Stream Chat Enhances TaskRabbit's User-Tasker Communication

• Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Event-Driven Application
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

• Product Research & Development

• Real-Time Location System (RTLS)
• Time Sensitive Networking

• System Integration

TaskRabbit, an online and mobile task platform, faced a significant challenge with its in-house chat service. The chat service, which is a core functionality of the platform, was underperforming, unreliable, and often experienced lags between when a message was sent and received. This led to frequent miscommunications between users and taskers. TaskRabbit considered rewriting the chat service internally, but they wanted to focus their resources on enhancing the platform's core competencies. They decided to bring in a third-party to integrate a top-notch chat product into their application. TaskRabbit also wanted to incorporate new features into their chat product, such as multi-party groups, gestures, media calls, forms, reactions, and threading. They needed a solution that was scalable, timely, and high-performing.

TaskRabbit is an online and mobile task platform that connects people with trusted, reliable independent contractors, known as 'Taskers,' from their local communities. TaskRabbit's two-sided marketplace enables consumers to find immediate help with everyday tasks across more than 50 categories, including cleaning, moving, delivery and errands, handyman work, and more. Users can choose their Tasker based on reviews, skills, hourly rate, and availability, and they can schedule their appointment with a Tasker at their convenience. Users can book, pay, and review a Tasker through one easy-to-use platform. TaskRabbit aims to make everyday life easier for everyday people by helping them check off items on their to-do lists. It also creates new work opportunities for Taskers, allowing them to earn extra income or build a full-time business on their terms.

TaskRabbit considered several vendors to replace their internal chat product, including Twilio, Sendbird Chat, PubNub, Layer, and Firebase. However, they chose Stream for its React Native library and flexible Chat UI Kit, which could be adapted to meet TaskRabbit's specific demands. TaskRabbit's VP of Engineering, Sadeepa Wijesekara, stated that using Stream would give them the 'biggest bang for their buck.' Stream offered a fast and efficient solution that would speed up the chat development process without heavy investment. TaskRabbit was initially hesitant about partnering with Stream due to its startup status, but after meeting with the Stream team, they were confident in the company's longevity and shared values. TaskRabbit was able to seamlessly check-in with Stream in real-time through a shared Slack channel, and they were impressed with Stream's responsiveness to their requests for additional customized features, multi-region support, and internationalization.

• The integration of Stream's real-time chat product into TaskRabbit's platform significantly improved the communication between users and taskers. TaskRabbit was able to maintain a real-time check-in with Stream through a shared Slack channel, which allowed them to ask questions or express concerns promptly. TaskRabbit was highly satisfied with the consistent support from Stream, as it felt like they had an additional engineering team on their side. They were also impressed with Stream's responsiveness in terms of incorporating additional customized features into their chat product, as well as providing multi-region support and internationalization for different countries in which TaskRabbit operates. This partnership with Stream has enabled TaskRabbit to focus on its core competencies and continue to positively impact the communities it serves.