In the digital era where convenience drives innovation, SwitchStore emerged with a clear mission – to deliver everyday digital services with added value. Designed as a dual-purpose Android application, SwitchStore allows users to perform mobile, DTH, and electricity recharges while shopping for electronic products within the same ecosystem. The unique proposition? A fixed 2% cashback on every recharge transaction.

Our team at CodeHunger Pvt Ltd collaborated with SwitchStore to bring this powerful concept to life, handling both frontend and backend development, as well as optimization and deployment on AWS infrastructure.

Project Background

When the SwitchStore team approached us, they had a strong vision but no technical groundwork. Their primary goal was to create an app that:

1. Offers real-time recharge facilities across multiple utilities
2. Provides a cashback system to encourage user retention
3. Sells electronics directly within the same platform
4. Handles wallet, order, and transaction management efficiently

We built the app from scratch using React Native for the mobile interface and Laravel (PHP) as the backend framework, with MySQL managing the database.

Key Features

Recharge & Bill Payments

1. Supports all major services: Mobile (Prepaid/Postpaid), DTH, Electricity, Broadband, Gas, etc.
2. Real-time processing using third-party recharge APIs
3. Automatic fallback and refund handling in case of failure
4. Fixed 2% cashback on each successful recharge

Integrated eCommerce Platform

1. Categorized product listings (Mobiles, Accessories, Electronics)
2. Product filtering, search functionality, and detailed descriptions
3. Add to cart, apply wallet balance, and seamless checkout
4. Order tracking, invoice generation, and return/refund processing

Wallet System

1. Cashback credited to wallet after every recharge
2. Wallet usage allowed for both recharges and product purchases
3. Detailed wallet transaction history and withdrawal logic

Secure User Authentication

1. OTP-based login system for enhanced security
2. User profile management and KYC integration (planned)

Promotions & Alerts

1. Push notifications for cashback offers, sales, and order status
2. Dynamic promotional banners on the app home page

Technical Architecture

1. Frontend: React Native for cross-platform mobile development
2. Backend: Laravel RESTful API with clean MVC separation
3. Database: MySQL with optimized indexing and foreign key constraints
4. Caching: Redis for session and frequently accessed data
5. Hosting: AWS EC2 for application servers, S3 for product image storage, SES for email alerts
6. Security: JWT-based token authentication, SSL encryption via Cloudflare, AWS WAF

Development Workflow

We adopted a CI/CD Git-based development workflow with strict quality assurance practices:

1. Feature branching and pull request reviews
2. Automated testing for recharge workflows
3. Manual testing for UI, wallet logic, and eCommerce scenarios
4. Cron jobs for cache clearing, backup, and maintenance
5. Error reporting connected to email alerts for immediate attention

Challenges Faced & Solutions

Dual-Service Architecture

Challenge: Combining recharge and eCommerce services required handling different business logics under one app.

Solution: Created modular service layers in Laravel for independent recharge and product workflows. Ensured database normalization and isolation of transaction tables.

API Failures in Recharge Module

Challenge: Third-party recharge APIs were occasionally slow or unreliable.

Solution: Built a robust retry mechanism and status queues. Also added automated refund workflow and real-time error logging to avoid customer complaints.

Wallet Integration

Challenge: Allowing flexible use of cashback across modules while maintaining financial integrity.

Solution: Custom wallet engine built with ledger tracking and admin-level monitoring. Each wallet transaction is traceable with status and timestamps.

Performance Optimization

Challenge: Initial load delays due to unindexed product and recharge tables.

Solution: Indexed all relevant database columns, added Redis caching, and implemented query optimizers. Result: 40% faster average load time.

Deployment & Hosting

The application was deployed using AWS EC2 instances with auto-scaling enabled. Product images are stored in AWS S3, while SES is used for transactional emails. Cloudflare secures and optimizes network delivery.

Error tracking is enabled with notifications routed to the admin's email. Our GitHub push triggers initiate automatic deployment scripts that include:

1. Laravel migration and seeding
2. Cache and view clearing
3. Maintenance mode toggles

Post-Launch Insights

Since its launch, SwitchStore has seen impressive traction:

1. 10,000+ Downloads in the first three months
2. Over 50,000 recharges processed
3. Lakhs of cashback distributed without a single financial discrepancy
4. 4.5+ Play Store rating from satisfied users

We regularly collect feedback and have started planning new modules like travel booking, digital wallet top-ups, and loyalty programs based on user suggestions.

Key Takeaways

1. React Native allowed us to build and deploy the Android app faster while maintaining a smooth UX.
2. Laravel's flexibility helped us build two major verticals in one backend without sacrificing performance.
3. Wallet systems require careful planning – accuracy, audit trails, and rollback logic are critical.
4. Third-party API handling needs robust fallback and monitoring.
5. Clear separation of modules ensured scalability for future growth.

Conclusion

SwitchStore has successfully redefined how a utility app can become an eCommerce powerhouse. By combining real-world user needs — recharges, bills, and shopping — into one smooth and rewarding experience, SwitchStore sets a new standard for multi-purpose mobile platforms.

Built with modern technologies and scalable infrastructure, this project is a testament to our team’s ability to take complex ideas and deliver fast, secure, and optimized digital products.

We at CodeHunger Pvt Ltd are proud to be the technology partner behind SwitchStore's journey, and we look forward to adding more modules and scaling it to new heights.

Want to build something similar? Get in touch with us to discuss your idea!