Appinventiv

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company offers a microtransaction service for Bitcoin. I am the Chief Executive Officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

I needed a partner who could transpose the designs that I had made, integrating them with the API offered by coinbase.com. I have a graphic design background, but lack experience with serious coding languages like C and Node.js.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AppInventiv developed my website. There is a multilevel marketing aspect to it, which has proven to be the most difficult part, given the amount of mathematics that has to be built into the database in order to reward users for their efforts, as they help me market the company. We're dealing with people's money, so there can't be any mistakes.

The platform involved a lot of backend server work which needs to be atomic. There can't be mistakes within it, because that could result in transaction errors. Any operation on the app has to either go all the way through, or reset itself.

I came up with a company logo, but because the platform would be more geared towards mobile, I discussed what colors should be used with AppInventiv. I chose black because it lights up a device's screen the least, so it was a solution for saving battery life. Working out the colors in order to make sure that they fit against a black element was one of the things that AppInventiv helped me out with.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

I contacted a few companies, and ended up choosing AppInventiv because they felt the most enthusiastic about the project.

How much have you invested with AppInventiv?

The total cost of AppInventiv's services is expected to reach between $50,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with AppInventiv 8 weeks ago. The project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'd love to be able to give an opinion on the work when it's live, but so far, AppInventiv's work has been good.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

The only difficulties I've experienced have been in terms of the time zone difference, but I can't fault AppInventiv for that. I've set up a rhythm with AppInventiv by which they will send me some work, I review it in the morning, send notes, and usually receive a response late at night, or the next day. We go back-and-forth like this continuously. The process has been prompt, without any hiccups.

What did you find most impressive about AppInventiv?

At one point, I asked AppInventiv to bring in another developer. An hour later, they had someone in talking to me. I don't know if other companies offer this, but through my experience in starting businesses, I've found that hiring new employees in a short timeframe isn't the easiest thing to do.

Are there any areas AppInventiv could improve?

The only problem I've had has been the time issue. I have to stay up late sometimes, given that AppInventiv's working hours are within night time in my area. In a perfect world, developers would stay up all night for me, but that wouldn't be fair to them. If I could take AppInventiv's price and genius, and move them to the US, I'd do it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a travel based app focusing on Singapore. We sell amenities, attractions, activities, meals, nightlife, sim cards, transportation, and other ‘Things to Do’ via our App to travelers visiting Singapore. They can pay for their itinerary within the app. Once they reach the merchant, they just have to scan the redemption code received in the app to enjoy a cashless experience.

I am a director in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

Singapore is one of the best travel destinations and is a major business hub as well. Tourists and business executives around the globe visit Singapore. What we observed is that these visitors face a lot of trouble with respect to finding the right things to do. Therefore we came up with this concept of developing a smartphone app that would act as a one stop solution for all the things that a tourist might want to do in Singapore. We wanted to give these tourists a cashless and paperless experience. We also wanted to let travelers add flights, hotels, passport copies, and other travel documents so they can access them whenever they want.

What were your company’s business goals for the project?

Our goal was to provide an easy-to-use and innovative app to travelers visiting Singapore, which will help them to book and pay for amenities, attractions, activities, meals, nightlife, sim cards, transportation, and other ‘Things to Do’. The travelers should be able to scan the redemption code at the merchant via the app to enjoy a queue-less experience. We wanted the app to be developed such that we can add more cities in future. We also wanted the app to be merchant friendly, so they enjoy working with us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project involved app development in iOS and Android. It included designing, development of frontend and backend, training, and support.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

I did extensive research while going for an app development company. I had an acquaintance that did business with AppInventiv and was very impressed by their work. I had a look at their website and portfolio and found their work to be good. I filled their ‘contact us’ form and the managers at AppInventiv were very agile in their work. They shared their quotation and I found the prices to be very competitive. Next, I expressed the desire to speak with the developers, and to my surprise, they allowed me to talk to them which is not a very common practice among these companies. I was impressed with the developer’s response and knowledge, and hence decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with AppInventiv?

The project was around $300,000 to $350,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project got started in December 2015 and was completed by the end of April 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The final app looks good. The backend is easy to understand. We have just launched the apps and so it would be tough to mention any specific figures as of now. However, we are getting good initial reviews.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

The performance of AppInventiv was very good. The developers and managers at AppInventiv are well aware of the work flow. There was no communication gap. They always kept me posted about the work being done. Managers were always keen to listen and get my ideas implemented. I had a great experience while speaking directly with the product developers who understood my ideas and implemented them. All in all, I would say that it was a great experience working with AppInventiv and I would love to work with them again in the future.

What did you find most impressive about AppInventiv?

One thing that I found unique about AppInventiv is that they are always open to changes, which I have experienced in very few companies. I have worked with some app developers in the past, but they were never happy when I suggested changes. I did not experience this with AppInventiv.

One more thing is that AppInventiv has a very strong design team. I was very impressed with the designs they made for the App, and even the changes they recommended to my existing logo and other designs.

Are there any areas AppInventiv could improve?

I should have spent more time with their design and technical teams at the start to brainstorm ideas and add some of those in the scope of work.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with AppInventiv?

They are good. Their design team is excellent. Their accounts people communicate regularly and their prices are competitive. They have an extremely good approach towards development and they do things in a planned way.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a development and design studio based in Singapore. Our company’s focus is providing mobile applications and websites solutions for regional SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises].

As Head of Projects, I handle mobile and web related project delivery for our clients, as well as Account Management. Client projects are developed internally and externally with the help of third-party vendors, such as AppInventiv, when we need to call in additional resources.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

The project - a cross-platform calendar/schedule app targeting property agents in Singapore - needed to be developed on a rather tight deadline and without a finalized project specification. The challenge was to complete the project while adhering to the target delivery date.

What were your company’s business goals for the project?

Our goal was to deliver a quality, stable app experience that our client will be able to pitch to their investors. The goal would be to eventually expand the application through additional features, partner with local companies, and create a web-based version.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AppInventiv handled the native mobile application development for iOS and Android, as well as development of the backend, CMS [content management system], and web service. Additionally, they assisted in deployment, quality assurance, and will be assisting in publication to the App Store and Google Play. Our team provided the finalized project specification as well as visual design and all related assets.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

I held interviews with several third-party vendors, reviewing both their competencies and examining their portfolios to look for a good fit. AppInventiv’s experience with numerous mobile projects - and especially backend development - was one of the reasons we selected them.

How much have you invested with AppInventiv?

I can’t share costs, but project development is approximately 8 months from start to deployment, with a potential 4 month additional for an update upon publication.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project kicked off from our end in November, and I believe we engaged AppInventiv at the start of this year [2016]. The project is now in the final testing stage and will be published to the App Store and Google Play in the coming weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As the app is not yet published, nor is it for our own use (it’s developed for a partner) there are no metrics to share.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

AppInventiv is very process-driven and took adequate steps to deliver the project on time. They are very experienced in mobile application development, and set very clear milestones and expectations of deliverables. There were no surprises, and this is a compliment.

What did you find most impressive about AppInventiv?

It was the first time I worked with a vendor where they had to push me! Typically I’m the one pushing a vendor to hurry up and complete various tasks or deliver a build on an agreed date. They were so quick in turnaround, it was often my side that was the bottleneck.

Are there any areas AppInventiv could improve?

I would have spent more time in the initial planning stages to ensure all items were clear before proceeding with development, although this is typical for most projects.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with AppInventiv?

Be prepared to be as detailed as possible in finalizing requirements. In the beginning it may seem excessive, but towards the end of the project, you’ll be thanking them for it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a multinational automobile manufacturing corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. We are one of the largest vehicle manufacturers by production in India and the largest manufacturer of tractors across the world.

I am a project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the challenge that you were trying to address with AppInventiv?

Our main concern was how to reach out to farmers who are in need of high-end mechanical equipment.

In India, where farm mechanization penetration is low, we would like to play a significant role in enabling farmers to improve their productivity by providing accessible technology.

Based on a franchisee model, we aimed at increasing farm mechanization levels in India through easy availability of tractors to farmers who cannot afford to purchase them. This app would create a sharing infrastructure in the deep rural pockets of India.

What were your company’s business goals for the project?

Large farmers who own expensive, high-end equipment can rent out their assets, thereby optimizing utilization based on seasonality, cutting across geographies. With the help of our app, farmers can deploy mechanization technology on a pay per use basis without investing in the asset. This will increase their output and prosperity, and lead to the inclusive growth of the nation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project will enable farmers to deploy mechanization technology on a rental basis. Franchisees could also tie-up with tractor owners in the vicinity, enabling them to rent out equipment to farmers on a commission basis.

AppInventiv helped us design and develop the app for both platforms, including Android, and helped us reach out to the large farmers and also to those who are in need of this type of machinery. This will help the agricultural industry to grow and increase the production.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

One of the first things we looked at was the portfolio of the app development company’s past work (we did this even before we contacted them). We wanted to see which brands they’ve worked with, and the types of problems they’ve solved; this provided us a good indication of what they could provide us. Then, after looking at 6 different developers, we analyzed each of the shortlisted companies on the basis of strict parameters. After extensive research, we came to the conclusion that AppInventiv best met our criteria.

We personally visited their office, met their team, and loved their professionalism towards their clients and commitment towards their work.

How much have you invested with AppInventiv?

The project development cost was around $210,000 for the complete engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was started in mid-January 2016 and is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don't have any metrics off the top of our head, but every project that we have engaged in has a defined timeline and milestones. AppInventiv’s team is reliable when it comes to the project delivery and meeting the deadlines. We are satisfied with each phase of the project execution and the quality of the deliverables.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

AppInventiv performed exceptionally well; they have a very friendly team which is efficient and flexible in responding to us. They understood us and shaped our idea into an app. They have amazing design skills and have completed their work on time. They are very responsive and very organized. The quality of work is exceptional. The AppInventiv team was involved in every aspect and very interested, not only in the development aspect, but also in every single area that is involved with this project. They're very involved and that has made a huge difference.

What did you find most impressive about AppInventiv?

They helped us think about potential issues ahead of time and suggested ideas that they thought would be useful. They were always willing to implement necessary changes and keep the project within budget. One of the key things that really stood out for them is their fantastic communication – above all the rest. They have lots of other amazing attributes but, communication, at the end of the day, is really the main component that sets them apart.

Are there any areas AppInventiv could improve?

If they could open a branch office at several locations, or if their developers could come to our office and work with us, then it would be more convenient to convey our ideas to them.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with AppInventiv?

They have a good, talented team. We have loved working with them and if we get a chance, we will work with them again. We would recommend them to anyone looking to build an amazing app.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Primaere is a startup involved in the development of applications for the financial retail sector, mainly targeting the Spanish-speaking, low-income niche. We operate in the US and outside, mostly focusing on emerging markets at the moment.

I am the owner of the startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

I've had a couple of iterations for developing a first working prototype of the app. The first version didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, so I contacted AppInventiv.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I have used AppInventiv for developing a mobile-only application for Android and iOS aimed at providing retail savings.

AppInventiv had a good approach, providing me a complete team for design, project management, and coding. Their developers worked seamlessly between the 3 groups and myself. I provided the ideas and know-how of the project. I've had a good relationship with AppInventiv so far.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

A few years ago, I developed a web-based financial application. AppInventiv participated in the bidding process, but they did not win. I kept following their projects and decided to give AppInventiv a shot on my current one.

How much have you invested with AppInventiv?

The total cost of the project has been between $30,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with AppInventiv 3 months ago. We have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had very little expertise in terms of design. I had a general vision in terms of usability. AppInventiv approached the project in a novel way for me, namely addressing individual screens and translating my ideas into quality designs.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

The layout of AppInventiv's scope of work was very clear on their part. We were able to discuss everything before proceeding to the development steps.

What did you find most impressive about AppInventiv?

I appreciated AppInventiv's approach to the development process. For people who have some experience in terms of requirements, but haven't worked on development projects extensively, AppInventiv's process is very user-friendly.

Are there any areas AppInventiv could improve?

Communication could always be improved. We work within different time zones, so there are occasional breakdowns. The ideas that I had for certain parts of the app didn't always get through in a timely fashion, but we were able to work everything out in the end.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is developing a social networking video app. I am the Chief Executive Officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

We needed to find a full, robust team right off-the-bat, which would be able to build a scalable solution. We needed iOS, Android, and backend developers, as well as UI/UX [user interface/user experience] resources. Hiring all those people in-house can be a challenge, and finding a team with this level of cross-platform expertise is also not easy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AppInventiv has been in charge of web, iOS, and Android development. They are writing our backend using Python, as well as scripting the UI/UX of the app and wireframing it. AppInventiv is also providing quality assurance testing. We have had multiple meetings discussing challenges and creating solutions with the whole team.

AppInventiv is providing us a 20-person team for the app development.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

I came to know the founders of AppInventiv through my involvement with their previous company. I trusted them, so I flew down and met the AppInventiv team. I realized that they had the diversity of skills that could help me for this project.

How much have you invested with AppInventiv?

The total scope of the project with AppInventiv is between $400,000 and $600,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with AppInventiv one year ago. We have a scheduled launch in September, 2016. We are building an in-house team of our own, which is being managed by AppInventiv. They are providing ongoing deployments as well, so we're not simply working with them on a project basis. We have a long-term relationship with AppInventiv, which is exciting.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One thing which I found in our collaboration with AppInventiv is that our UI/UX developer has consolidated our team and is one of the most talented people I've worked with in terms of problem solving.

AppInventiv's team understands communication needs, which is a hard to find skill within overseas teams. AppInventiv treats us like family, rather than a client. This means that we're able to have authentic communication both when things go right and when they go wrong. No deliverable will be perfect and things will not always go as planned. AppInventiv has taken ownership of the work and fixed things in an admirable way, allowing us to move through challenges with a lot of ease and grace. From my experience, this is what makes a company shine. AppInventiv is willing to learn and their team is able to grow and tackle things which are outside of their knowledge base. AppInventiv has hired people whenever they needed to fill a gap.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

I find them to be very flexible, dynamic, highly communicative, and highly trustworthy. I am confident that AppInventiv will be able to deliver our end-product and utilize resources efficiently.

What did you find most impressive about AppInventiv?

AppInventiv's key strength is the diversity of their team. Unlike many overseas companies which focus on every aspect and range of development, AppInventiv has honed in on mobile, employing hundreds of people who understand the specific needs for this area. AppInventiv works efficiently across a broad range of projects, delivering whatever needs to be done. AppInventiv chose a focus, stuck to it, and succeeded.

Are there any areas AppInventiv could improve?

AppInventiv could become more realistic in terms of milestone timelines and deliverables. Many times, they can be idealistic about how things are done, without thoroughly looking at requirements. I would like to see more ownership on this topic.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are an app development company.

What is your position?

I am the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

I needed some programming and mockup support for my company. It's hard to find good talent in Germany, so I started looking in India.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

AppInventiv provided iOS and Android development for my company. They also helped with design services for our products.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

I found them through Google. I considered four or five other companies besides them, but I'm glad that I chose AppInventiv in the end.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total development cost has been around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February of 2016. I have an ongoing relationship with AppInventiv.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I am quite satisfied with the work done by AppInventiv.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

I like that I can always count on receiving support for my questions from AppInventiv.

What distinguishes AppInventiv from other providers?

I've typically worked with other German companies, but I can say that AppInventiv was very reliable.

Is there anything AppInventiv could have improved or done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are an application development company.

What is your position?

I am the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

I am attempting to revolutionize paid parking. AppInventiv was instrumental in helping me achieve this goal.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

AppInventiv has worked on web, mobile, frontend, and backend development for my company. They created the web design for a landing page, as well as logo design. Mobile development was done for both iOS and Android.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

I found them through a website called AppFutura. They were very detailed in their offer to me.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The development cost has been between $10,000-20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in January of 2016. The work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

AppInventiv has a very detail-oriented team. I speak with them on a nightly basis about updates and other matters. Usually, the call is initiated by them. I receive reviews every day through Basecamp, highlighting the day's work.

What distinguishes AppInventiv from other providers?

Their key strength, besides the attention to detail, is their understanding of what I'm looking to build. AppInventiv offers suggestions on things I hadn't thought of, so we have a partnership.

Is there anything AppInventiv could have improved or done differently?

No. Considering their location, they're an almost perfect company.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Snap n Save is a coupon distribution company which offers coupons in a unique way, by using image recognition software. When a user takes a picture of an object using their smartphone, we pair it to a merchant's coupon database. We wanted to get rid of printed coupons, offering the same deals digitally.

What is your position?

I am the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

The first challenge was to see if we could achieve the process of pairing our image recognition technology with coupons. There were other sites which were able to direct users to stores where they could buy certain products based on images they uploaded, so I knew that it could be done, but it simply had never been done for our purpose. Getting an image recognition API [application program interface] that would bring up pet coupons every time I took a picture of my dog was the challenge, but we didn't know if we could do this in the beginning. We could test APIs, but we didn't know how they would work within our app.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

AppInventiv was responsible for the whole project, starting with the wireframing processes. Even before the design process started, we needed to know what the flow of the app would be. They drew and wireframed it for us, which allowed us to have a clear image of it. When building an app, there are multiple pages involved in each feature. What we thought would be a simple app, ended up having a 70-page layout. AppInventiv did a good job of applying that process in the beginning.

We then moved on to the design process and user interface. We were sent a number of variants for what the app could look like, based on their expertise from other projects. This process involved myself and my partner agreeing on design elements. At one point, the app was supposed to have a pink and purple theme. We're guys, so even though we liked it, we wanted to see other options.

We didn't have a clear idea of what color schemes we would be using, so in that sense, AppInventiv was helpful in shaping the idea for us and in being patient. They changed whatever we didn't like.

We proceeded to the coding phase. AppInventiv sent us updates and were flexible to our change requests. This process took a little longer than anticipated, given that it hadn't been laid out very well by us from the beginning. AppInventiv still had patience with our company. They sent us TestFlight links with early versions of the app. They were also involved in the backend merchant panel features which aren't visible to users. The admin panel that goes along with the app wasn't anticipated by our company, which is one of the reasons for the project taking longer to complete.

Initially, we were going to make a camera app which took a picture and retrieved a coupon. We found it to be a bit dry, so we thought about connecting people socially through it. We didn't base this on any kind of research and there was some skepticism with regards to the feature. We thought that displaying information about a user's product interests wouldn't bring any harm.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total cost so far has been around $150,000. We're expecting to spend more.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together for a year. Relatively speaking, it hasn't been a long development time, but we wanted to have a basic product with which to enter ourselves into the market.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The collaboration with AppInventiv has been excellent in terms of response time and how much they kept in contact with us.

I feel that I've found a diamond-in-the-rough company. My partner is very picky in terms of app quality and he's constantly comparing ours to Facebook and LinkedIn. Even though we're not operating at that level, he would mention what improvements he wanted to AppInventiv and they'd actually do it. I was astounded by their ability to replicate features that I liked about other apps, into my own. Technology is changing constantly. By the time an app has been built, it may be possible to have to go back and change everything visually.

The app was launched recently. It hasn't become viral yet, but our final goal is being able to connect people based on the types of deals that they like. We're not trying to recreate Instagram or Facebook, but we're trying to be a money-saving alternative on the market. We researched 400-500 students on campus, asking what was or wasn't appealing about the Groupon app. Time and time again, the answer was that they weren't being offered deals relevant to them or their peers. The market for coupons is so clustered and fragmented that it no longer makes specific offers to the user. I think that bigger companies could easily go back and fix the issue, even though it's a huge problem. For people, the experience matters more than the actual products. Opening an app and seeing knitting class offers will not make me return to it very soon. Groupon isn't capturing the millenials' market because they're simply spamming everyone with the same deals, hoping one of them will catch on. Having an app that would artificially learn the user's preferences has been our main goal. If we're successful, we'll continue the project for years.

How did AppInventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

One thing I can say about AppInventiv is that they're a very professional team. Their response times are very good and they adjust well to what our schedules are, even though some of them are located in India.

What distinguishes AppInventiv from other providers?

When searching for a company on freelancing sites like Upwork or Freelancer, the client won't know what they're getting into, even after reading reviews. There is no consistent structure offered by developers. Most work on a project when they have free time. With AppInventiv, we had a team assigned to our work, which was very nice.

The first thing a client will do is usually to try and find the cheapest team possible. They'll get a lot of bids that seem appealing, but cheaper is not even close to being better. You need a team of people on a project, not just one or two engineers. I have enough experience to know that when there is a set structure and when an actual company is working on a project, the experience will be a lot better. If there is a disagreement after working with the same person for a year, there will be a lot of bias in the relationship from then on. This hasn't been a problem with AppInventiv.

Is there anything AppInventiv could have improved or done differently?

I've noticed that they sometimes sent us app builds on which we immediately saw potential problems for the user. AppInventiv needs to spend some more time on testing user experience elements. There were some common sense elements which got lost in the process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We have come up with an innovative solution for meet-ups, events, and different business activities, allowing people to connect to each other.

What is your position?

I am one of the co-founders of the startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with AppInventiv?

We needed development for our web frontend and also for Android and iOS apps.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

AppInventiv provided web and mobile app development for us. We've not gone live yet, so there have been no support services offered by them, but this will be a consideration in the future.

Like any startup, our scope was not well-defined initially. When trying to build a minimum viable product, there are a lot of details to be fleshed-out. AppInventiv has been very accommodating in this sense. Usually, any modifications made after the first scope involve renegotiating the contact. Any time we needed to make a change, if it was manageable within the budget, we could do it without a lot of fuss.

We've recently completed a milestone and started a new one. We started discussions, making sure we knew what we wanted based on our feed-back from potential customers. We've had flexibility in terms of what would be addressed right now and what would be left for later iterations.

How did you come to work with AppInventiv?

We first contacted AppInventiv a year ago through Elance, which is currently called Upwork. The challenge was conveying enough of our idea to candidates in order to make them understand the work, without touching on still-confidential concepts. AppInventiv came up with the appropriate budget for all of our scopes and were also patient in terms of making the necessary research for certain tasks. We couldn't commit to anything without knowing if it was possible or not, as it was an approach which hadn't been attempted before.

In terms of the selection process, there are few quality companies that will reach out to a customer. There were around 30-35 candidates who contacted us, but judging by their responses alone, we could see that they hadn't even taken the time to read the proposal. They mostly posted generic information about themselves. With AppInventiv, we could tell that they read our posting and were actually interested in offering quality service. They gave us a link to their portfolio and we could see that their designs were amazing, which isn't true for a lot of offshore companies. We've been happy with how the user interface has shaped up. It's not a standard template which was picked up from somewhere and modified. The two main factors for choosing them were their response and their existing portfolio.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total development cost has been between $150,000 and 200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration started around one year ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I have a quality assurance background, particularly related to software and hardware for next-generation firewalls, so this has been a factor which I've stressed from day-one. I've actually been a pain for them, as far as quality is concerned, but AppInventiv has matched my standards from the start. The developers themselves do a lot of unit testing. Before a bill is submitted to the customer, there will be an array of engineers making sure that no stone is left unturned.

In terms of traction and customer interest, we've had many meetings with potential clients. We wanted to build something which people would want. We reached out to contacts and they were amazed by the overall quality of the designs and the user experience.

What distinguishes AppInventiv from other providers?

They're a group of nice people. For many agencies, it all boils down to grabbing as many projects as they can get their hands on. It can become a workshop environment in which projects are constantly coming in and going out. Most of them don't have a personal touch, and do not give a vibe of being invested in the client's success. AppInventiv stays up late to 2-3 AM their time when it comes to delivering a deadline. I could see their dedication throughout. If they're interested in a project, they make sure to give it their all.

Is there anything AppInventiv could have improved or done differently?

There isn’t anything I can think of.