LITSLINK

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO and co-founder of a factory.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LITSLINK?

We needed someone to develop an application to manage workers in our new factory. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed an iOS and Android application from scratch that allows our management team to manage factory workers. They used React Native, Node.js, and MongoDB and handled testing. The app supports analytics so we can analyze worker performance and provide bonuses to top workers.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, two frontend developers, and a backend specialist.

How did you come to work with LITSLINK?

They were recommended highly by a partner of ours who’d worked with them before. We looked at a few other providers but chose LITSLINK based on our conversation with them and their proposal.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August until November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our technical specialists gave good feedback regarding the code quality. The application works well. We’re fully satisfied with LITSLINK’s work.

How did LITSLINK perform from a project management standpoint?

It was good. They communicated with us weekly and were available when we needed them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had a great experience with them and would work with them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a good company to work with. We’d recommend them to any of our colleagues or partners.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO of Exatronix. We offer custom software development for clients in a variety of industries. We also provide telecommunication, IT construction, and other similar services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LITSLINK?

We outsource a portion of our work to freelancers and digital agencies, one of them being LITSLINK. For this specific task, we asked them to develop an element for a custom application to manage historical objects.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a fully functional solution in a short period of time.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Initially, we were looking for an autonomous team of resources that we didn’t have to spend a lot of time managing. After searching through Upwork, we decided on LITSLINK.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We provided them with a set of specifications for this project, and they created a UI design that met all of our needs. They worked primarily with React.js technology, using complex development techniques.

What was the team composition?

I worked with a team lead and a developer for this project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With LITSLINK’s help, we completed a bug-free solution by the scheduled launch date.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They were excellent and efficient. We got real-time feedback and updates from their team without much oversight from our end. Working with them was a pleasurable experience.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I most appreciate their communication skills, planning approach, and quality of work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of Digital Future Council. We're a private members club for creative leaders and technologists.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LITSLINK?

We were looking for a company to develop a responsive website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

LITSLINK built two websites that we use as educational portals for our new members. We provided them with the designs and they handled the development. They also helped us with the testing and the launch. Two important features of the websites were animation and integration with Mailchimp. They continue to maintain our websites.

What is the team composition?

We mostly worked with their web developer.

How did you come to work with LITSLINK?

They were recommended to me.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $4,000–$8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between April–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a high-quality animation in a very short time. The websites are an essential part of our brand and the feedback from our members has been very positive.

How did LITSLINK perform from a project management standpoint?

They worked very fast. Also, they were accepting of my feedback and implemented all of my edits. We worked together every step of the way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were exceptionally responsive and met all the deadlines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. The person I worked with was an excellent developer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a company that is creating a platform to bring volunteers and nonprofit organizations together. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LITSLINK?

We hired LITSLINK to build upon our existing platform. The code we had in place was bad quality and didn’t work correctly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our business contracted LITSLINK exclusively for development services. They came on board to help us complete our app. We flew to Kiev to meet them in person and spent two days discussing how to rewrite the entire frontend within our strict two-week deadline. 

Users can create accounts, browse volunteer opportunities, and sign up for activities at the touch of a button. Clicking on a project shows details about the mission including its purpose and when and where it will take place. Each completed volunteer project is added to the user’s profile, similar to a CV. The search function includes filters for location. We also implemented a blog.

LITSLINK used React Native to develop our app cross-platform for both iOS and Android. We sent them finalized mockups and concrete designs to use as a basis for the technical components. They wrote all the code and collaborated with our CTO, who coordinated the process from our side.  

What is the team composition? 

LITSLINK assigned two React Native developers to build our platform. Toward the end of the project, they added a third full-stack resource to fix the API issues. The project manager assigned the tasks we requested to the rest of the team.  For the web app build, they assigned us two developers for the first month scaled down to one for the remainder.

How did you come to work with LITSLINK?

After becoming dissatisfied with our previous provider, we searched for a new agency. Our ideal partner would have several types of experts on staff to support each other. LITSLINK applied to our job through Upwork. After interviewing the team, we were happy to hire them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent at least $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project with LITSLINK lasted from July–November 2018.  We focused on development until the end of October. We’re still fixing bugs and plan to build more features in 2019 with a larger team. Previously, we developed a React Native web app for a nonprofit together in April 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

LITSLINK’s support enabled us to publish the app by our challenging deadline. At this point, we’ve established a presence in one city and are continuing to expand. We’ve received outstanding user feedback. Nonprofits can find our website easily, which is typically a challenge in the field. People have found our concept easy to understand.

It’s hard to measure the exact code quality, but LITSLINK’s output is generally clean and well-structured. We’ve been very happy with their deliverables. The product had almost no bugs aside from minimal UI issues.

How did LITSLINK perform from a project management standpoint?

LITSLINK established an effective process, stuck to deadlines, and even worked overtime when needed. Communication was excellent. We collaborated well and never experienced any problems at all. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

There’s never been a time when LITSLINK told us something we asked for was impossible. Even if it didn’t turn out to be the solution we initially thought of, LITSLINK found something that fit what we wanted. The experts on their team can always find a way to solve even our most complex problems. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I’m a design perfectionist, so I’d have preferred for their developers to spend more time making the product resemble the mockups more closely. Since this hasn’t been a significant issue, it’s not a real criticism.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the product manager at a digital development company. I ensure that clients fulfill their business requirements and achieve their app development goals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LITSLINK?

We needed a partner to develop native iOS and Android apps using React Native. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to keep it simple while meeting the core business objectives. The apps needed to offer a fast, seamless experience for parents to search, browse, and book events.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reviewed local and online development teams. Our deciding factors were experience, communication, and cost.

Describe the project in detail.

From loose business requirements and wireframes, they developed our mobile apps in React Native.

What was the team composition?

We had two points of non-technical contact and one developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were happy with the speed of their progress. Previous experience helped their developer understand the business requirements and implement features quickly and correctly. The app had no significant issues and received five-star ratings on both app stores.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was responsive, friendly, and communicative. Although they suggested a more comprehensive project management tool, they accommodated our request to use Trello.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They completed tasks quickly with few explanations from us, which made things flow easily. They had not only excellent technical knowledge, but also a good understanding of our goals for the business.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As experienced mobile development team, they should point out anything that might prevent the client from achieving their goals.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a mobile gaming application. We’re adding tournaments to casual mobile games.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LITSLINK?

We needed React Native development resources that could work quickly and efficiently within a flexible time frame. We don’t have a constant flow of tasks, so we needed them done right away when they do come up.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed most of the SDK that game developers can integrate into their game, which provides them tournament functionalities. LITSLINK developed most of the client side of the product, which includes the UI – which they developed based on our designs – and the user’s ability to join tournament games, see leaderboards, and create a profile. They've also done a few websites for us. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, an account executive, and multiple developers with experience in React native, iOS, Android, and web.

How did you come to work with LITSLINK?

We found them on Upwork. We looked at many prospects and they seemed to be the most professional. We worked with them on some small tasks and then continued into a long, ongoing partnership.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don't have any hard metrics but I would say that we're pleased with the work; it’s very good quality. It's usually done on time or with small delays, so everything is going well. They never go beyond price estimates – and sometimes they even come in under budget.

How did LITSLINK perform from a project management standpoint?

They work quickly, communicate well, and are very polite and pleasant. They’re also very responsive, which makes them nice to work with. They send us a weekly report in Excel regarding billing and tasks that were undertaken.

The development process is very smooth and we like our collaboration with them. We usually send them a list of tasks by e-mail and then they’ll send us an estimate and get started on development.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really like their ability to adjust their timetable to ours, which is the main reason we chose them. We wanted flexible timing – to send an email with tasks and have it done as fast as possible – but other developers we talked to couldn’t handle the changing work demands. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I think they're doing pretty well.

Any advice for potential customers?

I would say go ahead with them and feel free to speak with me as a reference.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence company that builds intelligent holograms to detect human user's emotions, biometrics, speech patterns and other information. Our business uses this technology to better understand human learning.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LITSLINK?

We're a startup with a limited number of engineers in-house. We needed junior level engineers to construct our AR/VR software MVP and provide website development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We sat down to coordinate logistics and the specifications our software needed to include. From here, LITSLINK found engineers qualified to work in this relatively new field and build the MVP.

They also created a website for the product and worked to correct any bugs.

What is the team dynamic?

Their senior manager is our main point of contact, and he does a great job coordinating the project. We started with one engineer who is extremely talented and adjusted quickly to the demands of this new technology, and we now have over 10 developers engaged with the project.

How did you come to work with LITSLINK?

We found them through UpWork.com. I posted our requirements and one of their engineers reached out to us since they had recently hired a new AR/VR developer.

How much have you invested with them?

Over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began in September 2016 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don't have any quantitative measurements at this time, but I will say that it’s been great working with LITSLINK and they’re always responsive to our needs. It’s easy to give cost and scheduling estimates for traditional web or mobile app development, but LITSLINK consistently acclimates to our unpredictable situation and makes proper adjustments.

They sometimes go over the deadline simply because we’re working with new technology, but they always offer helpful solutions to get us back on track.

How did LITSLINK perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve used a number of tools to coordinate, including Trello, Jira, and Pivotal Tracker. Almost all communication is done through Slack, though we occasionally use Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really care about the end product. Their engineers proactively work long hours to improve the product and remove any bugs, and they even touch base during the holidays to make sure the product is functioning properly. We've worked with engineers in the past who only care about finishing the job, but LITSLINK actually cares about the quality of the end product, which is fantastic.

They were also actively engaged and contributed new ideas to improve the product, rather than simply following our directions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The AR/VR team's overall performance is great. Strictly speaking, there is still room for improvement in term of efficiency, scheduling, and meeting deadlines for web development.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of a social network app where moms can meet other moms nearby.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LITSLINK?

We needed to build the hybrid application from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided the design and LITSLINK did the frontend and backend development. They started the work and checked in with us along the way. We had someone helping us on our side in London and they’re in Kiev. Since building the app, we’ve worked with them to optimize it and add new features. They’ve been part of our team for 18 months.

The app is like a friend or dating site—users can log on, create a profile, and then be matched with other moms. Our app works via a fairly robust database with a complicated matching algorithm. This was a key feature that was challenging to get right. We worked with APIs, which helped, but LITSLINK helped with researching and choosing the best option. They helped us take an idea, build it, and make it a reality. There are notifications and messaging as well.

We launched the app last spring, and since then we’ve raised more money. We did most of the launch work ourselves, and LITSLINK provided testing for different versions. We now have a head of product involved, so we very rarely work with LITSLINK directly on our ideas. They deal with our tech team now in London.

How did you come to work with LITSLINK?

A friend of ours, who is a CTO of a large company, recommended them. We looked at other companies in London and India. We didn’t only look at experience. We had very little money so we were building an MVP.

We gave them the scope and they came back to us with a price. We were new to this and didn’t have much to compare it to, so we were happy to go with them based on the recommendation.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We get bug reports since we launched the MVP. We’re constantly optimizing. They’re very good at fixing anything that comes up right away.

How did LITSLINK perform from a project management standpoint?

They did pretty well. There were a couple of times when they didn’t meet my expectation, but on the whole, we were happy with them. The project manager is our main point of contact, and we communicate via email and Slack. We also use JIRA as part of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I don’t have experience with other providers, but they’re engaged and take part in what we’re doing. They care about our product, and they work very hard for us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there

I’m the co-founder and general manager of Wow-How Studio, an agile-minded and seasoned team of digital designers, visual artists, video producers, animators, script and content writers, 3D modelers, project managers, and VR [virtual reality] and AR [augmented reality] experts. We grouped together to establish a 1-stop shop for visualizing ideas.

Our production team includes over 30 talented experts with more than 10 years of experience. Our clients include Mercedes-Benz, Weimei, Amore Beds, and others. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LITSLINK?

We were seeking a development company that could implement our website from scratch. We needed to establish a web presence that could present our skills and capabilities through our design and production studio’s high-quality content. We had rather tough requirements for frontend quality as well as performance. We also required a CMS [content management system] with some custom management options due to specific business requirements. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

LITSLINK provided development services that included both frontend and backend development, SEO, development operations [DevOps], and technical support for Wow-How.com. Ruby on Rails was used for the backend and CMS, while HTML/CSS and JavaScript were used on the frontend.

How did you come to work with LITSLINK?

We chose LITSLINK from among several companies, mostly because their management team showed a good understanding of our business and proposed a solution and extra features that addressed our business needs well. Their pricing and payment policy was also rather flexible.

What is the team dynamic?

The project involved 6 people (a backend developer, 2 frontend developers, a QA person, a DevOps person, and a project manager) for the first iteration and 5 people (a backend developer, a frontend developer, a QA person, a DevOps person, and the project manager) for the second version.

How much have you invested with them?

Our current spending has exceeded $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first version of the site was finished in April 2016. The second version was deployed in June 2017. LITSLINK continues to provide supervision and technical support for the site.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very satisfied with the results. We received a tailor-made web presence and presented our cases successfully. We received a lot of positive feedback from our clients on the site, and the SEO done by LITSLINK helped attract at least 4 major clients.

How did LITSLINK perform from a project management standpoint?

Thanks to the dedicated project manager from LITSLINK, we didn’t have any major issues with project management. Releases happened on time, and the team responded quickly whenever we found bugs.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciated their level of business understanding and dedication.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. 

BACKGROUND

Please provide us with a brief description of your company.

Age of Craft produces hand-made medieval weapons, armor suits, and costumes. All our products are authentic, based on archeological evidence and historical records. Armor and weapons are certified by HMBIA Sports Federation and provide excellent protection for sportsmen. We sell our products in 64 countries and sponsor the annual HMB championship – Battle of The Nations. Our range includes over 100 products some of which are true pieces of art.

What is your role at the company?

I am the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge that you were trying to address? What was the goal of the partnership?

We needed a new web-store that could address several business goals. We needed excellent presentation of our premium goods - visuals, videos, and authenticity proofs. We needed mobile friendliness because 30% of visits come from mobile. We wanted an easy to use shop for both clients and our managers. We were also looking to implement additional services such as delivery estimation and tracking, plus new payment systems. Finally, we wanted good SEO fundamentals and easy ways to conduct social media marketing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of the project?

The defined scope included UX/UI design for the shop, back-end and front-end development, mobile layout/optimization, SEO optimization, and content migration.

We did not limit potential applicants to a particular tech stack but asked them them to defend their proposed technologies. The technologies selected were: Magento for the shop CMS and Java Script for some visual features.

What was your process for selecting this company to work with? Why did you choose them over others?

We made requested quotes from 3 companies. Our partner, a content development company, recommended Litslink as an experienced web development company, so we included them in our shortlist. met and debriefed all companies and them discussed their proposal. Litslink's was the best.

Can you give us a general estimate of the size of the project in terms of dollars and manpower?

The project involved 5 people and cost over USD $12,000.

What was the timeline of the project?

The project was implemented in April to June 2016. SEO tasks are still in progress.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

As a result, we received a web-platform that exceeded our expectations and was much better quality than the content that we had had at the time. We decided to postpone the release until we create enough high-quality content. Litslink not only produced the store quickly but showed deep involvement in our marketing. Specialists proposed some great features our audience will love.

How does the company perform from a project management standpoint?

Deadlines were met perfectly. Estimations were quite accurate.

When working with this company is there anything that sets them apart compared to other partners you may have worked with?

What sets them apart is their business and consumer orientation. They analyzed our audience and our marketing strategy and created a solution that fits.