A broken app inherited from an overseas dev shop became a thriving platform with new revenue streams
Services Provided
Mobile App Development, Project Recovery, Code Review, Developer Training
Project Technologies
Android | iOS | Flutter | React Native (inherited) | Ruby on Rails
Industry Served
Home Services, Inspection Technology
Team Composition
1 Full-Stack Developer, 1 Project Manager
Project Duration
Ongoing since 2021
TLDR
Twin Sun inherited Pro Pool Inspectors' mobile app from an overseas development shop. The React Native application was barely functional, built on outdated packages, and the previous team had provided almost no communication about the work being done. Twin Sun stabilized the app, then rebuilt it entirely in Flutter alongside a complete rebrand. Beyond fixing what was broken, we expanded the platform from a single subscription model to include a member portal with point-of-sale capabilities for training classes, marketing services for inspectors, and a token-based pay-per-use system, opening four new revenue streams for the business. We established clear communication rhythms that rebuilt the client's trust in the development process, and when the time was right, we trained their internal developer on Flutter and Rails to bring ongoing development in-house. The relationship continues as an ongoing partnership built on transparency and mutual respect.
The Challenge
Pro Pool Inspectors came to Twin Sun with a mobile app built by an overseas development shop that was barely functional. The app was written in React Native with outdated packages, and communication from the previous team had been minimal. The client had been paying for work that didn’t appear to be done, with little transparency into what was actually happening with the project.
Our Solution
Twin Sun stabilized the existing app, established clear communication rhythms, and eventually rebuilt the entire application in Flutter. We expanded the platform beyond its original subscription model by adding a member portal, administrative capabilities, a point-of-sale system for training classes, marketing services for inspectors, and a token-based pay-per-use option. When the client was ready to bring development in-house, we trained their new developer on Flutter and Rails to ensure a smooth transition.
The Results
Pro Pool Inspectors went from a broken app with a single revenue stream to a fully rebranded platform with four new ways to generate income. The client brought on an internal developer trained by Twin Sun, reducing their ongoing costs while maintaining the ability to respond to customer issues faster. The relationship continues today as a trusted partnership.
Inheriting a Broken App From an Overseas Dev Shop
When Twin Sun first got access to the Pro Pool Inspectors project, the app was in rough shape. Built in React Native with outdated packages, it was either non-functional or severely broken in its core features. The previous overseas development shop had provided little communication about what they were building, and the client suspected he was paying for work that wasn’t getting done.
The first task was small: adding a custom logo. But when our developer looked at the state of the codebase, it was clear that adding a logo to a broken app would just produce a broken app with a logo. The real work was getting the application functional and up to a maintainable standard.
This required an honest conversation. Telling a new client that additional work is needed beyond what they asked for can feel like a sales pitch, especially when that client has already been burned. But Twin Sun explained the situation transparently, the client understood the importance, and the investment paid off immediately. Once the foundation was solid, new features could be delivered faster and the app performed reliably.
Rebuilding With the Right Tools
As the engagement progressed, Twin Sun rebuilt the entire application in Flutter. This wasn’t change for the sake of change. React Native’s limitations were holding back the user experience Pro Pool Inspectors wanted to deliver, and Flutter gave the team the ability to move faster and build more confidently across both Android and iOS.
The rebuild coincided with a complete rebrand. Twin Sun updated the app with Pro Pool Inspectors’ new style guide and brand identity, delivering what was essentially a brand new application. Very little of the original inherited codebase remains.
Opening New Revenue Streams
The most significant business outcome was expanding how Pro Pool Inspectors makes money. Before Twin Sun, the business made money on mobile app subscriptions and actually going out and inspecting pools. Through the partnership, we built a member portal that doubles as a point of sale for training classes, which became a major part of the business model. We added marketing services for pool inspectors who sign up for premium tiers. And we introduced a token system that lets users pay for individual inspections instead of committing to an unlimited subscription.
Four new revenue streams, all built on top of a platform that started as a broken React Native app.
Effective Communication
The previous development shop had set low expectations for communication. The client came into the relationship with Twin Sun expecting to be kept in the dark. Our approach was straightforward: biweekly meetings, responsive communication, and a genuine effort to understand what mattered to him.
That meant taking customer service issues seriously, even when they seemed tangential to development work. Dismissing those concerns would have broken trust. Instead, treating them as important built it.
Managing priorities was also a recurring challenge. The client would frequently arrive at meetings with a list of new ideas on top of the high-priority items already in progress. Rather than shutting that down, Twin Sun established a rhythm: discuss the committed work first, then create space for new ideas. Some of those ideas turned into real features. The key was channeling the energy without letting it derail progress.
Training an In-House Developer
As Pro Pool Inspectors grew, the economics shifted. Twin Sun helped the client bring on an internal developer and ran them through a crash course on Flutter and Rails. Over a few months, the internal developer was handling the work that had previously been outsourced.
This saved the client money and gave them faster response times on customer issues. Twin Sun encouraged the transition because it was the right move for the business. The relationship hasn’t ended. The two teams still keep in touch, and the door remains open for future collaboration.
