Angell Echo

BACKGROUND

Sameway Group was founded in Shanghai. We are a company that provides asset management and financial consultation services. We have rich experience in real-estate investment, VC [venture capital], and merger and acquisitions. So far, we have managed more than $3 billion in assets in China and invest in global project in U.S., the general profit for the company is increasing 15 percent each year, and the investment return ratio for our investor is about 19.18 percent for 2013. We are interested in helping SMEs [small and medium enterprises] to get financial support by our funding and solutions. 

I am marketing and strategy director since May of 2013, and I am responsible for group development in both business and marketing. Meanwhile, I am looking for business partners to find new arms of our business in the next three to five years.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

[The business opportunity was that] SMEs who have financial problems or need funds to develop their businesses are our key target in China. We offer them funds for certain issues and help them managing their funds with our solutions. We believe that we will increase our business from $3 billion to $50 billion in the next three years, and the market share would be around 5 to 10 percent.

[The] challenge [was around] the increasing cost of funds, the efficiency of our service processes, and the state law and regulations. 

Our goal was to let the users view our investment information in a clear and simple way. Our clients are spread throughout Asia, and an app was the best way to improve our CRM [customer relationship management]. Due to this, we needed the app to be available on both iOS and Android. Providing instant access to our clients’ investment information was the paramount concern. 

The app should allow users to become familiar with all of our services and projects, call consultants directly, and check all past projects. We wanted to use this app to let select users view our projects and information in a simple manner. It was always intended as an in-house app and we never had intentions of uploading it to iTunes, Google Play, or any app store.

Our criteria was very direct, the app should be simple, clear, and useful. This was the most important criteria, so we chose a developer with this in mind. After a couple of meetings, Angell Echo came to us with their ideas and insight, and we loved everything we heard.

SOLUTION

We researched different app developers on the Web and App Store. We came across Angell Echo and saw their previous work, so we contacted them. After a couple meetings, they gave us their perspective of how we should go about this project, and we decided to collaborate with them. The other developers we spoke with did not have the track record Angell Echo had, that made us feel comfortable in giving them the reins on the project. The project plan laid out what each step entails and when it would happen, and they stuck to that schedule. 

When we encountered problems or needed assistance, they were right there to help us out. At the same time, they also showed us the structure and flow of the app, we were very satisfied with this planning. Angell Echo digitized all of our content and displayed the information in a clear and simple way. It really made our jobs much easier as we have clients in various parts of the country and now all of our content was unified in one place and easy to view. We were so pleased, we decided to begin a second project with them.

For distribution, Angell Echo decided to use QR [quick response] codes. We can decide who needed the app and send them the QR code, they would scan it, enter the logon information we gave them, and they were in. All of our users are very familiar with QR codes, and this was a very simple way to install the app. A managing platform was also part of the project. This was a computer-based service that allowed us to manage our users, content, and other features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

The app’s performance is great. We were so pleased with them, we just started to work on another project. For anyone who is considering going down this road to improve CRM, I would suggest finding a developer that suits your needs. Whether it is based on price, technology, creativity, or artwork, finding someone who is able to meet your requirements on time and on budget is the most important thing. There are bound to be problems, but if you have the wrong developer, they can turn into migraines. 

I really value Angell Echo’s level of dedication. We had several questions about installation issues, and they took care of it all. Another quality I admire is how they were able to create something that reflected exactly what we wanted. We did not micromanage and give detailed instructions, and the finished product looked amazing.

We got a lot of positive feedback from our clients. They really liked being able to use their phones or tablets to see the status of their project. The ability to call consultants via the app helped strengthen communication and relationships between us and our customers.

BACKGROUND

Stellar Mega Films Limited was established in 2002 and is one of China’s largest film distribution companies. We are a key player in the film and television industries. Stellar Mega Films also owns Stellar Theater chain, which currently has 136 theaters and 684 big screens across China. In 2012, we also started to develop shops that sell imported food and health products.

As the marketing director, my role is to build up suitable marketing strategies for business development in both movie theatres and Stellar shops. I lead the marketing team to promote our brand in order to achieve revenue growth targets. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We needed a comprehensive app that enhanced the film viewing experience. Mobile devices are a great way to reach customers, and we intended to use that technology to ensure our customers got the best possible service.

We wanted an app that showed everything we had to offer, and put the feeling of moviegoing experience in the palm of everyone’s hand. We needed to present news, display theater information, have a ticketing sales system, and showcase various products for sale. Our goal was to add a new feel to the movie theater experience.

We needed users to have access to our movie theaters always, not just when they were actually at the theater or on their computer. Mobile devices are the best way to do this, and we wanted to present our information in a way different from our competitors. The app would also grow our customer base by having promotional deals.

SOLUTION

After meeting the Angell Echo team and telling them what we needed and our ideas, they gave us a project plan. Their initial plan differed slightly from our vision but given Angell Echo’s track record, we decided to take their path. After the project commenced, we began to see why they chose the approach they did, and it made sense to us. We were happy with our instinct to trust Angell Echo’s ability.

They did the project planning, UI/UX [user interface/user experience] design, and background development. Angell Echo developed a new type of technology for this app that combines real and virtual worlds, 3D PanEx. It was a great choice for showing all that we had to offer. It was hard to understand when explained in words, but once we saw it, we knew it was a perfect fit for what we wanted to do. The best part about it is the back-end system Angell Echo incorporated into the app. This technology enables us to update certain front-end elements of the app without the need for any coding. In an industry as dynamic as film, this was exactly what we needed.

The project was completed in 2012 and has been updated several times since then. Thanks to Angell Echo’s back-end technology, it is very easy for us to modify and change minor front-end elements within the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Angell Echo was very creative and professional. The planning was smart and thorough. The different features they recommended to us worked out great, and we learned a lot about app development throughout the whole process.

Every aspect of the project was completed on time, and we were very thankful that the surprises that arose were very minor. We were provided with app analytics and are able to identify what percentage of our sales were derived from mobile devices. Within just one week of the app’s release, we saw a huge increase in revenue. 3D PanEx showcased our services in a clear and creative way. The back-end system they developed allows us to update certain UI elements easily, we are not dependent on Angell Echo to change the app every two weeks. All in all, the app created what we wanted and much more.

After the initial project has done, we are cooperating with Angell Echo to the second stage of this Application now. There will be one or two games that our customers can play to obtain coupons for attractive discounts on food and drinks we sell in the theaters as well as Stellar shops. This is a great way to promote the Stellar shop.