ABOUT PROJECT
Roobykon is fully aware of its responsibility to create sustainable products and services that will help conserve resources. Drive lah, the project of our active support, is a perfect example of this approach as it provides the opportunity for car sharing between individuals in Singapore and Australia. This company was started by Gaurav Singhal and Dirk-Jan ter Horst, two former corporate employees who came up with the idea over lunch; Drive lah’s goal is to eliminate cars from the roads and increase green areas. It is based on the idea that sharing is a strong idea that can foster people and bring change for the better. Drive lah also offers convenience for car owners who wish to rent out their vehicles to earn extra income from their unused assets. On the other side, renters can easily access a wide variety of cars on demand and therefore do not have to own cars in many instances.
The positive experience of Drive lah in Singapore led the team to open a new chapter in Australia under the name Drive mate. Both car-sharing platforms use the concept of peer-to-peer services to encourage communities to adopt a more sustainable and collaborative model of transportation. Through providing car-sharing services, Drive lah is contributing to the vision of having one million fewer cars on the road, allowing for more green space and less negative impact of car ownership on the environment. The platform creates a community of like-minded people who are conscious of the need to conserve resources and use them efficiently.
Key Challenges
When our team at Roobykon was engaged to further develop and expand the Drive lah car-sharing site, we inherited a platform that had already established a foothold in the market. However, the journey to take Drive lah to new heights was not without its fair share of challenges. One of the most significant obstacles we encountered was the intricate regulatory landscape surrounding peer-to-peer car rental platforms. Ensuring compliance with insurance regulations, liability frameworks, and local laws across multiple jurisdictions required meticulous planning and close collaboration with relevant authorities. Adapting to evolving regulations and maintaining transparency with users was an ongoing effort.
The car rental market is highly competitive, with numerous established players and a constant influx of new entrants vying for market share. Differentiating Drive lah and standing out in this crowded landscape posed a significant challenge. Effective marketing strategies, continuous innovation, and a relentless focus on user experience were crucial to maintaining and expanding the user base of this car rental marketplace. Maintaining a healthy equilibrium between the supply of listed vehicles and the demand for rentals was an ongoing challenge, just like ensuring a smooth, hassle-free experience for both car owners and renters, from booking to vehicle return. Our efforts have not only solidified Drive lah’s position in the market but also paved the way for its expansion into new territories, bringing the benefits of peer-to-peer car sharing to a wider audience.
TECHNOLOGY STACK
Solution Highlights
To handle payments securely and efficiently, our team integrated Stripe Connect, ensuring smooth transactions within the marketplace environment. For server hosting, AWS EC2 was utilized, providing a reliable and scalable infrastructure that supports high traffic loads. AWS RDS was selected for database hosting, offering a managed, scalable solution to handle data integrity and performance. Additionally, AWS S3 was employed for file storage, enabling efficient and secure handling of user-generated content, such as images and documents.
To enhance user accessibility and provide quick logins, Drive Lah integrated social authentication using Facebook, Google, and Apple auth, making sign-ups and logins straightforward. The platform also uses the Google Maps API for location-based features, allowing users to search and view available cars on the map. Finally, to ensure optimal performance and quickly address any issues, Sentry was incorporated for real-time monitoring, enabling the team to track and resolve errors proactively.
THE PROCESS
01
Understanding user needs: We dove headfirst into the Drive lah user experience to identify areas for improvement. This involved in-depth interviews with stakeholders, familiarizing ourselves with the existing rental car website.
02
Architecture and integration planning: Our team carefully analyzed the car-sharing platform to integrate new functionality. The key challenge, however, was integrating seamlessly with Sharetribe’s existing functionality. To achieve this, we introduced the concept of Child Transactions. These Child Transactions operate within the framework of Sharetribe’s main transactions, allowing the new functionality to leverage the platform’s core functionalities while maintaining a clear separation of concerns.
03
Development and implementation: In 2019, our development team then swung into action, meticulously crafting the backend APIs, services, and logic required to support the Trip Modification/Extension feature. We leveraged the existing codebase and infrastructure while introducing new components and interfaces to facilitate the desired functionality. Simultaneously, our front-end engineers built intuitive user interfaces, ensuring a consistent and delightful experience across web and mobile platforms.
04
Testing and quality assurance: Throughout the development process, our dedicated quality assurance team worked tirelessly to identify and address any potential issues or bugs on the car-sharing website. We implemented rigorous testing protocols, spanning various scenarios and edge cases, to ensure a smooth and reliable experience for users.
05
Continuous improvement and iteration: Even after the successful deployment, our work was far from over. We constantly monitored user feedback, analyzed performance metrics, and identified areas for further betterment. This iterative approach allowed us to address emerging issues swiftly and continually enhance the user experience.
Main Features
Flexible booking options
Users can easily choose the start and end dates and times for their car rental. The system instantly checks the availability of cars for the selected period, ensuring a seamless booking process.
Request management and payment
Once users select their preferred rental period, they can execute a request for that time slot. Payment is processed according to the owner’s tariff model, providing transparency and flexibility in pricing.
Owner confirmation process
Car owners receive rental requests and have the option to accept or cancel them. In the event of cancellation, the system promptly notifies the renter and initiates a refund process.
Confirmation and lease instructions
Upon acceptance, renters receive confirmation of their lease and detailed instructions for the rental process, ensuring a smooth experience from start to finish.
Feedback system
At the end of the rental period, both renters and owners can leave feedback about their experience. Feedback is only visible to participants once it’s provided by both parties, promoting accountability and trust within the community.
Apple login integration
To enhance user convenience and security, we integrated Apple login functionality, simplifying the login process for users.
Excess reduction
Renters now have the option to reduce excess fees, providing them with added peace of mind during their rental period.
Payout rescheduling
We implemented functionality for owners to reschedule payouts, offering them flexibility in managing their earnings from rentals.
RESULTS
When our team at Roobykon was brought on board to collaborate with Drive lah, we knew we had an exciting challenge of creating the best car-sharing website ahead of us. Drive lah had already established a strong foothold in the peer-to-peer car rental space, but there was room for improvement and innovation. We dove into the Drive lah ecosystem, gathering user feedback through stakeholder discussions.
The results of our collaboration speak for themselves. Drive lah’s user base has grown exponentially, with both renters and car owners praising the platform’s intuitive features, flexibility, and responsiveness. Customer satisfaction scores have soared, and Drive lah has cemented its position as a leader in the peer-to-peer car rental market. For our team at Roobykon, this project was a testament to our ability to understand user needs, conceptualize innovative solutions, and execute them with precision. The success of our partnership with Drive lah has reinforced our commitment to driving innovation and delivering exceptional results for our clients.
Lessons from Drive lah
Reflecting on our journey with Drive lah, it’s clear that the challenges we encountered were not mere obstacles but invaluable opportunities for growth and learning. Each hurdle we faced taught us profound lessons that have strengthened our team and sharpened our approach to tackling complex projects. For example, the implementation of the Trip Modification/Trip Extension feature presented us with the challenge of integrating complex functionality into the existing website for rental cars. We learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability, as we had to pivot our approach to accommodate evolving requirements. By embracing change and remaining agile in our development process, we were able to successfully overcome this challenge and deliver a feature that exceeded expectations.
The integration of smaller features like Apple login, Excess reduction, and Payout rescheduling highlighted the importance of attention to detail. We learned that even seemingly minor enhancements can have a significant impact on user experience and satisfaction. By meticulously addressing every detail and thoroughly testing each feature, we were able to deliver a polished and reliable online car rental marketplace that users could trust and rely on. Looking back, each of these lessons has made us a stronger, more resilient, and more professional team.
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