Appdrawn Software Development

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Technology Officer of an education company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Digital Education Services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Appdrawn Software Development to accomplish?

• Platform Build - English Language Testing

SOLUTION

How did you find Appdrawn Software Development?

Online Search

Why did you select Appdrawn Software Development over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Appdrawn Software Development were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

New English Language Testing Platform that delivers:

• Robustness, scalability and facilitates Testing functionality.
• The ability to perform in country Testing and other blended versions of our product offering.
• Platform extensibility to accommodate ongoing product development and innovation (AI, Proctoring etc).
• Integration capability with other key systems (CRM etc).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Successful platform relaunch to the open market
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Increased Revenue
• Greater range and depth of development capability
• More effective release management
• Ownership of the Intellectual Property
• Risk reduction of platform re-use

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

AppDrawn's approach to project management was robust and detailed with excellent transparency and co-ordination skills demonstrated throughout. They worked collaboratively with project managers within the company to provide a clear plan at all stages of the project lifecycle and kept us informed on key milestones and progress throughout.

What was your primary form of communication with Appdrawn Software Development?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their ability to bring creative solutions to our challenges and their flexibility and understanding to work with us to deliver our intended outcomes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Appdrawn Software Development could have done differently?

None to report, I am looking forward to working with them in the future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of a start up growth platform for small charities. We help small charities grow through digital solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn Software Development, and what were your goals?

We were a start up no in-house technical people when we started and so, to be honest, we weren't entirely sure what we needed help with at the beginning. We only knew that needed an digital platform that provided two distinct jobs:

1. it needed to integrate a host of tools into a single framework that non experts could easily use; and
2. it needed to present the expertise we had developed in the area of growth into easy to follow online pathways.

SOLUTION

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

The key thing for me was finding a vendor that would act as a partner and lean into the challenges we were trying to solve and add value not just respond to the brief. I wanted to find a vendor who I felt understood us and cared about what we were doing.

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

First we went through a detailed requirements phase to get clear on what we wanted from which AppDrawn produced a series of detailed wireframes. This was incredibly useful in helping to distill what we really needed. Next we went through the build phase and did this in a series of iterations and were able to feed back and respond at each stage.

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

We met with two of the senior consultants and at least one of the designers and then they managed the development team in the background.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are delighted with the platform and specifically in AppDrawn's ability to continue to evolve and respond to the needs of our customers as we have developed our proposition and customer understanding.

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

Communication was mostly direct and via WhatsApp which worked incredibly well for us.

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

Very collaborative - being able to engage directly with senior members of the team meant that I always felt we were getting value add.

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

I don't think so.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-CEO of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Local Medical Committee. We are an orgainisation that supports all of the local General Practitioners (primary care doctors) and their practices. Currently we support 175 practices and over 1,200 doctors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn Software Development?

We hired AppDrawn to build a bespoke CRM system to manage our relationships with our members. This included segmenting the CRM into multiple different access levels based on roles within our organisation.

SOLUTION

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

We selected AppDrawn based on their understanding of our business and the specification of the project. The defining factor was the overall cost of the project.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The project involved the following key elements:

• Scoping of our existing customer database and our needs as an organization.
• Meeting with the LMC team to understand how the end-users would interact with the system.
• Initial outline design phase.
• Design and building.
• User testing and modification.

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

We initially met with the consultant and designer when scoping the project. During the project, we had regular meetings with the development team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was completed on time and within budget. The CRM system is now an integral part of how we operate as an organization and has helped us to improve our operational efficiency.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The interaction with the development team was very positive. We had regular meetings scheduled throughout the project, but they were also very responsive to ad hoc requests or feedback, especially during the testing phase.

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

The personal relationship and responsiveness of their senior team set them apart from other vendors we have worked with in the past.

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

A site visit to see how our team operates would have been helpful, however, this was not possible due to covid restrictions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a fulfilment technology company. I am one of the co-founders.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn Software Development, and what were your goals?

We are building a next generation system that is fully automated and self-service. Our goals for this project were to introduce a new cloud-based software system to facilitate our fulfilment business in real-time. We wanted to replace our legacy business operation system with a full service business software. Other goals include extensive API integrations and introducing AI-driven automation and reporting

SOLUTION

How did you select AppDrawn Software Development and what were the deciding factors?

We were searching for a local company who could tangibly deliver what we needed.

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

We needed a core customer portal and business management platform to take our business to the next level. AppDrawn developed the entire software solution which needed to bring together our fleet/job tracking system, payments system and accountancy provider.

The platform includes Robotic process automation (RPA) for handling jobs, as they are completed. They designed the system to meet the specifications we had and then developed and tested it with us.

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

We worked directly with one of the consultants as a single point of contact. They managed the entire development (designers, developers) from end-to-end. We now liaise with the consultant service team for any support queries we may have.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The portal now means we are able to handle all sales on a pre-payment basis. It automatically flags issues and prevents 99% of customer order issues from occurring in the first place. It has made it possible to take the business to new levels of scale and efficiency.

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

Throughout the process, we were in constant contact with our project lead and they answered all our questions and walked us through numerous feedback cycles.

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

They are completely unlike any other software company in that they are always trying to figure out what the customer needs before the customer even knows it. Being able to speak regularly and discuss the project was an effective and helpful element to their service.

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

We would always like their service to be somehow free!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We have invented and developed a mobile app for participants in a particular sport to easily log their performances, allowing them to review progress over time across a range of charting tools, as well as isolate the impact of a variety of variables on their scores. I am the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn Software Development?

AppDrawn was hired to build our mobile application.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goals of the project were;

1.  to create the mobile app we had envisaged
2. just as importantly, to have it operate in the most user friendly way possible, and
3. to complete the project before a certain deadline and as cost efficiently as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched online for app developers in our area, and contacted a handful of companies. We selected AppDrawn because from the first meeting, Tim (one of the directors at AppDrawn) engendered trust by seeking to propose solutions and ideas which could reduce costs and complexity rather than scale them up.

Based on other projects which AppDrawn had completed, we were also confident they could deliver what we were looking for. Finally, their pricing was reasonable, ticking our main boxes of; trust, ability and competitive pricing.

Describe the project in detail.

Prior to selecting AppDrawn, we had detailed discussions with their team on what we were looking for, which meant we had a fixed price and project timeline before the project began. Within the first week, we had designs in place and an agreed theme for the ‘look and feel’ of the app.

This was followed up with several meetings over the following weeks in order to ensure we were kept up to speed on the project’s progress, as well as for the AppDrawn team to make sure the app they were building followed our specification and scoring systems correctly.

A couple of weeks prior to finalising the app, we were given access to a Beta version for our own testing and review. We followed up with suggested changes, all of which AppDrawn was able to put into place for the final version of the app.

What was the team composition?

Tim was our primary point of contact throughout, supported by his colleague Dave at times. We were also made aware AppDrawn has a wider development team in Spain.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app was only recently launched, but the early signs are already very encouraging. The conversion rate from website visitors to app download with full registration is over 50%, and in just over a week we have users across more than 20 countries. Early user feedback has also been very positive.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Tim kept us updated frequently, in person and via email. Even when lockdowns caused by the Coronavirus outbreak prevented us meeting during the critical final stages of development, the AppDrawn team stayed on course, switching seamlessly into video conferencing to complete the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Tim went beyond just delivering the project. He provided helpful guidance throughout, challenged our thinking (always in a helpful way), showed genuine curiosity in the wider business, and is a thoroughly nice chap to boot. AppDrawn had zero experience or knowledge in our field, yet still delivered a product exactly as we had envisaged, which has so far had resoundingly positive reviews from users.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very happy with the service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Renteq Highways provide temporary traffic management support to anyone working on the road network. My name is Sean Pannell and I am the Managing Director of the Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn Software Development?

To create a brand new electronic booking system for customer jobs, allowing the allocation of resources including staff to each specific job. The booking system is also undergoing further development to "talk" to our remote works on site.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a software package which encompasses all our current paperwork systems and to facilitate the introduction of paperless systems both in the office and in the field. In addition, the development is ongoing as this system becomes more ingrained within our existing systems.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Through our IT Consultant who has worked alongside AppDrawn Software Development for many years. They also provided a presentation of their business to us showing their other customers and references.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

To create a booking system integrating our operational, sales and invoicing roles into one very efficient process. A major key advancement of AppDrawn Software Development's work is that we are able for the first time to operate our booking system, remotely away from the business hub.

What was the team composition?

A dedicated account manager who feeds back to their own software developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The new system has streamlined the current processes within my business and at the same time, the new system is able to provide a range of reports which we use when managing our business. The new booking system is a very powerful tool and we are looking forward to working with AppDrawn Software Development to further develop this product into more of our systems.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

AppDrawn Software Development's first task was to understand how we operate our previous systems and provide solutions and answers with new ideas when creating our booking system. At each stage of the development, we were kept involved and this allowed us to add our ideas into the overall software package.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The understanding of how we worked and what was needed in our booking system has been incredible. We have been hand-held through the process and are extremely impressed with the delivery of the overall project. I would like to pass on my thanks to all the staff at AppDrawn Software Development and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the group managing director for Imagine Group, an award-winning property company based in Hertfordshire, UK. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn?

We needed a portal that allowed clients to access our available sites and internally helped us manage our customers and data.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted an attractive platform with simply and efficiently designed user experience elements. Our main goal was to improve our data and client management strategies with a unique product.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met the owner at a networking event and listened to his pitch. I was impressed by his style, delivery, and willingness to challenge our ideas with excellent feedback.

Describe the project in detail.

AppDrawn first created the aesthetic design and optimal UX/UI elements, then built the mobile platform. We tested the initial app, then made the necessary amendments before launching.

What was the team composition?

We worked with two representatives from AppDrawn.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our first clients praised the product for its accessibility, performance, and design. We were so impressed by their results that we hired them to create an entirely new version of our company’s main website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They communicated extremely efficiently. We never strayed from the timeline we established at the beginning of the engagement. We tracked the project and shared updates through regular progress meetings. Following the development, their team quickly and seamlessly made any adjustments in preparation for the launch.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

AppDrawn delivered in every aspect of the project. I was pleased with their communication, integrity, punctuality. They provided many valuable ideas and stayed within the agreed upon budget.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of Play & Learn Education. We’re an educational facility that works with schools in indoor playgrounds. By combining math and English lessons with playtime, we’re able to educate kids in a fun way. We’re beginning to open new centers locally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn?

We needed resources to create an online management system that allowed schools to store and organize student data, financial accounts, and billing.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a simple system that could manage sensitive data. The platform needed to be so simple that new schools could manage their own information without constant input from us.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Someone recommended them to us. After an initial meeting to discuss the project, we had no doubt that they could deliver our vision within a reasonable price and time frame.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They designed a user-friendly system to help us store and manage customer data. They also integrated GoCardless to ensure a smooth billing process. Additionally, we’re able to print out information such as class registers on a daily basis. Currently, they’re continuing development and refining the code.

What was the team composition?

We mainly work with their senior developer, who is patient and very helpful.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

While we’re still working on the project, they’ve completed the billing process, which is significantly faster than before. We’ve also noticed fewer errors; if there are any, it’s often due to human error.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They have good communication and can clearly explain the process to us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They delivered exactly what we asked for.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of a boutique consultancy firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AppDrawn?

We needed to develop an interactive market research portal for addressing a new business opportunity. We wanted a responsive web and mobile app.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Tim (Founder and Managing Director, AppDrawn) was recommended to us by a mutual contact. We researched several vendors but, in the end, we preferred working with someone that was local, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

We went through an initial design exploration phase, followed by development using agile methodologies. AppDrawn also provides hosting.

What was the team composition?

Tim handled most of the project management, though there were several people assigned to the work, including UX designers and developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The solution has enabled us to develop a new, recurring revenue stream. AppDrawn did a fantastic job of delivering the solution on time, within budget, and using modern design practices.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Tim is super responsive, helpful, and proactive. He's a trusted advisor to us when it comes to IT, and isn't afraid to push back when he thinks we should take a different direction.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

AppDrawn is a small company, but they are true experts and clearly know what they're doing. It's such a pleasure to work with them.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

We're very happy with their services.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of HIGHWAY SAFETY MANAGEMENT LTD

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Traffic Management

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Appdrawn Software Development to accomplish?

• Streamline processes
• Save time
• Become paperless

SOLUTION

How did you find Appdrawn Software Development?

Referral

Why did you select Appdrawn Software Development over others?

• Pricing fits our budget
• Good value for the cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Appdrawn Software Development were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We employed Appdrawn to develop a platform for all back office staff to plan and book future works, which would, on each day, get sent to field operatives in a job pack form to complete with site photos and then returned to the platform for review.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

From the first discussion with AppDrawn to going live, I believe was within 6 months. Any other developments with our platform are done in good time, and we're always kept up to speed with progress.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes, always delivered on time and also kept myself in the loop with progress.

What was your primary form of communication with Appdrawn Software Development?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Very easy to get hold of if we need assistance, and it's all on a personal level.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Appdrawn Software Development could have done differently?

None at this time.