SmartTek Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an e-commerce company that sells kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with N-development?

We needed them to build a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

N-development is currently developing our website using Odoo. 

What is the team composition?

We work with five people, including Ivan (Co-Founder & Managing Director) the CEO, a project manager, and two programmers. 

How did you come to work with N-development?

They were referred to us by Odoo, and we got a good quote price-wise. We felt good about them when we had the initial conversation, and that’s why we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in February 2020 and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have not measured anything yet, but the experience has been good, so far.

How did N-development perform from a project management standpoint?

In general, we have been very happy with them. They've been very good to work with and they always keep their timelines and deliverables. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

N-development is very responsive. They’re eager to serve our needs and the functionality that they build works.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really — I haven’t found anything they can further improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you have a good project manager in-house.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an Australian comapny that design, manufacture and supply independent living aids across the globe. We have manufacturing facilities in China and Turkey and sales support offices in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, China, Turkey and Dubai. My role is Brand & Data Manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire N-development?

We hired N-development to develop a custom instance of ODOO ERP (community version) tailored to our unique business requirements

What were your goals for this project?

To develop an ERP system that covered all aspects of our business: sales, project Management, inventory, warehousing, customer support, invoicing & e-commerce.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

N-development were recommended to us by another Australian company who had used them previously.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They installed the ODOO instance on our requested hosting and studied our business and work flows and:

1. Advised how ODOO out of the box functionality could be utilized to meet our needs.

2. Consulted on custom development that could be undertaken to meet our business needs.

3. Executed the custom development and delivered a seamless ERP specific to our needs.

What was the team composition?

We had a dedicated N-development project manager who was our main point of contact, the project manager was knowledgeable in all aspects of the project which ensured communication was great. In addition to our dedicated project manager, N-development had 2 developers working on the project, a business analyst, and a QA engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have yet to fully implement the ERP system within our business, though this is no fault of N-development. Since the start of the project our business has gone through a period of rapid expansion which has created the need for additional development of the system as our requirements were constantly evolving.

Though we are yet to officially go live, I can already see the immense value the ODOO ERP is going to have for our business in reducing project times, reducing human error through the automation of our ordering processes and most importantly allowing us to get product to market faster.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project has been managed very well by N-development, N-develepment have always met or exceeded deadlines. Our dedicated project manager has exceptional technical knowledge which resulted in the vast majority of our questions being answered immediately on the spot. Any inquiries that need further clarification were always answered quickly with clear concise responses.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Again the technical knowledge and clear communication provided by the project manager were impressive and helped the project run smoothly.

N-development have always been extremely accommodating in regards to scheduling calls with our staff (we are on the other side of the world) our N-development project manager made himself available late at night or early in the morning which our staff certainly appreciated!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Overall we have been very pleased and don't have any suggested improvements

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief Knowledge Officer at Youpal. We build custom web and mobile projects as well as provide onsite and remote resources for our customers globally. We are headquartered in Stockholm Sweden with offices in 7 countries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire N-development?

We implemented Odoo ERP system for internal employees. We needed support from Odoo experts to help us customise a number of application modules such as HR, Sales, Projects and Accounting

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to ensure that Odoo ERP system could be customised to our business processes and usage in order to run efficient business operations

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had tested one or two vendors with very little success. We then selected N-development by chance as we were in a situation to have custom work done fast. Our first meeting with them was very efficient and they knew exactly what needed to be done and importantly provided a very accurate estimate. They also provided sound advice on how we could move forward. What we liked about them was that they really cared about our situation instead of making blown up sales pitches.

Describe the project in detail.

This was not your typical project process as we were under pressure to deliver. We had one meeting to explain the situation and what we needed. They estimated the project on the spot and provided a realistic deadline. They went straight to work and gave us regular updates on the progress via chat. Keep in mind this was a Friday and they sacrificed their weekend to ensure delivery of the critical module before Monday.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a Project manager from our side and two Odoo developers on their end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Key success areas are: On time delivery, quality work and within estimate Our business was able to operate without any slow down. Our operations are more efficient.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a direct chat channel so we always had communication with no more than 10 minute response time from their team. We also were invited to their project management tool so we could see tasks and progress of these tasks

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are no-nonsense, honest, hard-working professionals. What they estimate and when they deliver has been spot on. Furthermore, they are all very social, fun and most importantly provide really sound advice to help you make the right decisions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing to add here- it is a pleasure working with N-Development

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

As a director, we help entrepreneurs / MBK companies to optimize their business processes by implementing digital solutions, such as Odoo.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire N-development?

For custom Odoo development

What were your goals for this project?

The project is on-going and the goal is to optimize the processen of the client by implementing Odoo software.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

By Upwork and freelancers recruitment platform

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They are responsible for odoo custom development based on the requirment of the clients.

What was the team composition?

The work with junior and senior Odoo developers and a project manager. To work really structred with a clear communication line.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are working on KPI's with the client, only this is not ready yet.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very good, Ivan is a very professional project manager with knowledge and expertise you can count on. They asked the right questions to help the process further.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

How structure they are.

Are there any areas for improvement?

More and frequent updates about the status of a task or project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm Managing Director and shareholder. Junari is an Odoo provider, similar to N-Dev

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire N-development?

Various OpenERP and Odoo tasks.

What were your goals for this project?

To fix bugs and provide enhancements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Shortlisted from PeoplePerHour, spoke on Skype - very impressed with communications and approach, visited their office in the Ukraine.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Bug fixing and enhancements for various projects in OpenERP7 and Odoo 13.

What was the team composition?

Lead / Project Manager Business Analyst Developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

N-Dev have been great in helping Junari with overcoming a resource shortage.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Face-to-face meetings initially, followed by regular Skype calls and Slack messages as required and a shared ticketing system.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communications, and their ability to understand and propose solutions to complex issues stand out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Initially there were a few minor jobs that could have been tested more but we discussed it and it didn't happen again after the first few weeks

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInSofT?

I needed someone to help with animation and illustration. They needed to be very good and able to create commercial grade art.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did animation and illustration for a mobile interactive game app. It’s very cinematic.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact.

How did you come to work with UkrInSofT?

I found them through Upwork.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested over $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app hasn’t launched yet, but they’re experts for all things digital. Our partnership is a perfect pair in the end. I can’t put the digital aspects to paper. However, I thrive when it comes to conceptual thinking. They’re sort of dry on concept creation but can make the ideas look great.

UkrInSofT is the rocket fuel to the project. My team can do things now that we couldn’t before. We had relatively good artists before, but the final product is like going from the original iPod to today’s iPhone.

How did UkrInSofT perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style is great. They’re very militant.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stick to the schedule and are available when needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’d have them improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should try to be open-minded.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Black Ice is an innovation company that specializes in software and media research, design and development. We’ve collaborated with large organizations and startups since 1996 to transform ideas into products. Currently working with real-time positional tracking, object recognition, stereo computer vision, electromagnetic and optical sensors to develop computer-based simulations, AR, Mobile and Web Applications. We’re a team of strategists, researchers, designers and engineers who align with partners and organizations to help move products forward with confidence.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AVRspot?

Black Ice engaged AVR Spot to develop an Augmented Reality Application to allow workers to visualize Minimum Approach Distances while working on or near energized transmission lines

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to conduct research and develop a test AR application to enhance worker safety for training and during live work on power lines.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Black Ice conducted a careful search of available AR Developers. AVR Spot was selected based on the quality of their previous work and the ease of doing business with them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

A VR Spot implimented our design and developed the AR programing for a Test Application for iOS devises. The test app allows users to view a mock up of a transmission line conductor and insulator - using the iOS camera - and provides a visualization of the area that could be energized as an overlay.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project in in the early stages of research and development. We plan to continue to work with AVR Spot to further test and develop this application

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Andrew Linskyi leads the AVR Spot team. They've provided great communication and support throughout our R&D process. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an international advertising agency with offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Hamburg, Paris and Lisbon.

We handle global, local and regional accounts for brands like Unilever, San Miguel, Mattel and Burger King. I am the Head of Communications, responsible for all external communications and public perception of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire UkrInSofT?

We hired UkrInSofT to build a custom CMS for our website.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted something unique, different from the rest of the websites in our industry that all look and function the same. We also need the back end to be very easy to use.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by a colleague at our sister agency and digital specialist Huge.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

UkrInsofT provides website development, updates, bug fixes, improvements and general SEO tips and best practices. They help to keep our site fresh and working well as well walking us through any complicated issues, as I am not an IT expert.

What was the team composition?

The team is made up of several developers on their end and two lead contacts on my end. I deal directly with the CEO and communicate back to my team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website is the face of our business and the one place where we can most effectively showcase our work. It is essential to our external communications and public persona, as well as a source of lead generation.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

There have been no issues on part of UkrInsofT in terms of project management and they have always been available, helpful and resolutive, at all hours. We have currently started working with an online project management tool so I can better track our needs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very accessible and flexible. They take us very seriously as clients and are always looking to improve.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement for every one of us. I would say that the team might want to make proactive suggestions about new features or ways to improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a beauty brand who developed a web app for our users in order to get additional help and tips for their skin care routine. I am the CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire UkrInSofT?

Creating a full web application including back-end and front-end developing with a fully design and functionalities on the platform.

What were your goals for this project?

Help our customers to become a member on our new platform and seek help and advice for their skin.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We got this company recommended from my friend who was working with them on their projects.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They reached the level where users can create their own accounts and get access to features like getting free products from the beauty company (us), reach dermatologists to ask for skin care advice, daily tips for their skin, advanced skin adviser through selfies and other similar features.

What was the team composition?

A lot of back-end and front-end developers and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Launched and created on time and as agreed. Gave us the opportunity to launch something new and give our customers a better experience using our brand.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had the estimation very quickly and the project cost was real and very adapting to the budget of our company. The CEO, Juriy, was very polite and excited to work with us. We are impressed by how he managed all the requirements that we needed. The team which we proceed after that was very efficient.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication was next level. I had always help and support from the team and I am glad that they understand our needs. The way they completed our tasks was really impressive and quick.

Are there any areas for improvement?

For this project I got everything done what I wanted and we did not have any issues with them. So I think they are a very advanced company which takes care of their customers.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of a creative agency that specializes in immersive VR and AR technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AVRSpot?

We wanted a partner who could help us with the digital build of a VR experience for one of our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We pitched a unique project to a real estate developer who was building a masterplan community, which is essentially a 463-acre property that will be built over the next 10–15 years. The project was an interactive VR bike tour of the future of their community. We constructed a physically mounted bike with a VR headset that enabled customers to experience the completed community through the tracking of pedal movements. 

As a contractor, AVRSpot came on to create all of the digital assets, 3D modeling, and Unity software that we needed to get the VR up and running. They used 3D Macs for the modeling work. Together, we also tested out various headsets to optimize the experience. In the end, the completed product was three VR experiences that are now housed in the client’s welcome center.

What is the team composition?

We had a team of four professionals in addition to our account manager, Andrew (Founder, AVRSpot).

How did you come to work with AVRSpot?

They reached out to us and started a conversation as part of their marketing efforts. A few months passed before Andrew and I ran into each other at a conference in New Orleans. We had a meeting there. It was a great interaction, so I was very confident in their abilities when I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

This project cost us about $40,000–$50,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement on this project started in January 2018. Although the final product has been delivered, we still consistently work with AVRSpot on pitches. We also have multiple active contracts with them currently.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This was a unique design challenge that had not been done by many before us. Both of our teams learned a lot over the course of the project. They really helped by coming together and conquering those challenges. Our client is very happy with the results, and we’re internally proud of the final VR experiences. This engagement has led to more work, which we’re also very excited about.  

How did AVRSpot perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve always had solid communication through frequent meetings and check-ins. GET Lab has also been a helpful platform for our code reviews because it allows us to maintain version control.

Andrew’s team has also been super responsive when we’ve needed them last-minute. For instance, they pulled a few late nights to fix some unexpected problems that came up as the client was physically opening their space for a launch party. They made sure the software and hardware could be used by the public at that time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we did run into unexpected challenges, their team really took ownership of their work and fixed them. Partnerships in emerging technology can be difficult in terms of finding a team that can resolve issues. AVRSpot always took responsibility and corrected any problems.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall my experience was very good. In the beginning, we underquoted the project on both of our ends. When working with new technologies and VR, predicting the budget accurately is trickly. I don’t fault them for it, but it would be great if they could price their products with a bit more certainty.