Chimpare

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of a social dog-walking application that’s based in the UK. We help people connect with each other based on their fitness, physical abilities, walking preferences, and the breed of their dogs.

What challenge were you trying to address with Chimpare?

We hired Chimpare to design and developer our mobile app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a number of initial consultations with Chimpare and the technical director. We exchanged conversations through a freelance website and Zoom and eventually came to an agreement. They then created the project scope while I put together a PowerPoint presentation regarding the app’s UI/UX. Unfortunately, our preferences and guidelines were disregarded along the way as Chimpare had created their own UX design for our app.

The project was going well, initially. They acknowledged our concerns and discussed matters with us regularly through Skype. However, our conversations started to diminish after we paid our initial milestone. They started sending us designs for the app, and we had to constantly get back to them since our specifications were not being followed. 

Our communication continued to deteriorate since they outsourced the work to various overseas developers. When we started voicing our concerns, they distanced themselves from us and stopped responding in a timely manner. We constantly had to chase them for updates. It came to a point where the technical director completely ignored all of our concerts.

When we informed Chimpare we were going to part ways with them and that we weren’t going to invest any more money into the project, the technical director terminated all conversations with us. At that point, we still had standing concerns and had not yet received all of our intellectual property.

What is the team composition?

It’s hard to put an exact figure on how many employees they have. I initially believed they were a larger company, but it seems as though they only have two people who are invested in the business. They outsource a lot of their work to freelancers around the world.

We didn’t even have a dedicated point of contact, and the project manager was switched out many times throughout the process. When we had concerns, we would go to one person only to be dismissed and told to go to another. No one really took true ownership of the project.

How did you come to work with Chimpare?

I came across them through Upwork. Chimpare showed us their customer reviews on various sites, and we were sold. We also liked that they were based in the UK, since we’ve had issues with our previous overseas freelancer. However, they ended up outsourcing the work all the same. They didn’t clarify who would be working on the app when I asked.

How much have you invested with them?

We initially agreed on $11,500, but I ended up paying about $14,000 in total. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The original engagement began in May 2021 and ended in March 2022. It took us some time, but we finally terminated the contract in February 2022, and stopped all conversions six weeks later, when we got everything that we needed from them.

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

This has had a detrimental effect on our business, and we’ve experienced a lot of financial and emotional hardship. Our new developer has highlighted 30 different problems with the application, and we’ve spent $5,000 to fix all of the issues that Chimpare created. We anticipate that we will be spending even more, probably up to $10,000, to fix the app to launch standard.

We’ve also lost customers as a result of this project. People who have been very good supporters of ours for some time have lost interest now because we keep pushing back the launch of our app. Even the partnerships we’d planned to make have been affected because we’ve missed certain deadlines and have effectively come across as an unreliable company. 

How did Chimpare perform from a project management standpoint?

We originally had our conversations over Zoom, but we moved over to Skype when those broke down. Chimpare also created so many different WhatsApp groups with so many different people, which made it difficult for us to know who to really speak to. 

Because they were using freelancers, there was no direct communication with us, the clients. Our messages would go to Chimpare and would then be relayed to India-based freelancers, which resulted in our issues and specifications being miscommunicated. A lot of different developers came in to try to fix the problems, but again, they didn’t really understand what the initial consultation was because they were not involved during those early stages. 

The overall customer service was just disappointing because they didn’t take our concerns very seriously. We never got the product that we wanted, and we even had to fight for them to send us all of our intellectual property. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

On the design front, they had produced a very eye-catching application. We understood that what we initially wanted was quite difficult to achieve, but they made many changes to the app to suit our needs. The home screen requires only some minor changes, so their design and presentation are probably the only top factors we would rate them on.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They definitely need to improve their customer service. We constantly had to chase them for any kind of feedback, and they never once reached out to provide regular updates, ask how we were feeling, or offer to discuss our concerns. It reached a point where we were left in the dark and didn’t know what to do. It would definitely help their business to take on feedback and to review if the freelancers they work with have the credentials and experience to facilitate the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your due diligence and research a company thoroughly before working with them. Don’t just decide based on the feedback and reviews that you see on one website. You can always have a bad seed in the grain, and you have to read the feedback to understand the journey people have been through. 

I would also recommend that you look into the size of the company and how long they’ve been trading to get a better feel of the services that they provide. Ask to know more about how the business operates and request samples of their completed projects. Then maybe reach out to their previous to get personal feedback.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a software development company. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Chimpare?

I had an idea for a mobile app that I wanted to build, so I needed Chimpare’s services. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chimpare developed a mobile app. Their staff and I collaborated in the process. The app was an advanced accounting platform that had a lot of functionality compatible with iOS, Android, and web platforms. 

What is the team composition?

We mainly worked with 1–2 people from their team. 

How did you come to work with Chimpare?

I found them through a vendor directory. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $45,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2018–September 2019. 

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

Chimpare’s work was good. I wrote the program, and their great UI/UX engineers implemented it.  

How did Chimpare perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated through Zoom and managed the project through Freedcamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were highly professional and bright people. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Put work by yourself. The more work you contribute to the project, the better your final product will be. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of Chit Chat Application Ltd., a social media startup.

What challenge were you trying to address with Chimpare?

We needed their expertise in app development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chimpare has developed our web-based app from the ground up. Our platform is an instant messaging app that enables users to connect to different rooms depending on their interests. We have an entire community of hobbyists and sports enthusiasts who can freely communicate with one another.

We've initially communicated our design and functionality requirements to them, and Chimpare has then kicked off the UI/UX design phase. Once they've secured our approval, they've proceeded with the development of our app's front- and backend. I've also asked their team to integrate an admin panel, so I can implement app changes on my own and monitor any user reports. The development phase is still ongoing, but they're nearly done. We'll prepare for the app's go-live after they accomplish this phase.

What is the team composition?

We work with at least three people from their team, including Cris (UI/UX Designer) and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Chimpare?

I interviewed 10 companies and decided to go with Chimpare because they understood my long-term project needs. Additionally, I saw their commitment to fulfilling my goals and treating the project as their own.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about £14,000–£15,000 (approximately $19,000–$20,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and our collaboration is ongoing

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

Chimpare has impeccably designed our app's wireframes –– the platform is both functional and polished. We've run server tests and encountered some lags, but they've assured me that everything will work seamlessly once we launch the product on app stores.

How did Chimpare perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via WhatsApp, Zoom, and phone calls, while we rely on Freedcamp for project management. Chimpare has been an understanding and adaptable platform –– they're attentive to my changing needs and edit requests, and they've been patient in communicating with me despite pandemic-related constraints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Chimpare has top-notch customer service –– they understand the ins and outs of my product and treat it as their own. Other companies will just accomplish deliverables for the ask of money, but Chimpare works to help me meet my business goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's not really on their end, but it will be nice if we can have in-person meetings to help speed up the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Determine your needs and provide a concise project brief –– they'll take it from there and work their magic to give you what you're looking for.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a multi-national marketing consultancy agency. We specialise in Neuromarketing and small business content solutions. We've been in business 25 years and have clients in both the UK and USA.

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

We hired Chimpare to help us with a client project that included both website and mobile app development. Our client, a multi-national law firm - needed help with their out of date website and developing an app to enable clients to use their self-serve briefing tools and access their account to review documentation etc. It was a mess and they needed help fast!

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

A combination of price, service (team structure), expertise and likeabiity. It's important to actually like the team you're working with and right from the start we all felt comfortable with the Chimpare team.

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

Chimpare gave us a proposal that was hard to beat. Focused on communication and service delivery, from the get go, we felt comfortable that they would deliver a well put together product. They completely revamped the website and created an application that seamlessly connected to the desktop account access (not all of their clients wanted to use a mobile to access their accounts). They managed to take a very complicated challenge and distil it into a beautiful to look at and easy to use App that has transformed our clients interactions with their clients.

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

There were approximately 10 people working on our account. The founders formed the core of the consultancy team together with a number of expert team mates. When it came to implementation we had a number of people working simultaneously on the project for us. No matter how many people were working on the project, we were never left out of the loop and the account management was excellent.

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

Our client has seen a measurable uptick in website performance (traffic has increased by 30%) and client relations have never been better.

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

Friendly, consistent and always professional.

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

They made really complicated, techy stuff easy for us and our client to understand. Nice guys with a great outlook on their clients and business.

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

Nope. They got the job done quickly.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a start up app based security company.

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

We asked chimpare to develop an App for our app based security company, we will be providing door security to a wide range of sectors. We wanted our clients to have the ability to book security workers through an online portal and for the security workers to accept jobs through the app.

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

We searched online for suitable app developers and interviewed 8 different companies prior to selecting chimpare. We decided on chimpare because we felt they fully understood our project, their proposal exceeded our expectations and offered a very competitive price for our end goal.

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

We had a number of meetings to discuss the scope and key deliverables. Chimpare were able to offer us exactly what we needed to create the iOS and android app we had mapped out.

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

A project manager was assigned to our project and we were always able to speak to the directors of the company regarding any concerns.

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

We are at the beginning of our business journey, we are very close to launching our app and start trading.

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

Chimpare have been extremely easy to communicate with. It’s been very reassuring to know that we can contact the team at any time via phone calls, zoom meetings, WhatsApp messaging and emails.

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

Chimpare have always taken the time to ask lots of questions enabling them to have a clear understanding of our business needs and have delivered an impeccable service.

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

We have been extremely happy with the work they have completed.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Self employed teacher

For what projects/services did your company hire Chimpare?

I started my freelance drama teaching business 5 years ago and used Chimpare to help me design my website. It was a great choice as they worked quickly with me in order to market my skills and services.

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

I used Chimpare because I liked the quality of their designs and the fact that they worked in a number of disciplines. They were also extremely cost-effective.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Chimpare listened to my vision for my website. Picking out colors, logos and text that reflected the mood I was hoping to create. Instilling parents with confidence and inspiring the younger generation. I felt that my edits were made quickly and efficiently too.

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

Just 1 designer

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

The website helped me gain a number of contracts and established my credibility in the initial process of setting up my business.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very good

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

We like their speed and cost-effectiveness.

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

No

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the business development director for a startup Healthcare technology company that has been established to tackle niche gaps in healthcare technology that assist physicians in reducing their workloads while providing patients with significant improvements in timely access to specialist care.

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

Chimpare was hired to assist in correcting a host of issues the first development team we worked with were unable or unwilling to resolve and build out the MVP for the intended webapp. The goals were to get base functionality worked out and build a stable and reliable platform that could be relied on by the emergency care physicians that are wrestling with life and death scenarios at every turn… the intent was to give them a tool that would assist in reducing their administrative workload so that they could get back to providing care to patients.

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

We searched online and put out requests for proposals to numerous sites. We met with various development teams in Canada, USA, Mexico, and the UK. The major deciding factors were Chimpare's understanding of what we were intending to deliver, the appreciation of the high impact and high risk failure of the platform posed once in production, and most importantly their willingness to learn how to use new tools to deliver the product as laid out in the requirements that were submitted.

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

We already had a website and a significant portion of the webapp delivered. Chimpare came in to resolve issues that existed with the webapp and to make it more user friendly. We provided the wireframes and base build. Chimpare (Samuel) setup a kick-off to get the team familiar with the requirements of the project and we had weekly calls to ensure each sprint was proceeding as expected. Key deliverables were user friendly UX/UI, mobile friendly, fully functioning clinic booking calendar (still working on fixing modification glitch), fully functioning referral request platform (still working on image capture and image database issues), and reporting/notification systems. Technologies used were AWS, Angular, Firebase, Google Vision API, Twilio integration.

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

Samuel was our main contact point from a management perspective and Pinkesh was the primary developer that has been assisting us from the beginning and ongoing. My understanding is that there are 2-3 additional developers assisting Pinkesh at a more senior and potentially junior level.

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

From whe. Chimpare got been involved and we got past some obstacles we improved successful referral request submissions from 0% to 30% and subsequently to over 80% successful requests. We still have some lingering issues that are being worked out, but once those are resolved I’m confident we will be at 95%+ successful requests. The general feedback from users has been mixed given some of the outstanding deficiencies, but overall the project has been deemed successful and will have further support for iOS/Android app development once the webapp is fine tuned.

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

We had weekly status calls and a group tracking system that worked for the team. We were given the option of tools to work with, but we primarily elected to have a more conversational and open forum engagement via WhatsApp. Management style was an agile approach, which was necessary for the type of development at hand.

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

They don’t give up when things get difficult and demands are high. They were able to take criticism and feedback in a professional manner such that relationships/egos were not negatively affected. Basically, there was/is a great deal of communication and understanding. It may be uncomfortable to have hard discussions out of fear, but I have to say I appreciate that Samuel created an environment where I was comfortable to speak my mind and raise concerns when I felt it necessary.

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

A better understanding of some team members limitations may have avoided some of our setbacks and perhaps more standardized documentation (status reports, and templated requirements collections) may have helped keep us on track a bit better.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director at Law firm

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

They renewed the website for £100

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

They contacted me

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

not much

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

one

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

They renewed the website domain

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

It was a five-minute job (if that)

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

nothing

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

nothing

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder and CEO

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

Full end-to-end app development

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

They are a UK based app developer, with experience of end-to-end delivery. Engagement during the tender process and cost were also key factors.

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

App UI and UX based on initial XD drafts and design specification documents. Development of an icon, logo and overall style. Full development and launch of the app.

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

This is unclear- they appear to have outsourced to a number of agencies. At least 3 resources were allocated.

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

Design stage completed, development stage just beginning. The outputs of this were largely very good, however, there were some outstanding items that they did not resolve

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

They use a tool called 'Freedcamp', but this is mainly used for messaging. They do not appear to consistently use all the features such as the calendar or backlog management / boards. There has been limited formal project management to date. On occasion, they appear to be using unlicensed versions of software.

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

They've really spent the time understanding the requirements and making helpful suggestions. They also showed patience where required.

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

Project set-up and management need improving: the initial draft contract was poor and required significant work. Project management and communication were inconsistent