VentureDive

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Operation Lead at Munchies. My parent company, Unilever is solely into manufacturing and distribution of consumer products. Before this role I was doing key account management for Modern Trade at Unilever.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VentureDive Pvt. Ltd.?

We had a challenge to deliver Ice cream in 10 minutes and for that we decided that we need to create a delivery platform. Initially we approached VD for conducting a google sprint to the entire model and then moved on to partnering with VD to develop the entire framework.

What were your goals for this project?

The initial goals were to have a working apk of Munchies consumer, retailer and buddy platform or a MVP. The evolving goals were then to constantly develop the platform as per the need of the eco system.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

It was through references and through our procurement department - which has a very rigorous vendor search selection process.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was divided into 2 parts.

1. The pre JV was to have a MVP of consumer, buddy and retailer end. My role was to look after both product and operations, skewed more towards the latter. A lot of information were shared from both ends and responsibilities were also divided.
2. Post JV part was where the actual development started and the product was fast tracked. Overall VD came up with a very well crafted strategy to design the entire product. Actual development was slow initially but picked up pace post JV.

What was the team composition?

Initially 4-5 people were involved from VD and each having their own roles. There was one product chief and 4 developers. Later on there were around 20 individual from VD. The number developers increased with time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's difficult to assess the result of the app development on it's own. Post MVP launch, the entire eco system has generated alot of leads and orders. Since November, there has been around 7k downloads and 3k orders. After initial server/app crashes, the app has also stabilized and is able to hold vast amount of data and traffic.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project/product manager was easily approachable. We used to connect daily for half an hour to get updates from both the ends. The expectations and deadlines were well managed in the post JV era. Jira was briefly used initially to manage the workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The vendor had a good matching algorithm tool and solid technical knowledge of app/website development. Their past and present experience with other startups is something that helps them stand out.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Yes, 2 things where VD should improve/work upon:

1. The project was very costly with in the Pakistani landscape. Aligning a better pricing strategy for local jobs could work better.
2. A project management tool (like Jira) with deadline, expectation and deliverable should be shared with the client. This will provide greater visibility to both the parties on the status of the task.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Vice President, Customer Development at Unilever Pakistan Ltd.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VentureDive Pvt. Ltd.?

To develop an Ice Cream delivery app and together roll out in the market place through a JV

What were your goals for this project?

To create USD 20mn TO business over 5 year period

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of the team members knew about VD involvement in developing the tech piece for Careem Ride Hailing service. We reached out to them, shared our brief and signed the contract

Describe the project in detail.

We started with the design sprint with VD team. It around 9 months to develop MVP 1, we did beta testing for around 3-4 months. Did a pilot and formally rolled out in the market on Nov. 1st, 2019

What was the team composition?

From VD side, both the founders (Atif & Saad) were personally involved along their team of app developers. From Unilever side, myself, ops and market lead are the integral part of the team

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It just has been a month since we have formally rolled out the product in the market place. The initial results are quite encourage where we served orders as high as 100 plus with an ETA of 23 minutes

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow has been quite effective. We have been using Slack coupled with practically daily progress update calls at the beginning of the project. Followed up with face to face meeting both at Unilever & VD office

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The best thing we liked is the involvement from the top, both Saad & Atif. Particularly Saad has been driving this project with a lot of rigor and passion on daily basis Also the rest of the team members are highly co-operative and available 24/7 to address any problem.

Their enterprising spirit is commendable. We're particularly impressed because this is the first time Unilever got into a JV with a teach led company in Pakistan

Are there any areas for improvement?

There may have been a room for improvement to better align the KPIs and what success look likes

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder & CEO of the company. GoRead.pk is a nonprofit, section 42 company. An educational initiative that is working to take stories to children in underserved communities across Pakistan. 

Our goals are improving literacy, developing a love for reading in Urdu & English and developing children's character through joyful story sessions and opportunities for independent reading. We focus on Tarbia, Ehsaas & Adab.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VentureDive Pvt. Ltd.?

We approached VD for the development of a mobile App. GoRead.pk is a movement of volunteers, who are caring adults who read stories aloud to children in communities easily accessible from their homes or work places by giving 1 hour a week of their time.

Our goal is to register as many volunteers as possible and support them as they work with us. The App would make the process of registration, marketing, accessibility, sharing resources, schedules, feedback etc more streamlined and efficient as well as ease scale.

The App would also serve as a communication tool between all stake holders in the program as well as eventually give children access to stories (both audio and written) for independent engagement.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to have an app that could be used on both iOS and google platforms. It was a connectivity tool between organisation and volunteers, having feedback forms, resources, schedules, ability to cancel, notifications, reminders, etc.

Eventually plan to build up to e-commerce, links for sharing stories (audio & text). We expect the app to make a huge impact on our initiative by facilitating outreach as well as scaling the project.

In reality, all we need are caring adults, communities of children, books, (digital & printed) a communication too (App) and we can literally reach anywhere. Eventually we should be all across Pakistan.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

VD was recommended to us by a family member, who was working with them, supporting them in some design aspects of their office. I took an appointment and met the CEO, Atif Azim.

The project was literally an idea at that point. Atif was encouraging, positive, patiently heard me out, and respectful of the idea, even though I was someone who did not understand the back end of technology. I didn't look further and moved ahead with VD

Describe the project in detail.

VD was responsible for developing an App for GoRead.pk. The App was a tool for volunteers to register their interest, share their details, and once selected, have access to resources, information and support for their volunteering read aloud sessions.

The App was useful to the organisation to manage volunteers, receive feedback, share information, schedules and developments and to centralise all matters related to the program. We provided VD with all information related to our program, and the design of the read aloud process. 

Once the App was ready for the pilot VD comarketed the app with GoRead.pk. This did lead to additional interest in our read aloud program.

What was the team composition?

A team of around 12 people were assigned to the project. Shazia Tauseef was the project lead. The size of the team and resources was adjusted according to the needs of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The App attracted attention and generated a lot of interest. We have around 60 downloads of the app after it was shared and our pilot was in progress. It is too early to say if all 60 are genuine potential volunteers. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

When VD came on board, there were just two months left for the pilot to begin. The VD team worked with urgency, effectively collaborating with us , and made sure the app was ready in time to use during the pilot. 

Jira and Zoom were used, as far as I remember. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We noticed a strong team spirit and genuine interest in the project that stood out. We feel like VentureDive Pvt. Ltd. is part of the GoRead family and definitely a part of our movement.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Overall we are extremely satisfies with the service and productivity of VD. A minor area that needs attention is the need to log in everytime the app is opened. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a department head at Kashf Foundation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Micofinance services in a poverty free and gender equitable society.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Productivity
• Cost Reduction
• Risk Reduction

SOLUTION

How did you find VentureDive?

Referral

Why did you select VentureDive over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from VentureDive were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

 Credit modeling Machine Learning based loan recomendation engine ML model updates and retrainings 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

20% increase in productivity, 15% reduction in Risk, Accuracy in decision making

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

On time delivery with profesionalism and all of our requirements were met. 

What was your primary form of communication with VentureDive?

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

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

I’m impressed with their experience, quick product availability, and current customer base.

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

Nothing in Particular

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Fulfilment Manager of (a/an) Consumer Products

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provides coatings solutions in automotive, engineering architectural projects

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• To build a B2C mobile app
• To gain customer satisfaction

SOLUTION

How did you find VentureDive?

Referral

Why did you select VentureDive over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit

What was the size of VentureDive’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

To provide consultation and services for mobile application development. Mobile app android & iOS Admin portal backend Maintenance services

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Monthly objectives and milestones

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

They provided the key deliverables on time most of the time. They carefully understood our needs considering situation at hands and if not, helped us find a way around.

What was your primary form of communication with VentureDive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We were impressed with their work management and core values.

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

They are good but they could improve a bit more by having innovative and design oriented approach towards the clients needs. Provide multiple solutions and aesthetically pleasing designs to client. I think their creative and design team needs improvement so that they understand the customer needs more efficiently and provide eye catching designs and not just stay confined to usual standard designs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I lead product at a VR company focused on brain health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired VentureDive to develop our mobile and tablet applications, as well as to setup and maintain our backend services. We also contracted them to take care of DevOps tasks as well.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Our CEO had past experience with VD and had had positive experiences.

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

Mobile and tablet app development using flutter, backend development using Ruby on Rails, DevOps using AWS services, design work using Figma

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

• 1 senior architect
• 1 project manager
• 2 backend engineers
• 4 flutter engineers
• 2 designers
• 2 DevOps engineers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our tablet and mobile apps are now used by hundreds of people daily and have undergone significant improvements in design clarity and responsiveness.

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

We have a daily stand-up to make sure the team is on track towards production deployments.

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

VentureDive has been very flexible in working with tight timelines or rapidly changing requirements. As a startup company, it is not uncommon for us to shift gears very suddenly at times, and VD has more than risen to the task on numerous occasions.

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

Not particularly, we have been very impressed all around.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Head of product development and we provide data services to insurance companies, banks, car manufacturers, dealers, etc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VentureDive?

We hire VentureDive to enhance our AWS infrastructure

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

They have a good reputation in the market and they have a big cloud infrastructure team and most of them are AWS certified.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

First VentureDive team understands our requirements and does the infrastructure audit, then finds the areas to improve including scaling, security improvements, and multi-availability zone.

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

Currently, we have one resource who is working in AWS infrastructure and we have another full-stack developer who is working on another project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have mitigated the risk of getting down by the increase of traffic and added multi availability zones and improved the security and performance.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They have a reliable team of experts and their manager is always checking with us. We are a happy client.

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

They are proactive and all the tasks are well documented in the timesheet.

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

Till now we are very happy but there is always room for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Souqalmal provides financial education and comparison tools for digital users seeking guidance on personal finance, banking and insurance in U.A.E., KSA, and Bahrain. I manage business development and operations of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VentureDive Pvt. Ltd., and what were your goals?

We hired VentureDive Pvt. Ltd to take complete control of our technology segment - E2E management of the website, including new feature developments, upgrades to digital architecture, and handling of all BAU tasks from a technology perspective.

SOLUTION

How did you select VentureDive Pvt. Ltd. and what were the deciding factors?

Their past experience with multi-national organizations, professional approach to client management, deep understanding of our technology requirements, and niche expertise in each team member, were the primary deciding factors.

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

Complete management of all technology requirements.

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

• 1 - Project Manager
• 1 - Front End Developer
• 1 - Backend Developer
• 1 - Senior Solutions Architect
• 1 - Business Analyst
• 1 - DevOps Manager
• 1 - UI / UX Designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

1. Consolidation of all backend technology
2. resulting in cost optimization by 65%
3. Timely delivery of new projects
4. resulting in 15% revenue increase for the company
5. Timely handling of business model pivot

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

Extremely professional, efficient and thorough.

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

Professionalism and can-do approach to all of our requirements. They have immediate support available from all team members and that is really impressive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We deliver healthcare services to low income communities in Pakistan. I am Deputy Director at the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VentureDive Pvt. Ltd.?

To develop an integrated digital health platform to link different healthcare services.

What were your goals for this project?

To improve the overall efficiency of our work and health outcomes.

SOLUTION

How did you select VentureDive Pvt. Ltd.?

They had some key technical resources with extensive experience in developing digital health tools for low resource settings.

Describe the project in detail.

10 integrated modules covering different parts of the healthcare journey.

What was the team composition?

Project manager, architect, front-end, back-end and QA engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over 90,000 women and children registered in the system.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Strong focus on working through problems with the client.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Documentation of work can be improved.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VentureDive Pvt. Ltd., and what were your goals?

To develop an e-commerce website based on the Shopify platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select VentureDive Pvt. Ltd. and what were the deciding factors?

I selected them for prior experience, flexibility, and cost.

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

They delivered a website built on Shopify.

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

5-6 people, including: Project Management QA Backend Frontend

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Site is live and orders are being placed.

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

Strong communication and client management, with the flexibility to set up the project as the customer wants and scale up and down the team based on needs.

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

They were very flexible in finding the right team members to work on the project with us. They have good experience and the team is well versed with working with international clients.

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

Overall very good. It is difficult to manage changing client needs, and they do a good job of it.