Case Study: App Development for Logistics and Customs Brokerage Company

Summary

Industry: A Logistics and Customs brokerage.
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine.
Project duration: April 2019 – August 2019 – the discovery phase; since March 2020 – ongoing.
Size of the project team: 4 experts.
Software product: 2 (Kotlin, Flutter) custom mobile applications.
Expertise delivered: Product Development (the analysis of the client’s business processes, product hypothesis validation, creation of functional specifications for the product to be developed), UI/UX design, custom software development services, mobile apps development services, integration of the delivered mobile apps with third-party software (Odoo ERP and CRM, multiple payment systems, and Customs services).

Challenge

In 2020, our company successfully delivered two versions of a logistics application (Android, Kotlin) to a market-leading Eastern-European group of companies that engages in Logistics, Customs Brokerage, and freight forwarding. The application allowed cargo owners to track the progress in delivering their cargo by checking the corresponding vehicle’s location in a map.

In 2021, our client made a decision to build an expanded version of their logistics mobile application for B2B clients, while also shifting to Flutter technology-wise to achieve greater ease of use and cost-efficiency (Flutter is a new technology that allows one mobile app to be developed for two platforms simultaneously).

The new version of the client’s product is a B2B logistics mobile app that is part of the company’s B2B and B2C logistics platform.

The application allows a cargo carrier to build and display driver networks, display multiple cargo locations in real time, and interact with the Ukrainian customs services (the cameras and queue at the border, submission of e-documents, and more).

Cargo senders can use the mobile app to choose a route, place a cargo delivery order, scan the related documents, make an online payment, receive an order confirmation, and GPS-track their orders online.

Cargo recipients can track the status of the cargos being transported to them.

The driver’s version of the client’s B2B mobile app comprehensively automates and greatly facilitates truck drivers’ multiple interactions with the various state bodies they need to deal with while delivering cargo internationally.

A truck driver can remotely join the electronic queue at the border-crossing, order customs and logistics services, obtain information on the nearest weight inspection points and speed cameras, apply for medical assistance online, obtain life or cargo insurance, or register various documents by using a QR-code. Thus, the application fully supports the diverse documentation management workflow for a truck driver that is otherwise way too time-consuming, paper-intensive, and effort-intensive.

Additionally, the truck driver can search for merchants that provide services they are interested in in their vicinity. These merchants include filling stations, service stations, places to eat out, and more. The application’s service integration with partner networks (filling stations, service stations, cafés, and so on) allows the user to benefit from discounts. The application displays all of a partner’s network points on the map, and the user can generate discounts for their services within the partner network. The software is also integrated with a payment system. Due to this, the User can pay for their paperwork directly in the app.

Solution

To implement the project, we put together a project team that consisted of 1 Product Manager, 1 Flutter developer, 1 Java developer, and 1 QA engineer.

The foundation for the mobile product to be built was laid during the early stages of the first logistics app development project we had implemented for the сlient. That project had an intensive discovery stage, during which our business analysts gained an in-depth understanding of the client’s numerous complex business processes. We refined the client’s initial idea of the product and helped shape it virtually from the ground up. The insights collected during this time helped us shape and design the new, B2B version of the client’s mobile app.

While implementing the project, our project team interacted extensively with the customs authorities. This was done to integrate the product with their systems and enable their devices to read the QR codes generated by the product, so that these QR codes could serve as electronic documents.

Just like in the first project we’ve implemented for the client, our project team was working in close contact with a 3d part Odoo CRM implementation team. They were also working in contact with the Python development team, developing the Web-based part of their logistics platform.

It took us approximately 1 year and 2 months to deliver two versions of the client’s B2B mobile application: a Futter version and a Kotlin one.

Technical Solution

SPD Technology’s project team has been using the following tech stack to implement the project:

• Kotlin Android
• Java
• Flutter

Methodology

• Agile
• Tools
• Asana
• Google Docs
• Git
• Swagger
• Newman

Result

Implementing the B2B version of our client’s logistics mobile application in Kotlin and Flutter has given them a vast competitive advantage. Now, they are  positioned to significantly speed up their client forwarders’ cargo deliveries, while making the lives of these companies’ truck drivers a great deal easier.

Also, developing the Flutter version of the client’s mobile application has reduced both the time-to-market and software maintenance costs, which has made the software more easily maintainable.