Mobile App Dev for Online Dating Platform
- Mobile App Development
- Confidential
- Feb. 2017 - Ongoing
- Quality
- 4.5
- Schedule
- 4.5
- Cost
- 5.0
- Willing to Refer
- 5.0
"I could see they were putting their heart and soul into the project, from their design ideas to the actual work done."
- Other industries
- London, England
- 1-10 Employees
- Phone Interview
- Verified
AppUnite helped design and develop an iOS mobile app. They led efforts related to beta testing and launching in the App Store, and will soon continue to work on the Android version.
AppUnite reliably delivers high-quality work; the app has had no issues or crashes. Their work ethic makes them stand out, and while a single point of contact would’ve been helpful, they were accommodating and quick to address concerns. They executed brilliantly from design to testing.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the owner, director, and founder of a dating app which connects people looking for genuine long-term relationships.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with AppUnite?
The challenge was putting my idea into reality and producing a professional-looking end product. I needed the creative input from an outsider looking in, on how design elements and functionalities could be optimised.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
AppUnite developed my app for iOS completely from scratch. It may be reproduced on Android in the future, and I do plan to continue working with them going forward on any tweaks, amendments, and further versions.
I had some firm ideas about the design, color scheme, and logo, around which they worked with me from the very start. As with most things, when the actual project started, other factors came into play and what I thought needed to be done changed along the way. AppUnite worked on the project from the initial idea right through to the end product, beta testing and releasing it to the App Store.
The app is self-explanatory in that it’s a dating app. Users swipe through a database looking for their match. The app has some nice touches, such as the logo appears as a watermark on the screen to signify a new match and this is also replicated in the “Matches” section. There is also a time component as users have 48 hours to communicate with their match, and there is an hourglass timer, complete with sand, which dwindles down to zero.
What is the team dynamic?
We had a few initial conference calls in order to establish what my app focused on and the target market. I produced templates on how I wanted the screens to look and behave, detailing the key elements I wanted covered. I also gave AppUnite some free reign to input their ideas. At the end of the day, this is their area of expertise, and it’s why I employed them.
I would say there were between five and ten people from their side working on my app at any given point, all with different areas of expertise, from design framework to project management to actual front of house and backend developers. Overall, I would say I was in touch with almost everyone from AppUnite’s office.
How did you come to work with AppUnite?
They were recommended to me by a work colleague (I am also a lawyer). We were put in touch and got conversations underway in terms of what I wanted to achieve. I tried to determine whether they were a good fit, whether they understood the concept, and whether they agreed that there was a void in the market where my app could fit nicely and subsequently be successful.
I am based in London and had approached others, weighing up the costs and seeing how they would deal with the app itself. I had to decide whether it would work best with a single company building it from start to finish, or whether some parts would be outsourced. My preference was to deal with a single company, not multiple.
What is the status of this engagement?
We signed the contract in February 2017 and released to the store in early October. As mentioned, I plan to continue working with them. We are on the brink of another release, which is currently in review with the App Store.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They have been brilliant from start to finish in terms of getting the work done. The app has been released to the store already, which happened fairly quickly considering that many apps take a year to a year and a half to complete. They worked fast, but still delivered a very professional end result.
I’m happy with the current user base, and there have been no crashes since release, which is brilliant for a product in its early stages. Of course we do expect some minor problems to present themselves, but AppUnite has always worked hard to address any issues like that when they do arise.
How did AppUnite perform from a project management standpoint?
Last weekend, I needed assistance as an advert going out in the Metro newspaper here in London. It was a substantial financial investment for us, and they worked throughout the weekend using two to three people from the team, even though this wasn’t their standard practice. I found this to be admirable. I can’t fault AppUnite for the work they’ve done, and hope that their strong work ethic continues going forward.
I had a single project manager as my go-to. They are based in Poland, while I am based in London, so there is potential for language barriers. I have not found any problems aside from having to explain myself more because of certain words or phrases which are difficult to translate.
Other than this, they’ve always executed what I needed. There have been very few issues or missed deadlines, and if something has been missed, they have addressed it straightaway when I have mentioned it. I find this to be rare for companies, especially bigger ones who will often push some clients to the side. AppUnite seems to have a wide spectrum covered.
Apple certainly seems to be temperamental in terms of if and when things are accepted, and how long it will take. They have their own timelines, which has led to some delays. This is, of course, out of AppUnite’s control.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their strong work ethic was made apparent within the first weeks of working together. I could see they were putting their heart and soul into the project, from their design ideas to the actual work produced. Bigger companies often just see the paycheck, and are not that focused on the end product overall.
They have put “Handcrafted by AppUnite” on the bottom of my landing page, which shows their pride in the end product, appreciation for what the app does, and acknowledgment of what I’m trying to do in the market. There is a wide range of dating apps, some very questionable and some of poor quality. It’s great to see that AppUnite wanted their name attached to the app, and I was more than happy to allow this since I do think they did a great job. Without them, I wouldn’t actually have an app so it’s only fair that they get the recognition.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Throughout the whole transaction, from design to build and release, everything has been brilliant, and I can’t fault them. The only feedback I gave was for them to introduce someone who I could have as a go-to point for any tweaks and amendments within the first two or three months, just while the app is getting off the ground and I’m building a user base. People will come to me with issues and concerns which all need addressing promptly. I have suggested this because it wasn’t clear whom I should go to, as the team initially working on my app has obviously moved on to other projects.
AppUnite has put this into play already, and they were pleased to hear constructive criticism about their company. They are small in comparison to other developers, but there is always room for improvement like with anything.
RATINGS
-
Quality
4.5Service & Deliverables
"Their service is very good. I didn’t have a contact after the project ended, but they’ve addressed this."
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Schedule
4.5On time / deadlines
"We’ve hit every single deadline aside from a handful of occasions related to App Store."
-
Cost
5.0Value / within estimates
"Compared to the quotes I received in London, their cost was fair and reasonable."
-
Willing to Refer
5.0NPS
"I have recommended them to a friend running his own business.
