Insights & Ideas
The Orchid Blog
Practical insights on building custom software, mobile apps, and AI — from a team that's been doing it for over 17 years.
9 Examples of Hidden Complexity in Software Development
Even if we were to triple or quadruple our time spent scoping a project, there will always be hidden complexities we only uncover in development.
Fixed Price Quotes vs Hourly Billing for Custom Software Development
I can now see fixed price quoting was just as bad for our clients as it was for us. When a fixed price project goes south the client suffers just as much.
Teamroll: Staff Resource Forecasting Tool
A mistake in forecasting can mean we need an engineer to temporally switch projects to help meet a commitment — Teamroll solves this.
How UPS Saved Over $100 Million With One Small Code Change
A minor GPS algorithm modification resulted in savings exceeding $100 million annually, reducing fuel consumption by 190,000 litres yearly.
Mobile App Design Handbook: 7 Simple Rules Successful Apps Follow
The difference between a successful app and ones that fall to the bottom of the App Store almost always comes down to user interface design.
Why Your App or Website Will Take Time to Make
Software development is a craft, and it can't easily be turned into a factory or assembly line style of production.
How Much To Build An App? App Development Price Guide
The most frequently asked question we receive is: How much will my app cost to build? The honest answer is, it depends.
NZGDC Pre-Conference Workshop
A workshop on designing learning games using a game design canvas framework — comparable to the Business Model Canvas but tailored for gamification.
How to Build Your App or SaaS Product in 30 Days or Less
Traditional approaches invest months in planning before development. Building a minimum viable product offers a more practical alternative.
CBAFF Conference, Day 2
Day 2 of the CBAFF Conference covered supply chain solutions, blockchain technology applications, and industry workforce recruitment.
CBAFF Conference, Queenstown
The 23rd annual CBAFF Conference in Queenstown covered disruption, mental health, cybersecurity, and customs updates with 150 attendees.
How DoorDash Started with a Concierge MVP
DoorDash's founders built a basic website, took orders via phone, and personally delivered food between classes — validating a $12B business idea.
Quick Primer: MVP Launch Cycle
The five-stage MVP cycle: get an idea, research the market, build your MVP, release it, then iterate or test new ideas.
How We Got to Number 1 Organically in Google in a Month
BuildMyMVP went from zero to 10,000 sessions and 80 leads in one month, ranking #1 globally — here's the 10-step process.
Switching Website Support Companies — Easier Than You Think!
A three step process is all you need: download your website, change your DNS, upload to the new server. That's it.
Case Study: Freight Rate Calculator
How a local Freight Forwarding Company increased orders and reduced admin with a custom online freight calculator.
Should You Worry About an MMP — Minimum Marketable Product?
MVP is all about risk reduction and learning. MMP is all about reducing time to market. Here's how to use both.
7 Things to Consider Before Making Your MVP
Define the problem, know your customer, plan your revenue model, and identify your biggest risks — before writing a line of code.
Your Brilliant Idea for a New App or Website Is Worth $20
Ideas are worth nothing unless executed. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth millions.
Moving from Outdated to Upmarket
How European Antiques transformed their outdated website into a contemporary platform — and saw sales increase as a result.
What Happens When You Keep Your Customers Happy?
Davina wanted to build an app to help New Zealand children learn about safety. We helped bring her vision to life — and she sent us a cake.
Why You Need to Validate Your Idea
Validating your concept and the demand for your product is one of the most important aspects when starting up.
It's Just One Simple Feature…
As features accumulate in an application, complexity grows exponentially rather than incrementally. That 'simple' notification feature? Look at Slack's flowchart.
How Much Will Your App Idea Cost?
We put together a visual guide with guesstimates on how much it would cost to build the first proof-of-concept version of well-known apps.
Do You Have a 'Leaky Website Problem'?
If most of your web traffic are browsing your site and moving on, then you've got a leaky website problem. Here's how to fix it.
