14 Oranges Software

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Communications & Marketing Coordinator for the Township of Selwyn, a lower-tier municipal government located in Eastern Ontario, Canada.

For what projects/services did your company hire 14 Oranges Software?

Having heard a presentation from the Town of Arnprior in regards to their mobile app, its features and success with its residents, the Township of Selwyn decided to have its own mobile app created.

With the increase in use of smartphones to obtain information, we felt this would be a perfect fit to make it easier to obtain relevant Township information.

We sought out 14Oranges to help us create the app as we particularly liked the look of the Town of Arnprior's app its navigability.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed the mobile app to be easy to update on our end, as we did not have any staff familiar with the creation of a mobile app.

We are very happy with the easy to use platform that 14Oranges provides. We hope to see an increase in the number of downloads of the app and an increase in its use by our residents.

How did you select 14 Oranges Software?

Having navigated the Town of Arnprior's mobile app, we immediately reached out to 14Oranges to inquire as to the cost, features, development process and to schedule a demo of the software.

After ironing out details with their staff and discussing how the development of the mobile app would work with our redesign of our website, we decided they were the right company for the job.

Describe the project in detail.

14Oranges was to develop a Selwyn Township mobile app for both Android and iOS from scratch, which at first sounded like a daunting task even from my end.

However, 14Oranges made the entire process seamless and easy! We provided our Branding Guidelines to make sure that the app reflected the look and feel of our website and other corporate documents and programs.

We had a few meetings and some back and forth discussion regarding the look and features we wanted incorporated in the app, which 14Oranges was glad to look into or include without hesitation.

What was the team composition?

Initially, we worked with an Inside Sales Representative but once the sale process was completed, we were put in touch with a Developer.

Our Developer worked directly with us on any changes or edits to be made to the mobile app and was a wealth of knowledge and expertise as it relates to the inner workings of mobile apps and best practices.

It was great to have only two points of contact with 14Oranges as you knew exactly who to contact at any given point.

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

Though we have just officially launched the mobile app, we are hearing positive feedback from those who have downloaded it.

Residents are finding it easier to find the information they are looking through via the app, rather than navigating through our website, which at times can be a tedious endeavor.

We've even had points where we have had to edit information that's available on the mobile app ourselves and have found the process incredibly easy.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our team and the 14Oranges team was highly effective. They are very responsive to our queries, suggestions, and additions.

They were also very patient with our ever-changing deadlines as we were in the midst of launching a redesign of our website and also incorporating a new software onto our website that we wanted included on the app as well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was blown away by how seamless the process of developing a mobile app was. I'm sure from their end it included a large amount of work, but from the client's perspective, it was much easier than I imagined.

The staff at 14Oranges were receptive to our feedback, quick to respond to our queries and provided much needed guidance and expertise during a process we were completely unfamiliar with.

The training they provided on the inner workings of the mobile app was easy to follow and the software itself is relatively foolproof!

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is absolutely nothing I would change about 14Oranges, the staff we came in contact with or the product they developed for us.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sole proprietor of a healthcare business.

What challenge were you trying to address with 14 Oranges Software?

I relocated to a new community and I needed to upgrade my website and online marketing.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They rebuilt the entire website and helped me rebrand. The team attached our site to Google Maps and linked a program to our WordPress site. They set everything up in a way that I can scale to get more marketing and advertising. SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads were also included in the package.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two people, who were the main contact and an assistant.

How did you come to work with 14 Oranges Software?

I heard about them through someone else that they had developed an app for.

How much have you invested with them?

It was around $3,500 CAD (approximately $2,600 USD)

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August–October 2020.

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

I'm so much happier with the website. Their services cost slightly more but with the less expensive partner, I received fewer services and didn't have anybody to help me out along the way after.

They were a lifesaver and walked me through the process in a language I could understand. The team also provided suggestions that aligned with my vision and helped me put everything together.

How did 14 Oranges Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication was fantastic and they were prompt at meeting deadlines. I felt they were always on top of everything and kept the momentum going to stick with the timelines. We used email and online visual meetings to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with all of it. I’m happy with the end result and they made my wishlist. I’d like my business to get an app soon, and they’ll be the first people I’ll contact.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I feel they did such a great job with this. Now I’m just waiting to see how far we could go with this partnership.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would send them to look at my website and use the features. I would definitely recommend them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

In 2019-2020 I served as Rotary District Governor for D5010. I am now Past District Governor.

For what projects/services did your company hire 14 Oranges Software, and what were your goals?

We were interested in working with a 14Oranges Developer on a Mobile APP for our Rotary District t and Clubs. Our goal was to put information easily into the hands of Rotarians and also offer Rotary clubs the mobile APP for populating information and resources into the hands of club members at an affordable price point.

By utilizing a mobile app, our hope was to improve communication from the district to members and from clubs to members.

How did you select 14 Oranges Software and what were the deciding factors?

We had a small team that reviewed goals for the mobile app, then we solicited RFP's (Requests for proposals) from three different developers who had experience developing customized solutions for non-profits.

We ultimately selected 14Oranges for the quality of their product. ease of working with the leadership and developer, and the price point that fit our budget.

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

We started with an initial meeting to share our vision and goals for the mobile app. In particular, we wanted a parent entity that was free for all our 1650 members, and for clubs to have same capabilities to share information, resources, and communication with only their members. 14Oranges shared various features of already developed modules they had ready to use.

They put together a mock-up app showing the various modules that matched our goals. Within a few weeks they had incorporated our artwork, and desired functionality, and provided training for our administrators. We initially selected five Rotary Clubs to pilot the app before making it available to our 38 Rotary clubs.

About half our Rotary clubs opted to become a sub-entity, meaning they had capability to use the app for their members.

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

There were three people we worked with: The CEO, Sylvain Marcotte; the sales rep, Karim Mansour; and the developer, Yvonne Leonard. Initially we worked closest with the sales rep, with the CEO on the contract and the developer on various stages of readying the app for roll out.

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

We were able to achieve our vision and particularly our goal of making the app link to our Rotary website. We were able to roll out the project in two phases, first the district app, then to the individual clubs as sub-entities.

We found all members of the 14Oranges team easy to work with, readily accessible, and all were interested in our success. We are satisfied with the three year contract terms that has allowed us adequate time to determine the impact of the app on our district goals.

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

The project management style was businesslike, but flexible. We utilized phone calls, e-mail and Zoom as needed. We were satisfied with the communication tools available to us and happy to report that 14Oranges met all timelines we mutually determined.

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

Having never worked with software developer before, I was happy that they didn't overwhelm us with jargon and complex details. We have always felt comfortable picking up the phone or e-mailing our questions, and their response has been prompt and complete when we needed information. They showed patience with us at all times.

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

There are only a couple areas for improvement. We had hoped the app would make it possible to send group notifications from the app itself. Currently the notification is limited to 170 characters and the group notification must be initiated from the CMS by first creating a group, then sending the notification from the CMS.

It would help us much if the notification could be composed in the app, and sent from the app.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of workforce development for a construction nonprofit. We support the construction sector in North America.

What challenge were you trying to address with 14 Oranges Software?       

We had developed an app to support our mentorship program. The app is designed for mentors and mentees to continue engagement when they aren’t on a worksite.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The original project was the development of the app as well as some revisions. We had an existing app but needed to take it up a notch from a 1.0 to 2.0 version. 14 Oranges made the app less rigid as well as more flexible and user-friendly so it was adaptive to the needs of the organization.

Currently, we’re working with them on the 3.0 version which is expanding that app to include technical competencies. When apprentices are learning from their mentors, the platform includes what they’ll be learning on the skill and technical sides. The app is for iOS and Android.

In addition to that, they’re supporting us on similar projects to develop more websites in relation to more communication. They also support implementation with larger clients as well as provide technical support and troubleshooting.

They were originally brought on to handle quick fixes and changes, but it became more apparent that things needed to change. 14 Oranges was really the driver in giving us good input and feedback that helped support those decisions as well.

What is the team composition?

I have direct contact with three individuals; however, I anticipate there are more people behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with 14 Oranges Software?

The app was already developed when I came to the company. 14 Oranges was one of the past possible contenders of developing the app at that time. This time around, having a chance to meet with them and receive the advice, input, and comments they gave even before the project was a big change for us.

Their team knew we were a smaller organization, but we had a large footprint. Their ability to recognize that and provide an analytical and outside perspective was invaluable. There were a few weeks of this before any commitment was made. That was a major driver in comparison to other vendors we considered.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $80,000–$120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the second version from October 2019–March 2020.

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

There were big improvements in the app that helped us overcome challenges. Also, there’s less of an administrative burden now. The newer app has much more flexibility and streamlines the process. Notifications decreased, adaptability improved, and it became more user-friendly. With every consideration our internal team brought, 14 Oranges presented the implications of them so we could make a good decision moving forward.

How did 14 Oranges Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was absolutely fantastic. 14 Oranges is incredibly responsive; no matter the time of the day I reach out to someone, I’d get a response. The timeliness and understanding of urgency were excellent. It’s not something I ever expected of them, they just naturally did it.

They want to understand expectations and what is needed. 14 Oranges focuses on intent rather than just making assumptions to put things together; it’s a great value that they bring.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their service sets them apart. I’ve had a great working relationship with all of them, and they know the app. They’ve done enough work in their space so they have invaluable experience to bring considerations and implications for decisions to troubleshoot all those pieces.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any areas that need improvement right now.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head chef and owner of a catering company.

What challenge were you trying to address with 14 Oranges Software?

We needed to build a new website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They recreated my WordPress website and made it much more helpful for us to use it. They also made it much easier for the consumer to read and purchase.

I had a vision, in terms of how I wanted things to look and function. I walked them through that vision and the team was very accommodating in making sure it looked how I wanted it to. There was definitely some trial and error along the way.

As we were working through it, it was very easy to go back and forth. They brought my vision to life and made it even better.  Since it’s on WordPress, it’s very easy to make changes. They recently created pages to cater to the needs for pickup orders that arose with COVID-19.

What is the team composition?

I worked with one lead and two web designers.  

How did you come to work with 14 Oranges Software?

They were recommended to me by a friend several years ago. We had worked on a previous site together around 4 years ago.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

For this project, we worked together in January 2020, and our work is ongoing.

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

They’re a very solid, customer-service oriented team. They get on our problems right away and fix it right away. The team makes sure things are done to our satisfaction every time.

How did 14 Oranges Software perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication with them is one of my favorite parts. They communicate really well and if we need something, they’ll turn it around immediately. In general, the quickness of the project was very appreciated. They would always do a quick follow-up in phone, email, and sometimes in-person, to make sure we knew how to use the site and instruct us. It’s amazing working with them, I would recommend them to anyone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attentiveness and creativity really stand out. They can create things that I want but make them even better, more accessible, and easier to use. They helped me bring my website from pen and paper into reality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re just starting a project with them, my advice is to have everything on paper first. Work with them, because they’re very talented. They’re collaborative and make tweaks until we decide things are completed.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Founder of Vergo Women’s Health Network. I wanted to build an organization dedicated to supporting women’s knowledge of menopause. There’s a staggering amount of misinformation, bad information, and brutal information on the internet about menopause, which is causing dysfunction and despair in the world of menopausal females.

What challenge were you trying to address with 14 Oranges Software?

I wanted to create a menopause symptom tracker. One of the single most important resources that helps a woman during menopause is understanding her symptoms. The conundrum is that most women don’t know what symptoms are menopausal. As a result, they have no sense that they’re going through menopause.

What was the scope of their involvement?

14 Oranges Software built an iOS app available in the Apple Store. I provided their team with a decision tree for my app hand-written on pieces of paper. I met with a teammate of theirs who writes code as well as the owner of the company. From there, they took my pieces of paper and brought the product to life.

The next phase involved beta testing, which their team organized for me. We had about 25 beta testers who were technically unsavvy women. Part of the beta testing was to identify where users would run into problems or platform glitches that 14 Oranges Software fixed.

Then, we launched the app as a much more polished product than we had for testing. They’re providing ongoing development support. Through their day to day use of the app, users will send emails with suggestions. I’ll sit down with the 14 Oranges Software team about the ideas and they’ll give me a quote for the work.

What is the team composition?

Three people from 14 Oranges Software worked on this project. I communicated with a brainiac code writer, a software teammate, and Sylvain (Founder and CEO, 14 Oranges Software), who was my shepherd. He kept me in tune with the project, kept me organized, and watched my back.

How did you come to work with 14 Oranges Software?

At the time when I sought a developer, I saw a television ad of theirs one night. I met with people in development who told me to go offshore but that option requires you to know what you're doing. I didn’t know what I was doing, all I knew was my area of expertise—menopause.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $35,000–$40,000 on the app.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in early 2016 and I’m still working with them.

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

The development phase was absolutely impeccable; on a scale of 1–10, it was a ten. The launch went smoothly too. Their team made different upgrades and the product’s pretty darn good now. There were glitches along the way from different areas of the world and 14 Orangies Software dropped what they were doing to fix the problems immediately. 

How did 14 Oranges Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Usually, we communicate by email because Sylvain watches his email closely. He gets back to me quickly. I go to him directly for issues and he decides which person in his company can best fix a glitch. He realizes that technology is not my strength, so he translates the work for me. He always admits when their team drops the ball. If a feature was coded wrong, they stated their mistake and said it was their responsibility to address it at no charge. Their honesty's priceless.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re good listeners and take care of their clients. Sylvain’s always watching my back. He’s aware of the project and takes the time to communicate its status. He provides suggestions and lays out options to create a dialogue between us. That was a strength.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. 14 Oranges Software’s knowledgeable and responds to glitches. Their team’s tuned into the long-term relationship and I’m suited to that type of partnership. I don’t have any negative feedback whatsoever. I admire their honesty and they admire my honesty.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask what possible glitches 14 Oranges Software can anticipate. Ask if they can anticipate any glitches or if they see any possible issues with the product.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and chief product officer of a firm with an app that’s used in live production environments. Users of our app have access to information about the event they’re attending, and the app creates visual effects overlaid on the surrounding environment. We can also push statistics to the user’s phone in real time without access to data or Wi-Fi.

What challenge were you trying to address with 14 Oranges Software?

We needed a solid app developer right out of the gate for native Android and iOS apps. We had been using sub-contractors whom I knew through my previous work with software as a service. I wanted a central project manager I could count on.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I developed a prototype or beta version of the app and then 14 Oranges developed it to the level of a production release. I provided code from the prototype and they worked based on that code. My code was in Python, but they translated it to Java for Android and Objective-C for iOS. They built in content management.

What is the team composition?

I worked with their project manager and their lead developer. They had some other developers as well.

How did you come to work with 14 Oranges Software?

When I was first working with this app, I didn’t have much experience with iOS. There’s a lot of coding hoops to jump through, and I was pretty confused. I Googled a local app development firm, and the owner, Sylvain (CEO and President, 14 Oranges Software) took my call. He advised me on how to set up all my certificates properly. He was good enough to lend me a hand when I needed it.

Once I started to get investment into the app, I realized I couldn’t control it as well as I wanted and I needed professional support. I thought of Sylvain again. I knew his team was professional and had a bunch of processes in place that I needed help with, so I asked 14 Oranges to become my development firm of record.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent least 300,000 CAD ($225,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

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

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

We’ve recorded about 50,000 downloads, including significant involvement with a major performing arts event and a concert tour.

How did 14 Oranges Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They know their systems and if they say they’ll do something, they’ll do it. We communicated with them using email and Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was a little bit of a bottleneck with one of the Android developers because he was part-time. 14 Oranges made up for that with a different in-house developer, whom we used primarily for iOS, and we were able to use him for Android as well.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of communication and special events for BAGI, a member-based association in the new home building industry. We promote our region’s new home construction, educate both our members and consumers on the homebuilding industry’s standards, practices and happenings, and provide networking opportunities to encourage member business opportunities and success.

For what projects/services did your company hire 14 Oranges Software?

We needed to find a new developer for our member-facing app who could meet our membership communication needs.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to seamlessly transfer our existing app content for a positive and improved UX for our existing membership. We require backend authentication of members in order to better streamline the sharing and approvals process. We wanted to offer the app through the App Store, and to develop a profile form that users could fill out when downloading the app to segment them into groups for messaging based on their preferences.

How did you select this vendor?

My coworker found them in an online search after we had researched and spoken with four other developers. Through a couple of discussions, we saw that 14 Oranges Software was the best fit for delivering our needs within our budget and offering the support necessary to find solutions for the functionality they didn't yet support.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They went through our existing app and transferred relevant content to their Info Grove platform while developing group-based messaging and new user profile functionality for us. They worked with me to align our branding and improve overall UX. Once they launched the app, they trained me and four staff members on how to manage the backend, create new content, manage users, and send messages to respective groups. They continue to provide support as needed when questions arise.

What was the team composition?

I worked directly with 14 Oranges and then looped in staff members when relevant for content and when it was time to train.

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

When we lost our previous app developer, it created unexpected and unforeseen communication challenges for us. 14 Oranges provided us with all the functionality we had before and also improved upon all the areas we were looking to change. The backend has been very user-friendly and easy to learn thus far.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their process was very proper and professional. They kept me well-informed and provided clear deadlines and direction for deliverables. They met all deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They went above and beyond to deliver for us. They upheld their commitments and surpassed them on every level as they worked to find solutions for any challenge we encountered along the way.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re completely satisfied.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Communications and Digital Media Manager at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), an Ottawa-based non-partisan public policy think tank. I manage our social media platforms, maintain our website and web traffic, and help handle media requests.

For what projects/services did your company hire 14 Oranges Software?

We hired 14 Oranges Software to create a mobile app for Android and iOS that we could maintain in-house. The app needed to streamline our web content and encourage users to sign up for and engage with our other digital mediums like email and social media.

What were your goals for this project?

Our short-term goal was for the app to serve as another platform for users to consume our content. Over the long-term, it will serve as a high-engagement, low-bounce rate platform for returning users. We hope to leverage this traction into high-return donor funding and email signups.

How did you select this vendor?

We compared and contrasted a variety of vendors we found via web searches and network connections. 

Describe the project in detail.

14 Oranges Software developed an app to make our web content more user-friendly on Android and iOS mobile devices.  They built the app to be self-updating and structured the back-end so it’s easy to manage in-house.

They based the design on our existing WordPress website. 14 Oranges Software also provided our team with the training and technical competencies necessary to update the app in-house over the long term.

What was the team composition?

We dealt with a small, consistent team from 14 Oranges Software.

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

14 Oranges Software had a keen ability to build a system which addressed our needs and met all our expectations. They delivered the exact product we wanted right on schedule.  Charging reasonable prices for our nonprofit, they adhered to the budget we laid out.  

They offered critical support to mitigate unforeseen issues with the App Store and made the necessary tweaks to certain aspects of the app after delivery. 14 Oranges Software has been incredibly timely and easy to work with when addressing changes. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

14 Oranges Software demonstrated a commitment to clear, consistent, and patient communication with our team. We collaborated directly over the phone and via email. They worked flexibly with our schedule and had no trouble meeting deadlines. The team played an active role in resolving technical and delivery issues.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

14 Oranges Software’s primary strengths were facilitating secure collaboration and showing a marked dedication to resolving unexpected issues.

Are there any areas for improvement?

More comprehensive app training including hands-on instruction would benefit the backend managers.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the health and safety manager for Orica Canada, a global mining support business.

What challenge were you trying to address with 14 Oranges Software?

We had some documents and reference materials that were only available by PDF or hard copy, so we were looking for a solution that could make the documents readily accessible by users on their phones without having to rely on internet connectivity.

What was the scope of their involvement?

After going over our goals, 14 Oranges drafted a plan and laid out the scope of work. They developed a mobile app for iOS and Android that allows users to access reference materials, procedures, and contact information without an internet connection. They added other forms and quick links to external resources, including a touch-to-dial or touch-to-email feature. Users can fill out forms remotely and choose to send them once they're back in a location with cell service of wifi.

What is the team composition?

We worked with the owner, a lead developer, and a couple other support staff.

How did you come to work with 14 Oranges Software?

We searched for local vendors within Canada and came across 14 Oranges.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $12,000 CAD (about $9,330 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking to 14 Oranges around April 2017 and officially started development around October. We were ready to pilot the app by December, but ended up launching it internally in April 2018. We'll engage them again for additional enhancements and features in the upcoming months.

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

The app is working very well thus far. They've provided a great solution for our internal staff, improving productivity and accessibility to information. We haven't had any major issues or bugs, and users are already making suggestions for the next phase of development.

How did 14 Oranges Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is effective; they delivered on schedule and in line with original cost estimates. They're responsive through both phone and email and we were happy to also meet with them in-person initially.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The owner happens to speak French, which helped us on the delivery of the French version of the app for our Canadian users. Overall, their team is great at communicating and I'd highly recommend working with them.