Magneto IT Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business development manager at Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, a diversified group of companies covering home appliances, consumer electronics, automotive, sales, after-sales service parts. We also manage heavy equipment through a construction company. It’s one of the top rated companies in the kingdom of Bahrain.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

We’re going through a digital transformation. At this point, we're in the process of transitioning some of our business lines to an e-commerce and m-commerce platform to create new revenue channels for our brick & mortar business. We needed a company to help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We blueprinted the project before completing a detailed SOW. Then, we broke down the scope into multiple phases based on KPIs and deliverables with timelines. We then engaged them for the first phase of the project, which they completed ahead of schedule. We’re now in the development of phase two.

They're helping us develop an e-commerce platform. The various phases of the project are meant to facilitate bringing different parts of our business online in a systematic way. Once we’re done, we’ll move into the m-commerce platform, which will require a mobile app.

What is the team composition?

We work with one account manager who handles the scope and commercial details. On the technical side, there's a project lead that coordinated our teams.

We had a designer for UX/UI as well as a management-level employee for decision making and strategy. At any given time, 2-4 teammates were working with us. There was probably a larger team behind the scenes as well.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

After analyzing several suppliers and tech solutions, we were drawn to their team's approach to projects. We liked how they approached our problem and the advice they gave us prior to the engagement.

They were very flexible with the scope, which allowed us to stay within our budget. Even in the initial stages, they were advising and strategizing with us, which was a positive.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in July 2020, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Phase one is live as we continue developing for phase two. Customers are already purchasing items from the platform. We’re very happy and satisfied.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

In most cases, the deadlines were met. The discussions were quite open, occurring at least a few times a week. We communicate via email, Zoom, and MS Teams. It didn’t really feel virtual; it felt more like a face-to-face project because of their active communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their dedication and respect for timelines are impressive. They manage expectations well, which that’s very important to clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I’d have them improve. It’s too early to judge.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Agree to a detailed scope prior to the engagement. That way, both sides are aware of deliverables and expectations. Gaps provide margins of error and assumption, which might make a project lengthy and costly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Skin Tech, an e-commerce store. We manufacture and sell mobile skins and other skins.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

We needed someone to build our website and help us with social media. I had a website on Shopify and I wanted it on Magento.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Magneto IT Solutions developed our website according to what I wanted. They also helped with social media and SEO.  I told them my requirements, the design I had, and the specific features that I needed. 

We then gave them our marketing project which was SEO and social media campaigns. They’re still working on that. I haven't been in contact with them since they started doing marketing. 

What is the team composition?

I was in contact with the project manager and one other person.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

Their office is local to us. I wanted a company that could help me with my entire IT needs. I met them, and when we had a discussion, we felt they were the best fit for us. They had the best pricing too.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2018, and the engagement is ongoing. They completed the website in September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They said it’d take around four months and the website was live in four months. Then we just solved minor bugs.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is pretty good. There haven’t been any issues, and they meet deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer support is really good. Magneto IT Solutions is quick to solve problems. Their work is good and the cost is fair.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They stick to their word. If you have a problem, they will solve it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

McLeod Creative is a graphic design and visual communication firm. Our main brand we develop is The One, a bridal community. The One Bride Guide is the print magazine, The One Community is an online, do-it-yourself, wedding planning system for brides. I am the owner and creative director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Magneto IT Solutions, and what were your goals?

We hired Magneto IT Solutions to create the whole online wedding planning system for brides which included:

• checklist/calendar
• search tools
• directory of local suppliers
• ability to shortlist favorites
• read expert articles

For suppliers, each has a page to show off their business and collect reviews and testimonials.

SOLUTION

How did you select Magneto IT Solutions and what were the deciding factors?

We found Magneto IT Solutions through their email marketing campaign. The deciding factor was their experience in developing a similar system in a different country. They were able to use that experience to give us valuable insight.

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

The scope included creating a web site from scratch which included essentially two systems to serve both brides and bridal suppliers plus a back-end administrative system. We completed two phases so far, adding features each phase.

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

We worked with probably 6-8 different experts within Magneto during the development and implementation process. Some were designers, most were programmers, some were project managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project came out more robust than expected and we were extremely pleased that we were able to do it all for a reasonable cost. We have successfully launched phase 1 and 2 of the system and look forward to at least phases 3-5 with Magneto!

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

Magneto was detailed in expectations, timeline and processes. We used a few different systems to track hours from their team and milestones. Any questions or new steps, we would review via video conference.

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

The answer is always, "yes, we can do that." They are a joy to work with and they are always positive. They have a large team to be able to accomplish anything we asked of them.

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

The only difficulty was regarding working in different time zones, which were able to easily overcome by proper planning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an e-commerce manager for World of Stones USA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

We already had an offline B2B presence on the US market, and we were planning to expand into e-commerce.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Magneto IT Solutions designed and developed an e-commerce website for us. They used Magento, which is one of the upcoming technologies in this area.
 
We’d primarily been an offline business, and this was our first serious entry into e-commerce, so we needed to promote the website as well. Magneto IT Solutions provided digital marketing to us. They promoted our website on Google and different social media platforms, including Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. They’re responsible for all SEO on the site.

What is the team composition?

I’m not sure how many people are involved. I’ve worked with someone in Ahmedabad, and they have a team in Pune as well.

I’ve been in touch with their director for any issues that came up during the project, as well as with their project manager and someone from the digital marketing team.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

We’d been working with them for three years. Magneto IT Solutions first developed our inquiry website for the US market. I wasn’t involved in the selection process. Our director came up with a few companies initially and chose Magneto based on their past work and how they explained everything on their website. They had a very engaging website from a client’s point of view, which made it easy to determine what kinds of clients they’d worked with. They had a lot of experience, and they’d worked with clients from Europe, The Middle East, and other parts of the world.

How much have you invested with them?

The overall cost so far is above $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration started in July 2018, and we’ve been working with them ever since. Magneto is responsible for all website upgrades and maintenance, along with digital marketing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything has been done seamlessly and on time. Magneto IT Solutions had no problems understanding our requirements. They have a very dedicated team.
 
The website has an easy and seamless backend experience and allows us to manage all customer inquiries, sample requests, and orders. We launched the website two months ago, and we’re tracking the number of orders we’re getting through the US market. However, it’s still early. 

Our offline business is doing pretty well, and we’re trying to expand it so that we can reach customers directly rather than having to go through a dealer. The future plan is to establish an online presence and have users purchase products directly from our site.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve stayed with Magneto IT Solutions for the past three years because we’re satisfied with them. They’ve met all of our deadlines, and we can reach their director whenever we have an issue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I believe Magneto has been in business for more than 10 years, and they have a huge span in terms of clients and industries they’ve worked in. They have readymade and customizable solutions for a multitude of industries, and they have a very experienced team. I would recommend them to anyone.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t point to anything that would need to be improved. It’s been a good experience overall, and the few problems we’ve had have always been resolved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT manager for Al Jazira Group BSC, which is a retail and distribution company. Our retail sector consists of 10 outlets across Bahrain. Our distributors include notable brands such as Nestle and Unilever. We import items from countries around the world and local items.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

As a result of COVID-19, we received a significant number of customer requests for an online platform. Customers wanted to be able to place their orders online and have items delivered to their homes. We sought a partner to develop an e-commerce website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Magento IT Solutions developed an e-commerce portal using Magento. They built the system to allow customers to register with their social media profiles such as Facebook and Gmail accounts.

The portal also maintains their card information and orders. For example, it saves an order on a customer’s profile as a reference point for their next shopping experience.

Magento IT Solutions also built a scheduling feature, which allows customers to schedule deliveries and order quantities. If their chosen time is filled, the portal suggests the next available time for delivery.

Their team built a couple of other features such as special offers. They integrated the portal with prizes and special offer promotions, enabling automatic updates. Their team also integrated the portal with our ERP system to update stock quantities without manual dependency.

What is the team composition?

Between 5–7 people from Magento IT Solutions worked on this project. I was in constant contact with a project manager and communicated with the CEO during initial information-gathering meetings.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

After several proposals, we verified agencies with existing customers. We received positive feedback from Magento It Solutions’ previous customers. We also received a reference from a leading company that engaged them to develop their e-commerce portal.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $12,500 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between April–June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Magento IT Solutions was the right choice for us. They delivered what was promised, and the portal performs excellently. Initially, we encountered a few hiccups. Their team needed to make some changes to the portal. They continued to support us and fixed them. Since August onward, the website hasn’t had issues. The integrations, prices, and promotions all work seamlessly.

We operate smoothly and process 20–25 orders a day. Since the pandemic has improved, our order volume has decreased.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

I was happy with their handling of the project from the start of the project until its delivery. Their team was professional, supportive, and understanding. We were happy with their services.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I looked into their competitors and worked with other agencies on projects related to website development. Magento IT Solutions’ competitors lacked weekly updates and a single point of contact. They managed deadlines, and the platform went live, so we’re happy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was a time difference between us. In the Middle East, people don’t work on Fridays and Saturdays. Their team doesn’t work on Saturdays and Sundays. It would be helpful for them to have a representative on their team to support clients in the Middle East.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend working with them. They’re professional and deliver on time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT manager at Ashrafs W.L.L., a consumer product shop. We have an electronics division and a distribution division. We have a food division as well, and there are a couple of food products that we’re distributing across Bahrain. We’re part of another group company, one of the largest companies in Bahrain.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

We needed someone to develop our e-commerce website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our e-commerce website and mobile app. We’re still trying to improve things, and we interact almost daily to make changes and improvements and to implement new ideas.

What is the team composition?

I had a contact person for business interactions. As far as the specific projects, there was someone for the website and another person for the app.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

I did an online search and found Magneto IT Solutions. We found that they were highly professional, and our requirements matched their skill set. We received a proposal from another company as well, but we felt Magneto IT Solutions would be better equipped to handle our project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2019. It took 7–8 months to complete the e-commerce site and the mobile app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m very satisfied with working with them.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re professionals, and I’m really happy with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very helpful, they met the deadlines, and they take care of all of my requirements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re professional, and they know what they’re doing. I took advice from them related to the website and app.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Information Technology Manager for environmental due diligence corporation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Magneto IT Solutions?

Custom software development

What were your goals for this project?

Build out mobile and web based software platforms from wireframes to MVP, and into production use within our business and among associates.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Good online reviews and reputation. Initial conversations demonstrated a great understanding of our goals and a vision to build our product.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Native mobile application development and web applications for platform management. Release management and backend architecture.

What was the team composition?

A dedicated team to fulfill our needs and requirements to ensure the project was done in a timely manor with a high degree of quality.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to release the platform into production and roll it out to all internal employees and outside contractors. The platform was developed in such a way to give us the confidence to publicly announce its use and introduction into our business workflow, and portray our business in a positive and forward-thinking way.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very effective management structure with a single point of contact for communication to the team, and frequent calls to ensure understanding and clarity of goals and product vision.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their speed and effectiveness in delivering our desired product as discussed impressed us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of FitLinker, a health & wellness app by A&R Group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

We hired Magento IT solutions to develop the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Magneto IT Solutions developed a personal training mobile application. Users can book individual or class sessions, as well as nutritionist services. After registration, the app connects users to local services.

What is the team composition?

I worked with the CEO and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

We reached out to Magneto IT Solutions through their website.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $20,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Magneto IT Solutions in August 2018, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The completed app is live, but their team is making adjustments. Since we recently entered the market, it’s hard to find results, but their work has been excellent so far.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Magneto IT Solutions is exceptional at communication and responsiveness. We communicate through email and WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their responsiveness and the customer service system they have in place. Even after hours, Magneto IT Solutions keeps us informed and maintains communication. Despite time zone differences, their team remains flexible with us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no complaints. Magneto IT Solutions met all our requirements, making our business successful.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should be clear and specific about what they want in a project and engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for RPH Engineering. Our product development business provides mechanical and electrical design, full service contract manufacturing, and product development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

We needed additional iOS and Android development resources to support a mobile app build.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Magneto IT Solutions supported both back and front-end development for our mobile apps. They implemented the iOS coding into our internal GUI framework. They also designed the graphical interface based on our requirements. We described our desired look and feel and how the app should function. Our team created the firmware design and directed how the hardware communicated with the app, which Magneto used to write the code. We recently started using their developers to build web and cloud-based apps.

What is the team composition?

Over the course of the engagement, we’ve worked with 15–20 resources. Eight are currently working with our internal team. For each project, we work with team leads who then divvy out instructions down the chain.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

An acquaintance had worked with Magneto and introduced us to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $50,000–$200,000 on their services thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since 2014, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As we segue into a more B2B-focused channel, we’re tailoring our apps to enterprise clients. We’ve received positive feedback user feedback. Customers note that our app includes all of our required functionalities. Our long-term collaboration with Magneto IT Solutions has cultivated a high level of understanding and innovation. They have a winning combination of creativity and technical skill.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve worked with Magneto IT Solution to continuously refine our goals, which has allowed us to grow together as a company and also produce a clean product. We’ve collaborated primarily through phone and email, but we’ve also communicated in-person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only have we been impressed with the team’s integrity in delivering quality product, but we also value their commitment to customer service. They really want the customer to succeed, and their growth hinges on that. It’s an important attribute to consider for small business owners.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Negotiating unreasonable deadlines could help Magneto IT Solutions maintain their high QA standard. It would serve them better to be forthcoming about timelines and price quotes. Magneto IT Solutions has continuously improved in this area over the course of our engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It is essential for small companies to clearly identify what their goals are and become educated customers in order to apply the right resources. In the beginning, our internal team was inexperienced with scripting mobile apps. Once we worked with Magneto IT Solutions to focus our objectives, we were able to collaborate more efficiently. They were nimble enough to guide customers in figuring out what they want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a tech-enabled marketplace for interior design and home renovations. We’re based in the United States and serve three different countries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Magneto IT Solutions?

We had inconsistency with various tech teams, which included in-house and external resources. We wanted a new company with a holistic support infrastructure to develop our site and provide SEO and SEM.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Prior to engagement, developers built the website with a mix of Ruby on Rails, Django, WordPress, and PHP. Magneto did an audit and discovered several issues resulting from the overlapping coding languages and proceeded to clean up the backend. They also streamlined the backend and fixed header and ALT tags. Currently, we’re reworking on our initiatives, including the eCommerce side. They’re building a client portal and various information monitoring tools. The SEO team provides concurrent marketing services.

What is the team composition?

I work with the three co-founders that separately oversee: digital marketing, web development, and app development. The development team has about four individuals and the marketing team is similar in size.

How did you come to work with Magneto IT Solutions?

In the middle of our search, I got a referral from a friend who was familiar with their portfolio. We interviewed five other agencies before choosing them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent at least $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started in summer 2017. We plan to partner with them for the foreseeable future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Magneto can successfully work on multiple projects simultaneously. They have a holistic and cost-effective approach that’s made considerable performance and development improvements. Our site’s organic traffic has increased by 25% in a short amount of time. We now get 5,000 unique monthly visitors, totally 15,000–20,000 total visits.

How did Magneto IT Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Both of the co-founders are very responsive. They manage very talented teams that have great depths of expertise. We have calls or meetings at least once a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have peace of mind knowing they are handling a wide range of services competently. They’re great for a growing company like ours that has unique needs. Since they're affordable, we’re able to grow with them as the market gets increasingly competitive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We’re happy with everything they’ve done. They’re trustworthy and forthcoming with mistakes or scheduling issues. Other agencies don’t offer that kind of honesty.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We’ve spent a lot of time building trust. Direct lines of communications and transparency have served us well. They’re upfront about costs and don’t try to gouge for the sake of profit.