Nordstone

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Director at TAPfit. We sell patented exercise equipment in the US and across the World.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop a mobile app to give our customers a better user experience. We had previously used a clunky Wordpress website with multiple plugins which kept failing. We engaged Nordstone to develop a mobile app which allowed our customers to have a better experience. We wanted the app to integrate with our Shopify store and Shopify database, as well as be personalized for each user.

One of our main needs was for each user to be able to cast the content to a TV or Airplay to a TV, so give the customer a better workout experience. We have always had great content, but our user experience was lacking and we did not have the expertise in-house to be able to develop such a custom app solution.

SOLUTION

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

We met with Ronak from Nordstone and we were instantly happy with his approach to the app development process. He was thorough, knowledgeable and went through all of our needs in great detail. We worked with the development team through the process and they were able to assist with our customizations and integrated the app to our Shopify store perfectly.

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

We had a series of deliverables for the project. The first deliverable was wireframes and a detailed scope. The Nordstone team delivered this work before schedule, and we worked together to iterate this document prior to the build. The second deliverable was the wireframes. We had to tease out a few customer journeys in this deliverable, and the Nordstone team were great to communicate with, and we worked together to get to the right solution.

In the last two build and execution phases, we worked iteratively with the Nordstone team. They were excellent at communication and solving any of our concerns. We had a bit of rework needed as my team teased out some of the user experiences, and the Nordstone team were able to accommodate these changes with ease.

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

A project manager was assigned to us and we primarily worked with him. He managed the communication with the development team. We found him easy to communicate with, very polite and professional.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are thrilled with our end result, we have had excellent communication on the app so far.

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

The project manager was easy to communicate with. We met via chat or FaceTime meetings, and we had a fortnightly call scheduled to address any outstanding items or queries.

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

This was our first mobile app and we had a fantastic experience working with Nordstone.

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

Thank you - excellent

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Sizzl is a new dating & social networking app. I am a one of 2 co-founders.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to redevelop our dating app. This included new branding, designs and features. We also wanted to change the way people paid for using a premium services. We decided to move away from the more traditional monthly subscription model and instead introduced micro payments for using certain features of the app. Nordstone were instrumental in helping achieve this.

SOLUTION

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

We had previously used 3 different developers on the project before we decided to rebrand and relaunch the app. Each previous developer came with different & difficult hurdles, so we decided to search for another. After putting out a tender on Upwork, and interviewing several candidates we decided to go with Nordstone. They had a great approach to the project and so far we have very impressed with their work.

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

The project was very complex as the app, in its previous guise, was full of issues and was also missing vital information for the transition. We worked closely with Nordstone on rebuilding the app. This including lots of new features and a total rebranding. Technologies used, to name but a few, were:

• HTML/CSS/Javascript/ iOS/Android development with React Native
• PHP/Yii2/MySQL/AWS Google Cloud APIs Redux

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

We have a project manager who is extremely hands on. We have weekly updates from him and his team with a bi-weekly meeting.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are yet to launch the product officially but the deliverables are met on time and any issues are dealt with immediately.

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

We are sent a weekly email with the scope of work that has been completed in that week. We then have an online bi-weekly meeting to discuss the project with the project manager and the senior members of his development team.

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

The team at Nordstone have been very impressive and their approach has been very calm & professional. The 2 founders of the app are not technologically minded and they are extremely patient with us when we ask questions and need to run through processes. The project was a bit of a mess when we approached Nordstone but they have provided us with a professional, user friendly app.

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

Not at this stage, we are extremely happy with their approach and quality of work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company helps people unlock their non-liquid capital to use what they already have to get what they need and want. I am the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Nordstone to build our MVP and fast-follower development work. Our goal was to launch a product in < 10 months from initial contract with follow on work delivered in the subsequent two quarters.

SOLUTION

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

I selected this vendor after extensive interviewing with firms across the globe. We selected Nordstone due to their high-caliber team, commitment to intellectual curiosity, and ability to see around the corners on our behalf.

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

Nordstone's scope was a full-stack build including everything from initial UX/UI all the way through payment gateways.
Technologies used include:

• JavaScript
• TypeScript
• HTML
• CSS
• JSX
• React Native
• React.js
• Express.js
• Bootstrap
• NativeBase
• ApexCharts.js
• MongoDB
• Mongoose.js
• Netlify.

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

There are four people in the core team, including the CEO, project manager, lead developer, and lead designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our project is ongoing but deliverables to date have exceeded expectations. Milestones are achieved on time.

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

Nordstone is highly responsive offering multiple communication channels including email and WhatsApp for faster responses. They also provide visual examples and demos of in progress work as often as possible.

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

Each team member is uniquely qualified to exceed in their role and add value to their clients. I'm impressed by their personal commitment to the project, which has helped me see beyond my own thinking.

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

I am a client that appreciates a high volume of communication but that gets in the way of project delivery - so striking the right balance between focusing on the work and updating clients is sometimes challenging.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a financial technology company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nordstone?

We needed a company that could develop a mobile app for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Nordstone to help us build web and mobile apps. They’ve recently developed a mobile banking app from scratch using React. The app has all the basic features of a banking app, such as allowing users to access information about their accounts and transfer money, but it also has added features that allow for cryptocurrency trading. Nordstone has handled the backend implementation with different partners such as Visa, Galileo, and other financial technology companies.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with the CEO and 3–4 developers from Nordstone.

How did you come to work with Nordstone?

We found Nordstone through a freelancing marketplace. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $250,000 on this project so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t publicly released the app yet, so we don’t have any specific metrics at the moment. But we can definitely say that it has been a great partnership so far. They are technically competent and professional.

How did Nordstone perform from a project management standpoint?

Nordstone has performed well in terms of project management. They meet deadlines every time, provide frequent updates, and are highly communicative.

We typically communicate through Slack, Google Meet, and WhatsApp. We use Trello for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with how quickly Nordstone was able to understand our needs and figure out ways to address them. They can translate complex ideas into easily understandable explanations for us, which makes it incredibly easy to work and communicate with them. This has saved us a lot of time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They are a little bit more expensive, but we do get what we pay for in terms of the quality of the deliverables.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to be as detailed as possible when communicating your needs and project goals. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and request detailed information from them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of a sports company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile App

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Nordstone to accomplish?

• Build a mobile App

SOLUTION

How did you find Nordstone?

Upwork

Why did you select Nordstone over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Nordstone were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Nordstone was meant to deliver a complete mobile App for our company, proposed to complete and launch on IOS and Android in 10 weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Milestones.

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

The mobile App was not delivered anywhere near the propsed timelime. The product that was delivered was faulty with many broken links, and a ridiculously high crash rate. Consumers could not use the App. Nordstone failed to resolve the issues. Over 18 months later the App was still not functional.

What was your primary form of communication with Nordstone?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Not impressed. They failed to resolve any issues.

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

Delivered a working product and not stolen my money.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and CEO of a social networking and gaming company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nordstone?

We needed to build an MVP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nordstone developed a mobile app for iOS and Android from scratch. We initially provided limited documentation. The app was a cross between a social media platform and a mobile gaming app, and the core functionality was video playback and editing. They built it using React Native for the frontend, Node.js and Express for the backend, a MongoDB database, and AWS for hosting and email relay.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates in total.

How did you come to work with Nordstone?

I found them on Upwork. I interviewed about 10 developers, and Nordstone had the clearest understanding from day one. They knew how to turn our business problem into a technological solution.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $100,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2021–March 2022; it was a six-month engagement. Additionally, we’ve had some iterative builds, and they currently provide maintenance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still developing the product, so we don’t have applicable metrics. However, Nordstone had clear milestones and good documentation.

How did Nordstone perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered on time and within budget. We communicated through a mix of phone calls, emails, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were knowledgeable about the technological process of creating a new product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Vestr is a social platform for investing, I am CEO and founder

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Mobile App Development

SOLUTION

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

Upwork, quality of work and expertise in the fields

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

Develop the app on iOS and Android

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

Project manager and developers (3)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

1000 users, 48 five star reviews

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

Very clear communication and very good work ethic. Everything was on time and up to par.

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

The quality for the price, AMAZING

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

no