Computools

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a director of Sakura-communication. Our company is a system integrator. Consulting and planning projects for our clients companies and developing software with collaborating foreign software developing partners mainly from Ukraine.

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

Our client is cyber security related service vender. Since their market is growing very fast, they are losing a lot of business opportunity from not upgrading their current services. Our goal was to create their new service.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found them though NPO JASIPA that is ICT association located in JAPAN. In order to create the new service, we needed high level engineers who are familiar with networking and security technology. It was almost impossible to build a team in Japan due to the human resource situation and our basic skill level in the market. There are many factors to decide Computools team. The skill level, well communication, good advice, great in thoughts.

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

Develop tools that obtain traffic which is non http protocol. For android and windows OS. The scope of work for the first 4 months was discovering technologies and prove of concept. Rest of 8 months goal was to develop the actual software. Key deliverables were the tools and documentation for the developers guide. Various technologies that obtain non-HTTP traffics were used.

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

• Business analytics
• Project management
• C# development
• Android development
• Tech Lead
• Design
• Quality assurance

One of each for the positions were in the team.

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

We were able to build up a team in 30 days since we got request our client. The team has created powerful products despite the technologies are difficult more than we expected.

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

Since we are working online from different location, communication speed and trustable are one of important points that we forces on. The team is well experienced with management projects. That effort avoided unnecessary miscommunication and realize smooth project running in result.

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

Responsibility and honesty. They focused on building wonderful relationships with partners more than the short-term profit. In order to make us correct business decision, they share us all of the projects issue and challenge even though that brings disadvantage for them. These basic thoughts makes difference how to manage the team especially the last period of the project.

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

Since we communicate in 2nd language, of course it was bit harder to understand each other compare to our own language especially on the con call meetings. Only voice and text is good enough but if we could suggest to all of members to open camera as a basic behavior with caring members privacy nonverbal communication(reaction and gesture) helps for the meeting.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an international logistics company that offers transportation services depending on the volume and type of commercial cargo, prepares accompanying documents, and organizes loading operations.

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

Our primary goal was to find the most viable solution for our internal processes that will offer competitive opportunities by improving the customer experience, accounting, and sales management. We were looking for software to streamline customer relations. Initially, we expected something like a CRM system that will store data on current and potential customers from various sources and optimize processes in sales, marketing, and customer service departments.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We did our research on the Ukrainian IT market and we were looking for companies with similar background/projects behind their belt. Computools`s portfolio, stellar consulting from their sales managers, and very specific knowledge about the industry were decisive factors for hiring them

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

We turned to Computools with the idea of creating a sales management platform for our website. Thanks to their business analysts we pointed out the optimal list of functionality that included full sales cycle management, automation of necessary documents, tracking, inventory management, client base management, and analytical tools for better transparency.

Computools`s engineers formed a tech stack for our project, development guidelines, and optimal project management methodology to stay on budget, and finally synchronized the developed sales management system with our existing website.

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

Apart from the tech side, we were looking for someone with experience in the business analysis since our project required a deep understanding of the niche. Therefore, the final team stack included: 4 software engineers, 1 project manager, 1 business analyst, 1 business development manager, and a quality assurance engineer.

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

The project has indeed shown measurable outcomes for our company. Since we had an outdated IT infrastructure, the implemented solution has helped us to increase productivity, get a fuller picture of our sales, and automate many internal processes that required a lot of manual work before.

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

As our company lacked technical prowess, Computools helped us to align business goals/needs with the best technical solutions. Therefore the project`s timeline ranged from consulting and product design to product engineering and testing.

First, they shared their vision on how and which technologies will fit for the project, analyzed and explored the existing solutions on the market, defined foremost goals, and pre-estimated deadlines, costs, and resources. After the consulting stage, it all boiled down to the technical side of the project where they allocated teams, estimated tasks, formed the project`s requirements and scope, and other important documentation for successful project completion.

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

It would definitely be the approach and communication. It was our first time working with the software development company and they did their best to outline the foremost objectives of the project, risks, and optimal deadlines; they carefully explained what is really needed from the system and how to implement it, conducted regular check-ins and meetings for better transparency, and did many other things that resulted in a great product and good impression of work afterward.

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

Nothing comes to mind.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director at a software development company. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Computools?

We needed additional developers and team members.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Computools is helping us develop a backend application, and they are responsible for most of its core components. 

What is the team composition?

We’re working with a business manager, a front end developer, and a back end developer. 

How did you come to work with Computools?

They were recommended by a friend. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent around £40,000–£70,000 (approximately $56,000–$99,000 USD).   

What is the status of this engagement?

For our first project, we worked togther from June–December 2020. For our current project, we started working in April 2021, and it’s going to be finished in July 2021.

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

We’re really happy with Computools’ work. I would recommend them, and they’re great. 

How did Computools perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re good at meeting deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m really happy with their services.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should communicate well with their team. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Head od Marketing in Leaware. Leaware is a team of professionals from the IT industry that helps you achieve your clients' business goals on a daily basis.

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

Computools was asked to make a front end part for us. Computools has developed 2 beauty apps with friendly UX. One was created for beauty service providers and the other for consumers.

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

Computools has been recommended to us by a friendly company from the industry

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

Firstly we discussed the project and mapped a workflow. Then we have identified the basic requirements for the project and the most appropriate technology stack. After that, the team immediately started developing the project.

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

The team consisted of three developers and project manager.

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

We received an increase in the flow of customers within a week after the launch of the product. We have received some feedback on improving the customer experience.

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

We communicated directly with the project manager, and the tasks were provided in jira.It was very convenient to work according to the SCRAM method with daily meetings

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

We expected to receive fast service without delays or interruptions when choosing a service provider. Computools was able to cope with this task. All requests are executed extremely quickly and accurately.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the manager at a digital agency located in Norway creating custom digital solutions for a wide range of clients.

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

We hired Computools to help us develop a custom LMS platform for a client that publishes a wide range of articles and magazines. We needed a team with professional senior developers that could handle a complex and long-term project.

The main goal was to create an unique easy to use LMS platform for teachers and students that uses the client's database with content. Content that the teachers can use to create multidisciplinary assignments.

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

We had meetings with different companies in Oslo in the fall of 2019. Based on our meetings we picked Computools to be a good match based on their feedback, follow up questions and quick turnaround when needed. We needed a company with great experience with the technology stack Laravel, React, AWS and Wordpress.

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

We started with UI and UX work before Computools got informed and hired for the project. Based on the project specification and design Computools used agile development to help us achieve important project milestones such as developing an pilot version for platform presentations and user feedback.

Since we did not have a strict platform specification containing user stories in advance, Computools helped us in an incredible way in terms of creating user stories and suggest solutions. They have been a great partner in this project, not just a vendor.

Based on end-user and client feedback on pilot version we continued to concentrate creating the first version for early platform launch in august 2020. Computools helped with auto-testing setup for quality and stabilization, and complete environment setup in AWS. 

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

The Computools team have consisted of 4-5 key resources and in some periods up to 7 people in the largest sprints. Their positions have been project manager, front-end dev, back-end dev, wordpress dev, QA, tech-lead and devops.

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

Since the project is a long term project and it’s not finished we don’t have final outcomes yet. So far the work done by Computools is solid and they have delivered above our expectations.

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

Computools have had a single project manager. This have made communication swift and effective. The team have mainly used Skype for daily communication and Jira for project management. Google docs have been used for documentation and sprint planning.

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

We are very impressed in how the Computools team have contributed in the project by solving difficult tasks that is not always described in detail. I think this have pushed the team to think for themselves and contribute to this project in a big way.

We are also impressed on how professional the company are in terms of follow up communication and how they want to build a long lasting professional relationship.

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

Nothing specific no.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the project manager of a cryptocurrency exchange "Rokes exchange" based in Estonia.

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

We were working with Computools on development of the new design for our exchange platform and some tasks on the backend. It was a major update for our project and the Computools team worked on PWA version of our main app.

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

Computools was chosen as a vendor by one of the previous PMs, and I am not in a position to tell what this decision was based on.

Over the course of the year we worked with Computools, two other vendors were engaged in the development process, but in the end we decided to only stick with Computools, and this decision was based on their professional skills, the timely delivery on the tasks and good communication skills of the team.

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

The UI redesign was centered around frontend technologies, mostly the implementation of PWA version and web version of our app using Vue.js. Apart from that, Computools also participated in the implementation of GraphQL API in our project.

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

We had varying number of team members over the time we worked, but we always had one project manager and one business manager for the whole duration of our contract, and the development team was changing depending on the current scope of our development requests, while the lead developer was also with our project almost all the time.

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

We have successfully launched our new design and the PWA app, mostly by the hand of Computools team. Everything was delivered as requested by our specification and design document. The quality of work was on a very decent level, and although there were inevitable minor bugs or things that needed small corrections, everything was fixed in a timely manner.

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

The project manager assigned to our project by Computools was proactive, had great communication skills and demonstrated fluency in English. We held sprint meetings and interim calls, while he them communicated with the development team.

If needed he also facilitated the calls directly with the lead developer and we always appreciated the team's ability to adjust to our changing requirements and deliver on tasks with little or no delay. For communication we used MS Teams, for planning we first used Trello, then MS Planner and then Github issues and board. T

he team had no problem with using any of these tools and also made reasonable suggestions on how we can improve the collaboration process using these tools.

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

Their ability to work in a very flexible manner, timely delivery and communication skills from both managers helped us to upgrade our product in the planned terms and their contribution was the most valuable among other vendors we worked with. They were able to easily collaborate with other teams and our internal team, sharing their extensive expertise and finding consensus with other developers was a crucial part of their work with our project.

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

There is always room for improvement and some things could be done differently, but it our case it is hard to tell what would that be and overall we are very happy with their work and performance.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a Financial company. We provide an online service for easy and convenient managing company finances.

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

As we have an online service we wanted to attract more customers. We asked Computools to redesigned a frontend. We needed a user-friendly interface.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have an interface with an exhaustive list of features to ensure maximum growth and profitability. It should provide users with the opportunity to craft, modify and organize information for their needs.

How did you select this vendor?

We are looking for vendor through Internet and Computools proposed their services. We had an interview and after that, we decided to work with them. Because Computools suited our requirements.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Computools team mapped a workflow according to our preferences. After that, they determined the project’s strengths and weaknesses and advised the features better suited for the finished product. Upon devising the development plan and selecting the best-suited technology stack, the distributed team set to the project realization.

What was the team composition?

There were 2 developers, designer and project manager in the team. I had a conversation mainly with a Project Manager.

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

We have a lot of positive feedback from users of our service. The number of our customers significantly increased.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

During the negotiation, we decided to use emails and Skype for fast communication. Also the sprint-based project management methodology with daily Scrum meetings allowed to follow the development plan.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They provided very reasonable services. Also I like their attitude, they are always ready to accept any type of technical challenge and the most important things. They dealt with all challenges very sharply.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I really don’t know such areas.

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Greg. I’m the CEO of the E-commerce company. Our company provides a wide array of the products at a feasible price. The customers use website to place orders, select the products and delivered them.

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

Since eCommerce is a constantly changing beast so we need to have the finger on the pulse. We thought that all doubt in buying will disappear if people can see the goods like in reality. Because of this online shopping will be simpler, more effective and more profitable. So we decided to develop a virtual reality app that prospective buyers can explore the goods from anywhere in the world by using a web browser.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to attract customers to our store. With these new technologies shoppers can immerse themselves deeper into the commerce experience and it gives customers a new attraction to visit both online and real stores.

How did you select this vendor?

I found them through Google. I needed a company that would respond to communication quickly, have competency, and be able to deliver a product in time.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

This was a multiple task. Computools made all development for this project, including frontend and backend work.

First of all, we discussed the project, then put together a project requirements specification, a list of features and milestones planning. They provided test versions of our project so we could give feedback every step along the way. The project was completed on time and we were pleased with the result.

What was the team composition?

We communicated with a project manager, designer and a couple of developers. But of course there are much more people in the project such as Business Analyst, Team Lead.

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

First , we proposed a test version to our clients and received a lot of positive feedbacks. Then we started to use this innovation in our business. I can say that it really helps customers to buy. We have satisfied customers and the profit growth.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They collaborate closely with us. We have direct contact with the project manager who is very helpful and respond quickly. We communicate through email, Basecamp and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They came to us with ideas, and that's unusual. I'm satisfied that they gave us the right recommendations which are contemporary and relevant for today’s users. Because with other companies on previous projects, it was like pulling teeth to get them to make suggestions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing comes to mind. I think we’ll collaborate with them in the future.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a healthcare company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Computools?

Due to the range of different branches in our company, it can be challenging to control all of them. We needed an application to help us to track medical equipment using barcodes within the hospital territory.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did all the stages of the application development. The first step was to analyze our existing solution and strategy, also considering the market and our main competitors. That allowed us to identify the basic needs of our target audience. Their project manager then distributed the necessary tasks among developers, designers, and other team members.

What is the team composition?

I worked mainly with their project manager and their business analyst. For technical questions, I discussed with the technical team leader. There was a team of developers, designers, and QA testers.

How did you come to work with Computools?

We looked at different candidates and decided to use Computools as they provided the best plan and solution for our cooperation. They also offered the best deal considering our goals, timeline, and budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May 2018–February 2019.

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

Our main target was to get an application that can be useful for our business and it was achieved. The application works; it has organized our work and given us more options for better control.

How did Computools perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re really responsive. We had daily communication and reports from their side, over Skype, email, and phone. They preferred to use a scrum methodology to give us quick responses and good turnaround. We had a large variety of different meetings and communication was properly organized, so we didn’t need to micromanage them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have made a good impression on us. They worked in a timely manner, communication was good, and the results were good. They delivered a high-quality application in a professional manner that reflected their experience in the healthcare sector.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re satisfied with the results.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a senior technical director at Dworkz Interactive, a design company that offers a wide spectrum of services in design and development of rich media and web applications. 

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

We started a new blockchain-based project for an e-commerce company but needed external support to complete it. We were looking for software developers who could efficiently create an admin panel for the website, so we approached Computools. 

What were your goals for this project? 

Our goal was to build a multi-use platform that was mainly used for search, including multiple listing service (MLS) numbers and a Google Maps integration. Users would be able to upload documents and pre-assign any spaces that needed a client signature. These signatures would be e-verified, all through a secure and encrypted environment.

How did you select this vendor?

A colleague had completed a project with Computools before and referred me to them. I liked the way they approached their work, so I contracted them. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail. 

Computools developed an admin panel for our client’s blockchain project. We followed a development plan that divided each stage into sub-tasks. For example, one task involved turning the admin panel into a dashboard to either display business metrics and analytics without the viewer having to write code. Another task was to export weekly data that could be used to create reports. Each task had a set deadline, which Computools had no problems meeting.

What was the team composition?

We worked with their sales team and constantly communicated with a Scrum master. We also interacted with a team lead and their CTO. 
 

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

They created a well-built admin panel without any bugs. Although they were only responsible for part of the project, they really helped us in the development process. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it? 

Computools proved to be professionals in their field, and it was easy to work with them. They delivered their panel on time without exceeding the budget, so we’re satisfied with the results. 

What did you find most impressive about this company? 

The most important thing for us was that they didn’t exceed the budget nor timeline. Computools stuck to the schedule across all tasks, and we remained without our cost limits. 

Are there any areas for improvement? 

No, I can’t say. We gave them a task, and they delivered a high-quality product on time.