GoWalkies – All-in-One Dog Care Platform
Industry
PET TECH
Year
2024-25
Project Overview
GoWalkies is an all-in-one dog care platform designed for both dog parents and dog care service providers, bringing trusted pet services into a seamless mobile experience. The app enables users to discover, book, and manage services such as dog walking, sitting, grooming, training, boarding, and drop-in visits, all on a unified, secure platform.
The core challenge this project addressed was the fragmented and inconsistent experience across existing pet care solutions, where dog owners and providers struggled with trust, transparency, and efficient workflows, especially in real-time tracking, secure bookings, and overall service management.
Role & Responsibilities
Led UX research and strategy to understand the pain points of dog parents and service providers
Conducted persona development and journey mapping for both user groups
Created information architecture, user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity visual designs
Designed dual-user experiences (for dog parents and pet professionals)
Collaborated with developers and stakeholders to ensure design feasibility and consistency
Project Workflow & Feature
Discovery & Research
Conducted competitor analysis of leading pet care platforms and direct services apps
Gathered insights through exploratory research to understand the needs of dog owners and service providers, especially around booking, trust, and transparency
2. User Definition & Flows
Created detailed personas for both dog parents and care professionals
Mapped key journeys for booking, managing services, and tracking in real time
3. Information Architecture & Wireframing
Structured app modularly for different service categories (walking, grooming, training, etc.)
Developed low-fidelity flows to iterate quickly on core interactions
4. High-Fidelity Design & Prototyping
Designed clear user interfaces prioritising ease of discovery, scheduling, tracking, and payments
Created interactive prototypes to validate flows across both user segments
5. Validation & Iteration
Conducted usability testing with target users to refine interactions
Iterated on feedback to improve clarity, reduce friction, and balance service provider and dog parent journeys
Core Features
Instant & Scheduled Bookings, Easy booking of dog walking, sitting, grooming, training, boarding, and drop-in visits
Real-Time GPS Tracking, Owners can follow walks live and receive updates on progress and photos
Verified & Insured Providers, All professionals are vetted, background checked, and covered with micro-insurance on every booking
Dual User Experiences, Tailored flows for dog parents and care professionals
Secure Payment & Transparent Communication, Built-in secure payments and direct messaging between users and providers
Results & Impact
The GoWalkies platform successfully streamlined the pet care experience for dog parents and service providers alike, delivering measurable improvements in usability and trust.
Key Outcomes
Reduced booking friction: Prototype testing showed a 25–30% decrease in steps required to complete a booking
Improved task success: First-time user task success increased by 30–35% in core booking and tracking flows
Enhanced transparency & trust: Features such as GPS tracking and insurance resulted in a 35–45% improvement in perceived confidence among testers
Balanced dual roles: Both dog parents and pet professionals reported clearer workflows and reduced confusion during service management
These outcomes reinforced the importance of trust, transparency, and role-specific design in multi-user platforms like pet care ecosystems.
