Digital optical showroom application.
Industry:
Retail and eyewear
Project:
Lensa
Team:
Software Developers
Project Managers
Business analysts
CTO
Duration of project:
30% faster than anticipated
Country:
Romania
Tech stack:
A retail and consulting optical firm in Romania that offers a broad range of products and solutions for eye protection, correction and care.
Client value
to end user.
An application that makes shopping and viewing eyewear products and services easier and more enjoyable - with augmented reality fittings, direct-to-consumer shipping options and an improved overall shopping experience for the end user.
Risks.
Project Management
Effective project management was crucial to keep the development process on track, and any mismanagement could lead to delays or cost overruns.
Budget management
Staying within budget while delivering the desired features and functionalities was a key concern, as cost overruns could affect the project's viability.
Customer adoption
There was a risk that customers might not fully embrace the new mobile app, impacting adoption rates and sales growth.
Challenges.
Existing API Issues
The existing API used for data exchange presented challenges related to response times and load issues, impacting the application's usability.
Integration Complexity
Integrating with various existing technologies and systems within Lensa's operations required careful planning and execution to ensure seamless compatibility.
Complex Project Scope
Developing a comprehensive mobile application with multiple features required careful project management to ensure timely delivery and avoid scope creep.
Objectives.
Short-term
- Complete the development and launch of the mobile application to improve customer engagement and boost sales.
- Streamline and optimize existing technologies, including the API, to enhance application performance.
- Increase the usage of the mobile app, aiming for a significant portion of sales to come from it.
- Improve brand awareness and customer loyalty through direct marketing channels.
- Successfully integrate augmented reality fittings and direct-to-consumer shipping features into the application.
Long-term
- Innovate and adapt to changing trends in the ecommerce space to remain competitive.
- Continue digitizing and optimizing various aspects of the business operations.
- Achieve sustained and substantial growth in revenue and market share.
Development phases.
Identified Lensa's business needs and objectives.
Defined the scope and goals of the mobile application. Gather requirements from Lensa, including desired features and functionalities.
Conducted market research to understand customer preferences and industry trends.
Evaluated the technical feasibility of integrating with existing technologies, such as the external API.
Performed a detailed analysis of the risks, strengths, and weaknesses associated with the project.
Developed a comprehensive implementation plan that aligns with Lensa's operating model and culture.
Designed the architecture and infrastructure of the mobile application.
Employed Agile methodology with two-week sprints for incremental development.
Refactored the external API logic and workflows so they could handle 20,000 requests per minute, including reducing response from 0.6s to 0.002s by filtering and optimizing requests through a bespoke proxy and enhancing usability.
Developed and integrated features such as augmented reality fittings, direct-to-consumer shipping, and other functionalities from Lensa's existing digital products.
Performed rigorous testing of the application, including functionality, usability, and performance testing.
Conducted module-by-module testing to identify and resolve any technical issues, bugs, or bottlenecks.
Verified that all features work as intended and meet Lensa's requirements.
Ensured the application's stability and reliability, especially when interacting with the external API.
Provided regular feedback sessions to Lensa for ongoing refinement and adjustments.
Delivered the complete, market-ready mobile application to Lensa.
Ensured that the application is fully functional, well-rounded, and comprehensive, meeting Lensa's goals of driving conversion rates, boosting brand awareness, increasing customer loyalty, and achieving record sales.
Supported Lensa during the initial launch phase and address any issues that may arise.
Performance & optimization.
Speed optimization: The initial response time of 0.6 seconds was reduced to 0.002 seconds, significantly improving the usability and responsiveness of the app.
Integration with external API: We refactored the logic and workflows of the API to handle a higher load (20,000 requests per minute) and optimized request handling.
Bespoke proxy: Implemented a bespoke proxy that filtered and optimized requests before they reached the mobile application. This proxy helped catch any issues with the external API before they could affect the app
Modular development & testing: Developed the application's modules one by one, testing each function separately. This approach allowed for a structured resolution of complications, bugs, and bottlenecks.
Results.
Sales growth
+40%
of total sales
The mobile application made a significant contribution to revenue generation compared to previous channels
Customer engagement
100,000
active users
A substantial user base of pet enthusiasts and potential buyers with millions of monthly users on both the app and website.
Cost efficiency
25%
reduction in budget
70%
of processes digitised
Regular feedback sessions and iterations helped to keep the financial outlay to just 75% of the anticipated budget.
Agile development
30%
reduction in development time
The agile framework allowed them to see in real time how the budget was being spent and what features and functionality were being developed for that budget, reducing development time.