SSA Group

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Action Education Systems focuses on changing human behavior by using virtual training platforms and mobile applications. I am a co-founder and VP of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppliKey Solutions?

AppliKey Solutions took our business from concept to execution, starting out with website design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave AppliKey Solutions my vision, breaking things down to the colors I like. AppliKey Solutions built a responsive website on the backend of which we integrated a training portal with videos on physical security and child safety. AppliKey Solutions did a phenomenal job of designing a cheat-proof testing system which users could take after watching the videos. Once they score, they can print out a certificate. Our system collects analytics for each participating company.

The second thing we did was to build mobile applications for customers. Most companies typically wanted to undergo our tests once or twice per year, but the knowledge was still perishable. The apps parallel that knowledge base, giving users quick, three-question quizzes in order to keep everything fresh in their minds. They also served as a resource for emergency situations and had built-in notification tools.

The mobile apps were developed for both iOS and Android using Ruby on Rails. The website and our three mobile applications each had a different development team. Even though AppliKey Solutions is based outside of the US, communication was very easy. I always dealt with one person, our project manager. All communication from the team came through her, so I didn't have to deal with changing persons each week. Our developers were also consistent throughout the project.

How did you come to work with AppliKey Solutions?

One of our business acquaintances had developed an app using AppliKey Solutions three years before. He found them through Upwork, which was called oDesk at that time. We reached out to AppliKey Solutions, had several Skype meetings with their owner, and went from there.

How much have you invested with AppliKey Solutions?

The cost of AppliKey Solutions' work has been between $50,000 and $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with AppliKey Solutions in October 2014. Everything has been completed, but we are in the process of building the generation two of our applications, after receiving good feedback from customers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We work within multiple industries, taking analogs from customers, turning them into searchable and collectible data, and providing visualizations for that data. I showed AppliKey Solutions my designs and the logic behind the systems. Not only did they code the solution in the scope of what we wanted, but also offered recommendations for how we could show customers the data.

We've developed some marketing tools for schools. This has traditionally been an analog industry, but we can now break things down into pie charts and bar graphs, showing the institutions how well they're performing regarding marketing, meeting parents, conversion rates, and so on. AppliKey Solutions has done some amazing things.

How did AppliKey Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Not having to deal with multiple people, made the process easier for me. I have one project manager who deals with everything related to my company. We usually have multiple Skype calls during the week. That person has remained with us no matter what the project was, and it's nice to have this level of rapport. AppliKey Solutions' manager knows my company needs and client base.

We use the basic cloud-based tools like Dropbox, Google Docs, Skype, and other communication platforms.

What did you find most impressive about AppliKey Solutions?

I don't know what AppliKey Solutions' client base looks like, but whenever I had an urgent issue, they've made me feel like their only customer. As a growing business getting ready to get our foot into the market, this is exactly what we need. I never had to wait for them to have an available developer. AppliKey Solutions rearranged things and made it happen. It was also nice to have AppliKey Solutions' be available while we were sleeping since we run client databases. Many problems were fixed while remaining unknown to our clients.

Are there any areas AppliKey Solutions could improve?

From my point of view, there is nothing bad I could say about AppliKey Solutions, from their pricing to the service.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Fundz LLC provides real-time updates on all the latest venture capital and seed funding, as they are filed with the government, via web & iOS apps. I am the founder and owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AppliKey Solutions?

I wanted to find an affordable vendor who could deliver high-quality work. Typically, it's very difficult to find good developers without paying a lot of money.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AppliKey Solutions developed a native iOS and web app for my company. The applications were built using 1–2 developers per version.

How did you come to work with AppliKey Solutions?

I did some research on Upwork and various other outsourcing sites, looking for development resources. Most of them were not satisfactory, either because they were independent freelancers, or because they were working as part of virtual companies. I wanted to find a real software company and looked at AppliKey Solutions because of their history, ratings, and because of the interview I had with their representative. We talked about AppliKey Solutions' capabilities and what they could do for me.

How much have you invested with AppliKey Solutions?

The cost of AppliKey Solutions' work has been less than $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with AppliKey Solutions in early 2015. Some of our projects have been completed, but we maintain a partnership with AppliKey Solutions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

AppliKey Solutions has developed high-quality mobile and web-based applications for us. One of our challenges was in terms of web services API development.

We provide real-time data for companies which have received a round of funding. Getting that information from the source, and presenting it in a fast way can be a challenge, which requires some complex API development. In our case, it's something which is working very well. A piece of software can either be buggy or work well, so the proof is in the pudding. Our platform has performed well and received good feedback.

How did AppliKey Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is a strong area for AppliKey Solutions. The team is generally professional and organized. They use Trello for project management. The overall effort from AppliKey Solutions' side has led to a strong result.

What did you find most impressive about AppliKey Solutions?

I've interviewed around 100 companies and independent contractors but didn't have confidence in their ability to deliver a quality product. It's an intangible metric, but, based upon my interaction with AppliKey Solutions, I was able to determine that they were candid in telling me what could be achieved. There were no false promises. AppliKey Solutions worked with me whenever I had an issue or escalation. Even though AppliKey Solutions is not a huge company, they conduct themselves professionally and develop quality applications.

Are there any areas AppliKey Solutions could improve?

I have no complaints about AppliKey Solutions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

SlipShare has built a platform which allows boaters to book a slip online. The concept is relatively new to boating in general. I am a co-founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Applikey Solutions?

We had a strong idea, but our company did not have a strong technology person. We have business backgrounds, so we've relied heavily on Applikey Solutions. Our goal was to build a simple user interface, which would be easy to understand, and which followed conventions that both Android and iOS users would understand, in order for them to make bookings quickly and conveniently.

SOLUTION

How did you come to work with Applikey Solutions?

My wife and I won the Startup Weekend in Stamford. A lot of work had been put into our concept so that we couldn't throw it away. I had managed a lot of outsourced projects for various applications in the past, so I felt confident that we wouldn't have to go out and hire people. We interviewed various development shops in New York, Pennsylvania, Boston, Brazil, India, and Ukraine. We hired a short-term consultant for this process. The Ukraine group was particularly appealing in its work method and understanding of our goals. The company was also willing to continue beyond the development phase itself. Our idea from the start was to hire a partner that would serve as our technical backend.

How much have you invested with Applikey Solutions?

The cost of our project with Applikey Solutions was within $10,000 and $50,000. The value for the money we've spent has been phenomenal. I know how much the same work would have cost in New York and Boston.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have an ongoing collaboration for enhancements and changes to the software. This wasn't exactly Applikey Solutions' model, but they've been open to the proposition.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

There were a few bugs we've had to work through, but the design work was first-grade, and the app itself is rock-solid.

We've gone to boat shows and demoed the app to a couple of hundred people on the same day, all of which have loved it, and were surprised that no one had done this before. It reflects the knowledge that we were able to bring to the table as boaters, but, more importantly, Applikey Solutions' skill and understanding of what makes a good app. 

We use Amazon Web Services, and payments are done through Braintree. I've only had to do a bit of research and come up with recommendations for the direction I wanted Applikey Solutions to take. I'm not a technology person, but Applikey Solutions has taken care of this side of the work for me.

How did Applikey Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

I've appreciated Applikey Solutions' ability to work as an independent group. Regarding communication, the toughest part was getting Applikey Solutions to understand what we were doing. Their location is nowhere near a boat, but, once Applikey Solutions' team understood what we were about, we were off to the races. At one point, I was getting ready to visit their office personally, to simplify the back-and-forth, but things came together by themselves.

We employed a basic user story process in the beginning. At one point, Applikey Solutions introduced Trello into the project, which made things very easy. I can manage priorities, it's clear where everything is in the process, and Applikey Solutions is very clear about goals, which were usually met near the deadlines. We had an orderly flow of work.

What did you find most impressive about Applikey Solutions?

I have worked on much higher-level projects, not ones on this scale. A part of why we went to Ukraine was cost, which is a fraction of what we'd have spent elsewhere. Even so, I don't feel that I've compromised on quality. I was prepared for this to happen, but it didn't. The service and communication have been great.

Are there any areas Applikey Solutions could improve?

We've had an adjustment period in the beginning, but that was it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at (a/an) IT Services

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Outsmarting Addiction Together

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire SSA Group to accomplish?

• Build app

SOLUTION

How did you find SSA Group?

• Referral

Why did you select SSA Group over others?

• Company values aligned

What was the size of SSA Group’s team?

6-10 Employees

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

Build advanced native app for Android and iOS

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Building the product

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

Reliability and high ethics

What was your primary form of communication with SSA Group?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

Reliability and high ethics

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

Their promptness in executing tasks is impressive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Delivery of Endless Gain

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Endless Gain is a dedicated team of highly experienced e-commerce professionals who, with our knowledge, experience, and range of our services, turn business challenges into commercial opportunities to drive performance and accelerate growth by enhancing the customer experience and boosting conversion rates.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire SSA Group to accomplish?

• To add experienced developers to our front-end development team
• To help us to realise our gaols of creating cutting-edge technology to further our abilities to help all our clients.

SOLUTION

How did you find SSA Group?

Referral

Why did you select SSA Group over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• What was the size of SSA Group’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

SSA Group have helped us to meet our client demands by adding high quality Front-end developers to our team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• This is an ongoing project which is helping us to meet our clients' needs.

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

SSA Group has always been very responsive to our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with SSA Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email 
• Messaging App

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

SSA Group has always been a pleasure to deal with, and the developers that we have added to the team have quickly become great team members.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a digital agency for strategy, creation and technology. We have been developing digital projects for our customers in Germany, the UK and the USA for 20 years. I'm the art director and project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SSA Group?

The SSA Group supported us with developers in the implementation of various ecommerce projects in the B2C and B2B sectors.

What were your goals for this project?

The projects are mainly based on Magento 1 and 2. In some cases, connections to existing ERP systems had to be created. Mobile apps for iOS and Android were also implemented.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Recommendation from another agency.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Magento backend development based on concrete specifications, implementation of specified designs in Magento templates

What was the team composition?

The team composition was fluctuating. At times there was a technical team manager, up to 1-2 back-end developers and up to one front-end developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

No.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was done by ourselves.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their transparent and traceable representation of the working hours. We were able to have direct communication with the developers, which we appreciated.

Are there any areas for improvement?

More consistency in the team composition / contact person.