Navigating the Great Firewall

A “Digital Sovereignty” Gap

For a global leader in building certifications, expanding into mainland China wasn’t just a translation issue - it was an architectural labyrinth. Our client’s existing global platform cannot legally nor technically operate within China’s unique digital ecosystem because it is a walled garden—distinct from the rest of the world not just in language, but also in law, infrastructure, and user behavior.

Our client needed a dedicated SaaS platform to handle project registrations, document verification, and payments for the Chinese market. They faced a “black box” challenge:

1. Compliance paralysis - strict data sovereignty laws (PIPL) meant they couldn’t use their US servers.
2. Workflow complexity - the Chinese market required a unique three-sided workflow involving Applicants, local Certification Authorities, and Admins—logic that didn’t exist in their global tool.
3. Vendor ambiguity - without a clear technical blueprint, they couldn’t accurately budget or hire a development team.
4. Scope creep risk - without a technical blueprint, they risked building a tool that was either difficult to operate or impossible for Chinese users to access.

They needed a partner to translate business goals into a buildable reality; they needed a strategic project architect. That’s where Nexis Management came in.

Our Solution

Using our proprietary Discovery-Strategy-Execution framework, Nexis turned a vague request into a development-ready enterprise roadmap.

1. Discovery: Uncovering the “Icebergs”

We didn’t just ask “what features do you want?” We dug into “what does the law require?” Our initial audit revealed critical non-functional requirements that had been overlooked:

• Data Residency: all user data had to be physically hosted in mainland China, not a western AWS server. We defined China platform localization & compliance as a baseline requirement for the entire project. This ensured that hosting, security, and PIPL compliance were backed into the DNA of every subsequent feature, rather than bolted on at the end.
• The “Golden Tax” Rule: the system needed to integrate with government-controlled invoice systems, not just Stripe or PayPal.

2. Strategy: The Two-Horizon Roadmap

To balance immediate speed with long-term scale, we crafted a Strategic Development Roadmap.

• Horizon 1 (The MVP): a “Compliance-First” launch focusing on the core certification workflow (Applicant → Verifier → Admin) and securing the critical ICP License to operate legally.
• Horizon 2 (The Ecosystem): a long-term evolution plan including an “Air-Gapped” Global Data Connector (to sync with US HQ without violating PIPL), SSO integration, and AI-driven project scorecards.

3. Execution: Technical Translation & The RFP

We supported our client in translating business goals into a rigorous Technical PRD (Product Requirements Document) that broke the vision down into 8 distinct, actionable Epics:

• The “Logic” Filter: we knew that sending a vague brief to developers would result in padded costs. The document details every epics, features, and Logic Flows for every single user role.
• Global Sourcing, Local Compliance: we managed a competitive RFP process. With clearly defined platform development architecture, we worked with our trusted development partner towards an RFP.
• The Win: because our specs were airtight, the vendor could confidently bid on a complex Chinese build, knowing exactly what “PIPL Compliance” meant in code terms.

4. Delivery: A Fixed-Price Future

We handed IWBI more than a document; we gave them certainty.

• Budget and Time Clarity: secured a fixed-price development quote for the MVP with clear resource allowance, successfully avoiding the “enterprise bloat”, such is typical of these projects.
• Risk Mitigation: delivered a “Red Flag” report identifying long-term risks (like MLPS Level 3 audits) with pre-planned mitigation strategies.

The Results

By partnering with Nexis, IWBI moved from a state of technical and regulatory uncertainty to a clear build phase.

- 100% Compliance Visibility

- 6 Month Launch Target

- Cost Optimization

“This collaboration was very pleasant. A detailed work plan was established early on, allowing us to clearly understand the timeline for deliverables, and the entire process went very smoothly. Through this collaboration, we not only had satisfactory results but also learned about Nexis’s management style, which is beneficial to us.”

— Haoge S., IWBI China

Ready to De-Risk Your Next Complex Build?

Whether you are entering a new international market or building a custom enterprise platform, ambiguity is expensive. Nexis Management brings the technical rigor and strategic foresight you need to build it right the first time.