Retail Freezer Survey App for Igloo

Overview

Igloo, the flagship ice cream brand under Abdul Monem Group, is a household name in Bangladesh. As part of its retail strategy, Igloo sponsors tens of thousands of freezers across small and large retail stores countrywide. However, tracking these freezers—along with monitoring their usage, condition, and content—was a massive manual task, scattered across handwritten records and inconsistent photos.

To address this challenge, Igloo envisioned a complete digital transformation of their field operations. They needed a mobile-based app that would allow field surveyors to visit stores, collect data, photograph and catalog freezers, validate freezer contents, and geotag each entry for authenticity. In response, Headless Technologies Limited designed and delivered a complete solution within 45 days, combining mobile app technology, artificial intelligence, and a centralized admin dashboard.

Working Procedure

The project kicked off with a series of requirement workshops with the Igloo team. We studied how surveyors operated on the ground, the types of data collected, and the types of inconsistencies or challenges they faced with traditional methods. Our team translated those field insights into a digital-first system, focusing on usability and accuracy.

We began with wireframes and mockups, designed using Figma. These prototypes reflected each user journey, including splash screens, login, form inputs, freezer photo capture, shop validation, and the final review screen. After multiple feedback loops with Igloo, the approved designs served as the blueprint for development.

Using an agile sprint model, we developed the app in React Native for cross-platform support. Backend APIs were created with Node.js, and MongoDB was selected for its flexibility in handling unstructured retail data. Throughout development, we conducted internal testing and continuous feedback sessions with Igloo to ensure alignment with field realities.

Problem and Solutions

Freezer Tagging and Identification

Previously, freezers were manually recorded with inconsistent naming or serials, making traceability difficult. Surveyors had no standardized way to identify a freezer. We introduced a system where each freezer received a unique ID and QR code. During surveys, the QR could be scanned or assigned, ensuring accurate identification across Igloo’s asset inventory. This tagging mechanism now allows Igloo to retrieve freezer history and store data instantly.

Content Verification with AI

One of the most pressing challenges was verifying what products were inside the freezer. In many cases, retailers stocked competitor brands alongside or instead of Igloo products, which violated sponsorship terms. Manual image inspection wasn’t scalable. To solve this, we built a lightweight computer vision module. Surveyors took freezer interior photos using the app, and our AI model analyzed them to detect presence and visibility of Igloo-branded SKUs. The model was trained on thousands of sample images and was integrated into the backend as a Python-based microservice.

Complex and Unstructured Retail Data

Retail environments in Bangladesh vary significantly—from large convenience stores to small roadside stalls. This meant a fixed schema wouldn’t be sufficient to capture all the data points. We adopted a NoSQL database (MongoDB) which allowed dynamic fields per submission. Data fields such as store type, owner details, freezer type, freezer brand, and product visibility could all be handled flexibly without breaking structure.

Inaccurate Survey Locations

Ensuring that surveyors were physically present at the retail store was crucial to data reliability. Previously, surveys could be submitted remotely or duplicated. We embedded geolocation services into the app to automatically detect and record the store’s coordinates. The survey form also required the user to confirm and edit location details including division, district, upazila, zone, and route. This not only verified survey authenticity but helped Igloo build a precise geographic freezer distribution map.

Speed and Dual Platform Support

With thousands of stores to be covered in just a few months, the application had to be scalable, fast, and available on both iOS and Android. Building two separate native apps would have slowed down delivery. Instead, we used React Native to build a single codebase that worked across platforms. It allowed us to move faster, conduct parallel testing, and reduce costs.

Centralized Dashboard and Reporting

Once the field data was collected, Igloo needed a powerful way to view and analyze it. We built a web-based admin dashboard using React.js that allowed managers to view survey submissions in real-time. The dashboard included filters by zone, freezer type, and submission date. Visual charts showed summaries, and clicking on a store entry revealed freezer photos, geolocation, and surveyor details. This enabled faster decision-making and operational transparency.

Development Tools and Architecture

We used a modern tech stack to ensure rapid development and scalability. The mobile app was built using React Native and Expo for fast builds and native capabilities. Node.js served as the backend engine, while MongoDB provided high-speed access to diverse and large data sets. Image data was stored and processed through microservices using Python and OpenCV. For authentication, Firebase Auth was used, enabling secure login via mobile number and password.

The admin panel, used by Igloo supervisors, was built in React with Material UI and connected to the same backend. GitHub Actions and Docker were used for deployment and automation. The app was deployed to field surveyors via the Play Store and TestFlight, supported by training materials and a helpdesk.

Result

The project was completed in just under 45 days and deployed across Bangladesh. Within the first rollout phase, over 150,000 retail stores were surveyed, and 920+ Igloo freezers were catalogued with photo and geolocation verification. The app significantly reduced fraudulent reporting, improved visibility on competitive product presence, and helped Igloo build a verified and data-rich freezer map.

Most importantly, the project proved that digital transformation in traditional FMCG operations is not only feasible—it’s essential. Igloo can now use this data for strategic planning, product placement decisions, and partnership reviews with retail stores.