A Garage Reservation Platform for Kenya

Find-Garage was conceived to solve a significant challenge faced by Kenyan car owners: the lack of reliable and transparent information when booking garage services. Toyota Tsusho sought a solution that could connect car owners with trusted local garages, offering transparency in pricing, service quality, and scheduling. The platform was also designed to provide Toyota with valuable insights into customer behavior, which could be used to enhance their car retail operations.

Kenya’s automotive service market is largely informal, making it difficult for users to find reliable garages or compare pricing and quality of services. My challenge was to design a system/platform that would not only simplify this process for users, Gagrge owner and platform Owner but also provide a seamless, intuitive experience, while ensuring that garages could showcase their services transparently.

• Research & Discovery I led the initial research phase, gathering insights from both car owners and garage operators in Kenya. This phase was crucial in identifying the pain points—such as lack of service transparency, unpredictable scheduling, and inefficient garage management. I collaborated closely with stakeholders to ensure the platform addressed real user needs, not just business goals.
• User Personas & Journey Mapping Based on the research, I created user personas representing different types of car owners and garage operators. I then mapped out user journeys, focusing on how users would interact with the platform—from searching for garages to booking services and leaving reviews. These journeys helped identify key touchpoints and potential friction areas in the user experience.
• Wireframing & Prototyping Once the user flows were defined, I sketched low-fidelity wireframes to visualize the core features:
  • Geolocation-based garage search
  • Transparent service listings (pricing, reviews, service details)
  • Real-time booking system
  After iterative feedback sessions with the team, I developed high-fidelity prototypes using sketch, ensuring all design elements aligned with the business objectives and user expectations.
• UX/UI Design For the UI, I aimed for a clean, intuitive design that focused on usability. Given that many users were not tech-savvy, I ensured that the interface was simple to navigate, with clear calls to action (e.g., "Book Now" buttons, easy-to-read pricing, and review sections). I also emphasized mobile-first design since many users would access the platform via smartphones. Color schemes were chosen to reflect trust and reliability, key factors in encouraging users to book services online.
• Collaboration with Development Team I worked closely with developers to ensure the seamless integration of complex features such as geolocation-based search and real-time booking. Throughout the project, I conducted design reviews and made adjustments to ensure that the UI and UX elements were properly implemented.

• Geolocation-Based Search: Enabled users to find nearby garages based on their location, offering transparency in terms of distance, pricing, and service quality.
• Real-Time Booking System: Allowed users to schedule appointments at garages, ensuring a hassle-free process that eliminated the need for in-person visits to arrange repairs.
• Customer Reviews and Ratings: Designed a review and rating system to build trust among users and incentivize garages to provide high-quality services.
• User-Friendly Dashboard: Created intuitive dashboards for both car owners and garages, allowing for easy management of bookings, reviews, and service updates.

• Improved User Experience: The platform’s simple and transparent design empowered users to find and book garages with ease, removing the frustrations of the traditional process.
• Increased Garage Visibility: Local garages saw an increase in bookings due to the enhanced transparency of services and user reviews.
• Business Insights: The data collected from the platform provided Toyota Tsusho with valuable insights into customer behavior, helping them refine their retail strategies in the Kenyan market.

Find-Garage is a prime example of how technology can transform traditional industries by providing transparency, convenience, and improved customer experiences. By addressing the specific needs of the Kenyan automotive market, this project successfully bridged the gap between car owners and local garages while providing Toyota Tsusho with valuable business insights. The success of the MVP lays the foundation for future expansion and development.