Appinventiv

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Pickles. We focus on empowering communities from 2 million members upward. Our first target was churches, and now we’re expanding into other types of communities. We provide platforms and manage content data, membership, and all the things a community needs to get organized quickly.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We engaged Appinventiv to manage the entire lifecycle of development. We needed an outsourced firm because the costs in my country are among the highest in the world.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I came up with basic user stories and explained them all in a PowerPoint for Appinventiv. After they had all of the necessary documentation, they used React Native to build applications for iOS and Android.

The product is a church community platform with about 12 million people in South Africa. It manages all the tithes and donations that go to the church, which are usually cash donations. The churches were looking for a way of bringing a digital solution to sort those contributions. We also expanded the platform to serve as a means to connect members of the community. For example, if a user is looking for an electrician or a doctor, he or she can crowdsource recommendations from anybody else in the network. The app also provides relevant content, as determined by user settings. There are also tools where the users can chat among themselves or donate to the church.

What is the team composition?

There are 11 people on the entire team, but I only communicate with 2–3 of them.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

Following extensive online research, I connected with a few India-based companies. I had one company put together a demo app, but the organization and services didn’t meet my standards. I ultimately selected Appinventiv based on their online reviews. I also received promising referrals about them on LinkedIn.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in December 2018 and remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received very positive feedback on the applications to this point.

How did Appinventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

They have an internal rating system for every milestone that puts a bit of pressure on developers to maintain quality and ensure that every task is addressed. We use Basecamp, Skype, and email to communicate and trace the development process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Appinventiv is quick to provide a solution rather than focus on the problem. They don’t waste any time turning around problems. If I don’t know what to do, they give suggestions to choose from. They’ve also been available at all times to work through issues.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s not a big issue, but if there’s a change in the scope, they should give better flexibility between the proposal and the wireframes and design. The developers are focused on the wireframes while the business analysts are focused on the scope. They need to pay attention to the changes in scope and have them reflected in the wireframes.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on all of the details and features you need in your app before discussing the price.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Bluemint Labs. Our company is building a handsfree car application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We hired Appinventiv to help us with Android development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team is currently developing our Android application. Our product is a handsfree car application that drivers can interact with without getting distracted from the road in front of them. It includes many different functionalities.

Parts of the application are compatible with Uber and Lyft, since people who work for the rideshare programs are often using their phone all the time while driving to pick up riders and navigate using GPS. Our goal in building our app was to enable specific drivers like these to manage their day-to-day activities safely.

A graphic designer from a different company designed all the screens. I provided those materials to Appinventiv to implement according to the specifications. 

Right now, we’re still trying to figure out certain technical issues to clean up. Once we resolve these issues, we should be able to launch our app.
 
What is the team composition?

Appinventiv assigned us a dedicated teammate to manage all the resources. The team includes two developers.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

After contacting about 20 companies, I shortlisted five of them. 
We chose Appinventiv based on the quality of their prior work and the detailed answers they gave to my questions.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000-$30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2018, and the work is ongoing.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app we’re creating together meets all of our expectations so far. Appinventiv has been very proactive about fixing any bugs that come up. 

Appinventiv has never let anything interfere with our project’s scope and timeline. They made sure to prepare for breaks during some holidays by finishing all their responsibilities beforehand. The team even provides extra resources if necessary to complete the work on time.

How did Appinventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

Someone from Appinventiv managed the resources, but they had a different role than a project manager. The engineers communicated well. We used Skype and WhatsApp to correspond.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by how well Appinventiv has provided a robust solution. They have the ability to scale as needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they need to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend providing clear requirements and specifications, and then keeping thorough documentation. Make sure they understand everything you want to get across fully before starting the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an astrology application company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We needed a company to help us flesh out the concept for and develop a mobile app for our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We specified all our expectations and provided the mockups. Based on these materials, Appinventiv developed the wireframes, delivered precise specifications, and proposed project management for the application. 

The team developed every aspect of our iOS and Android applications very quickly. They delivered several features for each version. Using our products, users can read their weekly horoscope and specific astrological reports. The apps also help them find monetization products and e-books to purchase. 

Right now, our entire platform is in English, but we have ambitions to develop it in other languages. Appinventiv also manages the server and provides maintenance. They are the sole supplier and provider for all the IT services concerning this application.

What is the team composition?

The team included were three developers and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

We launched a request for proposal (RFP) to find a vendor. Of all the companies that responses, we were the most impressed by Appinventiv. 

Very soon after we connected, they presented a clear plan with a detailed breakdown of all the tasks. Their methodology seemed very convincing.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May–November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re fully satisfied with the functionality and efficiency of the product Appinventiv delivered. More than 300,000 users have downloaded our app so far.

How did Appinventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is a true strength of this company. We were pleasantly surprised by their efficient service and productive methodology. The project management tool we used was very effective. We held a Skype meeting either weekly or every day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Appinventiv was very flexible about the cost. They were closely involved in the entire project. I especially appreciated that they even managed our interactions with other providers. We had a very pleasant experience working with Appinventiv.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I would suggest they improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the product manager for India’s largest online B2B marketplace, working to connect buyers with suppliers. With 60% market share of the online B2B classified space in India, the channel focuses on providing a platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, and individuals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Appinventiv?

Although we have a strong hold within the web world, we wanted to pursue and strengthen opportunities within the mobile domain. We came to Appinventiv to expand our web portal on mobile devices.

What were your goals for this project?

Our major objective was to expand our platform into the mobile domain to grow our user base. To do that, we needed to leverage the experience of a well-established mobile development agency that had prior experience with similar e-commerce brands to enhance our efforts.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The complete selection process took around a month, during which we evaluated agencies across India and Europe based on their cost, detailed proposal, location, and past work experience. First and foremost, we were concerned with each vendor’s time commitment and work quality since we didn’t want to compromise on the quality of our end product. 

Out of all of the candidates, Appinventiv gave us a lot of insight into the e-commerce verticals, and we were impressed with their work and experience. We also closely followed their office culture on social media. Companies with a good internal culture are more likely to perform creatively, and we felt confident about Appinventiv’s values.

Describe the project in detail.

Appinventiv is currently developing a B2B e-commerce app that serves as an extension of our web platform. The app brings manufacturers and customers together on a single platform, removing intermediaries from the loop. Users can also sell and purchase anything under the sun, from office equipment and home décor to manufacturing instruments. Their team is working on building out features including lead feeds, lead management, chat modules, a buyer dashboard, and more.

What was the team composition?

Our team works closely with a subset of theirs—which consists of developers and QA experts—to talk about the scope of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Appinventiv has been a constant support in our app development efforts for the past eight months. Our app is now live with over 100,000 monthly active users, ranking ninth in the business category and having a 4.4 rating in The App Store.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their workflow is very smooth and effective all in all. They reply almost instantly every time we have an issue and are very proactive in pointing out foreseeable challenges and how to solve them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about Appinventiv is that they go above and beyond to ensure that we hit our milestones well within time. We have no reason to complain or change the development flow. We’re so connected that, at times, it feels as if they’re acting more as partners than as a one-time vendor.

Are there any areas for improvement?

While the engagement has been good so far, I initially struggled in understanding the initial onboarding process. We sorted out the confusion after the first week, but it could have been avoided.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Ensionix INC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We needed a company to help us bring my app idea to life. The app is for competitive photography. We create interesting challenges. For example, for October, we’ll create a challenge for best Halloween costumes and give cash prizes. Users upload their photos while others choose the photo they like, and we give cash rewards for the first three photos with the most uploads. A few apps exist with a similar idea, but they focus more on professional photography. We wanted to make a free app with fun challenges that everyone can participate in.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

A few of our people are good at UX design, so we created a wireframe that we presented to Appinventiv. They recreated it and improved it. They developed our iOS and Android app using React Native.

The first part of the app should be launched at the end of this month. We plan to work with them on upgrading with more pictures.

What is the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager, and there were 7–10 developers.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

We took a long time searching for the perfect company. We found Appinventiv on Clutch. We chose them because my partner and I loved them.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost $120,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did a lot of testing with more than 20–30 people, and the feedback was quite positive. People were truly engaged with the idea. There were bumps here and there, but we’re sincerely happy with the outcome.

How did Appinventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything has been great. They’re available 24/7. I had to get used to their availability and kindness. They were so awesome. They met the deadlines. If there was a delay, they told us and explained everything. We use email, Skype, and Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The communication has been excellent. We required a lot from them, and they tried their best to include everything we wanted. Even if something was a bit more difficult, they didn’t charge us more. I never felt pressured or that they were pushing us back from our idea. They tried to accept every idea we had.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we didn’t have any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open and tell them exactly what you want from the start instead of having them try to figure out what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Moxilogy LLC. Our company builds apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We built an app and sold it to corporations like Macy’s and Sally Hansen. Moving onward, I had the idea to make an anonymous app. I tried to design it myself, but it had a terrible UX. The idea was too broad for me to handle independently. 

I needed a partner to help me design the entire UI/UX and take on a significant portion of the workload for the implementation and execution. With a team’s support, I could focus on reading the VCs and working on the marketing, sales, and promotion side.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appinventiv designed and developed our app for iOS, Android and the web. In the waterfall model, the iOS app was the main component. I diluted the Android version over time because I was less focused on one particular zip code or area. North America was my target market, so I prioritized the iOS version.

I had Appinventiv develop the web app to be easy to use with smooth browsing. The most time- consuming part of the experience was building features for iOS. Our product lets users create an account to post pictures and write about their thoughts. They can design a template with different colors and fonts, add a background picture, and take an 8–10-second video. 

Appinventiv implemented all the features and integrations with the API I developed with their backend developers. We’re still working on the app and will release it very soon with a minimal set of features.  Using a slimmed down approach, we built this version to have just one specific functionality. 

What is the team composition? 

Sudeep (Co-Founder/CEO, Appinventiv) is my main point of contact. We discuss any issues that occur or new ideas I have. I’m also in contact with Shivam (Marketing Communication Manager, Appinventiv). I met with them both in person.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

I reached out to my friends and family for recommendations. One of my friends knew Appinventiv and suggested I try working with them. I shared my concept with the team and asked for their advice on how the app should look and behave.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000-$135,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Appinventiv has done phenomenal work for us. They’re a very good company. They understood all our requirements and managed the execution and implementation very well. Right now, we just need to make the app slimmer due to the current market and the trajectory of our business model. 

A positive factor about working with Appinventiv was the extensive set of features they were able to build. We’re only removing some now because the market moved into a different direction. Users don’t want too many features in one app. Most prefer having one functionality that works beautifully.

How did Appinventiv perform from a project management standpoint?
At first, we held video conferences twice a week to check on the status. Then, we started using more tools like Slack, Skype for video calls, Jira, and GitHub. Appinventiv also used Basecamp to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Appinventiv thoroughly understood the requirements and presented them in a formal UI very effectively.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They fell short of asking questions about what will happen next. Appinventiv performed the job we hired them for, but the product doesn’t have a lifecycle and an end. They need to understand what could go wrong in the future.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about your requirements and ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a social gaming app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

I wanted to develop an iOS and Android app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were working on an iOS and Android app for a social gaming platform. I defined the scope clearly, and they instituted a milestone plan. I also asked for a website, but they weren’t able to design it on their own. The simplest tasks (headers and footers) required me to invest my own time to correct everything.

I drafted everything necessary to build a healthy business relationship and move us in the right direction but the results were never on time. I thought they’d improve because they’re a big company with headquarters in Manhattan, but it started going downhill after two months. I stopped thinking they’d improve and could no longer attribute their issues to starting slowly. I had to check certain jobs several times because they would always forget something. I’m glad I’ve closed my chapter with them.

What is the team dynamic?

We had a main point of contact, but the project lead changed three times.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

I was looking for reliable outsourcing companies to save money; development in Germany is quite expensive.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent over $50,000 with them. I paid in milestones and thought they’d stop working or lose motivation if I didn’t pay. I gave them my all, but they only gave me disappointment.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2016 until October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

I never received any acceptable results. It was unbelievable what I had to go through while working with them. They had limitless time and resources to develop a good app, but I only received a very bad, bug-filled build for iOS and Android. Even the simplest actions, like logging-in via Google, made the app crash. Some bugs were present for over a year.

The app wasn’t well known when we launched because I hadn’t done much marketing. This proved to be good as it crashed for 95% of users. When they went to save their birth date, it would save a different date. That was a problem for over a year. They always promised they’d do their best and improve, but nothing changed. The quality was so bad it wouldn’t make sense to use any of it. I lost two years of capital and had to start over. I’m now looking for another company to help.

How was project management handled?

We talked on Skype, but I only received empty words. They would act familiar and call me “brother,” but when they ought to have taken responsibility, they acted as if they’d done nothing wrong and barely knew me. Several times, it felt like I was talking to a bot. One developer promised to take care a problem and then gave me the same promise two days later as if he forgot he’d already said it.

They’re friendly, but their communication is misleading and doesn’t represent their results. They seemed inexperienced like I was their first client. They certainly weren’t like their website portrayed them to be. The only thing they did consistently was share invoices. 

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

I can’t think of anything.

In what specific areas can they improve?

They need to be honest with their clients and not promise something they can’t deliver. They were kind and friendly, so I wanted to believe things would change; unfortunately, they didn’t. They kept making promises, and I always received disastrous builds with several old and new bugs. Finally, I had to cancel our cooperation because it was always the same, endless story. Their behavior was extremely unfair and gave me false hope for improvement. I hope I can prevent others from making the same mistake and trusting them too much.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

Be careful and don’t make too many payments upfront until results are in. I’m normally a private person, but I feel it’s my duty to give this review. I only worked with the headquarters in India (I have no experience with Appinventiv’s headquarters in Manhattan), but people should stay away from them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Skylark Innovations LLC. We’re an internet of things (IoT) solution provider, focusing on transportation and mobility management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We were building a web-based solution to help track vehicles. We had a basic prototype ready but needed a complete redesign of the user interface and a ton of feature development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appinventiv was involved in all development phases of the project, from architecture definition, UI/UX design, web application development, and server-side scripting to deployment. The application was primarily developed in Javascript, PHP, and nodeJS.

What is the team composition?

The core team comprised of a technical lead and developers. We were assigned a project manager, but our lead was so strong in both technical and project management domains that we barely had to rely on the project manager. We had a business analyst who helped with wireframes, a design and html team to bring the wireframes to life, and a development team to make it all work.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

We found Appinventiv on Clutch and selected them based on their reviews and work portfolio. Initial communication via email was quick and precise. I decided to meet them on site to discuss the project details and finalize the contract. During our on-site meeting, Appinventiv assigned us an excellent technical lead, and I met the management team as well. By the end of the day, we had laid out a detailed project plan and even finalized a simple and intuitive user interface for our application. After this meeting, there was no doubt that Appinventiv would be a great partner in developing our project, and it turned out to be exactly that.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them on this project since April 2018, and our team size and project scope continue to expand.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched our beta product, which was very well received by our customers. For a startup, this is a crucial stage, and product quality and reliability are deciding factors to success. Appinventiv delivered a great beta. The deployment process was very fluid, and the team’s ability to respond to refinements and updates was swift. The overall experience was wonderful, and this gave us the confidence to significantly increase the project scope for launch.

How did Appinventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

All of the top-level management is extremely responsive and approachable. Our project lead is a technical superstar, has an impeccable work ethic, and is very transparent and responsive. He guides the entire team while also contributing to the development efforts himself. I appreciate how reliable they are; if they promise to do something by a certain deadline, they absolutely do.

In terms of communication, they’re willing to listen to feedback and take it in a constructive way. They implement our comments within a realistic timeframe and are committed to ensuring customer satisfaction.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Appinventiv's focus towards customer success, track record for meeting project goals with increasingly complex requirements, and ability to respond quickly to unforeseen scenarios make them a great development partner.

They’re a great service provider with concrete assets and house a staff of 300–350 developers. The organization has a great culture and work ethics, which translates into great product development. Appinventiv hits a lot of benchmarks like technology, quality, reliability, communication and feedback.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Appinventiv is expanding into new technological frontiers such as AR and VR, and I encourage them in this endeavor. Our own project in the near future will incorporate AR, and we look forward to developing these features with Appinventiv.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Although it’s not always possible, meeting face to face during project definition phases helps ensure a successful engagement. Appinventiv was very accommodative to our on-site visit requests, and, for that, we are very grateful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and owner of Beprosoft Venture, a Belgian venture capital firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We hired Appinventiv to build a mobile application based on our set of internal requirements.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We envisioned a social networking app that would help connect users face-to-face. The guidelines specified Android and iOS versions with a React Native frontend. Appinventiv chose PHP and MongoDB for the backend.

What is the team dynamic?

We worked with a project manager and one developer.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

I found the CEO and project manager via Upwork. Appinventiv appeared to be a good company with impressive experience.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $2,000 on a down payment. Appinventive estimated the total cost at $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2018 and I ended the partnership a few months later in October.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did the relationship with Appinventiv evolve?

The project’s original timeline was five months, but problems arose after only eight weeks. The team started coding without a structure or database architecture, even though we provided documentation. The demo was not functional during in-house tests. I emailed the CEO, development team, and project manager, but none of them responded.

Appinventiv had insisted on a $2,000 deposit. But it was after the demo tests that I ended the partnership and requested a refund. Although the team hadn’t been responsive, Peeyush (COO, Appinventiv) did reach out to say a refund wasn’t possible.

How did the vendor address the problems that arose?

I told Peeyush that the team was not professional and the project wasn’t working. Peeyush apologized and offered to change the development team; he acknowledged by architecture and mobile app development expertise. However, we didn’t see any follow through on that offer. Appiventiv continued to write unstable code for a non-functional product.

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

I haven’t received a code and my money is gone. Since this was a startup project, my business partner and I had to raise funds for the build.

How was project management handled?

I preferred to work with Appiventiv through Upwork, but they requested to arrange the project outside of the platform. We primarily communicated via Skype.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

No, I had a negative experience.

In what specific areas can they improve?

The team was unresponsive. Their lack of communication cost me a significant amount of time.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

Appinventiv is a larger company. They typically assign junior developers and other less-experienced resources to projects.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was updated on November 30th, 2018, by the client. The original star ratings were: Overall - 1, Quality - .5, Schedule - 2, Cost - 1, NPS - .5. New content is below:

What is the status of this engagement?

After the MVP was completed, I resumed working with them again in November 2018. Appinventiv has changed the project manager and added more senior people to the main project, and we have started working on it again.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did the relationship with Appinventiv evolve?

Initially, there was some lack of communication as mentioned in my original review. However, I like the company and the people overall. They tried to get things sorted out, but somehow things didn't go as well as planned.

How did the vendor address the problems that arose?

I'd hired an intern and wanted to train him alongside the Appinventiv team, but this went wrong at some point. We're now working with their new team of senior resources.

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

The code I received was not complete as the project is a long-term project. I'm giving them some more time to wrap things up with the new team and further continue development for next release.

How was project management handled?

We mutually agreed to work outside of Upwork because both sides were uncomfortable paying extra through the freelancer platform. Instead, we chose to pay them through wire transfers.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

Appinventiv is a process-oriented organization with skilled resources. I should have given their experts more time to settle and understand the project's complexity before expecting results.

In what specific areas can they improve?

As a startup builder company, we always look for quick turnaround times, which might have led to an unorganized work plan in our case.

The Appinventiv team could have helped us better understand their process and the industry's way of working in more detail, which would have helped us set more realistic expectations. I wish they took more time to clarify the knowledge transfer processes and agile formulas to non-IT people. A written manual on process would work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief founder and the CEO of Group Set Go. We have a mobile platform that connects people for group activities such as fishing trips.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Appinventiv?

We hired them to build our mobile platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Appinventiv developed the platform on a React Native technology stack for both iOS and Android. We provided the team with a complete scope, including the key features; we also supplied screenshots of other applications for inspiration. The team then did wireframes and mind mapping; our side sketched out designs before the development phase.

From there, Appinventiv built out the features. They created the payment gateway to accommodate the different dynamics and exceptions that go into planning group events. Next, they created filters for activity hosts to set gender and age preferences. The team also enabled hosts to promote their events on social media platforms.

Recently, we’ve released beta versions to select audiences and plan to launch the app in November 2018. Beta features include account creation, user authentication via Google, and email- and Facebook-based logins. New users automatically enter the group chat and have the option to engage in one-on-one chats.

For each event posting, the app lists cost ranges, which calculate capacity and the initial price. Users don’t have to pay for an activity until five days before the event; the platform lets users plan and modify the activity before they’re charged. Our company processes payments and then releases the money to hosts after the trip’s completion to prevent strangers from exchanging funds.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager, QA resources, and technical leads for the frontend and backend. Their senior management gets involved in high-level issues.

How did you come to work with Appinventiv?

Our team decided on React Native before hiring a vendor. We then used Clutch to assess 10 vendors with React Native expertise, which I then shortlisted to eight American, Ukrainian, and Indian agencies. My previous experience with international agencies made me cautious in selecting the right partner.

Appinventiv had the best bid; they understood our concepts, proposed a compelling approach, and displayed interest in pursuing our goals. The team met my expectations for a React Native partner, which is not always easy to accomplish.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Appinventiv in February 2018, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Despite my initial concerns about working with an offshore vendor, Appinventiv has been the right partner for this project. The team is committed to meeting deadlines; they work at night to push screens and tasks through the development process. User testing has also exceeded my expectations. The platform is functional and has only minor bugs around issues such as cost estimates. The positive user feedback excites us, as does the solution’s great look and feel.

How did Appinventiv perform from a project management standpoint?

During development, we had daily status calls—sometimes just 10-minute touch points—and only skipped them on the rare occasions when everyone was clear about the work. In addition to calls, I received weekly and daily status reports; the project manager and I spoke every Sunday to review the prior week the plan priorities for the upcoming one.

To verify everything was on track, Appinventiv did mini-demos in between functionality deliveries. The team originally used Basecamp to track progress, but I pushed them toward Slack because I didn’t care for the first tool. Although everyone has Skype, Slack remains our primary method for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Appinventiv is committed to client satisfaction. Since the project is a fix-bid engagement, I’ve documented as much as I could to avoid scope changes and bugs. Although I promised the team in advance that we wouldn’t have significant scope creep, a few minor adjustments were necessary. Appinventiv has accommodated us in a flexible and reasonable manner; they've never complained. I can’t envision a better experience than what I had.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The team’s commitment is great, but their project management—including methodology and approach—could improve slightly. We started a bit haphazardly; the original project manager may not have been the best fit for our needs. I escalated the issue to Appinventiv’s leadership, and they immediately assigned me another resource in quick order.

Additionally, I’ve had issues with some Skype-based status calls because our internet connection isn’t always reliable. We lose the day when we can’t connect with Appinventiv. However, these are minor issues, and I have nothing against their team.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should be clear with scope requirements, but also remain open to minor changes. Feel free to escalate issues as needed. As long as customers are fair, Appinventiv will fix issues right away in a fair manner. Expect to have a good experience with them.