VORTEX
On-Demand Car Wash Service App Development
Vortex is a mobile app for an on-demand car wash service in UAE.
About the Project
Our client had a brilliant idea to launch a new business offering steam car washes right where your vehicle is parked. No more driving to the car wash and waiting in line. To make this work, they needed a sleek application to automate the entire booking process.
The goal was to create a user-friendly app that would allow customers to quickly book a car wash, pay for it seamlessly, and track the status in real time. Sounds pretty awesome, right?
We had to factor in the specifics of working with different types of cars, varying prices (based on the car type, degree of contamination, and time spent cleaning), and even the unique license plate system in the UAE. It was like solving a puzzle, but we love a good challenge.
Our team of developers worked closely with the client to understand their vision and requirements. We then crafted a user-friendly app with a seamless booking flow, secure payment gateways, live chat with washers, and real-time tracking capabilities.
The result? A slick, feature-packed app that not only met but exceeded our client's expectations.
Product Concept
The client didn't have an in-house technical team, so they came to us for a turnkey solution within a limited budget. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work on creating an MVP that would cover all the main business processes.
Authentication
Secure login with phone number verification for UAE market.
Service Selection
Choose from various car wash services based on vehicle type.
Location Picker
Set your car location for the washer to find you easily.
Order Management
Track all orders with real-time status updates.
Finding Washer
Real-time matching with available washers nearby.
Chat & Communicate
Communicate directly with your washer in real-time.
Payment & Rating
Secure Stripe payments and washer rating system.
How It Works
Book a Service
Select your vehicle, choose a service type, and pick a convenient time slot for your car wash.
Track Your Washer
Watch your assigned washer's location in real-time as they make their way to your vehicle.
Chat & Communicate
Use the built-in chat to communicate with your washer and provide any special instructions.
Pay & Rate
Complete secure payment through Stripe and rate your washer's service.
Challenges in System Development
We've faced some interesting challenges along the way:
Resource Management
- Limited resources (just one car and two washers)
- Creative solutions for managing order fulfillment time
- Efficient employee movement optimization
- Route and schedule optimization to keep everyone satisfied
Vehicle Automation
- Supporting as many car brands and types as possible
- Automating the vehicle identification process
- Configured settings for washing, drying, and detailing each car type
- Seamless customer experience regardless of car's make or model
Infrastructure Migration
- Client requested Amazon services initially
- Performance issues with complex real-time coordination
- Migration to optimized Google Cloud services
- Improved stability and scalability for future growth
Implemented Solutions
Our collaboration resulted in customized solutions to synchronize orders, handle different vehicle types, and resolve backend issues.
Order Synchronization
We developed time slot logic that accounted for wash durations and travel times between orders. This allowed us to optimize the washer schedule. Integrating Sendbird enabled real-time customer communication via chat. Order status updates provided full transparency.
Working with Different Types of Cars
From sedans to trucks — we needed to handle it all. By integrating with a vehicle database, we automated the process of identifying vehicle details like brand, model, body type, color, and even those tricky UAE license plates with their regional codes.
Optimizing System Performance
Key features included:
- Fleet Management. Real-time tracking of washers' locations, orders, customers, and routes.
- Live Chat and Call Recording. Sendbird-based live chat with call recording for enhanced customer support.
- Referral and Loyalty Program. System to boost customer engagement and retention.
Technologies and Tools Used
The main technologies and tools we utilized for this project were:
Native iOS
Swift development for smooth, responsive user experience
Native Android
Java development for optimal performance
AWS Amplify
Backend infrastructure with real-time data syncing
Stripe
Seamless payment processing
Sendbird
In-app messaging between customers and washers
Firebase Analytics
Tracking user engagement and metrics
Results of Our Work
Thanks to our fruitful collaboration with the Vortex team, we built an MVP that automated their key business processes — from booking services to managing car washers' schedules.
A fully functioning MVP that automates bookings, synchronizes car washers, and manages orders seamlessly.
Integration with a vehicle database to enable automated vehicle identification and accurate cost calculations.
An effective time slot system that synchronizes car washer availability with customer bookings.
Chat and support features, leveraging Sendbird to facilitate better customer service.
Stripe payments implementation allows easy and secure customer checkout.
Real-time fleet tracking via digital cards that give visibility into car washer status.
We loved collaborating with the Vortex team on this project and bringing their vision to life. The results speak for themselves — an exceptional product that delivers value to Vortex's business.