Scaling online retail: kotlin app development
A sleek, high-speed e-commerce app built to convert clicks into seamless purchases
100k+
downloads in 3 months
30%
drop in cart abandonment
47%
boost in checkout completion
Challenge
Solution
Tech stack
Client
Our client is a U.S e-commerce company, seeking to expand its presence on mobile platforms, enhance the user experience, and increase sales conversion through a dedicated mobile application. In order to achieve these objectives, we proposed Kotlin for feature-rich android app development.
Challenge
Before embarking on the e-commerce mobile application project, the client faced several challenges that hindered their online retail operations. The existing platform suffered from an outdated user interface, slow load times, and a complicated checkout process, leading to high cart abandonment rates. Inventory discrepancies frequently resulted in overselling and delayed order fulfillment, negatively impacting customer satisfaction. To address these issues, we leveraged Kotlin Android app development.
The objective was to optimize key aspects of the client's online retail operations:
Develop a seamless, user-friendly app for effortless product browsing, search, and purchase.
Minimize cart abandonment with a fast, secure checkout and multiple payment options.
Enable real-time tracking and automated stock updates for efficient order fulfillment.
Use CRM and push notifications for personalized promotions, order updates, and support.
Ensure top-tier security for user data and payments, complying with industry standards.
Team
3
Android developers
1
UX/UI Designer
1
Backend developer
1
Project Manager
1
QA Engineer
1
Team Lead
1
Business analyst
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Development process
Requirements gathering and processing
To ensure full alignment with the client’s goals and market demands, we kicked off an in-depth analysis of their business requirements. By diving into user behavior and shopping patterns, we conduct a comprehensive audit of the existing infrastructure, which helped identify technical bottlenecks and assess integration feasibility. Every constraint was carefully evaluated to craft a solution that seamlessly fits into the client’s digital ecosystem. Given the project’s complexity, we strategically chose Kotlin for mobile app development, leveraging its modern syntax and efficiency.
Planning
To achieve a development process that is both effective and well-structured, we adopted a thorough planning phase that is rooted in Agile methodology.
Key aspects of Modsen planning phase included:
Technology stack selection: Choosing Kotlin as the primary development language, along with the appropriate frameworks, databases, and third-party services to ensure scalability and performance.
Infrastructure & architecture definition: Establishing a modular, high-performance architecture that seamlessly integrates with existing e-commerce systems, including CRM, payment gateways, and inventory management tools.
Agile sprint planning & resource allocation: Organizing cross-functional teams, defining sprint goals, and setting up CI/CD pipelines to streamline development and deployment.
Risk assessment & compliance: Identifying potential security vulnerabilities, ensuring GDPR/PCI-DSS compliance for payment processing, and implementing data protection best practices.
Prototyping & wireframing: Collaborating with UX/UI designers to create interactive prototypes and refine user journeys before moving into full-scale development.
Team assembly
To lay a strong foundation for delivering a solid e-commerce app, the selection process was led by our CTO. Each candidate underwent a rigorous evaluation, including technical assessments, problem-solving tests, and in-depth interviews. Preference was given to specialists with proven domain experience in mobile commerce, Kotlin mobile app development, and large-scale system integrations.
Following this, a well-balanced, highly skilled team was assembled: 3 android developers, 1 backend developer, 1 QA-engineer, 1 UX/UI-designer, 1 project manager, 1 business analyst, 1 team lead.
Design
As the project progressed, our Modsen Design Studio team focused on developing a clean, intuitive, and compelling interface using Material Design principles to provide a seamless shopping experience across all Android devices.
The design process included:
UX research & strategy – Analyzing user behavior and optimizing navigation.
Wireframing & prototyping – Creating interactive layouts for a smooth shopping flow.
Visual design – Implementing an adaptive, modern UI aligned with the client’s branding.
Testing & refinement – Ensuring usability and responsiveness across various screen sizes.
The final design included 30+ polished screens, providing an effortless and visually engaging shopping journey. Once approved, it was handed off to the Kotlin development team.
Product building
Using MVVM, Clean Architecture and Kotlin for mobile app development, the solution was designed to be modular, scalable, and maintainable. Jetpack Compose delivers a seamless, adaptive UI with smooth animations, while Room Database enables offline access, preserving cart contents and order history. Secure APIs handle real-time product updates, transactions, and user data synchronization, with performance optimized through state management, background processing, and efficient queries. Payment security is ensured through industry-leading gateways with end-to-end encryption, PCI DSS and GDPR compliance, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and tokenized transactions. Finally, CI/CD pipelines via GitHub Actions automate builds, testing, and deployments, streamlining releases for fast, stable, and secure updates.
Comprehensive testing
With robust Kotlin mobile development practices, we implemented a comprehensive and rigorous testing strategy. Combining automated and manual testing, we leveraged JUnit for validating business logic, Espresso for UI testing, and MockK for efficient dependency mocking. By adopting a Test-Driven Development (TDD) approach, we proactively minimized bugs, improved code reliability, and streamlined development.
Unit testing
UI testing
Integration testing
Functional testing
Regression testing
Performance testing
Security testing
Usability testing
Integration
As the final stages of development approached, our team focused on ensuring a frictionless integration with the client’s existing infrastructure. Beyond just integration, our Kotlin mobile application development team delivered comprehensive technical documentation and user guides, enabling the client’s team to effortlessly manage and expand the platform. With a well-documented foundation in place, the application was primed for seamless onboarding and future enhancements.
Result
The successful launch of the scalable and high-performance Android e-commerce application brought tangible improvements to the client’s online retail operations:
The intuitive UI and optimized navigation increased customer engagement and reduced friction in the buying process.
A streamlined, secure checkout with multiple payment options led to a measurable boost in completed purchases.
Real-time tracking and automated stock updates prevented overselling and improved fulfillment efficiency.
CRM integration and personalized push notifications drove repeat purchases and strengthened brand loyalty.
Robust data protection measures ensured full compliance with industry standards, building user trust and safeguarding transactions.
The Android app development project with Kotlin allowed the client to significantly expand its mobile presence and increase its competitiveness in the e-commerce market.
100K+
app downloads in the first three months30%
drop in cart abandonment rate47%
boost in checkout completion rate