G S Bitlabs

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Wrapt About, an online platform that offers solutions for gifting and the gifting journey, for both the gifter and the giftee.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with G S Bitlabs?

I hired G S Bitlabs for the development of my gifting and wishlist website. My goal was to develop an MVP for the initial website, which offered the key features of the whole gifting-solution vision that I had. I also needed help to develop that platform, as well as a mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

G S Bitlabs has assisted me in the development of an MVP platform, as well as a mobile app that will be developed later this year. They’ve also helped us build a series of features and functionalities for the e-commerce platform side. 

In the beginning, I’d already designed some drafts and mockups of the website, as well as some key features I envisioned for the platform. We also had some wireframes from when I wanted to create a mobile app, but later on, I realized I wanted to start with a website instead. I gave G S Bitlabs some rough designs I had, and they helped make them more polished and functional.

After speaking with Gagandeep (Co-Founder & CEO), I ran through all the platform features that I wanted to build and shared my vision with him, which he had a really clear understanding of. That allowed me to see my vision into something that could actually work through the website. He was able to give me a detailed time and cost projection of the build, what it would involve, and the priorities to focus on, which helped to clear it up for me. From there, we began developing the key features of the platform. 

In terms of their design, I initially took most of the control, and they built from that. However, they’ve definitely helped along the way. There's been a lot of back and forth and a lot of collaboration in trying to find the best UX and the technical function of the features. In terms of research and discovery, they definitely did their own research. G S Bitlabs has become really familiar with the different competitors that are out there and how some of their features work.

One of the unique features they’ve developed is within the social profile on the website. There, users can follow other users, just like on Instagram or Facebook, which allows them to see other people’s wishlists. Following that, there's user communication as well, one of the biggest pieces of development that they helped me with. It consisted of building a group-gifting functionality and a user-to-user option where customers can communicate and share gift ideas. The group-gifting works by sharing a product with another user and following that profile. 

For this feature, they created a way to allow different users to contribute and chip into a group gift. This allows them to make sure the payments aren’t taken out of their account until the gift is ready to purchase. We hold the payment in escrow, making sure that all the users are getting the updates on the group's gift status, and then users can comment in a chat as well, where they can discuss the gift. 

There are other features users seem to like the most, and it has proven to be very popular. They also built a browser extension for Chrome and Safari. This allows a user to add products from other websites straight to their Wrapt About wish lists. This has been one of the features that have met a huge part of my vision, which was to allow people to create true versions of their wishlist and not being limited to our e-commerce office.

We’ve also built an anonymous gift check feature. This allows a user to hide their identity when sharing a product or gift idea with another user. The user can write a little message asking for shoe size or any other preference, but it keeps the surprise of the gift. I was really pleasantly surprised that they were able to build that for me.

Finally, they’ve created a feature that allows a gift to be marked as gifted on a wishlist to prevent double-gift purchases without saying who bought it. Moreover, our mobile app is in the validation stage, and they’re making adjustments along the way.

Overall, G S Bitlabs has been able to develop the vision I had in mind, which was to create a seamless customer journey for gifting. I didn't want customers to have to use multiple platforms, or to take a guess themselves when purchasing a gift.

What is the team composition?

There are five people in their team working on my project.

How did you come to work with G S Bitlabs?

They were referred to me by my startup coach and mentor, who helps the startup innovation. He’s been using their services, and he referred me to Gagandeep. As soon as I spoke with them, I realized it was the right fit. 

I'd also seen some of their previous work to see for myself how it was. He really understood what I wanted to build through the initial conversation, and we started working together. We’ll be working with them for the years to come to continue with the website and do the app.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent just under $37,000. We've projected $90,000–$100,000 in the ropes for the continued website and the mobile app projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in February 2020, and it will remain ongoing at least until December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At first, there were a lot of things that I wanted to do, but I didn’t necessarily know if they were possible. There hasn’t been anything that G S Bitlabs hasn't been able to build for me. If they can’t build it, they always find solutions to a way of how I can have my vision in the features they build. So far, they’ve been able to do all the bits that I've needed for it, so I really couldn't be happier with the work that they've done.

Having a live and functional website that’s also mobile-responsive has been great. The platform is generating sales as well as new users sign-up. We have built something engaging that’s generating income, which has been good. 

How did G S Bitlabs perform from a project management standpoint?

It has taken a while to make it right, but it’s been an awesome process building it. They’re very communicative. We mainly use Asana for project management. We communicate through WhatsApp and email, and we use Google Meet for video calls. Even though they were in different time zones, they’ve been very accessible and clear about the status of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They give honest feedback along the way so I know what can be done. G S Bitlabs’s team has been a really big asset for me. They’ve been more than a clinical relationship, becoming part of the business growth and roadmap for helping me understand how it all works. 

G S Bitlabs surprised me with their ability to understand the vision and taking that extra bit of care in understanding what I wanted to achieve, and not just completing the tasks I gave and then moving on to the next thing. Going on the business journey with them proved the difference between them caring and building a bit of trust in our professional relationship, which has made it a much easier decision to continue using their services. They’ve become an integral part of the business. I'm not sure I'd get the same results and experience from another developer for the same value, which was important to me as a new business owner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s really not much to improve. I’d say maybe to improve a bit in the communication, but I’m very pleased with their work overall. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Be really clear on the tasks you’re giving them. That really applies to everyone.  Whenever we had a lack of deliverables, it would probably be from my end, maybe not understanding exactly what I’m asking for them, so my advice would be to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an agency providing payroll outsourcing services. I’m the payroll division director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GSBitLabs?

We had a lot of Excel files on our server, with individual sales and other division records for each person. We needed to build a custom CRM where we could put all this data into one place. The aim was to allow more people to work on a file at once.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a new custom CRM for our needs. There’s a custom attendance system, where employees can input leaves, doctor’s appointments, and so on. Each user now has a login and password, and there are restrictions per user type, in terms of what they can see and do on the CRM. Every employee is connected based on their division.

For example, the exchange division uses the CRM for tracking our non-EU third-party employees. We can use it to manage recruitment and business records, such as what positions have been filled. We also have sales records, where we can see our clients’ list and what status they’re in.

What is the team composition?

I was exclusively in contact with Gagandeep (Co-Founder and CEO, GSBitLabs) over Skype.

How did you come to work with GSBitLabs?

We heard some reviews from a partner who worked closely with our director, and we chose them based on that.

How much have you invested with them?

The total was €24,000–€25,000 (approximately $26,400–$27,500 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2018–June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new system is saving us time. It’s easier to track whether people are performing the tasks they should, as well as to share documents online and have multiple people making changes. It’s great to have the CRM live on the internet too. We can access it from phones, PCs or tablets.

How did GSBitLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Skype for communication, and they sent us concepts for the platform through InVision.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This was our first time working with an agency like this, so I can’t really compare them. They were quick to respond when we had a question, despite working across different time zones. They were really helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be kind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and technical leas of Runway Buy, a tech startup developing an app and web marketplace in the fashion industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GSBitLabs?

We were looking for a partner that could provide us with an eye-catching website, particularly with the mobile app part of the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed the MVP for our mobile app, using Angular and Node.js for the frontend and MongoDB for the backend. We hired them to address a few technical challenges regarding a few features that would enable real-time interaction, like streaming live videos and incorporating image carousels.

We haven’t started on the website yet, but plan to use either ASP.NET MVC or Angular for development. We will also use AWS S3 for content and Vimeo for live streaming.

What is the team composition?

I’ve only interacted with three people from GSBitLabs, and I don’t know whether they have more than three people working on our project. Their tech lead is my only contact. He’s really knowledgeable, and he serves as the interface for the teams doing the UI  and development teams. I do interact with the developers through Jira on stories and tasks.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $30,000 so far, and have quite a bit more to work on.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on the project in April 2019 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our app is functioning, which we can show investors and will help our business grow. We’re about 50% of the way through development and still need to build a few features. Although it’s not in the App Store, the app is on TestFlight already.

How did GSBitLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

Although we’re in different countries, they were flexible about working with different project management tools to keep costs down. We talk through Skype, WhatsApp, and GoToMeeting regularly. we use Unity as a prototyping app, and Jira to keep track of tasks, feedback, story cards, defects, and so on. we use Unity as a prototyping app, and Jira for the project management side, to keep track of tasks, feedback, story cards, defects, and so on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

 I’ve worked with many other teams before, and I’ve found GSBitLabs to be very responsive. I haven’t had any problems with communications. The quality of their work has been amazing for what we’re paying them. We’ve got a miracle on our hands, for our project, anyway.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I seriously have nothing negative to say. I think they’re great. I would rate them higher than other developer teams I’ve worked with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients need to have their requirements ready, and they need to know what they want to do. GSBitLabs will drill them to uncover what they don’t know about the company. When I started with them, they asked me all the tough questions I didn’t know the answer to, and I’m actually late in giving them what they need. Everything’s been good with GSBitLabs for me.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the technology advisor for an automobile care company. I oversee the technology side, which includes everything from the website, the mobile app, as well as social media content.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GSBitLabs?

Since we are new, we were trying to come up with solutions that use technology in a better way to service cars. We needed very strong technical support. We needed to develop our mobile application, our web presence, and our social media presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team is currently working on mobile applications. We have a few apps lined up. One is for the customers, one for the administrators, and they have also maintained all of our inventory, amongst other things. The applications are being developed natively. We started with Android, and they are also working on iOS. In addition, they are also taking care of the website and everything that we do on social media is being handled by them.

When it comes to the app development, we are very specific about what we want, and provide wireframes to them in that case. Other times, we may be stuck, and they provide us with their suggestions and ultimately come up with a solution for us.

Our WordPress website is a separate function from the app that is driven more towards sales. They built it out the first time and we are now redesigning it with their help.

We are doing some boosts on Facebook and Instagram. They have a strategy ahead of them, but it is too early to say whether we would go for paid advertising. We are adding our social media presence and our blogs that we post to other sites. Everything comes in from different places that we blog on. We are trying to put a gallery together that shows a before and after. They edit the videos for us and push creatives for us. They also write some blog posts for us, but there are some which are very specific to the company. We review the content and sometimes tweak it. If it doesn’t go as per the brand conscious efforts that we try to keep, then we change it.

What is the team composition?

On the website and social side, we have three team members. For the mobile applications, there were at least five people involved intermittently including a frontend developer, a service lead, and a backend developer. We have one main contact, and they manage their team internally.

How did you come to work with GSBitLabs?

I worked with them at my previous company. They were recommended to us and we decided to move forward with them.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve invested approximately $28,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in 2018, and it’s an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen some leads being generated out of our presence on social media and the website. I see that people are using the website forms to contact us, which shows us that people have gone through the site and found it useful enough to correspond to us using that.

How did GSBitLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

I found them to be very adaptable and open-minded about changes. They understand the nature of the business as it keeps changing. They are able to allocate more people when needed, which speaks to their project management skills.

We have a Slack channel for communication. We also use Trello, and we have our own CRM, as well as HubSpot. We try to keep in communication as much as possible because it’s very easy to lose track.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think they do really well with the use-cases. In terms of social media, I’ve found that they can be very creative. If I come up with something and bring it to them, they usually give me suggestions. They are really up to date with technology.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I am the co-founder of Rack, a mobile app that allows users to upload and tag the brand of clothes they wear and buy what others are wearing. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GSBitLabs? 

We wanted users to upload and tag the clothing brands they wear. This was before Instagram added the shopping feature to their app. We tried to directly problem-solve that issue. Now, we are working with GSBitLabs to find a market that is similar to their shopping feature, but slightly different, and add it to the current app. 

What was the scope of their involvement? 

GSBitLabs fully developed an iOS app for us. The current features they developed include: a user profile page, search pages, the ability to create folders, the ability to tag photos, and the ability to purchase items. Their team designed the app based on what a previous developer started. However, they scrapped the work the previous developer did and rewrote entirely new code. The Rack app is currently available in the app store, but GSBitLabs is developing an Android version of the app now. 

SOLUTION

What is the team composition? 

We interacted directly with a project manager who communicated to his team of developers to explain our needs and how to complete the project. A few weeks ago, we transitioned to a new project manager and will carry out the development of the Android app with him. 

How did you come to work with GSBitLabs? 

We knew one of the developers from a previous company we interacted with. We worked with another developer, and when we decided to part ways, we contacted him and found out he started GSBitLabs. 

How much have you invested with them? 

I am unsure of the exact amount, but it is in the range of $5,000 for the iOS app and an additional $5,000 for the Android app. 

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working with them last November on our iOS app, and we are still working with them on our Android app.   

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over the last year, users uploaded around 500 photos a day. So far, there are 30,000 total uploads on Rack. Because we are in direct competition with other popular platforms, these are the numbers we expect until we develop our own niche to drive users to our app. 

How did GSBitLabs perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their communication is a remarkable improvement compared to the previous developer. During work hours, the project manager only takes a maximum of 15 minutes to respond to our inquiries. The team takes full advantage of their work hours to create the best possible product. 

What did you find most impressive about them?  

Their communication stands out compared to other developers. Like I said before, I only wait 15 minutes at most for a response. They understand that the client is spending a lot of money and they do their best to give you the most for your money. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

There are no areas for improvement. Everything went smoothly so far, and we are continuing our relationship by building a second app with them. 

 Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?  

Do not be afraid to outsource your project to this company if you are not from India. They are great communicators who work hard to deliver the best possible project. Don't be afraid to ask questions and collaborate. 

BACKGROUND

Please provide us with a brief description of your company.

We’re a fintech company whose primary service to customers is a mobile app.

What is your role at the company?

I’m the CTO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge that you were trying to address? What was the goal of the partnership?

We needed help with app development for iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of the project, and can you describe the specific services that were provided?

They developed a mobile app in native iOS and Android, and now perform ongoing development.

They have an extensive skill set and have built simple to very complex apps for me in native iOS and Android platforms – as well as the APIs and systems to power those apps. Apart from their own skills, they can source skills for pretty much anything - I’ve had them do video production, graphic design, web development, web design, server admin and more. Because of this, they’re excellent for leading large projects, and an indispensable contact and asset for finding skills ‘on tap’. His rates are excellent and highly competitive.

What was your process for selecting this company to work with? Why did you choose them over others?

We’ve had a long-standing relationship with them that started after we vetted them through a series of interviews and quotes.

Can you give us a general estimate of the size of the project in terms of dollars and manpower? (price range is fine)

We’ve spent over $250,000 so far.

What was the timeline of the project (start and completion month & year)? Is it ongoing?

We started working together five years ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project? Are there any success stories or metrics you can share?

GSBitlabs is always on time, on scope and quality is great. They’re reliable and they stand by their work to deliver fixes for bugs or issues. Their project management, client relationships skills and experience are excellent. Their English language mastery is excellent, and they have integrity – they’re honorable, honest, dedicated and sincere.

When working with this company is there anything that sets them apart compared to other partners you may have worked with?

GSBitlabs is excellent. I don’t hesitate to recommend them to any business, and I do it with enthusiasm. I’ve worked with their team for almost six years now and they’ve built over 50 apps for me. For every new app project I get, I turn to GSBitlabs for the delivery. They’ve been integral in helping us build the business we have today.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and founder of Spota, an interactive, easy-to-use social app that allows users to instantly connect with people they see in real life. They can connect with other users within 100 meters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GSBitLabs?

We hired them to build the app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have a full-time developer who could help us scale and build new features as we grow.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked at their portfolio and spoke to their team.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They built the backend and frontend of our app. Currently, they release updates and implement new features as needed.

What was the team composition?

We’re working with a contact person and a full-time developer from GSBitLabs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been really happy with the results they’ve achieved, which are comparable to the standard of market leaders. Our product is world-class, thanks to their team.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We communicate and review updates daily to ensure that we are on the same page.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We’re impressed with their communications skills and their care for our business.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

None. I am really happy with the team and what they have done for Spota.