Vog App Developers

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm one of the founders of Nurish By Design, a meal planning web-based platform. We license the program to personal trainers, gyms, and fitness facilities so they're able to offer meal plans to their clients using our software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

We originally started developing the platform with another vendor that we thought was Calgary-based, but turned out to be outsourced to India. We weren't happy with the relationship, so we started looking for a different, local company to work with.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After initial discussions with Vince (CEO and Owner, Vog App Developers), Vog's team created the scope of work and a timeline. They developed the platform, including the frontend and backend, and are in the final stages of QA testing.

The platform includes features that allow clients to sign up and fill out a form to provide basic information regarding age, sex, height, and weight so that the program can calculate an appropriate calorie range for each user. There's also a survey feature that asks users to indicate any foods they dislike or are allergic to, so their personal trainers won't be able to assign them those foods.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work directly with Vince and a project manager, but we also occasionally meet with Brad (Web Services Developer, Vog App Developers).

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

We researched local vendors and considered about five different companies, but thought Vog offered the best solutions for us. When we met with Vince, we were very impressed by his directness and ability to describe how he would approach building out our app. He was practically finishing our sentences as we explained it to him and providing additional feedback.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $20,000–$25,000 CAD ($15,659–$19,573 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2017 and finished the majority of development in March 2018. We're still making small tweaks to the platform as we continue testing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Vog has been able to transform our ideas into a well-designed and effective platform. It's both highly functional and reliable—they've fixed any glitches quickly as they come up. As we wrap up development, we've also noticed a lot more users and conversions to sales than ever before.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

Vog's team is very organized. Whenever we started a new phase of the project, they would lay out a thorough document describing the requirements, scope, and timeline. They're also very responsive, so we're able to get ahold of them almost immediately. They continue to be proactive and reactive to any issues that come up in development.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is very knowledgeable and able to provide invaluable feedback to make our processes and end product better. They've helped guide us throughout the process and put us on the right track when our requests need more analysis or consideration.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. As they continue to grow, I just hope that they're always able to provide the same level of interaction and personal attention to their clients as they have with us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Our biggest mistake with our previous vendor was that we just took their word without asking them how they planned to achieve the scope of work. Don't just ask a vendor if the work can be done, but also how the company plans on achieving your goals. Vince and his team are very good at explaining how they plan to approach every aspect of their work. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director at RV Care, a buying group and network of independent RV dealers across Canada. I’m in charge of our contracts, agreements, and programs with suppliers as well as marketing and advertising.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

We needed a mobile app for consumers to find our dealers when they travel. We’d worked with a previous dev company before, but they retired, so we needed a new partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We didn’t provide any wireframes or sketches. They had their own creative ideas and designs based off of other apps that have a similar purpose. They built both an Android and iOS version of the app. We didn’t have any specific features or functionalities in mind, so they introduced us to a few ideas. For example, they incorporated push notifications and geo events for the app to better reach our users.

The project wasn’t too large and only took a few weeks. We sent them the information, and they came back with the prototypes soon afterward.

What is the team composition?

We negotiated the contract with one individual and then worked with their project manager.

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

Vog made an app for one of our dealers, who then referred them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from starting in January 2018. The main development wrapped up around April but we plan on working with them for many years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too soon to provide quantitative data, but we’re excited to see the usage and will track it closely. We just recently started promoting the app to the public. We launched it at a meeting of 100+ dealers and staff members, and they were all impressed. We’ve received lots of positive feedback and excitement.

The app is easy to navigate and hasn’t had any glitches or problems. It’s smooth and easy for people to use.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

They did everything well in terms of communication, timeliness, and turnaround. Their project management was excellent, even after the app launched—they actually finished ahead of schedule.

We mainly communicated over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to work with and know what they’re doing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, none that I can think of.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Maintain good communication so that everything can go smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Jobstream is a web application that connects youth with employers and nonprofit organization for job and volunteer opportunities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

We hired Vog App Developers to create mobile apps for our business, and they also helped build our website. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vog’s team built an app with all of our specifications and more. They made an excellent suggestion to include a résumé builder, which is a feature that our competitors’ apps don’t have. They are currently working on incorporating a monthly subscription payment system into the app and they continue to provide backend support.

What is the team composition?

Vog’s vice president, the project manager, and two developers were usually present during the meetings.

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

We originally wanted to outsource this project so that we could save money, but we decided against it to avoid scheduling conflicts due to a difference in time zone. When we started searching for local app developers, Vog was the first company listed in Google, so we put them on our list of consideration. Our initial meeting was spent evaluating their work experience, as well as their portfolio. Vog was the most proactive company that we interviewed. Instead of waiting two weeks to present their deliverables, they quickly provided wireframes, price estimates, and a detailed scope of work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent approximately $43,000 to develop both the app and the website.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working on this project in February 2017, and they are still making changes to the app’s payment system.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received great feedback from our second focus group, so we believe that their work has been pretty successful.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very responsive. We used Trello as a project management tool, so I was able to see a list of everything that they were working on. He created a table for me on Trello so that I could post my comments, and they would remove them to notify me that the work had been completed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They never hesitate to offer an honest opinion if they believed something would not work to our benefit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should consider hiring more people so that the ratio of developer-to-client isn’t sacrificed as their company grows.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I have referred Vog to many people, and I always tell them to have a clear vision of what they want on their app. It is frustrating for their team when clients are not prepared for meetings.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company operates through a mobile app that allows customers to facilitate requests, including snow shoveling, cleaning, plumbing, and repairs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

When our company was first starting out, we needed to find a developer that could create an app where local service providers could list their information and customers could submit requests in real time. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The founders of our company collaborated with Vog, providing basic wireframes and sketches as needed. Vog's team designed and developed the app for iOS and Android.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with Vince (CEO, Vog App Devlelopers), as well as a few developers assigned to iOS, Android, and web development.

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

One of our founders did an online search for Calgary-based developers and interviewed five different companies. Ultimately, we chose Vog because they responded quickly and made us feel comfortable to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $70,000 not including the annual maintenance fees and additional projects we anticipate in the near future.

What is the status of this engagement?

We met with them in March 2016 and signed a contract in May. The first phase of the app launched in January 2018 and their team continues to maintain it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Customers and service providers alike have provided tons of positive feedback from using the app. Vog's team is quick to fix any bugs or issues as they arise.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

The developers update and fix any issues with the app very quickly. They've been great about staying on top of milestones throughout the process. We mostly communicate through email and haven't had any issues reaching them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their response time is quick and their work is efficient. They're also nice people and pleasant to work with all around. We're very happy with the relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They're proactive in making sure the app is performing optimally.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be friendly to the developers. Submitting last minute requests will be easier if you have an established relationship and rapport with the team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief executive officer and founder of IMLocum.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

I needed someone to make my minimum viable product (MVP).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re developing a web app for the veterinary industry. They built the MVP that would allow this software to be launched to the public. They used PHP. I plan to continue using them for future projects as well as maintenance.

What is the team composition?

The CEO is my primary point of contact and I also work with a developer.

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

They were recommended by a colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2017 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m able to continue with my project, which is a big milestone. We’ll be launching live fairly soon. That’s a good indication they did their job. The functionality and reliability are very good.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

They have very good communication skills and are very responsive to any issues that arise. They’ve been good with project managing. We use email and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I liked how easy it is to communicate with them. They’re very receptive and engaging in trying to understand the project. They get really involved with problem-solving as opposed to just building something.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There could be more written communication of the goals and milestones. Being able to have a better understanding of where they are and where they see the project going would be nice.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Stay in contact and available to communicate with them on an ongoing basis.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner-operator of Escape Ops. We‘re an escape room business where customers solve physical puzzles and challenges within an allotted time limit. It’s a fun group activity that’s great for team-building.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

A specific themed room of ours is heavily reliant on technology. I wanted to explore different possibilities of integrating interactive technology into its design. To accomplish a certain vision, I needed an app developer to create an app interface specifically to work on a Raspberry Pi.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Raspberry Pi has its own interface so in order create an application, they had to first load an operating system on to it. Then, they developed an application that was essentially an animation capable of outputting a signal.

What is the team dynamic?

The team I worked closely with consisted of 4–5 people, which included a project manager and a lead programmer. However, I’ve seen more people working for them around the office.

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

I used a couple freelancers in the past but wanted a development firm on this project, preferably one that was local. I found Vog after google searching with those parameters.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of the project was just over $3,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from September 2017–October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered on the project, as I now have the app they developed on the Raspberry Pi. What’s valuable about the app is it can easily be tweaked or changed by me. I could now make 10 of these if I wanted and that makes the product very scalable. Personally, I think the app looks great but I don’t have any customer feedback at this time.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent with communication and responsiveness. Email was our main form of correspondence. Communication is very important to me and I’ve worked with other developers that keep you in the dark in terms of project progress. Vog was quick to update me on where the project was and what needed to be done. They’re also a team of great people. The office vibe was pleasant and I greatly enjoyed working with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really liked that they had a team of talented people available. I previously worked with individual freelancers and if they lacked certain skill, they would outsource the work. This was not the case with Vog. The project required a lot of coding but they had a lead programmer to accomplish that. The animation was a unique task but they had a team member very skilled in Photoshop to bring it to life. Vog’s owner is especially proficient in SEO and marketing. The variety of skills they process gives them a large toolbox capable of delivering on most tasks. Overall, they really understand what it's like to provide a great service and great customer service. That’s often lacking in the industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

That’s difficult for me to say because it was a smooth transaction that never caused me stress. When I handed them the project, the assumption was that they have skills to do it. They did so without any complications or problems so as far areas of improvement are concerned, I can’t think of anything right now.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and contact them. They're all friendly people and I'm sure that no matter what the project is they'll do a good job. Vog’s owner has a golden rule; don’t lie. If you don’t like something then voice your concern. In order to go forth with all the right information, be straightforward with what you’re trying to accomplish.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Squat or Not, a dating app geared toward the fitness industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

I needed a development company to turn my idea into a fully-realized app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided the initial concept and went back and forth with Vog over specifics. They did most of the design work, taking my feedback into account, and presented a mockup before moving forward with the build.

The app matches users and provides a chat space. Photos can be uploaded easily at any time, and there’s also a profile of the month feature awarded to the user with the most upvotes. It's available for both Android and iOS platforms.

What is the team dynamic?

I go through Vince [O’Gorman, Owner, Vog] anytime I need something and he either addresses it personally or passes it to one of his developers. There were five people assigned to my project in total.

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

I ran a Google search for local app developers. I read the testimonials on Vog’s website and fell in love with their company after meeting with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2016 and they continue to provide updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I absolutely love the app’s sharp look and we currently have over 500 users. While there are minor technical issues whenever Android or Apple launch software updates, Vog addresses these immediately.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re perfect. We communicate primarily through phone and email, though I also visited their office at least once a week during development. Now that the app is live, we conduct in-person meetings once a month.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had a very stressful period when Apple continuously rejected the app. Vog refused to give up on the project, working even harder each time it was turned down. They worked tirelessly for three months, and now the app is available in the App Store.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. I'm happy with everything they did.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would certainly recommend Vog. They're diligent, but also a lot of fun to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I co-founded 10 Fold, Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App?

We built an interactive challenge-based app called Snapbets a few years ago and then decided to create a second version.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started over from the first version, building this one from scratch on the iOS platform. App features include: video and photo postings, video splicing, interactive voting, and friend requests. There’s also an option to purchase longer videos for responding to other users.

Initially, the team advertised on Facebook, but we decided to proceed with that internally. They did nothing wrong; it was a cost decision.

The team tested the app and continues to work on bug fixes.

What is the team dynamic?

I communicated personally with three developers including Vince [President/Owner, Vog App] and Matt [iOS/Android Developer, Vog App].

How did you come to work with Vog App?

I emailed 6 different developers about the app and their response was the smartest in the set.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent approximately $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started June 2016 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started advertising only a few weeks ago and it’s too early to have data. We tested the app, but not on a wide range of people. Feedback is good and yielded smaller issues we will address. But for now, the app performs well.

How did Vog App perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was responsive to communication and adaptable to changes. They reacted fairly to everything.

Vince and I communicated through email, but the nature of our relationship allows me to text periodically. His follow-up was immediate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I received multiple quotes and theirs was the lowest by far.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a mortgage brokerage company based in Calgary, and we provide mortgages all across Canada. I'm the operations manager, so I handle sales, accounting, payroll, office administration, our IT platforms, and our apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App Developers?

We wanted to develop a sales app for our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vog built our new app for iOS and Android entirely from scratch. It creates a centralized place for clients to get in touch with us and look up information on the different services we offer. It highlights some of our realtors and lending partners, features events we hold, shares discounts we offer our clients, updates them on builder rates, and gives them access to our home-buyer's guide.

What is the team dynamic?

We primarily worked with the owner, the advertising manager, and two developers.

How did you come to work with Vog App Developers?

We started developing our app in-house, and we'd previously used a development company in Toronto, but we decided to change gears. Vog had designed an app for someone we knew, and that organization recommended them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

Between $6,000–8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2015 and we're still working together. I'm planning to have them take over our company's main app so they can redo that as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not many mortgage brokers have apps, so we've received positive feedback from a few new clients who found us via iTunes, and we’ve made several new sales that way. Vog's also met with us to go over the metrics on the amount of clicks and downloads since the app went live, and they've given us suggestions on how to improve those numbers. We still need to implement those updates, so I don't have exact results.

How did Vog App Developers perform from a project management standpoint?

We've never had a problem with them meeting deadlines -- they're usually waiting on us! I prefer contact through email due to how busy we get, but sometimes we also communicate over the phone. They're very quick to respond, always on top of any changes we need, and they offer helpful suggestions about ways we could improve the app.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're innovative and interested in keeping your product up to date in terms of the aesthetics and how it's built. They're also great at making suggestions that help us appeal to potential clients, where if we'd kept the development in-house we might not have been so creative and we'd end up with a dated-looking product.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Creative design is their specialty, so I'd say to let them roll with it. Have a good sense of your vision for the final product, but trust them to execute it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

4Teens Ltd. is a family business. Our main objective is to create opportunities and resources for teens. Our app gives them the opportunity to engage in a friendly environment and encourages them to make the right choices. Aside from teens, it can be used by anyone.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vog App?

We are not knowledgeable about coding, so we needed help with building the mobile app. The idea was to create an environment that can help people get connected through a community-based mobile application. Social media apps are all about people wanting themselves to be the focus: “This is me, this is what I do, this is what I get, and these are my achievements.” In contrast, our app would take people from a personal, self-focused mindset and shift them to a community-based environment: “This is what we do. This is something good that needs to be done. This is an opportunity to engage people. It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about us. It’s about volunteering.”

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave them a mockup as well as a full document of what we were expecting from the app. They used a platform to build the wireframe, and we reviewed it online. After we made comments, they developed the app for iOS and Android. In the long run, it was more cost-effective to build both versions at the same time.

The main concept of the app is to engage people in a community-based environment rather than having a personal focus. There’s no feature for chatting since the app is about creating a group of people, not having one-on-one conversations. Users can join a community to talk about a particular matter—for example, music. They can share video posts, write comments, or post about an event. The app also includes polls for people to survey. Users can share a particular link and drive people to something that they think is really interesting.

What is the team dynamic?

There was 1 lead for iOS, 1 lead for Android, and 1–2 extra people helping that lead. Most of the time, it was 1 person per language.

How did you come to work with Vog App?

We went to Vog after doing some research on local mobile application developer companies. I called them, and we met face to face. They gave us good feedback, new ideas, and a new way to approach the idea, so we decided to go with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2016. The app was completed as expected, but it’s not live. They’ve transferred the app to us, and it’s under our control now. In the meantime, we are working with a marketing company for social media.

We haven’t cut the connection with Vog, and they are available if we need more help. They continue to follow up with us and inquire when we plan to release the app. Potentially, we are putting it in the App Store and Google Play within the next couple of weeks. We are planning a second engagement with them for upgrades.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are happy with what they did. They knew what they were doing. After the development phase, we worked with Vog to fix all of the bugs and issues. A select group of about 100 people tested the app, and we got good comments about features that were not working properly. One of the major challenges was that there wasn’t an option to crop an image so that it fits properly in screens while keeping the app in the same shape. It took a little longer, but they came up with an excellent solution.

How did Vog App perform from a project management standpoint?

It wasn’t perfect, but we had good communication, documentation, and reporting. I wanted good, quick feedback whenever we asked for something. We agreed on my expectations and they met that criteria. They always replied, answered concerns, and proposed ideas. My son, who built the mockup, would often come up with new questions or requests, and they always came back with a solution quickly.

A project manager kept us up-to-date regarding milestone completion, invoicing, and coding issues during the development phase. We communicated mostly through email as well as a few phone calls and face-to-face meetings. They have a software where we could see their progress and add comments. It’s usually complicated to describe issues via email, but the project management tool made it easier to explain what we saw during testing. We could take a picture of what was happening in the app and share it with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was their first time to do a social media app, and everything was good—we always got whatever we requested. It was good to have their opinion about development, and we benefited from their expertise in technologies and languages.

Are there any areas they could improve?

don’t have any concerns about the development. However, there’s always room for improvement in terms of communication.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I always encourage people to have a face-to-face meeting. If the developer is not close, at least have a meeting via Skype.