DianApps

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a transport provider. I work across various areas of the business, but mostly I'm an IT manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps?

Our initial provider went out of business due to some legislation changes, so our application was half done. No one was really prepared to take on the project, and people didn't want to get into it because someone had already done half of it and there’s always issues around that in software.

The application was very critical for us to get online. We needed to have tracking capabilities for our drivers and gather a lot more information for deliveries and such.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DianApps actually took over the project to finish and deploy it. They were involved in the whole development process. They did the backend in PHP and the two native apps for iOS and Android.

Basically, the app is a tracking and billing platform. We use the app to send jobs to our drivers, and drivers use it to start and finish their job. Customers can log in and see the proof of their deliveries, tracking, and more. We do our processing in terms of customer billing and so on, so it’s a full, end-to-end system.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with a few people, but the team has been generally small. We have 3–4 people workign at a time. I basically deal with the main technical lead. We also work closely with the senior developers, and sometimes with the QA people.

How did you come to work with DianApps?

The only specific thing was that they were willing to do the job, and we were desperate at that point in time.

How much have you invested with them?

We've probably spent around $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with DianApps for at least three years, and it’s an ongoing partnership. Nowadays, we engage a bit less because the system is in production, but they provide regular maintenance and updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the main criteria was to actually have the app in production and replace the billing system. We had to do that within a certain time limit, and DianApps achieved it.

Overall, we’re satisfied with the quality of their work. The team leaders that we’ve dealt with have been fairly invested in trying to figure out the business requirements and use cases. When we discuss something with them, they come back to us and ask if there’s a better way to do it, whereas our previous provider only did what they were told. There wasn’t a lot of thinking or analysis behind it, and we've found that with DianApps. Thanks to them, we’ve managed to get the application to work.

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management is good. We have regular updates and in terms of development cycles, we have regular releases. Although things can always improve, we’re satisfied.

We communicate 2–3 times a week and use Jira to track all items and requests. It’s our main communication tool. We live in different countries, so we have specific meeting times.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As I mentioned, DianApps stands out for being engaged. Also, their eagerness to be part of the business, understand it, and add value is one of their best qualities.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything at the moment. Most of the issues we’ve had have been related to time zones and availability rather than anything team-related.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open and try to explain the actual business process and issues that you’re having. I’m not a developer by any means, but you should think about how your application should work and behave because it’s highly likely that you’ve got it wrong. You need someone to actually have a look and critique it, so you have to take suggestions from the team and not be rigid about it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a SaaS provider that offers scheduling software to fire departments. I’m the owner and product manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps? 

We were working with a company in India to build an app to support and add extra features to our existing web application. That company struggled to keep up resources during the pandemic, and we eventually ended the relationship. We then looked for another company to complete the app and assist in development of the web application. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Essentially, the application DianApps is working on is a scheduling system that deals with a lot of management policies and union rules. Essentially, we’re filling overtime spots, but rather than hand them out ad-hoc, organizations have to call individuals in a particular rotation. It’s fairly complex, and the result has to be usable by hundreds of people while also being fairly intuitive. We have to specify the work very clearly. 

DianApps builds development teams and completes projects, breaking them down into a couple of weeks or months' worth of work. They do the development, testing, and delivery of tasks into TestFlight or one of our testing environments.

What is the team composition?

I’ve met with the owner — both in person and over the phone. There are also two development team leaders that I’ve met with. Finally, I meet with the five individual developers weekly. 

How did you come to work with DianApps? 

Their sales team reached out to us as a small technology company that they felt would be a good fit for them. I was in a bit of a bind at the time, and I was eager to call them back. 

I was happy to try out a few development companies, so I handed them a few small projects to see how they went. We ramped up over the next six months to where we are now. 

How much have you invested with them?

We pay by the hour, rather than by the project, and we’ve paid for around 300 hours to date, totaling around $20,000. We’re going to ramp up in the second half of the year, however, so we’ll probably spend 2–3-times that amount again by the end of 2021. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2021, and I’m going to continue using them as our development company, assuming things continue to go well. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I measure success by judging if the development work meets specifications, as well as how quickly we’re able to move it to a live environment. We don’t necessarily have firm dates because the work is done by the hour; it can change quite a lot during the development work and testing. 

I’m very, very happy with DianApps. There have been occasions when I wished they could have delivered a bit earlier, but that's almost as much our fault as it is their fault. I don’t think things could have gone much better. I’d rate them as an 8–9 out of 10 at this point. 

The quality of their work is excellent. There’s a couple of developers that I’ve been very impressed with, and I’ve specifically asked for them to remain on the team. DianApps will move people around depending on the requirements of other customers, but I’ve been told that the one person I requested to stay on our project isn’t going anywhere. 

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ll have a weekly meeting, and there’s a project lead that’s less technical than the developers, which I prefer. His job is to keep track of the deliverables and any issues we’re having. He’ll submit a report immediately after the weekly meetings with an update on the hours used. 

There has been a slight language barrier, but they are very understanding and it hasn’t been much of an issue at all. They use Jira to manage the work, and it’s very structured. DianApps has a bunch of protocols that determine which tools they use. I’m comfortable with how the project management is going. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The skills of the developers themselves stand out. I’ve worked with companies in the past that pick up as many developers as possible as quickly as possible without regard for their experience or skill level. I’ve been very impressed with the knowledge and skills displayed by the people that DianApps have selected. They get things done efficiently. 

The owner himself, Parag (Co-Founder), is very willing to chat when necessary. He’s very responsive and a nice guy. We have a great relationship. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I would improve anything then it would be their responsiveness. They usually get back to me within a day or two, but a few things have fallen by the wayside and been ignored. That’s very unusual, however. I’ll follow up in a few days if something isn’t taken care of, and then it will happen. There are no major issues. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you understand what you’re taking on when you start working with a development team in India. The biggest issue that is unavoidable is the time difference. There’s only a short overlap — my early morning, which is their early evening — but they’re very good about staying available late their time. This may be difficult for companies on the West Coast, however.

Because of this, make sure communication is tight. Plan ahead for meetings. You have to stay up on communication or things will trail off and be forgotten. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creator of a fitness mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps?

We were looking for someone to help with development as well as post-development maintenance and support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started by laying out a roadmap for building the app, making sure they understood my requirements. After that, they started developing the iOS solution. The majority of the designs came from a company I worked with previously, but DianApps helped update and implement them. They communicated with me throughout the process to ensure everything was to my liking and to explain the technical specificities to me. We’re still working together on app maintenance.

What is the team composition?

I've worked with Parag (Co-Founder), Vikash (Co-Founder), and Ekta (Quality Analyst).

How did you come to work with DianApps?

I originally worked with them via another company that had contracted them. I kept working with them after I finished up with the other company.

How much have you invested with them?

In my one-on-one work with them, I’ve spent about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still getting ready for a full-scale launch of the app, so we don’t have any hard metrics to measure success based on. However, they’ve proven to be very precise with their work. They want to help me bring the best product to the market, and have been willing to provide feedback on my desired solution if they felt there was a better path. They’re honest, efficient, and proactive.

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re perfect project managers. I haven’t had any complaints. They respond quickly to any of my questions over Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their response time and knowledge of mobile apps really stand out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no complaints at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come into the engagement with at least some knowledge of what you want, but be willing to listen to their feedback. They’ll help tweak your product to be the best it can be.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of LEVELD, which is a community-based marketplace app that allows users to rent equipment from each other. Our focus is on the tool and equipment rental industry, so anywhere from DIY home improvement tools all the way to small construction industrial tools.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps?

We needed someone to help with software development and take care of all our technical work. We also needed help with email marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DianApps work on both the front- and backend development of our native iOS app, as well as some graphic design. The main features that I wanted were GPS tracking, a payment channel, and product creation functionalities.

It’s a location-based marketplace, so it uses the GPS coordinates from a user’s mobile phone to look for other users that might have items for rent or are looking for items to rent within the general area. To do this, the team integrated Google Maps which gives us the user’s location-based GPS coordinates. 

They streamlined the payment process — they implemented a payment channel using Stripe that allows users to complete transactions, as well as deposit money directly into their LEVELD account which they can then use to pay for future rentals. They also added the functionality that allows users to create content and upload it into the marketplace by themselves. 

They also handle email marketing by creating auto-generated emails using a drip marketing approach. We work collaboratively on generating email content that is targeted, and their team is responsible for directing it to specific users. They manage the timing and follow a strategy where they would email certain users on a particular day and after a period of 25–30 days, they would send a follow-up. 

What is the team composition?

I only interface with the owner and he delegates to the rest of the team. 

How did you come to work with DianApps?

Their team actually reached out to me directly — they had previously worked as the support team for an app developer that I once worked with, but that company closed.

The founders of DianApps then reached out to previous clients to see if any of them needed development assistance. After they contacted me, I realized the process would be easier if I worked with them because of their familiarity with the app and my code stack. Their pricing was also competitive.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in January 2019, and the project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I measure success based on the time it takes to complete tasks, as well as the quality of the work upon testing. Once they complete certain tasks, we have a testing period where myself and others test out the product that they've modified or developed. With that said, the quality of their work has been consistently excellent and they typically do it right the first time, so there's not a lot of iteration required with them. 

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, their performance is great and they manage the scope well. There were a few cases where we had some unexpected overages in hours, but usually, they are able to estimate the number of hours and the cost pretty accurately and stay within the budget.

We primarily use Basecamp to communicate. They're very easy to work with in terms of correspondence — they’re always available to address any issues and concerns I have. They fix things right away and prove to be a very turnkey business.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed by how accessible they are. They're available for almost 24 hours a day — if there's a problem within the app that affects the users, they quickly fix it. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

At this time, there’s nothing I can think of that they could improve upon.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very specific with your requests. Understand the design layout and functionalities that you require and explain it as clearly as you can, so they can work more efficiently. If you leave it open-ended by being too vague about your requests, the project can drag on longer than anticipated. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a rideshare company as a strategic program manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps?

One of the key challenges we had was that we didn’t have a recording tool for in-person support. 

There are a lot of phone applications that can record a call on the phone, which is relatively easy, but when it comes to in-person when the person is in front of you, there isn’t any widespread tool that you can pick up and use. That is the use case we were looking to work with DianApps on.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The software is a Chrome-based plug-in that uses webcams and recording tools. Once a customer service interaction starts, we can record it, and then once we end the interaction, it stops recording and goes into our database on AWS servers.

We went to DianApps with the idea, and they worked on the whole frontend and backend development of the product. This was a new tool being made, and there were multiple rounds of iteration. We had about three rounds of development with them.

What is the team composition?

My initial primary contact was Vikash (Co-Founder). Once we were able to go through one or two rounds and establish what the product was, I was assigned a project manager. 

How did you come to work with DianApps?

I had worked with them when I was back in India on another project. I approached them for this because they were recommended to me.

How much have you invested in them?

The cost was between $30,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2019, and then the project was put on hold. We are checking if we are interested in picking it up. We are still associated with them, but we haven’t actively worked on it since the program was put on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We finished the third round of development, and the product was supposed to launch in March 2020. The product had the capability to be scaled to all of our in-person centers. We were looking to roll it out for our Europe market first. 

However, due to COVID-19, all European cities were closed between March and May, so we put the product launch on hold. The company went through a restructuring, and more than 30% of our company was laid off, and a large portion of that came from the in-person centers. Due to a directional change in the company, we could not fully roll the product out. 

We did roll out pilot projects with DianApps, which were successful. We rolled out the pilot last year, where we tested the product in three different markets: Newcastle, Johannesburg, and Egypt. We tested it and found 76% usable recordings. They were able to do what was required from our end.

They did an excellent job in all aspects, and they were careful and meticulous in the planning of the UI design. Most importantly, for me, was that they were very responsive to feedback. 

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

They were prompt at meeting deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think the involvement of Vikash was the most impressive. He was there and understood what the business needs were. He would then take a step back, go to his team, and then come back to us and let us know if what we wanted was possible or not. 

They were very professional. They used Basecamp as a way to record all of our interactions and discussion points. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not particularly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are very good at execution. If you have the concept, you can easily have them as a partner. They will work with you and try to see what is possible. The more you can scope out your project, the easier it is for them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a new dating app for those looking for non-monogamous relationships.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps?

We needed help with developing the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DianApps is developing our app for iOS. They’re doing the UI/UX through Sketch.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates, including Parag (Co-Founder), a project manager, and some developers. 

How did you come to work with DianApps?

They were referred to us by a friend for whom DianApps made an app. He was really happy with them

How much have you invested with them?

By the time we finish, we will have spent a little over $50,000 AUD (approximately $36,300 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in July 2020, and the project was completed in October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their service is excellent.

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via Basecamp, WhatsApp, and Zoom. Any time I send them a message, they answer me as soon as possible. The deadline got extended a little bit, so we’ve been delayed by one month because they changed their developer halfway through, but it wasn’t too big of an issue. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their strength is communication. If I’m not happy with anything and need something to be fixed immediately, the team gets on it quickly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

DianApps’ design team isn’t very meticulous, so they miss very important points in the project. This means that we end up having to reiterate what we asked. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The team offers good value, and their management team always provides feedback and keeps us in their loop. If they have a public holiday, they’ll let you know. 

As a client, you have to look out for their design features and make sure those features are communicated well otherwise you’ll have to go back and forth to make sure that the design doesn’t become an issue. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Starfinda. We’ve been working on our app, geared towards booking professional athletes, for three years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps?

We had some bad experiences with our initial development provider, so we engaged DianApps to take over.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DianApps took over development from the existing code, and they’ve added a number of features to the app. The app is being developed natively for iOS and Android.

The app itself is intended for professional athletes. It gives them a range of opportunities, but the key feature is through booking themselves. They can participate in or coach events, visit schools, lead fundraisers, or attend parties. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve spoken directly to five of their members through our WhatsApp group, and there between 8–10 people involved in total. Parag (Co-Founder) was our main contact originally, though now we’re working mainly with Shandhir (Software Developer). 

How did you come to work with DianApps?

We were originally working with a provider headquartered in Melbourne, with a staff in India. They went into liquidation, and we had to find another developer. Someone at our initial company put us in touch with Parag.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost so far is AUD $25,000–$30,000 (approximately $15,000–$19,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with DianApps in June 2019, and it’s ongoing. We have no plans to stop our collaboration.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our collaboration with DianApps was our last chance to get our product back on track. They’ve provided us with an excellent, high-quality solution. The app is live in stores, but we haven’t done any marketing for it, as we’re still testing it in a live setting. We hope to launch the app officially in the coming weeks, but despite that, we already have some high-profile Australian athletes with profiles. As of now, we have 148 athletes listed on the platform, including soccer and basketball players as well as Olympic medalists.

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

DianApps provides awesome project management. We’re using Basecamp and WhatsApp to communicate. We’re in contact every two days on average, and they’re always available.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understand the scope of our project better than anyone has. They provide great communication, and they stand out in terms of overall management and execution.

 Are there any areas they could improve?

No. The pricing is good, the communication is good, and what they’ve delivered is great. I have no complaints at all with DianApps.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

My advice would be to go for it. This is the best experience we’ve had.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director On The Ball Global

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DianApps?

Software developments

What were your goals for this project?

Develop new features for my application Ongoing support

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Worked with Parag as Project Owner before

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Develop new features for my application Ongoing support

What was the team composition?

Ten people team lead by Nikhil Dhariwal

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Fixed all software glitches of the past

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Great and very efficient team

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Great and very efficient team

Are there any areas for improvement?

Continue being excellent in providing your services and taking pride of your work

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and CEO of Chatmaite. Chatmaite is a messaging app with integrated AI avatars. Our company provides customers with in app, in chat AI interactions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DianApps Technologies?

We engaged DianApps to complete the build, launch the app and provide ongoing maintenance and support.

What were your goals for this project?

To successfully complete the app, launch the product and provide ongoing support for the App whilst we pitch to clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Some team members from DianApps were previously working on the build for a different company. When the previous dev company ceased trading, DianApps was able to take over the project.

Describe the project in detail.

Completion of coding, compliance with App Store policies and procedures, dialogflow management and integration, liaising with sports data APIs, ongoing trouble shooting and compliance.

What was the team composition?

CEO, android and iOS dev specialists, dialogflow specialist, project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successfully finished coding the app, managed dialogflow issues, successfully launched the app. Continued successful management of app maintenance.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I was able to directly liaise with the CEO at DianApps who directed the project and engaged team members appropriately and effectively.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I've been impressed with DianApps' ability to achieve outcomes and their commitment to completing tasks. DianApps have an admirable entrepreneurial spirit and continue to improve the scope of the services they offer and their workflow management practices and effectiveness.

Are there any areas for improvement?

DianApps are aiming to provide more commercial direction for their clients including facilitating mutually beneficial connections between clients - this will be a welcome addition to their capabilities.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and president of Neighbor Labor App. It’s a new app in the job board economy offering services such as beauty, handyman work, painting, dog walking, and other things of that nature.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DianApps?

We were looking for a new app developer since our previous developer’s business unexpectedly collapsed in December 2019.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DianApps took over our development process and helped launch us in the App Store and Google Play Store. Although they didn’t necessarily start from scratch, their team had to go back pretty far because we lost a lot of the code when the other company collapsed.

They added a lot of features and functionalities to the app, especially on the provider side. We now have push notifications and an easier flow in uploading photos. Their team assisted with timing within the app, as well as scheduling launches.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Parag (Co-Founder, DianApps) and Pancham (Product Owner, DianApps).

How did you come to work with DianApps?

When we were looking for a new developer, Parag jumped in and told us he could help get some of our source code back. He was a very nice gentleman who was sincerely looking to help us get along.

My business partner found him, and it was probably one of the best finds we’ve ever had. He’s been a huge asset to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2019. The app is completed, but they handle our maintenance now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app is live and user-friendly. DianApps’ work is incredible. Their designs are excellent, and they were always attentive to our needs and changes.

How did DianApps perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication from their team was 100% on point. We held conference calls twice a week and they were very responsive to everything we requested. If there was an issue, their team jumped on it right away.

DianApps is truly an amazing company to work with. Deadlines were always met and they were proactive about informing us on the next steps. They were always looking ahead to see what would be needed so we could discuss those matters together.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service and communication skills are impeccable. They made themselves available 24 hours a day, no matter what. We could message them anytime and there’d be a response immediately.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.