Mystic Media

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder & President. We provide a smarter pain blocking technology. We manufacture and sell patented, FDA cleared, non-opioid, medical devices that deliver therapeutic electrical signals through skin to pain nerves and block the transmission of pain signals to the brain. A 30-minute treatment can provide up to 24 hours of continue pain relief and functional improvement. The solution works just like Novocain, except this solution blocks the pain signal electrically instead of chemically.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mystic Media Software?

We launched a new OTC version of our Rx pain therapy device. It has a bluetooth capability so it can be controlled via an app on a smartphone. We asked Mystic to design the app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the app to allow the patient to control the intensity as well as pause the treatment of the device. We also wanted the app to display intensity, a countdown timer, battery status and collect treatment information. The app also needed to provide the capability to perform OTA (over the air) firmware updates onto the device and work with both iOS and Android platforms. The app also needed to display user information such as pad placements for treating different parts of the body, troubleshooting, contraindications, LED bar graph descriptions and other useful information about operating the device.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

This vendor was recommended through our Engineering Development Partner and they came in with a better quote and seemed to be more capable than other choices that we had.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected this vendor, we had a series of meetings to discuss the goals and objectives described above. We went through several iterations of the app and finalized designs for each of the screens to which one could navigate in the app.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with the principal of the company Chris Silvestro who managed all aspects of the app design, testing and implementation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received a lot of customer feedback on the initial version of the app. Younger customers really liked it, older customers found it confusing or difficult to get through. However, since we are selling a non-opioid pain management device, the majority of our customers are in the 40-70 year old age bracket.

The majority of these older customers in general were not used to using apps on their smart phones for other than the most basic of tasks - telephone and texts.

As a result, we had Mystic simplify the app to make it user friendly for all users. We removed the ability to identify the part of the body the patient was treating and pre and post treatment pain scores. We wanted the app to immediately start at the run screen so a person could immediately start the treatment without entering or selecting any treatment information before the treatment starts.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Chris was easy to work with and he provided frequent updates via email, text and phone both in the beginning, and as they worked later on to simplify the app.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Chris and his team were very knowledgable about user preferences content, design cues, as well as important information relative to submission to the Apple and Android stores. I would use Mystic Media again for future app development.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The development process could always be faster but they were good at keeping to project timelines. I also think they should be a little more proactive in updating our apps as new versions of Android or Apple iOS updates are launched.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creator and president of Letts Play. It’s a magical story and children's’ app with associated fairy doll toys.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mystic Media Software?

I have a school teacher background, so I don’t have technical experience. I did a little artwork and was looking for a way to create this product, though. I talked to several software companies prior to Mystic Media Software, looking for someone to develop the artwork and characters and create the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app they built for the children is for iOS and Android, and they also did the branding and packaging for the doll and story. I had an idea and some artwork of one of the characters, as well as descriptions of the other characters, and I gave all that to them. Their graphic artists created the rest, and after a couple of rounds I chose what I wanted.

My app is unlike any other because the parent plays the role of magical character inside the app via the website. We had many discussions to help them understand what I wanted. One they understood, they told me it had to be a web to app conversation so only the child’s parents, and no one else, could communicate back and forth.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with six or seven people or the last three and a half years.

How did you come to work with Mystic Media Software?

I was searching for how to build an app and found them. I talked to a couple of other app developers but they didn’t make me feel confident. I found a search site where I could put in a generic description of the job and developers could get back to me. Mystic was down to earth, talked at my level, and explained what I needed to do. They also had a reasonable price. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve been working together since June 2016.

What is the status of this engagement?

Including, the app, marketing, and research, I’ve spent around $80,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When I show up at toy shows festivals and fairs, people are shocked by the artwork and value of the app. They rave about the website too – how its laid out and all its graphics. Mystic’s hard work has really helped me be taken seriously.

How did Mystic Media Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Chris (Founder, Mystic Media Software) is organized and on top of everything. On their website, everything I’ve created has a separate ticket. If I need something based on a picture or a pose of a character, I go to that character’s ticket and request it. We do it this way because they’ve worked on so many pieces of my product.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very trustworthy. I was worried about putting a lot of money out there and being taken advantage of, but I automatically felt like he was they were trustworthy. I sometimes got a bad feeling from other companies, but Mystic has proven themselves to be honest and helpful these last few years.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve only gotten only benefits from them. Recently, I asked him how I could gather certain information from the website and, the next thing I know, I have directions on how to do it. If there’s something I don’t like or want, they give me instructions to fix it. I plan on having a long relationship with them.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear. everything you want is in the portal. In the beginning, I called and texted them, but now things go into the portal and are taken care of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of compliance at a company that creates ignition interlock devices, which are essentially breathalyzers on cars. Over the last year, I’ve been heavily involved in the software development side.   

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mystic Media Software?

We wanted to create an entirely new database.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After giving them our desired scope of work, they did a preliminary examination of our previous database. What followed was a gradual but extensive growth in scope, because we discovered that we were largely lagging on the technical front.

Using .NET, they constructed a database that tracks clients’ inventories. It also has a monitoring interface and can manage users’ payments, as well.

What is the team composition?

I only met with two programmers, but I also worked with a project manager and the owner, Chris (Principal & Founder, Mystic Media Software).

How did you come to work with Mystic Media Software?

After doing some Internet research, we shortlisted three companies. I picked them after speaking with them, although the initial project scope was much different than what the project turned out to be.

How much have you invested with them?

This far exceeded our initial estimates of $130,000 because of a change in scope, but we’ve spent around $750,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The entire project entailed a very large learning curve. Initially, we had several problems and ran into many roadblocks, but the database is up and running now.

How did Mystic Media Software perform from a project management standpoint?

We used different project management software. They had an internal ticket system, but they also utilized Bugzilla for bug tracking.

I really appreciated that Chris got involved in our project. If there was an issue, he was accessible and responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I find that they offer a personal touch to their services. They were keen on resolving any issues that came up. I didn’t have reservations about reaching out to them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This isn’t entirely on them, but I would’ve organized our communication in a different way. We could’ve better expressed our wants and needs. We’ve been working with them for a couple of years now, though, and have gotten better at navigating this relationship.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want and communicate your exact expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive of Sigma Software Corp.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Develop an app for teams and businesses

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Mystic Media to accomplish?

• Develop the app software
• Turnkey solution from concept to market
• ASO/SEO optimization

SOLUTION

How did you find Mystic Media?

• Online Search
• Previous meetings

Why did you select Mystic Media over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

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

The scope of work was taking a concept with drawings through full mobile and web development to the market as a turnkey solution. The major milestones were intake and understanding the concept and idea, UI/UX and full graphic design, mobile device and website development, and upload to app stores for sales.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was broken into phases or sprints. Despite the addition of significant changes in scope along the way to include further functionality in the app, all milestones were met either on time or early. Thus far the app is operating well through the beta test and will soon be available to upload to the app stores.

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

Chris and his team were very responsive to requests, both for in-scope and out-of-scope additions along the way. All agreed upon milestones were either met or exceeded (delivered early).

What was your primary form of communication with Mystic Media?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their expertise was evident not only in the product, but in the ability to deliver on-time and excellent work.

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

None that I can think of; they have been excellent to work with, and we're very happy with the product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder and CEO of Go Dutch, Inc

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Go Dutch is the smartest, most personalized bill-splitting app that’s revolutionizing how people manage group expenses. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Mystic Media to accomplish?

• App Development
• Receipt Scanning and Itemized Splits
• Simplified Bill Splitting
• Integrating Smart Technology
• Currency Conversion

SOLUTION

How did you find Mystic Media?

Online Search

Why did you select Mystic Media over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Mystic Media were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Sprint 1:

- Splash Screen

- Introduction Screens

- Login (Email, Apple, Google)

- Sign-Up

- Forgot Password

- Manage All Users in admin

- Manage system wide settings in admin

Sprint 2:

- Bottom Menu Setup

- Dashboard

- Friends List, Requested Friends, Suggested Friend

- Add Friends (Invite a Friend, Add Manually)

- Profile (Update/Delete)

- Change Password

- App and Support Sections

- Logout

Sprint 3:

- Group List (Active Groups, Invited Groups, Archived Groups)

- Create Group

- Edit Group

- Tab List

- Create Tab

- Receipt Scanning

- Group Detail

- View Group Info in admin

Sprint 4:

- Claim Tabs

- Close Tabs

- Payment Method (Cash, Cash App, Venmo, Zelle)

- View Tab Info in admin

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Mystic Media communicate deliverables in our contact clearly from the beginning. They were separated into 4 different sprints.

•  Sprint 1 - Registration Process Development
•  Sprint 2 - Friends & Groups Development
• Sprint 3 - Tabs & Receipt Sharing Scanning Development
• Sprint 4 - Payment Method & Feedback Development

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

Items were always delivered on time! Communication was always thorough and expectations were clear. Chris was always open to a call and was extremely considerate of our schedules and needs. 

Our project shifted during the process and we could always trust that Mystic Media had our best interest at heart when learning about the development process. 

What was your primary form of communication with Mystic Media?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What we found most impressive about this company was their incredible customer service. Chris taught us an incredible amount about the development process and he was so patient with us throughout the entire project timeline. Also, the fact that Mystic Media will continue to be by our side through the app's lifetime is extrmeely comforting.   

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

We have absolutely no complaints or comments regarding room for growth for Mystic Media. We believed that this is an extremly reciprocal relationship that has made our development process a positive one. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I'm an executive at Gospel Activities.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provide online escape room experiences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Mystic Media to accomplish?

• Build a custom website with unique game-play experiences

SOLUTION

How did you find Mystic Media?

Referral

Why did you select Mystic Media over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Mystic Media were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

I needed a very detailed and very uniquely designed website. It was built to be an online escape room and so there were a number of things that needed to work in a very specific way (that didn't fit the normal criteria of how things would normally work.) The final deliverables were the website as well as an admin panel that showed analytics, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I needed to have the website (and associated tools) work in a number of different environments and scenarios.

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

They were incredibly responsive. The timeline did stretch out a little bit, but I would take the blame for that happening as I am not a tech guy and didn't provide as concrete of requirements as would have been helpful for them. They were really helpful along the way to help guide me and help make the project a success.

What was your primary form of communication with Mystic Media?

Email or Messaging App

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

Hands down that they treated the project as if it were there own project/company, not just a job that they were paid to do. Their willingness to go the extra mile to make things work really impressed me.

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

I'm really pleased with my experience. I've already started working with them on another project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Car Concepts is a locally owned business that specializes in 12 volt and after market car accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

build us a website.

SOLUTION

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

cost and experience and previous work

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

website design. easy to work with and great results

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

2

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

its been great... our weekly numbers have shown growth since the new website was built

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

great communication and timeline

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

I was impressed with the end result. 

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

no