YANA DASHBOARD
DESIGNED 2023
Designing a Unified Workspace for Travel Hosts
ROLE
Product Designer
TIMELINE
4–6 Weeks
TEAM
1 Designer
2 Frontend Developer
1 Backend Developer
TOOLS
Figma
Figjam
Notion
SKILLS
Product Design
User Research
User Interface
User Testing
OVERVIEW
A streamlined dashboard that gives travel hosts clarity, control, and confidence while managing trips, bookings, expenses, and communication.
Improving the hosting experience by simplifying information and reducing friction across core travel operations.
BACKGROUND
YANA is a platform built to help trip organizers manage group trips with ease.
Instead of juggling Instagram, WhatsApp, and Excel, hosts get a central dashboard to manage itineraries, bookings, payments, and leads — all in one place. Each host also gets a free website that automatically displays their trips, helping them attract more bookings effortlessly. YANA further supports hosts with Instagram and WhatsApp bots that automate lead capture and daily operations. Soon, YANA will launch a travel marketplace to bring all trips together, making it easier for travelers to discover and book experiences.
PROBLEM
Travel hosts had no centralized workspace. Their daily operations were scattered across WhatsApp, Instagram, Excel, and direct calls — making trip management confusing, repetitive, and impossible to scale.
No single place to view revenue, bookings, or pending actions
Itinerary sharing + payments happening manually
Frequent miscommunication with travelers
No structured system for expenses or leader payouts
High risk of overbooking, missed messages, and delayed refunds
RESEARCH
What we did?
15+ conversations with active travel hosts
Reviewed workflows (WhatsApp, Sheets, Calls)
Competitor scan: LogoutWorld, BMS, Thrillophilia
Created host operational flow map
Analysed revenue & booking patterns
General Host Operational Flow Map
DISCOVERY
Host posts trip posters on Instagram (Reels, Posts, Stories)
INQUIRY
Travelers DM or WhatsApp the host & host replies manually to every inquiry
ITINERARY SHARING
Host sends itinerary as long WhatsApp text or forwarded PDF
GROUP MANAGEMENT
Host creates a WhatsApp group for each batch
BOOKING TRACKING
Host fills traveler details in Excel or Notes & Some hosts track via WhatsApp pinned messages
BOOKING CONFIRMATION
Host sends UPI ID / QR code & traveler sends payment screenshot
PRE-TRIP COMMUNICATION
Host shares pickup points, timing, what to carry & sends reminders manually
TRIP EXECUTION
Host handles logistics & updates via WhatsApp group
POST TRIP
Refunds processed manually & reviews asked via WhatsApp text
What we found out?
Most hosts manage everything manually.
They need one reliable place to “see everything.”
WhatsApp remains the core operational tool
Commission fees from existing platforms are a major barrier
Hosts prefer calm UIs over complex panels.
Tracking expenses and payouts is often inconsistent.
Lead generation relies on Instagram and word of mouth.
INSIGHTS
Hierarchy & Progressive Disclosure
Show users the most important information first, and reveal details only when they need them.
Hosts want “one place to see everything.”
Repetitive tasks + scattered info = cognitive overload.
High volume hosts (100–600 bookings/week) need fast scanning.
Consistency & Standards
Interfaces should follow predictable patterns so users don't need to relearn interactions.
Hosts don’t have time to “learn new tools.”
They prefer simple, predictable interfaces.
WhatsApp’s consistency is why they rely on it.
Visibility of System Status
Users should always understand what’s happening in the system.
Overbooking and slot mismanagement happened often.
Hosts needed a place to “see everything clearly.”
Payment confirmations and bookings currently happen manually.
Recognition Over Recall
Make actions and information visible so users don’t have to remember things.
Hosts rely heavily on WhatsApp because information is visible.
They forget bookings when managing multiple groups.
Operational tasks repeat every weekend; memory-based workflows create errors.
OPPORTUNITY AREAS
Based on patterns observed across 15+ host interviews, these four opportunity areas emerged as the highest-impact spaces for unifying and simplifying daily operations. Each one addresses a direct pain point repeatedly expressed by hosts.
Holistic Homescreen
A unified home screen that gives hosts instant clarity. Key performance metrics, quick actions, and important updates are surfaced at the top so hosts can understand the health of their trips in just a glance.
“I don’t have a centralized view of my trips.”
Transient Trips Screen
Trip creation and management are organized into simple, predictable sections. Hosts can easily track batches, monitor traveler counts, and review trip performance without digging through multiple screens.
“Managing multiple trips across weekends.”
Communication Medium
A calm, threaded messaging system that helps hosts respond quickly and stay organized. Conversations feel familiar, reducing confusion and preventing missed messages across multiple trips.
“I’m overwhelmed managing all my messages.”
Expenses Unified
All expenses, settlements, and revenue analytics are brought into one clean space. Categorized entries, summaries, and transparent breakdowns help hosts understand their financial position without manual calculations.
“I want my finances organised and transparent.”
FINAL DESIGNS
Sidebar Navigation
A stable, left-aligned sidebar organises all host workflows into clear categories—Dashboard, Bookings, Trips, Messages, Expenses, and more. This keeps navigation predictable and reduces cognitive load, helping hosts switch between tasks quickly during peak weekends.
Dashboard Overview
A calm, at-a-glance workspace that brings together bookings, revenue, ratings, and ongoing conversations. Performance charts surface weekly trends while upcoming trips and pending messages keep hosts aware of what needs attention—reducing context-switching during busy weekends.
Booking Management
A structured table that lets hosts quickly see who booked, what they booked, and the payment status. Key stats like travelers onboarded, revenue generated, and pending amounts sit upfront, reducing the need to dig through numbers. Filters, sorting, and quick-add options make managing high-volume weekend bookings fast and predictable.
Trips Management
A dedicated space for hosts to manage all their trips in one glance. Key metrics like total trips, revenue, and bookings give instant visibility into performance. Each trip card surfaces the essentials — date, bookings, highlight status, and quick actions — so hosts can review or update batches without navigating deeper screens. The layout keeps repeated weekend workflows simple, predictable, and fast.
Messages Inbox
A unified inbox that brings all host conversations—Instagram DMs, WhatsApp messages, and in-app chats—into one clean space. The top filters let hosts switch between channels instantly, while the left list shows all chats with clear unread indicators. The right panel provides a familiar threaded conversation view, helping hosts reply quickly and keep every traveler updated without juggling multiple apps.
Expenses Management
A structured space where hosts can track every expense related to a trip—clearly categorized, time-stamped, and tied to the trek lead responsible. Summary cards at the top instantly show revenue, total spending, and overall profit/loss, helping hosts understand their financial position at a glance. The detailed table below organizes each entry by category, making it easy to audit transactions without digging through sheets or messages.
Reviews Dashboard
A dedicated space for hosts to view, filter, and respond to guest feedback with ease. Summary cards highlight total reviews and average rating, while the rating breakdown helps hosts spot patterns instantly. Each review is neatly organized with trip details, actions like Reply or Like, and visual attachments — making it simple to maintain credibility and strengthen guest relationships.
Analytics Dashboard
A clear snapshot of a host’s overall performance. Key metrics like revenue, bookings, and trip count appear upfront, while detailed tables break down earnings per trip. Filters allow hosts to switch between basis and time periods effortlessly. The performance chart visualizes booking and revenue trends, helping hosts make informed decisions without digging through spreadsheets.
Customer Relationship Management
A centralized place for hosts to track every lead across Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, email, calls, and organic sources. Each inquiry is organized with status, notes, and quick actions so hosts can reply faster and never lose a potential booking. Filters and platform tags help simplify high-volume conversations and ensure every lead gets timely attention.
VIEW THE DASHBOARD