Workblocks

A mobile app where craftsmen, customers, and construction materials shops can connect for win-win cooperation. The provided solutions encompass numerous indoor and outdoor works, including architecture, engineering, plumbing, design, carpentry, painting, and more.

Initially, the Client’s task was to find a solution for the time management challenges. The business founder came up with the idea of creating an app for this purpose. The tool was to optimize the craftsmen’s workflow so that they could find new projects faster and team up with other craftsmen for more opportunities.

During the analysis and discussions with the Vakoms team, it was decided to create not just a time management tool but a marketplace. This way, Workblocks became a LinkedIn in the construction industry.

The main task was to make the UI simple and efficient so that it would require minimum effort to take an order or find the necessary team. The app needed to feature easy and efficient filtering by location, service type, team availability, average rates, or prices. Besides, the Client required enhanced security features to make the marketplace a safe and reliable space.

The Android app was developed using Java Core and the iOS version was written in Swift. Vakoms has added background image loading: caching images before a user opens them. Thanks to this feature, scrolling through offers became smooth and fast. In addition, full-size images were showing up instantly after tapping on them so the user didn’t need to wait.

Vakoms also implemented importing and exporting information to and from the application network profiles and social media.

The application features a live chat for real-time communication between users. Developing the live chat in the Workblocks app represented a particular challenge, as it had to support multiple message types and sync the messages simultaneously for both sender and receiver. Vakoms developed unique solutions using WebSocket and REST API.

The Client’s requirements included several extra features. One of them was a specific setting for sending videos in the chat. The recordings had to be accessible only from the inbuilt chat and only to registered users, without an option to download. It was not a typical requirement, and the default tools didn’t offer such a solution.

To meet the Client’s requirement, Vakoms used the PyVimeo library allowing to create and save private videos with the necessary security parameters.

For backend development, Vakoms chose Python as a versatile and efficient programming language. This solution allowed easy support of the app after its release to the market.

The project lasted for 1 year. Within this period, Vakoms created a user-friendly and efficient tool that met all the Client’s requirements. The app features a simple and understandable design with all the necessary functionality. Workblocks was developed in such a way that interacting with the application takes minimal effort to complete any task. Vakoms also complied with the Client’s security requirements.

Starting off with Workblocks is as simple as downloading the app and creating a profile. There are 3 types of profiles:

In the app, users can: