Mobile app development for a technology-driven real estate company: blago Case Study
- Discovery Phase
- Product Development
- UI/UX Design
- Mobile App Development
- Swift
- Kotlin
- Firebase
- Xcode
- Java
Blago BY THE NUMBERS
blago a pioneering urban tech company, has been redefining city living for over two decades.
About the client & the story behind them
blago, a distinguished real estate leader in Western Ukraine, has embarked on a transformative journey from its roots as a developer to a technology innovator, dedicated to enhancing urban living.
In pursuit of their innovative vision, blago reached out to Devlight with a distinct request: to create a mobile application that embodies their commitment to elevating the standards of city life.
This app was envisioned not only to enhance brand loyalty and simplify property management for their clients but also to serve as a testament to blago’s dedication to fostering a modern, efficient, and community-oriented urban environment.
Request to Devlight
blago’s request was rooted in the desire for a solution that merges functionality with social engagement, reflecting their role as a catalyst for urban transformation and setting new benchmarks in the real estate sector.
With a vision to elevate brand loyalty and streamline administrative tasks for residents—such as reporting maintenance issues directly through a mobile application — blago reached out with the ambition to create a digital solution that embodies their commitment to community and innovation.
Challenges and Limitations
The challenge was to select features for the MVP that would address both business objectives and customer needs effectively.
However, the ambitious vision faced technical and logistical constraints. Certain desired functionalities, such as an extended loyalty program or automated gate opening, could not be realized due to the existing infrastructure. Moreover, the absence of a unified database for all tenants introduced complexities in verifying ownership, with new tenants being authenticated via QR codes from contracts, and existing tenants requiring additional verification processes.
Time constraints and the necessity to integrate the application seamlessly into blago’s ecosystem demanded continuous dialogue with the backend team. Given that the backend development was occurring concurrently, a strategic decision was made to circumvent the backend temporarily, employing mockups to expedite the application’s development.
How we did it — solutions, approach, methodology
The project required thorough market analysis, user research, and a deep dive into blago’s operational framework to refine and bring the app’s unique features to life.
Discovery Phase
The journey began with a comprehensive discovery phase. Our initial step involved analyzing the competitive landscape to identify key players and the functionalities they offered. This exploration enabled us to propose a set of features and conceptualize a value proposition canvas (VPC) for the application.
Recognizing the potential to enhance customer interaction through digital means, we meticulously sifted through available market features to determine which could be digitized effectively. Subsequent validation processes led to the development of a Customer Journey Map, outlining every touchpoint between users and blago, from initial contact through to service and support.
Collaborative brainstorming sessions with blago, informed by our accumulated experience, allowed us to converge on a set of functionalities for the MVP. The formulation of the blago application backlog and the consensus on MVP features marked the next milestone.
Subsequent meetings were dedicated to delineating requirements and discussing the feasibility of implementing certain features within the constraints of technical and logistical realities.
With the application backlog finalized, our team proceeded to craft User Stories for each application feature, complete with acceptance criteria, while concurrently developing API documentation. This meticulous approach ensured that every aspect of the application was thoroughly planned and aligned with both user needs and blago’s business objectives.
Design Phase
Moving forward from the insights garnered, the team embarked on crafting a low-fidelity prototype.
We started from exploration of blago’s brand book, integrating their logos, color schemes, typography, and other core visual elements into the application design for seamless brand coherence.
The design phase centered on developing a comprehensive UI concept that prioritized user-friendly navigation and engaging visuals, ensuring the application was both functional and aesthetically pleasing. A crucial step was the establishment of a design system, which brought consistency across the application through a detailed UI Kit. This kit standardized design elements, ensuring a unified visual language throughout.
Additionally, a comprehensive Style Guide was developed, serving as the blueprint for all design decisions and ensuring the application’s visuals remained true to blago’s brand identity. This guide covered everything from color palettes to typography, reinforcing the brand’s essence within the application.
Development Stage
Following the green light on design, we transitioned into the development phase, a meticulous journey from blueprints to reality. This phase was characterized by a structured approach, transforming designs into a tangible application.
Our development team, comprising 2 iOS and 2 Android developers, was selected for their expertise in streamlining the development workflow. The technology stack was carefully chosen, prioritizing Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android to leverage native solutions that best fit the project’s specifications.
We adopted a sprint methodology, operating in 2-week cycles. Each sprint concluded with a client demo, fostering a collaborative and iterative development process.
The development team meticulously translated the design into functional code, aligning each feature and element with the overarching project goals.
Product Testing
Product testing was integrated throughout the development cycle, employing regression testing to identify and fix any bugs introduced by new changes. This approach helped prevent the recurrence of previously resolved issues and ensured a stable development process without extensive bug fixes.
The Devlight team’s iterative testing, combined with regression analysis, facilitated close monitoring of project requirements, test coverage, and effort estimation. A comprehensive assessment, incorporating static and dynamic analysis along with penetration testing, was conducted to identify any vulnerabilities.
Before the public release, real users were invited to test the application in real-world scenarios, identifying any remaining issues. This final stage of testing ensured the product was polished and ready for market launch, guaranteeing a seamless user experience.
Product Release and Growth
The product release marked the culmination of collaborative efforts, launching the application across marketplaces and initiating marketing campaigns to spark public interest. Throughout this phase, data were collected to evaluate the launch’s effectiveness.
Transitioning into the growth stage, the focus shifted towards data analysis to determine if project goals were met. Customer service interactions during the launch provided valuable insights into user issues, enhancing our understanding of customer needs and informing future improvements.
Future Challenges
Looking ahead, we recognize that the journey with blago’s application is far from complete. Currently, we’ve successfully launched the MVP version, laying a robust foundation for what’s to come. Our roadmap already outlines an ambitious second version, focusing on enriching the app with features that further intertwine technology with everyday urban living.
Planned enhancements include integrating house chats directly within the app, moving away from external platforms like Viber. This shift aims to centralize communication, making it more accessible and secure for users. Additionally, we’re looking to streamline routine tasks by introducing utility bill payments directly through the app, simplifying financial transactions for residents. We’re also exploring innovative functionalities like digital door knocks, enhancing connectivity and interaction within housing communities.
KEY FEATURES AND VALUE
Final design
Here are some of the final design screens that we want to share with you.
