.com/Led the development of an email marketing SaaS-based tool from idea to implementation.
A thorough competitor analysis was conducted to identify market gaps and establish the product's unique selling proposition (USP). I prioritized features and created a well-rounded MVP version that met user expectations by utilizing the Kano model and competitor information. I implemented the MVP successfully in six months and received a remarkable 98% customer satisfaction (CSAT) rating.
I produced a solution that ensured market distinction and high customer engagement by striking a balance between functionality and user experience. I worked together with cross-functional teams to achieve deadlines and expedite the development process without sacrificing quality.
Core Insurance Platform
Owned the claims module end-to-end in the core insurance platform for one of the biggest insurance giants in South America.
I successfully supplied several new features and improvements for the claims module, earning a flawless 100% customer satisfaction (CSAT) rating. I helped prioritize and improve backlog items to optimize value delivery while upholding high standards of quality. To guarantee the prompt and effective deployment of product upgrades and features, I worked with cross-functional teams.
Data Pipeline Solutions 2.0
Developed data pipeline solutions to process diverse file types (EBCDIC, ASCII Delimited, POSITIONAL) with single and multi-schema support.
This roadmap addressed core inefficiencies and introduced robust pre-processors to handle diverse file types, including Emails, XML, JSON, and EDI files, ensuring seamless data flow into final tables. The result? The new pipeline processes over 100,000 files daily for 200 clients, 75% of which are Fortune 500 companies, transforming reliability and efficiency into a competitive advantage.
Recovery Audit - Claims Management Solution
Led the development of cutting-edge audit compliance software, empowering audit teams to efficiently manage and process claims, which ultimately generated significant revenue for the company.
I led the development of a time-saving email feature that reduced manual effort for auditors, eliminating the need for third-party tools. Additionally, I worked closely with engineering to introduce a scalable rule engine, streamlining the audit process and improving operational efficiency.
Through user interviews, I gathered insights to define product requirements, ensuring the features aligned with client needs. I also enabled vendor access to facilitate faster claim approvals, enhancing collaboration.
By aligning the product roadmap with strategic goals, I helped deliver a solution that not only met user needs but also drove long-term value for the business.
Enterprise SaaS Product to Detect Overpayments
Started with a small workshop with business owners to suggest a possible AI-based tool to detect overpayments and launch it in real time in a span of three months.
• Oversaw SaaS Product Development: Developed and introduced an AI-powered overpayment detection solution for accounts payable, which helps clients avoid creating duplicate invoices and saves them an average of $10 million a year.
• Provided Strategic Domain Expertise: Designed a solution that matched the company's "technology-first" strategic goals by utilizing more than four years of Source-to-Pay domain knowledge.
• Implemented a Quick Go-to-Market Strategy: From conception to market launch, the overpayment detection system was delivered in three months, guaranteeing alignment with customer requirements and corporate goals.
• AI-Powered Efficiency: Developed and put into use sophisticated algorithms to detect duplicate payments, greatly improving operational effectiveness and financial accuracy.
• Enabled SaaS: The overpayment tool was positioned as a SaaS offering, allowing for scalable client uptake and generating a steady flow of income for the company.
• Collaborated Cross-functionally: To ensure a smooth integration into current systems, I worked closely with the engineering, data science, and finance teams during the product's development and validation.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Advertising and Marketing
Delhi School of Management - Delhi, India
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science
Jamia Hamdard - Delhi, India
Certifications
Certificate in Product Ownership Analysis
International Institute of Business Analysis
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Scrum Alliance
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
International Institute of Business Analysis
Skills
Tools
Jira, Confluence, Asana, Slack, Office 365, Google Analytics, Office 2016, Redmine, Mantis, Figma
Paradigms
Agile Product Management, Agile, Scrum, Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), Agile Business Analysis, Design Thinking, Microservices
Industry Expertise
Product Ideation
Platforms
Azure
Other
Microsoft Teams, Gliffy, User Stories, Story Mapping, Strategy, Backlog Grooming, Feature Backlog Prioritization, UML Diagrams, Stakeholder Engagement, Product Vision, Backlog Management, Analysis, User Interviews, B2B Product Management, Documentation, Business Analysis, Scrum Product Owner, Product Management, Fintech, Sprint Planning, SaaS Product Management, Requirements, Elicitation, Business Model Canvas, UML, Process Documentation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Product Strategy, New Product Development, Pitch Decks, Project Planning, Competitive Analysis, API Integration, Web & Mobile Applications, Project Management, Mobile Apps, Quality Assurance (QA), Business Requirements, Miro, Product Roadmaps, Go-to-market Plans, Process Design, Focus Groups, Brainstorming, IT Product Management, Negotiation, Stakeholder Management, Interviewing, Ideation Workshops, Product Reviews, Databases, Online Payments, Customer Journeys, Web Product Management, Product Requirements Documentation (PRD), Cross-functional Collaboration, Feature Prioritization, Customer Interviews, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Business Acceptance Testing, User Research, Competition Research, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Business Cases, Roadmaps, Agile Sprints, Email Systems, Decision Analysis, Interviews, Surveys, Knowledge Management, User Experience (UX), User Journeys, Use Cases, Consumer-facing Product Design, Competitive Intelligence, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, Product Design, Market Research, Ideation, Technical Requirements, Workshops, SOAP, Stakeholder Analysis, Insurance Product Manager, Discovery Workshops, Aha!, Primary Research, UX Design, UI Design, Cybersecurity, Healthtech, Figma Prototyping, IT Business Analysis, Enterprise SaaS, Healthcare & Insurance, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Cloud, Kubernetes, Microapps, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Sprints, Sprint Backlog, Leadership, Strategic Planning, Technical Product Management, Teamwork, Critical Thinking, Communication, User Empathy, Conflict Resolution, Adapt, User Personas, Accountability, Collaboration, Analytics, Analytical Thinking, Coaching, Agile Coaching, Product Leadership, Azure Cloud Services
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