Nativo

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the principal software engineer at Bovitz. We’re a marketing research agency based in the US. We work with Fortune 500 companies, providing them with strategic insights and other marketing research services. We also maintain a digital community for survey takers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nativo?

We’ve had a couple of bad experiences with external development teams in the past, so we were looking to hire a developer who meets our quality standards and budget.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nativo has helped us identify what we need and the right people to help us. They’ve found us a full-time software engineer, specifically a backend developer, back in July 2021. We continue to work with that person on various projects. Additionally, their team provides us with digital marketing services, including SEO, content development, ad campaigns, and digital strategy.

What is the team composition?

We work with six different people from the Nativo team. 

How did you come to work with Nativo?

I used to work with Bladimir (COO & Co-Founder), who worked independently as an engineer before establishing his own company. I really enjoyed working with him, so I got in touch with him to collaborate together on this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2021, and our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had about half a dozen software releases with the development engineer that they’ve provided, which is a really good pace to have for startups like us. As for their marketing services, they’ve helped us acquire 5,000 new users for our survey community in three months. We’re also well below our target cost per acquisition for the new users.

How did Nativo perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything’s been going well. Their developer is very hands-on and attentive to our needs — he manages tasks very well, works seamlessly with me, and stays on top of everything. Their project manager is collaborative and organized, keeping track of everything that we do.

In terms of communication, we have bi-weekly meetings and interact mainly via Slack, Zoom, and Google Meet. We also use Notion as our project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve worked with various sourcing agencies in the past and none of them are at par with the level of service that Nativo provides. They’ve been very attentive to our needs and are always in touch with us — they don’t just hand us off to whomever they’re assigning to us. They also offer such good value at an affordable price.

Are there any areas they could improve on?

With the marketing project, they could scope out the details more thoroughly, especially on how long each task is going to take.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to engage with them a lot because they’re very receptive to feedback.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of DiabeticWatchers. We started the company in 2014.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nativo?

We were working with developers in India, and we got to a point where the delivery was delayed. The company finished the product, but then they told us that the maintenance quote would be $5,000 per month after the delivery. They blindsided us, so we started looking for other companies to help us with maintenance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nativo has provided custom software development services for us. After the Indian company delivered the product, we started working with them. They took on website maintenance and everything else that goes along with it.

Then, we got a contract with one of the major health care industry manufacturers of glucometers. They needed some parts of the program to work differently, so we had to rebuild it. Nativo came in with their team, and they were able to redevelop the entire program in a month, which was amazing.

The project was a virtual telehealth product. A major part of it was to show physicians, social workers, or case managers that they could watch over patients and provide coaching. Nativo built that additional piece, and they redesigned part of the UI to make it more user-friendly.

Currently, they’re still our maintenance partner.

What is the team composition?

We’ve had 3–4 people at some point. If we need to change the UI, they have a designer to help us. We’ve also worked with different teams for advertising and social media, Amazon hosting, and more. Overall, our main point of contact is Bladimir (Co-Founder & COO). We can talk to him, and he puts everybody to work and manages the process.

How did you come to work with Nativo?

I like to work with referrals, and one of our UI designers referred them. I called Nativo, and they happened to be visiting other clients in New York. We were able to meet them, and it was an amazing meeting. It was a whole different experience to talk from CEO to CEO — there was an immediate click.

Also, they were extremely nice people. The team was equipped with references, and they were knowledgeable and pleasant. Overall, we felt they were honest and willing to work with us. We’ve been working together ever since, and then I referred them to my husband’s company.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve paid about $140,000, including maintenance, updating the system, and everything else.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2016, and we’re still using them for maintenance and updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work is excellent; we don’t have anything negative to say about it. Sometimes there are changes, but they’re always there to help us figure out how something should work.

How did Nativo perform from a project management standpoint?

Regarding meeting deadlines and putting a team together, they’re excellent overall. If we tell Bladimir we need something done, it’s usually delivered within a week. They give us a timeframe for new development, and they’re very good with documentation. They write down what needs to be done and how it should be done.

Also, they’re always in touch. Whenever we try to reach them, they respond within an hour — if we can’t find them, we can message the person assigned to the project. They’re very responsive, and our communication is excellent. Before the pandemic, they’d come to visit us. Now, we haven’t seen each other; we’ve communicated virtually through emails, Slack, phone calls, Google Meet, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their personalities stand out. They’re really nice people to work with. Nativo’s team isn’t like other developers — they’re well-rounded and friendly. They’ve become family, and my husband and I like to work with them, which is the most important thing. If we didn’t like them, we wouldn’t be working together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we build a feature out, they always want us to test it. I think they should test it first before getting us involved. However, they like to show it to us and ask if that’s what we want so they don’t have to redo their work. When I look at it from that perspective, it makes sense, but it’s always been my pet peeve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should know what you want before engaging anybody. Also, do your research and document everything. Once everything is documented, talk about it and be very specific. You can go to them with your idea so they can figure it out and research it on their own. However, you must put your own pieces together, do your research, and present it to them. From there, they can take your blueprint and make it better for you.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the president of a private label manufacturer that provides apparel, accessories and uniforms to designer brands, beauty companies, liquor companies and corporations. We have been in business for over 30 years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Nativo?

We have a custom-designed ordering portal that is used for a global uniform program. Our client requires us to maintain and continually update the portal based on their needs and requirements.

SOLUTION

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

They were recommeneded by our portal developer.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We have a custom-designed ordering portal which is used for a global uniform program. Our client requires us to maintain and continually update the portal based on their needs and requirements. Nativo regularly maintains and updates the portal. They also address vulnerability and provide reports to our client's INFOSEC team.

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

Kevin, Software Developer & Bladimir, COO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have been able to fix many bugs that have resulted from Magento software updates. These fixes have been critical as the functionality of our portal has been affected from time to time by software updates. In addition, they have also been able to conduct vulnerability scans and address vulnerabilities as they have been discovered.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. We interact primarily via e-mail but have video conference calls or regular phone calls as needed. Response time with my team is usually same day.

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

They are adept at working with Magento which is not as prolific as other software platforms. They are willing to research difficult-to-solve problems and follow through with solutions instead of workarounds.

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

Not really.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a consulting company for Shopify Plus stores. We offer marketing, product management, custom Shopify app development, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nativo?

We had trouble fulfilling a certain client’s requirements, so we needed someone to augment our software development capabilities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nativo worked closely with us to develop a custom Shopify app for our client. The app allowed users to change multiple orders at once.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Willie (Software Developer).

How did you come to work with Nativo?

A mutual friend introduced me to Nativo, so I reached out to Pablo (Co-Founder & CEO) and Bladimir (Co-Founder & COO). I described my requirements, my desire to work with Latin American developers, and my time zone preferences.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $16,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from April–December 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app removed hours of manual labor, so our client was incredibly happy with it. With Nativo’s help, we built features that saved our client’s time and money and made their life easier.

How did Nativo perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they did a good job, and I was very happy. They adhered to deadlines and budgets, and we were really satisfied with the speed at which we moved with the Nativo team. In terms of project management, we used Notion to keep track of our tasks.

Their communication was excellent. We communicated through a Slack channel, but we also had in-person meetings roughly every week. We used both Spanish and English to talk to each other, which was helpful because I liked to practice my Spanish.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Willie’s availability was amazing — we had calls outside of business hours, and he never complained. We really appreciated his willingness to get on the phone with us if there was any confusion. His time zone was also a huge advantage.

He was also a very nice, funny guy. We still have a relationship after the project, just as friends.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their invoicing was clunky at times, but that wasn’t really a big deal.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Understand the problem, your requirements, and the specifications of the app you’re looking to develop. If you know what you’re trying to accomplish, the process will go by quicker.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a managing partner of a software consulting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nativo?

We needed help with mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nativo is our full stack development partner. The team primarily builds native mobile apps for iOS and Android using a hybrid solution. Meanwhile, I provide system engineering and architecture. Additionally, they’ve created various app components for our company and our customers. 

What is the team composition?

We work with a project leader, two software developers, and a QA engineer.

How did you come to work with Nativo?

I had worked with them in my previous job.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in February 2017 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has gotten a lot of positive feedback from our clients. The Nativo team consistently adheres to the budget limits we set. We want to continue working with them for many years.

How did Nativo perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re always on schedule and very easy to communicate with. Our time zone isn’t too far off, so we have daily meetings through Zoom or Microsoft Teams. We also use Slack to communicate with the engineering team. If we need to, we also exchange emails, phone calls, and texts. We work in an agile environment, so it’s easy to change and refocus as needed. Overall, everything has gone smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their expertise is precisely what I need. Furthermore, Nativo gives me the best bang for my buck — I get high-quality solutions at a reasonable price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really — I’m satisfied with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared with your requirements and specifications ahead of time so you can work efficiently.