Exploding Phone

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former CEO of oMbiel Ltd. That company focused on providing mobile apps for universities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Exploding Phone?

My involvement with Exploding Phone began in 2009, so building third-party mobile apps was still a new concept. After working with several universities to analyze their student data, I came up with the idea of mobile apps that store course material. I hired Exploding Phone to develop my proposed solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My company built the platform’s backend infrastructure and web services. Exploding Phone completed the app development portion of the project. Our teams worked together closely and collaborated to create app’s design. The final deliverable was a cloud-based solution for iOS. They later developed an Android version once the technology became viable. The finished product includes an administration suite that lets each client customize the interface with their university’s branding.

What is the team composition?

We tended to work with a project manager. They allocated a total of 5–6 resources.

How did you come to work with Exploding Phone?

I searched for local companies on Google and found three candidates. Exploding Phone’s daily practices integrated well with our work philosophy. Hiring them was the obvious choice.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent nearly £1 million (approximately $1.3 million USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

This engagement took place from March 2009–July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Exploding Phone’s work enabled us to become the UK’s market leader for this type of solution. We grew to obtain 60 customers throughout the UK and 20 more worldwide. They continued to support the platform and it still receives positive feedback. It’s a sophisticated product.

How did Exploding Phone perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager handled most of our meetings and daily scrums remotely. Once each task was adequately assigned via development boards, we’d initiate agile sprints to expedite development. Exploding Phone updated the boards as they completed assignments and would report back to us. We primarily communicated via phone and email. Despite working from different locations, we approached the project as a unified team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I can’t speak highly enough of them. That’s not easy for me to say as I’ve worked with quite a lot of suppliers and have large expectations. Having a technological background myself, I’m acutely aware of how challenging it was to build our platform. They implemented innovative features with a practical approach. They’re the first company I thought of to create my next solution.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They did everything we asked and even provided useful recommendations to improve the app’s functionality.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We considered them our additional in-house development team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company provides a range of risk management solutions. As the technical services director, I manage order fulfillment, quality checking, sample analysis laboratories, IT, compliance, and the engineering functions of our business.

We have a supply of uniquely coded chemical solution that makes property traceable. It’s invisible to the naked eye without UV lighting. A chemical analysis process shows if something is stolen to help prove the legitimate owner. We have many other technologies to track, trace, mark, and surveil for a comprehensive risk protection strategy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Exploding Phone?

A couple of years ago, we worked with Exploding Phone on a research and development process for spray pattern analysis. We needed a paperless post-dispatch registration process for our unique formula. To meet industry and police standards, our company can't know where the solution will be used when it leaves the building. Using paperwork involved complicated logistics and data entry.

We had just completed registration for 450,000 London homes. Each one had its own form, which was difficult to track after our solution is dispatched from our headquarters to London and dispersed across 32 boroughs. We even ship internationally to the United States and around the Caribbean, and will soon consider Australia and much more of Europe.

To make this process easier, we wanted to build a mobile app with a secure login that lets users scan the bottle's barcode, complete the details, and instantly upload them to our database. It improves the registration process and provides real-time management information.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Exploding Phone first built us native apps for Android and iOS for the Metropolitan Police of London. We then decided to make a generic registration for the rest of the UK police forces and local authorities we work with. Instead of giving us an app for every eventuality, they came up with the idea to create a platform which provides us with a high degree of flexibility and control.

The dashboard allows us to build new iterations. We can create apps in various languages and customize fields depending on the industry and type of registration we were trying to collect. The system is integral to the entire post-sale registration process.

We put the formula together and commit it to both or either or both platforms, and then Exploding Phone compiles and installs it for us. They used the same color scheme and look and feel from the registration form our customers are familiar with for the app's design.

Our app has evolved significantly over the past 12 months. Moving beyond asset and property protection, we plan to it in our supply chain management solutions to register solutions and consignments at point A and validate the shipment when it arrives at point B.

What is the team composition? 

My team talked to three people from Exploding Phone. I speak to Andrew (Managing Director, Exploding Phone) often.  David (Business Development Director, Exploding Phone) handles the commercial side and works with my project manager. Simon (Software Developer, Exploding Phone) helps my development team and works with our internal app administrator. 

How did you come to work with Exploding Phone?

We were looking for a team that developed apps, rather than offering a full suite of marketing services and digital solutions. We needed a vendor with the right specialized expertise to manage our project. I kept coming back to Exploding Phone about this app until our senior managers approved the project. 

How much have you invested with them?

The first app cost about £15,000–£16,000. ($19,000–$20,000). Our second app, the paperless registration form, was around £40,000–£60,000. ($52,000–$78,000).

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since October 2017 when we built the app for the Metropolitan Police of London. We just had a meeting with Exploding Phone this morning about more upcoming work. Everything they deliver stimulates new ideas from our commercial team. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Metropolitan Police of London have accepted our app and think it's wonderful. It's fully operational and will minimize paperwork and bureaucracy. They should be able to use it in about six months after the waiting period. It's a great app, and everyone loves it, but we can't get it on peoples' phones yet.

Our local police force and park rangers near our company's headquarters in the West Midlands, UK have all been using our app for the last six weeks. We're planning a rollout to many rural properties and villages. Many have high crime rates because criminals drive out to wealthy villages and ransack expensive houses. These officials are using our property protection to mark valuables and think it’s fantastic. They no longer have to manage pieces of paper. 

We just finished an American version for our office in the US. It's fully signed off on and ready to go. All the feedback has been excellent. When users request any changes that we can't make internally through the dashboard, Exploding Phone quickly finds the solution. I have no issues with their work technically at all. We work very well together. They're highly knowledgeable and professional. 

How did Exploding Phone perform from a project management standpoint?

Apart from the one incident, they've hit all the deadlines and kept their promises to deliver. Due to accounting issues, the dashboard was three weeks late which related to the commercial launch. We work well together. Testing can vary in length, but they get on bug fixes very quickly. 

Most of our communication is through phone and email. We also meet in person occasionally and have been to each other’s offices. They're about 30 miles down the road, which is an hour-long drive. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Exploding Phone hits their deadlines. They tend to have an excellent understanding of how long a piece of work will take. This is very useful for planning and supporting commercial projects. They're one of the best software developers we've worked with in the last 8–9 years. They're great at multitasking and work well with our entrepreneurial business and quickly changing focus. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

When Exploding Phone built the dashboard, we should have had a face-to-face meeting and detailed exactly what we wanted to achieve; everything would have been perfect. We've had a phone call to discuss everything we've done since. I can't find any fault with them at all. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the group head of IT for Healthcare Management Solutions, the country's leading provider of care home management and consultancy services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Exploding Phone Limited?

We needed to capture customer feedback, and decided that a phone app would be a good solution.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create an easy-to-use app that quickly captured feedback and distributed it to relevant stakeholders to address concerns.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We wanted a supplier who understood what we hoped to achieve and with whom we could form a strong business relationship.

Describe the project in detail.

After meeting to discuss our idea and objective, Exploding Phone Limited produced a beta version to test the basic functionality. Then they improved the user interface and the app's ability to work beyond the care sector.

What was the team composition?

Their managing director was our main point of contact. He received backup from two software developers, and their business development director helped with commercials.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app launched and deployed to our care homes three months after our initial meetings. Negative and positive feedback came through regularly from residents, family members, and friends. We're proud of the app and regularly get compliments on its design and functionality.

The app became a finalist for the 2018 Health Investor Technology Award and was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2019 Tomorrow's Care Technology Award. We've expanded into the retail, hospitality, dental, education, and local government sectors.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our communication is extremely good. They understand our objectives and manage delivery, timeframes, and expectations well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciated their eagerness to work with us and make our app the essential feedback tool. We view them as a partner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, it's been a pleasure working with Exploding Phone Limited. I look forward to updating the app with them and working on further projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Healthcare Management Solutions. We provide a variety of consultancy, audit and review, operational management, and due diligence services for the healthcare industry. We also develop internal systems and sell them to third-party firms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Exploding Phone Limited?

At the time, we operated around 120 residential healthcare centers through the UK. A lot of those locations struggled to achieve an adequate level of compliance and quality. Relying on the local management staff to report issues to senior-level representatives proved unrealistic. To solve this problem, I wanted to create a mobile application that enabled people engaging with our services to give us direct feedback. Once I refined the idea a bit, we started looking for a development firm to build the platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided Exploding Phone Limited with a rough outline that detailed the app’s form and functionalities. This document included some early ideas and graphical elements, but its primary focus revolved around listing the features we required. We agreed to develop the web-based platform as long as they created an API system that could transmit data back and forth. Ultimately, they delivered the app for both iOS and Android.

Pleased with the results of their previous work, we’ve since hired for another app development project. We started this project by providing more detailed wireframes than before. The current product is about 60% complete and they’re building it for Android. It’s already a much more significant undertaking than our initial engagement.

What is the team composition?

We primarily interact with two directors, a developer, and a designer.

How did you come to work with Exploding Phone Limited?

We researched local companies and reached out to several development firms, but selected Exploding Phone Limited due to their excellent presentation and convenient location. Being geographically close to us meant that I’d be able to visit their offices when addressing issues. Considering that’d likely expedite the whole process, we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £130,000 (approximately $171,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2017 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone who sees the first app they’ve built for us is blown away by its quality. Their approach to design is one of their greatest strengths. One of their designers took the wireframes I created and made them 100% better. They understand how users interact with app-based systems and I’m pleased with the output.

How did Exploding Phone Limited perform from a project management standpoint?

They comprehend our needs and are disciplined enough to keep scope creep under control. Their team usually sends us a document listing the recent design changes they’ve made. If a task is particularly complex, we’ll arrange a face-to-face meeting to sort everything out. They’re exceptionally responsive and offer a fair pricing structure.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re large enough to complete complex projects but are also small enough to accommodate specific workflow requirements. I always feel like we’re an important client to them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They’ve been exceptional thus far.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a group IT director for Euro Packaging Ltd. We provide paper and plastic products for retail and merchant companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Exploding Phone Limited?

We have a large contract with a client that order around 16,000 of our products to each of their 1,200 stores. However, the e-commerce website we had in place needed an upgrade in style and functionality. We wanted to allow users to save baskets, retrieve products, and have a localized shopping experience. The new site also needed to be eye-catching and mobile-friendly. We ultimately decided to move the ordering process to a full B2B mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve never embarked on this kind of mobile app development project before, so Exploding Phone Limited held our hand through the entire process. From the project brief we created together, the team built wireframes and storyboards for how the platform would look and feel. They then developed an app for PC, iOS, and Android platforms. The Android version came at their suggestion and we’ve found it to be sound guidance. The app integrates data feeds from our SAP ERP, feeding orders from the app and stock files from the ERP into each other continuously. Exploding Phone Limited also built a CMS to create unique templates and ordering profiles for each customer, allowing them to have an app experience customized to their business’s needs.

Outside our original scope, we’ve also developed a B2C app with Exploding Phone Limited. It includes features such as easy access to discounts, credit checking, and a fully-integrated payment system.

What is the team composition?

The team consisted of a variety of members, but I interacted with two people on a frequent basis. Andrew (Managing Director, Exploding Phone Limited) was particularly helpful and communicative on the contractual side. He remained involved throughout the project, but only when necessary.

How did you come to work with Exploding Phone Limited?

We initially looked abroad for partners on this project, but we ultimately came up with a list of ten local firms. As we looked at these firms’ websites, Exploding Phone Limited impressed us with their history of building custom apps instead of relying on templates. They had an agile work style that we liked, and they came up with features that we hadn’t thought of from our single-page document of loose requirements. Plus, they were local so we could spend time getting to know their team and have meetings at our office or theirs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about £47,000 (approximately $62,000 USD) on the B2B app and £12,000 (approximately $16,000 USD) for a second app.

What is the status of this engagement?

The B2B project app lasted from January–July 2017. We’ve completed other projects with Exploding Phone Limited since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Due to unexpected delays on the part of our client, we haven’t yet fully launched the mobile app. But we’ve demoed it in their stores and users have so far given nothing but positive feedback. The app works the same across all three platforms and is both easy and quick to use. It can save 60–70% of users’ time when they’re ordering products, not to mention that users can order on-the-go.

How did Exploding Phone Limited perform from a project management standpoint?

Exploding Phone Limited has an agile work approach with a personal touch. Their team can think outside the box and have great insights, but they were also flexible and willing to look into ideas. When our side had last-minute thoughts and suggestions on the app, the team included our changes within a week. The other day, when I had a concept about another app to manage inventory and returns of seasonal products, the team immediately offered to scope it out.

Exploding Phone Limited also was highly accessible. We communicated primarily via WebEx conferences and email—where a response always came in under five minutes—but we also met face-to-face for critical stages of the project. Andrew always made us feel welcome to visit them and to ask questions. At the same time, they also built the CMS so that we can manage the app internally without requiring additional IT people.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They never made the process difficult. The team explained their work so that even someone with a non-IT background could understand it. They were upfront about their capabilities and the challenges of what we’d ask for, but they fully committed to the work. 

We’re looking forward to hiring Exploding Phone Limited again for future app projects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. Our partnership with Exploding Phone Limited has been one of our biggest successes.