Cleveroad

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Virgin Atlantic is one of the leading airlines in the UK. With the main office in Crawley, England, and three operating bases, it has more than 9,000 people on staff. The company is interested in getting its operations as automated and optimized as possible.

What is your position?

During the cooperation with Cleveroad, I was working as an IT Project Manager at Virgin Atlantic. I was dealing with inner projects aimed at optimizing a variety of organizational issues. The scope of my major responsibilities included creating and maintaining project management procedures—in other words, ensuring that projects are developed and implemented according to approved business requirements.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

Because the number of employees is rather vast at Virgin Atlantic, the HR department faced the problem of managing them all. They were overloaded with calculations of working and sick days. HR staff did this manually using some simple solutions like Excel; but, of course, it wasn't effective took much time and effort. Eventually, they came up with an idea to automate the process. They contacted me, and we defined the main functionality for the new system.

We needed an app for iOS and Android where our workers could log in (only via the app). The app should calculate the number of working days monthly; it should also notify users about some urgent news in the company, contain an entrance badge (a QR code), and spot the location and time you are working from the moment you log in. We also needed a web admin panel for HR managers where they can see the statistics. My team wasn't able to solve this task, and we decided to find an outside vendor. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

The strategy was defined by our team, and we had strict guidelines for the design because we needed it to follow our corporate style. However, we didn't have designers in our company, so Cleveroad was responsible for this and everything else.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

Since the initiator was the HR department, we were budget-limited, so it was impossible to engage our usual contractors. We decided that we needed a foreign middle-sized company. I did some internet research and found Cleveroad. Their site seemed neat and informative, and I especially liked their blog and portfolio. I filled out the form, and their sales manager contacted me.

It was easy to check their skills and knowledge because I have been working in this field for a while. The crucial points were time, money, and quality, of course. After short negotiations, we signed the contract.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in February, so the whole duration was almost 7 months. We launched our app in August 2016, and it still works perfectly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We finished the iOS version of the app a little bit earlier and decided that the best test is one in real life, so our workers started using it even earlier than we planned in the first place. The Android version was finished in 10 days, so it didn't make much of a difference.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

I was a manager on the project, so it was easy to control the whole process. We started in February with the documentation. In a few weeks, we received all the materials and started the development. I really liked working with these guys because of their punctuality despite the difference between time zones. We worked side by side, and it wasn't difficult for me to communicate with their team.

Is there anything Cleveroad could have improved or done differently?

To tell you the truth, we had to change the design a few times to make sure it fit our company concept perfectly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-owner of a bakery cafe chain in Riga. My friend and I opened a small bakery shop in 2009. People loved our place and special cakes, so we’ve managed to succeed pretty fast. By now we have several bakery-cafes around the city, and our cakes are popular among natives as well as tourists. I am a co-owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We have a lot of clients per day, especially at the lunchtime and in the evenings. That’s why our clients often must wait in long lines that obviously make them annoyed. To improve our service system, we’ve decided to create our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to provide a new service that would let our clients make their order online and choose the time when they want to take it away. As an additional service we wanted to provide booking, so our clients could book their favorite table for a romantic dinner or the biggest table for lunch with their colleagues. Apart from all said above, a website is a good marketing tool, and it was good opportunity to get new customers.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

My friend contacted several companies from Latvia and Western Europe, but the estimates they’ve made were unaffordable for us. We were too excited with our idea so we just couldn’t give up on it. We decided to search for a development company from the nearest countries in the East. I have a lot of friends in Ukraine, that’s why I’ve started searching for Ukrainian companies. I looked through Cleveroad's website, their portfolio, and saw a lot of good testimonials, so I wanted to contact them.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

We’ve got our website and a landing page that cost us $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working in December 2016 and ended in February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All in all, we love working with Cleveroad's team, because they are qualified and experienced professionals who really care about your project. We’ve received support at every stage of our project development including QA and post-release support. We’re thinking of creating a mobile app, and the day we decide to do it, I guess we'll contact Cleveroad again.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

We’re not that good at technology, but Cleveroad always kept in touch with everything that was going with our project. We’ve received a lot of ideas from the Cleveroad team. Developers and designers worked hard to make our project good.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

As I said, I'm not really good at technology. I like the results; my ideas are improved and implemented. That's it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a milk and beef producer. I own a farm in Poland along with another person, and I am a co-founder of the business. We own a large number of cows.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

Our farm has been successful, but it became difficult to monitor our cows' welfare. In one case, we found out too late that a cow was diseased and it affected the others as a result. Had we known it earlier, we could have taken precautions and saved money on the treatment necessary for the rest of the animals. We decided to automate our farm's processes and implement some modern technologies. We installed chips that could track the cows' locations and general conditions. However, it was also necessary to create an appropriate bio-app for reviewing the information. We started looking for a company which could help us develop the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cleveroad developed an internal Android app for our farm. We don't use any iOS devices so there was no need for a version on this platform.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I wanted to hire a Polish developer initially, but I didn't like the communication or pricing of the ones I contacted. I found Cleveroad online. I decided to contact them because I knew that developers in Eastern Europe, especially those in Ukraine, were quite good.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

The cost of Cleveroad's work was $10,000. We had a fixed-price contract and Cleveroad guaranteed that there wouldn't be any additional payments.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Cleveroad in December 2016. The app took one to two months to complete. We are currently working on an updated version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can use Cleveroad's app to monitor changes in our cows' bodies and their location. It allows us to gain a better understanding of how they're feeling. Based on this information, I can save money on veterinary treatments and also ensure that the cows are in their right places. I am completely satisfied with Cleveroad's work and don't regret spending the money.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

I liked the development process. It included a small preparation stage during which I communicated with Cleveroad's project manager to clarify all the details of our application. After everything was gathered, Cleveroad prepared a project document and provided a fixed price. The project was delivered in two-week milestones. I received new features and implementation reports at the end of each run.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

Not especially. I've been completely satisfied with the process.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

I don't have a lot of experience with development companies, but everything was fine from my experience.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Cleveroad?

Customers need to find the time to talk with Cleveroad's sales and project management teams. They need to clarify all details and ensure that the project will run well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an owner of several flower fields placed throughout Heiloo in the Netherlands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

I am very proud of my production and its quality. However, I had the desire to make the process of ordering flowers a little bit easier for my business partners. Many businesses, especially those ones located abroad, are afraid of the difficulties that can occur throughout the order process from the Netherlands. As a result, it was keeping my business within my country while I was aiming at expansion. Having thought of all the possible variants, I decided to create an application that could cover all the needs required for the attraction of new partners abroad. The concept of my app was pretty easy – simple B2B flower ordering with worldwide delivery.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They made a flower delivery application for iOS platform.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I was thinking about my idea for several months. However, all the European development companies estimated my project at a sum exceeding my budget. I had already decided to postpone my project until I came across Cleveroad's page on Facebook. Being quite satisfied with their portfolio and reviews, I decided to ask about their pricing and cooperating model. In just a few hours, I received a rough estimate that was affordable for my budget. After the detailed plan and estimation were received, I confirmed the cooperation and signed the contract. That is how everything began.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

It was $18.000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The first version of my app was completed in 3 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything was done perfectly. The beautiful and easy-to-use design had all the functions I wanted to have. It is in testing now. After that, it will be available for my partners. I appreciate Cleveroad's efforts, and I will definitely use this company's services all the time.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

The cost they named was not as big an amount in comparison with the firms I contacted before. That played the main part for me.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

I am absolutely satisfied with the work this team did. All disagreements were solved easily. I can say that they didn't leave any unpleasant impressions – even when it came to money, which I find to be a vexing and exciting subject of discussion.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a farmer and a co-founder of a farm. I would kindly ask you to keep my company name anonymous. There are 15 people in my team. We are a flower and food seller—I have land where I grow flowers for export and vegetables, like marrows and eggplants. Recently, I put my thinking cap on about growing lemon trees. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

I am continuously learning, and I try to use contemporary technologies in the agricultural sector. As you know, we have a very complicated situation with the climate here. All the watering is automated, same with fertilizing, humidity control, and many other things. Our machinery is equipped with GPS systems and we wanted to gather all that information. Inspired by new technology, I decided to order an Android mobile application that would make our work more efficient by letting us control our facilities. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For about a week, I discussed the product with the Cleveroad account manager I was communicating with. I wanted the app to help us analyze different situations, make necessary calculations, and do scheduling. Cleveroad proposed development strategies and told me about the methodologies they used. Afterward, I got the final estimation with the scope of work planned. Their designers got to work and showed wireframes of the future app within a week. After everything was approved, the designers and developers got to work on producing the actual app.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

As I have said, I'm a very contemporary person and IT technology is something that interests me. I know that Ukraine is excellent in this field but the companies there don't charge too much. So, I decided to look for a contractor from that region. After doing some research and receiving great feedback from Cleveroad, I decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

The Android app cost $20,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in July 2016. The estimated time to complete this project was 18 weeks, and it's in the final testing stages. There are also plans to expand my business, which may mean adding more facilities. I plan to stay in touch with Cleveroad in case my app needs to be upgraded.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As we agreed, Cleveroad developed a ready to use an app for me within 18 weeks. The app does everything that I need. With it, my team is able to control all the necessary processes on my farm. The app sends reports on my email about certain statistics. It even has a built-in calendar and a fertilizer calculator that are very simple use. I’m totally satisfied with what we have done together.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

We held regular Skype meeting and I received progress reports and demo versions of the app. They adopted a really responsible approach.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?
I would say they can improve their communication skills a little.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our pizzerias are based in Romania, and I am an owner and general director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We have a lot of in-store visitors, however, a big part of the profit comes from online orders that we get through our website. Gathering the feedback of our customers, I have noticed that a lot of them are not quite satisfied with how the site works on mobile devices. Many complain about the inconvenience of usage and say that a mobile app could solve the problem. I think it's a great idea. With a mobile application, our clients can make orders anytime anywhere, and for us, it is an extra way to boost sales. So, we decided on development of our pizza delivery iOS application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To make our app special, I decided to add an interesting feature: along with food ordering, our users can acquire culinary skills. The app is going to contain a collection of unique recipes. Each order opens another recipe, or you can open all of them for a small amount of money. You can also upload photos of the dishes you cooked and share them via Facebook.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I am not a tech person and I have no friends among developers in Romania. I did not care what country the provider would come from, but I heard that Ukrainian companies can do a good job for a moderate price. That is why I started googling organizations that specialize in mobile development. I can’t say that Cleveroad was my number one choice from the very beginning. However, I decided on them after speaking with their manager, who was a very polite and smart guy. A few hours later, I received a rough estimate of my project. During the phone conversation, we agreed to start with the iOS version of the app, since it takes less time to develop.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

The iOS app took $19,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

Just development took a little more than 4 months. The app is going to be released in two or three weeks when the final testing is accomplished.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was my first experience dealing with a remote team in general and developers in particular. I must admit that I was lucky to come across Cleveroad. Their deep knowledge and broad experience helped turn my idea into reality. In a few months, I plan to start the development of the Android version. The Cleveroad guys will be definitely hired.

How did Cleveroad perform in terms of project management standpoint?

It was nice and easy to communicate with them.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

After speaking with their sales manager, I decided to hire this particular company. He carefully listened to me, elaborated on the details, and made some good suggestions. I think that the qualification of this man played a major role in my choice.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

Everything is okay so far. I'm going to start the development of an Android app soon, so we'll just see what happens next.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Cleveroad?

If you have no tech knowledge but an idea, the guys from this company can definitely help you to bring it to life. The price-quality ratio is okay.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a tourism agency based in Moscow conducting local excursions for tourists from all over the world. I am the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We collaborate with numerous museums and galleries. Many of our clients know where they want to go and what they want to see, but others aren't as informed. We wanted to create a website offering a quick glance into the variety of different places to visit in Moscow, either as a group or by single excursions. It proved hard, given that there are around 900 temples and more than 200 museums. We were searching for the best partner for bringing the idea to life.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After our initial conversation, Cleveroad provided the best technology solution for our site. Afterward, they provided design and development for it. We also plan to develop an iOS application using them.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

We searched online and found an article about Cleveroad's previous work.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

This is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Cleveroad one and a half months ago. Our site is currently in the testing phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very satisfied with Cleveroad's work, and plan to proceed with a mobile app version using them.

Everything has worked fine up to this point, and I'm sure that our users will be satisfied as well. I'm glad that we found Cleveroad.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

I was impressed with Cleveroad's approach. They provided different solutions for making our site more user-friendly, in terms of which features should be implemented from the start. Cleveroad showed us different choices for the site and provided opinions.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

Until now, everything has been fine.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Cleveroad?

I would recommend working with Cleveroad. They have excellent developers, designers, and project managers, and were in touch with us every day.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a big travel agency in Bulgaria, with headquarters in Burgas and offices in different parts of the country. I am the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

Initially, I worked with freelancers for our platform's development. The results we received were unsatisfactory, so I decided to hire a professional team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cleveroad has developed our company website using Node.js as a back-end, and AngularJS in the front-end, among other technologies. The website is aimed at tourists. We provide e-commerce services, such as boat and car rental, as well as consultation and so on. The web marketing was handled by our in-house team.

Cleveroad's team included a project manager, a designer, and QA [quality assurance] specialists as well as front-end and back-end developers. There were around 8 people in total from their side. I usually worked with a project manager, but we also had meetings with the development team. I wanted to understand what the development process would be.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

After my initial bad experience with freelancers, I decided to look for a professional company. I knew that Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine, had great developers, so I contacted a few companies in that area. I had an initial discussion with Cleveroad's sales manager and decided to start the collaboration. 

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

The total cost of Cleveroad's services has been $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Cleveroad at the beginning of 2016. Our site is within the final stages of testing, and we plan to launch it soon. I have ideas for additional features and plan to collaborate with Cleveroad in the future as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Compared to my experience with previous freelancers, Cleveroad has been a great choice in terms of cost and quality.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

I received detailed estimates at the beginning of our project. The work was divided into milestones with corresponding dates. There were a few delays related to items that we didn't understand in the beginning, but Cleveroad delivered within budget. We've used Trello and JIRA for our collaboration.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

Cleveroad has been a great company to work with and allowed me to oversee the whole development process. They're much better than freelancers I've used in the past.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

The cost could be improved, although I received very bad results when I opted to pay less.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Cleveroad?

I would recommend Cleveroad to any client looking to build its own website or mobile app.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We offer designer clothes for young people. I am the owner of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

I wanted to create an app through which our clients could design their own clothes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cleveroad developed my app, handling design and coding. The app is only available for iOS at the moment.

I communicated with the project manager from Cleveroad, who handled all my questions and inquiries.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

Instead of hiring freelancers for different aspects of the development, I wanted to find a company which offered designers, developers, and testers in one place. I searched Google for developers, and found Cleveroad. I liked their portfolio, so I contacted their manager and had a small conversation. Cleveroad gave me an estimate, and we continued from there.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

The total cost for my project with Cleveroad was $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Cleveroad 3 months ago. The app has been completed, and is currently in testing. We plan to launch the app within one month. I'm also considering building an Android version using Cleveroad.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app was designed like I wanted, and everything looks good.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

I'm always nervous about working with contractors, but Cleveroad performed well in terms of project management. We kept contact using Skype.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

Cleveroad delivered everything I asked for on time, which isn't true for all developers.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

It would be much easier for me to communicate in person, but I do understand that Cleveroad is based in a different country.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Cleveroad?

I advise anyone with a good idea to act upon it straight away.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My brother and I founded a startup in 2014, a business all about sports and healthy lifestyle. We own a sports club and sell fitness nutrition and supplements.

I’m a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. I'm in charge of public relations and business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We wanted to create an engaging and wholesome experience for our clients. The fitness business world is very competitive, so we decided to get our business online and let our clients exercise outside the gym. We wanted to have an app that could track health condition and daily activities, count calories, plan meals, and buy fitness nutrition and supplements. This would basically replace a personal trainer. The first features that we decided to work on were tracking daily health condition and activities, along with nutrition planning.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project is going to consist of four separate stages: iOS app MVP [minimum viable product], developing the iOS app, developing the Android app, and finally a smartwatch extension.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

When we realized our business was on the rise we decided it was best to expand. Searching Google, I found the article about fitness apps created by Cleveroad. A day after I got in touch with them, I received a rough estimate from them.

How much have you invested with Cleveroad?

Currently, we are testing the first version of the MVP. The design and development took exactly 8 weeks and $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Personally, I really love the design of the app. I find it really engaging and transparent. As for the functional side, those in our team who have tried using the app note its simplicity and accuracy. The functions do exactly what you expect them to do. The next step will be to test the app with our real customers, but we are optimistic.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

As for project management, it was organized pretty well. Cleveroad was very transparent in the early stages in how the work would be organized. We had regular meetings to stay on top of the project and frequently received emails with updates. I felt I had control over the project, which was great.

What did you find most impressive about Cleveroad?

Everything was completed exactly as we wanted. We are especially satisfied with the design. After testing, we are going to deploy the app to the App Store. If everything goes fine, we’ll continue cooperation with Cleveroad covering the next three planned stages.

Are there any areas Cleveroad could improve?

They could have followed my plan a bit more.