SoloWay Technologies

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Advertising agency that provides a full range of marketing services: national promotions, trade marketing programs, event-services, integrated advertising campaigns, creative services. The agency relies on the use of network experience and the widespread introduction of the best foreign marketing practices, which makes it possible to successfully solve clients' tasks and help them achieve their goals in the best possible way.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire bvblogic?

An advertising agency has developed an online platform to automate field projects. Some time ago, the company decided to change the team of developers to a more reliable and professional, to be confident in the quality of the services provided.

What were your goals for this project?

Expansion of the current functionality of the online platform and high-quality technical support.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

CEO of the holding advised to contact bvblogic. So, bvblogic became one of the companies with which we negotiated and at the end, having received high-quality feedback and interest in our project, the choice was unequivocal.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Online platform for automation of the field projects, which provides a new qualitative approach in planning projects of any complexity, managing personnel in the fields and providing optimal and timely reporting. bvblogic provides technical support and develops improvements for the current functionality.

What was the team composition?

Account Manager, Backend Developer, Front End Developer and Q&A Tester

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Advanced functionality will attract new customers, and high-quality technical support ensures stable user experience.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

In most cases, the communication is held by the account manager. To solve technical problems, we use general chat with programmers, and for more important issues – conference calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

A good team, excellent specialists who, if necessary, will make concessions, which is very important for the client, and will also give good advice and take the initiative to resolve the issues that have arisen.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can only wish the company to grow, develop and acquire more good customers.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the senior manager at a company specializing in innovative cyber protection services, providing total protection for all devices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire bvblogic?

One of our customers needed to integrate a new kind of charging pole for electric cars into a payment system. We needed an outsourced developer who could connect the necessary mobile API, which is used in the mobile application.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to hire an experienced developer who knew how to connect the API and who would do it in time, adhering to all the requirements of our third-party client.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had interacted with bvblogic earlier, and I was interested in cooperation. I had a limited budget and certain requirements, and I thought they could fulfill them.

Describe the project in detail.

Their developer connected the necessary mobile API in order to integrate the charging poles into the payment system.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a senior .NET developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The completion and integration of the API helped to implement the functionality and start an e-charging offering.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their management handled all communication and management processes. We held weekly online meetings, which were very efficient. Their strategies were a great advantage for us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I’m very satisfied with their service. They live up to their motto, “Hire Tech Talents.” bvblogic screens all of their candidates quickly and they offer resources whose expertise is as advertised. They gave me different options, depending on my budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we are satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a startup called P.aid. Companies use our platform to crowdsource tasks to users, to complete in real time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

We engaged bvblogic to design and develop our platform for both web and mobile. They also provide us with consulting services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

bvblogic oversaw the entire development cycle. Their IT department translated our vision into a technical scope of requirements. Their design department then presented us with wireframes and mock-ups. Once we approved the designs, bvblogic developed the Android app and the web platform backend. The team is now advising our roadmap for future development.

What is the team composition?

The team comprises three developers and a QC tester who checks their work at every stage of development.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

I met Vitaliy (President, CEO, Co-Founder, bvblogic) at a local business event. We kept in touch until I inquired their services for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2018 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

bvblogic built an MVP of our platform for which we are planning tests with several clients. We have launched our Android app in Google Play. We’re highly satisfied with the quality of their work.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

They made the collaboration effortless. The account manager first divided the project into two-week increments with milestones. At each period’s end, we met to go over progress and address any issues. We also had shorter daily standup meetings to keep both our team on track. We used Redmine to track progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

bvblogic demonstrates a high level of expertise. They act like partners and invest time into finding the best solution possible to meet our specs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re highly satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of sales at a software and software development company promoter. We started as an outsourcing company but changed our business model. We also provide software development services from time to time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire bvblogic?

Someone requested an iOS and Android mobile app, but I didn’t have the necessary mobile developers. After working with frontend developers for a month and liking their work, we expanded the engagement to include backend developers.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to develop a stable, bug-free app that fit our client’s requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I searched local job websites for someone in my region with competitive pricing. bvblogic contacted me after I sent them a request.

Describe the project in detail.

Our client gave us a prototype, so we worked with bvblogic’s artists to create the UI. Then, we brought on backend engineers to build a node.js MVP.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, an artist, two native iOS developers, two native Android developers, and a backend developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our client was happy and was able to raise money from their investors. They then asked us to build the app with full functionality. I’ve made almost $10,000 from reselling their development services. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had daily meetings and scrum reports every Friday. Good communication drives our success.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re a flexible, high-level organization with expert mobile developers. They also deliver what they promise.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Even though PayPal doesn’t work in Ukraine, I'd still like more payment options. Ukrainian banks charge heavy fees for money transfers.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the project performance manager for University Cribs. We’re a property search engine that works with agents and landlords across the UK to sell housing to students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

Our administrative site was experiencing a lot of issues with bugs and wasn’t easy to navigate. We host hundreds of agents on the site and had no simple way to access each account. We needed bvblogic to update the platform to make it more efficient.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began by analyzing our site’s issues and giving bvblogic a priority order to follow. From there, they gave us a timeline and we had a meeting to set up the sprints. We provided them with our wireframes and designs, and they implemented the changes we needed. Their development team used Node.js and PHP to create the new features for accessing all accounts.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with bvblogic’s team lead, and they provide 2–3 developers.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

I heard of bvblogic through word-of-mouth. After testing their skills with a smaller assignment, we decided to hire them for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $9,000, so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in July 2018, and we’re continuing to work together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re now able to access all property information more efficiently. Everything they’ve produced has been to the highest standard—we’ve been pleased with their work.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through Slack and have daily sessions over Google Hangouts to receive updates on their progress and timeline. Though they’re based abroad, they’ve been great about communicating with us. They accomplish everything quickly, with very few instances of going over the timeframe.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their work combined with their speed is valuable to us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CTO of a data analytics platform for companies who sell their products through Amazon. We are based in Seattle and have two full-time employees. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

We're a startup, and our biggest problem is developing lots of software and quickly pushing new features through. We reached out to bvblogic to help us accelerate our development pipeline and accomplish all our pending work items as soon as possible. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

bvblogic has tackled many administrative features for us, along with backend and frontend development. Most of their tasks are in the service of our platform. They've worked very closely both with myself and our team using a sprint-based model. We continuously give them new functionalities to develop. Each one takes a few weeks to complete. During development, we provide consistent feedback on their work. 

What is the team composition? 

We typically interface with both a project manager and a developer, which has proved very useful.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

I met one of their business development managers at an event in Seattle. I had a pressing need for a development team. Our first phone call went well, and we built a strong working relationship before even signing a contract. They provided high-quality code samples. Reading reviews on their Clutch profile made me feel confident about working together. They're an offshore company, I hadn't heard of them before, and they didn't come through a recommendation. They overcame all those hurdles to earn my trust. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent in the $20,000 range. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've shipped many deliverables bvblogic created to production. These products are currently live on the market. That's an important metric for us. We've worked with teams who never produced work we could actually launch. bvblogic's work has been high enough quality for us to proudly ship to our customers. They’re easy to set up and integrate, and we're happy about the results. 

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they've been great communicators. We've worked together quite well. We set up daily calls that range from quick check-ins to lengthy discussions. We've been able to communicate back and forth effectively. I can send them any work item request I need, and they'll provide feedback to improve it. We've quickly resolved any miscommunications or misunderstandings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our collaboration was even better than I expected. bvblogic is a talented development partner. They’re pleasant to work with and offer excellent value. I especially appreciated their willingness to take our feedback. Overall communication has been seamless.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work as a project manager for multiple companies. My role is to connect a client with a subcontractor to accomplish what they need.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

One of my clients was looking for a reliable contractor to implement their idea and create an app that works. The app would allow students to buy cheaper leftover foods from restaurants. The goal was to push the first version of the app before the new educational year started in September 2017.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The customer provided us with mock-ups of the app, and we passed them on to bvblogic. These contained the visual representation of the app’s UI, which helped us create all the user stories and use cases in Jira. It is a location-based service application that shows the restaurants that are the closest to the user. They can also search based on favorites and preferences.

We selected React Native because the technology allows a mobile application to be developed using just one developer for both iOS and Android. bvblogic had a high-level React Native developer who integrated a lot of third-party services, including connections to all the restaurants and different payment options.

They have overcome several challenges in building the app. First, even though we used React Native, it was still difficult to make the UI look the same for both iOS and Android. Second, we sometimes had issues integrating location-based services. Our customers were manually creating restaurants on the backend, which we would then attach to the server and display to users. Sometimes, if our customer didn’t create the entry correctly, the application would not load the correct information. Also, for each meal purchased on the app, a certain amount is donated to charity. A counter displays individual donations, but it was failing at some point. Fortunately, the bvblogic team fixed it quickly.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with a developer and a QA engineer.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

We were referred to them. They provided clear and detailed estimations of the project before they began; contractors rarely do this.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them on this project in June 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

bvblogic has met my customer’s expectations for delivery and functionality. They implemented all the features and functions correctly, so the app doesn’t freeze or slow down. My client launched the app last fall. It is now gaining market traction, with a lot of downloads from both the App Store and Play Store. So far, we have not received any user complaints.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

They never go over their estimates, which is extraordinary. They break down tasks well, allowing us to receive the product within the set timeline. They are always on time for scheduled meetings, and they are always available for urgent matters.

Communication has been great. While they use technical language, they make every effort to explain it to me in a way that I will understand, which I really appreciate. If I understand it, then I can explain it to my customer.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with their communication, timeliness, clear estimates, and delivery within budget. I absolutely love working with them. Their products always work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their knowledge of the English language, which would let them speak directly to the customers and explain technical details when needed. Currently, I write it all down and then translate it for my customer. Given that it isn’t an obstacle—they do their job according to expectations—I can live with it. They’ve never failed me.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of IT Project Northern Europe. We help startups with product and software development, as well as some business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

I needed a development partner that was dedicated to the success of my clients’ products as well as the startups that I’m part of.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve been a partner company for a long time. They help me whenever I need to increase the development speed on some projects, and also assist with creating products. We’ve formed a tight partnership, as it’s hard to find product teams that can really deliver.

They have a skilled team, which allows their account managers to pick who’s best suited according to the expertise we require. We’ve mostly used Python, Node.js, and database specialists, and frontend development in different technologies.

The latest project was a four-part undertaking for creating mobile applications, involving server work and frontend development.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with the team they assign per project, which bvblogic micromanages.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

Years ago, they weren’t actively approaching companies, but one of their managers at the time was a friend of mine. I was curious about their work and liked their approach, so I gave them a small trial project. It went well and we’ve continued working together since.

How much have you invested with them?

I spend over $10,000 on them per month. The project for the mobile apps cost a little more than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2014 and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the projects they’ve been recently working on was challenging because it was an unknown field. It wasn’t just coding; there was a lot of investigation and deeper engineering required. They had to plan a technical solution that included mathematics, cryptocurrencies, and more. Since nobody knew anything about it other than an idea and a vision for the MVP, they did a quick investigation of it for me.

Additionally, they always ask their clients to provide in-depth input for improving their business processes. They listen attentively and adjust accordingly. For example, the document flow and the progress checking routines have improved year by year.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very flexible and willing to provide estimates for startup projects where nothing is clear and it seems almost impossible to give an estimate. Their input and participation in the ideation process allow them to do this.

They’re quite responsive. I can call in the middle of the night with a server crash and our team lead will get to work. They also answer within 10–15 minutes on Slack, using the dedicated channel they have for me. Their communication is a plus.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are product oriented and flexible with customer requirements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Quite often, it takes some time to get new resources. Naturally, hiring talented people is a long process, so this isn’t a complaint. I just wish they could grow faster.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’m bringing new customers to them quite often. They do well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a technology company that works on innovation projects. We offer frontend and backend solutions, including custom platforms to integrate user analytics and behavioral tracking.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

We have relationships with a few providers that lend us external resources from time to time. We needed a technology provider for a project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They mainly provided backend development for multiple projects, including both our own internal projects and services we provide to our clients. They also performed the API integrations. It was a very successful project.

Their team has strong in-depth specializations in different technologies. For the backend, technologists require independent engineering work with different frameworks. 

What is the team composition?

We work with around 50-100 people.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

We found them on Upwork.

How much have you invested with them?

Between $10,000-$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have provided us with specific resources on very short notice. It would be very hard for us to cover that internally or go into the market and hire someone. We’ve been working with them more than any other provider, which says something about quality of their services. They’re very helpful, and we’d love to continue working with them.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they’re good, and they are definitely improving. Right now, we’re very happy with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their deep understanding of technology and the breadth of their team’s skillset are excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their project management and administration of paperwork and requests.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear and straightforward with requirements and timelines. Provide all the necessary information. At the beginning, clear communication is important.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of digital for a business and finance consulting agency. We provide consulting services for financial institutions with our main focus being former USSR countries, but we’re expanding to the Middle East, northern Africa, and Saharan Africa. We issue small and medium-sized loans to entrepreneurs and businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

Our internal IT and design team is small, so when several projects arose that differed from past projects, we decided to outsource most of that work. The most important of these projects was a financial portal.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had large spreadsheets for each region in which we operated and we wanted one profile to consolidate this data and make it more easily accessible. After bvblogic compared the data, systems, frames, etc., they created the platform. The final product is a profile that consolidates the data and gives options for displaying the data and exporting it in different formats. The first version is complete, but we’re still making improvements. If things continue to go well, we won’t need to take on this project internally. Ideally, we’d like to make the platform accessible to our clients and add value for our clients by giving them a chance to be part of the project.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

I found them on Upwork. We looked at their freelancer profile. I contacted one specific developer from bvblogic. They weren’t advertised as a company; we found this out later on, but it didn’t make any difference. The main distinguishing factor was cost, but I liked their past work and their reviews and comments were good.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2016 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, the tool is used mainly for internal purposes—specifically by our auditors in analyzing trends and performing due diligence. This helps us to create more robust reports and save time on data processing. Plus, it provides better transparency about what we are doing. We have gone from using Excel sheets to having a tool for a due diligence process.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, the interaction on this complex project has been smooth and the project has been managed well on their end.

On my end, I prioritize tasks using a shared Excel tracking sheet. After we discuss a task via Skype and I get a time estimate back from them, I check with my management about proceeding. Once I give bvblogic the go-ahead, they give me a set end date, new functions appear on a demo server, and they eventually roll the finalized upgrade out to the live server.

We needed a collaborative initiative to build something user-friendly, clear, and easy. There was a lot of interaction in giving bvblogic the right requirements. One big value for me is the communication was straight to the point; that made the relationship stronger.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were a few delays—due, in large part, to small English misunderstandings or items I didn’t explain fully. However, for a small project, they were nearly perfect.