Amalgama

Please describe your company and your position there.

Swish365 is a state of the art franchise of basketball training facilities that help kids and adults progress their basketball careers.

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

We hired Amalgama to design and create a mobile application for our users as well as the ability to manage franchises through an admin interface. Our goal was to bring a easy user experience for our customers to schedule themselves or children at our facilities in an easy process.

How did you select Amalgama and what were the deciding factors?

We went through a variety of different vendors, the overall process of Amalgama was second to none. The initial phase of understanding exactly what we wanted in order to storyboard what the final product would be was highly valuable and the entire development process is what sold us on going with them.

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

We had a series of discovery and lessons learned meetings where they would walk us through how the app would look, what our expectations were, what we needed, and ultimately what the finished product would look like. Through the process, we met on a regular basis to show the features, to confirm, them and to focus on the rest of the product.

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

We have worked with a number of team members from Amalgama including developers, scrum masters, product managers, UI and design and much more.

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

We are extremely happy with the outcome of the project and are in the process of rolling out the application to our customers.

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

This is one of the best organizations I've worked with on the development side of the house and how they communicate, manage the project, and keep us up to date on progress.

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

The workflow and having everyone needed on the call to get things done. Each week we would see the progress of the application, it's design, and confirm it was what we were looking for. They are fantastic to work with, and the quality work is impressive.

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

I personally have zero complaints or areas that they could improve on,.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing member of a software development company, and we created a professional networking app.

What challenge were you trying to address with Amalgama?

We engaged Amalgama to create our app from scratch.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided them with a basic overview of what we were looking to accomplish, and they worked with us to develop the concepts for our iOS and Android app. After that, we were able to really flesh out our ideas and refine what we were going to build. 

During that time, they also gave feedback on both the app’s development, design, and technical implementation. For the design elements, they assisted in choosing the color scheme, fonts, shapes, and other elements. So far, we’ve done a very small beta test with less than 50 users. The Amalgama team continues to work on our app and since it’s still in development, it’s quite difficult to define the features we’re going to have.

What is the team composition?

We’ve interacted with a number of folks, including their product owner, designer, frontend developer, and backend developer. On a regular basis, we’re working with 6–7 people from Amalgama.

How did you come to work with Amalgama?

We were looking for a company that had strong technical experience and could offer us cost-effective services. The Amalgama team was then recommended by someone in the technology industry, and they told us that Amalgama was very good.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2021, and we continue to collaborate.

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

They’ve done an exceptional job. In fact, they’re very good at executing our deliverables. We’re very pleased with their work and that’s demonstrated by the fact that we’re still working with them. Overall, they’ve managed expectations very well, allowing us to know exactly what we’re going to get at any given point in time.

How did Amalgama perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been performing very well from a project management standpoint; they’re very professional and organized. We have meetings every week where they go through the backlog and plan in advance.

They also do a good job of estimating how each sprint will take and what will be accomplished in each of them. We’re also impressed that they have very detailed logs of tasks we’ve completed. Overall, they have a high degree of accountability and transparency so we’ve been very pleased with their process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

To be fair, we haven’t worked with another provider so our context is quite limited. Despite that, we like that Amalgama is able to do everything. They’ve held our hand from the very beginning, and they’ve been involved with every aspect of our project. We also appreciate that they offer cost-effective solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind on areas they could improve.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a specialist in the Systems and Technology Management of a Bank in Argentina.

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

Amalgama was hired to reengineer the collateral origination systems with a focus on UX / UI.

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

Through a reference in the Bank we got to contact Amalgama. They were selected from among three suppliers as dictated by the entity's hiring policy. The factors that led to the hiring of Amalgama were: Economic proposal, focus on UX / UI, technology used for the development of the solution.

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

They designed and developed a comprehensive solution for direct garment origination based on a fronend in React.js.

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

El equipo estaba conformado por: Proyect Owner (part time) Scrum Master (part time) UX/UI Designer (part time) QA Analyst (part time) Front End Developer (full time) Tech Lead (part time)

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

We still do not have the measurement since it is the first month that the solution is productive.

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

The management of the project was very good. In the beginning we had some ideas and ideas about the scope of the project, but in itself it was an excellent workgroup compared to other providers. We communicate through Mattermost, GitHub, Google Meet, and email.

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

The approach based on Desing Thinking, the pro-activity of the work group and the human warmth in dealing daily.

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

Although the quality of the work was excellent, it is clear that we understood each other at first. After that understanding the work flow was extraordinary.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Get Help Now. Our company has a tool and system that helps with human resiliency, readiness, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide prevention, and more. We help acting duty military veterans, first responders, and students.

What challenge were you trying to address with  Amalgama?

We were dealing with complex issues and no one really came up with anything that was wildly successful or effective. The issues were still accelerating, so we needed a team who could give us technical support.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Amalgama is developing an iOS and Android app. We now have a functioning prototype, and Amalgama is compiling and analyzing our research related to that. Their main goal is to implement a research-based functional product that we can present to our target market.

What is the team composition?

We collaborate with 7–8 people from Amalgama.

How did you come to work with Amalgama?

We interviewed several companies. We were trying to save people’s lives so we needed to partner with a provider who was compassionate and had a philanthropic heart. The firm that we worked with in New York thought Amalgama would be a good fit for our project.

In the end, Amalgama seemed to be the company that understood us the most. We were like-minded people and they had the technical capabilities we were looking for.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent under $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2020, and we continue to collaborate.

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

In order for the government or the military to accept our product, there has to be proven data that we can present to them. In relation to that, the data that we’ve collected with Amalgama’s help has been critical in helping us secure potentially many contracts. I’m an expert in this field and everyone working around this project is the best in the world at what they do. As such, our chances of saving many more lives are high.

I’ve worked with the best firms out of Silicon Valley, New York, and more — I’d say that Amalgama is at par with them, if not better. In terms of cost, we’ve received more than we’d get spending $200,000 with a US firm. More importantly, they’ve ensured that our product is commercially viable. That has been tough because we’re doing something for a noble cause yet it’s also for business.

How did Amalgama perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a great communication and organization system.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their intuition skills and innovative approach are their biggest strengths. They take all the information we give them, and they find ways on how to bring more value to us. Moreover, they really listen, and they make things a little better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing that they can improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

For anybody who’s looking to create a mobile app, Amalgama will find the most effective way to promote your business or meet your goals. The team will start from the beginning, and they’ll go through a very thorough process figuring out exactly what to do best.

On top of that, they have a great system, and they’re responsive. Above all, they have integrity so they treat all their projects like their own. As a result, I’d recommend them to anybody who’s planning to develop their mobile app.

Please describe your company and your position there.

The company sells tickets to live events at a great price. We work with affiliate partners that have targeted audiences that are interested in purchasing event tickets. I am a Product Manager that focuses on providing solutions for these partners to sell even more tickets.

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

A complete agile team with frontend and backend developers to update a decades old partner program.

How did you select Amalgama and what were the deciding factors?

Consulting with a few partners in the local area, we were introduced to the Amalgama team.

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

Updating the entire affiliate partner experience with specific work such as: updated landing pages, onboarding, and new interactive tools.

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

3-4 members: Product Owners, Frontend and Backend developers.

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

Increased partner signups and adoption of new tools that were developed by the Amalgama team.

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

Agile with daily standup, weekly reviews, and retrospectives.

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

Most impressive was their desire, energy, and dedication to the work. Often projects may not be exciting but the team certainly were engaged.

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

Due to distance of the remote team, there was a bit of a struggle with time but we certainly as a team were able to overcome that hassle.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a strategic consultant at Mundo Dexia. We’re a startup that has an app for early language stimulation e-learning.

What challenge were you trying to address with Amalgama?

The team at Amalgama was hired to develop our mobile app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Amalgama developed our app for Android and iOS.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around four people.

How did you come to work with Amalgama?

When we first started, we asked around for different developers and firms. We received various proposals and references. Amalgama seemed like they could add the most to the project. We wanted not just to develop the app, but to bring all of our project’s visions to it. Amalgama offered that to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement started at the end of 2018.

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

Their work was excellent. We wanted a tool that we could test within the market, and we met that goal. We got the right amount of feedback and insight to adjust the app to fit the needs of our users. We’re now working with them in follow-up projects.

How did Amalgama perform from a project management standpoint?

Amalgama had their own project management tool, which they used to provide us with reports. Throughout the project, their managers were always involved and present. They provided us with a sense of security and a feeling of commitment.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their involvement and commitment.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were a new company. In gathering client feedback, we did get it all, but the process could’ve been more precise and specific. How that was communicated could’ve been improved.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a product strategist for a product development agency. We build design, build, and implement custom digital products and software.

For what projects/services did your company hire Amalgama?

They were the full stack development partner for this project.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to design, develop, and implement a custom ERP solution for a CPG manufacturing company.

How did you select this vendor?

We have worked with them on other projects in the past. We selected them because we truly enjoy working with their team and they have a flexible and team oriented approach.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The team built a complete ERP with a companion mobile app for barcode scanning. This included ordering systems, inventory controls, manufacturing management, and barcode management. The handled the development and assisted in strategy, design, and roll out as well.

What was the team composition?

The team included front end and back end engineering, mobile development, and project management / strategy.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

This was one of the largest projects we have tackled in terms of build and complexity. While it was by no means easy we have clearly expanded our footprint and created a fundamentally new type of manufacturing software.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We cycled through a few PM tools throughout the project but landed on Asana for task tracking and Google Hangouts for remote communication. It took some work to get the system down between our teams but ultimately we created a great workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were truly dedicated to the project. There were numerous challenges both from the client, the environment, and in the complexity of the product itself, but regardless they persevered and put in the work to get it done.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think all teams can improve on their communication and organization. I don't think those areas were an issue on this project but it's always a good goal to evolve those two skills.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Mined.

What challenge were you trying to address with Amalgama?

We hired them to create a mobile app for us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a mobile app for our emotional health streaming platform, which is our core service. The app was built for both iOS and Android. 

What is the team composition?

Around 20 people have worked with us. 

How did you come to work with Amalgama?

I believe I found them through a different company that wasn’t the right fit for us since we were in such an early stage. They recommended Amalgama because they like working with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $70,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2019 and our engagement is ongoing.

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

Their work has been great. We haven’t launched yet, but we’re very happy with them as our provider. 

How did Amalgama perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m pleased with their communication and project management styles. They’ve been comfortable using the tools we use and they’ve been really adaptable, working like an in-house tech team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re an amazing team that works really hard. Their team is really collaborative. It’s not like we just give them a roadmap and they build it—they ask questions and are involved in understanding our business. They know exactly why they’re building the platform. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

From my end, there’s nothing they could improve. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of an education services company, providing services through technical tools. Our main product is a tutoring platform.

What challenge were you trying to address with Amalgama?

We needed to develop a platform. We disposed of all what had been done by the previous company and started with Amalgama from zero, but using software they were not familiar with as the foundation. The team was required to study it to be able to build all we needed from that ground up.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Amalgama is currently building our tutoring platform.

What is the team composition?

We work with a part-time account manager, two designers, and two full-time dev resources. At the moment, we’re looking into getting an additional frontend developer.

How did you come to work with Amalgama? 

A personal colleague referred me to Amalgama along with a couple of other companies. When we presented our project to them, they understood the task clearly even though they didn’t have a background in education. I also found their price quote and CTO’s workflow to be very good.

How much have you invested in them?

We spend about $8,000 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since mid-January 2019, and the project should be finished this month in August.

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

I’m happy with their team. Everyone is always available, and the communication is great. The technical elements are strong, as well.

How did Amalgama perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Jira to coordinate, but I know they have their own management tool. As I’ve said, communication with their project manager has been great, so I have no complaints there.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really like their founders’ attitude. They understand our business goals and have even found providers and contacts for us when something is out of their field. I appreciate that they’ve gone above and beyond for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve recently faced a short delay because one of their resources left the company. Onboarding the new team member has taken some time, but I understand that it’s just a part of the process. Overall, there’s nothing major to improve, and they’ve optimized their resources.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a principal at an image retouching firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Amalgama?

We needed a dev firm to create a tool for our retouching business that allows multiple freelancers to work together on different projects for big stakeholders.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The platform is in its first beta testing stage now. It allows freelancers to review images, mark them up, provide feedback, and approve final retouched images.  

What is the team composition?

We’ve got about six of their teammates on the project. They’re designers, developers, and project managers.

How did you come to work with Amalgama?

My partner met one of their team members in a coworking space one of our offices uses. The owner of the coworking spaces referred my partner to them based on the tools they’ve created in the past. We hit it off and were impressed with their portfolio—they had tons of experience directly related to our project. They push a lot of content and gave us a competitive bid, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership began in March 2018, and the work is ongoing. We have a roadmap laid out for another year or two of work.

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

Right now, the project is in its first beta testing phase, so we don’t have much feedback yet. But, so far in our partnership, Amalgama has quickly addressed all of our concerns in a timely manner. They really invest themselves in their projects, always willing to collaborate and provide us with feedback on what we could be doing better. We really find that valuable.

How did Amalgama perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team is based in Argentina, while I’m in New York and my partner is in Minneapolis. But communication has been really easy. They used their own timeline tracking tool that they developed in-house. But, we also used Slack to communicate quickly, and they were always readily available in our shared channels.

We were constantly adding tasks to their plate, but they were great at scheduling and prioritizing while maintaining flexibility. Sometimes we had to communicate very frequently, but other times we didn’t have as much time to invest in them. They managed that dynamic very well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a unique fit for us. The team is so excited about what we’re trying to build. When we talk with them, we can tell they’ve spent time thinking through the project themselves. They play an active role in problem-solving and contributing creative ideas, continuously improving upon the final product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the beginning, we had trouble with one of the team member’s work styles. We approached Amalgama directly with this, and they quickly put someone else on the project. That was much appreciated, but it’s important to make sure that the whole team is the right fit for a client.

Also, there were times when it seemed like they weren’t completely up to date on some of the development technologies out there. It would be nice if they could expand their knowledge in that area.