EltexSoft

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a scalable assistant platform, which could be considered a marketplace. Our company easily connects with companies’ work tools like email, calendar, Slack, and texting, allowing individuals and teams to outsource nonessential tasks like scheduling meetings or doing data entry. Highly educated human assistants handle the work. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Icemint?

I started building the platform just like an MVP with a sole developer. He was helping me as a side project. We worked together for about 3 months, and he was building at an adequate pace. Then, he disappeared. I was left with unfinished code and needed to find a brand-new developer. I also needed to do a full-scale code review. I don’t know much code at all since I’m more on the sales, marketing, and operations side. I do handle all the product design and UX. At the time, I had something of an MVP, but I needed another feature to launch. I reached out to Icemint to build out this final feature so I could launch my MVP. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave Icemint the code, which was jumbled and not in great shape. We couldn’t even get it to deploy at first. We worked on a flat negotiated rate, but they ended up doing quite a bit of extra work in the beginning to put me at ease and get to a point where they could start building. To do that, they spent over a week doing free work, which wasn’t part of the scope of work that we initially discussed.

They have a QA layer, but I did the full design layout. All the designs that I provided were in Photoshop, so they could actually recreate everything themselves. I’d give them some guidance as far as what kind of text and images to use and what layout I wanted. We worked with Envision and things like that. I learned how to use Sketch recently, which is starting to make the work more streamlined.

The backend is in Python, and the frontend is all Angular JS. I believe the database is SQL. They first worked on email integration by doing IMAP and SNTP integrations and some API work as well for Google. Now, we’re doing feature development and improving parts of the backend. We did a public beta launch, but it wasn’t necessarily large. We’re also building to scale more easily.

How did you come to work with Icemint?

I interviewed 20 developers before I chose Icemint. A lot of people wanted to charge me for a week of code review, but for that price, I could’ve built a whole extra feature.

How much have you invested with Icemint?

I’ve spent $17,000 with them so far. It’ll probably grow to $35,000 or $40,000 by the end of the year. In 2018, we’ll probably add another person.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together for 6 months, but we took a 2-month hiatus while I started selling the MVP. We’ve just been working on the product again for the last 3 months, and we’ll be working on it for the foreseeable future. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

By using Icemint, I haven’t had to find an in-house developer. I’m actually able to put resources into hiring an account manager and operations resources. I didn’t think that would happen before meeting Icemint. I felt in control of the process in the sense of telling them what I wanted. I QA-tested everything before we went live, and I gave the authority to launch.

We launched with no bugs, and the platform has never gone offline. I have all the core competencies that I need on my end. Because they’re in Ukraine and I’m in New York City, it’s really important for the basic things to work, especially at 6:00 PM. I’m getting to a point where I have certain clients who actually take up to 40% of my revenue, so if I lose that client, it’s like I’m back at square 1. Icemint did a really great job of making sure that everything is sound, even when starting with code that they didn’t make from scratch. They did a great job of putting me at ease, especially on the small business side. Right now, the company is made up of myself and another person, so every penny counts. I really appreciate the way that Icemint handles things.

In terms of monthly growth, we’ve been live for 5 months and had 65% growth every month so far. A lot of that is due to the product quality. The space I work in is somewhat competitive, but the clients like the features and the technology behind the platform. We haven’t really gotten any complaints about anything not working. Our team is doing a lot of work on the backend to start automating things.

I’ve funded the whole company. Icemint has built something that we can sell. Now that we actually have enough recurring revenue, we can bring Icemint on board almost full-time. Right now, they’re working 30 hours a week.

How did Icemint perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very communicative. I have a project manager that I solely work with, and she’s amazing. We message multiple times every day. Nobody’s dropped the ball, and everybody knows exactly what’s going on. At the end of the day, we get an update, even if they’ve only worked for a couple of hours. They tell us when things are moving and when things are stuck. They saved us time through their suggestions and the workflows that they put in place.

What did you find most impressive about Icemint?

I liked that they’re an agency of full-time employees. Even when we weren’t working together, we built the MVP on a flat rate. I think I paid them a little bit more after that, and then I didn’t have any money left. I told them I was going to try to sell it and then come back to them. Even for small bugs that weren’t even their fault, they would do fixes here and there for free. We didn’t have a contract at the time. They didn’t know if I was going to sell more in the future or if I was even going to be a future client. They probably believed in the product and were generally helpful.

I wasn’t necessarily taking full advantage of their expertise. They know how to do everything. This platform has a lot of integrations, and some of them aren’t APIs. We’re thinking about doing a Zapier integration. I’m somewhat technical, but I don’t know how to code. Once I ask for something, Icemint is really good at providing estimates and explaining the process. They’re very transparent. They’ve never gone over budget.

Are there any areas Icemint could improve?

They’re a core part of my business now. There’s nothing I would change about our partnership. They’ve already adapted to what I needed.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Icemint?

Connect with them on the overall scope of where the platform’s going. After a large push, they’ll ask what the next 5 steps are. For example, if I tell them I want to build out these 15 features and I know it’s going to be $100,000, I’ll ask for their ideas on how to skip a step for efficiency. I suggest being upfront with Icemint and making a connection with them instead of just viewing them as an outsourcing firm.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-owner of a personal assistant company. We provide general errand services for people, such as pet care and dry cleaning pickup/drop-off. We offer additional transportation services, depending on our customers’ needs and requests. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

Initially, Icemint Media developed our company’s first website, which we’re really happy about. We’re now working on a second website project together.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Icemint did everything we needed. It was easy to work with them, and they seemed like a professional company. All they needed from us was a short explanation of what we wanted. We were really satisfied working with them.

They did everything for us, including the backend and frontend development of the website. We provided them with some feature requirements and gave additional information and clarification when needed. They handled all of the design and offered great suggestions. For example, our clients can use our website to order services. I originally just wanted the website to include basic information like an explanation of what we do. Now, our clients can choose the service they want for a certain date and time, which simplifies my scheduling process.

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

A friend of mine did a project with Icemint not too long ago and recommended them to me.

How much have you invested with Icemint Media?

We won’t know the final cost until the end, but we’ll probably spend between $10,000 and $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I contacted Icemint in the winter, and we started working together around April 2017. They’re still working on some other projects with us. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m completely wowed by their creations. They delivered much more than I expected. They understand what our business needs and made a site we’re proud of.

About 200 people visit our website each month, and we might get 70 requests from those visitors, which is a big increase for us. We previously only answered phone calls, and that was not as comfortable or convenient for people. Being able to access service requests via the website has definitely increased the number of clients we have. We’ve also received some pretty nice reviews. People say our website is simple to use, easy, and understandable. You can’t get lost in it.

How did Icemint Media perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. I don’t have a single complaint about them. They’re pleasant and professional, and they hit all the markers when it comes to timeliness and communication skills. We mostly communicate via Skype because I travel a lot. We communicated with the web designer, the project manager, and the guys responsible for some of the technicalities. There were probably 10 people involved in the project.

What did you find most impressive about Icemint Media?

I think Icemint has done a lot of work for different groups, and they have insight into various businesses. They only need a short explanation of what I want to make it work. They know what needs to be done.

Are there any areas Icemint Media could improve?

No, I wouldn't want them to change anything. We’ve had a great experience. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We run a custom online shirt website. I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

We needed to redevelop the website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Icemint Media reworked our WordPress site. We have a WooCommerce integration, and Icemint Media has installed plug-ins for it, as well as developing custom ones.

Our project was a major overhaul, with Icemint Media working on the site 20-30 hours per week. They continue to perform 3-10 hours of work on the site per week.

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

I sourced Icemint Media through a development matchmaker called crew.co.  I had all the designs in place but needed someone to develop the site. Icemint Media came in at the right price and gave a reasonable time estimate in their quote, so I ultimately went with them.

How much have you invested with Icemint Media?

Our project with Icemint Media had a cost of between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Icemint Media in May 2016. We continue to work on an ongoing basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Icemint Media did a fantastic job and offered deliverables at the end of every day, which was great.

How did Icemint Media perform from a project management standpoint?

I've worked with other development agencies in the past, and I loved the fact that I could work directly with a project manager from Icemint Media, who interfaced with the coders. Communication was excellent, beyond just the updates. Icemint Media's team is highly fluent in English and had quick email response times.

What did you find most impressive about Icemint Media?

These guys are amazing. I love working with them. They complete tasks quickly and are super responsive with absolutely no language barrier. They come with my highest recommendations.

Are there any areas Icemint Media could improve?

No, I think that Icemint Media is great, and I've recommended them to several friends.

BACKGROUND

I'm the leader UI/UX Designer at WayUp, a 40 person company in New York City that's a marketplace for college students and recent grads to find internships, part-time, and entry-level jobs. Our main demographic is between 18-24 years of age.

I handle all visual design for our online platforms (desktop, mobile and iOS app).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We are working on a content directory for users to provide information on a number of different aspects of pre-college, mid-college, and post-college life, from helping to find out what major should a student go into, ways to set up a resume, or tips for going on an interview.

SOLUTION

We have used Icemint Media on another smaller project and didn't hesitate to use them again. We knew their work was always great, and they worked within our budget and timeline. The Resource Center has been a long project that will have a major impact on our site and users. They developed a web application for our project along with a mobile version. Icemint Media has taken our vision and designs and delivered with no major hiccups, and have always been there to help with any last minute changes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

I can't say enough about their work ethic. They make working on projects very manageable and smooth. When handing over a design, I never have to worry about getting back something so off the track that we'll have to start from scratch.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We’re an online travel agency.

What is your position?

I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

We needed someone to work on our project. We started the project two years ago and wanted an updated version. The first version was done with a different partner. Essentially, we needed development for our platform and site.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They developed our software, and they currently do ongoing support and upgrades. It is built with Ruby on Rails and has multiple integrations with third-party APIs [application programming interfaces] and SDKs [software development kits].

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

They were recommended to us by a marketing agency with whom we work. We asked them to do the development for our project, and they advised us to go with Icemint Media.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our relationship is ongoing. They provide support and upgrades for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

They delivered exactly on time. They explain things to us and advise us. They take care of our issues exactly as we need them done.

What distinguishes Icemint Media from other providers?

They have a very good team. Our front end uses the Amadeus API. It’s a very high load system, and they do this very well. Many other contractors weren’t able to take on a project like that, but for Icemint, this wasn’t a problem. They also have good support.

Is there anything Icemint Media could have improved or done differently?

No. I think they do better than their competition.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are an international web-hosting company. We provide a wide range of web-hosting services, such as shared web hosting and domain registration, rentals of virtual and dedicated servers with Anti-DDoS [distributed denial-of-service], SSL [secure socket layer] certificates, and other.

What is your position?

I'm a chief business officer and now in charge of all processes in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

We were getting ready to launch a brand new web-hosting company on the market. Our main enemies were time to launch and the quality of work done toward our predetermined specifications. I believe that we succeeded in what we wanted to do.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The project was developed from scratch – we had a technical description and some technology stack already when we started to search for a vendor to assist with design and development. The technologies included Symfony PHP framework, experience with WHMCS, JavaScript/jQuery skills and experience with third-party integrations via API [application programming interface].

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

We were referred to contact the Icemint team. Although we had other contractors in mind as well, Icemint gave us the most detailed development plan and reasonable prices as well as explained the workflow and expected deliverable.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total budget exceeded $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the cooperation around two years ago and ended the project little less than a year ago. We still work with their team for long-term support and maintenance of the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did Icemint Media perform from a project management standpoint?

The quality of communication, and the technique they used was great. Every step was clearly understandable for us and was issued on time. The project was completed successfully on time with only a small increase in the budget.

What distinguishes Icemint Media from other providers?

They are always straightforward with you and that helps strongly. They don't reveal company secrets, but I always was informed about the project's progress and any issues. At the same time, I wasn't overloaded with technical details. Icemint Media delivers exactly what we expect on time. This allows us to plan marketing activities in advance.

Is there anything Icemint Media could have improved or done differently?

I would advise they scale the team. There was a time when one of their team members got sick and one of the stages was delayed, although they caught up on the next one. It's great work and, in my opinion, they should grow their business.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I started my own project a few months ago for people who are looking for new opportunities abroad. There are plenty of people in Ukraine, Russia, and other countries who want to move abroad, emigrate, and do business or study in Europe or the US. They don’t know how to settle in a new country, so they need help. However, there are plenty of local people who know how to solve this problem and can help them. My service is to connect these two groups of people.

What is your position?

I am a journalist with about 15 years of experience; however, the project I did with Icemint Media was independent from my profession.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Icemint Media?

I needed a customized WordPress website built.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We decided to use WordPress to build the site. They made some modifications because WordPress didn’t offer all the features I needed. They added social functions to display user’s profiles and allow people to connect with each other and chat. They wrote some of the plug-ins themselves.

I’ve changed the business model, and now we’re moving from a social network to a marketplace, so they’re currently working on some changes that will be launched in the next few days.

How did you come to work with Icemint Media?

In my work as a journalist, I wrote an article about a mobile game that Icemint had built. The proceeds from the game go to a charity that helps people who are suffering from war in Eastern Ukraine.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our budget was up to $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in July, and we had planned to finish in early September. The project wasn’t actually complete until late September because I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted as the final product. We launched the site in early October and I’m still working with them for small modifications that our users request. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

There were some bugs when we launched, which they quickly fixed. I don’t know whether the bugs were their fault, but now everything is great and I continue to work with them.

The project was pretty fast; it only took a little bit more than two months to complete. I had expected it to take three to four months, so I’m happy.

How did Icemint Media perform from a project management standpoint?

There was some delay, but it wasn’t only their fault. I didn’t provide them with clear tasks to do.

What distinguishes Icemint Media from other providers?

They took WordPress, and they did amazing things with it. I didn’t expect that WordPress could be so deeply modified. They wrote plug-ins, and they took some open-source software and connected all of it together in one website. It’s really great.

Is there anything Icemint Media could have improved or done differently?

Maybe they could work a little bit faster. When I asked them do to something, sometimes it took one or two days more than what they had promised.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of an advertising & marketing company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide best-in-class marketing and technology solutions to dentists and doctors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Build the foundation for our marketing tracking system

SOLUTION

How did you find EltexSoft?

Referral

Why did you select EltexSoft over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from EltexSoft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Create and implement a web-based marketing tracking and analytics solution

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Eltex team has been an absolute pleasure to work with. The team is exceptional when it comes to communication and talent, and they have delivered on every aspect of the project flawlessly.

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

All items were delivered on time with excellent communication along the way.

What was your primary form of communication with EltexSoft?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The talent and skill set of the team were impressive

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

I would say not

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO at Smartist, the app that helps visual artists to showcase their art in different interiors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EltexSoft?

– Project Management – Product Management – Mobile App Development

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to develop the app from A to Z in the shortest period of time.

SOLUTION

How did you select EltexSoft?

By referral

Describe the project in detail.

Once we have done our user research, UX, and UI design we contacted Eltex for the next steps. They helped us to structure the workflow and did technical/project management.

What was the team composition?

Eltex was presented by CEO, product manager, and 3 iOS developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app is in beta testing and will be released to the public soon.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was great. They helped build seamless communication. They kept in touch thru Slack and project/task management thru Clubhouse.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Reliability, communication, and experience.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I wish they are located in the United States.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an online marketplace for businesses to hire global contract lawyers for their legal work. I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EltexSoft?

We hire EltexSoft to create a custom software application for us to sign up clients and attorneys.

What were your goals for this project?

Create an easy-to-use and fast product for clients and attorneys to register on our platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I selected this vendor based on a client referral.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They helped me create designs for each interface of the software application. Then they helped me create the front-end and back-end solution for the software application.

What was the team composition?

UI/UX designer. Front-end and back-end developers. Project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did a great job and were very responsive. I would recommend them.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

There was a dedicated project manager assigned to me and it was very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

While they are located in the Ukraine, they were very responsive and spoke good English. They also helped coach me through the process.

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A.