Wedefineapps

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is ICarta. Our aim is to help build connections between people and make the process more efficient, especially for face-to-face meetings when people exchange contacts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wedefineapps?

We were looking for developers to develop a native application for iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Wedefineapps as technical experts in an outsourcing capacity. After talking with their team, we saw their expertise for design, development, and web hosting. Together, we learned how to use AWS. They mostly use Microsoft technology. They design on Photoshop, which we started on when we were planning our application interface. We have been working in agile for four months now and it has been really enjoyable and productive. They have a broad range of languages that they have expertise in.

In the application, there was quite a big backend because our application exchanges contacts. The app lets users create a virtual business card. They can upload a profile picture, a company logo, and their position, details, name, email address, phone numbers, and social media links. This information is all optional to share. Once the card is saved, they go out to meet someone, open the app, and press the share button.

The iOS and Android app work slightly differently. With Android, it works using near field communication (NFC); all users have to do is tap phones and the card will be sent across to the other phone. The other phone doesn’t have to have the app; the contact details will still be saved straight to their phonebook. If they do have the app, the contact will go to their app, which is synced with their phone contacts or Google or Outlook contacts, depending on the user’s preference. Once they log into the app, they can go to the contacts and see their card. They can call from the app as it is just an API to the phone, send an email or add on social media, whichever is easier. For the iOS app, it works through QR code sharing because peer-to-peer transfer is not supported by Apple just yet. We are looking to add that once that functionality comes. Android does have QR if some phones don’t have the NFC tag installed. 

There is also a calendar function and a section where users can create an event and see an event as it is connected with the phone calendar. If someone from their connections invites them to a meeting or a call, in the app, the user can create an event with start time and end time, comments, dates, and all the participants. All the participants will then get a notification in their version of the app, they can go see it in the events section and it will be copied into their calendar as well.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is the project manager. We also worked with a few developers from the Android and iOS teams.

How did you come to work with Wedefineapps?

We found them online. I was researching online for freelance developers. I messaged people online, and we scheduled calls and discussed the details to see if we were a good fit. I went through a few development teams because we didn’t have the biggest project. We had a concept and we weren’t clear on the idea. We needed someone with similar values to create a new type of product to make it user friendly and the experience as seamless as possible.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent between $10,000–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them at the end of December 2019. We just finished the first version of the app, which is in the stores, and we will for sure carry on working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of quantitative feedback, we are satisfied with the time period and the price. Mainly it is the qualitative elements we’re happy with because we can understand each other and had a common goal to work towards. Communication is always clear. We did come up with a number of challenges along the way, but they were quickly solved, and I think that is important between any companies that work together. We are in different countries, which can make it difficult to collaborate, but I think we did a pretty good job of it.

How did Wedefineapps perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication is always good. They always reply at the earliest convenience, and it’s always straight to the point. They’ve never missed a milestone. Deadlines aren’t always set in stone, but they deliver when they say they will. They are also good at fixing any errors that happen. They recently did some out-of-hours work just to get it done. I think that was very important and beneficial for both of us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really do try to meet the client’s expectations to the best of their ability, even if they need to learn something new that maybe they don’t have expertise in.

Are there any areas they could improve?

For technical skills, they can always carry on improving. Maybe they can try to test things again and double-check before any release.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The most important thing is to connect on a human level and look a bit beyond the project and the task in hand. Work with them as a colleague as opposed to giving a task and getting it done. That is more fruitful for a long-term relationship.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO & Founder of Opclo. Our app offers access to over 105 million places, available across 190 countries with one mission, simplify how you discover, connect and decide where to go next. We are a mobile app that primary help users find and connect with places near them. With Opclo, you can create a hub of places you love, set reminders and take notes while on the go. Categories include food, shopping, auto, travel, entertainment and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Wedefineapps?

Opclo development started March 2019 and is ongoing. We have made tremendous progress so far and couldn't be any happier. Of course there was hiccup along the way, but that's expected when building something from the ground up. My background is technology, however we do not have any in-house developers, so we needed to outsource.

What were your goals for this project?

Overall, our goal was to prove the app concept. We wanted to build an app that users wanted and felt was useful. This required custom coding, multiple API integrations and a lot of planning.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team searched online for app developers. We picked who we felt was most capable at completing the app to our standards.

Describe the project in detail.

Opclo is built in phases. We like to take what we call a "continuous approach'. We are constantly developing based off user-feedback and market demands. We often challenge whats possible and discuss with the developer on a daily basis. Once we finalize details, we create mockups and start developing shortly after. Once development is finish, we undergo testing.

What was the team composition?

We are currently working with a project manager to support us and serve as the main point of contact throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Within a few months, we ran a beta campaign on Beta Family and received 4/5. We are now 5/5 stars on the App Store. We haven't fully started marketing, so I expect downloads to soar once we complete Opclo v.1 this summer. Overall, we have evolved and continue to hear positive feedback on the design and concept. A million dollar idea for sure.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager that we were assigned was easy to communicate with and would always reply in a reasonable time. As I mentioned above, we like to take the "continuous approach" when building Opclo, so for the past year we have communicated weekly via chat. We would sometimes have to repeat ourselves, which was frustrating, but that was expected when building an app and communicating via chat only. However, we took this as a time to work on how we convey Opclo, which slowly improved overtime.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to adapt sets them apart. Overall, couldn't have ask for better. It's a process and takes work/energy from both sides to create the best app possible. We haven't pushed the limit yet, but so far so good. No major issues with development outside of small bugs/glitches...

Are there any areas for improvement?

I do believe there is a slight language barrier at times, but this has NOT stopped us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of a nonprofit organization. We build water wells for people in Africa.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Wedefineapps?

We needed help with web development and mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Wedefineapps has designed and developed our website and mobile app from scratch. The website allows users to donate and track their donations and what work they went towards. The app works along with the website synchronously, and it's made for iOS and Android — it's all 100% transparent.

Currently, they provide maintenance for the platforms.

What is the team composition?

We've been working with 6–7 members of their team, including two people managing the iOS app, three people in charge of the website, and a team handling the Android app.

How did you come to work with Wedefineapps?

We found them through Fiverr. I presented the project to them, agreed on the budget, and started working together.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $15,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Android app has 50+ downloads, and the iOS app has 100+ downloads.

How did Wedefineapps perform from a project management standpoint?

They stayed within budget, and they'd give us discounts when they didn't meet the timeframes. Also, their communication is great, but when I tell them something we need to do to redefine ourselves, I have to ask them three times due to a barrier in our communication.

Regarding tools, we just started using Jira and communicating via WhatsApp and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service is the best.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you want simply and clearly.