NextDoor

A startup that connects people and businesses in one location to successfully complete household and business tasks

Solution:

STARTUP CONSULTING SERVICES

Industry:

Internet Technologies

Business size:

Startups

Outcome

The team of Computools's engineers applied their knowledge and expertise in the industry and the field of web platform development - marketplaces - to successfully implement the client's idea. In the course of work on the project, ready-made and individual solutions were used to ensure the stable operation of the platform. The marketplace was launched in a small area of ​​the United States in test mode, and in a short time, it gained popularity and began to make a profit.

Several key options we solved:
  • Simplified user registration and authentication through social media.
  • Implemented service provider bookings, ratings, and reliable recommendations.
  • Built-in strong analytics and marketing services.

Business
challenge

weaknesses

  • The project was built from scratch
  • Tough schedule

strengths

  • Preliminary marketing research showing high demand for such a platform
  • Unoccupied business niche, low level of competition (at the time of project creation)
  • Well-planned auditory coverage and interactions model

Project
Description

The main idea of the project was to create an online social networking service for people who live in the same area to give them the ability to bring together and help each other in performing household matters. The client turned to Computools for a reliable software development solution - marketplace - to provide robust services.

Computools’s engineers built a 2-sided software as a service and home-improvement social platform. This social commerce platform where users interact with businesses and communities in their residential zip code to get useful updates around their community; complete projects and tasks from local service providers; find relevant deals from businesses and other users. This is intended for two types of users: regular users and businesses. Each category has received its own set of functions and options. Businesses have access to the business dashboard and receive notifications for potential projects in their area. Regular users have projects, dashboard, social features, a profile, and a newsfeed. Monetization of the platform is carried out through a monthly subscription and advertising in specialized blocks, additional fees for project promotion.

Digital Platform & Technology

To build a state-of-the-art platform, we have carefully chosen a set of technologies with exceptional performance and security characteristics.

Communication Framework

Constant communication with the client is crucial for solving urgent questions, discussing tasks, and current issues of the web development services project. To communicate with the customer in this project, the most convenient instant messengers were selected. Regular conferences and meetings were held on Skype, and WhatsApp was used for urgent discussions. This made it possible to timely perform tasks in accordance with the necessary requirements.
Skype
Email
Slack
redmine
Jira

Specification

The specification is written throughout the work on the project. An initial specification is needed to create an algorithm for working on a project. In the future, the project specification is supplemented by the necessary information.

Goal - to build a social commerce platform where users interact with businesses and communities in their residential zip code

Main flow.
The user creates an account, fills in information, selects a private or business account, and selects a subscription plan. Using the toolbar, he creates a new project with his services and promotes the service using the platform's tools. All correspondence with potential clients is conducted within the platform. Upon completion of the transaction, the user can leave a review in the provider's account.

Team

Computools carefully chooses a team to work on a project to provide web development services on the highest level. The main task is to select experts whose skills and experience will allow to realize the tasks efficiently, quickly, and at a high level of quality. For this project, designers and developers who had experience working on a variety of similar projects were selected. The constant solution of the challenge tasks allows employees to increase their level and satisfy customer requirements as much as possible.

Backstage

There is more to quality than meets the eye so there is even more backstage activity at Computools that benefits the client. Each kind of meeting serves its own purpose, but all of them work towards a common goal - successful Digital Transformation of the client’s business.

Dev meetings

Developer's meetings are another effective way to increase team productivity, exchange opinions, and find solutions to complex problems. Moreover, at these meetings, the team can identify minor errors and bugs.

Team Brainstorming

Brainstorming is one of the key tools for identifying ideas and solutions for a project. At such sessions, each participant can voice their ideas and take part in the discussion of the ideas of others. So we stimulate the creativity of our employees and give them the opportunity to fully develop.

Feedback

At the end of the project or a large part of it, we conduct feedback sessions. This helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the project, its participants. Everyone gets the opportunity to improve their skills for the next project.

Internal Communication Flow

To support efficient internal communication within the project team we have chosen Email for sharing reports and tasks; Skype and Slack were perfect for addressing urgent issues, as well as for scheduling and conducting audio/video conferences. Redmine and Jira Project Management Platforms were used for role assignment and progress control.

Project Management Methodology

Scrum professes a team approach, short iterations, and continuous improvement in the process. These principles are implemented through a set of special roles, rules, processes, and tools, thanks to which teams produce products twice as fast. Scrum is based on a team or group - a well-coordinated team of professionals. Scrum teams are autonomous, the participants decide how to complete the task. They are multifunctional - the knowledge and skills of team members are enough to solve the problem.

Project timeline

01

CONSULTING

Defining goals
  • Identifying high-level project goals
Analysis & Exploration
  • Researching and analyzing the existing and ready-made solutions
  • Defining main restrictions and providing solutions for them
  • Identifying the main risks
02

Product DESIGN

High-Level Architecture
  • Selecting basic architectural patterns and tools
  • Forming an application stack, work processes with VCS
  • Forming the main development guidelines
Interactive prototypes & Specification
  • Development of a prototype in parallel with specification
  • Choosing Project Management Methodology
Build Development Process
  • Calculating the number of project teams
  • Configuring the technological processes and interactions between roles
03

Product Engineering

Build The Team
  • Making the initial scope based on the specification and estimate, calculating the optimal number of specialists for each role
  • Adding executors to the team's core
  • Conducting an intro meeting
Development
  • Development of a road map, dividing the development process into parts
  • Implementation of the first series of solutions
  • Implementation of developed elements of the platform
Testing & Stabilization
  • Developing a testing plan
  • UI & Unit testing
  • Applying improvements
  • Code stabilization/refactoring, increasing system stability, reducing the probability of bug emergency

Design

The design development began with thinking through the User Experience, which ensured the convenience and simplicity of the marketplace. The User Interface was designed in a minimalistic style, however, it is intuitive for service providers and potential customers. The design implementation was done in parallel with the development of the platform's functionality, which ensured a quick fix and debugging.

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