Apptension Client Reviews

Reviews

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Mobile App Development

Apr 14, 2020

the project

Mobile App Development for Marketing Consultants

“They have a very constructive approach to client feedback and were always willing to come up with new solutions.”

Mobile App Development

$50,000 to $199,999

Nov. 2019 - Ongoing

4.5

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Nov. 2019 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Apptension is developing a mobile app for a consultant company’s multinational client. So far, they’ve completed the discovery phase and have moved onto development.

1-10 Employees

Lisbon, Portugal

Catarina Rocha

Strategic Producer of New Business, pro(u)d Solutions

Verified

the reviewer

Strategic Producer of New Business, pro(u)d Solutions

Catarina Rocha

Marketing & Advertising

1-10 Employees

Lisbon, Portugal

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

4.5

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“They have a very constructive approach to client feedback and were always willing to come up with new solutions.”

Apr 14, 2020

Feedback summary:

The project’s success has resulted in a long-term partnership for design and development. Apptension is a fantastic partner, who is willing to go above and beyond in order to deliver what the client needs. They are flexible and communicative, which helps their partners prepare.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a strategic producer and new business development manager for pro(u)d Solutions, a consultancy company. I’m responsible for all the business coming from new areas, such as digital footprints, developments, new programming, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

I received a brief from a big multinational company in my home country. They needed to develop a new app based on insights they’d identified from the consumer.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Apptension developed a mobile app that will provide a solution for regular consumers. It comes under the scope of a fast-moving consumer good (FMCG). So far, we’ve done the discovery phase.

What is the team composition?

The team varied depending on the phase of the project. We were working with 3–4 people in the beginning, and there were 10 people involved in the workshop. I’ve worked with 10–15 people from Apptension at our peak, but the range was 3–10, depending on the phase of the project.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

I searched the market for a development partner, and Apptension came as a recommendation from a previous connection, who’d worked with them and was very satisfied. I briefed them and another three development studios, and they won the pitch.

How much have you invested with them?

For this project, we’ve spent roughly $50,000–$100,000, and the next phase will be $500,000 or more.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Apptension in November 2019. The collaboration is ongoing for other projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Apptension has provided a very good solution. Most importantly, they’ve been able to incorporate the client’s feedback, even if that meant doing a pivot on what we’d done or if it required extra hours. They have a very constructive approach to client feedback and were always willing to come up with new solutions.

I was so satisfied with the results that I’ve continued to use Apptension as my partner for both development and design.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

They were on time and were able to provide me the feedback I needed in time for me to prepare for client meetings. They were also able to incorporate my change requests. I have only good things to say about them, not only about the project manager but also the creative and strategic teams. I’m really pleased to work with them.

In the past, I’ve worked with other companies who develop big egos when talking about big clients, but I never felt that here. They’re very good in terms of both IT outcomes and client management, which are both skills that aren’t found easily in development studios.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re really competitive in terms of price and output. They have fair deals, and they make us aware of what they’re delivering and for what amount. As an intermediary to the client, that also gives me a good perspective on what to sell or not to sell. Apptension is a good partner to have.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Some of their members need to improve their English.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I’d suggest being open with them, putting the challenge on the table, and being open to try new things. In some of the projects we’re working on now, I sometimes thought that their approach wasn’t what I briefed them for, but then I understood why they did it, and the outcome was even better than I would’ve thought. Trust the team and giving them a bit of space. If you’re not happy, say you’re not happy, and they’ll come back to their initial ideas.

4.5

Overall Score

4.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

Mar 19, 2020

the project

CMS Dev for Special Effects Co

"Their team communicated clearly and remained on top of their assignments."

Development

$50,000 to $199,999

Nov. 2019 - Jan. 2020

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Nov. 2019 - Jan. 2020

Project summary:

Apptension developed a CMS to support a website and an AR app for a visual effects company. The team built the product to direct content within the app including a gallery, localizations, and copy.

501-1,000 Employees

London, England

Sinead Catney

Interactive Producer, The Mill

Verified

the reviewer

Interactive Producer, The Mill

Sinead Catney

Advertising & Marketing

501-1,000 Employees

London, England

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Their team communicated clearly and remained on top of their assignments."

Mar 19, 2020

Feedback summary:

Apptension provided valuable services, producing functional deliverables that performed well in testing. The team was thorough and communicative to ensure the project remained on schedule. They were adaptable and responsive, which resulted in effective collaboration.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an interactive producer for The Mill in London. We’re a visual effects company specializing in visual effects within the advertising realm. Our department specifically focuses on interactive and digital projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

We needed assistance in building a CMS that catered to an app and website that we built for a major sporting event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Apptension helped us create a CMS that serves our app and website. The CMS caters to a large gallery, localizations, and copy within the app, which is interactive for users. The product comprises eight challenges and rewards. There’s gameplay and then a filter, which is shareable. The platform also has a gallery and text that’s controlled by the CMS. Their team provided maintenance for a period of time too.

Our team developed a small, one-page website with limited interactivity that services the gallery and all localized text within the app. Both the app and the web are localized into six different languages.

What is the team composition?

We worked with five people from Apptension including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

Our resource manager, who heard of Apptension from other companies, recommended them. Their team actually worked with our LA office on a previous project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in November 2019 and completed in January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product doesn’t go live until the summer. All of the testing results are positive. There were no issues from a frontend point of view. All of the servers set up that they helped us with were good too.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

Day to day, we communicated through a Slack channel that included both dev teams. Their project manager and I had daily stand-ups via Google Hangouts. Any initial documentation was done by email. It was really easy to communicate with them. All of their communication about what they required from us was clear. If there was anything that they weren’t sure about, their team also made sure to clarify. They were also quick to respond.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team communicated clearly and remained on top of their assignments. They even reminded us about events such as bug fixing sessions, which was helpful in managing such a large scale project on our end. They were also flexible when we needed them to be.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on what it is that you need. They were responsible and outlined their needs, so there wasn’t any ambiguity.

5.0

Overall Score

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Mobile App Development

Mar 18, 2020

the project

Mobile App Dev Support for Design & Engineering Agency

“Their team was the expert for the backend development, so we trusted their judgment.”

Mobile App Development

$10,000 to $49,999

Sept. 2019 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$10,000 to $49,999

Sept. 2019 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Apptension teamed up with an engineering studio, augmenting the internal development team to build out the backend of a client fitness app. They made use of Prisma, PostgreSQL, and AWS SQS.

11-50 employees

New York, New York

Kelly O'Conor

Product Lead, Siberia

Verified

the reviewer

Product Lead, Siberia

Kelly O'Conor

Design

11-50 employees

New York, New York

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“Their team was the expert for the backend development, so we trusted their judgment.”

Mar 18, 2020

Feedback summary:

Developing separate trainer and subscriber apps for both iOS and Android, the team used their industry expertise to make technical recommendations that steered the direction of the backend development. Their consistent ability to provide quality and communicate updates added value.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a design and engineering agency based in New York City. Our company works with clients to design, develop, and launch digital products and experiences. I’m a product lead on the product strategy team. I was the project lead on our work with Apptension.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

We were working with a luxury fitness studio to build and deliver an on-demand fitness app. Our in-house engineering team is relatively small, so we needed their help to build the backend services and capabilities needed to deliver a production level on demand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The end product needed to support workout video playback, payments, and subscription capabilities. It was built for iOS and Android and offered separate apps for trainers and subscribers. Trainers could upload content for the subscribers to play on their end of the app. On both sides of the coin, there’s room for a lot of photo-sharing. We connected the app to social media platforms. This was particularly important because many of the trainers are also Instagram influencers.

Our team handled the upfront strategy, design, UX, and front-end development of both the iOS and Android platforms. Their team was brought on to augment the team for backend infrastructure work. They were tasked with server and database management responsibilities. On the backend, we used Prisma, PostgreSQL, AWS SQS for messaging, Cube, and Firebase. For the front-end, we used Swift, Kotlin, and various other technologies on our end.

What is the team composition?

At max capacity, we had a total of seven people from their team. That included a project manager and developers.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

Our head of engineering was connected with them prior to the engagement. Once we discussed the scope and our aggressive timeline, they were one of the only providers that were excited about that challenge and wanted to push themselves to meet our deadlines. We felt that they would be the most comfortable and competent in delivering this work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000–$20,000 on their work so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the work in September 2019, and our collaboration is ongoing. There was a break in deployment for about a month, but we picked things back up in February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any hard metrics yet. They collaborated well with us, suggesting technologies to use and explaining how to implement them. Their team was the expert for the backend development, so we trusted their judgment. Our team was impressed with their consistency, despite a significant time zone difference. We got into a rhythm and cadence with our work that ended up benefitting us.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

We landed on GitHub to discuss and identify problems while working. They recommended that we add another software on top of GitHub to further manage the project. That worked well. We also had constant communication through Slack. In addition, we had a weekly call with them to discuss progress. That later turned into a biweekly call because most of our communication could be handled over Slack or GitHub. It was nice to have someone on their end managing their outputs. That made the collaboration easier for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’d never worked on an on-demand fitness app and neither had we. Even so, they took everything in stride along with us. Their ability to produce high-quality work with consistency while dealing with a new type of project was impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some holes in documentation both in and outside of code.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you’re communicating effectively because it’s easy for information to get lost in translation when working with an outsourced, remote partner. I’d recommend Slack for problem-solving, so all conversations are documented.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

Mar 13, 2020

the project

Development Services for Global Production Company

“They’re good about working with our process and the current standards that our developers put into place.”

Development

$200,000 to $999,999

Jan. 2019 - Mar. 2020

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$200,000 to $999,999

Jan. 2019 - Mar. 2020

Project summary:

Apptension helps a production company with development. They did VR development for a spatial design platform, and they’re currently using Unity and Firebase to develop an app that showcases data in 3D.

51-200 Employees

London, England

Shahram Zamani

Digital Project Manager, Unit9

Verified

the reviewer

Digital Project Manager, Unit9

Shahram Zamani

Marketing & Advertising

51-200 Employees

London, England

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“They’re good about working with our process and the current standards that our developers put into place.”

Mar 13, 2020

Feedback summary:

Apptension supplements a multi-project engagement by delivering high-quality work that satisfies internal stakeholders. Responsive and readily available, the team maintains strong VR and Unity expertise. They provide great value for cost and have the capacity for seamless project management.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital project manager at Unit9.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

We were looking for development work to be done.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Apptension initially helped us with a VR project for HyperCRC. Now, they’re developing an app with a 3D program for use in the construction industry. They’re using Unity for programming, Firebase, and cloud servers. The app pulls data from the server, and then we showcase the data in 3D and make sure the data is parsing back to the server correctly.

What is the team composition?

For the HyperCRC project, we worked with three developers and a project manager. For the app, we’re just working with Krzysztof (Backend Developer), a Unity developer. We have a lead dev in the UK, but Krzysztof is the main person working on the app’s backend and synchronization with the client-server. He makes sure that the 3D element works with the data to be pulled into the app.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

HyperCRC has worked with them before. We’re currently using one of the projects that they built for organizing and scheduling our own internal system, so we knew them from that. Our lead in-house developer recommended Apptension, and our project managers have worked with Apptension on various projects. We like their work, which is why we continue to partner with them on projects.

How much have you invested with them?

My company spent between $120,000–$300,000. The HyperCRC project cost around $80,000 for the year I was involved; the app we’re working on is £170,000 (approximately $209,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

I started at Unit9 a year ago, but the relationship between Unit9 and Apptension began about four years ago. The HyperCRC project has been in motion for two years now. The project that we’re working on currently, which is due to finish this week, has been three months long. We have been doing research for the app since December 2019 and began development in January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work on the HyperCRC project over the past year has been absolutely amazing. Our director has been very happy with their work. When the app goes live, we have a second iteration that will probably involve two of their developers rather than just one. We will definitely use Apptension in the coming months. There’s another project that involves the same company but in another country.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a senior project manager for the HyperCRC project, and he was amazing. I actually learned from him in terms of growing as a project manager. His side handled the project’s organization and financing. His translation of dev port to normal presentation was great. When I first started in VR, I didn’t understand it, since I have immense experience in web. The project manager helped me understand a lot.

For the app project, there was no need for another project manager. We only acquired a Unity web developer, and I’m the project manager. We have daily standups and communicate through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Having worked with offshore development teams in India, Australia, and Canada, what differentiates Apptension is that they’re available whenever we need them. Aleksandra (Head of Project Delivery) and Dominika (Head of Client Engagement) handle the admin part of our work together, and they’re amazing about getting back to me right away. For example, the app was meant to finish today, but I asked for Krzysztof to be extended until next week. I got an email back within five minutes that this was okay. The price is absolutely great for the quality we’re getting. They’re good about working with our process and the current standards that our developers put into place. They code the way we want them to. Also, their understanding of Unity is great, which is a reason we’ll use them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This isn’t really a fault on their end, but because they’re a company, they require at least two people on a project. If they do go into lending developers individually, without having to make hierarchy requests, that would be great, but that is only a preferred way from my side. They normally like to have two people minimum on a project. For this project, we didn’t need a project manager, so I had to negotiate with them not to have one on the project. That was just my preference, and they accepted it, so we didn’t have any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have an internal lead. They have different levels of developers, so to remain in sync, have something like a daily standup to ensure you have control over what has and hasn’t been completed.

5.0

Overall Score It speaks volumes that we plan to work with them on upcoming projects.

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

They’re absolutely amazing in this regard.

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

The value for money has been absolutely amazing; we ended up getting a lead developer for the price of a mid-level developer.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

E-commerce Development

Oct 17, 2019

the project

Development for E-Commerce Tool

"They’re very knowledgeable about cutting-edge technology."

E-commerce Development

$10,000 to $49,999

July 2019 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$10,000 to $49,999

July 2019 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Apptension is building an e-commerce chatbot. After researching various AI technologies, their team has begun development on an AWS-hosted chatbot with a Python backend.

New York, New York

E-Commerce Investor

Verified

the reviewer

E-Commerce Investor

Financial Services

New York, New York

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"They’re very knowledgeable about cutting-edge technology."

Oct 17, 2019

Feedback summary:

The quality of Apptension's work has been fantastic. They've expanded and evolved the project ins a variety of new ways. Their team communicated regularly and notified the client of any changes. They were also very knowledgeable about emerging AI technology.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a company that invests in e-commerce startups and entrepreneurs in new e-commerce technologies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

We wanted Apptension to build an e-commerce chatbot for a number of very specific applications. The chatbot was built for potential development and investment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They are developing the chatbot. The chatbot has multi-purpose functionality; it could work on a website or an app. They use Svelte along with a Rollup.js configuration. AWS Lambda serves as the hosting platform. The backend is written in Python with a serverless framework.

Their team also did research around the AI technologies we could be using for the chatbot. Half the work was research and the other half was building the prototype.

What is the team composition?

There were 2–3 main developers I spoke with along with a main project manager.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

They worked with a company that I had previously invested in.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested somewhere between $20,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in July of 2019. The work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work has been excellent. They’ve done an incredible amount of work and exponentially broadened the scope of the project in a smart way. The ROI on the budget we’ve invested has been great. They’ve exceeded the initial set of expectations.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve had conversations with developers on a weekly basis. The communication and tracking of the project have gone well. The project management is very conscientious; they are regularly in touch with me. Any changes have been communicated ahead of time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very knowledgeable about cutting-edge technology.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing that could be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think other people might have a much more specific product to build, whereas I went in a bit unsure of what I wanted to develop.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Custom Software Development

Jan 30, 2019

the project

Custom Visual Software Dev for Design Firm

"We valued their professional work ethic and their personable approach."

Custom Software Development

$50,000 to $199,999

Aug. 2018 - Nov. 2018

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Aug. 2018 - Nov. 2018

Project summary:

Apptension built custom software for seven video installations and an interactive touch screen for a conference. They synced each display for a fluid viewer experience and provided onsite support.

1-10 Employees

Seattle, Washington

Rebecca Ojala

Operations Manager, Schema Design

Verified

the reviewer

Operations Manager, Schema Design

Rebecca Ojala

Design

1-10 Employees

Seattle, Washington

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"We valued their professional work ethic and their personable approach."

Jan 30, 2019

Feedback summary:

The final product performed without issue, leading to positive feedback from stakeholders. Apptension gave frequent updates and accommodated time-zone differences throughout the process. Their knowledgeable team managed a responsive and productive workflow.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the operations manager for Schema Design. We create data visualization products for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

We engaged Apptension to help us create visual installations for a third-party client’s conference.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We created seven video installations and an interactive touch screen that would run throughout the conference. Our side made the videos and the interactive map for the touch screen; Apptension built the software to run both.

The video installations were run off of custom pillars with multiple screens on two sides. Meanwhile, the touchscreen installation was operated on Microsoft Surface Hub. Our teams weren’t familiar with these technologies, so Apptension learned their limitations on the fly. Their team figured out how to run each video on multiple screens and how to sync the video on both sides of the installation.

The development last three months. An Apptension team member then flew with us to the conference to provide live support.

What is the team composition?

Apptension dedicated a full-time developer to the project. We also worked with a project manager, a QA person, and a few part-time developers.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

Our founder met their team at South By Southwest (SXSW), and we started collaborating on other products. When this opportunity came along, we felt that they would be the perfect team to pair up with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000 and $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August–November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The software performed well with minimal bugs and issues. Apptension made tweaks on-site to ensure that the event ran smoothly. Our client was pleased with the end product, and so were we.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

Aleksandra (Head of Product Delivery, Apptension) led a highly organized and talented team. She kept us in the loop on progress updates and warned us of any potential delays. We met twice a week and communicated through Slack and Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We valued their professional work ethic and their personable approach. Despite our time zone differences, the Apptension team adapted to our work schedule and was highly approachable throughout the collaboration. We could never have completed the project without them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Any advice for potential customers?

We found it helpful to have frequent meetings. Apptension provided valuable insights and progress updates. They also organized each meeting carefully to use our time as efficiently as possible.

5.0

Overall Score We couldn’t be happier with our collaboration.

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

They met every deadline.

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

Their services came at an excellent value.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

Apptension delivered everything in a timely and professional manner.

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

We will work with them again and would definitely recommend them to others.

IoT Development

Jan 17, 2019

the project

Facial Recognition Tech & VR Dev for Creative Studio

"Apptension exhibited a strong capacity to understand our needs and respond accordingly."

IoT Development

$50,000 to $199,999

July - Sept. 2018

5.0

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

July - Sept. 2018

Project summary:

Apptension developed an interactive booth featuring VR technology for a third-party. They created IoT devices with facial and emotional recognition capabilities to collect user data and analytics. This review was updated by the client on October 9th, 2019.

11-50 Employees

Milan, Italy

Tomaso Cariboni & Tiziana Scaffeo

Producers, Bonsaininja Studio

Verified

the reviewer

Producers, Bonsaininja Studio

Tomaso Cariboni & Tiziana Scaffeo

IT Services

11-50 Employees

Milan, Italy

Online Review

The client submitted this review online.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Apptension exhibited a strong capacity to understand our needs and respond accordingly."

Jan 17, 2019

Feedback summary:

The technology captured impressive foot traffic at two separate conference exhibitions, yielding valuable data and making for a successful project. Apptension proved to be a communicative and organized partner. The team delivered all materials within scheduling and budget guidelines.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Updated Review
Ratings

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the senior digital producer at Bonsaininja Studio, an independent creative studio that designs and delivers complex communication and digital projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Apptension?

One of our top clients asked us to design and deliver a large interactive exhibit that would showcase two of their brands at an international technology conference. The display was to convey the public vision of the brands and illustrate how a futuristic kitchen might operate.

Our primary challenge was to provide a gamified experience through VR technology that would lean on facial and emotional recognition. Our team designed that element with a group of psychologists, but we hired Apptension to develop technical solutions to ensure an enjoyable experience for all users.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goal was to showcase a technology that will become mainstream in the years to come in an engaging and fun way.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I contacted several Italy-based vendors we’ve worked with in the past, along with a firm I knew from when I worked in Northern Ireland. We also received a number of other references. After we presented the project, challenges, and budget to the development teams, we narrowed our list to three companies. We selected Apptension from the group because we felt they were the most reliable team and the most enthusiastic about the project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Apptension provided technical direction and frontend and backend development of IoT devices and other featured software. The technology was built to react to various visual stimuli, deduce the users’ specific customer profile, and recommend a particular product. The technology gently harvests user data and provides group analytics. Apptension conducted QA testing and thorough maintenance. They coordinated training sessions and worked to ensure functionality in a live environment.

What was the team composition?

We had access to a single, full-time POC. The project team consisted of a technical leader, front- and backend developers, a DevOps designer, and a QA specialist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We consider this specific activation a great success. Our client collected a great deal of data during four days at the conference. The overall footfall was higher than past editions, and we imagine that the facial recognition activity contributed to that success. The results exceeded our initial goals, and our client was enthusiastic about the project’s outcome.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

All assets, services, and products were delivered on time and within budget. We used Jira, Slack, Google Slides, and Basecamp for project management purposes. Although much of the development happened remotely, we didn’t experience any troubles because of the time differences.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Apptension exhibited a strong capacity to understand our needs and respond accordingly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We would have needed more testing to ensure that the application accurately recognized more diverse faces.

Updated Review

This review was updated on October 9th, 2019, by the client. The original star ratings were: Overall - 4.5, Quality - 4.5, Schedule - 5, Cost - 4.5, NPS - 4.5. New content is below:

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Apptension?

One of our most important clients, has asked to renew, redesign and deliver a new digital activation for the 2019 edition of the IFA, the world’s most important technology exhibition which will be held in Berlin, Germany, from the 6th until 11th of September 2019.

What were your goals for this project?

The refurbish of the previous version of Facial Recognition should have been done taking in consideration of different constraint: timing, budget and smooth functionality on booth.

SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor?

We selected Apptension since our previous experience was very good.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Deployment to Berlin IFA 2019 and on-site assistance for 3 working days
Event hardware and software configuration
Code updates due to breaking changes to any third party API or third party data
Warranty / bug fixes
Professional Errors and Omissions Liability Insurance

What was the team composition?

Tobiasz Jankowski Business Development Specialist Jakub Matuszczak. Project Manager Michał Przyszczypkowski Frontend Developer Patryk Poleszczuk: Developer

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

It was very important that the development of this installation could have the same impact we obtain in the version of IFA 2018. Our client was satisfied with the result, and this was pretty fundamental for us.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The management was excellent, they were very punctual and dedicated even when remote. Budgeting was very clear and precise.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Apptension is a trusted parter capable to understand and to adapt to our time constrains. Apptension team has been fully dedicated, kind and they and leaning to be a valuable problem solver.

Are there any areas for improvement?

On site we encountered some little bug/problem, that maybe could be solved more rapidly if the same developer of 2018 was available or reachable.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Web Development

Jun 21, 2018

the project

Outsourced Web Dev for Digital Studio

“They’re communicative and organized.”

Web Development

Confidential

Fall 2017 - 2018

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

3.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

4.0

Confidential

Fall 2017 - 2018

Project summary:

Apptension adhered to technical plans and developed two websites. The first website is for an educational institution, while the other is a campaign site that displays user data in the form of infographics.

11-50 Employees

Toronto, Canada

Executive Producer, Digital Studio

Verified

the reviewer

Executive Producer, Digital Studio

Marketing & Advertising

11-50 Employees

Toronto, Canada

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

3.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

4.0

the review

“They’re communicative and organized.”

Jun 21, 2018

Feedback summary:

Apptension values hard work and that culture yields high-quality products. They remained motivated in response to demanding client feedback and ultimately delivered what they promised. Their productivity is unmatched and that commitment enables them to be unhindered by time zone differences.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive producer for a digital studio. We provide a variety of services like experience design and web development. We can also take on large-scale interactive installations and documentaries. Our other services include video content production, marketing material design, and 3D asset creation for web development projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

Despite having an in-house development team, we occasionally get too busy and need to extend our capabilities by engaging a trusted partner. We've meant to work with Apptension for a while and when two projects came up simultaneously, we seized the opportunity to hire them for web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Apptension helped us over the course of two projects. First, they developed an informational website for an educational institution. Then, they developed a campaign website that utilizes user data to display exciting infographics and innovations. We attached a director to both projects and provided the technical plans. They contributed to those documents as well. Our internal QA resource worked with their QA team. We designed each site’s UI/UX, but only provided minimal development support. They skillfully lead the development efforts.

What is the team composition?

They assigned a project manager, a QA team, and a few developers.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

They were referred to us by a colleague who has an ongoing engagement with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in Fall 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They believe in producing high-quality work that’s on par with what we develop internally. Apptension remained transparent and proactively engaged in communication to accommodate challenging client feedback. This approach enabled them to navigate short project timelines and deliver successful products.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re communicative and organized. We interacted through email, Slack, and Google Hangouts. All document sharing was rooted in Google Drive. We overcame a six-hour time difference by meeting with them at the end of their day. They worked ahead of the production schedule, so our meetings consisted of reviewing their progress and making a plan for the following day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The speed at which they delivered an early build of the first site was remarkable. They stayed ahead of the curve throughout both projects and that allowed us to polish each deliverable further.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We found that each party had a different understanding of the scope at several points throughout development. We were able to clear everything up quickly, so that didn’t negatively impact the engagement in a significant way. However, both teams discussed the issue as something that could be improved during the next project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Visual references and guidelines were useful in communicating our vision to them. I’d also recommend establishing a plan to maneuver around the time difference from the start. Later in development, revisit the unknowns that occurred at the beginning of the engagement to ensure a unified understanding between both teams.

4.5

Overall Score

3.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

4.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Web Development

Apr 17, 2018

the project

Interactive Web Dev for Creative Studio

"The site won about four industry awards – a great recognition of our work."

Web Development

Confidential

Mar. - Apr. 2017

4.0

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

3.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

4.0

Confidential

Mar. - Apr. 2017

Project summary:

Apptension partnered on an interactive web development project. The site used webcam technology, images, and sound to create a digital experience. Their developers worked with separate design teams.

11-50 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Digital Delivery Director, Creative Studio

Verified

the reviewer

Digital Delivery Director, Creative Studio

Marketing & Advertising

11-50 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

4.0

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

3.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

4.0

the review

"The site won about four industry awards – a great recognition of our work."

Apr 17, 2018

Feedback summary:

The site won numerous industry awards and received positive feedback from internal stakeholders. They created a compelling experience that resulted in organic growth. However, more rigorous QA and guidelines would benefit future engagements. They demonstrate a great work ethic and flexibility.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital delivery director at a creative agency that works with footwear and hospitality companies. Our digital campaign services include product launches, advertising campaigns, and marketing campaigns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

We do annual internal projects. This year, we wanted to create a digital experience based on a local photojournalist’s print work. The photographer had documented his relationship with an elderly man who has lived in Hoxton for over 80 years. We wanted to do something based on this for our project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We built an interactive website using Apptension as a development partner. We handled the creative and the UX/UI design in-house. The photography came from our partner. We also commissioned music, produced videos, and created other content. They worked solely on web development; their UX and design teams collaborated with our in-house development team.

We had audio recordings from both the photographer and actor that portrayed the subject – someone who’s lived in the area for over 86 years without and never left. We segmented the experience into different chapters based on the audio’s topic. They built facial recognition software that uses the webcam to track users’ faces.

The site invites users to close their eyes during each chapter. The experience then introduces background noise to complement each picture. The site asks users to open their eyes after they’ve had enough time to imagine the scene. After detecting that their eyes have opened, we will display the photograph of that scene, so that they can see what it actually was they’d been imagining.

What is the team composition?

The project manager was responsible for planning, delivery, timelines, and managing the development team. However, we maintained direct communication because we prefer close relationships between design and development resources. The development team included three people and the CTO.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

I had friends at a company that previously engaged them. They suggested speaking to Apptension.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between March – April 2017. The website is still live, but won’t be updated as it is a one-time project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site won about four industry awards – a great recognition of our work. We didn’t use KPIs because this was a passion project. From an internal perspective, we loved the site and the creativity that went into it. Everyone was proud of the site; it was a positive experience.

We didn’t necessarily want to attract a specific number of people to the site, see a number of shares, or something similar. We wanted to create a compelling experience that resonated with people. To that end, the site experienced organic growth without paid media.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive via Slack and phone. We had daily standup meetings each morning to review that day’s work. The team was flexible and adapted to our preferred methods. Our project manager helped them transition to our workflows. They performed well once they learned our processes.

They were experienced problem solvers; we felt confident about the integration between teams. We had access to senior developers. They were ambitious and worked late nights to deliver our vision.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach enhanced the team dynamic. As a remote partner, Apptension extended themselves; they were interested in our work and make the project their own. That sense of responsibility and engagement truly distinguished them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Near the end of the project, I spoke with the IT business manager about how we’d like to work with them in the future. We didn’t want to go through the same startup process again. Similarly, any future projects would need a more efficient onboarding process for new team members. We also had some specific feedback for improving QA, which didn’t perform on the same level as development. QA is just as important during the building phase.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Outline requirements to Apptension as soon as possible, and make sure that expectations are clear. We had an upfront discussion on this topic but later found that our approaches differed slightly. Had we provided more information, and spent more time discussing how we wanted to run the project, they would have been in a better position initially to react to that.

4.0

Overall Score

3.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

4.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Mobile App Development

Apr 17, 2018

the project

iOS Travel App Dev for Digital Studio

“Throughout the process, we learned to collaborate with them and came to consider them partners.”

Mobile App Development

Confidential

Mar. - Sept. 2017

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Mar. - Sept. 2017

Project summary:

Apptension used a provided design to create an iOS app that allowed vendors and users to advertise and sign up for travel activities. The app included search capabilities, itineraries, and digital payment.

1-10 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Founder, Digital Studio

Verified

the reviewer

Founder, Digital Studio

Design

1-10 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Phone Interview

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone.

Verified

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“Throughout the process, we learned to collaborate with them and came to consider them partners.”

Apr 17, 2018

Feedback summary:

The app garnered extensive praise for the accuracy of its design implementation. Apptension’s consistent communication, responsiveness, and proven technical skill facilitated a dynamic collaboration.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and partner of a small digital studio that designs and builds websites and native apps. We typically work with third-party developers on larger projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apptension?

We carried out the planning, UX, and design for a travel app for a client that allows users to reserve and pay for travel activities. We needed development resource to help us build the iOS app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They collaborated with us to build the iOS version of the app; while we created wireframes and provided the designs, they helped us to define the specifics of the functionality and developed the app to our specifications.

The primary functions facilitate vendor-user interactions. Vendors can advertise their activities with photos and promotional videos. Users then browse through the offered activities, organize them with filters, and request bookings. The app also features text/email notifications, integrated digital payment options, and user itineraries.

Currently, they’re providing ongoing support for the app, and we plan to launch other releases by the end of the year. They’ve recently released an update that allowed us to add other markets to our vendor base.

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with a tech lead, developer, project manager, and a QA tester.

How did you come to work with Apptension?

We received numerous referrals from our colleagues, so we contacted them and detailed our project objectives. Compared to other companies, they responded quickly and diligently to give us estimates. Ultimately, we chose them based on their high-quality portfolio and previous clients.

How much have you invested with them?

We prefer to keep the project cost confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

The iOS build lasted from March–September 2017. Now, they continue to provide app maintenance and have plans for a potential Android version, though this will depend on our end-client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end-client praised the app and wanted to continue working with us, which reflects the caliber of Apptension’s work. They accurately replicated our designs in the final build and included all of the required functions.

How did Apptension perform from a project management standpoint?

Throughout the process, we learned to collaborate with them and came to consider them partners. We met weekly with appear.in and communicated primarily through Slack for smaller inquiries. They always replied promptly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re great communicators and easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As we went along, we conveyed minor concerns to them, and they addressed everything we mentioned.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I don’t know what we could have done without our constant communication. They excel at keeping their clients informed, so customers should not be afraid to reach out to them.

4.5

Overall Score

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Apptension

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Custom software development - web, mobile & beyond

headquarters

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Teamdeck

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Welcome to Marwen

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Apr 14, 2020

the review

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the review

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the review

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the review

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the review

Oct 17, 2019

the review

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the reviewer

the review

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the review

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