The NineHertz

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Touch Screen Lock, an app with the ability to freeze an Android phone’s touchscreen when viewing content.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The NineHertz?

I needed a developer to build the application for me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided NineHertz with documented requirements and expressed to them exactly what I wanted before they began development. We then ran several rounds of beta testing to improve functionality based on user feedback. They were able to develop the functions I wanted, including a floating button and the ability to pin the screen. We have successfully launched the app and are working on some marketing now. They are also continuing to offer support, maintenance, and enhancement.

What is the team composition?

I had one developer assigned to the project at a time.

How did you come to work with The NineHertz?

I did a lot of research on the Google Play Store to examine what companies are actually developing apps. I then reached out to a number of developers, and NineHertz came back with the best offer.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost around $28,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Development began in November 2017 and we launched the app in June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

People have been impressed with the concept and the specific functions my app offers. So far, there have been no major bugs or crashes, and the app runs as it’s supposed to. There are a lot of people developing the same type of thing, so now I am just working on marketing and getting the word out about what the app offers.

How did The NineHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. This project could have probably been completed in three months, but it was hard to connect due to my travel schedule and the time difference between us. However, NineHertz was very patient and talked with me over Skype when we were able.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very thorough and diligent at helping me get the project live and developing what I requested of them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Unfortunately, they are in a different time zone so communication was difficult, but that is really not their fault nor something they can change.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the managing director of a social media startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The NineHertz?

We contracted with The NineHertz for the production of our app. That included conception, design, development, marketing, and launch.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to provide a safe and functional social media platform incorporating the latest technologies to create new friendships and romantic relationships through a unique matchmaking function.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We conducted extensive research into highly rated developers and submitted our brief and mission to our finalists. The NineHertz offered the best solution and budget to suit our requirements.

Describe the project in detail.

We initially agreed to pay a fee to prepare a small mockup because we had not done business together before. The NineHertz capably produced that, proving their experience. We then had the confidence to proceed with the full project. The app has a live streaming function without disclosing any personal information to make for a comfortable and safe dating experience.

What was the team composition?

Our initial sales contact was very knowledgeable and formulated a solution that fitted our requirements. As things progressed from design to concept, we were assigned a project coordinator. We had a single point of contact who carried out all of the necessary interdepartmental coordination.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are completing the testing phase and are preparing to launch. We are confident we have an excellent product and are excited about our launch. The NineHertz’s staff seems equally excited.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between our companies was quite effective and could not have gone better considering the time difference between our countries. We had continued communication for most of the mornings, which gave us late afternoons and evenings to review and provide further feedback to The NineHertz.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It was clear they were dedicated to being an engaged partner. We would often have a last-minute change or request for information that we would post hoping for an answer the following morning. To our surprise, we would receive communication during out-of-office hours for them. That is true dedication.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It is difficult to comment on any areas that may require improvement. We were totally satisfied with the level of service we received and what we learned from them during the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of the Lunchbx application, which will allow the user to find local lunch deals in their area. It's going to be a platform for both the user and the restaurant. Users can either browse the categories or enter a specific lunch item and it'll pop up.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The NineHertz?

We wanted to find out if this concept would work in terms of user content that's driven by the restaurant. The application will rely on the restaurants to create their own profile and write their own listings. We wanted help in thinking through how we can make it usable for the user so they would not face any major challenges.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve been part of the project from inception to deployment. I started by providing them with a concept of operations and a high-level overview of what I wanted. They took my business concept and presented a detailed proposal of what they could do. They’re creating native applications in iOS and Android and a responsive web application. Ultimately, they’re responsible for finalizing the design of every page and every button.

They defined the UI and the user workflow, which is an aggregation of how we predict what the user wants to see when they click on parts of the application. They also helped with navigation and logic, as well as some algorithms to enable us to implement the code correctly. They're currently in the development phase, and we plan to launch in September 2018.

What is the team composition?

I have an assigned project manager/project engineer (Hemendra, Managing Director, The NineHertz). I speak directly with the developers whenever I need to discuss items in more detail. I've also worked with their QA consultant.

How did you come to work with The NineHertz?

I did a lot of research online and they were at the top of a list of rankings of software development companies. I sent out four RFPs and the proposal I liked best was The NineHertz. A member of their executive team was present at our initial meeting, which helped sell me on their plan.  

How much have you invested with them?

I've spent around $25,000 to date.

What is the status of this engagement?

We officially kicked off in November 2017 and the development work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The NineHertz defined milestones in their proposal. The first milestone was assembling a team and getting organized. Then it was the design phase and the UI. Another major milestone was creating a way for users to log into the application using social media accounts. The final major milestone is development, which they broke out into five phases. So far, they’ve met all of the milestones.

How did The NineHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

They challenge me and don’t just accept what I give them. They've taken the time to try to identify flaws and gaps within the design. When they had to do some reworks because I changed my mind after approving something, they went ahead and accepted those changes without an additional scope growth or budget growth.

The attention that I get from Hemendra is special. He's been so helpful in guiding me; he’s really been instrumental in the success of the partnership. He's always available and responds as soon as I provide feedback. Sometimes it’s the next day because of the time zone, but it never goes beyond one day. Considering that they’re based in India, it's been phenomenal.

We use a collaborative project management tool to keep track of everything. We communicate through Skype, email, and Dropbox.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They treat us as a partner, not just as a client. They take ownership of the project as if it's their application. They're proud to have their name behind our product. Their attitude is always positive. They’re just a really good team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

One thing I’d like to see them do is hold periodic meetings with the entire team to go over what they've accomplished and what they're going to do next. So once we hit a milestone, it would be good to touch base with everyone to make sure we’re on the same page before we move into the next phase.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of a social platform startup for the travel and tourism industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The NineHertz?

We needed to build a minimum viable product (MVP) to start running beta tests and gather valuable customer feedback. We wanted to present the beta to promotional partners and investors, and explore if it was viable to develop it further and turn it into a functioning company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After searching online for the best-reviewed developers, we sent a request to The NineHertz. They came back with a list of apps they had developed in the same field. Based on their previous work, and after reviewing their proposal and agreeing on a price, selecting them was easy.

Describe the project in detail.

The NineHertz built our MVP on iOS. We were in touch with the project manager immediately after paying the initial fee. Within 24 hours, we received the first designs, and after 10 days or so, we had the complete set. From there, we worked on the app’s functionality and made alterations over the course of three months until we were happy with the final product both in terms of aesthetic and function.

Their project manager guided us through the app submission process, and their team even built a server to host the platform. I’ve received continuous support after the project ended for both fixing minor bugs and handling major alterations, such as a name change.

What was the team composition?

I’ve only spoken with the project manager, but I know they also assigned a designer, two developers, and a tester.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve heard great feedback from our beta test users and made the alterations that they said were necessary. We’re now about to launch on a wider scale, so it is too early to talk about facts and figures that demonstrate success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicated using WhatsApp, where I received replies usually within less than five minutes. This constructed an efficient working relationship.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most remarkable thing about The NineHertz was their ability to take our concept and bring it to reality, including the necessary features that we had failed to conceive ourselves. This understanding of the industry helped us create a complete product that didn't miss out the fundamentals. For example, something as simple as setting up a forgotten password system for users to reset their password was not on the original scope, but they added it in without us asking, demonstrating their experience.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As a startup, you always want things completed quicker than is possible. However, the reality is that we would've had to employ more developers for this, and it wasn’t in our budget. Considering everything, I was impressed with their timeliness.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Founder of Cookin Technologies. Our concept is based on an application that enables people to request freshly-cooked meals from local talent that cook authentic food from all kinds of nationalities, everything from Korean to Russian to Mexican food. Cooks come to the person’s house to prepare the meal, which provides a different experience than they would find at a local restaurant. They can eat healthier and have more variety.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The NineHertz?

I needed the entire app designed and developed. This was the first time I was building an application of this magnitude.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The NineHertz built our app from scratch for both iOS and Android. They managed everything from getting the idea on paper to laying out the entire user experience flow to coding and developing the app.

The app has a number of custom features. For one, there’s a geolocator that allows users and cooks to see each other’s locations. There’s an internal messaging system so that users and cooks can communicate directly. There’s also a payment system to process orders. Users and cooks are able to rate each other. If a cook is unavailable, the user receives a notification and can reach out to other cooks able to make similar types of dishes.

We are in the final stage. The original idea was ready but I asked for additional features. I did the last review on it a few days ago.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with a project manager who collaborated with the development team.

How did you come to work with The NineHertz?

I was referred to them by a couple of colleagues who had developed a number of different apps with them. I’m not sure how they found them originally but I knew those colleagues knew a lot about apps and development. I trusted them and felt comfortable going forward with the referral. I took the recommendation.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent just under $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2017 and we’re just finishing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app hasn’t gone live yet but we have about 15 people using it, including friends and family members. The app is user-friendly and the experience is clean and easy. I like it and those users like it. We think it’s going to be a success.

How did The NineHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate mostly via email and Skype. Communication was strong. They gave me anticipated project timelines and stuck to them. Every time I tested the app and sent back adjustments, they were quick to respond and make those changes. Sometimes I was the one who dropped the communications when I, for example, didn’t reply back to them with my review for a couple of weeks which kept them from moving forward. They always accommodated me.

I worked with a different project manager at the start. The one I’ve worked with for more than 80% of the project has been great. She helps get the ideas out of my head and manages the developer team to turn them into a reality. There was never a lack of communication. We were always on the same page.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re the most organized group I’ve worked with. For example, when it comes to the quality of work as seen in the number of bugs, I find even fewer than on smaller projects I’ve done with other firms. They’re more organized in the way they work which is reflected in the quality of the product. That there aren’t major bugs is great; I don’t have to fix things all the time.

As my first experience building an app, it was easier than expected because of the help, ideas, and feedback from them. They’re experienced in what they do. I’m satisfied with the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask to work with our project manager. Success always depends on who you work with and she’s been really on top of things.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of E-Ofisi Technology Limited, a software consultancy firm. We do mostly unstructured supplementary service data and money transfer payment services as well as app development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The NineHertz?

We needed someone with the skills for iOS and Android development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One project was for a client who had an existing app for his restaurant that has three locations. He wanted a B2B mobile app and a web-based app for his restaurants. I shared it with NineHertz and they were able to understand my requirements. Once we agreed on the budget and timelines, they developed wireframes. Then, they developed the iOS and Android apps. One of the apps was a hybrid and the other was native. They did the back- and frontend design. We had a challenge with the iOS store, but they guided us and helped us to get approved.

They’re still supporting me with the apps. They help me with a lot of change requests, but they don’t charge for every change they make. For lengthier changes, we agree on the charges.

What is the team composition?

I initially worked with the sales engineer who introduced me to the two directors. They then connected me with the business analyst, who is my main point of contact. The business analyst communicates with several developers and the QA guys.

How did you come to work with The NineHertz?

We found them through Clutch. We sent them our requirements, they got back to us, and we agreed to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2017 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The final product was even better than the wireframes we agreed upon. We’ve been using the app for three months and my clients are happy.

They do a lot of testing and invest a lot of time to make sure we get good quality. By the time we get the APK (Android Package Kit), you don’t need to do a lot of testing. When we push the app, they’ve taken care of all the probable crashes. We don’t spend a lot of time doing QA because they’ve already done it for us and it’s pretty perfect.

How did The NineHertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We have daily calls and updates. They push us to get what they need from us so it doesn’t affect the final timeline. The business analyst knows exactly what I need and passes it to the developers. We did tracking and had deliverable dates for each item.

You can get in touch with them any time of day. Even at night, they’re responsive on WhatsApp. Despite the distance, there’s somebody at that end who is able to respond immediately.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a listening ear. I’ve been delayed by a week or two in paying them, but they still continue working. They’re very supportive.

I had a very bad experience with a previous firm. The NineHertz has completely changed our perception. We will have a very long partnership with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve not had any issues with them. They go the extra mile to make sure we’re satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Bazaar, an online marketplace serving businesses of every size that allows users to buy and sell goods and services directly. We are headquartered in Turkey. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The NineHertz?

While planning my online business, I knew I wanted to develop a marketplace application to engage more customers. In order to reach my targeted audience globally, I hired The NineHertz to develop this app.

What were your goals for this project?

First, I needed to transform my business idea into reality. In addition, I wanted to create a hassle-free and high-quality app with a smooth UX and multi-device compatibility to enhance user engagement. For this project, my main focus involved building a secure payment gateway.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My managerial team searched online for possible partners. Based on portfolios, case studies, and feedback, we narrowed our options to 10 companies. After discussing our ideas, we selected The NineHertz based on their prompt response to our queries and proactive involvement with our team.

Describe the project in detail.

The Bazaar app had to function as a platform through which buyers can easily make purchases from home at reasonable prices and sellers can highlight their services and goods.

Initially, we held Skype meetings with their development management team. We thoroughly explored our project idea, planned the development cycle, and estimated our resource requirements. Our marketplace app has to be secure for every transaction and connect only authenticated buyers and sellers.

What was the team composition?

The NineHertz assigned a project manager and a development team, which included a technical lead, a frontend developer, a backend developer, a designer, and a quality-assurance (QA) specialist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The NineHertz delivered our project on time and without any delays. During development, we kept in touch with the developers, so we had very few bugs in the final app. The team listened attentively to our queries and suggested solutions promptly. Additionally, their post-launch assistance helped us reach our target and achieve good reviews.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We kept in touch constantly. They followed a customer-oriented engagement model and shared regular updates about the app’s progress during meetings and Skype calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The NineHertz has a knowledgeable team of young, enthusiastic mobile and web developers. I appreciated their willingness to recommend ways to improve our app. They really put their minds and hearts into this project. Also, they researched strategies to help us surpass our competitor.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Of course, no company is perfect. They could accelerate their development process by adding more developers to the team. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a real estate investor, both commercial and residential.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

My friend and I had come up with an idea based on our travel experiences across Asia Pacific and the Middle East. We wanted to develop an application that provided more tailored accommodation options, such as booking a hotel room for just a few hours while in-transit rather than a full day. We wanted to develop the concept and come up with a prototype.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nine Hertz helped us clarify the core concept and develop the prototype. We started with a web application and then they moved to a mobile application. We may ask them to do some marketing work for us in the future.

We started by building the concept together. Once we had the proof of concept they moved to design. They have built out the UI/UX for us in terms of moving from one screen to another, choosing options, and moving through the booking process. It includes a process for bidding whereby users can negotiate with hoteliers or other service providers.

We also needed them to integrate APIs for specific elements that we wanted to highlight to users, like updated weather for the destination location as well as maps and suggested places to visit. There is an API to deal with complaints so that users can get quick responses to service requests, like if the Wi-Fi isn’t working in their room. They added CRM using Salesforce as well so that we can reward our users with loyalty points.

What is the team dynamic?

We have a dedicated project manager.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

We were exploring the idea and searching for vendors. We had looked at between 20-25 companies based on the parameters we set. A friend of mine recommended Nine Hertz based on their web and mobile application work. I was particularly impressed by their CRM expertise.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve budgeted between $50,000-70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in February 2016 and are still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Right now, we have more than 50,000 users and revenues are solid. Revenues will increase once we release the mobile app.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager keeps us updated on a weekly basis. We use Jira as well as Basecamp for project management updates and GitHub for the code.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm happy with the communication because the team is responsive. They send a lot of messages to keep us updated. The person who’s been assigned to us has done a good job. I’m satisfied and expect that they will continue doing similar work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder. We provide training for candidates seeking interviews with consulting companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

I was looking for a partner to develop the first version of an iOS application, one capable of enhancing my coaching methods.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I approached Nine Hertz with a fairly clear idea of what I wanted. I wanted a dialogue-based application with a number of functionalities, including audio, video, sound recording, and multiple choice question flash cards. Based on my experience as a coach, I created a briefing that included sketches, descriptions, and examples from similar apps.

The application allows users to rehearse by delivering question prompts and advice as if they were being interviewed in real-time. Users are then given math, structuring, and brainstorming exercises based on information given during the simulation. The app allows them to compare their own answers to the ones that were suggested, and lets users give us feedback, as well.

The program relies on fixed dialogue rather than chatbot intelligence, and its easy-to-use interface lets users study for interviews affordably and on the go. Once the app is approved by the Apple Store, we plan to give it to users for free in order to receive initial feedback. After adjustments are made, we will begin charging for the app.

What is the team dynamic?

Reena [Shukla, business analyst] followed all facets of the project. I worked with her primarily, and sometimes met with a member of the development team to get more detailed, technical explanations.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I found them through Clutch. I contacted Nine Hertz’s sales person to provide a brief overview of my business and was then given a quote. They seemed to have a strong grasp of what building the application would entail. Based on the quote, proposed timelines, quality of their site, and their positive reviews, I decided to bring them aboard.

How much have you invested in them?

I have spent around $50,000-$60,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Nine Hertz in January 2017, and the project is ongoing. We are currently in the final phase of development and plan to submit the application to the Apple Store shortly. Since it’s a fairly simple application, we are confident Apple will approve it in the first or second attempt.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t completed beta testing at this time, but have shown a prototype to potential users with positive feedback.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

Reena was my single point of contact, which worked out really well for us. She took responsibility for the entire project and was very effective in this role. Communication was never a problem, as she kept in contact every step of the way. We never used any formal project management software, but I was updated via Skype nearly every other day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Nine Hertz made an effective plan and followed through with every word. They paid close attention to my priorities, and their consistent communication during the early phase of the project gave them a strong understanding of my needs and helped avoid misunderstandings and rework. Project installments have been very clear and delivered on schedule.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have done well and exceeded my expectations. Nine Hertz is confident in what they do and was able to implement all the functionalities according to our timeline. While some minor issues came up, they were very proactive in fixing these errors.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a startup that provides professional development courses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We are a small startup and we didn’t have the expertise to develop apps or websites with a sophisticated backend. In our backend, we need to track courses, modules, and progress.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nine Hertz is building our iOS and Android apps and the website, which are connected to a central database. They have seamless functionality between any device. We had a basic design of the app already, but they contributed as well. Nine Hertz needed to create a backend where we can organize the courses by association, and then by chapter and module.

We’re currently in the final functionality, including push notifications and the testing phase.

What is the team dynamic?

They have an iOS, Android, and web team along with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

We found them on Clutch. They were one of the top-rated firms that we found. We’re based in Canada and had gotten quotes from some companies in Canada. Nine Hertz did a comprehensive proposal that was 10 pages long that blew away anything we’d gotten from other firms.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $30,000 on the project so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them 6 months ago, and the work is ongoing. We expect the project to be completed in August 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still working out bugs, and they’ve given me access to their bug fix tool so that I can report bugs directly to the development teams. They’re responsive to my requests for changes.

I measure their success in the look and feel of the apps and the website. It’s a high-quality, consistent user experience which is the most important to us. We contributed to some of that with the design, but on the website, they’ve done a lot to help us to build what our vision is.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

They have one project manager that is my main point of contact. They’re on track with their deadlines. We’ve added more functionality that has extended our deadline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I haven’t worked with other providers, but their degree of technical skill, in terms of the functionality they’ve been building, has been impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The communication around some of the technical terminology was a challenge because of not having English as a first language. That’s an ongoing challenge when working with firms from other countries. We’ve developed a good way of overcoming that challenge by communicating in writing.