Appetiser

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a non-profit Christian Schools ministry organisation in Australia. We work with students in high schools to support them in starting lunchtime community groups as well as working with schools to run programs and presentations.

For what projects/services did your company hire Appetiser?

We partnered with Appetiser to build a Web Application that creates a connection point for our students as well as host many of our work processes in a single platform. We found that a lot of our existing workflow is inefficient, and our methods of engagement with students are outdated.

What were your goals for this project?

The Web Application was a solution to streamline a lot of manual processes, as well as creating digital networking opportunities for our students. Internally, this project opened up pathways for scalability and new initiatives. We anticipate this project to be pivotal in expanding our capacity and reach.

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Appetiser after doing a few months of market research, interviews and meetings. At least 6 shortlisted companies were considered before landing on Appetiser. We valued a company that is willing to show a vested interest in the project on top of meeting the minimum requirements. Appetiser stood out as a team that is committed to working alongside us in seeing this project accomplished to excellence.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Appetiser worked with us to design, develop and deploy a web application that facilitates a major element of our work to connect and support student communities in high schools. The product is a networking platform that allows student users to showcase their lunchtime groups, view other communities in different schools, share posts and access support and resources from our organisation. Our team brought the vision and project scope which Appetiser came on board to design and develop. They provided expertise in the UI/UX of the web app as well as the technical development.

What was the team composition?

We worked with Appetiser's team of developers and testers headed up by a senior development lead, a project manager and a client success manager.

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

As we have recently deployed the new platform, we are awaiting measurable feedback from our users as they adopt the new technology. We anticipate this project to have an incredible impact on the efficiency and the effectiveness of the work that we do.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was simple and effective. Face to face meetings and video conferences during the early stage helped set a good expectation for the project roadmap. Regular email updates along the way was sufficient in communicating most needs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by the sense of investment we received from their team towards the success of the product. We experienced a high level of commitment in our working relationship that ensured the project ran smoothly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

One area that can be improved, beyond the existing high standard of performance, is communication of details. Particularly with large scale and/or high risk projects, communicating details and minimising uncertainties is crucial to success for both parties. For the team to excel further in this area would be the icing on the cake for an already amazing team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the project delivery officer at the Australian Medical Council, a standards body for medicine in Australia. One of the key things that we do is an assessment of international graduates that want to practice medicine in Australia. We’re also the accreditation body for the specialists’ medical schools.

What challenge were you trying to address with Appetiser?

We had a handbook of multiple questions, which was a publication intended for overseas medical grads to get insight into the types of questions that are on the quiz as part of the process of becoming a doctor. It was a little out of date. We decided to find a company to build an app that would deliver us a seamless functionality and update us into the 21st century.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appetiser developed our iOS and Android apps from scratch. They’ve adapted a standard multiple-choice quiz to have structured & unique feedback throughout the app. Their team advised our journey based on feedback and their app development experience.

What is the team composition?

I’ve had direct contact with three people, including Michael (Director & Founder, Appetiser). During the initial design phase, we had conversations with another gentleman. I also met online with an overseas-based developer. I’ve seen feedback from others, but haven’t spoken to them directly.

How did you come to work with Appetiser?

This project began before my time at the company. On our end, three different people have managed it. My understanding is that there was a tender process where they asked for quotes, and the best fit ending up being Appetiser. Along with offering a competitive price, they had a good vision for what we were developing.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Appetiser started in December 2018.

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

We’re looking to launch in the next few months following some potential backend integration with our systems here. Before I started here, there was a round of user experience testing. We had a reasonably large group of people download and use the app in its beta form. They had a few suggestions for improvements that we’ve implemented and built into the app.

From what I’ve heard at the beginning of the process, everyone was pretty happy with how it was working. The feedback was positive from users and stakeholders. Because of decision making on our end, the development was a bit slow, but it ramped up recently as we’re heading towards project delivery. Their provision of expertise has been really helpful to the engagement.

How did Appetiser perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they’ve been excellent. I meet with Michael regularly. They consistently deliver on or before schedule, and I’ve had no complaints. Their communication has been clear regarding when things are going to be delivered.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate how upfront Appetiser is. They’re interested in doing what’s best for us and our product, rather than just looking to create more work for themselves.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve very pleased with their services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come in with a clear vision of what you’d like, but also be open to their advice. The team at Appetiser is good at what they do, relaying prudent recommendations.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of Crowdfilm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Appetiser?

We had just been through a design program where we came up with the idea for the app and what it was going to do. We were looking for a developer to come on board.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had the challenge of starting this application from the ground up for Android and iOS. We thought that the functionality and features were unlike any other app, but we didn’t have much direction for how to start. We relied heavily on Appetiser to make recommendations for the technology.

What is the team composition?

Michael (Founder, Appetiser) is our main point of contact. We met with his Australia-based team, but he also has developers in other countries.

How did you come to work with Appetiser?

A different apps company introduced us to Michael, but we also researched several other developers. There are not many options in Australia, so we looked elsewhere in Europe and India. Appetiser had a more pronounced excitement to take on this project, however, so we selected them for the work.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $105,000 AUD (Approximately $74,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in October 2018 and remains ongoing. We’re beta testing right now, and we expect to launch in the coming weeks.

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

We were always very skeptical about whether the idea we've come up with would actually work. Appetiser came along the journey with us and said they'd do everything they could to help us come up with the technology. Ultimately, they've gotten it to work, and that's very exciting for us. 

How did Appetiser perform from a project management standpoint?

The experience that we’ve had has been first class. I think they realized that we were quite new to projects like this, so they’ve guided us well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to being the owner, Michael has a development background, so he understands well what we’re trying to do and achieve.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because we haven’t made it to the launch yet, it’s difficult to find flaws at this point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think it’s wise to bring quotes from other businesses into your negotiation with them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the co-founder of Firefly HR. We're a recruitment agency specializing in before- and after-school care. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Appetiser Apps?

We reached out to Appetiser Apps to create an app that facilitates temp recruitment.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to create a transparent, two-sided platform as a native app for both iOS and Android. After- and before-school care centers can post jobs and notify educators in our database who can then perform that job for a few hours. We worked with another company to develop wireframes and design. Appetiser Apps took care of the programming and worked with us to improve the design and implementation as we went along. They helped automate the web inputs and build the backend as well.

What is the team composition?

I primarily keep in touch with Michael (Director and Founder, Appetiser Apps). Another person serves as our project manager; he gives us weekly updates and answers all of our questions. I believe there’s a team of 6–7 building the app. Some specialize in Android while others work on iOS and the backend.

How did you come to work with Appetiser Apps?

At the beginning of this project, Appetiser Apps was one of the companies we were looking at. We went with another company to create our prototype and designs. After that phase, that company gave us a quote for developing the app. The cost exceeded our budget, so we looked again at development firms. Jamie (Director and Founder, Appetiser Apps) had kept in touch with me the whole time because he loved our idea and was keen to work with. Appetiser Apps was one of the first companies we reached out to, and they provided a modest price for their services.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2018, and the project is ongoing.

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

The app has yet to launch. We’re starting beta testing and planning on a soft launch in the next four weeks. We’re still thrilled with Appetiser Apps’ work so far. They set targets for each weekly sprint, and afterward, they’ll give an update on progress and a TestFlight version for us to test. The quality is good, and the team quickly fixes any bugs we identity and answers any questions we have.

How did Appetiser Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

The team manages their sprints well. Appetiser Apps reviews work before and after each sprint, and they progress through their goals promptly. We have a clear, open communication path with the team. We talk mostly over email, but I can also call Michael if needed. We met in person once while he was in Sydney.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Appetiser Apps has truly taken our project under their wing. They’re driven to achieve our goals and deliver a quality product. The team makes sure that everyone is working up to a high standard to ensure that we’re getting what we want. Their experience has helped guide us; many times, Michael comes up with more efficient ways to develop our app or create our interface that we’d never have thought of.

Are there any areas they could improve?

One of the web developers is not as quick in communicating as we would like. However, we could also get back to the team more promptly, so the issue is on both sides.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a well-written plan in advance that clearly describe what you want, what you need, and what problem you’re trying to solve. Even having designs from a third-party vendor is helpful. You should also make sure you have adequate funding behind you to carry out the project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of Roamni, which is a tourism and storytelling app. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Appetiser?

We needed to work with a skilled development house that was able to deliver. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team was fully engaged in the entire design process once they were onboarded. As we collaborated on the UX, they turned the initial wireframes we provided into a functional prototype. Upon our approval, they polished the designs to take them to the next level. Appetiser transformed our prototype into a truly amazing version one that was suitable for release.

Our app combines maps and audio to guide visitors around new locales. It features a multi-sided marketplace. Our users are predominantly tourists who want a unique travel experience. From the other side, content creators use our app to feature their towns and share stories about where they live.  

Appetiser built integrations with APIs like Google Places. Linking our database simplified the UX. Rather than our users having to type in information manually, the system scrapes data from Google. Other backend integrations they added have notably strengthened the system. 

They initially developed our app for iOS. I'm happy to say that we're almost finished with the Android version at this point. They put the final touches and polish onto the app and advised us on technical issues to prepare us for launch.

What is the team composition? 

Appetiser has a full team working on our project that includes designers, project managers, and software engineers. At this point, we're fully engaged and have scaled up to probably about 10 developers for iOS and Android. 

How did you come to work with Appetiser?

We found Appetiser through word of mouth. I'd heard that the team had done great work in the past, so I reached out to them directly. We had a number of meetings and just clicked. I’m glad we gave them a shot because they've definitely delivered. 

How much have you invested with them?

At this stage, our project will exceed $200,000 by the time it's complete. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together for about a year now, since October 2017. Before then, we were engaging unofficially. 

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

Our application is currently live. It not only looks great but also performs really well. The design is incredibly engaging, and the UX is quite snappy. In our users’ words, it really pops. All of these are key metrics for our company. 

At this stage, we've had over 1,000 different users download the app and are approaching 2,000. The app has been able to withstand the traffic from several major events. We have full national coverage for every territory within Australia, which was a significant win for us.

How did Appetiser perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been amazing. Appetiser’s communication has been fantastic and transparent. They provide both regularly scheduled and ad-hoc updates. We use Trello and Asana as tools and hold meetings in person. They've met all our timelines and have even delivered pre-deadline. From an operational perspective, we have no complaints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I am most impressed by Appetiser's professionalism. They take pride in all of their achievements, acknowledge each other’s' contributions. Along with an enthusiastic team atmosphere, they really add a personal touch. With resources in the Philippines as well as Melbourne, they’re an international team as well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

From our perspective, there are not. They've shielded us from everything behind the scenes that probably causes them stress and that we don't need to know about. I have no complaints. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with a clear understanding of your concept and the goals you're trying to achieve. Appetiser will help you fill in the rest. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the COO of an App start up in Melbourne. There are currently only 2 full time employees and we are building a 2 sided marketplace for uses to connect with influencers.

For what projects/services did your company hire Appetiser?

We had the idea for something well out of our technical depth so we hired Appetiser to develop the whole project including native iOS and Android apps as well as a backend admin system. We also just begun a web app version of the platform.

What were your goals for this project?

To build a MVP that we can get out to the Australian market as our initial testing ground before deploying internationally.

How did you select this vendor?

Complicated story but basically the original company we started working with folded and are account manager was head hunted by Appetiser. We me with the CEO and were suitably impressed and comfortable that they could take it on.

Describe the project in detail.

We had an initial session to deliver our brief to the designer. He came back to us within 2 days with a comprehensive draft of initial designs as well as a brief prototype of the user interface. We were impressed immediately. We made a few minor adjustments and moved into actual development for the next 12 months + working in small sprints.

What was the team composition?

We have 3 core developers, 1 for each platform (iOS/Android/Web), then each platform had up to 2 or 3 additional developers depending on the scope of the current sprint. There is also a project manager and QA team. and we have direct access to contact any of them at any time as if they were our own team.

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

We have just completed the MVP of the iOS app and it has been approved by Apple. The Android version is about a week away. Feedback so far is amazing, we have influencers getting on the platform everyday and we can't wait to start our marketing campaign and get it in the hands of users all over the world.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We mostly communicate via email and we share task lists via Trello. Occasionally we catch up in their office if there's any pressing items to cover. We also receive a weekly report about the progress of all current tasks.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I've worked with numerous other app development companies in the past and Appetiser easily out performs them all. Initial designs and prototypes were produced very quickly and they were fantastic. Development updates come through weekly, we're very happy with the first version of our app.

Michael's knowledge and experience are invaluable to our project, he's just as passionate about our project as we are, like he's part our team. We're looking forward to continuing our app journey with Appetiser.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really, to be honest we had a few hiccups along the way but none of them Appetisers fault. For example Covid caused some small delay but again Appetiser handled things very professionally.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder of an online marketplace for users to browse and book vendors for events or parties.

For what projects/services did your company hire Appetiser?

We needed to implement a full redesign of our web application and fix a long list of bugs.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to launch our application within a short time frame.

How did you select this vendor?

We wanted to partner with a service provider based in Melbourne. We found Appetiser after doing significant research. We met with Michael (co-founder, Appetiser) and knew within ten minutes that we wanted to work with them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We provided Appetiser with a list of issues with our application and also the new design specifications. They came back to us with cost estimates. Once approved, we were introduced to our developer and had a conference call to discuss each point in detail. All points were uploaded to Trello, which was used as the primary means of communication and project tracking.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of three people, but I only worked closely with Anne (developer, Appetiser).

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

Appetiser saved our project. We achieved more in two months working with them than we achieved working with our previous developer for over a year. They met each and every milestone, and exceeded every expectation we had.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their team is very professional, knowledgeable, and likeable. They used Trello to communicate and track progress. Michael and Anne were always available for a quick chat if needed. They were generous with their suggestions, recommendations, and feedback. Anne’s response time was second to none. Her technical knowledge was fantastic. She managed to find solutions to every challenge we faced. She’s an incredible asset to their company.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They never over promised and under delivered on anything. They had the ability to problem solve and find solutions to anything we threw at them. They’re total professionals.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the managing director of Manage My Plan, a client management system. The platform is aimed explicitly at clients who have funding from the National Disability Insurance Scheme

For what projects/services did your company hire Appetiser?

We brought Appetiser on half-way through creating our product—we needed them to solve our issues and finish development.

What were your goals for this project?

Ultimately, we wanted to finalize our product and have a working software on the market.

How did you select this vendor?

I searched for developers online and reached out to Appetiser. After speaking with Michael (Founder, Appetiser), I trusted his confidence in understanding our needs and limitations. Since we were new to the industry, he took the time to explain our issues to us clearly.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Appetiser redesigned our software, including changing the color template. They modified the functions and features to improve UX. They added elements to strengthen the software’s capabilities.

What was the team composition?

Michael was our main point of contact, which made for a consistent experience. We communicated with the other developers throughout the process, as well.

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

They delivered a finished product, and we launched it to our marketplace.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We used a simple quote and invoice system, so we could effectively track our budget. The Appetiser team handled the project impressively, especially compared to other developers in the industry. They ensured we had mutual clarity throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We valued the personal touch they added to the work. Additionally, they had strong expertise and the communication skills necessary for putting customers first.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

It could have been better if the development timelines were sped up.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a business services company.

For what projects/services did your company hire Appetiser?

We wanted to develop a unique, compelling design for a business application.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a great UX, a clean design, and a compelling functionality.

How did you select this vendor?

We scheduled face-to-face meetings with a shortlist of local and international development firms.

Describe the project in detail.

They developed an app design through an agile, consultative process. They designed screen layouts, then improved the concept and crafted a UX prototype.

What was the team composition?

We had a small team of designers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They established a highly effective workflow through regular calls, emails and virtual meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciated their collaborative approach, along with the expertise and advice they provided.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can't think of anything.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a tech start up that is trying to fix really big problems in two different industries.

For what projects/services did your company hire Appetiser?

Development for our two Apps

What were your goals for this project?

Create better platforms that are intuitive and serve the users.

How did you select this vendor?

I actually found them on Google which I am super glad the where the first web site I clicked into and I am super glad I did.

Describe the project in detail.

At the moment I do not want to go into detail but once we have developed the apps I will update this section.

What was the team composition?

1 founder + a awesome development team

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

Not as yet

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They have been nothing but supportive. I appreciate how they're guiding and mentoring me through a process I've never experienced. 20/10 score for response and mentoring

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I have experienced