Company Overview
Industry: Technology
Challenge Areas: JSON to dotLottie migration, Animation Management, File Size Optimization, Cross-Platform Consistency
Key Outcomes and ROI:
89.35% smaller than JSON: With dotLottie, Gojek was able to reduce JSON file sizes up to 89.35%, resulting in quicker load times and memory usage. This allowed the platform to include more animations without exceeding app size limits.
Better memory usage up to 99.6%: The integration of dotLottie reduced memory fluctuation by 99.6%, and increased developer productivity by unifying animation formats and enabling creative freedom without performance trade-offs.
Cross-platform Consistency: Gojek’s developers’ productivity significantly increased with cross-platform consistency, along with reduced delivery time, and improved asset management.
Gojek is Southeast Asia's leading on-demand and multi-service tech platform providing access to a wide range of services across transportation, payments, food delivery, logistics, and more. The company wanted to incorporate rich animations into their app interfaces. However, doing so posed significant challenges, particularly when it came to performance, consistency, and data efficiency across their app ecosystem. The solution? dotLottie—an efficient, compact format that redefined how Gojek managed animations across platforms.
A Growing Problem: Animation Complexity and Performance Constraints
Before adopting dotLottie, Gojek’s developer team faced an increasingly complex task: adding engaging animations without overloading the app. Initially, the team relied on JSON-based Lottie files, which seemed promising due to their flexibility. But as the app expanded, these files quickly became a double-edged sword. JSON animations, though visually effective, started to weigh down the app. In fact, the larger the files, the slower the app loaded, especially on lower-specification devices. This posed a dilemma: how could Gojek maintain its animation-rich experience without compromising performance?
Gojek’s developer team had to implement strict size limitations to control the performance impact, which constrained the creative freedom of their designers. Moreover, managing animations across 20+ products, each having their own set of animations in the same app added another layer of complexity. The files were duplicative, bloated in size, and required compression to prevent the app from becoming unwieldy—stripping out unnecessary assets became a daily chore, but the problem only grew as the app scaled.
“We had to choose between creating dynamic visuals and keeping the app running smoothly,” said Akanshi, Gojek’s Software Engineer. “It was frustrating because every animation added an extra load. We felt like we were walking a tightrope—prioritizing performance without sacrificing visual appeal.”
Cross-platform consistency was yet another challenge for Gojek. A JSON file might look great on iOS, only to appear slightly misaligned on Android; it required tweaks and reworking to get it right. The situation became even more taxing in regions with limited connectivity. Larger files meant heavier data usage, which not only affected download speeds but also consumed valuable bandwidth for users with limited data plans.
dotLottie: A Game-Changing Solution
To tackle these growing pains, Gojek sought a more efficient solution: dotLottie, a lightweight, versatile alternative to JSON that promised significant improvements in file size and performance. The Gojek team was intrigued by dotLottie’s potential, especially its ability to package multiple assets into a single, compact file. This meant that instead of managing multiple JSON files, they could bundle animations efficiently, reducing the app's overall load.
The integration of dotLottie was a step-by-step journey, involving platform-specific adjustments and close collaboration with the LottieFiles team. Gojek’s engineers first focused on converting their existing animations from JSON to dotLottie, a transition that immediately delivered on its promise. The results were staggering: file sizes dropped by up to 95%, drastically reducing storage demands and speeding up load times across devices.
“Switching to dotLottie was like lifting a weight off our shoulders,” Akanshi recalled. “We went from files that took up huge chunks of memory to animations that were up to 95% smaller. It felt like we could finally let our designs breathe without holding back.”
The team made adjustments to ensure smooth transitions between platforms. As dotLottie files load asynchronously on iOS, Android, and web, dotLottie replaced JSON files seamlessly. Collaboration between Gojek, DevX, and the LottieFiles team played a crucial role, particularly when it came to resolving compatibility issues like asset tinting which required precise adjustments. Working alongside LottieFiles’ dotLottie team allowed Gojek to tailor the solution to fit their specific needs.
Implementation - Testing Lottie vs. dotLottie
To ensure a smooth migration from Lottie (JSON) to dotLottie, Gojek implemented a robust testing framework to validate animations across all platforms. This process allowed designers to preview how animations rendered on devices before deployment, addressing a major pain point and reducing friction between design and development teams. By ensuring all animations rendered as expected, the testing procedure saved significant time among stakeholders, enabling a seamless and efficient migration.
The Results: A New Era of Animation at Gojek
The impact of dotLottie was profound. Performance saw a significant boost with the app loading faster and using less memory, especially on low-spec devices where file size was critical. For example, the “Safe Trip Plus” animation shrank from 844 KB to just 107 KB—an astounding reduction that allowed Gojek to create more engaging visuals without straining device resources.
Bandwidth savings were equally impressive. For Gojek’s users in regions with limited connectivity, smaller file sizes translated to faster downloads and less data usage, an advantage that made a noticeable difference for users relying on limited data plans.
“The difference for users with limited connectivity was immediate,” said Akanshi. “With dotLottie, we were able to offer high-quality animations without demanding excessive data. It was a win-win; better user experience and lower data consumption.”
Additionally, dotLottie’s streamlined management enabled Gojek to package assets into a single file, simplifying cross-platform consistency. Instead of dealing with discrepancies between platforms, Gojek’s developers now had a reliable, unified format, allowing them to focus more on creativity and less on troubleshooting.
“dotLottie took away so many of our headaches,” said Akanshi. “With a single, compact file, we finally had consistency across platforms. It was a huge productivity boost for our team and allowed us to focus on what mattered—creating beautiful animations.”
Moving Forward
With dotLottie as their new standard, Gojek’s animation team now has the flexibility to push creative boundaries without being held back by file size or performance constraints. Their partnership with Lottie has led to a more efficient workflow, enabling faster delivery and a more responsive app.
dotLottie has become much more than just a technical solution—it has empowered Gojek to bring their vision to life in a way that prioritizes both performance and user experience. The journey with dotLottie continues to evolve, but one thing is clear: the decision to adopt this innovative format has opened new doors for Gojek, enabling a future of vibrant, data-efficient animations for millions of users.
“dotLottie allowed us to achieve our animation goals in ways we hadn’t thought possible,” reflects Akanshi. “It’s rare to find a solution that enhances both user experience and developer productivity. With dotLottie, we’ve achieved both, and we’re excited to keep exploring its potential.”
