Web & Mobile App Dev for Consulting Firm
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Web Development
- $10,000 to $49,999
- Oct. 2020 - Ongoing
- Quality
- 4.0
- Schedule
- 3.0
- Cost
- 4.5
- Willing to Refer
- 3.5
"Working with them has been a learning experience."
- Other industries
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 1-10 Employees
- Online Review
- Verified
Zafflesoft was hired to develop a mobile app and website for a logistics and supply chain consultancy firm. They've coordinated with the client to produce the deliverables following the missed deadline.
The Zafflesoft team has been able to negotiate a fair outcome for the client and the partnership is on good terms. The team is professional and their founder has been instrumental in resolving issues. This review is an update by the client company. The original content is located below the new review.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m an entrepreneur who invests in my own ideas, mostly, related to SaaS in different industries; as well as a Consultant in Supply Chain and Logistics.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Code Brew Labs, and what were your goals?
CBL had internal challenges that I only could get to know when I managed to get a hold of one of their founders.
Since then I had been trying to land on a solution that would be fair for both parties, as my project was not delivered within the timelines agreed.
SOLUTION
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
After negotiations, CBL and I landed an agreement whereby both minimized losses and other negative impacts on our businesses whilst remaining on good terms.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
How did your relationship with Zafflesoft evolve?
We’re on good terms
How did Zafflesoft address the challenges that arose?
Professionally through conversations with one of their founders
Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.
Working with them has been a learning experience and an opportunity to know people who have the guts to put a face to their mistakes and are keen to negotiate different solutions.
How was project management handled?
At this stage, we have been handling a fair exit from the project so, based upon such I can tell it has been managed well.
Is there anything that Zafflesoft did well or that you would consider a strength?
The involvement of a founder to sort out major challenges has been fairly good.
In what specific areas can they improve?
Communication
What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?
- Contracts need to be specific and detailed. It does not matter how many pages you will have to type and read, but before signing off you need to ensure risks are manageable.
- Have your contract draft reviewed by an attorney before you sign
- Ensure you get a copy of the profile of each member of the project on the other side. It is important you know who will be handling your project
- Include penalization from your side too based upon deadlines and milestones
- Beware that COVID restrictions affect everyone around the globe and, hence, you need to keep some flexibility in terms of time.
UPDATED REVIEW
This review was published on September 17th 2021.
Marco Antonio Carreño
CEO, Grupo Carreno EIRL
Consulting
1-10 Employees
Bosnia
$10,000 to $49,999
Oct 2020 - Ongoing
Project summary
Code Brew Labs provides web and mobile app development services for a logistics and supply chain consultancy firm. They were tasked to deliver the project within a 3-4 months timeframe.
Feedback summary
The project is still ongoing and the client is disappointed that the project is already 8 months delay. They have paid 90% of the required payment but the project is still under development which is 80%. The client feels like he works with an inexperienced team from Code Brew Labs.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m the owner of GRUPO CARRENO EIRL, a firm involved in Logistics & Supply Chain Consultancy, as well as in a diverse number of entrepreneurial tech initiatives (APPs, Websites)
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Code Brew Labs, and what were your goals?
I hired Code Brew Labs to develop for me both a mobile app and a website for an on-demand food ordering and table booking service within the restaurant industry, in both iOS and Android. An app/Website that were supposed to be launched in the Middle East as i was living there then. This project should have been contractually delivered in 3-4 months since the day we signed the agreement.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
I was approached by their Commercial/Sales Manager in the UAE. The reason why i decided to work with them is because the Sales person had a robust understanding of what i wanted, to the point that he offered me to build my product on the basis of an existing similar product they had, so it would take shorter time and, cost wise, it would not be considered as a project from scratch.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
The project scope was to deliver both a mobile app and a Website to offer 2 main services to customers: Online restaurant table booking and food ordering for home delivery. Customer would also be able to order food for collection at the restaurant (takeaway) as this was already built in the existing APP. There were different milestones to be delivered but never they did provide accurate timelines for so thus, from a 3-4 months project we are now on the one year mark and, yet, no deliverables.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
The sales person at the beginning and even during part of the project as he would help me resolve some concerns. A project manager, which is now the 4th or 5th i work with from this company, as the others were removed - i would guess - as they were not delivering. There’s also a Senior PM but she has little or not understanding of the project (bet she has too many on her plate to deal with) and, certainly, not a business-oriented mindset (as everybody else in that company). There’s a Customer Servicer person but serves (in my view) as an intermediary to exchange messages avoiding any risk of conflict.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
90% of the money already paid, and although it seems 80% of the project is done, the remaining 20% is probably the most critical part of it (accounting). Project is already one year on the make, so that’s 8 months delay from what contractually was agreed.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Quite disappointing at all levels, except for the commercial/sales exec who has been always supportive. Communication tools: WhatsApp for messaging and, sometimes for sharing MoMs too! Google documents as a sharing folder for updates. Overall, low quality and poorly structured system for reporting and updating
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Their marketing on social media, and the way they show their lack of commitment to deliver as per agreements signed. Also the way they seek for more money from a customer in order to cover their own expenses due to the delays they internally experience (i.e. any small observation i make and they need to fix, would be a customization job so more time for the project and more money from me)
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
If i were the CEO i would make a full review of the staff I’ve got, and set clear objectives and KPIs to ensure projects are delivered on time to customers. I would also suggest they implement a more customer-centric project team, and to train them in business so they not only understand business from a commercial/sales perspective but, also, from a project management side.
Star Ratings
Overall rating: 1
Quality: .5
Cost: .5
Schedule .5
Willing to refer .5
RATINGS
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Quality
4.0Service & Deliverables
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Schedule
3.0On time / deadlines
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Cost
4.5Value / within estimates
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Willing to Refer
3.5NPS
"I would if someone asked me for a reference. Including my recommendations to avoid any potential challenge.