---
title: "BirdNest App"
description: "Modernizing Offline-First Mobile Apps for Water & Wastewater Field Operations"
url: "https://cheesecakelabs.com/portfolio/birdnest"
locale: "en"
updatedAt: "2026-08-05T20:45:46.188Z"
---

# BirdNest App

> Modernizing Offline-First Mobile Apps for Water & Wastewater Field Operations

**Client:** Birdnest

## Modernizing Offline-
First Mobile Apps for
Water & Wastewater
Field Operations

### Digitizing field data for critical infrastructure

BirdNest is a long-established company in the water and wastewater industry, specializing in digitizing log sheets and meter readings used by field operators at treatment plants and monitoring stations.

When BirdNest came to Cheesecake Labs,
their [mobile applications](https://cheesecakelabs.com/blog/mobile-application-development/) — used daily by field professionals — were built on legacy iOS and Android codebases dating back to 2005.

Their primary goal was [to migrate and modernize legacy apps into a mobile cross-platform](https://cheesecakelabs.com/blog/application-modernization-strategy/) that would maintain existing workflows while improving reliability, usability, and data integrity.

Maintaining two separate legacy codebases for iOS and Android

Unreliable offline behavior in low- or no-connectivity environments

Outdated UI patterns that no longer meet modern usability standards

Inefficient image handling and data queuing

Limited error handling, logging, and observability

Risk of data loss during field operations

## Updating a mission-critical app without disrupting users.

Since the app was used by experienced field operators, any modernization effort needed to avoid radical changes to workflows while still resolving long-standing technical and usability issues.

The legacy architecture limited future feature expansion

BirdNest wanted a modern, maintainable foundation for the years ahead

EPA compliance and data security requirements needed to be preserved

Field data collected offline could not be lost due to connectivity issues

### A unified, offline-first mobile platform

Cheesecake Labs partnered with BirdNest for a project-based outsourcing, providing end-to-end solutions, from product management & strategy, to UI/UX design, and engineering for the mobile app.

Offline-first architecture, ensuring data is safely stored and synced once connectivity is restored

A redesigned queue system to manage data and image uploads reliably

Improved image handling for field submissions

Robust error handling and logging for better observability

Modernized UI/UX that preserves familiar workflows while improving usability

#### React Native

#### Expo

### Mobile

#### Bugsnag for error tracking and monitoring

### Observability

#### WatermelonDB for local-first data management

### Data & Offline

#### [Cursor](https://cheesecakelabs.com/blog/using-cursor-and-claude/) to support
developer productivity

#### Jira for project management

#### Bitbucket for code repository and pipelines

#### Codemagic for CI/CD

### Development Workflow

## Technologies: built for reliability and maintainability

Improved usability
and user experience

More reliable offline data collection and synchronization

A modern codebase ready
for future expansion and
long-term support

## A strong foundation for the future

The new application is currently being tested with a controlled group of users.

Early outcomes include:

The engagement concluded with a signed Support & Maintenance (S&M) agreement, ensuring continuity and ongoing improvements.

## Modern mobile software for real-world environments

BirdNest now has a [scalable mobile application](https://cheesecakelabs.com/blog/scalable-applications/), designed for real field conditions—offline, reliable, and built to scale—supporting the critical work of water and wastewater professionals.

## Ready to modernize your mobile platform?

A  helps companies modernize mission-critical software while preserving the workflows their teams rely on every day.

Talk to our team and see how we can help modernize your product.

## Schedule a call

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