Upgrading Mobile App Capabilities of Indian Public Sector Banking Giant
Project Type
Mobile App/Web App Development
Industry
Fintech App Development Services
Tech Stack
ABOUT THE CLIENT
One of India's biggest private sector banks, renowned for its robust financial services and customer-centric approach. They have a wide range of products, including loans, savings accounts, and investment services, it caters to diverse customer needs.
*All names and logos have been changed to respect NDA
OVERVIEW
We revamped the mobile app to enhance performance, user experience, and security. Event-driven architecture enabled real-time processing, while a dynamic CMS allowed faster updates without app version changes. Improved security ensured compliance, and voice banking with personalized recommendations modernized the app.
Other upgrades included hybrid databases for optimized data handling and stable UPI for fewer transaction failures. A redesigned bill payment system and enhanced notifications improved user interactions. Downtime management minimizes disruptions, ensuring reliable service during maintenance.
BUSINESS
REQUIREMENT
The client wanted to transform their mobile app to offer a faster, more seamless banking experience for users. A key ask was real-time processing for instant transactions, along with a content management system that ensures updates reach users without requiring frequent app downloads.
There was also a need to enhance security for peace of mind, introduce hands-free voice banking, and provide personalized recommendations based on user preferences.
SOLUTION
We recommended a tailored solution using a micro-frontend architecture with React Native and TypeScript for the mobile app. This would allow us to deliver a smooth, consistent user experience across platforms, with Redux managing state efficiently.
On the backend, we suggested a microservices architecture powered by GoLang and Spring Boot to ensure high-performance, scalable APIs that handle business logic and connect seamlessly with your databases and external services.
CHALLENGES
During the development process, we foresaw several technical challenges that required innovative solutions to ensure seamless integration and functionality across various systems.
Integrating with multiple teams, especially third-party integrators, would challenging due to difficulties in tracking issues and resolving technical challenges across independent systems.
1
Integrating specific loan services was complex in both backend and frontend due to API structure complexity and user experience challenges during error and blackout scenarios.
2
With the deprecation of carrier APIs in iOS 18, we would need to develop native callback methods to recognize SIM information and trigger callbacks when the SIM is ejected or changed.
3
Handling complex payment systems was challenging due to its reliance on external APIs and the involvement of various service providers, leading to highly intricate logic.
4
OUR APPROACH
To maintain clarity and alignment throughout the project, we followed an Agile methodology, ensuring requirements are well-defined before development. Our BSG and Product teams collaborated to create comprehensive user stories in JIRA, incorporating every detail of user flows and design.
The BA refines these stories by adding thorough acceptance criteria and managing clarifications during development. We ensure smooth execution through sprint planning, daily standups, and weekly reviews with higher management, providing transparency on progress and addressing any concerns. After each sprint, an internal demo ensures all stakeholders have a clear view of the development progress, both on the frontend and backend.
Methodology
We used Agile methodology for this project to ensure flexibility, continuous improvement, and rapid delivery of value. Given the complexity of integrating multiple systems, enhancing security, and implementing new features like voice banking and personalized recommendations, Agile allowed us to break down the work into manageable sprints, prioritize key deliverables, and respond to changes quickly.
Regular collaboration between cross-functional teams, such as the product, development, and business analysis teams, ensured that requirements were well-defined, clarified, and iteratively refined, leading to a smoother development process and quicker resolution of challenges.
Agile also provided transparency through daily stand-ups and weekly progress reviews, allowing for faster decision-making and alignment with the client's evolving needs.
Backend
The migration to newer Spring Boot versions provided enhanced reliability, scalability, and overall performance for the application. By adopting an event-driven architecture, real-time processing significantly improved speed and responsiveness. Additionally, the integration of a dynamic content management system allowed for faster updates and seamless content delivery, minimizing the need for frequent app version updates. The application’s security frameworks were also upgraded to comply with the latest regulatory guidelines, ensuring robust data protection.
Key improvements included:
- Voice Banking Integration: A hands-free, modern banking experience.
- Intelligent Recommendations: Personalized offers and smarter service suggestions.
- Hybrid Databases: Faster query operations for optimized data handling.
- Stable UPI Integration: Enhanced performance with reduced transaction failures.
- Redefined Bill Pay and Statement Management: Improved design and backend for a seamless user experience.
- Downtime Management: Minimized service interruptions during maintenance.
- Enhanced Notification Pipelines: Real-time alerts and updates for better communication.
Frontend
Our frontend architecture was designed to ensure a secure, efficient, and responsive user experience, utilizing modern technologies and robust security measures. We used Redux and Redux Persist for state management and caching, providing smooth functionality and offline support. Firebase was integrated for app testing through the App Distributor, facilitating seamless beta testing and continuous updates.
Key implementations included:
- Custom encryption logic was developed to enhance security.
- SSL pinning was implemented to prevent Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks.
- Network middleware was built to handle blackout scenarios, ensuring consistent user experience during planned or unplanned outages.
- The app fetched assets, including translations and backend error messages, directly from Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), with dynamic offers powered by Adobe integration.
- RASP shielding was performed before the app was deployed to higher environments for added security.
- Lookout SDK was used to block app screen recording, USB debugging, and sharing during sensitive sessions, protecting against malicious activities.
The entire codebase underwent thorough security and quality checks:
- Checkmarx scans for potential vulnerabilities (SAST and SCA scanning).
- Sonar scans to detect code duplicity and lint errors.
- The application was made ISG-compatible and supported Appium for UI automation testing.
Additionally, we developed native SDKs to trigger callbacks on specific events, such as SIM removal or changes during an app session, providing real-time updates and enhanced security.
PROJECT RESULTS
We released the updated app with UPI features into production. In the previous release, we successfully integrated the loans module, which has been deployed to production. As part of this module, we implemented a solution to fetch all backend errors from AEM, allowing Product and BSG teams to configure them anytime.
Additionally, we proposed and got approval for a common solution for error and blackout scenarios, which is being developed in the current release. For the Bill Payments feature, we successfully replicated the functionality by obtaining varied test data from external sources and conducting rigorous development and QA testing to cover all billers and use cases.
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