IntroductionThe first mobile app for Smarty.cz
Smarty.cz is one of the leading Czech electronics retailers. The client approached us to build their first-ever mobile application for iOS and Android, expanding their existing e-shop and brick-and-mortar retail network with a new sales channel. Beyond development, we designed the complete UX/UI and app architecture to deliver a fast, intuitive, and seamless mobile shopping experience.
OutputsUXDesignMobile App (iOS, Android)Testing
CategoryE-commerce
TechnologiesReact NativeReactExpo SDKTypeScriptBabelARES APIFirebase Cloud MessagingSentry/react-nativeMaestroGitLab CI
ChallengeBringing an e-shop to mobile
Translating a high-performing web e-shop into a mobile app requires much more than shrinking the user interface to fit smaller screens. The biggest challenge was maintaining shopping simplicity while managing an extensive product catalog and complex variant configurations.
We identified three key risk areas:
- Variant configuration errors: The web-based product configurator relied on dependent fields (e.g., selecting a phone model filtered out incompatible phone cases). While tolerable on desktop, this approach on mobile creates a high risk of overlooked changes, order errors, and user frustration.
- Checkout drop-off risk: A complex multi-step checkout on a small screen increases cognitive load and reduces overall conversion rates.
- Longer time-to-purchase: A lengthy path from product selection to order confirmation creates unnecessary friction and cart abandonment, which is far more critical on mobile than on web.
SolutionA mobile app designed for conversions
We kicked off the project with a product discovery workshop to define the MVP scope and technical architecture. The client opted for React Native, allowing a shared codebase across iOS and Android while facilitating future development for their in-house team. We designed a new information architecture, UX/UI, and product configurator – which proved so effective it inspired a redesign of the primary web e-shop.
- Intuitive configurator: A clean UX interface on the product detail page simplified combining parameters and accessories, eliminating configuration errors.
- Lightning-fast checkout: We streamlined the checkout flow to a minimum number of steps and integrated automatic pre-filling of past purchase data to shorten time-to-purchase.
- Know-how sharing: In the final development phase, we transferred React Native best practices to the client's internal team through continuous code reviews.
HighlightsSeamless know-how transfer to the client
Building such an extensive e-commerce application in React Native required an advanced architecture to guarantee fluid performance while browsing thousands of catalog items. The partnership also delivered unexpected cross-channel value: the app's new configurator UX proved so successful that Smarty.cz adopted it for their primary website. Equally vital was the know-how transfer – after delivering 90% of the frontend, we conducted ongoing code reviews to empower the client's internal team to independently manage and scale the app long term.
FAQ
A mobile app complements the website as a dedicated sales channel. It enables faster repeat purchases, targeted push notifications, deeper personalization, and full utilization of native smartphone features. A well-designed e-commerce app improves customer convenience, driving higher retention and lifetime value (LTV).
It requires more than mirroring a website on a mobile screen. A mobile app demands a tailored information architecture, simplified navigation, and an optimized checkout process designed for touch input. Preserving usability and conversion potential – especially during product selection and checkout – is key.
React Native is ideal for projects seeking to develop for both iOS and Android from a single shared codebase. It speeds up development, lowers maintenance costs, and simplifies code handoff to internal web teams familiar with React. The right choice always depends on performance requirements and long-term product roadmaps.
A configurator must guide users clearly through variant selections while preventing invalid product combinations. On mobile, visual clarity is critical due to screen space constraints. A well-designed mobile configurator streamlines the path to purchase and reduces cart abandonment.
“We wanted to expand our e-shop with a mobile app, but lacked prior experience in mobile development. Collaborating with Ackee was professional and fully transparent – they helped us build a solid foundation and transferred the necessary know-how so we could develop the app independently. The result is not only a functional MVP, but above all an expansion of our development team's capabilities into mobile.”
Adam KošťálekWeb Development Team Leader, Smarty.cz
Team
ManagementRoman Veis
DesignMarkéta HejnáRegina Yusupova
AndroidJakub BaierlMartin Foldyna
iOSJakub BaierlMartin Foldyna
TestingAnna Zmeevskaja
