Impero IT Services

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a small mobile app company. We are developing software to use in the fundraising industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Impero IT?

We were looking for someone to develop our vision of the software and get it out there in the market. The idea is when people are going out selling things for fundraisers, all of that data still has to be reconciled afterward. No one has any idea where the other guy is going. There’s the risk of duplication as people go to the same neighborhoods and hit up the same houses. Sometimes, that frustrates the homeowners or the consumer. Ultimately, this defeats the fundraiser.

Using GPS, our tool would work with mapping apps on phones to track where fundraisers are. We’re trying to get some information sharing so they can all view these results on a map. It’ll all be done in real time as the fundraisers are entering their sales. We wanted to provide visibility and use the data that’s collected to make fundraisers more efficient.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had the vision, but I didn’t have a lot of experience in getting something like that developed. We had several technical challenges as we tried different things. Impero IT was willing to work with me to get a viable product out.

We wanted an iOS app and an Android app. We started with the iOS app, and the Android was developed after that. The first iOS version was delivered in February or March, and it was published on the App Store in April. This process took a couple of months. The Android one was much faster, taking about 4–6 weeks. As we continue to make enhancements and changes, they’re done in parallel on iOS and Android.

What is the team dynamic?

I only worked with their business analyst/project manager. Occasionally, I’d work directly with the developer if there’s a high priority issue and the project manager is not available. This has happened once or twice in the past 2 years. Almost always, I’ve contacted their analyst.

How did you come to work with Impero IT?

I found them on Google when I was searching for offshore developers. Impero IT came up in a list. I decided to work with them because of their references and their history. They had delivered other successful projects. I also checked their references, and they were all good. Their price was really competitive.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve paid $20,000 for their services. I don’t think they’ve overcharged.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2015, and the work is ongoing. We just continue to develop and enhance the tool.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The market is slow to adopt, not because of Impero IT’s performance, but more because it’s a drastic change in the industry. As a result, we’ve had a slower adoption rate.

How did Impero IT perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform pretty well. We use Trello to keep track of issues, and it has worked well. It allows us to manage priorities, bug fixes, and features. We also use email and Google Docs.

When working with Impero IT, it’s important to evaluate your timeline to see if it’s reasonable. In software work, things are never going to go as fast as you want. If it’s your product or you’re managing a project for a company, make sure you’re doing thorough testing on your end as well. You also need to have a thorough vision and guideline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve been really responsive, especially when I let them know there is a high-priority fix. They respond quickly if I tell them I’m going to do a presentation at a trade show or seminar since that means I would need to try and get a new feature in before I go to these events. They’ve always communicated well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we roll out some features, I always have to be sure to test the existing functionality to make sure it hasn’t been compromised or changed in any way. Sometimes, it seems like new stuff affects the existing stuff. I also work in software development, and so I know how things go. I have to double-check things more than I feel I should have to. They could do a little more thorough QA or testing.

The language barrier is sometimes a challenge, but I don’t expect it to be perfect. You just have to communicate back and forth and make sure you’re on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the developer of a mobile app called AppPropo, which teaches proper international business etiquette.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Impero IT Services?

This has been my second app project, with the first one having been developed in the U.S. for a completely different industry. I had a bit of experience in this field, as well as a concept. I started doing the research, and looked for a development team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I described what information I wanted to impart on people to Impero’s team. It’s a text-heavy application, with the research and data being my responsibility. I wanted people to have quick access to the information, and didn’t want to recover any of their data.

Impero got a sense of this, and started working. They quickly came up with a blueprint for how the app would move. We made some tweaks along the way, but it was a very quick process. They listened well, and understood what I wanted.

I planned on hiring someone to develop my logo, but I loved the temporary one put in place by Impero so much that I ended up paying them for it. It was a very creative design.

Impero built everything from start to finish, based on what I wanted the app to do. It’s basically a condensed encyclopedia containing around 100 countries listed alphabetically. After users click on a country, they are brought to that country’s page with an overview and categories. The data is divided based on etiquette relating to meal times, shaking hands, what to expect in a business meeting, and so on. Clicking on a category opens mainly text along with some clipart.

It’s intended for business people going to new countries, or those who want to mentally refresh information.

The app is available on Android and iOS. There is a common admin panel for both of them, which is listed as compatible with Internet Explorer 9 and above, Mozilla Firefox, and Chrome. It was built using C#, with a Microsoft SQL backend server.

Impero also developed my website and currently hosts it. I don’t know what technology was used for it, but, since I can put my key in and run it, I don’t really care how it works.

How did you come to work with Impero IT Services?

Until I looked at the prices, I thought that I would revert back to using one in the U.S. do better. I started putting feelers out for Indian teams based on Google searches. I ultimately got in touch with 4 of them, and one of them didn’t get back to me for a long time, but the rest did. I spoke to each one at length, and, once I had a good feeling and followed up with the referrals supplied to me for past clients, I decided to choose Impero.

How much have you invested with Impero IT Services?

The initial quote for the app was $3,500, but after they created my logo and website, the total ended up being around $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Impero IT Services in July 2016, and we had a 5-week initial build time. The app was released after 6 weeks, following some changes made by myself.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Impero was good at hitting the timeline and budget, which was important for me. The app has been up-and-running for almost a year, and there has only been one glitch. From the time I shot off an email, it took Impero’s team an hour and a half to get it fixed. Even then, it likely had more to do with an Apple upgrade. I’m a happy person.

How did Impero IT Services perform from a project management standpoint?

Their performance has been outstanding, both on its own, and relative to the first app I created. We had lots of back-and-forth emails, and they were attentive to everything I wanted. I have recommended Impero to every single person considering creating an app or website.

We have used Skype a few times, but because of the time difference and for my peace of mind, we mostly used email in order to have a log of the conversations.

Impero was always available and worked over weekends during crunch times, just so we could hit our marks. Except for 1-2 conversations, I worked exclusively with Raza Noorani, their business development manager. The rest of the team got brought in on a couple of occasions so that nothing would be lost in translation. Even though there was a language barrier, everyone would be listening to the same thing.

The impression I had was that the website was being done by different people than the apps, but I can’t say for sure. I don’t know if this was done because of the time factor, or because they have designated people working on different projects.

What did you find most impressive about Impero IT Services?

I have mentioned to other people that I developed the app offshore, and their first reaction was skeptical. I told them that it was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. I never felt like I was waiting in line for Impero to attend to me, or that they weren’t listening.  They hit the marks, and did everything I wanted them to do.

My husband is about to launch a new business, and will have Impero build the website. It will be a much bigger project than what I have going on.

Are there any areas Impero IT Services could improve?

I was comfortable working with a project manager and not talking with the team, but other people may want to communicate with the techies themselves. It’s also possible that I could have done this, if I had asked Impero for it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are located in Madrid, Spain, and are dedicated to creating content related to home goods. At Facilisimo we want people to live and enjoy their home and their free time, therefore we offer all the content one would need for it, from decorating to cooking, going through DIY and helping with your garden. We only operate in Spanish. We have more than 50 million followers on Facebook from across the globe. We also have other areas of focus in the company, including one related to mindfulness.

I am the CTO of the company. I am in charge of developers and technologies, both current and future ones. I lead our developer and operations teams, decide what technologies we use and am an active part of the definition of new projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Impero IT Services?

As part of our life vision we created a foundation to try to help society with what we do best. We thought that by joining mindfulness and technology we could help people to be happier, of course in Spanish, for all the people that want to have the opportunity to do so in their mother tongue. However, we didn’t have the knowledge needed to build an app and needed a partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They've been in charge of both Android and iOS development. Both apps are intended for self-guided meditation and psychological positivity exercises. Impero IT created the apps from scratch, although we wanted to make the design in house and have the control over the web based part of the project so we worked very closely with them from the beginning of the project. Both apps were developed natively. There is an admin panel for the applications, which was developed on our side. We didn’t have well-defined specifications and changed the application several times. They always adapted quickly.

All user data is stored in our database. We have built an API which communicates with the application internally. The data is also stored internally by the apps, but the APIs allow the data to be retrieved on multiple platforms.

As I said, the design of the app was our responsibility, but Impero always gave us suggestions for improvements.

How did you come to work with Impero IT Services?

The app was a secondary issue for us, so we didn't want to use our in-house resources. We decided to find a partner and we found Impero IT through LinkedIn, we contacted them and a few others providers, but chose Impero because they replied to us quickly and were professional, answering all of our questions and giving us a good project cost estimate. There were a great choice.

How much have you invested with Impero IT Services?

The cost of their work was around €14,000 [$16,000].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Impero IT in August 2016 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are planning to launch the app in September 2017, after some testing. We don’t have any statistics yet.

How did Impero IT Services perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was fluid. They got in touch with me anytime I needed them, despite the time zone difference. We had direct contact with them all the time and they are always available for us. The communication overall has been great.

What did you find most impressive about Impero IT Services?

They stood out with quick communication around our issues. We are building the API part, while Impero is in charge of native app development. They always found solutions for our issues, and the communication was great.

I have to say that they are a fantastic partner, very skillful and comprehensive, and with unlimited patience. Through the duration of the project, we changed the scope 3 times, which required new estimates and we never received anything but good responses and good work. We've discussed all the parts of the project as a peer and always received their recommendation about the best way of doing things.

Are there any areas Impero IT Services could improve?

No. This was our first outsourcing project, and we’ve been very happy with the results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am developing a comprehensive database of U.K. law case decisions in audio form. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Impero IT Services?

I needed to create an app for Android and iOS that would allow me to store law-related audio files in the cloud and give users the ability to answer test questions after going through a particular recording. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Impero developed my app. We’ve gone through a few builds during the MVP phase. We started with the Android version, reached a satisfactory point, and began work on iOS. There were a few issues with testing, but they were resolved. The requirements for the app haven’t changed in a significant way from the original plan.

The second part of the project came after identifying a possibility provided by the Amazon Polly text-to-speech service. This offers the possibility of generating audio files based on a maximum of 1,500 characters. We can send multiple requests to their servers in order to create audio versions of larger text files. Impero IT developed an affordable way of transforming a comprehensive database of court ruling narrations into audio and uploading it to the cloud via an admin panel. I can provide access to this database via the application.

The platform is meant for law students, especially for the U.K. legal system. From my understanding, this legal system is based on precedents, which require a lot of reading. I want to provide the option of listening to particular decisions while running, bicycling, or doing other activities.

How much have you invested with Impero IT Services?

Their work has cost $13,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Impero in May 2016. The apps were delivered around March 2017. We’re continuing to explore additional opportunities, but I haven’t started a good marketing campaign for the product. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform turned out well, but I only have 75 active users on both app versions. We’ve still got to go through marketing, and I’m exploring possible channels of communication with law firms.

We had some problems in the beginning related to the app and my understanding of the development process. At first, the app only provided Facebook logins. After conducting a test while being logged into the app, I asked Impero to clear the cloud content. I should have logged out of the app myself. Because I didn’t, some metadata remained on the platform, and I had problems logging in again. This was resolved within 3–4 days.

The app is basically an audio player or podcast tool. Most players have the option of speeding up the audio, and we’ve spent time trying to figure out how to structure this functionality in a more visible way. We came to a conclusion, and I can’t say that there were major crashes or errors.

How did Impero IT Services perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via WhatsApp, Skype, and whatever other channel was appropriate.

What did you find most impressive about Impero IT Services?

They reached out to me and were open to various forms of communication. I also appreciated that Impero was eager to tackle a challenge.

During a certain phase of the project, we developed a special piece of software for use with Amazon Polly, which had only launched 4 months ago. I asked Impero if they could help me, and they were able to create a solution that fit my needs.

Are there any areas Impero IT Services could improve?

They could adapt their offering depending on the customer’s budget and goals. If I do scale up this project, I will probably hire people who can be more attentive to the interface of the application. The first version was acceptable and relatively cheap, and I would have been charged much higher prices by another freelance firm. I’m sure that Impero will improve this competency over time. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I have a background in IT. My company, Reward.uk and Reward.net, develops apps for private individuals and companies. I contacted Impero a little more than a year ago based on a recommendation from a colleague in India. After testing them with some small tasks, we started a partnership agreement. We work closely with a third partner, who is the IT director at another company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Impero IT Services?

I wanted to create my own app, RewardBoard. At that time, I didn’t know much about app development. I knew a lot of about offshore and IT development, but app development was a new area for me. Raza [Noorani, Business Development Manager] offered to work with us on some small tasks. If we worked well together, I agreed to entrust larger projects to his team. They did quite well and communicated professionally, even though it’s a small team. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

RewardBoard allows parents to create tasks for their kids with positive rewards. For example, a child needs to walk the dog, do his or her homework, and go to bed on time. The parent creates the tasks for the child, and when the child has performed the task, he or she earns a point. When the child achieves a certain number of points, he or she gets a reward, such as a trip to the playground, the cinema, or the zoo.

I decided to have the app built for iOS first. In Denmark, where I live, most users have an iPhone or an iPad. I thought that would give me the biggest market as possible. I wanted to learn about the users and their behaviors before I started developing for Android, so I didn’t waste too much money in the first phase. We always change some of the functions after the first phase. We actually released the Android version today, which Impero developed as well.

The app has a feature that calculates how many points are awarded to the child per task and collectively. We had many challenges with this feature due to some server issues. I was confident that Impero’s team would find the solution. They didn’t try to cover up any problems. They were honest in telling me when an issue came up that could be difficult to fix. I appreciate having a supplier who tells me the truth rather than just saying everything is fine.

How much have you invested with Impero IT Services?

I think I’ve spent about $10,000–$12,000 in total. The Android version was a bit cheaper than the iOS version because all of the designs were copied from the iOS version.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January of 2016, and the iOS app was released in May of that year. It was a soft launch because I wanted some users to test it before I offered it on a broader level. We put the product on the App Store in May of 2016. The Android version was released in June of 2017. I think that Impero could have created it within 2 months, but I’ve been quite busy at my day job, so I put this project to the side. I didn’t get the testing done quickly. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I haven’t created a website yet, and I’m only advertising through Facebook. Right now, I have almost 10,000 downloads and about 6,500 unique users. If I have doubts about a certain piece of UX, design, or anything, Impero always provides suggestions based on their experience. We have a partnership; we’re not just a customer and a supplier. That’s the best part of working with their team, I think.

What did you find most impressive about Impero IT Services?

Their service and quality are outstanding. I worked for a well-respected IT company for many years, and I see no difference in the service or quality when comparing both teams.

Are there any areas Impero IT Services could improve?

Compared to their usual projects, this app is quite small. Sometimes, when they did testing, they didn’t document everything. I asked them to start being more detailed in their reports because I and the end customer need an overview of what’s going on, even for small tasks. We talked about that issue, and they agreed to do a better job of documenting the work in the future. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the ceo of a social networking company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a social network

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Impero IT Services to accomplish?

UX/UI design, branding, and Mobile app development of their social activity app.

SOLUTION

How did you find Impero IT Services?

Referral

Why did you select Impero IT Services over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Impero IT Services were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

they created a full mobile UI/UX system, developed brand assets including logo and color schemes, and designed screen-by-screen flows. their team worked closely with us to integrate designs into development module by module.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• On-time MVP release
• High usability scores from testers
• Increase in App Store conversion rate
• Strong brand recognition

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

weekly delivery cycles. They quickly addressed feedback with creative alternatives when needed.

What was your primary form of communication with Impero IT Services?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

ability to fuse creative direction with structured design and build execution.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Impero IT Services could have done differently?

proved documentation during handover. All questions were answered promptly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of MyHaulier.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online marketplace platform for the haulage/transport industry

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Impero IT Services to accomplish?

Develop a fully functional platform

SOLUTION

How did you find Impero IT Services?

Online Search

Why did you select Impero IT Services over others?

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

How many teammates from Impero IT Services were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Designed a fully functional platform. This included: 

• 2 mobile apps, both on Android and the App Store
• a Web-based platform
• a static website

Also created video and marketing material for the new project and set up a customized payment solution using stripe payments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had many challenges that needed customized solutions, which we were able to solve.

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

Yes, everything was done on time, and they were very obliging when asked to make changes

What was your primary form of communication with Impero IT Services?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their ability to come up with solutions to challenges

Are there any areas for improvement or something Impero IT Services could have done differently?

No, I was very happy with the service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Managing Director. My company provides a work manual based on International Auditing Standards to External Statutory Auditors for them to record their auditing work on financial statements.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Impero IT Services Pvt. Ltd, and what were your goals?

To convert our MS Excel based work manual into cloud based manual.

SOLUTION

How did you select Impero IT Services Pvt. Ltd and what were the deciding factors?

After a long search, found Impero IT through a recommendation by a mutual acquaintance. A face to face meeting to discuss the requirement was the deciding factor.

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

To convert our MS Excel based work manual into cloud based manual with enhancements and interactivity to result in a final closed file in PDF format. Allocate personnel to areas of work so that others cannot over-write.

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

• a director
• a programmer
• a liaison person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Specifications implemented and adjusted with lists.

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

Skype and emails.

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

Their maximum co-operation, rapid delivery, and attention to detail impressed.

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

No since it was very well planned and managed.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

thryyve.com is a job-portal that allows jobseekers to upload video resume in order to showcase their skills, talents, and personalities to interviewers/recruiters when you are searching for a job.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Impero IT Services Pvt. Ltd?

Web design and development

What were your goals for this project?

At thryyve.com we are breaking down barriers to meaningful and fulfilling employment.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Online search

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Thryyve.com let’s you upload video resume/CV to better explain and demonstrate your unique qualifications. Video resume is a great way for businesses to get to know you and it’s a fun supplement to a traditional written resume.

By having a video resume, it helps open-up a world of possibilities, just make sure you use the take to really sell yourself You can search for jobs in your area by keyword, job type, or a specific company, and if you choose to allow us, we’ll send along job postings we think you’re qualified for, or might be interested in pursuing.

What was the team composition?

ImperoIt has a great team and great leadership. Everyone is extremely friendly and always willing to listen and solve whatever issue I may have.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Right now, thryyve.com is a brand new startup and hope to become more successful in the future.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was more than impressive and made sure deadlines are met.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Everyone on their team seems to be very knowledgeable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nope

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the VP of IT for a company that delivers distribution solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Impero IT Services Pvt. Ltd?

We needed to design and develop a purchase order (PO) system for a self-storage warehouse.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a web portal that would post the PO process in our database, assign it to a less than truckload (LTL) carrier, and send a status notification to the customer.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were referred to them and researched them online.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They delivered the exact application we wanted.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a five-person team that included one project manager, one designer, and three developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Though we had some issues with FTP access, the application is working flawlessly.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They managed the project impressively, responding promptly and meeting all deadlines. We used Bitbucket as a code repository.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We had direct access to their project manager and developers, who provided detailed documentation.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They would benefit from improving their software testing process.