Simpalm

BACKGROUND

We are Alexis Mullen and Ailyn Hoey, creators of the iOS app Audio Chef Co., a real-time narrated instruction audio cooking app. This is our first app. We have no previous experience with creating apps, we're just two mothers who like to cook for our families and friends. We wanted a way for our cooking to reach more people and help others learn to cook healthy great-tasting meals. We created Audio Chef Co. [as] an iOS app released [to] the App Store July 3, 2014.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We were looking to create an audio cooking app for the App Store. We had no previous experience with coding, creating apps, or marketing. We found Simpalm through Freelancer.com and contacted them directly. They sat down with us for a long meeting to get a sense of the project and our needs. We also got quotes from several other app development companies. Simpalm's price and attention to detail seemed to surpass the other companies that we were considering. We provided Simpalm with the recorded audio files for our app, photos, and written content. They did the rest of the work from there.

SOLUTION

We provided Simpalm with some basic graphic design mockups of what our app should look like. They took our input and brought our idea to reality. Piyush [Jain, CEO] and Jass [Singh, technical lead] at Simpalm were receptive to our needs and ideas and incorporated them into Audio Chef. They stuck to their original budget.

The project took about one year from the time we contacted them to release on the App Store. Every time a new test build was complete, we would provide feedback and changes and they would make the changes for us. Simpalm even helped us with some audio conversion and compression free of charge even though that was not in the original contract. Now our app is released and Simpalm has been giving us marketing strategy advice and support for free. We released our app almost two weeks ago and there have been no reports of crashes or bugs. The app performs exactly how we would like it to.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

We plan on contracting again with Simpalm for the next collection of recipes for Audio Chef Co. We will do this because they stuck to their budget, were receptive to our needs and feedback, and created an app that functions well. Overall, Simpalm was great to work with. I would recommend them to anyone.

BACKGROUND

Could you give a brief description of your company or your application idea?

My app [has] the premise [of] a photo app that reminds you to take pictures. This is great for parents watching their children's sports games or tourists. It offers a selected date range and time and adds an interval option of how often users want the phone to remind them to take photos.

Once they've finished the timeline, they have a group of photos from that selected date and time range, and then they go back and they have the option of posting it to Facebook as well as emailing it.

This company is an app startup that I started.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your overall business goal for the app development project?

The first phase was to come up with an initial viable version. We are currently working on a second iteration. I just spoke with Simpalm last week. We went over some new ideas and they're getting back to me about the upgrade.

SOLUTION

Can you describe the scope of work in more detail?

The project involves development for iOS.

What was your process for selecting Simpalm for the work?

I found them on Elance.

Can you give a sense of the size of that initiative with a general cost range or the amount of hours they put into the project?

I don't remember the amount of hours. The cost range was around $7,000.

Is the work ongoing?

Everything is kind of on pause right now until we finalize all the details for the next version. That's what I'm just waiting on right now. They're just going over a bid and everything.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics that you've tracked to gauge the success of this app?

I've looked on my iTunes Connect. For the first few weeks, I think it was moving about three units a day, which isn't bad because I'm not doing any advertising for it right now. It's just kind of word of mouth. I don't think it's even close to that anymore. I haven't looked. I'm not really pushing it right now. I'm just trying to get through the first version and then get on to the next one.

Are you satisfied with their work?

I'm very satisfied. Considering that I'm in Alaska and they're on the East Coast, there was never a problem with communication. I would hear from them within 12 hours after sending an email. If I sent them something they'd send it right back. I'd hear with them within minutes sometimes. They covered everything exactly how I wanted. They gave me sample versions when I was testing it.

You got to try it out before it was fully released and they approached exactly how I was wanted to be approached if I was a larger business and wasn't just doing this on the side.

Is there anything unique or special about them that makes them stand out from other developers?

I wouldn't have another developer to compare them to, but speaking with some friends that have had stuff developed, it seems like I had more people on my project than it sounds like any of my friends have had on any of their projects for websites. We are focused as a team on one unit as opposed to trying to spread out the word and do a bunch of different projects at once.

Looking back on the work, is there anything that you think they could improve upon or something you might do differently?

Not on what I requested from this first version. There is stuff that I'm improving, but it's because I'm just setting up for this next version, but everything that I had asked from them for this version, they did it. They even supplied feedback and gave me some ideas on things to do.

BACKGROUND

We're a small design consulting company, focusing on medical devices. We help startup companies get their product designed, manufactured, and out to the market. I'm the president and owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We had a client who wanted an iPhone app in the personal health market. We didn't have the experience to develop it internally, so I needed a partner.

SOLUTION

I selected Simpalm after finding them online and interviewing a handful of other candidates. They took care of the app development, and I interfaced with the client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Simpalm delivered exactly what we asked them to do and in the timeframe they had estimated. They were easy to work with and communicated the status to me at any point. As an opportunity for improvement, they could have helped me a bit more with the design of the app and thinking through the implications of our requests. They weren't tasked with that, so I don't fault them for not doing it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Flexicraft

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Manufacture and distribute industrial hoses and piping components.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Simpalm to accomplish?

App to Allow Selection of Proper Industrial Hoses, Given the Parameters Input

SOLUTION

How did you find Simpalm?

Online Search

Why did you select Simpalm over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Perceived confidence

How many teammates from Simpalm were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

User enters a series of questions about their hose application. Some complications, including a chemical database. Then the hoses we sell that fit those needs are listed in order of preferability.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The app worked exactly as we hoped, and looked good as well.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes. Very responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Simpalm?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Simpalm's team was responsive and very competent!

Are there any areas for improvement or something Simpalm could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the President of a financial services company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a recruiting and staffing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Simpalm to accomplish?

• Build a PWA app

SOLUTION

How did you find Simpalm?

Online Search

Why did you select Simpalm over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned
• They had experience in PWA

How many teammates from Simpalm were assigned to this project?

3

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Hired Simpalm to build a progressive web app for one of our internal projects. We needed to build a calculator PWA that works on desktop and mobile devices. We found Simpalm through local search and interviewed them. They had a lot of experience in app development so we decided to hire them. 

They built the app in around 2 months, including design, development and testing. Designs came out to be better than we thought. I really liked their work, we are doing one more project with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Built a working PWA.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They had assigned a dedicated project manager who was responsible for timing, budget, communication and deliverables. PM was working with other team members, we did not have to interact with developers/designers. 

They delivered faster than we expected and they provided a response within 24 hours of our request.

What was your primary form of communication with Simpalm?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were fast and educated us about the PWA.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Simpalm could have done differently?

Not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Founder & CEO of a wellness & fitness company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a fitness company, backed by VCs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Simpalm to accomplish?

• Mobile App Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Simpalm?

Referral

Why did you select Simpalm over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Simpalm were assigned to this project?

5

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Complete User Flow and Wireframes
• Clickable design prototype 
• Built app on iOS and Android 
• Built smartwatch app

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They delivered the iOS and Android App along with the smartwatch app in time and in budget.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They assigned a very experienced PM for the project, we used to have weekly calls for progress updates. All milestones and project tasks were added in the JIRA and we were able to communicate via project management tools and via email and call. They were able to provide very good feedback in the design process, we accepted some of their suggested features in the app. 
They did the unit testing and functional testing on the web app. We only had to do UAT, they had prepared the test cases. Their team was very good. They delivered the project in time.

What was your primary form of communication with Simpalm?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were able to come up with an algorithm in the app to make the data more appealing to users.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Simpalm could have done differently?

We are happy with their service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I have owned a staffing company and recently launched a mobile health solution. I am the founder of the app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Simpalm, and what were your goals?

We hired Simpalm to do UIUX design and mobile app development. They also built the backend of the application as well.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I actually found them via Clutch. I was looking for USA based company who has built healthcare app. I shortlisted three companies, my selection process took around 1 month. I selected Simpalm because they were very detailed in asking the question and presenting the proposal.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

They first completed the clickable design of the app. Then they worked on iPhone app and backend server. They continuously shared the build with me for testing and review. They used Swift for the app and PHP for the backend.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

They assigned me a project manager, who is dealing with designer, app developer and backend developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

They did a great job in delivering the project. They had created the design and requirement document and built the app according to specifications. I am very happy with my app.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The PM was very good, we used to have weekly calls. They are using Basecamp for project management. I could also talk to them via email or phone. They used Agile methodology.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were very helpful in educating me about the process. I did not know anything about app development. They showed me the process during the hiring process and they followed it throughout the development process.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not that I could think of, I wish they provided the marketing services as well.