CMOLDS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO and Founder of Chores and Paws App, an Uber style app that's works on GPS providing home and pet services. A platform for service providers to connect with their customers, keeping both parties local to one another.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

CMOLDS created the first version of the app, but now they have a brand new team who are very on top of their game. We are now getting the app ready for franchising and they have been attentive to the finer details and are expert in the type of development needed for this project. I choose to stay with CMOLDS as their new team brings fresh ideas and reliability I would highly recommend them.

SOLUTION

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

In the first phase of the project it was a combination of price and the project planning that seem to tick all of my boxes.

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

We used video conferencing to discuss all details of my project, we hen had several follow up to itemise each step of the project with timelines. Whilst they are creating the new version of my app for franchising they are still supporting my original working app and they are always quick to support me with any technical issue. CMOLDS is the backbone for my app.

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

I've worked closely with a project manager, a developer and a specialist on digital media.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far we are on timed have scheduled regular updates/meetings.

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

I felt the team knew what I wanted and I felt assured that they would deliver.

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

They support me from the beginning until the end of my project and it hasn't always been about money they have given technical support with the view of making my App a big success and I want to remain with them as we expand and make the app a national and international project.

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

I'll let you know in a few months but to date they are doing extremely well and I was pleased they have regrouped with fresh talent.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a small, early-stage technology startup that offers a digital market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMOLDS?

I was trying to create a logo and social media background.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave them all my requirements and design for the logo and social media design but they couldn’t deliver what I wanted. They showed my requirements very little respect. They promised me three custom logo design concepts, one dedicated designer, four revisions, 48–72 hours return time, and a number of other guarantees they’ve gone back on (satisfaction, money back, etc.).

What is the team dynamic?

They assigned me a very junior resource that didn’t listen to me, creating his own design that didn’t align with my requirements. After I brought this up to the senior designer, they provided two more revisions resulting in a result much closer to what I wanted. Unfortunately, they came back and charged me extra for those revisions, saying they expected me to buy more packages with them. They were pushing upgrades on me.

How did you come to work with CMOLDS?

I found them through Google Ads and chose them because of their pricing.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $64 CAD (approximately $50 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since December 2020. I finally accepted the logo and social media design and they stopped responding by email, phone, and chat. I’m waiting for a price for the trademark they’re making me purchase but I haven’t heard anything back.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?

When we started, I was going through a name change process (we had half the name set) and offered CMOLDS the option to wait two days until we finalized it before they began on the logo. They chose to start immediately and then complained when I told them what the final name was, as it meant they’d have to change their work. Throughout the project, they walked back their commitments.

A few days ago, I went on their website for assistance and saw that they’d used my logo design to create other things. This is a very frustrating business practice.

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

I was supposed to have everything done before Christmas and it’s still dragging on.

How was project management handled?

They didn’t follow up after calls, as they promised. Specifically, I was looking for a price for the trademark and they haven’t responded. They took a long time to come back with the first design, and it didn’t follow my requirements. Comparatively, the senior designer was much better than the junior designer. His communication was better.

I’ve spoken with three different managers. I don’t know how they’re organized; they seem pretty big. It seems like they don’t understand that their junior resource didn’t get my requirements, which is why it required so many revisions. The managers only see the number of revisions — seven — not why I needed them made. It’s very frustrating.

In what specific areas can they improve?

Don’t promise what you can’t deliver or force customers into upgrades. I’ve never had this kind of experience before. I worked with another designer at the end of November and they got it right away. The difference was unbelievable.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an IT operations analyst for a B2B IT products distribution company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMOLDS?

We wanted to develop an internal app where employees could post ideas. It would be similar to a social media platform where employees could like and comment, and they could also earn points and badges.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Based on our requirements, CMOLDS designed and developed an Android and iOS application. They also handled testing.

What is the team composition?

We first interacted with a marketing person who took our requirements and finalized the contract. CMOLDS then assigned a team of designers, developers, and QA testers.

Most of my communication was with their project manager, and their CTO got involved at times.

How did you come to work with CMOLDS?

We shortlisted a few companies, out of which CMOLDS stood out in terms of design proposal and cost. They were able to build the app for Android and iOS. We also felt a good level of trust with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with CMOLDS in March 2019, and they delivered the product in March 2020. We’re currently in maintenance mode.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started on a very good note with CMOLDS, and it was continued until the end.

They were good with timelines and very professional. There were times when we needed some screens on short notice, to present them to our leadership, and CMOLDS worked late nights for us.

How did CMOLDS perform from a project management standpoint?

CMOLDS was patient and accommodating in implementing our changes and new requirements. They gave us constant updates. Everything was done through emails, WhatsApps, and calls, and we never met them face to face, but we never had any issues.

The coordination between us was very good. Throughout the journey, we never felt we made the wrong decision. We never had to follow up too much, and they delivered everything committed to it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This was my first experience with an app development company, and everything worked well.

I’d definitely recommend them to someone else.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Testing took a lot of time to do, but that was because we went through every feature rigorously. We wanted a perfect product, so both our teams worked a lot on this. I don’t have much to say in terms of improvements for CMOLDS. They delivered what we asked for.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important to have clear requirements from the beginning, in order to reduce changes and back and forth discussions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a language company that teaches Chinese to children. I'm the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMOLDS?

I wanted to revamp my company website. I worked with two other agencies to custom develop an education and learning management system, but the work was full of bugs. I asked CMOLDS to help resolve the problems and build the rest of what I wanted.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed four parts of an education learning system that links to our website. That included some student learning, e-commerce, the inventory setup for textbooks, audio assets, and other teaching tools within the website and some proprietary application development. In all, they delivered four educational applications. They also helped with our promotional videos, and they improved our backend security.

What is the team composition?

Their team includes at least six people, with additional team members as needed. At its biggest, we worked with a group of twelve, but we usually worked with that stable team of six. Most of my interaction was with a project manager, but the rest of the team included engineers, developers, and other specialists.

How did you come to work with CMOLDS?

I searched for companies online. They looked reputable, so I gave them a small test project. I was happy with the result, and I decided to give them more challenging work.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000-$250,000 for their services so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2017, and they delivered the overall architecture, the backend panel, and all the apps. They still maintain all our updates, and we're currently discussing second-stage development work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've had great feedback, and we're very happy with everything they delivered. They helped distinguish us, and they ensured the final product met our specifications. The price was very reasonable, especially compared to other agencies I've worked with. The quality of their work is also very good.

How did CMOLDS perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager kept us informed, and he shared feedback to help us decide on features and stay within our budget. They used Teamwork as a project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were dedicated to even the tiniest details, and their code was very clean. They went above and beyond to improve the aesthetics, and the overall user experience is so much better. They were a one-stop-shop for all of our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They're very capable, and there's nothing I can think of they should improve. They offer a variety of services, and I appreciate having one vendor who can do so much for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear idea of what you want. That will save you time and money, and it will make the process a lot smoother.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of an app that allows users to locate motorsports event across the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CMOLDS?

Hired to build the app from the ground up

What were your goals for this project?

To build an easy-to-use app that users will download and race promoters will want to advertise their events on

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Put an ad out online looking for an app development company. They were one of many to reach out to me, but I liked their communication, samples, and website the best

Describe the project in detail.

We signed an NDA, I gave them the details inside my head, they went over their process, and we signed the contract. After I made my initial payment, they came up with a design, and I approved it and made the next payment. They then began the beta build and admin panel. I approved and made payment, and then they began the final Alpha build. We went back and forth fine-tuning it, making changes and fixing bugs until I was satisfied. They then helped me through the process of submitting the app to the App Stores and have gone on to help with marketing.

What was the team composition?

First, we spoke with Mark, the sales guy. Then, we had a phone meeting with Neal to go over the project, and he assigned Furqan to be the project manager. He had an emergency and could no longer continue, so Naveed stepped in in the middle of the project and it was a very smooth transition. I made a lot of change requests and, even got angry with Naveed at time, but he stayed calm and understood and fixed or changed everything I requested.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launch this week, so I’m excited to see the user reaction, but everyone that has seen a preview has loved it. Lots of interest in advertising on the app, but we won't pull the trigger on any until it’s the market.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was key. No matter what time zone Naveed was in, he always accommodated the meetings to make it work for me. We spoke through email, text message, phone calls, and even Teamwork's messaging system. The only complaint I have, and it’s not even a complaint, just a request for future projects, I wish I could have spoken to more team members from CMolds. For example the designers. Sometimes I feel it would have been more effective to speak directly to the people working on the app instead of playing “telephone." 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

No matter what I threw at them, they eventually fixed it or brought it to life. I can’t wait to keep building with the team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

More communication. More regular updates on the app while in building process, so if there’s something that needs to be changed I could have mentioned it right away, instead of the team spending weeks building something and then going back to have to remove or redo features.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of an angel-backed startup. We are developing a cardiovascular health-monitoring app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CMOLDS?

We needed a fully developed iOS app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the app to collect health data in various forms.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found CMOLDS though an online search. We had a few initial conference calls with them, and they offered the most competitive pricing and appeared to be proactive in starting the project.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

We created a guideline that detailed the app’s requirements, including desired features, functionalities, and aesthetics. They adhered to this outline and developed the app with data collection, calculation, and storage capabilities.

What was the team composition?

They provided a project manager, their CTO, and several engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re pleased with the app; it meets our requirements and functions perfectly.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We communicated through TeamWork, and it was generally effective. Most of the time, we were able to contact their team and have issues resolved quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The design and development were beyond our expectations, and CMOLDS implemented all features.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

It would be helpful if they communicated more transparently; there were periods of time where we needed to ask for updates that should have been offered voluntarily.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of Stogaheim LLC, a mobile app company located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We are designing an app that discourages smartphone use and regains the attention of students/employees through the use of gamification model.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CMOLDS?

As veteran teachers with over 30 years of education experience, we noticed a trend of declining student performance due to constant smartphone use. We realized there wasn’t an app to help with this problem and wanted to create one.

We had the idea for an app but not the necessary coding or design skills. We needed a firm to take our vision/sketches and develop an app from scratch for iOS and Android. We also required a server-side database to handle all the information.

What were your goals for this project?

The original goal of the app was to discourage students' smartphone use, but we realized that it had a wide market and could be used in other workspaces. We wanted this project to have a major impact by encouraging people to be present in their workspaces.

Our ultimate goal was to have an easy-to-use app that any person use could set up and run in less than a minute. We wanted to integrate an easy group functionality and needed the app to work seamlessly in the background so users could focus on the task at hand.

We also wanted to create a leaderboard so users could compare their performance to others. We wanted our event administrator to receive a detailed report of the number of coins earned by users, and how many minutes their devices were being locked and unlocked.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We started with a Google search and found countless hits. It was difficult to know who was legitimate so we looked to Facebook for recommendations. This resulted in several possible candidates and we interviewed them via email/phone. In the end, we chose CMOLDS because they already had apps in the App Store, were responsive via phone and email, and proposed a competitive offer within our budget.

Describe the project in detail.

CMOLDS first asked us to complete several pieces of paperwork including a Statement of Work. Through these documents, we highlighted exactly how we wanted to the app to function. While we already had an app name, slogan, rudimentary icon, and screens drawings, their team elevated our branding to next level by giving it a professional appearance. They used our company name "BeePresent" and developed a bee themed logo, related color scheme, and incorporated throughout the app. We even decided to use it as our company logo.

After the design phase, they developed an alpha build. Using our feedback, they built a beta version. We went through multiple betas to further refine the concept and squashed any bugs. Finally, the app was developed for iOS and Android using Swift, Java, PHP, and Node JS. They also developed our backend database using MySQL, SQLite, and custom DB.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager who was my main point of contact throughout the project. There was also a development team working in the background.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were excited and pleased with the finished product. It functioned exactly as we hoped. Our logo was unbelievably well polished and professional. Our app's UI was intuitive and easy to navigate. The app's features were easy to use and even teachers figured it out without an explanation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our project manager was easy to communicate with. He was often available outside of business hours, and I could communicate with him via email, voice, and text. There was also a team message board he used to communicate with his entire team. He relayed questions the team had for me to continue their work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

As I said before, I was impressed by their artistic design and smooth UX/UI work. Overall, we have a beautiful-looking product.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything could've been done faster, but we were very satisfied with their work. In the end, they made my vision into a reality and quality was more important than speed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Whos My Mutter, which is an app that lets people determine the dominant breed of their dog using a facial recognition feature.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMOLDS?

I had an idea for an app, but I didn't know where to start, so I was looking for a company to build the app for me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had an initial conversation with their salesman and we discussed my ideas. After that, they began building the app, managing both the design and the development. It's a unique app that is compatible with both iOS and Android. In addition to the facial recognition feature, the app allows users to search for rescue shelters within a 50-mile radius anywhere in the world. CMOLDS continues to provide ongoing support and marketing services.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with the salesman and my project manager, who was also the developer. I'm now working with their marketing specialist as well.

How did you come to work with them?

I put a post on Facebook and someone referred me to CMOLDS. I researched their name and then flew to New Jersey to meet with them.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $56,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in February 2017 and the app launched in December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'm just starting to get feedback on the app, which is usually coming from people who are not using the app correctly. We have a tutorial, which tells users how they need to take photos. If they don't follow directions, they don't get the right results. Typically, I respond to them and explain the correct way to use the app.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They executed everything on time and even worked overnights when they were out of the country. We usually used email and phone to stay in touch.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They went above and beyond to meet my needs. I didn't communicate all of my needs clearly at the beginning of our engagement, so we were expanding their scope of work as we were moving along. They were very accommodating the entire time and went out of their way to develop an app they can be proud of.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing is that sometimes it took them a little longer to get back to me than I would have wished.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest with them and clearly communicate what you want to build. Make sure everyone is on the same page from the very beginning. I didn't ask enough questions and didn't understand the scope of work like I should have, but they made it right.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Nannies on Wheelz inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Transportation and Nanny Service for children

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CMOLDS to accomplish?

• Design App

SOLUTION

How did you find CMOLDS?

Online Search

Why did you select CMOLDS over others?

High ratings

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Create an app that could be downloaded on any user phone. The consumers are to be able to book a nanny for transportation, Home Service or customized care. A map was created along with GPS to allow the consumer to see the location of the nanny. The consumers would be able to pay the fees through the app. Nannies would be able to login to the app to apply for position, select availability and cash out on services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Completion of App
• Completion of Landing Page

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

This company kept me updated with each step of the process. They responded immediately to all questions and inquiries. The company also have a teamwork site that allows you to ask questions and approve each build.

What was your primary form of communication with CMOLDS?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The personalized attention they give.

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

For a person who does not know anything about building an app, I think it would have been beneficial for them to tell you all the additions that you will need to pay for in the process of building. My original quote was given, however as the process progressed there were a numerous number of additions that needed to be added. Many you are not to have an effective application without. That becomes a little stressful to a budget.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder of a startup that aims to address a major social problem in one of the most populous countries in the world

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Complete App Design and Development including website landing page and Admin Panel

SOLUTION

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

I came across CMolds in a google search. I liked the proposal they put forward for my project. Spoke to some people they had worked for in past and decided to went ahead with them

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

We had a series of discovery meetings. I provided them with wireframes and they are doing a good job in design phase. Scope includes App design and development including Admin Panel and landing page design and development

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

Project Manager, technical lead and Graphic designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still in the early phase of app design. They seem to be doing a good job so far.

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

They provide frequent updates in short iterations and seek continuous client feedback. I find them easy to communicate with. Their team make concerted efforts to apply client feedback in next iterations.

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

They have a capable team that listen to client's concerns and take steps to make improvements.

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

N/A