Computools

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a healthcare company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

BACKGROUND

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. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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.

SOLUTION

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. 
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of the Healthcare firm. Our company provide medical-related solutions for families and individuals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

It was an ERP platform used to manage our day-to-day activities and operations.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed the ERP platform to solve our two main problems: First: collaboration within our company; Since our company opened a new branch, we were facing a need to simplify the collaboration process.

We wanted to give our employees on-demand access to data across different company units and between company branches. Second: facilitate data unification; ERP platform should allow to control, edit and share data files and so on.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Computools at Upwork. I previously chose another firm to help our company, but Computools offered the best deal. So we decided to try this company.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

As was already mentioned, we needed an ERP platform for several purposes. So we asked Computools to develop such a platform that would help us in managing the business. Computools attended to the project from start to finish during all the development stages.

What was the team composition?

I primarily dealt with a project manager when there were tactical, day-to-day issues. Technical questions I discussed with team lead. There were four developers in the team but I didn’t have much to do with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This ERP platform has really helped us to organise our work. It assists in making better decisions and frees up time for work. We can really say that it increased our work efficiency.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had deadlines to meet. If there were some questions to discuss, we communicated via Skype, calls, email and so on. So, we had no problems with communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We worked with Computools for the first time and they made a good impression. Most impressive was the fact that they were actively trying to solve arising issues within the shortest time possible. You didn’t need to wait for their response or propositions. I have had such unpleasant experiences before with other companies, so to me it was an important factor.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I worked with different companies, and Computools compares very favorably. So I couldn't say much about this question.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of ReVerb, a digital marketing agency. We provide full-cycle marketing services to IT companies, tech startups, ICO projects, and industrial enterprises.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

We were looking for a solution to more efficiently manage our work, but we couldn’t find a solution that matched all of our needs. We engaged Computools to build a custom content marketing platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to streamline our content marketing initiatives on a platform that met our full list of requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Several clients mentioned their work in passing. After talking to several other firms, we went with Computools to complete this project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

After analyzing our requirements, Computools outlined potential solutions and deadlines for each stage. They designed the user flows and defined the user personas. They built the platform infrastructure and oversaw its implementation. Once we finished development, we conducted usability tests to assess their submitted work.

What was the team composition?

Our primary point of contact was the project manager, but we also worked with a team lead, a frontend developer, and a backend developer. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too early to assess our metrics yet. However, the platform has helped simplify several essential processes. We can organize our writers, manage our editorial calendar, promote content, and then measure its impact on the same platform.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow was well-managed. Computools recorded each feature, enhancement, and bugs in Agile Scrum and Jira. The tools assigned each item to a specific release, making it easy to track progress. The project manager handled the day-to-day interactions and answered all of our questions. We communicated over Skype and email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Computools led an organized, agile team that adapted to our evolving needs. They listened to our feedback and managed their time well throughout the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I only wish I found them sooner. I’ll likely engage them to support our platform in the future.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a logistics company. We design global supply chains that enable businesses to deliver products to customers. My responsibilities include organizing distribution operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Computools?

Our company is growing rapidly, so we needed an external firm to develop a system capable of managing customer data.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started our engagement with Computools by determining the project’s budget, scheduling deadlines, and discussing communication methods. Afterward, we held a strategic meeting where we analyzed their proposal and asked questions. They helped us visualize the process by designing a workflow diagram. Then, their project manager and business analyst created a roadmap that outlined the rest of the project.

Before working on the final product, Computools developed an interactive porotype version of the software we requested. That helped us wholly understand what needed to change within our internal systems before we put a lot of money into the project. We agreed to their recommendations, so they started creating our data management system using Java. We use the software to store customer information and service requests. Accessing that data allows us to make informed decisions about how to improve as a business.

What is the team composition?

They allocated a project manager, a business analyst, developers, and several designers.

How did you come to work with Computools?

They were recommended to me by a business partner. After researching the company and some of their previous projects, I decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $85,000­–$199,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in April 2018 and was completed several months later. They continue to update the system as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re satisfied with the quality of work they deliver. They listen and try to understand our needs instead of finding new ways to charge us. I happily recommend them to my colleagues.

How did Computools perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve never had an issue with communication. They usually interact with us via Skype and Slack. We agreed to a comprehensive project framework, regular online meetings, and a weekly email report. They honored their promises and reacted quickly when we changed the scope of work. They offer reasonable pricing and deliver viable solutions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate their transparent work structure. They kept us up-to-date regarding their progress throughout the entire development cycle. Knowing the system’s status throughout the coding process put my mind at ease.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I happy with how they perform, but every company has room for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be forthcoming with project information and Computools will deliver.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a small software company called Data Access Inc, based in North Carolina. We provide a custom CRM solution for specialized service/equipment companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

Part of our CRM system is a mobile website for technicians to interact with their jobs. We hired Computools to create a native iOS and Android mobile app to replace our mobile site.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to replace our existing website with a mobile app to give our users a richer, more responsive experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found Computools on Upwork. I interviewed several companies during a trip to Ukraine, and Computools was the easiest choice. Their sales team impressed me by going above and beyond in presenting their process and ensuring I was comfortable with their plans. 

Describe the project in detail.

The Computools team developed the mobile app to perform the same tasks our website offered field technicians. They built scheduling and payment processing features into the app, and created tools for placing orders, resolving appointments, and checking in and out of jobs.

What was the team composition?

I work with one sales representation, a project manager, and two QA testers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Computools team is still working on the project, but I’m pleased with the progress so far. My team has caused any issues we've had, and their developers have given us no problems.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Skype is our primary form of communication. Since most of my team consists of contracted employees who have other projects, we are often delayed in responding, which slows down the process. The Computools team has been understanding of our situation and work with us patiently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team has given us strong learning opportunities, and their developers are accommodating and collaborative. During the few times I’ve worked onsite in their office, I’ve appreciated their relaxed, friendly work environment.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is nothing that could improve the project, aside from the slow responsiveness of my own team. However, we began the project knowing this could be an issue.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a CTO at one of Boston's largest fintech companies, which has a digital lending platform focused on secured lending.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

Our project was based on blockchain technology. We didn't have enough knowledge and resources to complete this project ourselves.

What were your goals for this project?

To improve our business using blockchain technology, enabling us to simplify some financial processes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through consultants that had experience with outsourcing. We chose them out of several companies after reviewing previous projects and recommendations, and discussing the budget and timelines. It was to our satisfaction so we started to work together.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

The project was eight months long. They began with studying our processes and laying out a project logic. They then developed a financial service based on innovative blockchain technology. They created a flexible architecture which automates and integrates core business processes such as taking customer orders, scheduling operations, and keeping inventory records and financial data.

What was the team composition?

I was regularly in contact with three people from their team, including the project manager. There was a solution architect, a business analyst, and a UI designer in contact with us too. They also talked to our customers and worked really hard to learn the detail of our business.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had to meet a significant increase in the development, so we needed to scale up relatively quickly but cost-effectively. The result definitely meets our expectations. The completed project received positive feedback for features and overall design.

Our clients can easily monitor all their financial processes. The innovation brought huge improvements to the effectiveness of our company. Their top-grade work, coding accuracy, and delivery speed increased the work and time efficiency.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The development team communicated clearly and demonstrated a comprehensive approach that brought success. We had no problems with communication. They've always been very good about reaching out by phone, email, and Skype.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our good business relationship built on trust and understanding, and they fully reflect these qualities. They're very organized from a project management perspective and they're technically competent. We appreciated their innovativeness, professionalism, and great communication skills. I highly recommend them to others.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I don’t think there are any areas for them to improve. I think they’re doing a great job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I used to be the general manager of United Coding, but I’m now a member of the board of directors. We’re an IT development company working with agencies in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Computools?

A major university with 25–27 different PHP CMS and Symphony websites was a new client. As part of a test project, we needed to update all the websites. We had never worked with PHP CMS and Symphony.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project scope had two parts. First, we needed to close security issues. Second, we needed to develop the university’s entire online presence. To start, we provided Computools with the client’s documentation—wireframes and prototypes—and the team received full access to the sites. They identified problems, which we subsequently communicated to the client. These parts lasted approximately two months each. Computools also consulted us on our own technical issues 24/7.

What is the team composition?

Their team has approximately 15 developers and two technical leads. I’ve served as project manager for the project’s second part.

How did you come to work with Computools?

One of our partners recommended them. We also considered a Ukrainian company, but the interactions with Computools went well from the first meetings. We had worked with Computools before, and we gave them a test for this project. They were aggressive and good at closing technical issues.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $48,000 on the project’s first part.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Computools in September 2017. The team completed work on the websites and we continue to partner with them on other projects. Our relationship with the university is ongoing because it’s such a large project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Computools’ reliability has enabled us to grow our business. They also help us get other projects. Likewise, the code is reliable as well. The client tested it with other programmers and couldn’t find an issue in any of the 27 sites.

How did Computools perform from a project management standpoint?

Computools worked without a contract during the first two months because the client preferred the waterfall methodology. Our company didn’t have a contract, so we couldn’t even subcontract them. During this period, we communicated with the client every Monday. Oleg (CTO, Computools) assisted me with answering questions and preparing presentations. Subsequently, the client pivoted to agile to streamline the workflow.

We now do daily standup sand double-check issues with the client. Computools answers our questions multiple times per day. We used Skype initially but have since switched to Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We trust Computools to deliver on their promises. Although we can’t make precise estimates, nothing has fallen through. The team may work nights because they are always available and have fixes completed by morning. That efficiency has helped us with client relations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They didn’t understand German and Swiss cultures completely. We’ve always taken the time to double-check that Computools understood the requirements.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I highly recommend Computools for mobile and web projects. We’ve had a perfect experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of an IT outsourcing company that develops websites and mobile apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

We were hired for development on a project, but we did not have the internal resources to handle it completely on our own. Specifically, we needed backend and iOS developers to work with our own designer, Android developer, QA specialist, and project manager.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to create a minimum viable product (MVP) mobile application for iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose Computools from among five companies. Their sales manager was the first to respond to our request that indicated we were looking for a team with fast communication skills and detailed and reasonable evaluations. We hired Computools because we initially believed they fit our needs.

Describe the project in detail.

The project involved creating an app that would be used in the healthcare industry. Specifically, the app would have administration panels with statistics and the ability to make payments and manage users. Backend development was to be done using Node.js with real-time data synchronization as the largest development challenge.

What was the team composition?

The Computools team consisted of backend and iOS developers and a project manager to work with our own team of designers and developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our work with Computools was unsuccessful. The first bad sign was a delay in backend development tasks that were to be done in two-week sprint cycles. The architecture was very poor, and each time we added new a functionality the old ones stopped working. As a result, iOS and Android development was delayed by a month and a half. They eventually replaced their Node.js developer with a more professional one and he managed to fix the main issues in a month.

The iOS version was bad as well. Basic functionality such as registration and login had multiple bugs. Then we faced the next problems when Computools fired their iOS developer and it took a month for a replacement to be hired. The new developer worked less than three weeks before he too was replaced, but it still didn’t solve the issues. When one bug was fixed, three more appeared and we were forced to stop working with Computools. Instead of three months, development took eight and the product still wasn’t ready. By the time we stopped working with Computools there were more than 120 bugs overall and around 30 critical ones. We were forced to rebuild most of the functionality for the iOS version of the app ourselves to get it working.

After ending our partnership with Computools I wrote to their CEO about the situation and asked for possible solutions. In response, he did not take responsibility.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had daily scrum meetings with them and they never delivered what was planned. Every build was full of bugs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Maybe the only good thing about working with them was the communication of their account/sales manager. I had the impression that he was doing his best to help us and solve issues.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am in charge of online marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Computools?

We hired them to create online automation and customer flow systems, beginning at the point of inquiry on the website all the way through to acquisition.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to simplify the buying process and reduce the customer journey significantly.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I’ve operated in the web development space for over 11 years—I’ve had my own internal team and I’ve also outsourced work to India. I found Computools through research in 2015 and they’ve been a great partner ever since.

Describe the project in detail.

Computools has assisted my business in all sorts of ways, including web development, building CRM [Customer Relationship Management] systems, and API integration for clients across multiple platforms. They’ve been able to wholly understand the needs of my projects and create systems and processes that help streamline client’s progression online.

Explain how the solution addressed your business challenge.

The businesses I own is constantly looking for ways to help reduce client acquisition time and make the customer experience as easy as possible. Computools was able to fully implement the procedures required and they always had a great understanding of what was needed.

What was the team composition?

I worked with 2 developers and both were excellent, and even though the company is not based in the U.K., they were easy to communicate with and always delivered per their high standards of work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

Our customer entry acquisition progression used to take 2–3 weeks, however, as a result of their ongoing development, this has been reduced to 48 hours. All client acquisition and processing is done online and they have helped us to fully optimize our business practices.

How effective was the project management?

Their project management was excellent. The biggest challenge I’ve faced with outsourced companies is communicating exactly how the project will work, but Computools has been the best company I have ever worked with and I strongly recommend them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed with their honesty, integrity, and work ethic. Comparing them to companies I’ve hired before—which are only concerned about taking your money while providing poor customer service—Computools has always been able to manage our projects properly and efficiently, resolving any issues very quickly.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

My recommendation is to stop using other outsourcing companies and work with Computools.