EGO Creative Innovations

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Alpha 7 Solutions Pte Ltd, a consultant and developer of A7IoB, dashboard. Provides data information to clients to make the best decisions in heir business. Adrian Jay Lim was the Co-CEO, of a solution company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EGO Creative Innovations?

EGO was hired to maintain the existing software and was contracted to assist further in developing the product to the next level.

What were your goals for this project?

The Goals were to increase the UI and smoothness of the product by fine-tuning its processes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The vendor came recommended in its experience and professionalism.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

1. Implementation of new functionality
2. Monitoring of production server
3. Checking status and metrics
4. Checking logs and resolving any issues
5. Supporting scripts
6. Supporting connectors
7. Monitoring of databases
8. Backups monitoring and making sure there is always actual backups
9. Backups configuration
10. Updating, fixing scripts and creating new ones
11. Adjustments and issue-resolving for the third-party services
12. Setting up certificates (when existing expires)

What was the team composition?

The team support were 4.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team was efficient and provided great support when issues popped up.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was arranged via time allocation for job placement. It was effective based on the regular monitoring of the product.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team worked well, taking instructions and also providing value-added concerns at each turn of development.

Are there any areas for improvement?

NA

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations at UBERDOC, a health technology company. We offer a web application that allows patients direct access to a specialist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EGO Creative Innovations?

We needed to develop a solution that would populate doctors based on proximity and availability.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a responsive web application that allows both doctors and patients to create dashboards and profiles to list their availability. They worked in an agile method, creating and working through story points. Developing the MVP took six months, and we then worked with them for another 1–2 years. We recently brought them back to do some maintenance and project development.

What is the team composition?

We talk to Kate (COO, EGO Creative Innovations), Kirill (Lead Technical Specialist, EGO Creative Innovations), Sachino (Project Manager, EGO Creative Innovations), and a scrum master.

How did you come to work with EGO Creative Innovations?

The relationship started when we created our company. Another vendor of ours had worked with EGO Creative Innovations in the past and introduced us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since March 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before EGO Creative Innovations, our lack of an admin portal was making us lose customers because we couldn’t get in touch with them. EGO delivered great quality for our budget and allowed us to do things we weren’t able to do before.

How did EGO Creative Innovations perform from a project management standpoint?

From the initial development, we were ahead of schedule and under budget. We’ve been meeting our sprints and only seen some errors once. Communication happens via Confluence, Jira, and email, and we have a conference call every two weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve offered us a great hourly price. They excel at grasping what we need and bringing it to life in our technology.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I’ve seen.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Determine if the technology changes will deliver the benefits you’re looking for in your business model.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of BabbleStash, a small LLC which is an app company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cayugasoft Tech?

I didn’t have the skill set to develop an iPhone application myself, so I was looking for web and application development services. The app allows users to capture their life story.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I came up with a comprehensive list of the thought-provoking life questions that people could answer to help them with the life stories—there are over 800, and they prompt the user in different ways. People record their answers into the app and then those answers are transcribed.

After a user has enough of the transcriptions done, they can export those to a beautifully formatted PDF that has an accompanying WAV file to hear the person’s voice while looking at their life story.

What is the team composition?

I worked with one project manager and three developers. There was a frontend developer, backend developer, and one developer who subbed in.

How did you come to work with Cayugasoft Tech?

They were recommended by a technical person in my town and I trusted his recommendation. I spoke to a lot of different companies and shared my idea, and a lot of the quotes I received were crazy. Cayugasoft Tech had the most realistic one, and it didn’t seem like they were trying to exploit me.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from around November 2016–March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re very literal and do exactly what we tell them to, which means we have to be very clear in our requirements. It’s good because we receive exactly what we want.

How did Cayugasoft Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was good, via Slack and Trello. They’re in Ukraine, so these things allowed me to interact with them in an accessible way, while they were always willing to talk.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were a terrific company that I really enjoyed working with and would definitely do so again. They’re very fair in their pricing and they worked hard to make sure they delivered a quality product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They do exactly what you ask them to do, so you have to be sure of what you want. They’re very good, but it can be daunting. If you’re confident in what you are asking for, they’re terrific.

Their teams are very dedicated. I have worked with a lot of developers over the years, who can be irritable people, but Cayugasoft’s team is very friendly and accommodating. The project manager was helpful, and I liked working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

During the upfront calls, trust Eugene (COO & Co-Founder, Cayugasoft Tech); listen to him, and take his advice about what to do and not to do, because he knows what he’s talking about.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We create learner permit courses for our app, which is available in Australia, the U.S., and the U.K. I’m a co-founder and the acting CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EGO Creative Innovations?

We didn’t have an in-house developer and wanted someone to support us as we built the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our goal was to create more than just an app. We wanted to build an e-learning platform and have been building out the backend to work with both the app and the website. The finished product will be fairly complicated. They’ve been working to make the backend work with the frontend in React Native. It’s a cross-platform app for iOS and Android. They’re doing all the UX design and backend development.

The app itself replaces a driver manual and has a gamified structure. It goes through driving theory with pictures, gifs, and descriptions. Each user answers a series of questions until they get all of them right, then each chapter ends with a test. Users can’t advance to the next chapter until they’ve passed the test. Once the user advances, they get a new car in the app. We’ve also added achievement badges for inviting friends or using the app for a certain number of consecutive days.

What is the team composition?

We’ve had one project manager throughout the project. We’ve had two frontend developers, one backend developer, a QA lead, and one designer. The backend developer and the QA person changed in the process, but everyone else stayed on our project.

How did you come to work with EGO Creative Innovations?

We were originally looking for Swedish developers, but couldn’t find any that had the right level of expertise at a price within our budget. We started looking at developers in other countries and found two possible options through Clutch and other searches. We chose EGO because they had better designers.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent roughly 1.2 million SEK (approximately $136,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018. We finished the first part of development in the summer of 2018 and took a break. We’ll complete some tests before continuing development later in 2018 or early in 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a few issues in the beginning with the apps. We spent about three weeks fixing things and just started marketing. The app is already well-received on both the App Store and Google Play. We have a lot of happy users and we can see that several people are already recommending it. Our Instagram ads get good feedback and our ratings are good. We’re really pleased with the reception.

How did EGO Creative Innovations perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great. Our project was delayed because we changed the scope. The end goal has grown and become more complicated since we presented our initial idea. They’ve been clear and easy to work with from the beginning. We started with daily standups in Skype but changed over to Slack for most of our communication. That works really well for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re really dedicated to the product and committed to our needs. We had an issue with one of our certificates a few weeks ago. We messaged them and they resolved it within 20 minutes. They’re on top of everything.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could work on their communication. They’re not bad communicators, but that’s the only place I can think of that has room for improvement. Otherwise, they’re great to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don't have any specific recommendations, they're easy to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a startup called Ziptenant. We’re an automated property management platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EGO cms?

We were looking to create a mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The application is a user-focused, role-based platform that supports five parties involved in the renting process: the property owner, the vendor that oversees maintenance repairs, the leasing agent, the tenant, and the platform admin.

EGO cms helped plan the app in what they call “the blueprint process”, during which I was able to meet with a business analyst and plan wireframes collaboratively. Through that process, the EGO cms team added tremendous value by expanding on my ideas and providing substantive guidance on improving the platform and making it more comprehensive.

To create efficiencies for the codebase, we’re using Xamarin to support iOS and Android, and a combination of Google Cloud and Firebase on the backend. The app allows tenants to request repairs, communicate with the owner, read their lease, fill out applications, sign new leases, and do almost anything related to the property management lifecycle.

What is the team composition?

I work primarily with a project manager, who has also served as a business analyst for us. We also work with an architect and UI designer. There are about six people on our project altogether.

How did you come to work with EGO cms?

I’ve met several people in Denver’s tech industry that had worked with them before, and they came highly recommended.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $8,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018. We’re currently finishing up the wireframes in preparation for development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have measurable results to share as of yet, but they’ve done a great job so far.

How did EGO cms perform from a project management standpoint?

Their approach to managing this project has been outstanding. We use a combination of Jira and Confluence to collaborate and track progress. Communication is primarily via email and conference calls on Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve appreciated their professionalism and their ability to think outside the box. I’ve worked with offshore firms in the past, and it’s rare to find a group that takes a creative approach. They work proactively to confront complex challenges.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company offers a practice management web application. I’m the senior director of engineering.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EGO c.m.s.?

Since a lot of our customers wanted to access certain functionalities through their phone and tablets, we needed a mobile app version of our website. We chose to outsource to make it happen faster.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our architect drew up a list of requirements derived from our website and sent them to EGO. They came up with an estimate and started implementing them. They’ve already given us version one, and they’re now working on version two.

As they gain a better understanding of our system, they’ve given us feedback on the designs we’ve provided, offering options for doing certain things. Our product team then talks about their recommendations and chooses whether or not to use them.

The product is for iOS and Android. It has a streamlined user interface, which allows you to do certain things differently from the website. We’ve testing the app on the last two versions of most hardware platforms, including tablets, Apple phones, and Android devices.

What is the team dynamic?

We told them what our budget was and how fast we wanted to do it, and they sourced all of their team. The number varies over the course of the project. For version one, we worked with about 4–5 people. Currently, about 10 resources are working on version two, including QA [quality assurance] and design staff. They may not be full-time, as they come and go as required.

How did you come to work with EGO c.m.s.?

They were hired before I started working here.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $150,000 over the course of our relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

Version two started in September 2017. It’s due to be released in January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we’re still doing QA, we haven’t released any of the versions yet. So far, I’m happy with their progress. The estimates seem realistic, and they’ve hit all of them.

How did EGO c.m.s. perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a dedicated project manager who is very efficient and competent. We use JIRA to manage tasks, and we have weekly calls with their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their English-speaking ability makes a huge difference in communication. I’ve worked with other Russian teams where they can’t speak English—they can only write it, so we had to have conversations through tools rather than in person. It’s nice to be able to speak to every developer, QA person, and project manager on the team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not right now. We would have mentioned anything to them already.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Left Hook Digital does project-based, contracted integration development including API development. We have a few dozen clients in a three-month period. I’m the co-founder and managing partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EGO cms?

We needed more development power on our team. We had backend developers, but needed frontend development and help with the few backend issues we face.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This project is a pilot project. This is for one our partners, so if it works out well, we’ll do more projects with them. It’s an ongoing augment as needed.

We’re doing a direct integration between QuickBooks Online and a client's app that is essentially a bi-directional sync of accounting information. The integration between the client's App and QuickBooks Online and Desktop is programmed through our partner's platform. We created an app/service that sits between the external software and our client’s app. The middleware is embedded into the client’s app to make it look like it’s all one thing. You could call it a white-labeled intermediate integration app. EGO helped mostly with the frontend.

What is the team dynamic?

We initially engaged with Eugene, the CEO. He reviewed the project and pulled some people in from his team. Irina is helping with project management internally; we occasionally interacted with her as well. There was someone else on the project, but they quickly pulled him off when they realized he wasn’t needed. He actually pulled himself off which is pretty impressive. Misha is the one we’ve been working with primarily. We sync up with him at the end of his day and the beginning of our day. We check in to see how things have gone and if he has any questions. We set the stage for what he’s going to do the next day. That communication was regular throughout the project.

How did you come to work with EGO cms?

We had initially engaged another company, Ascendle, but the project wasn’t something they did. They referred us to EGO. We checked on their reputation, but we didn’t search for another company.

How much have you invested with them?

They gave us a blended rate, which is really helpful. We paid between $25 and $35 per hour, which averaged out to $32. They were flexible in handling the total cost. We decided that time and materials made the most sense. It costs between $3,000 and $5,000 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2017, and the work completed at the end of September 2017. They’re working on a part-time basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything has gone smoothly. I haven’t heard anything negative about their code. We don’t know enough about frontend development in Angular.js to know whether it’s good, clean code, but the end client does as well as other people we’ve contacted. Nobody has said anything about redoing that code. They’ve been responsive to feedback and are quick to implement.

How did EGO cms perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great. The only downside was that we had to make sure we could meet in the morning to sync up with them. We eventually became accustomed, but it was hard to get used to at first. It wasn’t any fault of theirs. They’ve been great at saying what issues there are and understanding what needs to be done. Eugene has everything under control and they’ve been following the contract closely and sending us details. There’s not been any a lack of response or an unacceptable delay.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve been very thorough and have been open to answering questions and reviewing anything that’s been done. They check in regularly with us. There have been a couple of times when the project has gone sideways, and Eugene reached out to see if we needed any additional resources or anything else. It was impressive to get that because it meant they’re communicating internally and getting regular debriefings on how things are going.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t see anything at the moment. They might benefit from having someone "stateside" that does project management as well. That way, the hours would overlap better. I don’t know if it would work or not. There’s nothing negative until someone tells me there’s something wrong with the code.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an EHR systems provider. I am the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cayugasoft Tech?

We needed an iOS app as an alternative to the existing web application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cayugasoft Tech developed our app. It’s a stripped-down version of the web app, and it provides scheduling and messaging on-the-move. There was one Swift developer assigned to our project.

How did you come to work with Cayugasoft Tech?

I interviewed a couple of companies, and Cayugasoft Tech seemed nice in comparison. They seemed to know what they were talking about, and they were affordable.

How much have you invested with Cayugasoft Tech?

The cost of Cayugasoft Tech’s work was about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Cayugasoft Tech in 2015. The project was completed in 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The code was clean and it worked. There was nothing else we measured Cayugasoft Tech against.

How did Cayugasoft Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a fairly simple project involving a developer and project manager. The project manager was available all the time, and we had no roadblocks. The communication was fairly straightforward.

What did you find most impressive about Cayugasoft Tech?

I’ve only worked with Cayugasoft Tech, so I couldn’t compare them with anyone else. They were competent, though.

Are there any areas Cayugasoft Tech could improve?

No. I was overall satisfied and have no complaints.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

itagit technologies is a digital media startup where we developed a proprietary platform that enhances digital experiences for users. Our core function is that we create applications that allow real-time interactivity between the user and content for radio, TV, or live events. Users are able to capture and interact with audio/video content being broadcasted from that source in real-time. I am an Egyptian entrepreneur and am founder and CEO of itagit. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EGO Creative?

The primary reason I reached out to EGO Creative was that our internal technical department decided to develop our Apple iOS and Android mobile applications using the Xamarin platform. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EGO Creative was commissioned to develop the iOS mobile application for 2 of my mobile brands. The first brand is a music discovery-related application called Tether, which they developed from scratch. My other brand is called TV Tag, which is related to TV interactivity and capturing real-time video via TV without using the camera phone. The applications were designed by an external third party, and we were developing the Android apps internally. We went through several scoping exercises to clearly identify the features, functions, and user flow within each application to reflect the designs that were created. They came back to me with a time and cost estimate, and we negotiated to come to an agreement with them. There was an NDA signed because we were dealing with proprietary technology.

We went through the phases of the development based on prioritization that I had set up. In the beginning, we didn’t have a certain number of resources from their team assigned to us. But, when the workload ramped up and it was clear that we would be engaged for 3 months, then we had dedicated resources, including iOS and Android developers and QA testers.

How did you come to work with EGO Creative?

I was recommended to search for developers on Upwork. I did a lot of research on different companies and individual developers. EGO Creative was shortlisted, along with 3 other providers. We chose them based on their experience and testimonials on the site, along with the fact that they had certified developers and were partners with Xamarin. They also gave a reasonable estimate on the cost.

How much have you invested with EGO Creative?

We have spent between $30,000 and $35,000 over the course of our relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2016, and the work is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our apps have only been on the market for 2 months. The apps that we created were quite innovative. There was no point of reference that you could compare either brand to. We are offering what we call never-seen-before mobile-based user experiences. We would not have been able to get the positive feedback we’ve gotten from the market and our investors without EGO Creative’s role in the project. Our investors and other people are intrigued with how we’re able to create these digital experiences.

How did EGO Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m in constant communication with a single project manager who’s responsible for the deliveries and any issues that come up. They are very clear on what tasks are being done and which are being prioritized. If we have any issues with testing, they’re quick to respond. We have a personal relationship as well as professional, which helps build rapport. We invited one of their developers to come to our offices for a week, and that helped build a stronger bond between our organizations. They helped us solve certain problems with how to scale certain parts of the application.

What did you find most impressive about EGO Creative?

I’ve dealt with 2 project managers over the course of our relationship. I’m very happy with the responsiveness of the second project manager. She’s always available over Skype, even during night hours when we need help with a live event. At one point, we had a cash flow problem, but they had a lot of patience with our situation, and we really appreciated that.

Are there any areas EGO Creative could improve?

I think there are certain key areas that any company can improve. One of those is reporting on a more periodic basis. Even though they are responding quickly already, they can work to make it even better. They could also expand their presence beyond Europe. With their expertise in Xamarin, it would be a good opportunity for them to improve and expand their reach. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a software solutions provider for the automotive industry, and I’m one of the directors. We’re located in England and we currently have five employees. Our software prepares reports which allow customers to inspect end-of-lease vehicles.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EGO Creative Media Solutions?

We had some legacy software on older technology which we needed to migrate over to a new mobile paradigm of Android and iOS. We didn’t have the skills in-house to do that, and we decided that it was better to outsource the mobile development part of the work rather than upskill.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first engaged their project managers to help scope out the project. We also have experience in that area, so it was a joint effort to come up with a solution that we liked. They then brought on board one of their technical architects, with whom we worked closely. We completed the wireframing and progressed to the MVP [minimum viable product stage]. We went through testing scenarios, and then we were able to launch.

In the early stages, we had quite a close interaction with them because we were new to outsourcing. As time went on, we’ve been able to step back from that day-by-day management. Initially, we engaged a project manager part-time, and then we brought in a developer on an hourly rate. We then switched to a fixed monthly contract, so the developer was working solely for us on a three-month rolling contract. We have the option of extending that to around 40–60 hours per week if necessary.

I liaise closely with their team lead, who either works on the project himself or delegates to another developer. As a result, we don’t have only one individual developer. There are a number of resources they can use who have knowledge across the project.

How did you come to work with EGO Creative Media Solutions?

It was a fairly brief process. We’ve not really outsourced before, so we were sort of sticking our toe in the water to test how the relationship would work. We went through Elance originally and had a number of responses back. After more in-depth interviewing with the providers, we felt that EGO Creative gave us confidence that they understood what we were after. They had experience in both Android and iOS development, so we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with EGO Creative Media Solutions?

We’ve spent around $5,000 to $7,000 per month throughout the course of the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in the first quarter of 2014 and launched at the end of 2014. It’s an ongoing project, as we have customers who are forever looking to bring more aspects of their business into our product. We’ve also used EGO Creative for other smaller applications we’ve needed over time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a specialized product, so we don’t have a huge volume of customers. However, our customers use it quite intensively. They are happy with the product, and we’ve had very positive feedback on the user interfaces. EGO Creative has a good understanding of how to make an app feel natural within the Android and iOS environments.

There have been times when we experienced slight misunderstandings, but that may have been due to a lack of specific explanations on our part. Those instances were quickly rectified, and we’ve overcome those challenges very easily.

How did EGO Creative Media Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a dedicated project manager who understands the product very well. She and her team have gone over and above when we had hard deadlines. We’ve been very pleased with the project management. We have regular Skype meetings, and we also use Atlassian’s JIRA and Confluence to track the project. We use the wiki quite extensively as a central repository to store knowledge of the project. We’ll write scope and feature requests within Confluence, which EGO Creative then translates into JIRA tasks for the developers.

What did you find most impressive about EGO Creative Media Solutions?

I don’t have much experience with outsourcing, so it’s difficult for me to compare. In my opinion, the most impressive aspects are the relationship we’ve developed, their understanding, and the pride they take in ensuring the product has an impact to the end user. They really appreciate positive feedback about how their work has benefited our customers. I believe that shows a level of care within the project.

Are there any areas EGO Creative Media Solutions could improve?

There have been some occasional misunderstandings due to the language difference, but we’ve been able to rectify them quickly. Because an outsourced team is not as close to the business as we are, there may be information missing from their knowledge base. It’s a two-way process to fill those gaps.