Sunflower Lab

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a software development agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Lab?

We had our own contract developers, but one was having problems and the others were on different projects. We needed a partner to augment our staff, so we could develop some time-sensitive software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sunflower Lab is working on a big software project, developing a web app from scratch that will eventually become a mobile app. They use PHP, SQL, and MEAN stack (except MongoDB). For user verification, they’ve integrated SMS and email verification. They’re also implementing videos and scalability features. The app is modular so that it can be propagated onto multiple servers that use the AWS system and platform.

What is the team composition?

They have a project manager who’s in charge of a different number of developers for each phase.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Lab?

We made a fairly large list of potential vendors and narrowed it down to 30 candidates who we got more information on. We then selected about six to do extensive presentations. From there, our internal team seriously discussed three of them, and Sunflower Lab won.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000 so far. It’s exceeded our original budget, but we’ve added requirements to the scope.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This product is extremely important, and we’ve been satisfied with Sunflower Lab's work. Any problems have been minor or mostly our fault.

How did Sunflower Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager is technically literate and uses a scrum process. We use the agile development process and Jira to track our progress. We do daily 15-minute calls to check the project status and to clarify any requirements or questions. They’ve been willing to handle our project differently, in a way that better suits our goals, and we appreciate that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m used to a very fixed and rigid process for outsourced development. However, with Sunflower Lab, we have the flexibility to change requirements and adjust the budget, and that’s been extremely valuable. It’s a foundational part of the scrum methodology, so it helps to have agile-trained people on both teams.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would’ve preferred they build the software in a way that allowed us to test it earlier. Because of the way they divided the project in the beginning, we couldn’t run tests until six weeks in.

When we outlined the project, their sales team somehow didn’t address our SEO need, which we assumed was part of the budget. When we began discussing SEO dev, we had to renegotiate because they’d assumed we didn’t need it. We should’ve spent more time clarifying our requirements at the beginning.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an allied healthcare provider that provides outsourced services to hospitals and ambulatory centers in seven states.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sunflower Lab?

We needed to rebuild our custom application from the ground up in order to take advantage of the most up-to-date technology. We also wanted our app to be far more scalable.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve efficiency, manage a better workflow, and create a more scalable app.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We wanted a local vendor, and we were impressed with their approach to solving our business problems.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Sunflower Lab is completely rebuilding our existing custom software. Their team is evaluating each feature for estimated value, time commitment, and risk. Currently, they are developing an MVP that is nearing completion. Sunflower's team will be adding less valuable or critical features in later releases, which will allow us to quickly have a functional product for a fraction of the cost.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a project manager and a team of 4–5 developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is still in progress and we do not yet have measurable metrics.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their team broke the project into 13 two-week sprints with a clear roadmap. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to understand our business and offer efficient solutions impress us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of an app called Press App Sports, a new social media platform like Instagram but for posting sports highlights. It’s a place for athletes to build a fanbase for people who want to follow their progress.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Lab?

We needed someone to design and build the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a week-long discovery phase with their CTO, and we came up with a roadmap for the iOS and Android apps. I told Sunflower Lab exactly what to do, and they did all of the design and dev. We iterated multiple times for each phase, sending them notes until it was finalized.

The app has a top trending page with the most viewed videos from the last seven days. Users can filter content by level, sport, gender, location, and even commitment status. The home feed and repost feature are working, and profiles are exactly what we asked for. We’ve launched the iOS version, but the Android still has a few more steps before it’s ready.

What is the team composition?

We work with a team from India. They have a designer for prototyping and a project manager who oversees two iOS developers and two Android developers.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Lab?

We researched quite a few companies. We got quotes from four of them, and Sunflower Lab had great references and an affordable price, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We plan on bringing in a third-party analyst to review Sunflower Lab’s code when we’re further along. So far, we’ve gotten positive feedback from users who say the app looks and functions great. It’s had a few bugs, but nothing major.

How did Sunflower Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

Our communication is manageable—they’re located in India, so English is their second language. We communicate via Slack, and their response time is incredible. We have weekly meetings to go over project details, but they’ll have more meetings if needed. I can just tell them we need to talk, and within 20 minutes we’ll be video conferencing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re highly responsive and willing to work outside of regular business hours. When we needed to submit a build to Apple, for example, a developer from Sunflower Lab was up until three in their morning, their time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because English isn’t their native language, they often made simple spelling mistakes at the beginning of our engagement. But now that we know that, we’re better and providing them with the exact text that we want on the frontend.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be willing to get up early to meet with them. The time difference means their work day begins when it’s still early morning here, and I’ve found that giving them notes at five in the morning helps them be more productive throughout the day.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a co-founder and the head of product at a company called SHARE, which provides ride sharing solutions to communities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Lab?

We were looking to a group to assist in developing our MVP and market product for our rider application, driver application, and web portal.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Since the start of our engagement, we’ve completed an MVP for our web admin application, our rider application, and most recently an MVP for our driver application, which has an “attendance” feature that allows the driver to track who is going in and out of the vehicle. The web app was built using an Angular framework, and the mobile apps were built in Swift for iOS and Java for Android. I’ve served as a product manager for the project, and have worked closely with their developers while outlining our requirements for design, UX/UI, etc. Ronak [CEO & Co-Founder] provided substantive advice on the technologies we implemented, and offered insight on business decisions regarding the scaling process and which contracts to pursue in moving forward.

As far as feature requirements, the rider app had to enable users to make a profile, schedule rides, and provide data on the trip, e.g., driver location, estimated time, and any information on additional pick-ups. The driver app was very similar. We’re using Google API mapping tools for our live tracking component. The admin app allows us to create organizations/customers and oversee user roles and login credentials. We can also manually input route information to create specific rides or trips that riders can schedule. In moving forward, we’re looking to expand this piece of the project and include more complex mapping algorithms to create a more intelligent routing process.

What is the team composition?

I interact primarily with Ronak and Dhaval [COO, Sunflower Lab], who has served as our project lead. We also worked with Yash [CTO, Sunflower Lab] and several other designers/developers over the course of the project. There were usually about six developers working on the project at any given time, in addition to Ronak and Dhaval.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Lab?

They were referred to us by one of our VC investors.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $100,000-$120,000 in the engagement so far, and the entire project will cost $200,000-$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September of 2017 and we’re still currently working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just finished building out the attendance feature, which will allow us to move forward with one of our larger clients. We’re planning on about 1,000 rides per week with this single client, so this is a huge win for us. We’ve just deployed it to the production environment, and will be submitting the mobile apps to the App Store and Google Play Store shortly.

How did Sunflower Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Asana for task management, and I typically make scrum boards on Trello. They use Asana internally as well. We primarily use Slack for day-to-day communication, and I am in constant contact with Ronak and Dhaval.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They offer a hybrid development model between onshore and offshore developers, which is great for startups. It gives you the option to meet with developers that are local, while saving on costs like you would with an offshore firm. Their communication has been great, including with the offshore developers that we’ve worked with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would love to see a bit more transparency around the work being done. I know that they’re working hard, and it’s never been an issue of delivery. I would just like to have more insight into the progression of development. We communicate well and plan together, and then all the sudden we’ve hit our project timeline, met our budget, and completed our scope of work. This has been great, but the details in between are sometimes lost.

Advice for potential customers?

Know that you’ll be getting into business with a very honest and talented agency. Ronak is very passionate about the products he builds, and is always willing to work with the client to make sure that their business objectives will be accomplished. As a business owner, Ronak understands many different industries, but he is also a technologist. He knows how to implement the latest technologies and make the best product possible. Just be firm on your vision, and communicate it as clearly as possible. They’ll get it done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is Town Money Saver, which is a franchise-based direct mail advertising company. Our primary product is a coupon magazine that goes out to about 160 different communities in the Midwest, as well as a website and a mobile app—the latter of which was built by Sunflower— that complement our print product. Although my title is Creative Director, I am also heavily involved with the marketing of the company, and therefore worked closely on the overall look of the app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Lab?

We already had a mobile app, but it was dated. Having just completed a rebranding campaign, we wanted to update the app’s look to be more inline with the rebrand, as well as adjust its functionality. I wasn’t with the company at the time, but the original app developer was located in India, and the distance made the process extremely arduous. When we began the process, it was important to find someone with the requisite skillset who was located close by.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started by developing the iOS app and based the Android version off of that build, although both apps were mostly created during an overlapping time period. We were pleased by their initial work on the iOS version and approved the Android one as a result. I believe that they used the native development kits to build both apps. The iOS app did not have a dedicated version for the iPad in addition to the iPhone; they focused more on getting the scaling right.

They did a fair amount of work with our website developer, using an API to interface with our online database in order to find our advertisers based on location. The goal of the app was to allow the customer to check to see if Town Money Saver had any coupons or offers near their location, as well as to be able to input other locations to see what might be available elsewhere. It would then provide the customer with in-app details about the advertiser and directions for how to get to any given offer’s location. One feature that was heavily requested by our advertisers was that when customers redeem coupons digitally, the offer then be retired from within the app, to prevent multiple uses of single-use discounts.

We had a timeline in mind before we even began work on the apps. Town Money Saver has a big annual meeting to bring all of our franchises together, and the goal was to launch the app in time to be able to demonstrate it at the meeting, which Sunflower made possible.

What is the team composition?

Beyond the occasional brief email with developers, the only person with whom I had consistent contact was Ronak Patel [CEO, Sunflower Lab] himself, so I do not know the exact make-up of the team.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Lab?

We conducted significant online research that involved a variety of websites that rank app developers, although I do not remember which specific ones. (Clutch may have factored into our decision-making, but I cannot quite recall.) Within the higher-ranked dev shops we found, we then looked for one that was relatively local for us. Although a fair amount of Sunflower’s operation is in India, Ronak is located in Columbus [Ohio]. After a conversation with him about our needs and ascertaining that they had a lot of experience with the type of app that we needed, we decided to engage their services. Their location in Columbus was a big factor in our choosing to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent about $28,000 on the apps.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them around March of 2017 and the apps were launched in November of that year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We do not yet have numbers in terms of app downloads, in part because we have not yet been as aggressive about promoting the apps as we should be. Our goal in the near future is to figure out the most effective way to push for more downloads and figure out how best to take advantage of some app-only features.

The biggest reaction we received was at the aforementioned meeting. Everybody loved the new look and the apps’ functionality; they gave us a lot of great feedback about Sunflower’s work. Additionally, a lot of our advertisers are now doing specific things just for the apps, which demonstrates how they have embraced it as a platform for their products.

How did Sunflower Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

Ronak was a very good point of contact; he came to our office a couple of times to kick off the project, and we had regular conference calls. He was always quick to respond when we needed something, and he was very clear about what he needed from us.

Sunflower collaborated smoothly with our website developer, which meant that we did not have to be too hands-on with that. I believe they used Crashlytics to roll out the different builds. Every time there was a new build, we would get an automated email telling us that it was ready for our review. We did a lot of communicating that way, which was very convenient and efficient. It allowed us to send them changes or requests almost as soon as a new build came out, and helped them to provide us with further updates even faster.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication in general was extremely impressive; we always felt like we knew the status of the project. I also appreciated the different types of communications tools that they used at any given stage, be it a phone call, an in person meeting, or a video call that allowed us to screen share. Also, despite their developers being located offshore, it felt like we were still working with a local, thanks to Ronak’s direct involvement.

I would definitely recommend Sunflower. Not only did they do what we asked of them, they also offered suggestions that we had not even considered, using their experience from past projects to steer us in the right direction. They ended up acting as a de facto consultant as well. We are probably going to continue to use them on projects in the future, either on a maintenance level or to further update our current apps. We were very happy with our collaboration. The combination of being both affordable and local to our area made them a great work partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The timing of the final touches on the apps prior to their release was a little lacking. It felt like they thought we were done and had then moved onto other projects, or as if our project had been put on a backburner. It did not interfere with our deadline, but the end product wrap-up period could use some improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a general partner at Blue Sky Propane, which is a gas delivery company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SunflowerLab?

We needed them to build us an interactive mobile iOS and Android application for our customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We used an Excel spreadsheet to lay out our idea for them. We then paid our back-office software provider to build an API and team up with Sunflower to build a custom-designed app with native software for our roughly 5,000 customers. At the same time, a different company was updating our website, so that served as a blueprint for the app’s design. 

The key features for the app include enabling customers to submit orders, schedule refills, as well as see their account history and previous delivery history. They can add and remove credit cards and bank accounts for payments — our payment gateway is NMI. Customers can also get to-date fuel comparisons that tell them how many gallons of gas they used in one year versus another to assist them in gauging how much they should purchase in the future.

What is the team composition? 

The only members of their staff we were on a first name-basis with was Jeetan Parmar [Senior Software Engineer, SunflowerLab] and Yash Patel [CTO and Co-Founder, SunflowerLab]. 

How did you come to work with SunflowerLab?

We found them on Clutch. We searched the list of the top-rated application developers on the site, and Sunflower was among them. We chose three firms from that list at random to contact. With the first, we had a language barrier that made it difficult to communicate with one another. With the second, they never got back to us. Sunflower got back to us, and despite a slight language barrier, we decided to move forward with the partnership.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $43,000 to $45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in August 2017. The app was supposed to go live on Dec. 1, 2017, but due to a some unforeseen issues, it ended up going live on Dec. 20, 2017. Since then, they’ve made minor fixes here and there, but their work on the app has been minimal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Out of our 5,000 customers, only 200 have the app, so we’re still in the process of transitioning and acclimating our customers to it. But of the people who have it, they’ve expressed that they love it and are very thankful for it. We’re looking to get a better idea of customer feedback for the app in about six months from now.

How did SunflowerLab perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic. We communicate primarily through phone and email, though we were able to have a face-to-face meeting with Yash. They’re very timely — there are plenty of days where we’d get a response to our email in 30 minutes or less. They were agreeable to doing things over and making changes where needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everything was impressive. They go above and beyond to solve problems for us. For instance, they reached out to let us know we needed a loading page for our app. We came up with some ideas of the page and asked our web developer to put it together, but they were charging around $2,500 for the small animation we wanted. We told Yash and and he said, “Let me see what I can do about it.” Within one day, he came back with a design we loved, and it was only $100. That was terrific problem solving.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’d be great to be able to use a formal program to track their progress and allows us to see how the app is being designed. It would allow the client a bit more control in the app’s aesthetics and structure.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Weedmenu is a business directory for the cannabis industry. I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Labs?

I needed an app built. A lot of directories host false reviews, and I wanted my app to include the best reviewed businesses to put my directory on top.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided iOS and Android app development for us. The app’s business directory sends push notifications to users that are within a certain mile radius. We also included a direct chat for users to contact businesses, whether local or abroad.

Sunflower also helped us design the logo and pick the color scheme. They gave me their opinion on several other design issues.

They have their own hosting service and provide tech support. If there are any issues, they fix them. We’re still doing updates. We also discuss user feedback and what they’re requesting, and we think of new features to launch for the app.

What is the team dynamic?

There are always 3–4 developers on the project.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Labs?

I looked at the top app development companies on Clutch. Then I contacted the top 5, and I went with the middle ground price-wise. Sunflower’s reviews were great.

I previously worked with another company that dropped the ball. It became evident that they were just trying to get as much money from me as they could. Sunflower wasn’t like that.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2017, and the project is complete, but they’re still providing ongoing support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The apps have only been out for a couple of weeks, and we’re already at 500 downloads without any marketing. Businesses are signing up without us having to reach out.

In terms of feedback from users and other businesses in our industry, I estimate we’re in the top 3. For user friendliness, we’re No. 1. The other apps are cluttered and hard to use. In terms of functionality, our apps work great. The fact that other apps were on the market gave us an advantage; we could see what they did and improve on it.

How did Sunflower Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very responsive. Their priority at the beginning was to put me at ease, because they knew I had issues with other companies. They offered to meet in person and give me a tour of their company.

Their communication is great, and they usually respond within minutes. During development, they set up a conference call once a week, and we would do standup meetings to check on productivity. They answer every question I have. It’s great working with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their productivity is impressive. They were ahead of me the entire time. They delivered what we stipulated in the contract exactly, down to the last detail. The project went so smoothly—everything was always on time, and Sunflower never made excuses. No other company I’ve worked with has met deadlines.

The other teams I’ve worked with had a lot of introverts, who usually don’t communicate very well. Sunflower’s team has great communication skills.

I would recommend them a million times. I’ve spent 5–6 years in the tech industry looking for a good developer—I finally found them in Sunflower Labs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The main challenge is our hours, because I’m on the West Coast and they’re on the East Coast. At first, we were trying morning meetings. I perform better at 10:00 a.m., but that’s 1:00 p.m. their time, and they’re busy then. We switched to later meetings, which worked out perfectly for me. I know they went out of their way to make that happen.

Do you have any advice for potential clients?

I would go with Sunflower Labs before any other company. Their rates are extremely good. They complete good-quality work for the pricing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a manufacturing and service provider for the packaging industry and specialize in protective packaging. I run the marketing for North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Lab?

We had a mobile app that was a little outdated and we were in the market for a new developer.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app was pretty much a mobile site and it was outdated for the fact that it was a little slow and the updates were a little bit behind the times. What we wanted to do was improve the overall efficiency of the app. We felt it needed to be a lot quicker to respond and a little smaller in file size than what it was currently at. We also wanted to reduce the number of clicks to improve the experience of the user. The app is an outreach of our marketing department. It provides our internal sales team as well as our distributors/customers with the marketing material and product information to help drive sales and growth. The app is iOS native and the Android version will be rolled out by the end of the year. We’re going to add a few more features to give our sales teams as well as employees access to perform functions and processes that might be a little bit challenging to do on their computers.

One of the challenges was we’d ended our relationship with our current developer that was going to expire on June 1st which was in the terms of the contract. When we started interviewing companies, a lot of the companies could tell us what we wanted to hear which was they could quickly develop this and launch it by June 1st. With Sunflower we really felt like that was doable. We had a lot more confidence in them. We had it available June 1st on the market but didn’t officially announce it until the end of June. These guys were able to quickly move and adapt to what was currently built to improve and then get it restructured with more efficiency than what it was currently operating at the time. The project was completed quickly.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Lab?

We actually did some searches on Google, came across Clutch, and was able to narrow down a handle full of searches just by going through that directory. We were able to find that Sunflower specialized in mobile app development, therefore, we could find a vendor to fit our needs. We interviewed four companies and brought three in. For us, it was about accountability. We knew by going through this directory that anyone that was listed specialized in mobile applications. We felt confident that whatever company we brought in was going to fit the expertise that we needed. We really hit it off with Sunflower versus some of the other companies.

How much have you invested with Sunflower Lab?

We spent $25,000 on the iOS version of the app.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2017, and the relationship is ongoing. We’ve already rolled out the next phase so the recent mobile app development has launched. That new version went out at the end of June, and right now we’re in discussions on new developments within the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any metrics that we can share because we just launched the new version of the app a few weeks ago. I’ve actually got a meeting with my contact coming up where we’re going to review how many downloads and who’s opening the apps and how long they’re on it. I go back to how swiftly they were able to move and adapt to what we currently had in place in order to transition things smoothly and quickly implement and launch.

One of the favorite functions for users was when the app needed to be updated, it automatically did so in the background of the phones. It wasn’t a requirement for them to delete an app and then go back to a store and download the new version. They just had to open the app and it would update. They didn’t have to even process an update or push that notification. For them, it was an experience that was shocking in a positive way. Users said it was much easier to navigate and the functionality seems more simple. The feedback that I got was extremely positive and I’m still continuing to get good feedback as far as some of the push notifications and some of the efficiency improvements about its functionality.

How did Sunflower Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication is key in most projects and they out performed my expectations. We had a weekly call and one of the benefits with Sunflower is it’s a company that is operational 24/7. We constantly had support even after hours. During times when we’re not working, we’d get back in the office and some of the issues would be corrected by the time we got there. That was refreshing compared to what we were used to in the past. If they asked for something over the weekend and I was able to get it to them, they would quickly respond with another request. They seemed to want to get that information or that content so that they could work on it to attack the project. They were pretty diligent with their work. Another example would be even after a meeting, if there was a slight bit of confusion with what exactly I was requesting, I would get a call pretty quickly after the meeting from either the owner/partner or the project manager to dive in a little bit deeper on the details.

We used Trello which allowed us to monitor the project scope as they were working on small projects versus large scale throughout the whole entire process. We could see live updates. We could communicate and interact with the developers instantly if we needed to in order to maybe support any questions they have or if we have a question for them. I thought that made the whole project a lot more visible. I had one key contact below the owner of the company or one of the partners and we met every Monday. He would be my contact if I had a question about something or if I needed to address something with him, and I could call him directly.

What did you find most impressive about Sunflower Lab?

They don’t hesitate to make recommendations on what they think would be the best course of action for the finished product. They certainly will provide that input whether you like it or not and I appreciate that because to me it’s an open forum. We value their input. They’re experts in the industry, so we rely on their input. I was also impressed with their communication. I have to say with my previous developer, communication was lacking and there was a lot of disconnect. With Sunflower there was none of that. There was no confusion, and if there ever was, they definitely made sure to answer any confusion at the time so it could be cleared up quickly.

Are there any areas Sunflower Lab could improve?

They probably know better what they would need to improve. From my side, the client side, I don’t see an area at this time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

T-Cetra is a technology company linking wireless carriers, merchants, and mass distributors together in order to support activation and prepaid solutions through indirect mobile channels. We’ve launched our VidaPay portal, which is the large brand we use for differentiating our products and services, including cell phone activation, domestic and international prepaid wireless airtime, and seamless long-distance and domestic bill-payment solutions. I am a product owner for the company. I document software requirements and work directly with developers in an iterative process to bring forth products of value to the business. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Labs?

They were originally brought in to help us with our mobile application. We wanted to build a more robust app which could support payment processing on iOS and Android. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sunflower Labs was crucial in kicking-off our payment app project. They continue to work closely with our internal team any time we have troubleshooting issues. The app is available on iOS and Android and serves the same purpose as our web portal, providing dealers with merchant locations and payment processing for prepaid cell phone activations, airtime top-ups, or any billable products we offer.

They’ve helped design our web application and have also assisted in our internal project management process. Sunflower Labs also provided assistance with our existing street terminals.

They’ve helped build the layout for our marketplace. The portal offers products to dealers, including headsets, phones, and things of this nature. Sunflower Labs created the user interface for it, and it has become a thriving product. We’re continually developing on top of the framework built by Sunflower Labs.

We work directly with Ronak [Patel], their CEO, who assigns tasks and manages the Sunflower team from the outside. If we have a project for which we decide to outsource them, Ronak will take part in our remote meetings and coordinate tasks on their side. I’m not quite sure how many resources from Sunflower Labs’ side we’ve used, but they’re never short on team members.

They’ve always been on top of everything during calls and meetings. I can’t think of a project where Sunflower Labs didn’t deliver what we needed in time. Many of our engagements have been done in combination with our developers. For example, Sunflower Labs may create the user interface, while our middleware team will be responsible for all plugins and controls.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Labs?

Our CIO was responsible for sourcing Sunflower Labs.

How much have you invested with Sunflower Labs?

The cost of Sunflower Labs’ work has been around $380,000–$450,000. That number is probably rising.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Sunflower Labs in March or April of 2016. We continue to outsource them for certain projects, but I haven’t been involved with Sunflower Labs as of late. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When we bring in Sunflower Labs, our projects get completed a lot faster. This is due to resource allocation, of course. Using their team on bigger projects has definitely proven to be a successful method of delivering things on time.

I couldn’t give a precise estimate of cost savings, but we would not have been outsourcing to Sunflower Labs if the savings weren’t immense. We don’t compromise good work for money internally, though, especially in this industry.

We have a number of users—anywhere from 18,000–25,000 merchants in our system. Many of those accounts can have 1–20 people using them.

How did Sunflower Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We have run into an internal issue since losing a couple of project managers in a short period of time. Sunflower Labs assisted us with a couple of internal projects, having a member of their team come in for early meetings.

We’re based in Columbus, Ohio and have worked with Sunflower Labs on-site for our project management needs. When we outsource them for development, those will most likely be remote tasks.

We use Team Foundation Server internally. Ronak helps us manage the process in-house; for the projects that his team is called out on, they will have access to our system. We have continuous updates on a daily basis around what is taking place and any blockers which need to be taken care of.

What did you find most impressive about Sunflower Labs?

The project management and execution portion of it, at least for me, has proven to be beneficial. Ronak has been helping us improve our practices immensely. I’ve only been here for about two years, but I’ve noticed that our developers are delivering a lot faster. He has been crucial in restructuring our organization and getting an increase in productivity, communication, and things of that nature.

Are there any areas Sunflower Labs could improve?

Everything I’ve worked on with Sunflower Labs has met the timeline. They’ve saved us money during those processes, and I’m very happy with the quality of work.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Sunflower Labs?

I don’t have any suggestions, except doing research and trying to find Sunflower Labs. I don’t know if they’re well-marketed in the US. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a wholesale jewelry manufacturing company. I am a manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sunflower Lab?

We needed to create a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sunflower Lab developed our Magento website, working on its backend as well as overall layout. We worked with a three-person team. We needed to feature images, store locations, and video footage. Sunflower Lab was able to do all of this.

How did you come to work with Sunflower Lab?

Sunflower Lab was the first agency we used for website work. We found them through someone in our office who had a connection with them.

How much have you invested with Sunflower Lab?

The cost of Sunflower Lab’s work was between $10,000 and $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Sunflower Lab around two years ago. The website took six months to complete. We still work with Sunflower Lab for website updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our site is informational, with no sales capabilities. Sunflower Lab did a great job, and we’ve received many compliments for it.

How did Sunflower Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a very good job. We communicated via email and over the phone. We had the same contact from Sunflower Lab’s side throughout the project.

What did you find most impressive about Sunflower Lab?

Sunflower Lab is very good at adapting and giving us what we need. They’re very flexible.

Are there any areas Sunflower Lab could improve?

I don’t think so. Sunflower Lab did a great job.