Case Study

Email & Legal Compliance Engine

A fully automated event-driven email notification system and Australian legal compliance framework for a short-term rental platform — 21 automated touchpoints, escrow payment flows, and 6 legal documents at $0/month.

Firebase Cloud FunctionsFirestoreTypeScriptNext.jsStripe ConnectGmail SMTPNodemailer

ProblemGuestHostAlertsEscrowLegalImpact

Before No Automation, No Compliance

Guests received no confirmations, hosts missed bookings, money sat in limbo with no visibility, and the platform had zero legal compliance for Australian law.

Guest Blind Spots

No booking confirmation, no payment receipt, no check-in instructions. Guests left guessing.

Host Blind Spots

No booking alerts, no payout tracking, no damage claim notifications. Hosts miss bookings.

Zero Compliance

No Privacy Act adherence, no consumer law protections, no clear cancellation policy.

Result: Platform exposed to lawsuits, fines, lost trust, and operational chaos.

Guest 7 Automated Touchpoints

Every guest receives the right email at the right time — from signup through review. All event-driven via Firestore triggers.

Welcome Email

Account created → welcome email with platform introduction

Booking Confirmed

Payment captured → confirmation with amount, escrow details, dates

Check-In Reminder

24h before → address, house rules, host contact info

Thank You + Payout Status

Checkout → host payout in 48h, bond release in 72h

Bond Refunded

72h after checkout → bond amount, processing timeline

Host 7 Automated Touchpoints

Hosts stay informed at every stage — new bookings, guest arrivals, payout processing, and damage claims.

Host Verified

Welcome email with Stripe Connect setup instructions

New Booking Alert

Guest name, payout amount, expected payout date

Guest Arriving Tomorrow

24h reminder — ensure property ready for check-in

Payout Processing

48h after checkout → payout amount and bank details

You've Been Paid

Payout complete → final amount confirmed

Admin Real-Time Intelligence

Admins receive colour-coded alerts for chat violations, high-value bookings, disputes, and suspicious activity.

Chat Violation Detected

User shared phone number — potential platform bypass attempt

High-Value Booking

Booking over $5,000 — manual review recommended

Dispute Filed

Damage claim — urgency: HIGH — requires resolution

Payments Secure Escrow Flow

Guest payment is split, held in escrow, and released on a timed schedule — with full visibility for all parties.

💳

Guest Pays $983.13

Payment captured and held by the platform in escrow

🔒

Funds Split & Held

Accommodation $786.50 + Platform fee 10% + Bond 25% + GST

💰

Host Paid (48h after checkout)

$715.00 released to host via Stripe Connect

✅

Bond Refunded (72h)

$196.63 returned to guest — no damages reported

Legal Australian Compliance Framework

6 legal documents covering Privacy Act 1988, Australian Consumer Law, GST, cancellation policy, and consent flows.

Terms & Conditions

17 sections — fees, escrow, disputes

Privacy Act 1988 compliant

Guest-Host Agreement

15 sections — bond, insurance

Host Agreement

14 sections — payouts, tax

Cookie Policy

Essential + analytics cookies

Cancellation Policy

Flexible / Moderate / Strict tiers

Results Impact

Event-driven architecture delivering automated notifications and full Australian legal compliance at zero cost.

Monthly cost for 50K emails

7+7

Guest + host touchpoints

Admin alert types

Legal documents

Cancellation tiers

21 Automated Touchpoints, Full Compliance, $0/Month

Event-driven email engine with escrow payments, admin intelligence, and complete Australian legal framework.