Liki

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software development agency that specializes in building apps for people with disabilities. We’re based in New Zealand, and we build mobile, web, and voice apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Liki Mobile Solutions?

 One of our clients is one of the largest health providers in New Zealand. Their veterinary branch wanted vets to be able to contact oncologists while operating with animals with skin problems in the field.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

 Liki Mobile Solutions designed and helped us build an Android and iOS app that links vets and oncologists even when they’re located outside the mobile coverage of the city. Vets can take a picture of an animal’s skin change and upload it to the app for the oncologists to examine using a swiping-based UI.

The team also built several prototypes for the third party client, providing us with visual design ideas and proposals along the way. They constructed visual icons, buttons, logos, and the general layout of the app. Liki Mobile Solutions was very much involved in both the app development and design ends of the work.

What is the team composition?

We worked with at least 3–4 of their team members, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Liki Mobile Solutions?

I’m originally from Poland and know that services like this typically cost less there. One of my coworkers at a previous job recommended them to me, and we did three short projects with them. I was satisfied with their work, so I hired them again. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent approximately $25,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from around May 2016–January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While the app was not published for public use, and we haven’t received direct feedback from the third part client in New Zealand, we got great feedback on the app during our feasibility study. The vets testing the product thought it was easy to find information, manage cases, and save time in the field. They found it useful.

How did Liki Mobile Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated mostly through Skype, making the most of our 12-hour time zone difference. Our meetings were occasionally at strange times, but some clients were still amazed at how quickly we were able to work and complete tasks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their graphic designer was able to take our concept and quickly visualize it accurately. Sometimes, her work was so good that we kept the first iteration. We never had to make too many changes. I was also very impressed by the quality of the work given the price. It can be up to three times more expensive to hire developers in New Zealand compared to what we spent with Liki Mobile Solutions. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Communication and the time zone may be a challenge to some, but we didn’t struggle with it. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

 Meet their team in person if the opportunity presents itself. I visited them in Poland and it helped a lot. Plus, it's nice to be familiar with the people you work with. For people unable to go to Poland, I’d recommend an introductory video conference, just so you know their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a former senior software developer for Imilia Interactive Mobile Applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Liki Mobile Solutions?

We needed web development assistance for a time scheduling tool.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Liki Mobile Solutions to create screenshots for a time scheduling tool that was to be part of a software package. 

Following that, we did a smaller project where we hired them to create a WordPress plug-in that create a preview of the main PHP application we were developing.

We later expanded the team and hired them to create Java-based Spring REST APIs for the primary application to rewrite and enhance the solution for an Angular frontend.

What is the team composition?

A senior developer served as the project manager and oversaw two other development resources, which worked well. We didn’t have that much contact with the development team. They sat in on some scrum meetings but not all of them.

How did you come to work with Liki Mobile Solutions?

I met the owner of Liki Mobile Solutions through a networking event in Berlin, and we stayed in touch. I knew that they offered the services we were looking for, and we decided to go with them for this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project from June 2018–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their graphics department, in particular, did an excellent job and provided us with great suggestions.

How did Liki Mobile Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

The deadlines for the sprints and goals for the user stories were met in a similar way to our German team.

We mostly communicated via Slack, Jira, GitLab, and we also had an extraordinary bit server and DevOps resource. Before we started the project, we installed a large computer monitor with a camera so that we could have quality conference calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their designer was extraordinary.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Language is always a bit of an issue. They have an office in Berlin, but they don’t have any German-speaking supervisors that can handle certain things that come up.

The Java team had one or two sprints where the two sides had to connect. Their skills are good, but we had to tell them which way we wanted it to be done.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a sales director and board member for Gdansk Foundation for Management Development (GFKM). We provide business education programming, such as MBA groups and executive training.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Matsuu?

We had commissioned a web developer to create a mobile version of our website. We were thrilled with their work. However, when the site launched, our metrics in Google Analytics declined, and users complained that they could not find important information there. We engaged Matsuu to perform an audit of its UI/UX.

What were your goals for this project?

We weren’t sure where our new site went wrong, and we wanted to better understand how to make a mobile-friendly website for an educational institution. We planned on using Matsuu’s findings to update our site appropriately.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked for contractors among our program graduates. Matsuu—headed by a graduate of our Executive MBA—submitted a proposal. Compared to their competition, Matsuu offered the most comprehensive approach to our challenge; they looked not only at site design and user experience but also issues in its code and programming.

Describe the project in detail.

We gave Matsuu access to our website and analytic tools to track user behavior for two months. The team then provided us with a set of recommendations to improve information architecture, technology stack, design features, and optimization. The suggestions kept in mind the data they collected via A/B tests and our specific business goals. Matsuu also included a draft of an entirely new site design for both mobile and desktop.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a designer, a UX expert, a frontend developer, and a business analyst.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were so pleased with the results of the audit that we contracted Matsuu again to redesign our site. The new design received positive feedback from both students and lecturers, and we feel that it better reflects our brand and increases our business opportunities.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We primarily communicated with the company’s CEO by phone and email. On occasion, we talked with a business analyst. Matsuu demonstrated great care and attention to detail from start to finish; we never had issues that required extra meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They deeply understood our business and marketing challenges.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re highly satisfied with both the process and the results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the president of Largo Business Solutions, a FinTech startup that focuses on smart insurance solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Matsuu?

The European Union’s 2018 GDPR regulation drastically changed the legal situation for processing personal data. As a result, we suspected that our iOS and Android application did not comply with the law. We need a vendor with the competence and knowledge to examine our app’s processes and audit it. We needed to make any necessary adjustments.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to avoid any problems because several companies weren’t ready for it. We needed to find experts quickly and solve any problems before our planned launch.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our colleagues recommended Matsuu; he knew the leadership team. I reached out to Matsuu and they provided a quote. The price was much lower than we expected.

Describe the project in detail.

We provided documentation for the app’s source code and builds. Matsuu then analyzed our software and provided guidelines. The app was largely incompatible with GDPR. The team suggested ways to update personal data processing. As a result, we redid the app and gave users the ability to manage and transfer information to other platforms.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a dedicated project manager and communicated with the CEO and a business analyst.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We got what we wanted at a better price than we expected.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They communicated well via phone and Slack. The team was always helpful and accessible.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Matsuu was very knowledgeable about the law, privacy, and technology. What’s more, the team was friendly and honest.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we don’t have any feedback at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the president of a startup developing a social cooking app. We want to disrupt the catering market with an iOS and Android app that enables convenient connections between restaurants and customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Matsuu?

We needed something to show investors before the application was ready, so we wanted to design a mock-up.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted someone to create the mobile app’s UX and UI.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We sent a request for quotation to several companies we found on Clutch. We were looking for European companies, as we’re from Sweden, and we quickly discovered a big price difference between Western and Eastern Europe. With our limited budget, we decided to go with a Polish company. They offered a good price and had experience designing mobile applications. We decided to sign a contract after exchanging a few emails and talking to a business analyst over the phone.

Describe the project in detail.

The UI had to be designed so that we could start building the application right away. Apart from wireframes, they were tasked with producing several dozen fully painted application screens. They imbued our unique brand with contemporary trends to create the UX and UI.

What was the team composition?

A graphic designer and a UX specialist worked on our project. We also had contact with a business analyst.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have a complete UI and will soon be able to realize our vision and release the application. Much of the app’s current state stems from the Matsuu’s designer’s imaginations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We usually communicated on Slack, and they responded to our questions quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We liked Matsuu’s clear and lean UI designs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We have to wait to see what the market thinks about the UX/UI.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company runs an online booking system for all kinds of practices and facilities. We have thousands of customers that use our system as both a standalone platform and as a widget integrated with their websites. I am a co-founder and president of the board.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Matsuu?

We have always strived to ensure that our service complies with the law and properly protects the personal data of our users. Last year, the entire process in which we processed personal data was fully compliant with the requirements of the law, both national and European. After the GDPR regulation came to life, our reservation system ceased to comply with the law.

Since GDPR sets rules for how companies share data after it's been collected, we have to rethink how to approach logins and analytics in order to regain compliance and avoid fines for violation. It’s a very high standard to meet, and we didn’t have anyone in our company who read all 99 articles of the regulation. We decided to look for a company that can provide a GDPR compliance audit and tell us in simple words what we need to change.

What were your goals for this project?

We expected to get a complete analysis of our system, with detailed guidelines of what we should do to achieve GDPR compliance.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Matsuu through Google and made a request for quotation to them, as well as several other competitors. The next day, a business analyst from Matsuu sent in their offer. It may not have been the cheapest, but the cheapest competitor was a purely legal firm without technological expertise. Matsuu still had very good prices and the skills to evaluate our booking system.

Describe the project in detail.

After signing the NDA and the statement of work, we gave Matsuu internal access to the system and documentation. We spoke twice about the peculiarities of our software and then we waited for two weeks. After this time, we got a solid whitepaper that explained everything. Information was tailored to our specification, and they included examples that were very helpful. With these guidelines, our developers started to work on our system and finally delivered a new version that was GDPR-compliant. A few times throughout the process, we had indirect contact with Matsuu analysts about perceived ambiguities, and they were always helpful.

What was the team composition?

From our side, we had a dedicated project manager and development team. Matsuu has given us access to their project manager, who managed all of the work from their team. Their project manager was available to us during working hours and quickly replied to emails.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our booking system is now GDPR-compliant and our company is free from the risk of penalties.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We talked through phone and emails; it was quick and sound.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They always try to button up everything.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO at Veygo. We provide software technology for live and video-on-demand streaming services to operators and media providers worldwide, helping them distribute their content. In short, I deal with all of our customer programs and make sure our clients are happy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Liki Mobile Solutions?

Given the nature of our industry, we encounter some pretty challenging demands from our customers. Sometimes they want end-to-end solutions that exceed our skillset or our team availability. We needed to extend our services to include frontend applications development, so we looked for a third-party vendor to augment our internal capabilities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our initial collaboration involved developing a mobile application for iOS and Android devices. They integrated our core product software development's kit (SDK) and built the user interface. It’s a video-on-demand and live streaming app that allows users to watch recorded or live TV content.

Following the core development, we’ve added more features. Additionally, Liki Mobile Solutions built a medical photography app for Android and iOS, using HTML, JavaScript, and Cordova technologies. We continue to work with them for mobile development and testing, video streaming projects, and web app development for our personal website.

Liki Mobile Solutions developers are integrated into our team and we exchange with them every day on the requirements, specifications, development process and tests. Just as if they were part of our own team.

What is the team composition?

It varies case by case. They’re flexible in organizing a team that reflects our requirements. We’ve worked with anywhere from 1–10 people. For some projects, we just worked with a few developers. For our latest project, we worked with a team of project managers, web designers, and web front- and backend developers.

How did you come to work with Liki Mobile Solutions?

I’d previously worked with their CEO on another project with a different company, so I was familiar with their capabilities. We checked their employees’ backgrounds to confirm that their skillset met our needs. Being based in Poland, they’re also able to handle some of our global needs. As such, we established a partnership.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2014, and they provide ongoing support and development services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has had a significant impact on our company’s performance. They create the most visible part of our services—basically, the frontend of our company. Liki Mobile Solutions delivers on time, keeping us on schedule. Overall, they’re a pretty important partner.

How did Liki Mobile Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They deliver on whatever we ask of them. In terms of communication, they have a great response time, and they’re always available. We usually speak on a daily basis, which helps us stay on schedule. This partnership stands out among the past experiences we’ve had with other offshore development providers.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their flexibility in accommodating our workload and requests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s always room for improvement. We could be more structured in defining the project’s scope. Unfortunately, we usually have to sacrifice those details because of time constraints.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should make sure they clearly describe their goals, then trust Liki Mobile Solutions’ development process. We’ve put all of our confidence in them, and so far, it’s been rewarding. It’s important to establish trust in the relationship and set expectations for both parties.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the marketing director at a dropshipping company for clothing stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Matsuu?

We needed an e-commerce site built and a dropship solution.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the site on which customers could customize their purchases with monogramming, logos, and screen printing. We wanted the site to allow for customization on every product.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were referred to us by others who had worked with them.

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

They built an e-commerce interface from scratch. Matsuu began with trend analysis and industry reports, then moved to the design stage. After starting the development stage, Matsuu ran the implementation and tests (functional integration, safety, and performance tests). They also helped us choose which technology to use and decided on Magento 2.0. They ran us through the technology, including advantages, disadvantages and possibilities for future development and integration.

What was the team composition?

We had one project manager and the project was done by the development team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Though it's too early to have metrics, we see many things helping our business. We’ve gotten a lot of compliments from our customers about our new platform and the speed is greatly improved.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The Matsuu team’s project management went very well. We communicated through Jira. We would assign all tasks within that software to communicate effectively.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Whenever there was a crisis, we could rely on and trust Matsuu to solve it. They were always there to make sure everything was taken care of.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

If they could provide content writers, we would have loved to pass all of our writing work to them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Orange is one of the four telecommunication companies in Poland. I’m the product manager for the Orange app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Liki Mobile Solutions?

We needed someone to develop My Orange app for iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our iOS and Android app which is for customers to manage their accounts and services, check their usage, and make payments. They are responsible for preparing code for new versions every two months. They started development for Windows, but we stopped it because the use of Windows phones is low.

What is the team composition?

There are 6–7 developers.

How did you come to work with Liki Mobile Solutions?

Their owner was a former employee of Orange. He knew the environment of Orange systems and knew the team responsible for development. It was easy to choose him and his company to do the job.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2015 and the work is ongoing. It took two months to complete the initial app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a larger volume of users. We have good satisfaction with the app. Customers even use the purchase option in the app.

It’s a great company. They do all the tasks and meet my business needs. They manage and prepare versions that include all my requirements. When there are bugs, they solve the issues quickly and prepare a new version with the bugs fixed. They get the new versions to market promptly.

How did Liki Mobile Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They do exceptionally well. There were no issues with missing deadlines. They’re always improving their work and project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very elastic. They find solutions for all the problems we give them to solve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a company that you can trust. If there are technical limitations to completing your requirements, they will give you other options.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the sales director at one of the largest financial brokers in the country. We mainly sell insurance and loan and credit products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Matsuu?

Matsuu took over managed services when our previous provider failed to deliver the second sprint. They fixed the source code and created a new schedule with the exact sprint dates and acceptance criteria. Then they began developing our project.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a platform that would help our agents during their daily field work with clients. The application needed to be easy to use and technologically advanced. It was designed to help our resellers sell products, quickly enter client data into forms, and automatically send verification data.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found Matsuu on Google. I emailed them and got feedback after just a few minutes. After many conversations, negotiations, and workshops, we decided to cooperate with them. They had one of the highest prices, but they also had great ideas for our application and came to each meeting prepared.

Describe the project in detail.

They created the back- and frontend of our Android and iOS apps for smartphones and tablets. They also built an admin panel to process credit and loan applications that agents entered on mobile devices. 

Matsuu fixed and simplified our previous provider's UX design considerably. The UX of the apps was clever and intuitive, because many of our agents are learning to use smartphones. They prepared two versions of the UX design: one for Android, and one for iOS. The apps had many features, but could quickly send data to our verification department. 

What was the team composition?

We only contacted the project manager assigned to us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I felt confident in their level of expertise.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our project manager was effective and regularly reported on our project. Our opinions sometimes differed, but we always reached an agreement.  

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The biggest surprise was that Matsuu helped us with not only technical solutions, but also business analysis. I've worked with many software houses, but this was the first time I had encountered this approach. They had extensive knowledge in many business sectors.