The Challenge
Rebuild a rental platform with
a smart lock access feature
Grovestay started as a rental app for the Ukrainian market back in 2019. Then COVID hit. Then the war broke. Usage dropped to zero, and the product stalled.
In 2025, the founders decided to relaunch, this time for the US market. The goal was to rebuild an outdated product into a next-generation rental platform with the latest design, contactless
access via smart locks and intuitive flows for hosts and guests.
Obstacles
Outdated UX
A lot of design and code already existed, but it was built 5+ years ago.
Some features didn’t work, others didn’t exist, like Stripe integration.
Smart locks feature
Smart lock access is a security-critical flow that connects UX, backend logic, and real-world hardware.
Multiple user roles
The product had to work equally well for guests and hosts, each with different goals, permissions, and user flows.
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The Solution
Temy rebuilt the backend
and UI/UX in 4 months
Temy assembled a custom team of 12 experts, and work started immediately. We rebuilt the product logic and design around contactless access. We put special attention to smart lock behavior, security states, and error scenarios, so the app could safely control access to the property.
Users filter by location, property type, and availability, see only relevant options, and move into booking.
Users choose a place, see the price and availability, enter their details, and confirm the booking in one intuitive flow.
Every apartment uses a contactless lock, access is managed entirely through the app without physical keys.
On one dashboard, hosts can manage bookings, synchronize calendars with other platforms, and track revenue.
Key project outcomes
- Product relaunched
in 4 monthsGrovestay shipped a new platform with a smart lock feature and updated design within a tight startup timeline. - Revenue-ready
infrastructureWe integrated Stripe, enabling direct payouts and recurring subscriptions for hosts. - Secure rental
experienceAt its peak, the startup was acquired by Miele, Europe’s leading appliance giant.
Product Design Journey
We redesigned the app, launched the smart
lock feature, and released the platform
In 4 months, our team rebuilt Grovestay almost from scratch. We reviewed the old product,
removed outdated flows, and designed a new rental experience around contactless access.
Below are the milestones that took Grovestay from first sketches to a live platform.
Milestone 1 & 2
Product logic defined from real scenarios
Our designer and PM began by mapping the entire rental journey. They walked through real situations: how a guest searches for a place, books it, pays, arrives, unlocks the door, and leaves without having to meet the host.
In parallel, we mapped host flows: onboarding, lock installation, calendar sync, payouts, and daily property management. This step exposed weak spots in the old product and set a foundation for the new one.
Flows and prototypes validated
Next, the team moved into user flows and clickable prototypes in Figma. The prototypes showed the full behavior of the app, covering booking states, payment confirmation, access timing, and error cases.
Validating flows at this stage helped prevent costly changes later in development.The prototypes served as a shared reference for design, product, and engineering teams.
Execution phase
Product Delivery & Launch
Designing, building, and shipping real product features to market
Milestone 3
Smart lock access designed and shipped
Smart lock access is the platform’s core feature. Our designers and backend engineers defined how access appears in the app, how long it stays active, and how users recover when something goes wrong. Developers integrated Seam to support multiple lock brands, and the team shipped door unlocking via the app in the first release.
Milestone 4
Payments, subscriptions, and verification shipped
The team integrated Stripe for payments and payouts, allowing hosts to receive money directly through the platform. We also designed and implemented a subscription model for hosts, where apartment and house owners pay a fixed monthly fee to use smart lock access and related features.
In parallel, the team added guest identity verification with Veriff and introduced email and push notifications for key actions
Milestone 5
Host dashboard designed and released
The team designed and shipped a host dashboard connected to the mobile app. Hosts can manage bookings, synchronize calendars with other platforms, control smart locks, track revenue, and manage subscriptions from a single interface.
Milestone 6
Landing page designed and launched with new branding
Finally, we designed and launched a new landing page with updated branding. The page explains the product through use cases and serves as the main entry point for guests and hosts.
It also established a consistent visual system across the product, aligning the new branding with the overall user experience.
We achieve impactful and sustainable outcomes through close collaboration and deep technical expertise.
Anastasiia TakhtarovaProduct Owner at Grovestay
The Result
From outdated flows to a revenue ready product
In 4 months, we rebuilt the product logic, enabled contactless access with smart locks and
shipped a revenue-ready platform for the US market. The platform keeps attracting new hosts
and guests, while the team continues to expand features and operations.
Product built for a different market, with outdated flows
Product relaunched for the US market in 4 months
No contactless access or smart lock support
Smart lock access allows guests to open doors via app
No payment or subscription infrastructure for hosts
Stripe payments and payouts integrated, product became revenue-ready
Fragmented design and inconsistent UX
Single visual language across the app, dashboard,
and landing page
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