Chapter247 Infotech

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of HolaMaven, an ed-tech company. We prepare students for entrance exams for US universities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chapter247 Infotech?

We wanted to create a testing platform for our students. We needed a company to develop custom software that suited our requirements.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chapter247 has provided custom software development for our testing platform. It’s an e-commerce platform where we can create and sell our product to our existing students and new markets.

Initially, we shared our requirements and expectations with them. It only took us one call to explain what we wanted out of the product. They created a timeline and jotted down all the basic requirements into a draft. Then, we started with the software.

Since we’re looking for a very customized platform, it’s being developed for different types of questions in terms of the test’s adaptability. We’ve introduced that feature in our software and testing platform. It requires different tables to get started, and it has an integrated calculator for all the required sections.

Chapter247 has customized all these things for us. Additionally, they’ve done all the research, and they use the latest technologies.

What is the team composition?

We’re in contact with the CTO and the team lead.

How did you come to work with Chapter247 Infotech?

An ex-colleague referred them. We’d worked with two other companies before getting in touch with Chapter247, but we didn’t have a great experience with them. We paid one of the companies and stopped the project in between.

We first met their CTO and team lead, and we had a Skype call. Before that, we gave them our basic requirements. When we had the first meeting with Chapter247, we were very impressed with the homework they’d done. They understood exactly what we were looking for.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2021, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve delivered exactly what we had in my mind, and the product is above par. There haven’t been any issues with it. Moreover, we’ve had a great and seamless experience with the team. We’re ready to go ahead with the second phase of development, which will start in February.

How did Chapter247 Infotech perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is excellent. Initially, they promised to deliver in around two months, and it only took them one extra week to deliver the final product. They explain every feature they develop and ask us if we want changes. The team replies to all of our queries, and they’re very prompt. Our point of contact is always available when we need them.

We’re in touch via email. We only have to wait if it’s a non-working day. Overall, we’ve had a good experience with the team lead. We haven’t needed the CTO other than the first three meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The product is above our expectations, and they delivered it only one week past the deadline. We’d wasted our time with the other two companies, but when we got in touch with Chapter247, it was finally delivered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’d have them improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Their team will understand the customer’s needs. We only required one meeting for them to understand our product; it’s the first time this has happened to us.

Also, be in touch with their team lead and ask for development updates. They’ll listen to whatever changes you require, so keep suggesting them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Vice President of an original equipment manufacturer of material handling equipment including hydraulic scissor lift tables and shop cranes. I am responsible for all operations, including sales and marketing as well as production.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chapter247 Infotech, and what were your goals?

Chapter247 built our online store last year consisting of a full customized Product Configurator and eCommerce portal. This year, we engaged with them again to upgrade the online store to incorporate user registration and wish list features.

SOLUTION

How did you select Chapter247 Infotech and what were the deciding factors?

We selected Chapter247 because of the successful implementation of the previous project, and their knowledge and familiarity with the system. The deciding factors were our previous work experience, their knowledgeable and friendly staff, and reasonable cost of services.

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

The online store is built on a custom PHP platform and this project consisted of the following requirements:

• User Registrations
• Sign
• Login
• Change password
• Forgot password
• Profile update
• Order history 
• Reorder option
• view order and print
• wishlist list

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

We had one primary point of contact, our Project Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was completed successfully and the new features that were added met our requirements and function as desired.

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

Communication was handled exclusively through e-mail and was timely and thorough. Any corrections or changes were handled in a timely fashion, performed to our satisfaction, and communicated well.

Most likely there would have been more in-depth project management reviews and meetings if this was a more complex project, but since it was an upgrade to a previous project, we were able to handle the project and communications informally without wasting any time.

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

I am impressed with Chapter247 for their resourcefulness and creativity. They provided exactly the features we requested with a pleasant GUI that integrated nicely with our theme and site design.

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

Some of the prompts and confirmation messages were not perfect English grammar, but that is a very minor improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an online travel agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chapter247 Infotech?

We had no website so we hired them to create one.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided all of the graphic design and Chapter247 Infotech developed a functioning website that executed our vision. The team connected an API to our inventory and supplier. 

What is the team composition?

We were in direct communication with four teammates, but there were 4–6 other individuals working behind the scenes at various times. 

How did you come to work with Chapter247 Infotech?

We found them on Upwork. We then interviewed multiple candidates, and Chapter247 Infotech came across as the most credible and fairly-priced option. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from October 2018–February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Chapter247 Infotech was able to execute on all of our goals and our vision. For that, we’re very grateful, especially because it was a very complicated project. My partner and I are both non-technical, so the team did a great job of interpreting our layman description and translating it into a well-functioning program. 

As far as the quality of work, the program functions just as we envisioned. The only issue is the speed, but that’s probably related to our funding ability because, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we are clamping down on expenses. Overall, we are very pleased with the work that the team has done for us. 

How did Chapter247 Infotech perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management could’ve been improved. They were neither organized nor disorganized, but tasks just took longer than we thought they should’ve. We’re not expert developers so we’re probably not the best judges of how long certain tasks should take.

We spoke over Skype and video chat and used Google Docs. There was a challenge with communication, which is expected when outsourcing development work. My partner, who dealt with them mostly, wasn’t familiar with communicating with outsourced developers in a professional capacity, which led to a lot of misunderstandings.

The compensation for that was the price, which was much less expensive than it would’ve been in the U.S. The cost for us was critical because my partner and I funded this personally, so we had cost limitations. This was the first program that we ever custom-designed so we had a learning curve along the journey. Because of this, we weren’t able to advise Chapter247 Infotech in the most efficient way. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with how they executed exactly what we wanted, despite the fact that our project was very complex. Before working with them, we had worked with two other developers but we had to let them go. 

What sets Chapter247 Infotech apart is that they really are the ones doing the development. They are very committed to the project and sincerely want to be a part of and contribute to something successful, which is priceless. 

Through thick and thin, Chapter247 Infotech has been very dedicated and flexible. They’ve also been very fair in their business dealings with us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could’ve improved on the language barrier. Chapter247 Infotech had a great project manager but he couldn’t stay on top of all the communication. So, we had to communicate with the developers who work under him, which is where the details were getting messed up. This, combined with our inability to communicate technically, led to some breakdowns in the progress.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you can communicate effectively with Indian outsourced developers. Additionally, watch for consistency on the development team working behind the scenes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

SimpleStudy is an online education program that offers exam paper solutions and study notes for the Irish educational system.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chapter247 Infotech?

I hired Chapter247 to build the site from scratch. Together we worked through UI/UX design, exam organizational structure, a subscription system, along with all the other aspects of our educational program - from facilitating payments to adding sub-users.

What were your goals for this project?

My goals were to build the full site to accommodate subscribers to our system and to be able to adjust the content and exams as we please.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I trawled through over 50 applications to the project on UpWork. Chapter 247 just had the best work ethic and applicable experience to what I was looking for.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The team at Chapter247 began by discussing in-depth how we would like to develop the project, allowing them to explore different options for the design. We then began to build out the backend and the separate content organization features for the site. Then the different types of subscription for monthly/yearly, single/multi-users. Beyond that, I was demanding in terms of our ability to modify the site ex-post.

What was the team composition?

The team was composed of Anand and Damini who dealt with my requests and communicated all the relevant information to me. Apart from that the developers and designers worked under the guidance of Anand/Damini who then reported back to me.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently, we are at the stage of data input before launching our site in October. Yet already we have had great interest and many compliments. We ourselves are really enjoying the reactivity and responsiveness of the site.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was very effective. All information was communicated directly to my personal e-mail. We then held a group chat on Skype was through group calls we would discuss the best plan to achieve the vision I have for my business.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

There are many strong points in this company. Communication is very strong, and the ability to adjust schedule and change style/feature lay-out in a short space of time was highly appreciated.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There were no real weak points for the company, even though they didn't understand the Irish educational system. The effort made to understand our industry was exceptional.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Vigour 360 was born out of a desire to provide complete in-house wellness solutions to schools & colleges. We are a one-stop shop for all medical, paramedical, all kind of wellness awareness program & group activity- based health solutions. With more than 200 tailor made programs, we cater all student & parent requirements across all ages. We truly believe health as an overall balance of a child’s physical, mental, social, emotional, intellectual, and environmental well-being, starting with our future generation.

I am one of the director of Physiocell Corporate Wellness Pvt. Ltd, which is the parent company to Vigour360. And I am the point of contact for this project, and my job was to manage the team, validate the plan and the product before marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chapter247 Infotech?

We hired Chapter247 to provide the consultancy and the web development services for our idea. They provided us the consultancy for the implementation of our business idea and suggested the appropriate technology stack for it. They deployed some of the top php framework developers in the industry and ended up creating a system which fulfilled all our business objectives.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals for this project was to build a cloud based web platform which will streamline the process of conducting health examination of students at schools and for various health aspects. Once the examining process finishes the data stored in the system can be used to generate health reports and provide health advice to the student parents as per the Indian education board guidelines.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were searching for an IT firm to deliver the MVP of the required platform within a period of 2 months, while searching on the internet, we came across the Chapter247’s website and got to know about their MVP development services, and then we reached out to them with our idea.

After 3 days they provided us a complete work plan which included all the features that we were looking for in our Electronic Health Records management system. After going through work plan and looking at their expertise in the domain of web development we decided to go ahead with the folks for our project

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The name of our project itself describes the kind of functionality it provides and the real life problems which it solves. Electronic Health Records Management System marketed as Vigour360 is a cloud based web application which provides a platform where the health records data of thousands of people can be stored and managed very easily. The key features of our project includes: 

• EMR(Electronic Medical Records) Integration 24×7 access to health records
• Data export in different formats, including XML, CSV
• AI-based automatic Health report generation once health data is added.
• Make changes to health records at any instant if required
• Decreased printed material and related managerial costs
• Bulk import manually created health records.
• Import health data directly from the instruments being used for examining
• Multiple User roles for doctors, parents and schools allowing them to directly login to the system.

The services which Chapter247 provided us to accomplish our goals are as follows: 

• Business process analysis & formalisation
• Technology Consulting
• Project Requirement elaboration
• Solution Architecture
• Web Development
• Quality Assurance
• UX/UI Designing and development

What was the team composition?

The team that was deployed full time to work on this project comprised a total of 5 members which included the following:

• System Architect
• Lead developer
• Jr. Developer
• Sr. UI Developer
• Quality Analyst

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The impact which this project made on our business can be explained through the following points: 

• Removed loss of information that doctors would have failed to document.
• Simplified process for doctors to store the health data after checkups.
• Increased efficiency of doctors to examine the number of students in a given time.
• Elimination of the process of creating reports by analysing the data.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The process of project management which Chapter247 used for my project, was they broke down the entire scope of the project into 2 week sprints. After completion of every sprint we had a meeting where we reviewed the system which was developed and provided our feedback for the same. This meeting after every sprint ensured that the system is being developed as per our expectations and there is nothing being missed.

From my opinion this method was very effective as it does not require me to look into the work being done on the project every now and then which also allowed them to work on the project non-stop to get the work done as soon as possible.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about the Chapter247 and the team working there is the proactiveness they have for each and everything they work on. They were always proactive towards the problems that we might face when we will be using the system on everyday basis. Coming up with smart and intuitive ways of implementing the basic functionalities on their own. Their proactiveness was the key to the successful and timely development of this system.

Are there any areas for improvement?

In my opinion, there are no major issues which need to be improved. All in all, it was a good experience working with these guys.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and CEO of Photobash, which has been in business since 2015. We’re a small company that provides reference and stock photography to digital artists and creatives working in the entertainment industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chapter247 Infotech?

Chapter247 has been responsible entirely for building our new and improved platform. The new website that we’re building expands from the basic web shop that we currently run and is turning Photobash into an entire ecosystem. Many features and functions were required, and this platform is, in many ways, more of an application than a website.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a huge number of features, and, over the course of the development, many new features were added and improved. The website required all of the basics of our current webshop, including a shopping cart, a checkout system, and automated emails. On top of that, we needed a whole new system for managing user accounts and subscription plans that unlock special features.

We also wanted to incorporate an internal wallet system, an advanced search and filter engine, invoice generation tools, and an entire backend system with analytics, file uploads, and a tagging system. The scope of this project was quite huge in terms of the features and the variety of components that we required.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Because we’re a small company, we reached out to various vendors that were in a more affordable range. The quotes that we got from Western developers were not affordable for us, so we asked for quotes in a variety of countries that have more competitive prices. Chapter247 was in the midrange of the offers that we got. There were definitely lower priced options, but when we had the calls with those companies, we did not feel like they were suitable, for a variety of reasons.

When we had the initial brief with one of their co-founders, we felt immediately that they understood the scope of the project and the multiple challenges that would be involved. They asked very logical questions and made comments about all the things that we requested. The communication was great, and that was the driving force initially to choose them for this project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Chapter247 developed and implemented our new website based on designs that we provided. Our website features products in the form of 2D images and 3D models. Users can buy these in bundles or as individual files. This required an advanced search engine and filtering systems, as well as visually appealing galleries to display all of the content.

Additionally, the user account allows customers to store, browse, and download their purchased content. Chapter247 built a variety of other features that can be unlocked via subscriptions.

Users also have access to a dashboard with various features. The dashboard gives them the ability to customize their interface and generate invoices, among other things. The team is currently working on a backend system that will let us upload, tag, and add additional details to all of our products. They’re also building an entire sales data system, tax integrations, page customization tools, and many other backend features.

What was the team composition?

I am not entirely sure of the number of people that worked on the project since our communication was mainly with the project lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As the project is still ongoing, and the website is yet to go fully live, we cannot yet determine the impact. However, we are sure that what we have now is a massive improvement over our existing service. We're positive that it will make our business grow immensely. Chapter247 has made a huge contribution to getting us to where we are now.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was very flexible in the sense that Chapter247 was always able to work with whatever task we required. Over the course of almost two years of development, many things changed, and we both evolved in our approach.

The development definitely required a very active involvement, as our requirements were very precise and strict. Leaving choices up to the development team to decide was not an efficient way to work, as it would require someone from within our industry to fully understand the logic of each choice.

We worked very closely and had many long calls to discuss what was happening in the project. Chapter247 pumped countless, literally countless, hours into this project. Some calls were over three hours long, but they always made time to listen and discuss even if it was out of working hours. Turnarounds were always reasonable, and, at the end of most working weeks, we were provided with an update of the completed tasks.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Many things were impressive, so I will list them one at a time. The first is communication. The speed of response was generally very good. We always got answers for issues on short notice quickly, sometimes even over the weekend. Whenever we found problems, our team lost their minds over everything going wrong Chapter247 always approached issues calmly and with a determination to find a solution or provide an existing one.

The next is coding proficiency. Obviously, this is their strong suit. Chapter247 was able to implement pretty much any function that we desired. They also integrated existing plugins to work seamlessly with the website. Some of these required a substantial amount of trial and error before they worked correctly. In the end, most things ended up working as expected.

The third is that they were hardworking. There is no doubt that it is hard to work on a team, especially when you have to work long hours to solve a problem and multi-task when needed. We provided a large amount of feedback, changes, and additions. The team took the time to read through our suggestions and work on them. They provided many questions and comments, and ultimately delivered results. We don't have full insight into the hours and amount of people, but, given the scope of the project and how they were able to tackle it step by step, it’s clear that they are extremely hard working.

The fourth impressive component was the cost and aftercare. Their quotes and prices are extremely reasonable for the amount of work that they delivered. Some features required more hours than we anticipated, but those things were hard to predict from our side. Other features were implemented with a quick turnaround and at a competitive cost. When it came to bug fixes and sorting other issues, Chapter247 took proper responsibility for delivering a working product. They made sure not to charge us twice for work that was in the scope from the beginning.

This last point was extremely important for us. Many road bumps came to light during development, and sometimes features that worked before would stop working when we added something new. There is always the question if this is part of the quoted scope or something that should have worked in the first place. When it was clear that an issue was part of delivering quality, Chapter247 always took responsibility and worked hard to provide solutions at no extra charge. This is probably one of the most valuable aspects of working with them, as these things can break budgets easily when unanticipated.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing is perfect, and, of course, there are always areas for improvement. I believe that both our team and Chapter247 learned a lot from this project. It was a huge endeavor—one that we definitely underestimated in scope—and I can tell that their company has grown through this process. I will list below the points that could be improved.

First, they could improve their mastery of the English language. I strongly believe that correct grammar and understanding common web jargon are vital to building a professional looking website. Text implemented by the developer often had typos or odd grammar. We often had to check their work before publishing to save us from having to correct those mistakes.

Secondly, they could work on their quality assurance. Despite the extensive testing that the developer conducts, we repeatedly find bugs or broken functions on the website while testing it ourselves. This forces us to invest a large amount of time in providing detailed feedback in the form of text, images, or video. Our total feedback reports are in the hundreds of pages at this point. This is something that we definitely underestimated.

It is important to note that our project has a lot of features and possible scenarios for things to go wrong. We understand that it is extremely difficult to test every single minute thing. Sometimes, something may work on one system but not on the other, and, of course, the developer has some logistical limitations to testing such possibilities. However, we found that, overall, there can be an improvement in making sure that things work correctly before writing off a task as completed. More resources should be spent on not letting bugs slip by during development.

The third area for improvement is design. Our website is built and designed for and by artists, so we are very particular about design. To most people, small unnoticeable things don't matter. However, we required pixel perfection, and the implementation of our design required quite a bit of our guidance to perfect. Regardless, the developer always ended up nailing it when we provided feedback for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner and founder of a startup. Our platform provides an online classified directory that aims to diversify the services found in a business directory. We list businesses within the general Zimbabwe region.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chapter247?

We approached Chapter247 Infotech to develop our website, including the design, functionalities, and general services necessary to get us started.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted resources that understood our vision and could produce a satisfactory site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our online contacts recommended them to us.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They created an online classified directory using CodeIgniter and Angular.js. In the initial phases, we discussed the overall project requirements before they developed the platform’s business logic. From there, they developed the site according to my specifications. Although the directory is currently live, they continue to manage the site and are working on the second phase of the project.

What was the team composition?

I work with their senior team leader who serves as our main contact. The team also consists of a junior developer, designer, and quality analyst.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve recently launched the site, so we don’t have any hard metrics yet. However, their site management has been on point. They’ve also assisted us with initial startup challenges, dealing with issues immediately.

In terms of project development, the process ran smoothly. They leveraged their technical expertise to deploy a flawless business logic. Moreover, when I made multiple changes to the UI, they implemented the adjustments without charging extra.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their communication and unbiased patience have been exceptional. They make us feel comfortable, and we’ve entrusted them with our capital to bring the business to life. They strive to understand me even when I’ve been vague or unsure of my own vision. As such, they’ve been forthcoming about any feedback, offering alternative options when necessary.

They also accommodate any unforeseen delays in the time line. For a while, I couldn’t get online to communicate with them because I was away. However, once I got back in touch with them, they always delivered the work as expected. I’ve had an excellent experience working with them, and I sincerely look forward to our continued engagement.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Aside from their proactivity when it comes to assisting wherever possible, they’re technically adept. I highly recommend Chapter247 Infotech for any sort of complex web application, outsourced work, or even full-time hire. Not only have they helped me realize my vision, they’ve advised me on how to approach my next steps. We’re now looking to grow our user base.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide e-learning solutions for people who wish to take professional finance exams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chapter247?

We hired Chapter247 to rebuild our web application from scratch.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed an application that could scale and incorporate more products.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Chapter247 through Freelancer. During our phone discussions, we were impressed by their understanding of our goals.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They’ve helped us develop the frontend and backend of two different apps. We needed more features, an API capable of handling mobile apps, and a much better UX. All features had to be scalable.

What was the team composition?

We worked with one project manager, one designer, two developers, and one network manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to their team, we were able to scale our application from one product to five types of products. Our conversions have increased while our performance has improved as well. A mobile app will complete the set soon.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They were efficient. Even though I kept adding features during the development phase, the work was done well and delivered on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They had excellent internal communication. I never had to say the same thing to two different team members.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I am based in Canada, so the obvious thing to improve would be for them to have a team available during my working hours, at least for emergencies.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at YoloMD, a job listings portal in the Canadian healthcare industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chapter247?

We were looking to build a custom, cloud-based website with Google Maps integration.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Chapter247 team has been working with us for about two years now, and we were starting from scratch when we brought them on. We spent the first couple of months determining a layout and overall design that would meet our requirements and forward our goals. Their team was very helpful in guiding and organizing our ideas throughout the planning process. Once we decided on the layout, their design team worked with us to determine the color scheme, formatting, and images that would be included in the final product.

From there, the Chapter247 team managed all aspects of the development process. They built the site within a CodeIgniter framework using primarily AngularJS. The search functions, integrations with Google Maps, and chat function are all custom-built. The site is also bilingual, and the team is currently working to complete the French version.

What is the team composition?

I was in direct contact with about five people, and they had about 10 team members on the project altogether.

How did you come to work with Chapter247?

We had interviewed several Montreal-based development agencies but eventually decided to outsource the project to an offshore firm. We did some research on Upwork, interviewed several vendors, and Chapter247 quickly rose to the top of our list. Their pricing was very competitive.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $30,000-$40,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2016, and the work is currently ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My partner and I were very new to the development space coming into this project, and the Chapter247 team was very patient throughout the process. They provided excellent advice on building the site from scratch. Once we completed the English version of the site, we put it through two QA cycles – one on our end and one on theirs. We’ve found no major bugs, and the only changes we’ve requested have been around fine-tuning the design.

How did Chapter247 perform from a project management standpoint?

In the beginning, we were a bit nervous contracting this project out to a group we couldn’t meet with face-to-face. However, their emphasis on consistent communication has yielded a very positive experience. They always made sure that our requests were very specific to avoid confusion. Throughout the process, they’ve been very responsive and efficient in making requested changes. We speak at least once a week via a combination of Skype, email, and Upwork. Upwork also has a project management tool that we used to set goals, establish deadlines, and track progress. We had ample opportunity to review each step throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They work very efficiently, and their pricing was transparent and fair. Communication was key for us. They made themselves more available than any of the other options we considered, and we really appreciated their transparency.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing negative to say. They met every deadline and communication was on point. The site works very well and we love the aesthetic.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

GushBook is a directory of businesses in a certain area in a region in Israel. We are a portal to the entire area: we have a calendar, we have all the different businesses, we have advertising, etc. We also have an application coming up. I’m the CTO and I’m in charge of the website. We have two full-time workers and freelancers who we outsource to.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chapter247?

We had a basic website which had been serving us for a while. We had to upgrade it and extend its functionality. We were really moving the present functionality of the website to the next level by adding new things to it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

On a permanent basis, we have two people working on the site: a developer and a team manager. There is also a developer and a graphic designer involved at certain stages. There was also a manager from Chapter247 who was there for consultation purposes when considering different options or for extra advice with complex tasks. The site is based on WordPress, PHP, and MySQL. The graphic design is done through Photoshop.

The website has the basic native functionality of WordPress with several different plug-ins, and we needed to expand the functionality across the board. We had the basic functionality of whatever we were using and a number of functions at the same time. Chapter247 had to integrate all the different functions of the different parts together as well as expand them. While we have certain things handled by plug-ins, each plug-in has been tweaked and expanded to cover and advance further functionality.

How did you come to work with Chapter247?

I sent out a project on freelancer.com, and I got lots of offers from different companies across the world. When I went through all the different quotes, Chapter247 impressed me based on their previous work and, most importantly, with what they understood of the project.

In the beginning, I broke it down to a basic two or three task project. They offered what seemed to be the best understanding and solution of what I needed. Once I started working with them on that small project, I realized that I could give them the rest of the work because they knew what they were doing. I then explained to them the details encompassing the entire site, the technologies, and core functionalities.

How much have you invested with Chapter247?

It’s been in excess of $4,000 so far. The project has been running for a while on a monthly basis because we’ve been constantly upgrading and moving forward.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started at the beginning of the first quarter of 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

They’ve put in a really decent amount of work, eight hours a day more accurately. Regarding success stories, they’ve managed to locate for me, among a host of different plug-ins, the plug-in that I needed and tweaked this plug-in from the host they chose. They took that one plug-in and expanded the functionality to cover extra functionality as well as multilingualism for English and Hebrew. Expanding into English and Hebrew required some multilateral thinking because Chapter247 has no fluency in Hebrew. We basically take the functionality from the thing we need, expand the scope of the functionality, and then expand into multiple languages.

I can come forward with a task, and from the get-go, they can analyze what the task requires, investigate what options are available, and choose the best option, but that option is usually never enough. We take that option and then tweak it, quite heavily sometimes, expanding its scope and expanding the multilingual aspect of it in order to fit in an existing site that’s running with over 1,000 business listed in English and Hebrew. It’s not that they’re just building something from the ground up, they are building from the ground up and integrating it into something that’s live and running already.

How did Chapter247 perform from a project management standpoint?

I don’t work directly with the programmer or graphic designer. There’s always a project manager on their side that I deal with, and she handles the programmer, the graphic designer, and whatever else that has to be done. I manage the project on my side. However, the programmer is always available for me to talk to if need be. We use Google Drive and Google Sheets to monitor progress, and then we use Upwork. Upwork has tools for communication and following progress.

Chapter247 is always making an effort to be conservative and to come well within the time estimate. On limited projects, they always try to stay within budget. In the beginning, when I was testing and defining things on an app, we worked according to a set deadline and budget. Now, we are working on an ongoing process, but they certainly manage to do things cost efficiently and in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about Chapter247?

Their customer service is definitely better than the average freelancer. They really try their best to understand what you want and try to deliver. They put you first. Their expertise is one of the reasons I chose them. They displayed, and continue to display, that they are able to attack the tasks with the right technical know-how and that I can rely on them. It’s a combination of their service, attitude, and technical abilities. Not only is there a project manager and a programmer available, but above them are the different managers in the company; if there is something slightly more complicated or that requires other technologies, someone else is able to weigh in. You really have the direct abilities of the person you are working with, as well as the extended abilities of the entire company.

Are there any areas Chapter247 could improve?

There could be a bit of extra quality assurance on their part prior to submitting tasks. They understand the tasks and do things to the best of their abilities. However, when it’s time to go over and test, sometimes there are small things that we could have picked up before the testing stage.