Seraphic Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Realize is a cultural software company. We create simple tools to implement culture within any company, organization or family. I am the Owner/Founder

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SERAPHIC®?

Culture is software of the mind and family culture is its OS. As humanity merges with technology, the differences between culture and code are transitioning from abstract to concrete. Realize is pioneering this transition. The Challenge is creating software that has no previous blueprint and we needed coders who could be imaginative and able to carve a path where none existed

What were your goals for this project?

Create software that implements all aspects of culture within a group. We are in the process of building a feature-rich software in Wordpress underlying a simple, clear UI with E-comm and DB management. We anticipate this project to have a massive impact on our business by creating an entirely new industry

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Rakesh & Co. bid on a project I submitted to Upwork. They won the bid over four other competitors. What impressed us most was their attention to detail, high competency of communication and, most of all, their understanding of what we are trying to accomplish, our vision

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We needed large DBs of text and images the user would use to generate a personalized, downloadable image file available for purchase. Features we're currently working on include use of biometrics and location services

What was the team composition?

Rakesh is the team lead and my main contact. Occasionally I'll have interaction with other coders for very specific questions here and there but my contact with them is minimal. Our communication is almost exclusively with Rakesh, which is preferable, actually

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First, let me state this is not the first iteration of this software. SERAPHIC is no less than the *fourth* attempt at bringing it to life - the previous three were failures and my experience with those contractors PALED in comparison to my experience with Rakesh & Co. I can honestly say I have never seen a version that is as close to what I have imagined as what they have done. I'm confident I've finally found the right people to turn this idea into a fantastic reality.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Rakesh was our single point of contact. Unlike other contractors I've worked with in the past, he has a great understanding of semantic nuance and the challenges inherent in the contractor/client relationship. It all comes down to communication and Rakesh has displayed great skill at that on multiple occasions

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They ask a lot of questions. They have strong attention to detail. Probably most of all, integrity

Are there any areas for improvement?

The maintenance of the contractor/client relationship is paramount to a business relationship both parties can be proud of. While perfection of any skill is an impossibility - and care and maintenance of a relationship certainly qualifies as a skill - there is always room for tweaking and tinkering on both ends, ours as well as theirs. Rakesh understands this more than any contractor I've ever worked with. I look forward to continuing to build and refine our relationship

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of CorpLife, an HR-tech startup providing software solutions to corporate partners to give them more time and man-hour resources. We have two different products: an employee benefits solution and an expense manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SERAPHIC?

We were relaunching our benefits platform, and we were just launching our second product. We wanted a bigger team to develop the products and features we were planning.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our entire expense manager. It has four modules: a driving log, a daily allowance, an invoice manager, and a business meal functionality. It’s available as a web, Android, and iOS app. They used Node.js for the web version.

What is the team composition?

Raman (CEO, SERAPHIC) has been our main point of contact. We’re talking directly with him. When we were in development, they assigned up to eight people to the project. We currently have a fixed team of four people for our organizer, and two people working on our benefits platform. We have two internal developers on our team.

How did you come to work with SERAPHIC?

We found them through another client in Austria and learned how they worked. We initially asked them to develop a benefits feature for our platform. They did that well, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than €100,000 ($113,000 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were really satisfied in the beginning, and it’s why we did everything with them. There are some issues at the moment, but we’re working on them.

How did SERAPHIC perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re working with them through Jira, which we implemented in the second half of the engagement. It was more difficult initially because we had to use email and WhatsApp. We were using too many communication channels, so we switched to Jira, which made things much easier.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Raman is a great person. Not all their developers are at the highest level, but when he is in the office, everything runs well. When he’s on holiday or sick, it can take much longer for them to get things done.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only advice I’ve given Raman is to make sure his team communicates better with us when he’s away.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

They’re good at project management, they have good ideas, and they can understand exactly what we mean. Clients can trust SERAPHIC, but they need to first have a discussion with their team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a manager of business and client management at Stratbeans, a learning automation company. We create products such as a learning management system to cater to the training needs of large corporations. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SERAPHIC™?

We hired SERAPHIC to develop an iOS application for our product.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to make our product accessible to iPhone and iPad users.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched online and shortlisted three vendors. Then, we asked all three to complete a proof of concept. We selected SERAPHIC after they produced the highest quality output in a short amount of time.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was divided into four phases. First, we performed a requirement analysis, where larger discussions took place and design was finalized. Then, they started developing the solution module by module with an Agile method. Before going live, the team performed rigorous unit and functional tests. Then, we launched the product.

What was the team composition?

We were engaged with one project manager who was our main point of contact for the entire project. Two developers and one tester were also involved in the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While I cannot share this information, I can state that internal stakeholders were pleased with the outcome of the partnership. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicated via Slack, and the workflow was quite smooth. Since both parties had a single point of contact, it was easy to check in with the team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The project was completed with a quick turn around time. They displayed a commitment to solving very difficult technical challenges. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

While there is always room for improvement, we were completely satisfied with the quality solution they delivered.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of HT Live, a live trivia game for football fans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SERAPHIC™?

We needed them to develop our mobile app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to launch an outstanding mobile app at an affordable price.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them based on their previous experience in the gaming sector and our trust in their communication.

Describe the project in detail.

We discussed the app structure in several phone call meetings. It was important that they fully understood our vision and goals. They built the backend and frontend of our iOS product.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager as our main contact. I was told that we had a backend and frontend developer working on our product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within two months, we achieved 1,500 downloads and 300 weekly players, which we are delighted with. We’ve received several five-star reviews and we keep hearing positive feedback on the design and product.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were in constant communication with us, telling us what progress had been made and informing us of ongoing changes. They also worked on the weekends, which was a massive help.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was blown away by their development skills and their understanding of the communication style we wanted. Their ability to deliver within a short deadline was also vital.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we were completely satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of an advertising company. We help our clients with ad-buying strategies, as well as web and mobile applications. We work with both large organizations and local hospitals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SERAPHIC™?

We receive many design and development requests from our clients, so we were looking for additional development resources to help us manage those requests.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We've worked on a number of projects with SERAPHIC. One of the projects they helped us with was the mobile development work for a large internet service provider. SERAPHIC created an application that uses Beacon technology. They guided the entire process, from wireframing and designing the app to implementing the portion of it. The app is designed to be used by vacationers on a ship.

What is the team composition?

I usually work with both of their owners, but there is also a team of 8–9 people working on our project.

How did you come to work with SERAPHIC™?

I found them on Upwork.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of our projects ranges from about $3,000 to $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2015, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had 50,000 downloads within the first two or three months. The app is very user-friendly and people love it. We still get compliments on many features.

How did SERAPHIC™ perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive and jump on the phone with us any time we need them. If an issue comes up, they're always ready to sort it out as soon as possible. We've used Jira, Teamwork, and Slack to keep track of our projects. SERAPHIC has become a part of our team, so they're using the same project management tools that our clients are using. We also use WhatsApp and email to stay in touch and we have weekly meetings via Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have very strong skills in mobile app development and Node.js.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have a great team, but they could certainly expand and hire even more people internally.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear about your goals and your timeline. There are a lot of variables in any project, so you need to have a clear vision of what you're trying to achieve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CIO and technology officer for a real estate wholesaler. We find off-market properties and then sell them to investors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire SERAPHIC™?

We needed to hire an external resource to help us develop an Android app.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted an app that leverages Google Maps to tag homes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We evaluated various companies and spoke with a few to evaluate their skills. After having multiple calls with SERAPHIC™, we realized they had a great skill-set, took direction well, were able to adapt to our needs, and offered an excellent price point.

Describe the project in detail.

We had a series of discovery meetings with SERAPHIC™ to discuss our goals and objectives. They sent us mockups within the first week. They finalized the design after a few iterations and discussions with our marketing team.

What was the team composition?

We only met with the team lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SERAPHIC™ developed our tool in a quick and timely manner. The app, which is available on the Google Play store, allows us to get great input on homes in the area in a structured way.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was great. The team lead was responsive, bright, and helpful. SERAPHIC™ was always responsive and open to our ideas, thoughts, and changes. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness was amazing. SERAPHIC™ was able to field questions and adapt to our needs and goals as we went along. They were easy to work with and agreeable. They didn’t try to claim "that’s out of scope" on every little change.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, they're great to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Travel A La Carte, a travel booking platform that acts as a one-stop-shop.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SERAPHIC?

We were looking to outsource the development of our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SERAPHIC developed our app for Android and iOS devices, along with the back office. They continue to make updates and add features to improve the UX/UI. Inside the platform, they built features that allow users to book flights, accommodations, and events at once. Their developers are implementing a digital wallet for payment purposes and they follow our specifications.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Raman (Founder & CEO, SERAPHIC) and three developers.

How did you come to work with SERAPHIC?

I followed a recommendation from a connection on Upwork. We sent out a tender for a demo version, and SERAPHIC was the best.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2016 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has earned a significant amount of users. Everything has been delivered on time and matches our vision, so far.

How did SERAPHIC perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re a very responsive team. We primarily communicate through WhatsApp, Skype, Bit Chat, and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate their positive team spirit and enthusiasm toward the work. They are always willing to join our special events—we enjoy working with them. Their communication is also solid.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is nothing to improve—we’re happy with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s helpful to keep a spreadsheet of tasks to left to complete so both sides have access to the progress.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a social app company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Seraphic Infosolutions?

We needed to develop an iOS version of our reward-based social media app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We designed the wireframes for a social media app similar to Twitter or Instagram. From there, they built out the whole app for iOS and are currently developing an Android version that is nearing completion. Involved in every aspect of technical development, they optimized our AWS server for app hosting, used TestFlight to fix bugs, and provided updates prior to launching on the App Store. The app allows users to take or access photos and post them for comments and likes. This earns users points that are redeemable for gift cards to various retailers via the in-app store.

To facilitate a necessary revamp, they developed our website using Laravel and worked on its backend database.

What is the team composition?

There were 6 team members working on the app. Initially, I spoke only with the project manager, but as the process continued, I spoke directly with specific backend and iOS developers.

How did you come to work with Seraphic Infosolutions?

We found them on Upwork after having negative experiences with 2 previous vendors. We considered various factors before hiring them including, cost, rating, and honesty. Their bid was reasonable and their rating was excellent. After speaking with them directly, we were certain they could complete the project and be pleasant to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent just under $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together November 2016, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a high-quality app that users enjoy. An easy-to-navigate interface has enabled it to perform well.

How did Seraphic Infosolutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Any software development will experience bugs, but they’ve usually been quick to address them. We communicated through Skype and email and they’ve reliably been available. Overall, they’ve done a good job of staying within budget and on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their honesty and transparency the most. I can trust that they’re capable and willing to complete the work I assign. They effectively communicated where the project was and exactly what they were working on. They’d also recommend potential improvements to the app as development continued.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Pro-actively communicating specific timeframes for issue resolution would’ve improved my experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Being as clear as possible regarding the proposed scope of work will make inevitable issues or changes less jarring.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Genie Labs, which is a software for small businesses to manage their day-to-day business on tablet devices. We have fewer than 10 employees at this point, and we’re located in Austin, Texas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Seraphic Infosolutions?

When we started the business, I was looking for people who could help me out with developing the product on a mobile device, specifically an iOS platform. I had already worked with a few guys, but one of the developers quit the organization. I was searching for more people, and that’s how I got in touch with the Seraphic guys, and it grew from there. I’ve worked with them now for over a year and a half.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

On the development side, they help me with mobile application development and a little bit of web development as well. The application they built is a pretty sophisticated and complex one, so it does require quite a few areas of integrations with different third-party systems. The Seraphic guys developed a lot of those integration points and the overall solution.

It’s a tablet-based application, which mainly works on iPads. It allows businesses to manage their entire projects, as well as their business accounts, on the tablet. It’s used to show and sell the work, so it’s probably used by companies which are small businesses, like landscape designers, interior designers, photographers, electricians, plumbers, painters, all those kinds of people who primarily provide home services or event services. They need to show and sell their work, and the app allows them to showcase their photos and videos. They can also showcase the different products and services they are selling, add prices to it, add these to a cart, and then create a code or an invoice out of it.

Once you create a quote or an invoice, you can also take an actual signature from the individual when you are talking to them in person. You can also capture signatures online. Once you do all that, then you can start managing different aspects of the project, such as conversations with the customer, notes, project-related events, and all that kind of stuff. You can manage your leads, and once a lead converts into a project, then you can manage the project end-to-end within the tablet device or in the online web-based interface.

The creative work was done by both sides. We already had some creatives, and some parts of the wireframes were already done. A good thing about Seraphic is that they were able to bring a little bit of thought leadership in terms of recommending how the app could be further streamlined and improved, and how we could change some of the designs that we initially set up. Although we initially had a set of designs first, we ended up making quite a few changes based on the feedback we got.

How did you come to work with Seraphic Infosolutions?

I think I found them on Elance quite a while ago. I initially had some Seraphic guys complementing our team. They started working with our team members. The existing guys had some issues with mobile application development, so Seraphic started helping us out. At a later time, they ended up becoming the entire mobile team, so I ended up getting rid of my mobile development team.

How much have you invested with Seraphic Infosolutions?

I spent between $30,000 and $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June of 2015, and the project was completed in January of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

During the first six to eight months, we had more than 2,000 customers using the platform. The overall feedback on the app has been extremely good. People love the app. Compared to other applications I’ve seen, I think they’ve done a good job making sure they’re doing all the testing to avoid crashes. Whenever I find issues with the app, or if there are any crashes, they get back to it immediately and they know how to fix it quickly. I’m happy with the work they’ve done.

How did Seraphic Infosolutions perform from a project management standpoint?

From a deadline standpoint, overall it was okay. There were times when we had to negotiate on the deadlines, but I think that’s expected with any project. There were a couple different people, but on average, I had about three guys. They did fine with the communication. We had daily calls. A lot of the web development was being done on our side, and we ended up collaborating quite a bit with them. It was mainly my team members who were working with them. We used phone and GoToMeeting to communicate. At the same time, we also had a few guys working from an offshore arm, so they ended up traveling to our offices as well, and we got to know them better through these visits.

What did you find most impressive about Seraphic Infosolutions?

From a quality and commitment standpoint, it was really good. One of the challenges I’ve seen with other agencies, and even my own team, is the issue of the quality itself. Seraphic was able to get back to me about the quality expectations, and they delivered it. I think that was the best part of it, and I was pretty happy with them.

Are there any areas Seraphic Infosolutions could improve?

I think they need to get a little more organized and also increase their areas of skills. For example, I was trying to also do some work related to Xamarin development, which is also for mobile. Seraphic didn’t necessarily provide that sort of skillset. I think having those skills is going to be extremely valuable.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Director at Growing with the Golden Rule

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Growing with the Golden Rule provides a digital resource which functions as a child reward system, while also building character, deepening bonds between family members, and deepening their bonds with God. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Seraphic Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd. to accomplish?

• Development of app architecture
• Frontend and backend development
• UX design
• Content Management System development
• database and payment system integration

SOLUTION

How did you find Seraphic Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd.?

Upwork

Why did you select Seraphic Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• they had the best expertise compared to their competitors

How many teammates from Seraphic Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Goals  

To Provide the complete development of GWGR app as per the requirement. Breakdown of which is provided in the development brief by app owner.  

Expectations:

• The client should provide the hosting area and the content. Where content is not provided, dummy content and placeholder images should be provided by the developer.  

• The developer should provide the complete development of the app based on the statement of work and development brief.  

• Payment is due after each iteration after Client sign-off approval.  

• The website will be owned fully by the Client. 

• (CMS) Content Management System- Developer will develop the app so that the client will be able to amend/update content easily after handover without need for further work by the developer. The content management system will need to be attached to the site.

• There is a requirement for serverless storage for video content uploaded by users.

• At the handover, the owner/administrator must be able to make all future updates without coding.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Completion of 8 pre-arranged milestones.

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

The Seraphic team were very professional in their project management. Responsibilities were distributed within their team in a way which was clearly organised and skills based. Milestones were delivered on time. The Seraphic team were patient and understanding in responding to our needs even when illness on our end created a delay in the work moving forward. 

What was your primary form of communication with Seraphic Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What was impressive about the Seraphic company was their ability to efficiently and effectively respond to any development request I made for the product we required. They were also happy to implement any changes I requested to be made to the product, and they worked in a very adaptable way making sure that I was satisfide with the product even when this meant more work for their team.  

Are there any areas for improvement or something Seraphic Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd. could have done differently?

I look forward to working with the Seraphic team again. Any areas for improvement are at this stage insignificant in relation to the excellent work they provided.