Liki

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of ITsorce, a software development outsourcing company. We specialize in hiring multilingual professionals from Eastern Europe for large international projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Matsuu?

We needed a 360-degree feedback tool for our outsourced teams.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to provide our developers with an opportunity to receive performance feedback from their supervisors and peers. We tried to use legacy HR software for this task, but it was a Windows-only desktop application and only in Polish (with an option for English). We lacked a way to provide Russian or Ukrainian options, and it turned out that only 1/3 of our developers use Windows. We needed something that would working on macOS and Linux.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We didn’t initially consider Matsuu because we were looking for desktop application developers. I asked Matsuu's principal for advice since I know him personally. He suggested that we give them a try. I agreed because their price and time to market were notably better than their competitors.

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

Matsuu organized workshops in Design Thinking methodology. Working with their business analysts, the workshops helped us discover our real needs and better understand the potential of 360-degree feedback. However, it quickly became clear that building an app for both Android and iOS was outside our budget. Matsuu suggested a Progressive Web App (PWA) as a universal solution as it works equally well on desktop and mobile browsers. The PWA software could also be tailored to our needs and translated into different languages. Together we created a simple wireframe mockup for our solution, and then they built the PWA according to our specifications. It took just three months from the preliminary analysis to the delivery of the MVP. We’ve now made our 360-degree feedback tool available to all our developers, with five different language localizations.

What was the team composition?

Our main point of contact was our dedicated project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

By identifying all potential issues at the beginning, Matsuu delivered a comprehensive solution that has significantly improved my business services. They created a PWA that works on any platform and provides a convenient UI. Not only did they help us define our goals, they proactively showed us areas where we can improve. I do hope to further develop and add new features to the app in order to make it a complete HR solution.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Our dedicated project manager provided near real-time updates on the project’s status. We mostly talked through a dedicated Slack channel. We would’ve liked to have direct contact with their developers, but they were faithful to the agile methodology. The process was effective so we had no complaints.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Matsuu is much more than the average software house. They bring to the table a deep understanding of the business and academic perspective. It was a pleasure to work with them.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They should employ more people. They’re almost always busy with many projects and we had to wait for our turn. On the other hand, we know it’s not easy to find quality staff.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're creating a marketplace for industrial products. Our objective is to connect buyers and sellers. I'm the CTO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed help with software development. We're located in San Jose, California and even though we're fully-funded, the technical engineers in our area are very expensive. We were looking for ways to cut the cost of developing our product. We do have internal resources locally, as well as some in India, but they didn’t have the skills we needed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They're working on developing a frontend web-based application for us, which is our product. I specifically chose the set of technologies being used, which include Angular, Bootstrap, etc. One of the reasons for picking them was that they fit our needs in this area.

We have not outsourced our entire project to Liki. To us, they are a partner, and they are a part of our team.

What is the team composition?

We work with two full-time developers, a UX designer, and a couple of part-time frontend developers.

How did you come to work with Liki Mobile Solutions?

It was a lot of research and a bit of luck. We found them through a bit of luck after we started our research for offshore providers. I knew one of their founders through a mutual friend and we had a conversation about having them help us. The existing relationship had nothing to do with picking them; I picked them because of their skillset. Liki was able to provide us with highly-skilled engineers, proficient in multiple frontend technologies including AngularJS and Angular CLI.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2017 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For frontend development, one of the ways to measure quality is by gauging how close the end-product is to the designs. Liki was spot-on from this perspective. They developed what was designed. Another measure is the stability of the application, its test coverage, and so on.

Because they function as part of our team, it's hard to measure the impact—if the designs are properly implemented, we move on. If we identify issues, we fix them as we go. Many of those issues are due to the changes we’ve implemented, but we're a startup and are modeling our product as we go. As part of our work, we change designs, and they implement them.

They've definitely added value to our company. The frontend is one of the most important pieces of our product, given that it’s what our clients are seeing. Making it look and function well, as well as ensuring its stability, is extremely important. Without a frontend, we wouldn’t be able to communicate or sell our product properly to our clients.

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

We've taken care of project management ourselves, while Liki provided development. We're very happy with their services. We have three standup calls per week, along with sprint planning, and we're constantly communicating over Slack channels, email, and phone calls. They collaborate well with our team in India.

I can go to Poland and spend time with them, or we can invite them to the U.S. They’ve worked out of our office a few times and we’ve stayed in constant communication. There will be issues with any team, regardless of their location. Many of those issues may be attributable to us not properly describing the task, while other issues are attributable to them not understanding the task. This is not about their team; this is just an ongoing project we have with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve appreciated their ability to pick up new technologies and learn quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have the same feedback for every member of our team and that is that it's important to make sure that we're communicating properly and that we're aware of time zones. Most of our team members are remote, so we have to rely on alternatives to communicating face-to-face, including video conferences, phone calls, Slack channels, email, text messages, and so on.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I’ve employed Liki employees and I treat them as part of my team, so I haven’t really outsourced a project to them. When it comes to this type of arrangement, everything has been working fine. New clients have to stay close to their projects and work closely with their teams, making sure that they understand what needs to be developed. Only a close collaboration between Liki and the client will ensure success. It’s all about collaboration and communication.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We provide services to the biggest companies in the world, assisting them in improving their performance in high-stress environments. We provide technical solutions and in-person training. I’m a senior developer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were facing the common problem of finding experienced developers in our country.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we can’t reach our goals or have a development issue, they help us to get the products ready for launch on time. They support us with user technologies and solutions, as well as helping us decide if things are a good idea or not. They do back- and frontend work and help us with our parallel projects. We use technologies such as Vue.js and Java. They also help with design implementation.

What is the team composition?

We're working with three people who have a good level of experience.

How did you come to work with Liki Mobile Solutions?

They found our LinkedIn job post and contacted us because we were looking for a developer in Berlin. They said they could cooperate with us and came to visit. We cooperated with them for two to three weeks and were happy with the results, so began to send them projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The UX they've worked on is good. The project is successful and is working. We want to hire another people with them. Most of the time, their work is correct and we're happy with what we got back.

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

The management is good and the communication is easy. They sometimes come to my office so they can get a better understanding of the issues we’re facing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re willing to cooperate with the customer. We choose the technology we want to use and they never show any opposition. They’re always willing to help and willing to learn new implementations of technologies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes we have an issue and we want to solve it fast, but we don’t know if they’re working at that moment or not. They could be clearer if all the people are working together in the same place or if they’re working remotely. Sometimes we don’t know where every person on the team is located or when they’re accessible. We don’t have clear schedules and it can be a little confusing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know when and where the team is working. Get a schedule of when they will be working on the project and how they split the time each day.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My wife and I own Corevas. We are a German startup, and we have developed a product that allows for in-case-of-emergency communication via remote access to smartphones.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Liki Mobile?

Remote access to smartphones—especially in the context of emergency-case communication—is a highly regulated area. Specifically, it deals with telecommunication, emergency call, data privacy, and data security laws. The technology we wanted to develop had not existed at the level we needed. We were looking for a software firm that would be able to program this remote-access technology, and, at the same time, develop an application that could be released into the app marketplace.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Liki developed our application for both Android and iOS, but we have used a different agency for the design. The technology ensures that the emergency-case management centers—which are contacted by bystanders—have the ability to use the full functionality of the caller by having remote access. In the end, we have an app for the general public, but the main tool is a service-center-owned web solution that provides access to callers’ smartphones. Liki is developing both the browser-based solution and the application.

What is the team composition?

We are working with a team of 11 people from Liki. We interact with the CEO and COO, as well as the programmers.

How did you come to work with Liki Mobile?

I met them during a Horizon 2020 program, where they presented their capabilities. We kept in touch, and six months later, we came together to develop the partnership.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in February or March 2017 and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are satisfied with their technical contributions. We will have an early-access program in July-September 2018, and the app will be launched in Europe in October 2018.

How did Liki Mobile perform from a project management standpoint?

We occasionally meet in person, but we also have weekly progress calls and use Redmine to communicate and share information. It is a close collaboration with stringent project management being applied from both sides. We meet in person for finalizing certain steps, and then they return to Poland to conduct the programming. We meet again as necessary until we see the results we need.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been impressed by the leadership from their two principals. When we have issues, we are able to have direct interaction with the CEO and COO. They are directly connected to their business. Rather than just handling acquisitions and contracting, they are directly linked to their employees, from the project managers to the programmers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We are a German-based company, and they are a Polish-based company. While the interactions with the management team are running smoothly, we sometimes have language problems with the programming team, as English is not a strength. However, we have been able to work around this. Further, we’ve set up a consortium consisting of 11 institutions, and Liki should improve its capability to operate internationally and engage with bigger companies.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a manufacturer of fitness equipment. I’m the founder and CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Liki?

We needed help maintaining our online services and were also considering building an app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provide us with a wide array of services. The first engagement was around our online services, but we ended up also contracting them for the development of a related app.

It was important for us to service both Android and iOS users, so we asked them to choose a technology that enabled that through one codebase. The app also has native components on both operating systems.

We outlined general requirements for the app’s design and color scheme, providing examples from other websites and apps. They took these items and transferred them into a real app design.

What is the team composition?

They assigned a project manager who handled the entire process. I used to be a developer so I was able to talk to their resources directly. It was still good to have someone on their side holding all the strings together, especially since we’re not based in the same location.

How did you come to work with Liki?

They approached me over email, saying that they would be visiting our location and would like to set up a meeting. We have constant IT needs around our website and the services we offer, so their inquiry came at the right the time.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in mid-2017. The app is close to completion—we will be attending a trade show in mid-April and plan to exhibit it there. We will release the first version in May or June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They came up with a solution that fulfilled all my base requirements. The app is cross-platform but performs well. Those two aspects can sometimes contradict each other, so I appreciate their work.

I had access to the source code, so I could see the actual work being done. Some items still need polishing, but we are still in the early stages. We’re working on refining the app and making it ready for app-store deployment.

How did Liki perform from a project management standpoint?

As someone with a technical background, it’s often been more efficient for me to talk to the developers directly. I don’t need help relaying technical requirements, and some of those requirements can be hard for a project manager to translate. Their project manager was valuable to me, mainly because he worked at their location. He could give feedback on what the developers were doing, and provide a supporting role. That was important to me.

Their developers asked a lot of questions during the development process, which confirmed that they were trying to understand what the app should actually do. They also made their own suggestions, which is always encouraged. Their suggestions usually proved to be the better alternatives, given their knowledge of the system. We had a lot of back-and-forths, which I count as a plus. In the end, it led to a better app. Most of the communication was done either through Skype or telephone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're always trying to be helpful and supportive. They remained responsive even when the project was held up by the developers working on the hardware part. This showed us that they care about the project, and not only about getting paid.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We needed a way of documenting our interaction process. We mainly communicated by email during the first stages, which got out of hand quickly. Sending back-and-forth documentation is an old-fashioned approach. It worked, but it was hard to track, especially when more than one developer was involved. The improvement we’ve made for the current iteration is to use a tool that enables better structuring. In this case, we used Trello, which is simple to use and provides a good way to track everything. That’s been working well so far.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

My general advice is for customers to demand a structured collaboration tool from the start, and not rely on email. Trello solved this well for us and the developers were quick to pick it up. I believe they've also started using it internally.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

dopreprogramy.pl (meaning good software in English) is the largest vertical portal in Poland dedicated to software, with a unique blogging platform for its users and a large, curated base of applications for most popular operating systems. We stand out amongst our competition not only with stats, but also with the deep relationship we have with the community of our readers.

I am editor-in-chief. My responsibilities include the management of our editorial office, cooperation with business partners, planning strategic goals with the Board, and of course, writing as an editor and maintaining relations with our community.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matsuu?

Sometimes we launch online contests for our readers, often lasting several days, with attractive prizes and special tasks. We were looking for a solution to reinforce our commitment to the community by elevating the challenges of the contest, improving their timing aspect and bringing even more immersive experiences to everyone involved.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to create a mobile application for Android and iOS which could be used in our "Konkursy z dioda" ("Contests with the LED" in English). The application was used not only to push new questions in a given day as fast as possible, but also to track the time spent on each answer, facilitate the process of the giveaway of smaller prizes, and to track the daily rankings of contestants.

How did you come to work with Matsuu?

We were looking for a software house with a lot of experience in both Android and iOS development and with competitive prices. Matsuu proposed the best terms so we accepted their initial offer.

How much have you invested with Matsuu?

The estimated price for the "LED it be" project was $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Matsuu in autumn of 2016. In the beginning of February 2017 we had a working app (for both Android and iOS) and we used it in a contest done in partnership with AVAST, a leading antivirus software company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our community was very happy with this unexpected turn of events - developing a mobile app was new for us. The first contest was a success from the business side. Our partner is glad about the results because the increased competition brought more attention to his products.

What did you find most impressive about Matsuu?

They are flexible and easy to get along with. They have shown both a professional attitude and a good understanding of our needs.

Are there any areas Matsuu could improve?

They improved already during our cooperation. In the beginning, we had some problems in choosing methods of communication between developers. Both sides were using incompatible project management systems. We found a good solution.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a furniture shopping center in Poland offering retail space to businesses. I am a financial manager for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matsuu?

We wanted to develop an app which could give us more customer insight.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matsuu developed our iOS and Android apps. They allow us to track customers within our building, determining which areas are of most interest, what they like, what they plan to buy, what they've bought in the past, and other marketing information.

How did you come to work with Matsuu?

We were looking for a development company which could solve our issue. I knew Matsuu's principal personally, so we decided to start a collaboration. This was our first experience with an app developer. We only had a website prior to this, but we saw apps as being essential for businesses in our market.

How much have you invested with Matsuu?

The cost of Matsuu's work was $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the negotiation process in June 2016. The project was completed at the end of that year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most important feedback has been from our clients, who've gained more information about their own buyers. As a company, we have the ability to create more detailed marketing strategies through our apps.

How did Matsuu perform from a project management standpoint?

We were in contact with Matsuu's developers through Slack. I had no problems with more detailed descriptions, and the team was very nice and friendly. Our project coordination was awesome.

What did you find most impressive about Matsuu?

Matsuu's team impressed me and had excellent communication. The result of our project has been good.

Are there any areas Matsuu could improve?

I don't think so. Whenever we've had an issue with the app, Matsuu took care of it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a Polish beer manufacturer with a total of 27 brands and a 200-person team. I am the chairman of the organization. My role is dedicated to marketing activities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matsuu?

We were looking for new ways of connecting to customers using technology. Specifically, we needed development resources for our mobile customer channel.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matsuu developed our app. Our marketing department received a lot of support from them. In the future, we plan to use Matsuu for the second version of our product.

How did you come to work with Matsuu?

We decided to hire a Polish studio. I found several companies through an online search and sent them requests. Good quality is something we are always looking for when building a unique product, and Matsuu made the best offer in terms of the price/quality ratio.

How much have you invested with Matsuu?

The cost of Matsuu's work was around $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Matsuu in August 2015. The project was completed in December. We are eager to renew the collaboration and plan to add new features to the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This was our first collaboration with a developer, and it was a good experience. Matsuu has a professional and creative team, and they are always providing new ideas. They kept us informed through step-by-step updates. The project was successful for our company. We have received positive media feedback and have good application statistics.

How did Matsuu perform from a project management standpoint?

Matsuu's project manager gave us many opportunities to discuss fresh ideas. We had weekly calls and were kept informed constantly. This was very important, especially when working with remote resources. It was a good user experience for us.

What did you find most impressive about Matsuu?

Matsuu's ability to discuss their decisions made them stand out. The quality of the work is extremely good and the development process was also great. Matsuu's team was helpful and willing to discuss the work with us. They provided high-level engagement in every step of the project, which was unexpected.

Are there any areas Matsuu could improve?

Matsuu could improve its design capabilities, but this is only a minor point.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Nine73 Media operates in the digital marketing space. I am the owner of the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Matsuu?

We're developing an invoicing and appointment-making app for hairstylists. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Matsuu developed our app for iOS and Android. We've worked with a project manager and 2 developers from their team.

How did you come to work with Matsuu?

I found Matsuu on Craigslist. I interviewed a couple of local businesses in New Jersey, but Matsuu provided the right price and service. Their sales rep was able to explain Matsuu's model, and why they could provide lower prices. Matsuu had the team to put my ideas into reality.

How much have you invested with Matsuu?

The first development round had a cost of around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Matsuu in the summer of 2016. We're planning to launch the app soon and will use Matsuu for ongoing support. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, everything's been good. The apps are functional, but we're looking for additional marketing funds. We anticipate that everything will go well.

How did Matsuu perform from a project management standpoint?

There were no issues or delays in our project. We collaborated with Matsuu through phone calls, Skype sessions, and email.

What did you find most impressive about Matsuu

Matsuu's sales process was easy, their project manager was hands-on with our needs, and they executed everything on schedule.

Are there any areas Matsuu could improve?

Matsuu is an international company. The only downfall was the lack of a physical location in the United States. We did the work for half the price, so I can't complain.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Matsuu?

I advise clients to get in touch with Matsuu's business developer.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the managing director of a software company that focuses on creating mobile applications. When it comes to implementing a project involving areas beyond our competence, I am responsible for building strategic alliances.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We have been working on a complex social mobile application with a highly modular architecture. During our work, we discovered that we were short of people able to deliver on time a few modules that were essential for the operation of the entire system. The work was about building a backend mechanism for image recognition based on machine learning and a flexible communication platform between users. Our goal was to obtain self-contained modules operating in a microservice oriented architecture, which we may use to provide key features of our application.

SOLUTION

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

I approached all the software houses operating in the region, which declared their competences in the field of Node.js. There were 7 companies in total. We confined ourselves to the local community because of the need for close cooperation and physical meetings. Liki has showcased advanced projects in the areas we wanted to pursue. People from Liki were also the most friendly and understanding of our problems. As all the companies had similar prices, we decided to choose Liki because of their competence and the merits of their character.

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

We have chosen the microservice based architecture due to the scalability requirements of our customer. We needed a backend which is loosely coupled, highly maintainable and organized around business capabilities. Unfortunately the microservice architecture has several drawbacks, using it brings numerous issues that you must address. It is definitely harder than traditional, monolithic systems, and because of this, its hard to find companies which are able to work with it. Fortunately, Liki didn't have any problems with that.

At the beginning their programmers got acquainted with the technical documentation of the project, and then, using open source libraries and proprietary code, they prepared for us within a few weeks Docker containers with ready-made software modules. Everything, of course, integrated with the features of our mobile application.

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

We received two senior developers for this project, directly supervised by our project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our mobile application was completed on time, with the full scope of required features.

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

We've had a great time working together. Liki were good partners, and they did their best to make the project a success. It certainly helped that we use practically the same tools for communication and project management.

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

The team consists of educated professionals with many cool ideas.

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

The quality of work was great and there is nothing that could be done differently in this project.