BinarApps

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We offer people of all ages and sports levels the possibility to improve their flexibility, balance, and strength by doing simple exercises and applying self-massage. We create the ideal tools to complement traditional treatment methods and make fascia- and functional training available to all. Train, release and restore - all in one.

In 2007, BLACKROLL® was developed in Germany by Jürgen Dürr. As of 2012, BLACKROLL® firmly established itself on the market, and got well supported and recommended by leaders in the health - sports and therapeutic industry.

Since we want to do good for a wide range of people we are ever improving our digital touchpoints like our BLACKROLL® Fitness - & Fasciatraining APP, where our customers find more than 200+ exercises for recovery, pain recovery, flexibility, strength and mobility training with our high quality tools.

I am one of the first Product Owners at BLACKROLL® and in charge of many agile WEB & APP projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired BinarApps to stabilize and grow our very first Native APP (Android & iOs). We simply are discovering together on how to constantly improve the free APP for our customers.

SOLUTION

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

The selection process was quite fast: We contacted and evaluated different APP specialists throughout Europe. BinarApps were lightning quick in their Business Analysis that we made and had a much higher maturity level in terms of modern, very lean and agile methodologies.

Also: The people are what matters most in longterm relationships. We simply clicked and are having not only daily results but true fun while working together as well as high level of professionalism.

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

Onboarding. Code Take Over. Process Implementation with our Scrum Master. Deeper Business Analysis & Backlog Refinement. OKR Implementation and GOALS. START!

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

3 and the team will grow as we need - so scalability is perfect. We have a fantastic Team consisting of a React Native developer on board, a Software Tester for Testing Automation and Release Testing and a highly skilled and fully proficient Scrum Master.

Critical issues we discuss also with a very skilled Software Architect and sporadically we are accompanied by a Code Reviewer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In our first release together we corrected and tested 25.000 lines of code together, improved the APPs usability and got rid of 70 (!) bugs. Looking at the team size that is quite impresive.

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

Our PO is from within our company. Since the team is small, we are working with a JIRA Kanban board. Have a weekly backlog refinement and several bi- to three-weekly meetings, including a demo and retro, which we use to improve our development output, process and teamwork.

FANTASTIC & FUN. Also: very efficient and we are learning to become faster and more focused on a daily basis.

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

The wonderful people and high in demand skillset they bring to the table. Also a very open and truly professional communication.

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

So far, I truly believe I am the happiest customer. :) Truly satisfied. BinarApps does feel like a true Team and not just a contractor doing "tickets" and "tasks".

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We help companies discover new technologies. I'm in charge of building the digital infrastructure for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BinarApps?

We wanted to build a digital platform that could allow our internal team and clients to enjoy the benefits of our services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The application they built is based in Google Cloud with Rails on the backend and React on the frontend. It’s a web-based SaaS application.

What is the team composition?

There were two frontend developers, two backend developers, and a QA tester. 

How did you come to work with BinarApps?

I had a positive experience working with them at my previous company.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent five figures on their work. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very successful in the launch of the initial product just a few months ago. They consistently managed our timeline and upcoming deadlines very well, proving to be very accurate. 

How did BinarApps perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re transparent and communicative through Slack. We also have standups and ongoing communications. It feels like they’re integrated into our team.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and reliability stood out the most. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have scoping and specifications fleshed out before starting the project. Also, enter the relationship with a good idea of what communication channels you’ll use.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1: I’m VP of engineering. We built a customer data platform with marketing activations. Our customers connect a bunch of systems into this. We can then build a single view of their customers pulling data from all kinds of different systems, which allows them to understand their customers more effectively and potentially market to them across a variety of channels.

Respondent 2: I've been responsible for bringing new developers on board to our development platform in order to build extensions and new activation channels or new integration channels to better flesh out that customer record.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BinarApps?

R1: In order to get data into this system, we need to build integrations with a wide variety of third-party systems. We have an infrastructure framework that we've built up in order to facilitate that. And we were asking buying art to build plug ins to that one for many, one per external system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

R1: They were pretty full-service development agency for us. So, I worked as a product owner defining what those integrations needed to cover. They did everything from learning our own API and platform, to learning the third-party system so that they may or may not have worked with before building API integrations and testing through to actual release candidates.

We use TypeScript on our side and the vast majority of what they would have to build would've been right there in Node.js and TypeScript themselves. I'm not aware of any particular technologies they may have used for additional debugging, but I do know that within the project they did use Jest extensively for testing.

R2: They were skilled with both SOAP and RESTful APIs during the time we worked with them.

What is the team composition?

R1: We had three developers and one scrum master.

How did you come to work with BinarApps?

R1: We decided we needed to bring in an offshore team. BinarApps was one of  a few teams that was in contact with either me of our CEO. we talked to 4–5 different vendors, We went through an interview process with them and their developers to determine if they had the appropriate technical acumen to meet our needs. They were also familiar with GDPR regulations and had the paperwork read to go.

How much have you invested with them?

R1: We spent between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

R1: The project lasted from October 2019–February 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

R1: The project hasn’t gone live yet, so I can’t directly point to any customer benefit.

R2: Actual metrics are tough, but they started from nothing and they’ve delivered the requirements. So, overall, we’re happy with the output we’ve gotten from them.

How did BinarApps perform from a project management standpoint?

R2: Generally speaking, very well. There were  alot uncertainties throughout the project, so there were a few deadlines that slipped. However, both of our teams took ownership over that. Possible yellow flags were that neither team was prepared for the time zone differences.

What did you find most impressive about them?

R1: Their knowledge of the privacy legislation we were responsible for was a clear differentiator from the beginning.

R2: Over time, they picked up the technologies we were throwing at them pretty quickly. We have custom SPKs that were privately documented, and in four month, they became power-users on that platform.

Are there any areas they could improve?

R2: The amount of support we needed to provide them because structures weren’t in place, meant working on 6–7 hour offset wasn’t the greatest. There were probably ways we could have better orchestrated communication in the overlap periods. They could have shifted their days, but we understand that was an unreasonable ask.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

R2: Even with the time zone differences, when we planned on our scrum-based meetings around our asynchronous schedules, we were able to provide everything with enough advance notice to pull that off, it went really smoothly. So, if you can prepare tickets a few days in advance, the team is well-positioned to complete each task.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Da Grasso is a pizza chain where you can order online. Currently, as an IT manager, he maintains the online ordering system

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire BinarApps?

The IT structure of our company is a huge system of connected vessels. That one complex is responsible for web pages, orders, franchise, and customer’s complaints. In order to keep the structure going like a well-oiled machinery, we needed a partner with an extensive IT knowledge.

What were your goals for this project?

Reporting changes in software, their receipt and implementation

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Based on opinions on the internet

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Development of the online ordering system, development and maintenance

What was the team composition?

3 persons

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

BinarApps manages to come up with ideas that improve our company’s profitability. First of, the UX report about our mobile webpage that they’ve prepared has been a very important thing in our cooperation. Since then, they’ve consistently applied the solutions suggested in the report. The implementation process went smoothly.During the National Pizza Day, which is always a tough time for our servers, we worked together with BinarApps to process and deliver every order that has been placed.

How did BinarApps perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is easy to talk to, flexible and well organized. It does feel like they’re a part of our own IT department, not a remote team. They’re very involved in the process. Any emergencies we’ve had on the way were taken care of quickly and efficiently. Communication tools include Slack and GitHub. We stay in touch with the PM and developers.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

by GITLAB

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They aren’t afraid to take the initiative and provide their own ideas on how to improve the project. They also strive to minimize the distance between them and our team. What they offer is partnership.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None. We’re satisfied with the work that has been done so far.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of Hidone, a services marketplace platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with BinarApps?

We needed someone to build our mobile app. We’d previously worked with a team that hadn’t been successful in developing the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BinarApps serves as our internal tech department. They designed and developed our app from scratch, including the UI/UX. The backend was originally in Ruby, but they overwrote it in Kotlin because they said it would be smoother and faster. The team supports all system integrations.

What is the team composition?

I mainly cooperate with the project manager.

How did you come to work with BinarApps?

My company was already working with BinarApps when I came onboard.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration began in March 2019, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app launched three weeks ago, and we already have 600 active users. The app is user-friendly, and it’s really easy for my team to make changes in the app if necessary.

How did BinarApps perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager is cooperative and suggests new solutions. BinarApps schedules all of our status calls, and our roadmap is in Google Docs. Even when my business intelligence specialist isn't available, they support me with reports or app publishing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re the best solution for us, since we’re a startup and don’t want to hire in-house.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like to have a better way of contacting them. If the project manager is working on several projects, sometimes it’s difficult to reach him immediately.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t just wait for the app to be ready; follow up on sprints and test the MVP.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a company that’s creating a freelance management system for enterprises.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Binar::Apps?

At the time, I was basically the entire tech team. Since we were a startup, we needed to find good developers, but there’s a shortage of talent where we are. We began looking for a remote development team that would work for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I handled development initially, just to get the code up and running. We didn’t have full specifications for the product when Binar::Apps started working with us, so we looked at what we were trying to build and worked together on creating a rough architecture of the system. It’s been an agile process.

What is the team composition?

We hired developers without having a product spec, as we weren’t buying a product, but rather resources. They assigned three full-stack developers for React and Node.js work.

I work with Binar::Apps on a daily basis. I handle development as well, and we also have an in-house designer. After the design of a spec is done, we review it as a team and they work on identifying any loopholes or components that aren’t functioning properly.

How did you come to work with Binar::Apps?

Lukasz (Head of Growth, Binar::Apps) was visiting our location, and we met him by accident at an incubator when we were in the process of researching outsourcing companies. I reached out to almost 15 other companies, stationed all the way from Europe, to Asia and China. I had interviews with key account managers and different candidates and went with Binar::Apps based on the results of those.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around 1.6 million Norwegian Krone ($189,328 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2017. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re planning to launch the platform within a month, so we don’t have any statistics at the moment. It’s difficult to put a number on it, but I’m happy with the quality of code. I work with it on a daily basis and I find that it’s extremely structured and it follows our best practices.

How did Binar::Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicate with their development team directly. They’re integrated into our Slack, and we have daily video standups and workshops; it’s like having our own team, but with an office in a different city. For financial discussions or issues with the team, we can go to Lukasz or to our key account manager.

They’re proactive in case there’s a holiday or a major issue we need to know about. Communication has been smooth for everyone, especially since they speak English as good as I do. We also have quarterly meetups, in which I or someone else from our office will either fly to theirs for a workshop or we will fly them to our location.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most noteworthy aspect about the collaboration is that they don’t just look at specs and implement them as they stand. Binar::Apps is invested in the work and feel like they’re a part of our group. They care about the product, they challenge our opinions, and they strive to deliver high quality. With other developers and companies we’ve been in touch with, we would hand out the spec and hope to receive something good in return. With Binar::Apps, it feels like we’re hiring our own developers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We’re happy with our setup.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

If the client wants them to feel like team members, they should include Binar::Apps in the whole process. Our workshops with the team have been really good. They provide good feedback, which should be encouraged and listened to.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO/CTO of Drylab R&D. We make software for professional film and television production running on iOS, macOS, and web.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Binar::Apps?

We wanted a way to augment our in-house development to speed up the process and improve its quality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We're a very small team and we wanted to increase our team size in such a way that the new people would work like they are part of the same team.

They work on a variety of projects, including an iOS app for directors to track production. We have an application that ingests the clips and metadata from the camera and distributes, organizes, and collects that metadata and clips to the iOS app via the Cloud. We also have a web interface that manages users and productions and a web version of the viewer apps. The technologies used are Swift and Ruby on Rails.

What is the team composition?

We have three senior developers and a tester. Currently, we don’t have a project manager as we work very tightly ourselves.

How did you come to work with Binar::Apps?

We did a lot of research and met with them in-person as well. They give a very solid impression. The city in which they are located has a renowned film school which was an additional component in our decision. We felt that because we work in film, it might lead to some interesting things in the future.

How much have you invested in them?

We've spent around €200,000 ($235,474 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in April 2017 and the work is ongoing. Our goal is to increase the number of people working on the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're currently in a beta testing phase which has been ongoing for the past couple of months. The user feedback has been good so far and the stability has improved.

How did Binar::Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We have daily stand-ups and keep in touch very closely. Once we know what we want to do, the team is very involved in planning. The collaboration has been working very well. We use Slack for communication, GitHub for tracking user stories, tasks, and source control. We also visit each other in-person relatively often. It's quite easy to get from Oslo to Poland, and they visit Norway once per year, so we see each other every month or two.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In comparison to the research we did on other companies, Binar seem very solid and professional. They're relatively expensive compared to what we would pay for developers in Norway, but they bring high quality and flexibility. It's good to work with people who already have an understanding of what we want to achieve.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We've had three testers since we started with them and it takes time for a new tester to become productive in the system, especially because it's relatively specialized and complex. It would be good if the testers stayed longer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It depends on the company, but considering the quality that Binar delivers and their price level, work closely with them and treat them as an extension of your existing team and a very close partner. That is what we have done and it's worked very well for us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We provide a data collection and collaboration platform. It’s available in the form of mobile and web apps. I am the CTO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Binar Apps?

We needed Ruby on Rails and AngularJS web development. We had been working with a Polish company for this task, but, after a while, we became dissatisfied with their performance. We started looking for someone else with a focus on quality, and making sure that the code we received was in good condition. The number one requirement for us was the technical skill of the team, but we also cared about their attitude, responsiveness and project management.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an existing product. Binar Apps was asked to perform maintenance work, do bug fixes, as well as add new features. Most of their work is on our APIs and backend and frontend. Binar Apps isn’t providing any mobile development for us yet. We provide all requirements, details, and mockups, and Binar Apps will work on them. They have internal QA which goes through the code, making sure that what they’re delivering is functional. Once we receive features on our side, we do our own testing, and go live. All the work is done for our core product, the data collection platform.

How did you come to work with Binar Apps?

I found Binar Apps on an online platform. I interviewed a number of companies, and had a one-month trial with Binar Apps. They gave us an initial discount and developed a feature for us. That was a good indicator of whether or not we could work together, while also assessing their technical skills. We started working on a regular basis from there.

How much have you invested with Binar Apps?

The cost of Binar Apps’ work has been $50,000 through April. We have an hourly collaboration.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Binar Apps in November 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Binar Apps’ work is a part of our product, and we did have customers before their involvement. They do contribute, but our success isn’t a direct result of Binar Apps’ work.

We’ve recently released a new data-saving feature developed with Binar Apps, so I don’t have any feedback for it yet.

How did Binar Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We are not using a project manager with Binar Apps, which is a requirement from many other development companies. From my experience, one wasn’t really necessary since we would be doing that work on our side at the end of the day, in terms of providing all the requirements and making sure that everything was on time. Binar Apps’ lead developer is our main contact, and we have weekly status meetings, as well as daily emails. The performance has been good, but we have had to clear our expectations in the beginning and familiarize Binar Apps with the project. I think that, overall, things have gone smoothly. It all depends on what we develop, since some features can be more challenging than others.

Binar Apps has responded quickly to any emergencies we’ve had, and they were always available. We have a time difference, so they’re finishing their work day when we’re starting ours. It hasn’t happened often, but there have been instances of issues coming up which needed to be fixed right away. I was able to get a hold of one of Binar Apps’ owners, and he got everyone involved, resolving our situation.

What did you find most impressive about Binar Apps?

The process is quite good. Binar Apps’ team is agile and has little overhead, compared to other companies we’ve worked with. This is one of the best things about them, and there is also a lot of testing and QA being provided at no charge to us.

Are there any areas Binar Apps could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Nomadic Uno is a location-based service for events, conferences, and festivals. We provide this through a custom app with GPS and SMS functionalities which are coupled with a proprietary backend that collects data, performs analytics, and provides custom content, based on a user's location. We're located in Toronto, Canada. I am the CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Binar::Apps?

I needed a great backend and frontend development team which could not only execute on the platform I already had but also take it to the next level and deliver it to the market quickly, without a lot of guidance. They needed to look at the code and the business, and determine what needed to be done regarding feature sets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Binar::Apps reviewed our existing product, which was an MVP [minimum viable product] at that stage, learned how it was built, and what its limitations were. Together, we determined what the backend software should be from a reliability, usability, and scalability points-of-view. The second part implied looking at the frontend app which delivered the service, with the same objectives of assessing the code for reliability, scalability, and so on. Binar::Apps was involved in rebuilding the entire application from the ground up.

The backend was built entirely using Ruby on Rails, while the customer-facing app was developed for iOS.

How did you come to work with Binar::Apps?

I'm very fond of Polish developers since that's my native country, so I reviewed a few groups, looking at how skilled they were. Binar::Apps is based in my city of birth, and had an office almost exactly across the street from where I used to live. A part of the decision came from my gut, but I did go through a due-diligence process, looking at their approaches to development, project management, and QA. It was important for me that Binar::Apps' members would be able to think for themselves, rather than execute what they're told. Based on those criteria, we decided to work together, and I've been pleased so far.

How much have you invested with Binar::Apps?

The cost of Binar::Apps' work has been between $60,000 and $70,000 for the three projects we've worked on together. I'm looking forward to doing more business.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Binar::Apps in June 2015. We have several engagements and will continue the relationship in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our first project on the mobile app and its location-based technologies made the system much more robust. We were able to showcase it to several prospects, which will ultimately convert into paying customers. The project is ongoing, and I have confidence that, as we proceed, Binar::Apps will have my back and deliver things which will make us stand out for our clients.

Binar::Apps was proactive in stepping in and making changes on the fly, based on our interactions with customers.

For another project, Binar::Apps not only delivered what was in the scope, but also beyond that, troubleshooting things proactively. It was a great success story, and it made us look good in front of clients.

How did Binar::Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

Binar::Apps is a very process-focused group, which is a great help for me since I'm not. They kept me focused on specific priorities, in order to get our objective across. We used Taiga for project management.

What did you find most impressive about Binar::Apps?

I've been in business for many years and across different companies. Binar::Apps is the first group of developers with whom I feel a kinship. I can describe what I need to do, and I'm confident that Binar::Apps' team will poke holes in it, rather than simply doing what they're told. They're committed to making my business better by actively participating in the development. It's a huge thing for outsourcing companies. Binar::Apps makes things happen, instead of offering excuses.

Binar::Apps' team also has good English skills, which means that I can interface with them directly, and so can my clients.

Are there any areas Binar::Apps could improve?

Nothing is glaring. Time management could have been better since there is a time-shift between our location and Binar::Apps'. A team which was committed to the same hours as us would be an improvement. With another company, we needed to adjust our hours, for contrast.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We offer a rewards platform to retail sites, and our rewards are sporting events. We're totally B2B now, but had started in a B2C model. I'm the product manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Binar::Apps?

We needed a development team to develop an MVP [minimum viable product] because we didn't have any resources in-house. The goal of our partnership was to have something to show investors and test our algorithms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a CMS [content management system] for us and our product, which was a B2C website built in Ruby on Rails.

How did you come to work with Binar::Apps?

Some of the founders had personal connections with Binar::Apps.

How much have you invested with Binar::Apps?

The project cost between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2014, and both the MVP and version 2 was completed in June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The MVP allowed us to raise money for the next phase in the company. With version 2, we were able to prove the model and business model further, and we made the switch to B2B. We did make a few sales online, but the results were internal. Since we were a startup, we didn't have any metrics to start with but, after their work, we had 300 visitors a month to our site. We generated 20,000 pounds worth of sales during the year-and-a-half testing period.

How did Binar::Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We collaborated mainly on Skype and used email to have documentation. We also used Slack and Trello for planning. The project was managed by two teams and by using these tools.

What did you find most impressive about Binar::Apps?

It was our first experience working with a remote team, and I felt everything went well.

Are there any areas Binar::Apps could improve?

Communication is always very important when working with a remote team, so more attention on communication would always be good.