GOOBER

Vienna is where GOOBER works, building websites, apps and bespoke software for companies and business owners across the city and the rest of Austria. It describes itself as both a digital agency and a full-service advertising agency, and says its team has completed more than one hundred projects. Its working language is German, and the site says the people behind it are young and committed, taking regular training to learn new methods in web development, software, apps and online and social media marketing.

Why it builds to order

GOOBER's argument is that firms often buy ready-made CRM systems, apps or websites full of modules they never use, while lacking the functions they actually need. It prefers to build a solution that fits a company's requirements exactly, whether the client works alone or has a hundred staff. The systems it names include CRM, HRM, document management, ERP and business analytics. Its web and app work uses tools such as Laravel, WordPress, Vue, React, Angular, Bootstrap and progressive web app techniques, and it also develops online shops and mobile apps. The agency also offers consulting and checks the work of outside developers.

A six-step working process

The agency lays its process out in stages:

• Analysis of the client's business, needs and goals, ending in an individual proposal.
• Planning, with questionnaires for future users or customers, a plan tailored to the client and a presentation with interactive prototypes.
• Concept, covering a practical design for the prototypes, a detailed description of each function and module, the main architecture and technical parameters, all agreed with the client.
• Development under the client's supervision using Scrum, in short sprints that are each agreed and then presented, with code review plus manual and automatic testing before launch.
• Support, both technical and marketing, along with a marketing plan for the finished product.
• Joint goal setting for the project's results.

Programming begins only once the prototypes match the client's expectations fully, according to the agency. It adds that testing includes a pass by a second developer team not involved in the original work, and that clients receive detailed monthly reports on concept, programming and advertising.

Online marketing

On the marketing side, the agency describes researching a client's competitors, their advertising methods and their successes and failures, analysing the client's niche and testing different advertising options. Web analytics specialists set up data collection and conversion tracking so a client can see which advertising delivers conversions and at what cost. A project team may include a project manager, business analyst, UX and UI designers, copywriter, social media and SEO specialists, testers, developers and a system administrator. The agency also says it aims to serve start-ups, and that the first consultation is free.