EMPOWERMENT: FROM CUSTOMER TO APP EXPERT

Build, buy or borrow?

The launch of an app (Version 1.0) is often just the beginning of a journey. Of course, we at devsuit offer a comprehensive, worry-free package that includes operation, maintenance, and continuous development. However, for clients who already possess their own technical expertise, internalizing this know-how can be a strategically valuable path. It is precisely this collaborative path toward internal tech sovereignty that we have taken together with Flohkids.

The basis is

It all began with the successful launch of the Flohkids app. Together, we’ve built a solid technical foundation, which is already documented in our blog post about the hybrid app.

 

Flohkids (https://flohkids.de) is a platform for high-quality secondhand children's items that makes it easy for parents to resell their items by renting shelf space. A circular economy that we at devsuit are very happy to support!

 

Expert Assessment: Even months after the launch, the architecture chosen at the time continues to prove to be a perfect fit. A native shell from devsuit combined with a high-performance web app from Flohkids. This technological lever is another key to Flohkids’ independence and enables the team to implement functional changes and new features extremely quickly. Flohkids still considers this “a major advantage” today.

 

 

Knowledge transfer instead of black box development

It was now time to implement new features that would also affect the app’s native functions, and Flohkids wanted to be in the driver’s seat for the further development. The foundation for this was communication on equal terms and a deep technical understanding on both sides:

“The short lines of communication and the expertise on both sides meant we were up and running very quickly and achieved results,” Erich Kachel, CEO of Flohkids, sums up in an interview.

 

Expertise on demand

Our support wasn't a massive project package, but rather targeted consulting. Erich Kachel describes the collaboration as the perfect complement to our own resources:

• Freedom of choice instead of rigid guidelines: devsuit always offers more than one way to overcome technical challenges, with a focus on speed, cost, and sustainability. This enabled Flohkids to make well-informed technical management decisions.
• Efficiency through expertise: Since both sides had a solid technical understanding, there was no need for lengthy explanations.
• A safety net in the background: While Flohkids is now handling most of the update internally, devsuit ensures a smooth release process within the iOS ecosystem.

“You understood where I was going with this and were able to proactively anticipate the consequences. It was a real team effort,” said Kachel about working with the devsuit team.

 

Sovereign app updates

The results speak for themselves: Flohkids rolled out the latest feature update almost entirely on its own. This not only kept costs down but, more importantly, helped build internal expertise.

“devsuit is a perfect fit for our needs. They step in exactly where our knowledge or technical expertise ends.” – Erich Kachel, CEO of Flohkids

 

Conclusion: Tailwind for your team

Today, Flohkids operates largely independently, but turns to us for our expertise on specific technical issues or when a second technical opinion is needed. That is exactly what we promise at devsuit: We are the tailwind that helps clients reach their goals faster, and the safety net when needed. 

A case study on technical independence, knowledge transfer, and a partnership on equal footing.