GLOBALDEV

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a smaller company, and we have developed an online collaboration platform for students primarily.

What is your position?

I am the CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with SteelKiwi Development?

In most startups, you have some challenges around economy. We're based in Denmark and, as you know, that's a pretty expensive country to live in and to hire people. We actually had our mobile applications developed in Denmark, and we got the foundation, but it was too expensive. When we needed to extend our mobile applications, we looked for some freelancers, and SteelKiwi popped up and it seemed like the right fit for us.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They built our mobile app for iOS and Android. We're delivering all the back-end, and they are delivering all the app's content. It was primarily coding and not so much front end.

How did you come to work with SteelKiwi Development?

We did an online search for freelancers.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The cost was set to $25 per hour for 50 to 60 hours.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them about one year ago. The project was completed, and it has been a very good process. We hired them just for a small project of about 50 to 60 hours to see what it was like to work with them. I will say they delivered more than you can expect, ahead of deadline, and on budget. They were extremely responsive. They delivered a  good job, so we decided to hire them again for some other projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We're very satisfied. We don't have any statistics or metrics. We are not looking into that. The primary thing for us is that they are very responsive and that they deliver high-quality work. Normally, they are able to start a new project within a few days.

What distinguishes SteelKiwi Development from other providers?

The price and the quality that SteelKiwi Development delivers, and their agility – those things would be difficult to find, especially regarding the pricing. We could have found somebody in Denmark, and we could get the same agility and the same quality, but the pricing would way ahead of what SteelKiwi charges.

Is there anything SteelKiwi Development could have improved or done differently?

I don't think we would have done anything differently. Generally, people think differently in various parts of the world, and being from Scandinavia, we probably often challenge our customers and come with suggestions and feedback. "What if we do this? That would be really awesome. Shouldn't we just do it?" Whereas in Ukraine, where they're based in the Eastern part of Europe, I guess they're more used to, "This is what we were asked to deliver," and they deliver it. A good feedback would be to challenge their customers and give some input to what would be some great functionality, or something that would really push the product that they are supporting.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I work for a small company that produces furniture, and sells it online through their website. Last November [2014], the company had problems with the website and they were urgently looking for a company able to help with that. I connected them with an IT [information technology] company. It was a small project, but it was very urgent. I looked for a company that could redesign the furniture company's website.

What is your position and responsibilities?

I was an intermediary between the furniture company and SteelKiwi, so something like a project manager. It's a small project, and we're still working with SteelKiwi on this particular website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with SteelKiwi Development?

The owner had a website and a web developer, but there was a conflict and the web developer left. As a result, the owner was left with partially completed work and no expertise to finish it alone. I was brought onboard to help salvage the situation. I evaluated what was done previously and went out looking for a qualified developer to continue building the website.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The website had an old CMS [content management system], and SteelKiwi effectively rebuilt it from the ground up. They made the design responsive, in compliance with mobile requirements. They first reanimated the old website and fixed all of the previously existing bugs. They then redesigned the site for mobile compatibility. SteelKiwi allocated a project manager and a couple of programmers, I think. I'm not sure how they did it, but they did it in time, which is important. They delivered the project very quickly.

How did you come to work with SteelKiwi Development?

I found them through online research.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It was between €2,000 [approximately $2,200] and €3,000 [$3,300] a month. It depended on how much work needed to be completed. There were about five months of intensive work.

What is the status of this engagement?

At the moment, it's mostly done, so we're just updating a few items and doing some basic maintenance work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We have Google Analytics, and we see that organic traffic is growing. I can send you reports from October last year, when we started, up until now, so you can see the growth in traffic. It's probably right about double or triple what it was then.

The owner of the website is quite content, which is most important part. He started from nothing because the website he had beforehand was very bad. It had all kinds of bugs and visually it wasn't representative of the brand or customer experience. Now, he is much more happy, and he wants to stay with SteelKiwi if he has another project or if he wants to update the website in the future.

How did SteelKiwi Development perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, I was very impressed with their performance. SteelKiwi Development was very responsive throughout the planning, scoping and development process. All work was completed on time and within budget.

What distinguishes SteelKiwi Development from other providers?

I liked the fact that they respond very quickly to any questions or concerns I had. When I send a request or a task, I see the progress and I know it will be done within the time period that I wanted. For me, this is the most important thing. Another thing, you don't have to look for them, because they are always online. Something might come up during the weekend, a problem with the server, and you can reach them via Skype or phone.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a specialist in the production of children's television series. Our work is produced for TV channels around the world and has been viewed in most continents. We take great care in the design and writing of TV programs ensuring both a fun and educational experience for children. We have more than 20 years of experience and offer full production services, consultation, training, and project management. We worked with SteelKiwi to custom develop an "edutainment" membership site for children and families. 

What is your position?

I'm the founder of the project and project manager of site development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with SteelKiwi Development?

Our business goals are to reach a niche children's market with our existing video, game, educational, and interactive content. We wanted a way to monetize the content through a membership service. We needed a scalable platform that provides ease of use for us to keep content always fresh. In addition, we needed an easy to use – user management system and payment system. As a small startup, we bootstrapped the entire process, but needed best in class developer.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

SteelKiwi worked with us using Django/Python as the best saleable solution to build the functionality and customization we needed. It is very important to us that we are prepared for future growth and the addition of new creative functionality as we grow.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The project size was $50,000 to $199,999

What is the status of this engagement?

The original site has launched. They've been involved in other projects, and we continue to work with them for ongoing support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did SteelKiwi Development do from a project management standpoint?

SteelKiwi met all of the challenges we put to them. We have an amazing platform using what they have custom developed. The integration of third-party payment and other services has also been seamless. We have not experienced any downtime since launch one and a half years ago. We did a major visual redesign of the site after one year and again they were fantastic during this process. We have an ongoing support from them as required and their customer service is excellent.

What distinguishes SteelKiwi Development from other providers?

SteelKiwi is amazing to work with. They are very responsive to what we need. They are amazing listeners and work with us through perfecting the design process and giving their feedback on the best technical solutions. Even though we are in two different countries and speak two different languages, we have never had any issues. Their support people speak and interact in fluent English. We have never had any trust issues. They have never overcharged us for the work. We feel we are very fortunate to have developed a relationship with such a developer. We contract a lot of services and SteelKiwi gets top rankings from us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We’re an HR [human resources] consulting firm, predominantly. For the most part, our specialty is distributing job offers.

What is your position?

I’m the lead software developer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the business challenge that you were trying to address when you first approached SteelKiwi?

The project on which we’re working with SteelKiwi is a method for semi-automatically distributing jobs to as many different sites, newspapers, and social media networks as possible. We got a little bit carried away in terms of the scope of the project, and it was something that we could no longer handle on our own. I’m the only developer in-house, which means developing a project this large was going to take up a huge amount of my time. Initially, we hired SteelKiwi in order to allow me to spend more time architecting things while they implemented the actual milestones.

SOLUTION

Could you describe the actual scope of work assigned to them?

Initially, they were just doing functional development. Recently, however, we have been giving them more leeway to choose the items that they can work on, by providing them with a much larger number of the individual tasks. We do provide them with some rough prioritization. I definitely still need to take the reins in terms of guiding the development because of the long-distance relationship. There’s a lot of user feedback that gets filtered through me.

How did you come to choose SteelKiwi Development as your partner?

Initially, we hired them through Elance. We put up a bid, and various people replied to it. They were one of the most highly recommended and their cost-efficiency ratio was the best. They were also able to provide some sample code during the process. I have very strict standards for code quality, and they met those standards quite handily. In short, they impressed us immediately.

Can you provide a ballpark estimate for the size of this engagement?

I don’t know those numbers off of the top of my head, but I can say that they are much less expensive than hiring locally. In terms of cost effectiveness, I feel that they’re worth about twice as much as we’re actually paying them.

What is the status of the project?

The project is still ongoing. It’s been in production for slightly less than a year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the quality of their performance?

Some of the tasks that we have assigned them are actually research tax-credit worthy. They single-handedly worked on the milestone to develop the dynamic reporting engine, which was a brand new reporting system where the reports are stored in the program. I was quite impressed when that actually took them half as long as expected. To finish a development task of that complexity so quickly was remarkable. Everything has been accomplished well within time and budget expectations.

I’ve always been hesitant to hire overseas developers, due to intellectual property concerns. Those types of concerns were alleviated very quickly. I found SteelKiwi to be quite trustworthy with our source code and data.

When working with them, is there anything that you would consider unique about their strategic approach or development methodology that distinguish them from other vendors?

They are extremely flexible in terms of methods of communication. In terms of overall management, the flexibility is the biggest bonus I was able to come across. We often chat using Skype, for example. They are always accessible and are flexible with the means by which they send us their work.

In retrospect, are there areas in which you think they could improve as a service provider?

UI [user interface] and UX [user experience] is the one area where we had to do some touch-up work after they submitted their work back to us. That may be the one area that they might want to improve.

What advice, if any, would you give a future client of theirs?

As with any project, upfront planning is the biggest thing, in terms of being able to provide concrete technical specifications in addition to how you want the code architected.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company.

Our company provides a number of IT [information technology]-related services, many are focused on Web and mobile development, but we also have VPN [virtual private network]-related services.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with SteelKiwi Development?

We run our own projects but, sometimes, we are either overloaded or take on projects that encompass tasks we do not have the ability to complete. We have approached SteelKiwi to augment our staff on a number of these high-level projects.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

We’ve hired their developers to assist us on a variety of projects including Android development, DSS, HTML, and Django-Python. More recently, they’ve consulted with us on a booking engine as well as a new VPN service.

What was your process for selecting SteelKiwi Development with which to work?

I discovered them through my own online research. I requested a test job, and they did very well with it. We’ve worked with them for a couple years now, and we have active projects with them.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar or time estimate for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

At least 3,000 work hours in total.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

All our projects with SteelKiwi, up to this point, have reached successful conclusions. The people at Steel Kiwi say what they do, and do what they say. I wish all companies acted this way.

We have several ongoing projects with SteelKiwi, which speaks to the fact that we are satisfied with the work they’ve provided for us in the past.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

It's hard to give you metrics since this is all project-based work.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

I think Steel Kiwi is fantastic with Python-Django framework. I think it’s one of the best things they do, and I’ve had problems with other developers in terms of skills with Python-Django.

In addition, their response rate and availability is fantastic. Several times, we changed the goals or schedule of a project, but it was never a problem for them even if it required them to work outside normal business hours.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

I think there is some inconsistency in the skill levels of their developers. Sometimes, we’re working with a developer who is doing great, but then they switch him out and it causes us to lose some time in the project.

BACKGROUND

Could you briefly describe your organization?

We’re a nonprofit Christian conference center, about 108 years old. People come to our facilities and rent them for events and special programming. We also offer summer camp services here.

What is your position?

I’m an Internet specialist. I work on the website development team for advertising and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the business challenge that you were attempting to address when you first approached SteelKiwi Development?

We were developing a new website, and our relationship with our former developers fell apart. So, we decided to part ways with them and hired SteelKiwi to pick up the pieces. The initial challenge that we were facing was the design of a new template build for the site. We had most of the back-end functional, so we just needed to fix that and then build the new front-end template based off designs we were providing.

SOLUTION

Could you describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail?

It started out with most of the back-end functional. Through the years, they’ve done a lot of the back-end work for us, but initially most of it was front end. They were just implementing the front-end design, and then quickly we started hiring them to do additional add-ons. We were adding new features to our product quite frequently. After some time, they began building out new apps, and doing database and server management. They’ve done a lot of technical work for us. They also provided training to me, and then I instruct the rest of the staff. They provided everything that was needed to use the tools they built. We’ve been very impressed with their process documentation. Outside of this engagement, I’ve also hired them repeatedly for other projects, including iOS development.

How did you select SteelKiwi as your partner for this endeavor?

We found them through Elance. I posted a project there and received bids from multiple companies. I researched a few and interviewed them. SteelKiwi seemed to be the most capable for the price I was asking.

Could you provide a general cost estimate for this project?

At this point, it’s been $14,000 during the course of the relationship.

What has been the duration of this engagement?

The relationship is ongoing, but started in early 2012

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the quality of their performance?

Not really. We collect metrics but not specifically tied to their work. I really enjoy working with them, and that’s why I keep giving them more work. I especially like that have direct access to their task management system. I can add new tasks. They work on them, and we work closely together with the project management aspect, which I love. It’s a great tool. I’ve given them raises through the years since they did good enough work for me that I felt they deserved more.

When working with SteelKiwi, is there anything that you’d consider unique about their strategic approach or development methodology that distinguish them from other vendors?

The work they do is amazing. It’s professional, and it’s done well. They have a team of workers that can do just about anything I’ve ever ask them to do. Whether it be iOS, database, server, coding, front-end, you name it. They have a large enough team so that they can assign more staff to my project and make it happen, and I love that. I don’t have to go and negotiate a new contract with another provider. They can usually do it all, which has been fantastic.

When working with SteelKiwi, are there areas in which you think they could improve as a service provider?

There are occasional issues with timelines, and a lot of that could be attributed to us not prescheduling the tasks that needed to be done. Maybe a rush project comes up, and they’re working on other tasks. Every once in while they kind of fall of the face of the Earth. It’s very rare but, sometimes, we’ll ask for something and not hear from them for a week or two. It’s not the standard for them at all, but it’s happened.

English isn’t always their first language, but that hasn’t been an issue for the most part. It’s not beautiful English when they write back, but it’s totally understandable. It hasn’t been a hindrance for me at all. I suppose others should be aware that it isn’t flawless, so if that’s going to be a key factor it might be wise to consider other options, too. I have some experience working with other offshore providers, and I’ve found SteelKiwi to be much better than most of my previous engagements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of Dark Math Games Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are making a videogame.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Lead developer role to set up core structure of the game mechanics

SOLUTION

How did you find GLOBALDEV?

Referral

Why did you select GLOBALDEV over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

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.

Designing and helping to develop core game mechanics, taking the lead developer role and technical director, setting up the infrastructure. And all that is delivered and we are continuibg working with them and expanding the scope for next items.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have multiple prototypes and technology demos  after each pivot and artistic updates we had.

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

Yes, always on time. When additional devs were needed, they always steppwd up and helped. They aligned themselves with our management and work setup and we are in good sync.

What was your primary form of communication with GLOBALDEV?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

How professional they are and always looking for solutions. They don't overmanage and don't add complexity to the flow.

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

All good :)

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Development Representative of CHI Software

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

CHI Software is a global technology company specializing in custom software development, AI solutions, and IT consulting services for businesses across various industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Accelerate web app development
• Access highly specialized tech talents in backend and front-end
• Optimize budget expenses

SOLUTION

How did you find GLOBALDEV?

Referral

Why did you select GLOBALDEV over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Proven track record of delivery

How many teammates from GLOBALDEV were assigned to this project?

15-20

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

For several years, Globaldev has provided staffing and team augmentation services for CHI Software. The scope of work involved efficiently closing critical tech positions based on our needs. Globaldev supported and keeps supporting us in scaling our teams, both for short-term projects and long-term engagements.

Key deliverables include rapid talent acquisition, flexible team expansion, quality assurance, and ongoing support.

Our collaboration is marked by agility, reliability, and a deep understanding of our technical and business needs, which helps us achieve growth and project goals seamlessly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our collaboration resulted in several measurable outcomes that demonstrate the success of our partnership: reduced time-to-hire, increased project efficiency, and seamless integration of high-quality talent.

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

We’re pleased with the work completed and the ongoing collaboration between our teams.

What was your primary form of communication with GLOBALDEV?

Virtual Meeting

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

What impressed me most about Globaldev is their reliability and transparency throughout the entire development process. From day one, they felt like a true partner – communicating clearly, adapting to our needs, and delivering high-quality results. Unlike many providers, they prioritize long-term collaboration, ensuring continuity and deep understanding of our project. 

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

The team covered everything we needed with great attention to detail. They were proactive, responsive, and committed to delivering high-quality results. From clear communication to seamless execution, every aspect of the project was handled professionally. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of iCheck Joint Stock Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

iCheck

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Code Web iCheck DMS, EBB.COM.VN

SOLUTION

How did you find Investidea Tech?

Online Search

Why did you select Investidea Tech over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

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

2-5 Employees

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

• Develop full website features: product sharing, e-commerce
• Building admin dashboard to manage platform using WordPress system
• Optimize performance and SEO

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• 93% following best practices for web development
• 100% standard SEO

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

On schedule 

What was your primary form of communication with Investidea Tech?

• In-Person Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their professional project management was impressive.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of TPham Consulting S.A.S.U

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

IT Consulting Service

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Release deliverables as planned

SOLUTION

How did you find Investidea Tech?

Referral

Why did you select Investidea Tech over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

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

2-5 Employees

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

• Create a DEV environment
• Improve SEO for the website
• Release the work in PROD

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Have one release on 24th of June
• Handover and pack all credentials and materials to customer on 11th of July

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

Yes. We work as Agile Sprint

What was your primary form of communication with Investidea Tech?

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

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

Investidea Tech's engineering quality, work spirit, and good prices were impressive.

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

• Improve the communication