The project kick-off
To kick off the project with clarity and focus, Blue-bike gathered all key stakeholders around a table. This approach set the stage for a seamless start. As the project progressed, our team took a hands-on approach by visiting Antwerp's central station. This allowed us to understand the challenges faced by Blue-bike users directly. By pinpointing their primary concerns, we identified avenues for enhancement, equipping us with invaluable insights to elevate the Blue-bike user experience.
Building two applications for Blue-bike's digital transformation
We worked on the ambitious task of creating not one but two custom applications. Each of these apps are carefully designed to serve different purposes and meet the needs of specific user groups.
The foundation of our teamwork involved completely revamping Blue-bike's digital system to make it easier and more pleasing for users. We started from scratch, ensuring every step of the user experience was efficient, looked good, and was easy to use. At the same time, another dedicated team took care of the technical side, ensuring that the technology behind our innovative apps worked smoothly. This partnership between the design and technical teams helped us bring our vision to life.
All of our hard work and attention to detail resulted in the creation oftwo unique but interconnected apps:
- The Customer App: When designing the Customer App, we focused on making the user experience as good as possible. We wanted every interaction with the app to be enjoyable and easy for Blue-bike's customers. With a user-friendly interface, simple navigation, and many features to simplify renting bikes, the Customer App reflects our dedication to creating a seamless and pleasant experience for every user.
- The Service App: This app is still an MVP, but we laid a solid foundation that allows many more functionalities in the future. This app will become the backbone of their operations, offering tools to help Blue-bike's teams manage their bikes, keep track of maintenance, and allocate resources efficiently.
Bridging the digital with the physical
This project stood out due to its "real-world" impact. It wasn't just about digital interfaces; pressing a button in the app led to a physical change in the real world, merging digital and physical.
Celebrating collaborative success
Throughout the project, we communicated clearly and effectively. Our strategies for managing the project's scope helped us stay on course, even when we faced unexpected challenges. Blue-bike's priority was evident: they preferred a robust and reliable app over one with fancy features.
Overcoming technical challenges: dealing with Bluetooth issues
Our technical journey presented difficulties. Integrating the AXA lock proved to be challenging, mainly due to the variations in Bluetooth functionality across different Android platforms. Our primary focus during development became maintaining a stable connection and ensuring the lock operated smoothly.
A true partnership between Blue-bike and icapps
Our partnership with Blue-bike went beyond straightforward business dealings. It was a very personal collaboration characterized by both parties' dedication to the project's success and a shared vision for the future!