ARKA Softwares

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a lab inspection subsidiary.

What challenge were you trying to address with ARKA Softwares?

We needed a new firm to handle our website maintenance after our internal person retired.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They primarily maintain the website. They have cleaned up some poor practice elements from our previous developer.
They’ve added new features, mainly on the statistical analysis side. 
The website traffic is probably 90% related to supporting the proficiency sample. We order commercially available material, blend, mix, or break it down and recombine it. Each lab gets six boxes of material that they mix and test, sending the results to us. We do statistical analysis and grade all the labs based on how well they did with each individual test.

What is the team composition?

We have a technical lead as our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with ARKA Softwares?

We spoke to several vendors. This team was familiar with the work we were doing, and we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000–$50,000. It is $1,200 per week.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2020, and it’s ongoing.

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

Things are working as they should. We don’t try to work at a fast pace, but rather at a more steady pace; it’s tried and true. 

How did ARKA Softwares perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication is good; generally, it happens at the start of our day, or the end of their day since they’re offshore. They have stayed on track, and are available to work different hours to meet deadlines when necessary.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are consistent and provide the services we need.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be mindful of the time difference in order to keep your timeline moving well.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and CEO of a company that manages a mobile mental health care application. This company's mission statement is to create more accessibility to mental health care.

For what projects/services did your company hire ARKA Softwares?

ARKA Softwares created the mobile application for iPhone and android with a web-based management system. They used iPhone: Swift, Android: Kotlin and backend: Laravel.

What were your goals for this project?

My goals were to realize my vision that I had for this project, which included, user-friendly navigation, minimalism, some graphed data, a habit tracker and a community commenting page.

How did you select this vendor?

I interviewed several vendors but ARKA Softwares most easily understood my project and vision. They were also the most on top of scheduling and making appointments.

Describe the project in detail.

This is a mental healthcare mobile application that features tools for moments of panic and anxiety attacks, which can be easily accessed during times of distress. There are other components that include a community page with commenting and sharing and a tracking page where an individual will be able to input data that will be graphed.

What was the team composition?

The team was comprised of developers for iPhone and androids as well as a liaison which I worked most closely with.

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

The project is almost completed and very successful. There has been a great deal of excellent communication about finding the best way to create, design and realize the application.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team was always ready to communicate and sought to understand exactly what was wanted. This communication was vital to the success of the creation of this application.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are always willing to help, listen, and communicate. They have gone above and beyond to help this mobile application look and feel exactly as desired. They have worked extremely hard to ensure the product is at the highest standard and work to make sure that I am completely satisfied.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Henrique, and I'm the founder of Recursando. Our startup helps drivers who've received traffic tickets by providing resources and guidelines to refute them.

For what projects/services did your company hire ARKA Softwares?

Mobile app development for iOS and Android

What were your goals for this project?

To help the Brazilian population exercise their constitutional right by refuting potential illegalities that the public administration has committed.

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through Google since the company is recognized worldwide.

Describe the project in detail.

I defined the scope and presented my project to Nitin who represented ARKA Softwares. He explained how he'd execute the project and selected a team to develop the app. I provided the layouts, and the team finished the project.

What was the team composition?

Nitin was the person responsible for selecting a team to complete the project.

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

The app has been live for 30 days and gained over 20 users. We've received great praise for the services provided. While there was some lag in the iOS version, ARKA Softwares resolved the issue.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was great. Even with a single liaison, they were willing to answer all of my doubts and solved any problems I encountered.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their time and dedication to the customer were impressive. They were always willing to solve problems that they encountered throughout the course of the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As I am Brazilian, I believe that someone in the company who speaks my language would improve communication.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a social networking platform. We list events in major cities across the US so that users can invite specific people and put out public invitations.

What challenge were you trying to address with ARKA Softwares?

We hired ARKA to help us deliver our platform.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I started the project by giving ARKA a requirements document for the platform that I wanted to have delivered. I wrote out the flow of the interface with the different pieces and components to give them a basic idea. One of the key requirements was using WordPress with BuddyPress, a social media integration. 

ARKA Softwares did custom work for the platform, including an API to pull in each integration. They also designed parts of the display with specific screen customization.

In terms of the technologies used, I know PHP was one, but I’d prefer to keep some of those details confidential. Our database is in SQL, and they designed that interaction as well.

What is the team composition?

I had a project manager and a lead developer. I know that we have a couple of other people involved, but those two were my main points of contact.

How did you come to work with ARKA Softwares?

I found them on a ratings and reviews site—it might have been Clutch, I’m not sure—and I ended up reaching out to a variety of different organizations.

I remember being sold pretty quickly on ARKA because they had a solid understanding of what I was looking for. They’re knowledgeable about WordPress and its integrations, which typically require a ton of customizations.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in May 2019 and wrapped up in November.

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

ARKA did an excellent job of capturing what we were looking for. Other developers aren’t as able to listen and deliver what you want. Anytime we ran into speed bumps; they were able to overcome them in a very amenable way.

How did ARKA Softwares perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well from a project management standpoint. I was familiar with what needed to be done, and our initial proposal was very detailed, which allowed me to dictate the process.

They had a tool that they used, but I relied heavily on my own spreadsheet of to-do items. I gave status updates almost every day—at least every other day—that were supplemented by calls when needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Aside from their technical knowledge—we didn’t run into anything that they couldn’t do—they were always quick to resolve issues. We would often find bugs or elements that weren’t quite right after finishing up deliverables, and making fixes was never a problem for them.

They also seemed to value our opinion. They wanted us to be happy and were willing to take ownership of changes that needed to be made. They were very reasonable about making adjustments.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This isn't a complaint, but they could potentially improve their QA process a bit.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This is true for every development project, but have your design document or detailed RFP laid out to where you can easily convert it to a project plan. This will help the developers understand what you want to be accomplished, and it will help you keep track of tasks as they’re completed.

Items often get lost in interpretation, but being clear and concise will help avoid those problems. Having initial project planning calls will also prevent issues later on.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Afrigenius, a farm consultancy company. We assist farmers with improving processes to save resources and generate more revenue. We’ve partnered with a variety of other companies, including some IT firms, as well as the South African government.

What challenge were you trying to address with ARKA Softwares?

First, I wanted to stretch my digital footprint outside of my physical location. Second, I wanted to use information technology to empower my team to provide better service to our farmers. Although Afrigenius does have a leadership team that is quite literate in software development, those individuals don’t have time to build a product. We needed a strong IT team to come in and help us address our challenges and satisfy our needs.

What was the scope of their involvement?

It’s a Laravel web application, and there's an iOS version and an Android version as well. The product is made for farmers.

What is the team composition?

We have a project manager, testers, and application developers.

How did you come to work with ARKA Softwares?

My wife suggested that we post an ad on a software job website. After more than 20 responses, I decided to go with ARKA because of their availability. I call numerous companies on Saturday, which is the only day during the week when I’m available, and they were the only company to respond. I knew then that they were the right partner.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent just over $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August. We’re on phase two of the project right now, and I am anticipating a total of five phases.

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

We love the quality of the UI. The visual elements are beautiful. In terms of the scalability of the product, I can’t comment yet. We're building the product to be used on a SaaS model.

How did ARKA Softwares perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very transparent. We have an account set up on Trello that we can use to track what they’re doing every day. The feedback is constant, and I’m never in the dark. 

For instance, I remember a time when a project manager had to take time off, and they made sure that I was aware of that in advance. I value the fact that they want me to be involved. It’s easy for us to reset priorities because the requirements are all very clear.

What did you find most impressive about them?

ARKA has the skills needed to deliver the full cycle of a development project. They also know how to cater to my specific situation. One thing that sets them apart is that they can implement without every single requirement. When I told them what I wanted at the beginning, they came back with a proposal and let me decide the direction. I don’t have time to come up with every requirement myself, and they are willing to change the original plan as needed. I appreciated how they came up with ideas but still give me the option to make changes.

The proposal was less about documentation and more about the product. I like how focused they were on building something useful. It wasn’t until later that I realized that they use an agile methodology, and I value that as well. I’ll have to come back and confirm with you if the product is scalable or not.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some cultural differences that we had to navigate, but, for the most part, I trust them and their approach. I felt comfortable giving them real feedback because they had established that sense of trust. I think, moving forward, they should focus on researching their customers to understand those cultural differences.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend them. If you decide to work with them, know that you don’t need all of your requirements set before you contact them. ARKA has an experienced team that can propose ideas for how to address your challenge. You can always wait and work from their proposal.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of DialUsafi, a cleaning and home service platform.

What challenge were you trying to address with ARKA Softwares?

We had an idea for a platform that people can use to easily get a cleaner, chef, or babysitter, but we needed someone to develop our app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re helping me develop the Android app, and we’re going to engage them after for the iOS version. After these are done, we plan to use them for another product.

What is the team composition?

I work with a project manager and a developer.

How did you come to work with ARKA Softwares?

I found then in a Google search for on-demand cleaning services developers. I wrote to them, and they got back with me. I was skeptical about engaging an offshore team because I’ve had two previous occasions where I’ve lost money, but they assured me they could do the job, and I felt that I could trust them.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent $24,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2019 and the work is ongoing.

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

We haven’t had any issues, and my team and I are impressed with how much they've accomplished. I believe that this is the beginning of a very good business relationship. 

The quality, in particular, has been excellent compared to the software developer that I engaged before. That one only sent me Android application packages and told me to download them. They didn’t run smoothly, and it was a big headache.

How did ARKA Softwares perform from a project management standpoint?

They introduced me to Trello, which is the program we used to monitor progress during development. It allowed me to see how fast they were moving with each task. They also set up a timeline for every sprint, which is very impressive. I’m confident in their ability to deliver at this point. 

I’m in communication with a project manager and a software developer. With the software developer, we mostly communicate on Skype. The project manager is very accessible via phone and WhatsApp. We’re able to communicate instantly, at any time. My queries are always answered right away.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been amazed by the treatment that I’m getting from them. I can’t say anything negative about them. They delivered exactly what we discussed and designed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no issues with them at all.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

There was a bit of conflict at the beginning when I realized that their idea for the project was different than my original vision. Once I presented my design, everything turned well.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of Archithrones, an architecture startup that allows architects to share their portfolio, ideas, and designs. Using the platform, architects can communicate with each other and share case studies and research.

What challenge were you trying to address with ARKA Softwares?

We had our own domain and started working on the WordPress site, but we’re architects, not programmers. We needed to find someone professional to build the site for us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

ARKA Softwares is developing and designing our WordPress site for us. We began with a phone call, during which we discussed my idea for the project. Our team doesn’t have the necessary experience, so we were open to their ideas on UI/UX design. Their team is working in HTML using the domain we provided. 

What is the team composition?

I am in contact with two members of the ARKA Softwares team, including a project manager who is in contact with me regarding design and programming. 

How did you come to work with ARKA Softwares?

We started by searching for development companies on Google and came across Clutch. Our team read through the reviews for software companies and contacted a handful of them. Our budget was a little tight so we needed someone who could provide the best quality from a cost-benefit perspective. ARKA Softwares gave us a reasonable price and allowed us to pay in installments.

How much have you invested with them?

At this time, we have invested about $5,000–$6,000, but the total cost will be around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with ARKA Softwares began in August 2019.

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

We anticipate the project will last another three months, but we’re happy with everything so far. Our team is open to any feedback or ideas ARKA Softwares provides.

How did ARKA Softwares perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team added me on Trello, which allows me to see their updates. At the end of every day, they contact me and send a functional link to our website. I text the link and give them my feedback and they can fix any bugs or edit my notes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

ARKA Softwares works very fast and is willing to go above and beyond to please their client. They provide a high level of customer service and support. If you don’t like the design or functionality of the website they will listen to your feedback and make changes. ARKA Softwares wants to ensure the client is happy with the results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They are a good company and they offer good services to their clients. So far, I am happy with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Anyone with a startup idea should turn to ARKA Softwares to help them make the plan for their project, make improvements on their idea, and bring that idea to life.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CEO of the company, based in Saudi arabia. We have 20+ employees and everyone has their own roles and responsibilities.

For what projects/services did your company hire ARKA Softwares?

We needed to develop an service booking App , so we contacted ARKA Softwares as they have worked on many similar projects.

What were your goals for this project?

This App is developed in order to facilitate user to book technicians for repairing the issues of mobile devices. They can view nearby available technicians and book them. They can see highest rating technicians.

How did you select this vendor?

We shortlisted many companies for this. It was a hectic task but after interviewing all the companies , we found them the best and started working with them. And it was right choice..

Describe the project in detail.

Khabeer is service based application which involves two users: Customers and Technicians. Customers can select the device issues and submit the service request.

The booking request will be sent to nearby technicians and upon accepting the request, they can visit the customer and resolve the device issue and mark the job as completed. After completing service, customer can submit review and ratings for technicians.

What was the team composition?

As per my requirements , Initially I was assigned with the Project manager who took all the understanding from me. Prepared all the details based on my requirement and confirmed that from you. I was in contact with project manager , who took good care of my project and provided me daily reports & my feedback. So the team included Project manager, mobile App developers , web developers and Tester Q/A .

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

As we have launched the App recently and we are doing great with till now. App is working fine. Hope to get more success in coming future.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team coordination was nice. Project manager provided us daily reports and updates , which helped us to keep the track of the work flow of the App. Whenever necessary we connected via call , Skype etc. Updates were provide to us via email , slack etc.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They suggested us the best ways and additional things that helped us a lot. Many features were recommenced by them which helped us to get much better design & App. The designers and developers did their work very nicely.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are very much satisfied with the end product. We will surely keep in touch with them as we are looking for many new features to add in the App.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of Hire My Skills South Africa.

What challenge were you trying to address with ARKA Softwares?

The unemployment rates in South Africa are getting worse and worse. And, while most people have a unique talent, they can’t market their skills well enough to get hired. 

I came up with the idea to create a job board app that would help connect businesses with prospective resources. Since I’m not a technical person myself, I turned to ARKA Softwares to realize my app concept.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

ARKA Softwares has been involved at every stage of the project, developing my Android job board app to spec. The solution helps skilled people (i.e., carpenters, electricians, IT) market themselves to businesses. 

One of the main issues we had to resolve was ease of registration. In South Africa, not everyone has an email address, so we needed to allow users to register via phone number. They’ve since accommodated my request and modified the solution to accept phone verification.

I’ve also contracted them to develop our website. They’ve just sent us a draft of the design, and it looks very good. I plan to launch both the app and site at the same time.

What is the team composition? 

I’ve worked with about five people in total, but my two main contacts are the team lead and financial rep.

How did you come to work with ARKA Softwares?

I searched on Google for development companies that could assist with innovation ideas and eventually found ARKA Softwares. What I liked about them was that they insisted on having a telephone conference before getting into my project because they wanted to have a better understanding of my concept.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent $50,000 to date. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in July 2019, and the project is ongoing. During development, we often come up with additional features to improve the app, so the scope evolves.

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

The app is complete, but we’re waiting to finish the website before we launch. Working with ARKA Softwares has been interesting because I’ve never met them in person. Regardless, it feels like I know their team because we talk on a daily basis.

I’m particularly happy that they’ve recommended features that I hadn’t even thought of. That’s the same approach that we’d take for our clients—we always want to go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.

I also like that they QA their builds before sharing them with me. The fact that they’ve picked up bugs means they’re diligent enough to check in the first place.

How did ARKA Softwares perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been very open with me in terms of keeping me in the loop. If they’ve encountered something, they’ll tell me and follow up with how they plan to resolve it. Skype and WhatsApp have made my life so easy because we’re able to communicate quickly there.

In terms of scheduling, they’ve been flexible. There have been times when I wasn’t available to talk on the phone for days because I had other things to take care of. On those occasions, ARKA Softwares was able to adjust to my schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their patience. I tend to nag a lot because I want the best product for my money. But they’ve been professional and often take the time to answer all of my questions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. I’m looking forward to meeting them on site because we have another business opportunity that we want to give them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Instead of focusing on your own idea, be open-minded when they share suggestions with you. There have been times when I’ve ignored their advice and realized too late that I should’ve done things their way.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Top Team 11, a fantasy cricket game.

What challenge were you trying to address with ARKA Softwares?

I wanted someone to develop my fantasy game mobile application.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed my Android mobile app and continue to maintain it. It’s not available in the Play Store, but users can download it from our website.

What is the team composition?

There are 10–12 people working with me. I mostly talk to their project manager.

How did you come to work with ARKA Softwares?

A friend recommended them. I called them to discuss my project and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $60,000–$65,000, so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2019, and the work is ongoing.

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

The launch is pending. I don’t have any feedback at this time. The people I’ve shown it to have said that it was good. ARKA Softwares’ team continues to give me suggestions for ways to make the app better.

How did ARKA Softwares perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager is very good. He explains everything clearly, so I don’t have any issues with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is cooperative and professional. They treat my project as if it’s their own project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they need to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re good at what they do.