Mobile App Development for IoT Solutions Company
Featured Review- Mobile App Development
- $1,000,000 to $9,999,999
- Jan. 2021 - Ongoing
- Quality
- 5.0
- Schedule
- 5.0
- Cost
- 4.0
- Willing to Refer
- 5.0
"Although they're an external company working for us, their ownership of the app is really high."
- Other industries
- Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic
- 201-500 Employees
- Phone Interview
- Verified
Futured has developed an iOS and Android mobile app prototype for an IoT solutions company. Most recently, they've developed the open beta version of this app, which will serve as the MVP.
Futured's work has met the client's expectations and received very positive feedback. The new version is faster and more user-friendly, marking the project's success. The team has seamlessly integrated into the client's processes, demonstrating great ownership of the products they're creating. This review is an update by the client company. The original content is located below the new review.
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'm a mobile development team lead for JABLOTRON. We create IoT cloud infrastructure for alarm and home comfort systems. We're part of JABLOTRON GROUP HOLDING, and our headquarters are in the Czech Republic.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Futured?
We wanted to develop a new version of our mobile application for end users. This application is used for controlling the alarm system in their homes.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Futured has created the first prototype of the mobile app based on the UI/UX designs we've created in-house. Most recently, they've developed a new version of this app for both iOS and Android devices. Futured has been working for us for many years, so they were already familiar with our old application and already knew the app's use cases before the most recent project arose.
Currently, our app is in the open beta stage, so we haven't released it yet. We'll launch it in about three months, but we'll continue working with Futured. The version we're about to launch is the MVP variant, so we have many future implementations ahead of us.
What is the team composition?
Currently, we have four teammates from Futured working on the app on each platform.
How did you come to work with Futured?
Before the first prototype of our app was created, we gave three potential partner firms the same information and description for the project. They had to create a proof of concept (POC) for this app. Out of the three firms, we chose Futured as our main provider.
How much have you invested with them?
We pay Futured by the hour. This particular app has cost us nearly $2 million.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working with Futured on this specific app in January 2021. However, we've been working with them since 2018.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Futured's work has met our expectations. As mentioned, the app is in the open beta stage, and the reviews have been quite good thus far, which is successful. The app is much faster and more user-friendly than its past version, so we're satisfied with the results.
How did Futured perform from a project management standpoint?
We've integrated Futured's developers into our own team. They work under our management, which is based on agile development. We run 14-day sprints, which is working great for us.
Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?
I would like to give a shout-out to Jevgen (iOS Tech Lead) and Martin (Lead Android Developer). They're like the fathers of each version of the application and have a sense of ownership. Both have been of great help, as they've even helped us hire internal developers to join our team.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The most impressive thing about working with Futured is that, although they're an external company working for us, their ownership of the app is really high. I wouldn't expect for an external company to work on an app for us with this level of ownership.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can't think of anything Futured could improve on.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Use the same model as we do. Integrate Futured into your internal team so that the app's knowledge remains also in-house. They're great developers and have great ownership of what they create.
UPDATED REVIEW
This review was published on January 3, 2023.
Ladislav Novák
CEO, JABLOTRON CLOUD Services s.r.o.Software
Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic
51-200 Employees
Jul 2012 - Ongoing
$1,000,000 to $9,999,999
Project summary
Futured has been hired by a software company to develop a new mobile app — with a modular architecture — for their alarm system. Working in two-week sprints, they've built the app for iOS and Android devices.
Feedback summary
Futured has delivered the first prototype of the app, and the client is pleased with the faster and more user-friendly version. They have daily stand-ups and regular communication, making their long-term partnership more productive. The team is also flexible despite the client's changing needs.
This review is an update by the client company. The original content is located below the new review.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the CEO of a software company that creates IoT Cloud for Alarm systems and home comfort systems in the JABLOTRON GROUP holding. Headquartered in Jablonec nad Nisou in Czech Repuplic.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Futured, and what were your goals?
We want to develop new version of our mobile app for end users of our Alarm systems. Our current app is not anymore too much up to date. We want to create modular architecture (more teams works on one app = code base). The Futured is one team for one generation of Alarm system.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We've working with Futured several years in many different projects and we are still satisfied with their work and also with high collaboration standards.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
We provide their team with wireframes and designs. They work in two week sprints and cooperate with our Product Owner. The cooperation is really close - the team implements feedback and our PO adjusts tasks to meet our final goals.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We have one development team of four developers two for each platform (iOS, Android) with our testers and Product Owner. Then we have two senior app developers in Core team which does common core parts of app. All teams in the project has own Team Lead from our company - the Team Lead communicates with CEO of Futured and work together on team performance and satisfaction.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
Within few sprints they deliver first prototype of the app - same for core team and team for Alarm system. We are already able to controll production version of Alarm systems (like arm/disarm to see history of the system, ...). The app is much more faster then previous version and much more user friendly.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
We communicate in daily bases on stendups and in the end of sprints are online reviews for our whole company (everyone is free to connect). We use our Jira software to coordinate teams.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
They have really good top developers who want the best for us - they've been working for us (same key developers) for several years (and we haven't been an easy customer all this time - changes in goals, changes in capacity). They are also open in communication and the collaboration is at a high level.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Several times they were afraid to be honest and this led to a longer road to a mutually good outcome.
Star Ratings
Overall rating: 5
Quality: 5
Cost: 4
Schedule: 5
Willing to refer: 5
This review was published on December 7, 2022.
Jan Souček
Owner, JABLOTRON CLOUD Services, s.r.o.
IT Services
11-50 Employees
Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic
$1,000,000 - $9,999,999
Aug 2019 - Mar 2022
Project summary:
Futured helped a technology company develop a mobile application for their alarm system. The team handled wireframes and UI/UX designs, following the client's ideas, to create a user and installation version.
Feedback summary:
Although the project was stopped, Futured worked on two-week sprints to release the application for testing. The team maintained direct communication, holding daily stand-ups and following agile scrum methodology. Overall, their skills and experience made them reliable partners in this field.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a Product Owner at JABLOTRON, an international technology company producing alarm systems.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Futured, and what were your goals?
We wanted to develop new mobile applications for new alarm system. Our goal was to support easy installation for installers just with mobile phone.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
Our decition was based on feedback and experience.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
UX/UI was designed by designer from FUTURED on the basis of internal made wireframes. After some matching of our ideas, two teams were set, one for user application and one for installer application. We were working in 2 weeks iterations (sprints), every application release was available via App center for testing.
How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
Resources were different in different stages of project. At first, we had 3+3 (iOS/Android) divided into two teams, but after couple weeks, we joined both teams to one. In last stage before project cancelation, we had 4+4
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
Project was stopped, so there is no measurable outcomes.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
We communicated directly with the team members on daily bases on stand-ups. Project was managed in an agile way using the scrum method.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Their skills, references, experience, reliability, and feedback were impressive.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
I have no idea
Star Ratings
Overall rating: 5
Quality: 5
Cost: 4.5
Schedule: 5
Willing to refer: 5
RATINGS
-
Quality
5.0Service & Deliverables
-
Schedule
5.0On time / deadlines
-
Cost
4.0Value / within estimates
-
Willing to Refer
5.0NPS