EIGHT25MOBILE

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of Distance Learning Providers, a medical educational services provider for the pharmaceutical tech industry. We connect healthcare providers with each other in a peer-to-peer environment and manage the logistics thereof, including faculties of key opinion leaders within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. That faculty contracts us to provide educational content to their peers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We deliver our services to the pharmaceutical representatives’ sales force. They approach clients in their own territories to offer peer-to-peer learning opportunities for the brands they’re marketing.

We maintain a website and portal for our sales force representatives where they can enter their requests for the educational programs, and we also have a site that schedules faculty and experts to conduct these programs. There’s a site which manages the program, using all types of platforms.

We approached EIGHT25 to create an iPad application which sales force representatives could use. This industry is very compliant and regulations-driven, so these things must be enforced in meetings. We wanted a company that would understand and be able to build an app to manage this process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first gave them aggressive parameters for the budget and timeline, and then brainstormed ideas of how we could build the app. We didn’t want to include every possible feature we have on our website because there would be too much detail. We brought in our industry, product, and service expertise, and EIGHT25 brought in how we could package mobile technology elements in that space—specifically iPad app technology.

They were responsible for both frontend and backend development. We’ll market the app once it’s done and we’ve approved it, so that service isn’t included. We’re a B2B model, so we don’t really have to market the product because we already have customers using the website.

EIGHT25 was responsible for the visuals and backend, so they started with drawing out the visuals. They had some kind of tool they used where they could mimic the real site with PSD [Photoshop data] files. We knew how the app would be linked and the visuals we were using, so once we were happy with the mockups, they started coding.

During the coding process, there was at least a 10–20% scope creep on what we thought we wanted, versus what we actually wanted. I found EIGHT25 more accommodating than others to adjust to changes on what our thought process was, within reason.  

There are many things that can’t be seen in a visual, and certain logical elements that go into the validations that aren’t visual. Those were not very clear at the beginning, but as the app was developed, we brought and programmed them in. It was a collaborative effort, even during the development process. The requirements changed 20–25% along the way, and we tested them the entire time.

What is the team composition?

The key person we worked with was Rahan [CEO, EIGHT25]. They participated in most of the brainstorming. After that, there was a project manager assigned to our project named Michael, and he became the main contact. There were other team members who were developing the app, but we didn’t interact with them.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We built an app with them 5–6 years ago that was specific to our client, so we had a prior relationship. One of my colleagues originally recommended them.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project started in November 2016, and the work is ongoing because we’re making some adjustments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There are a few bugs that we’re still working out. The actual launch has been pushed to January because the client didn’t want certain things due to compliance and regulation. I’m hoping to finalize all the bugs within a week or two.

We’ve showed the app to the client, and although we’re not gaining any new market share, it does help with loyalty and retaining clients. In the future, as we market for more clients, we can share with them the tools we have to earn additional business.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fine. Michael was very responsive, clear, and accommodating with changes. If anything was beyond scope, he would inform us.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

A lot of the widgets and tools are known by coders and developers, but EIGHT25 brought some creative solutions and approaches to build what we needed. The brainstorming session was one of their strengths.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They are a small entrepreneurial company, so they are sometimes constrained due to the projects they have. There are times when the quality of project management, follow-up, etc. are not consistent, and they tend to fluctuate. They have good project management processes in place, but they get overloaded at times, and it causes a lapse.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Capitalize on their strength, which is defining approaches. They have creative people who aren’t necessarily the developers, so it’s important to utilize that strength in order to ease the development process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Zing is a company located in San Francisco employing 2–3 people at a time. It worked on an online and mobile application specifically for music event organizations. 

I was lead engineer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We needed architecture that supported online contracting. The platform is almost like a social network for events, promoters, agents, and musicians. We needed technical resources to enable us to deploy that, so we had to outsource the whole project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were involved at the ground level. We closely reviewed requirements with Rehan [CEO, EIGHT25MOBILE] and Ranil [EIGHT25MOBILE] in terms of what we needed to deploy. Then we put together schedules and contracts to figure out phase implementation and release. We rolled out different schedules for different platforms.

We built the app for the web first and then for mobile. They decided to leverage the APIs that are built for the web for mobile as well.

The platform enabled promoters and agents to find each other. Then it provided a contract template with several features and details that they could select. Each party could modify it and negotiate back and forth. Once they reached an agreement, they could complete the contract online.

What is the team dynamic?

At any point, there were 2–3 engineers working on it. They had different engineers working on different platforms. Some people worked on the web architecture and later others worked on the mobile architecture.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

I have a personal relationship with them, so I knew how familiar they are with the industry. They don’t just have the technical resources to provide an architecture solution, they also actually understand the underpinnings of the industry and what requirements would and wouldn’t work for us. There isn’t really anyone else with that kind of understanding.

How much have you invested with them?

$70,000–$75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2011 until May 2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work they did was excellent, and we were pretty happy with it. The fact that the platforms all worked and we were able to release them was fantastic.

We had a lot of difficulty putting promoters and agents on the system, but that wasn’t related to the product that they built. Agents in the industry are very protective of their data and were really unwilling to expose it to the cloud.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a good job with that, and I wasn’t surprised by things. We had regular meetings that outlined timelines and internal success metrics in terms of what features would work and when. We used project tracking software and would get updates through that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate that they’re a custom shop. They take the time to really understand individual requirements and provide a solution accordingly. They don’t try to take solutions that they already have and try to fit your needs into that box.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Both Rehan and Ranil are fantastic. They have a unique depth of engineering talent that can’t be reproduced. Dealing with them is terrific, but it would probably be harder to deal with someone else. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The company was Chamba, a company set up 2 years ago to connect employers and Hispanic job seekers. We're in the process of closing down. I was the co-CEO and co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We needed to create a mobile app on 2 platforms in several languages. We didn't have any tech expertise, so we spoke to all our colleagues and asked for recommendations for what to do and who to do it with. Everyone told us to get an agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built us a job map application. There were two pieces: the user side, which was an app on Android and iOS, both in English and Spanish. They spoke to a backend, which was our admin platform. On the frontend, we had a brief questionnaire put together as an outline of a resume, which was more like a bio of the user and their experience.

That was the recruitment part. On the other side, we had a place where all the information was stored. We could then post our jobs to people who matched that criteria: skills, availability, hours, location, etc.

They did the initial design (regarding look and feel, not function), and then we did a redesign separate from them. We had the initial app fleshed out, but we stepped back and said, "This is not speaking to Hispanics." We went and got it redesigned for Hispanics by a different company that worked closely with EIGHT25MOBILE, which is how we ended up with a final product.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We had a fairly good idea of the product's functionality, as we weren't necessarily creating anything new. We wanted something geared toward Hispanic and low-wage/low-skill workers.

We were recommended to about 6–8 agencies and went through the process of speaking to them all. EIGHT25MOBILE was one of the final candidates. The moment we met with them, our product started getting better. They weren't just going to do what we thought we wanted.

The owner asked good, logical questions about why we were doing what we did and gave us suggestions. It was like having a free CTO and a great product manager all rolled into one. He didn't just give us his opinion; he gave us resources and recommendations and showed them in action, which was helpful. We felt we were in safe hands, that the product would be better crafted and more complete.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $200,000–$250,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from April 2016 to October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app worked fantastic when we were out recruiting. It was a huge success. Our Hispanic workers readily identified with what we were doing, and they found the app very easy to use. We had user groups from Hispanic grandfathers to teenage kids, and everybody loved it—they noticed it was designed for them. There are many apps out there that just let you change the language, and we learned that culturally, that's not the best way to reach your audience.

Everything about our business worked on the recruitment side, but we couldn't get people to show up for interviews. It was an expensive shame because it's a massive market and a population that's increasingly under-served by the economy.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

They had to educate us on some aspects because we're not technical. We used a tool called Basecamp. Once we got the hang of that, things were on track. They did a really good job.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everybody says the owner is a fantastic product person. He's not about optimizing money but about what's right for the company and the product. He showed us shortcuts so we would save money, and structured things so we could lay the foundation for something and execute it later.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did a great job. I would definitely use them again. There was a learning curve, but that was on our side.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the VP of software engineering of Briostack. We provide CRM [customer relationship management] solutions for pest control companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We needed to rewrite our main UI [user interface] that is used for the back-office staff. It was fairly outdated and needed to have a fresher look and feel. The other part was that we needed it to be mobile friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We brought them in to help with the design aspect to give us a fresh, modern design and update the look and feel of the UI. We had already done some background work and put together a set of mock-ups, which we gave them as a starting point. They took those and basically redesigned the visual aspects to make it prettier and really stand out. 

Their design team created a first draft and then sent it to us for review. We used some online tools to collaborate and provide feedback on the drafts, and then they went and made the changes we requested. We would go through that feedback loop until we were satisfied that all of our comments and changes had been fulfilled. They did the implementation of a CSS [cascading style sheets] theme for a framework we’re using, but they didn’t do any coding outside of CSS.

The main feature of the new design is mobile support. Other features include completely reorganizing the UI, which is much easier to navigate and to understand. We have built-in elements such as recently visited or changed items, notifications, and a new method of filtering our main lists. Some redesign controls and things such as date filters have been redesigned as well. 

We have yet to implement it all, but it is going to be very helpful for us to reference those designs as we go forward and actually implement them in our product.

What is the team dynamic?

My primary contact has been with just 1 person. He then interfaces on his side with some designers. I have also interfaced with their sales representative and another member of the executive team on occasion.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We found them through some Google searches. I initially found several companies that offered design services and sent out an RFP [request for proposal] to several of them. We received a few, compared them, and were impressed with EIGHT25MOBILE’s presentation, the work they would provide, and the cost they were offering.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August of this year and the project was finished in October.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work they have provided has been really helpful as we have been trying to lock down what our new UI is going to look like, and get us those pixel perfect designs that we can base our development off.

Generally, we have received really good feedback internally. As we have reviewed the designs, people have really loved the look and feel, and have said it feels modern and sleek.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

They did very well. There was an initial delay between when we signed and when we engaged, which was a little longer than I expected, but they were very responsive after that. We were in contact almost daily throughout the design process, and they were able to turn around our requests quickly and were very conscious of our internal deadlines. They were willing to do whatever they had to in order to meet those. I felt good about the way they managed that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The first thing we noticed was their bid and proposal process. A lot of companies would just send back a high-level estimate and not much else around it. They took the time to get on a call with us, really understand the requirements, and put together a formal presentation with examples of their work, several slides on the services they provide, and a detailed breakdown of what they would do for us. They got on a call with our executive team to present that to us, which is something that no one else did. We were impressed with their presentation and sales process, and how they gave us a clearer picture of what we were getting out of the engagement.

Beyond that, I was impressed with the way they managed the schedule and the relationship. We had a couple of miscommunications and some work we expected to be done that they hadn’t understood. However, they made it right with us, which was probably at a loss to them, and gave a discount to us to get that extra work done.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be a little better at understanding the requirements up front. I think they still did better than most companies, but there was that one miss, where I thought they were doing one thing, and they understood something else. It ended up being a difference we had to work out later on.

The other thing would be to engage earlier after the initial contract was signed, and perhaps provide a timeline upfront. This would have been helpful for us, as once they did engage, they were really great, but there was that gap of a couple of weeks that had us worried for a bit.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product manager of a cloud-storage software provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We have internal developers, but not many UI designers or frontend coders. We wanted to externalize these parts since our developers were more focused on the core of our technology. The idea was to develop a new UI quickly, on top of our existing software.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a discovery phase, and focused mostly on the design during the first few weeks. It was a new UI, which required trying different look-and-feels, frameworks, and organizational approaches. We started development after we agreed on a look.

EIGHT25MOBILE took our project through its initial design, slicing, frontend development, and API interactions. We are taking care of the backend work. The platform is compatible with all web browsers.

Our main customers are internet service providers, TV broadcasters, media and entertainment companies, medical professionals, industry and government entities, and end users who can all store their data using our web app.

What is the team dynamic?

They assigned a project manager from their side who organized and explained the different steps of the project. The team consisted of 4–5 people, including a project manager, UI designers, and frontend developers.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We evaluated multiple agencies, both in Europe and the U.S., and tried to scope the work in many ways, from design only, to both design and development. We initially started out with another company, but we weren’t happy with their design.

We chose EIGHT25MOBILE because of their reactivity and experience. They were able to showcase some of the apps they’d developed in the past, and we found them to have an interesting approach to their implementations.

They had the right technical skills for what we were considering. Their project planning was also a key element in our decision. They had a good breakdown, and even with a short timeline, were able to move quickly through the different phases.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost has been around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with EIGHT25MOBILE in June 2017, and the relationship is ongoing. We had a first delivery during the summer, and have started working on phase 2 of the project, which includes adding many new functionalities to the web UI. We plan to use them for a 3rd and 4th  phase in 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The purpose of the web UI is to operate our software. We have gone through a few iterations before reaching our end customers, with the goal of making the app’s interface aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. We aren’t sure yet what the ultimate gain will be, but the main motivation of our work is to acquire more customers and improve our business.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided a project management plan with a great breakdown of different tasks and areas, from design, to frontend coding, and even QA. We’ve had multiple calls during the week to follow-up the project, as well as almost daily interactions with the project manager. It was great to have a single contact on their side who coordinated and facilitated the work. At the same time, I have acted as the primary contact on our side.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve been impressed with their capacity to quickly deliver quality code. The app is stable, so we’re happy with the execution. We challenged EIGHT25MOBILE to deliver something in 2 months, and they were able to do it.   

Are there any areas they could improve?

They provided great design, but I sometimes wanted more creativity on their side. Even if it’s not a big deal for us, since we’re more of a B2B company than B2C one, having more artistic creativity would bring more value to their deliverables.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

K12 Link develops education apps for the high school level. I’m the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We didn't have anybody technical on our team. We needed the architecture of the app to be developed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a discovery meeting to go through the app idea, using design sketches to show them how we wanted to set it up. The app evolved through recommendations and suggestions they had regarding the app's frontend and backend. There was a launch call where I was introduced to my project manager and went through my expectations.

The app was built for iPhone and Android. It takes the entire student experience—the student handbook, the day planner, the calendar—and puts it on their mobile phone. Schools can customize the app with their school colors and logos, enter the course curriculum for students to pick their schedules, etc. EIGHT25MOBILE helped with marketing and getting the app into both app stores.

They also put a small website together for the company.

What is the team dynamic?

I dealt with my project manager for the most part. We had a designer and an iOS and Android developer. A team of 3–4 individuals were working on the app at any given time.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

I liked the total package they provided. They provided a designated project manager to do everything through, rather than having to work with 6 different people. Seeing their past work and the experience they brought to the table led us to choose them. Even though the project didn’t develop further, they told me that they also did website and marketing solutions. Everything was under one roof, which was nice if I ever needed it.

How much have you invested with them?

$150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2014 and December 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The discovery stage opened my eyes to a greater potential, and we even discussed marketing strategies. The launch was successful and we have our customers, but I didn’t have the time to expand it further.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

For the most part, they were fantastic. The project manager did a good job. They kept me up to date with timelines for each part of the project, as well as when I needed to get things to them. It helped keep the project moving.

What did you find most impressive about them?

A huge win my eyes was design suggestions. I had ideas on how I wanted it laid out, and they made recommendations. It came out better than I anticipated. I liked their creativity and how they took my idea, saw my vision, and expanded on it. That was super helpful. I didn’t know what to expect when I went into it, but it was nice to have the expertise and guidance that they were able to supply throughout the whole project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything went well. There were little hiccups along the way, but I contributed to some of those issues. Overall, I was satisfied. If I ever create another app, I’ll definitely be utilizing them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the head of growth at Different. We are a property management company in the Australian market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

I needed help with the design and the development of a platform and application, which was going to be attractive in the marketplace and to the online community.

The web aspect is where people can see what the company is all about. Once we sign with a client, they have their own portal. For a client, it’s through both Android and iOS, while for an owner, it is a log in landing page specific to them. That side of things needed security.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

They designed everything from scratch and were involved in every aspect relating to digital. They told me would work and explained what has worked in the past. We worked together, and while the look and feel of it came from both sides, but they probably did about 80%–90% of the work.

Each tenant logs onto our generic portal in the app and each bit of information is there. For example, each person can access their lease, tenant ledger, where they are paid up to, or their ID and application. The same thing applies to the owner’s portals, but it is a web-based product.

In terms of the security aspect, we had to build in the security features as we are dealing with highly sensitive information including banking and personal identification. They built the security system around this and made sure we wouldn’t be susceptible to hackers.

What is the team dynamic?

We had at least 8–10 people working on this project at any one time. Most of my communication was with 1–3 people, and they filtered the information through to the rest of the team.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

I was introduced to them through a friend, and once I saw the quality of their work, I was confident to go with them and didn’t interview anyone else. Because someone I know well gave me a recommendation, I knew they were the answer.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent somewhere between $500,000–$600,000 to date.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together last December and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. They have made my life a lot easier in terms of getting the tech done. That has allowed me to focus on what I am good at, which is the property side of things.

They have been excellent with everything they have delivered. They have given me guidance on what is going to work and not going to work. They were really good about educating me yet weren’t pushy about it, and would stop me and let me know if they thought we were going down the wrong path.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

They have been excellent. We use email, Slack, and WhatsApp to maintain communication in different ways. As far as timelines are concerned, I don’t think they have missed a timeline that I hadn’t changed my mind on, which is my fault as I had changed the parameters in which we were working under.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication was good, and they really led me in the right direction. I am pleased that they helped me point my business in the right direction, making sure that we were on track. I’ve set some pretty tight deadlines, they stuck to them and would work through the night to make sure I had something for my clients the next day. They were excellent, and I can’t fault their service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I think they have themselves aligned correctly in their marketplace, and they are going to only strengthen as they grow and get to scale.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am one of the Co-Founders and COO at an online tutoring company. We focus specifically on tutoring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects. We offer 3 different services, which include Online Tutoring, Homework Help, and Lab Help.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

As a startup, we had a decent amount of the wireframing for our idea completed ahead of time. However, none of us including the 3 other Co-Founders had the experience to build out a full online tutoring website. We needed help building the online platform and integrating whiteboard and video technologies to get the company up and running. Also, an important aspect of our website that needed to be built in was the ability for tutors to be able to preview student assignments before offering help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started out showing them the wireframes. They used Invision to build a more detailed wireframe which included UI and color schemes. They also used Invision to show us a more detailed outline of each of our website pages including our home page, services page, and about us page.

After building out the UI and detailed wireframe for each of our pages, EIGHT25 then built the backend logic for all 3 tutoring services. This included a filter to enable tutor searches for our Online Tutoring Service. For Homework and Lab Help, students are able to submit homework assignments through the website and specify subjects, price amounts, etc., which are then routed to the appropriate tutors.

They also created a student and tutor dashboard page, where tutors can review assignments before offering help. This is also where students and tutors go to log into an online, homework, and lap help tutoring session.

To create our virtual classroom, EIGHT25 integrated Scribblar’s technology, which is a virtual whiteboard with a video platform.

Lastly, they built the admin panel, where we can see all the messaging between tutors and students, approve tutors, see what types of sessions are happening, and review student account applications.

What is the team dynamic?

There are 8–10 on the team. We initially met with Rehan [CEO, EIGHT25MOBILE]. Faz [Project Manager, EIGHT25MOBILE] was our dedicated customer success manager. We had 2 people on the frontend who worked on the wireframe and the UI. There were people on the QA side and the backend as well.

In the middle of the project, we had 3 different backend or full-stack developers that were building the website out. We worked most closely with Faz.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We talked to about 7–8 website agencies we found through online research or had heard of from other clients. We narrowed it down to EIGHT25MOBILE and one other website agency.

EIGHT25MOBILE took a very consultative approach, which is why we went with them. Other companies would ask us the scope, but they were much more interested in how much they would charge us. At our first meeting with EIGHT25MOBILE, we didn’t even talk about price. It was about them finding out what we wanted to do and what we wanted from the website.

They also offered suggestions to save us time and money. For example, when we talked to the other agencies about the whiteboard technology, many of them wanted to build it internally from scratch, which really bumped up the price. Right from the start, Rehan suggested a ready-made solution that would work better and cost less. That was another reason we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

Between $50,000–$125,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2016 and finished September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just finished a soft launch of the website and are getting into marketing it and rolling it out fully. We wouldn’t have been able to get it launched so soon at this price point without them. We’re happy with the work they did and that the platform is up and running.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

We were really happy with Faz and communicated daily. We’d have email conversations 2-3 times per week with other team members as well.

One of the best parts of working with Eight25 and Faz was that we were always in the loop. There was never a point where we were unsure about what was going on or what was being worked on. Our website was fairly complex, especially on the backend so constant communication was really important to ensure the project’s success. Every week we received a progress report on what they were working on or fixing, and considerations for the next week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The consultative approach is the biggest thing I would highlight. That was what sold us on them, and it continued throughout the project. We’d always get feedback and options for doing things better. They acted as business partners and part of our team rather than just an agency completing our website. We enjoyed working with them. They’re all fun and good people.

Throughout the process, they weren’t looking to add cost. They were looking do the work most effectively and efficiently. They came up with a lot lower price than other companies because of this approach.

They ended up overdelivering, with a better website than we had imagined.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was one area that needed a little improvement, but they addressed it well. In the middle of the project, they switched up their QA team. For a couple weeks, their releases weren’t as vetted as the previous ones. Once they brought the new people up to speed, we didn’t have any more issues. They probably could’ve avoided that, but they fixed the problem quickly and we were happy with the new team they brought in.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Good Green Moving App. We focus on minimizing the carbon footprint and consumption of natural resources within the moving industry while giving back to the local and global communities. I realized I had a transcendent brand, and wanted to scale into all industries through technology.

I started Good Green Technology after 3 years in the moving industry, then created the Good Green App, which is a marketplace solution software used to order household services to a phone, and also manage back-of-house software as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

I wanted to scale nationally and internationally, and be able to manage numerous locations through a platform while guaranteeing quality of service. I thought I’d have a better opportunity of doing so with quality control through technology.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped me create 6 applications. There’s an Android and iOS version for both customers and employees, and also a web app that tracks all the incoming information. They are all Good Green App, but depending on the login, users are taken to different places. A customer can use the app to order 6 different products via video upload, which saves our employees time as far as meeting customers goes.

Customers are able to get 5-star service on their phones, ultimately saving them time and money. The process takes about 10 minutes, which is much more streamlined. The information is fed into our web app, and we produce an estimate within 24 hours for the project. There’s a customer base where every individual person is reviewed. I digitize all forms and industries as well.

We’re also going to be rebuilding habitats around the world, and our customers will be able to track these as well. Good Green App is helping rebuild the planet.

What is the team dynamic?

We have at least 10 of their team members working with us, including app developers, front and backend developers, QA, and project management resources.

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

I interviewed a bunch of companies, some of which I knew personally, and some that were guided through research. EIGHT25 was one of the top-rated companies, and also the most knowledgeable. They weren’t the cheapest, but I felt I could count on them to do a great job.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2016, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re actually just now launching the apps for the customer base. I haven’t had an opportunity to test it because right when we were launching, Apple came out with a new update, so we had to fix some bugs.

I was part of Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston, and there was incredible feedback. Everyone was very impressed. I was 1 of 4 companies that were selected to present on stage, and I also had a bunch of venture capitalists and angel investors that were all really interested. I was the only company interviewed by Forbes personally.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

They do a great job with communication as well as managing the project and expectations. We knew it was going to take this long, and we were planning to launch between October–December. The launch got pushed back to December due to the complicated nature of the project and having to be done in sprints. They managed this all very well. We mainly use Google Drive and Google Docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really care about creating a great product. They are very supportive and have a deep amount of knowledge in all facets of product development, from design, functionality, to overall user acceptance.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They’re developing a whole marketplace for me, and not many companies can do such a thing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a self-funded startup company with 3 co-founders. We do some consulting services in the medical device industry and offer a platform for data management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We wanted to create a cloud-based solution that stores people’s information in a central location. We wanted to have apps on different platforms as well as a web app to allow people to access their information quickly using a few search terms. Since we don’t have in-house expertise in web and app development, that’s the part that we’re farming out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We spent quite some time coming up with a detailed set of specifications for release 1.0, so they started development with a good understanding of what we wanted. Currently, we’re working with them on release 1.1, which has an expanded set of requirements.

It’s an iOS app that allows users to take pictures of documents and store them in different folders so that they can retrieve information quickly. Users can upload scanned pictures, images, or even documents downloaded from the web browser on a phone. The basic architecture is pretty much set, so we’re just working through some workflow improvements to make the app easier to use. The server end of our platform was developed internally.

What is the team dynamic?

Initially, the overall manager of projects negotiated the contracts. Then, we talked with their local technical manager, who got more detailed information and worked with a software lead back in India. They also have a technical manager in India who manages 2–3 developers, including designers of the GUI [graphical user interface].

How did you come to work with EIGHT25MOBILE?

We looked on the web and found different app development companies; some of them were referred by our friends and family. We interviewed 10–15 companies within a period of 3–4 months, discussing our needs and their expertise to see whether there’s a good fit. While other companies offered more comprehensive services, their pricing structures really didn’t align with ours. EIGHT25 was cost-effective, which is a priority since we’re using our own money to seed this platform. At the end of this process, we chose EIGHT25 since they provided a value proposition.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000–$75,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2016, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform isn’t available to the public yet, but we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from our beta testers. Outside of our close-knit group, we haven’t really shown it around to other stakeholders.

How did EIGHT25MOBILE perform from a project management standpoint?

From the start, we had a very tight, collaborative arrangement. Early on, we established a weekly conference call with them. Sometimes, we would talk a couple of times a week to discuss the set of specifications that we agreed on. If they had questions about detailed implementation or overall design aspects, we would discuss those in our calls.

They get high marks for being responsive and keeping us updated on a regular basis. If they have questions, they don’t let issues fester for too long—they come right back with either solutions or different ways of approaching the issue. We use a bug tracking system called Unfuddle, where we can publish tickets anytime we have issues with the app’s performance. They would respond with fixes pretty quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They proactively come up with alternative approaches and additional features that improve performance. We feel like they’re our in-house developers sometimes. They don’t let contracts get in the way of suggesting and implementing other ways to make the app work a whole lot better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s not a showstopper or anything, but I think they could improve in terms of testing. They should set up an automated app testing structure as they develop releases of the app. A lot of times, fixing 1 bug has an adverse effect on other things. If the app is highly data-driven and there a lot of rote processes—a lot of the same use cases that you can run, it would be beneficial to have automated testing. They know about this issue, and they’re starting to address it.