Saffron Edge

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a New Delhi-based tech company. I am the CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We initially engaged with Saffron Tech to get our website up and running. We have worked with Saffron Tech on multiple projects for various customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech developed our website, and also provided organic SEO [search engine optimization] and pay-per-click. We needed to take care of our complete online presence, including Facebook and LinkedIn marketing. Saffron Tech also took care of this. 

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

I found Saffron Tech via Google and discovered that their CEO was an old friend.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

The cost of Saffron Tech's services has been $15,000 to $20,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Saffron Tech in 2011.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Many companies provide similar work to Saffron Tech, especially in India. However, I haven't found the same level of quality and commitment that Saffron Tech provides. Rather than having to tell Saffron Tech what I want, they've often been in the position to tell me what I want. Saffron Tech has the necessary acumen to understand exactly what I need. 

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

I find Saffron Tech to be well organized.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

They understand the customer much better than other companies I've engaged with. Saffron Tech is more involved in the process, compared to others.

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?

I have no suggestions for Saffron Tech.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

I would simply advise customers to work with Saffron Tech, go with the flow, understand their directions, and be open-minded. Saffron Tech has some crazy ideas which should be listened to.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company was founded 3-4 years ago in Dubai, in order to tackle the very high youth unemployment rate in the region. We're a job portal connecting university students and recent graduates with different employment opportunities in the region. When it comes to users, we have 2 very broad sets: candidates and employers. 

I am the product manager of the company, handling everything related to technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

When our company was started 3-4 years ago, we were looking for a technology partner that could come in and walk us through best practices for developing our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech has been our technology partner, helping us build the platform from the ground up. Whenever it comes to any questions about moving forward or making upgrades, Saffron Tech acts like our consultant.

We were creating our platform from scratch and had a general idea of what needed to be done, but when it came to specifics and alternatives, Saffron Tech acted as a consultant/chief advisor for our company, suggesting the best technology practices for us to move forward. We were given use cases against which to measure what we were looking to do.

Saffron Tech helped us with the design and development for the first iteration of our site. We handled its design ourselves for the relaunch in 2015, but Saffron Tech handled everything from development to testing.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

Our co-founders had a very good idea of what we wanted to achieve as well as a budget in mind for what we were looking to do. Based on these factors, Saffron Tech was chosen as the best solution.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

The annual budget for Saffron Tech's work is around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our company started working with Saffron Tech 3 years ago. They are still working with us. The work we do with Saffron Tech is done through continuous development projects that are broken into different phases.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Saffron Tech has gone above-and-beyond. They're an honest and ethical team, so dealing with them has always been easy. 

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Saffron Tech has remained available during any unforeseen issues, even over weekends. Their project managers have always worked hard to obtain the resources that we need for our project.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

Saffron Tech's upper management met us in person at the start of the project, in order to talk to us about our requirements. They were knowledgeable enough to let us know about any problems, which we could encounter and suggested more practical alternatives. In general, Saffron Tech has been clear about our expectations from the start.

I haven't dealt with many other companies which were as flexible as Saffron Tech when it came to wanting to change certain tasks  in our scope of work..

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?

Saffron Tech could improve quality testing.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

Clients should ask many questions. Saffron Tech is a knowledgeable and ethical group, so they can address any doubts about moving forward, in terms of both the technology and the business needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner and one of the partners of Scarlett Ryan Consulting. We are a boutique marketing agency located in central New Jersey that specializes in small to medium sized companies. I am also the online project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We do a lot of the content and creative side, and we wanted someone to do the backend development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We reached out to Saffron Tech to be the development arm of our website business and they did our first website. When I began to talk to their staff, I realized they had a lot more to offer. We’ve started to use them for SEO and they pretty much write the proposals for me, which is amazing. I just need to edit it, print it, and hand it to the client. They have done some design work when I didn’t have time to give them any visuals. They came back with some great artwork.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

Saffron Tech contacted us and I decided to hire them for 1 project. I liked what they did with the first project so we started giving them more work. As we got to know the team, they wanted critical feedback because they want to get better at how they serve their clients.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

The average project they’ve completed has been around $1,000 to $1,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project 6 months ago, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Saffron Tech programs very cleanly. I have worked with other companies where the developers leave a lot of space junk in a WordPress website. If they don’t understand something, they’ll get clarification instead of guessing what I want. I have customers that are extremely happy because the product was exactly what they wanted. If I find an issue after we’ve paid for and taken possession of the work, Saffron Tech they will take care of it. Also, the Saffron Tech team is great at customer service.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

They have dedicated teams to the graphic design, backend coding, and Internet marketing, so you know who to contact with questions. They are on Skype and we can see who the person is and make sure that everyone understands what we’re asking for.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

My account manager at the top of his Skype profile says “Mistakes are an opportunity for us to serve our client better.” That attitude has made me a devotee of Saffron Tech.

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?

They need to make their conduit software for project management easier to understand, especially for non-technical clients.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

You need to have a lot of conversations up front to understand how they are set up. Then, you can utilize Saffron Tech to a much better capacity if you have that understanding from day 1.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We have developed an event photo and video sharing app. I am the founder and chief executive officer of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed assistance in scoping the architectural layout of our application and taking it forward into material UI/UX [user interface/user experience] designs, make a proof of concept, and ultimately develop and launch the product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech has been our development partner for the app. Their involvement has started from day one by putting ideas on paper and specking out what the potential of the application could be, what architecture needed to sit behind it, and what functionalities could be integrated into it, given the available features of iOS at the time. We proceeded to a full development phase from there.

Saffron Tech has assisted with arranging certain business introductions and helped promote awareness, but we've not officially engaged them in any marketing activities.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

I was introduced to Saffron Tech during a visit to New Delhi. I wanted to have a look at their team size and managers, as well as Saffron Tech's previous work, in order to gauge how they could work with international clients. I found that certain Indian developers had substandard capabilities on the UI/UX front, so I was careful to make sure that Saffron Tech could meet my standards. Cost was also a factor.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

The cost of our project with Saffron Tech was slightly less than $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The main chunk of the work has been completed. Our app is fully developed and launched, but there is an ongoing scope for minor updates as we adjust for new iOS and Android OS releases.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Saffron Tech has developed a good product that we were able to launch. The app received decent reviews. Many people would be taken aback if told that the app was made by an Indian developer. It's on par with Western standards, so it's great that we've been able to finish the app for its price.

I don't think that metrics and rating are purely a function of an app's quality. Much more goes into this, like the marketing budget, exposure, and what someone does with a product once it's been delivered. That said, we've been able to surpass 10,000 downloads organically, without any marketing. We have a rating of 4.7 on the Play Store and also have close to a 5-star rating on Apple's App Store. Reviews are positive as well.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Saffron Tech is a good team. They're diligent in making sure that clients are looked after, and Saffron Tech maintains operations outside of India, including in the United States. We can always reach out to them, especially to Saffron Tech's 2 founders, who are available to any queries that need to go to that level.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

Overall, I've been satisfied with Saffron Tech. They have good communication and responsiveness, and I wouldn't have been able to get the same level of value from a United Kingdom-based company.

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?

There is a difference between Western and Eastern cultures in terms of design, but people have still been impressed with our product.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

I advise clients to spec things out fully, from the start, be clear in terms of what they need to be delivered and spend time mapping that goal from day one. Saffron Tech will give their time and answer any questions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We provide an online portal that matches people with volunteering opportunities in India and 2 countries in southeast Asia. We have an online portal as well as mobile apps. I am the founder and chief executive officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We are outsourcing our entire technology development and maintenance to Saffron Tech.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech has been developing and maintaining our website for the past 3 years [since 2013]. Saffron Tech has briefly worked on SEO [search engine optimization] for us, and we've also used them for Android development, which is now in its final stages.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

We reviewed a couple of local technology vendors in New Delhi. The most valuable and capable option proved to be Saffron Tech.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

The average yearly cost of our work with Saffron Tech is more than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Saffron Tech for 3 years and have no plans to stop.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We are definitely satisfied with Saffron Tech. They've been very supportive of our company. At one point, our site crashed due to excess traffic, which we had not planned for. Saffron Tech proved very supportive in these cases, even on nonworking days.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Even though we've had to go through multiple iterations and scope changes, Saffron Tech has always cooperated with us.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

Saffron Tech has been great so far and has kept very strict timelines.

Are there any areas where Saffron Tech could improve?

The design quality was not up to our expectations initially, but Saffron Tech has improved significantly through the years.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

I would suggest for clients to be clear and precise with their scope and objectives, in order to receive the results they want exactly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a Kuwait-based company working in the industrial automation field. We're the number-one distributor for many multinational companies.

I am the finance operations manager of the company. I support the chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

Even though our company is close to 50 years old, we still didn't have a website. We tried to build one in the past, but failed for various reasons, partly because this was a very big task. We provide close to 10,000 items, and putting all of them online was a daunting task.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech was tasked with creating an online presence for the company, which we can use for marketing and exposure. Our second e-commerce project with Saffron Tech will be for a sister company.

Saffron Tech has been helpful in providing guidance. I work in the corporate finance area and have a background in chemical engineering. I knew what I wanted in terms of an end-product, but had never worked on a project of this kind. Whenever I got stuck, Saffron Tech guided me towards where we needed to go. I find this to be Saffron Tech's most valuable asset.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

I did an online search, looking for a platform that would give me a ranking on developers from multiple regions. I found a list on which Saffron Tech was within the first 2 positions. The other company I contacted was from Kuwait and based on their reputation, I knew that the ranking was correct. Saffron Tech had competitive pricing, and the information about them was accurate. Saffron Tech's business development person was very good and took the time to guide me through the process.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

Our projects with Saffron Tech will have a total cost of around $8,000. We received quotes from other firms 3 times higher for the same work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Saffron Tech since June 2016, and have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I have been satisfied with Saffron Tech. Our website is also hosted by them and has had some technical glitches, not allowing me to log in. I can send Saffron Tech an email, and they will respond right away and address the issue. I have an American approach, letting Saffron Tech know whenever I'm frustrated with something. They've responded to this well.

The website hasn't been launched yet, so I have no metrics.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Saffron Tech's business developer and their project management team have been very good.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

I have been pleasantly surprised with how good of a fit we have, given the cultural differences. Saffron Tech has an understanding of how the West operates, and they utilize this knowledge.

I have been pleasantly surprised with Saffron Tech's creative side, which is a common criticism for Indian companies. Whenever there was a gap in details, Saffron Tech covered it with their own creativity.  

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?

Technical issues, like Saffron Tech's servers, could be improved. Other than this, the collaboration with Saffron Tech has been good.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

I advise clients to get details down from the beginning, in order to have a clear view of what the project will be. We haven't had any issues with Saffron Tech by doing this.

It's also important for clients to establish a relationship from the beginning, and build trust. We've spent a lot of time talking with Saffron Tech. As an example, I’ve become Facebook friends with our business developer, which isn't something that would happen in the US.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company organizes wildlife safaris for people in India, Sri Lanka, and Africa. I am the Director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed to develop our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech has built our website and helped regarding internet marketing, including SEO [search engine optimization], as well as Facebook and Instagram work. We have frequent live broadcasts, and Saffron Tech has helped us identify our target audiences, and what content we should post.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

We approached 7 vendors in Mumbai and New Delhi and chose Saffron Tech because their contact understood our business the best. Even Saffron Tech's developers had a good idea of what we were looking for, and were quick to respond to our queries.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

The cost of our project with Saffron Tech has been around $6,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Saffron Tech in April 2015, and have an ongoing relationship. The website has been completed, but we continue to add new features to it, from time to time, using Saffron Tech. Our latest development project started in June 2016 and took 2 months to complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I'm very happy with how things have worked out with Saffron Tech. I've worked with other developers in Mumbai in the past, and Saffron Tech has been able to deliver the job a lot quicker.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

They understood our business, and what I wanted the site to look like when it went online.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

There were times when I identified changes for the website late at night, but I could contact Saffron Tech's team, and see the work completed within a couple of hours. Instead of working within fixed hours, I could talk to Saffron Tech at any time. Saffron Tech also made sure that our clients in Africa had good access to the feeds.

We have recommended Saffron Tech to a partner company in the UK, and they plan to use them in the future.

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?

I cannot think of anything. Saffron Tech's team has been very cooperative. There were times when it was difficult for me to explain issues, but Saffron Tech could identify what I wanted to be developed.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

Clients should be as clear as possible with the developers. Saffron Tech will make the process easy for people who aren't familiar with technology, bringing the business online.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a furniture design and manufacturing company distributing products within the United States and Canadian markets. I am an employee who helps manage the project.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed to develop a website and update product listings on it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech developed our website based on existing designs and helped with its maintenance. It is Java-based, and Saffron Tech also built an applet for it. Our site doesn't have e-commerce capabilities and acts only as a catalog. We sell our products through clients. We had a significant number of products to list, numbering in the hundreds, so it was a lengthy project, but Saffron Tech did a good job. I acted as a liaison during the process.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

Saffron Tech was selected 1 to 2 years before I started working for the company.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

I don't have an exact figure, but I know that it was a fair price, compared to what we received.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our project with Saffron Tech started in November 2015. It took 1 to 2 months to complete and finished within our scope.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The site is simply a product page, and we receive minimal traffic for it, so there hasn't been much user feedback.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Saffron Tech was responsive whenever we needed something, which I appreciated.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

Given the scope of our project, Saffron Tech​'s​​​​​​ timeliness was very good, and we got great value.

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?

For the scope of the project, it was a good process for us.

 What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

Clients should provide many details, telling Saffron Tech exactly what they need. Saffron Tech will usually be able to deliver or offer a workaround.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the IT manager for Leyou Technologies Holdings Limited, a holding company that currently own 2 online game development companies. One is Digital Extremes in Canada, the other is Splash Damage from the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the challenge that you were trying to address when you approached Saffron Tech?

We needed to update our company website and make it more dynamic.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech developed our company website based on our requirements. They are hosting the website for at least a year. We’ve asked them to solve any difficulties that may arise along the way. They also made recommendations along the way during development.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

First, we shortlisted potential web developers and looked at their previous projects. We then talked to their representatives for thoughts on our requirements. Then, we compared the pricing and development time needed for the project. After this process, we ended up choosing Saffron Tech.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?  

We paid $12,000 for 4 months of development.

What is the status of this engagement?

During December 2015, we spent half a month negotiating on the project. We started outlining and preparing in January 2016. The website development work was finished by the 1st of April 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The website was finished on time and according to our requirements. We are satisfied with the final results.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

Saffron Tech was knowledgeable and they gave solutions to the problems that we faced.

Are there any areas Saffron Tech could improve?
We should have spent more time on the usability study and debugging.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The Amazing Group is focused on investment banking, real estate, and asset management. We serve clients in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. I serve as chairman and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We wanted to find providers who could execute our website design vision and development. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech was tasked with developing a website for our group. We have also used them for creating another website.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

I contacted and interviewed the highest-ranked website design firms and found Saffron Tech to be the best possible partner because they had the right expertise and were straight-forward.

How much have you invested with Saffron Tech?

The price for their work is unbeatable in comparison with other firms, and I would always recommend to receive a quote from them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Saffron Tech in the second quarter of 2015. The main site is complete but hasn't been launched yet. We will continue to work with Saffron Tech for the second website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Saffron Tech completed everything perfectly on the main website. Their professionals were always patient and accommodated many new ideas and alterations.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

The process was very organized, and I was very happy with our weekly progress reports. Saffron Tech assigned a project manager for our work, who explained everything over hour-long calls. Saffron Tech set good timelines and gave us estimates for completion. It was a pleasure to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about Saffron Tech?

I appreciated the kindness and availability of the Saffron Tech team, even at non-office hours.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Saffron Tech?

I knew exactly what I wanted in regards to the design. I recommend that other clients also know exactly what their design vision is. Simply asking the developers to do a great design job in general, without clear indications, might not lead to the desired result.