ThinkUp

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the IT Manager of FERRERE. Ferrere is one of the largest and most prestigious professional services firms in the region, with more than 900 employees in its offices in Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador.

We provide professional services in the areas of Accounting Outsourcing, Economic, Financial, Strategic and Human Capital Consulting, Technology, Taxes and Auditing. We focus on understanding the reality and needs of each client, to propose practical and tailored responses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkUp, and what were your goals?

We hired them to create from scratch our internal iOS and Android mobile app, dashboard and admin panel to have more control and a better wat to manage employees and expenses.

We wanted a simple and functional app to manage the company. It had to be adaptable for users and scalable for us because it's a long-term project.

SOLUTION

How did you select ThinkUp and what were the deciding factors?

I contact them because we have a client in common and that client have great comments about them. Based on the suggestions of our client and also on online reviews and their five-star rating. Review their portfolio and we like it.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a clear understanding of all the features we need in the app but less clear of what we wanted to do about it and how to do it.

ThinkUp was able to take us through a design and technical scoping process to figure out a really clear workable prototype and a clear path forward for what would eventually become the first release of all the tools we wanted.

They suggest us to create phases of the app, because we need was really big and could be annoying to employees to use an app with lot of features.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The team was composed of a project manager with more than 6 years of experience in mobile app development, 1 Sr and 1 Jr iOS developer, 1 Sr and 1 Jr Android developer, 1 Sr QA, 1 Ssr UI, 1 Sr UX, 2 Sr backend developers and 1 Ssr web developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Immediately the app took off inside the company, was 100% accepted by users. They loved them and also give us suggestions of adding more features!

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

In general, I would just say that their timeliness and level of professionalism was always very helpful. There was very close coordination between all teams involved. And also get really involved in the project giving and suggestions a lot of things and that was really good.

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

The professional team left me very satisfied, they are young people with a lot of desire to grow.

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

A few problems occurred throughout the project but they worked fast to resolve the issue.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a Project and Delivery Manager of Pyxis, a Digital Transformation Agent that provides 360 ° solutions for organizations in multiple industries, medium and large.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkUp?

We are partners providing a highly skilled and dedicated team for the development of the mobile banking app for OCA of Banco Itaú.

What were your goals for this project?

As part of OCA's Digital Transformation plan, our goal was to help OCA improve its own fintech mobile app.

SOLUTION

How did you select ThinkUp?

I received a referral from a friend who had worked with ThinkUp in the past. We had very good feedback about their work and they were very aligned with our Company core values, one of the main reasons we decided to work together with ThinkUp.

Describe the project in detail.

"ThinkUp and Pyxis teams are working together helping OCA's Digital Transformation. ThinkUp's team is working in OCA mobile apps development. The mobile app allows access to the main inquiries of interest to customers about their credit cards: available for purchases, balance to pay, payment due, payment code, and statement in PDF, favoring cost control when presenting movements in real-time.

It also offers the possibility of requesting customized loans, recharging the balance on cell phones, financing the account balance in installments, increasing the purchase limit for both OCA and Visa. The app has the latest iOS features of FaceID and TouchID integrated, which allow high computer security as well as provide more comfortable and easier user access."

What was the team composition?

The team is composed of 3 iOS developers, 3 Android developers, 1 Delivery Manager, 1 Project Manager, 2 backend developers, 1 QA Engineer, and 1 UI/UX designer. There is also a Product Owner and a Scrum Master from OCA.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The increase in mobile apps usage and an increase in App Store ratings.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everything runs smooth and transparent. It also helps that they’re local to us and can work during our regular workday, as well as having on-site meetings when needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The level of detail in OCA's Product Owner requirements definition enabled ThinkUp and Pyxis's teams to succeed. Come to them with well defined requirements, and they can turn them into a reality.

ThinkUp team is always up to date with mobile app trends and they are always doing great suggestions to improve OCA's business. They’ve been very attentive and they are mobile app development experts! It's being really good to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing specific comes to mind, they have exceeded my expectations. It’s been a very successful engagement for them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO of Astroselling, an online platform to manage MercadoLibre stores quickly, easily and on a massive scale (MercadoLibre is Latin America's most popular e-commerce site by number of visitors)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkUp?

We are developing a mobile app to use as LitePOS (Point Of Sale) because we detected more than 80% stores need to synchronize their online sales channel with offline sales through their mobile, and we visualize a native mobile app is the best experience we can bring to our clients.

What were your goals for this project?

Develop LitePOS Astroselling's native iOS and Android apps and transform +75% web users to mobile.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referral. Our CEO and the CEO of ThinkUp shared some personal connections. I received many recommendations and did interviews with many companies and found their proposal to be the best one. We selected ThinkUp because they understood our requirements rather than just giving us a quote.

Describe the project in detail.

It all started in a Discovery phase (which ThinkUp suggested). During the Discovery phase ThinkUp's Project Manager and Designer began the project talking to our VP of Product and working with the wireframes using tools Invision and after we approved everything, they made a functional prototype using Sketch and Invision.

The UX/UI designer created a stunning User Interface! Following Discovery we got into Developmant stage. ThinkUp started developing our Backend using Laravel and admin panel using also PHP Laravel integrated with Astroselling admin panel. Next we started with iOS app native and Android app native developments.

What was the team composition?

Our main point of contact has been Nico, who is the technical lead of the solution. There has also been 1 Project Manager, 1 UI/UX designer, 2 iOS developers, 2 Android developers, 1 Backend developer and 1 QA Engineer assigned to our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Right now the app has been released to a small group of users. We are collecting feedback from them indicating they enjoy using the app and it is a 4.5/5 rating app. They suggested us some cool new features and ideas that we should work on and add to our backlog.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We use Agile and Scrum based methodologies with Daily meetings including all the team. From our side a Product Owner was assigned for that role and is following the project, has meetings and sprint plannings with the team every week. Following the mentioned methodology, collaboration has been very effective so far.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication: They were always available and willing to discuss with us to find ways to improve the solution. Quality: The quality and consistency of the team makes ThinkUp stand out over other vendors. Their iOS and Android developer skills and their UI/UX skills. They always update us on the latest news from Apple and Google to help us optimize our app.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s nothing I’d have them to improve. They’re a great partner, one we truly appreciate.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of uy! carmela, the first healthcare platform in Latin America that connects hundreds of patients with healthcare professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ThinkUp?

We needed someone to develop a mobile app for professionals to use.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re developing our iOS and Android app. In that process, they do all the design as well as front- and backend development. Taking ownership of the project, they spoke with stakeholders to get insight into their needs. They were really involved and developed everything from scratch. We're now getting feedback on the iOS version while they develop the Android version.

What is the team composition?

The team is composed of one project manager, one iOS developer, one Android developer, one backend developer, a frontend developer, a QA person, and a UX/UI person. The entire team was senior.

How did you come to work with ThinkUp?

We selected them because they were recommended by one of our clients that had worked with them on an app in the past. After contacting them and a few other companies, we liked them the best. Their price and they were very clear. They gave us great confidence.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $13,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our stakeholders reviewing the completed iOS app were impressed with the quality of the UX. Once they complete the Android app as well, we're hoping to retain long-term users. The team was very confident, clear, and made suggestions. They wanted to talk to the professionals to make sure they knew their needs. We get great comments about the iOS app and are sure the Android app will be praised as well.

How did ThinkUp perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager managed the project and the team. We communicate via Hangouts, Zoom, and email. They use Teamwork internally as well. There are daily meetings and communication is great. They meet deadlines and finish tasks on time. In fact, the iOS app was complete a month early. With each finished sprint, they gave us a release to test.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team got involved immediately, always looking for new concepts to grow our business. They update us on the latest news from Google to help us to optimize our app. We appreciated their eagerness to speak with the final users for ideas, comments, and suggestions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they meet my expectations. They've delivered the highest quality of any development firm I've worked with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend them to anyone.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I lead tech & product for Musical Medication, an audio streaming service for health & wellness.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkUp?

We wanted to create a mobile app that played nature sounds, to help people sleep and cover up distracting noises. The application would be the starting point for a more full-featured app.

What were your goals for this project?

To launch our companies first mobile app, to better prepare us for future projects. To build a simple app that has unique functionality.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met Mauro in person at a startup showcase event, that my company was presenting at in Minneapolis, MN

Describe the project in detail.

The main function occurs on the audio player page. We designed a really unique "mixing" feature, where users could tap sounds on and off, and set the audio levels, with ease. We provided the audio, and ThinkUp handled the playback and created the algorithm to mix sounds in and out over time. The pricing model allowed for free install, 7 days of use, then prompts users to buy.

What was the team composition?

I interfaced with Mauro, then he worked his team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's too early to cite metrics, but all our friends and family are loving the app!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Mauro was always very open and easy to deal with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to requirements and overall openness and kindness. This was my first mobile app, so I had a lot of questions about launching to app stores, approval process, pricing, etc... They were great at walking me through everything.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Very few that I can think of. Maybe, to provide a checklist to clients of what elements go into a successful mobile app build, so clients know what steps must occur, in what order before launching.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the creator and founder of Yclas.com a marketplace solution to create your classifieds website under a minute.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkUp?

We needed to develop a native iOS and Android apps using our API to resell as white label to our customers.

What were your goals for this project?

We want to resell this apps to our web clients so they can have native iOS and Android apps using the same data source.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had meetings with other 3 developer companies, we like them the most due to great communication and understanding of the project.

Describe the project in detail.

Requirements:

• Native iOS and Android apps
• Native look and feel by platform, android material, iOS (swift) Easy to translate (gettext)
• Configuration file to be able to change colors, logo, title etc from the app before compiling it.
• Usage of camera to upload pictures and resize them
• Geolocation to filter ads (API will return data) cache of results in case there's no connection notification system
• Will use our API endpoints

please see: http://docs.yclas.com/api-documentation/ no business logic con the APP.

What was the team composition?

As far as I know they had 3 developers involved. But I do not care the amount but the quality and deliveries.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just launched the app to our customers. We need to wait for the first orders. I can not give feedback on this, but does not relate to them.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had live chat which made everything extremely easy.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their dedication and communication were impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None so far

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Avivamiento is a Christian church located in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the biggest spanish speaking church in the world with a congregation of over 45.000 people and 34 satellite campuses in other parts of Colombia and around the world. In Avivamiento we like to use the latest technologies to spread the gospel around the world, including Tv Streaming, radio streaming and iOS and Mobile apps. I work as a software engineer in various projects on the church.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkUp?

We hired them to help us complete the new version of our iOS and Android apps.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to launch a whole new version of the app, with a very sleek design. We needed to do this in record time and ThinkUp really helped us achieve this goal with very high quality code and with a great price/

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through Upwork and did a test run with them and 3 other companies. ThinkUp was the company that did the best job within the timeframe and stayed within the budget.

Describe the project in detail.

ThinkUp did 4 sections of our app: - Login screen with animations - User dashboard with popup screen overlay ( very complex ) - Music player with playlist - General bug fixes and tunning

What was the team composition?

We spoke to one of the project managers within ThinkUp which assigned us 2 dedicated engineers to finish the job.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ThinkUp went above and beyond to finish the project. They did it with record time and even helped us submit the app to the Appstore.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had great communication with ThinkUp, they were very helpful and attentive to our needs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their dedication to innovation is extremely impressive. ThinkUp will always deliver an exceptional value to the product, and will only be satisfied when the product is perfect. They also worked within our budget with really helped us on the last sprint of the project

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very happy with ThinkUp and will continue to hire them on other projects

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Technology of Energy Texas

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sell electricity to customers in a deregulated market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Rewrite app with proper frameworks
• Add additional capability missing from the app
• Enhance app UI/design

SOLUTION

How did you find ThinkUp?

Unsure

Why did you select ThinkUp over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from ThinkUp were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Rewrite the existing iOS application developed in-house and expand on its functionality, as well as propose and implement new UI/design. Create new Android app mimicking the iOS app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new apps were more functional, responsive, and beautiful.

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

Expectations were met within the discussed timeframes and items were complete and functional. Response times to issues raised or changes to the project were excellent.

What was your primary form of communication with ThinkUp?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We've been impressed by the quality of their work and the relatively low amount of direction we have to give.

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

Nope

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the VP of Engineering of a financial services company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Payments provider

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Launch a new mobile product

SOLUTION

How did you find ThinkUp?

Other

Why did you select ThinkUp over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from ThinkUp were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Development of native mobile SDKs in both Android and iOS

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Deliverables and versions of the product developed

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

They deliver on time and are open to changes and feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with ThinkUp?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Always want to help on making things happen.

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

Nothing I can think of right now