Kuka Apps

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re Turkey’s leading mobile and digital operator, a converged telecommunication and technology services provider, founded and headquartered in Turkey. We serve our customers with voice, data, TV, and value-added consumer and enterprise services on mobile and fixed networks. 

I am a product marketing manager, working on the technology leverage of social innovation and leading three mobile apps aimed at giving equal opportunities for disadvantaged people in society.

What challenge were you trying to address with Kuka Apps?

In 2016, we launched a mobile app for Syrian refugees in Turkey, which is the number one host country for refugees.

As Turkey’s leading operator and technology provider, we believed we had to provide access to those people whose needs were completely different from others’. At the time, they needed to access useful information on how to live in Turkey. There also were language problems that had to be addressed.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kuka Apps developed the app together with our in-house engineers. We provided them specific guidelines, and we developed the content.

The UX/UI design was also a collaborative process. We had strict guidelines to follow, but there was some flexibility within them. The app was developed natively for Android and iOS by Kuka Apps.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with a lot of people during these five years. We’ve always had an account manager and the same basis of contact people.

The account manager acts as a bridge between our team and their team of 6–10 people, including developers, partners, and project managers.

How did you come to work with Kuka Apps?

We have a specific process for selecting external development partners. We published the job on our site, and Kuka Apps applied.

We chose them based on their background, expertise, and offer.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in early 2016. The collaboration is ongoing, but we launched the app in September 2016.

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

Kuka Apps tested the app on a range of Android and iOS devices, and the app worked flawlessly on each one.

Our app is an award-winning project recognized by many international institutions like the UN, UNESCO, GSMA, ITU. We were at Mobiles for Education Alliance Symposium in Washington DC in 2018, presenting the app and other digital society solutions as one of the selected best use cases.

We monitor the downloads and number of active users. When we launch a new version, we never get reports of issues, even after five years. The process is going flawlessly. The app never crashes.

The most important thing for our team is to reach the relevant people in time. We’re working with other companies on other projects, and Kuka App is one of our favorites for professionality. Whenever we ask for something to be fixed or changed, they’re on it, and I know that they’ll do it.

The team gets back to us with a plan, and they always respect those plans. I have confidence in them, and I know that they’ll deliver an amazing experience to our customers and me.

Five years is a long time, and we would’ve changed partners if we weren’t happy.

How did Kuka Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a lot of pressure to launch the app, and their team developed it quickly and without flaws. They were proactive in suggesting new ways of designing the UX. We have a lot of confidence in them, and we’re happy to be working together.

Kuka Apps offered different perspectives, which we discussed at the team meetings. It was a workshop-based collaboration. They always brief us on time, and they provide documents, presentations, and time plans. We don’t use project management tools.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The mobile app world is all about crises. Their team is great at problem-solving, exhibiting great expertise.

If we make a small mistake, it can have a butterfly effect on our ROI and everything else. Kuka Apps doesn’t really make mistakes, but when something crashes, they remain cool and find quick solutions that they implement immediately.

I know that they have other customers, so I’m keen on learning how they do it. They’re always on the project, and this is very important in the mobile app world. It’s important to have the right expertise and to have quick interventions when needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any examples in mind. We have good working chemistry.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Kuka Apps is a well structured and a very professional company. They have a great expertise on different areas of the mobile app world, as well as continuously improving themselves about it.

Kuka is an amazing partner if you are looking for well-established, great expertise on mobile app development with flawless project management. I am very confident to recommend Kuka Apps to potential customers.