Hashtag Systems

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Mint Design, a web development agency in Walnut Creek. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems?

I generally have too many projects, and couldn't handle them all on my own. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hashtag System does the complex development that exceeds my abilities or experience. I'm more of a designer than a developer, so I outsource many projects to their team that requires custom coding for my clients. We've done quite a few projects together, including everything from small tasks to the $8,000 website and app we're currently executing. 

Most of my projects are based on WordPress sites. I know they're proficient in React, Angular, Bootstrap, and Java. Hashtag Systems can code virtually anything. They handle everything for native app development. If I ever have an issue, they can typically resolve it for me. When I'm overbooked with new projects that come in, the team takes them on for me. 

What is the team composition? 

I work with about 5–6 people from Hashtag Systems. I interact with one woman on a regular basis who helps me with revisions to keep my business going. She completes much of the development and design for files I'm unable to finish. 

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems?

Hashtag Systems found me on LinkedIn. Their approach seemed genuine, and their team was local to our company, which I liked. I spoke with the owner directly. It seemed like we had similar ideas about how we run our businesses and like we could help each other out. He introduced me to his team, who has been fabulous from the beginning. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've probably spent between $10,000–$15,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working on projects together since July 2018. Our work is still ongoing on a daily basis. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

If it weren't for Hashtag Systems, my business couldn't have grown the way that it did. I reached my five-year goal in three months due solely to our partnership. They've kept my website moving and progressing. I can count on them to complete things I don't have time for, which allows me to bring more clients on board. 

We've grown a great business relationship over our time together. It's been so long I don't even remember our first conversation. Hashtag Systems has helped my business grow substantially. 

How did Hashtag Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Hashtag Systems is awesome at communication and hitting deadlines. I can count on them any time, which is why I continue to work with them. They can always resolve my problems and are excellent communicators. Whenever they run into a problem, they alert me immediately so we can work together to fix it. 

We communicate almost daily through phone calls, Slack, and Google tools. We have regular meetings via Zoom video calls so we can share screens and work together while looking at the same thing. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Every single person I've worked with from Hashtag Systems is very dedicated, hardworking, and ethical. They're good at what they do and truly care about me as a client. I feel like they genuinely want to provide exactly what I ask for. They're great at communicating and work seamlessly as a team. Their entire team can pull together to get things done. I've accomplished things I couldn't have done without them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I really can't think of anything. I never have any issues with Hashtag Systems which is why I work with them as much as I do. They always solve problems and even work from home or on the weekends to finish projects. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Actively communicate what you need instead of leaving all the decisions to Hashtag Systems. Even though they work well independently, it's best to give them directions and guidelines. They will create something amazing for you if you clearly describe what you want them to deliver. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief executive officer of Veltec Networks, a managed IT services provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems Inc?

We had to outsource a software development project. Our client was a finance organization that needed the software for banking purposes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave Hashtag Systems Inc the task, and they ran with it and completed it.

What is the team composition?

We interacted with at least three people from Hashtag Systems Inc.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems Inc?

They were referred to us. We chose them because their skills weren’t available elsewhere. Also, other vendors were asking for more money.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $8,500 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2015–June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Hashtag Systems Inc did good work. While we gave the client a year’s warranty, we haven’t received any calls or complaints from them yet.

How did Hashtag Systems Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

We were in contact twice a week. It was a good experience; collaborating with them was easy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They delivered everything on time and at a reasonable price. Also, their team is made up of nice people. If I get another project, I’ll check with them first.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have managed things better and completed everything more quickly. However, the project was a little challenging, so I don’t blame them for anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important that you keep them on task.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of Yarrow Financial. We help small businesses get financing based on their situations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems?

We were a startup and needed a website. I didn't have any experience in website design, so I sought a company that could help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled everything from start to finish. I gave them the content, and they designed and developed a WordPress website for me. Once I gave them the information they needed, they turned it around within a week. 

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with a project manager, but there were about five people total involved in our project.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems?

I found them through a Google search. They had competitive rates, and I liked the scope of work that they put together. Also, I trusted that they could complete the project, so I chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $2,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from February–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I haven't had any issues with the website. They continue to help me with any requests I have, even now that the project is finished. We don't use our website to drive traffic, but it serves as a business card for our company and gives us credibility. Any feedback I’ve gotten from the users or the internal team has been very positive.

How did Hashtag Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job and produced a close draft of what I asked. When I had to do revisions, they implemented them quickly. I prefer email as a form of communication, so we mostly used email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They delivered everything they had promised. We didn't have any issues, and they worked quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. Everything worked out well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think through everything ahead of time and be ready to communicate that clearly to them. The process will go smoother if they have all the details.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a CRM software company for the financial industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems Inc?

I needed help with WordPress development for my organization. I had hired a WordPress developer through an associate to assist with the website we were developing. After a month or two, I realized I needed to look for a different vendor.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were tasked with building custom templates in WordPress using a specific framework. In addition, they had to provide custom JavaScript, CSS, and custom jQuery coding in order to make the website work.

They also assisted with building a complicated order delivery system, in which a customer can click a button to purchase a product and then go through a transactional system. It looks simple on the frontend, but it’s complicated on the backend, however, Hashtag Systems helped me accomplish that goal.

What is the team composition?

There were approximately six developers that I know of, but the team seems to be larger. I had an assigned project manager as well as three other people who were responsible for day-to-day communication.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems Inc?

I had already done business with them through another organization that I’m a partner of. There was one individual who did a stellar job as far as execution, turnaround time, and communication. I decided I would use them in case I needed a developer to accomplish my goals.

How much have you invested in them?

We have invested around $10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in July 2018 and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m getting a ton of value working with them versus the other group I was with before. They were more expensive, had a smaller team, and were unable to get things done as quickly.

The cost is lower than expected with Hashtag Systems, their speed is faster than anticipated, and the team is larger, so you’re able to get more work done. That has really helped me to accomplish my goals and it has made a big impact on the business.

How did Hashtag Systems Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

The cooperation between us is good. They’re definitely a group that takes direction and performs accordingly. There were a couple of scenarios where we needed to provide more clarity than we thought we did up front, but once we figured out the way that their team needed to receive information, we made the proper adjustments.

Overall, they are great communicators and are generally on time. On this project, we primarily use Slack and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve had experiences in the past with developers that are busy and work with multiple clients, where they lack people management and account management skills. They make you feel like you are in a queue behind a thousand other customers, but with Hashtag Systems, I feel like we’re their only customer.

I’ve never felt like there are things in the way of accomplishing my goals or have gotten any pushback. They are always on top of things, which is something both my company and I need. They’re naturally responsive to requests, which is what sets them apart based on my experience working with other similarly situated developers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve by taking some time to fully understand the requirements in all situations. When it comes to software development, there are important deadlines and tight schedules. Furthermore, when two international companies work together, there can be miscommunications due to the language barrier. Because of that, it’s always good to ensure that both parties understood each message before executing. While Hashtag Systems is great, they’re not immune to those challenges.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They do a great job, and I would definitely try them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Social Pulsar is a product for social media marketing and management. It allows users to integrate Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other platforms into one place, in order to automate marketing. I am the CTO of the company. We are based in San Francisco.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems?

We were searching for the right partner to build our platform, someone with good experience on PHP and Java.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hashtag Systems developed our platform using PHP and Java. We handled architecture design.

What is the team dynamic?

They assigned seven people to our project, including the project manager. We used Slack for communication.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems?

I believe we found them through Clutch. Hashtag had reasonable pricing and was also a startup company, so we had similar cultures. We contacted around 5 candidates in total, and the others had much higher quotes, around $100,000.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of our platform has been between $20,000 and $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Hashtag Systems in March 2016. The site was completed around December, but we continue to make changes here and there.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work was structured and cost-effective. We are very happy with the design. We did identify some bugs, but they were fixed.

How did Hashtag Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a clear-cut process, from requirements gathering to delivery. They had never worked on a platform like ours before, and had some issues understanding the system, but overcame this in a couple of days.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They value us as a customer, and provided support, which is important for any kind of startup.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a startup company, so they are still growing. Other than that, I have no comments.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own BMG, a basketball academy and consulting, representation, and management group that has a bunch of teams and runs classes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems?

At the time, I already had an existing website that I wanted to upgrade and was looking for a local provider. I was not selling anything online at that time (I'm selling things now on the website), but I knew that was the direction that I wanted to go. Initially, it was just branding and what that needed to look like with a vision down the road and trying to find someone that can help with that. I didn't want the company that I was going to work with to be someone where I would feel like I would just be another client and not get the personal touch that I needed, which I had prior because the person that was helping me initially was a friend of mine. That was important, too.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The website template was already in place relative to the feel of what I wanted it to look like, so that groundwork had already been laid. When they came in, it was already pretty clear where I had it and where I wanted it to go. Hashtag Systems helped build out the whole aspect of development—they built a new site for me from scratch with a goal in mind of upgrading what I had: making it more user-friendly, allowing it to present better, and create something that would allow for more volume of customers coming in and handling more on the site. It's been phenomenal since I’ve gotten that done.

I’m very detail-oriented, so the process took a while because everything that's on my site (every picture, word, line, and video), I basically wrote or mentally created and then worked with them to create that vision for the site. It was more, “Here's what I’m looking for and my vision of what they should look like. Let's start the process, and then as we start the process, I’ll just continue to tell you what I like and dislike. Then let's just build it, so it looks right.” The CEO has been very helpful for me with suggestions. I would bounce some things off of him. You’ll ultimately make your own decision, but he gives good advice when I ask. They provided ideas and suggestions that they gave me in terms of a variety of things, like how you might want it to look, which one do you like best, or advice on how things should be placed. But I can't say that I attribute something specific to them specifically.

Initially, this all started with meeting the CEO. Then a developer was assigned to me, and I believe they are overseas. They were the only two that I worked with the whole time. I don’t know what technologies they used to build the website.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems?

At the time, the person I was working with was in North Carolina, and it was making it inconvenient. There are thousands of people that have that expertise in my area, so I just placed an ad on Craigslist trying to find someone local. I searched pretty in-depth trying to find the best solution that was local for me and came across them. Through that process of evaluating roughly 35 to 40 different people and companies, I trimmed it down to 5. Ultimately, when he and I met, I just had a comfort level with him. I looked at the work that he had done in the past, the direction that I was trying to go in my business, what I wanted that to represent online, and how it would look down the road when I had more stability to invest into a better web page. When I met them, I felt really comfortable. The goal was to have better representation online, and that's why I went to him.

How much have you invested with Hashtag Systems?

Cost was roughly in the $2,000 area for the website to actually be done, and then anywhere between $250 to $300 a month maintenance wise. I don't have a ton of stuff, but when I do have things, I send a lot over at one time and try to get it all done at that time.

What is the status of this engagement?

When we rebuilt the website, we started around October, and I want to say that we took roughly three months for it to go live right after the New Year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I got a text message today from one of my clients, who has been with me since I started my business, saying, “Your website looks great. Good job.” I get compliments on it all the time. I don't know how much increased business I’ve gotten directly from it. That's tricky with what I do, because I limit the amount of participants that are able to come on a monthly basis. I have classes. With that being said, I don't know how much extra traffic is coming because of the site. I’ve looked at the competition that I’ve got in my market, and nobody has anything even close to what we've built and what it’s providing. I feel confident that, as soon as somebody gets access to it and starts to read the information and browse around that, they're going to be pretty impressed and feel as though I’ve got a thriving business because it presents that. And I do.

He's helped tremendously in that way because, when we moved over the website and I moved over the process of how the money being accepted, I was initially frustrated with it because it was new. But I basically trusted that this is going to be more user-friendly, and you just have to get used to a new system. Now I’m very comfortable with it, and my business is doing phenomenally. To be honest with you, where I’m at right now, and I don't know how much I can attribute to the website, I have tripled where I was. Regardless, I feel very confident in my website when it comes to helping my business.

How did Hashtag Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Generally, when it hasn't been a big project, they've been pretty good with deadlines because, for me, it's monthly or weekly maintenance. But as far as when the site was built, that actually took a little bit longer than I had anticipated and wanted. I wanted it to go up pretty quickly because I had a lot that needed to get done at that time, and it did take a little bit longer than I had hoped.

The one drawback was when I was dealing with the developers, they ended up having a medical emergency, and they were away. This was while the project was happening, and I was under a deadline. That pushed it back, and there wasn't anybody else for whatever reason very accessible for me to be able to continue the momentum of what we were doing. That would be the one thing that I would say that we struggled with. But that was a personal emergency that came up for her. Outside of that, I’ve had no issues.

What did you find most impressive about Hashtag Systems?

There are some people that make you feel like they're busy. That's frustrating because, even if they could do good work, it's frustrating dealing with people that act like they don't have the time. I’m a small business owner so I have to take into account that, when this started, my business was at one point, and at this date, it's a completely different point. When we first met, I don't know how much business he had, but he didn't make me feel like I wasn't important. I appreciated that. And even now—I don't know where his business is—there's a huge level of comfort that, if I call, they're going to pick up the phone; if I miss them, they're going to call me right back; if I need something done, the developer is the one doing it. They jump on it at least within 24 hours and get it done. I’ve just been happy with the personal touch, and that's not always there, especially if you're dealing with someone who has some talent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of an it services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

IT Platform as a Service

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hashtag Systems to accomplish?

• Expertise in areas we don’t cover
• Quick response to customer needs
• Custom development work

SOLUTION

How did you find Hashtag Systems?

Online Search

Why did you select Hashtag Systems over others?

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

How many teammates from Hashtag Systems were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Staff augmentation and project work related to DB2 database and Wordpress administration and development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

successul launched services

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

They're consistently responsive and professional from a workflow perspective.

What was your primary form of communication with Hashtag Systems?

Virtual Meeting

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

Responsiveness and flexibility.

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

There's nothing they need to improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Assistant Head of a department at Francis Parker School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Francis Parker School is a Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 independent school whose mission is to create and inspire a diverse community of independent thinkers whose academic excellence, global perspective, and strength of character prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Hashtag Systems to accomplish?

• Check the website for any problems
• Check the website for link breaks

SOLUTION

How did you find Hashtag Systems?

Online Search

Why did you select Hashtag Systems over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Hashtag Systems were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Website Maintenance

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website was kept in good condition. We didn't worry about the maintenance because we knew Hashtag was watching!

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

They provided a monthly report of their work and the health of the website. It was timely and provided what we needed to understand the health of the website.

What was your primary form of communication with Hashtag Systems?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their responsiveness is impressive.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Clinical Research Fastrack provides training and support to help individuals enter and advance in the booming clinical research industry. My position is CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hashtag Systems Inc, and what were your goals?

We wanted to do a full update and refresh of our website. We needed Hashtag to build out our design, the templates and update all the pages with our photos, images and content.

SOLUTION

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

Hashtag has a great portfolio, strong references and works for a very reasonable rate. We look for quality and value.

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

Hashtag completely rebuilt our website in Wordpress.

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

Three of their employees worked with us. A project manager and two developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was completed very well. The work was finished on time and the team was responsive to our changes and our overall needs.

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

We met all timelines. We communicated via email and Zoom.

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

This company went above and beyond what they promised. They delivered and were very friendly and responsive to our requests.

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

They met or exceeded our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a Chinese non profit organization, working with Hashtag to develop a Chinese website

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hashtag Systems Inc, and what were your goals?

Launch a new Chinese website

SOLUTION

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

Past projects experiences and communication skills

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

1.Kick-off meeting to id the goals and the scope of work 2. Website development

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

2-3 people

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is a new site, we still need to see more data

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

 Their project management was good

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

Timely communication

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

Fix bugs quickly