Miyagami

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a full-service design agency that specializes in digital solutions, with an emphasis on web design and development. As Managing Director, I oversee all of our projects and daily operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were in need of additional development resources for two WordPress projects. Our goal was to find an external development partner that could deliver a high-quality build that met our high standards and could do so with an accelerated timeline to launch.

SOLUTION

How did you select Xenia Tech and what were the deciding factors?

We started by performing a code review of some of their previous work and were impressed with the quality of their build. Following that, we provided them with all design files and technical specifications and they were able to commit to our somewhat aggressive development timeline at a very reasonable cost.

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

Both were WordPress builds using modular components, with one being a nonprofit website requiring CRM integration and additional styling for an EveryAction donation page. Content from the previous sites would also have to be migrated, and the site needed to be thoroughly QA'd prior to delivery.

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

We worked with two project managers and had one main point of contact on their development team, with other developers also providing additional support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The completed sites met all of our standards as far as build quality, ease of management through the CMS, properly migrated content, and properly implemented integrations. We were also extremely impressed with their speed as we were able to start QA well before the target launch date.

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

We were provided clear and constant communications throughout the project. The majority of communication was via email/Basecamp, with weekly calls for the majority of the project and weekly status reports on progress. This allowed us to avoid any surprises and to keep our clients updated.

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

I was equally impressed by the level of communication, the quality of their work, the speed at which work was completed, and the low cost compared to other agencies we've worked with.

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

The only challenge we faced is that we were ready for QA before the client was ready to start testing things themselves so we had to shift some things around. Xenia Tech was extremely accommodating and adjusted their schedule accordingly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Managing Director of Beautizon Company Limited. Beautizon is a Vietnamese company that specialises in the distribution of Health and Beauty products in the Natural/Organic category.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to take advantage of the rapidly growing e-commerce market and build our own sales platform to advertise and distribute products direct to consumer.

SOLUTION

How did you select Xenia Tech and what were the deciding factors?

Having worked with Xenia previously and being very impressed, we were more than happy to engage them again. The team at Xenia are extremely capable, but further to that, it is their fantastic service in terms of communication and their ability to meet the deliverables within agreed timelines that is a large part of why we work with Xenia.

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

The key deliverable was the integration of WooCommerce into our already existing website.

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

Xenia allocated three of their team for the project. Their positions were - Project Manager, UX/UI Designer and Word Press Developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Beautizon management made a decision to invest into developing our existing website into an e-commerce platform within a set timeframe. We knew what our goal was but needed a trusted partner such as Xenia to support us. Xenia were able to provide a very clear plan for every step along the way, and also highlighted some opportunities to improve our strategy as well as potential challenges (and then solutions) that we may encounter. Xenia then completed the work for us on time, and of the highest quality. This was the exact outcome we were looking to achieve for this stage of our project.

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

Both Xenia and Beautizon worked together to define the scope of work for the project, as well as timeframes for completion. Xenia kept us informed with regular updates on the process and where easily contactable and willing to take a phonecall to clarify any of my teams questions. The transaction was a smooth and seamless process.

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

Xenia's service level is the best in the business. Extremely responsive and an experienced and capable team that can quickly understand our requirements and put together a plan to complete the project inside of our deadlines.

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

I have always been very impressed with Xenia from our previous projects working together, and we will continue to work with them in the future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a product development studio in London and I am one of the founders

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were looking for a specialty design and developmnent partner to help us with a number of projects. Xenia provided product managment, design and development for a number of these projects. They delivered in a short space of time with great results.

SOLUTION

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

They had a very good approach asking questions that we had not even thought of. They worked really fast and their proposal was tailored to our problems rather then a copy and paste. Xenia's team were very easy to deal with and led the process throughout

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

Xenia too an initial brief and designed wireframes and then high fidelity designs of the mobile-first website. This project was on behalf of a large multi-national clietn and they were working within their brand guidelines and to a tight timeline.

The final project was delivered with Wordpress and included a CMS for the customers to edit copy and assets. The site also included a number of quiz questions and entry forms for users to enter into competitions.

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

We had 3 people working with us, a designer, project manager/account manager and developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was delivered well within time and budget, with enough time for changes to come in from clients. The client loved the end result and has signed up for more work

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

We had regular stand ups using slack along with regular updates on video call. They were pragmatic in their approach and made sure everything as clear with what was outstanding and when to expect it.

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

The quality of communicatoin and project management meant that we felt comfortable the whole time the project was running. Even though we were in different time zones we had no issues with the speed or timing of calls and delivery.

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

Not really, it was all handled very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a tech startup in the gratuity payments sector. We have both hardware and software which allows for easily adding tips to instant contactless card and mobile payments for the hospitality industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xenia Tech?

We needed a development partner for some of the specific requirements on our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team has focused solely on the digital aspects of our development, building the web backend and app frontend of our system. For those, they used React on the web side and React Native for mobile and have connected both to the cloud via AWS and MongoDB.

What was the team composition?

I’ve worked with Will (CEO) directly, as well as several other team members, including the operations manager. On a regular basis, I was in touch with 3–4 people but stretched to 6–7 on an ad-hoc basis depending on what stage of the project we were at.

How did you come to work with Xenia Tech?

I was looking for organizations that I could establish trust with off the bat and who had experience in the space. Their CEO not only has hospitality space as well as startup experience, but he also made himself readily accessible for us to access that expertise, so we decided to move forward with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We signed our initial contract in November 2019 and are continuing to work together, with plans for it to be a long-term relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the key things that was really helpful to us is their weekly report from their side that details all of the work that has been undertaken. That includes project management hours, development hours, key milestones, problem fixes, and the project status as a whole. Having that kind of comprehensive information in one place really helps to make sure everyone is always on the same page in terms of what progress and problems we’ve had.

How did Xenia Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been very responsive, and all of the documentation that they create along the way is excellent. We’ve never had any problems with communication because of how proactive and accommodating their team is around meetings, video conferences, and emails.

We’re connected over Slack channels and WhatsApp so that we can communicate relatively easily when necessary there. They’ve provided both official and unofficial channels so that we can tackle each challenge as it arises with whatever solution feels the most properly tailored to its size, which I really appreciate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a really impressive depth of UI designers and developers on their team so that they are able to produce wireframes, layouts, and other critical scope elements very quickly. That urgency allowed us to spend as much time as possible nailing down exactly what we wanted the final product to look like while still being able to get started on the actual build on schedule.

On top of that, the personnel that they have are just incredibly talented. One of their designers in particular is probably the best designer I’ve ever met in my 20 years in the tech space and was able to deliver a logo that I decided to go with after just 4–5 attempts. That was a really nice bonus on top of that the work that they were already delivering for me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There isn’t anything that comes to mind that I wish they were doing differently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of VidOPs. We provide streamlined media creation as we like to call it. The idea behind it is that clients will be able to go onto our platform and book freelance creative visual media people such as videographers, editors, and photographers. On the other side, those creatives will be able to pick up jobs and more easily manage their work

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Xenia Tech?

The first version we created of the platform was pretty basic. I put it together myself and I am not an expert in software development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Originally, we were working with a relational database and they suggested using a different system for organizing our data. I can’t remember what it is called but it is a particular platform.

We are looking now to launch the first phase of the project and will be then moving onto phase two.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about 10 or 12 people, but it varies depending on when we need which expert. It is very flexible for us which works very well.

How did you come to work with Xenia Tech?

Will (Founder & CEO) used to work in London in the same office as I did. I got to know him there. I reached out to him to explore the possibility of working on this project and we traveled out there in June.

When I approached Will, I explained to him what we were working on, and the price point, to begin with, was fantastic which was a big draw for us. They are far more cost-effective than the next best option that we had available to us, and the quality of their work is really great.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent around $100,000 to date. We are putting a budget together at the moment and we will see how much we spend in that next stage.

What is the status of this engagement?

It was about 12 months ago that we started working together, but we officially started in June last year. It is an ongoing collaboration.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of success metrics, the design is one area where we struggled a little bit, but they were extremely effective on the technology side. They come up with many ideas and solutions that we hadn’t thought of. Overall, it is cost-effective, high quality, and they come up with a number of ideas and solutions that we didn’t originally think of.

How did Xenia Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very effective at keeping us up to date. We have a very well-organized system for working remotely. We had only been over there once and especially now with a lockdown; it is a seamless transition to working remotely from home because of the way in which we work. It is very effective.

We use Jira as our project management tool, and everything is kept very clear there. We have had the budget sometimes within $100 in any given month which has been really good for our planning. In terms of deadlines, we are only behind by about three weeks over the course of the last 10 months which is pretty good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The suggestions they provided us with for solutions we hadn’t thought of was one of the areas that was really helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The design side is one area we struggled with at a couple of different points during the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a whisky and spirits marketplace.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Live-Marketplace for Whisky & Spirits

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Xenia Tech to accomplish?

• App-Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Xenia Tech?

Online Search

Why did you select Xenia Tech over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Xenia Tech were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We were looking for a company developing a unique App based around our Web-Platform. This means Developing the entire App

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The App had to meet our standards, not only function wise but also by design.

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

Communication was easy via Slack. The team was very responsive and even on individual needs got answered within minutes

What was your primary form of communication with Xenia Tech?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I was impressed with their fast, clean, and good communication.

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

Sometimes there were flaws between project scope and execution, however, this was clear from the beginning as our scope wasn't 100% clear either. All in all very good

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of a non-profit company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Eliminating global poverty

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Xenia Tech to accomplish?

• Improve user experience of our platform

SOLUTION

How did you find Xenia Tech?

Online Search

Why did you select Xenia Tech over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Xenia Tech were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We engaged Xenia to improve the onboarding and user experience for our platform. The Xenia team analysed our existing system and provided a detailed solution which increase user signups and retention.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within three months we saw a sharp increase in user activity on our platform. User feedback was positive and we experienced less bugs after we engaged Xenia.

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

We use Jira and found the Xenia team were able to integrate perfectly with our PM needs. The team’s level of English was fantastic and communication via Slack ensured all of our milestones were promptly met.

What was your primary form of communication with Xenia Tech?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The Xenia Tech team consisted of bright and focused individuals. Their team culture aligned with our own.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a board member of a nonprofit organization. Our business objective is to increase the added value of our organization by making people come into contact with each other and sharing information more easily. We inform our members about events and have close to 4,000 members. Our members are college alumni.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Miyagami?

We needed help with mobile app development services. The idea was to have a web service for our members.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Miyagami has helped us scope the first version of the app, design the prototype, and develop the working app. We initially had a basic brief. We started with a strategic session to define the first viable project.

They’ve built a mobile app that communicates with our backend and website content. Our members can use the app to access information about events and contact each other. The application runs on Android and iOS; it’s an extension of a platform we already had. 

What is the team composition?

We have a main point of contact, and the founder is actively involved in the project.

How did you come to work with Miyagami?

We connected with Miyagami because one member of our organization knew one of their founders. We compared options to develop the app with different organizations. Ultimately, Miyagami provided the best plan and package cost-wise.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over $15,000.

What is the status of the engagement?

Our partnership started in August 2022, and we’re almost done. We're now in the testing phase and hope to launch at the end of March 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re very happy with the quality of Miyagami’s work. However, we still need to see the app’s results because we’re still waiting to make it live with the public. Overall, it’s been a smooth and effective process. Miyagami understands us in a good way, and they’ve been able to make attractive designs.

How did Miyagami perform from a project management standpoint?

We haven’t had issues with the scheduling; they’re always on time. Budget-wise, they’re great compared to other agencies. All in all, everything has gone smoothly. Miyagami is spot on; they’ve required very little re-steering, which is good. We also communicate effectively via email and some meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re intrinsically interested in developing a good product without technical depth. Their approach is clean and fact-driven.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’ve had a good experience with Miyagami.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of an online marketing company. We do Ecommerce and Affiliate Marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are dealing with online payments and were looking for a company that can create our own online payment platform.

SOLUTION

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

We have been looking for a company that specializes in this topic and can help us solve our problem. Out of 5 companies we have chosen Xenia Tech because we have read good reviews here and have seen that the customers are always satisfied.

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

The application created by Xenia Tech has helped the client to organize expos to attract the interest of potential partners and customers. The team is very communicative and provides excellent project management. They are also focused, responsive and fast.

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

We had contact with the project manager and 2 software developers who were constantly in communication with us and they responded quickly. The testing phase of this software was also very good.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have released it on our website in the test phase, it has worked very well and it is easier for us to work this way because now we know everything exactly and have all the information in one place.

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

We were all the time in connection with Xenia Tech, manager was very friendly and helped us a lot with processing and also gave us good ideas about which we have not thought. The other employees with whom we were in contact know exactly what they do and therefore everything was much easier and faster.

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

A software development department was looking for a reliable partner to help them develop an MVP for our web. We chose Xenia Tech after reviewing and approving the vendor's offer.

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

Everything was perfect and on point, with no delays, and their friendliness was top-notch!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of MeisterFee Hannelore Jennen from Kevelaer. The MeisterFee team consists of twelve trained professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We have been using our old website for quite some time, and we needed a new website to complement the old one and also add new features and new updates from the service we do for the public and business owners, so we decided to try Xenia Tech Service to help us build and design a new website.

SOLUTION

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

We found Xenia Tech through a recommendation from a company that had already used the service, and also because of the company's excellent customer reviews and estimates.

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

First, we went through an exploratory phase where we told them our brand goals and also the type of outcome we expected. We asked them to make the site with Wix because it is easier for us to manage the site and they accepted. Then they made a development strategy with Wix and PHP. They also integrated a chat box into our website to communicate with our customers on the website.

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

We worked with a project manager who seemed to be the brains of the project, along with him worked a full-stack website developer and a designer, both of whom put in extra effort to bring our website to life.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After the development and design was complete, we put the website online and it was a whole new world for our customers, they were thrilled. We had a massive increase in traffic and sales. Unlike the old website, the new website had a click-through rate of over 80%. Xenia Tech lived up to our expectations.

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

We had meetings with the project manager and developers four times a week and communicated via email. The coordinates used were Slack, Jira and Github. They were very expeditious and fast in delivering perfect work.

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

They were very fast and delivered a perfect job. And they taught us how to update our website with Wix.

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

No, everything was fine. On point and transparent.