Chakor

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of an event talent procurement platform

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Ours is a modern platform revolutionizing talent procurement for event planners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Chakor to accomplish?

• Deliver a functional MVP of our app and support it after launch for 4 months

SOLUTION

How did you find Chakor?

Online Search

Why did you select Chakor over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Chakor were assigned to this project?

One junior developer assigned at a time who worked with little or no oversight unless we demanded upper management engagement.

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Chakor has requested three months to complete the project, which included several key objectives. The project would begin with detailed scoping sessions to identify requirements and timelines. This would be followed by the creation of design mockups and user stories. Comprehensive documentation would outline the requirements for each user story, and there would be collaboration with the client to finalize the scope of work.

Project management would be organized in Jira, featuring a Gantt chart to track progress effectively. Development would encompass both unit-level and end-to-end testing of features based on the finalized user stories. The project would conclude with the transfer of app ownership, domain attachment, and preparation for launch. A thorough QA plan to ensure that user stories are tested adequately, supported by regular communication through a dedicated Slack channel and scheduled meetings to update the client.

Key deliverables included complete documentation, fully developed features, detailed project management, and readiness for launch. After the app's release, Chakor would provide support for an additional four months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Chakor failed to provide the client with a functional MVP, leaving the app with numerous bugs and UX/UI issues. The team lacked accountability and direction, and their communication was sporadic. The client faced delays of over a year, and the app stayed incomplete, causing the client to hire another team to complete the MVP at a cost of $10,000 and counting.

Numerous communications indicate dissatisfaction with the testing process, inadequate oversight, and a project that is excessively buggy, poorly designed, and poorly executed.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

No project manager was ever assigned as defined in the contract. No client--facing project management software was used. There was no internal peer review process.

What was your primary form of communication with Chakor?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their second developer demonstrated strong problem-solving skills, particularly in creating custom solutions for unique platform needs.

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

Chakor could have succeeded by assigning a project manager, strengthening QA processes, adhering to timelines, and aligning with industry standards for SaaS development.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I cannot recommend Chakor due to serious issues with project management, communication, and meeting deadlines, along with frequent excuses from upper management and an effort to pressure for a favorable Clutch review.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a startup called Gifts Made Beautiful, a gift-wrapping service. We’re larger than the average gift-wrapping service. The largest premise behind what we do is that clients can use our physical address as their shipping address for gifts they purchase online. This way, they don’t have to worry about porch pirates or smart kids finding where parents have hidden their toys.

Clients can use an app to purchase our services, tell us what they’re sending, and choose the style we’ll wrap it in. There are many styles available. Our customers can also tell us when they want their gifts back. So after wrapping, we hold the gift for them, and they either come to pick it up or we use an outside service to deliver it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chakor?

We needed help designing both a mobile and a web app that could handle all of our services. Basically, the challenge was building a desktop/mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chakor has been tasked with creating a web and mobile app for Android and iOS from scratch. Since we didn't have any documentation, they started out with nothing but our detailed Zoom calls. Nevertheless, we already have our branding, so we have presented the brand colors to the team and asked them to incorporate them as much as possible in the app.

They have also helped us with the app’s layout and concept and connected us to Stripe after suggesting it as an appropriate resource for us. We have agreed, and they have set up an account with Stripe and integrated it into the program, giving us a method for selling our services and taking payments.

At the moment, they have a three months built-in to fix anything that’s broken. After that, we can go on a maintenance plan with them. They have even proposed teaching me how to do my own maintenance, but I have declined.

What is the team composition?

We have worked with five people, including a project manager, a UX designer, a developer, an overall manager, and a billing person.

How did you come to work with Chakor?

We found them through Bubble. I was able to create my company’s website through Bubble, and we considered creating our app as well. Unfortunately, Bubble confused me. However, the platform did have a marketplace. 

When we looked through different sites on Bubble, we searched for a group with enough experience to trust them. However, since we're a brand-new startup, we didn’t want a group large enough to charge us more than we could afford.

So, we did some due diligence on who we wanted to hire and found Chakor. They sat in the middle ground between being too new and too big.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2024, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have successfully delivered the app and helped us embed it on our website. The app’s launch was last week, in fact. Now, when someone visits our website and clicks a button, they seamlessly move over to the app.  This way, our customers don’t have to download the app elsewhere.

On the other hand, Chakor has done a fabulous job working with our color schemes. From the beginning, they envisioned a better app concept that didn’t focus solely on what was easiest to design and run.

So far, we have received nothing but positive feedback from the testers and clients who have gone through the process. The team has matched the app’s search bar with my website’s address. This has led to a seamless transition, one where people don’t realize they’ve left our website.

By the way, I have also loved their UX specialists, who have given me great feedback. Overall, Chakor’s advice on my business model has been great. They’ve actually asked me questions and not just gone with what I asked for. They would ask for my reasoning and then suggest a solution that better answers my challenge or question.

In summary, people have had a good experience using the app; everything has functioned as intended, and no bugs have appeared. I also look forward to the maintenance plan. I’m excited to work with Chakor again on a new contract. They’ve truly exceeded our expectations.

How did Chakor perform from a project management standpoint?

From the start, I have loved my interactions with them. Sometimes, I didn’t understand what they were doing; I’m not tech-savvy. Nonetheless, they’ve been phenomenal.

Throughout the engagement, they have stuck to the budget and never said anything was beyond its reach. They’ve also done amazing with the timeline, considering I was the delaying factor. Despite the different time zones and the fact that they’re based offshore, I slowed us down. They kept reminding me to keep up with them. I apologize for that!

Chakor has given us the feedback we need. They use Slack as their form of communication and use it well. It has also served as a project management tool sometimes. We use Google Meet as well.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Mohid, the project manager, and Aqsa, my developer. They both have been amazing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have been most impressed by their size, experience, and willingness to work with us on such a tight deadline.

When we spoke with them on the first call, they were a little hesitant about our requested timeline. It was very tight, and they made it clear that if they quickly devoted resources to it, then it would cost a little more. We accepted that as a reality check. They stepped up and said they could commit to it and make it happen, and they did, which has pleased me.

They have blown away stereotypes for us, and we’re incredibly grateful. We’re a suburban American company, and before this, we didn’t have any experience working with an offshore partner. However, these people have been phenomenal; everybody communicates well with us and each other.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s not a single thing I’d ask them to change. They have been spectacular right from the start. They have done a great job communicating what they need from us regarding the business model.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think clearly about your time frame. From the beginning, keep in mind that they’re in a different time zone. Knowing this and acting accordingly will better accommodate their time frame, making your engagement easier. It’s a serious consideration, given that you’re working with someone on the other side of the planet.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of C-Pro, Corp

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our platform offers home service contractors for quick quotes via video consultation and easier project and customer management

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Chakor to accomplish?

• Mobile app design

SOLUTION

How did you find Chakor?

Online Search

Why did you select Chakor over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• professional

How many teammates from Chakor were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Add enhanced features based on customer feedback from product launch; update the software infrastructure to follow best practices and lean the operations; and fix bugs during the product launch.
• Continue development of UI and UX for two months to further optimize the app experience for our target users.
• Maintain and build more efficient workflows to improve the app response time. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Through four phases of app development and working with our web contractors, Chakor developed our mobile app in 6 months from MVP to a completely functional app, including key features for customer and client management, video conference, calendar management, and payment processing. We had a list of total features/improvements over 300 items added or improved during the periods. We ended up with 100 users signed up for our app within 4 months of launch. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We used slack to communicate, and the developer stayed on top. We had daily morning meetings scheduled to discuss progress and concerns. 

What was your primary form of communication with Chakor?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Fair market price for app development and adaptiveness to my constant changing requests 

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

billing could be a challenge sometimes, but Chakor is willing to adapt to my sponsor's policies, and we worked it out. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the CEO of a home services company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Marketplace for services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Chakor to accomplish?

• Create an application to match a detailed scope and existing Figma designs
• Complete further features and add-ons

SOLUTION

How did you find Chakor?

Subcontract & Bubble Agency status

Why did you select Chakor over others?

• High ratings
• Already involved in project

How many teammates from Chakor were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We asked The Chakor to complete Web & Mobile Applications (iOS & Android):

• Include user registration and profiles for service providers and customers
• Location-based search with skillset filtering, video calling, and payment processing
• An Admin panel to manage users and transactions
• Ratings system; users can rate each other after job completion
• Push notifications; real-time alerts for video calls, payments
• Security & testing; app should be free of bugs by GTM and secure for users
• Ongoing post-launch support for bug fixes and updates

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The bones of the app were completed early on which indicated progress, but the quality of the work led to severe delays and breakdowns in workflows. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Unfortunately nothing was delivered even close to on time. Multiple meetings and detailed accounts of outstanding tasks were leading to "band-aid fixes" (Orphan workflows being made instead of correcting the existing mistakes). We decided to launch without some features, hoping we could at least start customer acquisition. The Chakor then began work on an outstanding deliverable and subsequently the whole app stopped working. They were never able to fix this. 6 months after the project was meant to have been completed, we terminated the relationship. The founder of The Chakor threatened to pay someone to break our app and leave "a bulk of bad reviews".

What was your primary form of communication with Chakor?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Absolutely nothing. We were gutted to find out that tier status of this company wasn't based on work quality.

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

Ownership of mistakes and better efforts to fix them. We had another agency fix most of the mistakes within a month of leaving The Chakor - The Chakor could have sourced this help themselves and saved a terrible breakdown. Alternatively, let us know they were unable to deliver so we could sort it earlier.

Communication; in my entire career I never thought I would see threats of illegal activity in writing. Strongly suggest the founder take a business comms course.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a lead project manager at a tech and data company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chakor?

We needed help developing an MVP for a mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chakor developed an MVP for a mobile app using Bubble. The team delivered a web app's MVP, which was meant to be a mobile app for iOS and Android. One of the app's features was creating a personalized path based on the results of a skill assessment. Another feature was the integration of social media content.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 teammates from Chakor.

How did you come to work with Chakor?

I was looking for Bubble developers on Bubble's website. Chakor was the only Bubble development agency in Asia. I chose the team because they were competitive and had a track record of working with Bubble. Additionally, we spoke the same language, which made it easier for me to work with Chakor.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–October 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Chakor delivered great-quality work. The team was an expert in Bubble and saved me a lot of time because otherwise, I would've had to learn Bubble myself. Since I was involved in many projects, I could trust Chakor to do the development work while I focused on the business aspects and ensured we had the correct data to add to the app.

How did Chakor perform from a project management standpoint?

We were in constant communication using Slack, Google Meet, phone calls, and emails; however, Slack was more efficient than emails. We collaborated via Figma, Bubble, and Google Drive to share files. I had a delay on my end that prevented us from meeting the original project's timeline. Although the project was extended, Chakor didn't ask for extra money.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to put together a cross-functional team that delivered in a timely manner was Chakor's biggest strength. The team could do things that would take a long time. For instance, we discussed adding a new feature, and they managed to do it right away on the same day.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Chakor could set up regular touchpoints, but that wasn’t a big deal.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared about what you want in your app. That way, you'll save time, and Chakor can quickly start the design and development process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Emergi Mentors

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Emergi Mentors is an online marketplace, currently under development, aimed at
connecting global mentors with local Australians to build a highly skilled workforce in
emerging technologies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Chakor to accomplish?

• UI/UX Design: Create a high-fidelity, intuitive, and user-centered design that aligns with our product vision, enhancing user engagement and overall satisfaction.
• Web Development: Build a fully functional and responsive web application tailored to our specific requirements, ensuring robust performance and scalability.

SOLUTION

How did you find Chakor?

Online Search

Why did you select Chakor over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Chakor were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Detailed scoping and deliverables schedule
- Create high fidelity Figma Designs
- Breakdown whole project in user stories
- Produce detailed documents for each user story
- Back and forth calls with client to lock the details of scope
- Setup project in Jira and produce a gantt chart to show case due dates of each
deliverable (user stories)
- Development with unit level testing
- End-to-End Testing
- Transfer Ownership, attach domain, go live

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project had a clear scope and detailed deliverables schedule, which included the following measurable outcomes:

• Create High-Fidelity Figma Designs: The project required the delivery of high-fidelity UI/UX designs in Figma, which unfortunately was not achieved. Despite multiple rounds of feedback and extra time provided, the designs failed to meet the agreed-upon standards.
• Breakdown of Project into User Stories: A thorough breakdown of the project into user stories was completed to ensure structured development and clarity of the deliverables.
• Detailed Documentation for Each User Story: Detailed documents were prepared for each user story, which outlined the specific functionalities, ensuring clear communication and expectation alignment with the development team.
• Back-and-Forth Calls to Finalize Scope: Regular calls were held with the client to refine and lock the project scope, ensuring that both parties were aligned on expectations and requirements.
• Project Setup in Jira with Gantt Chart for Deliverables: The project was properly set up in Jira, and a Gantt chart was created to display due dates and progress timelines for each user story.
• Development with Unit-Level Testing: Initial stages of development were aligned with unit-level testing to ensure the robustness of code as it progressed.
• End-to-End Testing: Comprehensive end-to-end testing was planned to ensure seamless integration of all components once developed.
• Ownership Transfer, Domain Attachment, and Go Live: The project aimed to transfer ownership and deploy the application upon completion, though this was never reached due to the failure during the UI/UX stage.
• Outcome: Unfortunately, the project stalled and failed at the UI/UX stage. The designer was unable to deliver high-fidelity Figma designs as agreed, which derailed the entire project. This significant failure in one of the early stages prevented the rest of the project from moving forward.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project management was unfortunately a complete failure. Despite having a clear timeline and deliverables schedule, the team failed to deliver the high-fidelity UI/UX designs within the agreed time frame. In fact, the project experienced significant delays, and even after providing additional time, the work was far from acceptable.

Their responsiveness to our needs was inadequate. When we raised concerns about the lack of progress, they were unwilling to acknowledge that the project was failing. Instead of addressing the issues constructively, their tech lead displayed a dismissive attitude and was notably rude in communications. This lack of professionalism and refusal to accept accountability greatly affected the overall project experience and led to a breakdown in trust.

The failure to deliver on time, coupled with poor communication and unprofessional behavior, demonstrated a serious lack of effective project management.

What was your primary form of communication with Chakor?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Unfortunately, there was nothing impressive or unique about the company. Despite their claims of professionalism, the reality was quite the opposite. Their team exhibited rude behavior, particularly their tech lead, and their unwillingness to acknowledge and address the project's issues left a lot to be desired. Their lack of professionalism overshadowed any positive aspects we might have expected from them.

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

There are several key areas where Chakor could improve:

• Communication and Responsiveness: The team must be more open to feedback and responsive to client concerns. Dismissing client feedback and being unprofessional in communication, as we experienced, is not conducive to a positive working relationship.
• Accountability: Chakor could benefit from taking ownership when things go wrong. Acknowledging issues early on and working collaboratively to resolve them would have demonstrated a commitment to the project’s success.
• Adherence to Deadlines: Timely delivery of agreed-upon deliverables is critical. Delays in the UI/UX design stage, despite granting additional time, significantly derailed the project and affected our overall timeline.
• Professionalism: The team, especially leadership, should maintain a professional and respectful tone in all communications. The tech lead's rude behavior contributed to a poor client experience and damaged trust.

By focusing on these areas, Chakor could greatly improve their project management and client relationships moving forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an online networking and event portal for people in the spiritual and holistic wellness field.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chakor?

We needed a website because I didn't have one, so I hired Chakor to build it for me from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chakor has designed and developed my website from scratch using Bubble. We started with initial consulting and agreed on the scope of work. After that, we went through the design stage. Once we approved the design, the team started building the website. We've kept in contact with Chakor throughout the whole development process since.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with around three teammates from Chakor.

How did you come to work with Chakor?

We found them through Google. The team understood what I wanted and offered a good price, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2024, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Chakor has been delivering what they've promised. Basically, they get the job done.

How did Chakor perform from a project management standpoint?

We've had no issues with Chakor's project management. We've kept all of our communication online, so we use Google Meet for our virtual meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Chakor’s speed in doing things has been really good. They’re quick to take action.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing Chakor could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure communication is clear so that they can take action quickly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of Bizitory

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is a business networking marketplace where businesses and consumers can connect and build a community. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Chakor to accomplish?

• To build the software for our platform from start to finish.

SOLUTION

How did you find Chakor?

Bubble.io project application

Why did you select Chakor over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Chakor were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The main scope of work included building a web application from start to finish. Key deliverables included:

• UI/UX Design - A modern looking platform that is functional and easy to navigate. 
• Backend Development - A bug free platform with features including a social feed, messaging, and product purchasing. 
• Feedback - Add or fix features to make the platform run smoothly. 
• Application Testing - Make sure everything is running correctly for actual users. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Having a totally completed project that is ready for users to use that has no bugs and functions properly. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their project management was awesome! They got back to me quickly and always had an answer. They made sure things got done the way I wanted. The project did take a little longer to get done then expected but it was all worth it in the end. 

What was your primary form of communication with Chakor?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

This company works really hard and gets things done while keeping costs low for those purchasing. This is hard to find when everything is so expensive. They made sure that I got what I wanted and kept it within my budget. 

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

They did amazing and I wouldn't change anything they did. I'm happy with Chakor's work and I look forward to working with them on future projects. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the owner of Learning Initiative, an AI-enabled SaaS platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chakor?

I needed help building my MVP as part of a startup.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
Chakor built the MVP of our web application using Bubble, a low-code platform. We started the project by providing them with my use case and what I wanted to do. We worked together to build the project’s scope, after which we started the design phase. They had designers who worked with me to create the UX/UI, business logic, and look and feel of the web app. Once we agreed on the final designs, they delivered them in Figma.

Chakor used OpenAI for this project. Our initial development was done on ChatGPT 3.5, and ChatGPT-4o, a newer version, was released.  After that, they delivered the final product, an AI-based SaaS platform. My requirement was for a web application only because my MVP use case is unlikely to be used via a mobile app. We want to get to that in the next iteration, which is also when I want to implement voice capabilities into the app. For now, customers can only use the MVP via a web service desktop.

What is the team composition?
Aside from the salespeople I initially talked to, I worked with Annus (Co-Founder) and Hamza (Co-Founder), a project manager, a team of designers, and a team of developers.

How did you come to work with Chakor?
I explored the Bubble platform to see whether it was the right platform for my MVP. I went onto the marketplace to see components that had been built by other people, and I started to see Chakor's work show up very often. I also discovered that Chakor was one of Bubble’s four global gold partners, so I reached out to them because they seemed to have very good products. There also wasn’t anything pre-made on the marketplace that matched my specific needs.

How much have you invested with them?
I spent less than $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?
The project lasted from March–August 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Chakor already delivered the main component, and all the final installments are also done. We’re currently publishing the MVP live to production environments. Some final touches are being done, but I’ve already given my sign-off to the MVP, so the project is technically finished. Since we ended up using OpenAI's newer version, ChatGPT-4o, we were able to leverage a few more extra capabilities as part of the MVP.

How did Chakor perform from a project management standpoint?
Chakor performed well in terms of project management. We used Figma to manage our constant feedback loop and Slack to provide daily updates. They always let me know what they were going to be working on at the start of the day and provide progress updates at the end of the day. This kept me really informed and up-to-date with what was happening and kept me engaged in the deliverables I needed to give them as the product owner.

This constant communication really reflected their high level of service and provided me with extra comfort knowing everything we achieved on a day-to-day basis. Nothing came as a surprise.

In terms of the timeline, there were some slippages in the schedule during the design phase. We went through a couple of iterations because I was a bit picky about how I wanted the design to look and feel. However, they were still very cooperative and accommodating of my specific requests.

A lot of the delays were not controlled by the Chakor team, and nothing that came from their side was unacceptable or beyond reason. Everything went seamlessly, especially because of their daily updates.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?
I would like to give a shout-out to Zayaan (Web Application Developer), the project manager who handled the project from start to finish. I would also like to commend their main design person for creating really nice-looking visuals and UX/UI designs and their lead developer for effectively communicating throughout. I’m sure they were supported by other developers behind the scenes, but they were my primary points of contact.

What did you find most impressive about them?
I was most impressed with the quality of every person on Chakor’s team. Their design team was very attentive and asked many useful questions. When they delivered their initial designs, I provided a lot of feedback and critiqued their work thoroughly. They actually listened well to my feedback and gave me what I wanted.

I also liked how they devised at least two different ways to execute the final concept. I actually ended up changing my mind and accepting what they had come up with rather than what I initially wanted. They obviously knew better and offered a better way of solving my problem. They were still very happy to communicate and understand what I was asking for, which was critical to delivering a great product and outcome.

The whole point of choosing Bubble was that it was supposed to be very fast. However, once the app was usable, there was one design element that I had approved but wasn’t working as expected, which caused a delay. We sat together on a call and went through the issue, and they came up with an alternative way to execute it that improved the final solution. Whenever they saw an opportunity to improve, they always took it.

Are there any areas they could improve?
No, they put their expertise forward when the project wasn't going as planned.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s a good idea to clearly communicate what you want and why you want it. The more you can clarify your requirements, the better the results will be.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a digital consultant for an International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) school in Indonesia. I help with the digitalization of the school's services and understand what can be improved in terms of IT infrastructure to improve productivity and efficiency. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chakor?

We identified a lot of time wasted on manual data entry, including duplicate entries from parents filling out paper forms and then having to import that onto a spreadsheet. We also identified a lot of back and forth from WhatsApp information to input into the spreadsheet. This all resulted in a disjointed and fragmented database among the different school departments.

Moreover, we found that sometimes data was either missing or duplicated. At our school, it was difficult for different departments to get a sense of students' application status because someone might have forgotten to update the information or there had been a lapse in communication from parents. We wanted to fix our manual entry, fragmented data, and lack of transparency issues. We embarked on a transformation project for the admissions system and hired Chakor. Some of our goals included real-time updates. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chakor is developing an in-house admissions system. We started the process by providing documentation from the school's end. I provided the team with all the use cases and led the team in designing the platform and functionality. The Chakor team has also contributed use cases I hadn't considered in the initial UI design. Chakor is translating that work into a no-code tool using Bubble. 

Chakor has designed the database and the workflows for how the system's UI will interact with it. The team has also handled all the needed integrations. For example, they integrated the system with Jotform for the forms users will need to fill out and a payment gateway to help parents make payments immediately. 

The team has also built email and notification-related features, roles, and permissions within the platform. Chakor is building a CRM for parents to submit their kids' school applications. The platform is missing some tweaks before it goes live. After launch, Chakor will provide us with four months of maintenance services; we're technically in that period based on the original timeline, and they'll help us resolve any issues and make changes to the system that might come up once our team uses it. 

What is the team composition?

They have a product manager, Mohid (Web Application Developer), and a developer assigned to the project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $5,000.

How did you come to work with Chakor?

I really wanted to use Bubble instead of building the app from scratch to make the process faster. I found Chakor on Bubble's recommended agencies list. I reached out to a few companies, and Chakor had a good reputation and many good reviews. When I called them, the team seemed to have a keen interest in the project, which was a plus. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them around April 2024, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Chakor has been able to supplement my expertise for this project. They understand what they need to build and have added email notifications, roles, and permissions within the tool, which I hadn't thought of before. Chakor created various rules within the platform that have helped meet the school departments' needs. The team has executed these features very well, which will go a long way because they'll benefit us while maintaining data security.  

How did Chakor perform from a project management standpoint?

They've been able to work in an agile manner and have been very accommodating. Our school is unique because we have our own workflow and processes. Initially, we had a notion of how to build the tool, but then we realized that might not be the best solution. Chakor has been open to making the necessary changes even though they resulted in a longer timeline.  

We originally thought the system could be completed in two months, but the timeline has been longer. Chakor has been a good partner and has continued to be available despite the extension of the timeline. At every stage of the process, Chakor shares an update, and I test it, share it with my team, and provide feedback. For every feedback session, we have a call, and Chakor has good availability.  

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Mohid, who acts as our product manager and project lead. He understands our business requirements and is very open to feedback. Despite a lot of back and forth and changes in requirements, he remains very adaptable and executes the project so that we can realize the admissions system we need. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Chakor has a good Bubble license. The team also provided us with very detailed scope and quote documents during the initial process, distinguishing them from other companies that offered quotes that were lacking. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their QA process and use of project management tools could be improved. When I test their updates, I still see many issues and have to provide them with a lot of feedback, which takes a while.

Although Chakor always addresses all my feedback, I would expect every update to work well and not have as many issues. This could be because Chakor isn't testing these updates themselves and figuring out how to fix them, making sure the tool is clear of bugs before delivering. Instead, I act as their QA. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Come up with a clear idea of what you want to build and involve the stakeholders within your organization who will interact with your product; that's something I could have done better. If you have your team there, they can provide Chakor with feedback directly and will notice things you won't, so you can spend less time going back and forth with changes and documented requirements. Since I'm a business analyst and not the end user, there were things I missed.