by the numbers
- 2
- Apps: customer and merchant
- 3
- Platforms: iOS, Android and web
- 16
- Months, April 2025 to launch
- Serverless
- Architecture
- 90+ automated
- Onboarding tests
- ~$0
- Pre-launch infra
the challenge
Finding and booking reliable car detailing or wrapping in Australia is harder than it should be. Merchants don't have a digital presence, pricing varies wildly, and there's no single place for car owners to discover, compare, and book services. Autara needed a platform that works for both sides: tools for merchants to run their business online, and a seamless booking experience for customers.
hard parts
- 01
Both merchants and customers need a great experience from day one, not just one side
- 02
Collecting business verification documents without making onboarding feel like a government form
- 03
Keeping real-time booking state consistent across multiple apps
- 04
Moderating merchant-uploaded images automatically at scale
- 05
Keeping infrastructure costs near-zero before launch while building for production scale
the approach
We built Autara from scratch as a two-sided marketplace: two mobile apps, one for merchants and one for customers, connected through a shared API layer and a single source of truth for data.
The architecture is serverless, which means near-zero infrastructure costs while the platform finds its market. Everything scales automatically when it needs to.
Merchant onboarding handles the hard parts: business verification (ABN, insurance, licences), document management, and Stripe Connect for split payments. We automated image moderation so uploaded photos are checked before they go live. The entire onboarding flow is backed by 90+ automated tests to catch issues before merchants do.
what we built
Guided merchant onboarding with business verification and document management
Split payments and automated payouts via Stripe Connect
Real-time booking with push notifications on both merchant and customer apps
Automated image moderation for uploaded content
Full service management: pricing, bundles, discounts, media galleries
Admin dashboard for merchant verification and platform oversight
Notifications across push, email, and SMS
Shared design system across mobile and web
where it stands
A production-ready marketplace with a shared design system, and infrastructure that costs almost nothing to run pre-launch. Merchants can manage their services, handle bookings in real-time, track analytics, and receive push notifications. The platform is built to grow without needing to be rebuilt. Autara is heading into MVP launch with the merchant side feature-complete.