Softblues

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Managing Director of an e-learning content and consulting company based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. I have worked in the learning and development sector for thirteen years, and created my own business in order to provide bespoke digital development and consultancy services to my clients both in the private and public sector (including regional colleges and Universities).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Softblues?

As a UK based consultant for Wordpress-for-education solutions, we are often tasked with analysing the advanced requirements for a client’s learning solution which may not be possible with existing solutions found on the market. For one of our clients, using a popular LMS for WordPress solution called LearnDash, there were additional requirements in relation to reporting and the ability to control classroom activity logs, which simply would not have been possible without an advanced bespoke solution on top of what we were able to deliver in-house. We ultimately worked with Softblues on a handful of projects that empowered us to deliver the full-scale solution that our clients were looking for.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a simple to understand user experience for members of the client platform with 'Group Leader' privileges that allowed them to manage details of their organisation independently from site admin control. The main goal for the client was to ease administrative day-to-day tasks and concentrate staff time to be used for matters other than what the customer was able to manage themselves.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A member of the Softblues team responded to our call for a skilled WordPress developer to take on our project. Following a brief consultation, which was followed by a more in-depth project analysis and proposal, we were satisfied that they understood the brief and that we wanted to take the project forward with them as our development partner.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Softblues developed both frontend and backend bespoke solutions for storing and reporting on custom data within a WordPress based digital learning platform. Following our consultation and work agreement based on the proposal that was delivered, they begun development on our client’s staging site version, delivering each component of the overall solution in stages.

We were given the opportunity to review the first iteration of the completed solution and provide our feedback in order to ensure accuracy with our client’s brief. We were also able to request additional scope requests as were required throughout the development cycle as new challenges emerged. The final solution was then ultimately ported to our client’s live system for use by their customers / platform users.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned the following team members from Softblues to work with us on our project: one business analyst Yaroslav Tsurkan, one project manager Mariya Dryomova, one backend developer (PHP) Mykola Lukin, and one front-end developer Taras Andreiev.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client learning platform is used by thousands of learners across various organisations ranging from fire and rescue services, lifeguards and airport safety , with each individual user being processed in some way by the custom solution developed by Softblues. Feedback from ‘Group Leader’ users has been positive, with the solutions working as intended.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Our designated project manager from Softblues always answered messsages in a timely manner. He worked tirelessly to communicate between ourselves and his development team to ensure that work was completed to our brief and to the timeframes that were agreed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Though WordPress-for-education is a relatively niche area, I find it very impressive how much knowledge the Softblues team has of complex third-party plugin solutions such as LearnDash. Many times I am concerned that a particular function or user experience is going to be beyond the realms of what is feasible when working to customise a third-party solution like this, but every time Softblues seem to be able to deliver on what we need!

Are there any areas for improvement?

With regards to quality assurance, we had sometimes discovered bugs in developed software which become apparent during our user testing, though these were always dealt with quickly whenever we raised them as part of the review process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We a b2c subscription box company. I am the COO and work directly with Softblues.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Softblues?

We need a custom subscription software within our Wordpress/Woocommerce setup to handle our box setup. Also, we engage Softblues for support and web maintenance tasks.

What were your goals for this project?

A working subscription ecommerce backend that would remove our use of spreadsheets to track customers and shipments.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed a few vendors and reviewed their proposed solutions. Softblues' proposed solution was the best option.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Softblue provided Wordpress and woocommerce customization. With our requirements, they came up with the software solution, designed the backend and front end and implemented it all.

What was the team composition?

On our side, we had 3 team members testing and providing feedback. On Softblue, we worked with the following: 1 business analyst Yaroslav Tsurkan, 1 project manager Mariya Dryomova, 2 backend developers (PHP) Mykola Lukin and Taras Chornyi, and 1 front-end developer Stanislav Harabara

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project allowed us to scale from a handful of orders per week to hundreds of orders per week. We would not have been able to handle the current amount of orders without Softblues' solution.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Once the solution was agreed upon, Softblue would provide milestones and deadlines. They consistently met their deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were willing to take the time to understand our business and clearly understand what we wanted to accomplish. They didn't just try to push a solution that worked for past clients.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They are a great team to work with. Happy overall with their performance.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the head of eCommerce for Jollys Jewellers, an online and physical retail company selling pre-loved jewellery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Softblues?

We're currently in the process of developing a new website and faced serval challenges. As a small business, we don't have the capacity to employ a full-time Web Developer or advanced customisation which was required to achieve our end goal.

What were your goals for this project?

We required some customisations to WooCommerce as well as plugin creation. Our 3 main goals were; 1) To automatically offer resizing options for rings on our website which are sizable. This also requires the costing to be added to the cart 2) To create attribute generated content across all of our 8000+ products to ensure each has a unique description 3) To offer engraving at the checkout by adding cost to the cart total and allowing for a drop down to appear where the customer can put in their engraving text

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have previously worked with this vendor and experienced excellent results. Because of this, they were the first company to spring to mind and we will happily continue to use their services going forward.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Ring sizing is something we have wanted to implement without the need to add each item as a variable option. With attributes in WooCommerce we already had in place, Softblues were able to automatically add ring sizing options within the product page. This worked by checking the attribute "sizable" was "yes" and taking the current Ring Size. Going 3 full ring sizes up and down, the price would appear in the product page. As an extra which we didn't consider, we can adjust the price of ring sizing depending on the metal purity which allows us to adjust the ring sizing price going forward allowing us to offer free ring sizing or discounted ring sizing for sale periods. One of the biggest challenges we have had is all of our product descriptions read the same. We don't have the team or capacity to create dynamic content per product and this is something which harms our SEO. Softblues were able to add two things to resolve this. For each category, we can create content which will automatically load in the products description and use attributes to create dynamic content. We can also overide this by entering product descriptions manually but also using attributes to pull through the content we want. This means out product management team can focus on adding more items to our website with less manual action required. The final thing we wanted is to offer engraving on certain rings. This allows us to upsell one of our services at checkout as well as offering a tailored experience to our customers. Going off of attributes again, rings with the attribute "engravable" now offer the option at checkout. Once ticked, the price of the item automatically adjusts and the customer can have anything they like engraved on their ring.

What was the team composition?

The first member of the team I'd spoken with is their business analyst. With them, we went over all of the issues we're facing and what we would like in order to resolve the issue. They were very helpful, kept constant contact and were able to send across a proposal outlining everything mentioned. After signing the proposal, we worked with the project manager who would relay information and go over the work carried out. They would relay information between myself and the PHP developer who was working on our website. We did request some changes after the initial implementation of what we wanted and their project manager was on hand to relay all information back to their PHP developer. The team communicate well between one another, especially during a time where plenty of people are working from home or communication is strictly digitally based.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As of yet, the website is still in development but these features are something which have been requested by customers and we're confident they will have a great impact on online sales and conversions.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was digitally based, email communication and constant support via Skype. The option for a call was always made available and I was updated pretty much daily from their project manager.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Having worked with them before, they're very skilled at what they do. The customisation was something I have been looking into for a while and they were able to implement this in a very short time with constant communication and at a reasonable price.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that springs to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work at a sportswear brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Softblues?

I needed to create an eCommerce website for my sportswear company. It was supposed to be a brand new online shop with an exclusive design that would emphasize the uniqueness of my brand and products.

I was looking for a technical partner that could take care of the customization of the initial project engine. I also needed developers to implement the functionality for the project to work in several markets at the same time.

We needed it to work in different languages, enable users to pay in currencies, offer various delivery conditions, as well as prices. Besides, modules for payment and delivery had to be developed, too.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goal was to introduce a new brand of sportswear on the market. We planned to launch sales in several countries. So we aimed at our customer's convenience, so they could use the localized version of the site to their language, pay in familiar currency, and have all other comfortable payment and delivery options.

We put specific emphasis on the design of the project. It was supposed to underline that we are equal with well-known brands of sportswear. Besides we needed a blog, so our customers could keep up with the news about all the new products.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was looking for a web design company on the Internet. I just loved the pre-sales approach they used by exploring business needs really professionally. This made them stand out among the competitors and we signed the contract.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

To be honest, at the time of the beginning of cooperation, we had a rather clumsy landing. And we understood that to gain further development, we need to remake into and get a high-quality project.

After a preliminary discussion with the team members, we immediately started to work on new prototypes. We position the brand as the revolution in sports and sportswear. Our products have two main directions: Equipment for athletes created using lightweight and durable synthetic materials that remove excess moisture from the body, provide excellent ventilation and dry quickly. These clothes provide maximum efficiency. Sportswear for everyday active life made of the materials that provide maximum comfort in an urban environment.

Our clients can gain a vivid image at BODRO and make sports a part of their lives, unlocking their potential. This was our key message to our customers. The project is aimed specifically at the development of our brand around the world. So, we implemented features associated with the sale of products in different countries.

Also, as you know, cool and sporty design is very important in this segment. The task was to make not just an online store, but a mono-brand project that will be an advertising platform with convenient tools for buying our products.

What was the team composition?

The SoftBlues team who worked on the project consisted of a Project manager, Account Manager, 1 front-end dev and 2 back-end devs. There was also a QA and a couple of Support Agents.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After the launch of the project we experienced a considerable growth in our sales and Bodro brand awareness. After that, we focused on the creation of a new line of clothing. We did not have much time for development, but now we are back to this issue again.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The SoftBlues team who worked on the project consisted of a Project manager, Account Manager, 1 front-end dev and 2 back-end devs. There was also a QA and a couple of Support Agents.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I loved their approach to clients. Without huge paperwork and stuff, they are great in communication, put all the sophisticated tech stuff into simple words and are open for discussion.

Plus I got the design that I wanted. They provided clear technical consultations and ensured the implementation of complex modules for automatic calculations of the delivery costs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It would be nice for the guys to open their office and representative office in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the managing director of an entertainment company where people make their own quizzes online and can play them in a local environment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softblues?

We had issues integrating our software and getting it to work with our website. There also were internal issues, like payment on our site and design issues.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped fix the issues. They designed a plugin that helped us integrate the bookings on our website with our software. If we sell a license on our website, it now integrates with our software with the plug in. They also did general editing and design work, moving things around. They took our design ideas and made changes to it.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a group of people but had one main point of contact, Ivan (Founder).

How did you come to work with Softblues?

We found them on a freelancing website. Because of the work editing plugins and integrating it with our live site, we struggled to find anyone who could do the work. We met Ivan and decided we could go ahead with the relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent just short of $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project went from April 2019 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re very pleased. The initial project was quite complex and difficult. They were open to everything we said and responsive to our feedback.

On the last day of the project, we asked them to make a change. It wound up crashing the site. We told them, and they worked tirelessly on may different versions to quickly get it right. They’re incredibly supportive, helpful, and fantastic with communication.

How did Softblues perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s very easy to communicate with them. Every couple of days we’d send them a list and they’d clarify and we’d come back and everything would be great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In the past, we’ve used numerous other vendors. Without a doubt, they’re the best vendor. They’re easy, we trust their work, and we’ll happily go to them for every future project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think through very clearly what you want and what you want them to know about yourself. Know your goals, but be open to their suggestions. If you think you can’t get exactly what you want, work together to find a solution with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Sapone, the first online ingredient shop in Ukraine. We sell natural components for cosmetics and soap manufacturing. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softblues?

Back in 2008, I was looking for a technical opportunity to create an e-commerce store from scratch — from development, content platform adjustment, and SEO to the initiation of the first sale. It required careful business planning as well as unique web design and development according to my requirements. I also needed full tech support for the project in the future, including several solution updates, manager training, and support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I needed a convenient e-commerce store for clients interested in soap making and natural cosmetic manufacturing, and I needed a content platform as well. Softblues created a smooth and attractive design based on my requirements. I needed a fast-loading website with all the necessary features corresponding to my business niche, and I needed the website to hit the top of search engine rankings. That was quite a tough task, requiring many efforts and consequent analysis. However, the results are striking, and I’m content with the job they’ve done.

We’ve been working with them for 10 years already, and Softblues has provided support both in terms of technology and marketing. Recently, they’ve carried out a full rebranding of the e-commerce shop and introduced modern technical opportunities for more efficient store functioning and management. Currently, they’re working on a system update and new design.

What is the team composition?

There’s a project manager, a sales team lead, two frontend and two backend developers, and someone responsible for QA.

How did you come to work with Softblues?

They’d created a great CMS called ImageCMS. The product got my attention because it included all the necessary features for content management and SEO. I also liked the size of Softblues’ portfolio.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over above $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Softblues in the spring of 2009, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can definitely say that I’ve seen an increase in order conversions and website attendance during the collaboration with Softblues.

How did Softblues perform from a project management standpoint?

I was really content with the team and all the workflow processes. We’ve worked remotely, but thanks to the quality of its fulfillment and careful attention to each point, I didn’t have to worry about the process. I can say that our collaboration is based on trust. 

After the approval of the terms of reference, they made an analysis of competitors and the market as a whole. We discussed the best solutions to maximize my project revenue. After the development phase, they tested everything on a test server. They made improvements, I approved the results, and I received a fast e-commerce store that met all my requirements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I love their assessment process. I can call them anytime and get an answer to any question I could possibly have. They also provide good feedback on all my ideas. They can offer solutions and estimates online immediately, and they’re very attentive to detail. That was exactly what I needed given that I’m not from a technical background. I needed a team that would not only perform the task, but would approach it wisely, get it done right, and even tell me what isn’t necessary. I’m really content with the feedback they’ve provided me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

My project is all about beauty, so I needed a store that was very attractive in terms of design. Softblues just read my mind when it came to colors, tones, and interface elements. However, I changed a lot of things along the way, and that affected my deadlines a lot. Softblues is extremely client-oriented and professional. My advice when it comes to design is to make sure you have a clear picture and then communicate it to the professionals.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO of ttt.ua, the online store of electronics that has been on the national market for 18 years. We are the retailers of electronics with over 150 offline stores and 800 employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Softblues?

We needed to start selling online back in 2012 and were looking for software developers to have an online technical store done for us within the shortest terms. We didn’t have any prior platforms for that, so we needed the work to be done from scratch and not for all the money in the world. We realized that this was quite a challenging task, as it implied a large scope of work, including not only product pages, but also a content and promotion section. We also needed the company to be trustworthy and reliable, as this should be a long-term cooperation - we wanted this vendor to provide further continuous support of the project. We decided to look for the company online. SoftBlues and Bitrix were two vendors we were choosing from, and we stopped on SoftBlues, as they proved to be extremely flexible and could offer features we needed in their tech solution. We’ve been working with SoftBlues for almost 8 years and currently we’re focusing on our adherence to SEO recommendations.

What were your goals for this project?

We have many retail stores offline all over the country, so we were aiming at developing our online brand awareness. Besides, we needed a competitive and user-friendly online store that could overstand our competitors who have gone online a few years before. We carried out the SWOT analysis of the project and defined the main features of the online store that would unite all the best practises of the existing online stores. SoftBlues assisted us in that, too, which was actually a great experience for our business analyst, who worked on the project. We were able to quickly allocate the key priorities, set specific features we should incorporate in our eCommerce store and define potential strengths and weaknesses of the competitors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked for the vendor online, checked portfolios and sent requests in their contact form. SoftBlues were among the first to reply, and we appreciated it, as we were limited in time. Their quick response was the first indicator that these guys are very responsible regarding deadlines and client-oriented. In fact, there were two firms that we ended up choosing from, SoftBlues and Bitrix. But in the end, we decided to start cooperation with SoftBlues, as they were able to offer features we needed.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The last four years of our cooperation are dedicated to improvement and optimization of the project. We need it to keep up with the latest trends and require continuous updates to be able to stay competitive on the market. We did a number of integrations with analytical instruments to understand our customer behaviour more and increase online store conversion rate. Their PM and front-end team focused on usability and we’ve demonstrated high Google ranking positions over the recent years.

What was the team composition?

The team that has been working on the project consisted of an account manager, project manager, backend dev, front-end dev, and a QA. Last year, when started to use our own VPN servers, a DevOps joined the team, too.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Cooperation with SoftBlues proved to be effective as it helped us to reach our primary goals: - Create a modern up-to-date and user-friendly online store of electronics that has become a great addition to our offline retail stores. - Provide decent support of the project throughout all these years. - Raising revenue within a year after opening of the online store.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We are happy with the cooperation with SoftBlues, as they were very diligent in terms of deadlines. The quality of their work has proved to be highly effective, all the possible bugs and mistakes were foreseen and fixed quickly. We could say that their dedication has exceeded our expectations. They carefully consider all our recommendations and remarks and do even more by offering highly valuable solutions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They provide us with 24/7 server support and hosting consultations when needed. They have completed the project diligently and effectively within the strict deadline, have offered a warranty period and support of the website after the project was fulfilled. We highly appreciate their professional approach to solving non-standard technical issues and client-oriented approach.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Sometimes it takes the SoftBlues team a while to create an estimate for the new features that we need for our store. On the other hand, their estimations are always realistic and accurate which makes us feel on the safe side.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am on the position of Commercial Director at Dobrodiya Foods LLC, which is an integral part of Agricom Group a national agri-food company. We’re specializing in the development, production, and distribution of food crops and combining agricultural, processing, and trading companies. My primary task in this project was to ensure the project fulfillment following the company’s missions and business needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Softblues?

We were looking for a technology vendor to develop the universal software solution to automate and monitor the operational and processes all over the company. Some of the essential operational processes required to be scaled and automated, so we’ve hired SoftBlues to work on the PWA, allowing us to manage workflow, the human resources in the whole group (there is a total of nearly 300 people in the holding), distribute tasks, and track performance.

What were your goals for this project?

Because the number of employees is rather vast at Agricom Group, our HR department faced some personnel management challenges. They were using simple solutions like Excel tables and Google Drive files for staff management and eventually became overloaded with various calculations, files, docs, sick leave reports. It was too time and effort consuming. This vital part of the company life desperately needed to be renovated and automated. I became in charge of finding the possible solutions, the tech partner to develop a solution that could be accessed from any platform, whether it’s iOS, Android, web, and have a user-friendly interface. It should be able to: Automatically calculate the number of working hours Allow secure private logging into the system (via QR code, fingerprint, and password) for every registered user Have notification option about the urgent company news for all employees Track the time and location of work of every employee from the moment they login into the system Contain a chatroom for all employees to be able to communicate Provide a secure and fast operation Be able to work in the environment of the unstable internet connection Be easy to use for non-tech people Provide HR department with overall statistics in the admin panel Eventually, I ended up with the idea of developing the PWA, as it is the most up-to-date technology used nowadays.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I decided to find a development company through suggestions of colleagues, as my experience proves this is the fastest and the most reliable and time-efficient option. So I’ve collected recommendations and carried out a SWOT analysis of the available tech vendors for our project. Eventually, I ended up with SoftBlues, as they made a really great first impression as a fast-pace, up-to-date, and extremely responsible pros.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We described our vision at first. We've collected the challenges and possible ideas on solutions from our HR department. Then we’ve analyzed the best practices in the world and came up with the approximate product we would like to get as the end product and its goals. We shared the results of our extensive business analysis with SoftBlues. The team picked up our vision very quickly, have asked all the detailed questions about the product, and overall demonstrated both tech and business expertise. They informed us about the possible challenges that could pop up in the process. Then we together agreed on the budgeting, technical part of the project, picked the technology to be used for the project, chose the most effective tools, and selected a dedicated team.

What was the team composition?

Our PWA project development team consists of the project manager, business analyst, UX designer, two front-end and two back-end devs, plus 1 DevOps. We will consider an option to extend the team after the developmental stage of the project to ensure top-notch performance and support of the product later.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The future PWA will become an operational platform for the company's internal human resources management, allowing us to relocate our efforts smartly, manage the employees with convenience for them, and for the human resources management and eventually find the solution for the issues we faced.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We liked the structure of our workflow with SoftBlues, the speed and communication patterns, which is very important, especially when working remotely. As I was managing the project, the operational processes were easy to understand and manage for me. After handling the presentation, discussion, and documentation in a few weeks, we received calculations and suggestions from SoftBlues and started the development process. I really enjoyed working with these guys due to their commitment and punctuality. It made me feel like there was no difference in time zones. They were always there to answer any unexpected questions we may have. We worked side by side, and it wasn't difficult for me to communicate with their team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

These guys demonstrated an extremely high quality of work, besides I appreciated their overall approach very much. First of all, they have excellent tech pros involved in the team, they are very knowledgeable about both business and technical processes. From the very first meeting, they seemed to be really interested and engaged in the project, discussing the ideas and goals, asking questions, and defining tasks, as if it was their own.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It took us a while to get things set with the design of the PWA. We had to change it a few times to ensure it is a perfect fit for the company brand book, but this was an expected obstacle, we predicted there could be a couple of design versions, so it’s outstanding.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of FieldBI, an innovation platform for agro-company management. We’re an innovative company and all business processes and management approaches within our organization illustrate this. People, effectiveness and modern technology are the keys to our corporate success.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Softblues?

We’ve hired SoftBlues as our technology partner to automate some of the essential business processes in agro companies so that we can optimize our costs and improve efficiency. SoftBlues was given the task of creating a custom platform that could effectively manage all our major operations such as: managing the land registry obtaining geo-data on land tracking soil fertility analyzing crops using images captured by drones managing personnel distribution and task performance

What were your goals for this project?

As land is the main asset of any agro-company, maps and the display of basic and additional information were prioritized as the essential elements of the interface. There are some crucial areas of focus for this project: the real-time transfer of primary data - from the employees of the agro-company to the system data analysis the creation of useful reports for company executives to make effective decisions quickly

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our company board members recommended SoftBlues as a trustworthy software development company, as he had previously worked with them on a large ecommerce project. We set up the first meeting with SoftBlues CEO, Ivan Pylypchuk and learned the details about their company expertise and readiness to cooperate. Ivan is a great tech-mind entrepreneur, negotiator and corporate leader and that was clear from the very beginning. We’ve created our cooperation roadmap and SoftBlues team provided us with a very detailed project estimate. On the whole, the negotiation process was very efficient and the estimated budget was reasonable, so we decided to start a our platform MVP development with the SoftBlues team.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

At the initial stage of the project we did the extensive business analysis and involved agriculture experts from our company to set the main project’s objectives and share the practical insights of our business with SoftBlues. The team demonstrated both tech and business savviness, and we learned quite a lot about UI/UX and the most cutting-edge services for agriculture company management from them. It took some time to decide on the relevant technology for the project implementation, choose the most effective tools and build the team. In June 2019, we started the FBI development robustly and we plan to release its MVP in February, 2020.

What was the team composition?

Our MVP project development team consists of 1 senior and 2 middle Backend developers, 1 senior and 1 middle Frontend developer, a UI/UX designer, a project manager, a business analyst (an expert from our company who has joined the SoftBlues team for this project) and 2 Devops (for the cloud version). After the launch of a MVP, we’ll probably extend the team to ensure the dynamic product development and the quality support of our first adopters.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform has a strategic meaning for the development of our company and we are planning not only to apply it to our company processes but also to promote it as a product to our counterparts. SoftBlues has a very product-oriented approach. They listened to our requirements thoroughly, asked numerous questions and provided us with a few useful insights into user experience. They are proactive and at the same time they seem to allocate the project’s budget wisely. Everything goes to the predetermined plan and we feel safe in terms of our short-term and long-term business goals achievement.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow is well-structured. The teams demonstrate a high level of responsibility at every stage of cooperation. We defined our project milestones and all the project’s stages have been completed on time so far. We conduct everyday meetings and run two week sprints followed by retrospectives. The team is really engaged and you sense that every time you talk to them. All of our project is coordinated in Jira and we find it very effective and transparent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They don’t promise more than they can deliver and they keep us updated on everything. We don’t feel they are our remote partners because all the processes are structured, transparent and their responsiveness is just perfect. Their Project Manager, Andriy, has strong communication and management skills and there is always consistency in his decisions and actions. One of our agro BA experts is integrated to the SoftBlues team on a daily basis and we can clearly say that their corporate culture resonates with our company values.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It takes them some time to find the right talent for the team and they seem to be very selective in terms of recruitment. Although everything is going according to our plan and budget, we feel that we could move a bit faster.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Operations Manager of Aminoverse B.V.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Enzyme Research CRO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Custom Software Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Softblues?

Referral

Why did you select Softblues over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Softblues were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Create a website from design templates. Adjust templates according to changing demands.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The tasks were completed to our satisfaction. Design and functionality were as promised. The website is up and running and we are very happy with the results.

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

The communication with the management and developers was always clear and precise. Softblues was always available for communication. The results were delivered on time and adjustments or changes were implemented in a timely manner.

What was your primary form of communication with Softblues?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Customer-oriented, fast and competent.

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

Everything was done to our satisfaction.