LeewayHertz

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and co-founder of TraceRx, a supply chain management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LeewayHertz?

We reached out to LeewayHertz to build our Saas platform from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

LeewayHertz developed a SaaS blockchain integrated platform, from ideation and conceptualization to full development and design. They also migrated the original architecture to a Hyperledger Fabric platform per their suggestion, writing the code for missing DLLs in the process. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with a project lead, as well as a few others on their team. Their CEO was also somewhat involved when it came to brainstorming new features. 

How did you come to work with LeewayHertz?

They were one of about five different vendors we found online and interviewed. We felt comfortable with their team because it seemed like they'd be able to handle anything we threw their way. They were also reasonably priced and took a lot of ownership in their work. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $150,000–$180,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from May 2018–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

LeewayHertz helped us successfully demonstrate and deliver our product on schedule, which allowed us to get funding. They were able to meet both our timeline and budget despite the added work of migrating the platform. Their commitment ultimately made us look good in the eyes of our investors. 

How did LeewayHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We held weekly Zoom meetings with their team to go through a full walkthrough of each phase of the project. They used other project management tools as well to thoroughly document their work.

In order to help us meet our deadline, they developed a sandbox version of the platform that allowed us to demonstrate the platform while they continued to work on development. They also made themselves available overnight when we needed them on call during that time, sitting on the phone with us for over two hours to sort out issues that popped up. We were amazed that they were able to offer so much customer service at no additional cost. 

On another occasion, they provided a web-based PowerPoint version of the platform that allowed us to show it to an investor for an impromptu meeting. They didn't charge extra; they just stepped up and delivered. They understand that, as a startup, showcasing the platform was critical in driving customer acquisition.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They didn't try to sell us on any unnecessary additional services. They were very understanding of our needs as a startup, and ultimately delivered a great product that met all of our requirements. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The process of developing wireframes and initial decision making was a bit rushed, so they could work on slowing down the design process. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the managing director of Microstocksolutions LLC, a provider of human-powered digital asset management solutions for the visual media industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LeewayHertz?

As part of our internal journey to learn more about complicated forms of motion content, we wanted to create a physical tool that would allow video content creatives to add both time-based and in-frame descriptive metadata. To date, nobody has ever successfully solved that issue. That is because it is unbelievably complicated—how to ultimately add metadata to videos that may be hours in length, and to then have those meta-tags precisely return a search result. We believed that we internally solved this concept, but we required a developer to build a mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We already had ideas, and we gave them basic outlines, drawings, and mockups of the app. They developed an Android and an iOS version of an app. The core functionality of the app is the ability to tag any object within any frame, using any methodology. The video content runs at 24–60 frames per second, or between 1,550 and 5,000 frames per minute. The app allows content creatives or videographers to inject their videos onto their telephones or tablets and add precise metatags using a crosshair system with tactile navigation. Users can move that crosshair anywhere over the video as it’s playing, stop the video at an object, event, or person that they wish to metatag, tap on the crosshair, bring up a dialog box, and fill it with any volume of metadata that they wish. Those data points are related to specific x:y intersects within the 16:9 frame that traditionally makes up a digital video.

What is the team dynamic?

We interacted weekly with either the lead developer or with a person with the title of project manager, who reported to the lead developer. We also had full access to the owner of LeewayHertz from the very beginning, but his role faded as the project progressed.

How did you come to work with LeewayHertz?

I conducted a Google search for Silicon Valley developers with experience in immersive content and development for major media broadcasters. We spoke to numerous developers without much success before meeting LeewayHertz’s owner. He told us that our project would be a welcomed challenge, owing to their more recent experience with virtual reality and immersive content types.

How much have you invested with them?

The direct fees to them exceeded $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first engaged them in October 2017 for a six-month timeline to be completed in mid-February or early March.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

We designed and refined the app to offer a level of precision in its tagging capacity and output—to be valuable enough that a broadcaster and/or content creator would pay for it. The beta results were horrific, partially due to poor testing with 50 broadcast professionals across the country. After six weeks, it has 64 downloads, but not a single person has paid for it. We’ve gotten some very nice feedback from people, but they ultimately did not buy.

While the core functionality of the app works on the surface, it is not what it had been designed to do. A number of missing core elements and bug issues arose in late 2017 but were never solved. Those were core functionality issues that cheapened or lessened the strategic value of the app, as it relates to our client base.

How was project management handled?

This project was developer-driven, and they were sprinting and working within an Agile Scrum environment. It became very clear to us early on—in fact, it was noted numerous times internally—that, as problems came up, they tended to leapfrog them and head toward the next target in order to meet their internal schedules. The problems they were skipping were not the kinds of issues that could be dealt with at the very end because development needed to progress chronologically.

They used a number of project management tools to track the progress, and we received a recap of the discussion at the end of each Monday meeting. In that sense, all was well. The owner was an important voice, and he added relevant experience.

However, we were well aware they were not addressing the aforementioned problems. Despite our constant reminders, the team promised revisions in the app’s next iteration. The next version never arrived, and they stopped communicating to a large degree.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

At the very beginning, in October 2017, they were helpful in their approach to determine the app’s look and feel. They improved our original ideas ever so slightly with some intelligent input.

In what specific areas can they improve?

Outside of the aforementioned Scrum and workflow issues, everything went south just prior to beta. They dropped the ball just as we needed them to coordinate with our sales and marketing staff in Manhattan. They also did not appreciate how Apple manages its review process for new apps. We asked to add PayPal as a portal through which our users could potentially pay for the app. They charged us $7,000 for the development of that and later reported that Apple was no longer allowing apps to be equipped with PayPal. This came well after we paid, and they did not return that money to us. We lost that money as well as three weeks of development time.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

I would insist on better project oversight and management. I probably would have demanded that the project administrator be swapped out, if not once, maybe twice or three times throughout the lifespan of the project in order to ensure proper leadership.

Is there anything else you can note about the project?

Whenever the team reached a new milestone, they requested payment immediately. As an example, we would receive an invoice on a Monday, and they would demand payment by Wednesday in order to continue. This was after we had paid $30,000–$40,000, so we were well into the five-figure range. They did not understand that 30-day or two-week receivables are normal and that no accounts payable department has the kind of mechanism in place to just jump and pay.

What is the current status of the engagement? Are there any steps you’ve taken to resolve the issues with them, to try to continue the work on the project?

We’ve had multiple members of our staff in contact with them: myself, our projects manager, as well the head of strategic development in Manhattan. Their answers have been curt, saying they have received our messages and that they will get back to us shortly. We have received nothing else.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Our company is an extended auto warranty. We provide vehicle coverage for used vehicles. We offer dealerships the ability to protect their investment and their customer's investment.

What is your position?

I'm a senior software developer. I'm part of a smaller IT [information technology] team that's trying to get our company into the 21st century.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with LeewayHertz?

iPads are popular, and we wanted to give our customers the best possible way, through technology, to communicate with their customers. We wanted to take dealer-facing materials and make it customer-facing. We wanted to explain the process of a vehicle service contract in layman's terms. We had to find a way to translate what we've been traditionally saying for 20 years and put a new angle on it.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

We had the initial idea for the iPad app and then we decided to partner with LeewayHertz. LeewayHertz was involved with visual design, development, testing and implementation of the iPad app in the field. They were there every step of the way. 

How did you come to work with LeewayHertz?

We reached out to friends and family for recommendations. We also did some research online. We reached out to contacts at other businesses. From all of that, we got a list of 10 companies. We were curious of the price point and a time estimate on when they could start working. LeewayHertz was by far the most cost effective, and they were able to get started in a reasonable time frame. That's why we chose them.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The size of the project is in the $50,000 to $200,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with LeewayHertz is ongoing. The majority of the project is done. We wanted version 1.0 in the market. We started working on the app in September 2014, and it was live by June 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

It's too early to share any kind of results. Version 1.0 just got in the hands of customers about a month ago. We are getting it out through our sales force, and our sales force is still getting comfortable with the valued proposition for the dealership.

How did LeewayHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We're pleased with LeewayHertz. There were some flaws, but that could have been on our side as well. We got to market on time and met our goal. We're continuing to work with them for a reason.

What distinguishes LeewayHertz from other providers?

Their cost is outstanding compared to other companies. They are half of what we saw on the market, and the quality is comparable.

Is there anything LeewayHertz could have improved?

They're very much a development shop. I've told anyone who needs an app if they know what they want, LeewayHertz will definitely get it done. But, what we found was that there wasn't a lot of dialogue and project discovery done. There's a language barrier. They're willing to accommodate our hours with East Coast time. There was a gap there, and we found we had to modify our timeline some after we started to make sure that things were reasonable. They were always willing to work with us, but that was the one thing that was a learning experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Our company is called Gettherefferal.com. We're an app-based referral business. We work with other businesses to help them decrease their cost per acquisition of new customers.

What is your position?

I'm the founder and president of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with LeewayHertz?

I had an idea about the kind of app I wanted to build, and I was looking for a technical partner. I needed a company that I could partner with both in the short term and the long term to help me develop this product. We wanted to build a customizable iOS and Android app, and CMS [content management system] dashboard that's uniquely tied to each one of our clients' individual business. Each client can use the app for its own referral marketing. It easily incorporates into any business model because we have our own stand-alone CMS and CRM [customer relationship management]. It provides all the necessary tools for any company to easily track and reward those folks that send in referrals.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

In working with LeewayHertz, we started developing the app and brainstorming new ideas. LeewayHertz allowed us to take the app to a new level. We now white labeled it, and we can resell it to any business anywhere in the country. LeewayHertz were an integral part of coming together from a technical standpoint and developing an app that allowed us to do everything we needed it to. All along the way, LeewayHertz provided feedback, ideas and different options as to how we can integrate and continue to produce this product.

How did you come to work with LeewayHertz?

I did some online research. I had no industry knowledge or referrals. I found three companies and vetted them. I went with a lowest-cost comapny and found out that they just did not have what I was looking for quickly. Within three weeks, I fired them and went back and revetted LeewayHertz and the other company. I liked what LeewayHertz had to say, and how detailed their proposal was. They asked a bunch of questions and really grasped the insights of what I was trying to accomplish and fed that back to me in a proposal. They did a good job of presenting my ideas on paper. That's why I chose them.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The size of the project is in the $50,000 to $200,000 price range.

What is the status of this engagement?

It's ongoing work. We're always upgrading and enhancing the product. We started the project in February 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We signed up 50 to 60 clients with little or no integration issues. The app has not gone down. Users are amazed at what it can do and how easy it is to use. That's been a huge success for us and gives us strength in the market. There's really nothing else out there that does what our app does.

How did LeewayHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with LeewayHertz has been wonderful. They're very responsive. They work in a different time zone and are very accommodating to work with us in our time zone. LeewayHertz has been a great business partner.

What distinguishes LeewayHertz from other providers?

This is my first app. I don't have any experience except for that company I was with for three weeks. It's head over heels better from every standpoint. LeewayHertz saw my vision, and they helped me achieve that. I could not ask for more.

Is there anything LeewayHertz could have improved?

I think that with any developer, speed could be better. I would like to get things done quicker. I think if you talk to anybody, there's a lot of work that goes into the back-end that we're not aware of. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Our company is a large engineering and manufacturing company that provides product solutions and services to customers in the transit business. 

What is your position?

I am the project manager of strategy at the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with LeewayHertz?

We wanted to create a marketing app for transit. We wanted to improve the way in which we marketed our products and services. We decided to develop an iPad application for this purpose.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

LeewayHertz were a critical player in the creation of the app. We approached them with a concept, and they were involved in defining the final product. Once we settled on the concept and design, LeewayHertz developed the app end to end. LeewayHertz was also responsible for creating a content management system customized to our needs.

How did you come to work with LeewayHertz?

We had reached out to eight different companies to get suggestions on how to solve the challenge. We looked at the bigger players and smaller players. We chose LeewayHertz because they understood our challenge, our concept, and gave us a fair-priced solution.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The project was in the $50,000 to $200,000 price range.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in October 2014 and wrapped in June 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

One thing that stood out was that they always looked for the most time- and cost-efficient solutions. The development team made good recommendations that helped us stay within the agreed boundaries for time, cost and scope as well as quality.

How did LeewayHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

The LeewayHertz team was excellent. They offered innovative solutions and were very responsive. They have a very effective development process and are knowledgeable and experienced.

What distinguishes LeewayHertz from other providers?

LeewayHertz was flexible in adding smaller features along the way. We found something that might be useful to add to the app, and they responded and acted quickly.

There were things we hadn't thought of. LeewayHertz really helped us through. Their process really worked well. I didn't see from the other vendors that they had a process that made so much sense. As a customer, I know where I stand with LeewayHertz.

Is there anything LeewayHertz could have improved?

No. I can't think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

ADX. Audio Design Experts designs and develops personal audio products, such as Bluetooth speakers, speakers on the phone, or anything that outputs audio from a personal device. 

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am one of the original founders of the company. My main responsibility is product development – taking a product concept and design to production and bringing it to the market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with LeewayHertz?

We wanted to provide a product feature that's second to none in the market place and offer an app for Apple and Android for the market so our consumers of the product can use their product more easily with full functionality of what the product does.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They did the development, testing, qualification, and verification. They gave us a full-service app that we're able to launch to the market.

What was your process for selecting LeewayHertz?

We had a RFQ [request for quotation] sent out for vendors and developers. They came in with their design concept and with a very reasonable quote. Most importantly was their service and their vision of the product that we communicated to them and everything just felt right.

Can you give a sense of the size of the initiative?

It was from $50,000 to $200,000.

When was the work completed?

It's ongoing. We have a couple projects going on now. It's an open-ended relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics on the project?

We've had a lot of feedback from customers that have downloaded the app and gave us good reviews on Amazon and on various online forums that they purchased the product from. We have an above A average review on Amazon. There's less than a .01 percent problem with the app. That's the only metric I'm concerned with. I don't see anything negative.

Are you satisfied with their performance?

We're very satisfied. We haven't encountered any customer issues regarding the quality of the app. They've been doing a great job for me. I don't see any reason not to go back to them for future projects.

What differentiates LeewayHertz from other partners?

I think it's their progressive thinking in terms of the development. LeewayHertz knows what they know and their expertise is in iOS and Android. They're highly focused, and they deliver what they propose.

What advice would you give to future clients of theirs?

Be specific what you're looking for. Be confident that they will deliver what they set out to do.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

Not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are a mobile development company.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m the president of the company. I run a software development company for North American county and state fair clients. We’ve been around for about 20 years. We are based in College Station, Texas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with LeewayHertz?

Normally, we have software that runs on the client's Web page, but when it came to mobile development, we were at a loss. Three years ago, I had to find a company that we could outsource with to develop an iPad app.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

LeewayHertz did strictly mobile app development for iOS. We will pursue Android with them later.

What was your process for selecting LeewayHertz to work with?

I looked for some companies on Elance and did some research on Google to find one. We came up with about six or seven candidates. We tried a smaller outsourcing job on Elance and chose a small company of just a few people in Canada. We invested a little bit in them to do the job because LeewayHertz seemed very professional, but it seemed out of our budget. After working with the small Canadian company for a few months, we ended the project. I realized there was a value in going with a reputable company.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We worked with about 10 people from LeewayHertz. We had an accelerated development timeframe for the first version of the app. Normally, it would have taken several months but, in this case, it took only four months. They met the timeframe, and we had some maintenance after that. We followed up with version two, which took about a year to build. The work has been ongoing. In terms of cost, the project scope was less than $100,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

Our industry is very small, and we work in all the state and county fairs. We have the software that runs them. It's a limited market with about a thousand customers. It's a very niche market, and Canada has a handful. The numbers won’t be as big. Out of that, we have several users up to many users, depending on the size of the fair. The number of downloads will look very small because it's a tailored business app, and the only people who would find the app useful are the people that have used our software.

The project rollout was November of 2011. That was our debut in Las Vegas at a big convention. In December of 2013, we rolled out version 2 of the software. It wowed the crowd. The convention had about 8,000 attendees, and it was highly visible in the industry.

How did LeewayHertz perform?

We were extremely satisfied, and we will continue to do business with them as long as it keeps going.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

They are very professional, which made me comfortable right away. They have a formal process from start to finish. They have accountability and a chain of command that they follow. Even the founder sent me a couple of messages to thank me. Their graphics department is very good. Sometimes, when you send things overseas, you get a different standard of quality.

There were some technical challenges, which they pulled off on more than one occasion. I came from a programming background and understand how difficult it can be. They are competent, so if a job can be done, they can do it.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

The key to all of this is to be very clear in the upfront effort. Many times in programming, people dump things into our hands. If you’re going to build something, you should do it right and remain involved in the process so you can be sure the result is what you want. I try to emphasize that. Some people tell you what they want and then walk away. From what I understand from LeewayHertz, they don’t have those kinds of problems. That was a key to our app development. I’m really proud of the app.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We manufacture pneumatic, hydraulic, electric actuators, air preparation equipment, fittings, valves, manifolds, and pretty much anything to do with automation.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am a product marketing specialist. I’m involved with the website, collateral, iPad app, trade shows, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with LeewayHertz?

Our initial goal for release one of the app was to create an enterprise app specifically for our salespeople and distributors.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

The main goal of version 1 was to break up our catalog PDF page by page. Instead of having to email the customer a 12-megabyte file, the app allowed users to bookmark a single page and send individual pages to the customer. The overall goal included increasing sales conversions.

Currently, the app is just for Apple. We talked about making it Android, but that probably will be a year or two away. Most likely, we'll work with LeewayHertz for that project.

What was your process for selecting LeewayHertz with which to work?

I Googled app developers in the Chicago area, and it came up because they had a sales office. I took about 10 quotes from different companies for what we required. We had some wireframes drawn up initially to get a ballpark quote from each one. We narrowed it down to a handful, and then we talked with them, went through the app, and discussed expectations. We decided to go with LeewayHertz.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

I don’t have that information on hand. We're still under $100,000. Release 1 was completed in Q1 of 2013. We're currently in the process of developing rev 2, which is 90 percent done right now. We expect to launch that in May of 2014. It's in testing, and we're having some APIs [application programming interfaces] written so we can manage all of our content in one place. The APIs will pull content from the Web. The CMS [content management system] that we use directly into the app. That way, I don’t have to make changes on the Web and on the app. I can just make them on the Web, and they'll automatically update on the app side. We're doing a lot of backend work to make it easier on our end, which will ultimately make it a better user experience.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

The first version was very successful. We were the first out of all of our competitors to have an iPad app. We got major points with our distribution network for being the first to do that. We also developed a council of some of our top distributors and heavy iPad users to provide feedback for future releases. This was the entire reason for launching a release 2. It was very successful.

How was LeewayHertz's work performance?

It's been very good. We communicate weekly and, sometimes, daily, depending on the workload, through Google Chat and email. They also have an online work management site, where we can post comments and feedback. They can upload the screens for us to look at, we leave feedback on those, and they make changes. They’ve been great for us.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other IT companies?

They have a lot of experience. One of the big issues for this release that we're working on now were building the APIs. We were initially planning on having our Web CMS integrator built out for us. After going back and forth with them and LeewayHertz, LeewayHertz was confident that they could do that. We let them take care of that, and that’s been working out pretty well so far.

They also have a very good idea of how to increase the user experience as far as the flow of the screens go. For instance, when you click this button, what page should it take you to, minimizing the clicks, and the time it takes to get from one screen to the next. They also provide a lot of ideas for our customer PDF reader that we're implementing in release 2 as well. Overall, they have a very good understanding of what works and what doesn’t, and how to make apps easy and intuitive to use. They’ve worked out really well for us so far.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

Before I started on this, I had no idea of app development or backend server work at all. I think having someone that knows a little more on the server side, and how everything works together, would have been helpful on our end, instead of someone with no experience working on it. I think they’re great. I wouldn’t recommend any changes to this point.

BACKGROUND

Can you provide some background on your company?

We’re a travel agency that specializes in cruise vacations. We have multiple websites, we have been doing this for about eight years with this company but been in the business for almost 20 years. We have about 100 employees and are one of the largest sellers of cruises in the country.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your main goal or objective for undertaking the project with LeewayHertz?

We wanted to have a mobile presence. We wanted to say that we had an iPhone app. We reached out and Googled many different companies. Our company had a very good conversation with LeewayHertz. We wanted them to help us build a very basic application that would help give information about cruise vacations. Basically, it turned into a lot bigger project than that. We built what we feel is a world-class cruise app. It actually is the most downloaded cruise app on iTunes and the Google Play market. It’s just a very robust app, we are very happy with what they built for us.

SOLUTION

What parts of the project was LeewayHertz involved in?

LeewayHertz actually designed the app. They built all the user interfaces, and all the screens. They were involved in a very comprehensive discovery of everything that we did. They made it a point to really get to know our business, understand the process, and the way people search for cruises. They learned to understand how people buy cruises and the content that they’re looking for. They asked us a lot of questions with regards to what content was important to us and what we wanted to put up there. They didn’t do the booking engine. We have a lot of our own Web services and our own content. They actually worked with our development team to bring our Web services into their interface. They built the app and put it up on the iTunes store. They built our iPhone app. They built our Android app. They built our Kindle app and they built our iPad app.

How long ago was the most recent app completed?

The iPad app was completed in January 2012. I think the Kindle may have gone up in May in 2012.

Can you give me just a very general cost estimate for the project? 

The iPhone app was under $50,000. The Android app was under $30,000 because we had already built the iPhone app. Once you build one, a lot of it was already done. I would say the iPhone app was under $50,000, Android under $30,000, Kindle under $30,000,  and iPad under $30,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How happy are you with the results?

We’re very happy. LeewayHertz is an incredible company to work with. They’re very responsive and innovative. They’ve got a very good sense of the app market, very knowledgeable on the industry. I really appreciate that they made a tremendous number of recommendations based on what their experience has been with user experience and user design. They’re very quick. I thought they were extremely affordable. LeewayHertz is very open to suggestions and constantly making positive recommendations. In my experience, I think they're one of the best IT companies I’ve had a chance to work with.

When working with LeewayHertz, is there anything specific that you found to be unique or special about them compared to other developers or vendors you’ve worked with?

Overall, very good. They were very strong with communication. We had frequent status update meetings, especially with the systems that they use to be able to present the mock-ups and user flows. They had some really neat online tools to be able to communicate. We’d go back and forth. They make changes, I would log in to an interface and see working prototypes, mock-ups, and screens. Once they got to certain checkpoints, they would send us working samples of our apps in the development mode. I really like their communication. We had a lot of meetings over Skype. They’re not local. From the development team to their senior leadership, I was always in communication with them. I’ve actually become very good friends with the leadership team there. They’re very easy to work with. They’re just a very nice group and very smart.

Looking back on the series of projects, is there anything you’d do differently a second time around, or think they could improve upon?

I think they could do a better job of managing my scope creep. It was one of those situations where every time we did something, I would come back and ask to redo things. I would ask, “What if we add this and what if we add that?” I think if I had done a better job of coming up with all my requirements and everything in the very beginning, it might have moved a little bit faster on some things. But that would be my fault.