Refr Sports

Mobile app to digitize referee management

The Refr Sports project was an ambitious endeavor undertaken by ElifTech aimed to develop a mobile app that changed the way referees and game organizers interacted and facilitated seamless payments for referee services. The app addressed the challenges in the traditional referee hiring process, such as referee shortages, scheduling conflicts, delayed payments, and outdated communication methods.

Refr Sports sought to revolutionize the referee space by providing a universal platform for sports organizations, referees, and referee assignors to manage their tasks efficiently.

Industry

Sports
Headquarters

US
Website

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Services we provided

Mobile App Development
App’s Core Functionality Development
Integration with External Services
Design System
UI Prototyping
User Flows and Product UX
UI/UX Design

About the client

The visionaries behind Refr Sports, Huck, and Wyatt, were passionate about sports and recognized the immense potential for technological advancement in the sports industry. As young entrepreneurs with a keen understanding of the market, they aspired to bring a modern and efficient solution to the referee management space. With a clear mission to provide a universal platform for sports organizations, referees, and referee assignors, they sought to streamline the process of managing referee assignments and payments.

Challenge

One of the key challenges encountered during the development of the Refr Sports mobile app was the successful management of bookings, accurate data retrieval, and seamless payment processing. The app aimed to revolutionize referee management by allowing sports organizations, referees, and assignors to interact efficiently, but this required real-time synchronization of bookings and data updates.

Ensuring that all parties had access to the latest information about referee availability, game schedules, and assignments required implementing a robust data synchronization mechanism. Moreover, the app's ability to process payments for referee services posed another significant challenge. The team needed to integrate secure payment gateways while addressing potential issues such as transaction failures and refunds and ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive financial data.

Solution

Mobile App Development

We rebuilt the Refr Sports app with Flutter to modernize the UI, boost functionality, and cover iOS and Android. Referees now get streamlined schedules, easy availability controls, and direct messaging, while organizers gain an intuitive booking flow and faster referee assignment management.
Core Functionality

We defined and built the core features to digitize referee workflows, game schedules, availability controls, direct ref–organizer messaging, and automated payments, on an architecture that unifies them for a smooth, reliable experience.
Efficient Booking and Online Cooperation

The Refr Sports app delivers a clean, efficient experience. Organizers can book referees in a few taps, replacing slow, offline coordination, while the modern, intuitive UI streamlines scheduling and communication for both organizers and referees.
Digitized Communication and Payments

The app digitizes ref–organizer workflows: referees browse schedules, pick compatible assignments, message organizers, and receive fast, secure payments, eliminating the delays of the old process.
Payment Management

Delayed payouts plagued the old process. With the app’s automated, secure payments, referees are paid on time, boosting satisfaction and motivation to keep officiating.
Design System and User Experience

Recognizing the lack of a design system at the project's outset, the team prioritized the creation of wireframes, user flows, and a design system basis. By establishing a design system, the app's interface and user experience became consistent and visually appealing. The team focused on creating a user-centric design that catered to the needs of both referees and game organizers. The app's interface was designed to be simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate, making it accessible to users of all levels of tech-savviness. The goal was to eliminate any friction points in the user journey, ensuring a positive and seamless experience for all users.
UI Prototypes

To provide the clients with a clear understanding of the app's functionality, the team developed high-fidelity animated prototypes. These interactive prototypes showcased the app's features, user interactions, and navigation, allowing the clients to visualize the final product and provide feedback before implementation.

Features delivered

Games Lists

The app provides a comprehensive list of games, making it easy for referees to view available assignments. Referees could quickly browse the games they were interested in and choose those aligned with their schedules and preferences.
Automated Payments

The automated payment feature was a significant advancement in the app. Referees could receive their payments promptly and securely through the app, eliminating the delays associated with traditional payment methods such as checks. This feature ensured that referees were fairly compensated for their services without unnecessary wait times.
Notifications

The app included a notification system that kept referees, game organizers, and referee assignors informed about important updates and events. Referees received notifications about new game assignments, payment confirmations, and any relevant schedule changes. This feature enhanced communication and reduced the risk of missed information.
Games Schedules

Referees had access to their game schedules within the app, allowing them to stay organized and informed about their upcoming assignments. Game schedules were presented in a clear and user-friendly format, making it easy for referees to plan their availability.
Organizers Lists

The app provided a list of game organizers, enabling referees to connect and communicate directly with them. This feature promoted transparency and efficient communication between referees and organizers, ensuring everyone was on the same page regarding game assignments and logistics.
Referees Lists

Game organizers could access a list of the referees within the app. This feature encouraged networking and collaboration, creating a sense of community within the platform.
Online Communication

The online communication feature was instrumental in facilitating direct and efficient communication between referees and game organizers. Referees could use the app to discuss game details, ask questions, and coordinate logistics, reducing the need for time-consuming phone calls or emails.
Filters

The app offered filtering options to enhance the user experience. Referees could apply filters to the games list, allowing them to sort assignments based on criteria such as location, date, or type of sport. This feature simplified the process of finding suitable game assignments and improved the overall usability of the app.

Key results and business value

Streamlined Referee Management Process

The app modernized referee hiring end to end: referees get clear schedules, manage availability, and message organizers via an intuitive UI. Digital scheduling cut conflicts and no-shows, while automated, secure payouts reduced admin overhead and improved overall referee management.
Increased Referee Availability and Dependability

By providing referees with a platform to manage their availability easily, the app minimized scheduling conflicts and last-minute cancellations. This, in turn, led to higher referee availability and dependability for games, resulting in more organized and smoothly run sports events.
Enhanced User Engagement and Satisfaction

The app's user-centric approach, modern interface, and improved functionality heightened user engagement and satisfaction. As a result, user retention and loyalty increased, contributing to a growing user base.
Improved Brand Perception and Recognition

The app not only elevated the user experience but also strengthened Refr Sports' brand perception in the sports industry. The modern and visually appealing interface, along with a seamless user experience, positioned Refr Sports as a reliable and innovative brand in the market.