Flexsin

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I represent Big Web Apps, a web-based help desk that assists a wide range of companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexsin Inc.?

We wanted staff augmentation for providing our clients with SEO consultation and keyword optimization to improve their Google rankings.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The scope varies for each client, but Flexsin provides general manpower to help execute our optimization strategies. They work alongside us to manage PPC campaigns and assist with Organic SEOs.

They manage a number of our smaller portfolios on their own, and provide us with consultation.

What is the team dynamic?

I primarily interact with our project manager, but there's approximately ten people working on our projects at any one time.

How did you come to work with Flexsin Inc.?

One of my business partners worked with a client who used Flexsin. Since we regularly work with offshore companies, we decided to send them some initial projects. We’ve entrusted them with more and more of our workload each year.

How much have you invested with them?

At least $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together at the end of 2012 and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We base their success on whether they’ve improved rankings for the terms assigned, and they accomplish this goal consistently. We’re satisfied as long as the rankings move in a positive direction.

How did Flexsin Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We don’t require constant communication since we’ve worked together so long. I generally touch base with our project manager once every two weeks and sometimes reach out if I have ideas for better keywords to focus on.

We use SEMrush to track their SEO results and they also keep us updated with regular activity reports.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're reasonably priced and very consistent. Their dependability is the number one reason our partnership has lasted so long.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I share any issues with them directly and they make adjustments immediately, so I can’t think of any suggestions at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

SEO work can be a painstaking process, so go in with realistic expectations. If you have clear, long-term goals, then Flexsin will get the job done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a social media mobile app for dancers, bartenders, and patrons of gentlemen’s clubs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexsin Inc.?

I had the idea for the app, but I didn’t have any technical expertise, so I needed a company to do dev and walk me through some of the other aspects of creating a mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I created a wireframe with about 50 screens, and Flexsin started the dev from there. They put together a software requirement specification, which detailed the function of every page and button, and a flowchart for the layout. Once I approved that, Flexsin made a working wireframe where I could interact with the app, and then they started to build the actual app.

We’re planning on launching within the next few weeks, first on iOS and then Google, and Flexsin has directed me to the proper avenues for setting up those accounts. We wanted to launch earlier, but we’ve added a lot of upgrades, such as new APIs, to increase the user experience.

The app contains numerous features, including getting directions to a specific club or dancer, messaging, and dancer profiles with pictures and videos. End users and performers can purchase minutes to talk with one another, which makes it more private and safer so phone numbers don’t need to be exchanged. Users can also book appointments with specific dancers, who can let their followers know when and where they’re working. It’s designed so that a performer or bartender never has to lose contact with a client again.

I also had a security feature built into the app so that it can only be accessed with a code; that way, not everyone who picks up your phone can open the app. In the future, we want to include geo-fencing so users can see who’s at a club or party.

What is the team dynamic?

I mainly work with four leads; one is located in the U.S. and the other three are in India. There’s also a whole team of developers who work on my project.

How did you come to work with Flexsin Inc.?

A friend suggested I use Guru, and that’s where I found Flexsin. Their website and testimonials made me give them a call, and I talked to Amit [COO, Flexsin Inc.], who made me feel extremely comfortable and safe.

How much have you invested with them?

Between $10,000 to $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2016, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t done official beta testing, but a performer and I have been vigorously testing the app. We plan on launching the app and just making updates later. We’ve shown it to a few people, and they all love it. Clubs and dancers can’t wait to use it because they feel like it’s something the industry really needs.

How did Flexsin Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Flexsin is great at project management. They complete tasks on time and deliver on their promises. If they run into any issues, they don’t let it stop them and continue working on other assignments.

We met in-person a while back, and that helped improve our relationship. I trust them 100%, and we talk four or five times a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They always seem to be working. Even with the time difference, I can call their office and someone will answer. They’ll reply to emails over the weekend, and they’re overall very thorough. We’ve never run into any communication issues.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because they’re in India, not everyone on the team completely grasps American styles and interests (like how we expect a web page to look), but that’s not a big problem because their design team compensates for that. I’d like to see them develop a broader range of designs and not be afraid to take risks and try something new.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You can just give Flexsin a list of jobs, and they’ll do them, but to get the most out of your relationship, be prepared to work a lot. They’ll share as much information as you want, which means you can be incredibly involved in the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We gather and deliver content for media and newsrooms in the IT industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexsin?

I needed someone who understood the difficulties of development. Everyone’s not well equipped with IT knowledge in both web and app development. I needed to decide on a technical stack, then develop the product. I’m not a technical person, and I didn’t have a team who could help with development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed the website for our business, and worked on the backend to make special features for us. We started out discussing our ideas, and as we narrowed it down, we decided on the exact requirements, tech stack, database, etc. Once I submitted the requirements, we moved on to documentation and listed everything that had to be developed. Our SLS [service level specification] was implemented in conjunction with the architecture, which was decided beforehand.

Afterwards, we started the development process and linked the UI/UX, then continued to make changes as needed.

Flexsin actually implemented chunk uploads when uploading a large file, which is unheard of in this context. At the receiving end, I wanted to retain part of that data even though the stream may have broken. In countries like India, data is not as reliable as most people think. Flexsin managed to set this up for me. We built all of those together, then reviewed the results.

They sent me a proposal to help with SEO [search engine optimization] and PPC [pay-per-click], which looked promising. However, difficulties in the media industry here require somebody to efficiently handle SEO. The timeline of the solution deployment and the SEO project didn't align with the development timeline. We just did a soft launch for now.

What is the team dynamic?

They assigned 7–8 people to the task, including a business analyst, development head, and other resources depending on what was needed. If we were working on the UI [user interface], I had a team of designers available to me, as well as 1–2 developers working on the architecture. I couldn’t tell that the team size changed during my project.

My main point of contact used to be the business analyst, and we would communicate twice a week. He moved up, so I was assigned someone new. Later on, I was in direct contact with the developer because my project was delayed on almost half the timelines, and we changed the approach. As things were eventually streamlined, I was in contact with the development head twice a day. There were a few times I had no developer, and the UI/UX [user experience] development was delayed.

How did you come to work with Flexsin?

I was searching for IT companies in this part of India. I wanted someone who had a decent client base. I found Flexsin on LinkedIn, but I looked at 10–12 companies and evaluated formal proposals before I decided to award the project to them.

In our first meeting, I met with Flexin’s top management, Amit [Senior Business Manager, Flexsin] and Raj [Business Development Manager, Flexsin]. They were very keen on grasping the business, and also knew exactly what I wanted. On an idea and implementation level, they were very coherent, which was a game changer for me. Out of all the companies I’d met, Flexsin was really accurate with what I wanted.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent ₹1.5 million Indian Rupees [U.S. $20,000].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2016, and the project is ongoing. We were supposed to be finished a few months ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site is still being developed, but it was due 5 months ago. They are slow because of the team size they deployed for me. The developers understand and implement what I want, so they’re pretty good. The site is decent so far, and with a couple of revisions, it will be good.

How did Flexin Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

My project has been 100% delayed, which says everything. I’m under a lot of pressure from both sides, so if my timeline is delayed, my logistics are as well. Their project management is poor.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As far as functionality goes, they do well. They’re very good at identifying the business, but not so much at delivering.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should stick to the timelines, because it’s the most important thing. The project was supposed to be completed 5 months ago. We were counting on it being completed in October, but as of right now, we’re still waiting.

Do you have any advice for potential clients?

If someone wants to do a project with them, they need to have really strong technical knowledge. They’re not compatible with non-technical people.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are the producer of a patient-generated health data product with multimedia communication between physicians and patients using patients’ homes as virtual offices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexsin?

I am a physician, not an engineer, so I needed help with design and coding. I had the vision but not the skills, so I needed help creating a product. This was my first time working on a project like this. I had tried doing the work with single engineers on several occasions before coming to Flexsin, but it was too much for them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flexsin handled the coding and design of our telemedicine solution. It’s a complex product consisting of a mobile and web application on the patient side and a web-based version for physicians. We initially had a discussion around the requirements, and then built wireframes and flow designs, following a standard process.

The platform is HIPAA-compliant and features symptomatology alerts, scaling graph information, and appointment scheduling. It can follow patient progress, as it occurs, real-time. It also has email communication and provides medical records, including imaging. Patients can input symptoms while doctors enter diagnoses.

For a patient needing hand surgery, he would set up a relationship with a physician by first making a request. After the request is accepted and also following the surgery, the patient can use their device to review a list of symptoms they will experience and ask questions regarding diet or reactions, as if they had gone to the office. They can take pictures and send them in real-time to the physicians, making it unnecessary to visit the office most of the time.

What is the team dynamic?

We had design, development, marketing and business teams handling everything I required. Most of the teams consisted of two people. They were receptive to any question, concern or problem I had, and dealt with the issues I raised. We spoke as often as it was necessary. One thing I learned was that I had to talk to the right people; the coders would do exactly what I said, as opposed to the right thing to do.

How did you come to work with Flexsin?

I went to Guru.com looking for single developers and found Flexsin. They listed multiple projects and had a large team. I called them and liked what I heard. We had a second, face-to-face interview, and I decided they would be right for the job. I looked at two other companies, but Flexsin’s team was sharp, amicable, and open to new concepts, and they understood exactly what I wanted quickly.

I thought that there would be a language barrier, but Flexsin’s team spoke English well so this was not an issue.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Flexsin around a year ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end result was an excellent product. It’s not fully launched yet. I had not tested out the concept before designing and building it, so I’m beta-testing it now. So far, people have said it’s intuitive and easy to use, fast and simple.

How did Flexsin perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve guiding me through the whole process from start to finish. I couldn’t have built the product by myself, using only one or two engineers. Having a whole team made a big difference. We’ve had meetings with six or eight people from different teams, all working on my project.

Everything was delivered within budget. It was a complex product, so there was a slight delay.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were receptive and open to understanding any problem I had and dealing with it. Flexsin did everything required of them, and I have no complaints.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Being a complex project, it took a little longer, but I’m quite happy with the product and everything that Flexsin has done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of a truck and driver tracking app for a transportation company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexsin?

I wanted to develop the app for our transportation company because I wanted a way of tracking the drivers via cellphones.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flexsin developed the app itself as well as the website that shows the app, which I believe was built on WordPress. The app tracks the location of the drivers, the speed, and history. It is built for both iOS and Android and features Google maps implementation. There is also a messaging system built in where drivers and dispatchers can communicate via the app. They are currently managing and updating the app.

What is the team dynamic?

They had three or four people at any given time working on the project, depending on what aspect they were working on.

How did you come to work with Flexsin?

I was looking to outsource the work and had reached out to them via Upwork.

How much have you invested in them?

I have spent around $30,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2012, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback I have received has been very good. I haven’t advertised the app yet because I am trying to perfect it before really putting it out there, but so far, we have had positive feedback.

How did Flexsin perform from a project management standpoint?

They have been pretty good, Skype was our main method of communication. Flexsin is organized and overall I am satisfied with their work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have been pretty flexible with payment, as well as their rate.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything was fine.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Travezon.com, a hospitality business that offers hotel bookings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexsin?

We developed a complete business system with Flexsin, including a portal, backend, and frontend. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The platform needed to connect users to hotels. Flexin built it from scratch using .NET, ASP.NET, and SQL. Tasks needed to be performed a certain way, and they provided what we needed to finish the work. We wanted the project to be completed in a timely manner and ensure that the product will work properly with apps and different languages. Flexin provided project management, design, development, and testing.

We started the project with a meeting about our idea. The project manager and other team members developed a flow chart, wireframes, and database structure. We went back and forth about changes we needed. Then, they started developing the concept, which we checked along the way. They resolved any issues we had.

The main feature is reliable communication. Any lead that we get for a hotel needs to be on the hotel front-desk side, the app, and the portal. Everything has to be connected properly, and the data needed to be processed in real-time.

We dealt mostly with the project manager, who took our instruction each day and worked with the development team. There were several people on the development team, but we didn’t have direct contact with them. Most of the people were consistent throughout the project.

How did you come to work with Flexsin?

I did a web search and found them on Google. We interviewed our top choices, and Flexsin seemed like a strong team, so we hired them. When we interviewed them, they provided proper answers to our questions and helped me understand the technology and connectivity.

How much have you invested with Flexsin?

We spent $100,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2014. The project took 8 months, and then we had 6 months of testing and fixing bugs. We don’t have any new work for them right now, but they are providing backend support. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re finding a lot of hotels through the system, and each of the locations is using the software and service. We’ve never had downtime. Flexin provided proper coding, integration, and development, and our customers like the result.

How did Flexsin perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well. They were responsive to our questions. We communicated with the project manager through emails, phone calls, online meetings, and Skype calls.

What did you find most impressive about Flexsin?

Whenever we assigned them a task, they improved our original idea. They always had something innovative to share.

Are there any areas Flexsin could improve?

No, they know what they’re doing. They keep up with new technology and communicate those updates to their customers.

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

Ask if they can give you some ideas about your project. They will walk you through their portfolio and offer suggestions about the best technology and the right structure.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of a company that developed a real estate networking app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed a company that could deliver an application from concept to completion, while also aiding in UX/Web/Server/Crm

SOLUTION

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

We looked fairly extensively for operations that had a scalable cost structure to help us in taking this from proof of concept, to a more comprehensive partner with abilities to effectively act as a Tech/IT department once up and running. After interviewing several, we came away feeling the best about Flexsin's ability to meet our needs.

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

From the initial concept call, we worked with Flexsin to develop the first iteration, subsequently tweak the various builds, and then ultimately deliver a product we were proud to take to market. Additionally, we engaged with Flexsin in building a website and backend that will prove critical in growing the business.

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

The tip of the spear would be Dave, our Customer success manager. From there the team broke out with a few core leaders managing various aspects of the project. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how many folks participated on the team in total, but they all seemed quite adept at performing their given tasks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thus far our biggest deliverable has been the app itself, which is functioning as intended and about to be released on the App Store. Generally speaking communication is excellent, and any issues regarding functionality were addressed in what I believe is a reasonable amount of time.

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

I believe that communication is one of their strong suits, especially as far as frequency is concerned. I will say that given that we used one of their off shore teams, initially, it was slightly difficult to express what we wanted/ what our expectations were. What I personally wasn't aware of was the nuance of language. However once I got the gist of it I found it quite easy to relay comments and feedback.

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

We think the company's ability to pivot, grow, and understand broad concepts is certainly one of its strengths. Additionally, they were profoundly patient with us and our schedules.

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

We only have experience with their off-shore talent, but I would be very curious to see what's possible with their on-shore folks. Cost structures obviously change with that, but im still interested in seeing if there are any time saving efficiencies that come from having a similar cultural and language background.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the president and founder. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flexsin Inc.?

I hired Flexsin to develop a simple mobile app for iOS and Android. The app was very basic with an estimated completion date of February 2018.

What were your goals for this project?

My goal was to launch the app in March 2018.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I selected them based on their online reviews.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was to build a mobile app for dental care. 

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a project manager, a team lead, and several software engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Flexsin was disorganized and incompetent. They spent countless hours reviewing mistakes and bugs, among other issues. The project is four months over schedule and still contains so many bugs that the app is essentially useless.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their communication efforts and skill were good, but their quality control and assurance were absolutely terrible. Despite being a large company, they continue to use a free version of Zoom, which would disconnect us after 40 minutes; a company their size could afford the $14.99 USD per month for a simple paid version.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

There was nothing impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Their leadership and talent need improvement. I would rate their customer service average but the actual quality of work was extremely poor. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a company that provides custom lighting for cars.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flexsin Inc.?

We hired them to handle SEO and search engine marketing (SEM).

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase our site’s ranking and traffic.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were referred by a business contact.

What was the team composition?

We work with three people from Flexsin.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did the Flexsin Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s always good. They send weekly reports about the work done.

What impresses you about the Flexsin Inc.?

Their fast communication and technical skills are impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the director of MUMOTREE PTY LTD.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Flexsin Inc.?

We wanted their help with web/mobile app development and online marketing.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to have more than 500,000 users in the US.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My friend introduced them to me.

Describe the project in detail.

We were making a web and mobile app to help part-time job seekers.

What was the team composition?

At first, there were 5 resources. The further we get into development, the more people we need, so the team has now doubled.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The web and mobile apps all have really good designs. Unfortunately, the marketing results were not what we had expected.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They keep in regular contact and are patient, everything is detailed. I've had a great experience working with them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are patient, careful, and responsible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could be more creative. I always have the feeling that their work is similar to others' that I've previously seen.