The App Master

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Xellar.app.

What challenge were you trying to address with The App Master?

I was looking for a partner to do the development of an app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team developed the IT solution and mobile app from scratch. I shared my ideas, and then they started developing the app for iOS and Android. They also built a backend in .NET.

The app is Omnichannel and helps people with their e-commerce. They can communicate one-on-one with customers. The goal is to enhance their bulk of conversion rate, average ticket, and customer loyalty. They completed an MVP.

Currently, they’re working on the full version, including the changes and corrections we request.

What is the team composition?

We work with 5–6 people, including an operations manager, project manager, developers, and a QA tester.

How did you come to work with The App Master?

They’re experienced, down to earth, and adaptable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $40,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in October 2019. They delivered the MVP in the spring of 2020.

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

This isn’t something that will bring mass downloads because it’s intended to be sold to retailers. They can share login information with their customers.

The deliverables of each sprint were done well and delivered on time. They proposed good development ideas and IT solutions. The team exceeded our expectations with the end product.

How did The App Master perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team does a great job. We work with Agile Scrum and use tools for tracking progress. They’re always available and responsive, doing well at answering questions and explaining processes. We communicate through WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is professional and flexible. The cost-benefit ratio is quite good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wouldn’t say they need to improve anything. The delays we experienced were due to the pandemic, not the fault of anyone.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly communicate your ideas to them. They’ll understand and develop the solution in a professional, timely manner.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I´m the CEO of a ticketing company focused in theater shows.

For what projects/services did your company hire The App Master, and what were your goals?

We hired The App Master to develop a new platform that allow us to manage the all events, venues, promotions, etc. all through the different sales channels.

How did you select The App Master and what were the deciding factors?

I met one of their partners in a digital business course and invited them to make a business proposal.

From the 3 final applicants we selected "TAM" because of their knowledge, experience and commitment showed in the several personal meetings we held.

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

It was a very broad scope project, which included definitions of infrastructure, database, programming languages, UX design, information security, etc.

The development was held in modules, with several deliverables for each one. The final assembly and necessary adjustments was the final step of the whole project.

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

They were 5 people in their team: 1 project manager, 1 senior developer, 2 developers, 1 designer.

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

The final product is much more efficient and flexible than the previous one. It requires less maintenance and performs better. Is much more reliable and scalable. We got what we wanted.

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

They are super pro but at the same time they can adapt to the client´s culture and timing needs. The estimated project timeline, all through the 20 months, was 99% accurate.

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

The energy, commitment and hands on attitude. They deliver what they promise.

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

The only thing to improve would be the fine tuning testing before any deliverable.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a mobile development company. I'm the director of sales and customer experience. I attract new business into the company, then I act as an account manager for existing clients.

What challenge were you trying to address with The App Master?

Our company pivoted to a distributed model and our employees started working from home. We needed native Android developers that were experienced and close to our time zone. We decided to hire an offshore development team.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We've worked on several projects together over the course of the last year. The first project was an Android port for an existing iOS app that we built for a client. That was a dating and fitness networking app. They did an amazing job, and we had complete feature parity fairly quickly, and the Android version looks even better than the original.

They also built the Android and iOS versions of an app for a living community. That app allows tenants to schedule maintenance requests, pay rent, view messages, find community events, and give feedback. It had to interface with a third-party API, and they managed the whole project very well. Other projects we've collaborated on include a full turnkey native Android app, and QA services on another app.

What is the team composition?

We interface directly with their CEO. I know that he has at least one developer per platform, plus a QA team. I'm not sure how they manage their projects on their side. Everyone we interact with speaks English, and our main point of contact has a business background and can relay specific, detailed development information back to his team.

How did you come to work with The App Master?

I was introduced through a mutual colleague, and we had an email introduction. After a few meetings, we asked them to send estimates for projects. Ultimately, we felt confident in their abilities and decided to hire them. We've had a great experience throughout our interactions with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

The first project was about $50,000, but our overall investment is closer to $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around April 2018. We're in the midst of two other projects.

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

Three of the applications they've built are live, and The App Master is great to work with. The experience was seamless, and we never felt like we were working with an off-shore team. Even though they’re two hours ahead of us, they accommodated us and put in extra time. Whenever we were close to a release, they worked weekends and long hours without our asking. They're very fairly priced, and we never have any language barrier issues.

How did The App Master perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is fantastic. They manage all their own developers, and they handle any issues within their own team. We used email, Slack, and video conferencing to communicate. Since our staff works from home, they're just like another member of our team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a lot of integrity. I've worked with other offshore agencies, but The App Master is so respectful. Their business ethics go a long way, and we have an immense amount of trust in them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should do differently. They're a dream to work with, and I rate them very highly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be deferential to their expertise. They were very early adopters in the mobile space, and they know what they're talking about. They've always been flexible, but they're almost always right. Trust them.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the IT Director of ASSIST CARD. Travel assistance company.

For what projects/services did your company hire The App Master?

Manpower services related to .net, mobile and java skills

What were your goals for this project?

Maintenance and development of solutions four our systems. Improvements.

How did you select this vendor?

They competed with other vendors.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

As I mentioned, manpower for the develpment of new solutions and functionalities in our systems.

What was the team composition?

3 people (Developers)

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

Excellent results, very good attitude of the developers and TAM owners in order to fullfill the objectives.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very effective, as I mentioned. I want to remark the commitment of this firm and high work quality.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their commitment and agile mindset stand out to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No so far.