App Developer Studio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and owner of Hirent Development, and we focus on property rentals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

I was trying to get a new top rental company into the market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

App Developer Studio is developing a rental platform for us; it's a web-based mobile application for Android and iOS devices. They're doing everything, Including the wireframes, UI/UX design, and prototypes — I gave them my idea, and they made it a reality.

What is the team composition?

I’m working with five people in total, including Rob (CEO), James and Jennifer (Project Managers), Morgan (UX Designer), and a developer.

How did you come to work with App Developer Studio?

I searched for top app developers in South Africa, and their name came up. I decided to go with them because they were the fastest to reply among all the companies. They also seemed like the most professional with the quotations and how the process will be going forward. Their portfolio was also beautiful in the companies they have worked with in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of this project will be 50,000–$75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2021, and the partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The quality is beyond anything I've seen because every team member has insights into the project. They have good ideas and throw their opinions to help improve our product — they're committed and try to make the best out of our product.

How did App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They're good, and their timelines are dead on. They're also swift in giving feedback and reporting on how far the project is. It's easy to communicate with their project manager.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and commitment stand out the most — they provide the best possible service and connect us to the right people, aiming us in the right direction.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve on — they're already on the top, so anything they improve on is an added benefit.

Any advice for potential customers?

Work with the team that they provide you. Also, listen to the comments and suggestions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I commission apps and I form partnerships with other bigger companies to launch those apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

In South Africa, people could save money together through a group of anywhere between 10–20 people. Members would either put their money together as an investment or just manage it as an emergency fund. COVID-19 has made it much more relevant to digitize this platform because members could no longer have face-to-face meetings. We hired App Developer Studio to help us with this project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I hired App Developer Studio to build a mobile app for both iOS and Android. I conceptualized the idea and had a meeting with them. We started off by breaking down the functions that I required, the time it would take, and how much it would cost.

It wasn’t a product or service that they have encountered before, so I walked them through the user journey. They eventually managed to give me something very close to what I needed. There were challenges with what I wanted versus what I could afford, so we had to come up with different ways of addressing that and I think we did pretty well.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Rob (Managing Director), and a project manager.

How did you come to work with  App Developer Studio?

I searched online and App Developer Studio was among the top results in Google. I went on to visit the websites of the different development companies, but I had a better rapport with App Developer Studio than with others. They were quite eager to help, get involved, and engage with us. I didn’t feel like I was pushing too hard, and they were quite receptive, so I ended up choosing to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent 400,000 rand (approximately $28,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We spoke in September 2020 and the apps went live in March 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I am now able to approach corporate financial services and life insurance services with a demonstrable product. I am actually having another presentation soon, and from the standpoint of credibility, it all looks good. The app works in the way I want it to. I had thought of things that could be done better while we were developing the concept, but I got what I wanted. The impact has been that I am now able to produce a great product and talk about it at corporate offices; it’s no longer just a concept anymore.

Like any other project, we could’ve gotten more out of it, but we had to look at the cost. App Developer Studio gave suggestions and cheaper alternatives, so there was a trade-off and the whole process went smoothly.

How did  App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

My point of contact was assigned to manage the project. She stood between us and the developers. We didn’t use any specific project tools, but we used Google Docs quite a lot.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This isn’t the first app I have had built by other people, but the one thing that really distinguishes App Developer Studio from other developers is that they are so easy to engage with. We were able to talk and flush out challenges.

I’ve had situations where I had to move my projects from people, and situations where people didn’t deliver on time and didn’t communicate. I never had those issues with App Developer Studio. If there were challenges, Rob himself usually called me to explain. I would definitely use their services again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should allow us to have conversations with the developers. There should be a chance where the developers actually sit in on meetings because then it allows for a better understanding of the requirements instead of having these relayed through one person. 

I think the developers missed quite a bit by not being part of the initial conversations and that is a massive improvement they could work on. Had they sat in on the briefing conversation, they would have gotten a clearer picture. There were things that had to be redone purely because the developers didn’t get the brief properly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you get the developers involved especially at the beginning. I found there were times when the developers went ahead and developed something that they were told but it isn’t what I meant.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a paralegal at Lawyers for Human Rights. We’re a nonprofit organization that works with refugees and migrants. We assist them with their human rights and documentation, and we also do community work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

We used to have an SMS app for our users. In that app, they’d send a text to a certain number to get a response with different options. However, it was a bit costly to our beneficiaries.

We hired App Developer Studio to assist us with a WhatsApp bot. We informed them on how we wanted to improve our app and have something less costly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The WhatsApp bot that App Developer Studio has created is aimed to be an information tool for our clients. However, even though it’s just informational, the bot is also accessible for our clients.

The bot incorporates a system for us to keep track of different stats, including who’s using it and from where. Additionally, it has an option for our clients to add suggestions for improvement.  We understand that at some point we will need to improve the bot and potentially add other functionalities. App Developer Studio is responsible for the maintenance of the platform, as well.

What is the team composition?

We work with Rob (Managing Director) and Jennifer (Project Manager).

How did you come to work with App Developer Studio?

At first, App Developer Studio showed us different options for the app, and we agreed on a WhatsApp bot. They explained how it was going to work and we were sold on that.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around 500,000 ZAR (approximately $35,600 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020. The partnership is ongoing but is coming to an end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve needed to test the bot with our beneficiaries to make sure that they are happy with it. At the end of the day, they are the ones who are going to use it. Therefore, we’ve had focus groups with beneficiaries and stakeholders.

I must say that the developers have been very patient. Even though the app is done, we always come back to them with new functionalities to add.

We’re also measuring the success in terms of accessibility. Whether it is easy for our users to navigate or not. This is something that we’ve been testing to see if our clients are able to use it — we give this feedback to the developers.

How did App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate mostly through email and Zoom meetings, but we’ve also had a few calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most impressive aspect of App Developer Studio is the team’s patience. Oftentimes, they send emails to finalize something, but we take our time with it. We really appreciate the patience they’ve had with us.

As a nonprofit organization, we can’t make unilateral decisions — we always have to consult. However, they really understand that, and that’s something that we appreciate the most.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m happy with App Developer Studio. They’ve explained how everything works and gave us different options to look at.

Any advice for potential customers?

You won’t regret working with App Developer Studio. If you don’t know exactly what you want, working with them is educational and helpful, especially for those who aren’t into IT. They always try to explain everything so that you understand it better.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a music-sharing application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

We needed help with a music-writing system application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed the wireframes for my music-writing system app. The key functionality was an interface where the user can upload music files and then have writers listen and give ratings.

We had several meetings to discuss the concept in detail and how I thought it would work. I took them through prototype layouts I had in mind, and then they went back and developed more professional visualizations. We had a number of meetings concerning the development and the functionalities — they also proposed some of the functionalities that I accepted.

What is the team composition?

There are mainly two people I work with.

How did you come to work with App Developer Studio?

I contacted a number of app developers in South Africa, and App Developer Studio replied back with a kickoff meeting where I discussed the high-level deliverables with Rob (Managing Director).

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent 50,000 rand (approximately $3,500 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since July 2020. The wireframes are now complete. They supplied me with a quote for the actual development of the application, and I’m currently evaluating different quotations from other app developers as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They did an excellent, professional job in delivering the wireframes. I was impressed by their fresh design, and I also liked that they were able to brainstorm supplementary ideas.

How did App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They used Google Docs; it was easy to comment and reply back to them with feedback. It’s a simple platform to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take ownership of the project and take time to find out exactly what your needs are and how they can meet them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing they can improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more you have documented ahead of time, the better. Visual layouts and documentation that describes the functions prove you’ve thought carefully and understand the workflow. It also helps a lot in building the wireframes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The organization is called Truck Search, and it is a trucking website that enables the buying and selling of commercial vehicles in South Africa. I am the director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

Our app was initially developed by a company in the US, but the project didn’t go quite as I expected because they built it but then put it on my server and said that it was up to me to test and publish it.

This was my first foray into mobile app publishing, so I needed someone to help me finish the process of actually getting the app up and running.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our platform has always been primarily operated through our website, and we wanted to build a mobile version in order to expand the ways in which users could access our services.

When I came to Rob (Managing Director), I had the app in place, but there were a lot of missing pieces, particularly with content writing about the specifics of our offerings, which they helped to fill in.

They produced a list of changes that I was able to bring to the company in the US, and they implemented those as part of the engagement since they were responsible for developing the app. Then, Rob took the finished product that they returned and helped us launch the finished product to the app store.

What is the team composition?

I know there were a few members of his team working on the project, but I communicated directly with Rob.

How did you come to work with App Developer Studio?

I found them on the internet initially and saw that they had good reviews, so I reached out to see if they could work with me. When I met with them, I explained my situation and they decided that they would be able to assist me.

How much have you invested with them?

The whole project cost under $5,000, most of which was for fixing all the potholes left by the other company.

What is the status of this engagement?

They were able to fix and publish the entire project within a week in March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I haven’t done any promotion for the app yet, but I have pitched it to my existing customer base. Their reviews with respect to the aesthetics and functionality have all been very good, which is in large part thanks to Rob’s work.

The partners in the business are very happy with the results of the project. Our business relationship worked out so well that I am looking to engage with them on my next project as well.

How did App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything came to fruition incredibly quickly, which, since I was expecting a drawn-out process like my previous experience, was very pleasantly surprising. Their whole process was very professional, determining exactly what we wanted and what was required, and then delivering everything that they promise.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In retrospect, had I known about Rob’s company in the beginning I would have worked with them from the start. He took the time to fully understand my business and my customer base, evaluate our needs, and then translate that to the work that he was doing, even though that was limited because of the circumstances.

Despite that, he was able to correct a lot of the things my original developer should have done, which really speaks to his knowledge of the industry and professionalism.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think there was anything that I could comment on that could have been improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Rob is very precise, so it helps if your brief is very detailed and lays out exactly what you want. If you are able to do that, you will get exactly the product you have in mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a medical doctor in private practice, and I do functional integrative medicine. I advise patients on what vitamins and supplements they should take based on their individual needs. I wanted to expand this practice to reach more people, so I founded Managed Health 4 All.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

I wanted to design an app where people could download a lab form for blood tests, then have their results imported to the app electronically. Managed Health 4 All would then analyze the results. Based on that data, the app would recommend whether they should see a doctor or purchase supplements through the app to correct their levels.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They met with me to understand the concept and assess my needs. Then, they liaised with the lab that processes our bloodwork to coordinate the IT infrastructure. 

App Developer Studio took my ideas and translated them into an iOS and Android application. They integrated my algorithms for supplement recommendations into the app. Their developers included several features at my request, such as a linking to our Shopify site and giving clients customized diet and exercise programs. 

What is the team composition?

I have two main points of contact: Rob (Managing Director) and Deepa (Project Manager).

How did you come to work with App Developer Studio?

I found them through a Google search of app developers. I was impressed by their website and reviews, so I gave them a call.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $25,000 for this project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2019, and the work is ongoing. Our recommendations are constantly changing as new research comes out, so they’ll continue to provide updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The app went live very recently, so we don’t have much feedback or metrics yet. Though, a few people have visited the site and downloaded the app. 

How did App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been excellent regarding project management. They have strong communication and are great at addressing feedback and responding to emails. We mostly communicate via email and WhatsApp. 

Their team provides daily feedback and has remained transparent throughout the process. They’ve exceeded my expectations. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

In our country, there are issues with service delivery. Many vendors over-promise and under-deliver. I went into this project with skepticism, but they exceeded my doubts. The price was reasonable as well. There’s nothing I can fault them for. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see any areas for improvement, they’ve been great. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I highly recommend working with them. They’re trustworthy and to the point. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer them to a friend or colleague.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior technical advisor for an international trade organization. I manage a program that works with the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions, tax administrations, and finance ministries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

We needed an agency to help us bring digital innovation to our partner institutions. Specifically, we wanted to develop an app for them that would allow citizens to provide feedback on their public services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped develop an app that allows people to give feedback on public services in two ways: by providing ratings on specific service delivery aspects and by reporting problems. For the latter, App Developer Studio added a geolocation feature to the app to enable users to locate themselves on a map and take pictures of a problem. They can then upload the photo to the app and make it available to auditors, who can then work on getting it resolved.

App Developer Studio did all of the technical work, developing the app from scratch. They organized a workshop with our partners to identify needs and brainstorm the technology that would best respond to those needs. They first built a mockup and then the actual app, which is for both iOS and Android.

What is the team composition?

We mainly interacted with the project manager.

How did you come to work with App Developer Studio?

We found three suppliers online, and App Developer Studio was the first to respond. They were also available immediately, so we hired them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership lasted from December 2017–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve had a good response rate from users, and they provide helpful feedback. We launched the app in May, and we already have 2,500 users.

How did App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They regularly send us user data so we can track the app’s progress. The team is flexible and able to manage communication between us and our end clients, which can get complicated. They have people allocated to respond immediately to technical questions, and the project manager is responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were engaged with our project, dedicated to seeing it achieve success. I’ve worked with many partners, and App Developer Studio was responsive and quick to take responsibility for their work. They worked closely with our end clients and us to create a satisfactory end product. We don’t have much experience with app dev, so they clearly explained our different options and let us know the pros and cons of each choice, empowering us to make informed decisions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some communication issues, and they could’ve been more proactive at explaining why they made certain choices, but nothing hindered our success.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be honest about your experience and what you want, and have them explain the different options you have. They’re the experts, so trust them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a digital product manager at Penguin Random House SA. I’m responsible for our apps and e-books.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Developer Studio?

We needed a partner to develop our apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

App Developer Studio takes on the full technical components of our projects. Most of our apps are books that we want to turn into apps, so we provide the content and App Developer Studio builds the actual product. They’ve worked on three main projects, all which have launched in the App Store and Google Play Store.

The most complex app was a gamified version of a few children’s books we have. App Developer Studio made it interactive, so kids can watch videos, play games, and record themselves. They’re currently maintaining and updating the app.

What is the team composition?

We mainly interface with two people, but there’s a larger team we don’t typically interact with.

How did you come to work with App Developer Studio?

My manager hired them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in 2013, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’re happy with their work, and everyone has responded positively to the apps, which are fun, robust, and engaging.

How did App Developer Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They provide clear communication and usual meet deadlines, letting us know ahead of time if there will be a delay. We collaborative together, iterating on projects until we reach a suitable final product.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re innovative and willing to work on new projects. Unlike other agencies, App Developer Studio stays current on the latest tech and trends. They have excellent customer service and make sure everyone is on the same page.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any complaints.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

 Be specific in your brief and clearly outline your project goals. They’ll build exactly what you want, so be as detailed as possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Sabinet is an information services company that facilitates access to legal and reference information. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire App Developer Studio?

We hired App Developer Studio to assist us with upgrading and expanding an existing mobile app for our legislation product.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to clean up existing functionality, update the app backend, and also publish the app on the Android Play Store because it was only available for IOS at the time. The app also needed some user interface upgrades.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected App Developer Studio because they were a locally available company that had worked with cross-platform technologies. They were also straightforward to communicate with and responsive to our requests for quotes and information. They put in the effort of evaluating a very complicated app to supply us with the best advice on how to proceed and what it would cost us.

Describe the project in detail.

The legislation app supplies our clients with a way to take legislative research and notes to legal proceedings.

What was the team composition?

The team was made up of a business unit manager, a technical analyst, and developers. On our side, we had product owners and technical liaison.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Based on period compared metrics, the product adoption has been favorable.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

App Developer Studio was easy to communicate with and responsive to all of our requests. We received frequent updates, and they followed up diligently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They took on a very complex app which had many technical challenges, and they were able to understand and update the app with ease.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were happy with their service and advice. Any improvements made will be over and above our expectations for App Developer Studio.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an advocate of the High Court of South Africa and I am based in Johannesburg.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire App Developer Studio, and what were your goals?

We intend to identify blemishes on the car using the mobile app and to have the blemishes saved on the app/mobile phone to eliminate disputes between car rental companies and consumers and also motor servicing companies.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

They appear to be professional and very distinct in their approach to my query.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We intend to identify blemishes on the car using the mobile app and to have the blemishes saved on the app/mobile phone to eliminate disputes between car rental companies and consumers and also motor servicing companies.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with approximately between 5 and 6 people ranging from the CEO to the web designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

I am delighted to have worked with the team.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They are very professional, diligent and are aware of the services they render. We also achieved the desired outcome long before the set timetable.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Professionalism and high work ethic.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None.