Simply Technologies

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior principal software engineer for a data company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simply Technologies?

We wanted to understand how we could implement customer service video chat solutions across different browsers and what kind of limitations we'd run into.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our project was based on doing deep research regarding web-based video streaming technology. This included discovering browser limitations, UX preferences, user behavior, channel connectivity, and other security aspects.

Our goal was to create a more secure, sustainable video streaming solutions for our clients. Their team does the research and some implementation for creating video streaming solutions.

What is the team composition?

I connected with three people.

How did you come to work with Simply Technologies?

They were referred by a friend.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–December 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received everything we were looking for, including all the working demos and proof of concept we wanted. They’re very active and proactive.

How did Simply Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was excellent. They respond very quickly, so communication was on point.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They conduct investigative research and get back to us quickly with new information. We got answers to our questions quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, we’re really satisfied. Everyone can always improve though. They delivered what we expected.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are a great choice for someone looking for a company with deep technical knowledge.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and Founder of a technology company based in Sydney, Australia. Our goal is to build a product that not only helps users have a better night out, but helps venues increase traffic and revenue.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Simply Technologies?

We hired Simply Technologies to complete our initial build of the Venews mobile app.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was produce a mobile application that allows users easy access to the data we present. Further, our goal was to have a flexible admin panel that allows for customisation of parameters and analysis of data.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Through word of mouth, in particular through a colleague who had worked with Simply Technologies before.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was to produce a clean, efficient and easy to use mobile application . Further, our goal was to have a flexible admin panel that allows for customisation of parameters and analysis of data. It involved accounting for our algorithm outputs, inputs and allowing for easy search functionalities including a map page.

What was the team composition?

3 developers and consultation with a project manager. I was in contact with all members of the team throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently we have just been approved for listing on the App store, which demonstrates that the app was of suitable quality and also fit for the functionality requirements that were initially outlined.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very good, Near daily calls and the use of a slack channel allowed for effective communication between myself and all Simply Technologies staff. It allowed for problems to be solved timely and effectively.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found extremely impressive the whole process from quote to post completion support. The team was extremely professional, skilled, and effective. They also took the time to understand the product being produced, which led to more effective problem solving process and overall successful execution of the application.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Of course it would be optimal for such a project to be completed faster, but I'd much rather have the quality product that has been produced, then a rushed and buggy product that could be produced in a shorter timeframe.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a co-founder of a startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simply Technologies?

We wanted to create a piece of software, so we reached out to Simply Technologies to serve as that development partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had a vision for the project and hired Simply Technologies to act as full-stack developers. I let them handle the front- and backend development while I managed product insights. Simply Technologies modeled the basic design off of a theme from a design studio, but their involvement was more so focused on the backend functionality.

What is the team composition?

I worked with four people: the CEO at times, a project manager, a lead senior developer, and a junior developer.

How did you come to work with Simply Technologies?

We learned of Simply Technologies through a referral. We interviewed about 10 other firms, but they were the most professional team that we met. They were reasonably priced and offered a thorough proposal.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned January­–June 2019. Actual development time was less.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product is complete, and we’re only using it for private needs at the moment.

Simply Technologies did a great job of putting the product together. The software is functional and thoroughly built.

How did Simply Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They were on top of everything concerning project management. I communicated with the developers through our project manager, who also organized our timelines and budgets.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Simply Technologies was detail-oriented. They were a great dev team that was on top of everything and very responsive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I think they did a great job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was working for mandal.ai during the collaboration with Simply Technologies. This 12-15-person startup is currently undergoing a name change. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simply Technologies?

As we were getting started, we contacted Simply Technologies to spearhead the frontend development. We were building a portal for creative advertising management. We initially considered starting an in-house team, but it was too difficult to hire one quickly enough.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, we had decided on which technologies to use, but hadn’t started development. Simply Technologies helped us start programming the frontend using a JavaScript framework. We handled the backend completely internally, which is hosted on Java web services.

The portal allows users to create and edit ads, run campaigns, and review the results through dashboards.  Functionally, it’s similar to Google Ads, but it uses a different type of dataset to target people.

Our teams developed both parts simultaneously. We worked together on a daily basis to keep the APIs synchronized. 

What is the team composition? 

The team included a mix of people from both our companies. We contributed a project manager and some developers. The entire entire frontend development team was from Simply Technologies. Their project manager was our main contact in the beginning. 

We also had an escalation contact in case anything went wrong. We scaled up from one to three developers, then started to downgrade again. Gradually, we hope to take frontend development in-house.

How did you come to work with Simply Technologies?

We had heard that Simply Technologies was skilled at anything related to JavaScript. I traveled to Armenia and met their founders. Multiple people from our company including myself have Armenian backgrounds.  

We had a great initial discussion. I liked both what they were doing and the people at their company. I felt it made sense to start a collaboration. 

Simply Technologies even offered us two weeks of free service so we could try them out and ensure everything they did met our expectations.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together for almost four months, from September–December 2018, or from November 2018 to January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Simply Technologies quickly secured results and was able to meet our short timeline. They provided us with our very first product right when we needed it. It serves as a demo and is fully usable. 

Since we’re a startup, worked rapidly on iterations of tweaks and testing. We made lots of changes during development, and Simply Technologies adjusted to every new requirement. The updates happened almost in real time. They really helped us get where we wanted to go with the product we built together.

How did Simply Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Simply Technologies actively contributed to the documentation. We used Jira and Confluence as tools. The code was stored in Bitbucket, and we had continuous integration. The developers worked directly with our project manager, but they also assigned us one just in case. 

Our company’s headquarters are in San Francisco, but we also have a development team in Armenia near Simply Technologies’ location. They worked closely with our remote team and often met in person. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Simply Technologies was nearly perfect in terms of correspondence and responsiveness. They worked very fast, and we never experienced anything close to an issue with their responsiveness. They used every means of communication a software development company could offer.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there is nothing worth mentioning. If we were located in Armenia, an in-house team would have been cheaper, but they provided a valuable service. Working with an outsourced made sense for us in this circumstance.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Any company that plans to work with Simply Technologies should be fully transparent. Honest and open communication will lead to success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm one of the owners of sportsmanagementsystems.com.au. Our company has developed a services platform for sporting organizations to handle memberships and events. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simply Technologies?

We hired Simply Technologies because our two in-house developers couldn't keep up the pace of development for our media platform. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simply Technologies executed all the programming and user interfacing behind the platform. We held initial meetings, set up scoping documents, and conducted the project module by module. The platform is entirely web-based. The team used Ruby on Rails along with multiple other programming languages. 

 It includes a complex log-in system with permissions for international, regional, and state level bodies down to the club level. The hierarchical system gives the top level of users full access, but lower-level users can only see their own club’s details. It's also multi-tenanted, so individual users who play multiple sports like tennis and cricket can see what's going on with both sports using one login. 

The platform facilitates interaction between its two specific sides for users and administrators.   It includes multiple areas for membership, payment, and administration. We've translated all the text on our site into multiple languages for users from different countries.

What is the team composition? 

We worked with 2–3 programmers and had a central point of contact who was very fluent in English. 

How did you come to work with Simply Technologies?

We looked in the marketplace to find a developer and considered 20 different vendors. Narrowing down the list, we used the process of elimination. We were very lucky we chose Simply Technologies.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together two and a half years ago and have an ongoing engagement. We are still building extra modules. They finished the first phase of development within 3–4 months. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The two internal developers from our organization are very bright. They led the entire development and felt Simply Technologies genuinely understood the draft of what we wanted to build. Once we got going, our teams got to know each other very well. 

Simply Technologies truly knows what they're talking about. They clearly comprehended our project. Despite minor language barriers with some teammates, we never had any real problems because our point of contact communicated effectively. Our collaboration worked very well. 

How did Simply Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly Skype meetings online because they're in Armenia and we're in Australia.  Simply Technologies was exceptional at responsiveness and correspondence with us. We communicated all the time using email, messenger, and other tools. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Simply Technologies is a young team who grasped what we wanted straight away and understood our project perfectly.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at all. I had no problems with them whatsoever. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Simply Technologies is a very good team to work with, and we never experienced any issues.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a product manager at a research company with projects that require technical experimentation. I oversee our digital products and vendor relationships.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Simply Technologies?

We needed JavaScript consulting services for a mobile app development project.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to explore various technical challenges to prove that our research was viable.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were looking for a vendor that worked well across time zones and demonstrated a strong understanding of our technology. Their portfolio and track record helped them stand out from others we were considering. They made it an easy decision.

Describe the project in detail.

We provided Simply with our requirements, and they got to work within our framework quickly. They developed an IoT-authorization mobile app using React Native.

What was the team composition?

We worked directly with Simply’s technical team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had numerous successful experiments when we’ve collaborated with Simply.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Simply’s management team has made communication a breeze. The fact that our internal processes are aligned is also helpful.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their passion for their craft is outstanding.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Physical distance and language barriers will always be hurdles to collaboration. However, Simply manages these challenges well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of a car tuning company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simply Technologies?

We hired them to build a virtual 3D car tuning platform from scratch to replace a website. The required technologies included Flash and Microsoft SQL Server.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, I met Simply Technologies and explained my idea. They then developed a PHP platform that serves as a car configurator. The platform features 3D models of cars. Using an admin panel, users can change/modify car parts and place orders.

They developed the database’s frontend and backend while we created an API that gave clients access to the configurator. Simply Technologies also provided the APIs for our iOS and Android applications.

What is the team composition?

I served as the general designer, project manager, and product owner. They had their own project manager, but I primarily interacted with the owners.

How did you come to work with Simply Technologies?

I called Alexander (Co-Founder, Simply Technologies) and told him about my idea. We met for coffee, and we’ve been collaborating ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from June 2011–October 2015. We worked with them for a number of years until we built our own development team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team had strong coding and technical skills. They provided great insights into maximizing efficiency and other topics. Although the partnership has concluded, we still have a good relationship. I’m close friends with their two owners, and we meet occasionally to discuss my project.

How did Simply Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager was punctual and frequently gave us status updates. These reports provided information about where they were in the process and if there would be any delays.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We never felt like they were an outsourced company. Simply Technologies always felt like part of the team. They were personable and had seamless communication.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we had no complaints.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Their youthful staff had strong technical skills and learned new things on a daily basis. Considering this combined with the end product and results, I can say that Simply Technologies is a very creative, positive, and satisfactory company.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a property reassurance company called BCMC Safety Solutions. We provide Australian real estate agencies with effective solutions to manage their landlords’ properties, ensuring that they comply with safety guidelines.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Simply Technologies?

We approached Simply Technologies to build our online portal where agents could log in and view all their reports, invoices, and other logistical information.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have a clean and simple way for agents to access invoices, see job status, review jobs, edit property details, and more.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

It was essential for us to have a team that we could talk to at any moment; we wanted them to keep us in the loop. Harut (Co-Founder & CEO, Simply Technologies) and his team provided just that. They did a great job working with our ideas while bringing their own thoughts to the table.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They created an online portal for our agents to view relevant information easily.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of two web developers. Harut managed and oversaw them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve experienced massive growth after implementing the portal. It’s now easier for us to secure partners, and our clients enjoy using the software.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We spoke twice a week using Skype. During our meetings, we’d discuss our tasks for that week’s sprint, reflect on our progress, and answer any questions. We also used Slack and Trello to manage jobs that needed to be completed and for internal chats.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their response time was outstanding. The moment that they saw I had a question, they replied to it or were already working to address the issue.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I can’t think of too many areas where they could improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Agilico GmbH, a small consulting firm founded in Switzerland in 2015. We build financial services software for banks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Simply Technologies?

We’re a small firm without many internal resources, so often outsource our work. We have several partners with whom we assign specific projects. We establish a project team, deliver the project, and dissolve the team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Simply Technologies is our largest partner. Our first project together was to build a rating calculation software for the research department of a large private bank. They had a proprietary methodology that they used to assess companies and make investment recommendations to clients. We built the software with Simply Technologies to support the methodology based on the design and requirements that my company defined with the client.

More recently, they built a prototype of a risk-rating engine. It used some ideas from a previous project but was still a new development. We’re currently working with another client to build a product prototype for financial advisory.

What is the team composition?

My main contact is the team and technical lead, but we also interact with two developers. In the beginning, we worked with the CEO to define the terms of the partnership.

How did you come to work with Simply Technologies?

When I founded my company, I understood that I couldn’t hire people locally and needed to be able to find development partners elsewhere. I’m from Eastern Europe, so I started my search with local connections.

I interviewed several companies before choosing Simply Technologies. Their level of technical knowledge and ability to understand requirements and documentation was significantly higher than anyone else.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $30,000–$50,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2016, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our first project, for example, was very successful. Not only did Simply Technologies deliver on time and budget, but we received positive feedback from the client. The product quality was high despite a short testing phase. They’re able to translate what we want into the software quickly and easily, which is particularly important when working with an offsite developer.

How did Simply Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was great. We were always able to understand each other mutually. They provided timely feedback, replied quickly to emails, and attended all meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have very competent employees, and they put them on the project immediately. We don't have to work through several layers of people who may not know what we need. We can start the qualified discussions very quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Any improvements that I needed or requests that I had were always addressed. One question might be about their ability to scale. We've only worked on small to midsized projects. I don’t know how they’d do with a larger project that requires 10 people at the same time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want to do and have a plan of what you would like to build before engaging. It’s essential to have a clear definition of the task because the discussions start very quickly.

Have regular check-ins to track progress once or twice a week depending on the size of the project. Also, if it’s possible, have an onsite visit. I've done so twice, and it was worth it. It’s better to know the people that you’re talking with over Skype.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of Recomazing, Australia's largest database of recommendations for services to grow a business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Simply Technologies?

We needed them to run all our web development on an agile process.

What were your goals for this project?

To create simplicity within a complex space. To develop a mobile-friendly website, utilizing best practice UX to maximize engagement.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We undertook an intensive screening process involving eight vendors. We looked at their skillsets, communication levels, and importantly, the ability to feel like they were merely an extension of our own team. Competitive pricing was also a strong factor, but not the most important.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

We ran weekly sprints and had multiple meetings per week to manage the process. We provided requirements and new feature concepts, then they would provide estimates before we kicked off the development each week.

What was the team composition?

We had a team of around four to eight people, depending on the project's phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to scale our startup at a high speed and in a cost-effective way. Time is obviously a huge factor for startups so this was extremely valuable for us. It was a pleasure to work with them; they were always reliable and even took the time to visit us locally, even though they're based in Armenia.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We primarily used Slack, Trello, and Jira. These worked really well and kept us all on track. We had shared folders/Trello boards which meant their team genuinely felt like an extension of our own.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The communication was very solid. Working with an offshore team, the quality of work becomes an important factor. What sets a good offshore company apart from a great one is the communication and they understand this.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They were fantastic to work with and I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again. If I had to provide one piece of feedback, it would be that the estimations of work hours were sometimes a little off, but it was nothing too major.