Your DIY Store
in Your Pocket
Your DIY Store
in Your Pocket
Hubo, a Belgian DIY retailer with over 160 stores, wanted a mobile app to complement their retail presence. Unlock'd provided technical development to build a native mobile experience for their customers.
The app provides access to Hubo's product catalog, promotions, and loyalty program by leveraging their existing web platform within a native app shell. We partnered with design firm Fabrikate on the project.
Creating a mobile app that leverages an existing web platform while delivering a native experience requires balancing efficient integration with native functionality and performance.
Using our six-step framework, we guided Hubo through mobile app development from initial validation through launch and ongoing updates. The result is a mobile app that integrates with their existing infrastructure and serves their customer base.
1. IDENTIFY & VALIDATE
We validated demand for mobile access to Hubo's product catalog and loyalty program through customer research. The findings showed that customers wanted to check product availability and pricing before visiting stores.
1. IDENTIFY & VALIDATE
We validated demand for mobile access to Hubo's product catalog and loyalty program through customer research. The findings showed that customers wanted to check product availability and pricing before visiting stores.
2. IMPACT MAPPING
We mapped app features to business objectives: inventory visibility supports purchase decisions, digital loyalty cards enable member tracking, and store location tools facilitate visits. Each feature was designed with specific user needs and business requirements in mind.
3. TECHNICAL AUDIT
Hubo's e-commerce website provided a solid foundation. We assessed how to build the mobile app while leveraging the existing web platform. A hybrid approach was chosen that integrates the website within a native shell while implementing select features natively for optimal performance and user experience.
4. RAPID PROTOTYPING
We built interactive prototypes to test the approach before full development. Customer testing helped identify usability issues early in the process. The prototypes also served to align stakeholders on functionality and user experience.
5. DEVELOPMENT & LAUNCH
We developed a Flutter app for iOS and Android that integrates Hubo's web platform within a native shell, with select features implemented natively. Various techniques were applied to make the integration seamless and provide a native app experience. The app launched with distribution to loyalty program members initially.
6. ITERATE & OPTIMIZE
Analytics track how customers use the app and which features see most engagement. This data informs decisions about improvements and new feature development. The platform allows for ongoing updates based on usage patterns.
Unifying the Shopping Experience
The Hubo app brings together everything customers need in one place, from browsing products to managing loyalty rewards.
Every product from Hubo's extensive DIY range is available in the app, complete with detailed specifications, high-quality images, and customer reviews to help make informed decisions.
Live inventory visibility across all 160+ locations lets customers check product availability before visiting, with store directions and opening hours at their fingertips.
Complete purchase history and detailed transaction records give customers full transparency over their spending and help plan future projects more effectively.
Timely push notifications keep customers informed about order updates, exclusive flash sales, and new product arrivals, all delivered without overwhelming their inbox.
Experience the seamless flow from browsing to checkout, with features designed to make shopping effortless.
The app delivers an intuitive shopping experience with instant access to promotions, a digital Bonus card for tracking loyalty points, and streamlined checkout, all optimized for mobile users on the go.
Built with Flutter for native performance on iOS and Android, seamlessly connecting to Hubo's e-commerce infrastructure.
The hybrid architecture strategically combines native mobile features with embedded web views, ensuring a premium app experience while efficiently leveraging existing systems. This approach enabled rapid development and easy maintenance while delivering the performance users expect.