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HostConnect

Building a One-Stop Property Management Solution for Homeowners.
Building a One-Stop Property Management Solution for Homeowners.
Building a One-Stop Property Management Solution for Homeowners.
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup

Team

Prerna Patel ( Product Manager)
Shantanu Bhardwaj (Product Manager)
Bidipto Bose (Full Stack Developer)

Tools

Figma, Notion, Github, Jira

UX Task

Research, User Interviews, Personas, Feature prioritisation, User Journey, User flow, Low fidelity, UI Kit, High fidelity wireframes, Testing

Timeline

8 weeks, Jan 2022

Problem

The existing property management platform used by admins at SaffronStays was not user-friendly, mobile-friendly, or intuitive. It was cluttered with separate functionalities spread across multiple platforms, making it difficult to navigate. Homeowners had no access to the platform, relying solely on admins to manage their properties. This lack of accessibility and usability hindered efficiency and growth as the business expanded.

The existing property management platform used by admins at SaffronStays was not user-friendly, mobile-friendly, or intuitive. It was cluttered with separate functionalities spread across multiple platforms, making it difficult to navigate. Homeowners had no access to the platform, relying solely on admins to manage their properties. This lack of accessibility and usability hindered efficiency and growth as the business expanded.

Solution

To address these challenges and empower homeowners, a user-friendly, intuitive, and responsive web application was developed. This holistic platform, called HostConnect, serves as a one-stop solution for property management. By providing homeowners with full access to manage their properties independently, HostConnect streamlines operations, enhances communication, and improves overall efficiency for both admins and homeowners.

To address these challenges and empower homeowners, a user-friendly, intuitive, and responsive web application was developed. This holistic platform, called HostConnect, serves as a one-stop solution for property management. By providing homeowners with full access to manage their properties independently, HostConnect streamlines operations, enhances communication, and improves overall efficiency for both admins and homeowners.

My Impact

I led the entire design process for HostConnect transforming it into a comprehensive one-stop solution for property management. By prioritizing user experience and designing a visually appealing, intuitive, and responsive web application, I empowered homeowners to independently manage their properties, through streamlined functionalities and improved accessibility. Collaborating closely with stakeholders and developers, I ensured that the platform met the needs of both admins and homeowners.

I led the entire design process for HostConnect transforming it into a comprehensive one-stop solution for property management. By prioritizing user experience and designing a visually appealing, intuitive, and responsive web application, I empowered homeowners to independently manage their properties, through streamlined functionalities and improved accessibility. Collaborating closely with stakeholders and developers, I ensured that the platform met the needs of both admins and homeowners.

Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup
Project showcase laptop mockup

Research

Goals

Below are the areas I’d like to explore during the user research. 
I want to understand:

  1. Understand the user's motivations and behaviors in property management.

  2. Identify pain points and challenges faced by homeowners in managing their properties.

  3. Determine the key features and functionalities required for a comprehensive property management solution.

  4. Explore the user's goals and expectations when using a property management platform.

Goals

Below are the areas I’d like to explore during the user research. 
I want to understand:

  1. Understand the user's motivations and behaviors in property management.

  2. Identify pain points and challenges faced by homeowners in managing their properties.

  3. Determine the key features and functionalities required for a comprehensive property management solution.

  4. Explore the user's goals and expectations when using a property management platform.

Methodologies

  1. Conduct primary research through in-depth interviews with homeowners to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences in property management associated with SaffronStays.

  2. Implemented agile methodologies to facilitate iterative development and continuous improvement based on user feedback.

  3. Collaborated closely with stakeholders and developers throughout the design and development process to ensure alignment with project goals and vision.

Methodologies

  1. Conduct primary research through in-depth interviews with homeowners to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences in property management associated with SaffronStays.

  2. Implemented agile methodologies to facilitate iterative development and continuous improvement based on user feedback.

  3. Collaborated closely with stakeholders and developers throughout the design and development process to ensure alignment with project goals and vision.

User Interviews

I began by conducting semi-structured interviews with homeowners managing vacation rental properties. These interviews aimed to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences regarding property management.

I began by conducting semi-structured interviews with homeowners managing vacation rental properties. These interviews aimed to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences regarding property management.

User Personas

Using insights from research, I created user persona representing the typical homeowner managing vacation rentals. This persona allowed me to better understand user needs and behaviours, guiding the design process with a focus on user empathy

Using insights from research, I created user persona representing the typical homeowner managing vacation rentals. This persona allowed me to better understand user needs and behaviours, guiding the design process with a focus on user empathy

Feature Prioritisation

After realising what solution would bring the most value for my homeowners, I decided to take it a step further and brainstorm the ideas for the actual features. I want the app to be easy to use on the go it requires an easy interface, streamlined onboarding and access to the main feature. The research part provided me with enough info to determine which features will bring low vs. high value to the user.

After realising what solution would bring the most value for my homeowners, I decided to take it a step further and brainstorm the ideas for the actual features. I want the app to be easy to use on the go it requires an easy interface, streamlined onboarding and access to the main feature. The research part provided me with enough info to determine which features will bring low vs. high value to the user.

Ideation

User Journey

After creating our user persona, By mapping out user journey, identify key touchpoints and pain points in the property management process, help in designing solutions that address her specific needs and improve her overall experience with the platform.

After creating our user persona, By mapping out user journey, identify key touchpoints and pain points in the property management process, help in designing solutions that address her specific needs and improve her overall experience with the platform.

User Flow

After realising what solution would bring the most value for my homeowners, I decided to take it a step further and brainstorm the ideas for the actual features. I want the app to be easy to use on the go, while shopping - it requires an easy interface, streamlined onboarding and access to the main feature. The research part provided me with enough info to determine which features will bring low vs. high value to the user

After realising what solution would bring the most value for my homeowners, I decided to take it a step further and brainstorm the ideas for the actual features. I want the app to be easy to use on the go, while shopping - it requires an easy interface, streamlined onboarding and access to the main feature. The research part provided me with enough info to determine which features will bring low vs. high value to the user

Low Wireframe

I rapidly created wireframe layout of the dashboard homepage and essential pages concepts for primary user tasks and iterated on those concepts until we landed with a final wireframe incorporating a portion of every stakeholder ideas while maintaining clear user flows, and we ultimately developed a Low-fidelity prototype to bring to users for a round of usability testing.

UI Kit

The UI kit for Host Connect study adopts a cohesive "cool blue" theme in line with the brand identity. Consistency is maintained across the color palette and text elements. The kit includes a minimalist set of icons and buttons. The aim was to evoke a sense of approachability and trust, reflecting HostConnect's commitment to providing a reliable and user-friendly experience for homeowners managing vacation rentals.

Hi-Fidelity Prototype

Based on the feedback from initial usability test, I created hi-fi wireframes and a prototype.

Go here to see the full hi-fi prototype

Based on the feedback from initial usability test, I created hi-fi wireframes and a prototype.

Go here to see the full hi-fi prototype

Test

For HostConnect, initial prototype testing with 8 users revealed key areas for improvement:

For HostConnect, initial prototype testing with 8 users revealed key areas for improvement:

Main pain points that were discovered during the tests and addressed in the iteration:



  • New homeowners struggled with calendar navigation.

    Fix: Implemented an onboarding guide for new users.

  • Some users reported difficulty accessing certain features on mobile devices.

    Fix: Optimized mobile responsiveness and navigation for seamless user experience.

  • Several users requested additional support resources and tutorials for using advanced features.

    Fix: Developed comprehensive help documentation and tutorial videos to assist users in maximizing platform functionality.

Main pain points that were discovered during the tests and addressed in the iteration:



  • New homeowners struggled with calendar navigation.

    Fix: Implemented an onboarding guide for new users.

  • Some users reported difficulty accessing certain features on mobile devices.

    Fix: Optimized mobile responsiveness and navigation for seamless user experience.

  • Several users requested additional support resources and tutorials for using advanced features.

    Fix: Developed comprehensive help documentation and tutorial videos to assist users in maximizing platform functionality.

Conclusion

Throughout the development of HostConnect, I've come to appreciate the importance of user-centric design and iterative problem-solving. Initially, I approached the project with a specific solution in mind, but through research and discovery, I realized the true needs of homeowners were different from my initial assumptions. This experience taught me the value of trusting the research process and remaining flexible in finding solutions that truly address user needs. While the project may have started with a particular vision, the evolution of ideas and solutions led to a platform that prioritizes efficiency, autonomy, and transparency for homeowners in property management. Moving forward, there's potential to further develop and expand upon the initial concept, but ultimately, the key takeaway is the importance of staying true to user needs and continuously refining solutions to meet those needs effectively.

Let’s Collaborate

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Karan Vishwakarma

2024

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Contact

Let’s
Collaborate

Behance

Linkedin

Email

©

Karan Vishwakarma

2024

Let’s
Collaborate

Behance

Linkedin

Email

©

Karan Vishwakarma

2024

Work

About

Contact