Algoworks

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

VP of mid-size telecom company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Algoworks?

cybersecurity

SOLUTION

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

through past experience working with them

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

provided 1 sr resource to manage multiple cybersecurity and data compliance projects

Describe the recruitment process in detail.

evaluated multiple profiles from the market for the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

on time deliverables with excellent reporting through out the project

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our workflow was excellent.

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

very transparent

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

need to improve by adding more technical persons

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a social media platform. We’re building it to be accessible to everyone, including people who might not know how to download apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?

We hired Algoworks to do custom software development tasks for us. Specifically, they did tasks for our web app. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Algoworks worked on some features for our web app. They also helped us with using the AWS cloud. We used React.js and Node.js for the development of the app. Its frontend was 90% done. Meanwhile, one of the previous developers that I was working with put half of the backend AWS code into an account that only he had access to — so Algoworks had to search for it. 

They didn’t find it, so the team had to create the code from scratch. They also gave me a report of the things that needed to be corrected. From there, they implemented new features that we needed. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with a React developer and a Node.js developer. I also had a project manager and an AWS cloud engineer. They switched around their tasks depending on what we were working on; sometimes, we had more work for the frontend developers than the backend ones and vice versa. 

How did you come to work with Algoworks?

I found Algoworks on Clutch. I tried searching for vendors on Google, but most of them were focused on doing WordPress websites instead of customized ones. That was when I found Clutch, where I was able to search highly specific categories. I wrote down a bunch of people and companies that had similar services with Algoworks. I met with those people, and none of them shined like Algoworks. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $9,200 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement was from March–July 2023. We’ve put things on hold because I’m ironing out some major things, but I’ll come back to them for the product’s launch after a couple of months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

On the frontend, we’d been able to get the features necessary to launch the product. On the backend, we’d been able to get the backbone of the website. We wouldn’t be able to get these things set up if it wasn’t for Algoworks. 

I could pull up my AWS dashboard and see all the services they’d set up. Before our engagement started, there was nothing there — it was basically stolen by the previous developer. After our engagement with Algoworks, I could see all the services they’d set up. On top of that, our web app worked smoothly and looked better. 

Overall, the quality of Algoworks’ services was excellent. I vetted six other companies and looked at their previous works — they didn’t look good at all. Algoworks projects looked good on the outside, and when they showed me what they could do, I realized that the quality was truly there. 

How did Algoworks perform from a project management standpoint?

They made sure that I was comfortable throughout the process. There was no pressure during the engagement, and Arnav (Assistant Sales VP) ensured that all my questions were answered whenever I needed them to iron out something. He truly went above and beyond. I’d be using Algoworks again just because of the services he provided.

Ramneet (Project Manager) was amazing. She made sure that I was heard and that everything was done on time. She asked me how I wanted to set up things and if I wanted to meet weekly or biweekly. I was apprehensive about the work at first, but she worked with my work style. I wanted to know every detail of the project, and she wrote everything down and explained things to me. She didn’t have to do that, but she wanted to make sure I was comfortable. 

When I had questions, she’d tell me the reasoning behind the answers. She ensured I understood everything as someone who was non-technical. Overall, she was on top of everything, so our project moved forward and progressed quite quickly. 

To communicate, we used Zoom and email. We used emails for sending approvals and Zoom for our regular meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ramneet and Arnav were rockstars. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. I couldn’t have picked anyone better. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate with Algoworks and ensure you’re clear about what you can and can’t do, especially if you have limited time and budget. Be realistic about your expectations, and let the team know ahead of time.

In my engagement with them, I was clear on what I needed and what I expected. We had a good partnership because we communicated early on, and I was transparent about my expectations. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the Founder and CEO of a customer experience company focusing on a frictionless customer experience. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?

We had plans to develop an application and sought the assistance of Algoworks.

We aim to eliminate the hassle of waiting in line to purchase controlled items at sports events, hotels, and other locations. We're currently involved in the sale of alcohol within the United States. In due course, we plan to expand our operations to include other regions and markets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We started the project by creating specifications and clarifying the requirements for developing a new app. Next, we collaborated with Algoworks on the official project plan and designed the architecture for both iOS and Android. After that, we built the app to perform the necessary functions. Additionally, we created a web-based back office to manage the app's service. Algoworks is currently assisting us with submitting the app to the App Store.

Our app sets itself apart from others by providing retailers with the necessary technology to sell directly on our platform. It works seamlessly with any vending machine and has a custom control box. Customers are presented with a menu of options when they scan the box. From there, they can easily make a selection, complete payment, authenticate their purchase, and check out, all in under 30 seconds.

Our platform offers native mobile apps for both iOS and Android. In addition, we utilize third-party technology through SDKs and APIs to enhance certain aspects of the app, such as authentication and validation of individuals. We've partnered with trusted third-party vendors for these services.

What is the team composition?

The team we work with has undergone some changes, although some members remain the same. We have an Android developer, an iOS developer, a QA specialist, a UX/UI expert, and two individuals responsible for back-end operations and architecture. We also collaborate with a project manager and a senior project lead. Depending on the current release, we may work with 1-2 members from the DevOps team.

How did you come to work with Algoworks?

I received a list of names from HubSpot, including Algoworks. Upon evaluating several developers, we ultimately selected Algoworks due to their impressive approach.

How much have you invested in them?

We've invested $325,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement began in September 2021, and it's ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measure the project's success by how consistently we reach our targets in terms of sprint priorities and the app's uptime.

How did Algoworks perform from a project management standpoint?

Our team holds two weekly meetings to discuss and manage any new needs using Asana. During these meetings, we track our progress and make sure everything is on track.

Overall, the Algoworks team has managed to meet the deadlines. Nevertheless, there have been a few cases where some tasks took more time than anticipated. However, it's worth noting that these delays are typically due to factors beyond our control involving third parties that we collaborate with. We initially used Zoom for meetings but then transitioned over to Microsoft Teams. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Algoworks team is incredibly hardworking and always willing to go above and beyond. They're excellent with follow-up, and overall, they're a pleasant team to work alongside.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wouldn't pin this on Algoworks, but we would benefit from having someone more buttoned up on our side of things. Having that person in place would ensure that Algoworks has everything they need at the right time in their time zone. While Algoworks is very accommodating with early morning and late evening meetings, sometimes time zone differences can cause delays.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As newcomers to the world of apps, having someone with a business mindset join the team would be beneficial. This person could focus on the end customer's experience and would be dedicated to promptly resolving any issues, whether on our side or theirs. There can be delays if we encounter a problem that requires attention from a customer experience standpoint. While this is not the fault of anyone in particular, having a dedicated team member for this task would help increase efficiency. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the co-founder and CEO of a mobile computing software products company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?
We needed their development expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 
Algoworks has developed our mobile application on the iOS and Android platforms. Initially, I provided Algoworks with the user persona information I had put together; they came up with 6–7 design styles based on the user profiles and demographics I gave them. Algoworks iterated on a few of those until we picked one. Then, they used Figma to come up with various examples of what the app would look like.
I’ve relied on them to get us from the design phase through to getting it onto the App Store and Google Play Store, which has been the first phase. We’ve just kicked off phase two, which is to refine and make some edits to the application. They’ve helped develop the logo, some of the colors, as well as the design language that we use.
The app has quite a few features. The first core functionality of the app is a location-based system that enables users of the app to appear in real-time on a map. There’s also a chat function and voice and video capabilities within the app where users can connect and chat with each other using voice and/or video. The third core functionality of the app is the ability to create groups of users. The groups can either be private so other people can’t join the group unless they’re invited, or the group can be public, enabling any users to join. Within a group, users can create events, post pictures or comments, and like other pictures or comments that other users in the group have posted.

What is the team composition?
I’ve worked with Isha (Project Manager). On the technical side, there were a couple of teammates, including Pankaj (Senior Software Engineer & React Native Developer).
Unfortunately, the lead designer I was working with left Algoworks not long after we started working on the app’s design; however, Algoworks has found other resources to finish the project.

How did you come to work with Algoworks?
I was looking for a software development team to help me design and build the app. I have a colleague who runs a similar company to mine who was familiar with Algoworks and had good things to say about them. 
I did some research to better understand their capabilities and any similar projects they’d worked on in the past. I looked at case studies on Algoworks’ website and spoke to one of their business development teammates, which made me comfortable that they’d be a great partner to work with on this project.

How much have you invested in them?
We’ve spent between $120,000–$130,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?
The engagement began in March 2022, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve definitely seen an increase in traffic since launching the application. Algoworks’ design and UI/UX work has been very good. I’m not a software engineer, so I can’t judge the quality of the code they’ve written, but the app functions quite well from a user perspective.
I like the fact that Algoworks has a design team that’s nicely integrated with their software development team. That was one of the factors that I took into account when hiring Algoworks. Isha’s been absolutely fantastic, and the technical team’s been very good as well.

How did Algoworks perform from a project management standpoint?
They’re very good at project management. We use Basecamp for communication, and we constantly go back and forth discussing progress and milestones. We have a weekly call through Microsoft Teams, during which Algoworks updates me on what they’ve done over the past week and what they’ll be working on next week so that we can make sure the project is staying on time and on budget. We occasionally use email, and I keep in touch with Isha through WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?
The value for money and ability to get a high-quality development and UI/UX team at a reasonable price is impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?
It’d be nice to get the work done more quickly in some cases. I’ve asked if we could accelerate the timeline if we put more teammates on the project; Algoworks’ response has been no, but I wonder if that’s really the case.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s really important to make sure that you have regular and ongoing communication with Algoworks. I’m based in San Francisco, and they’re based in Delhi, India, so there is a 12–13-hour time difference. If you don’t have good communication, then the project isn’t going to work. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of ComfortZones Digital

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Skills and Data Platform to Overcome Obstacles to Healthy and Productive Work

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Build a highly differentiated and stunning mobile app for workers
• Build the admin panel to support audio content in a unique hierarchy of root causes
• Develop a data dashboard to track top root causes and leading indicators of improvement activity

SOLUTION

How did you find Algoworks?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Algoworks over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

What was the size of Algoworks’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Algoworks did a great job supporting mock-ups through delivery in the public App Store and data analytics we can share with customers. This includes mock-up, design, prototype, development, testing, setting up a secure production environment on AWS, and making the app available on IOS and Android.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Stunning and differentiated app delivered in the app store
• Usability and interactivity getting fantastic responses from our customers
• Secure production environment for corporate customers
• Data dashboard and export function for reports
• Highly extensible and scalable for new content and millions of users

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

We used a combination of Basecamp, Jira, emails, and weekly meetings with leads and key engineers as appropriate. We always summarized needs and issues, and Algoworks responded. They deeply cared about the success of our program. We started out with fixed specs and then went to more flexible, customer-responsive requirements that they supported as a true team member.

What was your primary form of communication with Algoworks?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

They have both deep expertise in all key areas (from app design to development to back end security and data analytics), and the true caring and passion for our project. Their members are truly great human beings who care. When there were issues, they listened and always worked hard to fix them as soon as possible. They also wanted to make the product great, and added unique ideas we wouldn’t have thought of.

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

There were a few times where we lost a week and didn’t know why, but they quickly communicated this with us and kept the program moving forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and director of ANDD TECHSERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED, an IT services and consulting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?

We hired them to provide consulting services and talent as subcontractors. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Algoworks provides us with a mix of consulting services for project assignments and staff augmentation. Initially, we interviewed their candidates thoroughly. As our engagement progressed, we stopped interviewing them before bringing them on board. Since Algoworks’ resources are pre-trained, and we shortlist them ourselves, they don’t require any training.

Our collaboration has occurred over multiple years and projects. When we have a Salesforce project, we hire specialists from Algoworks’ team to help us. On one occasion, we hired them to help us with a project related to IBM Transformation Extender products. Algoworks has also helped us with a project involving React. 

Currently, if we have a project, we give it to Algoworks.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 8–9 teammates from Algoworks.

How did you come to work with Algoworks?

We found them through a reference.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $400,000–$500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2014. Although we haven’t done any business with Algoworks in the last couple of years, our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Every project we’ve done with Algoworks has been successful — their success rate is 100%. Moreover, the quality of their resources is extremely good. I would give our relationship the highest rating. 

How did Algoworks perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is all Microsoft-based. We used Skype and Microsoft Teams to communicate, and they have good communication in terms of the project status reports. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Algoworks stands out for their feedback. Moreover, their resources have top-notch communication skills; they’re always on top of their game. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Resource availability is sometimes a challenge because Algoworks is always in high demand. Their teammates are so good that they’re generally busy.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of GunKeepr LLC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?

I needed help with code development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I hired Algoworks to build a mobile and web application using very specific languages: React.js and Node.js. First, we had a discovery phase, during which we had 30–60-minute calls every morning for a month and a half to define and develop the product’s wireframe. From there, they were responsible for developing the app.

One of the main functions and features that we required for our app was a secured database of firearm owners. Algoworks was tasked to build this feature with blockchain technology to protect the data. Another feature that we requested was a theft deterrent/theft recovery process. Moreover, it was supposed to have an API integration with SendGrid for emails and text messages.

What is the team composition?

I worked with five people from Algoworks, including Pratyush (President & Co-Founder) and Manjul (Former Technical Team Lead).

How did you come to work with Algoworks?

I Googled top-rated code development firms, and Algoworks showed up on the first page of search results. Then, I read their reviews, which looked good. Their past clients included Fortune 500 companies, which gave me a sense of trust in them. However, I never verified the authenticity of those reviews and references.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $61,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2019–August 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?

The wireframe that Algoworks developed after the discovery phase was fine; the issues arose when they started writing the code. Their task was to develop the app using the requested technologies — Node.js and React.js. However, a third-party developer reviewed their code and created a report on what he found. Turns out that Algoworks had developed the app using C#, which wasn’t good for the backend we needed.

On top of that, Algoworks didn’t build the database using blockchain technology; they lied about that part. Apparently, they fraudulently cut and pasted a piece of code that looks like it’s blockchain but isn’t. This situation put my customers at risk because their data wasn’t encrypted as it was supposed to be. For that piece of code only, they charged me around $15,000.

Most of the problems that we encountered with the app were caused by how Algoworks designed the architecture, built the databases, and put everything together. For example, the theft deterrent/theft recovery process that Algoworks developed within the app was broken; it never worked from day one. Additionally, they uploaded the whole app to my server as a singular EC2 instance, which is a very bad code practice that usually creates a lot of problems with applications.

When they delivered the app, it was somewhat useable for 2–3 months, and then it completely collapsed and broke. The app has been unusable for a year and a half. Now, I’m in the process of rewriting the whole platform with someone else’s help.

How did Algoworks address the challenges that arose?

Algoworks was supposed to custom-code my app. Instead, they went online, copied code from random websites, and pasted it all together to try to create the app for me. Ultimately, the code they delivered was poorly written and terrible overall.

Once we launched the app and found more issues, I told Algoworks about them. However, they ignored me for months and refused to make changes, telling me that it was the best way to do it. Given that they were the expert, I trusted them, only to find out later on that they were taking every opportunity they got to do half the work and charge full price.

By the time I was experiencing a lot of trouble with the app, I had already paid them almost $60,000, and I wasn’t willing to pay more money. However, they told me that I owed them another $15,000. Ultimately, they charged me an additional $2,000 just to give me access to the code so that a third-party developer could review it.

Once I had the report from the third-party developer, I contacted Algoworks, told them that the app they had built didn’t work due to the bad job they did, and asked for my money back. They basically answered that they would never give me my money back and that they would sue me if I tried to use the app without their permission because they owned it. However, the contract literally states that I own the app.

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

It took Algoworks almost a year of development work to complete the app. When we launched it, it worked well for some time. However, it performed extremely poorly, and the sign-up process was very strange and convoluted. This issue made the app very difficult for people to sign up for, and it didn’t work as expected, so clients started blaming SendGrid and me.

Ultimately, this project destroyed my business. I haven’t been able to make a single penny from this business in three years because I invested a massive amount of money in this project only to get an unusable app.

Before launching the app, I had almost 2,000 people ready to sign up for my app. Once I launched it, only 60 people signed up because everyone else looked at it and realized it was faulty. Out of those 60 people, just about 10 people have stayed long-term, but I don’t even charge them anymore.

Since then, I’ve been saving more money to invest in this project again. Now, I’m very likely to file a lawsuit against them to get my money back.

How was project management handled?

I was the project manager on my end because I didn’t have the extra fund to hire anyone else to manage the project. However, I don’t have development knowledge, so I didn’t realize I was being lied to until I hired someone else to review Algoworks’ code and verify the quality.

Throughout the project, Algoworks communicated with me directly via Skype. Their team never delivered on time, and they kept pushing off the project. Sometimes, those delays were caused because I didn’t have enough money to continue, but I would eventually continue working on the project.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

Not really. Although I initially believed that Algoworks’ discovery process and project management were good, I’ve come to realize that they did the bare minimum. Now, I’ve experienced what solid scope development and wireframing look like, so I know what goes into those areas.

Manjul was very new to project management, and he didn’t do things as well as they could have been done. However, we were able to work through things, and he was good at communicating.

Given my experience with other development firms, I also believe that Algoworks’ developers were proficient code writers. However, I feel that the company was dictating to them how to write the code rather than letting them write it correctly.

In what specific areas can they improve?

It would be great if Algoworks had been honest and done what they promised. Their team isn’t following standardized code development practices. Instead, they’re cutting corners and smashing different code pieces together, resulting in problematic products.

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

Go somewhere else and stay away from Algoworks. If you work with them, they’ll find a way to cut a corner and damage your product and company in the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business manager at StarAgile, a training and consulting company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?

In the initial stages, we had a developer in-house who wasn’t that great. We needed a group of experienced developers to help us with web application development and DevOps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Algoworks has developed our WordPress website. Although they didn’t build it from scratch, they’ve built the backend and implemented many functionalities. They’ve also handled the content we wanted to change and helped with all our AWS accounts and email marketing.

We have a course page, which is in 100 countries. In the backend, we can make edits to one page and copy them for the remaining 100 pages. Additionally, there’s a performance functionality that helps us see our servers' response time.

The team uses AWS for the cloud and Laravel and JavaScript for the website. Currently, Algoworks is working on server response time and integrating a payment gateway.

What is the team composition?

We work with the senior delivery manager, the team lead, our main developer, and another developer.

How did you come to work with Algoworks?

They were a referral. We initially gave them some tasks, and they performed really well.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2020, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website has improved by 60%–70%. We previously had 300 pages on our site, and they cut it down to 260.

How did Algoworks perform from a project management standpoint?

They always deliver on time and give proper estimates on timelines. We have a daily scrum call and mainly communicate through Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have experienced people. If an issue comes up, they know how to handle the pressure and fix it on time. They also come up with 2–3 options if we want to create a page. Overall, Algoworks has learned about many technologies, which helps them try different frameworks.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re happy with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want to learn many kinds of frameworks, you should go with Algoworks.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creator of Moonchild, a lunar fertility mobile app. We have a moon and menstrual cycle tracking application where women can log their menstrual cycle data and receive personalized fertility predictions based on their lunar phases. The moon reflects women’s menstrual cycle, and hormones wax and wane like the moon. There’s a lot of ancient wisdom in using a lunar calendar, and it’s an innovative way to track the menstrual cycle based on that wisdom.  

The fertility predictions are based on peer-reviewed research. While other apps calculate the fertile window by adding 14 days to the period start date, mine makes predictions taken from peer-reviewed research depending on how long a woman’s cycle is. The app is a resource for women to connect to nature and themselves and can also be a fun tracking tool for people who aren’t trying to conceive.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?

We hired them to create our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Algoworks developed my mobile app for iOS and Android. First, we put together a list of features; I told them what I wanted over the phone, and they organized my ideas in an Excel spreadsheet and turned them into features. They provided the phases in which they would develop the product by timeline, cost, and hour. From there, we went into the discovery and design phases, and Algoworks created wireframes. Then, the team went into production. 

The app has a calendar with the moon phase. Another feature is a moon mandala, a visual representation of the phases in a circle. Users see how they align with the lunar cycle and what that may mean for them over time. Therefore, if a user starts their cycle in a particular moon phase, the app tells them what the phase represents depending on the energy of that moon phase. 

According to my research, the moon phase a woman was born with determines their internal clock, which plays a role in fertility — this is their natal moon. The app also has features that consider the user’s natal moon. Overall, the app helps women conceive naturally based on where their natal moon is in their cycle. The app doesn’t have ads, and it protects users’ information.

Additionally, Algoworks redid my website from scratch. I had a different domain and wanted to switch over, and they designed and developed a landing page with information about the app, a privacy policy, and terms and conditions. Users can enter their phone number, and the site automatically texts them the link to the App Store or Google Play Store. The page also has a mailing list connected to it. 

How did you come to work with Algoworks?

I reached out to a handful of companies I found on Google to determine how to make my idea into a mobile app. When I reached out to the options, I didn’t give much detail about the project because I wanted NDAs completed first. Algoworks immediately agreed to sign our NDA. 

From our first call, I knew they were the company I wanted to go with. Although I still got quotes from other options, Algoworks was the most responsive and professional, and the team was enthusiastic about the project. I could tell they had their stats and policies in place. Moreover, they weren’t just focused on posing a deal and the price tag; they wanted to help me achieve my dream. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $52,000–$62,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from April 2021–November 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was a big undertaking, and Algoworks excelled. The app has a free subscription for tracking and a paid ready-to-conceive plan, and I’ve had several free subscribers convert to paid subscribers. These results show that people are using the app and want more of its features; seeing that people are interested in the paid features is exciting. 

I’ve had a handful of positive reviews, including glowing reviews through Instagram. Although we only have four ratings, the app has five stars on the App Store. I’ve also been getting more traffic than ever on the website. I launched the app a month ago and still need to get marketing going. However, I’m confident it’ll go well. 

As for Algoworks’ team, we had a wonderful partnership, and I look forward to working with them continuously. Since it’s a complex and innovative app, we faced some challenges, and they were amazing every step of the way. They found solutions when there was a challenge while being calm about everything. Overall, they were outstanding, and I can’t thank them enough — I’m happy I found them. 

How did Algoworks perform from a project management standpoint?

They stayed on budget and went above and beyond with project management. The team was amazing in documenting everything upfront so that we didn’t have many change requests at the end, and if there were, we worked through them. They tracked every step of the project and never dropped the ball. 

Their communication skills were also amazing; even though they were in a different country, I never felt they were far away. They were extremely responsive and stayed on task. We used Basecamp for project management, which was extremely helpful. Microsoft Teams was our main communication tool. Overall, I can’t praise their project management skills enough. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Algoworks' honesty stood out. They advised me on which solutions were in my best interest and why. We had a true partnership, and I respected their opinions — I couldn’t have done this project without them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have expanded the beta tester pool. We had a handful of testers, including myself, but if they had built up beta testing internally, we could have caught more things and reduced the time for revisions. Although I was detailed and knew the ins and outs of the project, it was still a very complex product. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I wouldn’t hesitate to go with Algoworks. If you’re US-based and are concerned because 90% of their team is offshore, don’t let that stop you. For me, this approach was beneficial because they worked while I was sleeping, so the project never stopped; someone was always working on it. 

Invest in yourself and your company by working with Algoworks. No matter what, they’ll provide a solution and be honest; they won’t tell you they can do something if they can’t.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director for the Alexander Group, Inc. We’re a management consulting firm specializing in sales effectiveness consulting. We work on projects that range all over the sales operation spectrum and include helping sales organizations plan for the future, helping them design compensation for the sales organization, territory redesign, and go-to-market strategy. We assist with everything related to the sales organization and its salespeople.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Algoworks?

We wanted to create a mobile app that would provide content to users, and use that to engage further with our clients and prospects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided Algoworks with a list of high-level requirements and engaged with their business analysts and designers to create a mock-up of the app. Our development stack included React Native on the frontend, C# and Web API for the middle tier, and Microsoft SQL Server on the backend. Everything runs on the Microsoft Azure platform, and we used GitHub as a code repository. The mobile app was built for iOS and Android. 

The application itself synthesizes a number of different types of content we produce. A user can open the application and read articles, listen to our podcast, view videos, read our white papers, and view other content we regularly publish.  We also worked with a team to set up our App Store services. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, a business analyst, designers, and a development team. The development team included DevOps people who understood Microsoft Azure, React Native developers, C# developers, developers working on the middle tier, and other developers who created the database and stored products. There was also a QA team. 

How did you come to work with Algoworks?

We were looking for vendors to help us build our mobile app, and we interviewed around six companies. When we interviewed Algoworks, we felt like they really knew what they were doing and they had a lot of experience. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $125,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between September 2021–September 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They provided us with high-quality work. Algoworks was able to understand what we needed and turn that into features within the product to make it exactly what people would expect from a company like ours. 

How did Algoworks perform from a project management standpoint?

The project took longer than expected; we were initially told it would be around six months, but it took about a year. We recognize that some of that was due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that we had to work remotely. We also added a few features after we technically finished the first version of the app, so it required us to go back to development. 

Algoworks had good communication skills; we used Basecamp for project management and Microsoft Teams for communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Algoworks had excellent business analysts and designers, which helped us produce the content we were looking for. They also had a great development team that was very transparent with us. When they weren’t sure how to do something, they were upfront about it, and never claimed to be able to do anything they couldn’t, which we found refreshing. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the middle of the project, we felt like some focus was lost; we don’t think it’s particularly their fault because it's just what happens during a long project. We probably should have considered their original estimates more of a ballpark estimate than a deadline. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you set milestones for them to hit so they can stay on track.