OnGraph Technologies

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a contractor and project manager in charge of the global service system at a manufacturing company headquartered in Japan. My client has about 2,000 employees worldwide. The app is stable and all its previous issues were solved.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what reason(s) did your company hire OnGraph Technologies?

My client’s web application was developed using Oracle and PHP and it had a performance issue. Because of that, users had to spend a significant amount time waiting in front of the screen every day. There was a problem in the database design and programming style, so my client decided to re-write it using Ruby on Rails and MySQL.

What were your goals for this project?

My client wanted to improve the performance and stability of their web app by re-writing it. They also wanted to make a quick modification to it.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We made a specification document for 1 screen and asked 3 vendors to come up with an estimate. We picked 2 vendors and let them build the screen. We selected OnGraph because their application programming is clean and they built it very fast.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected the vendor, our main developer made a base application and we asked OnGraph to develop it following its coding style. We use Redmine to track each screen’s issues.

What was the team composition?

I was the project manager and there was a main on-site frontend developer in the U.S. and 2 frontend developers from India.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After about 1 year of development, we released it to users and had a 6-month period of ongoing bug fixes and support. My client was very happy with the performance of the web application. We also covered almost all of the pending issues of the old app within this period. The performance of the screen improved by about 80%. The platform is also very stable and has almost no downtime.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The developers were very quick at programming, at understanding our requirements, and at learning our programming style.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their development speed is significant.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the principal and program director for Jaarvis Accelerator, a global accelerator for startups based in Gurgaon, India. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what reason(s) did your company hire OnGraph Technologies Corporation?

To meet the tech needs of all the startups within our cohort, we hired OnGraph to supplement our development while we concentrate purely on the business side.

What were your goals for this project?

Our primary objective was to find a development partner who clearly understands the startup ecosystem and provides a distributed team for meeting varying needs of multiple startup firms. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’d created a developer ecosystem for telecommunications providers globally, and we had a shortlist of vendors within our database with high ratings and strong portfolios. When we reached out to several firms to discuss our needs, we soon realized that OnGraph fit our requirements perfectly.

Describe the project in detail.

During development, OnGraph was understanding and tailored the payment cycles and timelines to the startups, which greatly helped them in developing their technology despite having limited capital initially.

What was the team composition?

Their teams are not dedicated to each startup, but they meet timelines consistently to avoid jeopardizing any ongoing business efforts. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within a short span of time, we’ve initiated 4 development projects with OnGraph. One has been finished, and the rest are nearing completion within the next few months.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

OnGraph provides a constant project manager who handles all the individual calls they have with our startups.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re both courteous and flexible in working with startups, and they really understand our business landscape and workflow. They meet our timelines and are happy to explain concepts in non-technical terms.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We have not come across any issues so far.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Audience Unlock is a tech company. I’m the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OnGraph?

I hired them to scope out the technology we’re building. They're my tech team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The technology is similar to AdTech, though it’s not traditional. It’s a mobile content distribution system. Our platform is in JavaScript but mobile focused in both mobile web and mobile app.

We had to develop a new type of a sophisticated server. At the time, they didn’t have AdTech because serving technology was not their specialty, mobile apps were. This turned out to be a plus because they didn’t have any preconceived notions of what things should or shouldn't do. We developed an app together for our technology, and they went outside what they normally do. We wound up creating an amazing server.

What is the team dynamic?

We mainly work with Baati [Director/Delivery & Operations, OnGraph Technologies] and Guarav [Delivery Head, OnGraph Technologies] because they are the project manager and lead engineer, respectively. They have a whole team of people working under them. If I need 32 hours of work done, they could get it done in under 24 hours.

How did you come to work with OnGraph?

Their CEO had heard about a project I was doing and volunteered to work on it for free because it fascinated them. We never did that project, but I was impressed by the offer. So when I needed to hire a team for a technology that I just got funded, I went out to India to meet and work with them for about a week. It was an amazing experience. It’s taken me a long time to find a really reliable tech team that understands me. I want to continue working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

Over $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014 for another project, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone in our company is happy with them, especially our investors. They want to make referrals for OnGraph, as they're always dealing with other entrepreneurs who need a good tech team.

How did OnGraph perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent, incredibly reliable, and have lots of integrity, as evidenced when they informed us of a billing error they'd made. Every turnaround time we requested, we got. We email but usually use Skype. I also felt comfortable putting Baati in a few client-facing conversations on email chains. Her and Amit’s [Director of Business Development, OnGraph Technologies] communication is excellent; some of their team members are difficult to understand, but it's a minor thing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're really into innovation and excited about working with me, as I thrive on new types of products and technologies. They're eager to wrap their heads around figuring out certain kinds of problems, which is where I enjoy working with them the most. Baati and Amit are like family to me now, and I wouldn’t be where I am right now, as a developer, without them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The time zones are difficult, and India is very strict with how their office culture works and what the work hours are. They have a lot of holidays. We’re an early stage company, so we deal with it. As we ramp up, however, we'll have to work with people in our time zone too. Other than that, the individual, personal performance of everyone on the team I worked with is top notch.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a premier online service provider in the real estate domain. We make an online platform available where apartments can be posted for rent, and users can search using photos, reviews, etc. Through the platform, one can connect with apartment owners to finalize their decision. Presently, we are focused in Germany.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what reason(s) did your company hire OnGraph Technologies Corporation?

Since we became associated with them in our early days, we were looking for cost-effective yet reliable developers.

What were your goals for this project?

We were seeking a company we could rely upon and that would not need a lot of hand-holding except for the initial weeks. We connected in an outsource model and only met a couple of times face-to-face.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was directed by a friend to OnGraph. He had some work done, and they were reliable. I decided to reach out to them and evaluate them, along with some other local and outsourcing agencies. Marketplace sites were the place to go when outsourcing this type of service. I evaluated 3–4 companies, but the one which most impressed us was OnGraph. I looked at their website, past work, and team.

Describe the project in detail.

OnGraph is developing our web app in Wordpress and custom PHP. The platform will be available in German and English, and it will feature an admin panel and user website. I rely a lot on the team's recommendations and consulting provided.

How much have you invested with them?

The budget for this product was not particularly defined as we needed someone who could scale up and down as per performance in the market. That's exactly what we have been able to do. Over the past 3 years, we have spent upward of $80,000. Currently, there are no constraints around the budget, but with growth momentum and user acceptance, we might move into other areas of Europe, which would require additional budgetary allocation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I would not have continued working with them for more than 3 years had there been communication or quality issues. They have adjusted to our schedule and speed and have been very supportive. They have been an integral part of what we are today.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I’m quite impressed with the project management. OnGraph has a good system for follow-up, and they’ve kept in touch through regular meetings on Skype. I am kept in the loop on all details, so I’m happy overall. Also, there are daily update emails and weekly calls. They are prompt in the scheduling of communication needs. I work directly with a project manager who is quite experienced in design. We use Trello as a project management tool, so I see all that happens in the development process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Aside from their technical expertise, their communication is the most impressive. They make sure that all possible issues (timezone issues, approach to work, or language issues since German is not their comfortable language) are being looked into promptly and necessary action is being taken.

On the technical front, they have a wide variety of skill sets available among their resources and hence, they already have exposure to anything new we think of trying.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Overall, there is nothing that stops me from giving a 5 out of 5. However, there is always a scope of improvisation and optimization. It could be as small as getting comfortable with some German terms for better communication and relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

GradReady is a technology company with 40–50 employees and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. We provide technology solutions to make students’ learning experience more engaging and efficient. Our main products are online solutions for GAMSAT and UMAT Exams. Our target market is Asia Pacific and Europe.

I work as Software Manager and am responsible for overseeing all IT operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OnGraph?

As a technology-driven company, we need to ensure that we adapt to the latest technology for our student solutions. We were looking for a vendor to provide advanced IT solutions so we could provide an optimal user experience and improve our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They stepped up our frontend and backend website development for greater efficiency. They provide Ruby on Rails development and HTML/CSS [cascading style sheets]/JavaScript design. They got us up-to-speed with cloud-based IT technology, including Amazon Web Services, Heroku, and Digital Ocean.

They also use React along with their server-side knowledge to maintain our website infrastructure.

We’re continually improving the site. Sometimes changes comes from a staff or admin perspective, or we want to enhance the student experience with new features.

What is the team dynamic?

There are 5 team members working on the project.

How did you come to work with OnGraph?

Our main criteria for a service provider was a proven track record on projects of our scale. Further, we wanted to ensure the quality of their deliverables and their ability to stick to timelines and budgets. We went through technical rounds with OnGraph to understand their capabilities. We assigned tasks to their developers to assess their work.

We worked with several providers initially, but OnGraph proved to be one of the best among them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them a few years ago, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have end metrics to share because the project is ongoing. We do measure performance based on the time it takes for features to go live. Based on this and other measurements, it’s clear that OnGraph has helped improve our site performance and is providing optimal-quality work on our desired timeline. Our modules have helped us improve overall student and staff experience.

We are happy working with OnGraph and plan to continue. They have a track record of providing highly reliable web and IT infrastructure services.

How did OnGraph perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via Slack for normal chats and use Google Hangouts for video calls. We also use WhatsApp for urgent issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

OnGraph has delivered every task we’ve thrown at them with high quality work at an affordable price. They’ve provided highly effective and efficient solutions for both us and our customers. Their web solutions are simple and cost-effective, even with complex user requirements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their communication skills at the developer level could improve, as well as their internal project management.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the editor of artist-info.com, which focuses on documenting modern and contemporary art exhibitions with their artists and curators at both current legacy exhibition venues worldwide, from 1880 to the present. I’m responsible for IT management, web development, services structure, and content management.

By making exhibition histories searchable online across decades, we’re offering the art world a new and groundbreaking resource. Users can research the profile of artists, exhibition venues, and curators to explore and develop valuable connections and future recognition. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OnGraph Technologies?

We hired them to assist with a complete relaunch of our website, which first went online in 1996. The database existed, but our content and audience were constantly growing, so we needed a more advanced edition. The process for searching the data stayed the same, but everything else was rebuilt from scratch.

To make this fourth edition, we drafted a range of complex tasks, covering data migration from the previous edition, database development, and development of backend and frontend web layout, including mobile-responsive web design, SEO, payment facilities, and various services for registered users like community features and content management. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we asked OnGraph to create all the backend and frontend pages as HTML5 files. For the next milestone, they added the database and functions to the HTML5 layout.

From the beginning, we wanted to use CakePHP. Some of the features were clear, but I had to rely on their experience for solving the complexity of our user management. The site is a completely custom, hand-coded site, with nothing out of the box. Every page and layout was developed by our team, and we brought it online step by step with OnGraph. The technologies we used also included CSS3, Gephi for data visualization, Sigma, AbeBooks API, Amazon Web Services, PayPal Payment Gateway, and SuperMailingList.

Developing and publishing the fourth edition of the site was only the first step. We also wanted to find a partner that could provide future support and maintenance, query improvement, bug fixes, and updates to keep our technology current.

What is the team dynamic?

Four people worked on the site, but I don’t know how many people there are at OnGraph. I communicated with the chief developer, who maintained oversight, and others were working under him.

How did you come to work with OnGraph Technologies?

I did a lot of research to find the right company with the necessary range of skills. All of the programs I found in Frankfurt or in Germany required us to use different specialists. After several weeks, I found OnGraph on Elance. I had a number of offers, and it was difficult to figure out which firm to select. I chose OnGraph because they were completely realistic and reliable, and I appreciated their clear response. Their professional experience with large projects convinced me. We set up milestones, starting with the basics and then adding other components and details as needed.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2011. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website wouldn’t be the top art resource worldwide if I hadn’t reached out to OnGraph. As of September 2017, the site now includes data from 172,700 artists and 7,170 curators for 630,300 exhibitions at 12,084 venues in 1,473 cities and 163 countries. Registered users can now benefit from advertising services like exhibition announcements, artwork offers and requests, artist portfolios, and community features to extend their network.

The site is growing, but it’s difficult to describe the success. I’m involved in our SEO and the website’s structure. We developed these features further, so we can support many more users than before. I had to trust OnGraph for the details. They weren’t exactly the origin of all our improvements, but they professionally managed everything that I requested—even complex items.

How did OnGraph Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Although the site is complex, we started from scratch and planned specific milestones together, dividing the project into small steps. OnGraph understood our goals with minimal communication. We coordinated tasks through email and prepared documents explaining the layout and functionality. We rarely spoke to each other.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re genuine and professional, and they follow instructions well. I couldn’t handle this project by myself. I couldn’t have reached these goals with a partner that was superficial or slow to suggest ideas. OnGraph really came alongside us and helped us succeed.

Their active and thoughtful approach was evident throughout the process, and their programmers were both skilled and experienced in the right technologies. When something went wrong, fixing the issue was easy.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, I would like to know more precisely how certain items are developed. Without well-described tasks, reliable communication, and feedback, a successful web development partnership is impossible. Since we don’t communicate often, I have to trust that they are not wasting time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and CEO of Gigrep, which is a startup that helps connect gig promoters and bands. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OnGraph Technologies Corporation?

We hired OnGraph for ongoing iOS and Android app development as well as Ruby on Rails development.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to get our MVP [minimum viable product] ready for customers to use. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found OnGraph through Upwork.

Describe the project in detail.

Our app was already partly complete when OnGraph started to work on it. We provided some wireframes and documentation throughout the project. OnGraph worked well with us, and we continue to use their services.

What was the team composition?

OnGraph provided a Ruby on Rails development expert, who handled the backend and website implementation. They also assigned separate developers for iOS and Android apps. Nikhil [Delivery Manager, OnGraph Technologies Corporation] was always available when we needed help. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is still ongoing, and we are excited about the progress so far.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We manage the workflow through Trello as per OnGraph's suggestion, which has proved to be a useful tool. OnGraph was responsive and completed most tasks in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The whole team is reliable and committed. Everyone involved in the project has been professional and conscientious. We’ll continue to use their services for the foreseeable future.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are satisfied with Ongraph's work overall, so no suggestions for improvement come to mind. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m founder of a recruiting platform and an iOS app for social media and food delivery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OnGraph Technologies?

I needed someone to help me with both of my projects.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goal for the recruiting platform was to have a responsive website. For the other project, we wanted a responsive, clean, and functional app in which users can interact with each other and order food.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them on Upwork.

Describe the project in detail.

I provided detailed instructions, designs, and mockups for all the pages.

What was the team composition?

There were 3 people involved in the work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still in the testing phase.

How effective was the project management?

They were excellent to work with in terms of the backend, but their designs had too many issues, so I had to find my own designer. The mobile development work was good but there were always problems that had to be highlighted by me or my team before they were fixed.

I expected a more proactive approach towards bug fixing before delivering the app. Timing has also been an issue; we’ve been delayed by months.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

OnGraph is very responsive, easy to communicate with, and good at backend work.