Alena Solutions

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the E-commerce Director of Sightglass Coffee

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a coffee brand that specializes in small-batch coffee that is roasted to order in California

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alena Solutions to accomplish?

• Replatforming
• Maintenance
• Digital Product Roadmap

SOLUTION

How did you find Alena Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Alena Solutions over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Alena Solutions were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

I have had the privilege of working with Alena on 3 websites now. They are my go to for everything from re-platforming to ongoing dev support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

-CRO -CS tickets/NPS -Launching on schedule

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

One of the standout qualities was their exceptional team of experts. The team is always responsive, transparent, and proactive in addressing any concerns or questions I had. They kept me informed at every stage of development, ensuring that I felt confident in the progress being made.

What was your primary form of communication with Alena Solutions?

Virtual Meeting

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

I can confidently say that Alena is not just a service provider but a true partner in my companies success. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence have made a significant impact on our business, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone seeking a development agency that goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional results. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Alena on future projects.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder and COO of an advertising & marketing company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a B2B Media and Marketing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alena Solutions to accomplish?

• Design an MVP given our concept.
• Build a functioning MVP that we can use.
• Connect that MVP to various third parties.

SOLUTION

How did you find Alena Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Alena Solutions over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Alena Solutions were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

We explained to Alena our idea and they were able to take the lead on product development. They built a UI and the infrastructure to support our Marketing SaaS MVP. They later added third party integrations which enabled us to expand our initial offerings.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were able to understand our needs and help us to expand on the original concept.

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

Always on time and responsive to any and all requests. They were one of the most professional organizations that we did business with. Very thorough and informative team.

What was your primary form of communication with Alena Solutions?

Virtual Meeting

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

The way they were able to understand our "idea: and make it a reality when developing the actual product for us.

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

The entire experience was extremely satisfactory to us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

We are the Owners of American Trophies and Awards.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company specializes in custom awards, gifts, and promotional products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alena Solutions to accomplish?

• Create/Maintain an Ecommerce Website
• Assist with Search Engine Optimization

SOLUTION

How did you find Alena Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Alena Solutions over others?

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

How many teammates from Alena Solutions were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

They assisted in creating a custom eCommerce website for our business. They were sure to develop a site that would be easy for our clients to use, while also allowing us to have full access to the backend. They worked collaboratively with us to ensure that our vision was brought to life and that our needs were met. After launching the site, the team has continued to assist with maintenance, SEO and developing new items that are needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our online sales have grown tremendously since launching the eCommerce site. Additionally, we have seen an increase in website traffic since hiring Alena Solutions to assist with SEO. We have been able to optimize the time spent taking orders and increase productivity. Finally, we have reached clients in new states that we did not have previously.

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

Alena Solutions was honest about timelines, goals, and expectations for every project. The communication was clear, and they were always on time with every project/goal. They took on each task with a positive attitude and always looked for ways to bring our vision to life. We appreciated the team's ability to effectively communicate with us and teach us new terminology. 

Finally, the team was instrumental in helping us understand how to use the tools that they had created for us so that we were able to easily update/change our website on our own. Not only did the team provide those tools for us, but they were always there to assist when needed.

What was your primary form of communication with Alena Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We were most impressed by the effective communication that we received from all team members. Meetings were scheduled quickly, and emails were always responded to in a speedy manner. We were impressed with the fact that we could reach team members no matter what time of the day/night. Many companies over-promise and under-deliver, but we found that Alena Solutions was always eager to assist us with any tasks that we needed help with. 

They also were honest and logical about solutions and timelines. We appreciated the team's willingness to help us find the best solutions while also keeping our budget in mind. They find the most cost-effective solution, saving us time and money without sacrificing the quality of their work.

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

We are extremely satisfied with everything that Alena Solutions has done and continues to do for our company.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Agent of Hartog Realty Group

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

I am a Real Estate agent, podcaster, and I have a charity foundation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Alena Solutions to accomplish?

• To create my website
• To incorporate all my passions in one
• To make it look professional and classy

SOLUTION

How did you find Alena Solutions?

• Referral

Why did you select Alena Solutions over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Alena Solutions were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

They created and developed my website from scratch. I provided the information and they wrapped it all up in a gorgeous end product that I couldn't be more proud of.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The constant communication and changes that took place. Even when I forgot they needed something they made sure to remind me so we can keep things moving along. They were on top of everything and every change I wanted to make. Honestly when I first saw the website all I needed to do what supply info and fine tune. What they came up with was absolutely beautiful. I was pleased from the very first time I saw it.

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

They were on top of everything. I was a very smooth and pleasant experience.

What was your primary form of communication with Alena Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The response time to messages and changes. It was very quick.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Modaya jewelry company and it just launched in February. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

We needed an e-commerce website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was built on WooCommerce. We customized a template website. I had given them some ideas of what sites that I liked and they helped me with the design aspect of the platform. 

What is the team composition?

We worked closely with Alina (Director of Operations). 

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

A business partner recommended Alena Solutions.

How much have you invested with them?

Perhaps, we spent between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership ran from June 2020–February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product they gave me was amazing. I didn’t expect the website to look great and professional. They went above and beyond expectations. The design aspect of the platform was very easy to use. Moreover, the site was super easy to maneuver and very self-explanatory.

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We were in contact literally almost every single day. We communicated via Zoom calls once or twice, but we mainly interacted through email.

They were super prompt in answering any questions I had. I pretty much emailed them my requirements and then they outsourced the work to whatever in-house department that could handle the situation.

We also had a 12-hour time difference between us, but whenever I emailed them, they would get me back within an hour. Overall, they made me super comfortable all throughout the process. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve used a web developer one time and it was just a headache dealing with those people and asking them to make changes on the website. However, with Alena Solutions, the problem was fixed right away and it was resolved within a few hours after emailing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I have no complaints with Alena Solutions. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use them wisely and go forth with them because you can’t just go wrong with Alena.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a CPA and a consultant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

The company that I’m working with needed a website that was interactive and easy-to-use. We already had the concept and we were looking for a team that would put the platform together to serve as their business’ core.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We explored different ideas of how the website should look and together with Alena Solutions, we came up with the final design. The platform would have a flip chart-like design for different pages. The team designed the frontend of the website and they subcontracted a different group to work on its backend. The project went about on a different path — we did the back end first then the frontend. 

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was their project lead. He relayed the information to their team and came back to us if there were changes or revisions that needed to be made. We only interacted with him but Alena Solutions subcontracted a team to work with them for the design portion of this project. 

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

We met Alena Solutions at a lecture presentation event at USC. We noticed the team during a forum and we had a conversation with them about what we were trying to do. They said that they could help us and we held subsequent meetings from there. 

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost ranged between $15,000–$20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first meeting was in November 2018–August 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were happy with not only the results but the whole process that we went through with Alena Solutions. We were glad about the results and we have a continued relationship with them as we bounce off ideas. 

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We were satisfied with the communication and project management efforts of the team. Alena Solutions always kept us in the loop and we were always in touch during the engagement. They were available whenever we needed to speak with them — they would return our calls and emails quickly. Our team was also very involved in the process and they helped us figure out everything from a customer standpoint.

The team helped us focus on what we wanted to do and we even changed some aspects during the project. We changed design specifications, target audiences, and the approach on how we should the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to deliver us the website on time and on budget. Their communication skills throughout the entire project were impressive. We developed a good rapport with them and we felt comfortable that they could deliver the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Perhaps this is also partly a fault on our side but whenever they were explaining the technical aspects to us, non-technical people, they could spend a little more time helping us understand the terms. This wasn’t a misunderstanding, but an assumption on our part. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to tell them exactly what you want to do and they won’t have any problems delivering what you need. The team will tell you if they can’t deliver what you want and they will also tell you if they can. They got us to open up what we want and they ensured that they delivered what they said in terms of costs and timelines. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own Superchargers Online. We’re a remanufacturer and distributor for the automotive aftermarket and we supply to manufacturers like Toyota.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

The website was around 18 years old and had become antiquated. We needed to step up and build a new site, so we hired Alena Solutions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our new site on WordPress. 

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with three people from their team. 

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

I followed a referral from someone to use them. After our first meeting, we were comfortable with them and took it from there. They made me feel comfortable with the project and what they planned to do. When it comes to anything e-commerce, there are a lot of trust issues around handling proprietary information but they made me feel comfortable. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $28,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2019 – March 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our sales on our website are up 30%, and I can attribute that to their work on the website. 

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job. They were attentive to our needs and requests. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve heard horror stories from other people about working with providers so the level of comfort, trust, and knowledge they brought to the project made them stand out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they couldn’t have done any better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t look elsewhere. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a startup that’s in development. We’re about nine months into it, and we have five members within our organizational structure.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

We needed a tech partner to help us build the prototype app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It will likely with an app with a sister website. The interactive app will help users pursue gig opportunities. There will be elements of education and money transfer. It will also have a section for proposals, offers, and acceptances of gigs.  

What is the team composition?

I believe there are about five members of their team involved in ideation and programming.

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

Last year, I met Asbed (CEO) at a conference in downtown Hollywood. We began earnest conversations shortly after that. About two months later, we met up again.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Alena Solutions in October 2019. The first preliminary project was finished in March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work was outstanding. The clickable prototype is more than satisfactory, and it met our objectives. It was a very collaborative process.

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

It was very efficient. As a client would with any project, we came back to them with questions and changes. Their team was comfortable in handling those changes and upgrades. We added to the scope of the project as we went, and they were great about managing that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Alena Solutions went above and beyond the call of duty. They took ownership of the project, acting more as an owner than a typical vendor.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not that I can see. It was very straightforward. They responded to our requests, and we responded to theirs. We had a good outcome.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your best to come in with a written scope. Make sure that everyone understands what they’re entering.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of DISTINGUÉ LLC, a cosmetics startup that launched a couple of weeks ago.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

Over the last 18 months, I worked with another company, and they messed up big time. They didn’t finish the website or do the work properly. It was terrible. Sometimes the site worked, and sometimes it didn’t. We had so many issues. When we hired another company, we had the same issues.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Alena Solutions provides web development services on our WooCommerce website. They implemented a shopping cart and made it possible for us to make sales on the website. They met with Google staff members to work on installing Google Analytics. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Asbed (CEO, Alena Solutions), Alina (Technical Project Manager, Alena Solutions), and Alex (CTO, Alena Solutions). They all know what they’re doing.

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

One of my best friends introduced me to Asbed. Since then, I know the difference between a good and a bad company.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Alena Solutions is doing a great job; they’re always on top of their work. They spent several hours with Google staff members to ensure the Google Analytics performed in a beneficial way for us, as the last site was garbage. They fixed a bad website, and now it’s working perfectly. It is definitely faster than it was. When I first sent Alena Solutions a message about doing business with them, they wanted to meet. I was surprised that they came in with a lot of reports on our site’s speed and other aspects. If we had a certain number of visitors, our website would crash. They fixed this issue; now, even if we receive thousands of visitors, our site won’t crash. 

I cannot work without Alena Solutions. They’ve become our advisors and consultants. However, they’re not just our business partner; they’re also our friends. As proof of how much I trust them, I’ve given them all of the usernames and passwords for the website and other things. Whatever they need, they have. They’re unique.

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

I trust Alena Solutions because I know nothing about this system. I need someone to guide us and work with us to enhance our website and sales, ultimately making our lives easier. They reply quickly to emails and phone calls. They give good advice because they’re experts. Whenever they see something not working properly or that has to be enhanced to today’s technology, they make it happen. 

They treat you as if you’re part of their organization and as if the website is their website. This is a big relief for me; I don’t have to worry about what to do. I have time to work on sales and other aspects of the business. I don’t think a lot about the website anymore. It’s in their hands, and they know what they’re doing. I’m happy with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re honest, knowledgeable, and on top of their job. They don’t postpone anything, and they deliver ahead of time because they have the vision and the knowledge to do so.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Alena Solutions is doing the best that anybody could ask for. They’re honest and straightforward people. They don’t abuse you or your misunderstanding of things.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend them. All you need to do is give them the authority to do the work, and that’s it. You don’t need to look at what’s similar in the market and how they’re going to charge you. I’m happy working with them. They look for a clean and clear business relationship, and they don’t do anything that will jeopardize the relationship. Whatever they say, I trust it’s for our benefit and good as a company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO at OptoTest. We’re a small company that develops fiber optic test equipment and software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Alena Solutions?

In the past, we’ve written our own software but we realized we didn’t have enough resources for this project and needed support. We needed to create software for fiber optic test equipment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To start the project, Asbed (CEO, Alena Solutions) introduced us to his software team. We went through the requirements gathering phase and they began writing the software. They’re enabling various functions, building the software to communicate information to instrumentation, automate measurements on fiber optic cables for our customers, and produce and store results for later access. They’re working on the project using Visual Studio. 

What is the team composition?

Alex (CTO, Alena Solutions) oversees the process and assigns various tasks to their engineers. Narek (Senior Software Developer Engineer, Alena Solutions) is the main engineer that we work with and Goruen (Software Engineer, Alena Solutions) also supports the software development. 

How did you come to work with Alena Solutions?

Our CEO has a connection with someone who introduced our company to Asbed. Once we got in contact, we had a few interviews, talked about their work, and figured out how to move forward with Alena Solutions. 

How much have you invested with them?

We pay a flat fee of $9,000 per month, so I estimate we’ve spent around $160,000 total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in February 2018 and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The software has been in beta testing, but we’re getting ready to launch which is great. Internally, we use the software and are pleased with it. It’s reliable, fast, and responsive. We find it to be easy to grasp, so there won’t be much of a learning curve for users. 

How did Alena Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re pretty good at managing the project. We share the project management responsibilities. Our team develops the requirements and they set forth the actual programming work. Our team lets them know about any bugs or changes, and they work to implement those. 

We use Jira for this, but we also communicate through email for more time-sensitive issues. For large requirements or documentation, we’ll also send through email but also use our weekly Skype meetings to share screens. Even though we’re in different time zones, they still work during our hours and stay late to accommodate us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their dedication to understanding our software and business stands out—they’re willing to teach themselves. There’s quite a bit of background needed to understand our software, and they’ve built a foundation of knowledge even though it wasn’t necessary for their job. They’re able to communicate with us and make our lives easier. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, our teams lose track of the timeline but my team should push more to help that. It’d be helpful if we had a more concrete pipeline about what needs to be implemented when, rather than being slightly reactionary with our scheduling. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a really easy team to work with. Expect them to work around your schedule even though they’re in Armenia. They’re accommodating and solid.