Skip to main content

Customer Hypotheses

For AirShare, the journey to becoming a staple in the travel industry begins with an intimate understanding of its customers. The development of hypotheses around who will use the service and how they will benefit from it defines the trajectory of a customer-centric service design and experience.

Types Of Customers​

At its core, AirShare sees two primary customer segments: hosts who share their living space and travelers seeking accommodation. The engagement of these groups will differ—travelers prioritize a seamless booking process and a pleasant stay, while hosts focus on listing ease, earning potential, and the security of their space. Influencers, such as travel bloggers and city guides, and decision-makers, such as those thinking of short-term rentals as an investment, have roles in popularizing the platform. Resistance may arise from traditional lodging providers; AirShare plans to address this through positive community impact stories and transparent dialogue.

Customer Problems​

Understanding the problems being faced by both travelers and hosts sets the foundation for innovations that AirShare aims to introduce. Travelers often find themselves disconnected from the true culture of their destination, a gap AirShare can bridge with its community-centric stays. For hosts, the service anticipates leveraging underutilized spaces. AirShare will also need to substantiate safety and privacy as fixtures for both parties; pilots and feedback loops are planned for gaining profound insights into these matters.

Latent Need​

Some travelers might not realize what they're missing out on by staying in impersonal hotels, while some homeowners might not see the financial potential in their spare rooms. Through marketing campaigns and educational content, AirShare plans to illuminate these latent needs, promoting the benefits of unique travel experiences and passive income.

Active Need​

Immediate concerns such as affordability and adaptability in travel plans are driving the emergence of alternative accommodation concepts. AirShare is committed to providing a competitive pricing model and flexible booking options. Interactive platforms for feedback are going to be integral to addressing such active user needs and continually refining the service.

A Day In The Life​

AirShare's platform fundamentally changes the way hosts and guests manage accommodations by providing an all-in-one solution for listing properties, booking stays, and facilitating the exchange of space for services. This not only simplifies the process for both parties but also adds value by enhancing their experience as compared to traditional services such as booking.com or couchsurfing.

Host Lists a Property​

When a host decides to list a property on AirShare, they're engaging in a multi-faceted process:

  1. Listing Property: Unlike manually creating listings across various platforms like couchsurfing or classified ads, AirShare streamlines this into a single, efficient process where hosts upload photos, add descriptions, and set house rules all in one place.
  2. Managing Pricing: Instead of relying on guesswork or manual comparison across competitors on sites like booking.com, hosts use AirShare’s dynamic pricing tool that leverages market data to set competitive rates.
  3. Managing Bookings: The host shifts from handling inquiries through email or phone as seen with traditional rentals, to a centralized dashboard that offers real-time booking management.
  4. Communicating with Guests: Direct communication through AirShare replaces back-and-forth emails or calls, providing a secure and documented thread that’s easy to reference.
  5. Receiving Payment: Instead of managing cash or disparate online payments, hosts receive payments directly through AirShare’s platform, ensuring security and timely transactions.

Guest Books Stay​

For guests, AirShare provides a cohesive, step-by-step path to securing the perfect stay:

  1. Searching Listings: Guests no longer have to browse multiple websites to compare options. AirShare offers a comprehensive, searchable database with detailed listings, eliminating the need to cross-reference between platforms.
  2. Booking: The convenience of instant booking on AirShare is a game-changer compared to the potentially slower response times or booking processes on other platforms like couchsurfing, where confirmations may not be as immediate.
  3. Payment: Offering a secure in-app payment system, AirShare replaces the need for cash transactions or separate payment platforms often required by traditional booking methods, streamlining the financial aspect of the stay.
  4. Checking In: Digital check-ins via AirShare introduce a smoother process compared to the possible coordination hassles and time spent waiting for in-person key exchanges prevalent with some accommodations.
  5. Communicating with Hosts: In lieu of unsecured emails or texts, AirShare's integrated messaging system facilitates clear and reliable communication before, during, and after the stay.

The implementation of AirShare’s service effectively introduces new workflows for both hosts and guests, simplifying processes and enhancing the daily management of accommodations and travel arrangements, preempting the question, "Why didn't we do this sooner?"

Organizational and Customer Influence Map​

In the case of AirShare, the influence map extends beyond organizational structures into the travel community at large. Recognizing how travelers influence each other through reviews and social media, and how hosts can become brand ambassadors within their own networks, is key to AirShare's strategy. The referral and rewards programs are a few of the approaches under consideration to reinforce these connections.

ROI (Return On Investment) Justification​

AirShare hypothesizes that its service will provide significant value to both hosts and travelers—not just through direct earnings or savings but also through intangible benefits like cultural exchange and community building. Calculating and communicating this ROI will involve collecting and showcasing data on hosts' earnings, guests' savings compared to traditional lodging, and the broader economic impact on the communities involved.

Minimum Feature Set​

Determining the minimum viable product includes ensuring a robust yet simple listing and booking process, secure payment methods, and reliable customer support mechanisms. Future feature considerations will involve host and guest education resources, integration with local experiences, and advanced AI to personalize user experiences. As AirShare evolves, so too will the feature set, always with the goal of enhancing service and maximizing customer satisfaction.

AirShare's dedication to realizing its hypotheses through persistent evaluation and iteration lays the groundwork for a service that seeks not just to fulfill customer needs but to exceed them, fostering a new culture within the travel industry.