XTAPPS Software Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of an online beer trading platform. Just like with other social platforms, users can create a profile where they can post a wish list of beers they’re looking for, as well as beers they have and are willing to trade. The platform allows users to connect with one another to make exchanges. 

There is also a B2C component where different retailers can sell beers on the platform direct to consumers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

Initially, we hired them to develop the MVP for our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided the designs, mockups, and our requirements. They built the platform from scratch using PHP and HTML5. The platform also had a MySQL database structure. 

After developing the MVP, we did iterative work on an ongoing basis for about two years. 

How did you come to work with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

We wanted to find someone who could build an MVP relatively cheaply since we hadn’t gotten any funding yet. My co-founder knew one of the team members at XTAPPS, so we felt confident in their abilities. 

How much have you invested in them?

We spent somewhere from $10,000–$25,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April 2015–April 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a result of the MVP they built, we were able to see that our product would be successful in the market. They helped us make improvements to the platform after developing the initial MVP. They delivered on time and within budget. The team was reliable and responsive. 

How did XTAPPS Software Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

I liked their project management a lot. We used Jira and Asana. I would provide an outline of the functionality we wanted to build and what the requirements were. We would rank them in terms of priority, and they were great about getting us solutions promptly. 

There’s always some pitfalls when working in two different time zones, but we did a good job managing that. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with the speed of development coupled with the quality of their work. They got things done right the first time. They did exactly what we needed. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would say they could be more proactive about asking questions that they have about what we want, especially in the early stages. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

With any contracted developer, it’s important to know what you need to have built, and be specific. It’s also helpful to do frequent check-ins.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of MinorSociety. MinorSociety is a marketplace for music lessons. It allows musicians to upload tutorial videos, and allows newer musicians to browse and purchase lessons from the musicians they admire.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire XTAPPS Software Solutions?

We hired XTApps to build our web app platform that consisted of both a social media component and a marketplace.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to build the platform so it could accept initial users. We had a deadline of December and was hard-pressed to meet it.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

XTApps was referred to us by one of our partner companies. After speaking to their CEO, I felt confident that they could deliver our needs. They had a range of products in their portfolio, and a ton of great reviews.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They took my designs, transferred them from PSD to HTML. Then, we started building up feature-by-feature; first the social media features like profiles, friends, shares, messaging, and more. Then, the market place features including a categorized digital store and a payment module.

What was the team composition?

The project had 3-4 people working on it, including a project manager. I was able to work closely with the team and was updated frequently by the PM.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Initially, we were duped by a few freelance developers and were sort of at the end of our straw when we ran into XTApps. We had already wasted thousands. Immediately upon working with them though, we knew we could trust them to deliver. We were able to get our software launched rapidly, and they also worked with us after to maintain the software.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I thought their project management was great. We communicated through several platforms like Slack, had a Trello board set up so I always knew what was coming up next, and I received constant updates via email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were able to take my vision and make it real. They were available, quick to communicate, and able to build with reliable code.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really, I was pretty impressed with them through and through.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Your Last House, a real estate company. We focus on helping seniors downsize to new homes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

My website needed to be rebuilt. It didn’t integrate with my CRM, and I wanted my process of following up on leads to be more automated.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

XTAPPS Software Solutions completely revamped the website. They worked on both the design and functionality of it. The team added new pages as well as a contact form. It was built in Java. 

Additionally, the team provided copy to integrate onto the site once it was built. 

What is the team composition?

I had one main point of contact who was supported by a larger team.

How did you come to work with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

I met one of the team members in a networking group. I felt like they really understood what I wanted both visually and functionally, so we decided to partner.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our collaboration took place from November 2019–January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m really satisfied with the quality of their work. The new site looks fantastic and is a lot more accessible, especially on mobile. The site, which used to be a hassle for me, now flows really well since XTAPPS Software Solutions integrated it with my CRM. It automated the processes that I needed automated.

How did XTAPPS Software Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great communicators. I’m often busy, and the team did a really good job of staying on top of me and letting me know exactly what they needed from me and when. Our timelines were well laid out, and we were able to meet them easily.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their design skills and quality of their work are both great. The way they handled the timelines was incredible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think there was anything that I really felt was lacking.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about your strategic goals at the beginning. XTAPPS Software Solutions can take those goals and come up with a way to execute in order to accomplish them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a nonprofit organization. We’re designated to providing services on violence prevention education. We do anything from anti-bullying presentations in schools to violence prevention workshops for businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

The current website I had wasn’t doing the job I needed. I approached XTAPPS to create a site that’s more user-friendly for the public to navigate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed a whole new website and took the information off of my previous site. I met with Nithil (Co-founder & CEO) and he interviewed me on what my needs were. He took notes, and his team put together a preview template. We went back and forth making adjustments on my preferences. Finally, we came up with a finished product.

What is the team composition?

Nithil was my only point of contact.

How did you come to work with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

I go to a lot of network meetings, and I met Nithil at one of them. They described what they did, and we did a one on one meeting where we learned about each other. We moved forward from there.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent around $1,200.

What is the status of this engagement?

They turned things around quickly. It was definitely less than two weeks. We began working in December 2019, and we wrapped up in January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Compared to my previous website, the new site is ten times better. They delivered on time and within budget.

Given the status of Coronavirus right now, it’s hard for me to gauge how well it’s been doing. My business has come to a standstill because of it. No one is looking to hire me, since there’s no public forums.

How did XTAPPS Software Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re professional. We kept in touch via text, email, or phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their creativity was great. They came up with images that I probably would’ve never thought of using. Since I deal with violence, they came up with images that delivered an impactful and relevant message.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Maybe they could provide more updates on things that had been corrected. I would’ve liked more input and a way to see changes in real-time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Send.It Electronic Business Cards. We have a mobile application that allows you to send, receive, and store your business cards electronically.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

They developed our mobile application for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’d already begun developing it with another service provider, but the result wasn’t suitable for what we needed. XTAPPS ended up starting from scratch with a flowchart we’d put together. They recoded the entire application to better suit our needs for expansion later on and planned updates. They took over everything and delivered way ahead of the timeline.

The app is cross-platform, and they developed our database as well. They attached our mobile application to the platform we use to send the business cards. Users can go in, enter a phone number or email, and then send that business card to that other individual. They also built business card wallets that are linked to social media accounts, phone numbers, and addresses.

Currently8, they’re developing a CRM integration so data will automatically transfer to the end-users CRM. They’re also working on geo-location so when another user comes close to another user, their business cards will automatically send to each other. Additionally, they’re working on enabling users to write notes on business cards — kind of like connection notes on LinkedIn.

In the future, we’re going to work on marketing within the business card application. Businesses will be able to promote their business cards to local users. If a user searches for a plumber, a plumbing business’ business card will pop up as a sponsored card even if they don’t’ have one stored.

How did you come to work with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

One of our designers had worked with them in the past. They were working with my old developer, who wasn’t experienced with mobile apps.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $33,000 so far, and we’ll reach around $60,000–$70,000 this year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had no functional mobile application in January, but XTAPPS got it into testing in two months and into the App Store in three months. The feedback we’ve gotten so far has been nothing but above par. Without XTAPPS, we’d still be developing a non-functional application. They took our idea and delivered way before the timeline with additional features not even planned or scheduled. We came up with them as they were developing and XTAPPS had no issues putting them in there. We’ve done a soft-launch and gotten over 400 users right now, leaving nothing but five-star reviews.

How did XTAPPS Software Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They always deliver on time and under budget. That’s one of the really good things about working with them. Our last developer was always late. XTAPPS has support staff in both the US and India so I’ve always been able to get in touch with someone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They bring competitive pricing because they have staff both here and India. You get the best of both quality and pricing. If you were to hire someone with XTAPPS experience and quality in the US, we’d probably have spent three times more what we have at this point.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Every company has something they could work on, but I really can’t come up with anything. Other than hiring another designer to cut down on some of that work I don’t know. They’re still able to deliver on time or early now, though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have everything ready before you contact them including the development strategy, the features, and a flowchart of how you want the app to be laid out. You’ll get everything you need right away if you have all the done beforehand. Working on it all while going through the interview process only causes delays.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Upstaged Music is a company that, through technology, bridges the gap that has grown between stage and audience. I’m the founder and sole owner of the company, and manage the day to day operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire XTAPPS Software Solutions?

We hired them to develop our app and website for us.

What were your goals for this project?

Mobile app and website fully developed and designed based on functionality we had conceptualized.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to me by multiple people. After meeting for the first time, I was confident their work would be great.

Describe the project in detail.

We approached XTAPPS with a concept of an app and website, along with a logo and some data. We wanted them to design, wireframe, and develop based on that. They submitted several ideas to us, and we collaborated to perfect it.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with Nithil.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app functioned 100% as planned for our first and second live tests. No bugs in functionality. We’ve added several functions since then and have begun phase two.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

My ideas are in very layman’s terms. They did a great job of putting my lack of knowledge into real application. Very efficient.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was so impressed by their ability to quickly implement changes I asked for without having to question and clarify. Also, the amount of work and responsiveness is unparalleled.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None are coming to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a marketing agency in metro Detroit providing digital marketing services primarily to small and medium sized businesses. The majority of our clients are here in Detroit, but we were work with a number both nationally and internationally as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

We needed a reliable, technical outsource team for web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They have helped us with several projects where they built websites for the clients that we were working with. Primarily what we’ve worked on is building WordPress sites that will scale anywhere from simple but very high-end design personal websites, to user log-in portals for downloading files, to large scale e-commerce sites using WooCommerce and other plug-ins.

We’ve used a variety of technologies for these projects, including the base WordPress platform, WooCommerce plugins, Linux hosting, shared hosting, and managed WordPress hosting. Whatever we decide for the specific project, heir team integrates those into the full build of both front- and backend for the site.

What is the team composition?

We usually work with 1–2 resources per project, usually with one managing content and design and another in programming.

How did you come to work with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

I was originally referred to them by a company we hired to do some strategy consulting for my business. I explained the disenchantment I had with our existing provider and what I was looking for in a developer, and he pointed me toward the XTAPPS team.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost for the projects so far has been around $50,000

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2019 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

What I’ve noticed is that the continuity in our ability to take on more projects has increased greatly. In my experience using different resources, we were having to do tasks over and over again that wouldn’t get done correctly, but now it’s very rare that we are put in a position where the project goes over cost or timelines because of any mistakes from their team.

Their attention to detail and commitment to producing really quality work is astronomically better than anyone I’ve worked with before. The sites they build are consistently reliable and we’ve gotten great feedback from the clients who have worked with them.

How did XTAPPS Software Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

In general, deadline and budget compliance has been exceptional since we started working with them. We get thrown a lot of requests by clients that are on the fly or out of scope, and their team has been incredibly responsive to those changes and has worked with us on how to incorporate enhancements that are both beneficial to the client and fair in terms of our pricing for services.

We usually talk at least every other day if not every day, and our point of contact with them will often forward direct communication from their development team in terms of questions that they need answered so that we are able to find a solution as quickly as possible. I’ve been very happy with that in particular because it was something we really struggled with before finding them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their commitment is absolutely second to none. It sounds a little nebulous, but they are committed to every single project they come on board to and it shows how much they care. It can be really hard to find those qualities in outsourcing teams in this industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing I think could be a little better is more consistent review of the intermittent updates that are done on the sites. Normally they do a great job of filtering the quality in those but occasionally I have to look through those myself to QA them, which takes a little bit of my time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Bring a real-world scenario to him, as in talk about your expectations, as well as best and worst-case scenarios so that you can always work effectively together and that expectations are always the same and no one is not on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am developing a mobile app called Telmi, and it is a time management assistance application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

As a developer, I was able to lay out everything I wanted but didn’t have the time to build my own application, so I hired XTAPPS Software Solutions to help me execute that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They are working with us in a Django framework with Python for the API that will function across mobile platforms. Our plan at the moment is to use Ionic for the frontend. So far, they have written out the code proposals for a preliminary app and submitted them, and we are currently reviewing those.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with the owner of the company, and he has a dev team working with him behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

I put a post on Craigslist to see what developers were asking for domestically so that I could meet with them in person. The individual who eventually became my point of contact at XTAPPS Software Solutions responded to that post and we decided to try things out and continue to evaluate the engagement as it went.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little under $1,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2019 and are continuing to work together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work that they’ve delivered looks great, so I’ve been very satisfied with the quality, and they’ve also been flexible in terms of accepting my feedback on how I would like the development process to go.

Beyond that, their turnaround times are incredibly impressive. I got back the first deliverables a day after they started working, so I was really impressed from the start. I’m incredibly detail-oriented, and they were really able to match that in terms of documenting how long things take to complete and where the resources are to look at it, as well as making sure everyone stays updated.

How did XTAPPS Software Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

My interactions have all been with the owner, who does a great job of acting as a go-between and passing all information on to his team. They invest in meeting in person, taking notes, and getting things right the first time, which I really appreciate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was nice having a project manager who was also a coder because we were really able to speak on the same level in terms of communicating what needed to be done. They really brought a great attitude to being given requirements more specific than they might have been used to and ran with those.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I am incredibly happy with their skill for the price that I am paying them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When working with any outsourcing agency, it’s important to be as explicit as possible when establishing expectations for the project so that everyone starts off on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-founders of an IT company. We develop a variety of apps, websites, and different technology solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

I needed help with the development of several different technology projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve done five or six projects together. First, I give them an idea of what I’m trying to develop, and they help with everything from flushing out the concept, doing the wireframes, designing database structures, developing the product, and, in some cases, marketing it too. They then provide support for the live product.

For example, one of the products they helped with was a mobile website. They helped with the design, and then built the front- and backend, and supported the product. It has image sharing storage, payment processing, user login, user tracking, and encryption.

If the work involves two iOS apps, they use similar technologies. On a mobile web project versus a mobile app project, they use different technologies. They do some stuff in PHP, but there’s a whole variety of app technologies they use, which I leave for them to choose.

What is the team composition?

We’ve had projects with anywhere from one to seven people on them, and are assigned a project manager.

How did you come to work with XTAPPS Software Solutions?

I met the founder through a contact—they connected us years ago.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000­­–$199,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2015 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We like the work they do. Based on their market position and their pricing structure, they do an excellent job and quality work.

How did XTAPPS Software Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re pretty efficient and try to be careful with our resources. They generally try to put a good mix to do things in a timely manner but also do them in a cost-effective way.

Generally, they perform great. We exchange a lot of emails and text messages, as well as using WhatsApp, Viber, and Facetime. They’re accessible and pretty flexible in terms of the communication. We also use Slack sometimes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a very cost-effective and professional development team. I like working with them and we get a lot for the money.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of DinkyDetails LLC. Most of the company was surrounded by App Development for self, but lead into building apps for others and doing design work. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire XTAPPS Software Solutions?

We used XTAPPS for the implementation of one of my app designs. There his team built a fully functional, mobile app for the ipad. 

What were your goals for this project?

Complete the app to full specifications with a focus on design which is often difficult coming from me. The Design was usually the most challenging part of my developments. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I came across this group through a contact in Charlotte who then introduced me to him. I

Describe the project in detail.

 I needed an app for Party Planners. Folks that do direct Selling. This app was actually an extension of another app. It was a helper app. It was to take the in home buying, sharing, and selling to the next level. Streamlining and personalizing the selling experience. 

What was the team composition? 

My team.. It was just me. XTAPSS had a few folks i believe but most of my intefacing was with Nithil. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Project completed successfully and with very little road blocks. The app deployed and was out in the app store for some time. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was great. Easy to talk to and always avaialable. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication and always being there. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

Timeline estimations could use a little work, but all development ends up delayed!