TekRevol

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a peer-to-peer volunteer organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol?

I wanted to create a website to host a peer-to-peer volunteer network, where people can post or find volunteer opportunities. I hired TekRevol to create the site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TekRevol is developing the website from scratch based on the requirements that I provided. Right now, the team is primarily focused on backend development and creating a basic version of the site. They’re building out key functionalities and features, such as a database, customer profiles, and a points system. Once we move into the second phase of work, I want to add mapping functionalities.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with two project managers. I’m not sure how many other people are working on the project.

How did you come to work with TekRevol?

I’m not familiar with web development, and I’d had bad luck hiring developers from a classifieds site. I posted on my personal social media page that I was looking for help building my website, and someone recommended TekRevol. Their website looked professional, so I called them, got a quote, and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

They quoted me $22,000 for this initial project.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with TekRevol in July 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still developing the site, but it seems to function how I need it to. They haven’t had any problems adding features that I want.

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint?

The first project manager I worked with listened to what I wanted, took notes, and understand my requirements right away. It isn’t as clear if my current project manager is listening and understanding, but we’ve built a solid working relationship. I haven’t set stringent deadlines. I’m continually proposing new ideas, and the team works with me to accommodate them. They communicate well, and we have regular meetings. We use Asana to share work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s been helpful to visualize the site and its functionalities through video conferences and screen sharing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I paid a lot of money to get my idea across. I had to explain what I wanted repeatedly, and it seemed like getting everything together and doing initial wireframing was very costly.  

Any advice for potential customers?

Have the idea ready. I wish I’d had wireframes prepared at the start of my work with TekRevol; however, in describing what I wanted to them, I came up with new ideas.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director at OTT Marketing. We do website development, design, and app development for small and medium-sized businesses. We have six full-time staff and two part-time staff in-house.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol?

We got a project in that was too big for us to handle ourselves. We didn’t have the in-house expertise required to take on the scale of the project, so we needed a company to help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed an online booking app for a very niche market. They built features that let end users make bookings through the app, and these would sync with the website. For example, if one user booked on the website, this would instantaneously update on the app. Each booking is given a ticket number, so there’s never any mistaken crossover between the site and the app. The app is for native iOS and Android, and TekRevol used their own CMS to build it.

What is the team composition?

I worked with one of the directors and a project lead. They were very good.

How did you come to work with TekRevol?

I found them online and had a discovery call with them. I explained our needs and requirements, and they wrote up a full business plan and project scope for the project. After receiving that, I knew they were the right company.

I was impressed with their ability to understand everything that I explained to them over the phone. It was a very niche product, and the terminology is hard to understand. They grasped it right away. I brought their proposal to my client, and they were happy to proceed.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2018 and finished our work in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client is very happy with the app.

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint?

Their delivery was quick, and they met every target. They were also good at following up with me to get the information that they needed. They reached out to me without being too intrusive our aggressive, even when they were short on time. Despite how nice and professional they were, they always managed to get crucial information from me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The delivery timeline was excellent, and communication was seamless. They grasped the entire project quickly, and I had very little input after that initial discovery phase.

The follow up has been top-notch. They made the project lead available to me even after the project ended. Our client gave the app to one of their customers, and they made suggestions for improvements. I ran those comments by the project lead from TekRevol, and the team made adjustments by the following morning. This was all after we had completed the project, and I was very impressed.

I plan to use TekRevol for any other big projects that we can’t do in-house. I won’t look anywhere else.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only issue I had was the time zone difference, but that’s not their fault.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spend as long as you need to on the discovery call. We had 2–3 calls. Also, explain things very clearly with them at the beginning. If you do, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of HopeNGet, a consumer app startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol?

I needed someone to develop the Android and iOS app as well as a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The website is a landing page called NotesNChat.com. The mobile app is for taking notes. When a student goes to class, instead of taking notes, the app can take notes and translate it to text. The user can record the lecture and then review it later. Users can organize recordings in categories such as by week or by month. A cloud feature allows users to chat or create groups for discussion. 

The app also has a feature to get references from the bible. The user can select a specific word like ‘salvation,’ and then when the user clicks it, it searches the bible for references involving the word or phrase selected.

What is the team composition?

I interact with the project manager and one other person.

How did you come to work with TekRevol?

I searched online for people who could develop my website and mobile app. I had different companies get back to me, but TekRevol had a more personal approach. They kept in touch with me until I made my decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $25,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work TekRevol has done is of high-quality and occasionally even exceeds expectations. Even though it’s not yet complete, I do not doubt the project’s success. When I give their team an idea, they let me know if they find there’s a better way of doing it. I’m very satisfied with TekRevol. I showed the app to friends, and they are very excited with the progress so far.

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint?

We schedule an update meeting every week. Anytime I have a question, I can get in touch with the team through WhatsApp or email. TekRevol is responsive. They can also get in touch with me when they have a question. They meet deadlines, and they deliver what they promise. If there’s an issue in timing, they let me know in advance. I collaborate with them and brainstorm with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

TekRevol communicates well, and they commit to what they say they’re going to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’d have TekRevol improve. Any time there’s a problem I go to them with, they don’t argue. They listen to me and fix the problem right away. They’re excellent in all ways.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend TekRevol to everyone. If I have any projects in the future, I will engage with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of True Vine Media. We’re a mobile community for churches to share videos, information, and interact with their members.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol?

We hired TekRevol to create our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TekRevol created our mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. The platform serves as a marketplace for churches. Users can post their service recordings, merchandises, and other faith-based content. On the platform, people can create profiles to post items to sell, downloads, and other documentation. PayPal and Braintree were used to create the e-commerce feature.

Their team also redesigned our existing website to make it more mobile-friendly. I gave them input on the color scheme, asked for a new logo, etc. They also designed the admin panel for me. Now that the app is complete and live, we’re still in the beta testing phase and using one church to measure its success.

What is the team composition?

When setting up the contract, Chris (Managing Director, TekRevol) was our main point of contact. Alex (Project Manager, TekRevol) handled the development with his team.

How did you come to work with TekRevol?

We searched for vendors online and called a few to get a better sense of the pricing. I did a few interviews, and TekRevol was a good fit for my needs and could work well with me.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $15,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The development ran from October 2018–January 2019. We’re still doing beta testing with the live product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The church that is part of our beta testing process loves the app and finds it very useful. Whenever bugs arise, TekRevol successfully addresses the issue.

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint?

Even if there was a language barrier with some teammates, we could still communicate effectively through email or text. They were very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to work with me, even though I’m not tech savvy, was valuable to me. They also seemed just as excited as we were about developing the product.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you ask all pertinent questions upfront. There were a few things that led to unexpected costs for my project, so it’s helpful to get a strong understanding at the beginning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the CEO of the Policing and Parenting Partnership, or PaPP Program. I'm also president of the Marc Pappas Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and youth in the community through innovative social technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol? 

The PaPP Program was jurisdictional at first based on where kids lived. I soon encountered a big problem where there were more kids from Baltimore City that wanted to be involved than there were law enforcement officers. Likewise, there were more law enforcement officers out in Baltimore County and Harford County than interested kids. I thought about it and I prayed and I came up with the idea to develop an application. Kids and law enforcement officers can engage with one another through the app. The app will do many of the same initiatives that we had built into our prior program.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TekRevol came on board to help me design and develop the app. They’re taking my vision, simplifying it, and turning it into something real. They’re building an Android mobile app and it will be a web app as well. We're waiting to do the iOS version down the road. We already have the alpha build downloaded on tablets to show potential investors. We're in the beta phase right now.

A parent and their child (between the ages of 10–16) can log on to the program. They get a list of participating law enforcement officers and can click on each profile. Officers are ranked based on how long they've been engaged in the program, how many children they work with, and how many social engagement tasks they've accomplished. The parent and child can see where each officer is located, what activities they like, and any availability in their schedule. They send a request to meet with the officer, which can happen through Skype or in person. 

I set various initiatives for the kids and officers to participate in, such as raising their GPA or visiting the elderly. The kids earn rewards for completing each task. We chart all of their activity in the app. They can shoot a video or take a picture of what they've done. Once an administrator approves the video or photo, we release points to the kids. The points can be redeemed for gift cards or other types of rewards from local vendors and sponsors. We include rewards for the law enforcement officers as well.

What is the team composition?

I work with quite a few members of their team. I work with a PR person, a senior writer, the head of their marketing department, and a developer. I even work with Abeer (Co-Founder, TekRevol) on a regular basis.

How did you come to work with TekRevol? 

It was blind faith. I didn't know a lot about technology. I'm a community developer who spent six years working with children and law enforcement officers. I looked up app developers online and TekRevol was the first name that came up. I called them late one evening thinking I’d get their voicemail. Instead, I get a live person. I didn’t realize they had offices in Pakistan as well as in California and Dubai.

I didn’t want to get into the details of my project without a nondisclosure form, and they had one on deck. I told them about my idea and Chris (Managing Director, TekRevol) called me the next morning. Chris listened to me talk for two hours about my vision. He fell in love with it and we've been working together ever since. 

How much have you invested with them?

I've spent about $160,000, not counting what they’ve done for me in terms of marketing.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working together in January 2019 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I just got it a week ago, but I’ve already shown the alpha build to my investors and they're ecstatic. Everybody is pumped because it’s more than we thought it would be. I also took it to a meeting of 300 black men in Baltimore City to talk about how to improve the city. While they mostly focus on old school grassroots activities, I know that technology is the way forward. 

I have a whole network of people that are ready to meet with me and work with me now. Instead me just talking about my idea, now I have something tangible I can show them on a tablet. I can show them the navigation and the user's menu. It’s been nothing but positive results. I already have four NFL athletes signed up to be mentors in addition to law enforcement officers. The final app is scheduled to be released in August of 2020. 

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team is the best. We constantly communicate via phone and email. They wanted me to get on Asana but that wasn’t ideal for me. I let them know that I prefer to use Google Drive and Google Sheets. They make that work for the project, which I really appreciate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

This may not be a positive for most people, but I love the fact that they have three different locations in three different time zones. There’s always someone working at any time of the day or night. That’s great for me because I’m the type of person who works at random times as inspiration strikes. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, these guys are rock stars. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Just use TekRevol for everything. Tell them what you want them to do and they can for sure help you. They’ll even go above and beyond.  I let them know I needed more help and they assigned me a writer. They didn't even charge me for that. So tell them what you need and they’ll help bring your vision to life.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of I Remembered, a CRM-based mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol?

Following up with customers is an easily-forgotten, but a lucrative, task. My goal was to simplify the process with a user-friendly CRM app, and I needed development resources to complete the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We explained our concept to the TekRevol over the phone. We asked them to build a user-friendly iOS app that sends custom automated messages on pre-selected dates and stores email templates. They’re developing a product to match our requirements.

What is the team composition?

Their sales consultant and lead designer serve as our main points of contact.

How did you come to work with TekRevol?

I had reached out to two other development firms, but I felt the most comfortable working with TekRevol due to a glowing recommendation from a trusted contact.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent approximately $15,000 for their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

TekRevol started working on the project in November 2018, and we plan to launch the app in May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

TekRevol has done a magnificent job of transforming my abstract ideas into a tangible product. We are already anticipating the app’s success amongst a broad and diverse audience.

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint?

Daily communication is the foundation of our success. We used Zoom once for a video conference, but most of our interactions are done via Asana.

The team is responsive to our needs and proactive in keeping us informed. They also have strong time management skills; their ability to complete the project in less than a year is impressive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

TekRevol provides exceptional customer service, which is often hard to find. Their team is fully committed to meeting our demands and surpassing our expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We are highly pleased with the results that they deliver.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

To achieve the best results, have a fully-developed concept and do extensive research.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm CEO at a customer-focused networking application called Social ID, or SID, which improves networking at events and in daily business life, as well as reduces the waste associated with paper-based business card printing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TekRevol?

I hired TekRevol to develop the first iteration of the app in a time and cost-efficient manner.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to create a user-friendly, simple, and speedy interface for the app that made it easy to exchange business contacts.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

TekRevol approached me via a post I put on Facebook. They quickly got in touch, and we started the project.

Describe the project in detail.

After signing an NDA, we got straight into the design phase. It was a rapid development process with quick deployment. This app is still only on iOS, but soon we'll expand to Android.

What was the team composition?

TekRevol assigned a project manager, who is the liaison to the rest of their team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, I'm satisfied with the results. We've successfully accomplished the major milestone of deployment, which allowed me to test the idea in the market quickly.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their workflow throughout the project was effective. However, I always lacked direct contact with the developers. The project manager has been great, especially in the early phases, but over time their responsiveness has decreased. This is partially due to the time difference, but it is an area in need of improvement.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their design was incredible, and the app is very stable. The developers followed the wireframes we put forward at the start exactly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could improve communication and transparency.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and founder of Beach Bandits, an app where users can rent chairs, towels, speakers, and other beach related items. It’s on-demand delivery and pickup service right to your spot on the beach.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol?

I hired TekRevol to build the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TekRevol is building two Android and iOS applications for my business. The first app is for consumers that works like any shopping cart application. Users can create personal profiles, select their items, then add them to the cart before checking out. There’s a timer that displays how long customers have their orders before the product needs to be returned. The app also has GPS tracking features where users can see where their item is and when it will be delivered. Their team also added promotional codes to the app. The other application is for management purposes. I can accept orders and see the whole process.

Throughout the project, their team provides screenshots and wireframes. I test the application through emailed links. TekRevol also created a new logo and web pages for pre-and post-launch. They also filmed a promotional video for the application.

What is the team composition?

My account manager was my main point of contact. I also worked with someone on the development side.

How did you come to work with TekRevol?

I had no idea where to start in finding an app development company. I posted the question on Facebook which prompted recommendations and areas where to begin. It came down to three companies, but I saw that TekRevol would provide me with the most value when it came down to the quoting process.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $23,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with TekRevol in September 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

TekRevol delivered a plethora of work at a reasonable price. Their team is still working on the app, providing new features I requested. They will also provide maintenance support once it is completed. I’ve shown a few people the work throughout the development process. Everyone is impressed with the designs.

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with my account manager is terrific. He’s thorough, making sure I’m satisfied before moving onto the next phase. We have conference calls with the developer. After the calls, the developer puts everything into action once he understands my goals. We frequently text and email. They’ve become part of my team. TekRevol uses Asana where I can see the progress of each task and all of their files. All the work is updated through there. Their team is on track with the timeline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate the constant contact and dedication to being on the same page. TekRevol is equally as excited about the project as I am. Their team is extremely invested, offering feedback and ideas to improve my approach. This app is outside their usual realm of work. They want to showcase the app for other potential customers. It makes me feel good to work with a team that cares as much as I do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Working with TekRevol has been going well. Sometimes the first drafts had grammar or content mistakes, which they edited and got back to me within a day. They’re a design team, so grammar isn’t their strongest suit. It’s on me to go over the screens and make sure the content is correct.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should have a vision for their project. TekRevol can bring that vision to life. Their team offers suggestions to make their customers’ ideas function better than anticipated.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a founder of uNews, a university news app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TekRevol?

We needed an outside vendor to complete wireframing and do mobile app development.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted an efficient partner who would deliver quality work on time.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

TekRevol’s experience assured us that we were making the best decision in choosing them. We liked their leadership team and loved their presentation. Also, they took the time to understand how we could reach our goal.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They worked with us to understand our vision and develop strategies. Then they finished the wireframes and worked in production sprints through the delivery of a minimum viable product (MVP). They helped with testing through launch.

What was the team composition?

We were in direct contact with their leadership team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their assistance was invaluable in seeing our app through from planning to launch.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

From the beginning, TekRevol's leadership team made their process clear. We worked together successfully and they handled issues well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They bring an uncommon level of experience and expertise.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can’t find anything that they'd need to improve on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a talent staffing site called Talpool.com.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TekRevol?

I had originally purchased Talpool.com from a previous group. However, they’d built the site in such a complicated way that it was too technically challenging to make even the simplest changes. I tasked TekRevol with migrating the site to a WordPress platform, which would make it easier for me to change administrative content and add features.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, they migrated the existing site and content into WordPress, mimicking all of the previous features. It’s a talent staffing site where users can create profiles, display their portfolios, and upload information about themselves.

From there, TekRevol’s team added new features that were impossible to implement in the original build, including video uploading and admin capabilities. Currently, we’re in the process of adding a comment feature, which will encourage more dynamic interactions between users.

What is the team composition?

I first spoke with their president before discussing the project with a technical specialist. They translated my goals into business and technical requirements and then passed them to the developers.

How did you come to work with TekRevol?

I originally searched for local vendors who would be able to dissect my convoluted site into a streamlined WordPress build, but I couldn’t find anyone willing to take on the project. After searching online, I found TekRevol based in California and gave them a call. We went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $25,000 CAD (approximately $18,700 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work began in March 2018 and is ongoing. The actual migration only took around 4–5 months, but I often changed the scope to implement more features, which extended development time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Like with the original build, users have commended the simplistic format and enjoy how their photos are displayed.

How did TekRevol perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Asana to coordinate the project, which allows me to see all tasks, individual timelines, and progress statuses. If I have a request or question, I write a message through Asana, and the appropriate teammate responds.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve often revamped ideas and changed the scope throughout the project, which would frustrate most people. However, I appreciate that TekRevol has remained receptive to my requests; they’re happy to take on any challenge. I’ve probably spent more man hours with them than they’ve charged.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although they’re great at executing my ideas on new features, I would prefer it if they’d offer more suggestions and alternative solutions for technical challenges.