Borne Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at Urban Self Defence, a self-defense program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Borne Digital?

We needed to get a subscription app designed, branded, and developed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Borne Digital developed our app. We initially went to them with some ideas and sat down with their creative team. They came up with some good ideas on how to work through the interface and helped us with the branding.

They built the app for both iOS and Android. It allowed users to learn self-defense online. Now, we pay them a monthly fee to host the app, and we’ll go back to them with any updates.

What is the team composition?

We had 3–4 people initially. We mainly worked with the lead developer and a manager throughout the whole process.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £35,000 (approximately $47,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2019–February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were very knowledgeable in coming up with everything we needed to put together. It was quite an extensive program, and we were very happy with everything they did until we went to market.

We’re seeing how it works and testing it with many people, so it’s just a soft launch for now. It hasn’t gained momentum because we haven’t spent much on marketing yet. However, everyone is happy with the end product and how it works. There are more than 100 videos on there, and we haven’t had any complaints. It works really well.

How did Borne Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was good. They initially quoted a figure and were in touch with any overages because we started coming up with more complicated things. They were great at keeping us up-to-date on our spending, and we were in contact with the manager.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very helpful and gave us a little bit of slack when we were waiting on cash flow.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At the beginning of an engagement, they could provide a booklet that details each part of the process for new people like us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask questions during the initial meetings to get a clear idea about where you’re going, the timeline, and the money.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a startup based in  London. We have two main business services, one of which is a mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Borne Digital?

I needed some external help to create a functioning application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My intention was to deliver an engaging end-product with them, they also assisted in developing the prototype. This included implementing the UI/UX screens that I designed into a working app.

They handled the backend development from scratch and the implementation of the front-end.  The final product is a native iOS app made using PHP. We used DigitalOcean for our databases. I have the intention to launch an Android later on but wanted to get the iOS version into the market first.    

What is the team composition?

I worked with the CEO, CTO, product manager, a front-end developer, a backend developer, and a QA specialist. My main point of contact was the product and project manager. 

How did you come to work with Borne Digital?

I reached out to 5–6 businesses to discuss the work and review their references. They provided us with a detailed assessment of the work, which helped me choose them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2019, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re happy with the relationship and are continuing to work with them even after the product’s launch. That’s the best indicator of our success with them. I want to keep working with them because I can expect that they will continue to add value to my project moving forward.   

How did Borne Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Their senior teammates were always available on calls to help us make the right decisions. We were often looking for their advice on technology and infrastructure-related questions. They helped me understand the right information and decide on how to implement this initiative.

They’re a reactive group. Despite the occasional extended deadlines, they were great communicators. They agreed to use my recommended project management software to prioritize tasks in the pre-launch phase. Even though that wasn’t their tool, they adapted to our needs.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were concerned with keeping the project on track from a budget and scheduling perspective. Their team was great at highlighting areas that my proposed changes may make the project more expensive. We appreciated that attention to detail. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re pretty easy to work with and offer good project managers.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a founding partner of Sidekicks, a recruitment company based in London. We introduce the very best administrative, operations, and office support talent to outstanding employers around the world in order to revolutionize their back office functions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Borne Digital?

Our company has a great deal of engagement from graduate talent. We identified the need to create a mobile app to further engage this sector of the market.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase engagement amongst a particular sector of our candidates and help broaden the reach of our temporary desk.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched online for app development agencies that could complete all the design work in-house. Borne Digital was recommended to us by another business, and we were very impressed with their pitch. The quote was fair and they were also very detailed in their proposal. We felt they grasped our design challenges swiftly and proposed excellent solutions to the issues we were concerned about.

Describe the project in detail.

Borne Digital created the entire front and backend for a section of our recruitment function, including integration with our existing CRM and rollout, as well as beta testing, and branding/design of the entire project from start to finish. We also engaged them to assist with a rebrand of the business as a whole, which they did beautifully. The brand is in use right now across the business.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a very capable project manager and a developer to work through the project with us. Borne Digital's CEO was also in constant contact, which was super helpful and very reassuring. The team size has been constant.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're still in the rollout stage, so any metrics are confidential. However, initial engagement metrics are extremely positive and feedback from users shows praise for its usability, look and feel, and the logical flow of the app.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They’ve been extremely good in this regard. The project manager is punctual, accurate, and helpful. We’ve had a really positive experience with the whole team at Borne Digital, and since they’re a local London firm, there’s been no language or time zone issues.

Furthermore, they’ve been great at managing expectations and chasing us for things that we forget to get across to them quickly enough! Overall, the quality of communication has been superb.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their genuine commitment to building something brilliant and the way the whole team really got behind our project made us feel like they were truly part of our internal team! We really evaluated their design skills, as our app had to not only work well but look and feel really appealing; they totally nailed this aspect of the brief.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None! They produce great quality work, communicate really well, and are impressive and realistic in managing timelines. I would massively recommend them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of a startup looking to tap into the hospitality and travel industry on an international scale.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Borne Digital?

We wanted to have our ideas developed into a mobile application so people around the world could use it. We hired Borne Digital to help us tailor our vision into a great company.

What were your goals for this project?

We knew our idea was difficult and sophisticated to turn into an application. We wanted our app to have a user-friendly interface and easily accessible to all audiences.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After surveying several companies around the world, we selected Borne Digital. We wanted someone who is based in London and were willing to expand our budget for their services.

Describe the project in detail.

Their team worked right away on the UX/UI design. They worked on the code, architecture, and design to implement our ideas. We cannot disclose any more of the project due to confidentiality agreements.

What was the team composition?

We had a project manager to serve as our main point of contact and three people working on the app design. The CTO worked on the technical end and the client services director scheduled our meetings and made sure the project ran smoothly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are working on a worldwide launch for the app, with the first launch expected to be in London within the next couple of months. Meanwhile, we are working on marketing and advertising our app.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager was easy to communicate with and kept us regularly updated on the status of the application. We communicated through Slack and set up meetings together frequently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their innovation and motivation to complete our project was impressive. We were surprised by their dedication to bringing our app to the market.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything can always be done faster, but we were very satisfied with their work and are planning future projects with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of the ZEUS mobile app. We help the general public get accurate property valuations and simultaneously generate leads for estate agents and brokers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Borne Digital?

We needed a specific flow of screens to make the user experience as good as possible and to keep the drop-off rate low.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave them a short description of my ideas, which they transformed into wireframes. Those evolved into detailed renderings and a proper UX document with buttons, selections, and functionality. One challenge we faced was ensuring accurate addresses for property valuations. We included a specific plugin to guarantee accuracy. They created everything with my input and industry knowledge. Thanks to our combined expertise, we created the perfect flow.

What is the team composition?

We work with a whole range of people with different specializations. We have a project manager, a designer, and a technical lead. We also speak with the CEO regularly for updates. Everyone on the team is excellent.

How did you come to work with Borne Digital?

I looked for a medium-sized digital developer through online searches and came up with a shortlist of about five that had experience with property related apps and might be compatible. Borne came back with a competitive price and I had a good feeling about them. We got along well and I went with my instinct to use them.

How much have you invested with them?

We will spend around £60,000 (approximately $79,000 USD) when we finish the extra changes. This is above the original fixed price because my ideas evolved and I wanted to add features.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2017 and the app just launched in June 2018. We’re still working together for debugging and minor updates but the project is mostly complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too early to assess the app’s market success but all of the feedback from the test groups of agents and general users has been very good. People love the products and are already contacting us directly to get the product now, before it’s even completely finished.

How did Borne Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very patient and managed the whole process amazingly well. They were always quick to respond and give good feedback. They explained all the technical aspects to me and I’ve learned a lot as we’ve progressed together.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re fantastic. They came up with a lot of ideas that other people didn’t have and were very passionate about the project. They equaled my ambition to create something that would have a real impact on the real estate market. I can’t speak of them highly enough and have already recommended them to a colleague.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if they were less expensive but you pay for quality.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of gowithYamo. We’re aiming to be the largest art gallery platform in London. We currently have over 600 galleries and exhibitions listed on our mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Borne Digital?

We initially had another development firm build our platform, but hired Borne Digital to take over the project. They’re currently in the process of rebuilding the app from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Borne Digital rebuilt our mobile app for iOS and Android. They completely redesigned its UI/UX and improved the app’s responsiveness. They’ve built out complex features and geofencing functionalities that performed well in beta-testing. We’re on schedule to relaunch the app in 1–2 months.

What is the team composition?

We have an assigned project manager as our primary point of contact. We also work closely with both their founder and CTO.

How did you come to work with Borne Digital?

They were recommended to us by colleagues in the industry. We interviewed four different firms to get an understanding of their processes and gauge a relative cost. We eventually hired Borne Digital because of their diverse development team. They have a team in Serbia, but we also have access to their team in London. This permits some of the cost savings that come with outsourcing a project, while also granting us the convenience of a closely located team. We’re able to quickly reach out to them if something goes wrong.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent roughly £70,000 ($90,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We hired them in January 2017 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app had 2,000 downloads when they first took over the project. Since then, they’ve been the driving force in getting us to over 17,000 downloads. They’re much more accessible than our previous service provider and that’s helped improve our overall development strategy.

How did Borne Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re extremely happy with their level of availability and documentation. Their project manager stays in communication with us and promptly addresses any problems. He effectively coordinates between the backend server team and the Android development team. The CTO is often on hand to explain new development requirements to members our staff who don’t come from tech backgrounds. Their founder offers valuable insight into UI/UX design.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Borne Digital’s ability to work as a cohesive team from both London and Serbia is unique. Outsourcing part of the development made the project more affordable while having a local QA resource gives us peace of mind. Whenever we experience an issue that’s difficult to explain, they’re able to send support to address the problem in-person.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could utilize a broader range of programs to track analytics.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

App development can be a complex task even when working with simple software. What could look easy to the naked eye might be complicated on the backend. Therefore, communication is critical and so is patience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director and founder of a private dating club in London and New York. We host private parties and events for singles.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Borne Digital?

We were looking for a mobile app to complement our membership. At the time, our members would RSVP to events by emailing us, and we wanted to make the process a bit smoother. We also wanted to decrease the ratio of women to men using our services, because we were at 80% women and 20% men. We knew that women were fine with receiving emails, but a lot of men wanted to have a digital product. Finally, we wanted it to be really easy for users, who are generally against apps and don’t use them very much. We had to encourage and show them that this was just a simple tool for them to use.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our entire app and designed it as well. We sat down and told them roughly what we were looking for and then they came up with the designs. After making a mock-up, which actually happened before we signed with them, they developed the app. In terms of functionality, we wanted something super simple. Users had to be able to see what was going on and add themselves to guest lists, and the app needed to add events to people’s calendars.

What is the team composition?

I worked with John, who’s their founder, and I also worked with a project manager who is no longer there, but was really good.

How did you come to work with Borne Digital?

We’d actually spoken to quite a few agencies, and their designs were 10x better than anyone else’s. We’re a high-end club and we were looking for something that looked expensive, and they made mockups that were beautiful.

Somebody recommended them to me, and when I had a meeting with them, I thought their founder was quite charming and really patient with someone who wasn't used to technology. He gave me a lot of his time before having to think about doing the project with them, really holding my hand a lot.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $15,000-$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The whole project lasted about eight months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We found that after we implemented the app, we went from having an 80/20 female to male split to 60% female and 40% male. It had a really positive impact on how we targeted people and our sales because suddenly we were more attractive to men.

How did Borne Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

I had quite a lot of input from their founder, so if there was ever any issue such as a misunderstanding with a project manager, John was the first person to step in and clarify everything. They're good at holding the hands of people who aren't familiar with technology.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The founder really acted as a translator, because usually when I speak to app agencies, they are very technical. I loved the personality of the founder and their strong design skills, and I was actually happy with the price point. Handing over that money as a very small business, I felt like I'd gotten value for it. Other, bigger agencies I’ve spoken to didn’t understand what it was like to run a small business.

They've definitely given me a lot of free help when it comes to helping me understand things. They'll just send me a document breaking it down in layman's terms, which I'm quite grateful for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At the very beginning, they needed a better project manager, but they got one, so that was the only issue I had.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the IT Director at an outsource facilities management company. WGc operates across the UK employs over 6000 people.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Borne Digital?

WGC hired Borne to devise and build iOS and Android apps to allow us to connect with our team members, share important news and updates and allow secure access to payslips and other documents.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to empower all team members to manage their employment with WGC in one easy to use application.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Borne following 3 months of searching and shortlisting. Of the 3 companies shortlisted, Borne provided the most down to earth understanding of our needs.

Describe the project in detail.

Following the initial meetings, Borne delivered several mock-ups to allow us to push around ideas with our CEO and Senior Team. Borne took our limited input and achieved great results first time around.

What was the team composition?

During our initial meetings, we met key members of the Borne Team, including the designers, developers and account management. Following the initial meetings, we dealt with our dedicated account manager who provided us with all the support required and kept us well informed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Following the launch of the project, we have received 100% positive feedback and seen monthly sign-in rates increase 75%.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

WGC operates a small team in the IT team without the skill set to develop apps, so we relied heavily on Borne's ability to interrupt our needs and deliver a finished project with limited input.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Borne have a great ability to take in limited information from a client and start to build and deliver a great product

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Blue Sky, the Social Impact Platform. The platfrom promotes community and social activities in your local area. The App is available to download for free on the Apple App Store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Borne Digital?

Mobile App Development and Website Development.

What were your goals for this project?

Build an easy to use app, with an emphasis on sleek design and an explainer website detailing what Blue Sky is.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I did a lot of research and spoke with many companies in the United Kingdom and across Europe. I decided on working with Borne because I felt they understood what I wanted to acheive and had the skills to build it.

Describe the project in detail.

One round table discussion with different members of the development team and then we got to work immediately.

What was the team composition?

Project manager, backend, graphics, UX

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Brilliant feedback from people of all ages and all walks of life.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very much on the same page throughout the whole project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They had a brilliant understanding of what I wanted to build and how I wanted it to look and delivered it to a tee.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None