Simform

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a VP at an HR consulting firm. Our division is a pre-employment testing software program that organizations use to determine if their candidates have the abilities necessary for success. I handle all aspects of the division, from development to sales and marketing to support.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simform?

Our application was developed in-house, and we had an MVP that we wanted to redesign and thoughtfully craft in terms of the UX.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simform redesigned our application’s UI/UX. We started with one module, then gave them two other major modules. Then, we added the front-facing test player part of the software. They went from wireframes to mockups and worked through them using InVision. After they finished the design, we requested a quote to build the software. We shared our code with them, and they had to understand our server-side API. They also got involved in things like database design. 

The team is now coding the product using .NET Core and AngularJS. They’re developing a staging environment our team will implement on our software. Additionally, Simform uses Backbone.js on some modules. They modulize 7the coding, and they have teammates working on massaging the code into a single repository. They’ve completed one of the modules, and they’re almost done with the programming on the second one. 

We do code reviews internally because the Simform team will turn over the product for our developers to make last-minute adjustments and implement them. After the product is finished, we’ll engage Simform to add more features and functionalities down the road, working in the vein of ground-up design, UX guidance, and coding.

What is the team composition?

We have a team lead who has coordinated all UI/UX work. We’ve worked with about 20 people in total, including project managers, QC specialists, engineers, and programmers. 

How did you come to work with Simform?

A representative from Simform reached out to me via email and phone, and we got into some conversations. After interviewing them, we chose them because they were a great fit. We tried them out, and because we were so pleased with their work, we extended the design all the way through, and then we decided to hire them for the coding.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $150,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2020, and the engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Simform has done an exceptional job, exceeding expectations. This project is a huge step out of our comfort zone, and we’ve been very conservative with the budget, keeping almost everything in-house. For this reason, we first tried them out piecemeal, and we’ve engaged them with the full boat because we’re so pleased with their work.

How did Simform perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed phenomenally well in terms of project management. Initially, they quoted a static project and estimated a timeline. However, as we’ve continued to develop the software, everything has been a moving target. We’ve added functions to the requirements, and Simform has graciously accepted every change. 

These additional functions require extra time and money, which we understand. We couldn’t have known where we would end up by the time we were coaching a specific part, and Simform has rolled with the punches, working with us to figure it out and execute the work. Their timelines have been right on as we’ve moved the goal post adding extra work; they estimate and end up being right on time.

We share Slack with them and have projects on GitHub. Depending on the question or concern, we also communicate via email and Microsoft Teams chat. Additionally, we have a weekly team meeting and a management meeting every two weeks to ensure everything is going smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with Simform’s flexibility. This is new for us, and we haven’t been shy about continuing to develop our software after we’ve already given them specs. While it may not be the best situation for them, it’s the best situation for us. Simform happily and graciously accepts the challenges of us growing our software while they’re recoding — that’s been phenomenal. 

Additionally, their design work is astounding, and their communication is fantastic. I know many of the people we work with, even though we’re a world apart, and I enjoy working with them. The team is readily available; they’re not hindered by distance and different time zones. We never have to wait a day to hear back from them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they need to change; they respond to us really well. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

What helped us be confident was breaking the project into pieces and auditioning Simform. That allowed us to familiarize ourselves with them, the way they work, their quality, and their timelines, allowing us to grow our relationship with them dramatically. If you want to ease into it, my advice is that you can.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Voodoo Park Limited provide Software Development support teams to a range of mid to large, predominantly Finance sector, professional service clients. I am the CFO and ultimately in charge of sourcing and managing the required resources for each Project.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our USP is the technical quality of our Developers and speed of response to a client brief. Simform help us with both of those elements. They enable to exceed our client expectations by providing high grade Developers and have them available within days in most cases.

SOLUTION

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

We responded to an approach and it very quickly became clear that Simform are a key addition to our partner network. They provide high quality candidates, quickly and economically.

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

The predominant tech stack at the moment is .NET but they do also provide SDETs and occasionally other tech when we need it

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

I would estimate that we have had 30+ Developers from Simform over the last 2 years

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have grown our footprint with every client, on which we have deployed Simform Developers. That, above all else, is the testament of their service offering

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

We have a dedicated Delivery Manager who is our single point of contact for any questions or issues we might have

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

Their lead time, flexibility, and personal touch are impressive. I know that our Delivery Manager has really got to know our business and knows exactly the sort of candidate we need

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

Our Company is never satisfied, we always want better people faster! However what we have had so far from Simform has been a key component to our recent growth

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Heirloom, a customizable cookbook design company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I was looking for a dev team who could build a custom website and develop the software that helps users make cookbooks. I needed someone to understand design and at the same time implement code that was complicated.

SOLUTION

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

We found Simform through our design team. I had already interviewed a few companies but finally selected Simform due to their timeline/project cost and most important thoroughness is finding the right team for this project.

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

From start to finish - Build back end for the software - where we would store user recipes as well as the front end interface where users would input recipes. The most technically challenging aspect of this is that all the data needs to be formatted per the users specifications, using one of our predesigned templates.They used React and Webflow.

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

4 - Project manager, Front end and back end developer, user testing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Simform is extremely professional and very easy to work with. They meet deadlines, are very communicative and super respectful of the client and their needs.

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

We had a weekly meeting, the PM came well prepared with an agenda and updated. We typically communicate via Slack.

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

I find them very professional and easy to work with. They are always open to new projects and ideas. They work well with a team.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner and founder of PatronPay, we make a super portable Android based credit card terminal. I also do Fractional CTO work for other clients and have used SIMFORM for many of them (who often keep using SIMFORM. after my engagement is over).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

For PatronPay and others, I have used SMFORM for mobile (Native iOS and Android, React Native, and now Flutter), back ends in Node.JS and Python Django using my own multi-tenant framework, and PWA front ends in Angular and React. I also have one large project i support in .NET Core microservices and another older one in .php. SIMFORM works on all of them. I tend to use Djang or Node.JS for new projects.

SOLUTION

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

I selected SIMFORM after first trying them for a few small test projects over 6 years ago. I had been using a firm in Belarus for over 15 years. but found SIMFORM to be slightly more cost effective and more flexible for swapping resources. For example, I often use SOMFORM Devops for AWS, us use their UI design team for logos or quick UI's and they are fery flexible and fair about allocating these resources as needed.

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

Across so many projects it varies. In some instances the client helps manage the SIMFORM resources using Jira or some other tool. For PatronPay I manage all the resources directly using a. combination of zoom meetings and Skype or Slack. SIMFORM will operate how ever you want. I am also doing a medical devices that I am fraction CTo on and SIMFORM is also writing the firmware on a Nordic BLE chip that communicates to mobile and the cloud.

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

Over the years probably 12 different people -- mostly covering all the specific technologies I have mentioned. In some cases I have used a team leader which also is a full time coder but coordinates efforts in india. These have been some of the best resources I have worked with anywhere (on sore, offshore, etc). SIMFORM also has a terrific CTO Hiren who I often bounce ideas off of.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All I can say is I am self funding PatronPay and am by nature a very cost conscious person. I don't beleive anyone could have gotten as much development as we have gotten done in the speed and cost which we have done it. I have taken SIMFORM into my client and and in some cases they have cut 750K annual spend in 1/2 including paying for me and SIMFORM. So they are very cost effective from beginning to end.

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

As I mentioned it is different depending on what the client wants. In most cases we do at least bi-weekly meetings, but in most cases I talk to them every day because I am self managing most projects. I know in some cases they manage projects themselves, I am just not familiar with this.

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

Quality of people, excellent Dev Ops team (they have taught me a few things :-)), flexibility in subbing people in and out of projects. They also have very low turnover and in 6 years and many developers, I can only think of two instances when someone was promoted and SIMFORM handled it by providing a month of overlap and no disruption to my projects.

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

I can't really think of any issues on projects that I have had where SIMFORM was the root cause.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a software startup. We provide an online employee engagement tool to help build remote company cultures.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

They helped us build one of the features in our product suite.

SOLUTION

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

Price, reading other great reviews, we got a dedicated team and project manager for a great cost, and they communicate clearly in English.

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

This project used javascript, react, graphQL and nestjs. The details of the entire project cannot be shared yet but they helped create a communities feature with various user roles, settings and access.

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

6 people 3 developers, 1 project manager, a sales person, and an administrative team member.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not yet, just implementing but we were able to complete the project on time within budget.

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

Communicated via slack. Provided daily updates and weekly progress report meetings. They were very timely to respond and to accomplish work. Each week we also received a spreadsheet report of hours spent so we had a weekly budget update.

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

Their non-U.S. employees can communicate strongly in English. Their prices had been great for the value delivered. They were very flexible when our team had a personal emergency interfere with the project. This is the reason I will certainly come back to Simform for more

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

I wish we could've worked off our own Git branch

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of BingeWorthy, our app. It’s social media for rating and reviewing TV series and see what your friends are watching and rating shows.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simform?

Simform helped us build our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simform helped us from the initiation of the app to the development. They built it for iOS and Android. Their team worked completely from scratch, helping us with the design aspects, as well. We had some ideas in mind, but they worked with us on the designs, logos, and other aspects. 

What is the team composition?

A team of around 10 people worked with us. We primarily communicated with 1–2 people from their team. We had a project manager that we were in contact with the most, and the developer also worked closely with us. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $30,000–$40,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2019–March 2020. We still work with them for things here and there. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We really enjoyed working with them. The quality was really good. 

How did Simform perform from a project management standpoint?

They have their system down pat. As far as communication, everything went well and everything we asked for got done. We mostly communicated through Skype, but we’d also have calls if it was needed.

As far as deadlines, it’s tough with an app because there are some things you can’t control, but they always made us aware of things that were happening. If it was possible to meet a deadline, they certainly always did. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I felt very comfortable with our relationship — they were really easy to work with. I never felt bad about asking them anything and it was easy to talk to them. The relationship with the project manager and the ease of communication was great. It was good to feel confident knowing whatever we asked for would be taken care of. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s not really anything I can think of. They are overseas, so there are time issues that can be sometimes hard to work through, but that comes with the territory and they were great. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise them that Simform is one of the best out there to work with considering what they charge for their services. Your app will look professional and their team will be easy to work with. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of Rig. It’s a platform that helps people find and book pay-as-you-go classes at the Best Rated Studios across London.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Simform?

We hired Simform to build mobile apps for both iOS and Android platforms. Our goal was to have a user-friendly mobile app.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have a user-friendly mobile app on both iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

How did you select Simform?

Clutch reviews

Describe the project in detail.

RIG helps users find and book London’s best-rated fitness classes. It provides instant access to effective, functional fitness classes that lead the way but built for everyone: yoga, cycling, pilates, barre, spin, crossfit, running, HIIT, strength training, and beyond. Initially, we wanted to improve our existing iOS app by improving the code & UI/UX and adding new features.

Simform re-developed most of the features and added more as per our requirements. We were happy with the performance of the iOS app and as a result, we asked Simform to build an Android app from scratch.

They created wireframes and oversaw all the UI/UX. They used Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android applications. The backend is powered by Ruby on Rails(RoR).

What was the team composition?

We worked with a team of 6-7 people that included the project manager who was our main point of contact. There were 2 ios developers, 1 android developer, 2 backend developers, 1 designer, and 1 QA in the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end product has been extremely well-received by our customer base, and it had generated lots of positive reviews. Our app functions well and is reliable. Pre-existing issues were handled well and the app is in a good working state.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Simform adopted the Agile Development Methodology to direct the project. This process included regular scrum sprints and meetings until the completion. Their communication was very good. Most importantly, they were very transparent, especially in managing project costs. We used Slack for communication and Zoho for the project management.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to adapt, willingness to learn, and change stands out as one of their biggest strengths. They keep up with technology, and their developers are quite skilled. They always find cutting-edge solutions, and they help bring our ideas to life.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There were a few mistakes and delays, but those are inevitable in any project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Elevation Apps. I work with clients to help them with their mobile app ideas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simform?

The goal was to get a team of top-notch coders and designers. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simform provides me with a lot of resources, but the main two areas are in graphic design and development. They manage the whole process, working through the release of apps, a process that requires a large amount of work. 

At the beginning of projects for my clients, we go through the scope together, exchanging questions and conversations to get the whole specification document solid. Then, they’ll do their scope of work and bid on the project, and get to work.

Simform works on both iOS and Android, as well as React Native. While I haven’t worked with them on any AR/VR projects, I know they have that capability.

What is the team composition?

I work with three main people, the owners of Simform, at the beginning of each project, and check with them throughout. They also have a lead project manager that is focused on managing the team staffed against the projects. 

How did you come to work with Simform?

About 10 years ago, before I started Elevation Apps, I was doing some agency work. Simform was very small at the time, and they were looking for US agencies who might need developers. We got to talking, and when I moved into my own role, we decided to work together on a project. Since then, we’ve been partners.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I could not run this business without Simform, nor could I have grown it without them. They’ve provided me with the resources, support, and encouragement to be able to do so. They’ve become an absolutely integral part of it.

Recently, we’ve been getting toward the end of a project. They’re in India, and with COVID, they’ve seen a lot of power outages, Wi-Fi outages, and even illnesses. The team was a little frazzled and missed a deadline, which wasn’t a big deal, but one of the owners stepped in to assure me it wouldn’t happen again and that they would fix it.

It was a really great back and forth, and demonstrated that they care about me as a client. I thought that honesty and forthcomingness was fantastic. 

How did Simform perform from a project management standpoint?

Our level of communication depends on the project. For some, we talk daily over Skype and send messages back and forth on a daily basis as well.

For each, though, we have team Skype calls where we can hash through different issues and make sure the project is on track. 

We just missed a deadline, which is a rarity for us. Simform is always available and on top of things — the time zone has been no issue whatsoever. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their expertise sets them about. I find it hard to believe there’s another organization with as many talented, hardworking people as Simform. Also, they’re not just there to code for an hourly basis. They really care about the projects we work on.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of. Even when we have issues, Simform fixes them right away.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If someone was planning to work with Simform, I would tell them they would not regret it. This is one of the best business decisions you can make. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the digital product manager of the governing body of one of the international sports federation. It is responsible for governing the sports and organising international events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Simform to Improve the online web experience for the International Federation. Our goal was to launch a new website to improve the web presence before the World Cup 2018 gets started.

SOLUTION

How did you select Simform and what were the deciding factors?

We had an RFP out and SImform was selected as the outcome of that process.

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

The real challenge for both Simform and our team was to launch the website in 3 months. We started working on user research with Simform because we wanted increased user engagement, usability, and discoverability.

On the front-end, the goal was to create a platform that supports different content types, widgets/components, dynamic page creation with the ability to iteratively adapt changing requirements without breaking the architecture. Based on all these requirements, Simform used ReactJs and CSS in the frontend and Laravel in the backend.

For better scalability, they hosted the website on AWS. Simform kept the architecture of the website scalable and flexible while following GDPR guidelines. For the faster delivery of the features, they followed the DevOps model with CI/CD pipeline. Also, after this project, we gave 2 more websites to develop for other tournaments.

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

The team comprised of 2 frontend developers, 2 designers, 2 react.js developers, and 1 backend developer. Many times, this team worked round the clock to meet the deadline.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After the successful launch of the website before the World Cup, the site gained huge traffic with over 3 million page views. The site is performant to handle over a thousand visitors at a time. Also, our site has garnered some rave reviews.

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

Simform used the agile methodology for our project. We used to do daily stand up meetings with our team at Simform. We communicated via slack and used Zoho for project management. Their project management was great that helped us to launch the website before the deadline.

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

They showed an impressive commitment to our project. They are fast, responsive, and talented. They are good at making excellent technical choices to deliver high-quality products. To have achieved the goal in such a condensed amount of time, with so many moving parts is remarkable.

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

Not many things. Similar to working with any software company, you as a client need to offer the domain expertise and that can take some efforts from your side. But Simform although did not have domain knowledge about Sports managed to overcome with their learning speed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and operator of Service Industry Solutions Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simform?

I needed an app developed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simform built my app for me, which is compatible with both iOS and Android. The app is a communication platform, which connects every business within the pool industry in order to buy, sell, and trade swimming pool accounts.

What is the team composition?

I mainly had contact with two people, but in total, I was in communication with four people. I worked with an iOS specialist, an Android specialist, a project manager, and a budget manager.

How did you come to work with Simform?

Simform was referred to me by a friend. I contacted them and they got back to me right away, and then we started the project.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, it was about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from November 2019–February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their services was top-notch, as was their communication. I can’t say enough good about Simform.

How did Simform perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Slack, email, and WhatsApp to stay in touch. We also used Google Meets when we had our video conferences and chats.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team was very project-oriented. No matter what, they always made sure we had a list itemized in stages of highest priority to lowest, which kept me on track. It was clear Simform didn’t want to miss anything and wanted to make sure they delivered what I wanted. 

The whole process was a pleasure. Simform was really efficient and on the ball.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. I was very impressed with the project. The only hurdle was the time difference, but that wasn’t their fault.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have the details of your project and the direction written down. It’ll make communication even faster. Of course, Simform is really easy to talk to, but they’re very efficient and don’t like to waste unnecessary time.