Smartbees

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder and former CEO of SpeakerHub

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Speakerhub is a global platform to connect public speakers with event organizers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Provide continuous development support
• Document the website code from the previous team
• Develop new features

SOLUTION

How did you find Smartbees?

Clutch Site

Why did you select Smartbees over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Smartbees were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The team:

1. helped take over the website from the previous developers
2. document the code and organize the backend of the website
3. provide continuous support to keep the service running
4. they helped with our Cloudflare and web hosting configuration
5. they developed hundreds of new features and managed the project
6. they provided code and workflow optimization support and advice
7. they helped database configuration and development

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

JIRA ticketing estimates (cost and dev. hours) and delivery on the basis of the items. These were clearly trackable and measurable.

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

Yes, they delivered great quality results, good communication, transparent accounting and project management.

What was your primary form of communication with Smartbees?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They're open to ideas, listen to our needs and concerns, and come up with proactive solutions.

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

Perhaps guide the client better about how to best list and prioritize tasks early in the project so it eventually benefits both sides throughout. This is something we resolved later and worked well, though.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product delivery manager for a software development and consultancy company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Smartbees?

We needed someone to develop a website for our client, who wanted it to be more modern.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Smartbees developed a website for our end client. It was an existing website, so the development was done from scratch while considering the existing functionalities. They provided a complete development team working in PHP and were responsible for the Drupal part as well. We provided the new designs.

Additionally, they’ve helped us to upgrade the technology. The website is based on Drupal technology, so the version was outdated. They’ve upgraded to the newer version and rewritten one part of the website. The site is also connected with an external server based on Angular. Due to an outdated Angular version, Smartbees had o help us rewrite the old version with Vue to make it faster and more stable.

What is the team composition?

We’re in contact with the project manager and two developers. We have full support from the owner, and they also have testers.

How did you come to work with Smartbees?

Our sales department verified a contractor, but I knew the standard we were looking for. We needed a provider with current technology. Smartbees was a specialist in the technology we were looking for.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $42,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve delivered on time, which is the most important metric for us. We had a strict deadline with our end client, and everything has been verified in advance. We’ve only had minor bugs, but the main product has good quality. Overall, Smartbees has made the service more stable with newer supported technologies.

We’re satisfied with the cooperation, which is why we continue to work with them on other projects. Moreover, they continue to keep an eye on the quality of the product.

How did Smartbees perform from a project management standpoint?

They deliver on time and within budget. If needed, we organize meetings accordingly so we aren’t overloaded. We communicate via Teams or email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have good knowledge of the technology, which isn’t so common. They easily supported us and changed the technology from Angular to Vue. It was a good solution for us, and instead of three separate services, they combined it as one during the transition. It’s more efficient.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should improve the communication around the additional work. During the project, we had some additional requirements that we couldn’t figure out before the project started.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The owner has a technical background, but I’d recommend engaging tech leads at the beginning because they’re responsible later for advising and finding the best solutions. Therefore, you should know the scope and goal from the very beginning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager at a software house. We have a team of around 10 people.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Smartbees?

Our customer wanted a new mobile-responsive website. They had a large number of educational products that had to be prominently featured on the site, and each of those products had several features.

They wanted the site to be coded in Drupal.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our client provided elaborate requirements, and Smartbees suggested suitable solutions for building the site.

The website has an API integration with the customer’s internal database of lecturers. The information includes lecturer names, publications, CVs, and phone numbers.

The customer wanted the site to be modular, meaning that, if they wanted to add a new page, they would construct it from predefined components, like a header and areas for pictures and video.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three developers and a project manager from Smartbees. I was also in touch with the head of the company in the beginning.

The project manager was introduced at the final stage of the project and helped me with bug support. I acted as project manager throughout the collaboration.

How did you come to work with Smartbees?

My bosses found them. From what I know, Smartbees was chosen based on their Drupal proficiency and reputation.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work was above 100,000 Polish Zloty (approximately $27,402 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Smartbees in September 2019, and the website went into production in November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measured the outcome based on the customer’s satisfaction. The bug return rate was around 2%, by which I mean the percentage of features that needed correction.

The website went live last week, so I can’t talk about its retention rate or other metrics.

How did Smartbees perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was very good. As the project manager, I enjoyed working with them and would do it again. I always got answers for my problems, and Smartbees took into consideration the fact that I’m not a technical PM. They came up with optimal solutions proactively, taking into account the customer’s business needs.

We had established channels of communication, and I was very satisfied with this aspect. We used Slack for everyday communication, UTrack to track the time and progress. We used Jira for bug support, but we later switched to Microsoft Teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re extremely open-minded and tech-savvy. They’re always up-to-date with the most recent solutions. Their communication was great, and there was never an occasion when someone went on vacation unexpectedly. Smartbees was a very good choice, and I hope I’ll have the opportunity to work with them again in the future.

Are there any areas they could improve?

One of their developers left the company, which led to some small obstacles. That’s not something that can be prevented in any way. People come and go. I’m really satisfied with Smartbees overall.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should include the developers in the various stages of product creation. If they know the customer’s business needs, they can present better solutions. Had Smartbees been included right from the start, we might’ve done something different.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Marketing Specialist in EMBIQ - a software development solution company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Smartbees?

We hired Smartbees because we needed their help with creating an integral Drupal Moodle solution related to the entire architecture of the project.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create an integral platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We started a cooperation with Smartbees because of their competences and experience.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Smartbees provided us their specislists, just body leasing. Thanks to their competences we had made our project.

What was the team composition?

We have worked with small team of developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We managed the whole project till the end with success.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Smartbees' employees were very involved, they were doing every task with commitment.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We are impressed by their flexibility and high quality.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The team was great, there is nothing to improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the property manager of over 60 tenants. We rent offices and storages.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Smartbees?

I had an old website and I wanted a new, fresh one developing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed my website and set it up so I can make updates myself. They created a manual for me that explains how quickly how to do so, without requiring IT support.

We gave them the information for the website, then they offered us lots of possibilities of what we could do. We’re not IT people, we just needed a website that was clean and nice, so we didn’t need to know what kind of technology they use.

During the development, we had some issues with our server, which they helped us solve, even though it wasn’t in our agreement. They still service the website when needed.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Piotr (CEO, Smartbees), and there’s plenty of other people who did the work.

How did you come to work with Smartbees?

My friends told me that they were good, so I called them and talked to Piotr. They sent me an offer and described what they could do for me. I didn’t have to ask for additional details as I was assured during that one interview that they knew what I wanted.

How much have you invested with them?

The price was good.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July­­–November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All our tenants loved the website as they could see pictures and all we had to offer.

How did Smartbees perform from a project management standpoint?

We had two or three hour-long meetings and were in contact via phone and email throughout. The communication was good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They knew what I needed which meant that I didn’t have to spend a lot of time thinking. They offered solutions. Before we had our agreement, they found other companies that are similar to us and showed me examples of their websites. That gave me several solutions to pick from.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Piotr has a great team. They offer innovative, fresh, and new ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of IT at WSB Universities. We run the largest private universities in Poland with over 70,000 students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Smartbees?

We needed help to develop our websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Smartbees helped us create 10 new CMS tools that include search engines, connections with our CRM system, and integration with our pricing model in our transaction systems. They built the site in Drupal 8.0, using PHP, HTML, CSS, JS, and other technologies as well. The backend uses Linux with a server engine connected to Elasticsearch and Mule ESB. Smartbees handled every stage of development from making the CMS applications to launching the sites. Their team now provides maintenance.

What is the team composition?

Piotr (CEO, Smartbees) was our main point of contact. He helped manage and perform sprints.

How did you come to work with Smartbees?

We considered five companies—including Smartbees—to perform this project. Smartbees had created sites for us in the past and answered our interview questions well.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $10,000 and $49,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on this project from July—November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our sites have received more visitors, and customers can now buy our products more efficiently. We were so satisfied with our engagement with Smartbees that we started a new project with them.

How did Smartbees perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team produced high-quality deliverables at fair prices and within a tight timeframe. They used scrum methodology to complete work and met every deadline. The collaboration was effortless and enjoyable. We communicated via phone, email, Jira, and Google Hangouts for video conferencing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Smartbees demonstrated in-depth knowledge of their technology stacks. Their expertise in Drupal let them produce quality work quickly. Their team worked hard with a clear focus on our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Define your business goals before you start a project. Smartbees can help you find fresh solutions to your challenges and offer ways to make processes faster, cheaper, or better. Communication is the key to a smooth project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a financial manager at Cube Group. We’re a large performance marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Smartbees?

We needed help with development. We needed a system that could make payments to our thousands of partners. We started the project ourselves but needed outside help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They made us a payment funnel for our partners. It’s a large system with a lot of data and money flow. We used Drupal. They continue to help us as we make changes to our market.

What is the team composition?

Their CEO was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Smartbees?

We found a lot of information about them in a Google search.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $30,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2016 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The payment funnel is the most important system in our company because we depend on our partners.

How did Smartbees perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate with them via phone, Skype, and email. They use a system for tracking, which I believe is Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re flexible. They work with us when there are time pressures. They try to understand our situation and our business. They’re like partners. If something doesn’t work properly, we call them and they’re always available.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have a lot of other projects. Perhaps they could have one person dedicated to us to make it faster.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Piotr (CEO, Smartbees) is a great specialist. He manages his team and he knows what they should do and how. My advice is to contact him.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in the marketing department for a bicycle company that supports 25 brands in Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Smartbees?

We needed help building and managing some of our websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Smartbees has helped develop some of our websites from scratch and maintain others on Drupal, including an e-commerce site, a site that displays our products, and a site that allows for customer registration.

What is the team composition?

I mostly work with their CEO.

How did you come to work with Smartbees?

We did an online search for developers with Drupal experience.

How much have you invested with them?

I'm not sure what our total investment has been, but their work is a big part of our budget. We spend around 10,000 Polish Zloty ($2,732 USD) per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them for about three years and counting.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We generate around 10 orders a day from the most recent e-commerce website Smartbees developed. That's just one example of how their work continues to improve our bottom line.

How did Smartbees perform from a project management standpoint?

We ask a lot of their team, but they do a decent job of managing the workload. We communicate through Skype on a daily basis and manage projects through Jira. We can easily reach them by phone or email, but arrange for in-person meetings as needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're good at establishing a strong business relationship with their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their turnaround times a bit.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Coordinator of a marketing agency

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a 360° marketing agency organizing sales promotions (e.g. loyalty programs, lotteries, cashback).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Web Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Smartbees?

Online Search

Why did you select Smartbees over others?

High technologies

How many teammates from Smartbees were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Preparing the environment to support the loyalty program with:

• User registration functionality
• The ability to order rewards
• Other dedicated modules

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Starting the project on time and according to project assumptions.

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

• Everything was delivered on time. 
• Good contact with the project manager.
• Quick responses. 

What was your primary form of communication with Smartbees?

Email or Messaging App

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

Smartbees demonstrates punctuality and professionalism and has found solutions to encountered problems.

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

More optimized costs in the area of post-implementation support.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Project Manager of a nonprofit organization.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Fundraising to help woman in need

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Help with website support

SOLUTION

How did you find Smartbees?

Online Search

Why did you select Smartbees over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Smartbees were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Support the further developemnt of new wesite

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

users

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

• They delivered 95% on time.
• They were helpful.

What was your primary form of communication with Smartbees?

Email or Messaging App

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

simplicity and speed

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

regular virtual meetings on monthly basis