GLOBALDEV

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Puppyfinder Corp., a puppy search engine.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GLOBALDEV?

We were looking for a total communication solution between buyers and sellers on our platform. We only used email, so we wanted to get custom-made real-time chat capabilities for our platform. We have verified and non-verified users, and we wanted to have control over what was happening in the communication center.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GLOBALDEV helped us design and develop the custom software system we needed. The team took care of everything from the beginning to the end. They listened to what we wanted and came up with a plan for the initial stages.

They selected the suitable components, platforms, and languages. They used TypeScript, React 18, React Router, and more for the frontend.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 8–10 teammates from GLOBALDEV. They set up a professional team of developers and a project manager. They also assigned people to take documentation of all the steps and features.

How did you come to work with GLOBALDEV?

We found them on Clutch.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2023, and the first stage was completed in March 2025.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have 1,000 users utilizing the platform, and we haven’t had any issues with the functionality. It works fine, and we’re happy with the core product and its speed.

How did GLOBALDEV perform from a project management standpoint?

GLOBALDEV delivered on time and within budget. Sometimes it took longer on our part because we were adding different features as we designed the whole thing. However, they met our expectations in terms of deliveries. They worked quickly. We used Jira, Asana, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

GLOBALDEV was organized and had a well-specified development process. The clarity from the beginning of the project was to be expected. They provided the hours and charges, and their estimations were accurate and clean.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn’t see any issues at all; everything was pretty solid. The communication was perfect, and there were no breaks in anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that all the technical requirements are documented on paper. When you do a project, you sometimes overlook different ways that can apply to what you’re trying to do. Well-documented technical requirements are a huge plus.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of data operations at Energy Outreach Colorado.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GLOBALDEV?

We needed help developing an online application for our energy assistance program.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GLOBALDEV is helping us develop a web app that allows participants to apply online for the energy assistance programs we provide. The first step was exploratory; we took some time to define the requirements and did some wireframe designs. From there, they built a refined estimate of the cost.

Once we had the UX, requirements, and wireframe designs, we looked at the cost and decided what features we could keep and what we couldn’t. We've gone from there. GLOBALDEV uses Figma for design and React for frontend development.

What is the team composition?

We have a project manager, a UI/UX designer, front- and backend developers, QA teammates, and DevOps engineers.

How did you come to work with GLOBALDEV?

A long time ago, I worked with Steelkiwi, and they were absorbed by GLOBALDEV. My experience with Steelkiwi was good, so I reached out to GLOBALDEV. I also reached out to some other providers, evaluated them, and decided to go with GLOBALDEV.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2024, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have development capabilities, so GLOBALDEV has enabled us to do something we wouldn’t be able to do ourselves. 

How did GLOBALDEV perform from a project management standpoint?

We've gone a little over budget, but that is more due to our changing requirements. GLOBALDEV always communicates the impact of these changes on the budget and is clear about the upfront cost. Overall, they communicate very well using Jira, Slack, email, and phone calls.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Mykhailo, who is our frontend developer, and also to our backend developer. They've done a great job of trying to understand our issues. Additionally, they're great at communicating, asking questions, and ensuring they understand the requirements. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their work meets our expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve the tracking of features and issues. At some points, there hasn't been clear visibility in terms of the features they had, the issues they were working on, and what they had finished.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When developing the requirements, make sure all internal stakeholders are involved in the discussion and that everybody is on the same page. The initial phase of developing requirements and user stories is valuable, rather than jumping into development; it helps clarify the picture.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an Executive of Emito BV

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Offering Software for Mobility Monitoring

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire GLOBALDEV to accomplish?

• Provide Frontend IT Dev

SOLUTION

How did you find GLOBALDEV?

Networking Events

Why did you select GLOBALDEV over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from GLOBALDEV were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Developing new features for our mobile application, while also focusing on system optimizations, extensive refactoring, and security enhancements. The project addressed features like Automatic Tracking, design implementation, and integration of third-party services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The number of builds produced and the overall progress of the concept. When we started, the concept was in a barebones state with only a minimal functional prototype. Now, we are more than 80% of the way to the final product.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Delays were inevitable, but they were primarily due to technical issues rather than any shortcomings on the part of the Global Dev team. Overall, the team was easy to work with and responsive to our company’s needs. At one point, one of their members felt so integrated into our processes that it seemed like she was part of our internal team rather than an external contractor.

What was your primary form of communication with GLOBALDEV?

Virtual Meeting

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

The responsiveness of the contact person I work with is unparalleled by any other company. Even if it was 11 PM, I could count on receiving a response to my issue within 15-30 minutes. In the rare worst-case scenario, a meeting would be scheduled for the following day, no matter the circumstances. Additionally, their flexibility in drafting contracts to accommodate the needs of a small company was truly impressive. At no point did we feel taken advantage of; instead, we felt understood and supported to the fullest extent possible.

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

Perhaps establishing offices in other countries would be beneficial, allowing meetings with representatives to take place in person as well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of STAYGE Lab, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We're developing global K-pop fandom platforms and services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Investidea Tech to accomplish?

• Advanced development will be carried out through separate planning.
• An admin panel will be set up for detailed management of monitoring aspects such as keywords and schedules.
• Improvements such as adding keywords, notification methods, and channel expansion will be gradually added and refined based on usability, with ongoing enhancements.

SOLUTION

How did you find Investidea Tech?

Referral

Why did you select Investidea Tech over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Scope of Work for ECMS Project

The ECMS (External Community Monitoring System) project involves developing and deploying a system to automate the monitoring of external communities, specifically for tracking mentions related to a K-pop fan community platform and its associated artists. The project aims to address the limitations of manual monitoring by automating the process, allowing for real-time notifications and more efficient issue management. The core components of the project are:

• Community and Social Media Monitoring: The system will automatically monitor key external community platforms such as Instiz, X (formerly Twitter), and theqoo, which are widely used by K-pop fans to discuss artists and related events.
• Issue Detection and Real-time Alerts: Using web crawling and APIs, the ECMS will detect relevant discussions or issues on these platforms. Detected issues will be immediately reported via integrated Slack notifications, allowing for timely responses and actions.
• Admin Portal: The project will include an admin interface where users can configure monitoring settings such as keywords, time frames, and notification frequency. The admin portal will eventually be embedded within the administration system of the platform.
• Scalability and Flexibility: The system is designed to expand in scope, allowing for the addition of more community platforms and extended functionalities such as new alert types and advanced analytics based on user feedback and evolving requirements.

Key Deliverables:

• Automated Monitoring System: A fully operational system that monitors external community platforms (Instiz, X, theqoo) in real-time, capturing relevant discussions related to the platform and its artists.
• Slack Integration: Alerts are sent to designated Slack channels, including key information such as keywords, a summary of posts, event timestamps, and links to the original posts.
• ECMS Admin Portal: A web-based admin portal where administrators can configure monitoring settings, including keyword management, monitoring channels, and notification preferences.
• Advanced Analytics and Issue Detection: The system will include features that allow for more advanced issue detection, such as monitoring patterns of increased keyword appearances, and will notify administrators when anomalies are detected.
• API and Web Crawling Strategy: A flexible API and web crawling strategy will be implemented, balancing effective data collection with minimal API usage and avoiding system blockages.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The progress and success of the project are demonstrated through measurable outcomes such as the regular sprint-based progress reports and the final deliverables. Throughout the project, progress is tracked and reported in detail at the end of each sprint. These reports provide insights into the development process, key milestones, and any challenges encountered, allowing for adjustments to be made in a timely manner to ensure the project stays on track.

The ultimate success of the project is reflected in the delivery of the final product, which includes a fully functional ECMS (External Community Monitoring System). The system’s effectiveness is measured by its ability to monitor key external platforms, its seamless integration with internal systems, and its capacity to provide real-time notifications through Slack.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project was well-managed and completed within the scheduled timeframe. Changes to the requirements were handled systematically, ensuring that any modifications were thoroughly reviewed and addressed.

When additional resources were needed due to these changes, the team communicated transparently, providing clear updates on how the adjustments would impact the project timeline and resource allocation. This approach allowed for smooth coordination and ensured that the project met our expectations without unnecessary delays.

What was your primary form of communication with Investidea Tech?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

This was our first experience collaborating with an outsourcing company. We were particularly impressed by their systematic approach to project management. Their well-structured processes not only ensured the successful delivery of the project but also provided us with valuable insights into effective project management methodologies.

Beyond the quality of the final deliverable, we gained a deeper understanding of how to manage complex projects efficiently, which was a unique and highly beneficial aspect of working with them.

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

Not every aspect of the project went perfectly, but in most cases, the issues arose because our team lacked experience in project management when working with an outsourcing company. There is no particular area where Investidea Tech needs improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Content of Vie-X

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

My company specializes in manage IP as well as entertainment & media.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Investidea Technology to accomplish?

• When chatting to a wise advisor like AISUVIET, Vietnamese people easily access historical knowledge from reliable sources.
• Through digitizing documents, AISUVIET also contributes to storing and preserving knowledge for future generations.

SOLUTION

How did you find Investidea Technology?

Referral

Why did you select Investidea Technology over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Investidea Technology were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Digitizing content by scanning Vietnamese historical documents.
• Providing answers and giving the sources of information.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Trained on data from over 50 books (including scanned books), providing trusted information verified by renowned publishers in Vietnam. 
• AIsuviet can not only answer historical questions but also conduct in-depth searches to pinpoint specific book titles and pages containing detailed data, allowing users to explore further.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Throughout the project, their responsiveness to our needs was excellent. Whenever we had inquiries or requests, you were quick to respond and address them promptly. This proactive approach to communication fostered a sense of trust and confidence in their team's ability to support our project requirements effectively.

What was your primary form of communication with Investidea Technology?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their high-expertise staff and proactive approach to technology and communication are impressive.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of Silver Maple Co., Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are an IT Consultant and Outsourcing Service, offering cost-effective and dependable solutions to businesses 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Investidea Technology to accomplish?

• Build microservices for core trading platform
• Build investor's portal to provide full flow from onboarding until trading and portfolio management
• Build BackOffice Dashboard to support operation and customer service

SOLUTION

How did you find Investidea Technology?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Investidea Technology over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Strong technical team

How many teammates from Investidea Technology were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They report task everyday and responded to us immediately whenever we need

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

our communication is smooth

What was your primary form of communication with Investidea Technology?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They are proactive and have the ability to adapt quickly to technological advancements.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a manager at Citicom JSC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Citicom Trading Joint Stock Company (CITICOM) was established in 2003, specializing in trading steel products and processing steel products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Investidea Technology to accomplish?

• We'd like to find out a professional local company who has experienced in implementing international projects with similar size
• Investidea Tech's experience, price quote, roadmap and timeline match our requirement
• We'd like to find out a professional local company who has experienced in implementing international projects with similar size
• Investidea Tech's experience, price quote, roadmap and timeline match our requirement

SOLUTION

How did you find Investidea Technology?

Online Search

Why did you select Investidea Technology over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Suitable experience in implementing previous projects

How many teammates from Investidea Technology were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Mekan is a platform to help businesses and individuals promote, advertise their products and services regularly, intuitively and easily to reach customers and partners. Mechanical enterprises can connect with each other in the production chain. The scope of work: 

• Admin dashboard to manage platform 
• Consumer web: social network 
• Digitalization of enterprises' profiles/catalogues

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• High Product Quality and Reliability: The platform consistently met quality standards and reliability expectations. This underscores the project's commitment to delivering a top-tier product.
• Exceptional Code Team Performance: Our code team demonstrated outstanding proficiency and collaboration throughout the project, resulting in efficient code development and maintenance.
• Innovative Ideas Implemented: The project benefited significantly from the integration of innovative ideas and solutions proposed by the team, which enhanced the product's functionality and competitiveness. 
• The project duration extended beyond our initial 2-month timeline due to unforeseen challenges and complexities. Despite the delay, the team's dedication and effort ensured its successful completion.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project duration extended beyond our initial 2-month timeline due to unforeseen challenges and complexities. Despite the delay, the team's dedication and effort ensured its successful completion.

What was your primary form of communication with Investidea Technology?

Virtual Meeting

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

I am extremely pleased with the leadership exhibited by the vendor's team, particularly the code team's performance. Their positive attitude, dedication, and collaboration significantly contributed to the project's success. Their unwavering commitment to achieving our goals has been commendable and greatly appreciated.

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

• Rating/ ranking mechanical enterprises Interoperability of users 
• Video conference/ online or virtual exhibition

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Inveto Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provide extensive data analytics platform for investors

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Investidea Technology to accomplish?

• Developing website and a data analytics platform
• Investidea Technology could have been tasked with developing UI/UX and graphical content
• Providing expertise in technology outsourcing

SOLUTION

How did you find Investidea Technology?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Investidea Technology over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Investidea Technology were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Logo development: Investidea Technology was responsible for designing and developing a logo for Inveto. Planning: Investidea Technology participated in the planning phase of our project, collaborating with my team to define project goals, requirements, and timelines. They contributed their expertise to help outline a strategic plan for the development and implementation of the data analytics platform. 
• UI/UX design: Investidea Technology was tasked with creating an intuitive and visually appealing user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) for our data analytics platform. This involves designing the layout, navigation, and interactive elements to ensure a seamless and engaging user experience. 
• Website development: Investidea Technology was responsible for developing the website for Inveto. This website serves as the primary online presence for your business, providing information about your services, features, and contact details. 
• User management: Investidea Technology implemented user management functionalities within the data analytics platform. This includes features such as user registration, login, authentication, and personalized user profiles to enhance the user experience and provide a secure environment for investors. 
• Technical management issues: Investidea Technology addressed various technical management issues throughout the project. This could include tasks such as system configuration, database management, server setup, and ensuring the smooth integration of different components of the platform. 
• Technical maintenance: Investidea Technology committed to providing ongoing technical maintenance for the data analytics platform. This involves monitoring the platform's performance, addressing any technical glitches or bugs, and implementing updates and improvements as needed. 
• Demonstration in time: Investidea Technology was responsible for delivering regular demonstrations of the progress made on the data analytics platform. These demonstrations were conducted within agreed-upon timelines to showcase the features, functionalities, and overall performance of the platform to our team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Logo development: Investidea Technology has successfully created a captivating and distinctive logo for our startup, Inveto. The logo reflects the essence of our brand and effectively captures the attention of potential investors, contributing to our strong brand identity. 
• Planning: Investidea Technology's expertise in project planning has ensured a well-defined roadmap for the development and implementation of our data analytics platform. Their collaborative approach has resulted in clear goals, requirements, and timelines, enabling efficient progress throughout our project. 
• UI/UX design: Investidea Technology has excelled in designing an intuitive and visually appealing user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) for our data analytics platform. The platform's UI is user-friendly, providing a seamless and engaging experience for our investors, which ultimately contributes to user satisfaction and retention. 
• Website development: Investidea Technology has successfully developed a professional and functional website for our startup. The website serves as a valuable online presence, effectively conveying our services and attracting potential users to explore our data analytics platform. User management: Investidea Technology has implemented robust user management functionalities, allowing our investors to easily register, log in, and access personalized user profiles. This streamlined user management system contributes to enhanced user satisfaction and establishes a secure environment for our investors. 
• Technical management issues: Investidea Technology has efficiently addressed various technical management issues that have arisen during our project. Their proactive approach has minimized disruptions and ensured smooth system configuration, database management, and server setup, allowing for uninterrupted operation of our platform. 
• Technical maintenance: Investidea Technology's commitment to ongoing technical maintenance has resulted in a stable and reliable data analytics platform. Their timely bug fixes, updates, and improvements have enhanced the overall performance of our platform, providing our investors with a seamless experience. 
• Demonstration in time: Investidea Technology has consistently delivered timely and informative demonstrations, showcasing the progress made on our data analytics platform. 

These demonstrations have effectively communicated the platform's features, functionalities, and performance to our team, fostering a transparent and collaborative work environment. These measurable outcomes demonstrate the progress and success achieved through Investidea Technology's contributions. Their expertise, dedication, and ability to meet project milestones have positively impacted the development and implementation of our data analytics platform, contributing to the overall success of our startup, Inveto.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Investidea Technology's project management approach was commendable. Their timely delivery, responsiveness, and problem-solving skills contributed to a successful and collaborative working relationship. We greatly appreciate their dedication and commitment to the project's success.

What was your primary form of communication with Investidea Technology?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Investidea Technology's ability to combine technical excellence, adaptability, and a deep understanding of our requirements make them an exceptional partner. Their unique approach and unwavering commitment to the success of our project have left us thoroughly impressed.

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

Investidea Technology demonstrated professionalism, effective communication, and exceptional technical skills. Their commitment to meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work has made them an invaluable partner in our project. We highly recommend their services and look forward to continuing our collaboration with them in the future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a fintech that provides technology solutions relating to loans and financing. I am the an executive, responsible for leading the company and overseeing all aspects of its operations, including the interactions with SteelKiwi.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our company hired Steelkiwi to help with building our back-office software and augmenting our existing development team. Our goals in hiring Steelkiwi included the building of the back-office software, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our software development process, increasing the capacity of our team, and bringing in specialised expertise and skills.

By working with Steelkiwi, we hoped to achieve a high level of quality and performance in the software we were developing and to meet internal deadlines or milestones that had been set. We also hired Steelkiwi to help with specific internal projects, such as the design, development, testing, or deployment of back-office application features. In any case, the ultimate goal of hiring Steelkiwi was to help our company achieve its development objectives.

SOLUTION

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

We first learned about this vendor from Clutch, where we found positive reviews of their work for similar clients. After reading the review, we decided to reach out to them and schedule an interview to learn more about their capabilities and experience.

After interviewing SteelKiwi, we added them to a shortlist of potential vendor candidates and conducted client references to gather additional insights into their work. The deciding factors for us were the positive Clutch reviews and the positive feedback we received from client references. Based on these factors, we ultimately selected this vendor to work with us on our project.

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

Our back-office system is a set of stand-alone workplaces which are combined in an end-to-end system and address different parts of the credit financing journey. For the MVP phase, Steelkiwi started by designing the overall user experience of the back-office software. Key features include logging in to the back office and viewing, sorting, searching, and filtering loan applications.

They then built the various workspaces of the back office, including the Origination Workspace (for creating and managing loan applications), Underwriting Workspace (for making decisions on whether the loan application should be approved), Servicing Workspace (for disbursing funds for the approved loans, monitoring, and managing the repayment of loans), Collection Workspace (for processing past-due loans), System Workspace (user accounts, notifications, and documents management) and Tasks.

**Technologies used include:** 

Backend:

• Python
• Django
• Django Rest Framework
• PostgreSQL
• Redis
• Celery
• Docker/Docker compose
• AWS S3
• AWS Cloudfront
• Sentry

Frontend:

• ReactJs
• Redux
• Redux-saga
• Redux-toolkit
• Formik
• Yup
• react-query
• prop-types
• dayJs
• rc-table

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

8 people from the vendor’s team worked with us, including 2 Business Analysts, 1 Python Engineer, 2 Frontend Engineers, 1 UI/UX Designer, and 2 QA Engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SteelKiwi was able to deliver a fully functional back-office app that met all of our business requirements. The team was proactive, collaborative, highly professional, and always on top of their assigned goals. They were also responsive to our feedback and often took no time to address new queries. Overall, we found it very easy to work with SteelKiwi and were consistently impressed with the quality of the project outcomes.

One area for improvement in measurable outcomes is that SteelKiwi could have been more accurate in estimating timing and costing. While there were minor delays to completion, the delays were not too problematic for our company and are somewhat expected from our experience working with other agencies. In the future, we would appreciate if SteelKiwi could be more proactive in striving to complete projects within the set timeframe. However, as mentioned, this was a minor issue that we anticipated and did not significantly impact the project's overall success.

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

SteelKiwi has a structured and professional approach to project management. They use a variety of communication tools, including Slack, Confluence, Trello, and JIRA, to stay in touch with us and keep us informed about the progress of the project. The team is highly interactive and provides us with regular updates on their progress.

We have found that SteelKiwi's structured project management style, timely communication, and great sense of responsibility have given us full confidence in their ability to deliver high-quality software on time. While we do not have much in-person interaction with SteelKiwi due to the remote nature of the project, their use of these communication tools has helped to keep us connected and informed.

One area for improvement in terms of communication could be to provide more frequent updates on when the next release/deployment/demo will be. While we receive weekly reports detailing the work that has been done, we would appreciate more frequent updates about the actual release to help us stay on top of the project's progress. However, this is a minor issue and has not significantly impacted the success of the project.

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

One thing that really stands out to us about Steelkiwi is their structured approach to project management. They have a clear system in place for tracking tasks and progress, and this has helped to ensure that our projects stay on track and are completed efficiently. Another impressive aspect of Steelkiwi is the strength of their teamwork, despite the fact that they are a remote-working team.

Each team member takes full ownership of their tasks and is also aware of what the other members are working on. This allows them to collaborate effectively and ensure that all aspects of the project are being handled efficiently. We also appreciate the clear and professional manner in which Steelkiwi communicates with us. They keep us informed of progress and are always available to answer any questions or address any concerns we may have.

Specifically, we have been most impressed by Steelkiwi's ability to maintain high quality delivery even during difficult circumstances. During the Ukraine war, when a number of team members working with us were based in Ukraine, Steelkiwi's management team was able to maintain a smooth process and keep the team working effectively despite the challenges and disruptions caused by the war.

This is a testament to their strong management skills and ability to adapt to changes and solve many challenges. Overall, we find Steelkiwi's skills and expertise to be complementary, and this has contributed to the successful completion of our projects. We believe that Steelkiwi's structured project management system, strong teamwork, and clear communication are key factors that have contributed to their success and have made them a valuable partner for our company.

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

Overall, we have been happy with the work provided by SteelKiwi. Their deliverables have consistently met our expectations, and we appreciate their commitment to quality. - There was one instance where we had concerns about the performance of a specific project member, and they promptly replaced that member upon our request. We appreciate their willingness to address our concerns and make sure that the team is meeting our expectations. -

Another issue we have encountered is that the team has changed somewhat over the 1-year course of our interaction with SteelKiwi. While we would prefer to work with the same team for the duration of the project, this has not always been possible due to circumstances beyond the team's control. However, the team has made an effort to ensure a smooth transition and has done their best to maintain continuity despite the changes.

Additionally, a few team members have left the company during the project, which has presented some challenges. However, we understand that these departures may have been due to disruptions caused by the Ukraine war, and we appreciate the agency's efforts to minimize the impact on the project. - We have also provided some feedback to SteelKiwi in terms of giving us more visibility on billing and hours accrued, and they were responsive to our suggestions and implemented the changes we requested.

One thing we particularly appreciate is the quick response times of our project manager, Daniel. He has always been prompt in addressing any questions, suggestions, or enquiries, which gives us confidence that the agency is always looking for ways to improve. Overall, we feel that SteelKiwi is open to feedback and willing to make changes in order to meet our needs and expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an executive at our startup, it is an e-market place that helps streamline the process between vendors and clients in the event place.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Steelkiwi to develop our application, frontend and backend. Our goal was to have a detailed yet user friendly application and dashboard for both our customers and our vendors.

SOLUTION

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

After countless hours and meetings with various companies, we decided on Steelkiwi for a range of reasons. Significantly, our first point of contact, Igor the business development manager was exceptionally accommodating of even our most ambitious plans and continued to be so throughout. He went as far as making the trip over to Jeddah to meet in person and spent many hours over zoom patiently answering all our questions and always ensuring that the decisions regarding our application were made in our best interest.

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

Our key deliverables were the main application for customers and the vendor dashboard for our vendors, as well as our admin dashboard. The frontend was developed using Flutter and Python. While the backend was developed using Django.

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

We started with a business development manager Igor, as well as Oksana our project manager and a business analyst Igor. We mostly interacted with Oksana and Igor as well as a team of frontend, backend developers (approximately 4 or 5) all who were excellent and quick to adjust to any changes in specifications that we had.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While we have yet to launch, the quality tests amongst friends and family have gone very well. They understood our desire for a clean interface that flowed very well together and at all stages surpassed our expectations.

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

Oksana was very responsive at all stages of this project, she was very clear and ensured that we were kept abreast of all aspects of development and finances. She was also quick to adjust according to what worked best for us, for example while the bulk of communication between us and the development happened on slack, she quickly adjusted to the fact that our team worked better on WhatsApp and without hesitation continued the conversation there.

There was never a moment where she felt unreachable or difficult to work with. Deliverable timelines were met on a timely basis. In short Oksana is and has always been willing to go above and beyond.

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

While there are many ways in which we could answer this question about Steelkiwi our most standout experience with them happened towards the end of the project, when they should have been planning to wind down and cut down on resources spent on our project. Due to a personal matter that had occurred on our end, our ability to work at full capacity was hindered significantly.

Without hesitation the entire team significantly Igor and Oksana ensured we were taken care of, they safeguarded our interests while simultaneously allowing us the space and time to work out our issues. This situation also occurred in the backdrop of significant instability and turmoil in Ukraine where most of the team operate and reside. Incredibly this situation did not for a moment hinder their synchronicity of their team as a unit and their ability to work seamlessly with us as clients.

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

This is a very pleasant and rare situation in which we can confidently say we have no complaints. In fact we look forward to continuing our relationship with Steelkiwi and recommending them to fellow startups.