Atta Systems

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO and co-founder of an e-hailing transportation app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AB4 Systems?

We needed additional help with building our mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AB4 Systems helped us develop a product related to mobility and transportation. They were very proactive in a time where our development was accelerated, and we needed an additional task force.

In terms of development specifics, they worked with Java and Kotlin for Android. For iOS, they used Objective-C and Swift 3. For the backend, they used PHP and integrated JavaScript. It needed to connect with our native code, so they created a JavaScript bridge.

One of the features they contributed heavily to was the location manager. Everything related to getting the location, maps, and getting the core features ready for mapping was done by their team. There was a long list of improvements and bug fixing that took care of as well.

Apart from the development part, they were very agile and contributed by giving advice. Overall, they were a dedicated and productive development arm for our project.

What is the team composition?

We had one Android developer and one iOS developer from their team. We also interacted with the project manager that was assigned to us, who made sure everything was going according to schedule. He was available to discuss all the administrative and task-related things.

How did you come to work with AB4 Systems?

We chose AB4 based on price and the skill set they advertised. After discussion with the project manager and the developers that were going to be assigned to us, we chose them based on their technical skills as well.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work spanned August 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After partnering with AB4Systems, we noticed a large reduction in complaints that users had towards our support department. Additionally, there’s been a visible improvement in the quality of the app. The app works seamlessly without any bugs or crashes. We have had some good crash rates which have been under 0.5% after working with them.

Their development team managed to stay within budget. We only stopped the contract because we added to our internal team, otherwise, we would have continued development with their help. In the end, they delivered additional man-hours for other tasks that we needed without charging us. It was a great partnership from our perspective.

How did AB4 Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

For project management, they have the manpower to complete tasks they assigned to themselves consistently on time. They had better skills than we anticipated, and they worked in a very agile way. Their skills allowed them to finish projects with enough time to make sure everything is truly polished. They managed to meet deadlines before our team did.

Communication-wise, they were very flexible. We agreed on a set number of days and hours they would work for us. Even though we agreed on this beforehand, they found time to squeeze us in on days when they weren’t scheduled to. Their dedication to our success was always clear.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team has worked on other known apps here in Romania and they’re famously versatile. They can program excellently, but also analyze problems and create top-notch algorithms.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think this is a trait for all the developers who work on one product for a long time to get bored. They could improve by allocating the developers on different projects, on a sort of rotating basis. Other than that, everything has been fine, and I see no cause for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Leave them to do their job. Take their advice because they are professionals. If they want to assign a project manager to your project, trust in the project manager they assign to you and let them give you advice and suggestions. They are very professional, and all the developers participate in making the decisions. They have worked on several apps and they're very reliable. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior social protection economist for a financial institution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AB4 Systems?

We were working with a national agency for child protection and needed someone to develop a web app to collect the data that we needed within the project. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our team had an idea of what we wanted to develop, so we relied on AB4 Systems to follow the methodology we outlined. They first developed a web application for collecting data for a sample of cases. After that, we decided to add other features like the ability to print the questionnaires after they are completed. They then made an English version of the app so that we can use it in other countries.

I’ve really enjoyed working with them, which is why I renewed the contract with them for a second version of the web app.

What is the team composition?

I primarily interacted with two people, but there was a larger team behind the scenes, as well.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned August 2017–January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The agency for child protection is still using the application to evaluate at least 50 institutions. The app is being used there every day, and it has received positive reviews from its users.

Our team received a regional award for technological innovation with this project, which we owe to AB4 Systems and the work they’ve completed.

We had to collect data by a specific deadline, so we appreciated AB4 Systems’ ability to finish this work in three months. I hope they have enough time to work with me on a separate project because I’d gladly work with them again.  

How did AB4 Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They managed to deliver the first version in less than three months. They led the project amazingly. We communicated via phone, email, and face-to-face meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I liked that they were very willing to help. They took the time to understand what our needs were in order to come up with the best solution. They’re enthusiastic about what they do. They provide feedback on my ideas for the sake of improving product quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Given the budget constraints, they couldn’t do any better. If I had more money, we could have worked more on the design of the platform.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a business intelligence (BI) manager for a financial company in Vancouver, Canada. I oversee both the development and data teams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AB4 Systems?

We’d initially engaged with a different vendor to develop our mobile application. However, we encountered several issues with their build, and they delivered documentation that didn’t match the architecture that they’d actually used. As a result, we reached out to AB4 Systems to rescue the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

AB4 Systems reviewed the previous vendor’s code and reverse engineered the actual architecture used. From there, they started to recommend ways to improve the app and fixed any existing defects. We’d also engaged another security expert who gave us a list of areas to address, and AB4 Systems assisted us with resolving them.

What is the team composition? 

We work with two resources: Andrei (Managing Partner, AB4 Systems) and Alexandru (Java Software Engineer, AB4 Systems).

How did you come to work with AB4 Systems?

We were trying to find a long-term partner rather than a vendor, so I searched through Europe to see if I could find better-engaged companies. After I consulted some of my peers, they recommended AB4 Systems.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work started in April 2019 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is still in progress, so I don’t have any exact metrics. But, as far as I can tell, we’ve been able to improve the quality of our product based on their efforts. They’ve greatly decreased the number of defects in our app’s architecture.

How did AB4 Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve mostly handled the project management up until this point, but I hope to expand their team’s capacity to include project/product management resources. Even though there’s a big time difference between Vancouver and Bucharest (where they’re based), they have strong communication skills and are able to accommodate us. We have effective meetings and follow-ups.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Besides their technical knowledge, I really like the way they engage with us. They’re direct, reliable, and respond on time. It just makes for a huge difference.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, at this point, there’s nothing I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
 
Be clear in your requests, and let them do what they do best. You’ll be happy with the results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a manager in the financial advisory department at EY, a financial institution in Romania.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AB4 Systems?

We hired AB4 Systems to provide full-stack development services of a provision calculation tool.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed a calculation tool that we could use in our internal processes to compute provisions for credit losses. We calculate that figure, but we needed software to perform this task. We required something more complex that could accommodate a large amount of data.

We relied on AB4 Systems to build the entire product from scratch. They managed the design and functionality of the software’s frontend and backend. We provided them with product specifications in an Excel template, and we held exploratory meetings to discuss our needs. I was thankful that AB4 Systems had strong business ideas and not just technical implementation ideas. Their suggestions helped shape our product, and in the end, the software is a product of our imagination and design along with their vision.

The application runs in the form of a website. On the frontend, we can access and upload data before starting the calculation. The calculation is then completed in the backend, which generates reports.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was one of the principals at AB4 Systems, but we interacted with 4–5 people throughout the project. They also have a larger team working in the background.

How did you come to work with AB4 Systems?

Our internal IT department was preoccupied with other projects at the time we needed to develop this software, but we asked that team to recommend outside providers. From their list of suggestions, we met with five companies and requested offers from three of them. We selected AB4 Systems because of their reasonable price point and the professionalism they exhibited in the interviews.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000 USD on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project from December 2018–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

AB4 Systems remained mindful of our pressing deadline, and we were glad they managed to deliver what they promised within the timeline.

It was also important to us that the delivered project had little to no bugs. We extensively tested the application for two weeks, and only found one minor flaw. From this point of view, the quality of their work was well above our expectations. We expected to see some bugs, but the quality of the application was very high.

How did AB4 Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They split the tasks among their team very well. We had biweekly meetings with them in which we were able to see the progress on all sides of the project. In between meetings, we communicated via phone, email, and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attitude toward their customer sets them apart. We didn’t know each other before engaging with them on this project, and by the end, I felt as though I was part of their team. There was a familiarity and trust on both sides. Although it isn’t measurable or quantifiable in any other way, this distinguishes them from others. They have a small team, and they can have that human interaction, as compared to more prominent IT companies in which social interaction is limited to only business-related things.

Additionally, the quality of their work in this specific project was outstanding. I have nothing to complain about.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They can only look to improve their presence in the market. Before being introduced to them, I hadn’t heard about them. Their website is quite rudimentary at this time, and I think they should invest more in marketing and attend more IT conferences so that they can engage with more potential clients.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open with them. Even if a client may miss some requirements of the scope at the beginning of the project, they shouldn’t be afraid to bring it up in discussion with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the managing partner of HIPPOS, a multi-disciplinary creative agency in Romania. The company has over 25 employees and works with most multinational clients, like Nestle, Vodafone, Danone, Unilever Lidl. We also help entrepreneurs grow their business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AB4 Systems?

Our client was planning to enter the self-driving cars market with a brilliant idea that could be sold to all car manufacturers. They contracted us to develop a mobile app that would connect a user’s phone to their car. Then, it would gather specific information to predict recurrent behaviors for each driver. 

What were your goals for this project?

Being a new product for the market, the project started with two initial phases. In the first, we only wrote all of the specs and built out some wireframes. In the second, we went through a technical feasibility assessment to see how the solution would work in real life. The main goal was to reach a prototype phase, during which the app could be tested with car manufacturers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our account management team worked to understand our client’s needs before considering prospects in Romania. The client wanted to develop the app locally because there are a lot of good programmers here while the price point is lower than in other countries. 

After meeting with three companies, looking up their portfolios, and meeting the team leads, we felt that AB4 Systems would be the most reliable vendor for this project. They had a lot of expertise in AI software programming, and their approach meshed well with our design process. Moreover, they had worked on other “new to the market” projects with major clients, which influenced our decision.

Describe the project in detail.

The app was named Call2IT, and the deliverables for the first stage of the project were the following: 

• The app will fetch the user’s contact list from their phone or other third-party messaging apps. The user may also add Call2It specific contacts.
• It will answer the following questions: “Where are you now?” / “How is the weather at your location?” / “How long from where you are to POI?” / “Where were you yesterday at 1:00?” All questions will be answered in text. 
• The app will include the following technologies: The ability to fetch contacts from third-party messaging apps, a backend server (BaaS platform), a weather API integration, and a Google Maps API integration.

For the MVP, we will include 3–4 dummy data to demonstrate how it works.

What was the team composition?

They assigned one project manager who handled everything and several teams for each part of the project. There was a design team formed of two senior designers, a graphic designer, and a copywriter. And, there was a development team consisting of a product manager, a backend engineer, and two mobile engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client’s main objectives were to test the app with car manufacturers and to raise money to build it further. After several month of new business, we were informed that a car manufacturer was interested in testing the app, so we consider the project a success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

AB4 Systems team was really helpful, considering how technical the project was. We’d like to underline their flawless communication. Their product manager, in particular, had very good communication skills and understood all the challenges of the app. We worked together to build on each idea that came up during development. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

First, they had very good software skills combined with a very good understanding of the project. Second, they were proactive during every aspect of the project, always trying to push forward to undiscovered grounds to bring added value.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everyone has something to improve. In this particular project, all teams were open-minded and delivered their best.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing partner of a Daedalus Research. We’re an online research marketing firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AB4 Systems?

Our plan was to build a mobile app that would allow our clients to collect information from consumers and provide better services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

AB4 Systems developed our location-based research app for Android devices. The app leverages geofences/GPS coordinates to track consumers and give them targeted surveys. For example, if a person were to enter a large retailer, the app would detect their location and send a mobile survey to ask about their customer satisfaction.

AB4 Systems’ team was responsible for building the database and working with us to create the design. Currently, they’re focused on executing the second version of the app, looking to refine the user experience and add additional functionalities.

What is the team composition? 

We work with a project manager, a designer, and a developer. Our original developer actually left the company during the project, so they assigned us a new contact who is still with us today.

How did you come to work with AB4 Systems?

At the time, we were considering two choices—a colleague had recommended AB4 Systems to us, and we had searched online to find one of their competitors. Both companies had good reviews. Eventually, we met each candidate and presented them with our product specs. Out of the two offers given, AB4 Systems had a better price point and a shorter timeline, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over €20,000 (approximately $22,600 USD) but predict that we’ll reach about €30,000 (approximately $34,000 USD) by the end of the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working in June 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the first version of the app, but there were some issues that we had to work through. That’s not to say that this was AB4 Systems’ fault. It’s just that we envisioned the app a certain way and later realized we wanted to do something a bit different. They’re now working on the second version, and our clients are enthusiastically awaiting the reveal.

How did AB4 Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Apart from development, communication is one of their best points. We’re a marketing research firm, so we’re not that technical. Their team understood this and gave us advice and solutions where needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are communicative, keep to deadlines, and have managed to accomplish a lot considering our product’s complexity. This project hasn’t been an easy task.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can see.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
 
Have a clear plan in the beginning. Otherwise, you’ll end up requesting so many changes, which may affect the final deadline.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a digital project manager at an advertising agency called Mullen Lowe Profero. We’re involved in various type of projects, from branded content, tools, and microsites and mobile apps (development and maintenance) to social integration and crowdsourcing programs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AB4 Systems?

Our client needed a mobile app. Since we don't have a development team in house, we hired AB4 Systems for the project.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop an app that every soccer enthusiast would want to use to challenge his friends on different matches.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Since I joined this project, I had a great collaboration with their developers. Every time I sent a set of functional specifications, they got back to me with questions or different concerns that we didn't take into account at first. Together, we solved every issue we encountered.

Describe the project in detail.

Since I joined this project, I had a great collaboration with their developers. Every time I sent a set of functional specifications, they got back to me with questions or different concerns that we didn't take into account at first. Together, we solved every issue we encountered.

What was the team composition?

Andrei (Managing Partner, AB4 Systems) is our main point of contact. Throughout the project, we talked directly with Alex (Software Engineer, AB4 Systems).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We recently launched the app, and we're still working on updating it constantly.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We talk constantly via emails and WhatsApp. They try to stay in the expected timelines, but sometimes (due to unforeseen reasons) they can't meet the deadline. In those cases, they inform us beforehand.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Managing the collaboration with AB4 Systems is really easy. They are proactive and professional, and they deliver on their work in a timely manner. Throughout my career as a project manager, I have worked with a lot of companies, and I can say that AB4 Systems is one of the best!

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything can always be done faster, but, overall, we are pleased.
 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the general manager of VRTW. We’re an events promoter, content label, and booking agency based in Bucharest, Romania.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire AB4 Systems?

We hired AB4 Systems to develop our mobile app. We wanted to create a streaming app to bring music to our fan base.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create an app for iOS and Android that could play through external speakers, including voice assistants. We also wanted to integrate with Radio.co.

We needed a fast and easy-to-use app that we could add on to as we designed new features. For example, since we started the partnership, we’ve decided to add a feature that notifies users of upcoming events.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’d heard of AB4 Systems from friends and colleagues, and many of them gave positive reviews. We decided to meet with them, and the partnership began soon after that initial meeting.

Describe the project in detail.

AB4 Systems designed and developed an app that meets each of our requirements. The app lets users stream our radio service and play songs through other devices, including smart speakers, TVs, and voice assistants.

The team created a native app that makes use of platform-specific music capabilities. On iOS devices, the app can access other products through AirPlay, and on Android devices, the app can connect to other products through ChromeCast. The team also implemented a native integration with Radio.co, and listeners can access data from the app through Radio.co’s dashboard.

What was the team composition?

Our team is made up of a product manager, an iOS engineer, an Android engineer, a voice assistant engineer, and a product designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen the app run on a variety of different platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android phones, Android tablets, Android TVs, other smart TVs, Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, and Sonos. Our initial usage results showed that we had over 200 users who were accessing the app for over an hour each day.

The app is also beautiful in its design. AB4 Systems implemented a stunning set of animations. Also, their decision to develop a native app has led to easy monitoring and maintenance.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our collaboration has been seamless, and we’re still working with AB4 Systems to further the development of the app.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They did a great job of designing each aspect of the product to meet our specific needs. Also, the development process was much easier than we expected.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

As of right now, I don’t see any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the lead medical consultant for Dr. Fuhrman’s Nutrient IQ. I served as a liaison between Dr. Fuhrman’s team and AB4 Systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AB4 Systems?

We hired AB4 Systems to create an app that would help users measure their food consumption beyond just calorie amount. We wanted the app to provide nutritional information and encourage people to eat healthier.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AB4 Systems designed and developed the app from scratch. One of the main features is a point system that rewards users who eat healthy food. The team built the app for iOS devices.

What is the team composition?

I communicated primarily with Andrei (Co-Founder, AB4 Systems) about design and functionality ideas. I spoke to Alin (Product Designer, AB4 Systems) about the actual look of the app.

How did you come to work with AB4 Systems?

One of my colleagues mentioned that he knew of two amazingly talented tech firms in Romania, one of which was AB4 Systems. We interviewed both and found AB4 Systems to be a better fit.

The presentation that AB4 Systems gave was much more detailed than their competitor’s. We felt that it accurately depicted our vision of the app. Although some of the differences were minor, they made a huge difference from my perspective.

The team from AB4 Systems was also very personable. When we came to meet them in person, they served us tea and asked us about our values and our experience in Romania. I appreciated that they tried to get to know us before going straight into a business discussion.

Both firms were technically skilled and qualified to do the job. They also offered similar price ranges for their services. AB4 Systems stood out because they made me feel comfortable and seemed committed to making sure we were happy. As a psychiatrist, I’m very good at reading people, and I could tell early on that AB4 Systems was a team that we could trust.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We reached out to AB4 Systems in October 2017 and started working on the app the following year. We released the app in March 2019 after approximately six months of development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Many of the people I work with express interest in losing weight, and I’ve had several clients reach their target weight using the app that AB4 Systems created.

How did AB4 Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

In terms of project management, AB4 Systems is at another level. They frequently scheduled calls with us at night to accommodate our time zone difference. Their willingness to work around our preferences meant a lot to me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They prioritized our interests over their ability to make money. Whenever we came to them with an idea, they were open and honest with us if they felt like it would be a waste of money. For example, at one point, we considered putting an info button on the main screen of the app, and AB4 Systems advised us against it. They explained that building the button for the main screen would cost more money, and they wanted to reserve the main screen for the app’s core functions. They also theorized that users would still be able to access the info page if we put the button in a hidden list. This is just one example of how their transparency helped us avoid costly additions.

AB4 Systems was also extremely patient. My team and I were not very familiar with app development, and some of my associates had a lot of questions about the details of the project. We ended up having to work through some indecision, and AB4 Systems was willing to answer all of our questions and work with us to find solutions. They cared deeply about our relationship and genuinely wanted to see our app succeed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would like to see them expand their services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest with AB4 Systems about your fears and your vision. Tell them how you want to accomplish your goals, and they will guide you through the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of SkinVision, a mobile application that allows users to analyze their moles to see if there is potential danger or risk for melanoma. My app is cheaper and easier for determining potential threats compared to other means.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AB4 Systems?

We had a big issue developed a camera technology that allows users to take pictures of certain conditions. With our skin cancer algorithms, the photos need to be of a certain quality. We were having trouble finding mobile developers than understood image analysis.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AB4 Systems was involved in building the infrastructure from the ground up. Their team developed the camera technology that allows the platform to reach the required accuracy levels. From the backend, a team of doctors looks at everything that comes in, accessing the pictures taken by users. Through their tagging, we could use the images as research for the AR solutions we were building. Along with crafting our iOS and Android app, they were involved with the website we use for marketing purposes. A year and a half ago, we started another project with AB4 Systems that involved creating a platform for small clinics that would open up access to data and second opinions.

How did you come to work with AB4 Systems?

After several tries with different agencies, we started working with AB4 Systems. They were known in the area and referred to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with AB4 Systems started in May 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m happy with AB4 Systems’ services. Before working with AB4 Systems, we had issues with users downloading and taking photos with the app. When we built the cameras, the numbers were at 40%; now that their team is involved, the numbers are at around 70%. AB4 Systems doubled our conversation rate. Their team delivers quality at a reasonable price, which is hard to find in a vendor.

How did AB4 Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

I needed a partner that works transparently, communicates daily, and works as part of the team. AB4 Systems fit the requirements, getting involved in managing the team. Their professional team assumes responsibility for the deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

AB4 Systems is willing to go into the details.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no complaints.