[Interview]
Creating New Value Through Mobile App Development
Programming Languages:
Kotlin (Android), Swift (iOS）
Architecture:
Clean Architecture (AWS Environment)
Design:
UI/UX design optimized for mobile while maintaining consistency with the web version’s interface and user experience.
Xronos Inc (Xronos) has been providing attendance management systems since 1987, boasting over 35 years of experience. With more than 16,000 companies and 3 million users to date, and an impressive 99.86% retention rate (as of January 2025), Xronos is widely trusted across industries — particularly in manufacturing and healthcare & welfare. Recently, the company expanded into the construction sector with the development of a new mobile application.
In this project, SanAn Connect was responsible for the design and development of the iOS/Android mobile application, built upon the web-based attendance system already used by over 800,000 users. By leveraging the strengths of offshore development and adopting agile methodologies, the team achieved a high-quality product in a short timeframe. Efforts were also focused on improving UI/UX design and enhancing quality control, resulting in a more user-friendly and efficient service.
Key Achievements – Three Core Solutions
1. Enhanced Convenience and Operational Efficiency in Attendance Management
- Enabled employees to easily clock in and out via their smartphones, even when working off-site.
- Provided reliable time-tracking for industries where installing time terminals is impractical or where staff frequently rotate across job sites.
- The intuitive UI design was highly praised, leading to a significant improvement in work efficiency.
2. High-Quality App Development in a Short Timeframe
- Implemented agile development to flexibly accommodate specification changes and feature additions.
- Leveraged offshore development strengths to complete the Android version within two months.
3. Seamless Development Support and Long-Term Partnership
- SanAn Connect acted not just as a development vendor, but as a true project partner, working collaboratively throughout the process.
- With a deep understanding of Japanese business culture, SanAn ensured smooth and transparent communication, establishing a foundation for long-term collaboration.
— Could you tell us about the background of this project?
Xronos Inc. (hereinafter “Xronos”) has been providing attendance management systems for over 35 years, with more than 16,000 corporate clients.
Following the April 2024 enforcement of overtime work regulations in the construction industry, new needs emerged for more flexible time management solutions. To address this, Xronos decided to develop a smartphone application that would complement and enhance its existing system, “X’sion.”
The project was initiated to meet the growing demand for a system that allows employees to manage attendance via smartphones while on the go, thereby expanding the value and functionality of X’sion.
— What challenges did you face during mobile app development, and how did you address them?
Since Xronos did not have internal expertise in mobile app development, it sought a reliable development partner with the necessary technical knowledge - and partnered with SanAn Connect for this initiative.
The project adopted Clean Architecture using Kotlin (Android) and Swift (iOS), introducing an efficient and structured development process.
The team first developed an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to verify design and functionality together with stakeholders, ensuring fast and iterative improvements.
Throughout the process, SanAn Connect maintained close communication, conducting repeated hearings and feedback cycles to refine and finalize a clear and intuitive UI/UX design.
By integrating agile development, the team established a system capable of quickly responding to specification changes and new feature requests. Leveraging the strengths of offshore collaboration, SanAn Connect was able to accurately reflect Xronos’s requirements, enabling smooth and efficient development.
— What were the results after the app was launched?
Since the app’s release, its intuitive interface has been highly praised, significantly simplifying attendance management tasks and improving operational efficiency.
Within eight months, the app achieved 17,000 downloads, contributing greatly to enhancing convenience for existing users.
The number of downloads continues to grow steadily, along with an increase in corporate clients and active users. Feedback from implementing companies has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting improvements in workflow efficiency and employee usability.
— What were some of the main challenges during the development process?
Since the decision to develop the mobile app was made urgently to comply with the new labor regulations, frequent design revisions and specification changes occurred throughout the project.
In particular, there was a sudden request to complete the Android version within two months, which required exceptional flexibility. SanAn Connect responded swiftly by reallocating resources and effectively managing the schedule, ensuring that development progressed on time and to a high standard.
— How did you feel about SanAn Connect’s collaborative development approach?
SanAn Connect was not just a development vendor — they worked as an integral member of our team. Their flexibility in handling specification changes and additional requirements, as well as their proactive involvement in identifying the best technical and practical solutions, was truly reassuring.
Many of SanAn Connect’s members are graduates of Japanese universities, with a strong understanding of Japanese business culture and work practices. This cultural alignment helped ensure smooth and efficient communication, even within an offshore development framework, leaving a strong impression of reliability and professionalism.
— Could you tell us about the operational and maintenance phase?
SanAn Connect continues to be actively involved beyond the release phase, supporting ongoing operations and maintenance. They maintain a structure that allows resource adjustment as needed, providing consistent support across design, testing, and quality management.
They also respond quickly to new feature requests that arise after release, ensuring that the system continues to meet user expectations.
As a result, the app has further improved on-site operational efficiency, and expectations are growing for enhanced integration with the web version in the future.
— Comments from the SanAn Connect Representatives
By sharing Xronos’s goals — such as improving on-site operational efficiency — and gaining a firsthand understanding of their challenges, we felt a strong sense of purpose and motivation that drove us throughout the project.
We took the initiative to study attendance management systems, related laws, and regulations, actively acquiring the skills and information needed to deliver the best results. Together with Xronos, we overcame several “barriers,” and through that collaboration, we strengthened our mutual trust and partnership.
Above all, knowing that we could contribute to solving the client’s challenges and deliver satisfaction is our greatest achievement and source of pride.
— What are your thoughts on the future outlook?
Looking ahead, we aim to further enhance the convenience of smartphone-based attendance management and develop a system that can flexibly support a wide range of industries and business environments.
By approaching development from both hardware and software perspectives, we will continue to create solutions that support more flexible and efficient work styles.
In addition, we will continue to strengthen our collaboration with SanAn Connect, striving to deliver faster and higher-quality systems that exceed our clients’ expectations.
── Thank you very much.
Client: Xronos Inc. (Mr. Nomura)
Project Leader (SanAn Connect): Dang Khanh Tung
・Company names, product names, and logos mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
・Company and personnel information are accurate as of the time of the interview.
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