Bringing Volunteer Management to Mobile
Client
HandsOn Connect, in partnership with Avviato
Industry
Nonprofit
Engagement
Staff Augmentation
Duration
3+ Years Partnership
Scaling a volunteer platform from web to mobile with React Native.
Goals
- Build core mobile features mirroring the web experience, including secure login, opportunity search and listings, upcoming and past activities, and seamless check-in processes.
- Implement contactless QR code check-in functionality to support COVID-19 safety protocols and streamline volunteer registration at high-volume events like Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
- Maintain continuous deployment excellence by coordinating scheduled releases, managing App Store and Google Play updates, and collaborating closely with the internal team workflow.
Services
- Mobile Development
- Quality Assurance
- DevOps
- UI/UX Design
Challenge
HandsOn Connect had built a successful web-based volunteer management platform, but expanding to mobile was essential to increase engagement and retention. Volunteers needed a seamless way to discover opportunities, register for events, and check in directly from their smartphones, with the same functionality available on desktop. However, the client lacked internal mobile development capacity to build and maintain native iOS and Android applications while keeping pace with evolving platforms. They needed a technology partner who could could integrate as an extension of their team and translate complex web workflows into intuitive mobile experiences.
When COVID-19 emerged, the challenge intensified. Volunteer organizations urgently needed contactless check-in capabilities to replace traditional sign-in processes at events, requiring rapid feature development without compromising application stability or user experience.
Solution
Sancrisoft implemented a staff augmentation model, embedding a dedicated React Native team directly into HandsOn Connect’s development workflow. Starting with two mobile engineers, the application was built from the ground up with the flexibility to scale resources as product needs evolved. This approach allowed HandsOn Connect to extend its volunteer platform to mobile without building an internal mobile team.
The team delivered core features that replicated the full volunteer experience on mobile, including secure authentication, opportunity discovery, personalized activity views, and streamlined check-in flows. When COVID-19 safety requirements emerged, Sancrisoft rapidly implemented QR code–based contactless check-in, enabling safe and efficient event registration at scale. Over the three-year engagement, the team managed regular releases, App Store and Google Play submissions, and ongoing platform updates, ensuring long-term stability and performance across iOS and Android.
Results
The partnership delivered meaningful business and operational impact, enabling HandsOn Connect to expand its platform while maintaining delivery speed and product quality:
- Expanded platform reach by bringing the volunteer experience to mobile, increasing accessibility and engagement across iOS and Android without disrupting existing web operations.
- Accelerated product delivery through a nearshore staff augmentation model, allowing HandsOn Connect to maintain consistent release cycles and meet evolving product demands without building an internal mobile team.
- Enabled operational continuity during COVID-19 by rapidly delivering contactless check-in capabilities, supporting safe, high-volume volunteer events at a critical moment for the organization and its users.
- Reduced execution risk by embedding experienced mobile engineers into the client’s workflow, ensuring stability, knowledge continuity, and predictable delivery over a three-year collaboration.
- Strengthened internal capabilities by providing long-term mobile development expertise, workflows, and best practices that elevated the overall product organization.
