Capital Numbers

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of Reformation Services LLC. We started as a general marketing consultancy and in 2017, we decided to build our own SaaS.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Capital Numbers?

Capital Numbers performed two main tasks. One was managing ad campaigns for a direct to consumer SaaS product that I built. They also assisted with staffing the and day to day management of writing and curation services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I ended up hiring almost a dozen workers to curate news. They found writers and other people who were well-educated and able to understand the basics of the news industry. Then they hired them to work on the project and got them up to speed pretty quickly.

Capital Numbers eventually helped us build a cryptocurrency newsfeed. It's a very expensive news service that helps people find news on cryptocurrencies. The news service is powered by a mixture of computer algorithms that sorts news. Then our curators make sure that everything looks good and is newsworthy. The platform includes a news terminal with streaming headlines. Once people pay to have access to it, they can filter and search for news. 

Capital Numbers also set up some ad campaigns that were responsive to different keywords and different markets. 

What is the team composition?

I had one senior manager and about 11 workers at the peak of our engagement. I worked with the manager on billing and personnel issues. It was also a nice structure because I could ask a single person how much everyone is making, what they're working on, and how they were performing. 

I also had direct communication with the workers so that I could give them day-to-day tasks.

How did you come to work with Capital Numbers?

I met them at a conference in Chicago.

How much have you invested in them?

We've spent about $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2017, and I still have one person working for me right now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I stuck with Capital Numbers for so long because they did a really nice job ensuring that I was satisfied with the results that I was paying for. Importantly, they managed the workers as well, which took an immense amount of responsibility off my plate. They did a really nice of handling that, and if I was ever dissatisfied, they gave me credit towards some other service to make me happy. They even offered a refund and that saved me a lot of time.

That was nice to see a lot of flexibility. They weren’t just a development and coding outsource shop. They really did whatever was needed to make this project successful, even if it wasn’t exactly what they originally had set up to do.

The platform was ultimately acquired by a suitor abroad. At the time, after the acquisition, the foreign suitor hired many of the writers from Capital Numbers to continue to operate the product. It was a very good outcome.

How did Capital Numbers perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a very nice job. When I noticed there was an issue with a worker, the manager handled it by fixing the problem or replacing them within a week or two. They would also find replacement workers very quickly which was great.

A big thing that they did was manage the schedule for this project. They actually extended their office hours for my project and had workers working overnight at their homes and coming in early to the office.

They did a really nice job of using screen monitoring software as well. I always was able to look at people’s progress and to make sure that they were making progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were flexible regarding scheduling and various tasks. They almost never said no, and they always figured out a way to do get things done. For example, they figured out a way to operate 24/7 and took on several tasks they've never done before. They had never managed journalists or created ad campaigns in the crypto industry before. I didn’t expect that they could do everything I needed, but ultimately, they did, which was a pleasant surprise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would have appreciated more frequent reporting from their senior management. They would always respond and if there was an urgent issue, but I don’t think they did as much as they could have in terms of regular reporting. Maybe some advice for them would be to just offer regular weekly updates about the status of the team and the status of the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I have recommended them to other colleagues of mine who were looking for a good outsourcing agency. Capital Numbers is going to be a little more expensive, but you have to bear in mind the opportunity cost of your time in finding those workers yourself. Just do a cost analysis of how much more money you think you could save by trying to hire and manage the project yourself, versus the premium you are paying to Capital Numbers to handle that for you. You can start with a few workers so you can analyze the results and determine if the benefits outweigh the costs. In my case, it did.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Insite Marketing Source is a strategic marketing consultancy that works with small business owners to generate more/better leads through marketing and sales campaigns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Capital Numbers?

SEO/SEM, web design/enhancement, and database cleanse.

What were your goals for this project?

To enhance my client's website infrastructure to enhance visitor user experience thus generating more/better leads.

SOLUTION

How did you select Capital Numbers?

I get contacted by many outsourced IT vendors weekly. I selected Capital Numbers initially because their communication tools and protocol was the best vs any other vendor that I came across. I started very small and slowly with CN to test their capabilities and most importantly their attention to timing and detail.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Since I'm a consultant... there is no team on my side. The scope of work starts with my initial request/question on how we (CN and myself) can work to obtain marketing objectives. For example, I will present the issue(s) and what the objective is.

A CN client manager will review and get back to me with his initial thoughts and the appropriate CN team that would be involved. From there the CN team will drill down to what should be executed and the timing on all. This is reviewed and either approved or edited until we both agree on the strategy and implementation. Once I green light... CN starts to implement.

What was the team composition?

I have an overall client manager and based on the type of work requested...there is another project manager that I communicate with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First, if the projects did not have a successful result... I would communicate this to CN and I'm sure they would reply immediately. Second, if CN did not consistently provide a high level of service..then, I would not use them... period.

Overall, the on-site SEO work they have just completed on a client's website has enhanced the overall speed and user experience on the site. I have seen a decrease in visitor bounce rate over the past 30 days.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow has been pretty seamless. As mentioned previously, by working with a client manager and project manager both the macro and micro project elements are managed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Not sure if my contacts at CN sleep? 99% of the time, if I have an issue the team responds quickly and even during off-hours. Several times I did not expect a response until early the next day.

But, my team at CN would at least get back with a response to let me know they will look into it and get back. This is an important element that many other companies tend to overlook. Short time-window for a response. Helps me when communicating with my clients.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement. Their willingness to be flexible impressed us the most. I'm not an agency or medium/large company that have large budgets to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CEO at Rasimo Systems LLC, a technology company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Capital Numbers?

Mobile app development for our weight management application, with a special purpose weighing scale

What were your goals for this project?

Develop an intuitive and good looking App which is stable.

SOLUTION

How did you select Capital Numbers?

Their account manager reached to me offer the services of his company. We reached to a good deal.

Describe the project in detail.

It is a project which involve interaction with an intelligent cloud server, AI agent, and an innovative weighing scale. The App interacts with these entities serving as the console and dashboard for the user.

There are multiple functionalities within the app. It sets up the scale WiFi, it shoe graphs and charts to user, it provides feedback to the use via notification which a a contribution of the app team.

There are additional components of the app which servers the purpose of user interface and seamlessly work together.

What was the team composition?

We had a project manager (very hard working, cooperative and capable), two teams one for Android, one for IOS.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It took the team sometime to understand the comprehend the complex nature of the product, especially the scale, however they handled it well. The project is 99% done, and it is well done. I already see the success. It was very well handled by the project manager.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent. Between our team and their team , there was no difference. Both acted as one team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Cooperative. Account manager could arrange the solutions when asked out of the project, he provided service withing hours. Very impressive. App development account manager showed his responsibility and was always present to respond to any urgency and/or concerns.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Of course, areas of improvements are inevitable in all teams.

1. Enhance the development facility with new tools.
2. Extend knowledge base.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are on online niche health information platform. I am the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Capital Numbers, and what were your goals?

We were looking for a reliable IT vendor and advisor to develop our online MVP, and provide some high level technical guidance.

SOLUTION

How did you select Capital Numbers and what were the deciding factors?

We reviewed and interviewed several vendors, and selected Capital numbers based on their credentials and experience, responsiveness, and cost effectiveness.

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

We went with a customized Wordpress website. We provided the site design via Illustrator files, which CN developed with responsive HTML.

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

Our project manager (Arghadip) was the main point of contact, and our lead developer (Sourab) was also active in update meetings. Some valuable general guidance and direction was provided by our business development point of contact (Indrajit).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

While we have finished the initial scope of the site development, the project has further been extended to include some UI/UX work, and site migration. The site met our expectations in terms of matching the design specifications (i.e. pixel perfect-esque), however, in some aspects, it is too soon to discuss measurable outcomes on the greater project scope. I am confident that CN will continue to add value to our project.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We went with an agile project management style, which met our needs. Our project manager and his team were highly responsive and implemented requirements swiftly. They were also proactive in scheduling update meetings. We typically communicated via email and Proofhub, and placed calls on Google Meet or Skype.

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

They are streamlined, responsive, resourceful, and capable. They are client-oriented, and took the time to answer our questions. They are also cost-effective, which allowed us to increase our scope of work with them within our budget.

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

Our experience with them, so far, has been pleasant. There is nothing in particular which stands out for mention.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Company is a multi-media company operating a number of different media businesses. I am the Managing Director

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Capital Numbers?

Our company needed VOD backend system integration with mobile applications and website.

What were your goals for this project?

To undergo the integrations with the API's of our chosen backend video systems

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I have used them before, and aware how flexible they are on projects.

Describe the project in detail.

We had a number of meetings before delivery to tie down the deliverables. Once this happened, we allowed Capital Numbers the freedom to undertake the work. They allocated 4 individuals, which each skillset to undertake the work.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager, front end developer. The CTO oversaw some elements of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Fully developed and delivered within 3 months.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Easy communication and can track via Proofhub.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are easy to work with, flexible, and willing to go the extra mile to assist us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Probably some areas, we thought were included in delivery, they saw as extra, so need to tie down the deliverables a bit more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the AI lead for a health care company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Capital Numbers?

We have a digital side to our business that focuses on using data and synthesizing expert insights. Our technical team uses all of the information our organization amasses to build products.

Two years ago, we wanted to develop our first product and needed additional development support. That’s when I came across Capital Numbers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Capital Numbers helped us build a robot coach for a health initiative. The platform functioned similarly to a chatbot but was capable of holding conversations. They used Azure and developed an iOS and Android app to distribute at scale. Their team continues to support our development initiatives.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about four people from Capital numbers including two people from their management team.

How did you come to work with Capital Numbers?

I found them through Google searches and looked at different options.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our partnership in October 2017, and it’s ongoing. We still work with them on new projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We receive positive user feedback, which is the most important metric. We’re growing and scaling the platform too. The partnership’s going well, and I’d recommend them.

How did Capital Numbers perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate every day through Skype. I work with them side by side through a group chat. They’re quite flexible and committed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility separates them from other agencies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of ways for them to perform better. Challenges arise in all partnerships, and I can’t fault how we’ve dealt with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It's important to communicate frequently. If possible, be in touch daily.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of LocGo.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Capital Numbers?

We hired them to help us with an app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Capital Numbers created a real-time entertainment app that allows the consumer to find restaurants and bars within their area and see their daily specials. The team included a link out to Uber so users can get a ride, as well as push notifications. They built it on iOS and Android. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of 10.

How did you come to work with Capital Numbers?

They were recommended to us. I looked at a couple of organizations, and considering we’re a startup, I needed something that was affordable. Because of that, and some of the previous work they’d done which was impressive, I decided to work with Capital Numbers.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $13,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from July 2015, and the app launched a year after. We’ve been working on the app on and off since 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As of right now, we have about 100 downloads, but we haven’t gone to market with it yet. The version we have right now, we’re ready to release. 

How did Capital Numbers perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. Their response times were very fast, and they gave us great constructive feedback. Capital Numbers was also great at providing estimates so that we were able to prepare for that. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

In my previous experiences, other agencies often did the opposite of what I asked. However, this team was great at taking direction. They allowed me to do a lot of the design for myself, which is my background. Additionally, Capital Numbers offered suggestions on how we could make the project better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

One thing I talked to them about is doing a longer test time before they release the development to me for testing. It would’ve been great if they could’ve done more of the QA. They worked on that for the last release, so I know it’s going to be successful. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Their development team is spot on. Capital Numbers has great experience in both Android and iOS, unlike other companies, who have experience in one or the other. Additionally, they are very flexible, adjusting the schedule to meet my needs as their customer. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm on the executive staff and we are a digital marketing agency based in Canada. We offer various digital marketing solutions including web development, online advertising and consulting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Capital Numbers?

We hired Capital Numbers for several full time staff to aid in ongoing web projects that our internal team was not able to fulfill due to resourcing limitations. We have been using Capital Numbers for 2+ years now.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a dedicated team who can work on our projects as assigned. Tasks will vary project by project. Some projects included web development for custom website projects, some web app development.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We evaluated 3 other external vendors and chose Capital Numbers for their professionalism and expertise. Its very important for a company like us to not freelance to individuals who may disappear into a project. The team at Capital Numbers was the most stable and we are working with the same development staff for over two years. As well, they were very accessible with communications which was very important for our team.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Projects will range from web projects to web apps. Tasks will include PSD to HTML, back end coding and development, plugin customizations, custom PHP functions, etc... We have also completed 2 web app projects which involved UX, prototyping and development.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of web developers who were assigned as full time staff for our organization plus a project manager, Arghadip.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a cost-effective perspective, outsourcing to Capital Numbers greatly improved profitability and allowed us to even lower costs to our clientele and win more bids for work.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

A central project manager was assigned but we also had daily calls with the team members to discuss priorities and review previous days tasks. This was effective as a constant stream of communications is extremely required in our business.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to provide top talent impressed us. The team at Capital Numbers stood out far above the other vendors we evaluated. Their expertise and ability to comprehend and fulfill was much greater.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Sometimes there are tech issues with calls. Could be a simple connection issue or hardware issue. The team there each connect from their own desk.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the manager at a logistics company. We are package forwards - we ship online orders for customers to pick up locally in their home country. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Capital Numbers?

Our website was unstable and unpredictable. Some functions sometimes didn't work. 

What were your goals for this project?

The goals were:

1. Make it more dependable and stabilize the functionality. 

2. Update a few features and designs. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Searching Clutch for a provider, I came across their profile. I contacted them via email and they were very responsive, provided me a quote that was cost effective and they were very knowledgeable and added great suggestions and provided great value to the project even before we begun. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Arghadip and Shovan were very helpful. They ensured the project got off to a great start. They were very responsive to my needs and requests. They offered good customer service, were easy to reach and ensured thew project was also completed on time. 

Argha was constantly in contact with me and was always willing to help and respond to my needs. 

What was the team composition?

The team comprised of

1. Shovan - Account Manager

2. Arghadip - Project Manager

3. Soumalya - Developer 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They were also very thorough before the project started to insure they understood the project and they value they needed to add.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality of their work and quick turnaround time impressed us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company develops utility mobile applications and I lead the project.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Capital Numbers?

We hired CN's iOS developer for the development of one of our apps.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to deliver an app with features as envisioned, within budget, and within timeline--all done in a minimally productive manner.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We compared and consulted several similar vendors with different skill levels, budget, and timeline. We eventually went with CN after making several calls to know the team better.

Describe the project in detail.

The project originally consisted of 3 main utility features (metronome, tuner, recorder) to be developed / edited from previous code files along with API implementations (login, checkout, coins sync with web database).

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with our mobile app developer with the Project Manager overseeing the entire process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There were a lot of learning from both ends during the 6-month process. Initially our team was given the estimate of 2 months upon initial review of the requirement scopes, but there were ongoing adjustments to be made.

Due to budget constraints passing the 4th month, we had to remove previous complex scopes and ended up delivering one of the three intended features. The feature was beautifully developed, and the other two features were 80% complete, which could be followed up at a later point.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

During the 6 months, I have zero doubt that my assigned developer gave his best efforts. You could tell he was self-disciplined to get to work and didn't hinder to ask when questions arose.

One area that could have been improved was communication. At the beginning of our collaboration, I communicated that our company lacked a technical lead and would need their guidance/suggestions to increase productivity from a technical/conceptual perspective.

Throughout the process, I made the major technical decisions, which weren't always wise and costed mistakes that I wished could have been warned ahead of time via their knowledge & experiences. I also asked to be given estimated timelines on mini-phases, but estimations were off from time to time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team has several impressive strengths. First, my developer was very prompt to respond. He asked great questions and was extremely patient when things didn't wind up the way we envisioned. He was patient in rectifying repeated shortcomings.

Next, our developer was flexible with his work hours (as we work across different time zones) so we could have overlap communication time slots. We truly appreciated their dedication and diligence, coupled with their humility throughout the entire process.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We would have appreciated more technical guidance in drawing and planning the bigger pictures, so that our project objectives and actual implementations were on-point and fully effective. Another important thing to improve is the project timeline estimation during the consultation phase. All competitors can offer highly attractive timeline estimates in the beginning, but those who actually achieving so are very few.