What features could Preply add to its lesson scheduling system to make it more user-friendly for both tutors and students?

Introduction

To improve Preply's lesson scheduling system for both tutors and students, we need to focus on enhancing user experience, increasing efficiency, and addressing pain points in the current process. I'll analyze the current system, identify key user segments, explore pain points, and propose innovative solutions to make the scheduling process more user-friendly and effective.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions

• Looking at Preply's position in the online tutoring market, I'm curious about the current user base size and growth rate. Could you share some insights on the number of active tutors and students, and how these numbers have changed over the past year?

Why it matters: This information will help us understand the scale of the scheduling system and potential bottlenecks. Expected answer: Preply has seen a 50% increase in active users over the past year, with 100,000 tutors and 500,000 students. Impact on approach: A rapidly growing user base would prioritize scalability and flexibility in our solutions.

• Considering the global nature of Preply's platform, I'm wondering about the distribution of users across different time zones. What percentage of lessons involve tutors and students in different time zones, and how does this impact scheduling?

Why it matters: Time zone differences can significantly affect scheduling complexity and user experience. Expected answer: Approximately 60% of lessons involve users in different time zones. Impact on approach: We'd need to focus on features that simplify time zone management and conversion.

• Given the variety of subjects offered on Preply, I'm curious about the typical lesson duration and frequency. What's the average lesson length, and how often do students typically schedule lessons with the same tutor?

Why it matters: This information will help us design scheduling features that cater to the most common use cases. Expected answer: Average lesson duration is 60 minutes, with students typically scheduling 2-3 lessons per week with the same tutor. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize features that facilitate recurring bookings and optimize for hour-long slots.

• Considering the competitive landscape in online tutoring, I'm interested in understanding Preply's key differentiators. What unique features or aspects of the platform do users value most, particularly in relation to scheduling?

Why it matters: This will help us align our improvements with Preply's core value proposition. Expected answer: Preply's instant booking feature and flexible cancellation policy are highly valued by users. Impact on approach: We'd focus on enhancing these differentiators while addressing any related pain points.