AppsGarden

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a logistics manager at a transport company, and we provide transport services with our fleet. We move goods from producers to our customers' warehouses across Europe, especially between Poland and the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

We hired AppsGarden for their custom software development services. We were working on Excel sheets and wanted to switch to a program that would make our work easier in planning daily transport. 
 

SOLUTION

What is the scope of their involvement?

We first provided AppsGarden with all our documents in Excel sheets, and they put them together into one software. They developed the software using JavaScript. The software shows our loadings, orders from customers, free trucks, and free drivers on three screens. Currently, their team provides maintenance services; they help us fix problems that arise very quickly. 

What is the team composition?

We work with five people from their team, including a graphic designer, a programmer, and testers.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

One of our employees is a friend of one of the bosses at AppsGarden. He suggested them to us when we were looking for programmers.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent roughly €25,000 (approximately $27,000 USD) on the project.

What is the status of the engagement?

We started working with AppsGarden in June 2022, and our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

AppsGarden has delivered exactly what they promised. As a result, our process is much faster now, and we have more free time to make all the other transport documents. We normally spend about 3–4 hours filling out the planning, but it now takes just an hour and a half to do so. Overall, it’s been much easier to work using the software.

How did AppsGarden from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is brilliant, and they’re always readily available whenever we need their help with something. In cases when there might be delays, they inform us beforehand. We communicate through phone calls and Microsoft Teams. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We really like that their team gives 100% effort into our project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any complaints about AppsGarden.

Any advice for potential customers?

They need to communicate what they need and be open to new ideas. Also, make sure to have the material for the project ready ahead of time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive at a tech consultancy company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

We needed help to build an application that would collect data and manage different scopes of machines, such as vending machines, copy machines, and water dispensers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AppsGarden created a cloud application based on AWS that works like a database for machines. It keeps track of the devices rented or sold to companies or individuals. Regarding technologies, they build the backend on Java and the frontend on Angular.

In terms of specific functionalities, the application provides us with feedback, letting us know the location of the machines or when clients need support or repairs. It also connects with our field engineers, who receive notifications on their tablets whenever required.

Currently, their team is offering maintenance services.

What is the team composition?

I work with around six members of their team, including frontend developers, backend developers, and other specialists.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

A colleague referred them to us, and then I did my research to see some of their previous work.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we've spent $70,000–$100,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the engagement in September 2021, and it's still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have no complaints about the quality or response times; they're very engaged and still take care of us. Additionally, thanks to this application, we can plan our tasks using advanced map algorithms to organize the year's work. For example, if there is damage, we can also prepare it accordingly and assign it to the closest serviceman in that location.

How did AppsGarden perform from a project management standpoint?

They meet all deadlines and stay on budget. Regarding tools, we use Redmine for project management and communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their personable approach is outstanding; they treat us as part of their team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve on — whatever issues we have, they solve them.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a good project plan and someone with experience. Also, be prepared for the project and be aware of the budget.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager at a tech startup company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

We needed a company that could develop a mobile app for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired AppsGarden to develop a mobile app for iOS and Android. They also handled the integration of a payment system into coffee machines, which was done through their customer API. AppsGarden used SQL to develop the database and JavaScipt for the web part of the CMS. The app has QR code scanning functionality, which allows users to order coffee through their phones, eliminating all contact with the machine itself.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 4–6 people from AppsGarden, including a technical lead and front- and backend developers.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

We had previously worked with AppsGarden’s owner on another project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $200,000 in this engagement so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched the product yet, but I could definitely attest to the quality of AppsGarden’s work. We have experienced a few bugs and crashes, but AppsGarden has been efficient in fixing them in the most cost-effective way possible.

How did AppsGarden perform from a project management standpoint?

AppsGarden has performed well in terms of project management. They are consistent in meeting deadlines. We use agile methodology to set up our workflows and sprints.

We use Redmine for project management, and we typically communicate through email, Zoom, phone calls, and in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re most impressed with AppsGarden’s ability to deal with the complexity of the project and integrate several hardware parts excellently.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if they could communicate complex technical information more clearly to us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a well engineer of an oil and gas company, and we decommission assets for other oil companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

We needed someone to transform our internal tool into a web-based app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AppsGarden turned our tool for high-level cost estimates for projects into a web-based cost calculator. This was so our team can use the backend to change inputs to the calculations easily, and update it as technologies, as well as the market, evolve.

What is the team composition?

I was in contact with around 3–4 people, but I don’t know exactly how many people worked on the project.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

We had contact with someone who had experience working with them, so we included them in our list of businesses.

How much have you invested with them?

We paid them approximately $11,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership ran from August 2020–February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The main success was that we could use the tool AppsGarden developed as expected. There were a lot of cross-checks with our own internal tool, to make sure it was aligned to the new one, and that was basically the main quality we requested. The timing wasn’t really much of an issue, because we were busy with other stuff at the same time, so the delays weren’t necessarily their fault.

How did AppsGarden perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management perspective, they were really good — we had regular video conference meetings and they came back with the minutes of our meetings very quickly. Their general communication was good and updates came regularly as expected.

There was a bit of a problem with the duration of the project, as it lasted a little bit longer than expected. However, not all of it was put on their shoulders as there were delays on our part as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think AppsGarden’s service was quite good. Whenever we face issues with development now, they are always ready to jump in and help out. Additionally, their service after the delivery of the project has been really good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, I missed a little bit of the point of some of the impact and decisions that were made — I had no idea what some of the results entailed. A little bit of clarity would’ve been appreciated.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice would be to have somebody that has an IT background to manage the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a fitness club chain. We also operate kids’ play centers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

The average age of our fitness centers is 10 years, which means that they require attention and maintenance. We don’t have a big budget for this, so we started looking for ways to save money. Previously, we had a maintenance department for each center, and it was hard to control the money we were spending. In the past, we had a manager who had a deal with a service company and who reported problems to us as bigger than they actually were. We couldn’t know whether the managers were being honest with us, whether they were reporting problems accurately, and whether they were sourcing the best contractors possible for air conditioning, electricity, and the fitness equipment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AppsGarden built our app for Android devices. It’s used by center managers to report problems to us. They can take pictures and record video, which are sent straight to us, so we’ll know exactly what is happening. Then, we send the data to the maintenance people we have contracts with. We can control that entire process through the app. Every repair remains in our history so we can see which machines or systems are causing the most problems, control maintenance expenses, and also control the managers.

What is the team composition?

We had one main point of contact in the form of their project manager. If there was something I couldn’t understand, he directed me to someone else in the team who could explain the issue clearly.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

I found them through a reference. I contacted AppsGarden and described what we were looking for.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work was slightly over $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with AppsGarden in October 2017. The project took around five months to complete. As with every product, we identified items that we could add or improve, so we contacted AppsGarden later on two occasions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We can now control that entire area, so we’re quite happy about that. The app they built helped us save money.

Based on my overall experience, AppsGarden was helpful, and I’m truly happy about the collaboration and the final product. We’ve stayed in touch, and I believe we’ll assign them another project in 2019.

How did AppsGarden perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m completely new to IT, but they put me in touch with different team members, who clarified my concerns in layman’s terms. I was afraid that the process would be too difficult for me, but I’m happy about the final product. It’s easy to use, which is the main thing for us.

I mainly had contact with a single person; he was always helpful and open. We used the phone and online tools like Skype and email for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

“Impressive” is a strong word, but I appreciated their professionalism.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of any weak points.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a sole trader in Dubai who mainly works with IT companies. They tell me what kind of back- or frontend development they want done for apps, and I find a firm to do it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

One of my clients needed help with a mobile app that could share receipts and invoices. He wanted to introduce it at the Gulfood exhibition, the world’s largest annual food trade show.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My client already had the API and backend built, so he just needed AppsGarden to build the rest. I coordinated the entire project, passing information from my client to AppsGarden. They built the app to log in and out of the designated warehouses and interact with the cash register. It can download and display the inventory of the warehouse and scan barcodes and EAN codes with the phone’s camera. It also connects via Bluetooth to printers to print receipts and invoices.

What is the team composition?

I interacted mainly with a sales manager, who handled the whole project.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

We met at an IT conference in Poland. A friend recommended I meet with them.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership lasted from October 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My client was happy with their work. He hasn't had any problems with the application; it’s worked exactly as planned.

How did AppsGarden perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re highly professional. Everything went smoothly and was straightforward. They had excellent customer service. Other companies I’ve worked with were much more of a headache.

We initially used Skype to communicate but then switched to phone and email. They responded quickly and stuck to our schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They work hard, communicate well, and take pride in their work. They finished when they said they would, and they charged the price we initially set. They did a great job with the app; I would definitely recommend them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a fairly new company, so they could improve the portfolio of apps they’ve worked on. In general, I was satisfied with them, though.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Compare them to other companies to get the best price possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a small software company that specializes in native iOS and Android backend and frontend solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

We needed to build a desktop and mobile applications for a client, a retail telecom network. The client needed a staff training and skill verification app for their team of 4,000 salespeople that distribution their SIM cards. We could assess the app’s quality but we didn’t have the expertise to build it ourselves.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The mobile app was built for Android and iOS. The client didn’t specify coding languages in the requirements so AppsGarden decided to use Java and Swift. The app has video and text chat functions, with built-in screenshot and video recording abilities. It also provides knowledge quizzes and content sharing.

The desktop app was built for the company’s competence center. It was developed for Windows using .NET and C++. It also has quiz, video call, and screenshot functionalities.

We had some comments for them throughout the process, mostly about the use of our code repository. After the first iteration, they were able to do what we asked for without any issues.

What is the team composition?

I was initially in touch with one of their salespeople and later collaborated with AppsGarden’s CTO, who served as project manager. We had dedicated Android, iOS and Windows teams. We had some video calls with the developers throughout the process but to a lesser degree.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

I posted the work on a Polish freelance platform. AppsGarden approached me and I reviewed their projects. They seemed to be the best option out of the five development companies I reviewed.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of the project was around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with AppsGarden in February 2017. The project was finished in August of that year, but I’m sure that I’ll contact their team for any similar projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

AppsGarden’s work on the mobile end met our standards. They did a great job.

How did AppsGarden perform from a project management standpoint?

Because we’re relatively close to each other, we could call AppsGarden at any time. Their CTO was always available for us. We used Redmine, which is an internal AppsGarden tool. It was suitable for both our sides, as well as for our client who could oversee the work.

They always delivered on time, even on short deadlines, which was very important for us. We discussed the schedule with their team and made adjustments to the client’s deadlines when they were considered too tight.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The whole collaboration was flawless. I have worked with a few other subcontractors who weren’t always a perfect match. AppsGarden spoke the same language as us and we were able to understand each other well. I wish that we’d performed as well for our client as AppsGarden did for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some differences in the mobile development process given that our teams had different levels of knowledge. But AppsGarden’s quality of code and process management were very good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

One of the best pieces of advice I could give is to always have good specifications for the process. We edited many of the requirements given to us by the client that didn’t have enough detail about the app. The specifications we put together allowed AppsGarden’s team to proceed without the need to clarify questions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the project manager for a software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

We’ve worked with AppsGarden on three separate applications, two of which I was the project manager on. The first is a betting app for gaming and entertainment, and the second was a more complex financial app that allows users to easily pay their electricity bills.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided AppsGarden with documentation and wireframes for the project, as well as all required graphic design. With those materials, they went on to manage all aspects of the development process using a cross-platform tool. They were both compatible with iOS and Android, but AppsGarden used different technologies to specifically build to the requirements for each app.

What is the team composition?

I primarily interacted with a general director that oversaw organizational and financial matters and a technical lead/project manager that oversaw all communications. I’m not sure how many people were working on the project total.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

They were recommended to one of my colleagues by other software companies.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June of 2017, and we are still in contact. One of our projects is currently on hold due to outside problems.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The apps have not yet been added to the App Store or the Google Play Store, so we have not gathered any user feedback. However, we’ve tested their applications internally and have been very happy with their quality of work.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They have been very responsive throughout the engagement. They’ve delivered everything on time, and there have been no budget issues. We use Ryver for internal communication, and they joined our channels to make the process as smooth as possible for us. The tech lead/project manager has also joined in on several calls with our clients, which has been very helpful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their tech lead/project manager has reliably comprehended the business needs of our clients while effectively addressing all technical issues. He has been a huge asset to us throughout the process. The communication has also been very good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are always areas for improvement, but nothing immediately comes to mind.

Advice for potential customers?

It’s important to provide detailed specifications to avoid confusion and meet all client requirements. There were minor misunderstandings throughout the process that could’ve been avoided with more clarity. Overall, our engagement has been very successful. They’re a great company. I would recommend that people work with Erik, our tech lead/project manager.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO at a telecommunications company. I’m responsible for all technical issues.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppsGarden?

We needed a mobile application to support the sale of different communication services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed an iOS and Android mobile app and a web application for our salesforce. They used PHP for the web version, and an order management system and a reporting service for the apps. The website is designed to manage access to the application.

What is the team composition?

I interacted with a project manager. One guy works on the technical side and one guy works on the user experience side.

How did you come to work with AppsGarden?

I did research online and considered five companies.

How much have you invested with them?

$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2016 until September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s going well. The project has been launched, and about 2,000 sellers in our network are using the applications.

How did AppsGarden perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a nice cooperation with no problems. Their project management and responsiveness were great, and they finished the job according to the timeline and within the budget. We used Redmine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are flexible enough to react quickly to our changing requirements and adjust to suit our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t need anything more from them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Museum of Engineering and Technology is a cultural institution of the City of Cracow, which is engaged in collecting and providing access to collections on the history and development of technology. I work in the promotion department of the Museum

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

The company was hired to create the Museum's website, with a particular focus on the division into the 3 branches that the institution manages. Previously, the divisions were on separate pages, which was confusing for users and caused difficulties in page administration. An additional aspect was a site that allowed the presentation of the Museum's collections and the ticket page.

SOLUTION

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

AppsGarden has won the bidding process

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

We held a series of meetings where we presented our needs and clashed common ideas for the implementation of our project. AppsGarden then prepared several visual proposals for us, from which we were able to develop a main theme. Mockups were prepared based on the previous findings. These allowed us to refine our concepts. We received a site prepared in Wordpress. AppsGarden provided us with training and support in transferring and adapting the content to the new design. We continue to work together to develop new features for the site.

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

We worked with about 4-6 people from AppsGarden, including the technical lead and front- and back-end developers and designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our site performs significantly better in terms of its loading speed. Employees and users alike note the site's improved usability and user friendliness.

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

We had weekly meetings to discuss the progress of the work. We used Redmine to coordinate the project, which worked perfectly for us.

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

Ability to customize the design specifically for the client's needs.

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

After implementing the site, we found a few more bugs, but after reporting them, they were fixed very quickly.