Alena Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO at OptoTest. We’re a small company that develops fiber optic test equipment and software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

In the past, we’ve written our own software but we realized we didn’t have enough resources for this project and needed support. We needed to create software for fiber optic test equipment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To start the project, Asbed (CEO, Alena Solutions) introduced us to his software team. We went through the requirements gathering phase and they began writing the software. They’re enabling various functions, building the software to communicate information to instrumentation, automate measurements on fiber optic cables for our customers, and produce and store results for later access. They’re working on the project using Visual Studio. 

What is the team composition?

Alex (CTO, Alena Solutions) oversees the process and assigns various tasks to their engineers. Narek (Senior Software Developer Engineer, Alena Solutions) is the main engineer that we work with and Goruen (Software Engineer, Alena Solutions) also supports the software development. 

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

Our CEO has a connection with someone who introduced our company to Asbed. Once we got in contact, we had a few interviews, talked about their work, and figured out how to move forward with Alena Solutions. 

How much have you invested with them?

We pay a flat fee of $9,000 per month, so I estimate we’ve spent around $160,000 total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in February 2018 and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The software has been in beta testing, but we’re getting ready to launch which is great. Internally, we use the software and are pleased with it. It’s reliable, fast, and responsive. We find it to be easy to grasp, so there won’t be much of a learning curve for users. 

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re pretty good at managing the project. We share the project management responsibilities. Our team develops the requirements and they set forth the actual programming work. Our team lets them know about any bugs or changes, and they work to implement those. 

We use Jira for this, but we also communicate through email for more time-sensitive issues. For large requirements or documentation, we’ll also send through email but also use our weekly Skype meetings to share screens. Even though we’re in different time zones, they still work during our hours and stay late to accommodate us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their dedication to understanding our software and business stands out—they’re willing to teach themselves. There’s quite a bit of background needed to understand our software, and they’ve built a foundation of knowledge even though it wasn’t necessary for their job. They’re able to communicate with us and make our lives easier. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, our teams lose track of the timeline but my team should push more to help that. It’d be helpful if we had a more concrete pipeline about what needs to be implemented when, rather than being slightly reactionary with our scheduling. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a really easy team to work with. Expect them to work around your schedule even though they’re in Armenia. They’re accommodating and solid. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a technology and consulting firm. We hire high-level technology executives for large companies, and we also do some projects for those executives in-house. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

We were looking for a vendor to help us build a data management solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our most recent project with Alena Solutions was developing a data management solution that includes our website and a Java database. They're building pieces of our tracking system that connects to LinkedIn and other third-party applications. We have a CRS with WordPress, and we use PHP and MySQL for development. We're currently adding different features and plugins. They're also helping us with SEO.

What is the team composition? 

I primarily interface with their co-founder and their CTO.

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

They were referred to us. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $30,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working with them in January 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We used to do everything manually, so if we needed to post a job, we had to go on each of the job platforms and do it. Now, our tracking system is linked to our website and other job websites. Our database is also much faster and the user interface looks great. 

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their project management is very strong. I have one main point of contact, so I don't have to speak to multiple developers. They work very well independently and provide regular status updates. They've set up all the dates for the soft launch, the hard launch, and the testing. We mostly use email and phone to stay in touch.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take responsibility for their work. We can trust them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you need and set clear expectations. Also, give Alena Solutions access to your source code and your database. If they have the access, they can work very fast.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Broker Associate of Viviana Kim Real Estate

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Residential real estate purchase and sales

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alena Solutions to accomplish?

• SEO
• Expanding reach and social proofing
• Website design, build, maintenance

SOLUTION

How did you find Alena Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Alena Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Referred to me

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Design and build a website for a high-end real estate agent to provide information on services and garner trust and confidence in the consumer. Also provide opportunity for agent to drive additional traffic to the site and improve SEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Consistently receiving rave reviews for the design of the site. Multiple clients who have chosen to work with me based on the professionalism and marketing displayed on the site. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes everything was on time and their communication is excellent. 

What was your primary form of communication with Alena Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their responsiveness is top-notch, and everyone I have interacted with has been friendly and has always worked to provide excellent service.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Alena Solutions could have done differently?

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder of online education company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Alena Solutions, and what were your goals?

Strategy & software development. Digital marketing advisory

SOLUTION

How did you select Alena Solutions and what were the deciding factors?

I have known the founder of Alena for 10+ years. Asbed is the best.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Alena has helped me architect everything: from idea inception to launch

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with the CEO/Founder and with his product manager and CTO, both in the European office. Also worked with one of Alena's consultants. Asbed has built a strong team.