Offline Weight Calculator App for Forestry Company
- Mobile App Development
- $10,000 to $49,999
- Jan. - Mar. 2017
- Quality
- 5.0
- Schedule
- 4.0
- Cost
- 5.0
- Willing to Refer
- 4.5
“I described the challenges of our working conditions, and Impero IT understood how to code the app to make it work.”
- Energy & natural resources
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- 11-50 Employees
- Phone Interview
- Verified
Impero IT built a bespoke offline app that calculates the weight of logs for transport via helicopter, which helped address logistical challenges. The team completed versions for iOS and Android.
Impero IT factored in the unique working conditions of end users, creating a simple and effective user interface. This impressive design helped offset issues at the start of the project. The initial pace was slower than expected, but Impero IT listened to feedback and expedited the process.
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 am a director in a forestry company that does remote, dirty, heavy-labor work. For example, we remove trees from the bush via helicopter during winter. Right now, we’re fighting forest fires and have a bunch of people out on the lines putting them out. We also do power line clearing.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Impero IT?
We had an idea for an app for our workers who were cutting trees in the bush. They were trying to weigh what we call logs, or pieces of trees, that were being hooked up to helicopters. Air lifting logs that were too heavy would bring our productivity down and affect our overhead.
Our workers needed an app that they could quickly open on their phones. Because we work out in the bush and have very spotty service, the app couldn't rely on the Internet. Another challenge was the fact that searching for “log weight” or similar keywords online would yield results that were always related to dieting. Given that it’s a seasonal field, no one had ever done an app like this in our industry.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Impero IT designed and developed an Android and iOS app based on the idea I had on paper. It’s basically a log weight calculator. Once a worker inputs the bottom and top diameters of a tree, length, and the species, the app calculates the weight and volume of the log. I provided a few parameters and a basic overview of what I needed to accomplish. At the same time, Impero IT had some creative liberties.
I had to create a model for Impero IT based on a website I’d found. They couldn’t understand the math behind it, so I had to research this myself and describe how to make it work in detail. Calculating the volume of a graduated cylinder is learned in 12th-grade math — we take the diameter on one end and the one at the other, obtain a mean diameter, and calculate the volume. We have a conversion rate between volume and weight. Impero IT couldn’t put this in, so I had to explain it. I figured that IT people would know 12th-grade math, but they didn’t. However, that could have been because I was not able to explain it well to them.
I’ve always owned an iPhone, and my whole crew has them as well, so I initially specified to Impero IT that it had to be an Apple app. I also told them that I wanted an Android version later on. Once they heard this, it fast-tracked everything. Initially, we built the whole thing on Android and got it up and running. All Impero IT did was build an iOS app after they perfected it on the first platform. I bought 4 Android phones for my people while we waited for the iOS version.
How did you come to work with Impero IT?
My brother-in-law had a vision of what needed to be done. He found Impero IT. After he had researched and read a lot of reviews about the company, he told us they were the best option he found online. I was put in touch with them since I am more familiar with the actual work.
How much have you invested with them?
The total was probably $12,000–$14,000. Initially, I wanted to keep the app budget at the $6,000–$7,000 mark, but everyone has 2 types of phones so I had to get it built twice.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Impero IT in January 2017. We had contacted them 6 months previously, but, because we’re seasonal and busy, the work started later. They were patient with us. The project was wrapped up in March.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’re running a Kaman K-MAX helicopter at $5,000 per hour. Given an 8-hour day, that comes to $40,000 per day. My helicopter costs alone are running at around $55,000 per day over the course of the winter. In terms of operating cost, I’ve increased my productivity by around 25% once we implemented the tool into our system. However, my return on investment didn’t necessarily increase by that much.
How did Impero IT perform from a project management standpoint?
The time difference was tough. I had to wake up at 5 o'clock every morning and go over our emails with Impero IT. I did have a bit of trouble with Raza Noorani, their business development manager. They weren’t moving as quickly as I expected since they figured that we were a one-shot deal and a smaller client. We weren’t looking for 10 million hits on the app or to sell it. My intention is to simply give it to my crew. It wasn’t a financial venture, but rather solving an internal problem within our company. This may have led him to make us a lower priority. It was also a challenge for Raza since I am not the tech guy he’s probably used to dealing with.
I was becoming frustrated, and I had to give him an ultimatum. There are 2 sides to every story, but, from an owner standpoint, I definitely had to tell them that I would not continue working with them unless he would take the project seriously and get it done now. Beyond this, I’m very glad I met him. I would definitely use him again, without looking anywhere else.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I was impressed and extremely happy with the design. I described the challenges of our working conditions, and Impero IT understood how to code the app to make it work. Our workers would have cold fingers since they were standing out in the rain or snow. We needed big buttons and easy changes.
Initially, my brother wanted a roll dial. But if you’re standing out there for 6 hours at 15 degrees below zero, using a roll dial on a phone is not a good idea. We had to have a huge button that we could just push. I told them what I wanted, and it was done fast. We could tell Impero IT what we need, and they would produce it. This was their strongest point. I will be bringing the app back to him and spending another $5,000 to $6,000 on it.
Are there any areas they could improve?
When we first started, I would have mentioned 6–8 different things they should improve. But, by the time we got the working relationship figured out, those were all solved.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
I wouldn’t tell a friend to invest $10,000 or $20,000 dollars in an app, unless I first talked to him about the hiccups and the working relationship. We’re dealing with people from India, not with someone down the street. This presents some challenges. It’s worth overcoming them, but they do exist.
RATINGS
-
Quality
5.0Service & Deliverables
-
Schedule
4.0On time / deadlines
"When we started the collaboration, I had to give them an ultimatum to deliver on time. They also had multiple holidays, so they weren’t there when they said they would."
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Cost
5.0Value / within estimates
"They were cheaper than anything we sourced out online by far. We usually get what we pay for, but not in this case. I couldn’t have asked for a better developer."
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Willing to Refer
4.5NPS
"I would recommend them to a friend.