Droids On Roids

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and president of a small startup that builds software. We offer an app that’s based on timeliness.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids on Roids?

We built the native iOS version of our app with a different agency. While that agency started to build the first version, we heard about Google Flutter. We decided to build the Android version in Flutter, which is cross-platform. The first agency at the time didn’t have experience in Flutter, so we needed another partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Droids on Roids’s primary responsibility is to rebuild the app that we built in Swift. They're rebuilding what we already had to be cross-platform. Their team’s currently working on a difficult backend feature.

How did you come to work with Droids on Roids?

We found them through a Flutter network in New York. There’s a group that’s interested in the Flutter platform that meets once every two months.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a bit over $200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2019 and the work’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We monitor their work closely. Many features went well but there are certain pieces of the application that are complex and aren’t working yet. We’ve struggled with one piece of the application. Droids on Roids is experienced but there’s a backend piece that’s tricky for them to get working properly.

How did Droids on Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management’s excellent. Their team’s communicative and on top of their tasks. We have good communication with the project managers. We have regularly scheduled meetings, but I can also reach out to them at any time. From the project managers to the developers, they’ve been great to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have direct access to the developers, which is nice. With a previous agency, the project managers directed the developers and I couldn’t communicate with them. Droids on Roids made me a part of their team, which I really enjoy. They allow us to work closely with their team including the developers and QA teammates.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be more proactive when there’s a problem or an issue. We had to push them to deal with our current feature situation. The piece of functionality is critical for the app to work properly. They were aware of the issue but didn’t proactively find a way to address it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want to be involved in the development process, they’re open to that. If that’s what you want, Droids on Roids will be a great partner. I’m confident that they could also manage a project in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company’s called Lamah Technologies. It’s one of Libya’s biggest companies that work on developing digital software to provide technical solutions to help local citizens get through their day to day lives and overcome arising challenges. With a dynamic ensemble of employees that are estimated to reach about 120 this year, we also provide personnel for other companies that are established for information technology industries. Our main projects include digital Applications that directly serve the public needs in our society. Makani App is one of our major projects that was designed to help people locate places within their region by means of a digital map that allocates specific postal codes to almost all locations. This is vital to our society as we’ve been deprived of such amenity for as long as anyone can remember. In addition to that, we’re in the process of developing another App called ‘Tam’, a multi service platform that also targets the public but does not exclude firms or large businesses. I hold the position of CTO in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We primarily worked with Droids On Roids to set up Makani Mobile and public API. We were fortunate to work with a full team of their very own developers and designers who worked diligently to meet our specific needs. They were very assistive with facilitating and arranging meetings, plans, and the provision of a sufficient variety of connections. We had the privilege of working with special iOS designers for Makani as well as Backend Developers and Q&A to ensure sustainabilty. Our first workshop with Droids On Roids took place in August, 2019. The official commencement of our project was in September of the same year, followed two months later by the App’s MVP launch on December 24 th . Our projected public launch is set for February 20 th , 2020.

What were your goals for this project?

To enable Libyans to accurately search and locate places using a digital map App. - Free installation and accessibility on electronic devices (Android/iOS). - Providing individual/digital codes instead of geographically descriptive addresses.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our company found Droids On Roids through Clutch. It gained our general interest through their high ratings and reviews which further encouraged us to pay their company a visit in person. Its location in Poland serves as an advantage for us as it makes transportation to and from there much easier and more efficient for our work. Their previous projects have gained our admiration, encouraging us to form a connection to develop our projects.

Describe the project in detail.

Makani is an Application that was developed to enable Libyan citizens to search and locate places in their own towns more accurately and efficiently.  It is available for free installation on any iOS or Android devices, making it finger-tip accessible. The idea behind the App is one of its kind and unprecedented in Libya where postal codes barely exist. In order to be in line with the universal concept of addresses, our App provides individual/digital codes instead of geographically descriptive addresses. 2       We came up with this project to facilitate accessibility for people to easily get on with their daily lives. Finding shops, cafes, and other major facilities has never been easier by utilizing our App. They can be in contact not only domestically, but also internationally. That being said, the project does not exclude foreigners from having access to the App or making use of it. With businesses growing and thriving in many parts of the country, connectivity is of essence.

What was the team composition?

The characteristics that comprised our team were that of interdependent interactions. We worked mainly on public API, Android and iOS. Since we own the system that provides postal coding facility in the country, we are providing people with data that allows them to search for any point of interest. Added to that, we analyze data and present it on the App.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/makani/id1481448754 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lamah.makani Makani Promo: https://youtu.be/RedQ4oZp14Q

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communicative collaboration among their team and with us on a personal level. Astounding organizational skills and scheduling abilities and resources. Highly specialized with project management tools. Time is highly of essence to them. They are very efficient and punctual with deadlines. Care for customers and impressive capacity of handling situations that might jeopardize their clients’ projects. This was evident when our project proposal was initially rejected twice by Apple under the claim that they didn’t approve of our reviews. Our issue was that Libya wasn’t technically recognized on their map version which led us to resort to a different service provider. Droids On Roids worked relentlessly to convince Apple that our project was original. They worked for hours on end to promote Makani to them – it’s worthy of mentioning that this coincided with their Christmas holidays, but regardless they continued with their efforts – which eventually paid off. Generously provided advice, suggestions, expertise in their field of work for the benefit of our project assuring that it would not only be executed, but also further developed and improved.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our experience with them so far is outstanding, and we look forward to future collaborations. Work is currently underway on a different project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Visuality is a business-driven full-stack software house from Poland, est. in 2007. The interdisciplinary team offers a variety of services. Throughout the years, we have created nearly 150 applications of different sizes, and for various industries. Reco-tech, food-tech, e-commerce, CRMs, HR, travel, hair & beauty, fin-tech, and more. I am the Founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Droids On Roids?

Droids On Roids specialists have strengthened our team with their development skills. We were working with them in the “Extended team” model which means that we hired 4 experts from Droids On Roids to support us in web app development when our projects needed an additional boost from outside.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Droids On Roids was responsible for consultancy in the area of MVP workshop, and development of a few features for online platforms for food, healthcare, and social networking industry. In total, the Droids On roids team supported us for 4 months.

What is the team composition?

The team consisted of 3 web developers, and 1 certified Scrum Master. What’s important, the composition of the team has been flexible throughout the entirety of cooperation and varied depending on our needs.

How did you come to work with Droids On Roids?

Droids On Roids has been recommended to me by my business colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

About $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Currently, we don’t need outside support, but in case we will, Droids On Roids is the first company which we would choose.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are delighted with the results of our cooperation. Droids On Roids specialists helped us to deliver the projects on time, on budget, and with focus on the highest quality. A few of the completed projects you can see in the portfolio on our website.

How did Droids On Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

We are very satisfied with Droids On Roids project management skills, our cooperation was impressively organized. The well-defined Scrum process is one of their main strengths – it boosted transparency, efficiency, and smooth communication within the team. We had clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and regular meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

“Client-first” approach is their fundamental value. We see Droids On Roids as a trustworthy, and reliable partner. In particular, we appreciate their professionalism, attention to detail, and the fact that they are amazing team players – this approach allowed them to build an integrated and effective team together with our in-house employees. They are passionate about what they do, and as their partner or client, your can really feel that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend working with Droids On Roids. They have a pro-active approach and you will have the feeling, that your project is their project. They don’t hesitate to share ideas for the best possible outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a market leader in braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles. My position is a lean expert in operational excellence performance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids on Roids?

We were working on the digitalization of our internal improvement suggestion system, which is currently still paper-based. We hired Droids to develop a digital mockup or pilot.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Droids on Roids developed an Android and iOS application for us using React Native. It has a web panel for database administration, and it’s a rather simple app. It’s just an improved suggestion system, currently only in text form, with no photos or other media involved. It’s built on an internal cloud solution, but it’s separated from our internal IT infrastructure.

They built it from scratch using wireframes for the admin panel to save some design efforts. They didn’t provide any other services besides coding and proofing. Droids also supported us to launch the application internally, as we didn’t have too much experience with mobile apps.

How did you come to work with Droids on Roids?

We started the pilot program with a consultancy firm in Germany, since we’re German-speaking ourselves. We had UI workshops and first interviews with everyone to identify the root cause and pinpoints of the process itself, and how the tool itself should look. The consultancy sketched some first mockups based on this, and also created an app. We then eliminated the supplier because they were too expensive and the quality wasn’t sufficient.

We also had to adjust our backend on the second round. We were initially working with AWS, but our legal and IT cloud solutions departments decided to go completely with Microsoft Azure as a contractor for our company, as it was a bit more acceptable than Amazon.

We had to look for a new company, one that could pretty much change the backend from AWS to our Azure environment, and we decided on Droids through an internal evaluation system. They provided a very good price and a very good solution. They pretty much did the application completely anew. We first worked with native code, then decided to go with React Native to save some time, effort, and money in the long run.

How much have you invested with them?

The total so far has been a bit below €60,000 ($66,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Droids on Roids in May or June 2019, and the work is partly ongoing. We’ve received the first deliverables, and the app is working fine. We allocate a bit of budget once in a while to improve the application.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a fixed-price contract with them initially. I am the product owner within the company, so I was constantly involved in the prioritization of backlog items. I’d say we’ve been successful.

How did Droids on Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

They were highly flexible and supportive, looking for the best solution on hand, and open to address any issue. I enjoyed working with them and found our collaboration to be way better than our first provider. I’ve only had these two experiences in this industry so far, but Droids was certainly a big improvement over the first supplier. I had weekly meetings with the scrum master, and biweekly meetings with the key account manager, for 15–30 minutes to align everything.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re young, ambitious, and open and willing to learn. Even if they don’t already have a solution on hand, they’ll look into it and reach out within their network to find the answer you’re looking for. They don’t take work too seriously, so if something doesn’t go as planned, they realize that it’s just life. I like their modern mindset and approach to work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s really not much I can think of.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I recommend meeting them in person. That’s what I did, and it certainly improved the work overall, on a personal level. If we have a kickoff meeting with them, they’re welcoming and hospitable. Aside from that, backlog items need to be prioritized and described as well as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the e-commerce campaigns and mobile app manager for CCC S.A. We’re a prominent foot retail and manufacturing company in Central Europe. We sell our projects in 22 countries. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Droids On Roids?

We needed an e-commerce app for iOS and Android devices to sell our shoe and bag products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Droids On Roids was responsible for designing and developing the iOS and Android app. They also provide maintenance. 

We began our cooperation with a three-day product design workshop conducted by the Droids On Roids team. The workshop helped us immensely to clarify the app idea and to kick off the project smoothly. After that, Droids On Roids started their end of the work.

What is the team composition?

Our team consists of iOS developers, Android developers, a Scrum master, QA engineers, and a UI/UX designer. The size of the team has varied throughout the entire cooperation depending on our needs, ranging about 5–15.

How did you come to work with Droids On Roids?

Droids On Roids was recommended to me by my business colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $600,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2018. The apps have launched, but our collaboration with Droids On Roids is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both apps launched successfully. They’ve earned 4.7-star ratings on the App Store from more than 3,000 reviews and have over 500,000 downloads so far. Droids On Roids created two crash-free, beautifully-designed apps which reflect well on our brand and our expectations.

How did Droids On Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

We started the project with a kick-off meeting where we set the rules for our cooperation and learned the tools used in the process. We know exactly how to use the tools that help us to monitor the budget and maximize the value Droids On Roids delivers.

Overall, we’ve enjoyed the communication with Droids On Roids. They provide us with a high level of transparency. We have direct contact with every team member either through Slack, email, Scrum meetings, and in face-to-face interactions in their office. 

Thanks to our iterative approach that uses 1–2-week sprints, we can optimize value and introduce changes with great flexibility and manage risks. We have effectively developed a working product increment in every sprint. Thanks to Droids On Roids’ openness, we’re always up to date with the team’s progress and time spent on development. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Droids On Roids is more than a contractor—they’re a trustworthy partner with impressive knowledge and skills. We appreciate their openness, flexibility, meticulousness, and technical competence. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Any advice for potential customers?

If you are looking for a reliable partner who will build your application at the highest quality, Droids On Roids will be a perfect choice. 

The team will provide you with a sense of transparency through ongoing and direct contact with the team members. At any given moment, we know what the team is working on and can access the current version of the app. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Art and Program, Inc., a boutique IT consultancy based in Tokyo, Japan. We are about 5 people and focus on creative software and hardware projects. We also make a product called synapseWear.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We hired Droids On Roids to develop synapseWear's Android app. We developed the iOS app internally, but could not allocate the necessary resources for the Android app.

What were your goals for this project?

synapseWear is a wearable environmental sensor. We had several requests from users to download data from the sensor to their Android devices. The Android app needed to communicate with the device via BLE and both display and download environmental data.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Droids on Roids got in touch during the initial public launch of synapseWear. They were inquisitive but respectful of not over-pitching their services. When we realized we couldn't find time to make the Android app we reached out to them.

Describe the project in detail.

Because the iOS version was already completed they had a working version of what needed to be done. So there was no need to make wireframes, guidelines, etc. We basically needed an experience Android programmer who could also handle BLE device communication which they were able to provide.

What was the team composition?

We used Slack to communicate. There was a project manager to keep things focused and one engineer assigned the project. Both the manager and engineer were super communicative. The project only lasted a few months and so the composition did not change.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After being unable to complete the app internally for half a year Droids on Roids completed it in 2 months. Nice to finally have it done!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I am based in Tokyo working with a team based in Poland. Despite that communication was stress free. We started things off with a few video chats, but after that everything was Slack based.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were on budget and on schedule. What more could you ask for?

Are there any areas for improvement?

There were a few bugs which needed to be addressed, but that is always the case.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief of Product of a AI-led for a mobile digital concierge and management system. We have are a small start-up with 4 members working internationally in Los Angeles, Cambridge, and London.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We hired Droids and Roids to develop our proof-of-concept mobile app. While our team had deep technical expertise for back-end development and front-end product design, we contacted Droids to work with us developing our mobile application for both tablet and mobile.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to get to a marker ready product that could be deployed and tested with our initial clients in the field.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We we're recommended to reach out to polish development houses from a friend who applauded their speed and quality. After interviewing a few firms both in US and Poland, we decided to go with Droids.

Describe the project in detail.

The scope of the project was large, as we were developing a unique system spanning task management, IoT, and AI. Droids joined us in the early stages, as we were still developing and iterating on our product weekly. They were responsible for working with myself and our CTO to build something from the ground up, and work with us to identify challenges and opportunities as we built.

What was the team composition?

We had 3 engineerings and a project manager working daily with our team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has put us in a great position for further fundraising, with a polished, working demo. Using their work we were able to secure our first client as well. Their insight and talent early on made the product better and saved us valuable time by making sure we were building the right product.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was great. Droids was very responsive and had suggestions through the process on how to keep a fast pace in development. They we're open, honest, and helpful every step of the way.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their flexibility, desire to listen, and suggestions to help further the goals of the company stood out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only area is speed, but I can't imagine them working any faster than they did. If we had more resources as a company I'm sure that would have been different.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a financial services platform. We partner with companies to provide their employees with zero-interest loans, especially people with a troubled credit history or no credit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids On Roids?

In our sales cycle, we communicate to the employees what their options are and show them that it’s easy to use. Previously, we only had a web platform where they signed up on our home page with their email verification and login. However, a lot of the demographics we are dealing with don’t have laptops or PCs; they are more mobile oriented. We needed to offer a mobile app to increase conversion within the workforce.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a high-level idea of how our app should look. We wanted to keep it simple with as few clicks as possible to take out a loan. We wanted it to be intuitive and not too sophisticated. Droids On Roids helped us to develop the prototypes. We mapped out the user flow and created mock-ups, and then, they did the final wireframes and took it from there.

They designed the app for both iOS and Android, but currently, since the vast majority of our users have Android phones, we’re targeting only Android. iOS will come later.

What is the team composition?

We had one project manager, one Scrum master, one designer, two Android developers, and one QA engineer.

How did you come to work with Droids On Roids?

We reached out to our LinkedIn network to see if anyone had recommendations for an affordable development team. A former colleague of my CTO worked with Droids On Roids and introduced us. They made it into the top three teams that we were considering. In the end, they were the best. Their portfolio looked good, and we felt strong compatibility with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $55,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2018, and we launched in April 2019. They maintain our app on a monthly basis, and they continue to improve our app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were thrilled with the results. Their forecasting was incredibly accurate. They were great at estimating the workload and forecasting the hours and cost involved. There was dynamic communication. It was impressive.

How did Droids On Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

I can’t praise them enough when it comes to project management. It was excellent. Their scrum process is exceptionally well-thought-out. We have standing meetings, a refinement meeting, and a backlog planning meeting. They make my life easy. They’re direct with what they need from me as the product owner. The documentation is great. They provided us with Google Sheets to track progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I especially liked that they went a step beyond the scope and questioned some of our processes. Then, they suggested ways they could do it better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m delighted with the whole process. There’s some inflexibility when it comes to meetings due to the time difference. They have to be early in the morning or late at night. It’s nothing that can be changed, though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be diligent when it comes to the backlog. Get granular with what product features you’re looking for and what the objectives are because it will allow them to better forecast. Stay committed to that roadmap and don’t change things last minute. Due to their rigid process, they’re not fond of changing things last minute.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the president of Very Good Ventures, a technology studio based in New York City. We create lasting partnerships with brands to design, build, and manage apps and technology solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We needed additional expertise to collaborate with our team for mobile development, specifically with respect to Android and Flutter.

What were your goals for this project?

We prioritized seamless integration with our team and high-quality code delivery.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had phone interviews and ultimately decided to work with them based on their experience and professionalism.

Describe the project in detail.

Our team is supported in our ongoing project work by a team of mobile/Flutter developers.

What was the team composition?

Primarily, we work a Flutter developer, but the team has also included a project manager and a QA engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Droids On Roids team has become an integral part of our team. We trust them, too, which is the ultimate sign of success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The different time zones can be challenging. However, we’ve established some practices that have reduced this strain.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication, professionalism, and experience stand out to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could be located in the same time zone, but that is not possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an IT company that provides software and mobile applications for Swiss banks. I'm the head of our mobile team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids on Roids?

We needed to redesign a mobile application, as we were moving to apps that are native. We wanted a company that understood the behavior and best user experience for these applications, and the differences between platforms for Android and iOS. We also wanted a team that was knowledgeable about mobile user journeys and user-friendly applications.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This was a complete redesign for the app. There are some classic banking app elements. Users can see their portfolio, accounts, balances, and there are templates to buy and sell shares, search for bank information, and other standard functionality.

We tracked the outcomes and defined what was important at the beginning of the project. They shared results with us throughout the process, and we used an InVision prototyping tool as we received the design in different stages. At the end of the project, they sent the full Sketch file, which we started to use internally. They did a lot of work that we're currently maintaining.

What is the team composition?

We have one point of contact who acts as our primary designer.

How much have you invested with them?

At most, we spent the equivalent of about $20,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around October 2018, and the project was completed in February 2019. I recently asked about their availability for future collaborations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The finished product is very well made, and we use their patterns across the whole application. They made development very easy.

How did Droids on Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

We've had no problems with their project management. The designer kept everything well organized and kept all their promises.

We set up an online communication through Slack. Anytime we needed deeper clarification, we had a call with them and our offshore business analyst. We've never had a problem with any communication or time difference. They're flexible and a pleasure to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have great knowledge about mobile apps. The designer delivered screens and checked in with the developers to make sure everything was easy to implement. We wanted to introduce a lot of native elements, without anything custom. They had the knowledge to serve our needs, and they checked all the Apple and Google deadlines to make sure we stuck to best practices and were up-to-date.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they should improve. Our experience was great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When my colleagues saw the results, they all wanted to hire them. I'd love to keep them for myself.