Web Factory LLC

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a small chain of language schools located in Japan. We offer a few other language-related services, including running an immersion kindergarten.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Factory LLC?

We needed a better database and lesson scheduling management system. We were struggling to find something that met our needs, so we hired Web Factory LLC.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the software from scratch, but we wanted to be able to keep the data that we did have, so Web Factory LLC took our table structures and data and integrated them into the system that they made from scratch. They performed design work, and we collaborated on what it should look like. 

At this point, the software is used as a management tool and allows us to manage classes and teachers and better see what’s happening within the company. The system also allows us to interact and send messages to our students via an SMS system called LINE. The technology used in the project was Python. 

What is the team composition?

We had an initial contact and then worked primarily with a project manager. We also met a few times with engineers. 

How did you come to work with Web Factory LLC?

They were connected to someone else in our industry, and we reached out to them and a few other companies. We eventually decided to move forward with Web Factory LLC. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $90,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between December 2020–September 2022. We plan to engage with them again in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measure success by the ability to accomplish the goals we had for the system at the time. The system has allowed us much better uptake in communication with our students and a better vision of what’s happening within the company.  

How did Web Factory LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a couple of miscommunications along the way, but we also added some features we hadn’t originally intended to include. Web Factory LLC did a good job of staying within the initially agreed-upon contract, and they kept things in the budget of what they originally said they would. The deadlines also went a little over, but that was more of our fault than theirs. 

They collaborated with us on Microsoft Teams, our preferred tool; we also used Google Docs to share information back and forth. We would respond and leave requested enhancements on Google Docs, and they would respond to us there. They usually responded quickly to any comments we left. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very patient with us and spent time figuring out and understanding what we were trying to do. We knew they wanted to make the product we envisioned, and when we went through everything, they worked hard to accomplish everything and keep it within budget. They knew our priorities and worked hard to align with them. 

The longer we worked together, the more they understood what we were looking for. They responded effectively to all of our feedback and kept improving. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We gave them some constructive feedback in the earlier stages, but they were good about implementing it. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want you want the final product to be able to accomplish.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations at Storm Guidance, a cyber risk firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Factory LLC?

We needed help building a tool because we deal in mailbox analysis and cyber incidents.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a tool for us that helps whenever there is a breach for any company we’re working with. It’s a cyber incident response tool for the purpose of analytics. We have to get into their data to see to what extent they’ve been exposed and what the source of the attack is.

They used JavaScript to build the tool, and I don’t know about any other languages. They provided other services but I am only involved in this one.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with 2-3 project managers. I don’t know how many developers there were.

How did you come to work with Web Factory LLC?

We assessed different companies in the market and what we would get for what the spend. We chose them because of their quality of service.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May 2019 until October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a very good collaboration and received the product within the deadline. The software was tested during the project at different phases until the end. The system is working fine.

How did Web Factory LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

In the beginning, project management wasn’t 100% but we worked on it and they were able to get what to where we expected in terms of a timeline, etc. They have a good team and quality control. They followed up regularly with emails, and we used Trello. We also had a weekly meeting on Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The detail into which they go for testing stands out. They’re also quite responsive whenever we raise a point. They go back into testing and give us feedback that we can see on the same day or the next day. It was quite good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could do a bit better with project management from the beginning.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s a software development company. Their margin of development is quite wide depending on what the customer wants.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are dedicated to helping create a prosperous economic climate and a “stronger nation” that will improve opportunities for citizens, companies, and foreign investors. We promote sustainable economic growth through fostering competitiveness, entrepreneurship, innovation and value-based leadership. I am the Chief Executive Officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Web Factory LLC?

We hired Web Factory LLC for developing a brand new website and mobile app for our flagship event the Macedonia2025 Summit, plus other events and programs throughout the year .

What were your goals for this project?

We needed new, state-of-the-art technology to meet the needs of our Summit participants and to create a functional platform for easier registration and networking.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Web Factory LLC team participated in one of our education programs and we recognized their professionalism, commitment and talent in their field of work. We talked about the possibilities and they provided creative solutions to our needs.

Describe the project in detail.

The project included website creation and development of a mobile app. The purpose of the website was providing information about the Summit and a functional automated online registration form.

The app for the Summit included information about the speakers and participants, together with a possibility for them to network. Moreover, the app was a perfect solution for creating a paperless event. We regularly met with Web Factory LLC team throughout the years for regular updates and possibilities for improvement.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a Project Manager, although the whole managing team was involved and treated us like partners. A team of Android and iOS developers worked on developing the mobile app. They always exceeded our expectations on everything we communicated on our behalf.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our Summit became the leading event in the region and one of the first paperless conferences in the country. Ever since we started using Web Factory LLC services, we only received positive feedback from our participants, members and supporters on our Summit online platforms. Their products and services helped us create a better experience for all the participants on our Summit.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The Project Manager was very friendly, responsible and always came up with fresh ideas for the improvement of our platforms. The team was easy to communicate with and always ready to come up with the best possible solution to every request our team had.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What we found most impressive about the company is the knowledge, fresh ideas, professionalism and the constant support for our team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement, but we are always satisfied with the results and the final service/ product delivered. All our expectations were exceeded.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a solutions architect at MobileIron, a publicly-traded unified endpoint management company. We manage mobile devices across various enterprises. We have a lot of large customers that are a part of our customer base.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Factory LLC?

We were launching a certification program where we would work with some device manufacturers to get their devices certified as compatible with our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collected contact information for device manufacturers, who would send their devices to Web Factory LLC for a series of tests. They initially set up the system with all the required components and then wired all the required scenarios to cover areas of customer experience.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with around five people including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Web Factory LLC?

I knew them from various past projects, and the results were always very positive. When we were trying to figure out how we do the certification, I reached out to see what terms they offered and it all worked out.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$49,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2019 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has positively been received by our internal team. We track their responsiveness and the cooperation between companies, including the questions they ask and the setup they run. However, our main metric is the number of devices they get certified and the time that takes.

How did Web Factory LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re dealing with multiple sides as device manufacturers talk directly to them. We talk to Web Factory LLC as well. They have to coordinate with all the manufacturers and they’ve been managing that part particularly well. Sometimes there were devices coming in at the same time that needed to be certified.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their work stands out. We get really good value for our money and it shows. The device manufacturers that we’ve worked with are happy with the results of Web Factory LLC’s testing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Anyone should hire them. They’re good at what they do and they communicate very well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was one of four Co-founders of Bindle - an app designed and developed to help travellers find and connect with others nearby, and share their experiences to help others discover experiences during their travels

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Web Factory LLC?

With only requirements and designs in hand, we hired Web Factory to implement our idea and turn it to reality. We required native iOS and Android mobile applications, as well as completely designed back-end for both application to run on.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals for the project was to develop live versions of Bindle for Android and iOS that will be available to the public on both app stores

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We short-listed local and international vendors and presented each with out ideas, designs and requirements. We chose to proceed with Web Factory for the development phase due to their understanding of our project goals, previous history of developing high quality applications and strong team that was able to provide us with ongoing support following the launch of the application.

Describe the project in detail.

Once Web Factory were selected for the development of our applications, we handed over all designs and requirements to their team for review. This followed a Q&A session with the Web Factory team on any outstanding questions they had regarding the intricate details of our idea. They really took the time to understand what we were after in detail and had great suggestions themselves in a few key features. We were in continuous communication with the team and had regular check-in sessions during the development phase. Once the back-end was competed, we were receiving regular versions of the iOS and Android applications for user testing throughout the project, and our feedback was always welcomed and implemented by the team.

What was the team composition?

We were working directly with a project manager from Web Factory and had developers assigned for each aspect of the build. 1 back-end developer, 1 FTE iOS developer and 1 FTE Android developer - however, other developers were involved throughout the build to ensure timely delivery.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My team and I were very happy with the end result - of both mobile applications. The app was available for download on both app stores and we could focus on the marketing aspect. We had ~1,000 users sign up from all over the world in the first 2 weeks of launch, with regular usage.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our constant communication with the project manager and the team ensured we were always up to date on progress and tasks that were being completed. We used Trello to track progress and to report bugs that were discovered throughout the development. We were impressed with the team's timeliness and ability to deliver the project at a high standard.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by the vast knowledge and expertise their staff had—from the backend to frontend and graphic design. Their communication style was very suitable to our needs and the regular check-ins ensured we were never kept in the dark during development. The team used the most up to date tools and were ahead of the curve when it came to changes enforced by Apple during the project. Additionally, the quality of the end product was very impressive and as a result gave us the best platform for success.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very impressed with the quality of the output and don't have any areas for improvement, as we feel that during our project, all aspects of the development were handled at a high standard.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the COO of a cashback rewards program built on top of open banking. We provide instant and seamless cashback for our banking partners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Factory LLC?

We were rebuilding our entire app from the ground up. We wanted a trusted partner with experience in FinTech.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They looked at our current project and gave us some recommendations. They were very forthcoming, and ultimately told us we didn't need to rebuild the product from the ground up. We did a trial week with them. They refactored a large amount of code and proved their aptitude. Based on that success, we asked them to complete our rebrand.

They tidied up the existing codebase, then we entered a three-month product cycle. After the first week, they began working on native iOS and Android versions of the app. They added loads of features and reimplemented some existing ones. Both apps were built in native languages.

We did most of the frontend redesign ourselves, but they advised us on best practices. They did that pro bono, and we were extremely satisfied.

What is the team composition?

We started with two Android developers, two iOS developers, and a project manager. As the process progressed, we added two additional developers.

How did you come to work with Web Factory LLC?

Another company in a FinTech program we're a part of recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

Their costs were in keeping with industry standards and were around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in March 2019. They just completed the first phase in June 2019, and we've moved on to the next phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our internal developers reviewed the code, which was fantastic. It was concise and very clearly written. Their time frames for execution came within our expectations, and the project was completed within the deadlines and the budget they quoted. Everything was accurately stated in advance.

How did Web Factory LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Their time estimates and the challenges were clear. We ran weekly sprints, and they allocated the correct amount of time to each task.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're incredibly transparent, easy to work with, honest, and trustworthy. Their advice is good, and we’re very happy with the process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As a retrospective on the project, they recommended we use a quality control and project manager on their end. We didn't take them up on that, and we wish we had. That's not an indictment of them at all, rather something we could have improved on our side.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We went to visit them at the start of the project. If it's feasible, send your project manager out to meet with them in person.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Akoni Hub, a cash management tool provider for individuals and SME’s.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Factory?

We needed a fully resourced in-house development team to create a specific tool.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?             

The team is very embedded in the product roadmap that we are developing as a business. They serve as our product development team and work on projects as we come up with them.

We give them new deliverables on a weekly basis that contribute our product development.

The current project we’ve assigned is a combination of JavaScript and Java programming languages, and the infrastructure is cloud-based on AWS.

What is the team composition?

For account management, I work with Stefan (Co-Founder, Web Factory) and Ilija (Co-Founder, Web Factory). I also work with their entire team, which is comprised of 8-9 staff members.

How did you come to work with Web Factory?

I worked with Web Factory previously on a small project, After being impressed with their approach, I felt that they would be a good fit for my company’s purposes.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August 2019 and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team has a huge impact on my company. They’ve enabled us to grow our development capabilities much better than using our own local market. Normally with an offshore team, productivity drops; with this team, it increased massively. We’ve accelerated our product roadmap and we’ve been able to be far more agile with how we take on different opportunities. The team is very flexible in their approach with us. For example, when we needed a few particular experts in a short amount of time, they were able to provide that resource.

How did Web Factory perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform very well from a project management standpoint. Project management is one of their key strengths and that was one of the reasons I wanted to work with them initially. We don’t overlay too much management on them; the developers are all fairly autonomous and have the power to make decisions. We make sure we have a lot of communication and the management is of a very high standard. We manage all of our work in JIRA, we use video-chat and Slack for communication, and Google Drive for collaborative working.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their people is most impressive. They are a team that’s grown from good roots and the founders, themselves, were engineers and developers. When they started out a number of years ago, they built a very strong culture within the business; everyone is incredibly professional, but at the same time very approachable and easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve managed a number of outsourced operations throughout the course of my career, and they are heads and tails above anyone else I’ve ever used. They’re a very good off-shore partner.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise people to make sure they have a clear strategy and know what they want to achieve. For me, Web Factory fit very well into a product development category. I think their higher value work is the sweet-spot; I get the most use out of them where they offer a lot of input and they’re invited to make our roadmap the best it can be.

I would also advise others to be very communicative with them. Don’t treat them just as an offshore team that you just want to ship specifications to. You should invest in communication and treat them as part of your workplace family. That’s where you get the best value from them; they respond well to having that interaction with the rest of the company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

IGNIS is a Japanese company developing social and casual games, business applications, and other tools.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Factory?

We needed to create several communication applications and web services. We didn’t have enough resources in our own company, so we decided to use a team from outside Japan.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have worked with Web Factory on one web service and four applications. They also worked on some iOS exclusives as well as iOS and Android solutions. These are all communication tools for dating. One of them is a matching and chatting application with a twist—users need to create pairs with a partner and then match with another pair. Once that happens, they can start a chat that includes all four members. They can have multiple partners among their friends. Users can also have different matches and chatrooms with each partner.

The web project consists of a medical appointment and record management system for hospitals. We provide an application for patients through which they can set up appointments for video calls with doctors. The backend is Ruby on Rails and the frontend is AngularJS 2.

Initially, we worked with four people from Web Factory, and we’re currently using 10. We have our own designer in the company, so we only outsource development. Recently, we have added a QA person on Web Factory’s team since we don’t have one in our own company.

How did you come to work with Web Factory?

At first, we looked at several options in Vietnam and Europe. However, we decided to choose Web Factory based on a recommendation from our subsidiary in the US. That subsidiary had worked with Web Factory for one or two years. They received accurate estimates and advice about product features and technology. I then asked one of my team to vet Web Factory. He was amazed by their attitude and meticulous process. I also asked him to check Web Factory’s source code, and he said that it was excellent. We also found that Web Factory had worked with companies from around the world.

How much have you invested with Web Factory?

The cost of Web Factory’s work has been between ‎¥10,000,000 and ‎¥15,000,000. [$90,000–$135,000]

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Web Factory in July 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The web application is intended for hospitals, so assessing its success in terms of metrics is difficult. So far, we’ve gotten constant feedback from users. Patients hadn’t had a similar service in the past, and they are satisfied with it. We are still making improvements to the mobile application for the service. Some people decided to get treatment in that hospital specifically because of the mobile app. The system is stable, and we haven’t seen any critical issues so far.

How did Web Factory perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a dedicated project manager with whom I communicate regularly. We currently have a 10-person team there, but we don’t need to stay in contact with each one directly. The PM serves as a hub for us. His work is excellent. He has quick response times, and, because of him, the process has been very good.

What did you find most impressive about Web Factory?

They are more than an outsourced provider for us. Web Factory’s people act like part of our team, which makes them stand out from the competition.

Are there any areas Web Factory could improve?

Having more designers would allow us to give them more projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is called partners with chefs and restaurants to sell tickets to chef’s tables experiences. I’m the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Web Factory?

We’ve been working together on a number of projects over the years. The first project, which has continued over time, was related to calendaring and ticketing. I needed to find a solution to effectively handle schedules and event-based things.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Historically, all of my experience with Web Factory has been on iOS. We’ve just started developing a web-based service using Angular. Nothing’s in production yet, so I can’t speak to the web, but what they’ve built so far looks great.

For the iOS app, I did all the designing. Originally, I brought them a clickable prototype, using a service called Justinmind. Now I use different Adobe products to give them the designs I need. In the past, we worked together through Google Docs and similar platforms, but we’ve been using Trello over the last couple months to coordinate with each other. I basically do the visual designs, and I describe what needs to happen in the app. The Web Factory puts together the requirements in a very professional way. We review those together, then they get to work, and we go back and forth as it gets built.

They also submit it to the app store for me once complete. They also provide project managers to shepherd the project. They’re a big chain of people who help shepherd the project the whole time. I present things, and they give me their opinion and suggestions. It’s a partnership.

How did you come to work with Web Factory?

My partner and I put together a 40-page design document and the clickable prototype. We were looking for some development help, and we posted the project on oDesk. We got a lot of people bidding on the project with a very wide range of prices. We actually hired someone else for a while, but that didn’t work out. We had a phone call with Web Factory, and we really liked them. Their cost was more than we were hoping, but still much better than some other options. They seemed very professional, so we started to work with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January of 2016, and the relationship is ongoing.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have around a thousand downloads for the app, but I wouldn’t say we’ve taken off yet. The feedback we’ve gotten from users is that they love how simple and sleek it is. The simplicity is where most people focus.

Apple provides crash reporting and such. We’ve only had five crashes, so it’s very stable. As with any development process, bugs occur and we find them, but they’re very quick to fix anything. We’re happy with them.

How did Web Factory perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive. Things always happen within the timeframes they give or before. Things can change during development, but they’re very fast in reacting to those changes.

What did you find most impressive about Web Factory?

I’ve spent time with them personally, and I think the ethos of the company is a very positive one. They give back to their community by going back to colleges and educating in Macedonia. They have a real community as part of their company. Everyone is very happy to work there. I spent over a month working in their offices, and they were very welcoming and friendly, and they’re also very talented. It’s nice to work with people like that.  

Are there any areas Web Factory could improve?

They could be in a US time zone. Other than that, I can’t think of anything. I like working with them a lot.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of the app and i am involved in designing the product and also help working with Web Factory to execute the entire development and publishing

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Web Factory LLC, and what were your goals?

Mobile app development for iOS as well as building its backend

SOLUTION

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

We have been working for multiple projects in the past and we are particularly impressed by the rate/price of the services as well as the entire team approach and positive attitude towards it

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

We are working on building a mobile app that need to work very seamlessly as it is dependant on the backend and should work very fast, efficient and in the most optimized way possible

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

There was one PM, one to two QAs and a few front end and few backend developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes our app received a very positive reviews due to many factors but most importantly that it loads very fast (involved how WebFactory implemented the backend) , very seamlessly and generally work very fast

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

The project manager works very hard on this project along with other teammates to make sure we can achieve it the planned time. We used Trello as our main communication but chatter regularly on Slack as well

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

The team's positive attitude was impressive.

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

There is always a room for improvement for everything including ourselves as client and to any service provider. In the end, if the team has positive attitude and growth mindset, those will be taken care of eventually.