Development for Travel App
- Custom Software Development
- Less than $10,000
- July 2018 - Mar. 2019
- Quality
- 1.0
- Schedule
- 1.0
- Cost
- 4.0
- Willing to Refer
- 1.0
"They didn’t deliver on their promises."
- Information technology
- San Francisco, California
- 1-10 Employees
- Phone Interview
- Verified
Fluper was hired to develop a mobile app based on an existing WordPress website. They worked on Android and iOS versions along with database development.
The team did not allocate resources effectively as several project milestones were missed completely. Some of their deliverables were late and did not meet customer expectations for functionality. Customers should verify Fluper’s capabilities before entering an engagement.
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 own a travel startup. Some of my friends from university and I came up with the concept of allowing people to socialize and find other travelers. We’re building an app that will connect people as they travel across different countries, or even within the US. We offer people deals for restaurants and hotels, and they can use the app to chat with each other and find good traveling options.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Fluper?
We wanted affordable app development.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
We hired Fluper to develop our app and make the website dynamic. We have a WordPress site which we’re planning on converting to AngularJS. The app’s feature designs are already made. The apps will be dynamic, connecting to a database we’re making. I made the UI/UX designs and mockups of the app and the website.
Our website has two parts, the first being informational SEO content about hotels, attractions, and other interest points in different countries. The second part is the more functional one. It will allow people to see other travelers.
Fluper was brought in to develop a database of people signing up for our website. Those profiles will be displayed on the site based on the algorithms we’re developing.
They built the app as native, using Swift for iOS and Java for Android. We were going to use MongoDB, AngularJS, and Node.js for the website.
What is the team composition?
I worked with Akansha (VP of Sales, Fluper) and Ruchin (VP of Technology, Fluper). There was another person involved, who worked on the website. I dealt with Ruchin and he worked with his team. I spoke to him for 4–6 months, after which he called me and said he was leaving the company. He left the company at the beginning of this year, and the project was handed over to another person. I also spoke with Anshul (CEO and Business Head, Fluper).
I have my own internal web development team.
How did you come to work with Fluper?
I did a Google search for app development companies in New Delhi, and Fluper came up. I also used Clutch and other review websites. I researched another company in Bangalore, and one in Delhi. I spoke with them for several months before making a decision.
Fluper was good in terms of response time to questions. After 5–6 months of chatting with them—specifically with Akansha and Ruchin—I gave them the project.
How much have you invested with them?
The project total was supposed to be around $9,000. I paid a deposit of $1,339.6 via PayPal.
What is the status of this engagement?
I sent them the first payment in July 2018 and we stopped working together in March 2019.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.
They didn’t really complete anything, so there’s nothing to track. There were 6–7 milestones, with an expected delivery timeline of four months. They were supposed to deliver the first milestone in two weeks, but they didn’t complete that.
I told Anshul I was disappointed, and that I wanted my deposit back. They told me there would be penalties if they delayed the project, but I wasn’t asking for that. They wasted my time, which I could’ve used to work with another company and to have actually gone to investors by now. He told that he would get it done.
They were supposed to have done the first two milestones, which covered user registration on the app. They got the app portion done. They were supposed to create a function that included people’s ability to edit the profiles according to the designs I gave them. Once a profile was created, if a user wanted to go back and change certain information, they would. We were stuck on that during the last months, and I asked them why they didn’t get it done.
They finally told me that milestones one and two were done, and asked for more money. I told them they were supposed to have done that in a week, and after nearly ten months, they still hadn’t done it the way I wanted. I asked them for my money back, and that was my last correspondence with Akansha. I didn’t get any responses after that.
I told them that the milestones included the app working with Twilio for one-time passwords. They didn’t finish making the website dynamic, and many aspects of milestones one and two were still not completed. I even offered them $1,000 extra, even though they were supposed to pay me penalties. I just wanted the project done.
How was project management handled?
I found their management ineffective. The persons they assigned to manage the project was capable, but they gave the project to three different technology heads, and I had to explain the entire project again to each one.
Ruchin told me they were taking a lot of projects and they didn’t have enough senior developers to finish them. They say they’ll do things, but they don’t have the resources to do them at all.
Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?
They were good salespeople initially.
In what specific areas can they improve?
They should do what they promise they will do, and they should have senior developers working for them. They should do a better job of retaining employees.
What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?
I did thorough research, but I would also recommend speaking to their clients and verifying their projects. Ask Fluper to show evidence of a finished project.
RATINGS
-
Quality
1.0Service & Deliverables
"They didn’t deliver on their promises."
-
Schedule
1.0On time / deadlines
"They didn’t finish the first milestone a year later."
-
Cost
4.0Value / within estimates
"They’re very affordable."
-
Willing to Refer
1.0NPS