How Zestminds Engineered Herdum – A Real-Time Personal Security Ecosystem in South Africa

About the Client

Herdum is a South Africa-based safety technology company building a real-time personal security platform. Their goal was to create an ecosystem where users could raise emergency alerts via mobile apps, wearable devices, or AI-powered surveillance systems — and receive help instantly. The platform needed to integrate mobile, backend, cloud, and IoT technologies into one seamless system.

The Challenge

Herdum approached Zestminds to build a comprehensive, real-time security platform from scratch. The system needed to function as more than just a mobile app — it had to become a mission-critical, multi-device emergency response system.

Key requirements included:

• Cross-platform mobile application for Android and iOS with SOS alert capability
• Integration with smart wearable devices like the IRA Smart Button
• Real-time communication between mobile app, IoT devices, and the backend system
• AI-enabled camera triggers to detect perimeter breaches
• Role-based admin dashboards for responders, supervisors, and sales teams
• A scalable cloud-hosted backend built with Python FastAPI and MySQL

Our Solution

Zestminds delivered a full-stack, real-time personal safety solution using Flutter for mobile development and Python FastAPI for backend APIs, hosted securely on AWS infrastructure.

Mobile Application (Flutter)

Developed a unified mobile app for Android and iOS. Enabled one-tap emergency SOS alerts with GPS tracking. Integrated with Bluetooth-powered IRA Smart Button for hands-free activation. Implemented geofencing features to trigger alerts when users enter unsafe zones. Provided multilingual support for broader accessibility.

Backend System (Python FastAPI + MySQL)

Designed and developed RESTful APIs for mobile and web communication. Architected a modular backend using FastAPI for high performance and scalability. Integrated MySQL for structured, secure data storage. Deployed backend on AWS EC2 and RDS for reliability and uptime. Configured real-time event handling and monitoring for emergency alerts.

IoT Integration

Connected the system with static sentinels deployed in public spaces like malls and schools. Supported mobile sentinels placed in public transport vehicles like buses and taxis. Enabled AI-powered camera integration to detect and alert on perimeter intrusions. Developed device management features to monitor and manage smart buttons, cameras, and other IoT devices remotely.

Admin & Responder Dashboard

Built a browser-based admin panel for multiple user roles. Implemented live alert monitoring, responder routing, and case management workflows. Provided analytics and reporting features to track system performance and usage metrics. Included sales tools for managing new client onboarding and device deployments.

Technology Stack

• Mobile App: Flutter (Android and iOS)
• Backend: Python FastAPI
• Database: MySQL
• Cloud Hosting: AWS EC2, S3, RDS
• IoT Integration: Smart Buttons, AI-enabled Cameras, GPS Sentinels

Results & Impact

• Successfully deployed across 15+ cities in South Africa
• 1000+ connected IoT devices (panic buttons, AI cameras, sentinels)
• Average emergency response time of under 30 seconds
• Processed over 3 million real-time alerts with 99.97% uptime
• Trusted by public safety and private transportation networks

Why They Chose Us

• End-to-End Development: From architecture to mobile and IoT, everything was handled in-house
• Real-Time System Expertise: Proven experience in building fast, scalable, event-driven platforms
• IoT Integration Capability: We handled the hardware-software sync across mobile and backend layers
• Reliable Team: 4+ years of ongoing development and support partnership

Client Testimonial

"Zestminds didn’t just develop the Herdum system — they engineered it like a mission-critical product. Their technical skill, discipline, and long-term thinking helped us create a safety platform we’re proud to call our own."
– Sanjay Srivastva, Founder of Herdum

Call to Action

Looking to build your own real-time IoT-powered security solution?

Zestminds delivers full-stack systems with Flutter, Python FastAPI, and AWS — combining mobile, backend, AI, and IoT into production-ready platforms.

Schedule a Free Consultation