Transforming Mobile Development: Betterment’s Journey to Flutter

Eduardo Pires
2 min readNov 29, 2024

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Build to Succeed is a podcast hosted by Very Good Ventures: https://verygood.ventures/blog/build-to-succeed-a-podcast-to-inspire-creating-digital-products-that-win

In a recent interview, David DeRemer, founder and CEO of Very Good Ventures, the leading consultancy in Flutter app development, and Sam Moore, VP of Architecture at Betterment, an important financial services company, discussed how Flutter redefined Betterment’s mobile development strategy. The conversation explains how adopting the right technology can increase efficiency, improve user satisfaction, and inspire development teams. You can watch the full interview on the Very Good Ventures YouTube channel: Watch the Interview.

How Flutter elevated productivity and development experience

Simplifying the development workflow

By utilizing Flutter’s single codebase for iOS and Android, Betterment eliminated the inefficiencies of maintaining two separate codebases. This unified approach significantly reduced development complexity and sped up the delivery of new features.

Improved developer efficiency

  • Instant updates: Flutter’s Hot Reload feature enabled developers to see code changes instantly, greatly accelerating the iteration process.
  • User-friendly tools: Flutter’s integration with widely used development environments made onboarding straightforward and smooth.
  • Unified UI and logic: developers could design both user interfaces and application logic within one framework, fostering a more cohesive and less fragmented development experience.

Enhanced user interaction

  • Consistency across platforms: Flutter’s advanced design tools ensured a seamless experience across both Android and iOS devices.
  • Quicker feature launches: tasks that previously required weeks could now be completed in days, enabling users to access new features much faster.
  • Mobile-centric focus: Flutter enabled Betterment to evolve its mobile apps from supportive tools into primary engagement platforms, providing users with an enhanced feature set that rivaled the web experience.

Flexible and scalable architecture

  • Incremental modernization: Flutter’s modular design allowed Betterment to revamp its mobile stack step by step, minimizing risk while maintaining app functionality.
  • Future-ready framework: the scalability of Flutter’s architecture allowed the team to adapt quickly to new demands and emerging user needs.

Organizational impact

Flutter adoption not only optimized technical processes but also positively influenced Betterment’s organizational dynamics:

  • Motivated teams: developers felt empowered by working with modern, efficient tools, fostering enthusiasm for innovation.
  • Accelerated feature rollouts: features reached the market much faster, aligning perfectly with Betterment’s mobile-first vision.
  • Better customer experience: users benefited from a more polished, consistent, and feature-rich app, building up their relationship with Betterment’s services.

Lessons from Betterment’s Flutter transformation

Betterment’s experience underscores the importance of aligning technical advancements with business objectives. With a well-structured plan and support from Very Good Ventures, the transition to Flutter reshaped Betterment’s development process and user engagement.

This story highlights that Flutter is more than just a tool for faster development: it’s a platform for creating superior products and empowering teams to thrive.

Final thoughts

Inspired by Betterment’s journey? Let’s explore how Flutter can revolutionize your mobile development and take your apps to the next level. 🚀

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