Monterail

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an Agile coach and do a lot of consulting work. On the side, I’m developing software for my own purposes in the publishing space including content management systems and a cloud-based editor for e-books. I’m an independent consultant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Monterail?

I wanted to create a typewriter in the cloud for e-books because I had a lot of blog posts I wanted to compile into an e-book. I found out it’s complicated to turn a blog post into an e-book. I was looking for someone to create an app that could do that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided the concept and the mockups, and they built the application. I completely entrusted them with creating the tech stack. I was familiar with Ruby on Rails through other projects, but they came up with the idea to have a JavaScript application because I wanted to have some features that would require some drag and drop functionality. I was looking to them to provide the best tech stack and I told them to go ahead and build the app in JavaScript. It was built on BackboneJS and Ruby on Rails.

How did you come to work with Monterail?

They were a reference from a friend. I was talking to three or four agencies, but Monterail made the best impression on me.

How much have you invested with Monterail?

I spent between €30,000 and €35,000 [US$32,000 and $37,000] on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in December 2011 and the project was completed in December 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We invited several people to test the MVP [minimum viable product]. We wanted to test the market to see if they would be willing to accept a cloud-based solution instead of homegrown content management systems. We created a WordPress plug-in for the application. You could pick the blog posts you wanted to convert to an e-book. A lot of people liked that because it was a way to monetize their blog.

As far as the publishing side, they couldn’t warm up to the idea of putting their valuable data in the cloud. We underestimated how publishing houses keep track of their back catalog. They don’t have electronic copies of those, and from a technical perspective, it was a nightmare. But this was an easy tool for an individual to use in order to turn something into an e-book. From a publishing company’s perspective, they would have to set up a new channel. But this was nothing that Monterail did wrong.

How did Monterail perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Trello to communicate and manage the project. They would release versions that could be tested and what I enjoyed was the responsiveness of their team. The process was very lean and simplistic.

What did you find most impressive about Monterail?

They were very economic. Compared to other agencies, they delivered a lot in terms of the budget. Other agencies were twice as expensive. The quality I received was good given the circumstances. I was completely satisfied with their service.

Are there any areas Monterail could improve?

No. We met several times in person and they’re pleasant to talk to. I’m currently talking to them about another project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are developing a web platform to manage human resources and administration in small companies in Switzerland. The company was started almost 2 years ago. I’m the chief executive officer and co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Monterail?

We wanted to find a development team in Europe that had enough qualified resources available immediately at a reasonable price.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They began working with us at the very beginning of the project. We prepared the specifications ourselves but they’ve been very helpful in defining the scope of the project, building the right team, and working on the project. We work in an Agile way and include the feedback of the customer as well. They make the onboarding smooth for any new resource that joins the team.

How did you come to work with Monterail?

Monterail was recommended to us.

How much have you invested with Monterail?

We’ve spent $300,000 with Monterail so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Monterail in September 2015 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We deploy new features or updates every 10 days to 2 weeks. We have more than 350 companies using the beta version of the app. Even though we’re not done with the development, it’s good enough to use today.

How did Monterail perform from a project management standpoint?

In terms of tools, we are using JIRA for our internal project management. We use Slack for communication. We used Basecamp at the beginning to share documents and define the scope of the project.

The role of the project manager at Monterail is crucial and he is doing a fantastic job facilitating communications and making sure the project runs smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about Monterail?

What we’ve appreciated is feeling that we had a team on site. They are not only looking to deliver the solution, but they want to understand the business model. They are very much involved in the success that we have as a startup. They are very communicative. They’re not just a number on a spreadsheet; they are a part of our team. Their development work is great as well.

Are there any areas Monterail could improve?

The team is very young, so they are very energetic and dynamic. They always have good ideas and are willing to learn, but they don’t have senior members with 20 years of experience to train someone coming on the team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an equity-based crowdfunding platform based in Germany. I’m the managing director.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Monterail further developed our platform which was originally coded in Ruby on Rails. We already had an online investment process as an auction model, and they reprogrammed it to a first-come, first-served model. They helped us develop a CMS along with other features for the platform. We had an in-house graphic designer, so we were using their team exclusively for the development of this project.

How did you come to work with Monterail?

I met them in Berlin at a conference. Six months later when we needed someone, I contacted them.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

We spent between $30,000 and $50,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from September 2013 until March 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I feel an important part of the relationship was that I trusted them. Monterail suggested we find an agency in Berlin because of plans we had for our product which is why the relationship ended in 2015. It was important to them that we were successful in our development and that we are happy. They were transparent about what was best for us even though it wasn’t in their best interest.

How did Monterail perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was very smooth. We found a process, and it was enjoyable to work with them. If there were any changes in resources, the process was always smooth. We used Trello to manage the project which is easy for a non-IT person to use.

What did you find most impressive about Monterail?

They perform quickly and were always accessible. The developers really think about what they’re doing. They give recommendations for the project. It’s important for developers to be able to use language a non-technical person can understand.

Are there any areas Monterail could improve?

They had shifts in the team, but I think that’s normal. It was always smooth, so there isn’t anything negative I can mention.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Merck is a pharmaceutical and chemical company. I am the principal of new businesses and formerly manager of the CEO office.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Monterail?

I needed two websites developed: one for African doctors to collaborate, work, and share knowledge among each other and another for allowing patients to do an online risk assessment for diabetes. The two projects were run under the overall digitization project for Africa, so it was a high priority within the top management of Merck.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did the development, design, and launching of our websites.

How did you come to work with Monterail?

I was personally recommended to Monterail by acquaintances who used to work with them in the past. I got in touch with them and explained my requirements and needs. In comparison to other agencies, I decided on them because they had the best approach and pricing.

How much have you invested with Monterail?

It was around €50,000 at the beginning of the project. After that, we had a €5,000 monthly limit which was sometimes exceeded but always based on approval.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in January 2015. Although I no longer work with them since I changed roles, the previous department I was in still works with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One good example is the redesign of the website they developed. We had a new logo and design, so we wanted the website redesigned in a certain way. They came up with two suggestions: one more aligned with the corporate color and design and the other one being less flashy and exciting than the first site but still fit within our design guidelines. Our company wanted the more exciting corporate version of the site. However, they convinced us to make a data-driven decision to understand which landing page had a better conversion rate. In the end, it turned out that the less flashy site performed much better. I really liked their approach of convincing us through data-driven metrics and not only on personal opinions.

How did Monterail perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well from a project management standpoint. It was well-structured and clear with weekly calls and email updates in between weeks. Their communication with us was positive. They always had someone responsible for certain tasks with one account manager being our main point of contact, who was extremely responsive. What was quite nice was they felt like a part of our team rather than a typical client-agency relationship.

What did you find most impressive about Monterail?

I liked that they took the time to understand the requirements at the initiation of the project. They not only took the requirements for granted but challenged them by getting behind the requirements and making sure that everything made sense.

Meetings with Monterail were fun because it was about creating something together rather than dictating what you want, and I found that to be very impressive. So far, it is the only time I have found an agency doing this, and it is something that is quite uniquely positive.

Are there any areas Monterail could improve?

I can see it potentially happening where they might go against specific expectations of a client. But in my case, it worked out very well. It is not like they never understood what I wanted and I was not disappointed with anything about them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Cooleaf is a business-to-business [B2B] software-as-a-service company focused on helping employers scale the people side of their business. Companies can build a strong culture using our platform to create community, internal communication, rewards, and recognition.

I’m the co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Monterail?

We needed a development partner for both web and mobile.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our engagement began when we were a startup looking to get a minimum viable product off the ground and launched. We initially started with Monterail by giving them a small project several years ago. We continued to give them work, and they are now our full-time development partners. They provide front-end and backend development, design, and quality assurance. They follow an Agile development process where we have a project team that defines the scope of work. For us, they work with Ruby on Rails and the Angular stack. We implemented an iOS and Android native app through Ionic Framework. They’re also involved in our overall support, and we use Rackspace and Amazon Web Services for hosting. They’re always available if we have issues. Depending on the project we’re working on, they provide between 4 and 6 full-time resources.

How much have you invested with Monterail?

We spend $200,000 to $1,000,000 with them per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our relationship in 2012 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had talked about building our own development team, but we decided to expand the relationship with them because they’re able to execute. They’ve been helpful by being involved in the strategic and conceptual design. They’ve also given their ideas and feedback. They provide support whenever we need it, even late at night.

How did Monterail perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a project manager that coordinates the work. We Skype multiple days a week based on the scope of the project.

Are there any areas Monterail could improve?

For a company wanting an outsourced development team, clients need to be aware that the process takes time. That’s not just specific to Monterail, but rather something we’ve learned.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I founded a logistics company and it’s being acquired by Computer Science Corporation. I am a co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Monterail?

I was looking for an additional outsourcing company to work on applications. I wanted to decrease my risk by not using one firm exclusively. So I was looking for a company with expertise in the area I needed, which was Ruby on Rails development, and that’s where I found Monterail.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided a business-to-business web application for the supply chain industry. I used Monterail for user experience and user interface design, and the whole spectrum of development capabilities as well.

How did you come to work with Monterail?

I found them through a web search for Ruby on Rails developers. The reason I went with them was because they were technically strong and they were able to put together the most credible plan for what I wanted to build.

How much have you invested with Monterail?

The first project was a fixed price at $6,000. Since then I’ve been spending up to $20,000 to $30,000 a month with them depending on how things are shaped up. The total investment would be a few hundred thousand dollars, but not up to a million.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in 2010 and I’m still working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There are no specific metrics, but the length of the relationship speaks to how things are going.

How did Monterail perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very good. We started using Trello as a project management tool and then we moved to Jira.

What did you find most impressive about Monterail?

They’ve been really strong on design. They don’t just build to your requirements. They make sure they understand, which may take a bit longer, but in the end, you get a better product.

Are there any areas Monterail could improve?

I’m very happy with them. I would recommend them to anybody that needs product design. They’re more expensive than other firms I’ve used.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of MysteryVibe. Our company makes toys which are very smart and they work with apps. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Untitled Kingdom?

We needed a company that could do development for hardware connected apps. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Untitled Kingdom did 2 projects for us. They did very specific programming for our entire Android app, handling the project from start to finish. They also planned and implemented our website. We designed the website and they built it.

How did you come to work with Untitled Kingdom?

A friend of ours worked with Untitled Kingdom in the past and recommended them.

How much have you invested with Untitled Kingdom?

The total cost for both projects was £100,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted for around 6 months. We started February 2016 and finished September 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Generally speaking, the project is very solid.

How did Untitled Kingdom perform from a project management standpoint?

They had very good project management and everything was tightly controlled.

What did you find most impressive about Untitled Kingdom?

What sets them apart the most is they have very good planning. The best thing about them is that they are technically sound, much more than most development teams I have worked with. I’ve worked with a lot of development teams.

Are there any areas Untitled Kingdom could improve?

No, I think they did a really good job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We act as a yoga concierge, aiming to become the Uber of yoga teachers by developing an on-demand mobile app. We work with teachers who post their availability, and the app allows clients to be able to choose when, where, and how they want their yoga lessons, and book and pay through the app.

I am the chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Untitled Kingdom?

I needed them to build a mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ll have an iOS application which will also have a teacher login. I met them back in July. They’re based in Poland and I went to meet them and did a two-day workshop on the app. That was very beneficial for me because although I had the idea and I always knew where I wanted to go with it, it was really great to sit down with the whole team for two days and drill down into the details and figure out how we’re going to do this. It was also good to meet the team and get a feel for each other and for them to get a feel for me and what I’m trying to achieve with this.

Once we had the workshop, I then had a document detailing all the steps of my app so I could adjust in technical details the full scope of it. This is my concept and I need experts on board to help me bring it into reality. It was really good for me to have that workshop in order to really understand the scope of what I’m trying to do. I decided to continue to carry on with them to actually build the app. I think we’re about 2 ½ months down the line now and I really like how they manage the build. I speak to them every morning and they tell me what they’re going to be working on that day, what they have been working on, any issues they’ve encountered, and what they see going forward. I can also manage it through various programs on the laptop such as Jira, and then I’ve got a few little things with them which means I can manage and see what they’re doing at all times. We’re not at the end of the process yet, and I know how these things can be. So far, I’m very much enjoying working with them and I really do feel they keep me very updated and very involved in the decision-making process. This is an end-to-end development.

How did you come to work with Untitled Kingdom?

I had the idea but I really didn’t know that many people in the tech world. I found Untitled Kingdom because they built Bizzbym which is an on-demand app in London which provides workman’s services, decorators, whatever you want. I like that app and that app has done very well. I was speaking to a few other people, but Untitled Kingdom gave me the most confidence in how they spoke. I went to the workshop at the point where I wasn’t even going to do the app with them but just really get the full scope of the app in a document really, in technical specifications. I enjoyed the workshop so much and I really liked the team that was working on it that I decided I wanted to do it with them.

How much have you invested with Untitled Kingdom?

The project cost 100,000 pounds for the complete app [US$123,540].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in July 2016 and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve got the app on the phone but it’s very basic, they’re still building it. I’ve shown the work to some people and they love how everything is looking. We’ve had positive feedback from everyone who’s seen it, which includes yoga teachers, family, and friends. I’m really happy with where they’ve gone with the design. It’s very clean, very modern, and very well-tailored to my specific target market.

How did Untitled Kingdom perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m very pleased with it. I can see that they’re doing it in sprints, and what they’re planning to do on each sprint, and that they do achieve it. Nothing gets approved without me. Once they’ve completed everything, I test what they say they’ve done and make sure it works. If I don’t agree with something, I write comments and they go back and work on it further. Overall, I’ve been involved with several tech companies before and generally, I find them very difficult to keep an eye on. With how they’ve done it, I’m actually very pleased. I feel like I’m kept up to date and in the loop.

What did you find most impressive about Untitled Kingdom?

It’s the communication. They’re very good at that. I really like that they’ve taken the vision on and thought about it independently themselves, and they’re happy to give me feedback. They tell me when they don’t agree with me, which I really like because I feel confident that they believe in my vision. They’re doing the best to execute it to the best of their ability.

Are there any areas Untitled Kingdom could improve?

We’ve only been working together a few months and the app isn’t going into testing until February. At this point, I don’t have many criticisms. I think they’re on the expensive side, but I think I’m paying for quality and I can see the quality in how the projects are managed so far. Overall, I have to say I’m very happy with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP - Engineering & Manufacturing Ops of Audien Hearing

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Hearing aids, hearing specialist support and accessories

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Monterail to accomplish?

• Create a hearing aid control application supporting multiple product models with innovative features

SOLUTION

How did you find Monterail?

Have worked with team on prior programs

Why did you select Monterail over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Monterail were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Complete redesign of existing application
• New feature development
• Compatibility enhancements

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successfully completed application redesign, including new feature development and compatibility enhancements

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

Monterail was flexible in right-sizing the team and adding reasources when needed for success

What was your primary form of communication with Monterail?

Virtual Meeting

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

Performs extremely well under fluid UI and hardware interface requirements and challenges

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

Monterail exceeded expectations in managing the integration of multiple platforms and hardware configurations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of Simfoni

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are revolutionizing how businesses spend. CPOs and CFOs around the world love using our composable, on-demand spend management platform. It removes the hassle from procurement helping to realize rapid savings, control spend, streamline and automate procurement processes and support supply-chain sustainability objectives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Monterail to accomplish?

• Product Design for new product
• AI Proof of Concept

SOLUTION

How did you find Monterail?

• Online Search
• Worked with them before

Why did you select Monterail over others?

• Good value for cost
• Product Design Skills

How many teammates from Monterail were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Using AI to identify patterns in your spend and triangulating against market trends to surface key facts and identify opportunities for cost savings.

Deliverables included a working ML Ops environment using AWS Bedrock and outputs in the format of a powerpoint for ease of consumption by customers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Regular deliverables through each increment of the project, ending with a great piece of software

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

Amazing project management. Above and beyond all the time. I can always fully trust them to deliver what they say they will deliver to an excellent level of quality.

What was your primary form of communication with Monterail?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their combination of

• product design skills
• tech development skills
• they aren't afraid to suggest a better idea to solve the customer problem
• project management

They are excellent product engineers.

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

No. Everything they do is extraordinarily good.