RouteWise

Product Experience

Problem Space 

Problem Statement  

Frequent travelers often struggle to plan complex itineraries efficiently.

Problem Background  

Nowadays, most travelers would prefer to plan their own trips themselves due to the flexibility of traveling time. In this case, an efficient and seamless itinerary will play a critical role, since traveling to a completely different country without any guidance and understanding of the local language can be daunting. 

In order to create a customized itinerary, travelers usually start by gathering information from several platforms and pinning the destinations down on Google Maps. However, it doesn’t generate an itinerary for the users, and the users have to manually create their own itinerary based on the locations they pinned on Google Maps, which is time-consuming and might not have the best ideal schedule. Additionally, through our user survey, we discovered that when creating an itinerary, travelers are fear of missing out on popular traveling destinations. We would like to have suggested destinations popped out on the side when users are adjusting their itineraries. Therefore, the FOMO situation can be reduced. 

People who love to travel often find joy in visiting new destinations. Yet, collecting and organizing multiple destinations on a map and creating an efficient itinerary can be time-consuming and challenging. Without a centralized and user-friendly solution, travelers may miss out on optimal routes, time savings, and a seamless travel experience. 

Research Insights

User Pain Points

Time-Consuming Planning: Many travelers find the process of planning a trip time-consuming and overwhelming. They often spend hours researching destinations, accommodations, activities, and transportation options.

Lack of Personalization: Many travelers desire personalized recommendations and itineraries that align with their interests and preferences. One-size-fits-all solutions fall short.

Information Overload: Travelers are bombarded with a wealth of information from various sources, making it challenging to filter and prioritize the most relevant details for their itinerary.

Difficulty in Organization: Keeping track of travel plans, reservations, and important details can be a significant pain point. Users often resort to scattered notes and emails.

Decision Fatigue: Choosing between multiple options for accommodations, restaurants, and activities can be mentally exhausting. Travelers often struggle with decision-making during the planning phase.

Supporting Data

All expressed a need for a more centralized planning platform

Feedback

Interactive Maps: The ability to see destinations and points of interest on an interactive map is a highly valued feature. It helps users visualize their itinerary geographically.

Customization: Personalization options, such as the ability to tailor itineraries to specific interests, dietary preferences, or accessibility needs, receive positive feedback.

Desire for Simplicity: Users appreciate a user-friendly interface that simplifies the travel planning process, making it accessible to travelers with varying levels of tech-savviness.

Landing on the Solution

Generating a customized itinerary: An app/website that allows users to add destinations to the list and create a customized itinerary based on the traveling length and preference of the user

Saving time to build a time-efficient itinerary: Generating a most time-efficient itinerary based on the locations that the users add to the list. 

Reducing FOMO: Start with a short survey before users create their itinerary in order to understand the user’s preferences and hobbies (such as if you are an arts person or a sports person) for pop-out suggested locations to add to the itinerary

User Flows/Mockups 

Onboarding Flow:

• User registration or login process.
• Introduction to the app's core features and functionalities.
• Optional profile setup.

Destination Selection Flow:

• How users browse and search for destinations.
• Selection of a specific destination or multiple destinations.

Itinerary Creation Flow:

• Adding destinations, dates, and times to the itinerary.
• Choosing accommodations, activities, and dining options.
• Customizing the itinerary based on user preferences (short survey).

Future Steps

Expand Destination Coverage: Gradually expand the coverage of destinations and points of interest within RouteWise. Consider partnerships with travel-related businesses to provide users with a wider range of options, eg: Google Maps.

Enhanced Personalization: Continue to refine the personalization features of the app. Allow users to customize itineraries based on their specific interests, dietary restrictions, accessibility needs, and travel styles.

User Community and Social Features: Consider adding social features that allow users to connect with fellow travelers, share experiences, and provide recommendations to each other within the app.

Marketing and Promotion: Invest in marketing efforts to increase brand visibility and user acquisition. Leverage social media, content marketing, and partnerships with travel influencers or bloggers to reach a wider audience.

Security and Privacy: Continuously improve the security and privacy features of the app to protect user data and ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations.

‍