keyScout
Your rent search ends here. Let the bot do the work.
Your rent search ends here. Let the bot do the work.
[ about ]
KeyScout is a smart web-scraping bot developed by Hestiva Platforms. Offered as a subscription-based product, it acts as a digital assistant to help people find rental properties in the Netherlands. By tailoring searches to each user's preferences and chosen location, KeyScout ensures that subscribers are the first to be notified about the latest rental listings on the market..
www.keyscout.com[ workflow plan ]
Product has been rebuilt from scratch with a complete rebranding and a redesigned workflow, including user onboarding and integration tools. Its development followed multiple phases of the design thinking methodology to deliver a product that will fulfill users' needs.
research
I started by examining why the previous tool failed and what challenges it faced. To gain insights into market dynamics and user needs, I analysed the real estate market through research platforms, conducted competitor analysis, and identified their unique strengths and successes. Based on these findings, I developed a strategic plan for the platform redesign.
create
In the ideation phase, I focused on creative problem-solving and developed three initial concepts, which I tested and refined based on user insights. I then created a comprehensive site map to structure the onboarding process and define the product’s overall architecture. One challenge I faced was coming up with a unique and memorable name. After a brainstorming session with eight UX designers, that I had hosted, we decided on the name KeyScout to be the most suitable one for this project case.
test
In the testing phase, I discovered that the onboarding process had flaws that needed a more intuitive and user-friendly approach, almost “dummy proof.” By gathering user data, I identified key areas for improvement. Despite these challenges, I successfully implemented multilingual options for the website and ensured all essential operational tools now run seamlessly.
responsible
I began by analysing the current challenges of the predecessor product and identifying its key pain points. To address these, I hosted a creative workshop with eight designers, where collaborative idea-jamming provided clarity and direction for moving forward. An in-depth competitor analysis revealed valuable insights and highlighted mistakes to avoid, which informed my design decisions. From there, I outlined an initial product framework for how it should be presented to the end user, while continuing to refine the onboarding process.
In the design stage, I developed two thematic concepts while closely aligning them with the target audience profile I had created. Drawing on the preferences of the new generation, I aimed for a clean and simple style that still carried a distinctive character. To achieve this, I introduced a cultural mascot of luck, symbolizing warmth and positivity for users embarking on their home search. I emphasized themes of kindness and empathy, inspired by my own experience of struggling to find a rental place, ensuring the design resonated on both a practical and emotional level.
I created a co-pilot voucher within the payment gateway platform and distributed it to 50 users. After reaching out to several of them, I received constructive feedback that highlighted issues needing immediate attention. One key insight was the importance of clear communication, as some users struggled to fully understand how the tool operates or overlooked parts of its functionality. Despite this, the product has shown strong potential as since its launch in July 2025 it has gained 80 primary registered users and over 4,000 impressions within the first month. Moving forward, I plan to focus on refining the communication strategy and strengthening user onboarding to ensure long-term adoption.
[ visual concept ]
...web scraping bot
[ Digital assistant, rental listings, alerts ]
