Net Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m starting a company called Podeum. We’re a learning marketplace where users can discover content extremely fast via machine learning.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Net Solutions?

I needed software developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Net Solutions developed the frontend and backend of our website. Their team also worked on the platform’s design. We provided sketches and then went back and forth with their team.

The platform’s structured like a marketplace that holds a variety of content such as PDFs, videos, and listings for live events. Their team implemented functions that allow users to create accounts, upload content, and view trending content. Businesses can also create and claim a business channel account based on the content that we curated. They also created a feed where users can follow friends to see the content that they view.

What is the team composition?

We communicate with two people from Net Solutions.

How did you come to work with Net Solutions?

I googled web development companies and eventually found Net Solutions on Clutch.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $70,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the collaboration in June 2019, and it’s ongoing.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The beta looks good and works as intended, running smoothly without any bug reports. Thus far, everything that Net Solutions showed us is great.

How did Net Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Basecamp to monitor the project and communicate via Skype. They’re fair and on top of their responsibilities. They’re also incredibly well-priced. Their team not only understands but is also passionate about our project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their curiosity and feedback on their vision for the project help us. Net Solutions is everything that I want in a partner. It’s great working with their team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This isn’t particular to Net Solutions but come to the table with a detailed scope of work. Know what you want to do.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

IT Solution provider for electric utility sector. Sr. Director of Smart Grid tech

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Net Solutions?

Staff augmentation, technology domain expertise in IOS and Androids App development

What were your goals for this project?

Produce a mobile app (IOS and Android) for our hosted offering.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Previous engagement.

Describe the project in detail.

Produce a mobile app (IOS and Android) for our hosted offering. REST interfaces (YAML defined) were offered initially and simulated. It was eventually replaced with the real test back end.

What was the team composition?

2 App developers, testers, and product manager. One engagement manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

On time deliver with the highest quality. They were very flexible with a change of scope and gave innovative suggestions when needed.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Weekly checkpoint were instrumental. Use of the email (via project Base-camp) worked out well. Well thought-out project plan with good functional addition stages. Frequent builds and delivery - fast bug fixes, etc.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Domain knowledge was great. Flexible on the scope changes Good communication!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Keep up the good work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

When the engagement began, I was working at a large internet software company. I still work there on a consulting basis.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Net Solutions?

Back in 2010, the larger company wanted to introduce a new mobile app product for customers. We had a small, capable in-house development team, but we needed to scale up quickly. The app was build for iOS and Android. We’ve done many projects with them in the decade since.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first project was an HTML5 web interface. They helped with everything from design and to development and delivery of the web interface. Native apps were also built for the project. We were building an authoring tool for our clients to upload a PDF and render it interactive.

They also helped us build a .NET ecosystem—that’s the flagship product for a startup that I work for.

What is the team composition?

At any given time, it’s a minimum of six people. The team can go up to 30 developers. My main point of contact is Gaurav (Account Manager, Net Solutions). I also talk to Samir (CEO, Net Solutions) and we have a solid relationship.

How did you come to work with Net Solutions?

Once we realized we needed to scale up, we looked at outsourcing options. We spoke to 33 different companies from around the world and narrowed it down to three. In the end, we gave all three a pilot project, and we ended up selecting Net Solutions.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them for 10 years and the projects are ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Once you start working with them, you realize their communication skills really stand out. The way they impress us with designs is rare to find among offshore partners. Their office is very impressive. We’ve always gotten very good feedback with the design and ease of use. They have a very natural and usable UI.

How did Net Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very professional. They follow strict methodologies. You can just call them up and ask for a project and they go through it the right way. They document everything and make sure they have the tools and processes in place so that they’re fully accountable for what the contract states. We used Basecamp to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have the ability to understand what customers want. It’s clear they know what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable. They’re the best value for your money—they treat every project like they’re our partners, not just a vendor.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if they could shift work based on time zones so we can work with them on the same timeframe that we have in North America.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Figure out a system that works for you. They’re adaptable and can fit into your work balance if you give them a chance.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of a yoga-based e-commerce site.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Net Solutions?

We were looking for help with our e-commerce website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Net Solutions has become a longtime partner for us. Their team has designed and developed our e-commerce site. Over the years. hey also have designed all of our packaging, marketing collateral, and our app. 

What is the team composition?

I work with three members of the Net Solutions team but I have one main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Net Solutions?

I found Net Solutions through an old business partner and eventually took over the relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Net Solutions began in 2010.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Net Solutions produces the best designs at the most affordable price. They knew how to create direct to consumer high-converting websites. While others may focus on just the design, they approach it from a conversion point of view. It’s helped our conversions over the past decade.

How did Net Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is a 10/10. Net Solutions communicates effectively and meets deadlines. Our projects are all on BaseCamp and our teams primarily communicate through Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

My main point of contact at Net Solutions has been there for us from day one. As we’re approaching a 10-year relationship, he can pretty much read my mind. Where I used to have to spell things out in great detail, he now has a great grasp on what I’m looking for even when I don’t provide specific details.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything has been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Net Solutions is quite a large company and they’ve got it down to a science. They’ll let any newcomers know exactly what their processes are and what they need the client to do to achieve their goals. If you have certain deadlines, they’ll work to get you there.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of my company. My company provides a method for conveniently ordering food and drinks through an app for restaurants. On top of that it provides a way for restaurants to manage sales and inventory.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Net Solutions?

I hired Net Solutions to build the mobile app and the back end that runs and manages the app.

What were your goals for this project?

This project is the foundation of our company. Our business solely runs on the use of our app. The goal was to create something very user friendly for the customers and the restaurants.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

There was a very long search for the right company to develop the app. The list started with about 30 different companies. In the end we chose Net Solutions because they had a track record of high end projects and a very affordable price tag.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected the vendor we had a face to face meeting to discuss the app. I had already created a prototype app so it was very easy to communicate what we needed and the feel of the app we wanted.

The development team then worked on a wire frame and the design of the app. They sent everything to us for approval and feedback. We really did not change much from what their team came up with. We were very pleased with the work they completed.

Once all the designs were approved they continued to develop the app. From there it was constant communication to make sure the product was what we wanted. In the end we were very satisfied with the final product.

What was the team composition?

The team was composed of a few different developers. The project manager was my main contact but everyone on the team had the freedom to talk to me directly for any clarification on any aspects of the app. I had open communication with everyone on the team to ensure the product was developed exactly as I wanted.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have had great feedback on the app. As a start-up company we have nothing to compare to before hand. The app will not be fully put through its paces till we grow as a business. There was a few bugs after the release of the app but the development team quickly solved these issues and implemented the required changes.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There was very effective workflow between myself and Net Solutions team. All communication was done through Skype and was very effective. We had constant communication for the entire project.

If there was any issues they would be available for a call almost immediately. I was worried there might be a language barrier going into this project but that was not the case. Everyone spoke excellent English and was very approachable.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Overall, the company was very effective in delivering the project. The development team was extremely knowledgeable and was able to make almost anything possible. I was very impressed with all aspects of the company from planning to development to the release of the app.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Overall everything was done very well. I have no major complaints and will definitely use Net Solutions for any projects in the future.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Boss Shop Services. We aim to help service providers in the health and beauty industry to connect with customers and perform their service at the customers desired location. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Net Solutions?

We wanted to create a web app to connect service providers in the health and beauty industry with customers who would be able to book and pay for services on the platform. There would also be a place for reviews and ratings, so providers could advertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially asked for a very large-scale product, so they helped us scale it down for our budget. Because we’re a startup, we made our payment system one-sided and scheduling interface smaller than we originally thought. Additionally, they enabled ratings and reviews. This allowed us to get an MVP up and running. They knew what to develop, understanding the startup business. The team was able to advise on many aspects of the project.

How did you come to work with Net Solutions?

I found Net Solutions on Clutch. In total, we considered 5–6 vendors. I reached out, met up with a sales representative, and got a quote. It ended up being reasonable, and they were offering everything I needed to get started. We decided to proceed with them based on that. Their price point was straightforward as well. The lack of ambiguities there was encouraging.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $28,000 in their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from January–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform is up and running, and we’re now working internally on marketing it. But, all of the functionalities are working so far. They were able to deliver everything we conceptualized. It was great to see it. 

While we didn’t choose to invest in app design, it looks really good already. We had to find our own pictures, and that’s the only thing I’d change at this point. 

How did Net Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They were on time for every single call and got back to me within 24 hours despite being in another country. Our Skype calls always occurred as scheduled. They were amazing communicators.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re so professional, always on time and on budget. Very pleasant to discuss and brainstorm on the project for the best route to accomplish the task. The whole team was friendly and able to explain technical concepts we didn’t understand, taking us through the backend. I have friends in the startup web app industry who have failed in developing their web app because they invested their development in companies that either continued to charge them for every small change or just delivering a web app that was not even functional. But my experience with Net Solutions was really great and a success.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be helpful for clients to be given documentation detailing everything they wanted us to have ready to move forward in each part of the development. There were some parts of the project that were delayed because we didn’t have what they needed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Like I said before, my issue was having necessary content ready as they needed it. It’s important to give them as much content as possible at the start of the project, so they understand your business and how to develop your solution without delays.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an on-demand cosmetic service startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Net Solutions?

I needed a partner who could develop the app for my service.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Net Solutions developed an MVP for my app, which is currently in the final stages before it goes live. The app is an on-demand cosmetic service, meaning cosmeticians will come to a user’s home to provide makeup, haircut, or nail services. Net Solutions worked on the mobile app from start to finish, building it for both iOS and Android. We iterated on the design until we reached something that met my expectations. Right now, it’s in testing.

What is the team composition?

I work with the project manager and two lead developers.

How did you come to work with Net Solutions?

I found about ten different agencies through online review sites. I contacted them, and Net Solutions seemed to be the best fit. They understood what I wanted, and they had a fixed and competitive price, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

I've spent around $45,000 CAD (approximately $34,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in January 2019, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of the app is exceptional, especially for the price I’m paying. I’m happy with the work, and the app continues to get better. If something doesn’t meet my expectations, they’re more than willing to fix it.

How did Net Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They consistently seek clarification to minimize any unnecessary work. We communicate daily, and they’re incredibly responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have my best interest at heart. They provide feedback and solutions that I may not have even considered, which shows me that they want my product to be successful. The team is also highly professional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The final deliverable doesn’t quite match up to my original design, but MVPs rarely do. Plus, the app is great for the price I’m paying.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Know what you want to do and provide as many details as possible at the beginning. It will make the partnership much easier and let you get the most out of your investment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a pageant directory.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Net Solutions?

We hired them to take over the development and management of our website.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted a reliable team who could fix the errors of a previous vendor and create a profitable platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed a few web development companies based on their Clutch reviews before choosing Net Solutions.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They provide website management, development, and deployment of new features.

What was the team composition?

We have 3–6 people involved depending on the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have alleviated my development concerns. I can now focus fully on building my business, which is invaluable to me.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They communicate well and there are no surprise costs. They tell me when they have encountered a challenge and when a bill might be higher or lower than estimated. They give me enough notice that I can ask them to hold off on additional work or to add more work depending on the budget.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their organized style of work stands out. My last four vendors would deploy features without telling me and without adequate testing, which would cause the site to break. Net Solutions delivers functionalities that work within our existing structure.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a software company dealing in the health and medical space. We offer a couple of solutions, including an online appointment and booking system, and an online check-in system for general practices—doctors and clinics. I am the project lead for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Net Solutions?

We have an online pharmacy delivery service, which is the project we’re working on with Net Solutions. We were building the product from ground-up.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Net Solutions was involved with everything, from business analysis to user experience and user interface design, software development, testing, QA, and so on. Our company was responsible for a part of the work, and Net Solutions handled the rest. The product we were working on was based on the .NET stack.

The product is an online pharmacy delivery system. I can’t disclose too much information about it, since we’re a publicly-listed company, but the product will serve the pharmacy space in Australia.

Net Solutions also worked on another one of our projects, an iOS app for which we needed to make some changes and fixes. It had some bugs, and we needed to improve its interface. I was happy with Net Solutions’ work there.

What is the team dynamic?

Net Solutions assigned around 6 people, including a business analyst, 3 developers, and a project manager who worked part-time on our project.

How did you come to work with Net Solutions?

I liked their previous work, and was looking for an offshore service provider. I compiled a list of 10 companies, mostly based in India, and Net Solutions seemed to be the best one to go with. They had good reviews, and their client list was pretty impressive. One of the main things I considered was whom Net Solutions had worked with previously. Their account manager showcased some of the work they’d done, which was pretty impressive.

How much have you invested with them?

The project was not trivial, sitting well over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with Net Solutions for about 8 months, since October 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been very impressed with Net Solutions’ quality of work. Their UX/UI team is especially good. In certain cases, we couldn’t figure out a solution for fixing something, but Net Solutions did. I have no issues with them in terms of code quality or QA process.

How did Net Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via email and phone, but mostly via Skype voice and text. We also used JIRA to manage the project, which was the other main point of contact. Net Solutions used Basecamp on their end.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I could compare them with other people we’ve worked with, but it wouldn’t be fair, since those are Australian vendors. Net Solutions is the only Indian company I’ve used.

One thing I liked about Net Solutions was their flexibility. Our time zones are off, given that I’m based in the U.S. and they’re in India, but they were responsive. I could pretty much expect a response straight away, no matter when I sent them a message. The account manager there is good, and Net Solutions is proactive in what they do. They helped me out with a few issues in our own environment when we posted the application for testing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Being an offshore vendor, Net Solutions is good in this space, but the communication would be improved if they were local. Basecamp is not the best tool to use, as it gives very little interactivity with the client, as a forum-like system. This is why we’ve had to move most of our conversations either to Skype or JIRA. The engagement system used by Net Solutions needs to be upgraded.

Secondly, the source-control integrations they have at their end could be improved. Their approach involved Net Solutions building all the code, and checking it into their own source code repository. Every 2-or-so weeks, they would check all that code into our repository. That process needs to be improved a bit.

Do you have any tips for helping clients be more successful with a similar project?

Have your requirements be absolutely clear. This is where Net Solutions helped us out a lot, since our requirements weren’t good at all. They took a lot of initiative, and worked through all the ambiguities. For other people considering this sort of project, the better they document their requirements, the better it will be for everyone involved.

The communication becomes a problem when working with an offshore team. Unclear requirements can potentially stuff up the whole thing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of Campus Interactive, which has grown into a different business. I'm working on a new project that takes award ceremony footage—such as graduations, corporate award ceremonies, prize-givings—as well as mass-participation sporting events such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling and allows videographers to clip videos and send individuals their own moment via mobile devices in real-time and share the content on social media.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Net Solutions?

I’ve had lots of different businesses and am now running RupertForsythe.com, which creates bespoke champagne. I originally went to Net Solutions in order to develop an app for that business. At the same time, I had a few other small projects, including my latest venture that started in October 2016.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Net Solutions built the initial version of my video-clipping service using Xamarin in order to build cross-platform versions concurrently. That decision as based mostly on my budgetary requirements. According to their team, the best approach would have been to build native apps, but Xamarin could still deliver what I needed, especially for an MVP. We’re not commercially ready yet, so I cannot mention specific functionalities.

I met the team in India during the MVP phase, and I’ve continued to work with them from the U.S. via Skype and phone. I worked with a business analyst who had actually lived and studied in the U.K. Cultural differences can create issues in these situations, but having access to someone who could understand my references and cultural terminology was very helpful. In total, I collaborated with around 6 people from Net Solutions. The team has been mostly stable. They operate in a few different ways, and I’ve used their fixed-resource model, which I recommend for long-term projects. Budgets are important for a startup, and this model is cheaper overall. For example, Net Solutions recently quoted me for a project which, with an hourly fee, would have cost around £5,000 [$6,500], but, on a fixed-resource model, it’s only £3,600 [$4,500].

How did you come to work with Net Solutions?

I knew that I didn’t have the budget for a U.K.-based dev team, so I looked at Eastern Europe and India particularly. There is a large spectrum of quality and cost in India, and, like anything else in life, you get what you pay for. Net Solutions is at the upper end of the cost scale, compared to other Indian companies, but a quality goes with this, and they’re still more cost-effective than a U.K.-based team. They seemed like an ideal solution, so I met the team and looked at their work. The fact that I was working with a past client of theirs helped legitimize the commitment.

How much have you invested with Net Solutions?

The cost of their work has been around £100,000 [$129,400]. We have budgeted an additional £50,000 [$64,700] for the next quarter.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Net Solutions in October 2016. The first MVP went live in January 2017, and their involvement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did Net Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

The whole process was iterative. We ran single tests and got feedback from them. For our first release, I was given telephone and Skype support from Net Solutions’ side, literally hour-by-hour. We’re an events-based business and need to deal with issues in real-time.

After we came back with our feedback and findings, we made the next round of tweaks and iterations and tested it again in February and April of 2017. As a result, we have written a scope and started work on an editing tool for videographers and are tackling the next wave for the consumer website.

What did you find most impressive about Net Solutions?

I have worked with U.K.-based developers, but they were all small businesses, which cannot provide the same kind of support around an entire project as I’ve gotten with a company like Net Solutions. However, they’re not as quick as using 1–2 people to hammer code out instantly. Net Solutions’ work may not be instantaneous, but they ensure a thorough QA process. They won’t send me anything without testing it properly.

It may not be a unique feature, but having hotel rooms on-site in India is worth mentioning. I know that many organizations have a U.K. base, and Net Solutions has a great London-based digital strategist. Their CEO, Sameer, has been in London quite often as well, and I’ve met him a couple of times in order to explain the project and get his feedback. Meeting regularly with the dev team is not a vital requirement anymore, but it was a part of the initial process for cementing the relationship, allowing me to form relationships. We’ve established a connection, and I know that Net Solutions’ team is not treating the work as just another project. They recognize what’s important to me. I also know that, when I’m working with them, if something’s not quite right, there’s a reasonable explanation. Even in this world of technology, it’s still about people, and Net Solutions is very good in this area.

Are there any areas Net Solutions could improve?

Not being able to turn on a dime can become frustrating at times, but I know why that's not possible for them. We’ve also had occasional language and interpretation issues, particularly in writing, but this is to be expected.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Net Solutions?

Anyone looking to conduct this type of project should jump on a plane and visit Net Solutions’ team face-to-face. That’s the best way to build a relationship in the long-term.