From identity checks to digital bonds and guided handovers. Knocknock makes borrowing feel safe…every time

Trust is the cornerstone of any sharing economy. And at Knocknock, it’s not optional. We’ve designed every step of our peer-to-peer rental (sharing and borrowing) journey to be safe, simple, and supportive for both the item owner and the borrower. Whether you’re lending your pressure washer or borrowing a circular saw, you deserve to feel confident in the process. That’s why Knocknock is more than just a marketplace. It’s a high-trust, low-friction community platform built with security, transparency, and accountability at its core.

Why does trust matters in the sharing economy? Peer-to-peer models thrive when people feel secure, in the people they’re dealing with and in the systems that support them. As Botsman and Rogers (2010) describe in ‘What’s Mine Is Yours’, trust is the currency of collaborative consumption. Without it, even the best tech won’t stick. Unfortunately, traditional buy-sell platforms often leave users vulnerable. Anonymity, poor communication, and little to no recourse when things go wrong can make even small exchanges feel risky. At Knocknock, we’re flipping that script. This is how we have built trust into our platform:

1. ConnectID: verified identification before anything happens. Before anyone can list or borrow an item, they must complete ConnectID verification. This means all users on the platform are verified people, not anonymous accounts. ConnectID is an Australian government-endorsed digital identity solution that ensures a user’s identity is legitimate, current, and secure, without Knocknock ever storing sensitive personal documents. This creates a foundation of trust before any transaction is even requested.

2. Monoova + PayTo: secure, smart, and accountable payments. All financial transactions on Knocknock are powered by Monoova, a trusted Australian provider of real-time payments infrastructure. We’ve integrated PayTo into every borrow, which is a modern alternative to outdated card payments and direct debit. What does this mean for you? Every borrow comes with a fully authorised digital agreement. You know when and how much will be deducted. Payments are made securely and instantly with your own bank. And best of all: no surprises. We also hold a bond (a refundable security deposit) for every item, scaled based on the value of the item and at the item owners descretion. This bond is returned once the item is handed back in the same condition, giving peace of mind for both parties.

3. Item Requests & Owner Approval making sure the control stays with you. Borrowers can’t just grab your item, they send a request to borrow – which you can accept or decline – based on your availability, comfort level, or past experience with that user. You’re in control of your own gear, always. This request-based process aligns with the trust principles outlined by Hamari, Sjöklint, and Ukkonen (2016), who found that clear expectations and mutual consent are critical to successful peer-to-peer interactions. Photos & Condition Checks that start and end with confidence. Every item borrow on Knocknock includes photo uploads before and after use – by both the item owner and the borrower. This ensures the condition is clearly documented, disputes are minimised and everyone is protected. It’s simple, visual, and transparent, just the way sharing should be.

4. Say hello to Knocko: Your friendly AI guide along the way. Knock is our built-in AI support bot who guides users through every stage of the borrowing journey. Knocko is here to help with listing items clearly. Submitting and responding to item requests. Uploading condition photos. Processing returns and feedback. It’s like having a personal assistant for your sharing experience, minus the hourly rate. Knocko will even take you through the review of the other user.

Knocknock is a safer alternative to marketplace swaps. Unlike traditional online classifieds or social media marketplaces, Knocknock isn’t a guessing game. It’s not built on anonymous deals in driveways or DM negotiations. Knocknock is purpose-built for community trust.

✅ Verified identities.
✅ Transparent payment and bond protection.
✅ Clear approval processes.
✅ Secure digital handovers.
✅ Smart AI assistance.

It’s a platform that lets you focus on the good stuff: like helping someone out, earning a little extra, or borrowing exactly what you need. Without worrying about what could go wrong.

Tap into a better way to share. Trust shouldn’t be the exception, it should be the default. At Knocknock, we’ve made sure of that. Because when sharing is safe, it scales. When borrowing is easy, it becomes habit. And when people feel protected, communities grow stronger. That’s Trust on Tap. That’s Knocknock.

References:

  • Botsman, R., & Rogers, R. (2010). What’s Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption. HarperBusiness.
  • Hamari, J., Sjöklint, M., & Ukkonen, A. (2016). The Sharing Economy: Why People Participate in Collaborative Consumption. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 67(9), 2047–2059.