Cleveroad

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CEO and founder of a startup headquartered in Irvine, CA.The company was formed from the passion to connect students to educators.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cleveroad?

We set out to create a platform to connect students to educators. Unfortunately, it would be much too long for an in-house developer to take on the project without help so we've looked into outsourcing the development.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop a minimal iOS build to get feedback from beta users. Then improve the applications from users' feedback before we develop the android version.

SOLUTION

How did you select Cleveroad?

My team searched online for app developers in our area and overseas. We made a list of three based on their case studies. We contacted each and selected Cleveroad based on their price point which we felt was fair.

Describe the project in detail.

We had several discovery meetings via skype to discuss goals and objectives with our project manager. Within two weeks, we received flowchart and wireframes for the iOS build. After revision, some logic doesn't flow and Cleveroad went above and beyond to help our team think through the process.

What was the team composition?

Initially, we were in contact with sales. After we selected to hire Cleveroad for the project, we were assigned to a project manager as the main point of contact throughout the project. For development, they had a team of frontend, backend and QA to support the project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

During beta, there were several bugs. Cleveroad addresses the issue immediately and new patch were released within days. We've requested a few minor changes to address usability issue and these were worked on fairly quickly.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our project manager is always on top of things. All concerns are addressed within hours. Communications were always clear.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team are very knowledgeable and always give honest feedback when we requests to implement additional features.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We've worked with Cleveroad since 2016 and are very satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a restaurant marketplace company. My company is under the process of development of a mobile application for our marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cleveroad?

We hired Cleveroad to develop the wireframes, specifications document (user stories) and detailed estimation.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals was to quickly develop such deliverables in order to have a better understanding of how our product would look like and start as soon as possible the development, which required wireframes and user stories. With the estimation we would also know the investment necessary for such project.

SOLUTION

How did you select Cleveroad?

We selected Cleveroad after speaking to many different companies. We received numerous proposals and Cleveroad’s pitch was the one which impressed us with cost benefit we were presented with. We have a couple of calls and decided then to begin the development phase.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was very simple. Our product has a mobile application for uses to interact with the vendors and a web application for the vendors to manage their content and orders. The project was simply to describe it more technically through a specifications document, provide wireframes to show logically the user flow and where each feature is located in, as well as a detailed estimation document for the whole project bearing in mind all the features.

What was the team composition?

2 part time requirement analysts, unknown number of part time designers and 1 part time business developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was successfully translated into a detailed specifications document which helped considerably to understand the product and to consult with other companies and future partners.

Cleveroad was also flexible with the services provided and we were able to trade part of the wireframes development hours for the creation of a design concept. We were very appreciative of this and it certainly helped us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

That point was where we started to have problems. Previous to starting the project, I was told that there would be around 3 weekly meetings to discuss the progress and any other detail.

However, when the project began, very few meetings took place and some weeks had no meetings at all. When the business developer was inquired about having more meetings, I was told that it was being done that way in order not to waste time.

It certainly did not contribute to less time being spent since it was harder to understand the progress and give feedback with the poor communication that was taking place.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Honestly, the services were average and they did not stand out for any specific part of the project. The only part which I deeply appreciated was the possibility to exchange some of the wireframe hours with design concept creation, this demonstrated flexibility.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Many. I decided to write this review is in order for Cleveroad to acknowledge that the Planning phase needs to have immediate improvements. Communication was very poor, deadlines were not met at all and upon the end of the project, I received an email that said that the services were fully provided but it lacked one essential deliverable: the detailed estimation.

Many of the feedbacks given were not taken into account and were not altered, many spelling mistakes in the wireframes. I believe that the greatest areas for improvement are: being more detailed oriented and providing everything exactly the way explained and promised in the contract and when the pitch was first given.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of the swiss company Eydeer Solutions corp. The company is developing a new survey platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cleveroad?

Cleveroad was developing the website vottelo.

What were your goals for this project?

Cleveroad was responsible for the design, back- and frontend and an admin panel.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was getting several offers from various providers. Cleveroad was fast understanding my needs and I was convinced of the offer. Also the personal contact was very satisfying.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed and developed the website.

What was the team composition?

The communication was mostly with the project manager. Other team-members were from the design and delevolping team. Responsible for discussing the contract was the business devoping manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As we are a startup, the website didn't exist before. So we started at zero. And now it exists a prototype with full funcionalities. And we are doing ongoing improvements.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project was very well organized. The communication was by skype, mail and we used google docs, sheets, zeplin and invision for working together.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The time and costs which were scheduled were always maintained. The panned meetings started always on time. Any questions I had were always answered very quickly. I felt very well serviced.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would appreciate to meet all teammembers at the beginning of the project, not only the project manager. It is important for me to know the people personally.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-creative director and co-owner of Weill Media LLC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

I hired Cleveroad to help me re-create a basic MVP for an Android app that I made. The previous proof-of-concept was riddled with problems, multiple inefficiencies that made it slow. I’d worked with three other groups to fix it and realized that I needed to start again from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cleveroad designed and executed the app from scratch. They delivered a user interface and code to get it to the point where we could launch it on the Google Play Store. We plan to also create a premium version and an iOS version as well.

What is the team composition?

I provided a liaison who serves as my point person. I rarely interact directly with developers or designers outside of meetings.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I found Cleveroad through a Google search, but then verified them using Clutch. I was considering about four or five other development teams, but Cleveroad seem professional and met the financial requirements of the project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in December 2018, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality is high, mainly because of their process. They press me to define what I need and then confirm that with me before they execute. When you're trying to develop software, it can get very muddy, and you can't see the forest for the trees. Cleveroad has this process that makes everything clear. 

As a result, they’ve created an app that functions well and doesn't crash very often. It's very stable and intuitive. They simplified what I was trying to accomplish.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

One of the aspects of their team that I’m very impressed with is their responsiveness. They hustle, they get tasks done quickly, and they keep me focused. 

I’m happy with the tools that we use. InVision has been particularly helpful. We also communicate via email and shared Google docs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I got the sense that they were very dedicated to the success of the project, and their actions bore that out. I feel like I have a team of knowledgeable folks in my corner.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep up with their process and focus on communication. If you do, they’ll be able to resolve issues quickly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of Oppcar, a car inspection service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We hired Cleveroad to develop our mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, we started with specifications and planning before tackling the design and development phases. When we began working with Cleveroad, we already had the MVP.

Their team developed our mobile app that allows customers to inspect used cars. The app gives a report for each vehicle, along with a set of questions and answers. Users can also buy a warranty for the car.

Because they had to adapt a lot of French government processes, the inspection process of the app was a bit technical — the complex information needed to be precise since it was being sent to the government API.

The team at Cleveroad completed the development, design, and analysis. The app was built for iOS and Android. Swift was used for the iOS version. The backend is in C#, and I believe the frontend is in JavaScript. They also created a CRM. Their team provided support after development, as well.

What is the team composition?

We started with a team of four. At the end of the engagement, about eight people were working on our project.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I was trying to find a company based in France, but a lot of them were outside of my budget. I looked around and found Cleveroad on Clutch. We paid them one month for specifications while asking them to give a precise estimate of the project. The engagement could stop at any stage we wanted, but development began in April.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Cleveroad started in October 2018, and the work ended in August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team at Cleveroad provides quality work, making changes as necessary. After one month, we had over 10,000 users. The impact has been excellent. We’ve put a pause on marketing while we raise more funding.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they were perfect. We had excellent communications with them. Their team works fast, makes propositions, and delivers on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Cleveroad does their job well, delivering on what their clients need. Communication with them is great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I enjoyed working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should know what they want. Cleveroad’s team is great, but they work on ideas. They understand the project but aren’t familiar with the market. We had to provide them with some insights into our country. They can give some input, but it’s still the client’s job to know what they want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a team lead for the sales department at a travel company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We reached out to Cleveroad to build our CRM to help us manage our customers and improve our interaction with them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cleveroad developed a custom CRM platform for our internal use from scratch, providing wireframes and full design of the tool in the process. They continue to maintain the platform and update features as needed. 

What is the team composition? 

I mostly work with a project and account manager, but I've also worked with two developers, two designers, and a quality assurance lead on their team. 

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I found them through an online search and decided to work with them based on their prompt response to my request, their overall professionalism, and the valuable suggestions they were able to offer. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $60,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since around August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project manager provides regular performance tracking and demos of each milestone they complete. They consistently meet our goals on time. 

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager has been great about staying in touch, tracking milestones, and responding quickly. They're very efficient with their time and provided a detailed project plan from the start, so I always know what to expect at each stage. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism, proactive project management, and customer-centric attitude set them apart. They're also very good at coming up with creative solutions to best meet customer needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Even though they delivered before our deadline, I still would've liked the CRM platform to have been completed faster. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their advice and flexible in developing a solution to best meet the company's needs. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a medical startup for hospitals and clinics that operates nationally in Denmark.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

I needed a company to develop my web application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the start of the project, Cleveroad gave us a detailed description of how our web application should look along with wireframes to show us their idea for the design visually. During our initial discussions, they explained which technology options were available to use. 

Once they selected Angular for the frontend and Magento for backend, Cleveroad started the build. At this time, our project is still under development.

Our web application helps people find the right doctor for their needs. It includes special search filters for location and types of specialists. The sorting functionality also highlights specific positions and levels of experience. 

What is the team composition? 

The team includes three web developers, two frontend developers, one backend developer, a project manager, and a QA engineer.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I found Cleveroad through an online search and received a lot of positive feedback about their company. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2018, and our project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Cleveroad delivered a web application for our company that performs well.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

Cleveroad divided the work into sprints. We haven’t had any issues with communication. They are very responsive. The project manager communicates fluently in English, our preferred language. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Cleveroad always meets our deadlines. Communication with the team is very high-level.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wish I could be in closer contact with the developers. Being able to explain our needs to the developers directly could potentially accelerate the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Haste makes waste. I would advise future clients to plan before you start building your project.
 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Unified Potential, Inc., a company that's developing a cooperative transportation app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We engaged Cleveroad to develop our mobile app from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cleveroad helped me establish mockups based on my requirements and design ideas, and built an MVP app for iOS from scratch. They incorporated Stripe as a payment gateway, as well as GPS technology and other features that allow different types of users to connect with a variety of transportation options. They've also helped us source a local website developer to complement the app.

What is the team composition?

I work with a few people directly, including a sales/client representative, a lead developer, and a project manager. 

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I initially found them through an article they published about their experience developing an Uber-style app. Since they had the expertise in building apps within the transportation industry, I knew they had the proven capabilities to work on this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $100,000 on development for both iOS and Android. After realizing our budget limitations, we decided to just build an MVP for iOS for now.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback we've received from about 25 beta evaluators has been very positive. Cleveroad helped us build an app that's one of its kind–and they did it well. The features and functionality they built out are very impressive, and they've turned around deliverables remarkably fast.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

They've been very accommodating throughout the engagement. Despite their offshore location, we haven't had any issues with communiciating or language barriers. As someone with little experience in app development, they've done an excellent guiding me through the process.

They thoroughly captured the scope of the work in a 120-page document, and have done an excellent job of meeting all requirements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're genuinely interested in our project, which makes the relationship a lot more enjoyable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They've been a step ahead of me throughout the process, and I'm very pleased with their work overall.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The biggest challenge in a project like this is knowing exactly what you want, but if you can find a way to communicate the details to their team, they'll be able to deliver it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Ayoo AG, and we’re developing a mobile app called Ayoo. The solution teaches users how to dance and allows them to share videos of themselves dancing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

We needed a development partner to build the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided a series of sketches, then Cleveroad’s designer built mockups that captured my vision. After approving the user-stories, we transitioned into the programming phase. The team fully developed an iOS version of the app, but we plan to build an Android version soon.

Cleveroad implemented all of our requested functionalities, including a few unique features. They built a complex duet function, allowing users to record a duet using a video posted by another user. Aside from collaborating with other dancers, this function is part of the learning process. Our users can compare their moves to those of a more experienced dancer, helping them assess their newly learned skills. We also offer a battle feature, where users can challenge each other through the app and the community votes on the winner.

We market the app through Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and we’ve also attended some events. Because we’re trying to test the most effective strategies, these efforts have been modest. We’re currently preparing for a bigger push, using feedback to better target our users both in terms of marketing and in-app experience.

What is the team composition?

We have two full-time workers on the project. I mostly interact with a product manager, who is supported by a developer. For specific technical questions, we are free to contact the developer directly.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

We conducted an online search for global developers, and Cleveroad was mentioned near the top of the rankings list. After contacting a few of the featured companies, we had a series of interviews and provided some information on our project. We asked the potential candidates to submit user stories so that we could get an idea of their approach. Cleveroad was the most impressive, and they offered a reasonable price.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around August 2017. The app was live by February 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Despite only being an MVP at first, our app’s user feedback is largely positive, specifically regarding its performance and speed. Cleveroad worked at a good pace, delivering reliable and stable code.

We made the important stuff first, like the social media features, and now we’re working on more functionalities to keep users interested. With every update, the app continues to receive compliments.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m in steady contact with the product manager, who handles any problems, submits deliverables, and answers questions. Cleveroad is very responsive and attentive via Slack, documenting all of our conversations to better organize the workflow. Communication is key to our partnership. We feel like they’re a part of our company, rather than an outsourced partner.

We scheduled the project in a series of weekly or biweekly sprints, meeting after each to trade feedback. The team was willing to work overtime to meet our needs, but sometimes we went over the deadline. The work never overruns by a lot, so their estimates are still relatively accurate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We made the app design with another company, who also offered to code it. Compared to their proposal, Cleveroad is much better. In looking at all of the providers that I considered, they also stood out in terms of price and quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been helpful if they provided an Amazon Web Services expert. We had to bring in an external resource to handle those specific needs. Aside from that, they performed well.

Any advice for potential customers?

Instead of asking the vendor to draft sketches, clients should do that work internally. It’s important that they clearly define their vision for the app, providing the vendor with a concrete example of how the app should look and function.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a cloakroom management platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cleveroad?

I wanted to build a mobile application to assist with cloakroom management including the process of checking items in and out. I had a basic idea of how the application would work but needed support to design and develop the customer-facing app for iOS and Android as well as a business-facing Android application for tablets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When I first approached Cleveroad, I was put in touch with a high-level project manager with whom I discussed my needs and who gave me an initial estimate of what it would cost to create an MVP. I gave them information about my requirements. I wanted to know what level of difficulty the application I had in mind constituted and generally what it would cost. They took the information I gave them, analyzed it, and came back to me with estimates.

They provided design services and developed both iOS and Android customer-facing apps for me from scratch, starting with the iOS app. I provided them with my requirements and wireframe mockups.

What is the team composition?

My main contact was a project manager but I also worked with a finance manager.

How did you come to work with Cleveroad?

I found them through Clutch. I needed a company with a high-level focus and extensive experience building mobile apps. I also wanted in-house design services to bring all of the work under one roof. Cleveroad seemed to place a lot of emphasis on its mobile application work. I looked at reviews for a number of companies and Cleveroad’s seemed particularly positive. I reviewed their website and ultimately decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2017. The initial development was completed in July 2018 but other work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has been very well received in terms of its quality and appearance. I've demonstrated the completed app with a couple of people in order to get feedback on it. One person commented, for example, that they were incredibly impressed with it. They thought that I could have been showing them an existing competitor product.

How did Cleveroad perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicate with the project manager via Skype chat and have been in contact with him almost every working day for the last year. They're always quick to get back to me. If I wanted to add a feature or make substantial changes, I’d discuss it with the finance manager and he would discuss that further with my main project manager. They’ve been responsive throughout the whole process.

They work in two-weeks sprints and were generally on-time. They manage my expectations and let me know if there are times they won’t be available. On the few occasions where things unavoidably slipped or deadlines had to be moved, they kept me informed and always did their best to make up for lost time. They met deadlines and the quality of the work that they produced was always to a high standard.

Being based in Ukraine, they effectively adopt a midpoint in terms of cost—more expensive than work that might be produced in Asia but less expensive than working in Western Europe. The only issue is that it can be easy to run up additional hours if you want to add features.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They clearly have a large team but everything is filtered and managed through a single project manager. My project manager is able to take whatever requests I may have—whether technical, QA, or design—and send that directly to the relevant person, having understood the issue. It makes for a streamlined process at all times.

Also, given that they’re a Ukrainian-based company, I was particularly impressed with the quality of their spoken and written English.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing immediately springs to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They seem very capable of tackling pretty much any project. They’ll be upfront with you about the anticipated costs, complexity, or difficulties that they might encounter.

They're very good at listening to ideas and giving you positive as well as negative feedback on new features that you might suggest. There were a few occasions, for example, when I suggested adding or tweaking certain features. They came back and explained why that wouldn't be the right thing to do at that time which, on reflection, I always agreed with. They’re good at helping to critique their own work as well as fulfilling your wishes.