The NineHertz

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

It's a very new startup. We have produced one game and another fun application with animated characters. It's very simple. It's still a learning experience for me. 

What is your position?

I'm the CEO and founder. I've been running this startup for the last eight months.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

I lacked a graphic designer that I liked and is affordable. Looking at the apps that they created, I liked their style. I thought it was contemporary.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The scope was just graphic design.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

Actually, my partner found them and short-listed Nine Hertz. I was also looking for the developer at that time. Nine Hertz came up for their graphic design. I remember that I looked at the apps they created and that's why I asked them to do this job for me.

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

It was less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It was completed, but now I need a few more things from them. You can say it's still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Are you satisfied with Nine Hertz and their performance?

I had a couple of smaller tasks that needed to be done quickly and the overall experience has been very pleasant. They have been very responsive. I needed to do a few changes, and they've done it without any issues. Nine Hertz does what I want every time it seems. In terms of the job they did for me, I can say I'm very happy.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

I am very satisfied. I had to request some changes because graphic design always takes multiple iterations. I thought they were very good especially considering they're based in India and have very competitive pricing. I was very happy with their work, and I would use them again for sure. I can't speak to their technical skills, but their design skills are strong.

What distinguishes Nine Hertz from other providers?

I thought they were very friendly and very responsive, which is not the case for most offshore firms. They're always on time. They always replied quickly. Everything was done sooner than I expected. They never complained that they had to do extra work. That's very special for an offshore firm.

Is there anything Nine Hertz could have improved or done differently?

No. My project is very small. If this was a large project, maybe we would face more issues. It was a quick job.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I'm the creator of an iOS app that is a social calendar and to-do list tracker. Users can send quick invites to their friends and view all of the events that they have on the calendar. At the same time, users can track various items that they want to do on the to-do list that are either personal or shared.

What is your position?

I'm the founder of this small app startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

I used them to give me version one of the app. I have done most of the design work, but I'm not a programmer. I used them to help turn my designs into a functional prototype. I'm going to be using them again to turn it from a prototype to a working version one.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They definitely did offer some input on the design, which was very valuable. The major service they provided was all the coding. It's iOS only right now. I'll probably do Android down the road.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I found them through Elance. I did a major search and looked through ratings, what the cost of the service would be, and the portfolio on Elance.

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

It was less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The initial prototype, which is the work I originally contracted them for, is completed. I will be using them again to work on the redesigned version one.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I've gotten user feedback, which I've taken into account for version one that I'm designing. Most of the feedback was around the user design, which I worked mostly on. That was very valuable for me. In terms of the actual execution of the app and from a technical performance standpoint, everything was great.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

The relationship with them and the work I've gotten has been outstanding. If I were to rate them on a few different things, I would say from a design standpoint, they're a little bit weaker, which is what I expected. But, from an execution standpoint and coding standpoint, I couldn't give a better review, which I think makes sense.

When I originally contracted with them, they were up front about not specializing in design and specializing in coding. I had that knowledge going into the contract with them. They more than met my expectations, so I'm extremely satisfied.

What distinguishes Nine Hertz from other providers?

I've been very impressed with the consultation feedback Nine Hertz has given. In addition to having them execute code, they've also been helpful in understanding what the industry looks like for a social iOS app.

They are strong in terms of understanding other social iOS apps and what those designs look like and what the main functions of those apps are. They've given me a ton of different recommendations, and there's been some valuable back and forth on the overall flow of the app and the design. Having that discussion is something that I wasn't expecting going into it, but it's been a very valuable output of the experience.

Is there anything Nine Hertz could have improved or done differently?

There are things I would do differently but I think really in terms of their performance I couldn't give a better review of the work they've done and the service they provided.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Our company does two things. One is GPS tracking with a watch. The second project, the one we started with Nine Hertz, we are developing a Bluetooth device inside the car that alerts parents not to forget kids in the car while they are leaving the car.

What is your position?

I am the co-founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We hired Nine Hertz to build the mobile application for both Android and iOS devices.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They developed the application for us, and we built the hardware device. They did everything from beginning to end. I gave them the description of what I needed, and they designed the logo and everything from there. The application is now live on Android, but in order to download it, you need a password. The password is required because we sell the device as a package. You can find the password in the device package. We want only the people who buy the device to be able to download it. I don't know how many people were assigned to our project. I was only in contact with the one project manager assigned to us.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I found them online along with some other outsourced developers.

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

It was about $6,000 for both of them. In the beginning, it was supposed to be about $4,000, but because we added multi-language, and all the features needed to be translated, the cost went up. It's a lot of work. In total, I probably spent a little more than $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We had a schedule of about three weeks to a month to finish everything. The Android app was launched about two weeks ago [July 2015]. The iOS version was not launched yet. I asked them not to launch it because Apple doesn't give access to send SMS, to make a call, or to run the program in the background. Nine Hertz helped me to contact them and find out what needs to be done in order to run these features in tandem with the core functionality. They helped me with that for free because my English is not so good in writing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

So far, only around 10 people have downloaded the app. We haven't started selling the device itself because it's still in development. We are now in the final stages of development. When the production starts and the users start buying the product, then they're going to start to download it. For now, nobody knows about it. We haven't published it. In about one or two months, we will begin selling the device together with the application.

We had no issues with delayed or defective pieces of work, or extra costs. Everything was clear from the beginning. When we added the multi-language feature they gave us a good price, and we agreed on it. We never argued, and everything went very smoothly. I wish that the development of the device went as smooth as the development of the application. I'm developing the device in China, and I have many problems there. I told the guys at Nine Hertz how much I would have liked them to develop the device for me, too but, at this point, it's too late to transition to a different provider.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

Their support was surprisingly good. Every time I asked for things – even if they were not in the project – they delivered them without complaining or adding new costs.

What distinguishes Nine Hertz from other providers?

Even when we changed the scope of the work because we had neglected to include some aspect, or we needed another language added, they did it. With other companies, every time I forgot something, they would ask me for more money. Nine Hertz made the changes without increasing the bill. There was an extra cost only once, when I needed all the application translated into eight languages. Other than that, all the other features I asked for were delivered, and the support was great. I write an email in the morning and, in the afternoon, I already have an answer with everything I need. They also send me email updates.

Is there anything Nine Hertz could have improved or done differently?

No. I was very surprised and happy with Nine Hertz's services. The support is very good. You get clear emails and you can understand what they're saying. Everything was so good, I didn't have a single issue with them. If I found a bug or something that needed to be corrected, they were responsive and everything was good.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company. 

Gale Force Apps is a mobile app development company. 

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Nine Hertz?

I was understaffed and often had other companies work on my projects. They would get halfway through, and then I’d never hear from them again. When I would find someone else, the code would be different and they’d need to redo it, meaning I was essentially paying double. 

Nine Hertz is the first outsourcing company I've found that I can really rely on. Unlike other companies, they’re accurate and on time.

The main app that Nine Hertz is creating for me is essentially a clone of Instagram, but with many more features. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They're overseeing the entire production of the Android and iOS versions of the app. 

What was your process in selecting Nine Hertz with which to work?

I found them through Google. I went through a demo with them, and was impressed with their skills. 

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

The iOS was about $5,000, and Android was about $7,000.

What was the timeline for the project?

Our relationship started in November 2014. The project is complete now [April 2015], and we’re just waiting for approval from Apple. The Android version should be complete about a month from now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics, metrics, or general feedback from the project?

The quality of their work is excellent. They have been on time, they communicate well through Skype, and they answer any questions quickly. They always keep in contact and let me know what they're working on, which is really important to me. 

They’re coding is strong, and they return their projects on time, give or take a week. However, usually when a project runs over, it’s because I wanted to add something or there’s been some fine-tuning.

Is there anything unique about Nine Hertz that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

Their English is great, and the communication has been strong. It's a pretty basic compliment, but still very important. I've been able to collaborate with them in ways that would have been impossible with other firms I've worked with.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

No. I don’t see any problems so far. Nine Hertz is very good.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

It’s a not-for-profit app with social network capabilities.

What is your position there?

I’m the co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address when you hired Nine Hertz?

Initially, we went through another outsourcing company. We were lucky to find Nine Hertz eventually. I had faced some unsolvable challenges with previous developers but, once we found Nine Hertz, it was smooth sailing. 

SOLUTION

Could you describe the actual scope of work assigned to them?

They worked with us on custom Android and iOS development. A lot of the quality assurance testing that was performed involved both of us, more as a collaboration. There wasn't any design work involved, just the technical development. 

How did you come to select Nine Hertz as your partner?

It took a lot of research and networking to find the right fit. We came up with our own shortlist using Google and some business referrals. Nine Hertz was among that group and they ended up being the best fit. 

Can you provide a ballpark estimate for the size of this engagement?

It was about $8,000.

Is this an ongoing project, or have you concluded your work together?

It’s an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the overall quality of their performance?

I can’t provide anything now. These are not published apps, they’re still ongoing works, so we can’t disclose anything at the moment.

There have been some slight delays in delivery, but that was to be expected because there were constant changes on our end. They adapted to them well. 

When working with Nine Hertz, is there anything that you would consider unique about their strategic approach or development methodology that distinguish them from other vendors?

They think outside of the box and offer great ideas. I would say they’re quite above standard in terms of providing information, working on the wireframe, and design.

In retrospect, are there areas in which you think they could improve as a service provider?

I think they could improve their communication skills a bit.

What advice, if any, would you give a future client of theirs?

Always be prepared and have everything covered. That makes their job easier.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We’re a company that provides a business platform for chefs. We are providing a photo-sharing network for some of the world’s best chefs.

What is your position?

I’m the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail?

I hired them to develop our iOS application. We were looking for a partner that was affordable for our needs. We were happy with their service and support.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work in greater detail.

We gave them some leads about some of the sites we liked, and we gave them our input. We had a pretty detailed brief that had our main goals and functional requirements. They developed and refined the application as we moved through the process and gave them feedback. During the developing phase, they remained in consistent contact with us. If we had any questions, they would answer us within a few minutes. They were much more responsive than I was expecting.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

We were looking on the Internet, and we read some of their client reviews. Before working on a project with them, they came in and presented some demos. After viewing the demos, we thought that was something we would like to have, so that’s why we chose them. We didn’t look at any other companies.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

It was around $10,000.

What is the current status of the project?

The first project is completed, and we have decided to work with them on another project as well. That work remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the quality of their work?

The number of downloads of our app has been quite fantastic. Within the first week, we had around 8,000 downloads from iTunes. So far, we are very satisfied with their work, and their payment method is quite good as well. We always pay at the completion of milestones. As soon as they reach a milestone, they present us with a bill and we pay it. We haven’t had any problems with the quality of their work or with project management mishaps.

When working with Nine Hertz, is there anything that you would consider unique about their strategic approach or the way in which they interact with clients?

They always answer their emails so fast. They’re always available on the weekends, even late hours. I don’t think I’ve ever waited more than an hour to before I’ve gotten a response from them. They’re very reliable like that.

In retrospect, are there areas in which you think they could improve as a service provider?

So far, no. I think they’re doing a perfect job.

What advice, if any, would you give a future client of theirs?

Bring your own ideas, but at the same time be open to suggestions. In our experience, we had some ideas, and they presented a different way to do it, which ended up being better from a user experience standpoint.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company. 

I’m the director of an LLC that is developing a Web application that is aiming to provide a fresh take on social media for our audience.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m a director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Please describe the scope of their work and the specific services they provided.

What I had them develop was a frontend Web application with an active website that will refresh based on the information being presented out of the database. They did all the backend and frontend, including the graphic design and layout. They took my initial wireframe, and turned it into a beta website. We’ve been working together for about eight months now [April 2015].

SOLUTION

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

In total, we’ve spent close to $10,000 with Nine Hertz. When we were initially bidding the project, other companies were quoting us $25,000 or $30,000 for the same work.

What was your process for selecting Nine Hertz with which to work?

We put out a bid for our project through Elance, and more than 30 responses came in within a few days. So, we locked out the bid and evaluated all 30 responses, first cutting them down to 10, then three, and then one, and the final was Nine Hertz.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project, and how did you feel they performed?

While we haven’t launched, the results have been fantastic. There was nothing that I asked for or needed that they couldn’t handle.

Various aspects of our website are completely novel and don’t exist anywhere else, so there was nothing they could go out and copy or model it off of. Nine Hertz was able to take some pretty nondescript ideas, and turn them into a real functioning Web application. I was impressed with their ability to read between the lines of what I was asking and make it happen.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes Nine Hertz stand out, compared to other companies?

The project should have wrapped up a few months back as they met all their requirements in the statement of work we provided. But, they told me, ‘We’re not going to launch this until you’re completely satisfied, so just keep coming at us with tasks or little minor improvements you need, and we’ll do it for you.’ I really appreciate that kind of dedication.

In addition, their communication skills have been fantastic, especially using Skype, and being flexible with the 12-hour time difference between us. We shared video calls, emails, and lots of Skype chats. I would record myself using the website with a video capture, and they would then watch those videos and get my feedback as I would talk over the video. They would use that to make improvements as well. 

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

I think we could have done a better job of creating job management documentation so I knew where the project was, instead of having to send an email and asking. With that being said, they always got their work in on time.

BACKGROUND

Could you briefly describe your organization?

We provide our clients with a system that offers location-based information, and for that we need Web applications to illustrate certain points of interest on a user’s mobile device. We also offer website and SEO [search engine optimization] services. We’re a German-based company, and we outsource some of our more technical work to other agencies like Nine Hertz.

What is your position?

I’m the managing director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the business challenge that you were attempting to address when you first approached Nine Hertz?

I contracted them to make two websites for me: a personal website for myself and another one for my real estate business. We have limited internal resources, so we use Nine Hertz to support our development needs. We strictly delegate technical work to them, and we deal with the online strategy and user interface and user experience design (UI/UX). 

SOLUTION

Could you describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail?

Once I was confident in their communication skills and the quality of their technical work, we started to give them other projects and give them more important things, such as mobile app development and platform upgrades for our clients. Like I said, they handle the custom coding. We test their code for viability and then deliver it to our end clients. 

How did you come to choose Nine Hertz as your partner?

I was in India for some time in 2013, and I employed someone there in India to find me some competent companies able to provide good, reliable service. He provided me with a list, and I contacted them. Out of all the companies we got feedback from, Nine Hertz was the best at communications. We chose them because their emails were spot on. There was no issue in communication, whereas the other companies lacked the communication side. We didn’t want to hire a firm that had expertise but couldn’t communicate with us effectively.

Could you provide a general cost estimate for this engagement?

Between €5,000 and €10,000 [$5,500 to $11,000].

This relationship is ongoing, correct?

Yes. We have another project right now for a hotel, and I will give that project to Nine Hertz to develop. We intend to use them well into the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the quality of their performance?

When they give us a website or an app, we test it for bugs. When there are bugs, and we need help, they’re very generous in that. They’re very up to date with sending emails and improving it as far as it’s related to their work. I had some issues with some bugs on the personal website they had built for me. I emailed them, and within a few days everything was sorted out. So, it’s quite a good workflow. We really appreciate that level of responsiveness and their rapid turnaround time.

When working with Nine Hertz, is there anything that you would consider unique about their strategic approach or development methodology that distinguish them from other vendors?

Their communication skills are the best that I’ve experienced. With regard to the development, they make sure the QA [quality assurance] is done alongside the development rather than waiting for the end of the project, which greatly reduces the time to deployment. We send the projects out to a couple of our partners, and then compare the timelines they’ve given and the cost. Usually, Nine Hertz proposes us a longer time frame, but they actually stick to it, rather than giving us a shorter time frame and not being able to deliver on time. We've always appreciated that level of honesty. 

In retrospect, are there areas in which you think they could improve as a service provider?

I think they have quite a large workload, so maybe they should allocate more resources to their projects just to stay on top of their work, or maybe get more people who can communicate these things. It’s not a big issue, but sometimes I feel like they’re not always available on Skype. If someone is available, it’s not the main person who I would like to speak to because he’s in meetings or he’s busy with other clients. So, maybe recruiting some more people who can provide better customer service when required, that would be a positive improvement. To be honest, when I do want something completed and I send an email, they usually get back to me very quickly.

What advice, if any, would you give to a future client of theirs?

Most clients don’t understand what each development stage entails, so the project details they provide can sometimes be too sparse. They would need to elaborate on the details of the project, so it runs more smoothly. As a general rule of thumb, the more detail, the better. That’s not an issue for Nine Hertz; it’s more related to their clients who might lack the knowledge of the technical side of things.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company. 

I founded a company that serves as an online marketplace that matches individuals hosting events with various event planners venues around the city.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am the founder and owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Nine Hertz?

I needed them to build a website.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They did everything for me. I had a logo but they came up with a cool logo for me. I asked for a very simple and clean website and they delivered that. They were very accommodating, and I’m very happy with the work that they did for me. I’m hoping to use them for a mobile app in the future

What was your process for selecting Nine Hertz with which to work?

I found them through a third-party website.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

About $15,000. Considering all of the work that they did for me, they could have charged a lot more.

Can you tell me when the project started and when it was completed?

It started in October of 2014, and it was completed in March.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you talk briefly about how you feel they performed in terms of the quality of their work?

I found them to be accommodating and very responsive. Despite the time difference, we always found a way together to get the work done. If I needed anything, I would email them and they would get back to me quickly. I don’t know the size of their company, but I’ve been working with two of their project managers on chat and email and the service they've provided has been excellent.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

Sometimes, there would be slight miscommunications in something that I said. There was a very small language barrier. When I would bring it up, they would be quick to rectify it, so it wasn’t an issue in the end. I didn’t feel like it affected the work.

What advice would you give a future client of theirs?

I would say be as specific as possible about what it is that you need done. Have a concept that is as clear as possible. It makes it easier for them to do their job and helps them to realize your concept.

BACKGROUND

Could you provide a brief description of your organization?

The company is called Xelxor, and we're creating a mobile app that will help keep public schools safer. 

What is your position?

I am the founder and chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the business challenge that you were trying to address when you first approached Nine Hertz?

The idea for this app was originally brought up by my daughter. She has a great concept, but no business experience. I don't have any kind of real technical expertise, so I knew that we were going to need a partner to help us bring the idea to fruition. 

SOLUTION

Could you describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail?

We really rely on them to handle the technical design and development of our mobile app. We came to them with some fairly detailed objectives and they translated those into functional requirements. They proposed a number of different things that would make the app function smoother, which was fantastic. The project is very collaborative. They are constantly sending feedback and questions to us. 

How did you come to choose Nine Hertz as your partner?

I found them while I was doing some online research. They were only one of about 20 different companies that I contacted for this project, but they were by far the best choice for us. At first, I was concerned about the development stage because they were located overseas, but that never actually became an issue. They don't seem to have a problem with working on our time. 

This remains an ongoing project, correct?

Yes, it is. We aren't quite finished developing the prototype, but we're definitely getting there. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In terms of results, would you be able to share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the quality of their performance?

Because we haven't quite finished our first prototype yet, I won't be able to share any figures. However, I can tell you that the entire strategic and development process has been very fruitful and enjoyable. Working with their team of developers has been a positive experience for us, which is somewhat surprising considering this is both my first tech project and the first time that I've worked with an offshore company. They've been exceptional from a technical standpoint, always able to deliver our assignments on time and according to spec. 

When working with Nine Hertz, is there anything that you would consider special about their strategic approach or development methodology that distinguish them from other vendors?

That's difficult because this is a real first for me. I haven't worked extensively with development shops before this, and definitely not ones located abroad. If anything, I would say that the fact that they're willing to work around the clock, and communicate with their clients within their normal business hours, is very admirable. I wasn't expecting that going into this project.

In retrospect, are there areas in which you think Nine Hertz could improve as a service provider?

I really can't think of anything. They've gone out of their way to meet my expectations, and the work they have completed for us so far is great.

What advice, if any, would you give to future clients of their before approaching Nine Hertz with a project of their own?

Come to the table with concrete objectives and don't worry about what they "might" be able to do. They are very straightforward about their capabilities, so the most important thing is coming to the table with a well-defined vision. Having a completely open-ended conversation probably isn't the best way to go with these guys.