Appello Software

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Product Delivery Manager of a financial services company. 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We offer simple, interest free Payment Plans to patients for Health Care related treatment. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Appello Software to accomplish?

• Update and refresh the UI of our existing apps
• Provide additional functionality and features
• Increase the level of security to protect sensitive data

SOLUTION

How did you find Appello Software?

Online Search

Why did you select Appello Software over others?

Relevant skillset

How many teammates from Appello Software were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Provide figma designs of the updated UI of each screen in our 3 apps and design new navigation and workflows. 
• Develop the apps on React native based on the new designs, navigation and functionality. 
• Appello were engaged to complete the front design and development and work closely with our backend team to ensure all functionality was working as expected. 
• All 3 apps were required to be developed, tested and deployed to a UAT environment where we conducted final testing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Key measureables were:

• Project completion was within budget and timeframes. Although there were some extensions throughout the project this was due to dependancies on our backend team and some changes throughout the development cycle. 
• The final product aligned with the approved UI designs and new functionality and features setout in the original requirements. 

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

The project manager communicated any updates in a timely manner and we were always informed of the project status and ETA for completion.  He arranged standups when required to keep the project moving and was always transparent about any issues or challenges they were facing. 

What was your primary form of communication with Appello Software?

Email or Messaging App

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

I was impressed by their vast array of skill sets in design, development, and apps.

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

Provide regular project cost analysis throughout projects to ensure projects are on track from a cost perspective. This way the client is up to date and prepared for any increase rather than at the end. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Consultant of Headways Migration Australia

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Migration and Recruitment

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Appello Software to accomplish?

• Develop a recruitment platform where recruiters in Australia can conveniently engage skilled professionals of high calibre with much ease and at relatively low costs by using state-of-the-art recruitment software

SOLUTION

How did you find Appello Software?

Online Search

Why did you select Appello Software over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Appello Software were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Development of a Digital Recruitment Platform with an employer and candidate interface. The intention was to be able to come up with a platform that has modern features which could be easily embraced by candidates who showcase their skills and have visibility of their profile strength. On the other hand, the platform was to give employers an appealing and efficient alternative to traditional recruitment methods. Time and cost was very critical in the delivery of this project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Appello team was so helpful in giving guidance on improvements and overall functionality of the recruitment platform. The Project Manager, Developers, Engineers and staff working on this project were fantastic in meeting deadlines and reducing costs by giving timely feedback and updates.

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

The Appello team (and Project Manager) had time to listen and respond to every query. They also delivered the project on time

What was your primary form of communication with Appello Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They were quite knowledgeable and professional and they can work with businesses of any size.

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

Nothing significant that is worth a mention

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of FurBaby Social Pty Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

FurBaby Social is an all-in-one social networking app and marketplace, designed to connect pet owners and their pets with like-minded animal lovers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Appello Software to accomplish?

• Design & Build of Mobile App

SOLUTION

How did you find Appello Software?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Appello Software over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Appello Software were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Design, build and implementation of a social media application that would be accessible on both iOS and Android devices.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Appello delivered a robust, secure, modern app in a timely manner that will continue to grow over the years to come.

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

Lucy, my amazing Project/Product Manager kept me well informed every step of the way, nothing was too difficult to achieve, she was always willing to assist in any way possible and made me feel at ease knowing my project was in good hands. She also drove her team to ensure the desired outcome was met in a timely manner without compromising on the features and functionality of my Application. 

Furthermore, the development team did an outstanding job, and their workmanship is second none - they delivered a robust, secure, modern app that will continue to grow over the years to come.

What was your primary form of communication with Appello Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

It’s not often these days that you come across an organisation that is truly a market leader in their industry and delivers on their promises!! Appello’s guidance, support, flexibility, and professionalism throughout the design and engagement process, including delivery of the project has been invaluable.

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

The team at Appello Software went above and beyond and exceeded all expectations from start to finish. I couldn’t speak more highly of them!! They have proven to be dedicated, passionate, highly skilled and very knowledgeable so my experience to date has been nothing short of fantastic!

A special thanks to Cameron (Chief Executive Officer), Lucy (Project/Product Manager) and the design/development team (Maria, Victor, & Andrey) for making my project a great success!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of the Hey All app, an event planning tool.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appello Software?

I needed a company that could help me develop my app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appello Software helped me throughout the whole development process. They’ve handled the app’s design, front- and backend development, and project management.

The app is an event planning tool for iOS and Android. It connects a person planning an event with all of their event suppliers. It’s two apps in one — there will be one app for the planner and another for the event suppliers.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is a project manager from Appello Software.

How did you come to work with Appello Software?

I chose to work with Appello Software because of their competitive price. When I got the app’s prototype finalized, I inquired with another company, who quoted me almost triple what Appello Software did.

Appello Software gave me an actual price as well as a worst-case scenario price for the project. Once I got a few investors on board, I signed a contract with Appello Software.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve just deployed the app to the App Store and the Google Play Store, so I don’t have any quantitative metrics just yet.

How did Appello Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Appello Software has performed well in terms of project management. Their communication has been excellent, and they've made everything simple — they've pretty much done the whole thing for me. If there are any issues, I just let my project manager know, and he gives me advice on what they think we should do, and then we do it.

We primarily communicate through Slack and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really like how supportive Appello Software has been of my ideas since day one. Not only that, but they also provide me with valuable feedback and advice to further improve the app. For instance, if there’s a feature that I want to add, we would talk about the best and most cost-effective way we could do it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to plan out what features you want in your app. Once you have everything planned out, stick to your plans and make sure everything is perfect before expanding the scope of your project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a small startup. We’ve created a contactless ordering web application for sporting venues in Australia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appello Software?

We hired Appello to develop our web application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appello developed our entire web app, which included UI/UX design and front- and backend development. We initially provided them with some UI/UX designs as a guide, which they detailed further. We also provided them with our brand guidelines and the requirements for the front and back ends.

Throughout the process, we’ve given them feedback, and they’ve also had different ideas to figure out where we wanted to go together. Overall, it has been a very collaborative process.

Appello used Python to develop the app and Figma to create the UI designs. Among the core features requested was allowing multiple sports venues to use the web app, assigning a unique QR code, URL, and menu for each one. We also required it to allow the food courts to upload and modify their menu items.

Additionally, they implemented a payment processing system and a system that allows users to receive an individual message when their order is ready. Thus, this app has required a lot of different integrations with third-party providers such as Toolio, Mailchimp, and Stripe.

Appello also offered us 12 months of free maintenance service, and they’re hosting the app on Amazon at cost; we just pay the Amazon fee.

What is the team composition?

We initially spoke to Appello’s CEO, and he introduced us to the company. From there, we’ve spoken almost exclusively with the project manager, although we’ve also talked with a lead designer. Working with them, there’s a team of front- and backend developers. I don’t know how many individuals are they, but I imagine they’re less than five.

How did you come to work with Appello Software?

We had consultations with a lot of different developers in Australia, and we looked at their reviews. We saw Appello’s reviews on Clutch, but from their interview process and the quote that they gave us, we felt that they were the best fit for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app operates flawlessly from the back end to the front end, and it has no errors. It generates QR codes, has menus online, places orders, and receives text messages.

How did Appello Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Appello’s project management is terrific, and the project has stayed on budget and on time. We have a shared Slack channel, and we use Google Meet to have monthly or fortnightly meetings.

Their project manager is in constant contact with us and always asks the right questions to ensure the understanding of our needs. Whenever he hasn’t understood something, he has also communicated that clearly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Appello really commits to their client’s projects. They’ve given us the impression that they want our app to succeed by doing additional work. For example, they actively try to find solutions to problems instead of only executing instructions, and they do competitor research.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Overall, we’re very satisfied with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more prepared you are, the better the process will be. Appello is also very good at talking through issues, so don’t be afraid to ask any questions; they’re very forthcoming. The more you communicate with them, the more they’re going to help you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of Digital Development at Eyetelligence. We are a MedTech company offering software to support clinical decision making for optometrists. The Eyetelligence software uses the latest AI technology to analyse retinal images for features of glaucoma, referrable diabetic retinopathy, and neovascular AMD.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We engaged Appello to develop a new website for us based on UI/UX designs provided. The project included dynamic user flows, custom integrations, translations, and full Saas e-commerce capabilities.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I have had experience in the past with marketing-based agencies who have over-promised in the development department, and more often than not under-delivered. Appello was clearly a dev-first agency with a deep talent pool and capability to deliver on a complex build.

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

We had an initial kick-off meeting to discuss what our high-level goals were. We were initially planning to have Appello complete all design and dev work work but we later decided to have the wireframes completed by another agency that we were working with anyway so that Appello could focus on the complex dev work.

The project was complex because with needed to integrate the subscription system with our existing custom software. Appello is capable of producing high-quality design work but we are glad we split the workload as we needed the project completed in 3-4 months. Appello advised us on the best tech stack for our particular needs which ended up being Django backend, WordPress frontend and Stripe for subscription management.

Appello also translated the website into 3 separate languages and picked the perfect tools for achieving that. Our needs were very unique and they picked out of the box solutions where they could, and built the rest custom. No compromises.

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

The e-commerce team was comprised of myself, the Commercial Project Manager, and the Director of Marketing. We also had an in-house web dev who helped with the software integrations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform has only been live for a month or so but the feedback from the internal and external stakeholders has been very positive. The system works well and looks great.

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

Appello provided us with a dedicated project manager and managed tasks using Asana. They gave us access to see how things were progressing. They used Time Doctor to log hours and shared the logs along with the invoices which provided a great level of transparency. Communication was done mostly via Slack and email. We arranged calls when needed. Overall the communication and project management was very high level. We knew what was going on and always had a point of contact.

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

I was very impressed with their development capabilities. They have a very skilled team and nothing was too hard or unachievable. This was refreshing as often agencies will convince you to compromise on certain features if they are not capable of building it. Not Appello - they welcomed the challenge.

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

Overall Appello has done a great job. On some occasions, we found the odd bug here or there but the team was always very quick to fix them up.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of BresicWhitney. We're a large boutique real estate agency based in Sydney.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We'd previously managed app development internally, but decided to off-shore during difficult business conditions. We also wanted to simplify our support requirements, and prioritise delivery.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I found Appello online, and contacted them and several of there competitors. Appello stood out in their directness and quick series of recommendations.

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

The initial scope was bug fixes, but this extended to some UI design work, and app database work.

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

Chynara, the project manager, was my main point of contact. She oversaw two or three developers who regularly tended to our product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Given the on-going nature of the work, deliverables were specific to our needs, and often broken up in to 1 or 2 week stints of work.

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

They were communicative and efficient. Her english was very good, and their ability to understand our problems quickly was helpful.

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

I was apprehensive about the off-shore model, having been used to having 3-4 developers in my office, but it worked well, and I'd be hesitant to have developers on my payroll again.

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

Not really.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My husband and I are both personal trainers and owners at an F45 gym. We are always looking to improve our gym's services and keep up with the latest technology trends.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Appello Software?

We came up with an idea for an app the allowed users to link into the gym class of their choice from home and become apart of an interactive, virtual, group gym session. This would allow people to workout from home without feeling alone. We needed help with our designs and development of the app.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were for the app to have a functional, fast and beautiful design and to have it developed and to begin as soon as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to us by some friends who also had an app developed by Appello. We checked out where they were based, how big their team was, experience etc. Read some reviews and scoured through their website. We then put in a job request and got a phone call back right away. After that, we were off.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed, developed, and supported us with the launch of our app once version 1.1 was completed. We got an initial walkthrough od what the whole project process would entail, which was VERY helpful as we were not overly clear on what the job process would actually look like.

We signed an NDA, put a deposit down, and they began working on our existing user flow, tweaking it to ensure it was seamless. They then constructed a visual wireframe of the user-flow, before working with us on branding ideas and adding that colour and theme to the wireframe to bring the designs to life.

At the end of the design stage, we were presented with:

• a project roadmap with estimates
• a digital Trello workplace where we could track the project and team
• a clickable prototype for investors and testing
• complete wireframes
• branding assets and style guides
• user flow map
• project manager

Development was exceptional and the team has great attention to detail. Our weekly meetings ensured we knew what stage we were at, and any ideas we developed along the way, we just emailed the pm and they were able to integrate those features in. When we were ready to launch, they helped our app rank in the app store. Providing services like audience segment, ASO, growth hacking, and paid social ads.

What was the team composition?

The project team consisted of around 6 people, but certain individuals would come and go depending on the skills needed. That being said, we had direct and permanent contact with our project manager the whole process. Our business scenario convinced them to conduct a lean development approach, as we continuously added new ideas.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The solution allowed us to launch a successful app that overly exceeded our expectations. They allowed our business to come into existance. We are going to be continuing future versions with Appello.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was very impressive. The team knew their jobs and communicated every task and issue clearly. Regular meetings over Google Meet and email kept us up to date with the progress and allowed input. Our project manager Dmitri was very easy to talk to and kept the 'technical' jargon as simple as he could. Appello really knows who their consumers are and puts themselves in their client's shoes every time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Clients have direct access to both project managers and the wider team behind them. This and the Trello board we got added to allow full transparency of the project status and internal communication.

They were very human, easy to talk to, and never overcomplicate things for the client. They did this whilst demonstrating the upmost professionalism in their work. It is easy to tell that Appello is truly experienced in this field.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is very little they could improve on. My suggestion to new app entrepreneurs would simply be to understand clearly what you want, who your market is, and what makes you different. It saves you time if you try to figure that out before paying them to work with you to create your user flow again.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CIO of a commercial real estate company. We are one of Australia’s private property companies and have been in business for over 50 years. I have been the technology leader here for 20 years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appello Software?

We have been building a tenant app for our commercial precincts both in Melbourne and Sydney, and we had embarked on our own journey building a backend API system and a frontend. We have some very intelligent people on our team, but we realized that we weren’t going to meet the mark.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had quite a number of bugs, both on the backend and frontend. We put so much into this project, we agreed that the plan was to bug fix everything and then to propose a new UI. Their process is very streamlined — they utilize all of the technology we could imagine in addition to project management and all of the staging, and then the automation for pushing updates.

The tenant app is actually designed to do quite a number of things. It includes integration to public transport so that users can check out train times. For example, the precincts around the site in Melbourne have six commercial towers with over 10,000 square meters of retail space. We have some famous art in that precinct, so we have an art tour, we do special offers, we do concierge services, events, a wellness club, and a newsfeed.

All of these items are about customer experience. With that said, we got to the point where we got the interface bug free and then we opened up some ideas on the new UI and those have since been implemented.

The next stage for our Sydney project is to integrate with access control into the tenancies and essentially, instead of carrying a plastic card, people can use the app to open up access to the building.

We have three levels of login. One is for the general public, so anyone who wants to download the app and install it so that they get some basic information like what is going on and maybe some offers to the public. The commercial and retail tenants have the art tour and those types of things. Then we have non-tenants who can log in as well. They are people who want to engage a bit more, they do business a lot but they aren’t a tenant, but they can log in. All of that login information is stored. If the user will use their company email address, they will be granted tenant access, and of course, they get everything.

What is the team composition?

Cameron (Executive Director) has been the main lead.

How did you come to work with Appello Software?

We tried no less than four others, and on all occasions, we were very underwhelmed. In fact, one of them wasted a lot of time on code that was incorrect. It was a lesson learned.

One of my web designers found Appello Software online and had read some reviews and we reached out. From that moment on, we were given a lot of interaction and that is where it all began.

How much have you invested in them?

It is probably over $100,000 at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged with them initially on a lesser basis in November 2019. In February of this year, we ramped up their services so that they became the project managers instead of us.

It has been about three or four months of them being more engaged. We didn’t set a contract term because we knew it was a moving target with new projects coming. We will probably be working with them until we get the results we need.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We now have a bug free version and we are working towards a new integration with the SDK. It is quite a critical piece because people would have to use it every day because of the access control.

We can even target certain tenants with offers different to other tenants if need be. That was a really tricky thing to achieve for us and Appello Software ironed that out seamlessly for us, with us. The UI design and all the bugs that they fixed have yielded some really good results. The marketing and the other teams are thrilled. COVID-19 has put a bit of a slowdown on traffic at the moment, but we are confident it will change very quickly.

How did Appello Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Once we handed the project management over to them, the project started to speed up significantly. In hindsight, I would have asked them to do the project management from the get-go.

We communicate daily with them throughout the week. We have a stand up with about three or four people from the team and that has been ongoing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It is hard to pinpoint one thing, but I would say the communication and their dedication to detail.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not in particular. Our meetings were with people in other parts of the world, and a lot of the meetings were held at 8:30 or 9 o’clock at night. That isn’t a reflection of them, but it is a pinch point for people in Australia, but I think if you want a team like Appello Software, it is probably best to work within those hours.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The thing about a successful project is that there are a number of items. It is a holistic approach that gives the results and that is the reason why Appello Software has been successful with our project. It isn’t a one-man show, it’s a team. To me that is critical in the success of most projects and in the case of our app with Appello Software, it was fantastic.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of OXY33 Pty Ltd established in Melbourne, Australia. Our company focuses on digital web app for fitness professionals and fitness accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Appello Software?

Initially, I've hired Appello to design and develop OXY33 - Scheduliser web app. However, with the quality of work, i've requested to design the website for digital web app and to redesign the Shopify website as well.

What were your goals for this project?

Couple of goals are mentioned below.

1. Design and develop MVP for the OXY33 - Scheduliser web app
2. Have at-least 500 subscribers by end of 2020
3. Take the product globally with different languages by end of 2021

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was having 3 to 4 vendors to develop the app. Everyone provided me the quote. However Appello was the only vendor who was extremely swift in response. Also their proactive approach to share the initial design attracted me to go with them.

Describe the project in detail.

During the discovery phase, i shared all my Zeplin designs and trello board about my ideas to where i want to take this app in future. Within 2 or 3 days i received modified mockup designs in Figma. I reviewed, provided feedback and agreed with the designs to progress further.

Designed for the fitness professional in mind, the OXY33 - Scheduliser Web App is a tailor-made solution assisting trainers and coaches to manage their clients, organise appointments, and training programs efficiently.

What was the team composition?

Project manager was the main contact throughout the project. Also, there were 3 full time resources (Back End developer, Front End developer, and QA engineer) assigned to this project and 5 part time resources as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• App has not gone live yet. However what i can say is, the ease of communication, web app design, provocativeness is spot on. Resources are extremely helpful willing to assist anytime.
• Shopify website revamp: I was hesitant to modify the shopify site. However, given the quality of the work, i requested to amend with the website with new design as well.
• Web app web page: Simple and elegantly done

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely interactive. The communication was easy with Project manager and designer. I wasn't having any issues at all with anyone. Right from providing an update about the project, demo's etc. was done professionally

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their speed of response and quality of work are both amazing. I got more business to do with Appello. Also, i will definitely consider future developments with this company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Improvement wise i would say the testing need to be more aggressive in mobile to find out whether it is mobile friendly or not. However with regular communication this has been significantly improved and I am extremely satisfied with the progress of the web app and website development.