How Not to Release an Android Update

aka lessons learned the hard way

At the end of April, I released a big update to the Pocpod Android app. It was meant to be a smooth step forward. Instead… it tripped over the starting line, fell on its face, and caused a bit of a mess.

If you were one of the businesses affected — I’m really sorry. It was a bumpy moment, and I appreciate your patience while I worked to get things back on track.

What Went Wrong?

This update involved a complete rebuild of the app using newer tech behind the scenes. Dispite looking the same, this wasn’t just a tune-up; it was a complete rework under the hood — and that always comes with risk.

Despite lots of testing, things slipped through. The update caused issues as soon as it went live, and I had to roll it back. Regrettably, the disruption had already hit some businesses.

What I’ve Changed (So This Doesn’t Happen Again)

Since then, I’ve made a number of changes to tighten things up:

✅ Automated testing with real devices — making sure future updates get a full health check before they go live.
✅ Better error tracking with tools that help me catch problems earlier (and hopefully before you see them).
✅ Beta testing — a big thanks to the businesses who helped trial the new version. Your feedback was gold.
✅ Slower, staggered rollout — Android users are getting the update now. iOS users, yours is coming soon — just want to make extra sure it's stable.

Why I Had to Rebuild the App

The original app was built on older software that’s no longer supported. So this wasn’t just about adding shiny new features — it was about keeping the app reliable and future-proof.

The new version puts Pocpod on solid ground for:

Staying compatible with new Android/iOS updates.
Running more smoothly for you and your drivers.
Making it easier to add new features (see below 👇).

Does the Rebuild Have Anything New?

Whilst this wasn't the priority for this release, I have added the following new features to the app:

Job Info - you can now view a summary of the collection/delivery details for the job.
Image Compression - images are now compressed to avoid some reported issues with images not uploading, due in most part to high definition images exceeding the max image size supported.

What’s Coming Next?

Now that the update’s out, I’m already working on the next update with improvements you’ve asked for:

🏠 Structured address fields – this will open the door to future planned enhancements such as tracking and navigation.
📝 Add notes to jobs – include extra info for drivers right from the web portal.
📞 Collection & delivery contact numbers – added directly to jobs and visible to drivers in the app.
🔍 Search jobs in the portal – find jobs by reg, make/model, customer, or reference. Super handy if you're looking for specific jobs.

Thank You

Honestly, this wasn’t my finest hour — but it’s been a valuable one. Thanks again for your understanding and support.

And if anything doesn’t look right, or you have ideas for how to make Pocpod better, my inbox is always open.

—

Russ
Founder & Developer, Pocpod
contact@moon15.co.uk