Project Overview
Apna Bazar Ma is a grocery business with physical stores in Wooburn and Lowell, seeking to expand its reach through digital channels. The goal was to create a seamless omnichannel experience allowing customers to shop online and either have items delivered or pick them up in-store.
The project involved developing native mobile applications for both iOS and Android platforms, along with a supporting web application. The apps needed to integrate with the store's inventory system, provide a user-friendly shopping experience, and support multiple payment options while maintaining the brand's identity.
The Apna Bazar Ma mobile application interface
Key Features Developed
Multi-Store Support
Integrated both Wooburn and Lowell locations with real-time inventory tracking for each store.
Intuitive Shopping
User-friendly interface with categorized products, search functionality, and favorites.
Delivery & Pickup
Flexible options including home delivery and in-store pickup with time scheduling.
Multiple Payments
Integrated credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and cash on delivery options.
Push Notifications
Order status updates, promotions, and personalized recommendations.
Multi-Language Support
Available in multiple languages to serve diverse customer base.
Technical Implementation
The application was built using React Native for cross-platform compatibility, ensuring consistent user experience across both iOS and Android devices. The backend was developed with Node.js and Express, with MongoDB serving as the database for its flexibility with evolving data structures.
Key integrations included payment gateways (Stripe and PayPal), push notification services (Firebase Cloud Messaging), and mapping APIs for delivery tracking. The application also features an admin dashboard for inventory management, order processing, and analytics.
Development Challenges
One of the main challenges was real-time inventory synchronization between the online platform and physical stores. We implemented a robust system that updates inventory levels every 15 minutes and reserves items when added to a cart to prevent overselling.
Another challenge was creating a user interface that worked equally well for both quick shops and large grocery orders. We implemented a progressive disclosure design pattern that makes the app simple for beginners but powerful for advanced users.
Results & Impact
Although still in testing phase, early metrics indicate strong user engagement and promising conversion rates. The app has successfully processed over 500 test orders with a 99.8% success rate in transactions.
Increase in average order value compared to in-store
Of users choose pickup option, driving foot traffic to stores
Average rating from beta testers
The application has positioned Apna Bazar Ma to compete effectively with larger grocery chains and delivery services, providing a personalized shopping experience that maintains the local store feel while offering digital convenience.
"The development team delivered an exceptional application that captures the essence of our brand while providing the modern features our customers expect. The app has already become an important channel for our business even during testing."
Technologies Used
The application was built with React Native for the frontend, providing a native experience on both iOS and Android. The backend utilizes Node.js with Express.js, and MongoDB for the database. Other technologies include Redux for state management, Firebase for push notifications, and Stripe/PayPal for payment processing.
For testing, we implemented Jest for unit testing and Detox for end-to-end testing. The application is deployed on AWS with automated CI/CD pipelines for both development and production environments.