RipenApps

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Merci Lebanon. We’re a startup company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RipenApps?

I needed an experienced firm to develop my company’s mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

RipenApps built out our mobile platform for iOS and Android. The app allows users to search businesses within Lebanon and redeem discounts. Once users purchase a yearly subscription, they have access to the special offers of around 400 firms. For example, a lot of restaurants offer two-for-one deals on appetizers. Users simply select the offer on their phone and show it to their server. Then, the server redeems the offer.

The app asks users to create a profile by entering their date of birth, uploading a profile picture, and providing relevant authorization information. The most important aspect of the platform is its search functionality. That allows users to filter business through specific metrics like what food restaurants serve, or if the establishment plays certain music.

The platform also features geolocation technology. All the businesses are ranked by their distance from the user at that particular time. There’s also integration with a payment gateway. RipenApps finished the app development process, so I started working with them to rebuild my current website.

What is the team composition?

They assigned a project manager, an iOS developer, one Android developer, and a backend specialist.

How did you come to work with RipenApps?

I did a Google search and read reviews of different companies. I also got put in contact with some local companies through a referral. Eventually, I narrowed my search to five service providers. Then, I had a discussion with each of them to explain the project’s requirements. When I got their proposals, I selected RipenApps based on the price. They were the most affordable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $10,500–$11,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Without the app, I can’t be in business. If something doesn’t go well, it’s a problem. Luckily, RipenApps developed a stable backend architecture that stores each business’s information on the platform. I’m ready to launch the app and have customers buy the service.

They’re hardworking and able to find actionable solutions. For example, with 400 businesses listed on the app’s front page, searching for a specific one takes time and slows down the app. They suggested limiting the page field that way it only loads ten locations at a time. That contributes to a quick and efficient UX.

How did RipenApps perform from a project management standpoint?

We work via an agile methodology, so they’re in touch with me every day. They show me their progress and send over test builds for feedback. Their attention to small details keeps the project moving forward. If I have questions or input, I can ask them for a quick response. Overall, I gave them the requirements and they gave me a product. I can’t ask for much more than that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach to project management and delivery are noteworthy. Due to their affordable pricing, I figured they wouldn’t be responsive. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. They’re hungry to win new business, which is why I stuck with RipenApps to redesign my website.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything was great. I had an excellent experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Carefully define what the relationship will be throughout the project to make sure everything goes according to plan.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the IT manager for an industrial engineering company. I’m involved in the business’ digitization of processes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RipenApps?

We needed an enterprise mobile application and HR panel to digitize employee management. We wanted to the two solutions to interact well.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the solutions to keep employees informed about every organizational policy. These tools needed to be more efficient and effective than our paper records.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We used Clutch to identify companies with a good track record that offered similar services. We talked with a few vendors before hiring RipenApps. We selected the team because they had relevant experience and presented a good demo.

Describe the project in detail.

RipenApps created the wireframes and then designed and developed the solutions. The panel and app’s iOS and Android versions had four primary functionalities. In addition to floating updates at a single deck, the solutions circulated information between employees; this made data available at a single click. The app and panel generated management reports and tracked employee work hours and leaves.

What was the team composition?

The project managed served as our main point of contact. In addition, we worked with product analysts, designers and backend developers for both iOS and Android.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Based on internal stakeholders’ feedback, the designs were simple and made for a good UX. Prototype testing in a virtual environment determined that the app had the capacity we needed. As a result, we felt confident that the final product could handle our organization’s traffic smoothly.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was available, proactive, and responsive; they informed us about the project status at every stage. RipenApps felt like a part of our team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Clients raved about RipenApps every time I reached out for a reference. At first, that praise was hard to believe, but I’m now another satisfied customer.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. We had a wonderful experience and plan to re-engage them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm developing a product, which I plan to implement first at my university and then in other locations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RipenApps?

They developed web panels where college students can manage information and applications. My objective was to digitize the system so that information could be maintained and reports could be generated in the cloud.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I came across their profile when they replied to a listing I placed. They were among the early bidders. We had a salient conversation, so I selected them for collaboration.

Describe the project in detail.

RipenApps designed and developed interactive websites, managing all the data and information on servers. They created an interface where college administrators and students could interact for shared purposes. This includes posting notices, logging applications, and posting information on upcoming and past events as well as academic curricula.

What was the team composition?

We had a project coordinator who managed the web developers, designers, and graphic designers. Quality analysists ensured that tasks were delivered intact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The web panels work robustly, and the team can customize them for each college's specific requirements. Our demo has succeeded at multiple locations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We managed the project with the team from RipenApps. We mostly communicated with the project coordinator, who maintained our synchrony efficiently. She almost never needed to say something twice.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our communication stayed intact, and they always delivered on time. I appreciated them and would be pleased to work with them again on upcoming requirements.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can't pinpoint anything. They're a good team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder of a company that plans to mitigate the issues related to ride-sharing services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RipenApps?

We needed mobile app design and development.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop a solution that would make our users’ daily lives easier by helping them overcome the current transportation issues.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched online and asked our friends for recommendations, and ended up with a list of five agencies that we found adequate. We approached each one and shared our requirements. What we liked the most about RipenApps is that from day one, they treated our idea as their own product and proactively came up with suggestions. They not only proposed things that added value but also highlighted the things that needed to be removed from the existing requirements to make the end product more user-friendly.

Describe the project in detail.

They developed an interface where users who own a vehicle can share their ride with users who are visiting the same place. It also allows vehicle owners to earn for the service. The ride can be a one-time thing or scheduled regularly depending on the requirement and availability of rides.

What was the team composition?

They assigned a project coordinator, an iOS developer, an Android developer, a web developer, a creative designer, and QA specialists. There were also a few web and mobile architects assisting the team as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve shared the product with friends and colleagues, who all appreciate the product’s design and flow. I’ve even gotten the source code reviewed by a friend, and her comments are positive. Our app isn’t heavy and can be easily operated even in low network areas.            

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had scrums every other day during which their project coordinator made us aware of the progress made and what the upcoming tasks would be. They always gave us enough time to provide what they needed from our end and managed all tasks accordingly. They devoted additional hours to fixing any issues that occurred during development, hardly hampering due dates.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re more like a technical partner rather than just a development agency. Their main focus is on improving the product at every stage of development rather than just completing a list of tasks.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. We have a product that attracts investors and we’ve already begun planning the next phase of development with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of an online startup. I’m also in charge of UX/UI, project management, business development, and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RipenApps?

We hired them to develop a location-based shopping app that serves as an interface between local retailers and consumers.

What were your goals for this project?

It's inconvenient and time-consuming to find the closest store with the lowest prices for specific items. Our goal was to make this process easier with our app.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I posted a project on Freelancer and received over 150 bids, but most of them were generic. What attracted me to RipenApps was their clear and precise response.

Describe the project in detail.

They developed an e-commerce solution for the web and mobile that allows users to purchase from local retailers. Our target market is college students, who value convenience and practicality.

What was the team composition?

I worked with business analysts, product analysts, developers, graphic designers, and testers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I am very satisfied with the product, especially its UI. The web admin panel and promotional website enabled me to gain the trust of 400–500 retailers in just two months. Analytics also reveals that we have around 15,000 searches per month for updates on this product.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our coordination went well. They were available even during late hours or early mornings. It felt like we had our own in-house product development team. We’re of the same generation and mindset, which made it easy for us to work together. Often, they suggested features that I was already considering.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with their product analysts. Their intensive market research and analysis went beyond our expectations and added value to the product.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We sometimes had short delays, just a day or two, but that hardly matters when you get a satisfactory end product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a group of visionaries and intellectuals that aims to provide quality education in a stimulating and innovative environment where students are empowered with knowledge and professional skills and encouraged to uphold the values of integrity, tolerance and mutual respect. Since its inception, the group has promoted education in the areas of management science, tourism, IT, bioscience, engineering science, and journalism from three educational campuses equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure. I work as a technical architect for the group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RipenApps?

We hired RipenApps to develop and maintain our website, external resource planning system (ERP), and mobile apps, which allow students and faculty to automate and coordinate daily communications and tasks.

What were your goals for this project?

We had a long list of goals, which included an accessible, manageable, and updated repository of information on all courses and course offerings, student academic history, student housing, and degree requirements and progress for all prospective students, applicants, and matriculated students; an efficient admissions environment that included campaign, document, image, and travel management; and a user-friendly online registration process with automated approval and priority-based placement capabilities for improved academic advising. We wanted a stable, well-designed system for students and faculty that could seamlessly process thousands of requests and concurrent users simultaneously, integrate easily with other applications, and maintain data safely and securely.  The self-service system needed to be highly intuitive, efficient, and flexible enough to handle changes in curricular policy and the academic advising process. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A Google search helped us prepare a list of vendors, including RipenApps.  We provided our project scope to all vendors on our finalized list, then reviewed their portfolios and proposals. After several in-person meetings, we selected RipenApps for their experience with large-scale applications in this industry. 

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They provided end-to-end services from consultation and analysis to design and development. The overall scope was very extensive and included managing all data and business processes associated with admissions and its constituencies, such as prospects, applicants, organizations, parents, staff, and alumni volunteers; adding, approving, and maintaining course data efficiently; and incorporating actual course demand data, descriptions, rules, restrictions, and faculty availability to improve short- and long-term planning.

The platform was also required to run ad-hoc queries and standard reports and generate customized reports using a comprehensive yet simple reporting engine.

What was the team composition?

There have been multiple team members involved at different stages of the project, including business analysts, UI/UX designers, project coordinators, backend developers, and developers for both Android and iOS.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their products have simplified and streamlined all tasks and operations, improved communication between faculty and staff, and drastically reduced our required manpower. They allow us to track students and view complex reports at a glance. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

RipenApps has done an amazing job, developing a reliable and robust product that I am extremely happy with. Their patience and commitment have been unwavering and unquestionable; we look forward to engaging RipenApps for an ongoing maintenance contract. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by their excellence, attentive customer service, and precision, to name just a few. From their initial proposal and detailed sketches and to the final product, they deliver professional, quality work. Their constant communication ensures your idea results in a finished, functioning app.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I have no areas for improvement. Their process is very smooth and evolutionary; each step continually improves the product.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Newscode, a hyper-local news platform aimed at the digital delivery of news and media across towns and villages in India. We’re present in two states and have plans for national expansion.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RipenApps?

They’re our technology partner. At the time of engaging them, we had a rudimentary version of the app. We onboarded them after we raised some funds.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their work has included the development and maintenance of our Android app, establishing a responsive website, and the app and website’s content. They improved our app in terms of UI/UX, as well as from a content perspective.

We faced some issues with our WordPress backend, but they were able to fix those quickly. They came up with a lot of new ideas in terms of ad integrations.

What is the team composition?

Most of our interactions have been with Ishan, their CEO. If required, we can get in touch with dedicated contacts for each area of work, from mobile to backend development.

How did you come to work with RipenApps?

After our funding stage, we started looking for a more robust development team. They were recommended to us by a friend who had worked with them before. We had an interview with them, discussing our expectations and the practicality of what we were looking to do. We were impressed by what they offered—they came up with a lot of good ideas in the initial meeting. We gave the collaboration a chance and things worked out well.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of their work has been $12,000–$14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December 2017. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work over the last three months has been more than satisfactory. We plan to continue using their services in the future. It’s hard to mention specific metrics, given the short engagement time we’ve had with them and the nature of our product. We’re a young startup, but they’ve contributed significantly in terms of increasing our customer base.

Our uninstall and crash rates have come down as a consequence of their interventions. The backend WordPress system works smoothly thanks to their work. We’ve increased the number of stories we’re able to publish per day and the general efficiency of our editorial staff has increased as well. It’s difficult to give specific numbers to these items, but the general trend has been positive.

How did RipenApps perform from a project management standpoint?

They were quick to grasp on to things and understand our expectations. They’re a good team to ideate with in terms of product as well as services. It’s helpful for an entrepreneur to work with a partner who can come up with technically-feasible ideas.

We interact with them multiple times per day and we appreciate having a single point of contact for each product line. They’re streamlined in their interactions; the turnaround time is as good as it could be.

We can call them if we have a crisis, no matter what time of day or night. Their ability to build the relationship has been great, but we’ve also reciprocated well. Apart from some initial issues around timelines and expectations during the first two weeks—which are typical for any new client-provider relationship—we haven’t had any challenges. Despite some issues, they’ve handled everything well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very approachable and are a team we can count on. Even if a developer is very good, not being available in a crisis will negate all their abilities. RipenApps is not only technically sound, but also very available. They operate in a tough space that requires the team to be on its feet, which they manage very well.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

We experienced some initial delays stemming from inaccurate timeline estimations, but they were fixed quickly. They were receptive to feedback from the minute we brought it up, then things started improving quickly. Whatever shortcomings the team may have, they do their best to work on them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Our experience has been very good, finding them to be a company with a solid technical team and mobile app experience. I would definitely recommend them to anyone exploring such an opportunity.

In terms of general advice, it’s important to plan everything well during the first 10% of the engagement timeline. This will allow the team to take a more in-depth approach later on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of operations of MM Logistics. We are the leading service provider for top-notch eCommerce industries in India.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire RipenApps?

We wanted a mobile app that was capable of managing most of our typical, day-to-day tasks in an automated environment. This included tasks such as attendance, employee management, real-time delivery tracking, and more.

SOLUTION

Describe the project in detail.

RipenApps developed two Android apps, each with different functionalities. The app for managers handles attendance, employee organization, task assignments, and delivery tracking. The delivery staff application helps manage each delivery boy’s assignment and their real-time location.

The apps have IoT integration for biometric scanning and use GPS detection for tracking deliveries. A dashboard was also built so that the super admin could track the ins and outs of the system.

What was the team composition?

Initially, they assigned a team of business analysts for the wireframing of the project. They laid out the architecture of the apps and worked as the intermediary between the development team and the requirements. Once the analysis phase was completed, a team of five engineers took over the development. This included Android and iOS specialists, a backend developer, a designer, and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project team shared their progress for us to give them feedback. The final product matched the initial requirements and helps us save about 30% of our time spent on business processes. With the help of the reporting features, we’re able to analyze key metrics with a single click of a button.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

This aspect was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They give helpful suggestions for improving the scope of work. They also focus on understanding the problem so that they can provide the best possible solution.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I didn’t find anything for them to improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am one of the founders of Hivado, a company that provides IT services to organizations such as hotels, restaurants, and a law firm. The company just started a year ago, so we haven’t done much yet. We are a very small team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with RipenApps?

We had many challenges. The most difficult part was making developers understand what we wanted them to develop. Apart from that, commitment was also an issue. A developer would usually commit to delivering on a certain date, but they would fail to do so. Other companies would take a week to do a project that should take a couple of minutes. Then, they would charge $500 or something like that.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

RipenApps prepared a basic requirement document because we ourselves were not sure what we wanted. They did brainstorming sessions on a regular basis, which helped us a lot. After building that document, they designed both the website and the native Android application for us. We already had a website, but we wanted to redevelop it from scratch using PHP. It’s called ohighways.com, and it targets people who travel on highways.  Since the app and the website would be used by the general public, they had to be responsive and user-friendly.

RipenApps also developed a system for us to get all the data, which would help us be more analytic during the operation. They also collected photographs and written content. We’ve done search engine optimization, but we won’t proceed with other digital marketing until the application is live to avoid spending that money.

What is the team dynamic?

We usually interacted with one person, but we were allowed to interact with the developers as well. Mostly, we worked with two people, Jadhav and Ishan. Vaibhav was our primary contact, and if he could not resolve an issue, then we would reach out to Ishan.

How did you come to work with RipenApps?

I looked on Google and got a few references from my friends as well. I spoke with more than 40 developers. RipenApps gave a response in a timely fashion, and their estimate was also good. In contrast, the other companies were not reliable and had poor customer feedback.

How much have you invested with them?

Since we’re a startup, they helped us out. Initially, they charged us a very minimal amount. We started with a budget of $5,000. After starting development, we added a couple more functionalities, bringing the total to $7,000–$8,000. The digital marketing has not been added yet.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2017, and the website was completed in July 2017. The website went live first, but the application was just launched recently. We don’t have any more improvements to make at this time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our experience with RipenApps was great. Everything went well. We were happy because RipenApps really understood what we wanted. The most important thing was making the app and website user-friendly, especially for non-technical people, and RipenApps made it happen. For example, everything is on the homepage itself so that users do not need to navigate to other pages. The admin panel is also very easy to use. We can hire anybody, even a fresh graduate, to manage it.

The site is visible, but it’s not functional yet. The users who have seen it find it very efficient. They understood what we wanted from them. We haven’t done any marketing yet, so we don’t have any metrics.

How did RipenApps perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was excellent, and we understood each other at every point. They were available 24/7. Sometimes, our ideas changed during in the development stage. In case we wanted something done in a different way, we could talk to the developers. If we wanted to have a discussion, we just sent them an email and they were ready immediately. They were also available on WhatsApp. I could also call them, but the call had to be pre-scheduled. I would also meet with them at their office since we were in the same vicinity.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were more proactive than reactive, which was awesome. We always got a call from them about any issues, and we never had to initiate contact. They were enthusiastic about the project, and that helped a lot.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could expand their team. I told them they should have specific people for specific jobs. For digital marketing, they should have 3–4 people. But they told me that they do not have enough work in that area to support a few more people.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder and Partner

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Computing Technologies & Services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire RipenApps to accomplish?

• Design
• Development

SOLUTION

How did you find RipenApps?

Clutch Site

Why did you select RipenApps over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from RipenApps were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Design & development of native iOS & Android mobile app as per requirement

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Design Start & End Dates, Developement Start & End Dates, Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

1. Finalize high level requirements
2. Master Project Plan with milestone & milestone dates
3. Design & development phases planned with start & end dates 
4. Each phase is a monthly (2-4 week) cycle
5. Each phase commences with a meeting to discuss low level requirements
6. Design / Development cycle closes with a UAT release for end user acceptance
7. User Sign off to close the phase

What was your primary form of communication with RipenApps?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their resources are able to realign and meet timelines in case of deviation, missed requirement or defects

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

Requirement gathering & discussion can get better with more experience