GrownApps

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of Tentacles IoT. We provide tailor-made IT software and hardware solutions for companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GrownApps?

I needed GrownApps for their software development services. For context, I was working with another company, but I didn’t like their services. That team didn’t meet their obligations. As a result, I switched to GrownApps. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our engagement with GrownApps has started small, and then it became bigger. In our first development project, we developed a software dashboard using JavaScript, Vue, and React. 

We currently stay in partnership with them. 

What is the team composition?

We mainly deal with a project manager. He’s also a developer. 

How did you come to work with GrownApps?

GrownApps found me. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With GrownApps, we’ve been able to provide a complete service to our customers. We use their development power and my business ideas to do that. My customers receive good services from our team and GrownApps.

How did GrownApps perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is great. They meet obligations and deadlines — it’s like working with people within our internal team. To manage projects, we’ve used GitLab and ClickUp. I communicate with them through their private cellphone numbers. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

GrownApps has a truly broad development specialization. They have specialist developers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They can offer more discounts. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of a small boutique consulting company with a team of 10 people. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GrownApps?

We hired GrownApps for their custom software development services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GrownApps was responsible for a custom-made app. I subcontracted parts of its development to the team. It was a financial reporting app for specific business workflows. The technologies we used were the standard ones; we used Apache as our web server and PHP as the programming language on the backend and JavaScript on the frontend. It wasn’t a big app but it was a critical product for our end client. We did several releases in the span of seven years. 

Moreover, the team did the complete design of the product. I simply gave them all the requirements of the project, and their resources did everything from the UI/UX design to the front- and backend development. 

In terms of features and functionality, the app was made for processing financial reports along with financial KPIs. It was also used for review and approval processes. Managers could use it to enter data and approve monthly financial reports in a coordinated manner with their respective companies. 

For context, the end client had a strict methodology and delivery criteria. The production could only allow the smallest of defects in the solution. In other words, they had a strict QC process. We also needed to deliver more than 100 test cases for each release to check the product’s quality. Security tests were also done to check for vulnerabilities. These were the critical criteria of the end client for every release that GrownApps delivered. 

What is the team composition?

Since the engagement spanned seven years, the team composition varied. Small releases were handled by one person, while major releases were facilitated by around five people. The iterations were typically handled by one project manager, who took care of day-to-day communication and the coordination of tasks. A testing specialist handled app reviews. Around 1–2 developers also worked on the product. 

How did you come to work with GrownApps?

GrownApps was recommended to me by a friend. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $10,000–$35,000 per release. The total investment was around $200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from March 2005–August 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were 100% satisfied with GrownApps’ work. They mainly exceeded expectations. Timely delivery was critical for our end customer — they didn’t accept any delayed deliveries — and GrownApps always delivered on time.  

How did GrownApps perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was great. They always worked within our budget, and if there were any changes needed in terms of the funds, they always communicated that to us in a clear manner.  

In terms of communication, the GrownApps team had daily internal standup meetings, but I communicated with them on a weekly basis. During such meetings, we brought up all issues that we experienced. We broke down various aspects of their tasks using Excel Spreadsheets.

What did you find most impressive about them?

GrownApp’s architecture design was done well — we could maintain and update the app easily. When we wanted to expand our requirements, we didn’t have to do a lot of refactoring. Simply put, we could add features to the app without a lot of problems. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would’ve been better if they could allocate part-time people to the project. They mainly allocated full-time people to us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Define your requirements clearly. In our engagement with GrownApps, we defined our end client’s requirements, and that helped the team deliver well. Overall, the better you specify your requirements, the better results they’ll provide. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide distance psycho-social counseling, information, prevention and crisis intervention for children and young people as well as for adults contacting us in the interest of children. CEO of the NGO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GrownApps, and what were your goals?

Our goal was to create a database and educational training tool for our specific needs. We needed to solve efficient, professional and secure data storage, which is then used for statistics and evaluation of services provided. And we also needed to have readily available educational training tools for our counselors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were looking for an IT company that could meet our specific requirements and would be willing and able to respond accordingly to all our needs. We found GrownApps via the internet. When we contacted them, they listened carefully to our goals and needs and responded very welcoming and receptive to our needs. An important factor was their flexibility and highly professional approach.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

GrownApps designed and created a solution that we can use as both: as a database for data collection and statistical evaluation of services, as well as an educational tool for our consultants.

Project steps:

1. A detailed discussion of our needs.
2. Communication and fine-tuning of our needs while creating a solution.
3. Solution creation and programming of database and educational training tool itself.
4. Presentation of the programmed database and educational training tool.
5. Testing and capturing deficiencies and refining the database and educational training tool to the final version.
6. Final delivery of the finished completed solution

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

In our project they were involved 4 people: CEO of the GrownApps, Project manager, Designer and Senior Developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The whole project was lunched on time, plus the provided solution was exactly what we needed. The whole design and implementation of the database and educational training tool was perfect. The best outcome of the project is that our consultants have been using the database successfully for several months now without any problems. In addition, GrownApps offered to us a free consultation and corrections if needed.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project management was great. Communication was without any problems. We communicated via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Great approach, excellent performance, extensive knowledge, high professionalism, and great customer service, attention to details, listening to client needs, flexibility and enthusiasm for finding the best possible solution for the client.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not that we can think of. We are very satisfy with their performance, product delivered and with their professional approach during the whole project!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are software company that provide Property management software for small and mid size properties (mostly hotels, apartments, pensions). With more than 2600 licenses on Czech, Hungarian, Slovakian market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GrownApps?

We wanted to develop API interface between our software and online travel agencies like Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb. Using this API we push the rates, availability and other properties. We also get the reservations created on these portals.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to build an application that serves as an interface between our PMS and OTAs. This interface has to transform all the requests regarding OTAs API specification. It has to handle over million requests a day, it also has a specific requirement on security, because it is part of the environment under PCI DSS certification.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Base on their previous references. For other client they build similar application we requested.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The main goal was to develop the webapp using the technologies we agreed at the beggining of the cooperation. The Grownapps was responsible for developing, writing the unit tests, writing the documentation and QA.

What was the team composition?

project manager and 2 developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We could switch from 3rd party Channel manager solution to direct contract between our PMS and OTAs. This helped us to have more controll over the connection, provide reliable solution and better product support.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

At the beggining we consulted the project goals and set the project architecture including the programming languages and technologies we will use. We had a weekly sessions with Grownapps project manager, where we checked the status and assigned new tasks.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Technology skills and experiences despite they are all young people.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Better time estimation and meeting deadlines and giving better picture of overall progress of the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Quantpedia - The Encyclopedia of Algorithmic and Quantitative Trading Strategies. Quantpedia's mission is to process financial academic research into a more user-friendly form to help anyone who seeks new quantitative and algorithmic trading strategy ideas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GrownApps?

Our previous version of Quantpedia's webpage was running on legacy .net architecture. We hired GrownApps to migrate our page to a WordPress architecture to allow us better manage our product offering.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to be migrate our legacy webpage to CMS architecture to allow us to better develop new features and products for our company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did market analysis and compared several companies which were offering WordPress web-building. We selected GrownApps after a round of interviews and after receiving pricing offer.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

GrownApps suggested a new website architecture and built it for us from the scratch.

What was the team composition?

Project team had 4 people. Two of them on our side (one designer/GUI specialist and me as a business owner) and two on GrownApps side (one junior programmer and one senior programmer/owner of GrownApps)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

WordPress solution for our website is the correct choice. After migration, we hired few junior designers, copywriters and product managers and are able to develop new sub-pages with product offerings faster. The whole process from the product idea to building a dedicated sub-page is much faster on WordPress when compared to our previous legacy solution.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The initial estimate for the overall project cost and time until completion was underestimated. So migration project took longer than expected. But initial estimates for this project were similar in all companies we interviewed and considered as partners. But once the project started to run into the delay, we were offered generous pricing terms and owner of the company was personally involved into the project which helped the project to successfully finalize.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We appreciate the personal involvement of the owner of the company when the project run into delay. It is apparent that the GrownApps' owner cares about his customers and we appreciate it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Probably deeper assessment of project schedule/time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO of a SaaS company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GrownApps, and what were your goals?

Develop our SaaS product.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Evaluating different firms found offering outsourced developers. Good first impression and communication from Grownapps were the main deciding factors.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Web development PHP, MySQL, js, css.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

3-5 different developers and project managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Increased development speed and more projects completed.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Project manager responsible for getting things done. Simple yet effective.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Friendly. They seemed to care about each of their customers being satisfied on a personal level.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Even more follow ups on customer success?