Netsmartz LLC

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO at Central Air Equipment Ltd. We’re a sales and service air compressor business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Netsmartz LLC?

We hired Netsmartz to upgrade our ERP system to a Microsoft Dynamics 365 business central solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Netsmartz was the frontline support group for guiding our management and administration through the infrastructure development review of our processes. Their team is also integrating its service system to meet the company’s needs by customizing their base product into our base requirements of producing and operating all aspects of service.

What is the team composition?

Our main points of contact were Kapil (Associate Vice President, Netsmartz) and James (Director of Solution Development, Netsmartz). Kapil is based in India and has a development of 14 working under him.

How did you come to work with Netsmartz LLC?

We used a third-party provider to guide the system selection process. They completed a market study and found many alternative systems as we narrowed our selection to a Microsoft product. There are three Microsoft providers locally in Calgary, including Microsoft themselves. A Microsoft sales manager directed us to Netsmartz as the best choice to be our service provider.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $150,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Netsmartz in November 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re nearly the completion of phase one. Their team was instrumental in converted from our old system. Netsmartz has been paramount to the success of the project.

How did Netsmartz LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Netsmartz has been leaders from the beginning. They not only focused on our project but provided a lot of support in terms of how to manage the integration. Their team supported our executing services for customers.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with Netsmartz’s calmness and patience. Their team keeps an eye on the big project by breaking it down into manageable pieces for our company. The plan was a little overwhelming for our organization, but they kept the project on track all the way through.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are none that I can think of. Everyone including Shawn (VP of Operations and Channel Sales, Netsmartz), James, and Kapil, has done everything they needed to do. At the beginning of the engagement, Shawn told me that if I ever get the feeling that things aren’t running smoothly, give him a call. I hit the panic button in early November, and he had a solution for me within 36 hours. We’ve never looked back. Netsmartz has delivered. I can’t be happier with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should review all the stages of the project, making sure they understand all aspects. When we first started, my company wasn’t as conscious of all the steps as we should’ve been. NetSmartz understands all facets of the project, and if the customer also does, they’ll be more accepting of the journey that they’ll be on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO of Virtual Manager, LLC. It's a lifestyle management and technology firm based out of Bowie, Maryland. We provide various services for residents living in community associations throughout the Washington, DC Metro Area. My job is to find and deliver products to various industries that will manage populations, enhance user engagement, and allow for a better UX.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsmartz LLC?

Over five years ago, our firm was looking for a cutting-edge application that was unique, scalable, and would set us apart from our competitors. To achieve this, we needed to hire help.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was simple—to have an advantage over our competition.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After extensive research and speaking with several other mobile app development firms, Netsmartz  LLC made us feel most comfortable. They were very patient, answered our questions, and were willing to work within our budget.

Describe the project in detail.

Once selected, they asked us a series of questions to make sure that they obtained a clear understanding of our overall vision and the goals we were looking to achieve. The concept was explained in detail to the project manager. We were then provided a full project scope which outlined the process, the app’s functionality, the project’s timeframe, and pricing.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a dedicated project manager, which we had the pleasure of working with for several years. Netsmartz LLC treated the project as if it were its own, offering suggestions to make the application better regarding its design, features, updating APIs, and more.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re pleased to say that Netsmartz LLC was able to meet our needs. After eight months of development, we finally launched the completed project. Our organization experienced tremendous growth which contributed to our success as being recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States by Inc. 5000 in 2014.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project managers have all been very easy to work with over the past five years. The communication was exceptional and exceeded any of our expectations by far. We typically communicate daily, and questions are usually answered within 12 to 24 hours, including weekends. Netsmartz LLC gives clients the comfort of knowing that they’re always there when you need them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What we’ve found most impressive about Netsmartz LLC is their willingness to get the job done, no matter how challenging the request may be. Whether there are budget challenges or programming issues, Netsmartz LLC has always found a way to get the work completed.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We would’ve liked some of our previous requests to have been completed in a more timely fashion. However, we understand that what we were asking for was a bit unusual, and we’re very satisfied with the project’s outcome overall.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the operations manager of a marine transportation company. We operate high-speed, passenger-only ferry service, sightseeing cruises, and a variety of vessel charters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsmartz LLC?

The team at Netsmartz has built two generations (the first in 2005, then the current generation in 2016) of our custom ticketing software, websites, and mobile ticket scanning applications.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to modernize our ticketing software and websites by adding a variety of features to speed up the booking and boarding process: barcode scanning and print-at-home tickets.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have a 15-year history of working with Netsmartz. They’ve grown a lot over the years regarding staff size, but many of the team members from our original engagement are still part of the team.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They provided full-scale development of our new reservation system. It’s comprised of an in-house, web-based booking module, backend admin panel, two websites, and a web CMS.

What was the team composition?

Parth (Project Manager, Netsmartz LLC) has been our project manager for many years for a variety of development projects. He called on a variety of designers, developers, and QA staff, but we worked with the same core group of programmers throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Netsmartz updated our site’s appearance and introduced the modern technology customers want from a passenger transportation company. People expect a professional site with a quality transaction experience; Netsmartz delivered just that.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Parth is great to work with. We have open lines of communication, and he uses easy-to-share tools for management.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Netsmartz consistently delivers high-end solutions at a very reasonable price. They’re the best value we’ve found.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s nothing to speak of. We’re happy.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

As e-commerce manager, I am responsible for overseeing our partners in the development on our Magento 2 website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsmartz LLC?

We sought them out to upgrade our existing Magento 2 website to the most recent version, in addition to ongoing development and site updates.

What were your goals for this project?

Our initial goal was to upgrade our existing Magento 2 site to the most recent version, which our previous developer had been unsuccessful in completing.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They provided us with their portfolio of similar projects where they showcased a large pool of resources and the ability to respond instantly to our needs or any issues as they arose.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They successfully upgraded our Magento 2 site, as we initially requested, with minimal downtime. They remained available for troubleshooting after it was live, and they continued to work on other development projects for us in a timely and efficient manner.

What was the team composition?

We have interacted with three individuals including the main facilitator, a project manager, and a developer. The project manager is well-versed in Magento and site development, so we have not experienced a disconnect between him and the developer like have previously.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our upgraded website allowed us to put this project behind us and begin work on other areas of development that will directly impact our revenue.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Our project manager was introduced and immediately began keeping us updated on progress. He stayed in touch via email and Skype the entire time and responded instantly to any communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We believe the fact that our project manager, Anurag, has in-depth knowledge of development, has been vital to the success of our projects and is the reason we haven't experienced some of the obstacles we have faced in the past with other developers.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There were no areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the business owner and project management lead of a small digital consultancy catering to a variety of specialized contractors within the digital space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsmartz LLC?

We were looking to acquire a Magento specialist. 

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to provide users with a seamless shopping experience while maintaining the aesthetics and functionality of a big online store.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After several rounds of intense scrutiny and questioning to ensure their suitability, Netsmartz managed to consistently exceed our expectations and fit our needs perfectly. 

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

The project was a complete build, from the server setup to the UI and website launch. From the very beginning, Netsmartz took responsibility and guided the team on best practices.

What was the team composition?

The team was composed of Magento developers, server-side specialists, and project management personnel.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to provide our client with a unique, efficient website that boasts greater speed and improved functionality. The level of post-completion support has also increased the client’s confidence in our ability to deliver projects of this scope.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was conducted in Basecamp. Significant, effective communication via Skype and their constant availability for discussions helped drive and expedite the project.  

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The depth of available talent meant there was no task this firm could not complete for us. They were especially adept at delivering bespoke and custom aspects of our requests.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I firmly believe that as Netsmartz grows, they will have the ability to deliver with ease any project related to e-commerce. They delivered what we requested.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the digital director of RSM Marketing and we work with entrepreneurial, growth-oriented businesses that want to win more and win faster without spending a fortune on structure or execution. Many see marketing as a huge opportunity but structure and expense are often an obstacle, however, we make it easy with our outsourced marketing department.

I work closely with clients and our internal team to execute projects, goals, and strategies to grow their business, which sometimes means working with external resources.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsmartz LLC?

We hired them for ongoing customization for a Magento-driven website. Over the course of several years, we have made a number of client specific customizations as well as undergone an upgrade from Magento 1 to Magento 2.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal is to make our clients’ lives easier by providing to them a resource and service that allows them to focus on their business and not the technology required to operate it online.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We wanted to work with a partner that was both responsive and knowledgeable and found Netsmartz to fit these criteria.

Describe the project in detail.

As an ongoing project, they work with us to scope and execute a number of different customizations on Magento. Several of the customizations have been off-the-shelf extensions and are one-off customizations specific to our needs.

What was the team composition?

We’ve worked with three people, two of which work directly on our project, making communication on what our needs are more effective. The other relationship is with the COO, who looks to make sure our needs are being met.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

The biggest project we've undertaken is an upgrade from Magento 1 to Magento 2. I'm aware of the complexities involved in making major upgrades, so executing this was a big deal as Magento 1 nears its end of life support.

How effective was the project management?

Project management is effective and helpful. I don’t have any issues with keeping them focused on our priority projects.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What’s most impressive is that they’re typically able to turn around work within 24 hours. The time difference between our company and theirs can be a challenge but the speed at which they operate makes that less of an issue.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

Frankly, there is very little. As our clients place demands on us, it's natural that we place demands on Netsmartz. I can always benefit from a faster turnaround but that’s just asking for more when what I'm getting is already pretty good!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the head of web and e-commerce strategy for Lifestyle Flooring UK. For over 35 years, we’ve supplied quality flooring to retail and trade customers throughout the U.K. We provide exceptional flooring products direct to the consumer at trade prices. Our products include solid real wood flooring, engineered wooden flooring, Amtico flooring, Karndean flooring, laminate flooring, and vinyl flooring. We also sell carpets for both domestic and commercial customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsmartz LLC?

We hired them to create scripts that would allow us to add products in bulk to our website. We also asked them to customize our admin order process.

What were your goals for this project?

Aside from having more products on the site, we wanted the ability to process orders faster.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them on Upwork.

Describe the project in detail.

Netsmartz assigned our extra associated products programmatically to the configurable products on our Amtico Signature line. They’ve tweaked how we created an admin manual order, allowing us to override the set minimum quantity of boxes. Plus, they’ve debugged a few things on our site.

What was the team composition?

In total, we are working with around 5 people. Their roles vary, depending on the level of skill needed in specific areas. We usually interact with the 2 team leaders who head up the projects and ensure things run smoothly. They are a friendly, knowledgeable team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

Despite the complicated work, they have been successful so far. I especially liked the way they all worked late on a Friday to help resolve an urgent issue.

How effective was the project management?

They are extremely efficient at project management, using Basecamp to keeps things up to date. Our communication with Vikrant, the chief mentor for Netsmartz, and his team is excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciate their commitment and their willingness to fix any issues even after business hours. They are a great team and very faithful, so we will continue to work with them.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

The only thing that was not clear was the number of hours we were billed on Upwork. Initially, we found out that we had paid more than we had budgeted for the project. Fortunately, they were very understanding and offered 14 free hours for future tasks. They had not realized that we did not know we were being charged for certain hours, but I’m sure that they would have said something if they knew about it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Canadian Classroom is a provider of educational technology to universities and schools in Canada. I am the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Netsmartz LLC?

Our website was built on Magento 1 and needed to be updated, including the layout. Using a North American provider would've been too expensive, so we needed a better option.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Netsmartz has developed everything related to my website. They upgraded it to the new Magento version, installed a new template, and fixed many troublesome elements.

What is the team dynamic?

I've worked with at least 4 people from their development team, and there are more members involved on the marketing side.

How did you come to work with Netsmartz LLC?

I found them through Upwork.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost so far has been around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Netsmartz more than 2 years ago, around 2014. We have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They created a new version of my website and have helped me with anything related to it. If we identify any bugs, the team fixes them.

I wanted to have customized reporting on the site, which would display all orders, as well as connect the product and customer databases. They've created a single report that shows everything from the client name and information to my profits, taxes, and so on.

How did Netsmartz LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They are organized and use the Basecamp project management software for communication. Their owner oversees the work on a consistent basis, and I’ve also worked with one of their managers, who is also helpful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'd been reluctant to work with an Indian company because the output quality is usually not very good, but with Netsmartz, it was different: they have a Westernized approach, Magento professionals, and a good communication system in place. My previous experience with a company was terrible; they created numerous problems and destroyed my website. Netsmartz came and saved me.

Compared to a North American company, Netsmartz's team is warmer and less focused on simply sending me the bill. If I need something, like quick advice, they will help me right away, even on weekends.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m very happy with their service.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Not particularly. They are a professional company and work well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My organization is Biotic Healthcare, which is a pharmaceutical company. RobustDiet.com is a division of Biotic Healthcare and an e-commerce website dealing in pharmaceuticals, supplements, and food products. We provide our products all over India and trade e-commerce on a distribution level. I’m the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Netsmartz LLC?

I needed them to create my e-commerce portal and help me position the company for success with digital marketing and SEO.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Netsmartz's Magento-certified developers started from scratch to create our website using Magento as the framework. Along with the development of the website, they also provided SEO, digital marketing, and blogging.

What is the team dynamic?

I communicated with one of the owners of the company, three people from the Magento team, and three people for the development of SEO and digital marketing throughout the project.

How did you come to work with Netsmartz LLC?

I received references about their work on Magento. One of my close friends had worked with them. He told me that they make very good e-commerce websites. Seeing a few of their live projects gave me the confidence to give the project to Netsmartz.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $10,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2016, and a few adjustments have been done in 2017. I am thinking of doing more projects with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, Netsmartz delivered the project well, and within the timeline. The traffic and orders have increased on my website. The e-commerce portal generates a lot of leads. We are now delivering goods all over India.

How did Netsmartz LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a good project manager and they managed the project well. They projected accurate timelines, and we received delivery of their work within the deadlines. We communicated through emails, Skype, and mobile phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Due to their certified Magento developers and hands-on experience, the e-commerce website they made is quite responsive. Their graphic designers and their graphics are also very good. The content writers on the team did a great job, especially for very specific content writing. The digital marketing, SEO, and blogging for my portal were all very good; their positioning of the portal is excellent.

The team strength is good. It was easy-going working with their team. They are quite professional about their work. I like them very much because their approach is appropriate and timelines are good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should have developers in other technologies too. They have specific teams for Magento and Ionic and they have people for PHP, but they should broaden their portfolio to include more emerging technologies. Their management is very strong in finding people; they should hire more technical guys with different skill sets.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of Finance of Revolution Cooking

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We design and create cooking appliances

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Netsmartz LLC to accomplish?

• Business Central Support

SOLUTION

How did you find Netsmartz LLC?

Referral

Why did you select Netsmartz LLC over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Netsmartz LLC were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Netsmartz provides Business Central support, training and customization services as needed by Revolution Cooking

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our engagement with Netsmartz has not been tied to a single project but instead l reach out to them on an as needed basis when I:

1. need training in an aspect or functionality of Business Central I'm not familiar,
2. Require customizations to our Business Central interface, or
3. implementation and data transfer assistance upon our initial implementation of Business Central.

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

Netsmartz is always quick to assign a resource when a need arises. They are very knowledgeable about not only Business Central but general accounting rules and processes. This is incredibly important as they quickly understand the system issues but can easily relate the system to the related accounting process/transactions.

What was your primary form of communication with Netsmartz LLC?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their deep knowledge of Business Central and accounting was impressive.

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

None