Gift Chat App: Chat, Connect, and Gift
We created a unique e-commerce chat app that combines social connection with easy gift-giving. Now, users can chat, make video calls, and send gifts—all delivered straight to the recipient’s doorstep.
Key Features
What Makes Gift Chat Unique Chat, Video Call, and Stickers — Users can chat in real-time, make video calls, and share stickers for more expressive communication. In-Chat Gifting — Users can select and send gifts from the chat screen, making gift-giving a natural part of the conversation. Personal Wishlist — Users can create a wishlist from available gift options (books, cosmetics, gift hampers, etc.). This wishlist is visible in the chat, making it easier for friends to choose something meaningful. Visible Wishlists for Easy Gifting — When sending a gift in the chat, users can view the recipient’s wishlist, streamlining gift selection to items they genuinely want. Diverse Gift Selection — Users can create their wishlists from a variety of categories, including tangible gifts like books and cosmetics, as well as digital options like Amazon and Myntra gift cards. Integrated Payment System — Secure payments through Razorpay and Stripe make transactions safe, fast, and convenient.
Discovery Phase
Objective: Understanding the core needs and functionality required to create an engaging social gifting experience. During the discovery phase, we collaborated closely with the client to identify key requirements: • Integrating chat, video call, and gifting features in one app. • Adding a wishlist feature where users can create and share their preferred gifts with their connections. • Providing a seamless, in-chat gifting experience that includes real-time wishlist visibility. • Ensuring secure, smooth payments with Razorpay and Stripe. Outcome: We established a clear roadmap, including essential app functionalities, user personas, and technical requirements to build a seamless gifting and chatting experience.
Planning Phase
Defining Architecture and Technology Stack With a roadmap in place, we began detailed planning, selecting the right technology stack and laying out the app’s architecture: • Node.js for backend development to manage chat, wishlist, and gifting features. • MongoDB for handling user accounts, wishlists, and inventory data efficiently. • React Native for cross-platform mobile development to provide a unified experience on iOS and Android. • Razorpay and Stripe as payment gateways for secure transactions. Outcome: A clear architecture blueprint and tech stack were defined, along with a timeline for each development milestone.
Design Phase
Crafting an Intuitive User Interface The design phase focused on creating a simple, engaging experience where users can chat, view wishlists, and send gifts easily. Key UI/UX design elements included: • Wishlist in Chat — Users can create a wishlist, visible in the chat for their connections, making gift selection easy. • Minimalistic Chat Interface — Chat, video call, and stickers are integrated seamlessly. • Dedicated Gifting Option — Easy access to gift selection with a visible button for quick gifting. • Wireframes and prototypes were shared with the client for feedback, leading to iterative improvements that made the app more user-friendly. Outcome: Finalized user flows, wireframes, and a high-fidelity prototype, ensuring the design aligned with the user needs and client goals.
Development Phase
Building Core Features and Integrations Our development process followed an agile approach, with sprints focused on building and testing key features: Backend Setup (Node.js & MongoDB) — Created core functionalities for real-time chat, wishlist management, and in-chat gifting. Frontend Development (React Native) — Built a responsive, smooth user interface compatible with both Android and iOS. Payment Integration — Integrated Razorpay and Stripe for secure transactions, allowing users to pay for gifts directly in the chat. Real-Time Notifications — Added notifications for new messages, video call invites, and gift deliveries, enhancing user engagement. Regular testing was conducted throughout each sprint to ensure stability and smooth functionality. Outcome: A fully developed app with all primary features working as planned, ready for further testing.
Testing Phase
Quality Assurance and User Testing Comprehensive testing was performed to ensure a high-quality user experience: Functionality Testing — Verified chat, video calling, gifting, and wishlist features. Usability Testing — Assessed ease of use for gift selection and sending, as well as wishlist creation. Payment Security Testing — Ensured that payment processes through Razorpay and Stripe were secure and reliable. Cross-Platform Testing — Ensured consistent performance across iOS and Android devices. Feedback from user testing led to minor adjustments in the UI and some optimizations for faster loading times. Outcome: A refined, user-ready app with verified functionality, security, and smooth performance on all devices.
Launch Phase
After final approval, we deployed the Gift Chat App to both the Google Play Store and Apple App. An onboarding tutorial was included to guide users through setting up wishlists, sending gifts, and exploring chat features. Outcome: Successful deployment, with the app available to users for download, enabling social connection and gifting in one seamless experience.
Post-Launch & Maintenance
Following launch, we provided continuous monitoring and support, addressing any issues quickly and gathering user feedback for potential improvements. Planned updates included: • Adding more gift categories. • Enhancing the wishlist experience with additional customization options. • Regularly updating security protocols for payment and data protection. • Outcome: A steady post-launch plan to keep the app updated and responsive to user needs, ensuring a secure and evolving experience for all users.