Ready4S

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We run a small company developing Android applications as a side project.

What is your position?

I am a co-owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Ready4S?

I have developed a self-survey application through which users can create their own questionnaires. The user interface was not to my satisfaction, so I needed a company that would give the app a facelift without changing its back-end logic.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They've done a good job with the facelift overall. It was a seamless experience involving several design options from them. I could choose the one that I liked most, after which the new code for the app, including the updated GUI [graphical user interface] was delivered to me and deployed to Google Play.

How did you come to work with Ready4S?

Finding a developer proved a difficult task. There were many companies that were willing to start everything from zero, but not so willing to spend time digging into my code.

I had discussions with a company in Ukraine as well as with other developers on Elance [now Upwork], but this didn't lead me anywhere. The typical answer was that I would have to start everything from the beginning, increasing my costs. Ready4S were willing to accept the interface change project without charging for additional services that I didn't need. 

I initially submitted a review application to AppFutura. Ready4S responded with some improvement suggestions. I asked them if they could suggest a company that could handle the work. They directed me to their sister company, but I also considered some development teams in India and Pakistan. On the basis of their input on how the app should be reworked, I selected Ready4S.

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

The total development cost was around $1,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The current phase has been completed. The app has been published on Google Play, but it hasn't been popular enough to encourage me to continue the project. At the moment, the work is on hold.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

The project was completely successful. I was satisfied with their performance.

How did Ready4S perform from a project management standpoint?

The initial communication about specs and pricing with their owner came with some misunderstandings but, after everything was agreed upon, the work itself was completely seamless.

What distinguishes Ready4S from other providers?

Their graphic design capabilities were very good. I instantly felt that their proposed interface was visually attractive. I will definitely try to involve the Ready4S designer in another project.

Is there anything Ready4S could have improved or done differently?

They could be more transparent about their costs from the beginning. The initial misunderstanding we had was minor though.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are Clickedu. We are located in Barcelona, Spain, and we work with information systems for schools. Schools want to get all their information and their processes on a single platform, which is called Clickedu. This platform is an enterprise resource planning system for all the information processes that a school has to manage. This includes academic information, information for parents and a learning management system for students. In addition, Clickedu allows teachers to get information for their classes and collaborate with other teachers on the system.

What is your position?

I am the chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Ready4S?

Our system is website-based, and we felt that it was important to offer a mobile application system as well. We made some efforts with our own developers, but since we are not experts in mobile apps, we thought it best to find another company to develop our apps.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement.

They had to create a mobile app that was compatible with our website. It was important to establish effective communication from our developer team to Ready4S because sometimes we had to make changes in our system that affected the specifications for the app. It was important that we had the time to do that.

Our database is MySQL but we have created a web service, an IP [Internet protocol]-based in SCRAM Systems, which is how we communicate and how we ensure the security of the data between the app and Clickedu. It's very important for us to have confidence in the security of the data.

How did you come to work with Ready4S?

We first tried another company in Barcelona, but they were horrible. They did not work the way we needed within the timelines we required. We had many other companies that were interested in our project and, finally, we chose Ready4S to be the developers of our apps.

One of the reasons we chose Ready4S was that they work only on apps. In addition, we were searching for somebody who was genuinely interested in us, not just for the money, but because they believed in us. We needed somebody who believed in our project and in Clickedu. Ready4S met all of those criteria, and that's why we chose them.

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

We have spent somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 working with Ready4S.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics, metrics, or other feedback from this engagement?

With the version of the app developed by the first company we worked with, we had many problems and our users were not happy with the app. They said it crashed a lot, frequently had to be closed and reopened, and wasted a lot of memory.

With the app developed by Ready4S, we have received many good reviews for both the Android and iOS version. People love the new app. It is fluid and looks great. We did a presentation here at our headquarters in Barcelona for some of our clients. They loved the new app, design, and functions.

What distinguishes Ready4S from other providers?

I think the most important thing is that if we had a problem or were facing a tight deadline – as was the case during the first weekend we had the new app on the market – they would respond immediately. That kind of responsiveness is not too easy to find in a provider.

Another thing about Ready4S that we appreciated was that they not only were able to do what we asked, but also felt free to make suggestions and share their ideas about how the development of the app should go. They were an integral part of the development process, which was important because of our lack of expertise in app development. It was great to have that kind of a partner.

Is there anything Ready4S could have improved or done differently?

No. I don't think so.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

JRM Enterprises is a small company with less than 10 employees. We're located in Alabama and have been in business for 12 years.

What is your position?

I am the president of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Ready4S?

We needed help in developing an app that would generate revenue to our company through subscriptions and give value to its users in the world of fantasy sports. This was the first project of this kind we dealt with.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Ready4S has developed our app for both iOS and Android phones.

How did you come to work with Ready4S?

We found them through an online source. We posted a project proposal and received around 25 offers. We liked their rankings on this particular portal. We contacted four or five candidates and made our decision based on their portfolio and our conversation. Ready4S expressed a vested interest in the topic. The communication with them was much easier than anticipated.

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

The total development cost of the project is expected to be between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The development is ongoing. We hope to launch the app within the next couple of weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We're very much satisfied with Ready4S's performance. The feedback we have at this time is entirely anecdotal. We don't have any metrics yet because we haven't launched the app.

At this time, it's fully functional. We're currently only making small fixes to it. Everyone who has tried it has been impressed with its user interface and graphic design. We're tried to make the app as intuitive as possible without having many instructions. Ready4S have transformed what we had on paper into an app and helped smooth the edges on its user interface. The app functions as desired, and we're excited to get it launched.

How did Ready4S perform from a project management standpoint?

I would absolutely recommend them. I appreciate that they've been upfront about timelines and cost from the beginning. If we added additional features to the app, we negotiated as we went along. Communication has been essential. Throughout the five-month development process we've undergone, Ready4S have been in contact with us four times a week, every week. This has been helpful and comfortable to us. We never felt that we were at the bottom of their priority list.

What distinguishes Ready4S from other providers?

Each situation is unique. We're a small firm with an app development need that may have been considered minor to many developers. Ready4S have been extremely responsive, communicative, and fluid. Our app is complicated to some extent, but they've been able to marry the elements that we required in a visually appealing way. Overall, we're happy.

Is there anything Ready4S could have improved or done differently?

There was a language barrier between us, but it was not a huge issue. Ready4S have forgotten small details at times, like cosmetic changes. I know that they have huge, overarching priorities to take care of, so a few tweaks for our app may have become secondary for them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a social network.

What is your position?

I am the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Ready4S?

My objective is to bring a site-based community into the 21st century.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Ready4S provided iOS and Android mobile app development, and web design services for us.

How did you come to work with Ready4S?

We found them through a service called AppFutura, which provides ranking lists of app developers.

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

The total development cost was between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work is complete. The app has not been launched yet.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

They delivered a great application on time and on budget. We are happy and so are the users.

How did Ready4S perform from a project management standpoint?

I'm very satisfied with their performance. Ready4S was very good at creating schedules with milestones, and keeping me updated on them. They completed every task at the promised time.

What distinguishes Ready4S from other providers?

They're very good at keeping the client posted on progress. There are no surprises whatsoever. I was never worried that my app was not going to be delivered.

Is there anything Ready4S could have improved or done differently?

I don't think so. They seem to have the experience and knowledge necessary to complete projects successfully, actually educating me on how these undertakings should be approached.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a creative agency in Poland working for companies like Samsung, Procter & Gamble, Credit Agricole, and others, both in Poland and across Europe.

What is your position?

I am the creative director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Ready4S?

We outsource development work to them.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

We contracted them initially for development work on small mobile apps. Then, they worked on a big project for one of the biggest banks in Europe. They developed an application from scratch, based on our specifications, for Android, iOS, and the web. They also offer consultation work for our clients.

How did you come to work with Ready4S?

They were recommended by a competing agency with which we are friends. It was suggested we start with smaller projects, and we were soon convinced that Ready4S was good.

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

The cost per project is $50,000 to $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We currently have a couple of ongoing projects with Ready4S.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

They developed apps for internal company use, so the feedback we've received has come exclusively from our clients. It has been positive overall. I'm satisfied with Ready4S. They've done great development for the bank I mentioned before. The client offered additional work as a result. They are professional, and it's nice working with them – an overall smooth cooperation.

What distinguishes Ready4S from other providers?

I consider them to be friends, having worked together for two years. They offer good-quality work and are timely. I recommend them constantly.

Is there anything Ready4S could have improved or done differently?

I have had no negative feedback from my team. Everything they've done has been good.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company is called Zamel. We produce electronic devices from design to creating injection moldings and so on.

What is your position?

I am in charge of new projects and ideas. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Ready4S?

The last part of our design process is software creation. For example, we produce a set of home automation devices that control shutters, lamps, and more. We don't have a mobile development department in-house, and we needed a mobile application to interface with our devices. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The projects are large in size and very complicated. They entail more than a few screens and some graphics because they involve connecting with electronic devices, making the smart device act as a controller.

There are two layers that need to be completed: one is the connection with the API [application programming interface], consisting of the controls themselves, and the second one is the graphical experience.

We work together with them in this process for multiple app iterations. In working with Ready4S, it's very important that they know what we actually do with our electronic devices. Integration can be hard.

How did you come to work with Ready4S?

My colleagues attended a small fair in Krakow [Poland], at which they had several talks with mobile developers. We collected some information, checked about 10 companies, and chose Ready4S.

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

That information is confidential, but it was larger projects. These are complicated and difficult projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together for about 10 years. We've just completed two projects for home automation and are preparing the mockup for the next version of the mobile app. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I can simply say that are projects are very successful, so we continue to send them more work.

How did Ready4S perform from a project management standpoint?

Ready4S are great people who we've come to know personally. It's good to have more than a business relationship. In choosing Ready4S for our second project, we factored in not only their existing knowledge of our products, but also the attractive pricing they provided. They are a competitive choice.

What distinguishes Ready4S from other providers?

Ready4S fights to the end. During a project, there are many changes that we may want them to make, and they've been very flexible. Ready4S are a good company, and I'll consider them for any future projects.

Is there anything Ready4S could have improved or done differently?

No. I have no major complaints. All of their mistakes are fixed quickly, and they never charge or complain about correcting work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company is called Sportsfolio. We are engaged in sports activities, searching for sponsors of sports events. We are a startup but we’re growing quickly.

What is your position?

I am the founder of the startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Ready4S?

We recently launched a sports web portal. Considering it's aimed at running athletes, we wanted to have an app for people who wouldn't typically access it sitting in front of a computer. It is a mini version of the website, with the same functionality for people running outside or in the gym.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

They've developed our Android and iOS versions of the app. We were planning on working on one for Windows Phone, but considering that only 1% of our users use this platform, we decided not to.

How did you come to work with Ready4S?

It was word of mouth. We asked a few colleagues in the developing branch to name some companies, and we sent out our brief. We liked what we heard from Ready4S during the presentation.

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

It’s between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work is completed and we launched the app in September, 2015. We will work on some maintenance in the future to allow extended compatibility, but right now, we aren't working on anything.

We would like to work with them again. We have a few ideas for improvement, but we are working with partners, and have to decide where we want to put our money. Right now, we're planning the next season for the running portal. The mobile app is further down on our list of tasks to complete in 2016. We are pleased that our applications are functioning as intended currently.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We do use Google Analytics, but it's strictly connected to the website. They both use the same program interfaces and servers, so at the moment, we cannot distinguish where the traffic comes from, the app or the website itself.

How did Ready4S perform from a project management standpoint?

We chose Ready4S because we liked what we heard about them during the initial meeting. Ready 4S had strong communication from the start, and we understood each other's needs and limits. They were very proactive in contacting us, and never refused a challenge. As far as developers go, they're some of the best that I’ve met.

What distinguishes Ready4S from other providers?

They are not afraid to take on big projects, with big problems and questions. They treat it like a challenge, and won't refuse a challenge because they haven't done it before. If they receive a new request from us during the app development process, they will embrace it. This was exciting for us too, because it meant speeding up the process. Their attitude is their main selling point.

Is there anything Ready4S could have improved or done differently?

I don't think so. I haven't seen any restraints from them in developing the app. There were no major issues during the project.

BACKGROUND

Gannet Guard Systems S.A. is engaged in tracking and recovery of stolen objects. The company has operated in Poland since 1997. Our roots come from Scandinavia. The GanTrack module is used to protect construction machinery, cars, boats, caravans, and containers.

I am a project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We needed a tool designed for efficient fleet management that enables users to monitor the current vehicle location via GPS sensor mounted in each car as well as to analyze the parameters of the vehicles. 

The application should provide the user information about the route traveled by the given vehicle and the duration of its stops.

In addition, the product needed to provide information in the form of graphs showing average and maximum speed, total mileage, and fuel level. It also needed to display events occurring during the use of the vehicle.

SOLUTION

One of our business partners had recommended Ready4S, but we decided to test three other companies from Poland. Ready4S won the competition. 

We needed to draw the essence of a web-based system, rich in functionality, and present the data in a clear way on the screen of a tablet and phone. Integration with the database that processes the telemetry data from sensors was a challenge, too. This was not an easy application to build on iOS or Android, so we needed a strong development team.

Ready4S provided all of the following services: strategy, design, development, and testing. The comprehensive project took four months from start to finish.

We will start another phase of the project in 2016. The project is never completely finished since we want to add important functionalities this round.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Our first priority is high quality. The application was delivered on time and within the stated budget. Ready4S performed very well. They are very talented, and I was lucky to find them since many other developers can't handle our mobile projects.

There were no bugs or problems with the mobile project. We are also satisfied with their support and testing outcomes.

I can also happily report that our customers enjoy our product and are using it successfully. Most clients just use the web application, but we also offer a paid mobile option that many customers utilize. Security industry customers love to have real-time information at their fingertips. The project was a huge success, so we will continue to work with Ready4S for the next round of work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The American College of Prosthodontists is the association that represents the dental specialty of prosthodontics. I am the associate executive director and I lead communications and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ready4S?

To produce a new version of our iOS/Android app for board certification. Our existing app was five years old.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was introduced to Ready4S through my professional network, but I considered other proposals before selecting them. Their proposal was thoughtful and it came in at a good price.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They rewrote our apps with a new codebase that seamlessly integrated with existing functions (such as a CMS for asset storage and login to our database). They also provided new graphic design for the app that showed creativity and a good understanding of the subject of our app. They also deserve credit for being on schedule throughout the project.

What was the team composition?

I also found their project managers to be friendly and prompt with their communication.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Our apps were launched with plenty of time, bug-free!

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was a smooth and easy process. I look forward to working with them again.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The app was launched on-time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder of a startup that aims to improve sports communication by introducing a new group voice communication app capable of hands-free use.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ready4S?

We needed them to develop our Android app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a working MVP to introduce to winter sports.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them based on their reviews on Clutch.

Describe the project in detail.

We started with a series of discovery meetings. We prepared a work schedule that assumed four two-week sprints to prepare an MVP version of an app. They also integrated an API for a third-party communication provider.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, UI designer, two developers, an architect, and a QA resource.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The cooperation resulted in a great app design. We are still working on monetization.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had weekly update calls. Our PM updated us on a regular basis. We used Basecamp for project management and Skype for communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their creativity in the field of UI and their ability to find solutions made a difference.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could improve their communication and their preparation of formal documents. They could also offer better verification of suggested ideas.