1200
USA
FoodTech, Healthcare
About the client
To solve test the hypothesis on propper food consumption if they have opportunity to calculate the nutrition value with broad personalization options and know for sure how that all influences their health. The idea was based on proper introduction of gamification features, user-friendly UX/UI, adjustable knowledge dabase and reliable management of users personal data.
They partnered with EVNE Developers to implement the solution and test their assumptions with MVP. The product was aimed to streamline the process of creating a nutrition plan by automating complex calculations and providing easy-to-understand results to save users time and effort compared to manual calculations or generic dietary advice.
Challenge
Building a personalized nutrition calculator with a large knowledge database and gamification features presents several key challenges mostly based on the Proof of concept approach and early funding stages of the company. Complex approach to MVP creation required preliminary analysis of the market and main competitors which revealed several challenges.
Personalization requires accounting for various factors like age, sex, weight, height, activity level, dietary restrictions, health conditions, and individual preferences. Developing algorithms that accurately capture this complexity could become a challenge multiplied with the size of the actual database the information should be taken from. Maintaining accuracy and consistency across such a large dataset was placed as the cornerstone of the back-end development.
Solution
Building a personalized nutrition calculator with a large knowledge database and gamification features requires a phased approach, starting with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that focuses on core functionality and iteratively adds features based on user feedback.
The initial step was based on market and competitor research to outline the scope of the development and the list of the features to be added in the MVP to prove the concept in full and receive funding. Later the team moved to a reputable, well-maintained database conclusion (based on USDA FoodData Central, IFCT) for core consistent nutrient information. We had to implement rigorous data cleaning and standardization procedures to ensure consistency across all data sources with data validation rules and automated scripts to identify and correct errors. Only after that we moved to the direc design and development process based on the roadmap.
Our team, consisting of business analysts, UI/UX designers, back-end developers, mobile developers, project managers, and QA specialists worked together on the project.
Once we had the initial solution ready, we saw an opportunity to enhance the product’s capabilities and offered the complex roadmap of development and scaling based on the receipt of the solution by the early adopters.
Results
Proving the concept with MVP iterative approach
As far as the entire MVP development approach realies heavily on the iterative feedback loops and ability to prove concepts, the team focused the available resources to this task.
Personalised calculator of nutrients intake
The main functional block was given to nutrients calculation module with great emphasis to gamification. The Intake Calculator module provides comprehensive tracking of dietary and activity data.
Based on the analysis of the competitors, the team discovered that generic nutrition guidelines often fall short because they don’t account for individual variations in metabolism, body composition, and lifestyle. That is why the decision was taken to focus on more personalised approach to offer more precise calculations of calorie and macronutrient needs. Users can log meals and water intake, as well as record physical activity to calculate their net energy balance.
A calendar interface allows for precise date and time-stamped entries. Based on the gathered analytics the team concluded when people see results that are directly tied to their efforts, they are more likely to stick to their nutrition plan. Personalized calculators approach helped users track their progress and make adjustments as needed, leading to better long-term adherence.
The module also includes a notes feature for maintaining easily accessible records of findings so users are able to add even more personalised content to their experience.
The roadmap for the feature includes adaptation to accommodate specific dietary needs related to health conditions like diabetes, food allergies, or intolerances. This allows individuals to manage their conditions more effectively through targeted nutrition and broader the target market.
Nutrients database with Analysis and Lessons
The main goal of knowledge module creation was to offer a wealth of benefits for consumer health, empowering individuals to make informed dietary choices and improve their overall well-being. The Nutrient Knowledge Database module provides in-depth nutritional tracking and analysis based on international nutrition database, encompassing 200+ nutrients. This granular level of detail supports a range of user needs, from managing specific dietary requirements (e.g., for diabetes or allergies) to optimizing overall health and wellness through balanced nutrition.
It facilitates detailed intake analysis across various parameters, including individual food items, meals, daily, and weekly consumption. Calculations are performed using preconfigured standard serving units, ensuring consistency and accuracy together with great personalisation of metrics applied and food consumed. Users can create custom nutrient templates for targeted analysis, allowing them to focus on specific dietary needs or goals. Users can identify potential nutrient deficiencies or excesses, enabling them to make informed dietary adjustments.
As another use case is the ability to make informed decisions in growseries. When grocery shopping or dining out, consumers can use these databases to compare the nutritional content of different food products and make healthier choices or outline their preferences.
Lessons allow users to learn particular features about their meals as well as participate in public health initiatives by providing data for research, policy development, and educational programs aimed at improving population health. The database underpins food labeling regulations, ensuring that consumers have access to accurate and consistent information about the nutritional content of packaged foods. In greatly gamified form users are able to learn more about their diet, food they consume and get benefits from consuming such content.
Evolving the prototype into a market-ready solution
As the product evolved from the general idea to the working application, ready to receive first customers, it finally reached the following peculiarities.
- Easy to Use. The friendly interface can help users of any technical experience perform complex nutrient calculations with just a click.
- All information is in one place. Users can get a modern nutrient analysis of up to 200 nutrients, not just 3 macronutrients as most competitors offer.
- Gamification. Great emphasis was given to gamification of the main functions so the users can stay more invested into the app for long.
- Admin moderation. We added a specific entity to facilitate centralised administration and improved user management.
- User roles and access control. To safeguard data and ensure only authorised access, we implemented a robust role-based access control system. This empowers administrators to define specific roles for each user, granting or restricting their access to different features and data within the platform based on their responsibilities.
- Built-in security. To safeguard the system and user data, we implemented a comprehensive security strategy. This includes fundamental protocols like HTTPS and XSS protection, along with defenses against brute-force attacks. We further enhanced security through advanced techniques such as bot detection and banning.
- Code quality tools: Code quality and integrity were maintained through regular code health checks utilizing tools such as Sonar and Codacy. These checks effectively identified and addressed code-related issues, such as vulnerabilities and code smells, contributing to a robust and reliable offering for our customers.
Value Delivered
By delivering the planned scope of work, the team successfully launched the MVP and received first feedback from early abopters on how to develop the business further. The results were carefully gathered, analysed and outlined in the pitch deck prepared for investors to receive early stage funding. The team validated that the product was required by real users, so we reduced the perceived risk for investors. Such an approach ensured each stakeholder and investor understands the application, its strong and weak points and ways to improve further.
In addition, the gathered feedback helped the team to prioritize the development of new features and functionalities based on user demand, ensuring focus on what matters most to target audience.
User comfort and clarity
Specific approach to UI/UX design ensured that each screen is clear and easily readable by target users and deliver the value of the product.
Improved user confidence
The integration of the nutrition calculator provided users with easy access to crucial information and nutrition database making them feel informed and confident with clear reliable data.
Investment in Publick Health improwement
Personalised and involving Nutrition databases play a crucial role in public health initiatives by providing data for research, policy development, and educational programs aimed at improving population health.
Business growth
Our contribution in reliable MVP delivery and forming of the strong pitch deck contributed to the client’s business growth and investment receipt.
Client Testimonial
EVNE Developers can help you build a cost-effective yet scalable MVP that will allow you to meet user needs and grow your business. Tell us about your goals and we’ll gladly discuss possible solutions that align with your vision.
