Nona Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner, founder, and CEO of Workflow. We are a software platform for the film industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nona Digital?

I had started building a web and mobile app with another company but it didn't work out very well. I took the half-built product and went to Nona Digital to have it completed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nona Digital had to rebuild the half-finished web and mobile app because there were too many problems. They redesigned the UX/UI and reconstructed the front- and backend.

We had the team rebuild the web app similar to Dropbox so that it could store directories for suppliers in the film industry. Nona Digital coded it such that it could hold information about crew members, cast members, occasion directories, client directories, and to-add-job data.

Another function of the web app is that it could track the working hours of registered crew and cast. It houses a Google Maps and Apple Maps API integration as well. 

It could also send notifications to its mobile counterpart, which can be installed on both Android and iOS devices. Users would need to get onboarded, download the app, added to their job, and receive project-specific information. 

Nona Digital did everything on Ionic. They had to upgrade the mobile app since it was built on an older version of the framework. When the whole platform was fixed, we integrated it with AWS and GitHub.

What is the team composition?

I had worked with about 5–6 people from Nona Digital, but there was a team of four that was constantly dedicated to the project. That number also varied depending on what we needed. There were two developers, a scrum master, a project manager, the CTO, and a CRM lead.

How did you come to work with Nona Digital?

I found Nona Digital online and did a lot of reference checks. I ultimately decided to go with them because of their attitude and quick response time.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from October 2019–September 2020. We ended the partnership because we now have our own in-house team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'm very happy and satisfied with how the applications turned out. Nona Digital implemented all of the features that we asked and made the entire system simpler, faster, and easier to operate. Traction and adoption in the marketplace have been slow, but users love the fact that it is online, accessible, and quick and easy to use.

How did Nona Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Nona Digital was never late or delayed. The team worked hard and fast and was 100% in control of the project.

We used Jira as a project management tool, progress tracker, and communication channel. We also corresponded through WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What stands out about Nona Digital is how easy it is to access their members. I could talk to any of the developers as opposed to just interfacing with the project manager while they do their own thing in the background.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some aspects of the UX that I didn’t quite like but Nona Digital thought was awesome. I believe they just wanted to surprise me, which wasn’t a bad thing, but we ended up having to spend time to redo it. That was very minor, however, compared to how well they did in all other aspects.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear with your specifications; break down your brief and provide wireframes. You have to know upfront what you're going to get before somebody even opens their laptop.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CEO of a business that produces a weekly intelligence briefing for businesses, fund managers and diplomats

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Nona Digital, and what were your goals?

We hired Nona to develop a mobile app to give our clients the option of a good reading experience on their phones instead of on desktop.

SOLUTION

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

I knew Nona from my previous company, where I'd found them to be excellent. Deciding factors were that they did top quality work, were efficient and easy to work with, and – being in South Africa – they represented a discount over competitors in the UK.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The mobile app is relatively simple, consisting of a weekly briefing and an archive of previous briefings. The crucial element was getting the front-end design working flawlessly for a demanding readership

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

I dealt with a project manager who was assigned to steer the work. I know other people were working on it but I'm not sure how many.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The app has been a success. Our time-poor readership, many of whom are not digital natives, find it intuitive to use. After a couple of tweaks in the early months after launch, we have been able to leave it unchanged ever since – an ideal outcome.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Communicated by email with occasional video calls. One of the best things about working with them was their friendliness. Also, they always fast to respond, and always looking for ways to solve the problem – for example by pulling people in to speed things up when we had a crunch at our end.

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

The ease of working with them, especially as they were very clear about what they would get done by when, and delivered on it.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of TillIT, a Saas company that works in the manufacturing space. We provide software that allows manufacturers to go digital and manage their processes and operations using the cloud.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nona Digital?

During the initial development phase of our digital platform, we received seed money to build our MVP. We needed to scale the team quickly to go on with development and bring external expertise to guide us through.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nona Digital helped us in three areas. First, their CTO reviewed the architecture that I had planned out and had in place to make sure that we were doing the right thing. Then, they provided two highly qualified resources that were quickly embedded into our team.

A senior and a junior software developer helped us build the application. We used AWS and Lambda on TypeScript. Additionally, we built an OData on .NET, which was also deployed as a Lambda service.

What is the team composition?

There were about five people in total. We were always in touch with their leader, and David (CTO) and their COO were involved. We also had a project manager for our sprint reviews and two developers to work on the project.

How did you come to work with Nona Digital?

It was a recommendation. Nona Digital’s CEO knew some of the key leaders in our parent company, so we decided to try them out.

How much have you invested with them?

The total was around $89,000 AUD (approximately $66,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them through September–November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measured the success based on quality. Since I wrote a lot of the code, I reviewed all the work through the development process. I can attest to the quality of the code, not only around the board delivered but also around the easiness of understanding the requirements. They overcame the technical challenges, and the development workflow was really pleasing and efficient.

How did Nona Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

We handled the project management, but Nona Digital delivered what they’d promised in terms of quality and availability of resources. They were based in South Africa, so we did everything remotely. Nonetheless, the process was pretty seamless because our team is scattered around Australia, so we’re used to that environment.

What did you find most impressive about them?

First, the biggest one was their skill. Developers’ skills can vary widely, and the output is exponentially proportional to it. Therefore, it makes a big difference when someone good is working because they can produce faster results.

Secondly, they quickly understood what needed to be done and kept the communication stream to the point, so we avoided rework and miscommunication. Finally, we enjoyed their sense of dedication and teamwork. Since they were an offshore capability, we feared that they wouldn’t commit, but we felt Nona Digital was part of the team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to my mind. Nona Digital excelled at what they do and how they do it, and the team delivered what we asked.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you can build trust with them and give them autonomy, they can improve their results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CIO of a Logistics and Warehousing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Nona Digital, and what were your goals?

We had a very old application running on even older infrastructure and had no support for the application. It is critical for our business that this application does not fail and if there are problems, it must be resolved in minutes. Nona's goal was to rewrite this application, add additional functionality and make it very resilient with inbuilt redundancy.

SOLUTION

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

We were researching vendors for other solutions and the main deciding factor was their proposed solution and their capabilities. They are very smart people.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Nona hosted workshops where the proposed system was designed and costed. As the application is only used at three sites for 8 - 12 hours per week, the proposed technology was AWS's Lambda. There are two key interfaces which were needed to be developed. These interfaces are using very old technologies and could not be changed due to inflexible partners. The key deliverable was a fully operational and reliable system.

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

There were 5 people who we dealt with. There was the project manager, main developer, analyst, designer and CEO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We implemented the new software without any downtime. The application performed very well and was well received by the industry. Although the project was not on time or budget, it was related to Scope Creep.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project management style was very proactive. Meetings were conducted very well with set agendas. The only real concern was the time zone differences. Nona did adapt and conducted meetings at unusual South African business times.

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

They have very clever and smart employees. That is their greatest strength.

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

Although not commercially feasible, moving the project team members to a better time zone would have assisted the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President of a real estate development company based in Philadelphia, PA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Nona Digital, and what were your goals?

We were looking to develop an app that would allow real estate developers to engage directly with the neighbors that would be impacted by new development. Currently, most neighbors do not have any input and do not have a direct dialogue with real estate developers so they can understand each other better.

SOLUTION

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

Finding an online solution that allows for the presentation of real estate projects and the management of multiple threads of dialogue, over many project phases, is a complicated challenge. We needed a vendor that could tackle the design, UX and development challenges across web, iOS and Android.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a two-month sprint to develop the strategy, design and flow of the app across every screen size (Web browser, iOS and Android). The app needed to present a complex real estate project in a friendly way and make it easy for neighbors and developers to engage in conversation within the app.

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

We had a design lead, a project manager and designer working with us every step of the way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Within 60 days the NONA team had worked through the technical issues while coming up with a very thoughtful design for every screen and every user interaction.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

NONA has a very well designed process that allows for maximum communication and efficiency. Regular video calls and shared screens on FIGMA allowed me to see AND discuss ideas and feedback at every step of the process.

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

Their depth of experience in handling complex technology challenges and superior design skills were outstanding. Most firms possess one or the other. Both technology and designed are delivered through a very well-managed project so communication remained perfect throughout.

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

No. NONA exceeded my expectations at every step of the process. I have had many frustrating experiences with design and development companies over the years and NONA has figured out how to manage these complex projects perfectly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Funder inc. which builds and operates the MyTrees mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Nona Digital, and what were your goals?

We wanted to build the first version of an IOS only mobile app which would lay the groundwork for our future mobile app development. Our team was focused on platform/backend while the Nona team worked on the mobile app.

SOLUTION

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

I selected Nona originally on the recommendation from a friend. We ultimately made the decision because of their experience in our tech stack and focus on mobile apps.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We first spoke with their tech lead to understand their experience in our tech stack, then proceeded with development once satisfied. They worked in 2 week iterations seperate from our team, until the app was in a state where we could integrate our team. At that point we shared processes. High level, the tech stack was Serverless AWS/React Native

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

3 resources with a floating 4th. 1 Jr Backend Dev 1 Senior Backend dev with React native experience 1 Senior Frontend dev with react native experience

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Within the first 3 months they delivered us a very well structured mobile app which we could build on top of.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They use agile software development principles, they were on time with their development and preferred to work in a non-augmented fashion.

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

Their internal culture and dedication to their processes are unlike most agencies we have worked with.

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

Staff augmentation was a bit tricky, but that was made clear to us at the beginning as it is not their preferred style of working.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the head of product at an identity, fraud, and location services provider. We mainly focus on KYC and regulate markets throughout India, the US, and the Pacific region.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nona Digital?

We needed their team's custom software solutions as we launched a B2C product, which wasn't our area of focus.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our expertise predominantly centered around B2B, so when we saw a market opportunity to launch a B2C product, we figured that we needed a different team to take on the project. Nona Digital took over our front-end development efforts by implementing product solutions that led to a customer-controlled UX. Once the product development was complete, we also needed their team to produce a solution and issue the same tech stack that our development teams could rely on for future updates and integrations.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 5–6 resources, including a project manager, developers, DevOps, and QA specialists. The staffing depended on the project phase.

How did you come to work with Nona Digital?

They were recommended to me by a colleague. I'd worked with Nona Digital's team on several projects under previous positions, and the consistent quality of their work convinced me to hire them for this particular project again.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in November 2020, and the work concluded in early June 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Nona Digital delivered the code and development work we needed. They executed each phase well while keeping our timelines and feedback in mind. We already introduced the product to the market, and the public's interest is still growing and exceeding our expectations as I speak. The positive feedback we received from our target market was our main success metric for Nona Digital's work — not only did we receive more user sign-ups, but more importantly, our purchase rate had an evident boost.

How did Nona Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via Microsoft Teams and Slack and rely on Jira and Confluence for project management. We had to deal with timeline delays when one of Nona Digital's resources had to leave just as we were about to launch the product, and while it was a challenging situation, it was nothing that we couldn't deal with. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Nona Digital was a flexible team that delivered the product and tech stack that we needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were pleased with their services, but they could consider refining their task delegation process to ensure that there's always a resource available to take on a task.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to negotiate your needs and timeline expectations early on in the partnership. Additionally, you must acknowledge the fact that there could be different price points for varying or additional services.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a technology-based company in the sports or outdoor exercise area. We’re in the early stages, but our services will include exercise route-finding, group-finding, and management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nona Digital?

We bought the domain, and we’ve focused everything on mobile application development. Once we’re over that big hurdle, we’ll follow with the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In summary, if we’d have the capital at the moment, we’d use Nona Digital for every process, from the prototype’s design and development to application and website development. At the moment, they’ve delivered a clickable prototype and its designs, and we’ve used Figma to do them. A lot of those designs will go into the app once it’s built. Also, they’ve provided a consultancy service to fine-tune the technical spec of the MVP so we can get the most accurate roadmap possible.

Since the MVP is a clickable prototype, there’s no genuine functionality. We can log into the app, and there’s a landing screen that displays the roots of a preprogrammed area and specific routes that we can click to access information. It feels how the application will feel, but it’s preprogrammed.

What is the team composition?

In the prototype phase, we had 5–6 people. At the latest stage, we have three.

How did you come to work with Nona Digital?

I already knew them. Nona Digital did development and maintenance for my previous business, which was in a completely different industry. Also, my brother is one of the directors there, but I only deal with David (CTO) and his designers. He doesn’t have to do anything with the operational side of things.

How much have you invested with them?

We probably went up to $30,000 AUS (approximately $22,000 USD) for the initial stage.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020, and our relationship is ongoing. We see great value in the project, and they’re happy to advise us at the moment. They can see value in our future partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At the moment, we can’t speak in terms of functionality and usability because there’s none. However, the clickable prototype looks and feels exactly as the app would be, and everyone has loved it. What they’ve produced so far is amazing, and the design is truly successful.

Also, the CTO comes from a high technical level, and he’s been able to break the functionality down into a granular level.

How did Nona Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

On the clickable prototype, the project management was fantastic. They had a dedicated manager oversee the whole process and make sure that we were also delivering on our side. Their team was very efficient, and it was a great experience all around.

We typically communicate through Zoom or Google Meets, but on the product side, we use Jira. We have a board that’s visible to everyone, and we comment on it. Additionally, I have a fortnightly call with the CTO.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attitude towards work is very collaborative. We don’t feel like we’re just another project. Nona Digital’s team has been excited about what we’re creating, so the whole experience has been far more collaborative than a pure business transaction.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything that I would’ve done differently. I don’t have anything negative on their side, just a negative about the software that is being using.

The software problem is with Figma alone and not other software that was used in the engagement — it’s a bit shortcoming and frustrating. In order to show the work to others, I’ve recorded my screen operating because I’m unable to view the prototype on my phone because of Figma.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your homework. Get as much information on what you’re trying to achieve and be as granular as possible so the information doesn’t have to be drawn out of you. If you articulate this in detail, it’ll maximize Nona Digital’s time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Developer Relations, Status.im, working for the wider Ethereum community.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Nona Digital, and what were your goals?

Create an interactive website to display data from a series of interviews conducted with the top Ethereum developers in the world in order to showcase opportunities for newcomers to our ecosystem and provide insight into where the best places to learn might be.

SOLUTION

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

Nona were the best agency I could find in terms of technical skill, and they were willing to complete the project within the budget I had.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

A responsive website, built in React, to display data from a series of interviews in a novel and engaging way: using components like word clouds, an searchable archive and many other neat little features. All of it is open source.

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

A Project Lead, Project Manager and a few engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The project was lauded at the time across the whole Ethereum community. We specifically did not implement analytics as it runs counter to our principles, but informal feedback was very positive.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Great communication, mostly over email. All work completed in GitHub: great management of issues and tracking of work done, and work still to be completed.

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

This was a unique project unlike any Nona had seen before. While the technical challenges were not very complex, the design requirements were and they pulled it off superbly. Their communication, flexibility, and willingness to explore with me created a wonderful and motivating environment.

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

I was happy with how it all unfolded.