Saritasa

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Digital EMS Solutions, an electronic patient care reporting (EPCR) company that provides HIPAA-compliant software to paramedics in Los Angeles County. The solution is an iPad-based iOS app that captures data from paramedics' interactions with patients. Once the data is captured and massaged, the app sends it to the backend website for hospitals, the billing company, and the mandated reporting agencies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saritasa?

Although I know how to write and read code, I don’t have the time to manage the software or do updates. Saritasa serves as a white label vendor for the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We built the app with another vendor prior to Saritasa’s engagement and train clients individually using a turnkey approach. The team primarily does software development. Developers code in Objective-C and Swift, and use HTML5 templates. I submit requests by writing out specifications and drawing pictures with arrows to make the requirements as clear as possible. They then come back with suggestions intended to future proof the app.

They provide ongoing support, and in the last two years, have ensured new machines are in code so that nobody has to touch the servers physically. The team also created our Amazon Web Services (AWS) account from scratch.

What is the team composition?

I work with the project manager and serve as his counterpart for our team. I also communicate directly with developers as needed.

How did you come to work with Saritasa?

We looked for new agencies after realizing our initial vendor wasn’t providing sustainable service. They lacked the vision to think outside of the box, in addition to possessing limited programming experience and troubleshooting processes. After our search to a few companies, we met Saritasa’s CEO and select team members. We liked the team’s work and approach.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we’ve spent just under $1 million. Instead of using a retainer, we send monthly update and improvement requests and then receive a bill for the previous month at the end of that period.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2011 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had one beta client when the app first launched. Now, we serve 27 of the county’s 31 fire departments, in-part due to the app’s user-friendly turnkey format. The increase is significant, but we’re not looking to expand outside of Los Angeles County.

How did Saritasa perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager is an effective liaison between teams and that communication with developers helps our team better understand project status. They’re responsive to requests and have quick turnarounds that meet the occasionally rushed timeframe. Furthermore, the team makes the AWS fixes future proof to ensure that we’re not affected by future outages. We use Jira and Skype; calls on the latter sometimes include extra resources. I also direct message developers as needed, and always keep the project manager in the loop.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only does the team provide helpful feedback on design specifications, but they also have the vision to create things better than how we originally anticipated. Those proactive future proof efforts only make the app better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Saritasa could scale the team to keep the business competitive as they grow. But there isn’t anything specific because we have a good dynamic with the team. The teams have grown accustomed to each other’s development workflows.

Any advice for potential customers?

Be as descriptive as possible with design specifications and then allow them to ingest and massage those instructions. Their constructive criticism will improve the results and better fulfill the original goal. Likewise, know what the end-result should look like.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of a behavioral marketing agency. We primarily focus on using Facebook to find audiences for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saritasa?

We're outsourcing Saritasa to build the ground level of our technology. Our CTO does the architecting and Saritasa implements the software at a granular level.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saritasa was originally hired to develop an app, but that project has evolved into a long-term assignment to build and constantly update two social media advertising platforms

What is the team composition?

They provide one project manager and development teams both domestically and overseas.

How did you come to work with Saritasa?

A friend of ours was a client of Saritasa and recommended them to us. We had two or three other competitors we were looking at, but they stood out with a first-rate presentation and we believed their stated commitment to customer service.

​​​​​​​What is the status of this engagement?

We started the engagement in January 2011 and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients are very satisfied with our service. Additionally, the Saritasa team is consistently delivering timely updates to make sure our platform runs smoothly. 

How did Saritasa perform from a project management standpoint?

They have their own internal project management tool to keep track of the progress. For us, there are ongoing platform issues, but Saritasa’s team is always right on it. We have a very proactive relationship. They are very responsive and the work is excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are probably the most responsible and responsive vendor I've ever worked with. They truly go out of their way to provide the most professional customer service.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you know what you want to accomplish, and they will deliver for you. They are very proactive and adapt to your business’s needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Curved Space Creative is an app development company primarily developing an iPad app for Porsche.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saritasa?

Our former developers became unavailable, so we had to find a replacement team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They performed a code takeover and rescued our project. It's a complicated vehicle-delivery iPad app that allows users to explore virtual vehicles with interactive hotspots containing text, pictures, and interactive exercises. There's a large number of tracking functionalities and other elements.

The product has three components: an API and a large CMS that feeds the app—both written in Ruby on Rails—and an iPad app written in Xcode, with some HTML elements. We had to regenerate all three components with our own hosting and there were also analytics that the previous developers hadn’t properly implemented.

What is the team composition?

We have an account manager on their side. We talk to her about overarching issues and she checks in on what’s going on. We also have a specific project manager in their California office who we talk to about our basic project status. The rest of the team is based in Russia and Vietnam.

How did you come to work with Saritasa?

We received a range of referrals, several of which were for Saritasa. There were a couple of other providers suggested, but they declined the project because of its complexity.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $140,000–$150,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began talking to them in February 2018. We got the code from our previous developers and began working with Saritasa around March.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t involved the end-client too much into the detail of things. They participated in the brainstorming and made a good impression on the client. We’re fairly close to sending them a final build so unfortunately, I cannot provide any feedback at this point.

We’re not actual programmers, so we haven’t looked at the code. We’ve been working on various iterations of this app for six years. It’s been expanded and developed in that period. We can see when things start going wrong—when the developers are rippling through the app and causing problems. The only issues we’ve had were Saritasa revealing things that were already shaky, then going back and fixing them. There have been no new problems.

How did Saritasa perform from a project management standpoint?

The project is tracked through Jira. We’re able to add comments, bugs, and new tasks, and keep everything on-track. We interact with the developers, but only on a task basis. They also track time on Jira. We don’t use any other tools, except for email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stand out in terms of honesty. Our previous developers were very casual with the truth, which is a huge issue, as it made us look the same. It’s a stressful thing to take a delayed project that had already run its budget. We have been funding this redo, and we’ve had some fairly tense discussions with Saritasa about trying to do the right thing, but also reining the budget. These have been productive, adult business conversations with resolutions, which is really worth something.

They took responsibility. Once we hired them to work on this, it became their project. They promised to get in and really understand the project, which they did not only on a technical level, but also a business level—even helping us with our client. Their conflict resolution is mature.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We hit a budget issue in the middle and had a disconnect in terms of managing the budget, tasks, and time. They could be a bit more focused on this area, in terms of project management. They should establish a feedback loop in order to ensure that they are delivering in-line with our budget, time, and tasks. This would be less of an issue on a new project, but it is one for a redo.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients have to understand how long these things take. If the client isn’t experienced with app development, they have to understand that it’s a fuzzy process. What we’ve seen with Saritasa is as good as it gets. The process was as regimented and accurate as it was going to be, but we can’t necessarily always work on a budget.

Even when we had budget issues with Saritasa, they tried to do the right thing. They were always trying to get the work done right. This is a necessary level of trust.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a digital advertising firm that works with pharmaceutical companies. We build websites, develop mobile apps, manage mobile messaging campaigns, and support other marketing- or sales-related products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saritasa?

We were building a software platform for a client and needed more developers for strategic implementation. We needed a bigger team and deeper technical knowledge than we had in-house.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saritasa helped us architect, design, and build the platform. We’ve now built multiple projects with them.

One project they’ve worked on for us is our conference management application built for iOS and Android. Our clients in the pharmaceutical industry send lots of people to large conferences; sometimes up to 500 employees attend the same conference. Those clients need to manage their employees during the conference—to know where they are, what hotels they’re staying at, what sessions everyone should attend, etc. Our app enables them to manage their employees while on-site at the conference.

They built the app for both iOS and Android. It has a backend content management system that allows us to update content in real time. The CMS is customized so that our project managers, and even the client, can log in and manage the conference. We can also manage multiple conferences at the same time.

This project has been a massive undertaking. They built the original version in 2012. Last year we rebuilt it from scratch in order to integrate new technologies and features. They’ve probably spent more than 20,000 development hours on it.

What is the team composition?

My in-house project managers work with their project managers throughout the process. I’m involved with them in the project kickoff stage.

How did you come to work with Saritasa?

I started talking to their account manager six years ago based on a project at the time. They’ve been working with us ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $500,000–$600,000 a year for the last six years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since 2012 and it’s going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We manage probably 150 conferences a year and have a 90% –95% retention rate with our clients. It’s not all because of their work—good project management from our team is obviously important—but it certainly has to do with the quality of the software. Our clients are absolutely satisfied. Everything from the UI through implementation is very high quality.

How did Saritasa perform from a project management standpoint?

We Skype back and forth a lot and email. We also use Jira and Trello. One thing that's great about working with Saritasa is that they have a homegrown project management system with their own CRM. I can call any of their project or account managers at any given time to check in and they can give me an up-to-the-minute update with exactly how many hours they’ve spent on the project.

They're also very fast. Once we start moving, they stick to timelines. They’re really great to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would say that they get it. I tried a couple of different development firms when I started my business in 2009 but they couldn’t get the specs right and didn’t understand UI. Saritasa has a process. Truthfully, sometimes it can be a little bit laborious at the beginning but it's effective. They ask a lot of questions. They want to know about the business use case and the end user. They want to understand how the user will use it and what features will help them. Then they build it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would say trust them. They don't go with any random client or project. They want to get to know you and your development team personally. Trust their process because the end product will turn out very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the founders of a cryptocurrency startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saritasa?

We needed help to develop an application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their building a web-based application.

What is the team composition?

I have two project managers from their side, along with a technical manager and a sales manager.

How did you come to work with Saritasa?

We found them through Google. They seemed to be the right size and understand the project. I also liked what they said.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since February 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I've shown the work to my other founders and they’ve liked it in terms of direction, scale, and speed.

How did Saritasa perform from a project management standpoint?

Through Jira, I have access to what each person is logging and what they’re working on at any given time. The communication is done through email and web conferences, and they’ve been able to work around my schedule, which is nice. They’re also very responsive via email generally. Currently, they’re in the process of putting together a report regarding the breakdown of work to date.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This is the first time I’ve worked with anyone in this regard, so I don’t have anything to compare them to, but they’re easy to communicate with, and they understand what I’m trying to portray, whether it be on the technical or design side. They get it right the first time so there’s not a lot of back and forth.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There hasn’t been anything so far but the work is still ongoing.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be as detailed as possible in what you expect. If you’re creating something brand-new, write out exactly what you want it to be. This way, when they’re putting together the scope and going forward with a written document, there will be less back and forth.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of New Beginnings Sober Living Foundation dba Changing the Faces of Homelessness

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

CFH provide housing for the homeless

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• To create our data entry network WEN

SOLUTION

How did you find Saritasa?

Online Search

Why did you select Saritasa over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Saritasa were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Sarisita developed our data entry network WEN. The program was implemented to help track our services and create clients files where our intake information would be stored.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcome was to have the system completed and ready to rollout by 09/2024

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

The project management was great. The team responded within timely manner and kept our staff updated with any changes or concerns.

What was your primary form of communication with Saritasa?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The willingness to work with a small nonprofit by accepting our payment plan arrangement.  Also the team was very informative and responded to our questions and concerns within a timely manner. Overrall the customer service was excellent.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the president of an invoicing software company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saritasa?
I hired Saritasa to help us with software and website development. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
We initially had a discovery call with Saritasa and checked if they could handle what we envisioned. We then worked through the design of the product from a programming perspective. It was my first time working on a software development project, so they walked me through the process. There was a bit of a learning curve on my side because of the IT jargon I needed to know.
At present, we’re still working on the software and website. The website isn’t launched yet, though it’s in the end stages of development. We expect it to go live in January–February 2024.
For features and functionality, the software offers unique information that allows me to input a customer’s name into it and save it. In the future, when I start typing that name, the software will auto-populate the field or have a dropdown menu of the names matching what I type. Other information that can be auto-populated are prices, numbers, engines, taxes, and others.
What is the team composition?
I mainly interacted with one teammate from Saritasa on the software development side.
How did you come to work with Saritasa?
I found Saritasa on Google and looked into their reviews on Clutch. Apart from them, we reached out to four other companies and facilitated an interview process. Those companies were eliminated because we felt that Saritasa had the tools and manpower to start and complete the project. They were also a good fit for us from a personality and workflow perspective.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested over $500,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Saritasa in January 2022, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The quality of Saritasa’s work has been great. We don’t have any users because the product isn’t launched yet. However, we expect it to help end users save time and money and give them automation abilities.
How did Saritasa perform from a project management standpoint?
Saritasa has delivered their work on time and within budget. We use Jira for project management and texts, phone calls, emails, and Zoom for communication.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’ve delivered the product we’ve asked for, and that’s what everybody wants. We’ve had some hiccups on our side, but that’s not their fault. The team has been patient with us even though we’ve run into some issues. They’ve been a great working partner — they’re flexible, and we’ve had a good working relationship with them.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Their bill itemization could use a bit of work. There must be a better way to itemize what’s happening and how many hours are spent on the project.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Prepare a better scope of work, and be clear on what you want. 
For context, we integrated with a credit card payment gateway before engaging with Saritasa. We could’ve had a better grasp of what Saritasa and the payment gateway needed to work together well — we had some problems with that part of the interface. It wasn’t an issue with Saritasa, and we could’ve used a different gateway. However, what we wanted was so advanced that only few companies could accommodate it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a tax solutions company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saritasa?

We wanted to develop a software solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saritasa did custom software development for us based on the previous version we had of a product. They created a complex desktop cloud-based platform with a user-friendly UI.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around six members of their team, including developers, a project manager, and a marketing team.

How did you come to work with Saritasa?

A consultant that had previous experience with them referred them to me. I contacted many providers but chose Saritasa because they seemed the most experienced in the market. In addition, I saw their previous financial area work, and I was impressed.

How much money have you invested in this partnership?

We spent around $200,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July 2019–July 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was very comfortable working with Saritasa because they were compliant and understood our requirements and all the technical aspects of the project. They improved our existing system and did a great job building a user-friendly UI for it.

How did Saritasa perform from a project management standpoint?

They were communicative; we had weekly Google Meet calls with the project manager and in-person meetings in their offices to look at the project’s progress and help them identify potential pitfalls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach to the financial aspect of the process was great for me. They understood and accommodated my payment capabilities and agreed to a long-term payment plan until the product they created went live and started making money. Without this, the project might not have happened.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would’ve helped a lot if they could’ve moved the project faster.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be communicative to ensure everyone understands the project’s needs, timetables, and financial situation.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

eCommerce company that extends store credit to credit-challenged consumers across 50 states. CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Deploy mobile wrapper to take responsive web application to mobile device. Key goals included most cost effective way to acquire mobile users without having to invest a lot of resources in developing native apps and supporting them.

SOLUTION

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

Found them on the web and then interviewed them relative to 4 other companies. Gave us candid alternatives to accomplish our goals and then put a qualified team against the project to deliver it on-time.

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

Develop mobile wrapper for web responsive application. Basically, to mimic the desktop experience with the framework of a mobile application. Key deliverables were a working IOs and Android application where we could acquire customers and sell merchandise.

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

Project Manager and a couple of software developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Deployed the mobile app on time and it has been a successful way for us to achieve our company goals. We were very satisficed with the working relationship and communication.

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

Weekly meetings on progress, answered questions via email pretty rapidly, review of deliverables and end-state functionality.

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

Their focus, execution, and experience in the project area.

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

No.