BackJopla: Italian Service Marketplace Platform
Jopla connects service seekers with skilled professionals across more than 20 sectors in Italy, from house cleaning and babysitting to specialist consulting. The platform had been live and profitable for several years when its founder approached Space-O Technologies. He did not need a rebuild. He needed a partner who could take over an unfamiliar Kotlin Multiplatform codebase without documentation and start shipping fixes users had been asking for. Our team reverse-engineered the architecture, learned KMM specifically for this engagement, and rebuilt the two features generating the most complaints. Jopla now runs on iOS and Android with map-based provider discovery and an overhauled ratings system.
Industry
Service Marketplace
Client From
Italy
Platform
iOS and Android
Inside the Jopla Marketplace
Jopla gives Italian professionals and clients a structured place to find each other and work together. Service seekers post what they need. Providers build skill profiles that show exactly what they offer and where they operate.
Machine learning sits behind the matching. The algorithms weigh skills, location, and stated preferences to pair each request with providers who genuinely fit it. Matching quality is what separates Jopla from a simple directory listing.
Trust features carry the rest. Secure, traceable payments transfer directly between accounts, damage and accident insurance covers contracted work, and free administrative and tax consultation removes the bureaucracy that discourages informal workers from going legitimate.
How We Modernized the Jopla Marketplace Platform
Our client had run Jopla successfully for years and reached the point every mature product reaches. User expectations had moved, two features were generating steady complaints, and he wanted a technical partner who could work without hand-holding. The engagement required reverse engineering an unfamiliar architecture and shipping improvements against a live user base.
Reverse Engineering the Existing Codebase
Challenge:
Jopla arrived with no meaningful documentation. Understanding a complex production system built by another team is where most maintenance handovers fail.
What We Shipped:
Our team worked through the complete Kotlin Multiplatform architecture from the code itself. We mapped how the shared layer related to each platform, traced the data flows, and built a working understanding of the functionality patterns. That groundwork made every later change safe to make.
Building KMM Capability for the Project
Challenge:
Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile is a specialized architecture, and the client needed a partner already competent in it rather than one learning at his expense.
What We Shipped:
We committed dedicated resources to mastering KMM specifically for this engagement. The investment sat with us rather than on the invoice. It also expanded what our mobile team can take on, which is why we treat capability building as part of the work rather than an overhead.
Map-Based Service Provider Discovery
Challenge:
Provider discovery ran on basic list views only. Users struggled to find nearby professionals, and the complaint appeared repeatedly in feedback.
What We Shipped:
We replaced the list with an interactive MapView. Users now see available professionals positioned geographically and connect with the ones close to them. For a marketplace where most services happen in person, seeing distance on a map answers the first question every user has.
Ratings and Reviews Overhaul
Challenge:
The ratings and reviews system was underperforming, which affected user trust at exactly the moment people decide whether to hire someone.
What We Shipped:
We rebuilt the system rather than patching it. The work covered data processing, display logic, and the interaction model users work through when leaving or reading feedback. Reviews carry the credibility of a marketplace, so the rebuild targeted trust rather than cosmetics.
User Experience Refinement From Complaint Analysis
Challenge:
Beyond the two headline issues, accumulated friction across the interface was affecting satisfaction in ways no single complaint captured.
What We Shipped:
We worked directly from user feedback and complaint patterns rather than assumptions. The resulting changes improved navigation efficiency and interface responsiveness across the app. Each enhancement traced back to something a real user had reported, which kept the roadmap grounded.
Stability, Performance, and Flexible Support
Challenge:
The client wanted platform reliability across devices and operating system versions, without paying for a full-time retained team.
What We Shipped:
We systematically identified and resolved bugs, performance bottlenecks, and compatibility issues across devices. Every enhancement passes rigorous testing, with particular attention to preserving functionality the existing user base depends on. Support runs on demand, so the client draws on the team when work is needed.
Platform Capabilities Jopla Offers Its Users
Skill Profile Creation
Professionals build detailed profiles highlighting their skills and expertise, making them easier for the right clients to find.
Coverage Across 20+ Sectors
Opportunities span more than 20 professional sectors, covering home services, personal care, specialist consulting, and technical support.
Machine Learning Job Matching
Algorithms analyze skills, location, and preferences to pair service seekers with providers who genuinely fit the requirement.
Secure Payment System
Traceable payments transfer directly between accounts, protecting both providers and clients on every transaction.
Insurance and Protection
Personalized damage and accident insurance covers contracted services, giving both parties professional protection.
Administrative Support
Free administrative and tax consultation, clear employment contracts, and simplified bureaucracy management sit inside the app.
In-App Communication
Direct messaging between providers and clients keeps project coordination and updates in one thread.
Integrated Calendar Management
Built-in calendar tools organize schedules and appointments so both sides stay aligned on timing.
Loyalty Rewards Program
Active participants earn discounts, benefits, and rewards through a program built to recognize regular platform use.
Sectors and Users the Marketplace Covers
Home Cleaning Professionals
Babysitters and Childcare Providers
Personal Care Specialists
Independent Consultants
Technical Support Providers
Skilled Trade Workers
Gig Economy Workers Seeking Legitimate Contracts
Households Hiring Local Services
Small Businesses Sourcing Specialists
Marketplace Operators Managing Multi-Sector Platforms
Technologies Powering Jopla
Cross-Platform Mobile
Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile
Backend Development
Node.js
TypeScript
Express.js
Web and API Layer
React
GraphQL
Cloud and Database
AWS S3
MongoDB Atlas
Third-Party Integrations
Stripe
Twilio
SendGrid
Google Maps API
Our Role in the Project Engagement
Space-O Technologies took full technical ownership of Jopla, working independently across analysis, development, and testing.
Codebase Analysis and Reverse Engineering
Node.js Development (Backend)
Feature Enhancement and Implementation
Quality Assurance and Regression Testing
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