Surf

BACKGROUND

We are Russia's major online bookstore. I am Head of Design and Mobile Lead Manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We needed to expand our services for the mobile audience and make the experience more comfortable for existing customers. As a nation-wide retailer, it is important for us to turn to the mobile audience.

SOLUTION

We carefully reviewed all the top national app developers and Surf turned out to be the most reasonable option in terms of timing, overall project understanding, communication, past experience in complex projects, budget, and ambitions. The last one being the most crucial.

Surf handled the development strategy, project management, design, and in-app coding. The work is still in progress and we are looking forward to working with Surf on support and further enhancements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

The basic online retail metrics to be reviewed over time are customer relationship, average revenue per use, return on marketing investment, customer acquisition cost, and loan-to-value ratio.

The schedule we have is flexible, based on mutual agreement. Surf is doing their best to meet our expectations, considering the complexity of two-team development. In other words, I don't think we could get better service by any other local developer.

Surf provides high-level project management and great quality of code. I cannot think of anything they could improve. Everything went smoothly. The work is ongoing and it should be fully launched to the app store by April [2016]. They are nice and we made a great decision to hire them.

BACKGROUND

LitRes is the major eBooks and audiobooks online-retailer in Russia and Eastern Europe. We sell books to Russian-speaking users all over the world via web and mobile channels. Currently, our catalog contains about 100,000 eBooks and 7,000 audiobooks.

I am Product Director at LitRes, and I am in charge of mobile products on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other smaller platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We were trying to produce an app called Listen! which would allow users to buy and listen to audiobooks on Android. Initially, we took a bad decision to use Xamarin technology for the cross-platform app, but after 1.5 years of trying to finish the project, dealing with numerous bugs and low performance, we faced a dilemma – either kill the app and write a native one, or refactor current code and save lots of money. Of course, we preferred the second option, but it was hard to find a team skilled enough to be engaged and which would have a reasonable price tag.

SOLUTION

Surf engaged to the project in just a couple of days and covered all of the development track. They started to refactor code base rapidly and efficiently, delivering results in a very fast manner. Every 3-5 days we got more and more stable versions of the app. We have been working together for 10 months and the relationship is completely ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

In 2 months, all of the essential parts of the app were rewritten form Xamarin to Java, which increased the performance of the app by 250%. The crash-free rate reached an incredible 99.5%. The overall rating of the app increased from 2.5 stars to 4 stars in Google Play, and still growing thanks to the decreased number of bugs and crashes. This is due to Surf's quality work.

As for me, these guys are rock stars of mobile development. They have a very strong development team, highly efficient project managers, and attentive account managers. I would definitely recommend Surf as a contractor for you mobile product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We've developed a series of apps showing mobile and Wi-Fi network coverage, plus the performance of said networks. We build these maps by allowing users to collect data on our behalf. Someone can launch the app, run a speed test, and we will use the information gathered for that specific carrier instantaneously. We're located in Paris, France. We were recently acquired by an American company. The organization we're now a part of is composed of around 60 people.

What is your position?

I am the Chief Technology Officer. I oversee all development within the company, from mobile to database work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Surf?

When our startup was incorporated, we already had an app on the Android market. I had developed it myself and it wasn't pretty at all. We hired a designer who worked on all its screens. We then needed a company that could implement a pixel-perfect screen, based on our designs.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Surf has worked on mobile app development with us. We've worked on a number of projects, the bulk of the work always focusing on user interface [UI]. We give them a set of Photoshop documents [PSDs] and technical specs, including the required interaction with our servers. Their team then delivers the work based on our material.

From time to time, we've worked on one-off research and development projects for specific technical issues related to Android. We've had them research private application program interfaces [APIs], hidden elements, or how a specific phone would work in a specific environment.

They've built two versions of our UI. The first one was built in 2010. We did a complete redesign in 2013. Surf was involved in the entire implementation process in both cases, amounting to thousands of man-hours.

We initially only worked on Android applications. Surf didn't have iOS expertise at the beginning of our relationship. We'd had some bad experiences developing for this operating system, and I wish they had development capabilities from the start. Right now, we have in-house iOS development capabilities through the American company who acquired us, so we don't use Surf. If we hadn't been acquired, I would have definitely started iOS development projects with them this year.

How did you come to work with Surf?

We found them through Upwork (then called oDesk). I posted a job and got a number of respondents. I initially selected another company which did a bad job of implementing our screens. I don't specifically remember if I contacted them or vice versa, but once we selected them, half of our app was completed within a week. It was absolutely perfect and I had no comments to make about their work. We've been working together ever since, and I've never looked at another Android provider since then.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

A rough estimate for all the work we've done over the years is $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them for five years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Over the years, we've worked with a number of their employees, around five or six. We've always been satisfied with the delivered work.

How did Surf perform from a project management standpoint?

We typically send them a fairly technical spec, followed by a back-and-forth via Skype, along with questions and answers logged into Google Drive documents. Once Surf has delivered the work, I will start testing on my device. UI is always perfect. Whatever issues arose were due to misunderstandings between what I wanted and what their interpretation of the specs was. It's a common occurrence when working with a remote team. I've always been very satisfied with them.

What distinguishes Surf from other providers?

Being technically-oriented, I'm an unusual client. I haven't been very exposed to their project managers or designers. We never use those services. One of the reasons I continue to work with Surf is that they're nice guys. Not only is Surf technically good, but they're nice to talk to.

Is there anything Surf could have improved or done differently?

They could improve their project management, specifically for non-standard projects which involve research and development, and other requirements they're not accustomed to. Developers tend to drift a little bit in situations like these. It's only a minor negative, almost not worth mentioning. Whenever we work on ordinary projects (i.e. implementing an app from specs and PSDs), it simply works.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Senior Project Manager of an education company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We organise professional events and provide educational services both online and offline. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

A web portal and mobile app that provides free scheduling and analytical tools.

SOLUTION

How did you find Surf?

Referral

Why did you select Surf over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Surf were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We needed to attract more customers to collaborate with our service, so we decided to create a website with integrated tools, as well as a mobile application to control and communicate with our clients. The first step was to develop a web version of such functionality.

Time is money, so we had one month to create a prototype, develop it, and integrate its functionality. Surf's team created a basic and user-friendly design for novices. They provide us the opportunity to develop web and mobile versions on Flutter as soon as it is simple to use and we have complete control over the code, allowing us to grow our platform as much as we want.

Surf created the initial version of the website, which included a calculator, as well as recommendations for the future mobile app and a feature list, within one month of our agreement. They did their task clearly, and we now have a working product that we may improve further in the future. Surf also conducted testing to determine whether there were any issues on our client's route.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Surf team supplied the product we wanted on schedule and in the proper quality. We completed our web version of the product in one month and began receiving clients instantly. During the first month, we received twice as many clients as usual.

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

It was inspiring to watch how they managed each stage of the development process while using Agile principles and a concrete flow of work. They listened to our demands and were willing to alter and adapt to what we wanted as a result.

What was your primary form of communication with Surf?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their strength is that they are thorough at every stage of the project. We really value the clear and easy-to-understand documentation they gave us and the project they gave to our management.

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

We're looking forward to working with Surf on more projects in the future. We hope they keep rising to the challenge and come up with new, creative ideas.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Development Manager of a supply chain, logistics, and transport company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We manage loading and unloading operations in the oil transportation industry and have over 10,000 employees. We are responsible for the coordination of oil transportation to various global locations, including China, Pakistan, India, South Europe, and Africa.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Create a web portal and a mobile application that would enable our employees to handle port operations with cargo automaticaly

SOLUTION

How did you find Surf?

• Referral
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Surf over others?

• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Surf were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Every shipment and storage detail had already been entered into a simple web platform that we had created. 

Creating an MVP and then a full version of a mobile application for our employees was the first step toward automating paper work. We had a couple of months to create a design prototype, select a platform for the application, and develop the backend, which should include integration with our storage system.

Surf's team began by creating a design that would be simple for workers to understand: only the necessary features should be included. Surf conducted a design evaluation and provided suggestions, as well as a feature list, to improve the application's functionality. For example, they proposed that we include cards with comprehensive information about each storage location via QR codes generated for each component of oil or cargo. They also recommend developing a mobile application and, as a next step, a web portal to host our storage system using the Flutter framework. 

We approved their recommendations, and within a month, they had completed an MVP of the application, which we were able to review and evaluate. During testing, Surf migrated our web portal to the Flutter framework and built an API-driven backend to improve its performance. They allocated time for both development and testing in order to accomplish our objectives more rapidly. Therefore, we received the finished application earlier than anticipated. 

Together with Surf, we also began to standardize all card information with QR codes for use in web portals and mobile applications. Even without Surf support, it became easier to accomplish this with Flutter, and we are still in the process of developing our web portal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Surf team delivered the highest quality work within the specified timeframe, which was our highest aspiration. We obtained the application and web portal within a short period of time and immediately began application implementation following development.

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

The team was operating in perfect unison as a result of Surf's project management, which was founded on Agile method best practices. They were receptive to discussing any modifications we desired throughout the project, and their profound engagement with our particulars left us most impressed. 

What was your primary form of communication with Surf?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their strength lies in their methodical approach at each phase of the undertaking. Their provision of lucid and user-friendly documentation and the project they delegated to our management is tremendously appreciated.

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

We look forward to collaborating with Surf on future projects and will be pleased to see that they maintain and improve their level of professionalism.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing project manager of an it services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Leading solutions and services provider. Recognized by customers, vendors, and market experts as a reliable, proficient and highly-qualified Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity market leader with 30 years of experience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• to develop a customized payment instrument for cross-border transfers with cash payment.

SOLUTION

How did you find Surf?

Online Search

Why did you select Surf over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Surf were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

During the initial phase of the project, we engaged in multiple meetings with the Surf Team to thoroughly discuss the business requirements, address any specific details, and establish the development strategies. 

In parallel, they implemented various Agile processes, including the identification of business requirements, preparation of specifications and layouts. Furthermore, they successfully developed an authorization float, while the customer integrated an additional two-factor authentication system.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have obtained a fully developed web-service/mobile app solution for partners to interact with the money transfer system. The user-friendly functionality enables partners to send and pay out money transfers, as well as manage the web-client features for end users. The project includes plans for future scalability, such as expanding functionality, adding more sending options, and customizing interfaces to meet specific needs.

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

The project manager maintained excellent communication throughout the project, regularly providing updates. We utilized a combination of in-person meetings, phone calls, and primarily email for feedback. All deliverables were consistently provided on time, and if there were any potential delays, we were promptly notified in advance.

What was your primary form of communication with Surf?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Working with Surf has been a delightful experience. They possess extensive expertise in various domains and consistently provide valuable solutions and ideas to enhance and optimize functions. We particularly appreciate their proactive approach and genuine interest in achieving positive project outcomes.

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

Nothing

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Product manager of Petrovich

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Construction company specializing in retail sales of building materials.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• We already had a web service (with a mobile version) to allow a foreman or anyone who is going to build or renovate their houses, to estimate costs of goods and jobs to be done, share estimates, buy materials in our online-store, draw schedules, assign jobs, keep financial records, and more.
• But the project lacked a mobile app, and this was a kind of restriction as our target audience covers foremen and construction workers who complete most of their tasks on the go.
• So, we made a decision to create an app with similar functionality and help our users automate calculations and complicated processes. We hired a Surf team to develop an MVP for us, to check quickly whether our customers do need a mobile app and decide for its further development and extension.

SOLUTION

How did you find Surf?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Surf over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Surf were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

We started the project with a competitor analysis and found out that similar apps are either too specifically aimed for narrow-focus experts or overloaded, being too heavy to be understood for those without experience. Based on the conclusion, we started with key functions required for a construction project that are clear both for an experienced expert and first-timer. To define the first priority features we also created a customer journey map. 

Having analyzed the results, the Surf team suggested an object-oriented approach and a hierarchy of entities with the roles such as estimate, object, address, docs. This allowed us to avoid huge tables with heaps of data on a mobile screen but use cards with brief info on each object. The team needed six months to develop MVP with the initial feature set catalog: 

• a set of standard jobs that can be collected as a constructor in order to quickly calculate the cost of a future project; 
• cost estimation: an option to quickly plan future purchases of building materials and works; the data can be shared; 
• user interface: user-friendly and without anything that can distract the user from the main purpose. 

The app is integrated with the Client’s online-shop that allows users to save plenty of time on updating price and stock information. We tested the app with a focus group to make sure that it meets our real customers’ needs. Their feedback was used to make necessary adjustments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At the pre-project stage Surf suggested using Flutter (cross-platform framework) for app development. It turned out to be a good match for our goals. Within six months we tested the business hypothesis and made sure the solution is in demand among our audience. We managed to reduce the time to market by about one-and-a-half times as compared to developing two native apps for Android and iOS.

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

We already had effective processes and the Surf team adapted seamlessly. So the interaction between our teams was meaningful and within the time limits.

What was your primary form of communication with Surf?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I would like to mention the app design. The Surf team skillfully changed the structure of element display, making usage of the mobile application as convenient as through the web version. The second point — linking objects and estimates turned out to be a great idea, even before the release of the application, we implemented it on the web.

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

We like collaboration with the Surf team, and the advice here is to keep quality and proactivity at the same level.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the e-commerce director of a retail company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

This is a large network of more than 100 retail stores an online store of shoes, clothing and accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• We already had a mobile app. But the shop needed a new app with a more inspiring design to emphasize the premium status of the brand, that would be functional and informative offering all the options available to our customers such as a loyalty program and our shoe repair service.
• We needed an app that would take our customers smoothly through the user flow resulting in higher conversion rates.

SOLUTION

How did you find Surf?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Surf over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Surf were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The Surf team designed an app in accordance with our brand guidelines, making it light, minimalistic, and functional. The app has all the elements a modern fashion shop might need stories showing selections of items, 360-degree view of an item, customer reviews with photos, a recommendation system with items selected specifically for a customer, multiple search options, smooth order flow, machine learning expertise all-in-one user profile. All the extra services the shop offers are available in a single-screen mode.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application runs stably. Customers can use their loyalty card, track the status of an item under repair, and learn about recycling options. The app is also integrated with the loyalty program so that users can get a discount in an offline shop with the code specified in their user account. The results achieved: 

• Retention rate growth. Customers install the new app, keep it on their phones for a long time, and use it on a regular basis. 
• Growth in conversion. All features in the app are designed to lead our customers to purchase effectively.

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

We immediately found common ground with the Surf team. It was obvious that the guys had been working with retail for a long time and could bring valuable additions to our app. Their UI design was fully in line with the image of our brand. They used the trending accents – light colors, minimalism, and bright buttons in the brand color. 

Product banners became an important part of the UX. They look exactly like the pages in beauty magazines being created specifically for the mobile app. This turned into a separate activity for our content managers. The Surf team made a separate guide to hand it over to our team to work on.

What was your primary form of communication with Surf?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I was impressed with the clearly coordinated work across the team and understanding of the product and our special retail context. The guys are obviously trend-savvy. They offer the most advanced and up-to-date visual techniques. And this is vital for our domain. I also liked the quality and professional approach to the main tasks of designing and developing a mobile application.

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

Our collaboration has made a good impression.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Delivery manager of a digital services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A multi-platform operator that develops a single information space of entertainment and services, available from any device, anywhere and regardless of time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• We aimed to update the app design, make the interface more user-friendly and easy-to-understand and streamline the user flow within the app.
• As a result, we decided to completely change our approach: to build a new app version taking into account our customers’ needs and user experience. This was the task we assigned Surf with.
• For the first stage, we planned to revise the app logic, bring to the forefront the things that are most important and useful for the user.
• We wanted to offer our customers easy-to-use services with the minimum number of steps within the flow, and the intuitive app interface.

SOLUTION

How did you find Surf?

• Online Search
• Referral
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Surf over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Surf were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The project began with a two-day CJM workshop with the stakeholders on our part, product managers and designers on the part of Surf. Together, we developed the user journey map. We laid special emphasis on understanding the interface-related challenges for the user and identifying steps to make a user flow as short as possible. We also detected the bottlenecks within our business processes that hindered the optimal implementation.

We generated ideas for further product growth. From the variety of features we selected only those the user needs and included them in the MVP scope. Based on the CJM results, the Surf team designed UI/UX and carried out UX testing with the assistance of a contractor. The testing covered our customers and those unfamiliar with our services. The test results allowed us to improve the interface.

Additionally, Surf performed a large-scale analytical job: they took into account the specific nature of our business process and all kinds of multiple possible user cases. After that, they developed native apps on Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android and performed app testing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For me, high store ratings and appreciative users’ feedback serve as the most obvious confirmation of the project's success.

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

The workshop was a good starting point for the further workflow. The brainstorming sessions allowed our teams to know each other well and form a common approach to work. In the course of the project activities, the PM stayed regularly in touch, and we promptly received all the relevant information and knew what had already been done and what was planned to be done next.

What was your primary form of communication with Surf?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They are experts in their field. I was impressed with their UX/UI skills and high level of business analytics. Also, I liked the coordinated way the team works together.

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

We promptly solved all the issues that arose, and did not come back to them again

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Bussiness Development manager of Rigla

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Rigla pharmacy chain is a federal establishment that provides a wide range of pharmaceutical products and services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Our challenge was to identify the most cost-effective approach to developing six applications within a tight timeframe, in anticipation of the seasonal illnesses.
• Our objective was to establish mobile e-commerce within our pharmacy chain by designing mobile applications that incorporate a loyalty program for each of the three brands that comprise the chain.
• Given that each brand caters to a distinct target audience, operates in different geographic regions, and adheres to unique pricing policies and loyalty programs, it was necessary to develop three distinct applications (for both iOS and Android) that offer identical functionality.

SOLUTION

How did you find Surf?

Online Search

Why did you select Surf over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Surf were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The project commenced by analyzing the applications of other pharmacy chains in the market, evaluating the functionality offered, and gathering user feedback. Subsequently, a collaborative workshop was conducted with the Surf team, followed by in-depth interviews and the creation of a Customer Journey Map (CJM) based on the findings. 

After several iterations of discussing a clickable UI prototype, the Surf team developed a UI design that fulfilled all our requirements and was customized for each of the three brands. In the subsequent phase, the Surf developers established a unified code base for all applications. With a focus on research and design, it took five months to complete the entire product. 

The Surf team then continued to enhance the applications by streamlining the process of adding items to the cart, enhancing animations, and introducing new features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Firstly, the cost of Flutter development was 40% lower than that of native development. Moreover, our mobile applications have received high ratings from users, with 70% of our online customers using them for shopping. Additionally, we have observed that the average amount spent on in-app purchases is significantly higher than that of offline shopping.

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

The Surf team has always been very responsive to keep us up to date with the progress of the project. They kindly shared their experience with us e.g. in the domain of analytics in e-commerce. They adjusted their typical sales funnel to the needs of our business. The result was really effective, we optimized one of the key functions of the apps - search. So, we kept working with analytics to detect more room for growth.

What was your primary form of communication with Surf?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I was impressed by their consistent, systematic approach at every stage of the project. Their documentation is very well kept, everything is clear and transparent. I am quite sure it would not cause any problems if we involve new developers in the project at any step or decide to manage it on our own.

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

I wish them to continue developing in the same direction honing their skills.