Redesigning & Optimising a Community-Based Family Tree Mobile App

Client Overview

Our client manages a family tree mobile application built specifically for a particular denomination community in Tamil Nadu, India. The application helps families stay connected, track lineage, and share important updates within the community.

The application had been developed earlier by another vendor. Over time, it began to suffer from serious usability, performance, and scalability issues. That’s when the client approached Freshora Digital Technologies for a complete redesign and system improvement.

Project Scope

This engagement focused on a comprehensive mobile app redesign and enhancement, covering both frontend and backend improvements:

• Complete UI/UX redesign
• Bug fixing across major navigation flows
• Push notification implementation
• Admin panel and backend API improvements
• Performance optimisation for large family datasets
• New feature development

Key Problems Identified

The existing application faced multiple technical and usability challenges:

• Outdated and visually old UI design
• No push notifications for user updates
• Lack of a proper admin panel
• Multiple navigation-related bugs
• Slow app loading due to large family tree data
• Requirement for new modules and features

Team & Delivery Setup

We formed a focused and efficient team with clear ownership and accountability:

• 1 UI/UX Designer
• 1 Full Stack Developer (Backend & APIs)
• 1 Flutter Developer

From day one, the project followed structured communication, defined milestones, and strict delivery timelines. All progress was tracked daily using our internal project management and tracking system.

Technology Stack

• Backend: Node.js
• Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Mobile App: Flutter
• Programming Language: Dart
• API Testing: Postman

Our Execution Approach

1. Analysed the existing app architecture and user flow
2. Identified root causes of performance and usability issues
3. Designed a new UI/UX and shared prototypes for approval
4. Improved backend logic and corrected API issues
5. Integrated new features in parallel with UI redesign
6. Performed continuous testing and performance validation

Major Challenges & Solutions

1. JWT Token Expiry Issue

Problem: Users were logged out frequently due to short token expiry.

Solution: Increased token expiry duration and improved session handling, resulting in significantly better session stability.

2. App Performance with Large Family Data

Problem: Large family tree data caused slow loading and scrolling lag.

Solution:

• Split data into batches of 20 records per request
• Implemented lazy loading during scroll
• Achieved smooth, lag-free app performance

3. Notification Badge Count Issue

Problem: Badge counts were not visible on some devices.

Solution: Updated mobile app configurations and corrected badge settings, resolving the issue across supported devices.

4. New Feature: Location Pinning

Requirement: Users should pin their current or default location.

Solution: Implemented a WhatsApp-style location pinning feature, enabling users to set and share locations easily.

Quality Assurance

Continuous testing ensured a smooth and reliable user experience:

• Navigation flow testing
• API stability checks
• Push notification validation
• Performance testing under large data loads

What This Project Demonstrates

• Expertise in mobile app redesign
• Performance optimisation for large datasets
• Strong backend and API handling
• Clear communication and structured delivery
• Ability to improve and modernise legacy applications

At Freshora Digital Technologies, we specialise in reviving existing applications and transforming them into stable, scalable, and future-ready products.