CitrusBits

BACKGROUND

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

• Deliver a custom mobile app that elevated the user experience
• Drive additional transactions through a more frictionless UX
• Increase AOV through better merchandising and upsell

SOLUTION

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Chief Marketing Officer for Rubio's Restaurants, Inc., a fast casual Mexican restaurant with over 150 locations in California, Arizona and Nevada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our website was significantly out of date, hosted on Drupal which was very expensive, and utilized a white label product for our ordering flow and account management. We hired CitrusBits to help us move our Website onto Wordpress, and to create a custom order flow and account management experience for our guests. Our goals were to increase sales, Rubio's Rewards sign ups and store visits.

SOLUTION

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

We had already gone through an RFP process with CitrusBits for development of a custom mobile app for us. We had already decided that CitrusBits would be the best partner for that project. While that project was on hold, we wanted CitrusBits to also work on our website so we would have one company helping with the guest experience across channels, and because much of the work on the website could then be leveraged for the mobile app.

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

We did some discover work upfront to identify and understand our different end users. We already had the basic order flow created and delivered design files for the work. CitrusBits then created all of the pages which were reviewed for layout/design. They then integrated them with our ordering and loyalty platform APIs and we conducted extensive testing of all aspects.

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

We had a project manager as well as 3 - 4 different developers working on our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is hard to measure because shortly after launching the website, we launched an update to our Rewards program which shifted sales volume to our mobile app.

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

We used Slack, Jira and Basecamp to communicate updates. We also held weekly update meetings and even daily as we got close to launch.

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

They were very responsive in making changes, and I appreciated that they thought through the guest experience and would come back to us with their feedback or recommendations on requested changes to make the experience better.

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

We had a long list of fixes that still need to be completed when we launched the site, and it took us several months to work through them. I would have liked more to be completed prior to launch.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior VP and former CTO at Gravity Coffee Company. We have more than 30 drive-thru coffee locations and beverage stores in the state of Washington, and we’re planning to open more locations in Arizona and Florida.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

We wanted to develop a mobile application to fight the drive-thru and third-party delivery services market competition. We have robust gift card and loyalty programs, so we wanted to combine that with our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CitrusBits designed and developed our Android and iOS apps. First, CitrusBits created a statement of work. The discovery phase was the longest because we brought our employees into the process, from baristas to upper management, and several teammates were involved in figuring out the app’s functionalities. 

CitrusBits also helped us define our user personas and our client’s demographics. They created the app’s UI/UX design. CitrusBits used different tools to share the app’s design with us, which in the end, consisted of over 170 screens. CitrusBits created a flow on a Miro board and then shared designs on Marvel App. They then changed to Figma, and our employees were able to comment on the designs. 

CitrusBits then developed the app using React Native and hosted it in AWS. The app allows our customers to schedule their pick-up order at a specific time or create an order for immediate pick-up. The orders can be paid with a credit card and our company’s gift cards. Customers can check their card balance in the app, reload a gift card, and check their reward points. 

Moreover, CitrusBits helped us design a monthly subscription model with benefits for our customers, and the app manages these subscriptions. Finally, they left the app open enough to work on the second version. CitrusBits provides us with technical support, and we plan to add more features to the app. For instance, we sell a proprietary energy drink and plan to sell it through the app in the future. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with several teammates from CitrusBits, including Victor (Senior Product Owner & Product Manager), Ana (Senior UI/UX Designer), and Rahul (Senior Business Consultant). We also worked with other developers; on some calls, there were up to 6–7 team members from CitrusBits.

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

We researched app development companies for about three months. We chose CitrusBits because they were the most well-rounded and full-featured company. We hadn’t worked with a development company before, so we needed someone that could guide us through the entire process. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with CitrusBits from August 2021–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app developed by CitrusBits has had around 8,000–9,000 downloads since we launched it in December 2022, even though we haven’t implemented a marketing campaign. We also have an average rating of 4.6 out of five in the application stores. 

Moreover, we had 5,000 orders taken through the app in the first month — customers had a great response to it. The subscription model worked great because our employees already spend less time helping customers with loyalty programs. The app has also helped speed up our service and upsells since customers now order more products through the app. We’ve seen that app orders have a higher average ticket spend than store orders.

How did CitrusBits perform from a project management standpoint?

CitrusBits met deadlines and stayed on budget. All the additional functionalities that we asked them to add were managed in separate contracts from the original one.

We had weekly meetings with CitrusBits. They were great at keeping us on task and making sure we authorized everything on Basecamp before they moved on to the next phase. CitrusBits also used Jira for project management, and Victor was very supportive throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with CitrusBits’ communication and project management skills. We didn’t have experience developing an app, and CitrusBits guided us throughout the process and helped us think in terms of what our app really needed instead of what we thought it needed. 

CitrusBits showed us different development options and explained the differences. They brought potential challenges we hadn’t thought of and proposed solutions for them. Overall, CitrusBits developed an app that answered our company’s needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for CitrusBits to improve. My team was happy with their work. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Select a group of 3–4 teammates from your company to lead the project with CitrusBits. Make sure there’s someone from your operations, general management, and accounting teams. As a client, you need to stay on track and spend time checking CitrusBits’ deliverables. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business lead for e-commerce at The North West Company, a retail business that runs grocery stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

We needed a company that could build a custom mobile shopping app for our retail customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the engagement with a planning phase, followed by a design review phase and a technology scoping alignment phase. We gave CitrusBits a very general outline of what we wanted, and they worked with us over the first 12 months of the project to refine what we were looking for and actually put a concrete set of requirements to it, which was actually a really important part of the project because we didn't have any mobile app development experience. They really helped us figure out where we wanted to go. After that, CitrusBits developed the mobile app and handled its testing and rollout.

The app's features include checkout, split payment, order history tracking, and list creation. The split payment feature allows users to use more than one credit card or other payment types in a single transaction. Because of where our distribution points are located, we had to be able to ship our orders to our customers using small airlines. A lot of our customers also have really expensive data for their mobile devices because it's a rural area, so CitrusBits built a low bandwidth option that customers can toggle on and off so that they don't spend a ton of money using our app.

We’ve just launched the customer-facing app, so there are a few bug fixes going on. They’re also working on a web-based version of the customer-facing app. They’re also responsible for hosting and maintaining the app. Technologies used include React Native and AWS.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Rahul (Sr. Business Consultant), Harry (CEO), Anna (UI/UX Designer), Erqem (Product Owner), and three other people from CitrusBits. I want to make a special note that Erqem has been unbelievably awesome on this project. He's quick to follow up on everything, always available, and has made some great recommendations that have really helped us deliver what we've delivered.

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

During the early part of the COVID pandemic, CitrusBits put out a program they called a cultivated grant. They were offering up to $100,000 toward any organization or individual who had a project that was socially conscious and focused on helping people with the COVID situation. We submitted a proposal and mentioned that we're serving customers in rural areas that are having food security issues because of COVID. They liked our idea and decided to award us that grant.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $500,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a quantitative standpoint, I can't really give you anything because we just launched on Monday. But as far as I’m concerned, CitrusBits has delivered everything according to our expectations.

How did CitrusBits perform from a project management standpoint?

CitrusBits has performed well in terms of project management. They’ve been very transparent about additional costs, and they’ve delivered everything within a reasonable time frame. We also expanded the scope of the project, so what we actually spent was more than we expected at the beginning. But there's been a measurable way to track what we're getting for the additional money, and it's all stuff we asked for.

What did you find most impressive about them?

There's essentially a 12-hour time difference between us and CitrusBits, but there's always somebody we can get a hold of if we have a critical issue, which is really great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m most impressed with CitrusBits’ responsiveness. The fact that they were able to take our vague requirements and translate them into something that actually made sense in the mobile development world is incredibly impressive as well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to ask for what you need because they're more than capable and willing to do whatever you're looking for. Be clear and detailed about what you're looking for, and you'll get a great result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Zuswork is a Recruitment Agency, focused on hiring premium talent across the globe. I am working as a Recruitment Specialist with Zuswork.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are a startup company that recently started its operations. As we do not have in-house developers, we hired CitrusBits to help us build our website. Our goal was to make a great online presence on the internet which could clearly represent our values, our culture, and our vision.

SOLUTION

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

We searched online for web developers in our area and shortlisted 5. After interviewing them, we chose this vendor because of their past projects, design skills, and cost estimate.

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

We had a kick-off meeting to discuss our goals and objectives. From there, the team delivered a couple of great design ideas, themes, and sample websites. After a few alterations, their team designed and developed an informational WordPress site. They uploaded the content to reflect our company's services and created a landing page.

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

A project manager was our main point of contact throughout the process. There were 2 full stack developers, a designer, and a content writer working behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching our site, we saw a 70% increase in traffic and our incoming leads doubled. Clients and candidates love the design of our website.

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

We had daily stand-ups with their project manager who informed us of all the updates and status of development. If there were any delays, they informed us ahead of time so that we could prepare. We used Slack, Email, and Jira for all communication and it went really well.

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

They gave us a professional website that was easy to update. My team had never worked with WordPress before, so they took the time to teach us how to update the content ourselves.

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

When we first launched, there were some minor bugs on the contact form. We let them know and they were quick to fix the issue.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the former director of digital software at a leading energy drink company; we also produced other consumer packaged goods, like workout supplements. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

We were looking to develop a new social media app focused on fitness and wellness.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

A lot of specific project information is under an NDA because the app hasn't launched yet. In general, the project was a social media app for fitness and wellness that would be tied in with the company's products. 

We went to them with an idea, and they were contracted to deliver on the complete scope of the project. CitrusBits covered all aspects of the project, from branding to UX development to backend infrastructure and rollout. Their team developed the brand identity, logo, style guide, and app design. We worked in Zeppelin, and I believe CitrusBits was prototyping in InVision. 

What is the team composition?

We had 5–10 direct contacts that we worked with daily, including the product owner, project manager, lead designer, supporting designer, backend developer, and several app developers. 

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

I came on board after the company hired CitrusBits, but I know they went through several work proposals. Our director of technology went through and interviewed other companies, but they felt that CitrusBits was the right partner for the work. 

How much have you invested with them?

The company invested a little under $1 million with CitrusBits. 

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with CitrusBits on this project from September 2020–April 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics that demonstrate the impact of their work?

 The app hasn’t gone through all our expectations yet. The development went well, and the user acceptance has been very good.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint? Were there any project management tools? How did you typically communicate?

They’ve met all of our deadlines and been very adaptable to different communication styles. We use Slack and Jira to communicate.

What distinguishes (company name) from other providers?

BANG Energy’s dedication and adherence to deadlines are impressive. They‘ve given us the impression that they want the project to succeed by doing additional work.

In what ways could they have improved or done something differently?

It would be great if they did a bit more branding for themselves. That way, we’ll know who to touch base with and contact for updates.

What advice would you give to someone else considering working with [company} on how to get the most out of the engagement?

Be very clear about your expectations and have a structured documentation process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CTO of a news/media & political video chat platform based in Los Angeles.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop a mobile app for our users to access daily news video updates & livestreamed debates on their phones. Our goal was to have a user-friendly platform where users could instantly tune-in & interact.

SOLUTION

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

We searched online for app developers in our area and shortlisted four. After interviewing them. we chose CitrusBits based on their past projects relating directly to ours, design skills, and cost estimate.

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

We had a series of discovery meetings to discuss our goals and objectives. Their Project Mgr was a key voice and critical thinker, as we shaped the app’s features & integrations. It was a joy to collaborate & build the app further.

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

A project manager helped guide the project & work with the engineering & design team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received many app downloads & engaged users. Our app won Davey Awards (an App competition) for:

• Diversity
• Streaming
• Mobile
• Social-Good

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

The project manger was available & helpful, and also brought good solutions to the table. The communication was clear.

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

I was impressed with the project managers' professionalism and dedication, as well as the engineering team's skills. who worked cohesively together.

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

Citrusbits shifted well with us as we made changes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Zichy Intelligent Solutions, a real estate company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

I needed a company to help us build our apps and website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CitrusBits developed our website and our iOS and Android apps, and they were in charge of the design work as well. I just explained what I wanted, and they did it all.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact who coordinates everything with the rest of the team.

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

I researched for good developers, and they came on top of the list.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2019, and our engagement is ongoing, but we’re close to finishing up the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched our site and apps yet, but CitrusBits’ work is outstanding.

How did CitrusBits perform from a project management standpoint?

CitrusBits’ project management is excellent. They’ve delivered in a timely manner, and working with them has been very easy. They use Basecamp and several other platforms to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Whatever they do, they do it well, and their team works in a cohesive manner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of for them to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I definitely recommend hiring them. They have an excellent team; their project managers, programmers, and their CEO are very good.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and innovation for a science and technology company. I run our global marketing programs for a cosmetic ingredient division. We supply the world with sustainable ingredients and launch sustainable beauty and personal care brands. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CitrusBits?

We’ve hosted several major events around the world. We've created opportunities for leaders in our industry to come together and learn more about sustainability. For one of our major events, we wanted an interactive exhibit where people could have an AR experience and learn about sustainable ingredients, and how to make a sustainable reality faster. We reached out to them for their AR development services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first worked with CitrusBits to develop some animations that we had put together. We designed an iPad experience that allowed people to walk up to a backlit tower and experience an animation. The previously mentioned events were canceled because of COVID-19, and we had to pivot to an iPhone and Android platform. We’ve worked with them to launch those two applications. 

We gave them the project brief and a basic script of what the UX was going to be. The team has worked on building the AR platform using the ARKit. 

They’ve helped us think about the potential of certain animations and how they can make that come to life. We are now working on a set of animations based on images, so the app can make the animation happen depending on the image your phone is looking at. 

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact has been Doug (Product Manager), and he manages his team. I also worked with Harry (CEO) on some of the early scopes of work. 

How did you come to work with CitrusBits?

I was looking for San Francisco Bay Area developers that had AR experience. I had worked with another team, but they weren’t able to put a project proposal together and had several delays. We ended up searching online and found CitrusBits, which had great reviews. We went through a brief interview process and decided to work with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement started in January 2020, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t launched the app yet, but it has performed as expected. Animations are functioning correctly, and the feedback from our team has been very positive. We are excited about the launch. 

How did CitrusBits perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, it’s been good. We have a weekly meeting to address any key issues. We communicate through email and use Basecamp as a project management tool. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve been diligent about documenting updates, and they always make sure we have an ongoing file. It’s been nice to continually talk to them about documentation. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I understand the team has multiple projects and timelines, but I’d appreciate it if they could have more flexibility regarding getting feedback from our part. I think delays are to be expected when you have to get user feedback from an organization with several people reviewing the app. 

It would also be helpful if they could be more proactive and offer creative solutions when issues come up.  

Any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise having absolute clarity on what you want. Every detail is helpful to the team and the project’s execution. 

BACKGROUND

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.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.