CroWays

A multimedia GPS guide to Croatia

1. Introduction

CroWays Multimedia GPS Guide was created with the idea of transforming sightseeing on the island of Krk into a dynamic, multimedia, and interactive experience. Unlike traditional guides that provide nothing more than text descriptions or static maps, CroWays leverages the latest technologies to let users explore at their own pace and access a wealth of content—texts, photos, videos, and audio guides.

Users can start a route, visit landmarks in any order they choose, skip certain points of interest, or take breaks whenever they like. The app provides precise GPS navigation powered by Mapbox, while each location opens a window into its history, cultural significance, and unique features through carefully curated multimedia materials.

What sets CroWays apart is its ability to merge technology with experience. The app doesn’t just deliver information—it tells authentic stories of the island of Krk, connecting visitors with its local identity and traditions. Each route is designed to turn sightseeing into more than just a tour: it’s a personal journey that sparks curiosity, invites exploration, and gives every traveller the freedom to set their own rhythm.

From the very beginning, CroWays was envisioned not only as a mobile app but as a scalable platform for digitally guided tours. Through this project, we demonstrated our expertise in mobile app development, programming, and business system design that ensures simple and reliable content management behind the scenes.

CroWays stands as further proof of our ability to create innovative digital solutions that reshape the way people experience destinations. Our technology doesn’t remain hidden in the background—it becomes a bridge between the real world and digital content, making exploration intuitive, safe, and unforgettable.

Learn more about our mobile app solutions

2. Building the System from the Ground Up

For CroWays to become a truly reliable and engaging tool for visitors to the island of Krk, we first had to conduct a thorough analysis of user needs. Travelers exploring new destinations expect a digital guide to be:

• intuitive – simple to use, without the need for lengthy instructions or additional explanations,
• flexible – adaptable to each traveller’s pace and interests,
• multimedia rich – not limited to text, but enriched with photos, videos, and audio content,
• up to date – capable of continuously adding new routes and content in real time.

These guidelines served as the foundation for defining both the system architecture and the user experience. We understood that the end user does not want a complex tool, but rather a digital companion that simplifies exploration.

To achieve this, development began with wireframe prototypes created in Figma. These prototypes allowed us to visualize all key user flows in advance—from registration and route purchases to on-site navigation and multimedia consumption. At this early stage, we engaged a focus group of users to test the prototypes and provide feedback on clarity and ease of use. This ensured that every functionality served a clear purpose and that the application remained intuitive, even while offering a wide range of content and features.

At the system architecture level, we opted for a modular approach, ensuring both scalability and stabilit:

• mobile application(frontend) – developed in Flutter, optimized for both iOS and Android,
• backend i CMS – a central hub for content entry and management,
• GraphQL-based API layer – enabling fast, precise, and bidirectional communication between the app and the CMS.

This setup made it possible for any change in the CMS to be instantly reflected in the application, without requiring users to reinstall the app or download updates. As a result, the system remains fresh, reliable, and always ready to meet the needs of both users and administrators.

3. Technological Aspects

CroWays was built using modern technologies that ensure stability, scalability, and outstanding performance, even under demanding conditions such as weak network connectivity or the need to display multimedia content in real time. Our goal was to develop a fast and reliable system capable of supporting users in the field, offering an intuitive experience while giving administrators simple tools to manage rich content through the CMS.

To achieve this, we relied on several key technologies:

Flutter – Mobile App Design and Development

To guarantee smooth performance across all devices, we chose Flutter, a framework that allows building Android and iOS apps from a single codebase. This approach brings multiple benefits:

• Unified development and maintenance, which shortens implementation time and reduces costs.
• Fast UI rendering and fluid animations powered by the Dart language.
• A consistent user experience—the app looks and works the same on every platform.

Flutter was the natural choice because it enables complex visual elements and interactive components, which are crucial in CroWays for presenting multimedia content and ensuring real-time navigation.

GraphQL – Optimized Data Exchange

For communication between the mobile app and the CMS, we implemented GraphQL, a modern alternative to traditional REST APIs. Its main advantages in CroWays include:

• Fetching only the exact data the app requires, minimizing mobile data consumption.
• Faster loading of routes, photos, and landmark descriptions, even with weak connectivity.
• A flexible and scalable architecture, ready for future expansion

GraphQL keeps the app lightweight and fast while allowing the backend to deliver only relevant data in real time, without unnecessary server load.

Firebase – User Authentication and Security

To ensure secure access and seamless account management, we integrated Firebase Authentication, which provides:

• Safe user login via email and other authentication methods.
• Centralized account management and controlled access to content.
• Full integration with the Flutter app, without complex custom setups.

We chose Firebase Auth for its reliability, scalability, and proven security standards — crucial for any app handling sensitive user data.

RevenueCat – Purchase and Subscription Management

Since CroWays operates on a route-purchase model, we integrated RevenueCat, a specialized platform for in-app purchases. This solution provides:

• Centralized management of subscriptions and one-time purchases across iOS and Android.
• Synchronization of purchase history and packages across all user devices.
• Transparent reporting and transaction tracking for administrators.

With RevenueCat, users enjoy a seamless purchase experience, while administrators no longer need to worry about technical differences between Google Play and the App Store.

Mapbox – Navigation and Mapping

For precise and visually appealing navigation, we chose Mapbox, a modern alternative to Google Maps. Its advantages for CroWays include:

• Fully customizable maps and visual styles, allowing the app to maintain a unique visual identity.
• Real-time navigation with clear, turn-by-turn instructions.
• Offline mode support, which is particularly valuable in areas with unstable signal coverage.

Mapbox is a key component of CroWays, providing users with reliable orientation in the field and enabling interactive exploration of landmarks.

Figma – UI Design and Prototyping

To ensure the app was both visually engaging and easy to use, we relied on Figma, a collaborative design tool. It allowed us to:

• Create wireframes and prototypes before development, accelerating planning of user flows.
• Enable real-time collaboration between designers, developers, and the client, with instant feedback.
• Rapidly iterate and test different design solutions.

Figma played a crucial role in creating an intuitive user experience, where design emphasizes multimedia content and simple navigation throughout the application.

Modern Architecture – Secure and Future-Ready

CroWays was developed using a modular and scalable approach, meaning that new features can be added easily without compromising system stability. This approach enables:

• Flexible expansion of the app and CMS with new functionalities.
• High resilience under heavy loads, regardless of the number of users.
• Implementation of the highest security standards in data storage and exchange.

This technical foundation ensures that CroWays remains stable, fast, and sustainable in the long term — a platform ready for growth and future upgrades.

4. Design and User Experience

To deliver an outstanding user experience, we applied best UI/UX practices during the development of both the mobile application and the CMS system. Our goal was to ensure that design and functionality served simplicity and content first. CroWays was built to guide users naturally, intuitively, and visually, without placing obstacles in their way.

The mobile application was developed in line with Google Material Design and Apple Human Interface guidelines, ensuring users feel comfortable and familiar on both platforms. Key elements that enhance the experience include:

• Simple and logical navigation – users can quickly start a route, purchase content, or activate an audio guide with just a few taps.
• Clear information hierarchy – content is structured into route overviews, route details, maps, and multimedia, without overloading users with unnecessary text.
• Smooth screen transitions – providing natural and fluid movement throughout the app.

To optimize design, we used wireframing and prototyping in Figma, which allowed us to:

• Test user flows before development, reducing the risk of unintuitive solutions.
• Incorporate feedback from focus groups early in the process.
• Iteratively adjust the design to highlight multimedia content and ease of use.

Special attention was given to international accessibility — from its first version, CroWays has been available in multiple languages (Croatian, English, German, and Italian), making the app attractive and accessible to tourists from different countries.

CMS Design – Tailored for Administrators

Just like the mobile app, the CMS was designed with a focus on simplicity and efficiency. Administrators managing routes and content require a clear and fast tool, so we built the CMS to:

• Provide an intuitive interface optimized for everyday use.
• Enable quick content search and filtering, essential when managing large numbers of landmarks.
• Use customizable dashboards that give administrators real-time insights into key data and statistics.

This design ensures that administrators can easily add new landmarks, upload multimedia, and update routes—with all changes instantly visible to app users, without requiring additional installations.

By combining user-focused app design with a streamlined CMS, CroWays succeeds in creating a platform that is both a delightful experience for travellers and a reliable tool for administrators. It achieves the perfect balance between visual appeal, intuitive usability, and technical precision.

Learn more about our mobile app design solutions

5. Application Features

The CroWays app was designed as a fully digital sightseeing experience, combining multimedia content, GPS navigation, and flexible personalization options. Each feature was developed to offer users more than a typical tourist guide—providing a sense of freedom, interactivity, and security while exploring new destinations.

Route Browsing and Purchase

One of the app’s core features is the ability to easily browse and activate routes. Users can explore available routes through clear descriptions, supporting photos, and short introductions to landmarks. Once they select a route, activation happens through a simple and secure in-app purchase.

Thanks to integration with RevenueCat, purchased routes unlock instantly and become available on all the user’s devices, whether on Android or iOS. This creates a seamless experience where technical details remain invisible - keeping the focus on content and exploration.

MMultimedia Landmarks

Every point of interest (POI) is presented as a multimedia experience, moving far beyond plain text descriptions. Users gain access to:

• Detailed texts
• High-quality photos
• Video clips
• Audio guides.

These transforms sightseeing into an interactive journey. While walking the route, travellers can listen to stories, watch videos, or browse photos that add depth and context to each location. The result is a *personalized and engaging travel experience.

Real-Time Navigation

To help users explore worry-free, CroWays integrates a Mapbox-powered navigation module offering:

• Accurate user location tracking on the map
• Clear turn-by-turn instructions between landmarks
• Interactive display of all points of interest along the route.

Mapbox was chosen for its high level of customization and reliability, including offline functionality — essential for rural and mountainous areas. This ensures that users can depend on the app even when internet connectivity is limited.

Route Flexibility

A defining feature of CroWays is the freedom it gives travellers. Users are not bound to a fixed order of landmarks but can:

• Rearrange the sequence of POIs
• Skip certain stops
• Add pauses and resume whenever they wish.

This flexibility reflects the philosophy of CroWays — the user sets the pace while the system adapts to their preferences, creating a unique journey for every traveller.

Offline Capabilities

Recognizing that tourists often explore areas with unreliable connectivity, CroWays supports core functionalities in offline mode. This allows users to continue navigation, follow routes, and access preloaded content without an active connection.

This feature guarantees continuity of the experience, making CroWays a reliable companion even in remote locations.

Data Security and User Accounts

User security was a top priority in CroWays development. By integrating Firebase Authentication, we ensured:

• Secure sign-in and account management
• Reliable protection of personal data
• Transparent access control for purchased content.

This gives users full confidence in the app, knowing that their data is protected by industry-leading security standards.

Synergy of Features

All these features come together in a unified ecosystem where route browsing, multimedia content, navigation, and data security work seamlessly. For users, CroWays becomes a practical, reliable, and inspiring guide. For administrators, the CMS ensures simple content management and effortless updates.

This approach guarantees that CroWays is not just another tourist app, but a next-generation digital guide — interactive, adaptable, and designed to enrich every journey.

6. CMS and Business System Development

Alongside the mobile application, the central element of the CroWays platform is its powerful and flexible CMS system, which gives administrators full control over both content and users. Developed as a web application, the CMS is accessible from any device and requires no additional installation. This ensures that CroWays is not only a mobile guide for tourists but also a comprehensive business system that keeps routes, landmarks, and multimedia content always up to date and easily accessible.

The CMS was designed to be operated even by people without technical expertise. An intuitive interface clearly grouped functionalities, and real-time synchronization via GraphQL guarantee that any change made in the CMS is instantly reflected in the mobile app — without additional updates or manual interventions. This approach saves time, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures that app users always have access to the most current information.

Key CMS Features

• User Management – administrators can add, edit, or block user accounts. Specific roles and access levels can be assigned to ensure data security and transparent community management.
• Route and Landmark Management – the system supports rapid creation of new routes as well as editing existing ones. Each point of interest (POI) can include text descriptions, photos, videos, and audio guides, making the CMS the central hub for multimedia content.
• Place and Region Management – although the first version of CroWays focuses on the island of Krk, the CMS is built to be scalable, allowing new regions and destinations to be added easily without major technical changes.
• Language and Translation Management – as CroWays targets an international audience, the CMS includes multilingual support (HR, EN, DE, IT). Administrators can quickly update translations to keep the app accessible and attractive to a wider tourist base.
• Statistics and Reports – the CMS provides insights into key metrics such as user numbers, revenue from route sales, purchased vs. consumed routes, and active journeys. These reports allow administrators to make informed decisions about future development and marketing.

Seamless Integration with the Mobile App

The CMS and mobile application are connected through GraphQL architecture, ensuring instant data synchronization. When an administrator adds a new route or updates a landmark description, the change is immediately visible to users—no reinstallation or manual updates required.

This model showcases our expertise in business system development, where backend and frontend work in perfect sync, ensuring stability, speed, and reliability across the entire ecosystem.

Adaptability and Scalability

The CroWays CMS was designed using a modular and scalable approach, meaning new functionalities—such as additional content types, third-party integrations, or advanced analytics—can be added without compromising stability. This flexibility makes CroWays a future-proof solution, ready for long-term growth and expansion.

The CMS therefore acts as the business core of the project: a tool that allows administrators to efficiently manage content and users, while guaranteeing app users a reliable and always up-to-date guide. With CroWays, we clearly demonstrate our expertise in developing enterprise-grade business systems and modern mobile applications, built on principles of security, scalability, and intuitiveness.

7. Future Development and Upgrades

Although CroWays was initially launched with a focus on the island of Krk, from the very beginning we built it as a scalable and sustainable platform. Our goal was not to stop at a single destination, but to create a digital guide for exploring all of Croatia. Thanks to the modular architecture of both the mobile app and the CMS, we can gradually introduce new features, expand content, and integrate with external services—without compromising stability or performance.

Planned Upgrades and New Features

• Expansion of Routes and Regions

In the upcoming phases, we plan to expand beyond Krk, covering other Croatian regions and cities. New content can be easily managed through the CMS, while users will instantly see updated information in the app. This approach positions CroWays as a comprehensive national tourist guide.

• Enrichment of Multimedia Content

Each route already includes text, images, audio, and video materials. In future releases, we will extend this with virtual tours, augmented reality (AR), and interactive galleries, offering travelers a deeper, more immersive experience of each destination.

• Advanced Recommendation Engine

By implementing algorithms based on user preferences, the app will be able to suggest personalized itineraries. This will transform CroWays from a digital guide into an intelligent travel assistant.

• Enhanced Offline Capabilities

Enhanced Offline Capabilities Since many tourists explore rural or mountainous areas with limited internet access, we are planning to expand offline features. Users will be able to download entire routes with all multimedia and navigation elements, ensuring uninterrupted sightseeing experiences.

• Partnership with Local Institutions

We see CroWays as a collaborative platform. By integrating content from local museums, tourism boards, and cultural institutions, the app will offer exclusive stories, hidden gems, and special offers. This creates value not only for travelers but also for local communities, strengthening their connection.

Long-Term Vision

Our vision is for CroWays to grow into the most complete multimedia GPS guide for Croatia, capable of keeping pace with both tourism and technology trends. The system has been designed as an open, adaptable platform, ready for future integrations—from new languages and currencies to innovations such as AI-powered personalization.

Thanks to this flexibility, CroWays is not just an app built for today’s needs but an investment in the future of digital tourism — ready to adapt to changing user behaviors and evolving market demands.

With this approach, CroWays reaffirms our expertise in mobile app development, business system programming, and digital solution design - creating products that are stable, modern, and built for long-term growth

8. Conclusion

The digital transformation of tourism demands solutions that are not only functional but also flexible enough to keep pace with the expectations of modern travelers. CroWays Multimedia GPS Guide demonstrates how mobile app development and business system programming can merge into a single product that delivers personalized experiences to tourists, while giving administrators complete control over content.

Through a thoughtful selection of technologies — Flutter for mobile development, GraphQL for fast and optimized data exchange, Firebase for secure authentication, RevenueCat for purchase and subscription management, Mapbox for accurate navigation, and Figma for design and prototyping — we created a platform that is secure, scalable, and built for long-term growth.

CroWays is not just another tourist application; it is a digital companion, allowing users to explore landmarks at their own pace, enriched with multimedia content and real-time navigation. At the same time, it provides administrators with an intuitive CMS for managing routes, content, and users—without the need for technical expertise.

This project embodies our philosophy: technology is most valuable when it creates real benefits and is shaped into a story that engages both users and business partners. CroWays stands as a clear example of how an innovative combination of mobile app programming, advanced business systems, and modern storytelling can define a new dimension of Croatia’s tourism offer.

At RedCode, we believe the future of tourism will be built on exactly these kinds of digital tools—secure, flexible, and simple to use. Whether you need your first mobile app, modernization of an existing system, or the development of a scalable platform ready for future growth, our team is here to help.

Want to develop your own mobile app—from idea to finished product?

Get in touch with us for consultation and collaboration—because with us, you’re not just building an app, you’re shaping a digital strategy for the future.