App Gurus

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Maths Rockx is an educational app that teaches times tables through pop/rock songs, from Lady Gaga to will.i.am and Pink. The app includes times tables, quizzes, a playlist feature, and a video showcasing it in action. It's the only app of this kind with copyrighted music in the world.

What is your position?

I am the director and owner of the company, along with my husband.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with App Gurus?

We needed to find a company that would want to work with us and start the project before we obtained the royalties for our songs. We've had other challenges in terms of aesthetics and getting everything perfect inside the app, but the songs were our biggest challenge. Everything takes time to have an app ready for release; it is a lengthy process.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We started working with App Gurus six months before we obtained the rights to the songs in the app. One of our design challenges was making the times tables scroll up while the equations animated at precisely the right time. One of the biggest issues was color. I found out that I had to get more involved, as a client, since App Gurus' team couldn't read my mind. They suggested that I choose colors from an HTML palette, which allowed me to get exactly what I wanted.

I was a schoolteacher, so I had no idea about design and technology. It was a huge learning curve for me, but the development process quickened after I gained some experience.

App Gurus was very open to change if I didn't approve of a certain design, even if half the work had been done already. Even though there was some scope creep, App Gurus wasn't focused only on the money. Since they let us push the boundaries, we made it a point to pay our bills on time and demanded that App Gurus include any substantial add-ins. Not focusing on the money allowed us to have a more honest relationship with each other, which I found comforting.

How did you come to work with App Gurus?

I sent emails and called multiple app developers, including some large companies that demanded a lot of money. App Gurus' project manager got back to us and continued to stay in touch. He is also into music and liked our idea. I looked at a couple of apps developed by App Gurus, and thought their website looked beautiful. It was ultimately App Gurus' principal who got me through the door. I wanted to work with an Australian team and chose App Gurus, even though they're located in Brisbane and we're in Sidney.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The original cost was $12,000. We've done a lot of development since then, so the total is now between $50,000 and $100,000, not including royalty rights. App Gurus' cost was much lower than their competitors' because they wanted to give us an initial start and undertake improvements later on. I found that to be attractive, since others asked us for $40,000 from the start.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first contacted App Gurus in February 2014. The development started in June, and the app was launched one year later. Six months later, we added a free quiz and a video to it. We're currently developing new features for the app in order to enhance it and keep our customers excited.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Apple has issues with family-sharing in-app purchases in any app. Since not everyone wanted or could afford to buy the entire times table, we wanted to cater for the parents who only bought three tables for $3, for example. We built another app six months after we went live to cater to sharing across devices. After this, we were catapulted to the number-one position in Australia through a single newspaper article and a video showcasing the app in action. We spent another $12,500 on song rights in order to showcase snippets of the app in this video. We underwent a lot of Facebook advertising through that video and remained within the top four positions, frequently being #1 within the education genre. We cleverly kept developing, making the app an awesome instrument for children, teachers, and parents.

How did App Gurus perform from a project management standpoint?

We lost our original project manager, who moved up in the company, so we ended up being managed by App Gurus' co-founder. This is great, given that he's a developer as well. We can shoot through messages in Basecamp whenever we want and have App Gurus get back to us. There are occasionally a few delays in communication, since we're not their only clients, but App Gurus has given us an itinerary with deadlines and kept us updated. Their principal is a very good listener and has left important decisions up to us, even though he gives us his own input. This makes for a great and trusting relationship.

My husband and I are very specific about testing; otherwise, we wouldn't launch a new version in the store. From this perspective, I like our testing/fixing procedure.

What distinguishes App Gurus from other providers?

I appreciate App Gurus' loyalty and understanding. We've formed a bond and trust with each other, and we respect each other's opinions. Online relationships have limitations, so it was nice to meet App Gurus' team in person and sit down with them.

Is there anything App Gurus could have improved or done differently?

I wish I was App Gurus' only client, but that’s about it. There have been a couple of bumps along the way. Because I was naive regarding the app world, I had too high expectations. I got over this after learning more about the field and understanding the development process as well as Apple's rules.

Do you have any recommendations for others considering working with App Gurus?

Developers are not mind readers, and everyone's interpretation of what a client asks is going to be different. We need to be 110% specific in stating what we want and how we want it. I would also create decent designs of what I wanted, which would make coders' jobs easier. The client needs to put in as much work as the developer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Crooked Compass organizes small group tours and customized tours with a focus on emerging destinations, as well as the lesser-known side of common destinations. The business also includes an app offering individual experiences for the more independent traveler, allowing them to find lesser-known experiences on the go.

I am the founder and director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Gurus?

There are many people like myself who don't want to do the same things as the standard tourist would do and instead would rather see the destination through the eyes of the local. Finding those experiences can often be difficult, and the online information can be disjointed and not necessarily accurate. We wanted to create a platform which combined all that information in one place, allowing users to search for destinations and particular experiences and have everything brought to their fingertips. I was very much a beginner to building apps, so I needed someone to build my concept.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I wanted to build an “experience-of-the-day” popup, which would be shown when first opening the app. It would be a completely random experience that would be pulled from the database, in order to fuel inspiration and curiosity in people. This was one of the key features built by App Gurus. They also assisted with the design, making the app as user-friendly as possible and adding functionalities like a bucket list of experiences, which users could tick off once they'd completed them.

How did you come to work with App Gurus?

I had no idea of how to build an app, so I contacted as many developers as possible. I made the decision early on to keep the project in Australia so that I could pick up the phone in case of any questions. I tried to find someone who really understood my concept, without trying to manipulate it into fitting their own business better. App Gurus was able to do this, but also put in suggestions which resonated well with me.

How much have you invested with App Gurus?

Having no idea of how much an app would cost, I requested quotes from multiple companies, which were mainly within the same ballpark of $17,000 to $25,000. App Gurus sat somewhere in the middle, but there were initial functionalities that were discussed for which I was billed at a later time. I would have liked to have a bit more handholding and clearer explanation during the pricing stage, rather than find out that I'd have to pay an additional $6,000 after four months of work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with App Gurus in July 2014. The project was meant to launch by November, but we ended up launching it in March 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I had some budget restraints when initially building the app, so it didn't have all the functionalities I wanted to include from the start.

I ran a six-month campaign after the initial launch, in order to get my brand out there. User feedback from people looking for that style of travel was definitely positive. I didn't receive any negative comments, aside from the app being a bit clunky, which was due to my budget constraints.

How did App Gurus perform from a project management standpoint?

App Gurus used a platform for keeping me in the loop with the progress. I could see when a new phase was being worked on, and I was in contact with two staff members from App Gurus for any questions.

When we initially scoped out the work, the timeframe was set for six months, but the project ended up taking 10. There was a bit of a staff changeover on App Gurus' side, and I felt that my project was pushed to the side a little bit. They've grown a bit since then, and have a bigger team. Overall, it was pretty good, except the hiccup I mentioned.

What did you find most impressive about App Gurus?

The fact that App Gurus took the time to understand what I was looking for in the initial stages is great. It was this approach that made me proceed with App Gurus. Since the launch, when we've had the odd technical difficulty and needed to call App Gurus, they've been proactive in fixing the issue and ensuring that it wouldn't occur again.

Are there any areas App Gurus could improve?

The project management issue I mentioned was largely due to a change of staff and is irrelevant at this point. In the early stages, because the work was so foreign to me, I would have appreciated having a more handheld approach during wireframing and costing phases.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with App Gurus?

In general, if the client is coming from the same background as myself, and has zero experience with technology, they need to ask as many questions as possible before signing or paying anything. Once someone's tied to a contract, it can become challenging. Even small things, like ensuring that they own the intellectual property for the code should be considered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

GET MORE TRAFFIC is a full-service digital marketing company specializing in AdWords management. We essentially help small businesses to be found online, with a full suite of services including web development and SEO [search engine optimization]. We're based in Sydney, Australia, and have 700 active clients at the moment.

I am the general manager of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Gurus?

We had a bit of a challenge in terms of client communication. The feedback we were receiving was that it was hard for them to get in touch with us, with calls being on hold for significant amounts of time. The average was 53 seconds before a call was answered, and oftentimes the person they were looking to find wasn't available.

Our second issue was around time management, as our processes for getting back to clients weren't hugely efficient. A third challenge was reporting: clients felt that it wasn't personalized enough.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We met with App Gurus' team in order to discuss our challenges and determined that building an app for communication was a good solution. It would give clients multiple touch points, as well as have automated push notifications and other functionalities.

One of the things that App Gurus came up with, and which we hadn't thought about ourselves, was to potentially build the app as a self-service tool. We've integrated an API from one of our other software programs into the app, basically introducing some artificial intelligence into it for making recommendations. This offered us a new revenue stream, especially in the case of clients looking to leave our service.

How did you come to work with App Gurus?

We searched Google and found App Gurus. We liked the fact that they were a local company, which would allow us to meet face-to-face. We were sold from the first phone call with App Gurus' team. They were interested in our business, and we were able to speak to a person who knew what they were talking about, instead of a secretary. That made the process easier for us.

How much have you invested with App Gurus?

The cost of App Gurus' work has been around $20,000 per month. [Didn't mention currency]

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with App Gurus around March 2016. We continue to improve the app based on client feedback. The project will be ongoing for a number of years, as we further develop the self-service option.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Clients are mainly contacting us through the app at the moment. We've found that the engagement with weekly reports has increased massively, by about 300%. Clients receive reports directly through the app, rather than getting an email which would become lost in their inbox.

We measure client satisfaction through a net promoter score. From the app's launch, we saw a 10% increase in our score, over the next two cycles. That is a massive increase, considering that it had been steady over the last 6–8 months. We feel that this is directly attributed to clients' engagement with our app.

We've noticed an increase in productivity with our client managers, who can organize their days a lot better by having clients communicate through the app. We've also doubled our touch points with clients through the app, and we've decreased the number of phone calls, which has made our client managers' roles more efficient.

How did App Gurus perform from a project management standpoint?

App Gurus made the work easy for us. We were working on multiple projects at once on our end, so having a team that could take the lead and manage the project was helpful. On other projects we've done using outsourced companies, we found that we tended to be the ones initiating contact. We didn't have to do this with App Gurus, and the work was actually delivered earlier than expected.

App Gurus was never afraid to give us bad news; if a feature we requested was good, they went ahead and did it, but if App Gurus felt that it wouldn't work, they told us.

What did you find most impressive about App Gurus?

In the initial phases, App Gurus' approach was very collaborative. They weren't afraid to provide ideas and expand on what we wanted to deliver. We never felt that we were dealing with sales people, but rather with a team that had a deep technical understanding.

Are there any areas App Gurus could improve?

The work was easy and hands-off for us. Since it was our first app project, I don't have a basis for comparison. I can't find any faults with App Gurus, other than having more discussions around design.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with App Gurus?

The collaboration should be treated as a partnership. Having a constant back and forth process is very valuable. As we've seen through our own work, clients can become emotionally attached to a project, so the real value that App Gurus can provide is honest feedback. If they feel that something can be done better or needs to be dropped, clients should consider the advice.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Administration Officer of an education company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A reading tracking app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Gurus to accomplish?

• Develop a interactive app
• Develop a website
• Develop an admin panel for the interactive app

SOLUTION

How did you find App Gurus?

Online Search

Why did you select App Gurus over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from App Gurus were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A working app and website

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

Very knowledgeable. Good advice.

What was your primary form of communication with App Gurus?

Email or Messaging App

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

Their knowledge is impressive. 

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

.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of ZAUCEAPP PTY LTD

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile dating application

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Gurus to accomplish?

• Develop the application
• Make it as user friendly as possible

SOLUTION

How did you find App Gurus?

Online Search

Why did you select App Gurus over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fits our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from App Gurus were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Taking the project from bare bones to a working and user friendly app. App Gurus took the ideas and suggestions that I had and investigated into what would work and be functional together, made the framework and language to integrate the working frames and put together colour schemes and a logo rather quickly. The App itself is a bit on the complex side and the App Gurus team worked quickly and professionally to deliver the best package possible for testing. 
They were thorough in testing and open to suggestions. As this is my first time creating a mobile application they have been nothing but patient and understanding in the fact that I may need to think things through after researching for myself and being very open to explain things further if I found something unclear.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

That the app has kept its easy to use functionality, The quick turn around of work and adjustments, The step by step open communication.

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

Sam at App Gurus was incredibly efficient and capable of answering the needs of the project. The developer worked tirelessly to deliver on time. The design team were very easy and open to suggestion when it came to the logo and schemes. Overall, it has been a very constructive and pleasant first app development experience. I will be using them again for my next venture.

What was your primary form of communication with App Gurus?

Email or Messaging App

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

The ability to think outside of the box and be open to suggestions. They were happy to talk through any ideas and possibilities of improving the user experience.

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

Not that I can think of, Overall the professionalism and reputation that the company has speaks for itself.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Portae

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We're a virtual wardrobe app that allows you to organise your clothing into racks, chat with other users about their items and make them available for sale.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Gurus to accomplish?

• Provide guidance and a solution for my target market
• Design and develop iOS & Android mobile apps

SOLUTION

How did you find App Gurus?

Online Search

Why did you select App Gurus over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from App Gurus were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

I reached out to numerous companies but have decided to pursue development with the App Gurus because they understood what I wanted, loved the enthusiasm and energy from the beginning and felt that they were the right people to work with.

They provided various options and a quote that was unbeatable which was a contributing factor to my decision to work with them as a start up, I had to work within a specific budget. They guided me through the processes step by step and I received some great advice along the way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end product is exactly what I wanted and it has been branded to appeal to my target market. Influencers are going to love it. I am in the middle of finalising my marketing strategy and cannot wait to see the app get some users.

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

We’ve had numerous calls, occasional meetings via Google Meets and used basecamp for written communication. Everything project related is dominantly on basecamp. Overall, the team responded to me fairly quickly to feedback or queries I had.

What was your primary form of communication with App Gurus?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They loved my concept and understood my target market really well. This was incorporated into the product design and development planning. Sam is great and is always sharing his ideas and thinking about the bigger picture with valuable input.

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

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Eater Meter

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online subscription service relating to food

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Gurus to accomplish?

Create an online subscription website suitable for our needs, specifically integrating a complicated Excel worksheet in a presentable format

SOLUTION

How did you find App Gurus?

Online Search

Why did you select App Gurus over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from App Gurus were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope included the creation of a presentable web app that integrated complicated Excel worksheets. The goal was to create a subscription service and a blog for users. The website was to be compatible with mobile devices and desktops. In summary, the deliverables were:

• Website landing page 
• Subscription integration 
• Admin panel for on-the-fly customization 
• Blog page 
• Excel worksheet integration 
• Beta testing

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was delivered as requested and has past beta testing.

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

Management was very responsive, and delivered on time, no hurdles

What was your primary form of communication with App Gurus?

Email or Messaging App

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

They created an aesthetically-pleasing and functional web app with only a brief conception of what I wanted. I described to them a concept and they were easily able to run with it and was more than impressed with the final product and how it turned out.

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

They were able to deliver all our needs, so nothing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Mosoda Pty Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Social platform inspired by forums that connect mothers and relatives based on similar interests and allow them to engage in conversation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Gurus to accomplish?

• Provide a scope and app design with the idea we had in mind
• Develop an iOS / Android mobile app
• Get the most within our budget

SOLUTION

How did you find App Gurus?

Online Search

Why did you select App Gurus over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from App Gurus were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Inspired by forums and dating apps, we wanted to create a seamless experience that allowed mothers and relatives to connect with each other based on similar interests. At first the app acts as a bit of matchmaker based on profile criteria and mutual interests but provides flexibility in starting new discussions and engaging in existing ones, both private and public. 

Primary focus was to develop a native iOS and Android app with an admin panel. The importance of pre-development was emphasized. App Gurus have a structured approach that starts with a Blueprint followed by UI UX design that requires our review and approval before starting development. App Gurus understood what we were trying to do and confidently believed they would provide us with the best product in the end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• App Gurus have done an amazing job at bringing our vision to life. The app and user experience is phenomenal and we are looking forward to launching the app. Launch is on standby at the moment as we have some big plans and a vision that requires further investment. If we are going to do this right, we are going to do it big.

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

It was super easy to chat with Sam and Matt who looked after my project. We used basecamp and had phone calls from time to time for discussions.

What was your primary form of communication with App Gurus?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They designed and developed a user-friendly interface that appealed to our target audience.

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

The testing and bug resolution phase was a bit tedious but it has improved over time. We now know what is involved in the process and expectations are clear future upgrades and future development.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Specialz

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile Food and Beverage App Locator

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Gurus to accomplish?

• Create Content
• Develop Scope
• Build and Commission

SOLUTION

How did you find App Gurus?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select App Gurus over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

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

I have identified a gap in the market where students and people on a tight budget can’t find enough options on where to eat without going to the same places or they just don’t know when or where the specials are. Based on this I wanted to create an app that will show specials nearby and provide options. Any venue can sign up on the web and manage their menu and Specialz.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• I wanted to create a full app based solution that will allow venues to sign up and manage their menus. I quickly realised it wasn’t practical for Venues and with Sam’s guidance from the App Gurus, he has helped me establish a clear scope for a web based solution whilst tailoring the apps for the people. This has expanded the horizon and introduced me to understanding the web can be equally as important as an app for a particular target audience.

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

We started with a refined scoping process that set the footprint for the designer to design the user interface both web and mobile. Once this was completed and approved by me, development was started. On development completion we spent a lot of time testing.

What was your primary form of communication with App Gurus?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They were easy to work with, and I learned a lot. Now that I’ve gone through the process, in the future for upgrades or other developments I will find it even easier as I’m familiar with their process.

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

I’m happy with my experience and look forward to continuing a working relationship with them. I am in the midst of planning a major upgrade. I know I’ve got a dedicated team I can rely on.