Tapptitude

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

The feedback has been positive. The app is clean-looking, easy to use, and intuitive. It can be used by anyone, and it works exactly as we expected it to. We barely have any support requests from customers, even though we’re coming up to around 28,000 transactions from 10,000 customers that have used it so far.

I’ve probably dealt with 3–4 support cases so far. We’re continuing to make improvements and refinements based on feedback from the venues that are using it.

We’ve made multiple changes since launching, and Tapptitude has responded quickly to those. Even the improvement requests are coming down now. The app is an accepted part of the furniture. It just runs.

How did Tapptitude perform from a project management standpoint?

The structure they set up worked quite well. It was kind of messy around the launch, but that was mostly my doing. The iOS version was supposed to be ready by July 2020, and we weren’t even going to build the Android one until November 2020.

However, COVID-19 happened and we determined that venues would be needing contactless payment solutions when they reopened. We accelerated everything for the 4th of July deadline, which was the UK's reopening of pubs and restaurants.

We crammed in everything we could in order to go live on that day. Tapptitude used Jira to track the work, and I was in touch with the product lead on Slack on a daily basis. 

We had weekly catchups through video calls, to discuss any changes and improvements. Different team members got to present during those meetings, sharing what they’d done that week and what would be done the next week. 

We shared wireframes through InVision, to make sure things would look and function correctly. They also used MURAL to map out the project. There were no language issues, and they also had a point of contact in the UK to physically meet with us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Tapptitude is a very good development agency. I’ve been delighted with the results and their adherence to our timeframe and budget. Looking at competitor products on the market, we’ve managed to produce something better in a shorter period of time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a bit overoptimistic about timeframes at times. However, when I remove the cap on the timeframes, the team can build things out in record times, so I can’t really complain about that. There’s no real criticism I could make about Tapptitude.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should know their product inside-out and not assume that the person they’re talking to has the same understanding. Everything should be spelled out down to the letter so that there’s no room for misinterpretation.

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

My main goal was to produce a robust software that didn’t have a lot of bugs and worked well in many different situations. Another consideration was the provider’s level of ownership, and Tapptitude cares about the project. 

If I made another 10 apps, I’d go to Tapptitude for all of them. The team has anticipated every issue and stood behind me all the time. As a startup owner, the fact that I can count on Tapptitude is a game-changer for me. 

They find solutions, fix issues, and strive to make improvements, and they’re always dependable. They never refuse a request or say they’re too busy, and they do it in the end. That’s really amazing.

How did Tapptitude perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve changed tools over time, depending on the situation, and the one we use most is Trello, partly because I was already familiar with it. I know what’s going on with sprints and due dates. Time estimations could be improved, but Tapptitude will work at all hours of day and night and on weekends to catch up. 

At the end of the day, I don’t feel it as a big issue. Laurențiu in particular wants to achieve perfection with the software, and that takes extra time. I talk frequently with him over WhatsApp and phone calls, and the whole team is always open to connecting with me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s the fact that I can really count on them. They’re really accountable for what they do, and they never let me down. There will always be mistakes, but they always take responsibility and fix every issue. 

That is the most impressive aspect of working with them. Tapptitude also has iOS, Android, backend architecture, UI/UX, and lots of other high-level skills. On top of that, they’re very warm in how they treat me and take care of my problems.

Additionally, they did research and expanded their knowledge in areas that were new to them. They never give up, and they always provide me with the right development to address different situations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Respecting due dates would be one area of improvement, but this is really a minor point. Another would be letting me know how many people are working on a project, but that problem was already solved. 

In the beginning, I wasn’t able to understand how many people were working on the project, and that was the moment when we implemented Trello. We did it specifically to solve issues like this one. I know exactly who’s working on what now.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I advise involving Tapptitude completely in the project, and not just telling them to develop this or that functionality from here to there. They get passionate about what they do, and the more project parts are transferred to them, the more they’ll get involved and become passionate about it. 

That’s what I found with my project. They don’t just develop software; they will advise the client and become part of the project. That becomes a motivating factor for both parties, and it’s the way to get the most out of them.

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

They earned our trust because their team built the platform properly. Their team delivered more than we initially expected. They also think outside of the box.

It’s not fair to use the outcome of the project itself to assess their work because we launched the project in a complicated moment. But I can rate their work based on the accuracy of their development estimates.

During the initial planning phase, we estimated the total cost of work and came within a 20% margin of our estimate. From this point of view, their team assessed the initial workload well. It wasn’t a closed solution, so we made changes throughout the project.

How did Tapptitude perform from a project management standpoint?

We met with them every Tuesday and Thursday. If needed, we had additional meetings during the week. We set up a ticket system, which we didn’t use often. Instead, we reached out to them via Skype. Their team quickly addressed our concerns. While it could’ve been a better approach to use the ticket system, we stuck to a more casual approach through Skype, which worked.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate the quality of their suggestions. Their knowledge of existing services in the market allows us to avoid the development of custom solutions, which saves time and money. Usually, the existing services address the problem. Their knowledge of tools and how to keep costs low is their greatest strength.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Reporting is their only area for improvement. The work was delivered reliably, but it’s important for us to see figures clearly. Luckily, we trusted them. But it would be good for them to focus on creating professional reports.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They know how to guide and organize the engagement to reach your goals. If you want proper reports, set up those tools at the beginning of the project because it isn’t their strongest point. They tend to do more informal reporting.

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

Tapptitude did an excellent and extraordinary job for us. Since we were presenting to a university, our primary success was the presentation. What we showed at the showcase was enough that we can take the next step in development.

This was a unique partnership because it isn’t the typical entrepreneurial journey where funds can be raised frequently. The team at Tapptitude worked well with us and our tight timeline.

How did Tapptitude perform from a project management standpoint?

At our first meeting, we explained our goals and strict deadline. Our point of contact was superb, researching the whole area before coming back with a comprehensive Google Doc with key points. This document helped align our goals. We stuck to it, and there were no issues or delays.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Coming from a non-technical background, their team did an excellent job of explaining concepts and processes to me. They weren’t condescending about it. I came with a wealth of psychology knowledge that they were enthusiastic about. Their team was excited to learn about different markets and segments.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Initially, the only issue was their invoicing, which we needed in pounds because of the university. As soon as I told them, they adapted. The team at Tapptitude was adaptable in various aspects.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask for their dedicated business development manager.