Project summary
A dedicated booking platform for student rentals — from WhatsApp and Airbnb to a structured system with room listings, availability, payments and automated invoicing.
Why the existing tools no longer fitted
Airbnb supports a standard booking model, while student housing involves longer stays, specific information and an application journey. WhatsApp handled exceptions, but each request added conversations and repeated data entry.
The project therefore did not begin with a feature list. It began with the real journey: browse a room, verify availability, provide the required information, pay and receive the associated documents.
The operational problem
StreetLobby managed student bookings mainly through Airbnb and WhatsApp. The Airbnb model wasn't suited to semester-long student stays, commissions were high and each booking required hours of manual back-and-forth.
What was delivered
- 01
Built a platform tailored to their business process: room listings, availability calendar and an end-to-end online booking flow.
- 02
Integrated secure payment collection and customer information capture directly in the platform — eliminating WhatsApp back-and-forth.
Observed outcomes
Manual work
A large share of WhatsApp exchanges replaced by the structured online booking flow.
Student clarity
Clear interface to browse rooms, check availability and complete bookings without back-and-forth.
How to interpret this result
No percentage is claimed here. The documented outcome is the replacement of a large share of manual handling with a structured booking journey. Client volumes and financial data remain confidential.
What this project shows
A business application creates value when it replaces a scattered chain of decisions, not when it merely copies a form. Availability needs one source of truth and every stage needs a status the team understands.
Automation does not remove exceptions. It organises the standard journey and routes unusual cases to a person with the relevant context already assembled.
Technical scope
- Next.js
- TypeScript
- PostgreSQL
- Stripe
- Tailwind CSS
A distinctive workflow can justify a dedicated application
When WhatsApp conversations, availability and payments no longer fit an off-the-shelf tool, a web application can reduce re-entry and make the customer journey measurable.
Explore web application development