Zudu

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Project Manager of Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (NatureScot)

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a project managing and controlling invasive non-native species to the benefit of Scotland's natural environment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop a new project website for the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative

SOLUTION

How did you find Zudu?

Referral

Why did you select Zudu over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Selected after tender evaluation

How many teammates from Zudu were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We engaged Zudu to design, build and host a new website for the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative.  This required the management of content from the previous site (to retain, delete or edit), close work with us to prepare new design and content, effective approaches to information presentation and consultation with us as clients to "interpret" our non-expert thoughts and ideas into technical solutions.  Zudu managed the launchof the new site and now host the site for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The main output of the project was delivery of the new and improved projerct website (www.invasivepecies.scot).  The main outcomes from this are - 

1.  Happy project team able to more effectively manage and enhance site content on a reliable platform
2.  A better experience for those accessing the site and clearer and more effective access to key project information and content 
3.   From enhanced site visitor experience and increase in site visits and use

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

Zudu set up an effective system of project management wiht us.  We were able to raise issues directly and received prompt responses.  Online meetings were regular and quickly arrangeable, as required, by us or them to resolve issues or seek clarification.

The launch of the site was slightly delayed but this was largely a function of the need to update and restructure content for pages which took buth Zudu and our time.  Revised timelines we re collectively agreed and committed to by all parties.

We found Zudu very responsive to our needs.  We felt comfortble in raising queries and content that their team would always seek to resolve issues quickly with and for us.  We enjoyed working with all of their team

What was your primary form of communication with Zudu?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We enjoyed working with Zudu. They listened to our needs and genuinely looked to translate our non-technical thoughts and ideas into their design and website solutions.

We do not often work with it/website related companies and experts but we found Zudu to be receptive to our ideas and keen to bring forward solutions or options for us to consider - and to revise these in the light of our comments, even when and where this took additional time.  We felt supported whilst working with them.

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

We were happy with the management approaches and systems put in place by Zudu with and for us.

I guess if we were looking for areas to suggest improvement it may have been in the phases when we moved from product design to population of that design with new or revised content.  I think that phase took longer than expected - as website design and build non-experts we perhaps could have been more prepared for those time committments if we had been able to initiate some of that work earlier. 

Sometimes we did have to reconfirm instructions or requests which had been overlooked in the design and build pahse - but these issues were always picked up quicky when reminded.  I guess on a few occasions we felt we were reconfirming things we thought had been already covered.   Not a major issue but perhaps something to consider. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Social Good Connect, a volunteer engagement startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zudu?

We needed help with web and app design and development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Zudu has helped us with the redesign of our web-based application and the design of our mobile app. They’ve guided us and supported us with what’s possible, showing us what would be best for UX.

What is the team composition?

We have a main point of contact, and there are 4–5 people on the team.

How did you come to work with Zudu?

We did a lot of research and took recommendations, and a colleague recommended Zudu. I initially liked the way they approached the project. They took a partnership approach and were proactive about meeting our deadline and delivering what we agreed to.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £35,000 (approximately $44,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2021, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They do what they say they’ll do. Also, the feedback from our customers has been really positive. It’s easy to find opportunities and work with charities.

How did Zudu perform from a project management standpoint?

They have excellent project management planning tools. They use Basecamp and Jira, and it’s all effortless. So far, everything has been delivered on time. We have weekly update meetings and check-in points. We also have a weekly video call through Microsoft Teams, and our operations manager runs that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really care about the customer and product. Zudu understands who the user is and why they’d be motivated to use our app. We go to them as our technical partners, but it’s crucial to have an organization that understands our customer base, what we’re trying to achieve, and our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could think about what the next six months will look like. We have a time scale to get the app live, which is the priority. However, we could be having separate conversations about what the next six months will look like once it’s live.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your due diligence with comparison.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital product manager for a wellness and fitness services company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zudu?

We needed help with mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Zudu does the hosting and small bug fixes on our mobile app. They also do yearly development of new features for the app. They use a lot of maps and geospatial information with Apple Maps, Google Maps, Open Street Maps, and Ordnance Survey Maps integration. We also use Mapbox, which indicates where you are in real-time.

In addition to that, we use Contentful to publish news articles and content to the app. They are two native mobile apps for iOS and Android, and the reason we did that was because of offline functionality; users can type in their current location or an area they're looking to go to, and it will tell them walks that they could do in that area.

What is the team composition?

I deal with six members of their team, including the managing director, a solutions architect, one of the main app developers, a designer, a QA specialist, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Zudu?

We read different reviews, spoke to around ten agencies, and narrowed it down to five providers. We chose Zudu because we felt that they were thr best fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We invest £25,000-£50,000 (approximately $31,600–$63,200 USD) a year with them

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The crashes and login issues have lowered since they’ve come on board — we’re definitely in a better place with the app now. We’re bringing in additional features and changes to the app that will hopefully increase the engagement and the number of subscribers that we’ve got.

How did Zudu perform from a project management standpoint?

They have project managers who have been good to deal with and help oversee some projects. They’re very easy to work with and provide us with enough detail to know what they’re doing. Their team also keep us informed on key dates that we need to be hitting and never missed a deadline or been unable to resolve an issue.

In addition, Zudu is always within budget. Regarding tools, we use Jira and Basecamp to communicate. They’re also happy to jump on team calls through Microsoft Teams — either way, they’re responsive on every platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re knowledgeable, which is outstanding; they can translate difficult topics for people with low technical information through a personable approach. In addition, they're a good-sized company and have enough staff with expert knowledge in many different languages and areas, but they're not so big that they'll pass your code to loads of other developers.

We also like that they’re very easy to get along with and enthusiastic about our app and what we’re doing — they help us develop good ideas for driving it and making it better. It’s really good to have them on board. Overall, they’re a good fit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve on — we've had a very positive experience working with them. They were brought in during quite difficult circumstances; we had an app that an agency was managing, and they gave us notice and left. Zudu had to come on board, do a code review, and then make some changes to their app quite quickly. It was a difficult start because we had a lot to do, and they weren’t familiar with the app.

Zudu went to know the app and did lots of releases for us, never missed a deadline, and were always available.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Collaborate with them; they have reasonable costs and are very personable. Also, if you’re not someone with a huge amount of technical knowledge, they will help you out.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a healthcare company based in London, UK aiming to improve the oral health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop a mobile app that will help the public work with dental professionals to help improve oral health. For the app to be successful we envisaged it would need to be quick and simple to use whilst maintaining an appropriate aesthetic.

SOLUTION

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

We searched for app developers online and interviewed 4 -5 firms. From our very first meeting with Zudu, we have been impressed with their professionalism. They very quickly understood what we were looking to achieve which gave us the confidence to work with them.

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

So far we have completed the app design phase. We have been very pleased with the outcome to date. Prior commencing work, Zudu sent us a clear and well set out proposal detailing timelines and costs. Fortnightly meetings were held following the initial discovery meeting. We were able to track the development of the design on Figma and communication with the team was easy with Basecamp. The advice and experience of Zudu’s knowledgeable team was much appreciated in helping to design the app. Deadlines were met in timely manner.

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

A project manager was assigned whim we had regular contact. Additionally we regularly worked with 3 other members of the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have only competed the design phase of the app to date. The results so far meet our aims.

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

The team at Zudu have been very easy to work with. Communication was via Zoom meetings. In person meetings were not possible given the pandemic restrictions.

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

Zudu is knowledgeable and skillful in guiding us to develop our first app. We have greatly appreciated their patience with us.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of an AI-enabled network platform for diverse minds at board level.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop a mobile app as a communication backbone for our community and a platform for maximizing network synergies. The challenge was to incorporate a very bespoke and personal service into a scalable application that serves a multitude of needs, personalities and age groups.

SOLUTION

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

We found this vendor through our network and decided on this vendor based on the strength of the proposal, the extremely personal approach and the very high quality of the team.

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

We went into this project with a blank canvas. Zudu helped us design the frontend and backend with the main thought on usability and integration into our tech infrastructure and processes. Despite some changes in requirements and scope from our side, Zudu very quickly delivered high-quality wireframes in line with the agreed timeframe. Great project management ensured we progressed swiftly and transparently into the development process.

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

We interacted with the CEO, one project manager and three developers in addition to a number of support staff.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our mobile app is currently still in development. Our website has launched and we continue to receive very positive feedback on it.

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

The project manager Laura is an excellent communicator. The main tools used are Basecamp, figma and Heroku.

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

The sincere care for the customer by the entire team is what most strongly differentiates this company from other business services companies.

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

No, in fact, we have much to learn from Zudu about optimizing processes and project management.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of QIoT, an IoT healthcare company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zudu?

We're involved in the IoT healthcare sector, where we remotely monitor patient health. We send that data back to the patient's healthcare authorities to help support clinical utility and patient self-management. Zudu interacted with us by developing our bespoke app, which has many functionalities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app Zudu created was part of a proposition that we had arranged for remote self-care monitoring. We gave them a brief of what we were looking for, and they developed it from scratch using MongoDB for Android and iOS. 

What is the team composition?

Four people worked on our project, including a programmer, a full stack engineer, and a backend developer.

How did you come to work with Zudu?

I found them through a Google search and looked at reviews. We did a few exploratory calls with them, and they had already covered the area we were working in, so we felt confident because they had the industry experience. We have a national health service in the UK, and they’re our clients. Zudu had worked with them before, which gave us confidence that they understood our client.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around £65,000 (approximately $79,500 USD) with them so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2021. We’ve given them additional business since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They are good at what they do and are a young and tech-oriented team that’s very enthusiastic. It's great doing business with them, and I would use their services again.

How did Zudu perform from a project management standpoint?

They used Jira for development and Basecamp for project management. Overall, we've been on time and budget.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They are very dynamic in their approach and don't shy away from any challenge, which is decent in today's society. Their team does what they say they will do with outstanding follow-through.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were a couple of situations where we signed off some parts of the app that didn’t have a normal development role and didn't quite get finalized, ending up back into Jira. That’s probably the worst I could criticize, but other than that, they are a decent company.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd recommend them. Also, it can help to be as engaged as them. They pushed us to move the project forward and not the other way around. Overall, they’re professional at what they do, and they expect you to be at the end of a call when they ask you to be there.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founding Director of Ucruit. We are Recruitment Improvement Specialists who work with companies to look at their recruitment strategies, train and develop hiring managers and work on recruitment projects to hire top talent.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Zudu?

My website was created in January 2020 and hosted on AWS. It was cumbersome and needed customised to showcase what my business does. Zudu offered to create something bespoke to my business as opposed to a template website.

SOLUTION

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

I have known about Zudu both in terms of what they do and how they create websites. I am naturally uneasy when it comes to web designers that promise the world. Zudu offered something different,

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After a kick off meeting where my requirements were laid out. The project was set in timely stages to create the necessary content and layout to my requirements. Regular calls with my developer Ryan, took place who also made sure that everything was to my liking as per the spec.

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

4, James (MD) Ryan (Web Designer) Mishal (Business Manager) Dave (Senior Designer)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The key success is the traffic going to the site. I have also had a prospective new client comment on the look of the site and that was the reason that they called me.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was seamless. They explained all steps in the process and worked to the agreed timeframes. We had Teams calls every fortnight but Ryan was also available in between times.

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

I appreciated their honesty and passion for their work. Technology as a whole is starting to remove the human elements of processes in certain areas. Here was a Digital Marketing Company that made this a very personal experience.

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

I don't believe that the Business Manager needed to be on the calls as they didn't really add anything to the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

PocketMoney is a social media and advertising platform to help engage young individuals into finding work. It gives them a feel for entrepreneurship and what it takes to run your own business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are a new company and hired Zudu to create the wireframes, design and development. We are still at the early stages but am looking forward to turning our vision into something real.

SOLUTION

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

I found Zudu on clutch and made contact with them. Their communication when it came to getting advice was what made the decision easy when deciding to go with them.

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

We had a number of meetings with the team at Zudu and went through a step by step process on what our requirements were. They created a great wireframe and also a snippet of design to give us an idea of what our app is going to look like. The app will have push notifications, alerts, profiles, messaging services

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

We dealt with Laura Masson, James Buchan and Craig Watt - all extremely professional and very helpful in the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app isn't yet built, however the designs given to us has allowed us to create a pitch deck that we are able to use when approaching investors.

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

The communication was extremely good, whether that be via email, basecamp or over the phone. There was always somebody at Zudu to answer our questions.

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

I think their communication and customer service was second to none, which made the entire process so far very easy. We never feel like we were being dismissed and there's always someone there to help.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of UBIKATE: The Latin American platform for Latinos. UBIKATE (meaning “find yourself”) is a way for people from Latin America in the UK to feel more comfortable, less isolated, and better informed about relevant events, products, and services, through connection with others sharing similar interests. UBIKATE is primarily a web app that enables users to connect with fellow nationals and other Latinos.

The application will allow Latinos to connect directly with fellow nationals using geolocation services and Google maps API integration. Users will be able to see other Latinos in the area and their flags of nationality. The way they get in touch is through sending "Hola" (an invitation to connect) and when another user accepts it, they can chat within the web app.

The main purpose of the site is to invite Latin American expats and travelers to meet up (digitally for now) and eliminate isolation exacerbated with the pandemic but culturally predominant in the UK and in Europe in general. At a later stage, the site will also provide information about things to do, events nearby, and recommended local businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

The challenge was to find a team that would develop the platform according to the specification laid out in the Business Plan. The idea was to build an MVP that could validate the hypothesis: do Latin Americans abroad want to meet up? Several key differentiators were identified as part of MVP:

1. The platform has to include a Google Maps API to allow users to connect visually.
2. A Chat functionality within the web app 
3. Users can see icons and flags of nationality and reach out sending a "Hola" - invitation to connect.
4. Lastly, the web app would need to lanched in 3 languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese for the entire Latin American audiences.

SOLUTION

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

To select the vendor I first reached out to companies that had great reviews and were located in Scotland. ZUDU has previously worked with a similar platform for Chinese people and knew they had experience. When I connected with James at ZUDU he was really professional and friendly and the expectations were set clearly from the start. That is how I decided to go with them.

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

We had a meeting to make sure the expectations the outcomes of the project were clear. Then we use Basecamp to communicate and coordinate content and updates. We would meet every two weeks on Zoom and discuss blockers, challenges and information needed.

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

A project manager, a Product Manager, a Marketing Executive, and the director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product, an MVP has been launched, and a fully functional prototype is out into the wild for users to test. We are currently on the acceptance phase and the team at ZUDU provides a 6 weeks period so it gives me the confidence to provide feedback on the end product.

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

We always communicated clearly and they let me know when they were delays. Sometimes it was me that would not provide content or necessary information for the project to proceed. The team was always understanding and empathetic.

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

The fact that they would provide a solution when needed and they would contribute with the experience when solicited. Most companies do their job without going the extra mile, it is not the case with ZUDU. I definitely value their feedback and contribution.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

MaiWai is a tenant engagement app for multi-let office landlords and co-working operators. I am the project manager so I was responsible with liaising with Zudu.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Zudu?

Zudu was instructed to build a new app from scratch accompanied by a web app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create an app that was engaging and easy to use for employees. It had to be fully capable of working within a real life building!

SOLUTION

How did you select Zudu?

We undertook a comprehensive online search and interviewed 3 companies, including Zudu.

Describe the project in detail.

We had a number of concept meeting with Zudu to think about the development of the app together. They created mock-ups etc that gave us an idea of how the app might work. We then instructed them to deliver these designs and had regular check ins to ensure the project was on track.

What was the team composition?

James acted as the main point of contact, which was helpful so we didn’t have to relay everything to multiple people. This clear communication channel was very useful.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We now have a fully functional app and getting ready to win our first customer!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Yes very smooth on Basecamp, so less emails. It was all well organised.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The ability to push through problems and find solutions was impressive. Also loved how they were able to fully understand our vision and deliver it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Of course we would have liked the project to move faster at certain times but we are confident we have a product which is well produced!