Scopic

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of HelpSocial. We offer software that companies use to provide customer service within social networks. Our solutions monitor Twitter and Facebook and other platforms for customer comments and send them to a call center. The software fits into the customer service agent’ desktops, and they use it to reply to customer comments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software?

We needed development help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Once we spun-off the company ourselves (we started as an internal project of another company) we started working with Scopic to build on top of our existing software. In addition to building new features and capabilities from scratch, they developed an Android app based on an iOS app we were refactoring. They also finished developing a Twitter app.

What is the team composition?

The team expanded and contracted based the project we were working on at the time, but we’ve ranged from 1–5 developers, with the average being three.

We had a project manager for the Android project, but for all other projects, we’ve had direct contact with the developers.

How did you come to work with Scopic Software?

We found them online. Lots of people replied to our project bid, but we went with Scopic. After having a great experience with Tim and his team, we’ve stuck with him since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $250,000–$500,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since later 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We evaluate Scopic in two categories. The first is how do the developers work with our team. We want them to be as much a part of our team as our in-house people. They’re friendly and personable and good to work with. We don’t have to micromanage them either, because they don’t disappear on us. They’re very responsive, self-starting, and engaged.

In the end, though, it boils down to the work they do. They deliver everything in a reasonable amount of time and ensure it's of good quality. They follow through on what they say they’re going to do.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done great. We only had a PM for the android project (when we were smaller and needed day-to-day help in managing the team), and they made it really easy for us. 

We’re in communication on Slack all day long and have regular team meetings over phone calls or video chats. Everything is built in GitHub, where we also store our project dashboards. We treat them like they’re as much a part of our team as anyone else, having them attend regular meetings, received company updates, and take the same paid days off we take internally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to find talent all over the place in a short amount of time is outstanding. Often, when we come to them with a new project or a request to add people, they’re ready to do it then.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

One important thing for us has been—since we’re building new software and inventing things as we go—clear communication. Their written and verbal communications are easy to understand, which is exactly what we need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of business development for PKC Pharmaceuticals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software?

My collaboration with Scopic Software spans three different companies. The latest project—for my current company—involved maintaining a legacy e-commerce site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Scopic Software took over our e-commerce website developed in Ruby. They maintain the site and expand on its functionality using PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Python.

What is the team composition?

We work with 6–7 people, including two project managers, 4–5 Ruby and Ruby on Rails developers, 1–2 PHP developers, and 1–2 Python developers.

How did you come to work with Scopic Software?

I had worked with Scopic Software at past companies. I had such a good experience that I decided to approach them again. We had previously engaged two different development teams for this project, and when the time came to move on from them, I reached out to Scopic Software.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in August 2015 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have any metrics I can share. Nonetheless, Scopic Software has done everything we’ve asked of them—and promptly as well. We highly value their work.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project isn’t very complicated, so it requires minimal management. Scopic Software has done perfectly fine as a result. When we need additional resources, the team finds ways to provide it. They let me scale the team up or down as needed. Scopic Software is highly responsive to my needs as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Scopic Software always gets the job done in a timely and cost-effective way. I’ve led software projects for the past 12–15 years with teams from around the world. If I had to rank all of those teams, Scopic Software is consistently the best of the best.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, any limitations came from our side. We’ve been slow in providing specs and responding to inquiries. Scopic Software is very patient with us. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Look into the full capabilities of Scopic Software before you consider other vendors. Scopic Software has experience in providing digital marketing, social media marketing, HIPAA-compliant software, Golang development, mobile apps. 

I wasn’t aware of these services lines in the past and outsourced projects involving these to other vendors. In the future, I will go to Scopic Software first if I’m not sure if they can provide a specific service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company mission is to gather book lovers from around the world in one place to share and exchange information about their favorite books. Also, to use that information to develop our personalities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Scopic Software?

I was looking for well-experienced website developers to design and launch the site. After searching the net I found Scopic's reputations to be encouraging to give them a try.

What were your goals for this project?

My main goal was to know other people who have similarities toward books and reading. The second goal was to gain some income from sharing my experience with other book lovers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After contacted Scopic team, I was amazed by the kind of services they offer. They have a strong team from different fields. So, it was very easy for me to find all that I want in one place.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They have well-trained staff in project management where they are responsible for managing the progress of the work and they are the link between me and the rest of the team. The marketing department is one of the services I found it to be a great investment toward the successfulness of my project. They are very smart and I enjoy their brainstorming ideas. We are still at the beginning of the journey but from their commitment and hard work, the outcomes will be very beneficial and worth every dollar spent working with them.

What was the team composition?

What I know is that any kind of specialty I need, I found it available to me. And they are well chosen.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still at the beginning of the journey. I'm very confident we are going to shine in our chosen market.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management is the backbone of my business. Since the operation is well arranged and under our control, it's an indication of the excellence of their staff.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Problems don't hold them back. They can figure out what to do in every obstacle we face through our progress in the project.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

So far everything is going smoothly. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the owner and sole employee of RecipeIQApp.com.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software? 

I had an idea for a mobile app that could break down recipes and calculate their nutritional value but lacked the internal resources to develop it. Scopic Software worked with me to build my app from my initial concept.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Scopic Softaware developed my app from scratch. Their team presented all of the wireframes, suggested graphics, and helped work through the user flows. They then proceeded to development, using Google Vision for the optical character recognition (OCR) software and Firebase for the backend.

It’s an Android/iOS app that allows users to take a photo of a print recipe and learn about the dish’s nutritional value. Through OCR technology, the app will analyze the ingredients and quantities and compare them to a database to calculate the calories, sugar, salt, minerals, and more. Users can also input a URL of a recipe into the app’s built-in browser to extract nutritional information.

What is the team composition?  

They assigned a team of 4–6, including a project manager, UI designers, backend developers, database engineers, and QA specialists.

How did you come to work with Scopic Software?

I found them online and considered them along with two other candidates. After talking to their president, I felt like we really hit it off. He understood what I needed and had done similar projects before, so I was happy to work with him.

How much have you invested with them? 

We spent between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted about 18 months, from February 2017–July 2018.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen about 10,000 downloads since we’ve launched last summer, and the user feedback has been mostly positive. People aren’t deleting our app from their devices in any great number, so it’s been good so far.

In terms of reliability, the app functions as expected. Scopic Software is proactive about catching any technical issues that may arise. They’ve integrated a tool called Instabug to monitor error reports, and we have regular bug reviews. Currently, I’m planning to have them develop some additional features.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed highly. They used Jira to manage the project, but, for the most part, I communicated with them through weekly phone calls and emails. They were extremely responsive throughout.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

I was impressed by their ability to understand my initial concept and translate it into a functional application.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

The delivery time ended up stretching out a bit, but I was happy overall.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
 
Have a clear outline of your personal vision for the app (e.g., concept, workflow, potential design elements) and be able to communicate it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager of E-Pets Online Inc. We sell dogs from breeders to pet stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software?

Our previous website was outdated and coded in classic ASP. We needed to rewrite everything, so we got in touch with Scopic Software. We wanted to able to make changes to the new site and accommodate customer requests.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We created a document listing our needs and they gave us an estimate. We bought a new software package, AuctionWorx by RainWorx Software, and had them customize it. They worked in ASP.NET with Bootstrap on the frontend. Features included information specific to our industry, such as dog registration, individual health details, and vaccination records.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two different project managers and two different designers at different times. The project manager was the primary backend developer. Scopic Software has enough people to handle all development tasks, they just bring on somebody else as they need them.

How did you come to work with Vendor?

We originally found them on Guru.com. We conducted phone interviews with five or six vendors, and we found Scopic Software’s rates very reasonable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000—$120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2016 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our customers have been using our site since 2003 when the menu options were in different places and they had to learn how to use software that they hated. They now appreciate the simplicity of our new design. We constantly solicit their feedback and it’s been positive. They know what they want the site to do, and I pass that onto the team at Scopic Software. They’re working to help us improve all the time.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager gets most of the needed information from the lead developer and passes it along to us. We receive a weekly summary of everything that’s been done. They’re very organized.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They get things done and they don’t complain about anything. When we ask them for something, they’ll just tell us they can do it and how long it will take, and then they start working on it. We’d worked with developers in the past where deliverables were promised and just fell by the wayside. That doesn’t happen with Scopic Software because they're very professional.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Something I didn't realize starting out is just how many people they have. Clients who have trouble with design or QA should reach out for extra services because their rates are the same for everything. Just find out what they have.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Nutshell Media, Inc. We offer various analytical software tools for the film industry. Our products are programmed to analyze movies and collect a variety of data and statistics from their scripts. It’s a very small company, and I’m funding the entire venture on my own.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software?

I needed development assistance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Scopic Software is my go-to development partner. I share my specifications, and they build out the product. Once they have a working version, we go through a back-and-forth testing process. Each initiative is different from the next. Some tools are built with JavaScript and others with C++. Most projects have video elements. One specific piece of software they’ve made for us allows users to edit and playback content seamlessly.

We’re currently working on the biggest project we’ve ever done together. Scopic Software is using elements of about seven different applications we built in a research and development phase. In addition to that initiative, I’ve patented three more projects, and I’m working on a few others.

What is the team composition?

They scale their team depending on the workload and deadlines. Currently, we have a project manager and seven specialists.

How did you come to work with Scopic Software?

I found them through Freelancer. They seemed professional and offered a good price.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent over $50,000 with Scopic Software.

What is the status of this engagement?

I partnered with them in 2011, and we’ve been working together ever since.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Scopic Software consistently develops reliable applications. They estimate a range of hours for each project, and their guess is always pretty close. Without their assistance, I wouldn’t have any software. I’ve had negative experiences with past vendors, but the Scopic Software team has never let me down.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They manage each project efficiently. I’ve worked with at least five different project managers throughout my partnership with Scopic Software, and I’ve been very happy with all of them. They provide detailed summaries of each teammate’s responsibilities and progress on each task. Whenever I have a question or concern, someone from their team is available to help.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They use efficient tools to organize and track the project. I’m pleased with our partnership, and I’m happy to continue it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with a clear idea of how the software should work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an independent software vendor. I’m the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software?

We needed help with a development project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve used them for various projects as a supplement to our team. I write the technical specifications and use them when I need additional programmers. The first project we hired them for was an e-book reader with audio functionality for Android and iOS. They did the coding for that.

What is the team composition?

We have a team of about three, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Scopic Software?

I either knew one of their staff or a colleague recommended them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $25,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our first project with them in 2013. We use them intermittently on an as-needed basis and just finished a project with them in January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work is excellent. I use a number of different companies, but all my experiences with them have been positive. They always follow my specifications and do everything I ask. They are a great supplement to my team and integrate well.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They did well. We regularly use Jira and Skype and often meet in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail is great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a good company. My only recommendation is to use them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Commercial Passport KYC (Know Your Customer), a web application that’s designed for the KYC space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software?

We needed developers to build a product. Scopic is a U.S.-based firm but their staff is spread throughout Eastern Europe and other parts of the world where hiring costs are a lot lower than in the U.S. It was an economically-driven proposition for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked on a PHP web application which included some JavaScript, some blockchain technology, and server deployment. The web app is a multi-user database that allows single point KYC document management for legal entities and individuals. The KYC is related to classic financial institution account opening and relationship formation.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a project manager but also had minimal contact with the developers. There were probably eight or ten developers involved over the course of the project, though this number would usually vary according to the workload

How did you come to work with Scopic Software?

They came to us by recommendation. They’d done some large projects before and were able to point me to some references, which made them seem capable of executing our work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $200,000–$1 million over the course of our relationship with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2014. I’m still working with them but the core development work on the project was completed in 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform is still in a launch phase so I don’t have anything to attribute to them.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Jira, GitHub, Slack, Skype, and Teamwork for communication. Their project management was very good and the guy I dealt with was very responsive. Furthermore, his English was excellent and he was quite professional.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a client, my access to the development team and the project manager was unrestrained, which is pretty important. Clients that know exactly what they want and how to do it can get direct access to their team, which is quite valuable for some clients who are developers. On the other hand, clients that just have an idea and no technical skills would probably not benefit as much from that approach.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think they could improve their initial process. The planning, costing, and formation of the architecture of the system could’ve been more in-depth. If you have a technical background and you know what you need to be developed, then I think their approach is a good one. If you’re not, then that’s where they could invest a bit more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re very flexible and accommodating. Their CEO is a very smart and trustworthy guy who you can have a partnership with during a big project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of ShadeWave. We provide digital shade matching software and other dental technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Scopic Software?

I had an idea for new technology, but I’m not a programmer. I needed to outsource my work to a development firm that could affordably produce my vision.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Scopic designed and programmed our ShadeWave software. It’s a web-based program that utilizes Adobe Flash to process images for dental shade analysis. It’s a unique technology that required Scopic to conduct significant research in order to deliver. They helped me create the initial wireframes and developed algorithms that allow everything to function correctly. Being a medical product, it had to be secure and compliant with HIPPA.

What is the team composition?

They assigned a specialist as our primary point of contact. He assisted with the wireframes and delegated project requirements to the programmers.

How did you come to work with Scopic Software?

My first engagement with them was 10 years ago. It was a difficult undertaking because I knew what I wanted to do, but had no idea how to proceed. I searched online and interviewed U.S. vendors, but they were all too expensive. Eventually, I found Scopic and was impressed by their previous work. I met their owner and they accomplished the project. Due to that positive experience, I went back to them years later when the ShadeWave opportunity presented itself.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent roughly $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place July­–February 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Scopic did their job and delivered an excellent product. The software receives positive feedback and there have even been articles published about it. There’ll always be bugs and crashes with new software, but nothing has occurred that we couldn’t work through.

How did Scopic Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They assign a primary contact based on the nature of the project. This ensures each engagement is led by an individual whose strengths benefit the effort. They’re careful to understand and document information before the development process begins. The specialist that works with us is exceptionally bright. His expertise is beyond that of an average project manager. This was a challenging project, so we communicated through Skype as well as email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re really good at providing accurate cost estimates and sticking to them. For example, an unrelated occurrence required Scopic to redevelop a specific aspect of the project. Their owner informed me they wouldn’t charge a significant portion of the work. They didn’t have to do us that courtesy, but he insisted. They have a large amount of integrity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a growing company and growth can be difficult to manage. The project managers weren’t all stellar, but they listened to our concerns and made changes immediately.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you don’t have a tech background, do some research, so you know the right questions to ask. I took their advice and agreed to the software using Adobe Flash. However, technologies change and Adobe will be dropping Flash in the near future. Now we have to rewrite the software.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of SketchList, which develops and sells design software for custom woodworkers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Scopic Software?

We wanted to increase number of people and companies downloading and trying our software, as well as to improve the quality of our content.

What were your goals for this project?

To increase the number of visitors, test and strengthen our messages and calls to action, and improve our tracking abilities.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They have provided my technical support and product development for nearly a decade. I originally selected them because of the message on their website and my discussions with the owner. I continue to use them because they deliver high-quality results, are committed to my success, and have the resources necessary to take on a wide range of work.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They reviewed our current web page, brainstormed with us to identify marketing opportunities, and developed a plan. Then they submitted some sample ideas, copy, and images.

Using an SEO plan based on keyword research, they developed a landing page for several of our key market segments, built a social media program, and generated organic traffic. They also created ads pointing to those landing pages.

Now they monitor SEO stats and adjust elements of the web page to improve them. Sometimes they write content and research the web for outreach, partnerships, and content creation opportunities.

What was the team composition?

An overall project manager handles both the technical and marketing efforts. The marketing side is led by a manager who works with a designer, a copywriter, and an SEO expert. I tend to work with the marketing manager, but also communicate directly with everyone when necessary.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This type of work takes time to bear fruit. However, since December the number of visits to our site has increased by 20% and is trending upward. The number of downloads—a critical stat for our business—is up by 50%, and average dollars per sale is up slightly. Of course, while the short-term frame is very promising, it does not account for seasonal variations in the numbers. We'll have a better picture later in the year.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. They have the tools necessary to communicate and manage a multi-person project team, they work well with one another, and they are very transparent with me. Truly professional.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their level of expertise in each area in which they work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

In the past, staff changes have required newcomers to gain knowledge of our situation. The staffing has been very consistent for over a year. Sometimes there’s an inherent business risk in being so dependent upon one vendor. Perhaps they could offer some sort of exit plan or strategy.