App Profile: Realm Connect - For Our Church

Paladin1038

Rating: 4/5

I really enjoy the Realm ecosystem and I’m so thankful that there’s an app like this that helps build and maintain a community. A few meaningful updates would be INCREDIBLE: - Better local database storage of posts and events: the app continuously needing to reach APIs for data that’s easily stored for rapid recall is frustrating - Include admin functions in this app instead of deferring to the web app. This would be HUGE for helping community members without having to switch between the app and a browser -The chat functionality seems flip-flopped. I might be the only one, but the I rarely get updates to my Inbox but always have chats updating. Even just having the option to specify tab order in the chat section would be helpful. I LOVE Realm and think it’s a wonderful resource. Thank you for everything you’ve done thus far! I’m excited to see what else you all implement in the future!

ASophiaMc

Rating: 2/5

Our parish uses this app and it has potential but there are so many things that don’t feel user-friendly or obvious. First is that everything is set up the most restrictive privacy and communication settings that you don’t realize you’re not getting access to conversations until it’s too late. I’m doing some training with a more experienced user but even so, not everyone in the parish will complete such intensive training to increase use—so again, so much here that’s not intuitive. In an age of Apple products, widespread Facebook and other social media use, I am frustrated by the difficulty navigating this app whether as a regular parishioner or an an authorized leader. Addition: Why can’t we post videos to the scrapbook or anywhere else. This makes the app less enjoyable to use.

EmiGou

Rating: 1/5

One of the least intuitive apps I’ve ever used on desktop and mobile. Given that the audience of church members includes people who may not be comfortable with technology, this company should invest in product design. Right now, it’s not meeting the needs of its users, which really slows adoption and creates challenges for the customers who are forced to purchase it as one of the only solutions on the market. Product flows don’t make sense (just one example, why are photo posts different from regular posts?) and permissions are hard to understand or don’t make a lot of sense (e.g. you can’t leave a group yourself, you have to email the leader to be removed). The documentation is nearly un-googleable, not designed around user needs, and doesn’t include common information people need. Another area that is really important to invest in given the audience.