Indeema

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CumulusPro helps businesses to rapidly transform to digital enterprises by connecting people, process and application. Our cloud-based Business Process Management Platform-Straatos is designed to revolutionise how organisations and public institutions digitally communicate and collaborate with their customers, citizen, and partners.

Digital enterprises typically improve their customer experience, increase customer satisfaction, business efficiency and productivity while reducing cost and time to market. I am the VP of Product Management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vakoms?

We were looking for offshore web developers to augment our development team on a remote & long-term basis. The additional team members would support the ongoing software projects and develop new functionalities. The main challenge was to provide a user-friendly web application for large volumes of complex business data in the back-end.

What were your goals for this project?

The project was to create a web based UI in Angular for users to view and update task and task details. The UI needed to be configurable in the backend and provide the user with the flexibility to adjust the UI to their needs. For example by removing or adding columns.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have been working with Vakoms in an previoius project and knew their qualification and development processes which work well with our existing teams.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Vakoms web developers have been working as a part of CumulusPro development team. Vakoms web front-end developer created a new UI with some specific requirements.

For example reactive custom table with the following functionalities:

- Reactive columns (a user can add or remove any columns, change the width etc)

- Tasks displayed by types (assigned to me, created by me, reports, process documentation)

- Filtering option (by column value or by task type)

- Multiple select for table rows and making actions with selected items

- History of task and comments

- Viewing task details (such as invoice, supplier information, pdf viewer, else)

What was the team composition?

The team varied during the project. There was mainly one web-front end developer. At certain stages of the project we also had developers creating automated QA scripts and do manual QA on the deliverables.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The created web platform simplifies business process management and increase our customers productivity. The new web interface was well received by our customer and we look at a fast adoption rate.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project Management was coordinated from our side. We used Azure DevOps to assign and update tasks as well as collaborate on issues. In addition, Skype was a major tool for screensharing and calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team members we worked with were very skilled and experienced for what we needed. They could also rely on their team at Vakoms to give additional input in challenging parts of the project so that we received a high quality product.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is very little I wish to improve. One area that could improve is a more active role in finding the root cause of bugs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the technical product manager at serVme, a reservation management system. I’m responsible for building the technical department as well as the processes between departments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with PerfSol?

We were looking to recruit some developers to develop our platform. I proposed that in order to do a good job, we needed to hire third-party services while looking for in-house developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided their team with the tech requirements, and they proceeded to develop our SaaS platform. They implemented both the front- and backend. A significant portion of the work was for the backend, implementing optimal APIs for communication between the frontends of our Android application, iOS application, and the website.

They also delivered performance enhancements, which we asked them to outline in the form of technical documentation. They’ve proven to be very reliable as we’ve consulted with them on specific scenarios and best practices. We’re still needing support, so we plan on working with them for a while.

What is the team composition?

I worked and managed their developers.

How did you come to work with PerfSol?

I knew Mykola (Co-founder & CTO, PerfSol) from earlier projects. As a freelancer, he worked on some of my past projects. I suggested that we hire his team at PerfSol because those previous projects were successful, and he had been a pleasure to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

While I can’t provide total amounts, we pay them $18-$20 per hour of work, per person.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

PerfSol has become an integral part of our backend development team. They’ve added great value with their expertise, and have largely contributed to project progress.

How did PerfSol perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via phone and participate in daily meetings through Slack. In addition to that, we sometimes have Zoom meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Whenever we had a complaint about an inaccurate estimation, they diligently reformed their approach and worked to enhance their services. They’re proactive in asking us how they can improve their performance and extending their support.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They couple improve their communication skills. The developers aren’t native English speakers, so while we haven’t had any major issues, we’ve experienced some difficulties in communicating business requirements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and sole employee at small engineering company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vakoms?

I needed a team to provide software development for a third party I work with.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vakoms is my partner on several different projects. They’ve assisted me with the development for testing solutions, train control systems, and databases. Typically, their involvement starts from the discovery call, where we assess what needs the customer has and how we can fulfill them. From there, we discuss pricing and a timeline. While their team provides software development, I contribute to the hardware aspect of most projects.

What is the team composition?

On average, I work with 10 members of their team.

How did you come to work with Vakoms?

I found Vakoms through a third-party free-lancing website. I was looking for a company that specialized in platform independent programming, especially on Qt. Vakoms had twelve Qt certified developers, which is why I chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested approximately $200,000–$300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2011 and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our work with them is very successful and our customers are satisfied. We have a high customer-return rate.

How did Vakoms perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate on WhatsApp, Skype, email, and via a common source platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What I find most important is the fact that I can trust them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they could implement a stronger sense of middle-management. The company is now made of 150 engineers and there could be a better process of connecting them with their partners.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise potential customers to make the project as open as possible and to trust the team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO at a risk assessment company that develops mobile applications for companies in the construction, manufacturing, and insurance industries. We build these apps to manage their risk. I’ve been with the company for about three years now.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vakoms?

Previously, our company was working with a developer based in India. They weren’t delivering quality work, so we began working with Vakoms due to their quality work and price point. We needed a long-term development partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Currently, Vakoms is working with us developing mobile applications. Their team uses Swift for our iOS apps, and Kotlin for Android applications. They’ve also done a little work on the frontend and backend of our website. Our site uses Angular.js, a Django API, and a PostgreSQL database.

With the mobile applications, we’ve been working with them on a lot of new features, enhancing the products. They do a lot of online synchronization on the apps, so they can be used on a network connection and off. Their team also develops new screens, interactive pages, and new capabilities for the apps.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager, an iOS developer, an Android developer, frontend developer, backend manager, and a QA.

How did you come to work with Vakoms?

We switched to Vakoms before I began working here, but I believe we found them through a partnership with a company in Illinois. They had a connection to Vakoms in Ukraine.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been collaborating with Vakoms since May 2015, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Vakoms has had a significant impact on our business. Over the last two years, they’ve driven our products forward, developing new features for our clients. We work closely with them to make sure what our clients want in their digital products. The results and the reaction from our clients have been excellent.

How did Vakoms perform from a project management standpoint?

We meet twice a week with the project manager. From there, he delegates tasks to the main developers and the QA tests all of their work. We’re pleased with their documentation as well as their responsiveness. We use Jira as our project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to meet with our team multiple times a week shows their flexibility. If any requirements end up changing, Vakoms works to fine-tune and implement them as quickly as possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the beginning, their team could ask more questions about our processes and make recommendations. Our requirements for each project change every now and then. They do work well with us to make changes, but it would be nice to have their perspective at the beginning of development, rather than in the middle of a sprint.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should lay out their requirement and think ahead. After different phases have been pushed to production, you don’t want to change anything. Adjust conditions ahead of time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and a co-founder of PRACMAN. We provide a practice management system for medical practices in Europe and India.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vakoms?

We wanted to build a new product on a new platform from scratch. Our developers were working on our existing products, so Vakoms provided development resources to create this application. They later finished a second system for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first project was a mobile application for iOS and Android geared for therapists who work in alternative medicine. Vakoms built the app in Angular JS with a MongoDB database. They integrated Stripe as a payment gateway for our end clients. Their designers produced all the screens and mockups; we designed the UX.

The second project was an online directory and booking system for therapists. It features a billing system for providers. This project is ongoing.
 
What is the team composition?

For the application, we worked with three developers, a QA tester, and project manager who coordinated the workload. For the second project, we collaborate with one developer—who specializes in building booking engines—as well as a QA tester and a project manager.
 
How did you come to work with Vakoms?

I was looking for developers through referrals from colleagues. A friend uses Vakoms as a development partner for a multinational company. He recommended their team to me.
 
How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $250,000 so far.
 
What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Vakoms in September 2017, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The mobile app is complete. We released it on the market for a short time, but we then decided to expand on it and integrate its features into the directory and booking system. The system should be live in 2–3 weeks. We’re thrilled with Vakoms’ work so far.
 
How did Vakoms perform from a project management standpoint?

Vakoms leads a well-structured and organized team. They have taught us a lot about API documentation, integration of third-party products, and best practices for writing code. Their developers use agile methods such as Scrum. While I’m the project owner, Vakoms handles project management internally; that way, we can focus on UX design and writing documents on product requirements. 

The communication is excellent; Vakoms is open, upfront, and highly accessible. We have daily stand-ups and longer meetings to end each week. We’ve never had an issue with connectivity.
 
What did you find most impressive about them?

They deliver high-quality products on time that work, allowing me to focus on other areas such as marketing and sales. Their team is consistently transparent about their capabilities; they bring up concerns in the early stages and offer valuable insights and viewpoints to the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve had to adapt to each other’s work style. Vakoms has a structured, task-focused approach that will deliver on the list of requirements that we present upfront. However, we kept adding features and changing designs, which didn’t mesh well with their practices. As the partnership progress, we’ve learned to prepare our product requirements in advance, and Vakoms has become more flexible and open to scope changes. Communication could always use tweaking as well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder of a rewards platform that serves the cosmetic surgery industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Indeema Software?

We hired Indeema Software to build a web-based admin portal for SaaS distribution.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to build a user-friendly interface that employees could learn quickly. This is a huge feat since they aren't the most tech-savvy group.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After three years of dealing with both free and expensive labor, managing my own projects, and almost abandoning my concept, I finally found Indeema Software. They had excellent reviews, so I set up a call with them, and I'm extremely happy that I did.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Indeema Software built our admin portal in Angular, Node, and C5. They worked out the kinks at the beginning and understood that leading from the frontend saves time and energy.

What was the team composition?

They did a fantastic job setting up teams. We have a project manager, a QA analyst, and a talented engineer. More people work on the project, but I deal with those three on a daily basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our mobile app was accepted to the App Store yesterday. However, some potential customers have already seen it and love its simplicity.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Indeema Software is the best company I have ever worked with. We communicate using Slack to design, discuss, and execute each sprint. If I have questions, we video chat. Our workflow is incredibly simple. Building software is complicated, and failing to articulate goals precisely leaves too much room for interpretation.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Indeema Software can do anything, from HTML to AI. I also love the post-sprint calls in which we discuss the results. They're truly excellent. Plus, their CEO has a lot of experience and has given me great business advice.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They speak great English but be sure to speak clearly about complex concepts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run Wine Societies, an online fine wine broker. We connect buyers and sellers through our mobile platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Indeema Software?

We needed a team to provide quality software development within our budget. We hired Indeema Software to complete a semi-functioning app another company developed for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first step of the project was to stabilize the existing version and fix bugs. Their team spent time learning the code and analyzing the needs of the platform. Once the app was stable enough, they began adding new features. These new additions enhanced the e-commerce aspect of the platform and allowed users to buy wine, add ratings, and create profiles. Their team improved the customer experience and transaction flows within the app.

What is the team composition?

Indeema Software provided a project manager and a customer relations manager, and I spoke to them on a weekly basis. There were three engineers working behind the scenes, one each for the backend, iOS, and Android development.

How did you come to work with Indeema Software?

We looked at several vendors worldwide and found that Indeema Softwre offered strong quality work and had good pricing. We also had positive experiences with Eastern European companies, so that helped us make our decision. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2016–September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to successfully deploy the stabilized version of the app to our customer base. We received positive feedback and users are happy with the easy transaction flow and rating system. The app has been stable since the launch.

How did Indeema Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Early in the process, they managed the project effectively. It was clear they understood our app and our needs. Although there was a learning curve because they weren’t familiar with the wine industry and the payment processing system, they delivered everything as expected. The work took slightly longer than I anticipated, but they made up for that by being available whenever we needed to discuss our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They went above and beyond for us—their goal was always to please the customer and deliver quality work. They were easy to interact with and ensured we were satisfied with their progress. Their team was accommodating to our time differences, which we appreciated.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Clearer estimates from the beginning of the project would be useful. Additionally, we didn’t know they weren’t familiar with the payment processing system we were using until they had spent a lot of time learning it. Even though the final work was strong, we’d like to know of their struggles ahead of time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

To ensure they are a match for you, do some research into their background and expertise before choosing them for your engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at Viking SCADA. We provide SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) hardware and software products to customers. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Indeema Software?

We engaged Indeema Software to create an IoT solution to bridge our hardware with a web-based software solution. We also wanted to move from a PC-based application to a web app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first hosted a one-month planning period. After lots of back-and-forth collaboration between our team and Indeema Software, we produced a 40-page document on the project’s requirements and timeline.

Development on the web-based IoT application lasted 30 weeks. Indeema Software used MQTT and Lua to put together the IoT application. The app allows users to make a widget customized to their needs. 

What is the team composition?

We work with a dedicated project manager who handles day-to-day communication. The team also comprises a billing person, a frontend developer, a backend developer, a QA/QC person, and a designer. 

How did you come to work with Indeema Software?

We looked for vendors on a freelancer website. We provided rough guidelines on what we were looking for as well as some example templates. There were ten serious bidders that we considered for the project. Indeema Software stood out by offering a full stack of services and being willing to collaborate before the project began.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018, and the project is ongoing. 95% of the development is complete; we’re finishing a few satellite projects now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s still too early to tell, but Indeema Software has done an excellent job of testing everything and making sure that every function lines up with our expectations. Their designs also blew us away.

How did Indeema Software perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is highly responsive and organized, but their timeliness could be improved. Occasionally, the project has run into delays because of unexpected breaks, holidays, or vacations. We often received only a few days’ notice, which is rather abrupt. Otherwise, the project has stayed on schedule. We communicate through Skype and use Google Docs to deliver files.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We value their full-stack involvement and their top-notch, bug-free work. Indeema Software uses agile management and catalogs their scheduled tasks clearly for their team. Their organization is excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As they’ve grown, communication has become less than clear at times. It may help them to have a logbook where they take 1-2 minutes every day to record a project’s status and to-dos going forward. This process may help clients like me in the future.

Any advice for potential customers?

Being knowledgeable about technology and able to provide examples will lead to a successful project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Solar Manager. We’re developing the next generation of connected devices for managing photovoltaic production, enabling people to use as much energy produced by cells in their homes as possible, with the use of a device and cloud infrastructure.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Indeema Software?

We engaged with Indeema Software to develop our cloud platform and a part of the embedded code within the home IoT device.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have a web frontend and applications. The app is designed for the installer and admin sections to simplify the connection of the devices. The web portion includes an installer for the PV system, an end-user component for visualizing data and changing settings, and an admin and support role. As an admin, users can review the data of any device.

The embedded platform uses C code, and the backend uses AWS as a provider. We’ve used MQTT to connect to the server side, and MongoDB to store data. The frontend is a standard browser interface, while the apps connect to the backend.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager and have teams for the app, web frontend, backend, and embedded portions of the product. I sometimes speak with their managing director.

How did you come to work with Indeema Software?

I searched for a few companies on Clutch and wrote to about six of them before going through a standard procurement process.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $60,000–$70,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Indeema Software in June 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Results and feedback are positive. We have a production environment with between 20–30 users. The frontend is visually-pleasing. There were a few issues with connectivity, but those will be fixed soon.

How did Indeema Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Along with biweekly calls, we use Slack for communication. Work is completed in sprints and we have a continuous delivery process. Indeema Software keeps our team updated, returning messages quickly. There have been some misunderstandings, but that’s normal with any collaboration. Their team is willing to fix any problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their commitment to searching for solutions and making the client happy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I believe some IoT issues could’ve been solved quicker, but maybe the problems weren’t as fundamental as I thought.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s vital to discuss and align on requirements, implement a plan, agree on timelines, and then stick to those.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and CEO of a corporate wellness organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vakoms?

We hired Vakoms to develop our Hukso platform which serves as an interface for our clients.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a platform to be able to launch a series of surveys, appropriately display data to our clients, and allow for in-depth analysis and exportation of data.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A colleague posted that we needed a developer, and Vakoms responded to the request. We researched the company and decided to work with them.

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

Vakoms designed, developed, and launched our online platform, they additionally produced the UX/ UI and helped improve previous ideas and methods. They developed both frontend and backend using Angular and Django respectively. Vakoms also helped us to locate an appropriate server and get the platform up and running.

What was the team composition?

We had a project manager, UI/UX developer, frontend developer, and backend developer. The project manager was very knowledgeable and was able to solve most issues that arose in a timely fashion.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the platform did not launch yet, we have no measurable data at the moment. Without this platform, our business would not be viable.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project was very well managed from the start. We were provided with around-the-clock service and constant updates which helped us monitor progress and implement changes when needed. The project manager was effective and organized in terms of meeting deadlines and communication. We primarily communicated via Skype and Google Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our communication was clear and streamlined even though we worked in different countries. The team was highly motivated and appreciated us as a customer.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

The overall work was fantastic, there is not much room for improvement. There were some initial struggles with communicating with the UX/UI designer, but the project still turned out great.