Providing IT solutions to transform businesses!
Acropolium is an international software development & technology consulting company with a strong focus on partnerships.
With us you can:
- get top software engineers and business analysts for your project
- speed up the go-to-market of your startup with our pre-set solutions
- safely and flexibly scale your business to meet new business goals
- focus on the business strategy without micromanagement in the technology environment
For 19 years, we have been empowering businesses to disrupt markets and achieve their goals by delivering outstanding digital solutions.
We offer:
- Software engineering & product development
- Software development as a Subscription Service
- Tech audit & Consulting
Our technology stack:
ASP .NET, C#, ASP .Net core, Java Script, Node.JS, Vue.JS, React.JS, Angular, PHP, Laravel
Centers of competence:
SaaS / Platform Development
Highload Systems
Cloud Solutions
Web and Mobile Solutions
IT Audit
Security Audit & Consulting
Custom Chatbots
ERP & CRM Systems
Big Data, AI & ML
Key facts about Acropolium:
- ISO 9001 certified developer
- 450+ delivered applications
- Unicorns among clients
- 50+ custom and high load solutions
- 60% of core specialists are seniors with 10+ years of experience
Our long-term, reliable history gives an outstanding experience for new projects to build them quickly and stably.
Join us on social networks:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acropolium/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acrornd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acropolium/
and Dare to create with Acropolium!
4 Languages
- English
- Spanish
- German
- Ukrainian
4 Timezones
- EET
- ECT
- GMT
- UTC

headquarters
other locations
-
Victory Ave, 129Chernihiv 14000Ukraine
Focus
Portfolio
PeopleCapacity, Centaur Media, Qualer

Digital Signage Software Modernization
Modernizing one of the most popular digital signage software solutions by migrating existing application’s architecture from monolith to microservices, code refactoring and getting rid of inefficient legacy code chunks, and setting up new cloud infrastructure.
Request
The client - Digital Signage Solutions provider - reached out to us when their cloud-based digital signage software couldn’t cope with the influx of users. In addition, their on-premise product version was unstable, too. Deficient architecture paired with legacy code led to software failures. The existing tech stack made it difficult to maintain and evolve their electronic billboard software. The client chose Acropolium to provide digital signage software development services because of our experience as a software vendor highly skilled in developing kiosk and info-board software.
Solution
The first task was to remedy the instability of the existing enterprise digital signage software. Our team reviewed and refactored the existing codebase, replaced inefficient code chunks, and upgraded .Net. This made the stack more uniform and easier to manage. It increased the reliability of the digital signage advertising software. As part of the system modernization, we began to break up the project’s monolith architecture into microservices.
Results
The scalable, reliable, and secure digital message board software
- Improved digital signage system stability by increasing its uptime by 20%, which has now reached 99%
- Improved platform security by implementing IdentityServer SSO
- Reduced the time needed for new user onboarding to less than five minutes by upgrading the on-premise version of the digital signage software
- New UX/UI that helped to increase NPS by 30%
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/digital-signage-software-modernization/

Transportation Management System Modernization
Acropolium modernized legacy software for a freight forwarder with a global client base.
Request
The client’s request to a software development vendor boiled down to upgrading their TMS (transportation management system). They reached out to us after their previous vendors could not deliver the expected quality within the agreed timeframe. The main objective was to make the freight forwarder’s software faster and more reliable. This mostly implied fixing the flaws stemming from poor development practices and modernizing legacy parts of the system. The next step was to enhance this freight shipping software with new functions.
Solution
First, we mapped out the business side of our transportation management platform development process. Within next 3 months Acropolium did the following:
- Migrated from MS SQL to MySQL as part of code modernization
- Updated PHP to the latest version and set up the OPCache library
- Fixed the data desync issue. This became possible thanks to reindexing the ElasticSearch database and developing a separate service responsible for keeping data consistent. The service can be launched both manually and automatically.
The acquired reliability of our freight forwarding management system served as the foundation for the following enhancements, like developing dynamic rights-restricted income calculation and reporting.
Results
Significant savings and a considerable increase in the number of shippers using the client’s freight logistics software:
- Thanks to the migration from the Google API to the in-house database with zipcodes, the client now saves over $5K monthly
- Due to moving the client’s transportation management software system to the AWS hosting, they save around $10K yearly
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/transportation-management-system-modernization/

Hotel Chain Management Software & App Development
Acropolium helped digitize the entire business and developed multi-platform web and mobile (iOS, Android) solution for managing hotel chain.
The initial hotel channel management solution was supporting only a single tenant, and we were to establish support for multi-tenancy. Moreover, the client had legacy system functionality, which had to be implemented in a new solution.
Solution
We developed a custom hotel chain management software solution based on a legacy app, moved it to the cloud and made it scalable. We also optimized the load speed for critical pages and data processing and improved the speed of availability and rates calculation. Promos, special offers and loyalty programs were implemented, they could be used anywhere within the hotel network for 'in room' facilities. Moreover, we developed a hotel chain management mobile application both for iOS and Android.
Results: ️
30% Increase in annual profit
40% Cost reduction
100% Optimization of working systems
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/hotel-chain-management-software-app-development/

IoT-Based GPS Fleet Tracking App Development
Request
The client, GPS fleet tracking company and logistics software provider, reached out to us with the task to develop an IoT-based vehicle tracking system based on existing proof-of-concept. It would use connected devices to provide the real-time operational updating of vehicle data — such as location, speed, fuel consumption, driving time, and video from cameras — through the CAN bus.The harvested data would be stored in a database and available for processing.
Solution
First of all, we improved the integration capabilities of the client’s GPS fleet management solution using a Node.js-based IoT signal parser. This allowed us to dramatically increase the number of connected devices. Second, we optimized the backend code, which gave us a stable core for further development and feature implementation. Together, these two steps enabled us to implement the following IoT fleet tracking and management features: constant data transmission, reporting, data visualization, remote command processing.
Results
- AWS-based architecture with powerful data storage and processing capabilities
- Seamless integration with approximately 1000 IoT devices, including GPS trackers from different manufacturers
- New features, such as video streaming from cameras or remote command processing
- An increase in the number of trucks displayed on a map from 100 to 1000 objects
- Smooth truck movements visualization in real-time — before we stepped in, the location of trucks on the map of the client’s GPS tracking app was updated only every 5-10 seconds
- The considerable increase in speed of automated composing of the truck movements report: from 4 days for 4 trucks to 15-40 seconds for 1000 trucks
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/iot-based-gps-fleet-tracking-app-development/

Custom Enterprise E-mail Migration Software
A leading global provider of tools to manage the migration of email archives, mailboxes and PST files our technology is used as a critical component in email infrastructure changes and the move to the cloud. By providing a suite of migration products, this solution helps enterprises move data into and out of the cloud, or from cloud to cloud. Once the migration is complete, the advanced reporting and security applications show how employees are using and configuring the service, and IT admins, or security and compliance teams can protect and audit their environment using detailed, filterable activity logs. Finally, they also offer a sophisticated management solution to streamline solution administration and make management simple, and the tool can be used to delegate control of cloud software to other users in the company with enhanced security and flexibility.
It provides the following features/migrations:
▪ Email. Enterprise email migration software, enabling the transfer of Exchange Mailboxes and Exchange Archives quickly and safely to the cloud or on-premise server.
▪ Archive. Precision email archive migration software, built to quickly and securely migrate data to a cloud solution or other archiving systems.
▪ Enterprise Vault. Replication tool for back up and migration from an experienced and trusted Veritas partner.
▪ Tenant to Tenant. Migrate, consolidate and relocate cloud tenants. Their cloud migration the solution achieves industry-leading migration speeds and operates in your cloud environment.
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/enterprise-email-migration-software-development/

Operational Command Software Development
Operational command and software systems for crisis management by authorities and organisations responsible for safety and security and companies with their own emergency response systems.
Platform 'Coordinator' provides its users with the following main functionality sets:
1. Operational information exchange between municipal services in case of either any threat or break of public order;
2. Envisage a separate communication channel between organizations and subdivisions that take part in preventing criminal elements and coordinating public order functions.
3. Constant surveillance of administrative units, public places and places of potential threat to a society(e.g. railway stations, airports, concerts, sporting events).
4. A comprehensive monitoring system that takes a holistic approach when developing a strategy for public order.
5. Access control for places with peculiar visiting policy.
6. Tools for both, real-time supervision and evidence collection for performing critical law enforcement functions if they are necessary.
7. Educational and training system for internal users.
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/operational-command-software-development/

Event Management Software
The Client is a vendor of advertising, subscriptions, and live events around B2B publications like Marketing Week and The Lawyer. Centaur Media is also handling consumer magazines, and focus on home building and renovating shows.
The exhibition-management software provides a front-end website aimed at attracting visitors to the events. At the same time, the software manages exhibitors, who log in to a portal and can complete several forms.
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/event-management-software-development/

Cloud-based Construction Management Software
It is fully-integrated, owner-centric, cloud-based construction software focused exclusively on meeting the needs of facility owners and construction professionals.
An end-to-end Project Management Information Solution (PMIS) delivering outcomes from capital planning and design through commissioning.

SaaS solutions for hotels, including ERP systems
It is a complex SAAS solution for tourism that consist of different features and modules.
Compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). From a technical perspective, we can highlight the following aspects:
▪ It handles a handful of integrations with other solutions and partners in both directions via API. Stream processing is used to process incoming data.
▪ The historical data is stored and analyzed.
▪ There are different storage tiers to optimize cost and performance while having the required features.
▪ The workload is distributed across multiple regions using multiple clusters to achieve scaling, reliability and optimize latency for end-users.
▪ Both Kubernetes and AWS native services are used to balance development speed, cost and tools flexibility.
Products description:
- Channel Manager (Manage your rooms and rates on 400 hotel booking channels, in real-time)
- Online booking engine (Direct bookings on your terms)
- Hotel website design
- Hotel business insights
- Global distribution system
- Hotel app store

Software solutions for trade
The Client is an international trade software provider specializing in export/import procedures and documentation.
Project Description: SaaS-solution for international trade. Software to provide support for foreign trade processes, i.e. export and import operations. Optimization of customs processes and management of customs processes. Program solution is based on British law.
The whole project started with only one pdf form. The main principle was to provide end-users with an application where they can enter specific data and generate a document from it. The first challenge is that the government set all the papers considering the domain.
After we reached this goal, the solution went live, and we started extending the system with an additional use case:
- progressive increase in several available documents;
- the system must not only provide a user with an interface for entering data but also store entered information;
Despite we had end-users right from the start of the project we had started working on implementation a functionality for
- user management
- company management
- subscription plans
- internal chat with an administrator(with web-sockets implemented)
- notifications mechanism for alerting if customs rules were changes in a particular country
After developing a website, CMS abilities was added for EDS:
- news publishing;
- transferring data entered to feedback forms to EDS.
For better user experience during data entering content templates were implemented.
At the current stage of the project, we are working on extending the solution with additional customs documents, customs declaration submission via API(took it on hold on testing stage).
Read our case study here: https://acropolium.com/portfolio/international-trade-digitalization-paper-work-automation/
Reviews
the project
HR Custom Software Dev for IT Services Company
"They went beyond expectations and advising us with the best methods, approaches, and even business ideas."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a TOP manager at an international IT company that provide product development services for enterprise customers
For what projects/services did your company hire Acropolium, and what were your goals?
Our customer was looking for a reliable vendor to deliver the first version of a complex SaaS solution for global recruitment and HR in the short term. We did not have detailed project documentation, so we needed to make the investigation phase. We requested the Acropolium team to make the discovery phase and set up a team to deliver a quality solution in a short time.
How did you select Acropolium and what were the deciding factors?
I got acquainted with Acropolium several years ago. I shared with them the request details, and they were the only ones among several competitor companies that showed a professional approach. Prompt communication, sufficient portfolio, deep technology background and price-quality ratio were the deciding factors.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
First, the Acropolium team collected all the information required for evaluation. They made the discovery phase and suggested a detailed project delivery roadmap. As a technology step, our client has requested Java for the backend and Angular for the frontend. After all, they provide us with a team to deliver the project on time. Apart from the development side, Acropolium has also provided us with qualified Project Manager, Business Analyst, QA engineer and DevOps specialists. So, that covered all our development needs. After we agreed on the scope, we started the development project based on be-weekly sprints. They also went beyond expectations and advising us with the best methods, approaches, and even business ideas.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
There were in total ten people in the team. A project manager/business analyst, two backend engineers, two front-end developers, one full-stack developer, UX/UI designer, QA, DevOps and dedicated Account Manager.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
The Acropolium team delivered the first version ever faster than expected. Our client has already a quality and workable solution that brings business outcome. We are already planning the project scale. All steps were transparent for us. We did an impressive job together!
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
All our project communication was in slack. The development process was split into fortnight sprints. Before each sprint, we had a planning session, where the tasks were described in details. After each iteration, we have been testing the result and made minor enhancements.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
The self engagement of each team member was the most impressive. They are result-oriented. The work process they’ve built is great, and we try following it even on other projects.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
I don't think so. I am delighted with their services.
the project
SaaS Solution for International Trade Company
"They always shared their vision and suggested useful feature ideas."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the founder and Managing Director of an international company specialising in export/import procedures and documentation.
For what projects/services did your company hire Acropolium, and what were your goals?
My business was almost offline and I was looking to build a solution for exporters to create export documentation online. The system was to make completion of paperwork much faster for exporters.
The goal was to convert paper-based work and manual tasks to a digital paperless process to increase client productivity. The digital solution would combine this facility with the ability to check requirements for shipping to a particular country. The system would replace the use of excel templates. Additionally, it would store order information and order/shipping templates.
How did you select Acropolium and what were the deciding factors?
I was looking for a IT vendor with a fresh approach to software solution development. As my first experience with nearshore vendors, I engaged several recommended developers.
I selected Acropolium for an initial project after I met with their CEO. Who highly impressed me with his technology background and ideas.
My decision was further reinforced by the attitude of the team and now after almost three years of continuous development we have transformed our business and services. We have better relations with our customs and other stakeholders.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
The project started with creating the ability to output pdf forms. The main principle was to provide end-users with an application where they can enter certain data and generate standardised documents common to the industry sector and approved by governments.
After we reached this goal the solution went live and we started extending the system with additional features. Acropolium team developed the project from scratch and now we are working on new modules and advanced features.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
The team consists of a dedicated account and delivery manager, business analyst, technical lead, 3 full-stack developers and QA engineer.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
Acropolium has helped my business go online. We developed an export document system - digitized many customs forms and documents, implemented pdf generation and a solution for keeping track of content updates on external websites. Now, I can help businesses worldwide with all the processes of international transportation and customs clearance to anywhere in the world.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
We conducted negotiations through email and online meetings via zoom frequently. I did not feel the language barrier with managers and the development team. Acropolium provided the evaluation and timeline for each particular feature and implemented a job on time.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
I was impressed by the quality and delivery of work by Acropolium, their dedication to my business and level of communication. They always shared their vision and suggested useful feature ideas. Working with Acropolium, helped me to concentrate more on strategic goals.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
We always discuss ways for improvement and make our collaboration process better. I am satisfied with the result.
the project
Platform Development for Tech Migration & Management Company
"They are always doing everything they can to make their code, documentation, and tests as good as possible."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm one of the SW architects at an innovative, international technology company, specializing in powerful, highly scalable Office 365 migration and management solutions. We enable our customers and partners to move quickly and seamlessly into Office 365 and then equip them with the tools they need to get the best possible ongoing experience with the service.
For what projects/services did your company hire Acropolium, and what were your goals?
We needed an internal set of shared services, to provide us and our partners an easy way to manage their subscriptions and organizations in a flexible way. Management of multiple Office365 tenants is complex and complicated.
How did you select Acropolium and what were the deciding factors?
We have had look on multiple out-sourcing providers. Each of those were given a small tasks and to provide the results back. The deciding factors were (in no particular order):
- Speed of work
- Technology stack / libraries used
- Architecture
- Design patterns
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
Since the early days of delivering just the Proof of Concept of the new set of services, we have seen a big drive to get everything implemented in the best possible way. Big time and effort was spent on analysis and identifying all the bounded contexts (Domain Driven Design) of initial deliverables.
This helped also us to split the individual parts to their own set of libraries / services. Allowing us to have specific and focused services by individual highly-specialized teams.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We have had multiple team-leads with individual teams spreading architects, senior and junior C# developers on back-end, UI/UX front-end developers (React). The width of the teams were dynamic (sometimes more, sometimes less) based on the demand from product.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
We have grown from a small set of shared services to a full set of services. Those services are now used as a platform for vast majority of our SaaS products.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
We have daily stand-ups. Originated with Scrum, with Kanban where it makes sense. All the work was coordinated, implemented, and released by leveraging Azure DevOps service.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Great and very smart people working there. Whomever I interacted with was impressive, both from technology and human side. I truly believe they are always doing everything they can, to make their code, documentation, tests as good as possible.
And when something needs to change (because the business requirement has changed) - they think through all the implications, adjust the models and get the product/service in better shape as it was before.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
Nothing comes to my mind. Great overall.
the project
Fullstack Dev for Cryptocurrency Investment Platform
"Acropolium really made sure that we had everything we needed to grow in the best possible way."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the CTO and lead developer of a cryptocurrency trading platform.
What challenge were you trying to address with Acropolium?
We wanted to speed up our development and partner integrations, integrating with a lot of different external partners.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Acropolium does full-stack development, frontend and backend, as well as QA. The frontend is in Node.js and the backend is in Vue.js.
What is the team composition?
We started with one frontend developer and one full stack developer, and then we scaled up to have a team of 11 people. The majority of our team is being handled and organized by Acropolium.
We also have a delivery manager and an account manager. I mostly interact with the developers and the project manager.
How did you come to work with Acropolium?
We interviewed three different agencies from Ukraine. In the end, the decision was made from the impression we had from the calls with Acropolium and the price. The quality of the interaction for the price that they offered was by far the best. They seemed very engaged from the beginning.
How much have you invested in them?
The total cost is between $150,000–$200,000 right now.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in January 2020, and we are still working together.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve worked with developers on all levels, from entry-level to senior level. Each developer we work with is always very on point, and they met the expectations that we had from certain roles. We did not have a single issue where we had to let one of the developers go; on the contrary, we kept hiring more.
One thing we really appreciate about them is that they went even beyond what we paid for and kept offering us consulting when it came to architectural decisions. They also gave us access to a business analyst if we needed it. Acropolium really made sure that we had everything we needed to grow in the best possible way.
How did Acropolium perform from a project management standpoint?
Our account manager is always very proactive, and we are in contact on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. We mostly communicate via Telegram chats with the delivery and the account manager. The developers are all in our Slack and email systems.
In the beginning, I handled the project management myself. Now that we have one of their project managers part-time, the process has improved significantly. We have bi-weekly sprints that their project manager now manages. We have daily stand-ups and the deliverability of our sprint plans and the outcomes have definitely improved. We use Jira as our project management tool.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I felt that from month to month, the more people we hired through Acropolium, the more I was able to turn down my active involvement in the day to day development. I really feel like the team that we now have acts as a team and acts independently. We give them the sprint priorities and they act it out without needing to be managed on a constant basis which has been a huge relief.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t think there is anything specific. We, as a trading platform, need 24/7 support for our customers and as Acropolium is based in Ukraine, we cannot deliver that tech support through them during US hours which is why we still have a developer in the US as well. It would be perfect to hire through them if they had people in the US, but I don’t think that is their business model.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would definitely encourage them to work with Acropolium, and also tell them to be open to their suggestions. In the beginning, we had a pretty good idea of what we thought we needed, but they offered us much more than that at the beginning, free of charge, and then after a while, we had to pay for it. Their suggestions on how they think they can contribute to the business have always been on point.
the project
Custome Property System for IT Consultants
"Acropolium developers are passionate about what they do."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
A digital agency that provides IT consulting and development services. I'm a CTO here.
For what projects/services did your company hire Acropolium, and what were your goals?
One of our clients from Australia needed to develop a complex property system using Node.JS tech. Without any doubt, we have reached Acropolium to get complete support. Since Acropolium has a strong technical background and high specialization with this technology - we have established close cooperation.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
We have been working closely for over 5 years. Acropolium is our trusted partner as well as a highly qualified and reliable software provider. We always maintain contact and appreciate our partnership.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
The implemented client's idea. This cooperation has begun from the need to consult a high qualified software development provider in Node.JS. As the client received much support from Acropolium, he decided to hire several specialists to develop a complex system.
After some time, the system's performance was growing much, so there grew a need to hire a whole development team. The client got many benefits for his business as a result.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
More than 20 specialists were involved in the development process.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
Thanks to our effective cooperation, we have always achieved the desired result. We can say about Acropolium as a responsible, honest and result oriented team. Well built the interaction processes inside the company as well as with customers. So due to well-coordinated work and high level of tech skills - Acropolium produces powerful results.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Well-coordinated work within teams and customer interaction. Each team has a team lead and a project manager. The delivery manager looks after all processes, including Scrum applying. Teams conduct retrospectives, sprints to achieve the maximum result in the allotted period of time.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
The most impressive is their rich tech background. Acropolium developers are passionate about what they do. That's why they always explore new technologies, dig deep into tech updates and seek for the right solution. They prefer transparent relationships and keeping promises.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
We can't say anything bad about this highly qualified company. It's a big pleasure to work with them.
the project
Third-Party Development for Logistics and Tracking Software
"They’re definitely one of the companies that we are happy with and willing to recommend."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m a business developer for Aciety, an IT services and products provider. It’s a platform through which European providers can submit their products and offer their services to clients all over the world.
For what projects/services did your company hire Acropolium?
We had a client—a large logistics agency from Malaysia—that had a bad experience with outsourcing, so they picked us to help them find a match.
What were your goals for this project?
We needed to find a reliable, hardworking partner to help our client improve their services and implement the latest technologies, customized for their particular needs.
How did you select this vendor?
We knew of Acropolium’s experience and line of work, so it was easy to recommend them to the end client. We picked three companies from our platform but knew right from the start that Acropolium would offer the best value for that particular client.
Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?
The project involved a custom-made system for all logistic needs, starting from simple integrations of GPS trackers and growing into a fully-capable software. What was initially a rather straightforward, short-term project immediately escalated into a whole new, and much larger, open-ended one. We expect the project will extend for at least three more years.
What was the team composition?
They've assigned a team lead, five senior .NET developers, a QA specialist, and a project manager.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
Right now, the client can easily track parcels, trucks, and other information; the software then visualizes the data and displays it on screens. We're currently collaborating to make a whole new, updated database with more internet of things (IoT) features added.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
They’re very effective, conducting frequent sprint calls and briefings. All communication is supervised by the CEO, but it’s mostly directed by the team lead. This means that all questions get answered right away.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Acropolium’s advice and recommendations have made and continue to make a great impact. There have been significant changes to the system thanks to their knowledge and willingness to take on the work. They make sure that the end client gets the most modern and useful solutions.
Are there any areas where they can improve?
They should consider opening an office in Malaysia.
the project
Software Development for Hazards Alerting Company
"They are a tremendous value as an outsourcing partner."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the Founder/CEO of SWIFT Weather, a hazards alerting company. Our solutions enable businesses, agencies, and citizens to predict accurately where severe weather will strike, maximize preparation time, and formulate appropriate response. SWIFT Weather solutions turn raw weather data into actionable, easy-to-read information that fuels some of your most critical decisions.
What challenge were you trying to address with Acropolium?
Our challenge was to see if by focusing on unique ways to monitor hazards, and trigger and route alerts, we could significantly improve upon traditional models of alerting without creating fatigue from "noise" and at the same time ensure accountability and audit trails throughout the organization.
We were trying to improve the signal-to-noise ratio when it comes to severe weather and crisis alerting. On any given day, there can be dozens or hundreds of alerts that affect an enterprise. Many solutions over-alert. This creates fatigue and leads to poor utilization and poor response times in actual emergencies. Our main concept for the new project is to build an efficient alerting system that would be able to contact anybody connected to an organization no matter what platform they’re using, including email, cell phone, web applet, or any kind of custom API. We also wanted to make sure that we would be able to solicit an acknowledgement that the alert had been received. The project has features like that built into it along with some other proprietary features with patents pending that would make this product unique in the marketplace. When we reached out to Acropolium, the product was only at concept stage.
What was the scope of their involvement?
From the technology perspective, I had a basic concept in mind with a list of requirements and features. During first phase they [Acropolium] helped me create architecture from a software and hardware point of view to see how I could build that kind of a product. I was impressed with their architecture results, and so I hired them to do the build.
Acropolium recommended the technologies that should be used and did the actual design of the hardware architecture in terms of databases, platforms, etc. For the layout and graphic designs, I gave them concept drawings that they implemented. They used Node.js with a Redis database, PostgreSQL database, and some other modern web UI languages including Bootstrap, etc. Everything was hosted on an Amazon EC2 instance.
How did you come to work with Acropolium?
We initially posted the project on Elance/Upwork and Acropolium was one of the bids. They provided the most compelling approach by first delivering a detailed architecture that proved they understood the project better than anyone else. They were subsequently awarded 4 more projects, each one building upon the original framework, and we are still working together nearly 3 years later.
How much have you invested with Acropolium?
We’ve spent between $30,00–$50,000 so far.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the project in September, 2014, and the work is ongoing.
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
The deliverables from Acropolium always exceed my expectations. We work very diligently to provide clear requirements, which they meet, but often they will improve upon our requirements by suggesting options we haven't considered. This may be in the form of open-source solutions, payment systems, or email providers. As long as my requirements are clear up front, they are quick at fixing bugs. They are a tremendous value as an outsourcing partner.
Because I’m the point person who communicates requirements, I don’t know about metrics. The marketplace to sell this product is still being developed. The reason I keep working with them is that they consistently meet or exceed our expectations in terms of the quality of work. Oftentimes, they are able to implement a feature in a better way than I had suggested. They show motivation to think outside the box. Other outsourced teams that I’ve worked with stay on time and on budget, but they won’t offer excellent work or have best possible implementation.
How did Acropolium perform from a project management standpoint?
If I give them requirements, they’re always on time and within budget. We use Codebase for project management, which is Acropolium’s ticketing and code repository system.
What did you find most impressive about Acropolium?
When bring ingenuity to their solution implementation. I can rely on them to let me know if there’s a better way to do something.
Are there any areas Acropolium could improve?
If we’re not in the middle of a sprint, it can take a while for them to get back to us if there are bug fixes or updates to an existing product. Usually they respond within a few days, but it’s hard as a business owner to know when something will be fixed in a predictable manner.
the project
Mobile App Development for Health App
"I have been very satisfied with how Acropolium’s developer performed."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of a company that focuses on connecting Belgian and Dutch clients to foreign developers. We work with trusted suppliers from around the world, whose management and development teams we’re familiar with. We manage the complete development process alongside our clients.
What challenge were you trying to address with Acropolium?
We have worked on several projects with their team, including a fixed-price ReactJS development effort.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Acropolium supplied a ReactJS developer who built a native Android and iOS app. It is a tool for people with drug and alcohol problems that provides questionnaires through which users can determine if they have an addiction.
How did you come to work with Acropolium?
One of their account managers reached out to me on LinkedIn. I set up a call and tried to get an understanding of what Acropolium did and how they worked. I was quite impressed with them and thought that they would be a good choice for a future opportunity. I continued to look for clients in The Netherlands and Belgium and finally found a project that fit Acropolium.
How much have you invested with Acropolium?
The cost of our project has been around $10,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Acropolium in March of 2017. We delivered the ReactJS app, and it will be launched on app stores soon. We are in the process of starting a new, larger project on behalf of a Belgian company that is looking for a dedicated PHP team for resource augmentation.
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?
I always sit in the middle, connecting developers with my clients. I am responsible for ensuring that processes are working well and have received good feedback from clients. We are discussing a new Drupal project with Acropolium, which is a compliment for their team.
How did Acropolium perform from a project management standpoint?
We work in a Scrum way with 2-week sprints. We review the output at the end of each period, and, if everything is okay, we start the next step. Contracts are updated at the same interval.
They provided a developer and CTO on their side. I worked as project manager and have also depended on the project manager and developer from the client’s side. I have been very satisfied with how Acropolium’s developer performed. He was fast, had high-quality output, and did even more than he was supposed to do.
I use Google Docs for management, and we also work with Git. I am not technically involved in the details, but I keep a general overview of the developers working in the client’s system.
What did you find most impressive about Acropolium?
I appreciate the speed of their work, quick reaction time, and, last but not least, the quality of their work.
Are there any areas Acropolium could improve?
They should focus on explaining who is responsible for pricing. There was a bit of confusion around this at times. This is a small issue. I could arrange everything perfectly, but, if Acropolium had not done the work, we’d have a huge problem. In this case, the client was happy.
the project
Software Development for Event Management
"Their work has been running well for the last decade."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Centaur Media is a vendor of advertising, subscriptions, and live events around B2B publications like Marketing Week and The Lawyer. We also handle consumer magazines, and focus on homebuilding and renovating shows. I am a digital project manager for the company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Acropolium?
We manage 80 websites across many industries and audience types and needed to create an event-management software which could handle many users and many first-class pages to our visitors and potential customers. We needed to find a reliable supplier who could deliver this while in the right price bracket.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We have around 20 in-house developers working on other parts of our business, but only 2 of them focus on the live events part. Acropolium provides the rest of our needed resources. We started with only one resource, but we currently engage a team of 4 from their side. The team size has remained constant for the last few years.
We have worked on many projects with Acropolium over the course of our 9-year relationship. Our exhibition-management software is one example; it provides a front-end website aimed at attracting visitors to our events. At the same time, the software manages exhibitors, who log in to a portal and can complete several forms.
Acropolium has primarily provided web development, but have also provided design. A few years ago, we worked on a publication project for which Acropolium handled the ground work, including design, wireframes, and user-journey suggestions. We accepted their input and built Acropolium's design. As a general rule, though, we organize wireframes on our end, thinking about marketing aspects and design, and leave web development to Acropolium.
Our software is very complex, with hundreds of individual features. The most valuable feature has been the ability to create searchable exhibitor lists. Another feature is our event planner, through which people can select interest areas and mark them on a map; when they visit our exhibits, it becomes easier to manage whom they're visiting, where, and what time.
How did you come to work with Acropolium?
Acropolium was referred to us with perfect timing, while we were looking for a partner.
How much have you invested with Acropolium?
The cost of Acropolium's work has been around $500,000 overall.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Acropolium around 2008. The work is ongoing.
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
Acropolium has good development and internal testing processes. As a result, we've gotten good-quality work. It would be very noticeable if their work wasn’t high quality, given that Acropolium is working on some business-critical functions for our company. Our team is frequently surprised by the functionalities we're building with Acropolium. Their work has been running well for the last decade.
How did Acropolium perform from a project management standpoint?
Projects are managed well and delivered on time. If getting the right quality and completing the right items in time is key to a project, then Acropolium is very good at doing it. There have been instances of scope creep which changed our goals, but they were few and far-between.
We use Codebase, HipChat, Skype, Trello and Google Docs for our collaboration.
What did you find most impressive about Acropolium?
Acropolium is very good at listening and collectively thinking of solutions. If we give them a vague problem, Acropolium's team will solve it.
Are there any areas Acropolium could improve?
Not being a direct part of our business puts Acropolium at a disadvantage. We'd always prefer having in-house resources, but that's not necessarily a failing of Acropolium.
the project
Web and Mobile Application Development for Biotech Services Management Solution
"Members of our company have stared in awe at what we are doing, and the progress we have month-by-month."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Qualer provides a software-as-a-service system for the biotech industry, particularly its service portions. I am the chief executive officer and founder of the company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Acropolium?
We originally needed to develop our web-based platform, but we ended up working with them across multiple projects.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I have worked with Acropolium on 3 projects, all for web-based applications of different types. These included a social network app, an e-commerce app, and a website showcasing the products of a biotech company.
Acropolium provides a 12-person development team for our current work. We are building an Azure application consisting of a number of services, online and offline, including mobile and web apps. The team has handled parts of the design as well. Our application is an enterprise-grade SaaS [software as a service] solution for service management in the biotech industry. A part of our project is also a collaboration application for precision instruments.
We are mainly using the Microsoft stack, but Acropolium also has a PHP and MySQL web team. Acropolium is able to write native code for mobile, but, in our case, we have used the Xamarin framework, which is a Microsoft technology for building apps on multiple platforms.
Regarding design, my company provides generic wireframes by which Acropolium provides development. In the past, we have also worked based off generic descriptions.
How did you come to work with Acropolium?
I worked with Acropolium on a project for a previous company, so I went to them when I needed programmers. We have used many companies, particularly in Ukraine, which is an inexpensive and reliable source of developers. Acropolium is head-and-shoulders above everyone else. I haven't worked with any other companies which were as responsive and honest.
How much have you invested with Acropolium?
The cost of Acropolium's services has been around $500,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
Acropolium started working with my current company in 2013. The work is ongoing, and we're expanding our team with Acropolium.
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
Acropolium has achieved tangible results. Members of our company have stared in awe at what we are doing, and the progress we have month-by-month.
We have recently partnered with another company for penetration testing and security analyses for our code. We passed our first audit without even any level-2 criticality bugs, which is a testament to Acropolium's work. There were a few medium-to-low-impact issues, but that was it.
Acropolium has delivered all our requested features, and then some. Our developers not only took ownership of their work but also introduced their best thinking and suggestions. Acropolium went the extra mile in providing a cool, modern UI [user interface] for us.
How did Acropolium perform from a project management standpoint?
I manage the whole team myself, although Acropolium has its hierarchy. The team is very disciplined, allowing us to reach a workflow that made everyone accountable and responsive. I've had no issues whatsoever with Acropolium. We have scrum calls every night. No deadlines were ever missed.
We use a combination of tools, but the majority of our work is tracked with Team Foundation Server. GitHub is our code repository, and we also use Google Docs.
What did you find most impressive about Acropolium?
The results we've seen can be attributed to Acropolium's CEO. He has a talent for finding developers with good potential. Even though many of them don't have a lot of experience initially, they eventually shine and do a tremendous job. I trust him in this regard and know that he will always find star talent when I need it. He is also honest and open about everything.
Are there any areas Acropolium could improve?
I don't think so. Acropolium is doing a tremendous job, especially compared to teams we've worked with in the past.
Thanks to Acropolium's efforts, the app worked faster than expected. The team delivered an impressive output and the members were all qualified which helped covered all the development needs. They were transparent, result-oriented, and easy to work with.