Redefining woodworking craftsmanship
Project Overview
Marotino partnered with Hardwood Lumber and Millwork, a Florida-based sawmill with a rich selection of hardwoods, to develop an innovative mobile application that would transform the wood selection process. With an inventory of 39 distinct wood species, both domestic and exotic, the company sought a digital tool that would simplify and enhance how customers explore their offerings.
The aim was to create a user-friendly, intuitive app that empowers customers to make quick, informed decisions by filtering wood options based on key characteristics like grain, tone, hardness, and intended use. This solution was designed to serve a broad audience, from casual DIYers to professional craftsmen, offering tailored recommendations and easy access to detailed product information.
By digitizing and streamlining the selection process, the app not only improved the customer experience but also helped position Hardwood Lumber and Millwork as a forward-thinking leader in their industry.
Client's Needs
Hardwood Lumber and Millwork approached Marotino with a clear vision: to simplify and modernize the wood selection process. With an inventory of 39 unique wood species, 17 domestic and 22 exotic, they needed a digital tool that could offer customers detailed information and tailored recommendations based on attributes like grain pattern, hardness, tone, and usage.
They wanted the app to be user-friendly, with the versatility to serve casual DIYers as well as seasoned woodworkers. It had to perform smoothly on both iOS and Android devices, eliminating the need for separate development. Ultimately, the goal was to reduce the workload of their in-house team by automating time-consuming customer service tasks, while also improving the overall customer experience.
Challenges
From the outset, the project posed several technical and strategic challenges.
The first major hurdle was the complexity of the product data. With nearly 40 distinct wood types, the app needed a well-structured, scalable system for filtering and categorization, without overwhelming the user.
The client also served a highly diverse audience, ranging from beginners who needed basic guidance, to professionals looking for detailed specifications and smart recommendations. Balancing simplicity and depth was critical.
Another key issue was the absence of any existing digital infrastructure. The solution had to be completely standalone and functional out of the box, without relying on backend systems.
Lastly, the project was developed in early 2020, using Flutter 1.12 - an early stage in the framework’s evolution. This version came with limited package availability and less community support, which made development more challenging and required creative technical solutions.
Solution
To meet these goals, Marotino proposed building a mobile app using Flutter, Google’s cross-platform UI toolkit known for native performance and a unified codebase. This approach allowed the team to deliver a smooth experience on both iOS and Android without doubling development efforts.
The resulting application featured a dynamic, interactive catalog where users could browse, filter, and search for wood species using parameters like tone, hardness, and ideal use. A built-in wood consumption calculator let users input project dimensions and receive accurate estimates of the materials required, minimizing waste and guesswork.
To further enhance the experience, the app included intelligent recommendation features that adapted based on previous user interactions. Offline functionality was also built in, ensuring the app worked flawlessly in environments like workshops or job sites where internet access is limited.
For inventory tracking, a lightweight CSV-based synchronization system allowed the client to update their product database without the need for a complex backend system. This kept the solution simple, flexible, and easy to manage internally.
Technologies used
The application was developed using Flutter 1.12, with Dart as the core programming language. SQLite was implemented for local data storage, supporting full offline functionality. State management was handled using the Provider package, ensuring smooth performance and responsive UI updates.
Firebase services were integrated to enable push notifications and crash reporting, helping the client monitor app performance and user engagement. UI/UX design was prototyped in Figma, allowing the Marotino team to iterate quickly and align closely with the client’s vision before development began.
Results