Considering short deadlines, our specialists together with the client first decided to develop an MVP (minimum viable product), research the demand among end-users, and then finalize it. But there was no reason for that: the developed MVP was already a complete product since our developers initially implemented the right architectural solutions.
Quite a difficult task was configuring the app to operate properly when twins study in the same class. We implemented the functionality for a teacher to send messages to each of the children individually, while parents can answer separately to each message.
Another task was to add push notifications. We tried to configure them to be as interactive as possible: opening a push notification about an event the user gets right to the necessary screen in the app.
Since one of the requirements was configuring the emergency communication between teachers and parents, the dev team provided full-fledged operation of the app in offline mode. All necessary contacts are available within the app. As for editing, a user can edit contact information according to the access rights: parents can change information about their children, teachers can edit the info about the classes they manage.
For the cases when children from the same family study in different classes, parents have a separate profile for each child.
Initially, our team had the task to develop an application for smartphones only. During the development, the dev team was making screens so they could be extensible for tablets. Such an approach helped to minimize costs when we received a request for adapting the application for tablets.
After the release, we faced a rather difficult task of application localization. For localization, the dev team prepared resource files, collected all the content used in the app, and handed it over to the client for translation. IntexSoft developers then integrated the translated text into the application. Also, we added a message translation feature implemented with the help of Microsoft service.
One other improvement was the integration of analytics in the app.
In the end, we also developed a web version of the application.
Messaging
We developed templates for different types of messages within the app. Thereby, a user can create messages quickly and easily by filling in the template.
The important task was to configure the indicator of the read/unread messages: the app shows whether the message was read by a parent. In addition, we customized the functionality of messages so that a parent must confirm the agreement with the information received by putting their signature. The app also provides the teacher with the opportunity to send repeated messages to those parents who did not put their signature.
The IntexSoft team configured the editing of messages depending on the user role. The app also allows search by messages, filtering messages, grouping (ToDo, Done, event messages), adding attachments (images, PDF, Excel, and Word files).
For convenient offline operation, we implemented synchronization of messages: they can be written, edited, and deleted without access to the Internet. In online mode, the message is synchronized with the server.
In addition, the IntexSoft team had a task to develop a chat: by creating a message, a teacher or a parent can create a discussion.
Security
To ensure personal user data protection, IntexSoft specialists customized the operation of the app according to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In this regard, the data model within the app has changed: when the new version is launched, a user receives a message requesting confirmation of application usage rules and privacy policy. Also, our experts added a sign that indicates whether a user has confirmed the GDPR.
For the application security, a HTTPS connection was used. Access to the server API is password protected – a user needs to be authorized to use the app. The system of sharing access rights was also integrated into the project.
During the project, the dev team followed Scrum methodology with two-week sprints. To ensure transparency, IntexSoft gave the customer an access to the corporate project management system Jira. After each sprint, the team demonstrated the work done. Together with the client, we discussed how to improve the working process and the functionality of the application.