LANARS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Daglig leder of Asterios AS

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Asterios is a design and technology studio specializing in user-centered digital solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Build an AI-powered book translation platform with web application and mobile apps, enabling users to upload books, translate them into their desired language, and download the results.

SOLUTION

How did you find LANARS?

Referral

Why did you select LANARS over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from LANARS were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

End-to-end platform development: discovery and translation methodology research, UX/UI design for web and mobile (iOS/Android), AI-driven translation engine, real-time progress dashboards for translators, LMS integrations (SCORM/xAPI), QA testing, cloud deployment (AWS), and 6-month post-launch support

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

+ 37% conversion rate after launch of new version in one month, -80% in translation time, +36 NPS points in customer satisfaction survey. Platform just works like a charm! 

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

Everything was delivered on time. We changed the scope several times on our side, but Lanars adjusted quickly and we still met our deadline goals. Regular meetings and progress reports gave us full visibility and confidence that things were moving forward. They were especially helpful during the launch of a new version and in fine-tuning our AI translation pipelines to match our specific requirements.

What was your primary form of communication with LANARS?

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

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

The combination of reliability and flexibility. Despite multiple scope changes from our side, they never missed a deadline. On the technical side, our AI translation pipelines were quite heavy, and Lanars did an impressive job optimizing them for performance and quality.

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

I can't point to anything specific. It was a professional approach from start to finish. Everything was handled well and I wouldn't change anything about how the project was managed or delivered.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a small manufacturing company in Canada - specializing in wireless torque transducers, which measure torque on helical (screw) pile installations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS, and what were your goals?

Mobile app development. Receive, display, report torque values - with Cloud integration/ backup.

SOLUTION

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

After an online search Lanars met our criteria for timeline and financial budget.

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

Receive WiFi signals - use those to display torque, RPM and crowd forces. Generate reports, Cloud backup, email reports.

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

Several resources, project management and Flutter developers mostly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

App has been stable and performs well. We are quite pleased with Lanars. Improvements - app refinement and added features are being discussed now.

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

Communication was very good with Lanars and our team, they communicated well - via Slack with my technical people. Clear, concise questions and answers, Lanars' communication is above average.

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

Timeline - they put several personnel on a large job, and completed it in the midst of the Russian invasion. I have gained a tremendous respect for their commitment to their work and their customers. Frankly, I don't know how they managed to complete such high quality work in the midst of an invasion of their country.

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

Given the current state of affairs in Ukraine - they vastly exceeded my expectations. These are good people, I hope they and their families remain safe.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am in charge of product development for a small technology startup focused on helping faith based organizations better connect and engage with their people via a smartphone app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS, and what were your goals?

We wanted to make enhancements to an already established smartphone app in a quick and agile manner. Our goal was to make bug fixes as well product updates.

SOLUTION

How did you select LANARS and what were the deciding factors?

We spoke with a number of vendors in detail. We liked LANARS because of their open line of communication, knowledge about the topic, and robust team that could dive into any project.

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

We wanted to make enhancements and bug fixes to an app not developed by LANARS. LANARS did a great job diving into the already established code base and using our bugs list to quickly solve the issues at hand.

LANARS was fantastic at outlining the project steps for us and giving us accurate hours estimation. The technologies used were iOS and Android mobile app, as well as a mobile web form application.

How many resources from the LANARS team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with the project manager, iOS developer, frontend developer, and account manager. Are were very easy to work with, communicative, and knowledgeable about the topics at hand.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The number of times our app crashed was lowered significantly. Overall user satisfaction was increased.

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

We mainly used slack to communicate and problem solve. Even though there was a 7 hour time difference, we communicated with LANARS daily and always felt like we knew exactly what was going on with the project. We received new builds on a consistent basis and the work was always top notch. Regardless of the 7 hour difference and slight language barrier, LANARS performed better than any development shop we have worked with.

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

LANARS has quickly dove into our established codebase and was able to refactor for better performance and reliability. The communication was superb and everyone we have worked with has been friendly.

We look forward to continuing to use their services.

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

There is nothing that I could recommend for LANARS to improve on. They have been a pleasure to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a team of 7 engineers and we design, develop and distribute industrial and consumer products . I am the general manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

The task was to build a prototype of an electromechanical aktuator device with PC and app communication to verify feasibility.

What were your goals for this project?

Make sure that the idea can be manufactured and work as intended. The prototype is used for marketing to test demand and customer acceptance.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Recommendation from a friend that was working with Lanars before.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The took over the idea description and brief sketches and developed a working prototype that fulfilled requirements as desired. This included mechanical and electrical design of the subcomponents. Creation of firm- and software and also the mobile application development.

What was the team composition?

Team consisted of: - project manager - hardware engineer - electronic engineer - embedded software engineer - software developer - app developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The delivered working prototype exceeded our expectations. Core features were implemented and we could start with the market evaluation.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project was neatly management and organised. PM communicated effectively. Task was fulfilled within budget and time expectations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I have never experienced that kind of expertise in product development. The extended network and a deep knowledge of technology helped to take the right decision without additional loops.

Are there any areas for improvement?

none so far

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Defigo, an intercom company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

We needed a highly competent team to help us with development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provide offshore development for the whole software platform from embedded devices, cloud services, etc. They use C# and AWS in development. There were two different Android apps and one iOS app. There’s also a web admin interface.

What is the team composition?

At most, we had 10 full-time developers.

How did you come to work with LANARS?

We found them on Upwork. Initially, we started with a test project. Through the last five years, we’ve cycled through offshore developers. We were looking for a strategic partner that we could have a long-term relationship with. After a long search, we found LANARS. They’re very forward-thinking. They joined us from the idea phase all the way through to completion. If we’re busy and don’t have time to do specifications, they will do that for us. We’ve been happy with them.

How much have you invested with them?

Our team invested over $650,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their quality of work is really high. They have a pragmatic approach to it. They’ve really helped us from mapping out the specifications through the end. They’re not just consultants; they take responsibility and pride in our project. We showed customers how the projects worked and they enjoy them.

How did LANARS perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very flexible and positive in their approach. Everything we throw at them, they take with a smile and a positive attitude. They always deliver and do what they say. They’re really honest and good people to work with. We don’t have to write everything down before we get started. They do whatever it takes to deliver.

We manage the project ourselves. Usually, we give them a specification and they give us a fixed price on that. They have more of a DevOps role than just a development role. They aren’t always on time, but they always meet the cost. We work in an agile model. Their English skills were good. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We trust them. They do what they say they’re going to do. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We don’t have any issues with LANARS.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should try them for a project. Give them a small project first and make specifications that aren’t very detailed. Ask them to augment it, and then you’ll see how they deliver. Anyone would be happy with it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are small startup, 6 people in total, working in healthcare industry. Lanars helped us to development iOS and Android app for our core system. The app enables hospital staff to mange clinical data for patients who have been referred to the Clinic for care. The app can be used to navigate the following information: patients' data, clinical documents, images, lab results, medications and vital signs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

We hire LANARS for iOS and Android development.

What were your goals for this project?

As we already had existing system that is operating in our partner hospitals, we had a need for Android and iOS apps, with a focus on clear UI/UX. Our users are mostly older people, so we cared a lot for simple onboarding process.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We contacted few companies from Ukraine and LANARS seemed to be the one who completely understood our requirements, business model and goals. We also liked the team, we were impressed by their attitude towards us and work itself.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We already had our web based portal for hospital and patients management. The purpose was to develop apps, for both iOS and Android phones, used by hospital staff and patients. At first we thought of one app for both sides, but after few meetings with LANARS, their BA proposed us 2 apps.

That was a great suggestion and made it much easier for us to scale our architecture. All the milestones were finished in time and we are still in a process of development. We already expanded our team with LANARS, so now they are also assisting us with our backend part.

What was the team composition?

During last two years we had different team composition. We started with two mobile developers, designer and PM. The team has grown since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We finished the app stage on September 2019. The feedback is great, so we are pleased with the work done so far. At the moment more than half of our users already using our app.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was done on the side of LANARS. Every time we started new scope of work, as they call it Sprint, our dedicated project manager provided us with a complete breakdown of tasks, estimates and deadlines. The good thing is that before each release they were sending us a test version.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with their commitment, work ethics and communication skills. Each time we required some new information or an update, they answered us very quickly. I also liked that, not only they did perfect work, but their inputs during planning phase were really valuable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

From the very beginning they informed us that healthcare is not their main domain. Nevertheless things went really smooth. I understand that it's impossible to be experts in each domain, but I would definitely say that LANARS are experts in development. I'm sure I would recommend them to any type of business

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our bank is playing a leading role in establishing important market intermediaries such as depositories, credit bureau, clearing and payment institutions. I work as chief of operations in London branch.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

We hired LANARS for development of our new service and app for it. They also helped integration of 3rd party services and 3rd party banks APIs.

What were your goals for this project?

We are developing an app that connects our clients with other banks, making it possible to interact with different bank services and make inbound and outbound transactions

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Company was recommended by a consultant. We also visited their headquarters in Ukraine. We were negotiating during 2 months, during which they were really helpful in terms of merging our requirements into tech documentation.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They were developing iOS and Android apps, along with intermediate server. LANARS also covered QA and security part.

What was the team composition?

Our team consisted of 4 mobile app developers, 3 web developers, not sure about QA team as they did that inhouse. We also asked help with UI from time to time. So, overall it was a team of near 10 people.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

App was successfully delivered in time. Right now we have a focus group of 500 users. We are constantly getting feedbacks, so the work will continue in future milestones. Overall satisfaction rate is 87%, so I can say that we are pleased with result.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was done by LANARS under my supervision. They added me to their corporate Jira, so I was able to see report and progress on each team member involved. Communicate was smooth, and the good thing is that we are almost in the same timezone.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication is perfect. We really like their office, and their entire staff is very friendly and openminded.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I wish they had office in UK

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of the co-founders of Babytesterne.no, Norway's largest review site for baby gear.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

LANARS has helped us build our web page: babytesterne.no. Everything from the ability to log-in, add products, leave reviews, and create a customer profile. 

What were your goals for this project?

To have a well-functioning web page with all the features we wanted. We also wanted the page set-up so that we would be able to handle it without coding expertise.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

LANARS was recommended to me from a friend.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

LANARS started the project by cleaning up a mess leftover from a previous vendor. We then started to build the webpage almost from scratch and used a combination of code and plug-ins, as we wanted a webpage that we could handle our self (we do not code).

What was the team composition?

We've had one project manager, and that is the only person we have to contact to get something done.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We would never be where we are today if it was not for LANARS. They've worked so hard to accommodate all our wishes when it comes to both functionality and design. They work fast, structured, and are not too pricy. They're also very nice people.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Great!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They're fast and they have a lot of competencies. They manage to solve everything we ask for.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that come to my mind right now.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a social reading platform that connects people reading the same book at the same time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

I decided that the best format for my concept would be a mobile app, but I lacked experience in the business. I engaged LANARS to build the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with LANARS to refine my initial set of specifications. After I approved the quotation and timeline, they designed and developed the app for iOS and Android. They also provided QA and project management.
 
The app allows users to select the books they’re currently reading. Users are then brought together in a chatroom with other people reading the book.
 
What is the team composition?

LANARS’ project manager was my one point of contact. Two developers worked under him—one backend and one frontend—and there were two QA specialists assigned. We met every two weeks during the active development phase. They had demos, and I was able to tweak the things that weren’t exactly what I was expecting.
 
How did you come to work with LANARS?

I had a budget, and I contacted 7–8 mobile app development companies with detailed specifications. I received responses with their understanding of the work and quotations. I’d never heard of LANARS before, but I liked their response and they seemed organized.
  
How much have you invested with them?

We spent $45,000.
 
What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with LANARS in June 2018, and we finished in February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A first version of the app was downloaded by 400–500 users after launch, and everyone I’ve shown the app to in person has been impressed. After getting some feedback, I decided to make some adjustments to improve the app and get a better conversion rate when I start advertising again. The results have been better than what I was expecting, and the app is very cleanly built.
 
How did LANARS perform from a project management standpoint?

Software development isn’t an exact science, but the project went well with LANARS. Their estimation and management led to a successful product. We used Trello to track the work. They delivered a new part of the app to me every two weeks, and I logged the issues I encountered in Trello. LANARS also uses Jira with other clients.
 
What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their honesty. LANARS gave us a very good quote in the beginning to compete with other agencies. I made some change requests after that, but they never tried to ask for higher prices. They’re honest, transparent, and easy to work with.
 
Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d prefer to have had a bigger talent pool to choose from when one of their team members went on vacation. At the same time, if they were bigger, it would be much more complicated and probably more expensive. It’s only a minor complaint.
 
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s beneficial to have project management experience as a client.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and director of Dean’s Technology Solutions, an IT company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

I wanted to build a native iOS and Android app that allows shoppers to compare the prices of groceries.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project commenced with a discovery phase. LANARS developed requirements, created foundations and wireframes, and performed testing. They built the multi-platform AWS app, including the backend structure and database, using Node.js and other technologies. The team enabled an admin end, where stores can add their icons to a master database. On the user end, shoppers can create a grocery list and see where to find their items for the most inexpensive price.

My partnership with LANARS continues; they provide support and software adjustments as needed.

What is the team composition?

I have worked with a sales manager, a business analyst, a project manager, and 2–3 developers.

How did you come to work with LANARS?

I found LANARS on Upwork. They were one of the most engaging and solution-focused vendors that I came across, and they have remained so.

How much have you invested with them?

I have spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with LANARS in 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The pilot testing has garnered excellent reviews and positive responses. The quality, function, and UI/UX are top-notch.

How did LANARS perform from a project management standpoint?

As development progressed, many requirements and needs changed. LANARS accommodated all of these changes seamlessly. They are an engaging partner; depending on the need, we meet weekly or monthly. We use Jira, Asana, and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m satisfied with the app. I’ve been impressed by their ability to receive feedback and make changes as needed. The quality of work that they produce is excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The time difference is challenging, but that is out of their control.