Appchance

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the Founders of Launchcloud, a data management platform. We’re a B2B, software as a service company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We were looking for a team that could expand and add more features to the apps we’ve already built.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked predominantly with the iOS app, to begin with. After that, they moved onto Android, which they still work on for us. They integrate the latest technologies whenever an update is available, and they’re always adding new features.

What is the team composition?

There’s one developer on the iOS side, and a couple people working on the Android side.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

We attended a large technology conference a few years ago, and I exchanged numbers with someone from Appchance. He told me about the services they provide, and we’ve been working with them ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were able to work closely with our CTO and understand some quite complex things that we needed to add to the app. They were also able to pick up some code that we were left with from our previous developers. The Android developers tend to be a bit quieter and take their lead from the iOS developer, once he’s input the features into the iOS.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn’t have a project manager until last year, and I didn’t see what the benefit would be, but it has been great. They’ve been open to using our usual project management tool, in addition to Trello and Slack. They always respond promptly, even if it’s just a general chat. Whenever there’s a bug, they get to it immediately. They go above and beyond to get things done, and they’ve even helped out with things that are beyond their scope.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As they grow and take on new commitments, our relationship has stayed the same. They’re also willing to help when we need development work. They’re very good and we don’t want to lose them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s always a slight language barrier with the Android developers. Their English hasn’t always been good, but that’s where the project manager comes in. We haven’t been able to verbally speak with them, but it’s fine on Slack. Overall, it hasn’t been an issue because of the measures they have in place.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a board member at the Community Heritage Foundation in Warsaw, Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We wanted to create an app for smartphones and platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created our mobile application for Android and iOS. It’s a unique, worldwide app that automatically recognizes artwork from a database of war losses. A user can take a single picture of a painting and the app searches the database for a match. We partnered with the Polish Minister of Culture and a financial company.

We need to make some small changes still and Appchance continues to assist with those. We hope to partner with them again to develop an app to recognize three-dimensional objects.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four or five developers at varying levels.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

We found a few companies who could supply the image recognition technology. Appchance was close to our office and they were helpful right from the beginning. This wasn’t the most profitable project for them, but they saw the social value of it. They understood our needs and the impact this project would have on communities in Poland.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve recovered a number of paintings from various auction houses. Recently, the Minister of Culture stopped an auction after the app identified the painting as a war loss. After legal proceedings, it will be returned to Poland.

Appchance was professional and respectful and fulfilled every expectation. They shared our passion and delivered a very good final product. They finished the project ahead of an official launch by the Polish Prime Minister at the royal castle in Warsaw. It was a major event that gave the app a lot of exposure.

We want to broaden the app’s database to be useful for the global market. We’ve spoken with security agencies from other countries and are exploring options to expand. We test the app often and see who is using it on our admin pages. Law enforcement and boarder control use it frequently and have identified objects in remote countries like Argentina or Australia.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re happy with their management and the way they approach our needs. They did better than we expected.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of professionalism is the same for every project, no matter the size. Their customer service is very good. They answered all of our questions on time and met all our deadlines. I would recommend this company to anyone.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were happy with the outcome.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Lookmarina.com, an application designed for sailors in Southern Europe in the Adriatic Sea.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We wanted to create a tool for sailors using charter boats to make their sailing easier. We needed Appchance to develop our iOS and Android apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our iOS and Android apps and used Ruby on Rails for the desktop backend. Our product allows sailors to book marina reservations for their boats through a mobile application, eliminating the need to visit these places in the middle of the day.

What is the team composition?

We had two or three people from each team for iOS and Android development. There was a project manager who organized the work along with a very good graphic designer. They had a team for the desktop app as well.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

Someone recommended Appchance to us due to their experience with mobile app development. After a few meetings, we were convinced that they had enough skills to develop our app.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them at the beginning of 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We didn’t have any experience with mobile apps. They did some research for us and made recommendations, comparing the leading apps and implementing elements to improve our own. Appchance did a great job with the app’s flow and it’s received a lot of positive feedback. Even after two years, our app is the best looking and most useful amongst competitors.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was very convenient. They worked in quick sprints and we had daily meetings, along with one main meeting at the beginning of every week. The communication was great. We used Slack and email. We all live in the same city, so it wasn’t a problem visiting each other’s offices.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were responsible for our corporate identification: logos, brands, colors. We’ve received positive feedback on all of that. Some charter companies have decided to work with us just because our app looks good and is easy to use.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did a great job for us and I’ve heard so many good things about our app.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the merchandising development manager of a confectionary producer in Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We needed help with developing an Android application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed an Android app. As our company’s main platform, it helps us inventory our displays throughout the entire market by type and location. We use it to analyze quantities and avoid overproduction.

What is the team composition?

There were around two team members working for us.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

We wanted a company that was located close to our headquarters. A colleague recommended Appchance. We interviewed a few suppliers, but ultimately decided Appchance was the best choice.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $20,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from 2016 until 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our app has about 100 end users, with three of those users in our office working on the backend database and servers.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was good and we had constant contact. The most helpful thing was when they prepared a layout that showcased the app’s flow. We were able to compare our expectations with the reality of the end product. We had one dedicated person for this project who arranged meetings to discuss the workflow. Our technical team was also involved in these meetings regarding development aspects.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The communication was really transparent. They care about providing clear requirements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The should apply a higher level of attention during the testing phase. They promised that they tested the app before delivery, but it wasn’t done well and we found a lot of mistakes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Monster Media Group is one of the largest Polish publishers of entertainment websites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We wanted someone to develop our mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed many projects. The first one was six apps for Android. A few years later we upgraded them to more modern technologies. They provided not only programming features, but also worked on the design, look, and graphics of the application.

What is the team composition?

We had contact with two project managers.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

We have a lot of business contacts.

How much have you invested with them?

$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from 2013 until 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The applications they built were very good and I was extremely happy with what they did.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Slack, email, and phone. They responded quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They responded quickly to any questions we have. They had a lot of resources. When we requested new features, they responded fast. I definitely recommend them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I was happy with their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

MyPhsar is a startup company based in Cambodia and targeting Cambodian customers. Our main product is a website and an app for classified ads. I’m the project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We needed someone who knew how to create applications for iOS and Android devices.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appchance developed our iOS and Android mobile applications. Everyone is familiar with classified ads, so we wanted to design an app that was easy to use and that would integrate with the Cambodian advertising environment.

Our free app enables users to post and manage ads on their own. We also added a chat feature so that users could communicate within the app. We released the first version of the app to the market in 2016. Since they know the app, Appchance helped us improve it, acquire more users, and develop new features.

What is the team composition?

I interacted with their COO, Przemek [COO, Appchance]. He was responsible for their side of the project.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

We found them while searching for a Polish company who could deliver our requests within our budget.

How much have you invested with them?

$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2015, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has received around 350,000 downloads across the Android and iOS platforms, and our total number of active users is about 70,000. The code is solid, and any issues are resolved quickly.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through email, phone, Slack, and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have years of experience creating user-friendly, practical apps that meet your needs. They delivered a great product within our tight budget. We needed their help because we weren’t sure how to create apps. They were flexible, but they also led us rather than just asking for what we needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You can trust them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a sports service agency based in Berlin, Germany. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We realized that there isn't a flexible and effective way for athletes to meet in real life, so we decided to build a platform to connect them anywhere and anytime. We had some ideas in mind but didn't know where to start, so we were looking for a company with expertise in app development to build such an app for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We did some workshops with Appchance (they're based in Poland, so I went there twice) and then moved to development. They built an iOS app, providing the UX/UI design for it. We're now working on the Android version.  

One of the unique selling points of the app is that we created a lifemate: it makes very easy for every person in the application to see what's happening around them 24/7 365 days per year. People don't have to search for various Facebook groups because they can go directly to the app, find their location by GPS and see the events nearby as well as who created them. That is one of the MVP [Minimum Viable Product] features of the application. 

Additionally, we created a feature that enables user engagement and shows what sport each user is doing and when. They finished the iOS app last week and are already working on the update.

What is the team dynamic? 

I'm in a very good contact with the entire team of Appchance, including their CEO and Founder. I talk daily with our project manager and know all of the developers personally. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $100,000-$120,000 on both platforms. 

What is the status of this engagement? 

The project started in April 2017, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We released the iOS app a week ago, so we still don't have any metrics to measure success. We did sprints: every other week we looked at the finished version of the app to see the progress and what was or wasn't working.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They updated and organized everything. They work very fast and understand the tipping point.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I worked with other developers in the past, and they often didn't realize that a start-up company like ours doesn't have the capital. At Appchance, they know how to create something new and care about helping us move to the next level or get in contact with potential partners.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We would want a little bit more transparency, but that is not a critical point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Meet with these guys and try to understand what they can bring you and what you really need from them. Be honest with them about your capital and they will help you create a product or service for this capital.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Egnyte Poland is an engineering office developing a sync and share SaaS [software-as-a-service] product for enterprises. We provide a collaboration and data-sharing space. I am the director of engineering for the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

Our software was becoming dated, so we wanted to accelerate our iOS re-architecture. We needed external partners for this process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appchance assigned 2 engineers for our iOS app using Objective-C.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

Appchance was chosen because of their expertise and close proximity to our company. They were also quite affordable. This combination, as well as Appchance's ability to adjust, has made our collaboration successful. We needed to bring them into an existing project which we couldn't rewrite from scratch. Some companies need to impose their working model, but we didn't have a fully-implemented Scrum process. The communication with Appchance was easy from the start. We were able to discuss requirements, explaining why our project was challenging.

How much have you invested with Appchance?

The cost of Appchance's work has been between $50,000 and $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Appchance at the beginning of 2016. The project was completed in July. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The general feedback came from our engineers. One of the main challenges from Appchance was to adjust to our existing engineering team, which was also directing our work. Our people were happy with what they saw, after reviewing Appchance's code. It was easy to read and made it possible for other developers to pick up the work.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

We worked with Appchance both from our office and through remote calls. The team was very open and transparent, so we've built a good relationship.

Internally, we used Jira for issue tracking and Confluence for documentation. The project management was handled entirely by our internal team. Appchance kept to our model very well.

What did you find most impressive about Appchance?

We've had experience working with another company which had a completely different approach, leading us to end that contract. They wanted to re-architecture every single part of our code, and some of their solutions were too complex and over-engineered. We never had this problem with Appchance.

I found Appchance's agility and transparent communication to be their biggest selling point. Them being based in the same location as us has helped a lot. We were able to have them come to our office whenever necessary. We have experience in working with Ukrainian teams, which are usually cheaper, but having a local partner was a no-brainer for us.

Are there any areas Appchance could improve?

Appchance has a young team, so technical expertise will be improved over time after they've worked with more clients. I wouldn't say that they're not skilled enough, but they need more diversity in terms of projects and setups.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We provide an engagement platform which allows users to upsell the services provided by short-term rentals. I am the chief executive officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We needed assistance in defining our solution and business goals.

SOLUTION

How did you come to work with Appchance?

I met Appchance's CEO and discussed various projects which I had in mind. I found that we had a similar way of thinking and that Appchance's principal was a resourceful and creative person.

How much have you invested with Appchance?

The cost of Appchance's services has been around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Appchance at the end of 2015. Our applications have been completed and are fully operational. We're currently correcting minor details for them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I have presented my solution during 2 main worldwide conferences. We were selected as one of the top-7 companies at the largest travel conference in Singapore. We were also selected as one of 24 companies that would give a presentation at the largest travel conference in the world, in LA. 

People have been impressed with the user-experience elements of the app. The overall feedback for Appchance's work is very positive.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

I didn't have any complaints on this front. Our first project manager from Appchance was available almost 24 hours per day, which I found to be exceptional about him, as a person. We used Trello and Slack for project management. There were some other options we could have used, but we didn't see a need to extend beyond our 2.

What did you find most impressive about Appchance?

Appchance liked and believed in my product very much. We had numerous discussions about our features, which was a satisfactory process for me. Appchance could have simply requested a set list of specifications, but they went beyond this. Even though I had a well-thought-out idea, Appchance helped me with minor changes.

Are there any areas Appchance could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. I was very satisfied with our collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Rovr Inc. is a communications services provider for tourists visiting New York City. We partner with hotels in order to provide services within the city. I am the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appchance?

We needed to develop an Android application that would work with a piece of hardware which we provide to our hotel partners. Our device is a phone which provides 4G internet access, along with personalized recommendations for what can be done while in the city, including events, entertainment, dining, and so on.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appchance developed our Android app. They assigned a project manager and 2 developers to our project.

How did you come to work with Appchance?

Appchance was recommended by another company we'd worked with on a separate project. We were told they were great developers for mobile applications.

How much have you invested with Appchance?

The cost of Appchance's work was between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Appchance 8 months ago. We have an ongoing project and have come 50% of the way to getting a beta item ready.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Appchance has been good to work with in terms of being able to deliver on time. They've made good technology recommendations for us during instances where we wanted to have a specific approach.

How did Appchance perform from a project management standpoint?

The original project manager we worked with left the company, so there's been a period of adjustment to the new manager from Appchance. We use a web-based project management tool provided by Appchance.

What did you find most impressive about Appchance?

Appchance has a very strong understanding of technology, as it exists today. They're able to make useful recommendations on how to solve specific technical problems on more than one instance.

Are there any areas Appchance could improve?

Generally speaking, I've been very satisfied with the quality of work delivered by Appchance.