CEMEX iCollect Case Study | Mobile App Development | Glusoft

CEMEX iCollect

Improved cement unit returns by 90% and boosted customer loyalty

We built the CEMEX iCollect app for iOS and Android - a loyalty and engagement platform that transformed how CEMEX interacts with its customers across the UK.

The brief was ambitious: create a single app that combines a points-based loyalty system, an augmented reality measurement tool, a nationwide location finder, news and announcements, quote requests, and third-party rewards - all backed by a full content management system that non-technical CEMEX staff could operate independently.

About CEMEX UK

CEMEX is a global construction materials company headquartered in Mexico, founded in 1906. Their UK operations trace back to 1826 when Thomas Walker and his son George started producing lime mortar in Rugby - a business later acquired by RMC in 2000, and then by CEMEX in 2005.

Today, CEMEX UK employs around 2,000 people and generates approximately £775 million in annual sales. They operate over 20 quarries, 2 cement plants, more than 100 concrete mixing plants, and a fleet of modern vehicles delivering by road, rail, sea, and inland water across the country. Their products span aggregates, cement, ready-mix concrete, asphalt, mortar, screed, and pre-cast concrete solutions.

The iCollect app needed to serve this nationwide operation - connecting customers across all of CEMEX UK's sites and integrating with their existing systems at scale.

The App

What we built

Loyalty System

  • Points-based rewards with barcode scanning at point of sale
  • Fraud protection mechanisms to prevent abuse
  • Third-party rewards integration with Vex Rewards
  • Customer onboarding and registration flow

Augmented Reality Measurement Tool

One of the standout features - users outline an area using their phone's camera and the app automatically calculates the amount of concrete needed to fill it. This gave customers a practical reason to keep the app installed and use it on every job.

News & Communication

  • Push notifications for news and announcements
  • Scheduled notification management for marketing campaigns
  • In-app news feed with rich content

Location Services

  • Nationwide database of CEMEX locations
  • Search by postcode, town, or current location
  • Directions and contact details for each site

Quote Requests

  • In-app quote request system
  • Direct integration with CEMEX's proprietary CRM
  • Streamlined workflow from enquiry to response

Secure Access

  • User registration and onboarding
  • Secure login with password reset
  • Role-based access for different customer segments

Behind the scenes

The app is only half the story. We built the entire ecosystem around it.

Backend Administration System

We created a full backend administration system giving CEMEX complete control over every aspect of the platform - no technical expertise required:

  • Push notification scheduling - plan and schedule campaigns in advance, target specific user segments, and track delivery and engagement
  • Offers management - create, schedule, and manage promotional offers and loyalty incentives
  • User management - view, manage, and support the full user base with role-based access controls
  • Fraud prevention - monitoring and reporting tools to detect and prevent loyalty point abuse
  • Reporting facility - dashboards and exportable reports covering usage, engagement, loyalty activity, and campaign performance
  • Content management - update news, announcements, and location data without developer involvement

VEX Rewards Integration

We built a deep integration with VEX Rewards to automate the loyalty reward fulfilment process. When an end user hits a defined points threshold, our system automatically instructs VEX Rewards to send them Amazon vouchers - no manual intervention from CEMEX staff. The entire cycle from point accumulation to reward delivery is handled end-to-end.

API & Integration Layer

  • Web services enabling third-party system integration
  • API connections to CEMEX's proprietary CRM systems
  • Real-time data sync between app and backend
  • Automated reward fulfilment via VEX Rewards API

Infrastructure

  • Cloud-hosted backend with high availability
  • Scalable architecture handling peak usage periods
  • Secure data handling and encryption throughout

The results

The impact was measurable and significant:

  • 90% improvement in cement unit return business
  • Increased customer loyalty through the rewards programme with automated Amazon voucher fulfilment
  • Reduced manual processes - digital quote requests, CRM integration, and automated reward delivery removed manual steps
  • Full self-service - CEMEX staff manage content, offers, notifications, users, and reporting independently
  • Fraud prevention - built-in monitoring reduced loyalty point abuse
  • Sustained engagement - the AR measurement tool gives customers a practical reason to use the app on every job

Technology

  • iOS: Native development with Swift
  • Android: Native development with Java
  • Backend: Server-side development with database systems
  • APIs: RESTful API design connecting mobile, backend, and third-party systems
  • AR: Augmented reality framework for the measurement tool
  • Notifications: Push notification infrastructure for iOS and Android

What this project demonstrates

This wasn't just a mobile app - it was a full digital platform spanning mobile development, web applications, web services, third-party integration, augmented reality, and push notification systems.

It's a good example of what we mean when we say we build the entire ecosystem, not just the front end. The app, the backend, the APIs, the integrations, the admin tools - all designed and built in-house by our UK team.

Interested in a similar project?

Phone: 0333 335 5077 Email: [email protected]