DabApps

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an illustration agency. We represent around 30 illustrators for commercial projects, and we market their work. We're based in Brighton in the United Kingdom, and we've been running for around 10 years. I am an agent within the company. 

What challenge were you trying to address with DabApps?

We were working with a very well-known United States retail client. We were looking for a mobile app developer that could work in our budget. We approached DabApps because they were local to us in Brighton.

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we contacted them, they were great. They came to our office, we had an initial introduction meeting, and they told us about their services. When the ball got rolling and the project took off the ground, they were helpful about explaining all the processes to us and everything that went into building an app. When the build started, they actually built the mobile app for iOS and Android. They built a wireframe for the mobile app to house some emoji icons that one of our offices had created. We gave them the visuals and the artwork to make a mobile app from. They were very hands-on in the process but in a good way. They never treaded on our toes at any point. They were very helpful, and they were very considerate of the fact that we didn't know too much about mobile apps. They helped us learn along the way.

How did you come to work with DabApps?

We were talking to some other clients to see if they knew of any mobile app developers, but we actually found them through Twitter. Someone recommended them to us, and they were local to Brighton, so it was a word-of-mouth recommendation via Twitter.

How much have you invested with DabApps?

To begin with, it was a lump sum, but it's been ongoing in terms of changes and little additions to the mobile app. It's been more than $10,000. When we were looking at different developers, DabApps was very reasonable in their pricing. They're very considerate of the budgets we had to work with.

What is the status of this engagement?

It's completed in a sense, but it's still ongoing in that the app is developing and growing organically. We're in talks with them at the moment, and they're helping us think about how we might be able to add some GIF artwork to our client's app.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I know our client has access to that in terms of number of downloads and things like that. The response from our client has all been very positive, and it's been positive from our side as well. There haven't been any problems at all while the project was ongoing.

How did DabApps perform from a project management standpoint?

They were really good. They stuck to all the deadlines we set which were quite tight at times. They had very good project management overall.

What did you find most impressive about DabApps?

For us, I think it was that they were very personable and professional. They made us feel very comfortable, and they helped us understand and learn more about their process. We trusted them with the project because of that I think.

Are there any areas DabApps could improve?

Not really. They were brilliant. There's nothing negative I could say at this stage.

Please describe your organization.

My company is an app and a website which helps people with food allergies find places to eat.

What is your position?

I’m the creator and founder.

What business challenge were you trying to address with DabApps?

I initially reached out to DabApps and about five other different companies. The goal of my app and website is to help people who have food allergies or intolerances, eat out safely. The idea was largely driven by my intolerances, I have Celiac Disease. I needed help building my app and website.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

DabApps provided app and web development.

How did you come to work with DabApps?

DabApp’s pricing was reasonable in terms of what I wanted to achieve, and they fit into my budget whereas other companies weren't willing to fit to my budget at all. They were giving no option of being flexible. DabApps was very flexible in terms of price structure. I also really appreciated that their managing director wanted to do everything face-to-face, whereas everybody else didn't want to meet with me. It was a very personable approach, which I really liked. When we met, we got on really well, and I just felt really confident that he and the two guys with him were what I wanted in order to take the project forward.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It started off around 15,000 [approx. US$ 21,700] pounds, but I think over the two years now, I've spent between 35,000 and 40,000 pounds [approx. US$ 50,600 – 57,900].

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership is ongoing.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

My app is really popular; I think it is. It has over 70,000 users all around the world. Even though I don't do translations yet, everyone is using it because it's quite simple. I set out to help people rather than making lots of money. If I'm helping people, I'm happy with that.

What distinguishes DabApps from other providers?

DabApps is a really nice company, and everyone is very friendly, willing to help out as much as they can, and there's always someone around for me to talk to or chat with over emails. There's a lot of really good characteristics about the team, and they're so broad in terms of what they do because they have a lot of specialists. DabApps is very clear from the outset about cost. They're also good about giving their views, and if they think I'm wasting my money, they'll tell me. They're not about just making money.

Is there anything DabApps could have improved or done differently?

No, not really. I have worked with them for two years, and I won't be looking at going with anyone else. There's nothing bad I have to say about DabApps.