Five (An Endava Company) Review: A Deep Dive into Their Digital Product Expertise

Introduction

Five, an Endava company, is a full-service digital product agency specializing in product strategy, design, software development, and growth marketing. With over 15+ years of experience, Five has helped major brands like Rosetta Stone, Marriott International, Penguin Random House, and McAfee build scalable, award-winning digital products.

Their expertise spans:

• Mobile & web app development
• UX/UI design
• Backend & API integrations
• Growth marketing & analytics
• AI & chatbot solutions

Pros & Cons of Working with Five

1. Product Quality & Technical Expertise

✅ Strengths:

• High-quality code & design – Clients repeatedly praise Five’s engineering and UI/UX teams for delivering bug-free, visually polished products.

  "The code was written so well that I had my internal engineering team study it."

• Strategic problem-solving – Unlike typical vendors, Five thinks like a product owner, offering insights beyond just execution.

  "They caught items we should’ve caught ourselves—thinking about user needs proactively."

• Scalability & performance optimization – Many clients noted doubled engagement metrics post-launch.

❌ Potential Weaknesses:

• Occasional third-party integration delays – Some clients mentioned minor hiccups when working with external APIs.

2. Project Management & Communication

✅ Strengths:

• Seamless remote collaboration – Five excels in cross-timezone workflows (US & Croatia teams).

  "They ARE part of our team. It felt like 24/7 development."

• Agile & transparent – Clients highlight weekly standups, JIRA/Slack integration, and proactive updates.

  "If they say they’ll deliver at a certain time, they do—often earlier."

• Low turnover – Unlike offshore firms with high attrition, Five retains talent long-term.

❌ Potential Weaknesses:

• Initial onboarding can be fast-paced – Some clients needed extra time to align on complex projects.

3. Client-Centric Approach

✅ Strengths:

• Partnership mindset – Clients describe Five as "invested in our success, not just a vendor."

  "They worked nights/weekends to meet our deadlines—like true partners."

• Data-driven optimizations – Their growth team tracks KPIs (installs, retention, CPI) and adjusts strategies dynamically.

  "They cut our CPI by 40% vs. previous vendors."

• Honest feedback – Five pushes back on unrealistic requests rather than overpromising.

❌ Potential Weaknesses:

• Limited US presence – A few clients wished for more NYC-based staff (though remote coordination remains strong).

4. Results & ROI

✅ Tangible Outcomes Reported by Clients:

• 4.6–4.7-star app ratings (vs. industry avg. ~4.2)
• 85%+ user adoption rates (exceeding 25–50% targets)
• 2–4x higher conversions post-redesign (e.g., checkout flows)
• Webby Awards for apps like Rosetta Stone’s language platform

Final Verdict: Who Should Hire Five?

👍 Best For:

• Startups & enterprises needing end-to-end product development.
• Companies prioritizing long-term scalability over quick fixes.
• Teams wanting a data-obsessed, collaborative partner.

👎 Not Ideal For:

• Budget projects under $50K (Five focuses on premium engagements).
• Clients unwilling to co-own the process (their best results come from tight collaboration).

The Bottom Line

Five combines technical brilliance, strategic product thinking, and relentless execution—earning trust from Fortune 500 brands and startups alike. While no agency is perfect, their consistent delivery, transparency, and passion make them a top-tier choice for digital product development.

Rating: ★★★★★ (4.9/5)

Have experience with Five? Share your thoughts in the comments!