Waracle

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are a visitor attraction and a working whiskey distillery in Crieff, Scotland.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m the marketing executive.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Waracle?

Our previous agency had not fulfilled the security requirements that we needed. Our site was simply not as secure as it should have been. So, our immediate priority for Waracle was to secure the site. Following that, we wanted them to update the site’s branding, which was out of date, and make recommendations for improvements. Also, we knew there were a number of upcoming projects that we would need a Web developer’s assistance with.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

At the start of the contract, Waracle secured the site and made sure that it was properly covered. Now, on an ongoing basis, they provide monthly maintenance and support. They also take on specific projects for us, and we pay them on a case-by-case basis according to the amount of time and resources needed for each project.

What was your process in selecting Waracle with which to work?

To be honest, I’m not sure how we first came in contact with them. They were being used by another part of our company, so when it came to needing a new agency, we looked at them first. Since they were highly thought of and strongly recommended, we went with them.  

Can you provide a ballpark figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

I don’t know the cost of the initial project but, on a monthly basis, we spend approximately £1,000 [approximately $1,545] with Waracle.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How satisfied are you with the work of Waracle?

We were very happy with their work on securing our website. They did it quickly, and they took it on with very short notice. They did exactly what we needed them to do, so that was a good start to our relationship. Since that time, they have provided excellent technical support. They’re very efficient and they respond to us very quickly. We haven’t worked with them very much on larger projects, however. We’re only starting to do that with them, so time will tell. So far, the response and advice we’ve had from them has all been useful. Our relationship with Waracle has been a very positive experience.

Is there anything unique about Waracle that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

Unlike the company we worked with previously, we’re able to speak to Waracle’s technical staff either face to face or directly on the phone, rather than going through a third party. It’s really useful to be able to talk directly to the person who will actually make those technical changes. It’s always easier to convey what you want directly.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

I think the key area of improvement is on the communication side of things. At the start of the contract, I think both sides were a bit vague on who the key contacts were. We have since clarified exactly who we contact for technical support, for development, and for SEO [search engine optimization]. So, we’re much clearer on who our contacts are now, which is a big improvement.

What advice would you give a future client of theirs?

As we’ve learned, clarify who you’re communicating with upfront. I’d also point out that the training they were able to provide was very useful, so if people don’t have much experience with websites, ask Waracle to provide that training. Also, be aware that they’re very good at making suggestions for projects. So, once you come up with an idea, expect them to help you decide whether or not a project is viable.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are a real estate consultancy firm with about 50,000 employees. We work with owners and occupiers of real estate globally. We’re headquartered in Chicago and have offices all around the world.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I am the director of retail research and consulting for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. My team researches the European retail market, and we work as consultants for both retailers and owners of retail property.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Waracle?

We have a huge amount of information and intellectual capital on retail places from our network of offices and consultants around the world. We needed an innovative solution for displaying that data to our clients. We wanted to do something a little bit different in the way we presented that data.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They produced an app showing a spinning, 3-D globe. The globe itself is a repository for various bits of data, including the actual retail places themselves. The globe enables a client to search real estate worldwide using various criteria. We can set up flight paths through retail places the client is interested in, and then show those places directly to our clients, which is much better than just reeling off a series of slides. The app provides a very creative way of demonstrating our knowledge of retail places. 

What was your process for selecting Waracle with which to work?

I wasn’t involved in the selection process, but I’m sure our IT [information technology] people looked at various candidates in terms of price and experience. Waracle was strong both on their cost and mobile app skills.

Can you provide a ballpark figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We’ve spent around £100,000 [approximately $153554] with Waracle.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

First and foremost, Waracle produced a fully functioning app in the face of the tight time schedule we imposed on them. There were challenges and obstacles along the way, as there always are with these things, but the finished product is up and fully functioning. The project has absolutely been a success.

Is there anything unique about Waracle that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

Their technical expertise with mobile apps is second to none.

What advice would you give to a future client of theirs?

I’d say absolutely to go for it.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

The only reservation I have about them is that their design capability is not as strong as their technical capability. We had to work on some of the design elements of the globe and definitely needed input from our design team here.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We’re a workforce management software vendor. We have developed a smart scheduling cloud application, which essentially enables users to schedule their staff based on forecasted demand. We have been in business for twenty-eight years, and have headquarters in the U.K., with offices in Chicago and Sydney.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I am the head of product development for customer support.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Waracle?

We needed to develop a native mobile app for a new product line.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

We wanted Waracle to build out both the Android and iOS versions of our new app. They became an extension of our team and worked with the same systems and the same methodology. They were integrated tightly into the work of our company.

What was your process for selecting Waracle with which to work?

Our head of sales and marketing had a connection through some Scottish IT [information technology] network. He put them onto us, and we took it from there. We did talk to a few other companies, but felt that Waracle offered us the best fit. They have a great mix of technical skills, which complemented our own team. We said upfront that we expected them to work with our methodology. We didn’t have all the answers, and we knew that they wouldn’t either. They were able to speak our language, they understood what we were doing, and that set them apart from others.

Can you provide a ballpark figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We have spent more than £100,000 [approximately $153,000] with Waracle last year. We began working with them in April or May of 2014 and will continue to work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Are you satisfied with the results of the project?

Market acceptance has been fantastic so far. We’re pilot testing the app with some of our customers at the moment, and that is going smoothly. The quality of what Waracle produced certainly meets our expectations. The proof of our success will of course play out over a longer period of time.

Is there anything unique about Waracle that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

For us, it was their people. We felt we established a very good relationship with them and that we could trust them. When improvements needed to be made, we were confident that they would be up to the challenge. Like us, they continually strive to maintain the highest standards. As far as engineering goes, they’re very strong.

What advice would you give to a future client of theirs?

Make them as much as possible an extension of your own team, so that your team considers them essentially a part of the group. Set the same standards for everyone in the team. Involve them in all the related activities so that they understand the entire project, from planning and decision making to implementation.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

We’ve asked Waracle to innovate, just like we do with our own teams. So, where there’s been challenges, they have been overcome. There’s really nothing specific that I would change.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a Scottish whisky producer. We market whisky across various markets and produce it. It’s an international business across Asia, Europe, and America.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am the global brand advocate. My role is a marketing function.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Waracle?

Initially they made our education app, a tool to educate consumers. Then, they created our website to show our brand online. Our previous website was dated.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They did mobile app design and development for us. They didn’t design the website. They worked more on the working parts of the website. They did all the back end architecture. We started with an iOS app and then they created an Android app. Since then, we’ve done one more mobile application with them for duty free shops.

What was your process for selecting with which Waracle to work?

We had two or three other companies that submitted a proposal for the work. We decided Waracle was the best option.

Can you give a sense of the size of the initiative in dollar terms or a personnel work-hour figure?

All the apps were £10,000 [approximately $15,000] and the website was £28,000 pounds [approximately $42,000].

When was the work completed?

The website was completed in August of 2014. The first app was created in August of 2012. There were other apps in between. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

Our aspiration for the app was to have 4,000 to 5,000 downloads, but the actual number is much higher than that. I think it’s around 12,000 to 13,000 total downloads as of December of 2014. This was our first mobile application. We definitely have more traffic online because of their website as well.

Are you satisfied with their performance?

Yes. It actually turned out better than we thought. We learned a lot through the process. We’ve been quite successful with the duty-free application. 

Is there anything unique or special about Waracle that really makes them stand out compared to other online marketing companies?

They make the process sound less complicated than other firms and are very pragmatic with regard to solutions. Nothing’s a problem to them. They relish the challenge of getting around certain obstacles. They are good at explaining what they’re doing to non-tech people.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

At the beginning, they didn’t offer a lot of support as far as analytics goes. That part of their business had just started. The great thing is that now that our website is complete, they’ve employed someone specifically to do that so we benefitted. I think one thing we discussed with them was the leadership element. I think they could have identified problems sooner and told us what to expect. The leadership from their programmer could have been better.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

It’s a hospitality and leisure company. We run bars, restaurants, casinos, cinemas, and hotels across Scotland.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m one of the directors. I look after all the business development and marketing, sales, and some of the operations of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Waracle?

We were trying to create a platform to speak to a particular demographic within our business, particularly students. We created a brand and we wanted to deliver it via a mobile application.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They developed a mobile app for Android and IOS. 

What was your process for selecting Waracle with which to work?

We went to five different companies and they each gave a presentation. We thought they were the most flexible. They weren’t the cheapest, but we thought they were the best at communicating, and they presented the best. They were most flexible in working with our creative and design team.

Can you give a sense of the size of the initiative in dollar terms or a personnel work-hour figure?

We paid around £30,000 [approximately $47,000] for the first round of work. We’ve spent around $150,000 total for the app.

When was the work completed?

September of 2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

We don’t really have metrics yet because it’s early on in the process.

Are you satisfied with their performance?

Yes, we are satisfied. They fix problems within 24 hours.

Is there anything unique or special about Waracle that really makes them stand out compared to other online marketing companies?

They are quite nice and relaxed in the way they approach things. We like the fact that they are informal. That is important to us. They are similar to the same age as our team and that makes it easy to communicate and understand each other.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

We probably would have listened to their advice more than we did in the beginning.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and role.

I work for a special health board. We cover all of Scotland. I deal with undergraduates and postgraduate training and continuing professional development as well.

I’m part of the dental directorate and we cover what’s called vocational trainees. My department is the dental assessment unit. We have certain criteria that dental students must meet before we certify them.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m the manager of the dental assessment unit. We assess the trainees and advise the directors at the end of the year who qualifies and who doesn’t.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for the work with Waracle?

The goal was to create a tablet app. In the past, we used paper for our patient assessment questionnaires to ask trainees after they see a patient. This involved about 12,000 pieces of paper sent out and mailed back in. It was very labor intensive and expensive and there were many people who never returned the forms.

SOLUTION

Please describe their work in more detail.

They designed the tablet application using examples from the paper questionnaire, and we gave some design input as well. It was a collaborative effort. In the end, the base is a spreadsheet with all the data. As we test the app, we keep making changes. They came up with solutions we needed for different problems such as locking the tablet screen so the tablet couldn’t be used for other purposes while our app was running.

What was your process for selection Waracle with which to work?

We met with various app developers to discuss the logistics of what we wanted to achieve and how we could achieve it. Waracle put together the best bid in terms of price and approach. We liked their business model the best.

Could you talk about the size of this project with a general cost range?

I think it was around 10,000 pounds to create and develop the app in the first instance, and then we just have some monthly recurring costs that we pay to cover the server, support, and minor changes we make.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Are you satisfied with Waracle’s performance?

Yes, it’s been a very successful project. We have a very good working relationship with the team at Waracle. They are very fast at solving problems. If it’s something serious, they make sure it’s dealt with properly. We’ve been very happy and would recommend them to anyone.

Do you have any statistics or metrics you can share about the project?

The first year we ran the project, we added a few questions about using the app and the tablet to see if people like it or not. That came back very positive. We heard back from different age categories that it was a good product. 

Is there anything unique or special about Waracle that stands out as different from other top United Kingdom mobile application developers?

I don’t have any other experience with other mobile app companies other than the ones we originally had bidding for the project. I can’t comment about other firms’ quality because I’ve never experienced it. What makes Waracle a strong company wasn’t just about price. It was the whole package they came up with. They had a lot of enthusiasm and got involved with our work. 

Looking back at the work they’ve done, is there anything that Waracle could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

Nothing really stands out to improve. They could touch base every quarter, but you don’t really need regular meetings with their team. It would be picky to say they should give me a phone call every six months to see how things are going when they are so busy. They do have a help desk now and that helps out.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

My company hosts software services, remote monitoring, and management tools for IT [information technology] support companies or minor service providers.

Our main product is a tool that needles MSPs [managed service providers] to monitor and manage all of their clients systems from desktops, mobile phones, and servers. They can monitor and receive alerts, if any faults were detected, there’s automatic remediation of certain faults. There is collective maintenance. There is patch management and remote access, as well as antivirus and online backup management all compromised within the Max remote management product.

We also have a couple other products. One is a service desk operation again. It is a hosted software service and in-depth management service for service providers and IT support companies. It compliments [our client monitoring tool], so when we detect a fault through it, we can automatically open a ticket so that the MSP can track time.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am director of engineering for the product, so I head up the software development, QA [quality assurance], and related functions for it. I am based out of Dundee, Scotland, near Waracle. I have about 50 staff working for me. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Waracle?

We already had two mobile apps for iOS and Android, which were developed by two different subcontractors. This was problematic for me to manage multiple subcontractor relationships. We weren’t particularly thrilled with them. They did what we required and nothing more. We don’t have a lot of experience or strength in mobile applications, which is why we were looking for an outsourced partner.

When it comes to maintenance, the look and feel of the first two apps was outdated, and the platforms were out of date. The functionality of the mobile apps had fallen behind our Web apps, so we wanted to bring that up to speed. There was no service desk functionality for example.

We searched for a new subcontractor that could help deliver a better version for both apps. Our goal was really to have one subcontractor who could do both iOS and Android. We also added in Windows Mobile as well since many of our customers use a Microsoft base.

Waracle stepped up to add this into their scope of work. We went into the engagement with the aim of bringing them up to date with the latest platforms, bringing functionality up to date with our latest product offerings by adding a service desk, and bringing the look and feel up to date.

We wanted to be competitive with franchise organizations of competitive products who don’t have mobile apps. We liked the approach Waracle took and the fact that they can do iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile.

We can do one release of the new apps on all three platforms. Waracle are mobile specialists and that’s what we really want. When we had an idea, they’d come back to us and say that’s fine for Android, but that’s just not how you do it on iOS or Windows Mobile because the platforms are different, the controls are different, and the UI [user interface] controls are different. It’s more important that the app looks like a native app for that platform than each app looks the same. They were able to bring that knowledge back for each platform especially with the new Windows Mobile application. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

This work is still ongoing. We have a version of iOS and Android ready to ship. It’s not shipped because of the company rebrand that happened just two weeks ago. We just have to push the button. We’re just prepping the marketing activities. We are in the process of doing another version with service desk functionality as well on iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile.

What was your process for selecting Waracle with which to work?

We didn’t do formal bids. We’ve gone with an agile model where they quote for the work, but we have the flexibility to change the scope and pay the correct price later. With a fixed scope-pricing model, which we could have done for about 125 percent of the quote, it would have restricted our ability as a development manager and client to change the scope of the work.

We’ve been working with Waracle for several months now and the functionality of our system has increased. We are able to do things like add in additional languages. We added in Portuguese. There’s no arguing about what the scope is, they just add on the cost. I have no complaints about the cost. We didn’t have a formal process or put anything out to tender.

We worked with two subcontractors before. We talked to a couple of others and found that those who used cross-platform development were using UI abstraction layers like titanium or something like that. You weren’t actually getting a native app and we wanted a rich UI and felt the native app was the best way to go. We haven’t found a lot of local subcontractors that offered native app development across multiple platforms. Being local just helps because we have a weekly meeting with them in person. It’s not the end all, be all, but it helps with communication.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

By the time all is done, we’re looking at about £200,000 [approximately $314,000]. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

The initial testing we’ve had with people who have seen the app is that the look and feel is fantastic. We came up with some of the graphics but, in terms, of how you use the app, they really challenged us quite strongly on some of the workflow elements. We’ve arrived in a very good situation.

The workflow is much more intuitive on both platforms in terms of what we’re trying to achieve with the app. They are mobile specialists and they brought that thinking to us instead of thinking that we’re sitting in front of the desktop. Quality-wise, we’ve been very happy. We have our own internal QA team that has been testing the work as well. We shared test plans so we knew what they were testing. There have been no concerns there.

I’m happy with the way they’ve communicated with us throughout the project. They have regular communication and anything we felt shouldn’t be what we asked for, they fixed right away without complaint. We’ve been able to arrive at a good compromise each instance.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

We don’t have download figures, but the old iOS app has been downloaded 20,000 times and Android about 600,000 times, and we’re expecting most of the users will update to the new version when made available.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

They do native apps across all platforms. They have done this for a long time: They eat, sleep, and breathe mobile. They don’t just understand how to build a mobile app, they understand what you should be doing on the mobile phone. They’re a good bunch of guys [who] we enjoy working with. 

Looking back on the work so far is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

We’ve had six apps developed on iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. I sometimes wonder if we’ve done that in the right order. We started [one] on iOS and Android before we finished [another] on Windows Mobile. That’s our fault if we chose the order incorrectly.

The other thing we’d do differently involves our internal UI team. They spent a long time producing the look and feel for the app. However, Waracle made a lot of major changes because they are the true usability experts. It would have been beneficial for us to engage Waracle earlier in that process, particularly for Windows Mobile development. The way the app is structured is quite different from iOS.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are chartered accountants and business advisors. We are the fourth-largest accountancy firm in Scotland.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I head up the marketing team for the firm. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Waracle?

We had some short-term goals for the production side. We needed our new website to be mobile friendly, to work across all devices, and to be user friendly.

We also have a number of long-term objectives including increasing traffic to the site and increasing conversion inquiries. We are still working on these goals with Waracle, as well as search engine optimization. All the initial goals in terms of the design and production, usability, and mobile aspect of the site, they were all met. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

Waracle helps us with our website and email marketing system as well. Both systems are mobile friendly, which was a key criterion. They developed the system and templates we use to update clients on new accounts and legislation general updates. We worked with the technical team and the design team as a combined effort.

What was your process for selecting Waracle with which to work?

We went through a process where we considered probably about ten different firms. We then narrowed it down to three who were asked to submit details and a tender. We invited two along to present and from the presentation process, we then selected Waracle from that. We had quite a detailed spec and they responded to everything in the spec and a little bit more. We were keen to make sure that the design and look and aesthetics of the site was in line with our brand guidelines. Waracle was focused on making the website work and I think that’s what I was most impressed with. Many other firms focused on the aesthetics side, Waracle could do both, they could the design and technical part, but they could do the ongoing support as well.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The price range was between £20,000 to £30,000 [approximately $31,000 to $47,000] for this project. That includes the additional design work we engaged them in. We’re still deciding on the ongoing investment totals, but perhaps up to £1,000 [$1,500] a month in terms of a rough figure. There could also be future individual project fees around the £5,000 [$7,800] mark.

When was the project completed?

We just completed the main project in November of 2014. Their overall work is still ongoing and we’re hoping to engage them for a long period. We’ve engaged them in ongoing support to make sure the website is working as optimally as possibly. We’ve also engaged the design team to be in charge of our brand. They’re going to be doing all of our offline design as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

I’m both pleased and satisfied that we went with Waracle. The support, ideas, and advice of the team have really been valued. They go above and beyond. When we ask for advice, they give advice and then just a little bit more. I suppose that’s helped educate us along the way, keeping us up to date with new changes on mobile technology. We made changes as the site was being built to make it more user friendly. I think that’s what I really appreciated because they could have just kept it the same, but instead they wanted to change it so it could be the best it could possibly be.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

[There are] no metrics yet because the site has just launched.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

I would say it’s the mix of the team they have. In comparison with the other firms that I saw, Waracle is unique because they have really experienced developers and an experienced design team and have junior members of staff who are fresh out of university with lots of innovative ideas. With other firms, I didn’t see that. The breadth of experience from a junior level up to senior and experienced.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

They had a debriefing conversation with me on the phone about things that they could improve. I said that I think it would be good to know where this contract ends and where our new contract starts. It would be good to understand where the general maintenance would end as part of our last contract and where the new contract begins.

We have a meeting tomorrow and they’re going to go through the different options. We would have liked to know this information in advance, what these options were for going forward. This issue may be more on our end than Waracle's, it's hard to say.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are 100 percent government funded from the Scottish government, but we are a private company. We were organized in 2011, [and] we help businesses in the private sector and the public sector to reduce their waste, and save resources, energy, and water. We do this through grant funding, communications, and various other support mechanisms.

What is your role and responsibilities?

Communications support manager. I work with local authorities and other businesses to help them communicate with their customers their services, which contribute towards our ambitions. An example of that might be a local authority providing a recycling service to households in their area.

I would manage the team who delivers those communication materials. In previous roles, I’ve managed various campaigns, including a campaign to cut food waste across Scotland and the U.K. It encourages people to make the most of leftover food, buy less food that would go to waste, and help them with ideas around storage and recipes, that is where we worked with Waracle to do some mobile applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Waracle?

The objective of the project was twofold. First, it was to provide a tool that Scottish households could use to reduce the food waste, so the average Scottish household wastes, at that time, about 430 pounds of food that could be used, so the app was a tool so that they could reduce that.

It provided a recipe so they could increase their knowledge in how to finish all of those ingredients. It provided tap storage information, helped them plan their meals better, and write shopping lists so they could go to the supermarket and refer to that. It targeted all of the ways that we found and researched that people waste food and was a tool to help them reduce that actively. Then, secondfold, it was the first mobile application of its kind at that time so we used it as a PR [public relations] tool to raise awareness of food waste and the work we were doing to help people reduce that first waste. It was also awareness of how easy it is to reduce food waste and the environmental and economic impact of food waste. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They were key in steering us in how the mobile app should look, so they really helped with the overall project, [such as] usability and functionality, and they had a good understanding of mobile users. We wanted to create something that was available to everyone including people who didn’t have a mobile platform, so they also did a widget that performed the same functions, which we were able to host on our website. Initially it was an iOS application. In 12 to 18 months, we then commissioned an Android equivalent.

What was your process for selecting Waracle with which to work?

We struggled at the time in 2009. We did a Web search to identify organizations. Every piece of work we award is done through a competitive tender process. We pulled together a brief list at the time, we knew we wanted a mobile application, and we knew what we wanted to achieve with that, but the list was brief in that we really didn’t know the technology and what it could do. After we made this list of companies, we invited them to come and apply for the project. We also put that tender on our website and the Scottish public procurement website as well. Anyone was welcome across Europe or the world to pitch for that piece of work. We wanted a competitive tender.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The initial iOS app wasn’t expensive at all. I remember it coming in at less than £10,000. It was about £7,500 at the time. It did take about three or four months to develop because we had to build databases. We had to source recipes, build databases, and seek permissions so that was actually the longest and most arduous part of the process.

Waracle was on the project for three months. The Android version a year later was a matter of transferring that code into a new platform, so it only took a month or two, but I don’t remember the cost off the top of my head. It was never redeveloped for the iPad. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

We are very satisfied. The iOS became one of the most downloaded applications in the country. I think it reached number one in the app store for lifestyle apps. Waracle developed the app so it would have access to analytics which gave us a number of downloads and user activity on the app, so we were really able to track the analytics.

We were able to make a good assumption of how much food waste was being cut. We were really pleased with the app results and the work that Waracle did. They kept us up to date with information and worked around the clock to meet our deadlines.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

The app had more than 100,000 downloads. The download rate was higher than expected. It resulted in a lot of airtime on the BBC and other news outlets. We were covered in the New York Post and by a newspaper in Peru, so it got some worldwide recognition and downloads increased substantially off the back of that.  

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

I think they were able to communicate their understanding of the platform well. We had limited understanding and felt that the success of this project came down to their knowledge and their ability to communicate that and instruct us about what would be best for the application. They were always happy to come to our offices and present and to offer us advice in the campaign.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

There were some launch problems with the application, but my knowledge of developing apps and launching apps is still very limited. We did launch the app onto the store with bugs and problems, so we went through numerous updates. They were always very responsive when I contacted them to say I’ve got the app on my phone and it’s not doing this or this bug is happening and it’s crashing. The one thing that I would probably looking from them if I worked with them again was to make sure that those bugs were eliminated before the product launch into the store.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at Unity, a cross-platform game engine and technology company that powers many of the world's games and interactive Real-time 3D experiences. I am the Senior Manager of the professional services games engineering team for AMER + EMEA, helping deliver awesome games made with Unity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• A metaverse / web3 engagement
• Backend development experience

SOLUTION

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

• Location
• Skillset
• Capability
• Proven record in fintech

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

• Design and development of backend infrastructure for a web3 engagement
• Collaboration with Unity's client
• Collaboration with Unity's client vendor for backend development

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

• One (1) Lead Backend Software Manager
• Two (2) Senior Backend Software Developer
• One (1) DevOps and Infrastructure Developer
• One (1) Project Manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Waracle helped implement backend services and systems for a web3 engagement. They provided the expertise we did not have internally. Delivery quality was strong.

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

Risk management was strong. The ability to work in a challenging environment was also a strength.

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

Approach to working on an engagement outside of their comfort zone/usual work, communication with key leadership was strong. Communication with project management especially regarding risk management and flagging risk was strong. The team adapted our working approach, culture, and timezone admirably.

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

Nothing from my side