As a no-code platform for building interactive apps, PandaSuite empowers EdTech innovators like uBeans to prototype and scale faster.

uBeans, a Japanese digital solutions agency founded in 2010, set out with a mission: to help clients leverage the most innovative technologies to create richer, more human online experiences.

When the team decided to develop Bunri, a next-generation educational app, they chose PandaSuite for its flexibility, responsive support, and advanced interactive features.

About uBeans

For more than a decade, uBeans has been at the forefront of digital transformation in Japan. Its credo is simple yet ambitious: empower everyone to become an innovator.

“We focus on user experience and on creating experiences that touch people’s hearts,” says Kazuhide Mori, uBeans’ lead consultant and project manager.

Kazuhide Mori brings development teams together, coordinates projects, and serves as the bridge between uBeans’ engineers and the PandaSuite team, ensuring smooth communication and informed technical decisions.

From Interactive E-Books to Immersive Learning

For years, uBeans worked on interactive e-books alongside Japanese publishing houses. But they soon faced a hard truth about their market.

"Japanese publishers wanted to create high-quality products, but they weren't always conscious of costs," Kazuhide Mori recalls. "Meanwhile, very few users in Japan actually purchase paid e-books outside of manga. The e-book market simply didn't develop as expected."

While the e-book market stagnated, the mobile gaming market boomed, offering users personalized, interactive worlds.

“We realized that education apps also needed to offer students their own ‘worlds’, personalized spaces that respond to their input,” Kazuhide Mori explains. “That required handling huge volumes of data and seamless integration with external databases.”

This insight marked the beginning of a new era for uBeans, focused on immersive learning.

Choosing PandaSuite as the Ideal Partner

uBeans discovered PandaSuite while looking for an alternative to Aquafadas, which was being phased out. The platform quickly proved to be a trusted partner.

“We had two critical requirements: great documentation and rapid support,” says Kazuhide Mori. “PandaSuite excelled at both. When we needed help stabilizing our app, their team responded immediately. It was a pleasant surprise and confirmed we had made the right choice.”

The technical capabilities that sealed the deal included:

• PWA flexibility for cross-platform deployment

• External database integration capabilities

• Rich component library for creating unique interactions

• Adaptability to Japan's iterative development culture

From Idea to Classroom in Just Four Months

The goal of Bunri was clear: help students maintain a daily study rhythm, a key factor for exam success.

“The most important function was to encourage users to open the app daily and take on challenges. Therefore, the daily login process had to be easy yet secure.”

Key challenges

• Create a personalized experience with progress tracking

• Manage massive amounts of data for over 150,000 of students

• Provide daily engagement tools to motivate learners

• Offer a simple and secure login tailored to students’ needs

• Ensure reliable data backup and persistence

For its database, the team selected PostgreSQL over Firebase or Airtable:

“Airtable would have become too expensive as we scaled, and Firebase had too many constraints. PostgreSQL offered the flexibility we needed.”

A Structured and Efficient Rollout

The project was carried out in three main phases:

• Phase 1: Foundation (2 months) Building on its experience with Aquafadas, the uBeans team spent two months exploring PandaSuite’s video tutorials and articles.

• Phase 2: Database Integration (2 months) Two more months were devoted to designing robust connectivity for authentication and secure data storage.

• Phase 3: Development & Launch (4 months total) Through iterative development and close collaboration with PandaSuite’s support team, the app was launched in just four months despite frequent specification changes from Japanese publishers.

“Japanese publishers often change specifications mid-process,” Kazuhide Mori explains. “PandaSuite’s flexibility allowed us to adapt to these changes and turn users’ creative ideas into reality.”

Exceptional Support and Rapid Feature Delivery

uBeans highlights PandaSuite’s support team as a key factor in the project’s success.

“PandaSuite’s support was extremely valuable, with response times that were remarkably fast—faster than any other overseas vendor we’ve worked with. They even added three or four new features for us, starting development immediately after our request and delivering them very quickly, which was incredible.”

This close collaboration helped the team meet deadlines without sacrificing quality or creativity.

Real-World Impact: Helping Students Succeed

In Japan's highly structured school system, Bunri's "Kyokashowork",materials aligned with the official curriculum (i.e., national curriculum guidelines), has proven to be a crucial advantage.

By simplifying login, tracking progress, and safeguarding results, the app promotes consistent daily engagement, a key driver of student motivation.

Results Achieved

• High adoption rates among exam-focused students

• Regular daily use, thanks to engaging features

• Positive feedback for "Kyokashowork", which is alignment with official textbooks and curricula.

• Personalized learning paths tailored to individual needs

“We get a lot of feedback on the app’s value for exam preparation,” says Kazuhide Mori. “Because it's aligned with the official curriculum,students find it directly useful for their regular tests at school.”

Looking Ahead: More Accessibility and Innovation

uBeans’ ambitions go beyond Bunri: the team is exploring apps for visually impaired users, with potential use cases in public spaces, concert halls, and retail environments.

“We’re currently researching app development for visually impaired users… PandaSuite also seems to be advancing in this area, which reassures us about continuing this partnership.”

Turning Vision Into Reality

uBeans’ journey, from a developer of static e-books to a leader in innovative EdTech, illustrates the transformative power of the right no-code tool.

By combining PandaSuite’s flexibility with their deep knowledge of the Japanese market, they created educational experiences that truly resonate with students.

“PandaSuite is an excellent tool for bringing users’ creativity to life. It enabled us to create experiences that touch people’s hearts - exactly what we wanted to achieve,” concludes Kazuhide Mori.

Learn more

• The official Bunri website: https://www.bunri.co.jp/

• The official uBeans website: https://www.ubeans.jp

• The official app introduction page: https://portal.bunri.jp/kyokashowork/jhs/docodemo.html

• Bunri’s app in PandaSuite showcase: http://pandasuite.com/showcase/bunri-learning-app-japan/

Conclusion

Are you developing educational applications or working in a market with specific needs? Whether you’re looking to transform education, improve accessibility, or launch the next innovative app, PandaSuite gives you the tools to bring your vision to life.

PandaSuite is a no-code platform that lets you create interactive apps, presentations, and digital experiences without programming. With solid database integration, PWA capabilities, and outstanding support, PandaSuite helps organizations worldwide transform their digital strategy.

Ready to write your own success story? Discover PandaSuite today