CitrusBits

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Silicon Valley Innovation Center leader at DuPont Technology Center. We’re a material science company.

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

We hired them because we were looking to create an AR experience and overlay of the site. We wanted to have an interactive experience for guests to be able to see the entire site and get an idea of the different capabilities we have. We also wanted to be able to use it as a marketing tool.

What was the scope of their involvement?

CitrusBits built the experience from scratch. The team used Unity, as well as a bit of ARKit. We also had them create an iOS app for us. They relied on TestFlight for testing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people, including Harry (CEO), Doug (AR/VR Manager), and James (VP of Growth & Strategy).

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

I’d known about them for awhile, from my previous organization. I was a fan of their work, so I reached out to them for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March 2019–September 2020. We’ll probably be revisiting them sometime next year for some updates.

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

The team is great. They were extraordinarily attentive and really kept us honest. We actually took a trip to CitrusBits’ office and found them to be very hospitable, friendly, and knowledgeable. 

How did CitrusBits perform from a project management standpoint?

We set up most of our conversations through BaseCamp, but we also have typical phone calls and emails. They’re extraordinarily committed. CitrusBits is also excellent at meeting deadlines — as a matter of fact, they’re even early at times. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with their patience and their speed. CitrusBits was willing to go the extra mile for us. They worked with us when we had questions and put a lot of effort into the project. They were just great people to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that sticks out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have an idea of what you want your final product to look like, so they can give you a better end product.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of accounting, finance and IT for Urban Plates, a restaurant.

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

We hired CitrusBits to develop an app. We were looking to create a more elevated experience for people who want to order delivery, take out, or even order from a table. The online system we were using were clunky, so we wanted a seamless experience that was designed with our customers in mind.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We knew what we wanted the design and flow to be overall, but didn’t have the experience to bring it all together. CitrusBits put together all of the design documents, brought our vision to life, and then executed the technical aspects of the build.

They integrated that with a NovaDine backend which already supported online ordering, menu management, order processing, and credit card processing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one project manager, one designer, and their development team, which was overseas.

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

We did an RFP and they submitted a proposal. We selected them because we have a unique position in the market and they were able to build a custom solution for us from scratch.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent just under $400,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020 and our engagement is ongoing.

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

The quality of their service is super high. We’ve finished phase A and the app was launched to the public. In the first week and a half, we had 2,000 app users. We’re now working through feature add-ons and enhancements. Overall, we’re really happy with their work.

How did CitrusBits perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly and bi-weekly conference calls and email conversations. We also used Basecamp to communicate over the design documents and Jira for support tickets.

Right after we started, COVID-19 hit, so everything has been remote and we communicate entirely electronically.

They managed the timeline really well. NovaDine is a fairly new online ordering product, so not many companies have worked with it before, including CitruBits. Every week we were on the phone with NovaDine to work through different issues. They had to give us access to different things and rework some of the data. All of the deadlines that CitrusBits 100% controlled, they were able to achieve. Still, they were flexible as we worked with third parties.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really understood our experience because they were customers of ours. It really helped that they understood our company and were a true partner. As a result, we’re really excited to bring the app to life.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t face any challenges with CitrusBits.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We spent a lot of time on the design phase and screen flows. I would recommend that new partners take the time to nail down as much as they can regarding the design. It will save you a ton of time on the backend.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Marketing and Sales Manager for my company. We deal solely with providing merchant cash advances to small businesses throughout the US.

For what projects/services did your company hire CitrusBits?

Our company wanted to launch a mobile app - one that could replace our outdated online portal, and give our customers an easy and accessible way to always check the status of their account. We needed something that was clean, easy to use, and informative.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the creation of a mobile app for iOS and Android. While we do have plans to release new features in phases, we had a set number of specifications and features that we wanted, such as being able to check balances, dates, and keep track of how the customer's advance was coming along.

Sending push notifications to specific people with customizable messages was a big part of what we were looking for as well.

How did you select this vendor?

I actually found CitrusBits through Clutch.co while searching for mobile app developers in my area. We really wanted a company that was close by and able to come to our office for a face to face meeting to start, with weekly check-ins (remotely) as the app development progressed.

CitrusBits was able to do that! Furthermore, upon looking at some of their other creations, I fell in love; everything was very well-made, and they were organized, communicative, and patient from the very beginning. It was a pretty easy pick.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we decided to work with CitrusBits, they were very quick to set up a meeting with us to discuss the scope of the project, as well as key features that we wanted for our app. We discussed color schemes and the main demographic of our customers, which allowed CB to develop and design an app that was tailored for our users.

CitrusBits provided detailed notes after every weekly meeting, did check-in calls to discuss our feedback on every part of the design and functionality of the app, and very frequently accommodated us for technical calls to straighten out any and all issues that arose.

Everything was clear, easy to understand, organized, and transparent; CitrusBits always remained in touch for everything, and that's allowed us to receive an app that's exactly what we were looking for.

What was the team composition?

We had the main point of contact and the project lead, Breann, who is an absolute pleasure to work with. Chandler spearheaded the designs (which turned out beautifully). As for the IT/technical side, we communicated mostly with Umair. All three people were extremely communicative and accommodating, and kept in touch with us through Basecamp and weekly calls.

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

We're all extremely excited to launch our mobile app! Previously, we used a very outdated online portal that would sometimes break down, lag, or not be updated to show the most recent information. Some of our customers are older, so they didn't like having to go to a webpage, log in, and go through the entire process just to get some simple information.

The app makes all of that very easy and accessible with just one press of the finger on their home screen! We've always promised our customers hassle-free and quick service. The app created by CitrusBits delivers on that promise and more.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everyone was exceptionally easy to work with. They were patient in explaining not only the process and the workflow, but also any and all errors that came up as well. As this was our very first mobile app, no one on our team had any experience for how to make things work, but the team over at CitrusBits held our hands and guided us through the steps one at a time.

CitrusBits' project lead was very organized, and it helped that she always took such detailed notes for every weekly meeting. It helped us organize what we needed to do and what was being done. The CitrusBits team as a whole was communicative as well, so any time we asked a question or provided anything requested, we received an answer no later than a day.

We had some stumbles and delays on our end due to the COVID-19 situation, but CitrusBits was patient and willing to work with us throughout the whole mess!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was blown away by pretty much everything. CitrusBits was knowledgeable and willing to pull thrice their own weight. When we needed advice, they had it ready immediately. Even before we expressed concerns about unfamiliarity with our industry type,

CitrusBits did their research and looked up our competitors, common designs and features in our industry, and more. Furthermore, CitrusBits really went above and beyond the expected! Accommodating, patient, and fast - CB had all of that and more to the point where I really can't pinpoint just one aspect that was impressive. Their professionalism and quality of work really speaks for themselves!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Honestly? I can't think of any. CitrusBits was fast in delivering what we wanted, and the end product is still blowing me away with how beautiful it is. It's exactly what we envisioned for the first phase of our mobile app!

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are the leader in the animal health industry. I'm the Sr. Creative Designer for the US Diagnostics Marketing team.

For what projects/services did your company hire CitrusBits?

We needed an AR solution for our product demonstrations. Instead of physically bringing our instruments into veterinary clinics, we needed a solution to perform demonstrations on our mobile tablets.

What were your goals for this project?

To create solid leads by performing product demonstrations through our AR app.

How did you select this vendor?

We researched several companies and along with a recommendation from our creative agency, we agreed on CitrusBits.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The project was to create 3D renditions of 3 of our products. They were then to create an AR app which linked from our companies sales enablement app. Through storyboards and many visits and conversations, CitrusBits created several hot spots, or animations, within each product to give the user a sense of what it would be like to demonstrate the product.

What was the team composition?

All of our communication went through Doug Liang, Director of AR, who was great. I'm not sure how many designers were allocated to our project and if that number changed throughout the project, but Doug made sure all of our needs were met in a timely fashion.

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

Everything to report so far has been word of mouth. The app was debuted at our largest tradeshow of the year in January, in which we got very positive feedback from our sales reps at the show, as well as executives and tradeshow participants (veterinarians, vet techs).

It's currently being deployed to all of our sales reps at our National Sales Meeting this week. Once it's being used by all of our reps, it will be nice if we can track the usage and if it was used to assist in any direct sales with clients.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project was managed within BaseCamp for the most part. Communication was good throughout the project. We had weekly calls throughout so that we could stay on top of deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Aside from the solid work they completed, it was their willingness to go above and beyond, whether with scheduling or finding payment solutions. CitrusBits was always willing to find a solution that worked for us. They were very accommodating.

Are there any areas for improvement?

If anything, communication could always be improved. At times, revisions were either misunderstood or missed, but these were minor things that were always cleared up in the end.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Commercial Officer of a small biotech company based in Menlo Park. I'm responsible for our digital app development and engagement that surrounds our novel medical device.

For what projects/services did your company hire CitrusBits?

We were interested in pairing a mobile application to our novel medical device. We hired CitrusBits to help us develop, test and launch a mobile application best fit for patient use.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to develop a sleek, smooth and user friendly mobile application for use with our device. The project was tricky as it involved not only the app development but also linking the hardware in a seamless way.

How did you select this vendor?

CitrusBits was highly recommended to us by a similar company in our space who had done mobile development with this team before. Additionally, we screened multiple companies for the project, but the team at CitrusBits was clearly knowledgeable and engaging throughout the whole process, and continued to be so during and even after the work was completed.

Describe the project in detail.

The scope of the project was to complete a mobile application for our patients and link it seamlessly to our novel medical device. We worked hand in hand with CitrusBits to develop a look and feel that we felt would be attractive, and easy to use for our patient population. The project involved weekly (or more often) meetings to get all of the details finely tuned. We were under a tight timeline to deliver and CitrusBits did everything they could to ensure we hit our goals (which we did!).

What was the team composition?

Our team involved myself and an engineer who worked closely with CitrusBits to integrate the hardware. The CitrusBits team involved a project manager (very responsive, on top of all details), a designer (very creative and receptive to feedback) and a development team (ex-US who were very good at collaborating with us when we hit bumps in the road). The team flexed in and out as necessary but transitions were never difficult.

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

Our project with CitrusBits has "wow'd" many of the key stakeholders that we have engaged in. The professionalism and thoughtfulness of the application has significantly added value to our company and we're extremely grateful to the work that the CitrusBits team has done.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project management aspect of the project was fantastic. We were very happy with the engagement, organization and overall professionalism of how the project flowed. Timelines, deadlines and expectations were extremely clear on both sides of the aisle.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The final product was the most impressive thing about the work we did with CitrusBits. The project management, creative process and everything else was really well done. It all came together to give us a product that we're excited about and has more than exceeded expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Although timelines weren't impacted, the transition of hardware overseas to the ex-US team took longer than expected and it felt like that process could have been expedited or done in a more seamless way. That being said - all was delivered on time. Also, we had a digital kickoff and it would have been nice to meet in person at least to begin the project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of Champions Round, a fantasy sports game that breaks up seasons into smaller chunks—called micro-seasons—and allow users to draft multiple times.

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

We needed help with building our platform as a robust, smooth mobile app for iOS devices. This was challenging because the world of fantasy sports requires accessing a lot of statistics, making it difficult to navigate on mobile.

What was the scope of their involvement?

CitrusBits designed and built our iOS app from scratch. The team also created our portal and proprietary app. They provided every service from mapping out the interface to in-house development to QA and testing. 

We started by laying out the project timeline, which required a quick turnaround before the NFL season started. Their design team worked with us to build the UI/UX and layout. They had very little knowledge of fantasy sports and had to teach themselves the topic. The team delivered high-fidelity wireframes that met our requirements. After that, the development team took over.

What is the team composition?

I directly worked with three members of CitrusBits’ design team, a project manager, and a head developer. On Jira and other project management tools, I communicated with up to 10 people.

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

When we were considering this project, we weren’t sure if we should hire someone in-house, bring in a contractor, or go with a hybrid approach. However, given our timeline, we decided to go with an external development shop for our first version.

After vetting several firms, we were deciding between two companies: CitrusBits and a firm based in New York. CitrusBits was honest from the get-go about the project’s likely costs and timeline as well as their capabilities. When we compared their samples of work, CitrusBits had excellent quality compared to the other firm. Despite their higher quote, we decided to go with CitrusBits.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $370,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

CitrusBits’ role lasted from February until July 2019. 

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

We’re now testing an alpha version with select users outside of our teams. We’re still working with CitrusBits to get everything ready, but the first version of the app is done. Once the sports season starts, we’ll have a lot more user metrics. 

The app has received a lot of compliments praising its appearance and responsiveness. It runs smoothly and looks professional. I’ve only heard negative feedback about our sign-in process, but that’s not on CitrusBits. 

How did CitrusBits perform from a project management standpoint?

CitrusBits was always available for check-ins, whether over the phone or in their offices. Every team member was on top of the project and was diligent in learning about our industry. It got to the point where they were correcting me about statistics! 

The project manager was especially good. They were always honest about what they could or could not accomplish within our budget and timeline, and they stuck to those limits. We were clear on expectations, such as what constitutes a feature request. We also received advance notice on any challenges that the team was facing.

We used Jira and email to keep in touch. CitrusBits’ communication was flawless. Their team stayed up from 1 a.m. until 10 a.m. in their time zone to answer our emails as we were getting ready for alpha testing. We didn’t expect that from them, but we appreciated it enormously.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CitrusBits’ ability to solve UI/UX problems is what sets them apart. Unlike other companies I’ve worked with, they’re willing to think outside the box and create something brand-new. Their team is some of the smartest people I’ve worked with. I want to visit them in Pakistan to personally thank them. I can’t speak highly enough about CitrusBits.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We initially talked about the project with one of CitrusBits’ reps. The rep was highly knowledgeable of fantasy sports and promised to get more involved as the project went along. That promise went unfulfilled, and we had to take the reins and make sure that our design and development team understood the nuances of our project. 

Also, sometimes when we needed to ask for changes on a piece of work that we thought was obvious, CitrusBits would consider it a feature request. That became a point of friction, and we had to pull in the business rep again to honor the first promise. This was the only issue we had, however.

Any advice for potential customers?

When it comes to Citrus Bits in general, I'd say you're in good hands. However, make sure you understand what user stories you'd want to implement before working with any development team. Otherwise, you can go into a discovery phase and establish a scope only to realize that there are a few things that you completely overlooked. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of information technology and digital marketing at Pelican Water, a company that sells water treatment equipment direct to consumers via online, in-home, and retail.

For what projects/services did your company hire CitrusBits?

Many customers find it difficult to make a large purchase online as they are unsure about security and ease of checkout and are worried that they won’t get all the information they need at their fingertips.

What were your goals for this project?

Provide customers with easy access to our catalog of products, online tools for healthy living, and conservation efforts. Also, easy reordering and order status notification, secure mobile payment options, and access to the latest special offers.

How did you select this vendor?

CitrusBits was recommended by another vendor of ours as their mobile app development company of choice.

Describe the project in detail.

We started the project with a basic scope and concept: making an app version of our catalog and tying it into our existing e-commerce system. We then built out tools and message notification system to provide customers with healthy living tips, order status updates, product and promotional notifications, and water quality alerts.

What was the team composition?

We started with a team of brand and UX design experts who helped mock up a use-case flow chart and then started to build wireframes with no visual context. Then, their branding team worked with our branding team to pick iconology and color schemes and build out the interface. Then, the UX team worked with myself and others on the marketing side to form user flows to ensure smooth and fluid usage for customers.

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

Within two weeks of launching the app, we’ve already seen large numbers of return customers using the app to order replacements. We’ve also seen new customers making large purchases online using mobile payment options not previously available.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Mobile app development is a long road, as you can see from the nearly one-year project for our app. However, the diligence shown from the Citrus side ensured no feature was forgotten or not fleshed out.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The development team is quick to respond and is able to quickly understand and adapt to existing architecture.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of the Produce Section Challenge, a nationally recognized health and wellness program. I oversee content and marketing, which reaches over 250,000 people a week. I have built the brand into a successful and profitable company that’s been featured multiple times on national television. I am overseeing the launch of the highly anticipated Produce Section Challenge app that will further establish the brand and make it a household name.

For what projects/services did your company hire CitrusBits?

I hired CitrusBits to design, develop, and implement a mobile application for my company on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. They turned the Produce Section Challenge into a fully functioning application and will continue to build it out as we grow together in the future.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to be able to do everything I am doing currently, but in a more concise and accessible way. I knew a mobile application would give me more reach and make it easier to monetize my content and interact with my subscribers. I needed it to be simple enough that everyone could use it, but complex enough that it got the job done and added value to people's everyday lives.

How did you select this vendor?

I originally found CitrusBits by connecting with a freelancing platform that referred me to a site that listed the best mobile application agencies. I saw CitrusBits was the highest rated and had the best reviews so I contacted them. They were actually the first app company I spoke with. I reached out to a few others, but none of them were as good of a fit or could make my idea come to life as well as CitrusBits could. I also noticed that CitrusBits had worked with other companies in my field and were able to get positive results.

Describe the project in detail.

The project is a mobile application that involved creating recipes, grocery lists, meal plans, videos, and a community all in one place. The project involved creating a frontend for the users and a backend for administrators to create and edit the content on the live application. There are recipes with videos that work alongside dynamic grocery lists and meal plans. The plans, videos, recipes and grocery list all worked in unison so that the user can easily plan, shop and cook their meals at home to enjoy a healthier and happier life. It’s a subscription model where users pay a monthly subscription fee to access content that’s updated daily.

What was the team composition?

The team was made up of developers and project managers. We communicated through Basecamp, Webex, Google, and Testflight. We had regular meetings with all the team members to make sure we were all on the same page. They accomplished each task in an orderly manner until delivering the end result: An amazing mobile application that exceeded all of our expectations.

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

The application was completed within the time frame we set when we started. The application is fully functioning and includes all of the features we requested. The feedback from everyone involved and from outside people has been extremely positive. We are launching on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and have come very far in just a short period of time.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication and workflow between our company and CitrusBits was seamless and efficient. We worked hard, set goals, and accomplished tasks. It took the effort of everyone on both teams to make this happen, and we couldn’t be more thankful to have CitrusBits’ amazing team members on our side.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It’s their professionalism, organization, punctuality, and work ethic. They’re always the hardest working people in the room. They will not settle for anything less than perfection. They thoroughly and genuinely care about their clients and create mutually beneficial relationships. When you hire CitrusBits, you know you have a team that's looking out for you and will get the job done.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There was nothing that stood out to me that CitrusBits could do better. They are very well versed in the latest technology and are always trying to better themselves.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and a co-founder of Z.E.N. Foods. We’re a healthy, fresh food and meal delivery program.

For what projects/services did your company hire CitrusBits?

We needed to create a customized mobile app and software system for our new meal program.

What were your goals for this project?

We set out to build a system that’s easy for both users and administrators to use.  

How did you select this vendor?

We reviewed many other agencies, considering how customized we wanted our platform to be. Citrus Bits was highly attentive and seemed to be able to build something that was both user-friendly and visually appealing.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The designed and developed a new mobile app and software. Handling both the frontend and the backend, their team worked with ours daily. We expect the app to launch successfully in the coming months.

What was the team composition?

CitrusBits assigned a group of people to work with our team and coordinate the system. Everyone we worked with was amazing.

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

They delivered one-of-a-kind software, and we’re thrilled. Information that took significant staff hours to find under the old system is now at our fingertips, boosting our profitability and efficiency. CitrusBits created an experience our clients will love for years to come because it allows them to do everything online.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We communicated effectively over email and brainstormed on phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We loved their responsiveness and excitement, as well as their knowledge of the technology space. They made it an easy process for a company like us who isn’t tech-savvy. Additionally, they possess many specialties we couldn’t find with other vendors.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't say there’s any room for improvement based on our experience. Their expertise and patience put us on track to become an industry leader.  

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Co-CEO of GrubWell, a startup that suggests local restaurants where consumers can find healthy food options.

For what projects/services did your company hire CitrusBits?

We needed to create a consumer-facing mobile app that suggests local healthy dining options.

What were your goals for this project?

The application will both facilitate the customer’s search for healthy food and increase revenue for our partners through the generation of foot traffic. We want an application that can scale to a nation-wide audience.

How did you select this vendor?

We researched online to find developers because we don't have any in-house specialists to create an app. After narrowing it down to two vendors, we interviewed both teams in person. We even met with the CEO of CitrusBits to determine if the company was a good fit. While CitrusBits had a higher price than the other vendor, we ultimately chose their team because of their experience in app creation for the food and health market.

Describe the project in detail.

The team held discovery meetings to determine our business goals. They kept our market in mind as they researched the app universe. They collaborated with internal stakeholders to outline the MVP and plan the framework of the platform.

After determining the app logic, they started outlining the UI of the app. The team suggested possible logos and color boards, and we chose the designs that resonated with us. We all agreed on the final decision together.

The backend of the platform has been created, and they are currently working on the frontend. Besides app development, they have also helped us build a landing page for our website.

What was the team composition?

A project manager and backend engineers are working on the project.

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

While the platform is still being developed, it has received positive feedback from internal stakeholders. The UX of the app seems very accessible.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They have been using Basecamp to manage the progress of the project and support quick communication. CitrusBits has excelled at keeping stakeholders in the loop, holding meetings almost 3–4 times per month.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team has put effort into understanding our goals, and they offer valuable suggestions accordingly. Their insight is supported by extensive experience in platform development for food and health companies. They really put their heart and soul into their work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Sometimes the price appears high, but we have received quality work in exchange. Overall, we have found the investment to be well worth it.