Selleo

BACKGROUND

We are a foundation which grew out of a web and mobile community, aiming to provide an interactive forum for IT people interested in the unique mixture of networking, knowledge-building, as well as practical and productive skills development. I’m the Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board.

As the host of one of the biggest admittance-free IT events in Europe, we were looking for a multi-platform cloud-based conference management application to mobilize and socialize the conference. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We needed a dedicated event platform and cross-platform mobile solution to help a few hundred participants navigate through the agenda. The app needed to list multiple lectures and workshop, supply the attendees with information about presentations and speakers, and encourage participation and elicit feedback for improvements in the future. 

SOLUTION

Our event management platform consists of a custom Ruby on Rails web application, which we used to enter event data and gather and analyze statistics and/or feedback. The web CMS [content management system], which connected with the suite of mobile apps for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone, was fitted with analytical features to track and measure user behavior in the application, gather feedback, and keep the data updated in real time. Selleo was responsible for the development of the whole product, including the web CMS platform and mobile apps.

We were looking for a software development house which could deliver both web and mobile solution under one roof, assisting us with application architecture and design development. Selleo fit our requirements and also presented a portfolio of similar software solutions. We received not only high-quality developers but also domain knowledge regarding data analytics, feedback gathering, and mobile data collection.

We worked closely with Selleo’s team to create the project scope. Having an initial idea of how the platform should look like, we didn’t know much about software development processes. Selleo backed us with the Agile methodology and an understanding of how to transform our ideas into application functionalities. To be honest, we had no proper documentation, just some rough ideas of functionalities. Selleo split these concepts into user stories, and then we co-created the project backlog.

Selleo assigned a varying number of people to the project based on our needs. Most of the time, we had 2 developers. They were responsible for web and mobile. Our project went from February 2014 to March 2015. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

The solution supported more than 800 users on all mobile systems—iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. We received very positive feedback. The app had a 4.9 score on Google Play. Users were happy with its simple UI and offline mode.

Our idea of developing a web event management system with mobile apps was conceived during a service design workshop that Selleo conducted for us. The system was designed and developed in close collaboration between our organization and Selleo. We felt like they became a unique part of our foundation. They were very responsive and allowed us to overcome some process challenges. Timing was a crucial factor, but Selleo managed to deliver the solutions within our agreed schedule.

Since we had no previous experience in developing software projects, Selleo was a great partner to work with. They presented high-quality project management skills. At first, we thought that conducting software projects would be extremely hard, but with Selleo’s professional approach, the work was easy and even enjoyable.

We really appreciate the way they deliver service and their whole company attitude. They are friendly, open-minded, and focused on the client’s needs. We had a really a great experience with them.