Mobile appE-commerce & marketplacesOriginal by Decathlon
What makes Decathlon different is the way it combines products for dozens of sports with affordable prices and expert guidance. The app offers guides explaining what you need for each sport, the option to scan a barcode in store to see product details and reviews, appointments for bike or equipment servicing, and easy returns. This approach turns beginners into loyal customers.
To build something similar you need a category tree organised by sport, rich product content and user manuals, in-store barcode scanning, a workshop and service booking system, store stock integration and circular modules such as second-hand buy-back. A booking and order screen for store staff and a central admin panel are also part of the project.
How Decathlon works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Customer app
Users find products by sport, scan barcodes in store, place orders and book service appointments.
Store and workshop screen
Staff manage service appointments, click-and-collect orders and returns.
Admin panel
Catalogue, guide content, campaigns, stores and stock integration are managed.
Critical features of a product like Decathlon
Sport-led discovery
Categories can be browsed by sport and skill level, not just product type, with ready-made lists such as “getting started with running”.
In-store barcode scanning
Scanning a product on the shelf shows its details, reviews and stock of other colours and sizes on the user's phone.
Service and workshop booking
Customers pick a store and time slot to book services such as bike maintenance or ski fitting.
Product user guides
Care, assembly and usage videos are linked to the product page, reducing after-sales support load.
Second-hand buy-back
Users get a valuation for used equipment and receive a gift voucher when they bring it to a store.
Detailed product reviews
Reviewers add their skill level and how long they have used the product, and others can filter by this information.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Sport- and category-based catalogue
- Basket, payments and carrier integration
- Product details via in-store barcode scanning
- Product reviews and ratings
- Order tracking and return requests
Later releases
- Service and workshop booking system
- Second-hand buy-back and gift vouchers
- Recommendations based on a personal sports profile
- Equipment rental module
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 32 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 188 person-days for the full scope and 134 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Product / content catalogue | First version |
| Cart and checkout | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Barcode / RFID / handheld | First version |
| Booking / reservations | First version |
| Ratings and reviews | First version |
| File, photo, video upload | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| ERP / accounting integration | Later release |
| Reporting and analytics | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €650 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Large technical catalogue
Product attributes vary widely between sports; the filter structure must stay meaningful for every category.
Booking capacity
If workshop capacity, staff and parts stock are not planned together, appointments break down.
In-store experience integration
Matching barcode scans with store stock and prices in real time requires solid integration with store systems.
Business model
The main revenue is product sales, with higher margins on own-brand products. Service and workshop work, equipment rental and extended warranty packages generate additional revenue. A second-hand buy-back programme extends product life and, through the gift vouchers issued, brings customers back to the store.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Decathlon
Most people searching “build an app like decathlon” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Decathlon name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like Decathlon?
A first version with catalogue, payments and barcode scanning can be ready in a few months. Modules such as service booking and buy-back should be added in later phases.
How does in-store barcode scanning work?
The app reads the product barcode with the camera and matches it to the product card in the system. If store stock and prices are also shown, a live integration with the store system is required.
Are there copyright or trademark issues?
Sports equipment e-commerce and the service model are free to use; names, logos, design, content and code cannot be copied. This is not legal advice.
What should I look for in an app development company?
Prefer a team with experience in large catalogues, store integration and booking systems. Review live examples of their previous retail projects.
Costs of similar apps
Who should build it?
360 Soft is a mobile app development company based in Istanbul, Turkey. Our clients include Memorial Healthcare Group, iddaa.com and the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (OSTİM cluster). See the app development cost guide, hire a dedicated development team or IT outsourcing services.
