Appify

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner at international niche based law firm

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire K7 Tech, and what were your goals?

Disruption of traditional online marketing strategies in the legal industry by the implementation of a niche-based market penetration model. A challenge in collaboration between the legal and tech industry is always to translate a vision that lacks technological background into a workable format, whilst considering the ignorance of the client in a friendly, yet professional way to ultimately limit gaps between theory and implementation.

SOLUTION

How did you select K7 Tech and what were the deciding factors?

Personal recommendation of a very satisfied customer.

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

• Building 15 isolated niche based websites with its own design and look and feel
• Creation of different and unique logo's to match the websites 
• WordPress installation on the websites
• Content implementation
• Limited coding

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

2

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Tangible result:

1. First prospect reached out in the first week after the launch of the second website.

• Indirect results:

1. Overall high SERP results
2. Improved online visibility of our brand
3. Web strategy is ready for the launch of new product
4. Positive PR from joint-venture partners

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

They are very easy and fast to communicate with. K7 Tech don't waste time on side issues. Even where the client disagrees with a format or has other (even when these are nonsensical) ideas, K7 looks into the feasibility and improves before the implementation.

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

1. Price-Quality ratio
2. Personal relationship
3. Willingness to listen to out of the box ideas, even where they make no sense to find a workable solution that contributes to the end result.
4. The end result of tech work is a cost-benefit calculation. Even though a web strategy takes time to gain altitude, I am highly confident the synergy between K7 and my firm will deliver on its promise.

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

After initial offerings, changes and improvements were already done. Lawyers are not always omniscient - even though they claim to be. Therefore, for this project the voice of technology and its possibilities could have overruled the ideas of the project owner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an app development and mobile technology consulting business. I am the CEO and regularly I am tasked with selecting suitable outsourced partners to supplement our teams when we have multiple live projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire K7 Tech?

We needed to select a partner to add outsourced capacity to our team for a significant development project. We had used K7 in the past and had been impressed by their professionalism and delivery. They were an excellent fit for this project and so we got them on board.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed K7 to deliver on time and on budget. We also needed them to dovetail with our agile work methodologies and exacting project management practices.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had used K7 on a project previously and they had been excellent. They had delivered against a rather fluid brief very quickly which is a difficult thing to do. They engendered a sense of trust, giving us confidence that they could handle larger scale projects.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

This was a web app development project. It presented a number of challenges that required technical expertise and ingenuity.

What was the team composition?

K7 provided us with UI / UX, front-end web development, back-end development, testing and PM capacity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

K7 delivered on-time and on-budget. They were completely reliable throughout the project and met every sprint objective. The client was delighted with the final product.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We collaborated using shared Jira tools. We also convened a daily stand-up. It worked seamlessly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about K7 is that they do what they say they will do, regardless of issues. I would have been aware on a number of occasions during the project that they had to work late or through wekends to meet milestones. There were also times when there were late modifications to task lists. Again, milestones got delivered on time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing in particular.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

TrainedIn is the brain-child of Sorcha Finucane and began it's journey, on the 8th of June 2019, when our first team meeting was held. After months of feasibility research, planning and fundraising TrainedIn went into development on the 2nd of January 2020. Four months later on the 8th of April 2020 TrainedIn was brought to life and switched. TrainedIn is an online marketplace designated to trainers, tutors and consultants across the spectrum. From executive business development at Board level, professional development, technical skills and health and safety for business, right through to personal training, health and wellness, and private tutoring, You will be able to search and locate experts through the TrainedIn marketplace. TrainedIn is free for providers to sign up and showcase their business and services. However, if TrainedIn generates business for you, a commission is charged.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire K7 Tech?

K7 was engaged, to create and bring to life the vision for TrainedIn. Building a complex marketplace from scratch that had, customer usability as a key outcome.

What were your goals for this project?

On-time. In budget. Useability. Professional. Visually attractive. Solution to a problem.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

K7 was sourced via another colleague of ours who sources and works with the top tech development teams in the world.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

A detailed brief was provided to K7 as well and numerous video calls with the team to ensure there was understanding between all parties of the vision and values TrainedIn wanted to portray. From there the team created detailed and complex workflows, putting a structure on the detail contained in the documents with open communication throughout all steps of the project. Once the wireframes were approved the team went into development mode. Again there was ongoing, open communication throught with calls at the end of each sprint to ensure things were on track and to review backlog. Copy and policies were provided and testing commenced. Launch on the 8th of April 2020.

What was the team composition?

Project Manager, Cheif Technical Officer, Scrum Master, a team of six on Sprints.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

TrainedIn is now live and looks absolutely fantastic. As with all MVP projects we are going through agile development and will have multiple new feature releases over the coming months and years. TrainedIn, especially at this time, will put small, medium, large and freelance businesses all on the same level playing field with equal access to the marketplace and is going to be a valuable tool for so many people and businesses.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project Management was very effective in using an online app called Jira. At the touch of a button, we could view what stage the project was at and if there were any questions, we used Slack for internal communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

This team has worked so hard and has been so dedicated to this project. They were committed to every deadline and committed to ensuring their client (Sorcha Finucane) was happy with the progress. They seemed to be always online, there to answer any questions and put in a lot of out of hours work, to get things done. Speaking personally, I (Sorcha) am not a technically-minded person, but I have learned so much form the team and the project and found it a most enjoyable. On the other hand, they made everything make sense, and when it didn't they were able to offer a simple explanation. They were always on hand, communication so easy, and I could not speak more highly of them all.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't fault the team in any way. I would say from a client perspective, make sure you articulate exactly what you want and don't hold back on feedback as it makes the process so much easier and fluid.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a digital technology consultant for Inspired Thinking Group (ITG). I handle everything related to mobile apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appify?

We do a lot of projects for our clients and needed an external partner to work on some mobile application development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appify is helping us with a couple of small UX projects for our clients as well as some larger in-house projects for us. Their team builds mobile applications for iOS and Android natively. They also build web interfaces and implement UX designs. Our clients have to approve the designs before Appify continues.

Their team also works on backend development. They do data capture, which is written text, and image capture, which is shared back into the database. There’s a full cache trail going in and out of the backend of the apps. It’s done in React and interfaced with third-party delivery businesses.

What is the team composition?

There are 12–15 people we interact with, including a backend team, frontend team, web developers, and UI/UX team.

How did you come to work with Appify?

We heard about Appify through a mutual contact. Our team corresponded with other agencies but chose Appify because we wanted to work in Agile, which they offered, and they had a good price point.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $120,000–$150,000. This includes the projects they’re doing internally as well as the client projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in December 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients have given great feedback, saying they’ve never had this level of visibility before. Without the excellent UX designs that Appify created, we wouldn’t receive such positive feedback. Their team provides support and quickly resolves issues.

How did Appify perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication is very good. They’re conservative with their delivery estimates, allowing for time to perfect the product.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very focused on users. This is the opposite of what we’ve experienced in the past. Appify communicates very efficiently in non-technical terms that everyone can easily understand.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a bit slow quoting new projects, but that’s because they want to get it right.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them do the legwork. Don’t try to take over; they’re the experts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Put Reikija. We offer a holistic health program and I am the teacher here.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with K7 Tech?

I didn’t know anything about websites, and I needed some help with designing a website.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

K7 Tech provided me with a lot of advice and told me what to do based on what I needed. They let me know what would be the best in terms of being able to attract future students.

I didn’t have any knowledge of web development or design, so I asked them many questions throughout the process. They have taken care of everything from the beginning, coming up with a lot of ideas for my logo and how to promote the site.

What is the team composition?

I worked with 3–4 people and had one main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with K7 Tech?

I found out about their agency online and decided to contact them. They are all very young and have wonderful ideas, and that was enough for me. When I spoke with other people who have had agencies for 20 to 30 years, they often didn’t have ideas that got me excited, whereas K7 Tech was interested in the work and was always there to give me good ideas and propositions.

How much have you invested in them?

I spent €800 Euros (approximately $880 USD) in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from October 2019–January 2020. We are making some small changes now, but generally, the work is complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I am really satisfied with their work. All my friends and colleagues who have seen the site have given me good feedback about it, especially noting that everything on the site is well integrated and presented. For me, it is very important what people have to say about the site, so that was one of my biggest metrics for them. 

How did K7 Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

I wanted to have meetings often because I always had questions. They were always there for me and answered any questions that I had. We ended up having weekly meetings, and during those meetings, they showed me what was completed. I would also let them know about any changes I wanted to make and about any ideas I had, to which they were very open and flexible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They kept me in the loop about their progress at all times, and they asked me about a variety of colors and other details so that I would know what the final product would look like.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This was my first time doing a project like this so I am not sure if there are areas they can improve. They did everything I needed them to, so I am very satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

A lot of people have asked who did the work for me because they think the website is very aesthetic. I think there will be a lot of future work for them because they did such a good job for me.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Co-Founder of a mobile app development and publishing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire K7 Tech?

We had a new iOS mobile app created from scratch using swift technology.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create an app that would be profitable.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected this vendor from hundreds of applicants based on their good communication skills, alignment with our vision and successful completion of our technical interview process.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was done from start to finish within 2 months. The team came up with a concept document which included focussed market research. They broke down the project into sensible milestones. Then they proceeded to execute on the milestones, starting with wireframes, UI, development and finally uploading the app to App Store Connect.

What was the team composition?

The main point of contact was also the developer of the project / project manager. The team also involved a designer and I believe they also had assistance from a third party in terms of backend work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From start to finish the app was created and submitted to the App Store and approved by Apple in under 3 months time. The app is currently in pre-order.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was top-notch - definitely one of the best teams we worked with. Even when things did not go well (which can happen in a technical project) they continually kept up communication and worked effectively to solve problems, even bringing in a third party to help when needed in order to get the project done well. We used a combination of slack and trello to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

As expressed above, communication was excellent and always prompt. The trello board was kept updated (as well as proactive updates on slack) such that I knew at any point in time exactly where the project was. From a technical and design standpoint, the team is very strong. Ultimately the project was delivered very close to original estimates, which is rare.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There can always be some room for technical improvement. We had a code review done by a third party who was very happy with the level of the work but there were some constructive technical points which were passed on to the team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an Executive of Swimstar Analytics

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Competitive swimming app developer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Appify to accomplish?

• Create our app in both iOS and Android
• Create a website

SOLUTION

How did you find Appify?

Online Search

Why did you select Appify over others?

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

How many teammates from Appify were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Appify built both an iOS and android version of our app to our exact specifications. The app is designed to provide data analysis and feedback based on user data entry. They delivered this within 6 months and were able to handle the complexity of the project. They also built a website to go alongside the app. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both versions of the app are live on the app stores and the website is also live. 

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

The project was delivered on time and within the agreed budget. They did their best to meet all our needs and were a pleasure to work with. 

What was your primary form of communication with Appify?

Virtual Meeting

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

The experience felt very personal and they genuinely cared about helping us create something new. 

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

 No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m venturing into the world of startups with this mobile phone application that seeks to solve problems faced by community groups when it comes to fundraising and collaboration.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Appify were hired to work on the build of my hybrid app and have offered consultation services along side this. The goal was to build a one of its kind mobile phone application to solve the problems parent-teacher associations.

SOLUTION

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

I spoke to several developers around the world but felt that Kirsty understood my product and vision best as I found her to be very informative and helpful as well as laid back with her pace. There was no pressure.

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

I can’t give details on the specific technology used behind the scene where coding goes, but as communication platforms, we use Jira, Figma and Slack primarily. This has meant that project updates are easily shared as well as questions and comments leading into further development.

I have worked on sprints with Appify. We have agreed on individual components of the app development and how these can be gradually built and released in a staged way. We are currently, approximately 50% of the way to completion.

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

Kirsty has worked closely with me in a capacity similar to project manager. We meet regularly via video call and also communicate over the phone and messaging services. Two developers were also assigned to the design and build of the app with additional staff available to help as needed eg with the website.

I have also been given access to Appify’s business development consultant, Chris, who guided me through some early stage questions and with whom I continue to communicate as and when needed. This additional support has been very valuable for someone new to the world of business like me.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After 3 months of app development work, I launched my app with one school and the uproar was overwhelming. We achieved 98 downloads in a week with fundraising exceeding £1000. I am looking for forward to building on the app further and also on boarding other schools. Appify have made it possible for me to follow my dreams and vision.

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

Kirsty has been amazing throughout. She is always available to answer questions and offer suggestions. I feel I can turn to Kirsty for all round feedback and guidance and that each conversation only leads to better decisions and essentially, improved product.

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

I think I’ve covered most of this above but if I was to select one or two points; Their versatility when responding to my requests which shows a lot of competence is impressive. I’d also add their very real human touch, without multiple layers of corporate processes to work through, made the communication much easier and effective.

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

I think we all have scope to improve and I’ve always felt I can offer this feedback to Appify as when I’ve wanted to.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a B2B SaaS company helping business owners across the country attract new customers, retain top talent, and opens communication channels up between customers, employees, and business owners which dramatically increases revenue.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire K7 Tech?

We hired K7 to create a website from scratch. They did a great job.

What were your goals for this project?

To design a responsive website that our customers loved.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They had a 100% success rate on all the popular talent websites.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The project they provided was a really great website and they provided consulting services also so we were able to develop technology that allowed us to scale.

What was the team composition?

Team composition consisted of talented developers and a great project manager!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to onboard 90 customers, starting from about 15!

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was arranged by weekly reviews and planning. It was very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The communication was always great!

Are there any areas for improvement?

If they lived closer, but there's not much I can do about that.