Digiruu

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a company with a mobile app that helps professionals manage their contacts. The app acts as a social platform for professionals as well as traditional CRM.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digiruu?

They act as our development company, implementing the designs we create in-house and building our products.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Digiruu has been responsible for developing several features for us, as well as building our MVP. To begin, we provided them with over 300 screens for the app and features. The app is for iOS and Android and is built in React Native. It also utilizes Firebase as a development platform.

Currently, the app is live in the Play Store and the App Store, and Digiruu is going to help us with our move into phase two, which will end with us owning a fully marketable product.   

What is the team composition?

We work with their founders and CEO to some degree, but we mainly interact with a product manager. There are also 2–4 developers assigned to us, and we talk directly to them when we can.

How did you come to work with Digiruu?

What stood out about their team was that they combined the resources and talent of a larger agency with the attention you usually only get with a smaller firm. They gave us a lot of good insights into how to develop our product. We’ve never felt neglected with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $150,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2020.

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

I would measure the success of the project by delivering on time within the scope and timeline of the original roadmap. Additionally, I’d consider how smoothly the app runs and how it performs regarding the number of bugs we see.

How did Digiruu perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is great. Digiruu’s team has been improving daily as we get to know each other more. As talented as a team may be, there need to be processes established to help them function as closely to an internal team as possible. It took us a bit of time to get there, but we’ve arrived. We communicate over Slack and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their proactivity and responsiveness stand out. Whenever we find a bug, their team jumps right on it. They care about us, which is a key plus of working with them. Additionally, they've been a big help in workshopping and editing our features along the way to ensure everything is prioritized properly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are often delays in development that aren’t in your control but Digiruu has improved in their communication and is always finding ways to improve their management of expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly define the scope of work and keep track of what's being done. Additionally, if there are changes to timelines, it’s important to adjust expectations accordingly. Understanding what is in and out of the developers’ control is key to managing disappointment.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co founder and CEO of The Sound Reserve. We specialise in ambient music for wellbeing and sleep.

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

We had an ambitious project in mind which required a huge degree of research and testing to essentially develop an app which was without precedent. Digiruu were involved from the beginning and managed our R&D, build, design and roll-out.

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

After interviewing Digiruu as well as many other companies, the confidence we had in Aman and his team was the main driver for our decision, and we are very glad to have made the decision we did.

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

After multiple discovery sessions and project scope meetings, Aman and the team needed to find solutions to complex problems, such as integration with Spotify and Apple Music in a seamless in-app experience. They helped refine the design and look of the app with us and even helped develop our aesthetic branding. Their team had a diverse and detailed knowledge of multiple languages, platforms and integrations which allowed us to utilise a varied approach to the build. The team did not stop development and testing until our very specific standards and expectations were met.

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

We had a project manager who worked directly with us, as well as constant communication and regular meetings with Aman. A shared Slack channel allowed us to communicate directly with specific members of the dev team when needed.

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

Digiruu created an app which has integrations with platforms and services which we have not seen in the market before. This alone is a huge achievement, and the result of countless hours of research and testing from their team.

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

Communication was never a problem with Digiruu. The team were always super responsive and available whenever we needed them, via Slack, email and phone calls. And the odd lunch of course. When there was a new challenge to face, I was sure each time that the team were doing whatever they could to create the desired outcome for my company.

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

Any company which can deliver what they promised, within timeframe and budget with clear and consistent communication, as well as being pro-active about ideas and development opportunities is a good company. Digiruu is a great company.

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

I wouldn't ask for anything to be done differently.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I head up Climate Week NYC, the largest international climate event of its kind which takes place every year in New York City. Climate Week NYC is organized by the Climate Group, and international non profit that seeks to tackle climate change. I also lead on Communications for the Climate Group in North America

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

Climate Week NYC brings together over 500 events every year that the broader NYC community can engage in. These cover ten climate related themes and be anything from artistic events, panels or educational opportunities. We wanted to make it easier for our audiences to search what events were available to allow even more people to take climate action as part of the week and felt that an app would be a useful way of doing this.

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

We had limited budget and this was a new area for us, so we needed an agency that could tell us what we needed, guide us through the process, whilst sticking to tight budgets and deadlines. We received a recommendation for Digiruu and found them to be very engaging and proactive. I also like that they invested in a free initial meeting with no obligation that made me feel confident that they knew what we needed and they had the tools to make it happen. I also liked their approach to cost where they felt much more driven by our needs than by spending money on services that wouldn't have been of benefit to us.

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

We had a complex integration piece with the website, to save resource we wanted the app to take the information directly from the website on an ongoing basis and include checks and balances to ensuring the quality of the content. We also has specific demands on brand and communications, which we embedded into the work in detail. After scoping the work the team took on the backend exploration of this integration and gave us regular feedback sessions to talk through the solutions and what they meant. They also came to us with ideas as to how we could improve the app.

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

We worked with the Aman, their founder, and Mel, their developer, throughout the project. I was impressed how both supported us through the process every step of the way and that our needs were considered fully at Digiruu.

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

I was impressed by the amount of downloads in our first year which went into the high thousands and something that I did not feel possible in our first year. Their adaptability to our communications needs also allowed us to sell advertising through the app which helped fund our work.

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

The team provide regular updates on zoom and use Slack to follow up on specific questions. Whilst the team my end had more in depth experience I am aware from my end that the process was always seen as clear, efficient and highly effective. The were very flexible on our needs, which was very helpful. They were very responsive to small things with immediate need.

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

I think they delivered what we asked and provided a huge amount of added value. I would easily recommend them to others, the process was very slick and the outcomes were strong. Their knowledge of apps is high. This allowed us, as people new to the space, to feel we were getting the best advice.

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

Can't think of any at this stage.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Communications officer leading on digital and social for Climate Week NYC.

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

We wanted to develop an app that could allow our users to engage with Climate Week NYC. This mainly included a list of events and their details, as well as listings of sustainable businesses around New York City.

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

We searched through awards sites for app developers and found Digiruu. We went through a stringent process comparing 4-5 developers, considering costs, engagement from their team with the project, and the pitch deck.

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

We gave them our branding and guidelines, and shared the information on the website which would need to be reflected in the app. We also discussed several other factors with them including sponsor and partner positioning, searchability. We also later on included an API with our website.

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

We had a project manager, a designer, and semi-regular contact with the CEO for the wider discussion on strategy and progress.

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

1,000 downloads in first year.

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

Very friendly team and helpful. Project manager took on the day to day and the senior team helped with our wider vision.

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

They're really enthusiastic and good at translating the complex stuff for us who don't know their field of expertise.

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

Slightly better communication on timelines sometimes, although not a major issue.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Push Partner, the app that connects people with their optimum workout partner to boost motivation, performance and results.

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

The goal was to reach product market fit, stripping back the proposed concept to its origin, ensuring the functionality was both essential and effective in connecting users with workout partners.

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

They specialise in startup businesses, such as mine, whereas many developers work with much larger organisations. I therefore felt that we shared an attitude of enterprise, growth and development, keeping far away corporate bureaucracy. Cost was another significant factor, as they were much more competitive than offers I had from larger app developers.

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

Exploring the concept, stripping away any dead wood, building a prototype, developing the prototype with testing, going live, maintenance of the app and continued updates.

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

Aman and Mel are my two key contacts.

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

Early on, the Digiruu team came back to me with a prototype design of Push Partner which was essential in making the concept tangible and therefore easy to understand what we needed for MVP.

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

Communication mainly goes through Slack where we also organise video calls. Communication style is informal but honest and trustworthy, which is aligned with my original ambition to work with an organisation that is personable rather than corporate.

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

Their speed of consistency of communication. They provide honest and trustworthy advice and feedback for the client's propositions. Their awareness of current market app trends.

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

Perhaps a bit more communication during the course of app development and updates - however I also have a responsibility to request information from them, and as I trust that they have my best intentions at heart, I'm quite happy to let them get on with it without me disturbing their professional workflow.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an app that tracks skincare product expiration dates.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digiruu?

We needed help with app development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started planning. Then, they built the iOS app itself. From there, they helped with marketing as well. The app allows users to scan the barcode of a product and you can tell when the product is going to expire. It also shows you how to properly recycle products once they’re finished.

What is the team composition?

I worked with their founder and two different project managers.

How did you come to work with Digiruu?

I did a bit of research online and found a few companies abroad as well as ones local to me in England. Digiruu gave me a good price and explained everything thoroughly before we began, which led me to trust them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £20,000 (approximately $28,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2020, and our work is ongoing with marketing.

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

They checked in with me at each stage and I felt like it was successful. Marketing-wise, a lot of it is up to me at the end of the day.

How did Digiruu perform from a project management standpoint?

They were really good at meeting deadlines. If there was ever a deadline they couldn’t meet, they’d make sure I knew as soon as possible so we could work through it together. They’re very clear with communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve done very well in meeting the brief I’ve given them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve been great, especially during COVID-19. If things were open, we’d be meeting more in person.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to know what you want and speak to them and find out how to make it work between yourself and Digiruu. They’re very good but they need an understanding of what your ideas are.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Scribeandhide.com. We help people in relationships create beautifully designed, personalized love notes for them to give to each other, or hide for them to find.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digiruu? 

I worked with Digiruu to build out our digital platform.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Digiruu built everything from the website, the platform, and the customization of the notes. The team built the site to allow customers to order and customize the notes by inputting personalized information. The system generates 30 notes, which the customer is able to choose from and add details like photos, paper type, and other notes. It’s connected to an API, which allows us to print and send the notes.

The team customized the site on WordPress.

What is the team composition?

I worked with at least three people, including Aman (Founder), a developer, and a graphic designer.

How did you come to work with Digiruu?

I’m in a marketing group that Aman is also in, which is how I connected with him. When I was getting quotes for this project, I remembered Digiruu, so I reached out to Aman. We set up a call and he seemed like the best option by far and I felt comfortable going forward with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about £15,000 (approximately $20,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since December 2019. I’m still working with Digiruu here and there for smaller tasks and finalization, and we’ll continue working together for updates and additions.

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

The process has been amazing. We’ve done a lot of testing and iterations, and we found Digiruu was really good at hearing what we wanted and implementing it. They went above and beyond — they did more than I ever expected. Digiruu’s expertise and advice were really valuable. 

How did Digiruu perform from a project management standpoint?

Aman goes above and beyond all the time. It’s been an amazing process to work with him and his team. I ran into a lot of delays because of trademark issues, but Aman was always there to help me along in the process.

I got weekly status update reports, and I was always able to communicate with Aman directly via Slack. Whenever we needed to jump on a Google Hangout or Zoom call to discuss anything with anyone from the team, they were available. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Digiruu goes above and beyond. They do things they don’t have to, like checking in and giving recommendations to make the product even better. They don’t just do the job we told them to do, they do more. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t know of anything they could improve on. I was very happy and amazed at how well Digiruu works. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go ahead and take the leap and work with Digiruu. It’ll probably be the best decision you make. They’re a team who will get it right, who will over-deliver, and who you can trust.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Envision Digital Ltd., a mobile app marketing agency.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digiruu?

We were trying to improve our visibility and increase the number of leads to our business.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Digiruu helped us make our website cleaner and better in terms of its performance. They got us up and running on WordPress and gave us access to a great theme. The team also helped us with our contact form, blog functionality, and multi-page variations. 

What is the team composition?

I only worked with Aman (Founder). 

How did you come to work with Digiruu?

I’ve known Aman for a while now, and he’s a trusted colleague in the industry. I chose to work with Digiruu because I knew that they would do fantastic work and that they would do what I needed them to do.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £10,000 (approximately $13,500 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them in October 2020.

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

The website that they provided me is performing better than my previous one in terms of SEO and lead conversion. 

How did Digiruu perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a fairly quick project. They were very communicative throughout the whole process, and the briefing process at the start was fantastic. They also met deadlines and expectations. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The speed and professionalism with which they undertook the project were impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did everything according to our expectations. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them as much information as you possibly can around your goals and objectives, and Digiruu will implement them flawlessly.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO & Founder of Apptuitive, an app marketing agency. I oversee all business operations and client comms.

For what projects/services did your company hire Digiruu?

We look to Digiruu for all of our app development needs. Whether our clients have a simple app idea that's ready to start development or a fully fleshed out product that's venture backed - the Digiruu team handles all of it.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals when it comes to app development, is to build amazing quality apps and experiences that speak for themselves. It's also to communicate with clients effectively and with the utmost care.

How did you select this vendor?

We chose Digiruu as our app development vendor because the founder, Aman Birdi, is the best in the industry. He knows his stuff inside out and isn't afraid to tell his clients the truth. Which is a quality that's extremely important to me. His team is also extremely reliable and has a track record of creating seamless digital solutions.

Describe the project in detail.

Digiruu is responsible for all app development needs (iOS & Android) start to finish. We don't have the technical skillset or know-how when it comes to development but the Digiruu team knocks it out of the park every time.

We're kept in the loop with every decision and we know what exactly is going on at all times. The team is detail-oriented from fleshing out app ideas, UX/UI, QA, and more. They're one of the best end-to-end solutions available these days.

What was the team composition?

We work with Aman and his tight knit development team.

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

The most ideal outcome is a great app that provides a beautiful experience and is technically sound. All of the projects we've worked on and will continue to work on showcase those qualities. We get the most bang for our buck with Digiruu and wouldn't work with anyone else!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. They know the right questions to ask, are cognizant of our schedule, and go above and beyond to make sure we're happy and then some.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The customer service, quality of the work, and pricing set them apart. I could go on for hours about how they're the superior option when it comes to app development but you need to experience it to believe it.

The development space is very shady and heartless but you won't get any of that with Digiruu. The company genuinely cares for its clients and goes the extra mile to make sure they're delivering amazing solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None!

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a travel platform.

What challenge were you trying to address with Digiruu?

We were working with a rally organizer in Vancouver and hoped to onboard about 200–250 individuals for their event. They’ll use the app to navigate the journey on the day of the event.

I was at the concept stage when I reached out to Digiruu. Initially, I consulted them to discuss how to design the app and bring it into the market. The role they played in the project was discussing design concepts with me, understanding our goals and business, and building a product roadmap.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we facilitated several business meetings. My immediate concern was getting design prototypes in front of users and investors to get some early feedback. One of their first deliverables was a set of clickable prototypes.  We walked through the customer journey, from when they sign up for the app to how they’re able to navigate the platform. We needed to understand, as a business, how we will be delivering value to that consumer. Going forward, the intention was to go straight into the build and create our MVP.

The concept of the app is for users to plan and execute a road trip with significant ease. So, if users want to enjoy the road and don’t know where to go a drive, it’s a nice way to calculate your journey for you while keeping key points of interest along the way. The separate arm of that helps facilitate group rides, which is the feature that the rally organizer wanted to use.

What is the team composition?

I predominately interacted with the individual who owns Digiruu. Although, he was working with two people on his side including a designer and someone from the tech team.

How did you come to work with Digiruu?

I knew them from a previous role. We both occupied a WeWork space in London, and we met through that community. We didn’t interact too much at that point, but they were always very friendly. When this project came about, I remembered Digiruu, and thought I should reach out and see what they’re capable of and whether we could work together.

I chose them because they were incredibly enthusiastic. They over-delivered and kept their promises. If they said they were going to do something, they always delivered on time. They went out of their way to understand the ins and outs of the project.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent roughly £10,000 (approximately $13,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020, and we’re still working on it. They delivered the first part of the project in May, but right now, the project is paused because of the pandemic.

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

When I received the feedback on the design, they incorporated everything. I did not want to be too prescriptive when it comes to the design, so my specifications were more high-level. I said that I wanted the users to feel a certain way when they access the app, and this is kind of how the end result should be, but I let them figure out how they would deliver on it.

They were incredibly creative with some of the concepts they pitched to us. It was amazing to see that. They always presented lots of options. So when it came down to designing the logo, we went through 8–10 iterations. They were always responsive to the feedback I gave them and they were always open to the insights that came from users. In that way, it was very collaborative. Given that we never met face-to-face, it was really nice working with them.

How did Digiruu perform from a project management standpoint?

If I had any questions, I had a Slack group where I could fire off a question to anyone and they would respond very quickly. It was really useful. We also had a Trello board that we managed together.

Managing the project isn’t always easy, especially when there are difficult stakeholders like me. I changed my mind frequently, but they managed the project very well. They were incredibly well-organized, and everything we discussed was put onto the Trello board as an action. They were polite, but firm. We had regular catch-up calls to make sure we were on top of things. They really kept the project on track, which is brilliant.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The dedication they put into the project was impressive. I’ve worked with UX/UI consultants before that are great at what they do, but they lack passion for the project or product. When working with Digiruu, they really got into the mindset of the user, and they never stopped presenting ideas.

At one point, I had to put together a pitch deck. It was outside of the project scope, but I needed to talk to them about potential monetization methods. They spent several hours on the phone with me discussing how I could do that in the app. That was really helpful and it went above and beyond the expectations for the project. Their passion really sets them apart.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This is probably unique to me, but since I’ve worked in tech, I would have liked to understand the architecture of the app a bit more. I’d like to understand the technology and toolkit they were going to use to deliver the product. I did get that information initially by digging a bit deeper. I think that would have been useful for me to know, but I don’t know if other clients would care as much.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. They’re always willing to go the extra mile, so just be willing to work collaboratively with them.