AnyforSoft

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Bluecadet is an award-winning experience design firm with a long history of working in the cultural space. We create innovative experiences for web/digital product and the built environment. I am Head of Technology and lead the development team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We brought on AnyforSoft to provide support for our web development team and solve some interesting problems in our project—specifically how to best architect and implement a single Drupal CMS for multiple Gatsby front-end sites. AnyforSoft handled data migrations and custom module development for the CMS.

SOLUTION

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

AnyforSoft had been a vendor we were familiar with, having met some of their team at conferences over the years. This project was a good opportunity for our teams to finally work together.

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

The project was a single Drupal 8 CMS serving data and content to three separate Gatsby front-end builds. The CMS was deployed to Pantheon, and the Gatsby sites were built on Gatsby Cloud and deployed to Netlify. AnyforSoft wrote custom modules to provide preview functionality for the three separate Gatsby sites. Contrib modules exist to do this, but they assume a 1-to-1 relationship between CMS and Gatsby site. AnyforSoft also helped us migrate different content types from multiple sources (WordPress blogs, Drupal sites) into the new Drupal 8 CMS.

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

We worked with two members from AnyforSoft:

• a developer
• a project manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

AnyforSoft was able to implement challenging technical requirements, and their custom module work allowed our client teams to preview Gatsby content for three separate sites in the same CMS.

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

AnyforSoft was embedded with our team—they joined our twice-weekly project standups and they worked off the same Github issues kanban board. They also communicated with our team regularly in Slack, and were available at very short notice for quick Zoom calls.

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

AnyforSoft was very receptive to feedback and they provided excellent development work. Their communication was timely and helped us keep the whole team on the same page.

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

None that I can think of at present. I’m hoping we can work with them again on a future project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Druid Oy, a custom software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AnyforSoft?

We hired AnyforSoft to help us with our clients’ large and complex projects, specifically to provide outsourcing and consulting services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AnyforSoft helped us with one of our customer’s projects. Our customer provided all the information, and we worked using agile methods so there wasn’t any heavy documentation upfront.

We continue to work with their consultant who is a Drupal backend developer. He’s not really responsible for any specific deliverable. Instead, he just works alongside us and he helps us with many tasks that are related to Drupal forms.

What is the team composition?

We work with Andriy (PHP Drupal Developer).

How did you come to work with AnyforSoft?

We contacted a couple of companies when we were figuring out how to start the project. In the end, AnyforSoft had a suitable candidate available for us. They had a good reputation, and we knew them from past Drupal events. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in August 2021, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re satisfied with AnyforSoft’s work, and we’re happy with them. We plan to continue working with them even after this project.

How did AnyforSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

AnyforSoft actively manages our account, and they actively reach out to us. Since it’s a joint effort, they do daily check-ins with the whole team and they plan the development cycle in two-week sprints. We communicate via Google Meet. More importantly, they deliver what we request on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We consider ourselves to be really picky about who we want to work with. With the current situation, it isn’t always easy to find reliable talent. Despite that, their team has managed to find people that are really professional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. The development work has gone really well. Overall, I have nothing to complain about.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Treat them as if they’re your own employees. In our case, we accepted their consultants as full team members.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a digital web agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AnyforSoft?

We hired AnyforSoft to develop a custom portal for one of our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AnyforSoft helped us build a custom mortgage application portal for a client in Michigan. The team integrated that portal into the client’s existing marketing website, which was built on Drupal 9. We came up with the designs on our end, and AnyforSoft was essentially in charge of all the backend components.

The portal features an interactive, customizable online form that the client can use to collect information from mortgage applicants. AnyforSoft built that form and all of the conditional logic behind it. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with three people from AnyforSoft, and our main contact is the project manager. 

How did you come to work with AnyforSoft?

One of their account managers reached out to me a couple of years ago. When we finally had a need for their services, we simply contacted them directly.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $43,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in October 2021, and we are now in phase two of the project. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client’s feedback has been really good. AnyforSoft’s involvement has helped us improve the first phase of the project, giving us the confidence to move forward to phase two. They’ve exceeded our expectations in that they’ve made a lot of good recommendations for the UI/UX. 

How did AnyforSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done really well. I appreciate how they’ve set up the project and how they’ve managed the QA portion of it. One of the staff assigned to our account is a project manager, and he keeps me updated in terms of our schedule and where we’re at with the budget. 

AnyforSoft has also been flexible enough to work with our project management tool. They’ve integrated all of their tasks and feedback into that platform. We also use Slack and do virtual meetings weekly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed by AnyforSoft’s great project management skills, technical development expertise, and ability to understand a project and its scope. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We experienced some communication difficulties initially, but those have since been improved by AnyforSoft. They responded really well to our requests. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be really open with the team about what you need. Be clear about the specifications and goals of the project, and encourage them to ask questions to ensure that you’re always on the same page. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director at a North-American digital consultancy

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AnyforSoft?

One of the biggest projects we use AnyforSoft's capacities for is a North American telecommunication giant. We involved several Drupal developers to assist us with this project. Moreover, one of them now helps us with team leading activities. Also, we have multiple Contentful-based projects, for which AnyforSoft was able to provide qualified resources.

SOLUTION

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

We were looking for a trusted agency that can provide us with top-notch Drupal developers. Over the course of time and as AnyforSoft's expertise broadened, we started to use their ReactJS resources to serve our JAMStack based projects

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

Most of our projects require new development, ongoing maintenance, regular updates, and work with legacy code.

Describe the recruitment process in detail.

The recruitment process involved a technical interview with our developers and a secondary interview with our managers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Valuable team members with great technical knowledge in Drupal (especially Drupal API) and JavaScript

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Despite significant time difference we succeeded to organize a workflow that suits both parties. On regular basis, their developers follow Ukrainian working schedule but they are not just 9 to 5 guys and in case of urgency are ready to quickly respond to a customer need. Our AnyforSoft resource is currently an integral part of our project delivery team.

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

Flexibility, transparent management, good customer service, valuable work ethic. The company also went above and beyond to try and find good and reliable candidates whenever new resource requests were sent to them.

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

Not entirely related to the company itself, but it is sometimes hard for them to retain the developers due to the evershifting marketplace but we understand they put a lot of effort into it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a software engineer and lecturer, responsible for online education at megu.edu. I’m the Product Owner of megu.edu.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had our previous website built in WordPress. Our team had difficulties managing the website, as the previous vendor hadn't done their job correctly. It was complex to make content edits, the site often crashed and it wasn’t fully responsive.

The other issue was the outdated design. And when an educational institution has an outdated website design people think that teaching is outdated. Thus our goal was to have a stable, content editing friendly, and modern platform.

SOLUTION

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

Their Senior Drupal Developer has been lecturing on our IT faculty and we asked him to connect us with AnyforSoft. We did like their approach and were sure of their Drupal expertise and decided to go with them.

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

We wanted to shift from WordPress so the newest Drupal 9 was chosen. At first, we went through a series of design iterations and finally got to a final version. We were able to see results every 2 weeks and tell them our needed changes, which they successfully implemented.

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

There was an account manager who helped set up the team, UI/UX designer, project manager, 2-3 developers, and QA engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to launch the project 1,5 months before the start of the pre-entry period for educational institutions, so we had time to test everything. The overall performance seems great and our goals are reached. I can’t tell the exact numbers for now as the academic season hasn’t started yet.

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

The project manager was very opened to our ideas and always tried to clearly explain all the deliverables. We used Skype for messaging, Google Meet for online calls and Email for official stuff.

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

I commend their cooperativeness and willingness to help and clearly explain all the peculiarities of the project. They were able to quickly respond to upcoming issues and reply even on holidays.

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

To be more diligent on the documentation.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of INOVIT Animated explainer video Studio

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

A client of ours for whom we have been providing video production for quite a long time wanted to develop his own custom LMS solution but had a very small development capacity. The project required both design and development.

SOLUTION

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

We did careful online research to prepare a list of potential service providers and sent RFP to several companies we've identified as having positive reviews for similar projects. AnyforSoft was, by far, the most professional in understanding client’s needs, as well as, had extensive experience in LMS development, backed with positive references. They also were among the first vendors who sent us a detailed proposal so, after several calls we selected them as our partners.

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

AnyforSoft built everything from scratch. We had several meetings at the beginning with the entire team so they could understand the client’s ideas. Then they provided a strategic perspective to ensure that the development and design are aligned with the business objectives. The client agreed that going for a custom solution was the most reasonable strategy.

React and Node.js were chosen as the main technologies. The current platform features video capabilities, includes a certificate and role management, supports course creation, works on mobile devices, gives users the ability to download course materials, as well as, has many more minor features.

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

We started the project with an account manager, three software developers, and a web designer. However, as soon as the project requirements had been identified and started to expand, we engaged more specialists. At the busiest times, the team also included three more developers and one testing engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was very pleased with the results of this engagement and this collaboration allowed them to significantly reduce costs. The quality of the development and design was great. The product is still in the pre-release stage but I can tell that the new solution is way more powerful and easier to use than the initially planned one.

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

In addition to regular emails, we used Slack, Meet and Zoom to communicate on daily basis and Jira as an administrative tool. Every mid-week we had official meetings with the client for which the team always provided agendas and previewed what we were going to talk about.

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

Extreme commitment and efficiency. The team cared a lot about the project and put a lot of time, energy, and passion into their work while being flexible and thorough. From the beginning, they did a lot of research about the client and product to deliver a truly high-quality solution.

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

I’d advise them to expand their range of services by adding digital marketing (SEO audit and optimization, analytics, etc.) since we had to turn to another third-party provider for help with these services.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a Drupal developer and Co-Founder of Studio Aqua. We are a Drupal-focused Digital Studio that builds and takes care of your company's online presence, to bring you results and customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed a partner that could offload our development team and help with the improvement of several ongoing projects.

SOLUTION

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

I contacted the vendor via email, and then I met with them during DrupalCon Amsterdam in 2019. We discussed potential opportunities and how AnyforSoft could help. Their Drupal expertise and dedication to the Drupal community were the most crucial factors for choosing a vendor.

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

Our project was a custom Intranet based on Drupal which needed additional functionality. The goal of the intranet is to manage the measurements of industrial and environmental noises. We’re now working on the 2nd phase of this intranet and already finished another project, the 2nd phase is about to get started.

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

The team composed of 4 people: Drupal developer, QA engineer, Project and Account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to finish the project within indicated timelines and in less estimated budget. They quickly got used to our Custom Drupal intranets and now we can easily jump between different projects.

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

We had regular weekly stand-ups where a developer described the progress and where we tackled project’s bottlenecks. Trello was the main project management tool. We also used Google Meet for standups and Slack for communication. The team was integrated into our Slack workspace which leads to quick fast around and responsiveness.

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

They were able to quickly start the project and get aligned with our projects. Their responsiveness and provided solutions were on the highest level.

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

Can’t find any for now. I am willing to share with them more projects to enlarge cooperation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Vareger Group. Our team of 50 focuses on blockchain technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AnyforSoft?

We didn’t have enough frontend resources. As it wasn’t one of our core competencies, we decided to outsource those tasks.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AnyforSoft’s developed our web app from scratch, so there was nothing in place before their team started the development. They worked on the frontend and integrated blockchain logic based on our specifications into the app. Their team used TypeScript and React. The blockchain solution’s for the insurance industry.

What is the team composition?

At the moment, we work with one developer from AnyforSoft. There’s also an account manager on their side who manages tasks like invoicing and projecting workloads.

How did you come to work with AnyforSoft?

As this was an important project for us, we wanted to work with a team based in our time zone that spoke our language. It was also important that our partner wasn’t bigger than 80–100 people because I wanted to have good communication between us. I found AnyforSoft through a local alternative to Upwork.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $15,000 on their services. In 2021, we expect to spend a total of $50,000–$70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership with AnyforSoft began in January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

AnyforSoft delivers excellent quality. Before working with us, their developer didn’t have blockchain experience but quickly learned it. He now has great knowledge of the technology and provides quality products. I’m satisfied with their developer’s work. He’s professional and doesn't waste time on unnecessary tasks.

How did AnyforSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

Their developer fully integrated into our company. We use Slack and email and have no issues with their communication. We also have a monthly meeting. Although their account manager’s process wasn’t what I expected, I’m happy with it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have high standards for my team and vendors, and AnyforSoft has met my expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their account management. AnyforSoft is also a bit expensive for our local market. They could be more flexible with their rates and team compositions. We expect to need more frontend engineers and given their high rates, I’m debating whether or not to use AnyforSoft.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Founder at Artjoker Software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed a partner for large website development project from scratch using a Drupal CMS.

SOLUTION

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

We've looked at several Drupal vendors for possible collaboration. Based on the results of the negotiations, Anyforsoft was preferred due to their fast response with a well-formed proposal.

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

AnyforSoft did both part of the back-end and all front-end for the project. All in Drupal 8. The project involved theming, as well as adding reporting, subscription, and 3rd party API integration functionality and other features. Their developers also integrated the site with HubSpot. I was partially in charge of project management from our side and gave tasks to Anyforsoft’s team.

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

We had a team of 6 people. Account manager, 3 full-stack and 2 front-end devs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The main outcome was that the project was successfully completed on time with significant cost savings and a high level of technical competence. At the moment, the site is working smoothly and we've never received negative feedback in almost 5 months (which, I think, can be considered as positive feedback)

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

In overall, project management was excellent. There were no delays that could affect the rapidity of making the necessary decisions. Thanks to that we always stayed on time, even when unexpected obstacles occurred. For communication we’ve mostly used Slack, as well as regular meetings in Hangouts and occasional phone calls.

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

We were amazed at their flexibility. Projects as large as this often have many moments when process enhancements need to be made due to various difficulties that arise along the way. The team very quickly adapted to any changes, as well as often proposed their own ideas for improvement.

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

Can't think of any at the moment.