Helium Services

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a music and technology company called NotJuskOk Inc. Our goal is to popularize and monetize African music.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

After launching our web application, we wanted to create mobile apps for iOS and Android. We’d initially tried to build them in-house but were ill-equipped for development. As a result, we reached out to Helium to create the apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, we compiled a set of requirements detailing exactly what we wanted in our MVP, including technical and design documentation. We provided this information to Helium’s team, and they gave us a breakdown of the timeline for the iOS app. Each milestone consisted of several steps, which we’d approved.

They’ve since delivered the iOS app and are now finishing the Android version. It’s a streaming app to play African music. Users can download files to their device for offline playback, create playlists, and save their favorite songs. One of the key functions is the ability to sort music by category.

What is the team composition?

For the most part, we had a project manager who served as the liaison between us and the developers. If we needed to speak directly to the technical team, there was another point of contact.

How did you come to work with Helium?

We found them online while searching for development agencies in Atlanta, Georgia. They started work 2–3 weeks after we contacted them.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work started in October 2017 and is ongoing. We’re still working on the Android version, which will go live toward the end of November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The iOS app went live in July 2018 and now has about 7,000 installs. We have a high retention rate with roughly 5,000 active users on the platform. Users have responded positively to the look and feel of the app as well as its functionality. Currently, we’re working to incorporate their feedback into further updates.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

For the most part, they’ve stuck to our timelines for both the iOS and Android apps. We typically correspond by email, but I also have them on my phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Because their team is so technologically experienced, we’re able to have an open conversation about development. They’re amenable to our ideas while also providing crucial insights into the user experience. I appreciate that they advise us on how our functions might affect end users and what not to do rather than just carrying out the task at hand.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. Compared to past vendors, I’ve had such a good experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re approachable and happy to work with you wherever you are in the development process. We’re a technical team, so we were able to provide certain components. However, they’re equally capable of helping you from scratch. If that’s the case, then it’s important to be able to communicate exactly what you want so that you can form a set of requirements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of a web app called The Gender Reveal Game.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

I contacted Helium to build the MVP for my web app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I created the logo myself, but I relied on Helium for much of the remaining design. They created the wireframes and designed each of the screens for the web application. They did the same for Android and iOS platforms, but they recommended the web app as a better starting point. The functional MVP allows expecting parents to raise money with their gender reveal by having friends and family guess the baby’s gender with cash plays. The app randomly selects a winner of a prize out of the group that guessed correctly. The application utilizes Stripe as a payment function, and guesses can be shared through a Facebook integration.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two technical managers and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Helium?

I met with a few firms in person, but I felt the most comfortable with Helium.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $30,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from June–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I love the simplicity of the site, and everybody who has visited the site has commented on its vibrant design.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

I met them a couple times in person, and we’d have weekly calls to discuss their progress. We would occasionally text if something was urgent. They were easy to communicate with, so I was always well-informed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their friendliness and their knowledge of the technology.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I had an overall good experience.

Any advice for potential customers?

Having a thorough design plan in mind beforehand will allow Helium’s team to focus more on the technical side.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the marketing manager at Pinnacle Search Partners. We're a boutique executive search firm in Atlanta.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

We had an outdated website, so we wanted to revamp it. We were looking for a company to help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had very basic understanding of how to develop a new website, so they came into our office and laid out a very detailed scope of work, the timeline, and the wireframes they had developed. Their in-depth analysis helped us get an idea of what our final website would look like. After that, they worked with us to bring that vision to life and create a perfect website. In total, they developed over 100 pages, creating an individual page for each of our clients. We had some specific ideas about linking our site to social media and Helium helped us implement them. It was a very collaborative process and they always made changes within a day or two. They’ll also provide training for us, so that we can maintain the website.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Joe (CEO, Helium), but there were more members of their team working on our project.

How did you come to work with them?

Our president worked with Helium previously and liked their work, so he decided to use them again for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Helium between April–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had no graphics on our website, but now we have a lot of graphics and animations. All of our employees love the new site. We also received a lot of compliments from our clients who follow us on social media.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They worked quickly and always kept us up-to-date with the progress. The website would be finished even faster if we didn't make changes internally, but they were flexible and adapted to our timeline. We had a couple of in-person meetings and used conference calls to communicate. Even though they have a large team, I always went directly to Joe with any questions I had.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was a very simple process from the beginning. At first, we didn't have an idea of how we wanted everything to look, but they had a lot of expertise in the subject and were able to guide us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. I'm happy with how everything went.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the agency manager at Allstate Insurance for the Rehonic Agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

Prior to their engagement, I was manually sending handwritten letters to potential customers about how much money we could save them based on previous tax records. It was a time-intensive process that involved printing the letter, scanning a document on top of it, and then printing envelopes. To refine the process and save time, I approached Helium to build an automated marketing software that would let me create and send handwritten letters.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After creating a font that mimicked my handwriting, they developed a software suite that consolidated the three processes into a single program. The software allowed me to upload an Excel file with the client data and used it to produce an overlaid document in my handwriting. From there, I only needed to print the document once and send it.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two developers, one of whom was also the project manager.

How did you come to work with Helium?

A colleague had used them to design a website and recommended them to me. I reached out to them along with other vendors, and Helium was the only one that could understand what I wanted to accomplish. They were willing to tackle the project and have done a great job.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent between $10,000–$50,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work began in November 2016 and is ongoing. They’ve finished the bulk of the development and continue to provide updates as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The software has saved me time and increased my output tenfold. Before, I could only send 1,000 letters a month, but, now, I can send closer to 10,000. The software is reliable, and if there are any issues, Helium generally addresses them within the same day.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

The project went smoothly, and I had no complaints. They used email effectively to document parts of the process. After every conversation, they always followed up with an email to recap the discussion and ensure that we were on the same page. Even when we met in person, they worked quickly and were very organized.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated their direct communication and speedy turnaround time. They were able to translate my idea into a technical solution and convey it to me in an accessible way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. It’s an ongoing process, but I’m happy with the product so far. As we get more people to use the software, I expect the process to continually change and look forward to working with them in the future.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them to handle the technical aspects of the project. In the beginning, I was certain that I knew exactly how I wanted my product. However, there were some areas that didn’t translate well into the technology, so they needed to handle it themselves. It was hard for me to give up that control, but, in the end, the software came out better than I envisioned.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of TortIQ, a technology company that provides scalable and documented government benefits advice to mass tort claimants. We work with some of the nation’s foremost law firms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Helium?

We hired Helium to create a custom dashboard—and CRM integration—that allows us to gain insights into our business and deliver relevant information to our clients.

What were your goals for this project?

Our primary goal was to provide a great looking, always accessible reporting dashboard for our customers. We also wanted clear insight into customer data.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I am also an investor in another startup which had previously worked with Helium to develop a large software platform; we were happy with their previous work and therefore chose to work with them in TortIQ.

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

Helium designed our dashboard, worked hand-in-hand with our CRM provider, and developed the application.

What was the team composition?

We worked with one sales person and one technical lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients love having instant access to relevant nformation.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team communicated regularly and quickly replied to my questions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were able to quickly understand our needs and develop cost-effective solutions in an honest, timely manner.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I am really satisfied. I would not have changed anything about the project engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of a company that provides residential landscape design, builds, maintenance, and construction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

I needed a digital system for client interaction and scheduling.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a wireframe based on our current system and feedback. The team then programmed an updated centralized database integrated with employee scheduling, an on-site and real-time maintenance and work log, a profitability matrix, and a rating interface and communication matrix for customers. They provided support on technical issues and are helping launch the system.

What is the team composition?

We worked with the founder of Helium and two developers.

How did you come to work with Helium?

We found them through Clutch and appreciated their high ratings. The founder responded in a timely manner and was very willing to meet up in person.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in December 2017 through January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The updated centralized and digitalized database increased our project efficiency by 30%. The system allowed us to easily track the cost, profit, quality of work, and time on a project. Customers became easier to communicate to as they could view the work and give us direct feedback.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve never done this kind of work before, so Helium helped us through some of the technical knowledge. They scheduled weekly phone calls and emails to make sure we were up to date.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are a small team which helped them give us personalized attention to our business. We worked with the same people consistently which helped limit communication problems.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We knew very little about the technology. They could have provided an easier learning curve through a comprehensive knowledge sheet.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are very attentive to your project and anyone should give them a try.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Kakuto Submission Challenge, a grappling, judo, and jiu jitsu company open to all ages. We do professional tournaments that accommodate up to 500 competitors a day.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

We had typically been bracketing tournaments manually, so we wanted to develop a software that would allow us to optimize the use of mats, speed up tournaments, and become one of the most efficient platforms on the market in our sport.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To familiarize themselves with our business, Helium attended many tournaments during initial stages. As their understanding of the event improved, they developed a web application using somewhat of a basic framework within a WordPress site.

Their team built out custom features, including notifications via text message to users that alert them when a mat becomes available, when a person is assigned to a mat, and where to go. It also tracks points of the competition, texts coaches, and reminds competitors when it's time to warm up. Each player has a profile card full of data and is able to upload videos and photos.

What is the team composition?

I deal mostly with two project leads, but they've since added on several employees to their team.

How did you come to work with Helium?

My cousin referred them to me. He had been developing a real estate website and database for several years. He'd worked with 3 other companies, but was most impressed by Helium. Their team came in and told him that he'd have to start from scratch, which was a big blow to his ego and finances, but it ended up being the best thing he ever did for his business.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together for about 2.5 years. The software development project started in May 2017 and ended in November 2017. We had worked with them on other projects dating back to October 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has resulted in a 250% increase in revenue. Others are always trying to buy the software Helium developed for us, but it's not for sale.

From a user's standpoint, it's authentic and original, so we're very pleased with it.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

They've been very responsive—I can get in touch with them any time of the day, seven days a week. Our tournaments are long and grueling weekend events, but Helium's been there with me 100%.

We meet often in-person, but also communicate through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're constantly trying to figure out ways to improve my tournaments. Despite knowing less about the sport than I do, they're able to offer valuable suggestions for making tournaments more efficient. We've taken them up on several of their ideas (i.e., texting coaches and competitors). Nobody's ever seen anything like the software they've created.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. From a consumer's perspective, they've delivered everything I've asked for and on time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

These guys are not a huge organization, so they can be attentive to pretty much all of your needs. You're able to get in touch with them ASAP. Although they're busy, you never feel as though you get lost in the shuffle. I definitely recommend working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a senior associate of a transformational marketing company. We work with companies to figure out their stories: why they do what they do, and how they can accomplish that. We help them deliver on that promise through every customer touch point by talking to the right people through the right channels and getting their messages across at the right time when it's going to resonate best.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

We don't have any developers within the company. When someone asks us to build them a website, we have to exemplify that through every single customer touch point. A website is a big piece of that. Helium has helped us craft that website experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We came up with design and copy, and it's a smooth handoff with them when it comes to development. We tell them what we want the website to do, what it's supposed to look like and the copy that's supposed to go alongside. They're fantastic in asking the right questions to make sure we thought through the design appropriately, and their execution was even better. I have full trust in them.

We worked with another development shop previously. Their development was poor and the results were buggy and glitchy. We had Helium come in, and they put up with the bad code, solved a lot of the problems, coached us through scrapping the backend, and built a new version with a lot of enhancements. It works fantastically. It had everything that you would want out of a website.

Their customer support has also been fantastic. Before their development work, our site was hacked. They spent 24 hours straight working on our behalf. Since we were hosting with them, it did not cost us anything to fix the problem. I can't say enough nice things about Terrence and Joe for that reason. I come up with a problem for them, and they always have the solution.

What is the team dynamic?

Joe is our main point of contact, but I've also worked with Terrence. They've added some other developers as well. They've been great about setting up communication streams and making sure that our process and workflow works well with theirs.

How did you come to work with Helium?

We looked at a few vendors, and Helium had lower prices, gave faster timelines, and gave us better quality. They seem to be winning on all 3, and I've been pleased using them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since December 2016. Currently, they're working on 3 client projects with us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The number of glitches on our site has gone from 2-3 per week to 0 since they finished. Their quality of work is great, and they respond on the same day. Everything is good.

One project didn't go smoothly as some of the processes were out of line. But, the amount of effort that they put in to make sure that the project still went correctly was extremely impressive. The client was very happy with the look, feel, functionality, and performance of the website. Everything was delivered on time, and it is directly attributed to Helium.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

They've always been improving. From the start, it was very turnkey with them. Joe is the project manager, and he does a fantastic job of keeping me informed of the progress, making sure the project is on time. If things aren't on time, he keeps me up to date. He's been great over the phone and online. We're both in Atlanta, so he comes into our office or the client's office as needed. They're extremely flexible and wonderful to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They offer the highest quality product at the lowest cost point and with an extremely fast turnaround time. Finding all three of those is remarkable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We've already spoken about everything that they could improve on. Communication lines are always open. I’ve communicated with them that I wanted to see improvement in their project management, and they improved extremely, right away. At the moment, their services are flawless, so things are really good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend holding weekly calls. Also, it’s important to make the purpose of the project very clear and make sure that lines of communication are open. Joe does a great job as far as communicating what they need from you. As long as you deliver on what they need to give them good direction, you're in good hands. If you use them for design, make sure you check in.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Timestar Technologies is a consulting and software services company. We specialize in retail, analytics, and analysis. We manage large databases for clients, then do analytics, data visualization, and reporting in a service capacity. It’s generally not a single project, but an ongoing service that we provide for our clients. I’m the senior director of development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

We engaged with them to do enhancements and maintenance on our existing web and iOS app, ActionTracker.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We engaged with them to do enhancements on the web and iOS app, and we also needed help with maintenance. It was an ongoing project that probably lasted a year, but it wasn’t a full development during that time. It was mainly doing maintenance when things came up or any issues that needed to be addressed.

They also made some updates so people could have their location triangulated, which allows us to guess what store is closest to them. They also provided maintenance when something came up or if something stopped working.

The more recent engagement we had with them was a survey tool that we built for a client. It was based on an open source tool, and we had them modify it for our needs. It allows people through the website or web app to ask questions, and has drop-down lists, radio buttons, and text boxes that provide answers. The answers get recorded in a database, and Helium built the portal where the results can be pulled down through the website as well.

What is the team dynamic?

I generally interacted with 2 of their team members, including someone handling sales and design, and Terrence [Co-Founder, Helium], who worked on developmental and technical aspects.

How did you come to work with Helium?

One of the team members had been with our company prior to starting with Helium, so they had some familiarity with the app.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from March 2016–March 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The survey tool app was built in 3 weeks. I don’t recall having to go back and make any revisions, and the code they released was fully functional. The only thing we had to do after the fact was change the option around password retrieval, which wasn’t a part of the original spec. It was released in perfect and working order. It was for a specific client, so it’s not open to the public. There are around 300 users on a daily to weekly basis.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

We generally connected during the development cycle at least once a week. They were reliable about scheduling a review time with us and talking us through the status of their development cycle. They let us preview features when they were ready, and their communication was exceptional.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had wonderful capabilities and skills on both the design and technical sides. Other shops may be good at coding, but they aren’t necessarily helpful with designs, logos, and layouts. Helium excels in providing all aspects of development.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re strong in the areas we engaged with them on.

Do you have any advice for potential clients of Helium?

Don’t be afraid to engage with them in the design and interface side of development work. That’s a unique area that Helium is good at, and something they offer that some other shops don’t.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of a real estate company that focuses on the divorce care industry niche.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Helium?

I wanted to create a website to build my online presence. I needed an intuitive and intelligent site that would be educational and informative while also appealing to the public. I wanted it to have a strong call to action for visitors, as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We leaned heavily on Helium to provide the expertise on web design and functionality. I had some ideas of what I wanted it to look like, and they helped make that happen. We have about 30 different professions working with us, and Helium structured the site so all of them can collaborate together. They can join the site, get into the backend, find pertinent information, and share their content through blogs and other social media. Helium helped us do all of that by creating a WordPress site to keep it organized in one spot.

How did you come to work with Helium?

A friend referred them.

How much have you invested with them?

Our project size was approximately $10,000 - $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began May 2016 and finished in July 2016, but we’re still working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website launched, and it’s been incredibly successful.

How did Helium perform from a project management standpoint?

They were in constant communication during the project. They’re easy to get a hold of, and they were always prompt and on time. They listened to what we wanted and went from there. When needed, we had in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're highly intelligent. They were willing to work with us and create a platform that I haven’t seen anywhere else on the Internet. They had to build it from the ground up since they had no example to copy. We’ve had no bugs or crashes with the site since it launched.

Advice for potential customers?

Give them a call and tell them everything on your mind. If you clearly communicate your needs to them, they'll be able to integrate it all together.