EltexSoft

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Timealy is a London based online click-and-collect food platform connecting customers to restaurants on real time basis.. Timealy aims to revisit the food ordering cycle adapting it to the new Circular Economy vision and make the overall takeaway experience more sustainable for both the Restaurants and Customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EltexSoft?

Once the concept was validated we started looking for a Software House which could develop Timealy into a native mobile app. At that stage we had just a break down of the Functional and Non Functional Requirement of the app envisaged within a series of wire-frames. We needed someone who could look after the following: - Design - Back End development - Front End Development - QA - Testing

What were your goals for this project?

The main goals of the projects were to develop a disruptive and solid application to be released in large scale on a number of European markets.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We approached several vendors in central East Europe, with a focus on Ukraine because we felt that there was a strong talent and expertise in technical skills such coding and programming. We overall approached 10 vendors in different Ukrainian and Polish cities. In a second stage we shortlisted 3 of them which fit the parameters of experience, size and price. After few discussions we decided to appoint Eltex.

Describe the project in detail.

Timealy is a real time Click-and-Collect food platform offering flash deals on fresh meals.The marketplace works in real-time, allowing restaurants and groceries to offer deals on-the-go.The focus is during off-peak hours or at end of day. The stack of Timealy was agreed with Eltex on the basis of building a native App for both IOS and Android. The project started with the finalization of the Branding identity with the designer followed with the launched of the coding by the Back End Engineers. During the project constant discussions were held with the Etltex BAs and PMs. The following steps involved the front end effort to optimize the UI and UX aspects of the Application. For each stage of production UAT and QA was performed by Eltex team.

What was the team composition?

Eltex team was made of@ - 1 PM - 1 BA - 1 IOS developer - 1 Android developer - 1 Front End developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The App was released and on-boarded in Apple Store and Google Play at the end of the project in a seamless way. The Application was fully functional since day 1 and available for download in all United Kingdom. The few bugs identified were addressed on a timely manner and no structural problems impacted any of the features within the App. The feedback of the early adopters was extremely positive in terms of design and UX.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Eltex team worked very efficiently with an adequate level of supervision and monitoring in the activities.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The level of professionalism and the strategic mindset of the company stood out. Those are the two main values that impressed me throughout the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Working with Eltex has been a very pleasant experience and the quality of the deliverable has been excellent, i wish Eltex can carry on in such journey by developing the communication skills of the developers (e.g. english) the more operational members of the staff.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CTO of a 3D printing manufacturing platform. We manage the workflow and process 3D printing orders from design to delivery to the customer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EltexSoft?

We wanted to find a cost-effective business partner to focus on features while we handled customer interfacing, platform maintenance, and upgrades. Our ideal partner would allow us to focus on the reactive and hands-on side of the business while letting them create feature son an ongoing basis with minimal distraction.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EltexSoft is responsible for the development side of our business. We design features and create documents that show the customer view of the item. Then we create a draft of the engineering design. The EltexSoft team reviews the draft, creates a scope based on the complexity of the project, and develops the project. Our team sets biweekly goals for them to accomplish.

The EltexSoft team is fluent in full effect development. Their team is made up of specialized experts. We work with database Python experts who also help with UI, business platform logic developers, and front end developers who can create very interactive interfaces. Part of the benefit of working with them is that they have various members that understand the different layers of the stack in detail. They have the expertise in-house to take a feature, implement all of the various interlocking pieces, and deliver a completed idea.

One example of a feature EltexSoft completed was a new style of fittings items together for shipping. Our backend algorithm was separate from the system and we gave them an overview of what the customer interface should look like and what the business logic needed to be at a high-level pseudocode. They did the vast majority of implementation, unit tests, and integration of this additional packing information into our platform.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with the same three members of the EltexSoft team. They’ve been flexible about assigning an extra person or two to our project when our schedule demands it.

How did you come to work with EltexSoft?

We had been working with a contractor, but they did not have enough staff to give us the support we needed. They recommended that we get in touch with EltexSoft because they were better equipped for a project of this scale.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with EltexSoft began in October 2018 and we renew our contract on a monthly basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They produce high-quality work for us. EltexSoft does a good job of asking the right questions to get clarity about a feature at the beginning of the process, that way they can do the minimum implementation without adding unnecessary functionality. Their team is good at scoping and getting clarification early on in a project, which makes the rest of the project run very smoothly.

How did EltexSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

They do a great job of managing projects. EltexSoft reliably joins our daily stand-up calls and regularly updates tickets with information and examples. They’ve integrated directly into our ticketing system but are still able to function independently. 

We use Clubhouse for internal development and Zendesk for external development. I send a weekly email to our business contact at EltexSoft just to check in on our status and how to best move forward. They are responsive to us asking them for steps to reproduce a project and always give us information on how to test new features. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a startup where we all have to wear many hats and take a lot of responsibility, it’s been helpful working with another provider with the same attitude. They have a strong feeling of responsibility and ownership. EltexSoft is very willing to work at all times to solve a problem. Their team takes ownership of bugs and solves emergency issues. They have also taken responsibility for the quality of the code and become our key collaborators for delivering results quickly and well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m actually quite happy with them. You can always find details that could be improved, but there’s a reason we continue to renew our contract every month for the past 12 months and for the foreseeable future. They just do a great job. Overall, they are excellent partners who we will continue to work with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have clear specifications and user cases upfront to reduce the number of times that you need to answer the same question. Having a clear location for them to work from gets them moving faster and reduces turnaround on repeated emails.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re developing a language learning app that uses movie clips. I’m the founder of our startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EltexSoft?

We needed a developer for programming and technical work for this project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app is built on a PHP backend with a database. They developed both front- and backend, and did frontend integrations with the designs for our website. They built a user control panel, and a moderator and admin panel into the backend. They were also responsible for the iOS version.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is our project manager, but we also interact with a backend programmer, an iOS developer, and the owner of the company.

How did you come to work with EltexSoft?

Another part of this project is a desktop tool for video and audio processing. We used another expert for that element, and he recommended EltexSoft to do the development.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018. We’re in the process of transferring the project to our own team, but they’re still working on it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They produced our entire system, which works well. We’ve had no issues beyond the expectable small bugs, and we’ve worked everything out over time. I enjoy working with them, and we have a pleasant relationship.

How did EltexSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is strong. We chat on Slack daily, and they use Jira to track all our action items. They’re very well organized and responsive, and the documents they produce are all in very clear English.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re smaller than some firms, so their work feels more personal.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project resources changed over the course of the project. The same team would have been better throughout, but that’s the only thing I can think of to change.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If I had to do it over again, I would have written clearer specifications and provided more input at the beginning. The scope evolved for the better, but we would have had a more complete picture if we thought everything through upfront.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product manager at a food startup. We provide everyday meal programs for growing companies. I oversee all software development efforts, as well as partnerships and any other contracted projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EltexSoft?

We wanted a fully developed web portal for our clients to create accounts, view upcoming menus, and place orders.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When I came on, the web app was mostly developed, but we worked to refine it. EltexSoft produced mockups and designs of proposed features, and then we’d go over them together to work through any challenges we foresaw. They mostly used PHP, JavaScript, and Python. The web portal is currently in use, but we continue to add updates as we go.

What is the team composition?

My primary point of contact was Alexandra (Project Manager, EltexSoft). I also worked with Dmitriy (Full Stack Developer/Team Lead, EltexSoft). 6–7 people worked on our project.

How did you come to work with EltexSoft?

They were already our primary software consulting team when I came on.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was a fairly successful project. We had a few hiccups and bugs, as is the case with all new software, but EltexSoft was quick to respond and fixed everything.

How did EltexSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

When developing a new feature, I’d give their project manager a proposal, and they’d come back to me with an estimate. I’d then use a Jira account to monitor the sprints. I had Skype meetings with both Alexandra (scheduling updates, timing, budget) and Dmitriy (future feasibility and technical requirements).

They were realistic regarding budgets and time estimates and were quick to alert me if there were any problems that required changes. Our CEOs were in contact.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We built an outstanding relationship with them. They put a personal touch on their projects and tailor their solutions to their client’s needs. I was blown away by their ability to intuit features. As soon as we discussed a new feature, they were telling us everything we needed to make it happen, including things we hadn’t thought of ourselves.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The language barrier was challenging at times, but the project manager’s English was superb. Calls with the developers could have been more straightforward, but working through our point of contact went very well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure everyone is on the same page, and that the project’s directions and features are laid out clearly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an online marketplace platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

We were looking for a company to help us develop a web platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled everything–from building out the wireframes and the design to managing front- and backend development. It's a marketplace platform that has dashboards, billing and scheduling tools, payment tracking, and a CRM. There is also a chat integration. They used Java, PHP, APIs, Stripe Connect, and QuickBlocks to develop the platform.  

What is the team composition?

We had a full-time team consisting of a lead developer, front- and backend developers, a QA person, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with them?

I came across Icemint when I was looking for developers that built WayUp.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in 2016 and the main development was completed in 2017. We're still working with them to add new things to the platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're a multimillion-dollar platform. The quality of their work was great, so I'd give them the highest mark.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They were responsive despite the time difference (they're based in Ukraine). Even when I contacted them at 1 a.m. their time, they responded immediately. We mostly used Jira and Slack to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very professional and knowledgeable. They're not the type of developers who implement what I tell them. They know what will fail and what will work, so they make recommendations and come up with their own ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you're looking to build a sophisticated marketing platform, use the full team from Icemint. I don't recommend getting an outside designer and having them do the development work. Use their team for everything because things will happen quicker. They're a great choice for building a web platform, especially in a B2B and B2C marketplace.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a scalable assistant platform, which could be considered a marketplace. Our company easily connects with companies’ work tools like email, calendar, Slack, and texting, allowing individuals and teams to outsource nonessential tasks like scheduling meetings or doing data entry. Highly educated human assistants handle the work. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Icemint?

I started building the platform just like an MVP with a sole developer. He was helping me as a side project. We worked together for about 3 months, and he was building at an adequate pace. Then, he disappeared. I was left with unfinished code and needed to find a brand-new developer. I also needed to do a full-scale code review. I don’t know much code at all since I’m more on the sales, marketing, and operations side. I do handle all the product design and UX. At the time, I had something of an MVP, but I needed another feature to launch. I reached out to Icemint to build out this final feature so I could launch my MVP. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave Icemint the code, which was jumbled and not in great shape. We couldn’t even get it to deploy at first. We worked on a flat negotiated rate, but they ended up doing quite a bit of extra work in the beginning to put me at ease and get to a point where they could start building. To do that, they spent over a week doing free work, which wasn’t part of the scope of work that we initially discussed.

They have a QA layer, but I did the full design layout. All the designs that I provided were in Photoshop, so they could actually recreate everything themselves. I’d give them some guidance as far as what kind of text and images to use and what layout I wanted. We worked with Envision and things like that. I learned how to use Sketch recently, which is starting to make the work more streamlined.

The backend is in Python, and the frontend is all Angular JS. I believe the database is SQL. They first worked on email integration by doing IMAP and SNTP integrations and some API work as well for Google. Now, we’re doing feature development and improving parts of the backend. We did a public beta launch, but it wasn’t necessarily large. We’re also building to scale more easily.

How did you come to work with Icemint?

I interviewed 20 developers before I chose Icemint. A lot of people wanted to charge me for a week of code review, but for that price, I could’ve built a whole extra feature.

How much have you invested with Icemint?

I’ve spent $17,000 with them so far. It’ll probably grow to $35,000 or $40,000 by the end of the year. In 2018, we’ll probably add another person.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together for 6 months, but we took a 2-month hiatus while I started selling the MVP. We’ve just been working on the product again for the last 3 months, and we’ll be working on it for the foreseeable future. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

By using Icemint, I haven’t had to find an in-house developer. I’m actually able to put resources into hiring an account manager and operations resources. I didn’t think that would happen before meeting Icemint. I felt in control of the process in the sense of telling them what I wanted. I QA-tested everything before we went live, and I gave the authority to launch.

We launched with no bugs, and the platform has never gone offline. I have all the core competencies that I need on my end. Because they’re in Ukraine and I’m in New York City, it’s really important for the basic things to work, especially at 6:00 PM. I’m getting to a point where I have certain clients who actually take up to 40% of my revenue, so if I lose that client, it’s like I’m back at square 1. Icemint did a really great job of making sure that everything is sound, even when starting with code that they didn’t make from scratch. They did a great job of putting me at ease, especially on the small business side. Right now, the company is made up of myself and another person, so every penny counts. I really appreciate the way that Icemint handles things.

In terms of monthly growth, we’ve been live for 5 months and had 65% growth every month so far. A lot of that is due to the product quality. The space I work in is somewhat competitive, but the clients like the features and the technology behind the platform. We haven’t really gotten any complaints about anything not working. Our team is doing a lot of work on the backend to start automating things.

I’ve funded the whole company. Icemint has built something that we can sell. Now that we actually have enough recurring revenue, we can bring Icemint on board almost full-time. Right now, they’re working 30 hours a week.

How did Icemint perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very communicative. I have a project manager that I solely work with, and she’s amazing. We message multiple times every day. Nobody’s dropped the ball, and everybody knows exactly what’s going on. At the end of the day, we get an update, even if they’ve only worked for a couple of hours. They tell us when things are moving and when things are stuck. They saved us time through their suggestions and the workflows that they put in place.

What did you find most impressive about Icemint?

I liked that they’re an agency of full-time employees. Even when we weren’t working together, we built the MVP on a flat rate. I think I paid them a little bit more after that, and then I didn’t have any money left. I told them I was going to try to sell it and then come back to them. Even for small bugs that weren’t even their fault, they would do fixes here and there for free. We didn’t have a contract at the time. They didn’t know if I was going to sell more in the future or if I was even going to be a future client. They probably believed in the product and were generally helpful.

I wasn’t necessarily taking full advantage of their expertise. They know how to do everything. This platform has a lot of integrations, and some of them aren’t APIs. We’re thinking about doing a Zapier integration. I’m somewhat technical, but I don’t know how to code. Once I ask for something, Icemint is really good at providing estimates and explaining the process. They’re very transparent. They’ve never gone over budget.

Are there any areas Icemint could improve?

They’re a core part of my business now. There’s nothing I would change about our partnership. They’ve already adapted to what I needed.

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

Connect with them on the overall scope of where the platform’s going. After a large push, they’ll ask what the next 5 steps are. For example, if I tell them I want to build out these 15 features and I know it’s going to be $100,000, I’ll ask for their ideas on how to skip a step for efficiency. I suggest being upfront with Icemint and making a connection with them instead of just viewing them as an outsourcing firm.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-owner of a personal assistant company. We provide general errand services for people, such as pet care and dry cleaning pickup/drop-off. We offer additional transportation services, depending on our customers’ needs and requests. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

Initially, Icemint Media developed our company’s first website, which we’re really happy about. We’re now working on a second website project together.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Icemint did everything we needed. It was easy to work with them, and they seemed like a professional company. All they needed from us was a short explanation of what we wanted. We were really satisfied working with them.

They did everything for us, including the backend and frontend development of the website. We provided them with some feature requirements and gave additional information and clarification when needed. They handled all of the design and offered great suggestions. For example, our clients can use our website to order services. I originally just wanted the website to include basic information like an explanation of what we do. Now, our clients can choose the service they want for a certain date and time, which simplifies my scheduling process.

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

A friend of mine did a project with Icemint not too long ago and recommended them to me.

How much have you invested with Icemint Media?

We won’t know the final cost until the end, but we’ll probably spend between $10,000 and $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I contacted Icemint in the winter, and we started working together around April 2017. They’re still working on some other projects with us. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m completely wowed by their creations. They delivered much more than I expected. They understand what our business needs and made a site we’re proud of.

About 200 people visit our website each month, and we might get 70 requests from those visitors, which is a big increase for us. We previously only answered phone calls, and that was not as comfortable or convenient for people. Being able to access service requests via the website has definitely increased the number of clients we have. We’ve also received some pretty nice reviews. People say our website is simple to use, easy, and understandable. You can’t get lost in it.

How did Icemint Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. I don’t have a single complaint about them. They’re pleasant and professional, and they hit all the markers when it comes to timeliness and communication skills. We mostly communicate via Skype because I travel a lot. We communicated with the web designer, the project manager, and the guys responsible for some of the technicalities. There were probably 10 people involved in the project.

What did you find most impressive about Icemint Media?

I think Icemint has done a lot of work for different groups, and they have insight into various businesses. They only need a short explanation of what I want to make it work. They know what needs to be done.

Are there any areas Icemint Media could improve?

No, I wouldn't want them to change anything. We’ve had a great experience. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We run a custom online shirt website. I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

We needed to redevelop the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Icemint Media reworked our WordPress site. We have a WooCommerce integration, and Icemint Media has installed plug-ins for it, as well as developing custom ones.

Our project was a major overhaul, with Icemint Media working on the site 20-30 hours per week. They continue to perform 3-10 hours of work on the site per week.

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

I sourced Icemint Media through a development matchmaker called crew.co.  I had all the designs in place but needed someone to develop the site. Icemint Media came in at the right price and gave a reasonable time estimate in their quote, so I ultimately went with them.

How much have you invested with Icemint Media?

Our project with Icemint Media had a cost of between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Icemint Media in May 2016. We continue to work on an ongoing basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Icemint Media did a fantastic job and offered deliverables at the end of every day, which was great.

How did Icemint Media perform from a project management standpoint?

I've worked with other development agencies in the past, and I loved the fact that I could work directly with a project manager from Icemint Media, who interfaced with the coders. Communication was excellent, beyond just the updates. Icemint Media's team is highly fluent in English and had quick email response times.

What did you find most impressive about Icemint Media?

These guys are amazing. I love working with them. They complete tasks quickly and are super responsive with absolutely no language barrier. They come with my highest recommendations.

Are there any areas Icemint Media could improve?

No, I think that Icemint Media is great, and I've recommended them to several friends.

BACKGROUND

I'm the leader UI/UX Designer at WayUp, a 40 person company in New York City that's a marketplace for college students and recent grads to find internships, part-time, and entry-level jobs. Our main demographic is between 18-24 years of age.

I handle all visual design for our online platforms (desktop, mobile and iOS app).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We are working on a content directory for users to provide information on a number of different aspects of pre-college, mid-college, and post-college life, from helping to find out what major should a student go into, ways to set up a resume, or tips for going on an interview.

SOLUTION

We have used Icemint Media on another smaller project and didn't hesitate to use them again. We knew their work was always great, and they worked within our budget and timeline. The Resource Center has been a long project that will have a major impact on our site and users. They developed a web application for our project along with a mobile version. Icemint Media has taken our vision and designs and delivered with no major hiccups, and have always been there to help with any last minute changes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

I can't say enough about their work ethic. They make working on projects very manageable and smooth. When handing over a design, I never have to worry about getting back something so off the track that we'll have to start from scratch.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We’re an online travel agency.

What is your position?

I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

We needed someone to work on our project. We started the project two years ago and wanted an updated version. The first version was done with a different partner. Essentially, we needed development for our platform and site.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They developed our software, and they currently do ongoing support and upgrades. It is built with Ruby on Rails and has multiple integrations with third-party APIs [application programming interfaces] and SDKs [software development kits].

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

They were recommended to us by a marketing agency with whom we work. We asked them to do the development for our project, and they advised us to go with Icemint Media.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our relationship is ongoing. They provide support and upgrades for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

They delivered exactly on time. They explain things to us and advise us. They take care of our issues exactly as we need them done.

What distinguishes Icemint Media from other providers?

They have a very good team. Our front end uses the Amadeus API. It’s a very high load system, and they do this very well. Many other contractors weren’t able to take on a project like that, but for Icemint, this wasn’t a problem. They also have good support.

Is there anything Icemint Media could have improved or done differently?

No. I think they do better than their competition.