MacAppStudio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of NamasteAi, a company that develops CVsand offers job posting services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We have a digital product that will help everybody — including blue- and white-collar workers — make their CVS. It will also help companies post jobs and hire people who are making CVs on the platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MacAppStudio?

I faced many challenges, and the biggest ones were time and budget. As a result, we needed MacAppStudio’s services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were involved from the very start. The first stage was the project requirement documentation (PRD). I gave them a detailed description of what had to be made. This took around two months to do. Next, they designed the software on InVision. 

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with two people from their project management team. One of them was involved with us 90% of the time. 

How did you come to work with MacAppStudio?

I found them through LinkedIn, where they posted a lot of their projects. Later on, I found them on review websites, where they had good reviews on their profile. Then, I went to their website, and it looked pretty amazing. They were also highly recommended by our tech officer, who came from the same city as them. 

We had other developers on the project, but they were taking 6–12 months to develop the product. Meanwhile, MacAppStudio confirmed they could do it in one and a half months. On top of that, they agreed to take 50% of the total payment after the product was developed. Other developers didn’t give us this flexibility. Overall, they promised a timely execution, and they were flexible in terms of financials. These were the two reasons we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $32,000, which we paid in two $16,000 installments. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from November 2020–February 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?

In this engagement, when we asked MacAppStudio what technology stack they were using, they didn’t give us a clear answer. That was one of our biggest friction points; we wanted a tech stack to be established so that we could develop the software on our own when we brought it in-house. This was where things started to get a little dicey. 

Then, they promised a strict timeline. They said the PRD would be finished in five days, the design in another five days, and the whole development in 45 days. However, the PRD and design alone took more than two months to be corrected. They were supposed to go into production by February 2021, but they refused to start without us giving them any money. When I raised concerns about the lengthy PRD process, they assured me that they were going to do everything. 

Then, at the design stage, they only designed 50% of what was in the PRD. This was where the entire engagement went south. Since our company’s existence depended on our digital products, we wouldn’t be here if they didn’t develop the software. I wrote them an email, saying that we were supposed to go live on the markets around January–February 2021, which was the post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery phase in India. People would be posting and looking for jobs. However, MacAppStudio didn’t deliver. 

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

They didn't give us our product, and we were forced to find new developers. Our company runs offline and online businesses, but MacAppStudio literally killed our online business. Our team started this whole initiative in March 2020, which meant we’ve already lost over one year in time because MacAppStudio over-promised and very much under-delivered. 

How was project management handled?

We primarily talked through Zoom calls, and most of those calls were recorded by either them or me. Our secondary medium was back and forth emails, which were very descriptive in terms of what needed to be delivered. 

Our CTO wanted to directly talk to their technical people for us to communicate more effectively. However, that never happened. This was probably the reason why they took two months to understand our requirements despite us giving them everything since day one. 

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

MacAppStudio had the ability to instill confidence in the customer, who would believe that they were in the right hands; we didn’t find that confidence in any other developer. They were the nicest, sweetest, and strongest technology team out there. That being said, things changed a lot once the payments were made.

In what specific areas can they improve?

They didn’t open up in terms of communication. Communication — not confidence-building —  was what truly mattered. First, they should have told us what kind of team they had and who would work on the project. Second, they should have told us the technologies that would be used to develop the product. Finally, they should have developed what we truly wanted and not what they believed we wanted; those two things had a big difference. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Pay MacAppStudio after your PRD is completed, or don’t pay them until your design is complete. In our engagement, it would’ve been better if we paid them $3,000–$5,000 for the PRD and design, and that would’ve been an acceptable amount for any such tasks.

You shouldn’t pay more than $5,000 at the start of your engagement with MacAppStudio. Once the requirements are documented and they understand how your product must look like, they may be able to develop it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and business developer of an education company providing services to students preparing for exams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MacAppStudio?

We wanted to create a platform for mobile devices. Our system was developed by another company that didn’t do a good job. It wasn’t scalable so we decided to redevelop the app from scratch, using different frameworks and a different team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

MacAppStudio provided full development for our native Android and iOS apps. Our requirements were to host it in the cloud, to create a good user interface, and to have great performance and maintainability. MacAppStudio came up with a time and budget estimate for the project and allocated resources. We have a sync feature through which users can save their data across multiple devices.

They also consulted us on the channels we should use to sell our product. They gave us strategic insights around how we’re doing business currently and what we can do in the future.

What is the team composition?

We currently have two dedicated developers, a UI designer, a project manager, and some testers. I believe the core team size is five people, but they only charge us for the work being done so they don’t charge us for the project manager.

How did you come to work with MacAppStudio?

I read about their team on Facebook. They grew from a bootstrapped group into a big company. We needed a highly-skilled partner at the time, and we didn’t find one in our area. MacAppStudio had developed an app in a similar domain to ours.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $40,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with MacAppStudio in January 2018. We expect to complete the project within a couple of weeks by mid-July. We made a demo for our customers last week showcasing all the major functionalities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

MacAppStudio completed a revamp that was five times more challenging than what we did initially in about the same time it took to develop our initial version.

Our previous developer didn’t test much and didn’t deliver a quality product, but we didn’t have any major issues with the work delivered by MacAppStudio. The feedback from my internal team is that MacAppStudio’s code quality was great.

How did MacAppStudio perform from a project management standpoint?

We had daily calls between the architect on our side and their manager. They communicated via Slack, email, and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stand out in terms of cost, quality, and capability. We feel great about their technical skills and delivery.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They’re ahead of the game, so we’ve learned from them in some areas.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should have a strong technical person on their end who can get things done and express requirements clearly. The amount of work that MacAppStudio will deliver is directly related to how clear the requirements are. Their team is awesome, and they should not be underestimated. Clients should take full advantage of their skill sets. They were excellent at creating our architecture. We simply needed to be clear about technical items and timelines on our end.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company focused on providing solutions to trade expos and marketing expos. We provide solutions for the expos coordinators and the vendors who participate.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MacAppStudio?

We wanted to digitize the registration process for expos. We want a mobile app that can easily scan cards for quick information gathering.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave MacAppStudio a full set of requirements and they're delivering the app for iOS and Android in multiple phases. They're implementing a scanning feature for visitor ID cards and QR codes. The information that's scanned is configured with a backend system to save the information on the cloud. The team's also designing the interfaces for both features.

What is the team composition?

I engage with an account manager for business activities and a project manager for specific deliveries. I’m not sure how many developers are working on the project, but there are some working in the background.

How did you come to work with MacAppStudio?

We were recommended to them. We knew they were good at mobile app development, and they fit our requirements well.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested $30,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in April 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They always make sure to solve urgent matters. We receive various versions from them and gain feedback from customers.

How did MacAppStudio perform from a project management standpoint?

The primary tool they use is Zoho BugTracker; it’s how we track deliveries, bug fixes, and releases. They present great solutions and working with them has been a breeze thus far. They’ve been very supportive and are a great company.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They know the technology well and stick to deadlines well. It's rare to find a company that has these traits and still can deliver high-quality results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their first focus isn't design documents and reports. It’s not part of their workflow, and it's something they should incorporate. It will help them scale as a company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Galapot. We’re an entertainer and celebrity booking platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MacAppStudio?

We needed someone to develop our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

MacAppStudio built both the front- and backends of our iOS and Android apps using PHP and Java. Customers can use the app to make bookings online and talk to us directly. Booking a celebrity for an event is a completely automated process – no manpower needed.

What is the team composition?

We communicated with an account manager, but there were a total of five people working on our project.

How did you come to work with MacAppStudio?

We connected with them through Facebook.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $67,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January until April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were expecting the project to last six months but they completed it in three to four. We get really good feedback from our customers.

How did MacAppStudio perform from a project management standpoint?

It was really good from the initial proposal to the very end. We called them once a week to check on their progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We could easily access them so someone was always available to help us. When we go to their office, we sit together and have a lot of brainstorming sessions. We understand them and they understand our expectations. Everything is perfect. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a couponing company dealing with the fast-moving consumer goods and consumer packaged goods market. We list offers from brands that we tie up with and reach it across to our users. We are currently dealing in the United Arab Emirates [UAE] market and will be launching soon in India and East Asia.

I’m the founder of this company. My role is to see through the whole process making sure the flow from backend to consumer front is seamless.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MacAppStudio?

Well, I’m basically a commercial guy. I can deal with all the affairs that aren’t related to IT since my knowledge on IT is very basic. My solution is MacAppStudio. The goal of this partnership with MacAppStudio is to have a strong IT backbone that will make sure things are achieved and under control.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, I was looking to create an app and that’s about it, but over the course of time, I realized that these guys understood exactly what I wanted and what was needed to make sure my demands were delivered. So, I got them to do my website, app (iOS and Android platform), backend dashboard, and other flows and systems that were needed to make the company fully functional for a public release. Frankly, we are at a stage where I don’t worry about IT related issues. I don’t think I can be more specific than mentioning that they have covered all aspects of IT within my company.

How did you come to work with MacAppStudio?

We initially met through a freelancer platform, where we both agreed to do a basic project of a simple app. Luckily, it turns out that these guys are from the city of Chennai (Madras) where I spent my childhood. On my business trip to Chennai, we decided to catch-up to spend some time trying to understand each other. Little do you know, we hit it off on a professional and personal level! Their energy and aspiration to grow were the main reasons for me to choose them. So, after our meeting and the completion of the small project, we decided to partner with each other. Frankly, I’ve not even tried looking for anyone else for this project, as I didn’t find the need to. I’ve worked on my other business with other developers but I can say with no doubt, these guys are top class! No regrets whatsoever.

How much have you invested with MacAppStudio?

To the date, my estimate would be around $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It’s not easy to answer this, as once the ball gets rolling the amount of work keeps increasing. But if you’re trying to know if they kept up timeline? Yes, they did! Initially, over the freelancer platform, we had agreed on a certain time frame and the project was delivered. This was another reason that made me choose them. Currently, I have a dedicated team from MacApp that works with me on a daily basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I wouldn’t be able to share any particular success stories. But the fact that I got an idea to light, and am currently on the verge of an official launch in the UAE itself is a success story. I’m sure you can guess the result here.

How did MacAppStudio perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was and is managed perfectly. I’m very comfortable with the way the project is being managed. I was recommended by MacApp to use a bug tracker, which makes all our lives very efficient and easy. To be frank, these guys try their best to make sure the work (even the smallest things) has a systematic flow. This made it easier for them to be able to communicate well with their team and gave a seamless delivery of the company.

What did you find most impressive about MacAppStudio?

I think I’ve mentioned these points above. The energy and aspiration to be successful and their systematic method of approach to work and life sets them apart.

Are there any areas MacAppStudio could improve?

None that I can think of right now.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Solu Publishing is a brand new online self-publishing platform. It makes writing memoirs easy because it’s very simple to use. It has thought prompts to help with ideas for what to write. You can make audio stories or write stories, and there’s an interactive component where you can comment on someone else’s story. I’m the chief development officer and partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with MacAppStudio?

We wanted to build something that was never done before as a platform and not just an app. MacAppStudio built the platform and did a fantastic job of understanding what we wanted to accomplish.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The product is a web and iOS app, so it was a difficult cross platform project. The web app was built using HTML5, PHP, and CSS and the mobile app was built with Swift. We have an integration of Charity built into our platform which allows a person to donate to the author’s specific charity. All of the components made this a very complicated project, but MacAppStudio did a great job of understanding everything involved. They’re very good at scaling their resources as needed. We do a lot of the design work ourselves, which can cause issues when working cross-continent, but they did a good job of understanding the North American market and mirroring that very well.

How did you come to work with MacAppStudio?

We went with them because we wanted someone who could think outside the box and understand our vision. MacAppStudio didn’t put us in a mold of work they’d done before but looked at our project as a brand new venture.

How much have you invested with MacAppStudio?

The project cost more than $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in August/September of 2015 and we continue to have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We’re starting to launch and the reception has been incredible.

How did MacAppStudio perform from a project management standpoint?

They have great communication using Slack. They also traveled here to meet with us to make sure we were on the same page.

What did you find most impressive about MacAppStudio?

Technologically, there is not a better firm that can envision things that haven’t happened before. It’s hard to get independent programmers to care about your project. MacAppStudio became part of the team and really cares about the project.

Are there any areas MacAppStudio could improve?

No. They met my expectations.