Ackee

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Launch manager responsible for launching product in given countries. I am responsible for overall delivery and setting up the operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ackee?

We were seeking a partner to extend our developer team. Originally we wanted Ackee to create a separate team but we were that happy with the cooperation that we invited them to complete our internal base. As the cooperation continued, we have trusted Ackee with another internal project - an app for fleet management.

What were your goals for this project?

We expected the developers from Ackee to help the internal team to fulfill their objectives and deadlines. It was essential for us that they get along and start delivering as fast as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select Ackee?

We contacted Ackee through ŠKODA Auto DigiLab. There was a standard competition of 3 different companies including Ackee. We made the right decision, they were simply the best choice.

Describe the project in detail.

They provided developers for iOS, Android, backend, frontend and devops. There was even a part of the project where we cooperated with one copywriter from Ackee to translate the app to Czech language.

What was the team composition?

At the start of the cooperation, there were 3 developers. As we continued with the project, the team had grown to 9 members. The composition of the team had been changing according to the current needs of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The progress of the internal project we hired Ackee for was exceptionally fast. Their effectiveness was really impressive.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They joined and adapted our internal workflow systems which are different from theirs. We communicated via Slack. The developers had been coming to our Berlin and Leipzig offices every two to three weeks for sprint plannings. However, most of the cooperation had been running remotely.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were surprised to see such fast progress when the Ackee developers joined our team. It was clear to us that the team was happy to work on our project and that they were giving it their max.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing to add here, we were really satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

As the world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in nearly 100 countries. At every level, we collaborate with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live. I work at WWF Germany as Project Manager for Websites and Apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ackee?

The "Greifswalder Bodden" on the German island "Rügen" is a popular tourist destination and at the same time the habitat of many organisms in and around the water. Until lately, the locals as well as visitors only had a paper manual to navigate through the restricted areas.

As you don't have any lines in the water, it's difficult to know where you are allowed to go and where not to go. It was clear to us that we wanted to provide an easier and more user-friendly solution to this problem. We decided to create a mobile app.

What were your goals for this project?

Our overall goal is to better protect the environment in the Bay. The objective is to increase the common knowledge of the regulations and to make it easier to navigate for the visitors, locals, anyone who is in the area.

SOLUTION

How did you select Ackee?

We have contacted Ackee directly and invited them to the competition. They pitched a quality proposal and a reasonable price offer.

Describe the project in detail.

After an inital in person meeting and discussing open questions and details, they took care of the UX, UI, design and both platforms iOS and Android. They used firebase to launch the app and to configure the analytics.

What was the team composition?

The project team was rather small but effective. There were 2 designers, 1 developer for each platform, 2 testers and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are launching the app now. The android and IOS Versions are both ready to launch. This is a huge success and we are very happy with the outcome.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

At the start of the project, we met the designers for a kick-off workshop. After that, the cooperation continued mostly remotely. There were regular weekly updates with the project manager. The project manager was always great in communicating with us, keeping us updated and informed and try to match all our requirements and wishes.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They introduced a technical solution that enabled them to develop a very complex app without any need for backend processing. They were able to keep up with the limited budget but still create an excellent outcome. The cooperation was efficient and functional just as the app is.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement. That lies in the nature of App development. But in terms of the scope that we agreed on, everything was delivered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I used to be a project manager for PHC (Pears Health Cyber). They produce digital content, applications, and newsletters for pharmaceutical companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ackee?

We needed a vendor who could build HTML5 presentations. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided them with information in the form of PDFs. These consisted of graphics, text, and interactive graphs. They took these to create HTML5 presentations optimized for iPad. They included the necessary integrations (such as Viva Platform) and ensured compatibility with all of the appropriate components.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with the project manager. There was a larger team of developers, behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Ackee?

They came recommended to us.  At the time, there weren’t very many companies who offered HTML5 presentation development.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between January – August 2016. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their output was extremely high-quality. I got the impression that their team consists of the best developers on the market. We were very pleased with the collaboration.

How did Ackee perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything ran smoothly. They were flexible and met very tight deadlines. Communication, conducted via phone and email, was always very good. We did use some project management tools for sending sources to them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’d highlight their professionalism. We appreciated the in-depth expertise that their developers demonstrated. We could easily rely on them to deliver a phenomenal product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work closely with the project manager, and provide sufficient resources for them to do the job well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are number one online advertising company in Czech and Slovak Republic. I'm the founder, owner and managing director. I'm also responsible for the product management of the website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ackee?

We hired Ackee for mobile app development - Android, iOS. We manage our website development internally and Ackee is the only one contractor we cooperate with. As our users are very conservative and don't like change, we needed an evolution more than a game changer.

What were your goals for this project?

Our users have started to visit our website via mobile phones more. We wanted to be ahead of our competitors and to offer our users flawless experience on their mobile devices. Also, by moving to this platform, we wanted to add new payment methods.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked at the biggest apps in Czech republic and who made them. Apps from Ackee was great. After that we have tried to find some web references.

Describe the project in detail.

Complete solution for mobile devices. Android and iOS mobile application. UX/UI optimization for mobile devices, technical solution. We also needed analytics based approach to UI adjustments in order to maximize income from paid services.

What was the team composition?

There is project manager assigned for us, then developers, designers, testers. About 5-7 people constantly working on the project. It depends on particular scope at the moment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At this moment, we have 500.000 active Android users and 100.000 active iOS users. In the last 30 days, there were 409.000 unique active users of the mobile app. The app is very well ranked in stores, about 4.65 stars.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our single point of contact is the Project Manager. We cooperate mostly remotely, as our companies are based in different cities. We use ticketing system in Redmine. At the start of the project, we were directly in touch with the developers, but it's not needed anymore.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We really appreciate their genuine interest in the app. They are sympathetic and they understand our specific customers. They take care of the customers, answer rankings in stores and they take customer needs into account.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an online marketing agency. We work for dozens of clients from various innovative industries. Our creative and performance teams consist of 15 people plus specialised project collaborators. I'm a founding partner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ackee?

We need to maintain our internal and client security passwords on daily basis. We had struggled with password management. Originally, we had used a Google spreadsheet. As our company grew, we had concerns about security and also wanted to limit the access to certain passwords.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have a tailor-made solution so we could integrate it further into our CRM. We wanted also to store all data in our cloud infrastructure. For us it was important to have a web app that would be usable across devices.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We already had good experience with Ackee from previous projects. We were satisfied with their work so we asked them again to cooperate.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Ackee has developed a progressive web application (PWA) that stores our company and clients’ credentials. The app runs in our cloud infrastructure. Ackee had created the design, frontend implementation, and backend implementation. They also helped us with data migration from our existing Google sheets into the new application. They maintain the application remotely.

What was the team composition?

We were in contact with their project manager, the rest was managed internally by Ackee.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have switched to this web app internally and also for all our clients. We can't imagine to manage passwords any other way now.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We appreciate the project manager proxy Marek who was always available to us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The delivery was really fast, price-effective, and on a very high UX/UI level. We didn’t need to push them to redraw some of the graphics as we liked it at first sight. It was obvious to us that they had spent plenty of time on the design even before they approached us with the solution.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It was quite a small project so but I believe if the project was larger we would need to do more iterations. This was about the limit of a fixed price and scope delivery.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

HOPI is the largest logistics company with focus on food transportation in Czech Republic with operations in Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania. It is a family business established in 1992 with more than 1000 employees. My role is project leader.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ackee?

HOPI makes a great effort to be environmentally and socially responsible company. We introduced several methods to make our routes more effective and considerate to the environment. Before e-Driver, almost all documentation about the transportation was written on paper form. It was not „easy“ to track online in one system. We needed to create a system for our drivers and dispatchers to plan, track and report everything about goods and transportation. Overall, to digitize all of our processes.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to digitalized all process that makes it easier to track and report. Eventually, to get access for customers to track their goods on their own.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We relied on recommendation and previous work experience. We found Ackee to be proactive, with good previous experience and reasonable pricing. Project manager, Department managers and board members were involved in selection process.

Describe the project in detail.

To this point, they have worked on first two stages of development. First, a platform for dispatchers to track the vehicles and communicate with drivers. We gained a perfect overview about all transportations. Very important feature for us is an integration of SAP. All data we get from the app is synchronized in SAP, which is very helpful. Second, app for drivers called e-Driver. Android app enables the drivers to report their work hours, manage their routes, communicate with dispatchers, report defects and more. The transportation is more effective, ecological and safe. It was very impressive that Ackee's UX developer spent a significant amount of time actually in trucks with our drivers to get a perfect knowledge of their work and habits. We are currently working on next stage of the development, which is a platform for customers.

What was the team composition?

At this moment, the team consists of 2 backend developers, 2 android developers, UX designer, tester, project manager and analyst. At the start of the project, there were another 2 backend developers and a web designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Drivers are excited in that we are one step closer to dispose of paper work. Most of all, they appreciate that he knows about his job before he starts his shift. Possitive feedback of our drivers is the biggest succes.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our main point of contact is Project manager. We also meet the developers when it is needed. We use Redmine to track the workflow. After six months from the first workshop, there were first test ready outcomes. That I consider remarkably fast progress considering the size of the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Although the project and specifications changed on the fly, co - workers from ACKEE have always been able to adapt quickly and deliver solutions in a very short time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They are open to any feedback so that are able to improve continuously. Nothing specific to be named here.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CIO of Klick-Tipp, a platform that automates email communication with a focus on online marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ackee?

We had the idea for a mobile app that could scan and analyze business cards. We wanted a platform with text-recognition capabilities that could synchronize scanned information into a user’s Klick-Tipp account, to create contacts and leads. We didn’t have the development resources in-house, so we decided to look for a partner to program the app for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had only a rough idea of what we wanted to achieve. Ackee came up with the ideas on how to implement these desired functionalities. Their IT designers executed some mockups and showed us what the app could look like. We collaborated to select the best designs, and we repeated the process several times to continually improve the final application.

What is the team composition?

A project manager served as our single point of contact. There was a change in project managers mid-project, but both were very good.

How did you come to work with Ackee?

They were found by someone outside of my department. Apart from coming at a competitive cost, they came across as being very competent during the preliminary workshops. I believe that that was the reason we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in May 2019 and the project is ongoing. It’s a two-part project, where the iOS component was completed in September 2019. After that initial release, we’re proceeding with Android development, along with some general updates.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any trackable metrics, but we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our first customers. The app itself has received great reviews in the app store. The quality of Ackee’s work is consistently top-notch, with very few flaws or errors.

How did Ackee perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re always on time. They excel at communicating not only their ideas but also the technical difficulties they might encounter. They speak to us in a way that we can understand exactly what’s going on.

We were working in two-week sprints within the agile methodology, and we held weekly calls where they kept us well informed of all developments. They truly assured us that they had everything under control.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They always provide unique solutions to address our wants and needs. Their designs are also exceptional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. I can’t think of anything I’d fault them for.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d urge you to listen to their suggestions. Try to refrain from defining everything on a micro-level. Keep an open mind and listen to what they bring to the table since they come with a bountiful supply of experience and expertise.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Zonky is unique online peer to peer service that connects people who want the most convenient loan on the market with people who want to smartly evaluate their savings. My role is Sales & Rollout Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ackee?

We felt that the desktop version of Zonky needed to be completed with mobile app solution. We needed to take a step forward and enable our customers to lend money and invest via their mobile devices. We hired Ackee to deliver a mobile app for iOS and Android. The main challenge was onboarding. There is many personal data that needs to be collected including uploading ID.

What were your goals for this project?

Higher daily active usage, monthly usage and increased user experience for our investors and borrowers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected four agencies and invited them to a nonpublic tender. Then we chose Ackee as the best option. We were impressed by their know-how and design proposal. Their collaborative spirit was also very important for us.

Describe the project in detail.

Analysis, design and development of mobile app for iOS and Android. One of the biggest challenges was users interface. The app contains more than 250 screens, many investment options, loan overviews and lots of information. To test the solution properly, Ackee used interactive prototype of investing.

What was the team composition?

2 iOS developers, 2 Android developers, 1 UX designer, 1 designer, 1 Project manager, 1 tester. Ackee continued supervising the app after finishing the development according to our testing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Perfect communication, application launched in time and budget. You will appreciate them, and their friendly team is full of great ideas. If you need more informations, feel free to contact me.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our inhouse developers were collaborating with Ackee directly in their offices. We also used dedicated Slack channel to communicate everything about the project. We appreciated their sense for meeting deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were able to release first ready-to-use app very quickly while maintaining quality. We launched first part of the app only 2 months after the kick-off workshop.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don't think so. I have noticed a standard rivalry between an internal development team and an external, but understand ... developers

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for Livesport. We provide sports scores and news, with around 80,000,000 users worldwide on our websites and mobile applications. 

Our most popular website, FlashScore.com, provides live scores for more than 30 sports.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ackee?

Our main site is for sports fans and allows users to customize the scores they see based on their interests by team and player. Now, we’re working on developing a brand-new news product with them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The platform we’re building will be a website as well as a mobile application compatible with both Android and iOS. Ackee is helping us with all the backend development and UI/UX design. 

In terms of key functionalities, we want the user to have a view of all the latest sports news from all the servers in the country. Essentially, it’ll be an aggregator of news that enables personalization.

What is the team composition?

Ackee has allocated around 12 people for our project: developers, designers, and a project manager. Occasionally, members of the team rotate.

How did you come to work with Ackee?

We were familiar with their brand, so when we were searching for a third-party provider, we thought of them. We were impressed by their references and past experience. 

Also, last year we bought a small company which provided a news app built by Ackee as well. We were confident they had the expertise to build the product we wanted. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $1,000,000–$9,999,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Ackee in June 2019. We’ve been working together for nine months so far, and we plan to release the site next week. 

However, we plan to continue our collaboration with Ackee for app improvements and updates in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As the app hasn’t been released yet, we don’t have any hard metrics yet. However, we’re testing the app internally between our team and theirs, and have improved app performance throughout that process so far. 

We’ve been very satisfied with the quality of Ackee’s work, and are excited to continue working with them in the future.

How did Ackee perform from a project management standpoint?

Both of our teams use agile scrum methodologies internally, so our workflow is efficient, though we’ve still had opportunities to learn from one another. I keep an eye on how their project manager works and plans with their designers and developers, and I share insights from their performance with my own colleagues.

We have two-hour meetings weekly, and we also communicate via email and telephone each day. Ackee uses Redmine for project tracking.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their greatest quality is the wide range of skillsets they can provide. Ackee not only has developers, but designers, project managers, and marketers. 

They’ve supported us in multiple areas, and regularly suggest improvements rather than just following directions. It’s clear they believe in our product and have the success of the project in mind. Ackee makes us feel that we’re an important client. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

So far, the project has taken longer than we initially planned for, though we understand why and where the difficulties have come from. However, when we look at what Ackee has accomplished so far, we’re very satisfied and overall pleased with our decision to partner with them. We wouldn’t be able to launch our product without them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I would definitely recommend meeting with them to discuss the project before starting. They’ll help in the early phases and collaborate with design. They’re active partners and want to do the best work possible for their client.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Mighty Sounds is a unique festival focused on punk a punkrock, rock’n’roll, hardcore, reggae, ska, rockabilly, indie rock and related genres. I am one of the producers, my main field is public relations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ackee?

We hired Ackee to develop an easy mobile app with a platform for us to administrate the content independently. First, we had the idea of online up-to-date program of the festival, but through the time the app has developed to indispensable part of the festival.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to replace printed programs to cut off unnecessary expenses & become more eco friendly. Before the app, once we had everything printed, we had limited options how to reach the guests and let them know about program changes, sponsored activities, emergency information etc. Also, the app enables us to communicate with our target group months prior the event. We use it as one of the main channels to promote and sell tickets even 9 months before the event.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have made a research and found out Ackee the best solution for our project (and got some very positive feedbacks on them too).

Describe the project in detail.

Design, development, firebase service, automatic debugging, statistics, administration platform, design templates to use on social media.

What was the team composition?

The project team consists of backend developer, iOS developer, Android developer, frontend developer, designer, tester and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very happy with the key functionalities, but the app offers more ways for use. We are able to navigate the guests more effectively through the festival area and during arrivals and departures at the start and end of the event. We have more space for our partners to communicate with their target group. Our presale numbers increased.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicate exclusively with Project manager. The Project manager is very well informed during all stages of development. Ackee proposed a time schedule and although they didn't manage to follow it precisely, they delivered the app in time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Thanks to their workflow, they are able to deliver very good outputs very quickly. They always reflect feedback given by the users in app stores, so we don't need to communicate it separately.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is very little they could improve. We get a high standard service for reasonable price every year.