Case Study - Flatchat (Roommate/Flatmate finding app)

Case Study - Flatchat Name

Email

Avi Tankaria

avitankaria@gmail.com

Mithvin Kousthub C M

mithvinkous@gmail.com

Sushant Nikam

nikamsushant4@gmail.com

Ojas Joshi

ojas.joshi3@gmail.com

Submission Date: 06th October, 2021

Part 1: User Research Question 1: Target Audience

Identify the target audience for the roommate/flatmate finding service.

(Word limit: 100 words)

Response

The target audience for roommate/flatmate finding service would be young working professionals(both male/female) belonging to the age group of 21 to 35 who migrate to other cities for employment and prefer staying in shared accommodation.

Question 2: Interview Questionnaire

Prepare an interview questionnaire (write down the questions here) suiting your objectives & hypothesis. (Word limit: 500 words)

Response

Objective To understand the user needs and demands for a shared accommodation application service. Thus, making accommodation accessible for skilled working professionals who migrate to other cities for employment.

Hypothesis Primary: Young working professionals would prefer living in shared accommodation to reduce financial stress.

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Secondary: People willing to stay in shared accommodation would not mind staying with strangers as their primary goal is cost reduction.

Interview Questionnaire 1. What is your name?

2. You belong to which age group?

3. What is your educational qualification?

4. What is your marital status?

5. What is your occupation?

6. What is your annual income?

7. Where do you currently reside?

8. Which mobile OS do you use?

9. Top 5 apps that you use 10. Do you wish to relocate to another city or have you relocated to another city in the past?

11. If yes, then what are the channels you would prefer to use for finding accommodation for yourself?

12. What are the challenges you have faced in the past whilst finding accommodation?

13. What sort of property do you wish to look for and what is your budget?

14. Do you prefer living in a separate room or sharing the room with your housemates/roommates?

15. What amenities do you usually look for?

16. How comfortable are you with the idea of living with strangers?

17. What is the primary motive behind finding a shared accommodation?

18. Have you faced any issues regarding shared accommodation in the past?

Question 3: Insights from User Research

Response

Analyse the data you gathered from interviews. Draw insights out of the collected data. You can segregate your insights based on the objectives of conducting user research: users' pain points, motivations, personality, goals, demographics. (Word Limit: 600 Words)

Primary hypothesis is validated by analyzing the interview results where majority of the respondents stated that shared accommodation is budget friendly.

Secondary hypothesis stands false as the interviewees preferred staying with friends rather than strangers. The analysis indicates that 62.5% respondents prefer staying with friends and 25% with family.

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Insights

Response

Users Pain points: 1. Challenge finding an apartment of his/her liking 2. Budget issue 3. Trust issue with roommates or flatmates 4. Nagging landlords 5. Unpleasant roommates 6. Finding a replacement for a roommate.

Motivations and goals 1. Budget friendly 2. Make new connections and socialize 3. Avoid boredom

Personality 1. Most of the people prefer staying in an individual room as compared to sharing it with flatmates.

2. They prefer staying in an apartment which offers flexi-timings.

3. Flatmates with the same dietary preference preferred.

4. And the majority prefer staying with family or friends.

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© Copyright UpGrad Education Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved .

Demographics 1. Most of the audience are working professionals (male and female) 2. Age group 21 to 35 years 3. Currently residing or looking to move to tier1/tier2 cities 4. Majority have an annual income 5 to 10 lakh 5. Audience includes both single and married professionals

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© Copyright UpGrad Education Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved .

Part 2: Product Artifacts Question 4: Create a persona from the user research data. Use the template given below.

Response:

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Questions 5: Create a user journey map for the given user goals: (a) Find a shared accommodation space that satisfies my logistical constraints ●

Proximity to Workplace, Recreation, Utilities

●

Amenities e.g. Gym, Swimming Pool, Parking

●

Support ecosystem e.g. Cook/Maid, furniture, laundry etc.

●

Cost

(b) Find roommates with whom I share preferences in terms of: ●

Food habit

●

Timings

●

Visitors

Use the templates given below.

Response: User Journey Map 1 User Goal

(a) Find a shared accommodation space that satisfies my logistical constraints ●

Proximity to Workplace, Recreation, Utilities

●

Amenities e.g. Gym, Swimming Pool, Parking

●

Support ecosystem e.g. Cook/Maid, furniture, laundry etc

●

Cost

User Expectations

1. To find suitable accommodation close to work that has a parking facility, has a pool/gym facility and is close to at least basic amenities.

2. Find a place that suits their budget.

3. Find a place that has daily or alternate day maid service.

Process

1.

2.

3.

4.

Speak to friends and family to get recommendations Google search for properties Check social media Visit property applications on mobile or PC

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5. Contact property listers and check photos, etc.

6. Short-list results and in-person visits before confirmation.

Experience Process Enjoyable

Lessee

Landlord

Planning

Helpful Unhappy

Pre-event

Attending-event

Post-event

Touchpoints

Conversation with friends and family Social media Google search Visiting property listing application on mobile or PC

Pain-points

Budget issue.

Challenge finding an apartment of users liking.

Trust issues with roommates/flatmates.

Ideas

To create an application (Flatchat) which provides shared accomodation facility and is available across platforms such as Android OS, iOS and also a website.

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Application will provide users to filter for properties based on their preferences such as furnishing type, number of rooms, rent range, etc.

Brief description of the amenities, facilities and co-ordinates of the property to estimate the distance to places from there Provide a virtual tour of the property Providing a referral feature to incentivise the whole onboarding process for tenants Offer attractive benefits to users by affiliating with various banks and FinTech firms for providing online payment facilities

User Journey Map 2 User Goal

(b) Find roommates with whom I share preferences in terms of: ●

Food habit

●

Timings

●

Visitors

User Expectations

1. To find out who preferred a similar dietary food.

2. Roommates who are available for flexi timing.

3. Finding a roommate who has no issue on guests coming into the room.

Process

1. Same eating routine roommate 2. Open for flexi timing 3. Who is adjustable on bringing guests

Experience Process Enjoyable

Lessee / flatmate

Roommate

Planning

Helpful Unhappy

Pre-event

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Attending-event

Post-event

Touchpoints

1. While remaining with obscure roommate 2. Appropriate documentation are not accessible 3. Hopping roommate

Pain-points

1. Not able to find a roommate with similar food preference.

2. Timing restrictions 3. Visitors not allowed

Ideas

1. Make sure that product solution has accurate information readily listed - PG/house rules (guests, curfews, food/feasting rules, smoking/non smoking) - Permits listers to uninhibitedly show in case they are LGBT well disposed 2. Ensure that the item guarantees a feeling of unwavering quality - Permits leaseholders and listers to be scored dependent on connections to energize appropriate conduct when reached - Permit unquestionable status by reviews/endorsements before posting (perhaps bringing about a punishment if pictures posted don't coordinate with what is introduced)

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