Exelor

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a software development company in the financial services space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Exelor?

We needed help with mobile app development for a financial services proposition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Exelor has developed a complex core banking mobile app from scratch using Flutter. We initially provided the business requirements; the core components include inventory management, verification, and security.

The app is for iOS and Android, and it has onboarding for clients that captures all their details. Also, there are complex flows in terms of the chats and calls out to third parties to facilitate decision-making on whether to accept the customer.

The following year, we’ll do another set of requirements with Exelor.

What is the team composition?

We have two developers and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Exelor?

A mutual contact introduced them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2019, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app is complex, but it functions as expected; we test it continuously.

How did Exelor perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is excellent. Exelor delivers on time and within budget; they’re on the ball. Communication is good; we use Jira and Microsoft Teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve done everything well. The team has well-defined roles, and they’re talented and experienced. All in all, they provide a great service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have nothing to complain about.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I represent Teragence LTD, a UK-based mobile network analytics company. We provide analytics about mobile network coverage and connection properties globally based on a mixture of data sources. One of these data sources is crowdsourced that we collect via a mobile software development kit (SDK) of our own development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had to deliver a few business-critical updates to our mobile SDK on a rather tight schedule,

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I would sum it up as "a word of mouth" with a "common sense due diligence". I had friends that worked with these guys and they had positive experience. When we reached out, they we keen to help us and and gave a reasonable quote and lead time. They also sounded sensible, so we gave it a shot.

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

Over the course our our engagement with Exelor we needed to solve a few issues with our SDK:

• Update our SDK to be compliant to GDPR (this touched both the mobile SDK and our backend)
• Collecting a more comprehensive view of the mobile network the handset is connected to (3G/4G, band used, etc.)
• Add support for measuring WiFi
• Develop iOS version of the SDK (our SDK was originally only supporting Android)

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

Over the course of our engagement with Exelor, at a peak, we had the following team:

• 1 iOS developer
• 1 Android developer
• 1 hybrid mobile developer
• 1 backend developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First, we managed to complete a transition to being GDPR-compliant in time. Second, we managed to jump on the iOS train in time to capture a few important contracts that were bound to us gaining some iOS footage.

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

We chose an outstaffing model of engagement.Initially we thought that we would “just handle it” (on our own), so we were a bit skeptical about an assigned project manager / coordinator. It proved to be quite useful actually, since Exelor’s project manager did a good job at making sure the project runs smoothly, information on vacations and public holidays get communicated well in advance and taken into account when planning deliveries, etc.

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

They are — in general — quite diligent and skilled (don’t let the young age of the devs fool you on this).

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

I would bring up “business awareness” as a potential worthy improvement, but that’s really nitpicking – it’s hard to expect “hired guns” to truly care about your business from “day 1”. Another point is that from the beginning of the project you usually want to jump on it and start delivering asap, rather than spend time transferring all of your business context and history of technical and product decisions that “got you here”.

Once we got well into the project, Excelor devs were quite good at suggesting things “around and bit to the side” of what we wrote in a spec – showing a fair amount of consideration and understanding of what we’re trying to achieve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Head of Technology (CTO, Director, Co-Founder) of an Assistive Technology MVNO in Australia. Our aim is to help people who cannot use traditional smart phones to stay in touch.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Exelor?

We had an existing mobile app that was written in different technologies and was not functioning the same for iOS and Android due to some technical limitations.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted a solid code base that could be used to build up the existing app and introduce new functionality without dealing with differences between platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you select Exelor?

This was a personal recommendation and I'm glad to say that I'm not disappointed.

Describe the project in detail.

I've provided a basic technical brief/spec and the team have build up on it, providing some good suggestions at the end.

What was the team composition?

I was able to oversee full development, since the team was using my gitlab server and I was in constant communication with project and general management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The first launch of the app was successful, as we upgraded our API levels, introduced more compatible builds and now have a solid base to expand it further.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow was easy - always online, no delays, friendly and professional.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They do what they are asked, in the time frame and within budget, but also give feedback on how to improve things further. Easy and pleasant to deal with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None to mention at this stage. Looking forward to our next collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m Biz Dev Director responsible for partnership and success management at the Product Development agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Exelor?

I’ve got a request from a client of mine to develop a cross-platform charity mobile app, that helps nonprofit organizations engage donors and raise money – enabling them to do more good – thereby creating a better world.

What were your goals for this project?

The initial task for the Exelor team was to develop a mobile application for a large number of users. The client has his ideas on the app functionality, which we gradually introduced to the team. Moreover, the project continues to grow very active, and we work on its upgrade and improvement, add new features, and expand our collaboration.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

It was a reference from my software partner.

Describe the project in detail.

To develop an application for Android and iOS, Exelor mobile team has chosen the modern framework – Flutter (Dart language). Today, a user-friendly mobile application allows the fastest donation in under 10 seconds. Jump to details we were mainly focused on the next implementations: A number of payment methods and systems (Stripe, Apple pay, Google Pay, OJC, Plaid, PayPal, Venmo). Users can add debit, credit card, bank transfer and more for the most convenient and fastest way to donate. Unfortunately, we were limited in the use of some payment methods due to the particularities of legislation of the industry; Direct donation (by email) without registration. The fastest way to donate; Touch ID, Face ID; Localizations (now English, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, and Australian available); Geocoding – provision of actual information to the users, based on their location; Referral program, Live Chat; Receipts, payment history – for convenient printing and etc.; Sign in/Sign up via Facebook and Google – integration social network and messengers, social shares; Firebase Messaging (Push Notifications), dynamic links, remote configuration; Crashlytics; Intercom integration (support chat for customers); QA panel for internal testing; Plugin development for Dart, and native (Android, iOS).

What was the team composition?

The team consists of UI/UX designers, Flutter developers, QA engineers, the project manager. The size of the team varies from 2 to 8 depending on the project stage.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The main goal was achieved – to create a user-friendly, “one-click” donation application, that works with multiple payment platforms, providing connection nonprofits and donors across different countries, languages, and currencies around the world.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The development process was divided into 2-week sprints, during which separate parts of the project were made, so we could see the result of the sprint. For communication purposes, we used Google Meet, Slack, Jira and GitHub.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The expertise of Exelor team, effective cooperation, and big ideas help to make this project great. Their customizable and cutting edge technology brings the charity industry to a new level. Right now they are thinking about further implementation in the Apple Watch and Google Watch apps, and connection with Siri and Google assistant.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I am very pleased with the work. The team was experienced, all the deadlines were met. There are a lot of things ahead which I would like to do with Exelor.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CEO and founder of Efisco Sp. z o.o. - Polish/Ukrainian Software development and service company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Exelor?

The task was developing a cross-platform application with the main purpose of automating an accountant and utility manager working process.

What were your goals for this project?

The project had certain restrictions concerning terms and budget. As I am acquainted with Exelor and have gained great experience in working with it, I got in touch with them in order to discuss this project and received positive feedback.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The determinant factor that influenced my decision was our successful 5-year partnership.

Describe the project in detail.

The project of Exelor is the creation of a cross platform application for both iOS and Android devices with further development.

What was the team composition?

On different stages of the project depending on needs and requirements our team changed from 2 to 4 people, including UI/UX designers, Flutter developers, QA engineer and project managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The idea of automating the work process in order to save time for more relevant strategic issues as well as to optimize the billing and payment processes was great itself, as it helped build more transparent relationships within the company, creating more convenient conditions for monitoring calculations and managing the company.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

As I was already acquainted with Exelor, the process of project management was familiar to me: together with the project manager from Exelor we made up a plan of development, divided into 2-week sprints, in order to create different parts of the project separately and develop the application step by step. Discussion of the project specifications and communication during the process of development occurred via Skype, Slack and Jira.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about Exelor is their unique client-oriented strategy. Their main objective is the satisfaction of client's needs through providing business solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The key to success is constant improvement. We always have retrospective workshops together with Exelor after our joint cooperation, discussing further steps of improving performance. That makes our partnership even valuable and meaningful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a business owner at Smart Fusion Solutions: Business Development - Extend IT teams with talents from Ukraine (IT outsource, outstaff, dedicated teams).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Exelor?

I’ve got a request from my client to develop a mobile Delivery solution for iOS and Android in a fixed budget and short terms. I had contacted another software partner first, but native development of two apps was out of the client’s budget, so they recommended me to go with Hybrid mobile app development and refer to Exelor as a reliable software house for that.

What were your goals for this project?

I was trying to find a way to perform the mobile delivery solution under the fixed budget. Therefore, I was looking more for the endpoint proposal with the quality and budget guaranties, rather than MVP first (with limited features) and further development.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

It was a reference from my trusted software partner.

Describe the project in detail.

Exelor was responsible for designing and developing the cross-platform app that would work on iOS and Android devices as well as supporting apps in the future. Therefore, we started from the design first and when everything was put on a Figma prototype and agreed, Exelor moved to the development stage.

What was the team composition?

Our team consists of UI/UX designer, Flutter developers, QA engineer and project manager. The size of the team has varied throughout the entire cooperation depending on our needs, ranging about 2–5.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both apps launched successfully and under the budget. I really like the app design and the fact that everything was performed on time gives a client a huge business opportunity in the current situation on the local market and world in general. I can say nothing but only positive about my experience with Exelor.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

From the very beginning, Exelor provides me with a project manager from their part and it was the right step. The PM helped me not only with team management but also with business analysis staff. For communication, we used mostly Slack and Jira.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Exelor is more than a software development vendor - they’re a trustworthy partner with impressive knowledge and skills. I appreciate their openness and desire to share technical competence.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can say nothing but only positive about my experience with Exelor.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CMO at a technology development company located in Western Ukraine. We provide professional teams of web-developers to accomplish complex projects and empower key business processes. The company was founded in 2008, and since then we successfully implemented more than 800 projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Exelor?

We’ve got a request to develop a mobile e-commerce application both for iOS and Android using the Flutter technology as the client has plans to perform a web application in the near future as well. For this particular project, the client-consultant has decided to use Flutter as the best technology for this request. As Flutter is not among our core expertise we were partnered with Exelor as we have experience working with them previously.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for a Flutter development agency with a proven track record to perform the app in pretty tight terms.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have already worked with Exelor on another hybrid app development project before and were satisfied with the work they have done.

Describe the project in detail.

From the very beginning, we were looking for the Flutter developers that we can trust and had the luck to partner with Exelor on that as Flutter is among their core expertise. The client had planned to develop an e-commerce app for iOS and Android and wanted to meet some tight terms. So when we received that Exelor was ready to perform the app in 3 months with two developers that had met our expectations as well as the client's one. In this project, we kept management on our side and all development was delivered by Exelor.

What was the team composition?

According to the project terms, we were looking for 2-3 Flutter developers that would be ready to perform the app in 2-3 months, and we were glad to figure out that Exelor would perform the project with 2 devs on time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was not a big project but with specific and new technology. We couldn’t perform it in-house therefore we decided to contact Exelor and share the request with them. The client got the app on time, under the desired budget and was very glad about the result.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

As I mentioned above, we took managing staff on our side and all development was on Exelor. The development process was divided into sprints, during which separate parts of the project were made, so we could see the result of the sprint. For communication purposes, Slack, Jira, and GitHub were used.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The Exelor is a pretty new player in the software development market but has a great and unique experience with the cross-platform app. They are able to provide good quality solutions under time pressure.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we are very pleased with Exelor’s work. The team was experienced, all the deadlines were met and the final client received an app in time.