Davison Inventions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of Green Cab App Ltd.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Davison Inventions?

We were looking for someone to help us with mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The relationship was great at the start. Davison phoned us 1–2 times a month, but they didn’t start the project until August 2019. We started paying the installments, and they did some bits, but we never actually saw anything from them. In December 2020, we paid more money, expecting to see what they had so far. We didn’t get anything until February 2021, and it wasn’t an app. It was more of a web page, so they hadn’t worked on it.

We initially left it all to them. We did talk about the app, but all we got was that it was ongoing and they’d have something for next month. Davison kept saying the tech people were busy prioritizing other apps, so we felt crazy.

The relationship deteriorated in April 2021; we just couldn’t take it any longer. We were paying all this money and hadn’t seen anything for 18 months. Then, what they did wasn’t worth anything. In the end, we paid all that money and got nothing from them. We finished the relationship and got the solicitors involved.

What is the team composition?

I spoke to one person, and they delegated the work to the developers. Later in the year, I managed to talk to the main tech person.

How did you come to work with Davison Inventions?

I did a lot of research for the app’s development. Davison stood out to me as this big company from Pittsburgh; they looked very interesting. I spoke to the main person there, and he was very excited about the app because he had not done one in Europe yet. We talked, and I thought they were the type of people that thought outside the box.

I explained what the app was for and how it would work. Then, we signed all the agreements and started paying them money.

How much have you invested in them?

Up until we terminated it, we spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement started in March 2019, and we ended the engagement in May 2021. It’s now on the legal side, and it looks like it’s going to arbitration.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

The impact was massive. It cost us almost $30,000, which we could’ve used for advertising. We’re now paying legal fees, and besides the money, the stress of the situation has been overwhelming.

How was project management handled?

The main person I talked to was handling the project and passing it to the tech people. We just relied on him to give us updates and tell us when the app would be ready. We never got to speak to the tech people or offer any advice because we never saw advances.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

No. In the first six months, we were under the impression that the app was well on the way.

In what specific areas can they improve?

They could improve massively by not letting their customers down and telling them the truth. If the project is being put down the waiting list, they should tell the customer. I waited for 18 months and got nothing.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

There are many developers, so look all over the place and look at what they’ve done and how long it took them to do it. An app like mine should’ve taken between 2–4 months from start to finish, so do your research.