The home of significant code
Setapp is a custom software development company focusing on bringing value to the transport and maritime industry.
We understand how secure development and attention to data are crucial when choosing today's software providers. That is why our development teams keep growing this area of our services.
Our team comprises 70 experienced and ambitious software developers, designers, scrum masters, and business-oriented people. We are small enough to be agile & big enough to deliver complex projects.
We have delivered 150+ projects for our clients from Europe, the US, and the UAE, helping them disrupt the market. We have you covered for web, mobile, and VR/AR development in line with the prevailing trends in the transport industry.
We are the architects of one of the largest Episerver implementations in the world, creating a platform that is used by more than 2 million users per month.
There are many software houses, but only one home - the home of significant code.
Recommended Providers
Focus
Portfolio
Maersk Tankers, Deutsche Binnenreederei, Egmont, Exruptive, Learn Teach Explore, Interactive Scientific, Temply. Check out some of our case studies.

Best Driver
Best Driver specializes in working with professional drivers. They focus their activities on education, professional development, coaching and personnel consulting. Based on studies and years of experience in working with professional drivers, Best Driver has created a unique methodology of teaching and adapted the course subjects to real driving conditions.
Overview
For the biggest truck driving school in Europe, we have created a Virtual Reality system to add an innovation element to their driving courses and improve the results of trainees. Our goal was to recreate realistic driving conditions in the VR system of efficient, digital courses.
Solution
Through the combination of a VR headset and a motion platform, we have created a truly realistic environment that supports the development of right habits among the future truck drivers. Our solution gives the trainees a chance to get to know the realities of driving a huge truck - all of this in a safe environment of VR training.

BargeMap - Deutsche Binnenreederei
Deutsche Binnenreederei operates on the inland shipping transport market in Central and Western Europe. Thanks to the decades of experience the company offers a fleet able to carry various types of freight. Portfolio of DBR services includes transport solutions, warehousing and transshipment services.
Our goal
The main goal of the project was to find a solution that quickly and efficiently provides a live position of every unit in the diverse fleet of barges and pushers, and enables efficient communication between the crew of the unit and the company's headquarters.
Solution
We used OpenLayers - an open-source JavaScript library for displaying map data - to build a system using tiles provided by MapTiler, a mapping platform designed for quick publishing of zoomable maps online. The tiles' style has been redesigned to fit our client's requirements, with a goal of increasing clarity of the river map, by removing landscape parks, green areas and everything else that was unnecessary for inland shipping management purposes.

Interactive Scientific - Nano Simbox
Interactive Scientific is a British EdTech company. They focus on products that visualise some of the most important scientific concepts. Their project - Nano Simbox Education, takes you deep into the world of scientific topics like photosynthesis, respiration or fractional distillation in an interactive and engaging way.
CHALLENGE
The architecture of the project needed something logical and intuitive and the full potential of the idea needed bringing to life. It was obvious from the beginning that the exterior of the project needed to be transformed.
OUR SOLUTION
Thanks to the complete overhaul of the UX part of the project, it is now a fully engaging and intuitive experience. While the design part was in line with our client’s brand manual, we were responsible for Key Visual and the whole design of the project.

Exruptive
Intelligent Track Systems (formely known as Exruptive) is a an intelligent trolley system determined to solve the challenges, which supermarkets, malls and retailers are facing today.
CHALLENGE
Exruptive came to us with the challenge of revolutionizing the passenger experience at airports which led to the opportunity of disrupting the retail industry.
OUR SOLUTION
In the first phase of the project we built a working prototype of an app which guides passengers through security at airports.
After the app’s successful airport trial the client asked us to extend the application with features that will help people navigate and shop in retail spaces like supermarkets, airports, and malls.
Read the full case study on our website.

Alt.dk
Alt.dk is a leading Danish lifestyle magazine by the Egmont group. The online magazine is visited by over 2 millions users every month.
CHALLENGE
To provide a more complete experience to its readers, Egmont digital wanted to consolidate its various lifestyle websites into one, namely Alt.dk.
OUR SOLUTTION
Our team managed to migrate Egmont’s vast content resources (Over 100k articles) into a single CMS: Episerver. The new and modern site turned out not only to be the editors’ dream but it also pleased over two million users visiting the site each month.

Shapes 3D Drawing
With Shapes 3D Geometry Drawing app you can draw lines and cross-sections
inside the 3D shapes.
CHALLENGE
The first Shapes app - 3D Geometry Learning turned out to be a big success for our client, so they decided to build another app that needed to be even more immersive and engaging for young geometry students.
OUR SOLUTION
The new Shapes app included all of the top features of the previous app, while expanding the app's capabilities and adjusting it to the use of Merge Cube. Other new features which were added include, adjusting 27 highly interactive geometric objects, allowing students to explore transparent surfaces, Making it possible to construct cross-sections and 2D shapes inside the solids, etc.
Reviews
the project
Product Configurator Software Dev for Construction Company
"We are satisfied with the team's cooperation."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
TLC was founded in 2005, in Gorlice, a small town in the south-east of Poland. It was there that, with no shortage of ideas or ambition and a great deal of knowledge and expertise, we decided to enter the Polish construction market through the manufacture of temporary fencing and construction site protection systems, growing to become market leaders in the region.
From those earliest days we put a lot of care into making sure that every single one of our products are manufactured to the highest possible standard. We then branched out from Poland, joining forces with a partner in Sweden to produce different kinds of steel structures, with industrial stairs, technical ladders and container stairs being just some of the products we were then able to produce.
This move into Scandinavia helped us to expand our know-how, improve our products and become a pan-European company, compliant with all European standards. at TLC I am Key Account Manager
For what projects/services did your company hire Setapp, and what were your goals?
We recruited Setapp to build the ASTA staircase configurator.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We chose the supplier on recommendation, the decisive factor being the portfolio.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
The main business priority was to build a product configurator software. Its purpose is to support and in the end also fully automate activities in the sales process.
The main scope of work carried out by Setapp is: Application UI / UX design, Full MVP development including: Automated CI / CD, Application architecture, Implementation of business logic, Communication between application modules, Stair drawing module based on changing configuration, Final deployment and release, The smooth course of the development process was secured by an experienced Scrum Master.
The above elements are only the first phase of the project. The development team will continue their work in order to implement the entire vision of the product. The following technologies have been used to create the product: Python, Django, React, Jira, Figma
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
There were 6 people in the team with the following roles: 2x Python Developer, 1x Frontend Developer, 1x UX Designer, 1x Scrum Developer, 1x DevOps I took on a Product Owner role.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
Everything went very smoothly. We are satisfied with the team's cooperation, the product fully meets our expectations.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
For product delivery, Setapp recommended scrum framework, which supports day-by-day communication in the team. The development process was divided into two-week sprints. For instant messaging, we used Slack. Both the project management style and the communication tools supported the entire development process, so I could focus on maximizing the value of the product.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Openness of people, professionalism, good communication, availability, team support, high qualifications of team members.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Everything was fine.
the project
Web App Dev for Construction Tech Company
"It was clear from our first meeting that they were already invested in the project."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the owner of HSD Investment. The company was created a couple of years ago to develop IT solutions for the construction business.
What challenge were you trying to address with Setapp?
We hired Setapp to help us build a web-based application.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I found out a couple of years ago that many people have begun to build their houses in more of a DIY way. They aren’t doing it manually themselves, rather, they arrange for different construction teams to build different parts of their house instead of having one company build its entirety.
We wanted to build an application that could support an end-user in building their own house by combining several elements of the process together. We prepared a manual for the person who is building the house to show how to build a house safely, step by step, and how to avoid some very important things regarding construction. The app is similar to a project management tool, with functionality for calculating the budget and tracking the cost and progress at every step of development.
We initially brainstormed 2–3 times with Setapp to conceptualize the idea. I had shared what I wanted to build without the knowledge of how to do it, and they translated it into a programming language.
All the development was done by Setapp, including the UI/UX design. I provided the team with the prototypes, documentation, and different concepts of how it should look, and they brought it to life. We also chose the technology that the team used. Setapp also arranged for construction people to support us from a technical standpoint and to help us arrange the project as it actually happens.
We have recently started the second part of the project.
What is the team composition?
The team changed depending on the stage of the project we’re in. There were front- and backend developers, a project manager, and a UI/UX designer. I personally met 5–6 people, but I wasn’t aware of how many were working in the background.
How did you come to work with Setapp?
There had been no solution in the market that’s similar to ours, so we started looking for a company that could prepare and execute the concept of the application. We made a tender for the realization of this project and ended up speaking with Setapp about our idea. We received an interesting, well-priced offer from their team, so we decided to hire them.
How much have you invested with them?
We have spent around 1.2 million zloty (approximately $313,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the project in November 2020, and we finished near the end of March 2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I can say that the collaboration was great. We are very happy. I’ve worked with similar agencies in the past, but I've never experienced the kind of approach that Setapp had. I was positively surprised and can only say good things about the team.
From the way they prepared the project to how they coordinated it, they made sure to eliminate all problems during the whole process. I am very satisfied with their work and have decided to hire them again for the second phase of application development.
How did Setapp perform from a project management standpoint?
They did very well. Setapp divided the development process into milestones. We had a call every week to check in on the progress, to see if we were on time and within budget, and it worked very well.
I never had a problem with them when it came to deadlines or things not being done properly. They are professionals. The team that was involved in my project was really competent.
We used Jira to send and receive reports. They also gave me access to a couple of their design applications. We used other tools whose names I can’t remember, but we mostly communicated through Slack and, from time to time, email.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their problem-solving approach was impressive. We had spoken to other companies who thought my idea was impossible to do, but Setapp really tried to put it together. It was clear from our first meeting that they were already invested in the project and were thinking about how to solve the issues.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I wouldn’t change anything.
the project
Custom Software for Transport Company
"Many of their initiatives went beyond the contract framework, and positively impacted the value delivered."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
The main business of our company is the transport of goods by inland waterway vessels, especially on the waterways of Northern and Eastern Germany. I am the Board Member.
For what projects/services did your company hire Setapp, and what were your goals?
The goal was to secure crucial business processes by replacing the current fleet management solution with a new system that would boost operations thanks to the additional features such as route planning, tracking the historical data, displaying multiple map layers, registering in-land navigation announcements, and much more.
Moreover, we worked together to develop a new solution that would replace the currently installed hardware on the vessels.
How did you select Setapp and what were the deciding factors?
Six months before the start of the project, we have built together a working prototype , which proved f that mutual cooperation can bring us significant benefits. In just two months Setapp identified technological capabilities of our diverse fleet of barges and pushers and created MVP of an inland shipping management system.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
Setapp walked us through each stage of the project from initiation to closure, which was quite important as we had no prior experience with the software development process. The work began with the interviews conducted with the end users (e.g. dispatchers or push boat captains). The information gathered helped the team to create an appropriate application design.
On these basis many new functionalities were created, which I mentioned earlier, when describing the challenges we had to face. User tests were carried out on a regular basis, which allowed the team to adapt the solution based on the feedback provided.
The brand new customer-tailored Fleet Management System has managed to improve key-processes related to fleet management at our organization. Moreover, thanks to diagnosis and removal of emerging - bottlenecks the company was able to obtain significant cost reductions.
The technologies - used in the project include: React, Redux, .NET Core, Azure, Azure functions, Sql Server, OSRM
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
The team consisted of six people: UX / UI Designer, Scrum Master, Service Delivery Manager, Backend Developer, two Frontend Developers.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
First of all, end users are very satisfied with the new solution because they have actively participated in its creation. Tight cooperation with Setapp resulted in an outcome that has been quickly adapted by users. Therefore risk and resistance associated with implantation of the new FMS were diminished.
It facilitated employees’ daily work, as it unified and integrated the systems used, and added many innovative solutions that applied the knowledge accumulated by organization and automated processes that previously took place through empirical analysis carried out by individual specialists.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
They employed an iterative, incremental approach to optimise predictability and control risk. Moreover, they were always ready to adjust the size of the team to our current needs.
Our Product Owner was an integral part of the development team and communicated with the rest mostly remotely via Slack and Google Meet. From the very beginning Jira wasThe one place of truth that held all the information.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
One of the key elements that determined our selection of a software supplier was the exceptional commitment and motivation shown by the team in the pre-project phase. They offered to create a custom-tailored application that would be supported by the latest technologies and the final result confirmed the compliance of their expertise in this area.
Setapp was able to very accurately identify the weaknesses of the currently used solutions and propose new ways to fill the gaps. We also recognize that many of their initiatives went beyond the contract framework, and positively impacted the value delivered.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
We did not expect such a great need to involve our organization in the entire value delivery process. When undertaking cooperation, one should take into account the fact that the software development methodologies used by them (in this case Agile) assume significant participation of the client in the team's work and decision-making processes.
In many cases, this could make it difficult to fulfill operational duties in the daily work.
the project
Software Dev for Maritime Trade Solutions Provider
“…they provide great insight; they excel at deciphering technical concepts and reducing them to basic ideas.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the senior digital specialist at Maersk Tankers, a large shipping company. I work with the digital team to create innovative products for the shipping industry as a whole.
What challenge were you trying to address with Setapp?
We’re a corporate startup, so we were in need of some professional development. We hired Setapp for the development of our scalable software solution.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The team created the B2B platform—both for internal use and external sale—which allows vessel owners to optimize their bunkers. They integrated our algorithms using Python, built the architecture with React, and structured the data with .NET.
What is the team composition?
At its peak, we’ve had over ten people from their team working for us full-time. Throughout our collaboration, we’ve scaled up the team as needed. Their segmented team is comprised of managers, scrum masters, and developers. They’re largely integrated with our in-house team.
How did you come to work with Setapp?
Although I wasn’t directly involved in the hiring decision, I’d worked with them before through my previous firm. I believe we decided to go with them because of that good past experience.
How much have you invested with them?
Our annual budget for our collaboration with them is between $500,000–$1,000,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together since August 2018 and, although the product launched four months ago, it’s an ongoing relationship.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They’ve proven themselves to be a trusted partner capable of building products that deliver great value. The feedback for the product has been quite good.
How did Setapp perform from a project management standpoint?
It’s been a pleasure working with them. We had weekly standups and grooming sessions. We planned reviews and retrospectives on a weekly basis, and Slack kept us consistently in communication with each other. We’d organize co-development sprints for both of our teams. I’m in Poland once a month, and they frequently come to Copenhagen, as well.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re very results-oriented. They place a high emphasis on delivering value as well as the agile process that’s necessary for it. Their interpersonal skills are also excellent, and their English proficiency is very high. We haven’t had any misunderstandings. Finally, they provide great insight; they excel at deciphering technical concepts and reducing them to basic ideas.
Are there any areas they could improve?
While it’s not an area of improvement per se, I’m slightly concerned about their ability to accommodate future scaling needs. We’d love for the growth and expansion of their teams.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
In-person meetings are excellent. Explain your needs and be clear about the results you want.
the project
Mobile App Dev for Feminine Health Organization
"Setapp was involved every step of the way—our whole collaboration went smoothly."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the project coordinator at Kwiat Kobiecości, a feminine health organization.
What challenge were you trying to address with Setapp?
The cancer statistics in Poland are striking, so we wanted to raise awareness to emphasize the importance of regular checkups for women. To do this, we hired Setapp to help create a mobile app.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Setapp developed our mobile application. We had a few initial discussions to convey the features and functions we wanted. They developed the platform from scratch for iOS and Android, and also produced graphics for us.
A few of the features on the app include notifications to remind users about their appointments and closest locations, and a tool that connects their account to a doctor’s portal, and a news feature that informs users about our foundation.
What is the team composition?
I primarily worked with a product owner, scrum developers (UX/UI and programmers), and a service delivery manager from Setapp.
How did you come to work with Setapp?
I wasn’t involved in the hiring process, so I’m not sure.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from April–August 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’re working on spreading awareness for the app currently, so we don’t have any impressive statistics yet.
How did Setapp perform from a project management standpoint?
They were great to work with. I was in excellent communication with Arkadiusz— he’s really professional and knows what he’s doing. It was nice to work with someone who managed the project well. We communicated via phone and email, for the most part.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Setapp was involved every step of the way—our whole collaboration went smoothly. If we didn’t get back to them quickly, they reached out. We never had to hound them for work because they were on time and made sure to connect with us.
Are there any areas they could improve?
It’s not their fault, but I wish we redid our website before building the mobile app.
the project
Web & Mobile App Dev for Publishing & Shipping Companies
"They see it as a shared responsibility to create the best product possible."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I work in the digital department of a shipping company that transports oil products on behalf of different oil extractors around the world. I act as a product owner and project manager for different digital products.
I’ve worked with Setapp on behalf of two different companies. My former company was a publisher of monthly magazines in various other categories.
What challenge were you trying to address with Setapp?
I'd just started working for the shipping company. We had some important external partners, and the company had a website for providing information to these partners, but the site was down, and it had been for six months. I received the task to create a whole new website for communicating with them.
I had the graphics capabilities within our company, but we didn’t have any development resources. I knew Setapp from our work for the publishing company. It was an easy decision to reach out to them.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We had a very sharp deadline for our company website, and Setapp completed our first version within three months. They’ve provided ongoing service. We created the design internally and they developed it in React.js.
My previous company wanted to create an interactive digital version of a children’s magazine. The platform featured games, puzzles, and small stories. Setapp created iOS and Android apps supporting that digital platform.
They also worked on a second project for the publishing company. They created a website that presented news and different parts of the publisher’s universe as articles for the premium users of the railway services we offered. They also developed a responsive app based on our designs.
What is the team composition?
For most of the projects for the publisher, it’s been a team of 3–4 engineers, some working on the frontend and some on the backend. We usually have a scrum master working part-time in addition to the developers. Their team setup for projects with my current company has been the same.
How did you come to work with Setapp?
My boss was tasked with finding a development partner. We had a presence in Poland, so we asked one of our colleagues there to review local developers. He suggested Setapp as one of the best options, and we checked them out. We signed an agreement with them for several projects.
What is the status of this engagement?
I worked with Setapp in 2016 and 2017 for my current company, and in 2018 and 2019 for my current one.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
All the products they’ve worked on have been for our end users, who are our main source of income. They’ve produced sustainable and stable touch points with our users. They deliver good quality, and that’s why I’ve kept connected with them across companies.
How did Setapp perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re capable and responsive and they deliver on time. We work in agile and we decide what to deliver from sprint to sprint. They take their role seriously, they’re proactive, and they see it as a shared responsibility to create the best product possible.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their communication and management skills make a difference. We understood their terms before beginning the engagement. They also deliver high-quality work.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Nothing comes to mind.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Create detailed design requirements. Working in an agile way requires that the two partners be equally focused. I’ve seen projects fail because the customer hadn’t been attentive, or they thought they could simply give high-level specifications and have Setapp create a solution. The client needs to have enough focus on the product and to have resources in place to guide Setapp. They develop based on requirements.
the project
Frontend App Dev for Shipping & Logistics Software Co
“Setapp executed a clear and structured project methodology that covered all requirements on time.”
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m a senior product manager for Klaveness Digital. We develop software solutions for the shipping and logistics industry.
For what projects/services did your company hire Setapp?
We hired Setapp to develop a frontend application for use by software developers.
What were your goals for this project?
Our company had built a Microsoft Azure platform to support our SaaS applications. We had also developed a schema registry UI to improve schema efficiency management on the platform. We needed to build a frontend application that would work with our platform via API endpoints. We wanted the app to be more focused on usability than design.
How did you select this vendor?
Setapp was providing services to one of our clients. We met the Setapp team and were confident in their abilities.
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
Setapp built the frontend app using the Google Material-UI library. They also created built-in validations. The team provided quality assurance and code review.
What was the team composition?
We worked with a lead developer and a project manager.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
The project just concluded, but we are confident that the app will streamline the schema registry management process internally and for our customers. The built-in validations will reduce time spent on quality control and bug detection.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
The project was organized into two-week sprints, with demos after each sprint. My team had access to the app’s various test versions as soon as they were available. Our project manager ensured our requirements were met and effectively scaled management to the project’s scope. The team delivered the project on time and budget. They communicated well.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Setapp executed a clear and structured project methodology that covered all requirements on time. We often incorporated the lead developer’s novel suggestions that improved upon our initial ideas.
the project
User Journey Design for Scientific Exploration App
"The fact that we were able to manifest a shared vision speaks to the strength of the partnership."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the education product owner at Interactive Scientific. We offer a software tool that visualizes elements of the nanoworld. Our product is geared for university researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and students. I work with our users to understand their requirements, and our team to adjust the UI of our platform based on their needs.
What challenge were you trying to address with Setapp?
We were looking to add some levels of contextualization to our product. Our team has looked into different modes of viewing and manipulating our molecule simulations, and we’ve gone through several versions of development. Unfortunately, all of our attempts have proved to be too basic.
Our goal was to use contextualization to help our student users better understand our simulations. We want our students to see the links between the world that can be seen, and the one that can’t. We hope that, through beautiful narratives and in-depth content, we can encourage and motivate students to do science.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We started the project with a two-day design sprint at Setapp’s office in Poland. We worked with their team to redefine our problem and our goals, and to come up with ideas for potential features. We ended this workshop with a paper prototype based on the ideas that stuck.
We planned a user journey based on this paper version and discussed possible ways to develop the UI. Their designers put together a clickable prototype and a set of designs throughout a two-week sprint. After this design sprint, their team began developing a website that sits around our existing application. They created a welcome page and story that leads to launching our platform.
What is the team composition?
Their team included a business analyst, a UX designer, a UI specialist, and several front- and backend developers. We also worked with a scrum master who led the development process on their side.
How did you come to work with Setapp?
Someone from our marketing team reached out to Setapp to discuss their experience with EdTech. I met with one of their team members to learn more about their approach, and he described their style of project management and collaboration. From that early meeting, it became clear that our work methods were aligned.
Eventually, we released a brief explaining the web narrative piece of our education product. We gave it to three companies, one of which was Setapp. They sent us a response that included a video describing how they would approach the design aspects of the project, and the development process they would adopt. We were very impressed and felt they would work well with our team. Although one of the other firms had design work that fit with our vision, we chose Setapp because of their methodology and culture.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent somewhere between $25,000–$50,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Setapp in December 2018 and completed the project in February 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They made a beautiful website for us. We haven’t released the product to customers yet, but everyone within our company who’s seen it has been genuinely impressed. It allows us to take our core technology to a level beyond what we’d seen before. Some of our funders have remarked on how far the UI has evolved compared to previous versions. This was our goal, so Setapp fulfilled our brief in that sense.
How did Setapp perform from a project management standpoint?
Our teams worked well together. They were responsive, proactive, and consistent. Their team was led by a scrum master who ensured that all deadlines were met. They relied quite heavily on me as a product owner, and I was responsible for approving all features and functionalities that were produced. Their scrum master had a keen understanding of my expertise, and we supported each other well throughout the project. I had never experienced that before and thought it was very effective.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their transparency and commitment to their processes stood out to me. When we met, they made sure to include time for reflection and input while keeping everything concise and relevant. They also did a great job of facilitating collaboration.
Setapp took the tool we imagined and brought it to life. The fact that we were able to manifest a shared vision speaks to the strength of the partnership.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The design sprint that came after our initial meeting felt very loose. The software development sprints were much more focused and structured, which kept the project moving along nicely. That approach should have been added to the UI sprints, where it wasn’t as present.
Also, as a result of the agile approach, we ended up not getting some of the features that we were expecting at the beginning. Our project consisted of four sprints, which ended up limiting the number of features that we could build. Although it was good that we were forced to prioritize, we ended up having to rely on our in-house team to implement some needed functionalities.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Prepare to be hands-on throughout the project. I met with their team every day, which ended up taking more of my time than I initially thought, especially for an outsourced project. At the same time, this is very much worth the investment, as it contributed to our success. If you can, try to see them in person for both the design sprint and development sprint kickoff.
Also, be willing to adjust your expectations a bit. It takes an open mind to understand the agile development process.
the project
CMS Dev & Enhancements for Publishing House
"They did great work, and I couldn’t have asked for anything else."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
The company I was working for during my collaboration with Setapp is one of the largest publishing houses in the country. I was the CTO, as well as the product owner. I headed the scrum process for developing our custom-built CMS.
What challenge were you trying to address with Setapp?
While looking to staff up our development team, the opportunity to work with Setapp presented itself from another department in the company.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We hired Setapp to be our outsourced development team and help us create a custom CMS. Rather than being a one-time project, they came on board as an ongoing partner to help us with our daily development challenges, including maintenance and new feature builds. They acted as an extension of our local developers, working together as a unified scrum team.
The CMS is a large, custom-built, PHP platform running on a classic LAMP stack.
What is the team composition?
We had resources dedicated to front- and backend development. Over time, staff shifted slightly due to requirements and focus as well as internal resource shifting at Setapp.
I acted as project manager on our side, and we had an account manager from Setapp, whom I contacted whenever I needed feedback or anything else. We were a distributed team, but our goal was to work as a single team.
How did you come to work with Setapp?
Our branch in Denmark had already been working with them and was happy with the collaboration. We really didn’t consider any other companies, given that Setapp offered exactly what we needed from the get-go.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Setapp around three years ago and parted ways in the spring of 2018.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It might be hard to gauge results, but Setapp was an essential partner for us, given that we couldn’t recruit locally. They did great work, and I couldn’t have asked for anything else. While the team effort was already in place on our side, Setapp helped enhance it and provided valuable input. They, together with our team, really drove the platform forward and improved our business.
How did Setapp perform from a project management standpoint?
I couldn’t have asked for any more in this regard. They’re responsive, and they understood any of our questions or concerns. Their management was flawless; we used Atlassian Jira for the development work, for tickets, and as a scrum board.
They assigned fulltime developers on an ongoing basis, so estimates weren’t an issue. Their employees did a great job, and after a while, we began to work perfectly as one team.
What did you find most impressive about them?
It’s their responsiveness and communication that stand out. We worked together to assure the project ran smoothly. They also made an effort to improve their English to communicate better, which was highly appreciated. Overall, they’re a committed team that quickly became a valuable part of our internal processes. It was clear that they wanted to help us succeed.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Nothing comes to mind. The collaboration went smoothly, and whenever I had a concern, it was dealt with promptly.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
It would be good for clients to get a personal relationship going, and to be clear about what they want and expect. Setapp is easy to talk with; they listen, and they adjust.
If the client is finding themselves in a situation of being mildly dissatisfied with the service or project, instead of remaining dissatisfied, they should reach out to Setapp’s developers and management. They'll address concerns quickly. They are, in my view, committed to making sure that the client is successful.
the project
Indoor Positioning Solution for IT Company
“Overall, Setapp has been highly accountable and responsible for their work.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm a technical manager for a company that creates indoor positioning systems. We're part of an umbrella corporation in Dubai. Our bespoke development and deployment IT solutions range in from small- to extremely large-scale, critical projects. Most revolve around software, but they occasionally involve hardware as well.
What challenge were you trying to address with Setapp?
Like global positioning systems (GPS), indoor positioning systems (IPS) is based on signal triangulation. Unfortunately, GPS don’t work well in closed spaces like parking lots or inside concrete buildings. We reached out to SetApp to deliver some solutions for a product with IPS capability.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We worked with Setapp to create a means of triangulating a person’s location, or that of other types of assets, within closed spaces like shopping centers or airports. They developed a prototype with a demonstrated capability of helping users navigate those spaces.
Setapp used a variety of technologies for full stack development. They built the frontend using Unity, The backend portion, which administrators work on, was made using .NET and an SQL server database. The full team is equipped with the Agile systems.
What is the team composition?
Their team was comprised of six engineers plus one scrum master. Setapp also assigned a product owner to our project.
How did you come to work with Setapp?
There have been too many predecessors in my role before me, so I’m not entirely sure how we first found them.
What is the status of this engagement?
I worked with the Setapp team for 12-18 months mid of 2016 into the start of 2018.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The product they built is just the starting point of a much bigger project. Like every building, the cornerstone is what really matters. Setapp set an excellent foundation on which we can extend, adapt, and modify our product as needed.
Before we launch the application to our customers, I'm sure it will require some tweaks and updates. Setapp worked diligently to start the project off right. This partnership has been quite useful for us. In the long run, we should be able to capitalize on their deliverables.
How did Setapp perform from a project management standpoint?
The team worked in a project management style using the Agile methodology. They were highly capable at maintaining development velocity without compromising on the quality of our solution. I've been quite pleased with their responsiveness within our communication. Overall, Setapp has been highly accountable and responsible for their work.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Setapp showed consistent professionalism throughout the entire project. That's what sticks out to me the most.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can't think of anything they could improve right now.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Right up front, clearly define which type of deliverable you need. Building a full-scale product involves a different perspective than setting out to create a prototype. Describe how you want your product to look, feel, and behave. Let the team know definitively so they can work accordingly.
Setapp delivered the software that completely met the client’s expectations. The team streamlined scrum methodology and divided the project into two-week sprints to ensure the output’s quality. On top of that, their openness, professionalism, and availability were their most outstanding assets.