Taskrabbit Live Activity
A Live Activity feature that gives customers peace of mind with up-to-date location services for Taskers.
Focus
New Functionality
Industry
Freelance Labor
Online Marketplace
Timeline
December 2023
7 days
Process
Sole Contributor - Discovery, Research, Design, Testing, Delivery
Problem
Clients using Taskrabbit lack real-time visibility into their Tasker's location and lack a way to keep informed about their Tasker's estimated arrival time.
Goal
Enhance the Taskrabbit experience for clients by introducing a Live Activity feature. Inspired by services like Lyft and Uber, this feature will provide real-time updates on their Tasker's location, offering transparency and peace of mind with their service.
The Why
This project idea came to me last October while I was at the car dealership. To kill some time, I took an Uber and found myself glued to the app, watching the driver's location in real-time. It got me thinking about designing something similar.
At first, I considered widgets, but my research led me to Live Activities. I was drawn to real-time tracking but wanted to explore it beyond the typical uses for shopping or sports. That's when I found TaskRabbit. Knowing your Tasker's location would be super useful, and with Live Activities gaining popularity, it seemed like the perfect fit.
Background
TaskRabbit, a platform connecting users with skilled "Taskers" for various chores and errands, aims to make life easier and more efficient. With millions of users across major US cities, TaskRabbit caters to busy professionals and those needing assistance with tasks like furniture assembly, cleaning, and moving.
While TaskRabbit already provides a convenient way to find and schedule help, there's an opportunity to enhance the booking experience. Live Activities, introduced in iOS 14, offer a solution. These dynamic updates display real-time information on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, similar to how ride-sharing apps provide live location tracking. Clients would get real-time updates on their Tasker's location, so they wouldn't have to wonder when their help will arrive.
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Challenges
Designing for Live Activity presented a unique challenge. These dynamic updates appear in compact areas like the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, demanding refined visuals and concise information. To ensure I could provide the best design for such a small canvas, I analyzed competitor designs, paying close attention to their information hierarchy and visual strategies. This research, combined with multiple design iterations and user feedback, allowed me to pinpoint an optimal solution that balanced aesthetics with functionality.
To guide this process, I focused on the following key questions, ensuring the design addressed user needs and seamlessly integrated with the TaskRabbit app:
Problem Areas
How might we ensure seamless integration of Live Activity into the TaskRabbit app, maintaining consistency with existing design elements?
How might we optimize the user experience of Live Activity to provide relative and clear real-time updates on a Tasker’s arrival?
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Above: When the Tasker is near the destination, a push notification is sent to the client, informing them of the Tasker's arrival; Below: The Dynamic Island design, shown in both compact and expanded views.
Above: Before tracking can begin, users must grant the TaskRabbit app permission to access Live Activities; Below: A push notification reminds the Tasker to check in. This notification helps ensure timely updates for the customer.
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Below: The primary correspondence screen, showing the Tasker checked in to route tracking. When a Tasker has an upcoming job within a specified timeframe (e.g., 60 minutes), they can "Check in" to activate live tracking for Live Activity.
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Deliverables
Taskrabbit's Live Activity keeps you informed about your upcoming Tasker's arrival. When a Tasker is within a 60-minute window of their task, they can enable Live Activity. This will show you, the client, their job title, task, pricing, and your Tasker's estimated arrival time in real-time based on their location. The Live Activity feature disables when your Tasker’s destination has been reached.
Live Activity Widget: This widget displays the Tasker's job title, current task, pricing, and estimated arrival time, dynamically updating as their location changes.
Tasker "On My Way" Feature: Taskers can activate Live Activity by tapping an "On My Way" button when they are within a specified timeframe of the task.
Dynamic Island Integration: The Live Activity also appears in the Dynamic Island on compatible iPhone models, providing a concise view of the Tasker's progress.
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Above: When the Tasker is near the destination, a push notification is sent to the client, informing them of the Tasker's arrival; Below: The Dynamic Island design, shown in both compact and expanded views.
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Conclusion
While the Live Activity feature holds potential, further exploration and understanding are crucial. TaskRabbit's backend services, including APIs, databases, and real-time data feeds, likely play a vital role in gathering and processing data for Live Activity updates. However, developing and maintaining these services could be costly and may not be a high priority for increasing conversion.
Future iterations could incorporate features like personalized pre-arrival messages with task-relevant instructions (e.g., "Secure any pets before arrival"). Additionally, exploring the Dynamic Island's potential with job-specific icons representing each task category, rather than just a Tasker's photo, could enhance the user experience.
Case Study
