Devlight

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Deputy head of the e-commerce department of BROCARD-UKRAINE, LTD

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Brocard stands as Ukraine’s foremost luxury fragrances and cosmetics chain

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• to create an application that will allow our customers to have an application with features aimed at enhancing user engagement
• ensuring a captivating and enriched user experience
• to develop a multiplatform mobile application that mirrors the functionality of our website

SOLUTION

How did you find Devlight?

Referral

Why did you select Devlight over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Devlight were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Devlight was responsible for the full discovery phase, design system creation, app development and testing. Currently they are involved into the second release development process. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Devlight devivered their work on time, even though the timeframe was constrained. The final application had all the features we required, it was tested so we were ready for the planned release. Also they were ready to dive into second version development straight after, so now we are continuing our cooperation. We can tell that the project is successful by the numbers: in one month 15,000 people in total made a purchase via the mobile app at Brocard.

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

Collaboration and overall processes have been and continue to be very effective. Devlight is responsible for the timely and high-quality execution of tasks, a business analyst together with a designer processes our requests in a timely and detailed manner, provides advice on improvement and clarifying questions.

The project manager coordinates the general work, keeps open and critical issues under control, and solves minor problems. For our part, we are responsible for accepting tasks and agreeing on the next scope of work. In addition to general work on tasks, the team of developers also takes an active part in consultations on technical issues and helps to come to a common solution to problems and tasks.

What was your primary form of communication with Devlight?

Virtual Meeting

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

Devlight’s flexibility about team composition and timeframes is great. Adding their experience in mobile development, we noticed that collaboration with this vendor is easy and not stressful as they provide full support on every stage and they always try to offer the best solution to our requests, even if the deadline is very tight.

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

Currently, we are satisfied with the cooperation with Devlight. Our desire is to continue to develop and maintain the product and remain competitive in the market.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business transformation director at Eldorado UA, a home appliance and electronics retail store. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Devlight?

We needed Devlight to develop a mobile app to assist customers with online purchases. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Devlight has developed our mobile app for Android and iOS. The Android app is developed using Kotlin, while the iOS app is built using Swift. The team supports our design team on the design and we collaborate on feature planning. We had previous mobile apps where we gathered information to build out the infrastructure and the CI/CD processes. Devlight has been a part of building the infrastructure. After the refactoring, they started developing new features, including completely changing the product catalog and implementing a new brand book. Our collaboration is a continuous process of delivering feature by feature. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with a project manager, two Android developers, two iOS developers, part-time designers, and a QA team. I didn’t interact with the technical team often. 

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

Viktoria (Project Manager) is very proactive, knowledgeable, and a key team member.  

How did you come to work with Devlight?

A colleague had a successful experience working with Devlight and recommended them to us. We went through a tender and their proposal was the best. 

How much have you invested with them?

The project has cost $250,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2022, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our mobile apps have improved significantly because of Devlight. Within 90 days of launching, there’s been a 200% increase in Android downloads and a 300% increase in iOS downloads.

The frequency of crashes has decreased drastically. Devlight’s technical team is very good.

How did Devlight perform from a project management standpoint?

Devlight collaborates with our in-house team working in two-week sprints. There’s been a strong synchronization between teams. We use Redmine, phone calls, email, and Teams. Their interpersonal skills are exceptional.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with their technical and organizational skills. I appreciate that Devlight takes the time to consult with us and doesn’t just provide us with what we ask for. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I’d have them improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Understand what you want. Have a clear vision. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Loyalty Officer of NOVUS Ukraine

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

NOVUS is a dynamically developing chain of supermarkets, shopping centers and convenience stores. One of the most successful and promising multi-format networks in Ukraine.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• For the start, we wanted to develop full-functioned MVP application with simple yet intuitive design that satisfies basic user needs.
• And as the next step, we would like to expand the application with eCommerce functionality, to allow user complete their purchases with their phones quickly and easily.

SOLUTION

How did you find Devlight?

• Referral

Why did you select Devlight over others?

• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Devlight were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Devlight was responsible for complete Discovery phase to gather all the initial requirements for our MVP. We held a few initial meetings to describe our goals and key functionality for the first release and allowed Devlight to continue the process and prepare the final PRD and Design for the application. Based on the PRD, they developed the first version of the application, which is waiting its time to be released on markets.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application MVP has successfully met all the initial requirements, which is a big achievement for any software development project. The Devlight team worked hard to create a technical requirement and a user-friendly design that was attractive and easy to use. The MVP version was finished on time and passed quality testing, showing that the team has great expertise and attention to detail.

They also delivered all the project documentation and artifacts on time, making it easy to maintain and update the application in the future. We're now getting ready to launch the application and expect it to attract more customers, which is a sign of success.

 Our team is committed to providing an outstanding product that meets the requirements and expectations of our stakeholders. We're confident that the application will provide an excellent user experience and help us achieve our business goals.

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

As a Chief Loyalty Officer and Product Owner of the project at the same time, I am directly involved into the discovery, design preparation and development processes. We held regular status meetings on which we discussed the progress, unresolved questions and next steps for the project. We also had meeting on which we were discussing and approving project requirements and reviewing design.

 Devlight team also initiated demo meetings to demonstrate final results of their work. What’s also important that Devlight team sent us a general report at the end of each week in which they pointed the progress of the week - what was done and the link to the respective resources, and well as plans for the next week. This way we also knew the exact status of the team and what they are going to do next.

What was your primary form of communication with Devlight?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We were impressed with their expertise in the discovery phase. As for us, it was really important to prepare a solid documentation for our first application for that everybody had the same vision of the future project. Devlight brought all their experience to our cooperation.

 We’ve not only received the basic requirements but also were advised on what is better to add to the application or what to enhance to receive the most from the functionality and provide our users with the best services.

 The development process was also great and smooth. We were provided with the precise project schedule, and the Devlight team completed all the deadlines on time showing not only great performance but also solid and proper results.

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

No, there were no areas for improvement that we noticed.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We created this app to help people achieve well-being and prosperity by enhancing mental and physical health. Our app is designed to assist people in breaking old patterns and forming new habits.

With AI-powered treatment plans, we pursue the objective of helping people who are feeling sad, anxious, unmotivated, stressed, or depressed easily take control of their mental health and bodies. With hundreds of workout trainers and meditation instructors around the globe, app users can get affordable, personalized, and cost-effective aid anywhere and anytime. I am the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We approached Devlight to develop a mobile iOS application and its backend, including the admin area that allows us to manage the application’s content.

SOLUTION

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

In our quest for a Mobile app development service provider, we searched online and found Devlight. Their eye-catching website, their services with a problem-solving approach, and testimonials from their clients intrigued us to contact them. Furthermore, their services were affordable and good quality, exactly what we were looking for.

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

Devlight was responsible for the development of the iOS application. We provided Devlight with UI/UX design describing our idea, based on which they created requirements and technical documentation for the app. They also help us find the vendor for the backend and admin panel developed for easy content management provided for users in the application.

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

The Devlight team has a project manager, two iOS developers, and one QA specialist. And from the backend vendor, we worked with their Project manager, backend developer, frontend developer, DevOps, and QA specialist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The final application meets all initial requirements, was qualitatively tested, and passed to us with all project documentation and other important artifacts. We are preparing for the project launch for production, and we expect the application to grow our customer base.

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

I am satisfied with the communication with the Devlight team, I was not directly involved in the development process due to my workload, but the Devlight team provided me feedback and on-time weekly status reports describing project progress.

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

Devlight has proven to be a motivated, responsible team with extensive experience in mobile development. I'm impressed with their flexibility, domain expertise, and outstanding product quality.

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

During our cooperation, I didn’t notice anything that could be critical for the project's success.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Nova Poshta is the biggest b2c logistic company in Ukraine. My position at the time of project implementation is Chief Digital Transformation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Devlight?

To develop a mobile application for customers, for couriers, and create a cloud platform for these applications.

What were your goals for this project?

Nova Poshta has chosen a strategy for customer experience digitalization to create the most convenient and reliable service for its own customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were looking for a partner in the local market for a long-term relationship with strong expertise in mobile application development. To all companies, we sent a task to describe how they see the solution to our problem before starting the cooperation. Devlight delivered an adequate and elegant solution. They showed a high interest in solving our tasks, helping us to overcome technical barriers inside the company.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

As far as the number of smartphone users continuously grows, the mobile application becomes the main way to get in touch with the company, thus we have built this product based on the principles of reliability, ease of interaction and aesthetics. The mobile app implementation causes the company’s internal processes transformation.

This app becomes one of the main tools that help "Nova Poshta" to be a technological leader in the logistics services market. The ability to independently perform all necessary actions to send or receive packages in one app significantly increased customer loyalty and the number of app users.

What was the team composition?

• 2 Android developers (Java, then Kotlin)
• 2 iOS developers (Objective C, Swift)
• Architect (GCP Platform)
• Data analyst (Google BigQuery, Data Studio)
• Middle javascript developer (NodeJS)
• Senior javascript developer (NodeJS)
• Senior designer - Junior designer - Project manager Total: 11 team members

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Launched new mobile application «Nova Poshta». This is one of the best applications on the Ukrainian market by the number of active users and positive reviews. Main results:

• more than 2,6 million MAU;
• over 25 million shipments tracking subscriptions per month;
• more than 2 million shipments were created by customers via mobile applications
• the client's digital card allowed to reject the plastic card;  
• more than 500,000 parcels per month were paid for in the application.
• Nova Poshta confirmed its status as an innovative company and started the process of digital transformation.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It wasn't very easy to overestimate the role of the Devlight project manager. He coordinated the work of different teams not only within Devlight but also built up communication between various departments in Nova Posta to get the information needed for implementation. He also helped to work with negative feedback in marketing, which allowed us to react quickly to problems and eliminate them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The partnership approach of Devlight is the most impressive. They are always ready to help in solving a problem first of all. What I mean is:

• helped to teach Nova Poshta staff on new technologies for successful product launch
• always explaining why they offer this exact solution and its pros and cons.
• when they saw a mistake on our part, they would pay attention to it and suggest a solution, even if it wasn't profitable for them.
• always made concessions when we needed them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Of course. The first thing Devlight should pay attention to is the presentation of its offers to the clients. If on the customer side, the decision is made by a person without a technical background, it can be challenging to understand its essence and make the right business decision. That's why we had to additionally discuss Devlight's proposal to clarify details and simplify it before going to the company owners.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a financial company based in Kiev, Ukraine, with a focus on cryptocurrency mining. We have created our own cryptocurrency. I am the head of product development for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Devlight?

We decided to create our mobile application for exchanging our cryptocurrency. I was in charge of finding a company which could design an attractive UI/UX [user interface/user experience], develop our app for Android and iOS, and perhaps help us with marketing. At the time, I had no experience with mobile app development, so the process was completely new.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We decided to develop a cross-platform application and created a scope for its main features. I had some meetings with my colleagues, discussing how we should develop the app. We didn't provide any prototypes or other material to Devlight beyond the requirements.

The app needed the ability to exchange cryptocurrencies between one and the other, exchange them for traditional currencies, and vice versa. It also needed to track variations in exchange rates and save different statistics. We also needed to scan QR codes through it, for ATM exchanges.

Devlight assigned two Android developers, a UX designer, and a project manager for the project. The team remained the same throughout the process.

How did you come to work with Devlight?

We initially approached a different agency, but they didn't have a good understanding of the cryptocurrency world. Devlight was recommended to us by a contact. We had an initial discussion with Devlight's team and assessed their knowledge around the cryptocurrency field.

How much have you invested with Devlight?

The cost of Devlight's work has been $40,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Devlight in July 2016. The actual development started at the beginning of August, and the first iteration was finished in November. The second iteration was started in February 2017, and it's ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Devlight's work was good. The first version of our app had 10,000 installations by the end of 2016. Developing the application within a set budget was also important to us. Devlight delivered a good-quality product for a reasonable price.

How did Devlight perform from a project management standpoint?

Devlight was very good from this perspective. I had calls with their project manager every day, at the same time. We discussed the work, including any issues, and decided on the solutions needed. I was given weekly reports for the completed work, as well as the ongoing and planned tasks. The process was very helpful for me, as someone without experience in development.

We had a deadline for the end of November 2016. The application was completed by the beginning of that month, which meant that we had three additional weeks to test it. It was a good result for us. I had some worries initially about Devlight's reliability, but they proved to be very good.

Devlight used Teamwork for scheduling and communication. I was included in the platform and managed the project along with them. Devlight also used InVision for prototyping and Sketch for designs, but I mainly collaborated with them through Teamwork.

What did you find most impressive about Devlight?

When we started the project with Devlight, I hadn't worked with any other development companies, so I had some worries. During the process, Devlight became our partner, rather than just an outsourced company. They had our product in mind, not just the money, which led to a very good application.

Are there any areas Devlight could improve?

There were a few unclear moments during development when I didn't have a good understanding of what tasks the developers were working on. This may have been my issue more than Devlight's.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an early-stage startup developing a native iOS and Android mobile app dedicated to emerging artists who are looking to develop their own brand and manage their performance.

I am the founder and CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Devlight?

I was looking to undergo native mobile development for Android and iOS, including UI/UX [user interface/user experience] design for a prototype. I had a clear user story in place. I noticed that Devlight had a good team for both fronts, and they were able to propose improvements for my branding, design, and even the logo itself.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I didn't provide any complex wireframes or sketches on the design front, only a list of features I wanted. I gave Devlight's team some screens of hand-drawn ideas, and they came up with a prototype in the form of clickable screens, which were close to what I was looking for. We are continuing to refine those designs.

I was looking to provide an intuitive flow for the app, making it simple to use especially for digital nomads—people who are using it while on the move, and while working outside. Because the design is intended for artists, it's engaging, funky, and warm, but not to an excessive degree. We are helping people develop their careers, so the app needs to be sexy and serious at the same time. This is something that Devlight captured in their UI/UX designs.

The app has numerous multimedia capabilities, for which Devlight has researched the latest software development kits and API integrations. We have daily Scrum standup meetings via Skype, and I also visit them at their office, during which they come up with ideas on the most up-to-date approaches we can have. I've gotten many ideas from Devlight's developers themselves, not only from the scrum master.

How did you come to work with Devlight?

I approached several agencies, and held a sort of beauty contest, looking at which one could come back with some appropriate screens and ideas based on my user stories. Many were not willing to do this for free, while others developed one or two screens. Devlight was quick and proactive and delivered more wireframes than I was expecting. They brought in their own ideas and delivered good quality results. Devlight stood out among the five or six agencies I contacted. I waited for a bit before hiring them, in order to make sure I wasn't mistaken.

How much have you invested with Devlight?

I prefer to keep the cost confidential at this stage. Compared to their competition, Devlight has given me a good value in terms of general cost and the hours dedicated to the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Devlight in mid-January 2017. We started the development for both Android and iOS apps after testing the clickable version of our prototype and receiving good feedback for it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Two-thirds of the users testing our screens have found them to be clean, quick, and easy to understand. We've not had to completely kill any one screen; everything was understood by the users, and we only had to make adjustments like pushing buttons from the top to the bottom of a screen, integrating more explanations, and so on.

How did Devlight perform from a project management standpoint?

I interacted quite well with Devlight's project manager and Scrum master. He has very good English skills and has very good self-control in managing pressure and conflicting objectives. He's a good bridge between our groups, and quite responsive as well. We interact quite a lot on Slack and Skype and have Scrum calls every morning. We use Bitbucket and Teamwork for following the work, Google Hangouts and InVision to have access to the screens being worked on, Lookback for getting user feedback in video form, and Sketch, which allows me to comment on screens directly.

What did you find most impressive about Devlight?

Devlight has a quality team on the UI and UX side, and they have an entrepreneurial approach. They know that we are a startup, and are willing to take the risk and come up with ideas. Devlight is also flexible, making us feel like this is more than an outsourcing project. I have gotten a sense of commitment from the team.

Are there any areas Devlight could improve?

Devlight has a decently sized team, but they can have more work than they can handle at times. I haven't seen a bottleneck during my project, but I've noticed that they are a fast-growing company when I visited them on-site for a week. One or two additional developers would be good.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Uplata provides IT services within the Ukraine financial sphere. I am the marketing director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Devlight?

We needed to create a new website and web application for our services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Devlight was responsible for the design of our web application. Devlight specializes in mobile app development, and we plan to build a native version of our product in the future.

We provided Devlight with technical documentation describing our idea, based on which they created wireframes, sketches, and prototypes of the app. Devlight produced some of the text content and images of the site; we created the rest ourselves.

We have used our internal team for the frontend and backend development parts of the project. We are working with another company for SEO [search engine optimization] services.

How did you come to work with Devlight?

We chose Devlight because they are a professional and reliable company. They were willing to listen to and understand what we were trying to achieve and agreed to our crazy ideas. The team provides good knowledge regarding both app development and web design. Devlight cared about the success of our company, which is a unique thing.

How much have you invested with Devlight?

The cost of Devlight's work has been around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Devlight in September 2016. We are planning to build a mobile application using Devlight.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I don't have any statistics or metrics for the app so far since it hasn't been live for long enough. We have started to test a beta version with a small user group, and it has seen some favorable initial reviews. Everyone has said that the designs are positive and creative.

How did Devlight perform from a project management standpoint?

Devlight adapted to our rules and procedures and stuck to every deadline. We have used Worksection, which is a Ukrainian app for project management.

What did you find most impressive about Devlight?

I can't think of anything unique about Devlight, but they delivered what was promised.

Are there any areas Devlight could improve?

I don't have an understanding of all the details of the process, so it would be hard to make a comment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a logistics services provider offering end-to-end delivery. We work with customers shipping parcels from sites like Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress. We are the biggest logistics provider in Ukraine, with a staff of 18,000.

I am the online services and mobile app development manager of the company. I run a 15-person department.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Devlight?

We decided to create a new mobile application for our company, in order to replace our old solution which had missing functionalities. The new app needed to allow our customers to track the delivery of their parcels as they travel through different branches of our company, sending push notifications when the delivery has been made. It also has a cost and estimation functionality based on distance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Devlight has developed our Android and iOS application. The team was involved in the process from the initial UI/UX design phase. We had some technical specifications for their team, but no wireframes. We looked at a few existing apps provided by other companies and asked Devlight to replicate certain functionalities.

We had a limited timeframe, so we used 2 iOS and 4 Android developers in the beginning. Devlight also assigned us a project manager and a UI designer.

How did you come to work with Devlight?

We wanted to find a local company in Ukraine so that we could communicate in the same language. We focused on 5 candidates and spoke with their chief technology officers, founders, and development team. We chose Devlight because of the strong skill sets of their developers.

How much have you invested with Devlight?

The cost of Devlight's services was close to $120,000. We had a fixed-price contract.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Devlight at the end of January 2016. We have released our mobile application, but we continue to work with Devlight for feature enhancements. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our app has been featured as the best one in Ukraine within the business categories for Google Play and Apple App Store. We are also within the top-3 overall apps for Ukraine. Our app has been praised in terms of structure, design, and idea.

We never encountered an instance of the application crashing. Many other companies have approached us wanting to know who developed our app, and we've always recommended Devlight.

How did Devlight perform from a project management standpoint?

Devlight's project manager has worked with us throughout the project, coordinating the work. I acted as project manager on our side. Devlight's team was flexible and fast. Both of our companies are based in Ukraine, so communication has been simple and pleasant. We use Skype, email, and phone calls for communication. We also visit Devlight's team 1-2 times per year. We hold regular scrum meetings to report on progress and any issues. We also had weekly sprints.

What did you find most impressive about Devlight?

I appreciated Devlight's speed, flexibility, and ability to provide ideas we wouldn't have thought of. They've been a partner for us, rather than just a developer.

Are there any areas Devlight could improve?

No.