Computools

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the manager at a digital agency located in Norway creating custom digital solutions for a wide range of clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Computools to help us develop a custom LMS platform for a client that publishes a wide range of articles and magazines. We needed a team with professional senior developers that could handle a complex and long-term project.

The main goal was to create an unique easy to use LMS platform for teachers and students that uses the client's database with content. Content that the teachers can use to create multidisciplinary assignments.

SOLUTION

How did you select Computools and what were the deciding factors?

We had meetings with different companies in Oslo in the fall of 2019. Based on our meetings we picked Computools to be a good match based on their feedback, follow up questions and quick turnaround when needed. We needed a company with great experience with the technology stack Laravel, React, AWS and Wordpress.

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

We started with UI and UX work before Computools got informed and hired for the project. Based on the project specification and design Computools used agile development to help us achieve important project milestones such as developing an pilot version for platform presentations and user feedback.

Since we did not have a strict platform specification containing user stories in advance, Computools helped us in an incredible way in terms of creating user stories and suggest solutions. They have been a great partner in this project, not just a vendor.

Based on end-user and client feedback on pilot version we continued to concentrate creating the first version for early platform launch in august 2020. Computools helped with auto-testing setup for quality and stabilization, and complete environment setup in AWS. 

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

The Computools team have consisted of 4-5 key resources and in some periods up to 7 people in the largest sprints. Their positions have been project manager, front-end dev, back-end dev, wordpress dev, QA, tech-lead and devops.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the project is a long term project and it’s not finished we don’t have final outcomes yet. So far the work done by Computools is solid and they have delivered above our expectations.

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

Computools have had a single project manager. This have made communication swift and effective. The team have mainly used Skype for daily communication and Jira for project management. Google docs have been used for documentation and sprint planning.

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

We are very impressed in how the Computools team have contributed in the project by solving difficult tasks that is not always described in detail. I think this have pushed the team to think for themselves and contribute to this project in a big way.

We are also impressed on how professional the company are in terms of follow up communication and how they want to build a long lasting professional relationship.

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

Nothing specific no.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the project manager of a cryptocurrency exchange "Rokes exchange" based in Estonia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were working with Computools on development of the new design for our exchange platform and some tasks on the backend. It was a major update for our project and the Computools team worked on PWA version of our main app.

SOLUTION

How did you select Computools and what were the deciding factors?

Computools was chosen as a vendor by one of the previous PMs, and I am not in a position to tell what this decision was based on.

Over the course of the year we worked with Computools, two other vendors were engaged in the development process, but in the end we decided to only stick with Computools, and this decision was based on their professional skills, the timely delivery on the tasks and good communication skills of the team.

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

The UI redesign was centered around frontend technologies, mostly the implementation of PWA version and web version of our app using Vue.js. Apart from that, Computools also participated in the implementation of GraphQL API in our project.

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

We had varying number of team members over the time we worked, but we always had one project manager and one business manager for the whole duration of our contract, and the development team was changing depending on the current scope of our development requests, while the lead developer was also with our project almost all the time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have successfully launched our new design and the PWA app, mostly by the hand of Computools team. Everything was delivered as requested by our specification and design document. The quality of work was on a very decent level, and although there were inevitable minor bugs or things that needed small corrections, everything was fixed in a timely manner.

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

The project manager assigned to our project by Computools was proactive, had great communication skills and demonstrated fluency in English. We held sprint meetings and interim calls, while he them communicated with the development team.

If needed he also facilitated the calls directly with the lead developer and we always appreciated the team's ability to adjust to our changing requirements and deliver on tasks with little or no delay. For communication we used MS Teams, for planning we first used Trello, then MS Planner and then Github issues and board. T

he team had no problem with using any of these tools and also made reasonable suggestions on how we can improve the collaboration process using these tools.

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

Their ability to work in a very flexible manner, timely delivery and communication skills from both managers helped us to upgrade our product in the planned terms and their contribution was the most valuable among other vendors we worked with. They were able to easily collaborate with other teams and our internal team, sharing their extensive expertise and finding consensus with other developers was a crucial part of their work with our project.

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

There is always room for improvement and some things could be done differently, but it our case it is hard to tell what would that be and overall we are very happy with their work and performance.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a Financial company. We provide an online service for easy and convenient managing company finances.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

As we have an online service we wanted to attract more customers. We asked Computools to redesigned a frontend. We needed a user-friendly interface.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have an interface with an exhaustive list of features to ensure maximum growth and profitability. It should provide users with the opportunity to craft, modify and organize information for their needs.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We are looking for vendor through Internet and Computools proposed their services. We had an interview and after that, we decided to work with them. Because Computools suited our requirements.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Computools team mapped a workflow according to our preferences. After that, they determined the project’s strengths and weaknesses and advised the features better suited for the finished product. Upon devising the development plan and selecting the best-suited technology stack, the distributed team set to the project realization.

What was the team composition?

There were 2 developers, designer and project manager in the team. I had a conversation mainly with a Project Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a lot of positive feedback from users of our service. The number of our customers significantly increased.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

During the negotiation, we decided to use emails and Skype for fast communication. Also the sprint-based project management methodology with daily Scrum meetings allowed to follow the development plan.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They provided very reasonable services. Also I like their attitude, they are always ready to accept any type of technical challenge and the most important things. They dealt with all challenges very sharply.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I really don’t know such areas.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Greg. I’m the CEO of the E-commerce company. Our company provides a wide array of the products at a feasible price. The customers use website to place orders, select the products and delivered them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

Since eCommerce is a constantly changing beast so we need to have the finger on the pulse. We thought that all doubt in buying will disappear if people can see the goods like in reality. Because of this online shopping will be simpler, more effective and more profitable. So we decided to develop a virtual reality app that prospective buyers can explore the goods from anywhere in the world by using a web browser.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to attract customers to our store. With these new technologies shoppers can immerse themselves deeper into the commerce experience and it gives customers a new attraction to visit both online and real stores.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them through Google. I needed a company that would respond to communication quickly, have competency, and be able to deliver a product in time.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

This was a multiple task. Computools made all development for this project, including frontend and backend work.

First of all, we discussed the project, then put together a project requirements specification, a list of features and milestones planning. They provided test versions of our project so we could give feedback every step along the way. The project was completed on time and we were pleased with the result.

What was the team composition?

We communicated with a project manager, designer and a couple of developers. But of course there are much more people in the project such as Business Analyst, Team Lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First , we proposed a test version to our clients and received a lot of positive feedbacks. Then we started to use this innovation in our business. I can say that it really helps customers to buy. We have satisfied customers and the profit growth.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They collaborate closely with us. We have direct contact with the project manager who is very helpful and respond quickly. We communicate through email, Basecamp and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They came to us with ideas, and that's unusual. I'm satisfied that they gave us the right recommendations which are contemporary and relevant for today’s users. Because with other companies on previous projects, it was like pulling teeth to get them to make suggestions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing comes to mind. I think we’ll collaborate with them in the future.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a healthcare company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Computools?

Due to the range of different branches in our company, it can be challenging to control all of them. We needed an application to help us to track medical equipment using barcodes within the hospital territory.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did all the stages of the application development. The first step was to analyze our existing solution and strategy, also considering the market and our main competitors. That allowed us to identify the basic needs of our target audience. Their project manager then distributed the necessary tasks among developers, designers, and other team members.

What is the team composition?

I worked mainly with their project manager and their business analyst. For technical questions, I discussed with the technical team leader. There was a team of developers, designers, and QA testers.

How did you come to work with Computools?

We looked at different candidates and decided to use Computools as they provided the best plan and solution for our cooperation. They also offered the best deal considering our goals, timeline, and budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May 2018–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our main target was to get an application that can be useful for our business and it was achieved. The application works; it has organized our work and given us more options for better control.

How did Computools perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re really responsive. We had daily communication and reports from their side, over Skype, email, and phone. They preferred to use a scrum methodology to give us quick responses and good turnaround. We had a large variety of different meetings and communication was properly organized, so we didn’t need to micromanage them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have made a good impression on us. They worked in a timely manner, communication was good, and the results were good. They delivered a high-quality application in a professional manner that reflected their experience in the healthcare sector.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re satisfied with the results.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a senior technical director at Dworkz Interactive, a design company that offers a wide spectrum of services in design and development of rich media and web applications. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

We started a new blockchain-based project for an e-commerce company but needed external support to complete it. We were looking for software developers who could efficiently create an admin panel for the website, so we approached Computools. 

What were your goals for this project? 

Our goal was to build a multi-use platform that was mainly used for search, including multiple listing service (MLS) numbers and a Google Maps integration. Users would be able to upload documents and pre-assign any spaces that needed a client signature. These signatures would be e-verified, all through a secure and encrypted environment.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A colleague had completed a project with Computools before and referred me to them. I liked the way they approached their work, so I contracted them. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail. 

Computools developed an admin panel for our client’s blockchain project. We followed a development plan that divided each stage into sub-tasks. For example, one task involved turning the admin panel into a dashboard to either display business metrics and analytics without the viewer having to write code. Another task was to export weekly data that could be used to create reports. Each task had a set deadline, which Computools had no problems meeting.

What was the team composition?

We worked with their sales team and constantly communicated with a Scrum master. We also interacted with a team lead and their CTO. 
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They created a well-built admin panel without any bugs. Although they were only responsible for part of the project, they really helped us in the development process. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it? 

Computools proved to be professionals in their field, and it was easy to work with them. They delivered their panel on time without exceeding the budget, so we’re satisfied with the results. 

What did you find most impressive about this company? 

The most important thing for us was that they didn’t exceed the budget nor timeline. Computools stuck to the schedule across all tasks, and we remained without our cost limits. 

Are there any areas for improvement? 

No, I can’t say. We gave them a task, and they delivered a high-quality product on time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of the Healthcare firm. Our company provide medical-related solutions for families and individuals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

It was an ERP platform used to manage our day-to-day activities and operations.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed the ERP platform to solve our two main problems: First: collaboration within our company; Since our company opened a new branch, we were facing a need to simplify the collaboration process.

We wanted to give our employees on-demand access to data across different company units and between company branches. Second: facilitate data unification; ERP platform should allow to control, edit and share data files and so on.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Computools at Upwork. I previously chose another firm to help our company, but Computools offered the best deal. So we decided to try this company.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

As was already mentioned, we needed an ERP platform for several purposes. So we asked Computools to develop such a platform that would help us in managing the business. Computools attended to the project from start to finish during all the development stages.

What was the team composition?

I primarily dealt with a project manager when there were tactical, day-to-day issues. Technical questions I discussed with team lead. There were four developers in the team but I didn’t have much to do with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This ERP platform has really helped us to organise our work. It assists in making better decisions and frees up time for work. We can really say that it increased our work efficiency.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had deadlines to meet. If there were some questions to discuss, we communicated via Skype, calls, email and so on. So, we had no problems with communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We worked with Computools for the first time and they made a good impression. Most impressive was the fact that they were actively trying to solve arising issues within the shortest time possible. You didn’t need to wait for their response or propositions. I have had such unpleasant experiences before with other companies, so to me it was an important factor.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I worked with different companies, and Computools compares very favorably. So I couldn't say much about this question.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of ReVerb, a digital marketing agency. We provide full-cycle marketing services to IT companies, tech startups, ICO projects, and industrial enterprises.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

We were looking for a solution to more efficiently manage our work, but we couldn’t find a solution that matched all of our needs. We engaged Computools to build a custom content marketing platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to streamline our content marketing initiatives on a platform that met our full list of requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Several clients mentioned their work in passing. After talking to several other firms, we went with Computools to complete this project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

After analyzing our requirements, Computools outlined potential solutions and deadlines for each stage. They designed the user flows and defined the user personas. They built the platform infrastructure and oversaw its implementation. Once we finished development, we conducted usability tests to assess their submitted work.

What was the team composition?

Our primary point of contact was the project manager, but we also worked with a team lead, a frontend developer, and a backend developer. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too early to assess our metrics yet. However, the platform has helped simplify several essential processes. We can organize our writers, manage our editorial calendar, promote content, and then measure its impact on the same platform.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow was well-managed. Computools recorded each feature, enhancement, and bugs in Agile Scrum and Jira. The tools assigned each item to a specific release, making it easy to track progress. The project manager handled the day-to-day interactions and answered all of our questions. We communicated over Skype and email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Computools led an organized, agile team that adapted to our evolving needs. They listened to our feedback and managed their time well throughout the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I only wish I found them sooner. I’ll likely engage them to support our platform in the future.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a logistics company. We design global supply chains that enable businesses to deliver products to customers. My responsibilities include organizing distribution operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Computools?

Our company is growing rapidly, so we needed an external firm to develop a system capable of managing customer data.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started our engagement with Computools by determining the project’s budget, scheduling deadlines, and discussing communication methods. Afterward, we held a strategic meeting where we analyzed their proposal and asked questions. They helped us visualize the process by designing a workflow diagram. Then, their project manager and business analyst created a roadmap that outlined the rest of the project.

Before working on the final product, Computools developed an interactive porotype version of the software we requested. That helped us wholly understand what needed to change within our internal systems before we put a lot of money into the project. We agreed to their recommendations, so they started creating our data management system using Java. We use the software to store customer information and service requests. Accessing that data allows us to make informed decisions about how to improve as a business.

What is the team composition?

They allocated a project manager, a business analyst, developers, and several designers.

How did you come to work with Computools?

They were recommended to me by a business partner. After researching the company and some of their previous projects, I decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $85,000­–$199,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in April 2018 and was completed several months later. They continue to update the system as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re satisfied with the quality of work they deliver. They listen and try to understand our needs instead of finding new ways to charge us. I happily recommend them to my colleagues.

How did Computools perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve never had an issue with communication. They usually interact with us via Skype and Slack. We agreed to a comprehensive project framework, regular online meetings, and a weekly email report. They honored their promises and reacted quickly when we changed the scope of work. They offer reasonable pricing and deliver viable solutions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate their transparent work structure. They kept us up-to-date regarding their progress throughout the entire development cycle. Knowing the system’s status throughout the coding process put my mind at ease.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I happy with how they perform, but every company has room for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be forthcoming with project information and Computools will deliver.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a small software company called Data Access Inc, based in North Carolina. We provide a custom CRM solution for specialized service/equipment companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

Part of our CRM system is a mobile website for technicians to interact with their jobs. We hired Computools to create a native iOS and Android mobile app to replace our mobile site.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to replace our existing website with a mobile app to give our users a richer, more responsive experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found Computools on Upwork. I interviewed several companies during a trip to Ukraine, and Computools was the easiest choice. Their sales team impressed me by going above and beyond in presenting their process and ensuring I was comfortable with their plans. 

Describe the project in detail.

The Computools team developed the mobile app to perform the same tasks our website offered field technicians. They built scheduling and payment processing features into the app, and created tools for placing orders, resolving appointments, and checking in and out of jobs.

What was the team composition?

I work with one sales representation, a project manager, and two QA testers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Computools team is still working on the project, but I’m pleased with the progress so far. My team has caused any issues we've had, and their developers have given us no problems.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Skype is our primary form of communication. Since most of my team consists of contracted employees who have other projects, we are often delayed in responding, which slows down the process. The Computools team has been understanding of our situation and work with us patiently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team has given us strong learning opportunities, and their developers are accommodating and collaborative. During the few times I’ve worked onsite in their office, I’ve appreciated their relaxed, friendly work environment.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is nothing that could improve the project, aside from the slow responsiveness of my own team. However, we began the project knowing this could be an issue.