Code Brew Labs

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a scooter rental platform. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

I needed a mobile application built.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built two apps: one for iOS and one for Android. It’s a micro-mobility shared application that activates the scooter. The user can also open a map to see where the scooters are in relation to them. The app is linked to an admin panel with a dashboard that allows us to manage the subscribers. We have customer reviews, problems, feedback, and more documented there. 

There are two backup servers to monitor the users, to ensure no delays in downloading the app, and to minimize crashes. They currently monitor and maintain the application. 

What is the team composition?

There are 7-8 people who work on the team: an Android developer, an iOS developer, two backend supports, a QA tester, a designer, and someone in charge of monitoring the servers.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

I had worked with a few companies unsatisfactorily. When I found Code Brew Labs, I spent a few days visiting them, talking with the CEO, and seeing their workspace. I liked the way they worked and decided to test their skill before deciding to work on the project with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $140,000 - $160,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in September 2019, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app is live for both iOS and Android, in the app stores. They continue to add and tweak features for us. We went into operation a week prior to COVID-19, so we are waiting for the government to allow us to reopen.

How did Code Brew Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They do very well. They update me every couple of days, as well as send weekly reports for documentation. We use Basecamp and WhatsApp. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is very good and works quickly. I like that they come to ask questions when they need to instead of just pushing forward without clarification. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice if they assigned a team from the local office for easier interaction.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want to develop a clean, professional application, this is a good team to work with. They cost more than some others, but are worth it. They deliver what they promise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a local transportation provider specializing in less-than-truckload freight. We’re expanding nationally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

I hired them to build a functionality for our mobile app that would allow us to track and tender shipments to drivers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The functionality that I wanted was an admin panel that would allow us to assign shipments that are grouped together — instead of individual shipments — to specific drivers, based on either location or preference.

The app is compatible with standard mobile devices. It’s available on Android and iOS.

What is the team composition?

Mukesh (Business Development Manager, Code Brew Labs) was on the sales side. There were two other individuals involved: a salesperson and some kind of project manager.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

I did some research online and found their website. There was information about a delivery app they’d built. It’s a working app that can be purchased outright or licensed from them.

How much have you invested with them?

They wanted $5,000. Luckily, I was weary and only sent them $1,500. I told them I’d continue to pay based on some milestones, but this thing never got started. Initially, they said everything, including the functionalities I asked for, was included.

It was really a bait and switch. I sent them a deposit, and, two days later, they told me they looked at my project and it would cost more money. That was an immediate turnoff. Their initial request was $5,000, which was reasonable, but the app ended up costing $15,000. At that point, I said I wasn’t interested. It started to spiral downward from that point forward. They haven’t done any work. I told them to return my funds due to the fact that we hadn’t gone anywhere, and they said no. 

It would be disappointing to see someone else lose $5,000, and that’s why I want the review to be public. Their Google reviews are 100% fake. I see the same names of people I’ve communicated with from Code Brew Labs who have written Google reviews. I want to let the public know about the disappointing experience.

What is the status of this engagement?

I gave them a deposit at the end of December 2019. I’m not working with them now. They’re scammers. They took my money and are not responding to me anymore. We cut things off last week.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

There was no opportunity to work with them. They wanted more money, and I said I wasn’t interested in spending more money; the point was that the application already had what I needed. I spoke to the salesperson on numerous occasions, explaining to him what I needed. He told me to send the money. I came to find out that they wanted another $3,000, and I wasn’t interested in that. I wanted to work with someone who could give me a straight shot and tell me what it cost, what it had, and what it didn’t have. I’m in the process of working with a new partner.

How was project management handled?

We had a WhatsApp group available for communication. As soon as things spiraled out of control, they stopped responding. It was also very difficult to understand them. I think there was a significant language barrier. However, it was fine through texts and WhatsApp messages.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

They didn’t do anything. I wish they had, but there was nothing done over an almost two-month period.  

In what specific areas can they improve?

The problem was their trustworthiness. We weren’t necessarily spending a huge dollar amount, but the problem came down to them holding us hostage over the cost. That automatically led me to believe that I was going to have problems with them. 

They make a very bold statement, namely that people can buy the app from them. That’s also a very slippery slope. I checked the Apple and Android stores, and, in order for us to put the app on a store, the code would have to be very individual and specific. There’s a very high chance that, if it’s a generic app used by multiple people and we end up buying the code, we wouldn’t be able to put it up on the stores. Their statement of buying their app is maybe accurate, but whether we’d be able to house it on the stores is questionable. I didn’t even know this until I contacted a new provider, and they asked me background questions. I told them I was working with a company that promised to sell me the code because they had a more general code build. The company told me I wouldn’t be able to house the app on the stores due to these technical issues.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

Anyone interested in buying the code from them should understand that it’s code they’ve sold to others, and it may not be publishable on the app stores.

Company Responses

The vendor responded on April 17, 2020.

The client bought our Pre-Built Shipping Logistics solution. The client was given a demo of this solution before he decided to continue. Later, he asked for Custom Dispatching Solution as per his business process and Users. That solution had to be custom developed and was quoted at $2800 USD.

The client decided he did not want to pay and asked for a refund. He panicked and posted this review. We refunded the client a week before his review showed up on Clutch as it takes time. 

The client approached Clutch saying that he wants to remove the review, but Clutch has not been able to do that because of their policies.

[Clutch has reached out to the client to update their review.]

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founding partner of a marketing firm that helps authors generate buzz around their books. Through our comprehensive bouquet of unique services, we help authors catch the attention of their target audience and promote their books.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Code Brew Labs?

We started this business in 2016 and have over 250 clients from around the world. Managing them become a challenge. We tried to manage activities with Google Sheets, but the workflow became confusing. Our clients were frustrated with the delays and missed deadlines. We needed help fast, so we were in the market for a technology solution that managed and tracked activities. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a mobile app where clients could see everything that we had planned for the next 30 days.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We shared our wishlist with four different vendors, including Code Brew, and asked them to submit their technical and financial proposal within seven days. They came up with a great execution schedule, but their pricing was 20% higher than the others. We were interested in their understanding of our needs and their plan to execute its minute details. Their recommendations added a lot of value to our system and proved beneficial both ourselves and our clients. They made almost 50 recommendations in their proposal, which won them the contract.

Describe the project in detail.

Code Brew placed a lot of details into their proposal and added a few more things along the way. We had a few sessions with their project manager, in which we shared more details about the activities and roles that needed to be configured within the system. They managed development while keeping us in the loop. We got an Android app and plan to create an iOS app next year. 

Using the app, our clients can see when activities will conclude and when results will be achieved. They can ask about any activity, which our helpdesk answers within a specified period. On the backend, we see all clients, plan and schedule their activities, assign responsibilities to executives, track our team's progress and performance, prepare reports, raise the alarm on deadlines, push messages to clients, or interact with them individually. Every executive also has a login so they can see activities and update their progress.

What was the team composition?

We met their project manager almost every week. We also met the whole team working on the project at their office. Including our project manager, four team members contributed to our project. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app performs extremely well, apart from some minor glitches and oversights that don't hamper our main objectives. Since deployment, Code Brew has already fixed most issues in the minor updates that we roll out every other month.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We received and answered their queries through email, then followed up with a telephone conversation to ensure that they received our input. We had weekly meetings to discuss work progress and specific features.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Code Brew is remarkably professional. Their team understands the value of time, takes instructions well, and delivers according to our requirements.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't think of anything. They're more than perfect. I appreciate their work and the contribution it has made to our process improvement and customer satisfaction.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of a non-profit focusing on sexual violence in public spaces.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

We had a crowd-mapping web app for sexual violence in public spaces and wanted to create a mobile version to provide the information in an easy-to-access format to anyone around the world, as well as add new features.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Code Brew provided Android and iOS app design and development, as well as a backend dashboard. We gave them our requirements, from which they created wireframes and documentation. We wanted to keep it simple and clean so users wouldn’t be intimidated with the design. They also helped with the app store launch process.

The app's key feature is a crowd map, which clusters information together based on geotagging. It also has simple forms for reporting. Features include building communities, posting safety tips, uploading blogs, and creating events. We also have language requirements—English, Hindi, and Spanish—to which we will be adding three more languages shortly.

What is the team dynamic?

It helps that our project manager is a woman; the project has been taken a level further, in a sense, with Code Brew becoming tied into my vision and mission. They’ve been open and flexible to creating the midway features we added. We have a project team, including a design person and development resources.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

My technical team put out a request for proposal and shortlisted three vendors for me to select. I chose Code Brew because they were the best in terms of visualization.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Code Brew in April 2017. The app was launched on September 21, 2017. We have a 5-year contract, during which Code Brew will continue to maintain our app and provide any new development. We are also in talks with them about our marketing strategy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s still early, but many people have complimented us on the design of the app. It meets my requirements of being simple and user-friendly. There have been no crashes, and their code has been strong thus far.

How did Code Brew Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Basecamp as a project management tool and WhatsApp for communication. We have calls every week and get daily updates on Basecamp. The technical team prepared the list of deliverables and set up a project timeline. They are communicative and responsive, and the work is delivered on schedule and budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like their whole approach. They feel like a part of our team and deliver exactly what they say they will. They've been open to new changes as well, so I feel comfortable having them as our partner for the next five years.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not currently, but there’s always room for improvement. They've provided consultation as well.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I would confidently refer people to use their services, as I’ve had a good experience with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a manufacturer of light commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks, and ambulances. We’ve worked in this segment since 1985. I’m a junior manager in the marketing department of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

We wanted to provide an inquiry-management system to our sales team in India. It would also analyze our conversion ratio, given that we hadn’t been able to correctly ascertain the number of customers we had, at a corporate level. The system would have an automatic follow-up for leads and display the statuses of all customers across India, providing better customer and competitive analysis data to our marketing offices.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Code Brew developed the platform based on our blueprint and system hierarchy. We identified how it should look and perform, then they converted those descriptions into what we wanted. They also provided suggestions on the user interface. Code Brew has past experiences with CRM [customer relationship management] modules and knew how to deliver a better product to us.

What is the team dynamic?

We usually only interfaced with their project manager, who directed her team members. We did talk to the entire team at certain times and visited their office as well.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

As a company mandate, we need to find 3 vendors for any new project. We contacted several candidates and chose Code Brew Labs based on their Glassdoor and Google profile, past work, expertise in the area, flexibility, and the 18-month after-sale support included in their offer. If we wanted to include something which hadn’t been in the initial document, they were happy to make the amendment.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2016, and the project was finalized in May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Code Brew Labs successfully converted our vision into a working software, incorporating all our needs on a very user-friendly platform. We made some improvements to the platform based on feedback from our staff, but overall, the support Code Brew provided is unparalleled. They proved they are a company that wishes to stay in the industry.

Our target users were older people, some of whom were not educated on new technology. We feared that we had put a lot of money in a piece of software they were not able to use, but Code Brew made it user-friendly and easy to understand. Our entire team has been using it, and we didn’t have to train anyone on how it works.

How did Code Brew Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They had good performance compared to other vendors. Their project managers and company as a whole treated us like someone they want to do business with in the future. They always responded quickly and professionally to any issues or doubts we had, and made recommendations for better alternatives for our platform. Coming from a non-technical background, I thought that it would be hard to explain the scope using proper terminology, but they understood us easily.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were helpful and flexible compared to other teams we’ve worked with in the past. They performed well within their area of expertise. Mistakes are also made in flexible working environments, but how those mistakes are approached gives true indication about a company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. I could mention something after we’ve worked together on a few more projects. I’m satisfied for now.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I advise customers to choose Code Brew. They are experts in software development, and have a nice team. They can handle large projects and put in extra effort, so time constraints are never an issue. We had a blueprint of what we wanted, which we explained across multiple meetings. They delivered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a small startup company based in the United Kingdom. We offer backpacking guides for various countries on our website and uniquely in the app developed with Code Brew. I am the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

We needed to find a company that could develop a native iOS and Android app to our specifications.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided fairly solid designs of what we wanted the app to look like and how it will function. Code Brew did a good job of designing the final screen designs quickly.

I think our app was technically challenging for them, so the developers did struggle sometimes to meet the requirements. It often took much iteration to get to the required specs. However, they did always get there in the end – within reason.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

After a lengthy process to find the developers for our backpacking app, we short-listed 2 or 3 developers. We chose Code Brew on the strength of previous apps they had worked on and recommendations from one of these companies.

What is the status of this engagement?

This took 9 months to complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The strong positive is the end result, which is a big concern when you start a project. The end result is superb.

How did Code Brew Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

Their availability on Skype was very good, and it was clear they want to get a good result. They take pride in their work. I'd like to thank the team who worked very hard on our app, which includes project manager Vikas, iOS developer Gurleen Kaur, Android developers Vaishali Dixi and Prashant Handa, and backend developer Gaurav Gupta.

What did you find most impressive about Code Brew Labs?

They offered good value for money in terms of what they delivered. My only negative would be the time it took to deliver the app. I think the reason for this was it was just more complicated than they planned for. The more detailed specification you give them at the start, the better.

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

App development is difficult, and I saw many poor quality apps while recruiting for developers. I would recommend Code Brew on the strength of their ability to make a working app with good design. I did find I had to do the testing and point out all the issues, which is time-consuming, so plan for this.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

ENOEM Inc. is a company which has developed a social networking application which connects professionals. I am the president of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

We needed resources for building our idea quickly. I have an application architecture background, so I was looking for someone to whom I could pass that information, and know that they could develop upon my idea. The company also needed to have knowledge in both iOS and Android development, and work within my budget.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Code Brew Labs developed the iOS version of my app initially. Because I was satisfied with the work, I assigned the Android development to Code Brew Labs as well.

I worked with a separate UI/UX [user interface/user experience] designer in creating the look-and-feel of the app, so Code Brew Labs' job was to take those templates, adding back-end functionalities and integrations.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

After some research on outsourcing sites, I came across Code Brew Labs on Elance, had a few conversations, saw some sample work, and decided to use them. There were 10-15 candidates in total, and I had personal interviews with all of them, narrowing my list down. The deciding factor was that I was able to communicate well with Code Brew Labs. They were accommodating and were familiar with the particularities of my project. It was an easy selection, given that the other companies weren't very familiar with my concept. It would have been a learning process, compared to Code Brew Labs, who gave me input and recommendations.

How much have you invested with Code Brew Labs?

The total cost of my project with Code Brew Labs was close to $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Code Brew Labs 3 months ago. The iOS version has been completed, and we're working on the Android one.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not only did Code Brew Labs get the job done, they provided expert insights and recommendations which I wasn't aware of going in. Based on the idea that I brought to Code Brew Labs, we had a collaborative effort. They took my requirements, added to them, and figured out the best approach for doing something.

What did you find most impressive about Code Brew Labs?

I've worked with other developers in the past, who provided strictly what was asked of them, not mentioning if it was the best approach or not. Code Brew Labs did an evaluation of my requirements, and provided alternative approaches based on best practices, taking an extra step in order to ensure that the result would be foolproof.

Are there any areas Code Brew Labs could improve?

The follow-up process could be improved, but it hasn't affected our project. If I asked for changes or updates, they would get done, but they weren't revisited. Code Brew Labs did a good job of communicating overall.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We have developed an app called The Sex Challenge. It focuses on couples' intimate needs, so it would fit within the dating-and-relationships niche.

I'm an indie developer and was looking to develop an app for couples who want to try some new intimate experiences.

What is your position?

I'm the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

I needed development resources for my app.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Code Brew Labs developed my application for Android and iOS based on my graphics design and concept.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

I selected Code Brew because of good reviews from other clients and positive Skype contacts I had with the company.

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

The total development cost was on the low end of $10,000-50,000. Code Brew Labs finished the project within the agreed-upon cost.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September of 2015. The app was finished last week.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The app is now live in stores, but I haven't done any marketing for it. It has only had around 200 downloads so far.

We caught some bugs within the beta testing done on my end. We fixed everything that came along and the product seemed to be very solid when it was launched.

They were great about taking my initial game design and working with me to implement it. I provided art and the concept, and Code Brew Labs handled all of the programming and backend work. They delivered the final product within the scope of the contract, and were very easy to work with.

How did Code Brew Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager assigned by Code Brew Labs was great in terms of satisfying my requirements. Once in a while, we encountered a language barrier, but it was not significant.

Is there anything Code Brew Labs could have improved or done differently?

We went over-schedule, which wasn't ideal, but it wasn't the end of the world. One of the reviews I saw for Code Brew Labs mentioned some timing issues. I would not recommend them to a client who had a tight schedule, but the finished product delivered by Code Brew Labs was very good.

BACKGROUND

I'm the founder of my startup. Currently, the roles and responsibilities I take on are pretty much the positions of a Chief Information Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, User Interface Designer and the Marketing Team. So from the start, I tasked myself to look for a team of developers who could help me develop the iOS app I'm looking for.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

The challenge I encountered was looking for a reputable and solid team of developers that could develop my iOS app on time.

SOLUTION

I was surfing around the freelancer site called “Upwork” and found Code Brew Labs, a mobile app design and development company. After looking through Code Brew’s recent work/porfolio, I found myself hiring them to develop my iOS app.

The overall scope of the development covers developing the iOS app and the Administrator Panel (Website).

The overall project duration is dependent on factors like features and how 'big' the app is. For me it took around 2-3 months excluding testing phases.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Code Brew Labs performed exceptionally well and I was really satisfied with their service and commitment. We even converse through the Skype platform to have a better understanding of the mobile app features and requirements.

I would say communication was their key strength. They were really good at using skype to talk to me constantly, and I appreciate the fact that they were able to fully understand the features of my mobile app. Their project manager actually gave me replies every week on the status of the development.

I can't really think of any areas for improvement. I was quite satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We have developed a social media-based application that helps people within the 18-30 age group to find jobs. For the most part, we help people personalize their resumes and provide a more interactive experience for employers who view those resumes. We offer a more modern way of connecting employers to prospecting employees.

What is your position?

I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Code Brew Labs?

I needed a development team for my idea.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Code Brew Labs has developed two apps for both iOS and Android, handling everything from design and functionality aspects, all the way to coding. Within a matter of months, they have materialized two apps starting from just my ideas.

How did you come to work with Code Brew Labs?

Hiring a solid coding and development company in America is almost impossible to do without spending an exorbitant amount of money. I found Code Brew Labs through Upwork. They turned out to be a very professional and easy-to-work-with group of people. Code Brew has done an exceptional job so far. The amount of personalization, effort and consultation they offered within the first two months of our collaboration has encouraged me to continue our work. It has been a good decision.

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

The total development cost has been between $15-30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September of 2015. Right now, the work has finished and we're waiting for a launch date based on the advertising that has been done for the platform. Code Brew Labs moves quite quickly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I did a survey on a sample of 100 people from a local university. Out of those, only 10 thought that the app had been developed out-of-country. As far as the app's look and functionality is concerned, the vast majority of people didn't see a difference in the quality of work behind it, when compared to an app made by a local developer.

How did Code Brew Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They have an incredibly personal approach. I received email updates every day and could discuss anything with them over Skype. Code Brew Labs always took the time to listen to what we needed to do, and always did the necessary modifications in order to achieve our requirements.

Is there anything Code Brew Labs could have improved or done differently?

They should strive to obtain more resources that can be available during their national holidays, which can vary from ours, thus leading to a misalignment of time slots. Aside from this, Code Brew Labs has done a good job.