SpdLoad

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide people analytics solutions to our customer. We are international and consist of 10+ People. I'm acting as CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Customized Development Support of a large part of our Platform from technical perspective with an integrated team of UX, Design and Business People from our Company.

SOLUTION

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

Several companies from Germany, Eastern Europe, Near East were in the closer selection. In the end it was a matter of personal trust and mutual understanding next to other deciding factors like financials and operational model.

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

Development of web based platform based on react. Development of Enterprise Grade REST APIs based on python. Project management and coordination.

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

Between 2 and 3 people.

1. Senior Python Developer
2. Mid Level Frontend Developer
3. Project Coordinator

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're quite good in terms of development, professional acumen, and expected outcomes. Derivations from the expectations were almost always corrected after mutual agreements.

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

Fast, agile, easy, effort-less. We used Slack, Jira, Confluence and Trello for communication and work management based on the scope and area of work.

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

The personality and commitment of the founder.

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

This is always a matter of personal discussion between Provider and Customer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for a startup. We’re developing a chat tool that can be integrated into e-commerce websites to engage with visitors. It’s used for customer support and sales with a video and audio calling feature.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SpdLoad?

We hired them to develop our online chat software from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SpdLoad designed and developed both the chat widget that embeds into websites and the client portal for website owners. There’s also an admin portal on our company’s side that they created. Their team developed the protocol for implementing the tool on client websites. 

We started with a prototype of what everything would look like, from the portal to the client section. They then created technical specifications of the features we needed to have. Their work was done using Laravel PHP and some open-source frameworks. We’re currently testing the product with them and continually adding or changing things.  

For the functionalities, we explained our vision and they helped us implement them. In terms of our business model, they worked with us and made suggestions based on their experience in the field. 

What is the team composition?

At the start, Maksym (CEO) was our point of contact. We’ve been assigned four people, including a project manager and a lead developer.  

How did you come to work with SpdLoad?

I found them through Clutch. The fact that they aren’t just coders made them stand out — they can provide a complete solution, which is good for a startup like us. 

I went to Ukraine and visited 5–6 companies. I went to SpdLoad’s offices and met their people, and I liked meeting them in person. 

How much have you invested with them?

The cost so far is slightly higher than €50,000 (approximately $54,100 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with SpdLoad in May 2019 and our engagement is ongoing while we test the product.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we’re not finished, the quality is very good in general. I haven’t found a single thing to complain about.

How did SpdLoad perform from a project management standpoint?

There is a dedicated project manager on their side and their management is amazing. They’re very detailed and cover everything. In general, they’re always in touch with us. We don’t need to chase them down. We communicate through Slack and Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of quality work and communication stand out. We didn’t have a lot of experience creating something from nothing, so we liked that they make suggestions and help achieve our vision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing to improve on the development side, but some marketing efforts could help reach more potential clients.  

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I’d suggest working with them since SpdLoad is reliable and they produce high-quality work. If someone comes across them, they shouldn’t even think about something else.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of Smartpolka, an aggregator and payment service for small and medium-sized businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SpdLoad?

We’re a startup and it was our first development experience, so we needed a partner to help us create the app.

What were your goals for this project?

The main objective was to get the service up and running by creating an app that allows users to buy things easily using QR codes. It needed to include web services and checkout features.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

SpdLoad was recommended to me by another person.

Describe the project in detail.

SpdLoad designed, developed, and configured our mobile app, handling both the frontend and backend portions of the work. They integrated Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and credit card payment. Overall, the app allows users to pay via QR codes, send messages, and receive analytics.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started testing the app in May. Today, we have a working solution for our clients and have made our first sales in nine fitness clubs in Moscow.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was interesting and effective. SpdLoad helped us fix issues, find bugs, and get everything running correctly faster. We also discussed database specifications together.

During the development process, it was very important for us to have project status updates and know which tasks were done, as well as the impact of the work on the system's operation. This helped both sides find good solutions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team is focused on creating quality IT products.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It would’ve been better to discuss the details surrounding the UI and backend before building it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an IT company that provides mobile development services to various industries for clients around the world. I’m the lead solution architect of the company, responsible for business analysis and negotiation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SpdLoad?

We hired SpdLoad for additional resources. We needed to expand our team quickly because we didn’t have enough people to meet all of our assigned projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SpdLoad worked as a part of our team. They also gave our team the option to support results and coordinate the builds. We worked with them on several projects and had a list of functionalities we needed to develop.

One project was a portal where users could schedule meetings and share information about their plans, experiences, and services. Another was a language learning portal with AI elements. SpdLoad acted as a part of our research and development team, setting up a network and creating additional features within it.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around six of their team members. They supplied one project manager, a business analyst, two developers, and a QA tester.

How did you come to work with SpdLoad?

Our COO found SpdLoad. Before collaborating, our technical staff interviewed their team. Finding a team with hard and soft skills was crucial. That combination works well for us.

How much have you invested with them?

I believe we invested around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with SpdLoad in August 2018 and finished the project in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SpdLoad worked well with our company. We’ve received feedback from our team that working with SpdLoad on projects has been efficient and communicative. Their knowledge of frameworks and coding languages was impressive. We plan on working with them again on our next project.

How did SpdLoad perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s delightful working with them, especially with Maksym (CEO, SpdLoad). He was quick to answer any question and solve any problem.

What did you find most impressive about them?

SpdLoad is one of the best teams we’ve used. It was nice working with them, and I hope they generate more and more business. From my experience, it’s been hard to find a team with excellent communication, a desire to help, and a strong level of understanding. SpdLoad is the perfect partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

An additional designer would’ve been beneficial to the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and COO of a medical startup that focuses on collecting, analyzing, and interpreting medical data collected from our oncological clinic partners. We plan to accelerate and enhance cancer research using an AI analytics algorithm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SpdLoad?

We needed a vendor to develop a cloud-based platform to support our data analysis.

What were your goals for this project?

Our end goal was to offer a product that improved the quality of contemporary cancer research and increased the survival rate among patients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We considered eight vendors for the project in total, but we ultimately chose SpdLoad. They were flexible and willing to dive deep into our project from day one. They were available and responsive. Lastly, they were very experienced in the IT field and had an impressive portfolio to prove it. In our opinion, SpdLoad offered the perfect balance of price and value.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

SpdLoad created the infrastructure for the cloud platform and the server. They also created an AI algorithm to analyze medical data like examination results, text, and images, in real time. The team was responsible for building a channel for file sharing and connecting the platform to several APIs for picture and information sharing.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a team of eight. Our primary points of contact were a project manager and a data analyst. The CEO was also available for more high-level conversation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was our medical team’s first software-based initiative, and with the help of SpdLoad, we were able to deliver it on time and elicit a favorable market response. They were a great partner, exceeding our expectations in terms of development and consulting services. After doing some brief market analysis, they helped us build a product that filled an open niche in the German medical market.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their team was always engaged and focused on our project. They were available at a moment’s notice, even over weekends and holidays. SpdLoad also contributed several valuable suggestions to improve the technical aspects of our solution, which ended up giving us a competitive advantage.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They offer a good mix of knowledge, energy, and expertise. SpdLoad is very customer focused, always looking for original and unconventional ways to build an effective solution.

Are there any areas for improvement?

All of the crucial aspects of our project were completed flawlessly. They don’t have their own server storage, but we were able to bring on a partner company to overcome that obstacle. That wasn’t necessarily an issue—it would just be easier to have the entire platform in one place. Other than that, there weren’t any notable weaknesses.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a rental management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SpdLoad?

We needed UX/UI design help to improve our web frontend as well as our onboarding process.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve our platform’s UX.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to us. We brought them in to analyze our platform and they made suggestions that impressed us.

Describe the project in detail.

We built a roadmap of changes we needed to adopt. Then, we drew wireframes and created clickable prototypes to ensure that they fit our needs. SpdLoad then worked on the frontend HTML.

What was the team composition?

We had a dedicated project manager, but we also worked with business analysts, front– and back–end developers, a designer, and a prototyper.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still in development but the feedback from our early adopters is great. The management system’s UX is much clearer and requires fewer steps.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Overall the communication is fine and they respond quickly. Sometimes we have misunderstandings that cause requirements to be refined, but that’s a normal project challenge.  

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have diverse knowledge and connections that include AI, web development, programming languages, and different project management methodologies.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Design and implementation should go hand in hand so that we don’t need to go through multiple iterations. Also, the number of parts needed should be estimated in the beginning so the customer knows where the journey will end.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company provides users with a dynamic system for managing their music; it can test the music within specific market segments and then measure the audience feedback. The system was created specifically for the music and entertainment industries and its purpose-built infrastructure is the perfect platform to conduct market research and discover music with the highest rates of success.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SpdLoad?

We had to find a way to gather and harness our music data in a more interactive way which would allow managers to analyze the data and enable them to make better decisions and work more efficiently.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to develop music software that would be available to sell within six months.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose SpdLoad because their skill set is diverse and their cost was within our budget.

Describe the project in detail.

The development work was based on the designs that we already had. We provided the documentation and guidelines and discuss the required features for each version. They only focus on the IT operations and report to our IT manager.

Explain how the solution addressed your business challenge.

The research software allows users to test music amongst specifically designed groups; the results effectively replicate market conditions and are able to reliably predict the chances of consumer uptake. We present an opportunity for users to validate creative decisions with data—this means more calculated, informed choices for your business, marketing, and content strategies. The result is an improvement in music releases, acquisition decisions, and the discovery of trends and potential hits.

What was the team composition?

The project team has about 20 employees and we are working with 6 of them. They have a project manager that decides over the team combination based on our demands. The consistency of the team is quite good and doesn't change.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

We haven´t launched the software yet, however, we did renew the contract three times. The efficiency is increasing and we have gained customers based only on the designs of the software. The initial goal is still ongoing as planned.

How effective was the project management?

Project management and communication are sometimes difficult because of the distance but we knew this when we started and considered it in our deadlines. They do respond quickly and manage to deliver their work on time. We use several communication tools like Slack, Google Docs, Skype, and GitHub.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have a diverse set of skills which makes them more convenient to work with. They react very quickly, even in the evenings and on weekends, which makes them very trustworthy. I flew to their location a month ago to speak to them in person, which I would definitely recommend doing.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

You need to be very clear about which features you wish to develop, otherwise, it could be understood in a different way. Always make sure you have a developer at your side to discuss planning and to have control over the work. Their communication is good, but I’d definitely recommend having another developer that speaks the same language especially if your project has complex logic.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We’re a startup company in early stages of developing different kinds of e-commerce platforms within the art market, recruitment, and the human resources industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SpdLoad?

SpdLoad has been hired to develop advanced UIs [user interfaces] with different account levels and degrees, a backend admin with monitoring facilities, internal search engines, payment integrations with a buyer/seller interface, and further advanced e-commerce features.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to develop leading platforms within the industries we bet on. We want user-friendly search engines for attracting traffic and e-commerce interfaces for internal selling between seller and buyer accounts. Several platforms have been integrated to each other with complicated redirection and verifications of users’ corresponding data.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were searching for a highly competent web team and found them on Upwork, where they had a high satisfaction score and wide portfolio. We received many offers from different web agencies, but through our communication, we felt that SpdLoad had the best capabilities for our challenges and projects, mainly based on their answers to complicated questions.

Describe the project in detail.

In the beginning, we showed them sketches of designs and functionalities explained with logic. The web developers started to reproduce the frontend design and followed up with building features and the backend. We were confronted with unpredictable difficulties at times, but we resolved them by working together to find great affordable solutions.

When the platforms were almost completed, we began thorough testing with Sandbox payment and created online worksheets with bug lists where we could add tasks and screenshots that were marked as solved when the task was done. During the process, we also cooperated to find and create improvements that further increased usability, order, and efficiency. Among other things, we discussed alternative payment integrations and email services where they involved specialists to find the best possible solutions.

Explain how the solution addressed your business challenge.

Previously, we had cooperated with a couple of local web companies and the experience was completely different with not only the costs but also regarding availability and follow-up.

The usual attitude about our area of work is that it’s impossible or too expensive/time-consuming. SpdLoad is much more positive and just does the job. Sometimes there is more work than expected, but they take it as a learned lesson, which in my eyes is a great attitude that brings ample knowledge and an improved/extended service in the long-term.

When we started to search for developers in other countries, we were somewhat skeptical since it is difficult to know what kind of people you will find. You can also find developers who are cheaper at an hourly rate but end up being more expensive when doing the work since their education level is low. Everybody at SpLoad has a high education and can finish difficult tasks in a fraction of the time it would take other developers that view their work as a hobby.

What was the team composition?

The company has a large team of about 30 developers with specialties in different areas. For our projects, about 7 – 8 developers have been involved in different stages and areas such as frontend, backend, server/SSL/email, payment integrations, features, and more.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

The automated payments and the backend monitoring features save us a lot of administration work. The improvements on the frontend have increased conversion rates by 60 – 70 %. We’re still in an early stage, but with the improvements in conversions, we can finally make the business pull through with a larger income while also spending less on marketing.

How effective was the project management?

We communicate through Skype and Google Worksheets, which makes the process very effective. We can share screenshots with Lightshot in few seconds, add it to the bug list or to Skype, and discuss the details. In Skype, the representatives for different areas of the project collect the topics discussed and the harmony is very good.

They’ve been available to us almost at all times of the day and their communication and follow-up are wonderful. We can share documents, text material, icons, and images directly as they show up.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The reproduction of our designs and sketches is nearly identical and the functionality works just as we described it. Their level of competence is very high—when it comes to complicated tasks in advanced fields, they have experts ready to find solutions. In retrospect, I think that we made the right decision in choosing these people.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

Having clear sketches and descriptions makes the work much better and more efficient. Furthermore, we use Google spreadsheets for task lists where we can add screenshots and other data, which makes the process very productive.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a trainer and the CEO of Katia KITA LLC. My product is gender-friendly, but the majority of my users are female—moms, to be more exact. I have developed a unique video program combined with a masterfully-designed meal plan in order to bring some incredible results. We are in beta-testing mode at the moment, but we’ve already seen some great results from the program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SpdLoad?

As the CEO of a startup with a limited budget, the challenge was finding good quality for a reasonable price. I needed a reputable and knowledgeable partner who knew what they were doing, as one of my concerns as a non-technical person was about being ripped off. I needed a provider who would tell me what was truly needed for the project and if I needed to scale it up or down.

I explored the market and looked at several products, making sure that mine would be comparable with the best. With many programs and trainers out there, the websites I saw were too complicated and not very user-intuitive. I wanted something simple which could lead to customer retention.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They have taken care of the web project from start to finish. Initially, we went through a comprehensive discussion of my needs, the type of customization I was looking for, and the required technologies. Based on this, SpdLoad came up with technical specs. While the current trend is to use existing software instead of coding from scratch, I didn’t want to a WordPress template because we needed numerous features on the site—login, authorization, payments, and so on. They used frameworks for my site.

It features training videos, recipes, and Facebook integration. Users have access to HD-quality [high-definition quality] streaming video through their personal dashboards, which are hosted on an on-demand content delivery network. The recipes are divided into breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and include take-out options, snacks, and smoothies. That’s more than 100 options altogether. We have several payment solutions, including PayPal. There is also a blog and a custom referral program through which users can receive discounts.

What is the team dynamic?

I have been in contact with their founder, Maksym Babych, who also manages their team. He is my go-to person, and he makes himself available for any questions. Everything has gone through him so I don’t have to talk to 10 different people.

How did you come to work with SpdLoad?

They were referred to me by a mutual connection. I was looking for a company that had its own staff since smaller web agencies today tend to use freelance resources in a subcontracting model. However, if a freelancer becomes unavailable, the whole project would get stalled. Fortunately, SpdLoad has a full staff, from designers and testers to front and backend engineers.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work has been close to $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with SpdLoad in June 2017, and the collaboration will be ongoing for technical support. I have another project for which I’ll hire SpdLoad. I won’t look elsewhere since I am happy with them and they know my project inside out.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t rolled out public sales yet, but we will launch on January 1, 2018. At this time, I have been monitoring my 100 beta testers closely. I didn’t reach out to more because I wanted the ability to provide close guidance and maintain a dialogue. I receive feedback daily and implement what people ask for.

I can see that the site was developed beautifully. My customers are happy because the website is smooth and intuitive. Everything has worked, and the minor glitches we’ve experienced are nothing compared to what could have been. I know this because I’ve done work with other providers and know how things can transpire. Even during beta testing, when it’s expected for things not to work as planned, we haven’t seen this. I expected to be overwhelmed with technical questions, but this hasn’t happened. This has allowed me to do the work I actually need to do, instead of answering questions and giving directions to the team.

How did SpdLoad perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve appreciated their customer focus. They understood the urgency of my project and shared my vision. Their estimates and recommendations are quite precise. I can always expect them to deliver everything within my timelines and specifications. I’ve found them trustworthy, which is a factor I bring to my own client relationships.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I love it that SpdLoad views all tasks as solvable—that’s the attitude I want in a provider. If a client comes to me asking for a certain fitness program, I will not tell them that it won’t work; I will work around it. In contrast, other providers imposed their own approaches, which didn’t work for me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a startup ticket-selling service. Users can register on our platform, create events, and sell tickets on our website with the help of a widget that can be embedded on any website. I'm a managing partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SpdLoad?

We needed professional software developers at a reasonable cost. We are a German startup and the local development cost is very high, so our purpose was to find more affordable resources.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SpdLoad has been working on the backend side of our project and making page redesigns on our website. Since we don’t have time to redo the whole site at once, we’re focusing on the most important pages. We're also developing an Android application and plan to create an iOS version soon.

After a user creates an event through the administration panel, writing a description and setting prices, they will have access to a small JavaScript widget to put on their website, through which people can buy tickets. After selecting tickets through the hall plan, they pay and receive digital copies to print at home. The same process works through the widget and our website, and the tickets are scanned through our app during events.

What is the team dynamic?

There are a few specialists from SpdLoad who work for us. We currently have one PHP developer working for our project full time, as well as a project manager who coordinates the process. There are numerous tasks, so we’re working intensively.

How did you come to work with SpdLoad?

We received a recommendation from a friend who had run a project with them. We had a few conversations, did a test period, and decided to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work so far has been €35,000 to €40,000 [$40,000 to $47,000].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with SpdLoad in December 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a good workflow. The developer in our project is responsible and always there to help us with urgent issues. We're happy with the collaboration.

How did SpdLoad perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate over Skype with the project manager, who usually answers within 10 minutes to an hour. If we have questions or feedback, we can discuss it with him. He always listens to our suggestions and draws the right conclusions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Responsibility is important for us because it’s not easy to find partners who try their best. We can’t professionally judge the quality of code, but the accountability is very good and so is the speed of delivery.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our developer didn’t always estimate deadlines correctly. We’ve had delays of a few days, but this has only happened once or twice in the last year.