Project

BuyMySpot

Founder & Design Lead | 2019 - Present

Project

How might we streamline and enhance the parking rental experience?

Skills
Team Leadership
Strategic Design Thinking
User-Centered Design

Team
Me
1 Product Manager
4 UX Designers

My Role
Founder
Design Lead
Swiss Army Knife

Teams: In addition to Design, I also established teams and processes for Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Business and Product Development.

Objective

Initially a peer-to-peer marketplace connecting students, faculty, and staff to parking providers, BuyMySpot pivoted to become an all-purpose management software where parking spots could be bought and sold, with a full suite of management features.

Goals

  • Create a more streamlined parking management software for property managers
  • Enable students, faculty, staff to easily find and reserve those spots

Sell & Manage (Availability)

Find & Buy (Recommended)

Research

A total of 50 interviews, both virtual and in-person, were conducted with parking providers and property managers across 6 schools. The objective was to identify their goals and challenges they face with their existing parking management methods.

Personas

Of the interviews conducted, 6 core customer groups were identified.

Long Term Providers
  • Peer-to-peer (typically students)

  • Local property managers

  • Large, national property companies

Short Term Providers
  • Peer-to-peer (local residents)

  • Small businesses, churches, etc.

  • Large garages, casinos, etc.

Problems

From the interviews, key pain points in the current parking management methods included.

  • Challenges in finding potential renters

  • Time-consuming communication when finalizing lease agreements

  • Issues post-transaction, such as outdated and failable tools for spot organization

Additionally some key product challenges were identified.

  • Efficiently managing multiple parking spots at a single location

  • Handling conflicts in listing spaces for both long-term and short-term (event) purposes

  • Seamlessly viewing all data for listings, leases and transactions

Solutions

To account for these product challenges, several innovative solutions were made. 

The Listing Process

First, location and availability information is gathered. Thoughtfully written language ensures a smooth process for both long-term and event spots. Additionally, extensive research has identified the significance of a minimum lease range ability for sellers, including the option to require the buyer to purchase the spot for it's  full available range.

Next, pricing is configured. Default options include daily, weekly, and monthly rates. However, in cases where the minimum lease range is set to the full available range, an alternative format can be toggled - where a full lease price can be set with a toggle-able proration setting. Additionally, an upfront payment setting is available for accounts with appropriate permissions.

Finally, essential details such as amenities, spot description, maximum vehicle size, and a photo are added. Sellers also have the option to include a nickname for the spot. A single listing can accommodate multiple spot types, each with its own name, availability, pricing, and features.

Dynamic Availability

The Dynamic Availability system automatically facilitates optimal tenant placement, maximizing occupancy, as depicted below.

Without Dynamic Availability
  • Suboptimal occupancy rates

  • Untapped revenue potential

  • Compromise solutions disadvantageous for buyers

With Dynamic Availability
  • Peak occupancy realized

  • Maximized revenue potential

  • Buyers can easily secure all available options

Additionally, the introduction of several new displays  enhanced the organization of the platform.

Seller Dashboard

A comprehensive dashboard page was developed to offer parking providers a quick overview of vital information including details on pending leases, upcoming lease start and end dates, revenue statistics, recent messages, and convenient access to listings, availability status, and occupancy data.

Multicalendar View

Additionally, a multicalendar view was  implemented, enabling parking providers to effortlessly track the occupancy of their properties across various timeframes. This feature also allows them to identify the tenants occupying each parking lot.

Results

BuyMySpot's innovative designs drove unprecedented growth.

  • One property manager in particular, Cabrio Properties’ sales surged from approximately $1,500 in 2022-2023 to around $54,000 in 2023-2024, reflecting over a staggering  36x increase in revenue.

  • Cabrio overcame listing challenges, achieving precise customization with the new listing experience. One-click lease approvals facilitated seamless inquiry handling.

  • The landlord's independent use of the platform showcases user empowerment, demonstrating not only financial benefits but also enhanced efficiency in running their business.

Key Takeaways

Throughout the BuyMySpot project, I've gained valuable takeaways.

1. The Power of Language

I carefully crafted language to minimize confusion in each design. I'm also proud of leveraging intentional ambiguity in the listing process to enable the multiple use cases of long term and event parking, all in one flow.

2. Completion vs. Perfection

I've learned to prioritize essential user needs and distinguish between completion and perfection. Though perfection isn't attainable, maintaining high standards and delivering a fully functional product without loose ends is.

3. Business & Design Work Hand in Hand

Business logic significantly influences design. Understanding concepts like our dynamic availability system was crucial for effective design decisions, and these had to be communicated with the team.

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