SprintCube

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Delta Overseas (HK) Limited is an IT service company, mainly delivers domain & hosting, website design services. I'm a founding member of it and play a Project Manager role here. I also founded EyeLocal (startup). It is a mobile app-based local food discovery platform. I have been working on it since 2016, launched it a year back for a few users to test the idea. Currently, it's going through major changes related to business, strategy, and funding.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SprintCube?

We had a mobile app idea (EyeLocal) that we wanted to build. We already had a small website design, development team; but we were looking for a company with the product development experience, specifically, web & mobile applications.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop and launch an MVP to test our business idea. We were not sure what features we should cover in the MVP. So first, we wanted to decide on the MVP features, then design and develop mobile applications, web back-end, and REST APIs. And then, test it with a limited target audience to validate the business idea.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked for many companies to build our business idea, and spent many months to finalize the right company. Most of them were used to suggest features one after another which increased our budget by 2.5x. So we stopped with all of them. Later, a friend of mine suggested SprintCube to us. We interacted with them and realized that they have nailed web & mobile apps-based product development with their product mindset, design & development experience.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They started by interviewing us to understand the business idea. Since we were looking for the MVP first, they designed the MVP through a process called Design Sprint. They came up with a few solutions, designed prototypes, and tested them with target users. It helped us get confident with what features we should build in the first MVP. They were not like other companies who suggested tons of features without any tangible insights. Next, they started with the UI & UX design for mobile apps. They designed the apps' architecture. They already had an experienced web application development team to help us with web development stuff, but they didn’t have anyone for mobile apps development. So they helped us find the right team for that. SprintCube took care of everything from the start to completion.

What was the team composition?

The founder duo was our first point of contact to discuss with. They took care of everything (validation, design, development, quality, user feedback). They acted like a product manager which helped me focus on the launch and other stuff.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It would be early to tell this because it's an ongoing project. We launched the closed beta to get the audience feedback, and now we're improving our apps and business with confidence. I must say, they saved me a lot of time and money with their process, experienced web development team, and knowledge.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

SprintCube is up there with the best tools in use. We were getting weekly updates through calls and PMS. Apart from that, they used Slack, Gitlab, Google Drive, Google Docs, other prototyping tools. They were proactive, so deliveries were on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

When you work with SprintCube, you worry less. They don’t mislead you. They have a good mindset to design and engineer web & mobile applications. They are transparent in every stage of the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were used to discussing a lot with other business people, but these guys discuss less. I would say the SprintCube team does tangible discussions only. They present things nicely with data, so you don't get left with any doubts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I help online course creators with their schools. I provide education and services for our clients, and we also have a page builder application that allows users to create sales pages.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SprintCube?

They helped me with the page builder. I wanted to create a standalone tool that went beyond the options within default applications. I used another company to build the first version. After six months and a lot of money spent, that first collaboration wasn't bearing fruit, so I looked for other vendors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped with the second version of the web application. It's a hosted SaaS page builder built with a PHP backend and a JavaScript frontend. It also utilizes a lot of APIs to connect to payment gateways and other functionality. We also work on other projects, and are currently in the midst of development for another app with a third party.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with two people. The head developer helps conceptualize tasks and work on growth. I also work with a tech leader on the technical aspects of the projects.

How did you come to work with SprintCube?

I found them on Upwork and got to know them through a discovery process. They looked over the first version for a couple of weeks. I spent a little time considering my options and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $50,000-$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership started in October 2018, and it's ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The second version of the page builder is a success. Much of that is attributable to SprintCube. They do excellent development work, and they me a lot with my brainstorming. They've certainly impacted my business in positive ways. The product itself is financially lucrative and gains traction every day. We have glowing reviews from users, and feedback is wonderful.

How did SprintCube perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication is excellent. We speak frequently, and our interactions are refreshing. They're always willing to connect with me via phone or video conferencing, and they are prompt and responsive whenever issues arise. We also use Slack, Asana, and BugHerd. They plan well and are very diligent, and they meet all their milestones.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The partnership is fantastic. They always deliver on their promises, which is rare in my experience. I've outsourced projects for over a decade, and I appreciate a vendor that is willing to say no and push back a bit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They're a high-level organization, especially compared to other organizations in their region. They could market their services a little more aggressively, but my experience with them is excellent. I haven't found any fault in them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Define the terms clearly at the beginning. They are proactive, and it helps to get them on the same page early. Set realistic expectations about quality and costs, and follow industry best practices.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I run an online course business selling courses to learn German

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SprintCube?

To develop a review app for online courses

What were your goals for this project?

To have an app that allows users to easily see and write reviews for my online courses and those of other online schools.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They came highly recommended by a friend who has been working with them for several years now

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

SprintCube acts as the technical lead for this application, carrying out the initial development of the app and then managing the app moving forward post launch. SprintCube is responsible for server uptime, application integrity (ensuring it functions properly at all times) and application security.

What was the team composition?

I was in touch with 2 team members which has remained consistent over the duration of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is not finished yet but near completion. An impact is not yet possible as we haven't published the product yet. What I can see for now looks beautiful and functions well. We are waiting for FB and Google to accept our app.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I had very little to do with them as my project manager handled our cooperation and communication. Which means it went smoothly and exactly as I intended it. I also only heard good things from the PM.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The reliability, efficiency and cost-value relation were impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Better ways to transfer the money internationally. I would have loved to use transferwise which wasn't possible due to Indian tax constraints. So, not sure in how far this is in the hands of the company.