Equaleyes d.o.o.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a brand within ATech Electronics that works on various electronic boards for different purposes. My role is product manager, and I work with biomass combustion controllers for pellet stoves and boilers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

We hired them to develop and maintain our applications and the backend structures of our servers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Equaleyes Solutions provides us with custom software development. Most recently, they’ve developed an environment dashboard for the manufacturing and service personnel surrounding appliances. We started with a week-long design sprint upon their suggestion. 

The team came to our premises for a two-day workshop and tackled our target demographic, challenges, how to resolve them, and potential risks. After that, they mulled it over for two days, then prepared a clickable mock-up for us to test the project without development. We used this prototype for certain meetings with our established clients and received feedback. From there, we adjusted the initial project scope, and Equaleyes Solutions went into development. 

Additionally, the team has been working with our smartphone application for end-users. The app is used along with a pellet stove to control it remotely. Currently, Equaleyes Solutions manages our backend and our applications. Whenever Android and iOS release a new version, the team updates the mobile app accordingly. 

What is the team composition?

I work with a project manager, backend developers, and frontend designers. 

How did you come to work with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

They’re a long-term partner of ours that has been working with the company since before I joined. When the dashboard project came along, Equaleyes Solutions was a natural choice. 

How much have you invested with them?

The dashboard has cost €100,000 (approximately $104,000 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2017. Our latest project began in June 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received positive feedback from the dashboard’s prototype testing. Equaleyes Solutions is up-to-date with technology, and we’ve leveraged their experience. This product is new and doesn’t replace any existing solution. We’re fully aware that it’ll take time to see ROI because manufacturing personnel needs time to learn and adjust. However, we know it’s a logical next step, and we’ll soon open the product as a free-to-use tool so that manufacturers can get acquainted with it.

How did Equaleyes Solutions Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is great; they’ve included me in their Slack workspace, so I can chat with the whole team and not just the project manager. They use Jira for task management and ticketing. They’re a young team around my age, so we’ve found it easy to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with Equaleyes Solutions’ communication skills. They’re open, available, and willing to try new things. Our product is fulfilling a market niche, and the team is open to learning about our ecosystem and all the parties and factors involved. They don’t just get specifications from us; they endeavor to know everything about our space.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s a specialized third-party person who works with their company, and we’ve had some issues with late responses from them. Therefore, it would be nice if they were as available as other teammates within Equaleyes Solutions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is not to be afraid if you’re still in the idea phase and don’t know so much about your project yet. Equaleyes Solutions’ design sprint was a great way to understand our project, not only for them but for us. If you have an idea, contact them and work it out with the team because they have a lot of experience you can use.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of TAKK, a subscription-based company for essential and personal care products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

We hired Equaleyes Solutions Ltd. for their e-commerce development services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After being satisfied with the initial consultation service they provided, we decided to create a new e-commerce website from scratch with Equaleyes Solutions.

They implemented a single-purchase feature and flexible subscription model for our customers, and they developed it in a way that we can extend and adapt our pricing strategy.

We required them to present the customers with as much information as possible because we want them to have a very informed decision about our products. We incorporated Django into the development, as well as Stripe for the payment method.

They’re currently providing us with ongoing support to consistently update the website and fix issues.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with several people from their team, but our main point of contact is the project manager.

How did you come to work with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

A previous consultant introduced me to their company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about £60,000 (approximately $80,400 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Equaleyes Solutions manages to deliver exactly what I want on the front end, so we’re very happy with the design aesthetics they implemented. As for the back end, we’ve never really encountered any major issues despite being such a complex mechanism.

Apart from that, the main metric for success is how they enabled us to provide a flexible subscription and single-purchase option for our customers. They’re also able to improve our website, which resulted in a significant increase in sales.

How did Equaleyes Solutions Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive from a project management standpoint and if there are any delays, they communicate that to us in advance.

We manage the project through Trello, Figma, and we typically interact through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with their availability and responsiveness. We like their ability to communicate the complexity of the development process in simple terms, so we’re always aware of the progress.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could improve on because we’re quite happy with the partnership.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise you to be clear with your requirements because it’s critical for the development to have a very detailed scope.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior PR consultant and marketing assistant for a pharmaceutical company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

We wanted to develop a mobile application for our customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Equaleyes Solutions has designed the whole application from scratch. It’s a mobile application for communication with healthcare professionals. It’s meant to deliver news articles and information about medication. In the long run, we’re also planning to use it as a communication channel instead of emails and posts.

The app is available in our country for iOS and Android. We initially provided documentation, and Equaleyes Solutions helped us on the development side.

What is the team composition?

We have four people on the team — there’s a project manager and some developers.

How did you come to work with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

One of our business partners referred them. They showed us a presentation about what they do and their projects in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about €33,000 (approximately $37,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in March 2021, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve just launched the app, so we don’t have users yet. However, we’ve been satisfied with their work; they did everything we asked. Also, we haven’t had many bugs yet, and they corrected the ones we had in a matter of hours.

How did Equaleyes Solutions Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been perfect; they’re great. We mainly communicate via email and phone. They’ve also given us access to dashboards to see the project progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a young team, but they know what they’re doing. We’ve been impressed with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don't think there’s much to improve. They’ve done an excellent job, and the team didn’t sell something that they couldn’t deliver.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We like to pick up the phone and discuss things. It’s the fastest way to clear any questions that might arise from the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Sideways, a learning platform for the workplace. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

We were building a learning platform to help people learn better at work. We focused on small and medium-sized enterprises that weren’t aware they needed this type of platform. We were also targeting businesses growing to a size where they would need to help their employee learn things at work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We primarily use Equaleyes for web development, but we also collaborate on UI/UX designs. They’re building our product using Django, following an agile design, development, and delivery approach. 

I’ve provided them with a brief project outline, including details about the platform’s looks, functionalities, and end user experience. They’ve then designed everything from the front- and backend.

We’re currently beta testing with customers, and we’ll be ready to launch soon. They look after our product’s AWS hosting and provide us with ongoing maintenance. 

We look at learning from a different perspective and have a bottom-up approach. The product allows people to easily share their knowledge, store what they know on the platform, and ask for help from people if they need it. Through our app, information can be uploaded by anyone and is available to everyone within the organization.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with a project manager, two designers, 2–3 frontend developers, and 3–4 backend developers.    

How did you come to work with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

I did a mobile app development project with them in the past, and I liked how they work. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about €250,000 (approximately $283,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2020, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have six beta clients that are currently using our product. Both learners and teachers have given positive feedback about the app — they are enjoying the experience. One of the companies even reported a 100% learning engagement, which means everyone has completed what they needed to do within a week. 

Our partnership with Equaleyes is not transactional; we see a long-term relationship with them for the product’s continuous improvement. 

How did Equaleyes Solutions Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Equaleyes has performed exceptionally well on project management. They have been helpful in providing all the information I needed to make decisions. They’re always available and have followed up on everything. We have weekly calls to discuss deliverables and costs — their invoicing is very transparent. 

This has been the easiest app development project I’ve been a part of, and I’ve been in the tech industry for 20 years. Equaleyes has handled the project brilliantly and delivered on time and within budget. We mainly communicate through Zoom, and we use a custom tool for designs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Equaleyes are proper partners that roll up their sleeves and get things done. They’re very honest and transparent — they work hard to deliver things on schedule, and they make up if they don’t submit on time. I can’t speak more highly about them, and I’m pleased that we’ve worked with Equaleyes. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. There hasn’t been any instance when they let us down. Working with them has been an amazing experience despite the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Product Owner at Autistica, the leading autism research charity in the UK, and am responsible for the Molehill Mountain app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Equaleyes Solutions Ltd., and what were your goals?

We had previously developed an MVP version of Molehill Mountain. This was an app that was developed by Autistica in association with King's College London to help autistic people understand and manage their anxiety. This app had been successful, but as an MVP, it was limited in scope so we obtained an additional grant to develop it further. Our goals for this phase of the project were to increase the level of personalisation and interaction within the app - and by doing this, improve retention and clinical effectiveness.

SOLUTION

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

Equaleyes had done the development of the previous (MVP) version of the Molehill Mountain app. This development had gone very well, so it was a natural choice to continue our working relationship with them. We were originally introduced to Equaleyes through a personal recommendation from someone who had used them on a similar project - and they were selected after reviewing both this project and their work for other companies.

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

Before starting development, I conducted the usual user research and had worked with a designer to come up with the initial designs in Figma. I then tested these interactive prototypes with end users. We developed the Android and iOS versions of the app simultaneously. The backend APIs were implemented in parallel, keeping pace with the frontend features. 

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

I also worked closely with the Project Manager at Equaleyes, who was my constant main point of contact throughout the project. The development team varied from three to five, growing and shrinking naturally as we moved through the various phases of the project. The core team was a backend developer and two frontend developers (one for iOS and one for Android), plus QA. Occasionally, Equaleyes provided an additional developer to one of the three areas (Android, iOS, backend) so that the two frontend platforms remained roughly in sync with each other and with the backend development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are at a relatively early stage following release. However, downloads and registrations are good and the early indications are that the new version of the app is achieving higher retention that the first (MVP) version.

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

I had a weekly catchup meeting with the Project Manager, who was my main point of contact, but we were also in regular contact via Slack. This was a very efficient way of working. I added user stories to Jira and worked with the PM to plan the sprints. We also used Figma for wireframes/prototypes and LucidCharts for mapping out flowcharts and user flows. If the developers had ad hoc queries, they added a comment in Jira or we chatted on Slack.

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

This was an extremely efficient project which was done entirely remotely. Equaleyes handled the different phases of the project very well, scaling the team up and down as they worked on different areas of the app. We were keen to release the app during World Autism Awareness Month and were very impressed with the work that they put in during the final stages of the project to help us to acheive this goal.

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

No. Our working relationship was very good and the project was handled very efficiently throughout.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run a company called ZobiWan. We own a software called MyChoicePad which is an assistive technology mobile app that has been around for 10 years now and is one of the most established educational apps in the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EqualEyes Solutions?

I needed to rebuild and relaunch our app, so I hired EqualEyes to be able to do it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Since a lot of the codebase was 10 years old and had not been updated in five years, I asked EqualEyes to overhaul it. We redesigned and updated the interface and rebuilt the entire database on Python after extracting all the data that comprised over 12,000 concepts, images, and videos.

EqualEyes also rebuilt our web app, which is the administration site for organizations, and refurbished an app that only ran on iPads to run on iPhones as well. It was quite a lot of work but the team made sure that both app formats worked. The design itself was also restructured to have extremely simplified interactions, taking into consideration the users with special needs.

Now, the team is just doing maintenance and fixes, since the app is used for communication and has to be kept running all the time.

What was the team composition?

My main point of contact was Marko (Project Manager) but I was also dealing with a few of the developers every three months.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent around £8,000 (approximately $11,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

It was an 18-month project, starting around October 2019. We suspected it would be quicker, but COVID-19 slowed us down. The app launched in March 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have a service business, so beyond the timely deliverables, I need to establish a relationship with customers. It is absolutely essential that this project be done correctly in order to achieve that, and EqualEyes has made it possible. 

It was a massive and complex job and it would’ve been difficult to get anybody to do it, but it didn’t scare EqualEyes off. They were able to extract from and rebuild so many different old technologies on the old app. There were also numerous design specifications, but they had a lot of patience when they were undertaking it. I’ve recommended them a number of times, even to another company I work with.

How did EqualEyes Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We had regular meetings and corresponded through Google Hangouts and email. The team is very good at communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their patience was impressive. There were many different elements that had to be put together and at some point, they could’ve grown tired of me and of the development itself, but EqualEyes never got annoyed with me at any point.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At some point, we should’ve used Trello. EqualEyes, however, beat the need for it and informed me of what was happening every time. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just make sure you establish a single point of contact with the EqualEyes team as tech projects mostly rely on how well and how regularly you communicate what you need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a well-being business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

We were prototyping a well-being mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We confronted Equaleyes Solutions with an initial scope of work to explore the alpha application development and look at our website. They did some discovery and market research for us, but we brought most of the information. Currently, they’re developing an application for iOS and Android using Firebase. They’re also developing a website for us. They’re building both the alpha and beta versions of our app and website from scratch.

What is the team composition?

We work with 3–4 people from Equaleyes Solutions’ team. The starting conversations were with Luka (Founder), and he has assigned us to Marko (Project Manager), a designer, and a developer. Those three people are who currently manage us today. There are other people behind the scenes, but we don’t get to meet them. 

How did you come to work with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd?

A business partner already knew Equaleyes Solutions from a preexisting project. I took them in based on that recommendation and what I knew of the marketplace.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around £50,000–£100,000 (approximately $69,000–$139,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership started in February 2021, and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gotten consistent results all the way through the program of work. We’re in a pre-beta process right now, and we plan to launch a formal beta program this week. 

How did Equaleyes Solutions Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management is excellent. We communicate through Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and email. Our teams have a lot of meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Equaleyes Solutions are very passionate about what they do and willing to roll with the program. They understand that, even though they’re bringing expertise to the table, they’re not dictating the way things have to be done. They’re building quite unique software while keeping it simple, intuitive, and grounded, which is hard to achieve in the well-being space.

One of the main reasons my business partner referred them to me is that they’re prototype experts, and they take an idea into a reality. Their developers and designers are really good because clients have to work with them very actively instead of just letting the process run its course.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

English being Equaleyes Solutions’ second language makes communication difficult sometimes. Things get lost in translation, and this is not a criticism but a matter of fact. 

In addition to that, most of the design processes have been done in Figma, which is not very intuitive or easy to understand for the outside party. I don’t make Equaleyes Solutions responsible for that. However, Figma is not a user-friendly system or presentation editing software from a client’s point of view. It’s the preferred platform for developers, but I’m not sure if it’s great for the customers.

Any advice for potential customers?

Do regular check-ins or Zoom calls not to let the process dictate how you work with them. I’m very struck because it’s a technical process that hasn’t inundated us with lots of reports or paperwork, which suits my style. However, I don’t think it fits other people’s style. I wouldn’t recommend them for a bigger business because a bigger business would expect a much richer and documented process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Programme Director at Zone V. Zone V was inspired by the mobile digital divide that exists today where products and services are not designed for the older segment of the worldwide population. Our products are designed to address this problem making sure everyone, no matter the age can have access to the latest technology and services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Equaleyes Solutions Ltd. ?

We were looking for a technology partner with world-class technical skills, who would be sensitive to the needs of the ageing, those who are visually impaired and those who have problems with dexterity. Equaleyes proved to be the right partner for us, with their previous experience working in the same industry and technical skillset.

What were your goals for this project?

Smartphones are by default created and optimised for millennials. This is an issue for those who are older where technology has not been part of their daily lives. Smartphones are also not designed specifically for the visually impaired and those with challenges with dexterity. Zone V wanted a partner, who would be sensitive to our target market and also have world class technical skills.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We came across Equaleyes in their early days as a development company. We chose them based on demonstration of the their technical skill across disciplines and understanding of the problem we were looking to solve.

Describe the project in detail.

For Zone V we needed a custom launcher app with several custom built-in applications such as Phone, Contacts, Messages, Settings, etc. Equaleyes integrated the Samsung Knox SDK. This SDK extends the functionality of the standard Android SDK and allows users to change device settings such as font size, setting default keyboard app, enabling/disabling hardware keys, changing the default launcher settings, changing default SMS settings all using the Zone V launcher.

Equaleyes also integrated SDKs for Samsung In-App Purchase (Samsung IAP) and Google In-App Purchase (IAP). In addition, Equaleyes provided the backend integration from our e-commerce website to our distribution partner for our integrated hardware product.

What was the team composition?

We have had many different developers working with us over the years - typically we have had 1 project manager and 1 developer working with us at any one time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Zone V is now available online and is benefitting many users across the world. We are a trusted partner with Samsung and have had press coverage from Wired magazine, BT and others.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Equaleyes have proven to be excellent communicators and demonstrated that they can take on a project with many increments and changes, achieveing the end result.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Broad technical expertise, they were willing to take on new challenges and learn.

Are there any areas for improvement?

With any project, defining the scope is critical from time, financial and functionality perspectives. We could have benefitted from greater depth in defining the project scope to make sure projects are always delivered on time. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the marketing and communications director of a technology start-up from Denmark. We aim to revolutionize and transform the entertainment vertical by providing a technical platform to digitize the working and promotional processes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Equaleyes Solutions Ltd.?

We needed help to conceptualize, design, and develop the front marketing entry to our website in a very limited timeframe.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a frontend design that appeals to our company's target audience; drawing them in to reading about our mission and converting them into new clients. I also needed their services to help me shape our brand aesthetic and marketing message.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by another associate working with me.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The worked on our website design and development, while also providing client liaison services.

What was the team composition?

There was a project manager, a designer, the head of development, a project manager of development, and a team of developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were incredibly useful and effective to me at a time when another marketing agency had dropped out due to time constraints.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Our project manager is amazing, listening so well to what we needed and generally being fantastic throughout the whole process: coaching, cajoling, and connecting with my team where necessary and making sure every detail was handled. She single-handedly shaped a huge part of our visual aesthetic and current branding. I don't think I’ve ever worked with anyone that I could recommend more highly than her.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The solution turned out even better than I could have envisaged. Their ideas were fresh, practical, and exciting, and they also made time in their schedule for us, bending over backward to meet our deadline. I was incredibly impressed with the skill level of everyone in the team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I honestly have none.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is working on a sleep and meditation app for children. I’m a product manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd?

We’re a fairly small company, but we’re going through a lot of growth and changes. We needed a new team to help us develop this platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We originally contracted them to work on the frontend of an iOS and Android app. We’re currently developing a larger ecosystem for the platform, which includes a new backend system and an online subscription website. There are a lot of little projects involved within the larger process.

The app itself is subscription-based, but we allow users to test it for free before signing up. We add new audio content to the app each week, and subscriptions allow users to unlock content on various devices. They can also build user profiles, which help us get to know our customers and recommend more specific content to them.

What is the team composition?

We have one main iOS developer and two other developers for the backend project.

How did you come to work with Equaleyes Solutions Ltd?

The partnership was already established when I joined the company. One of our contractors suggested them to us, so it was something of an internal recommendation.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in January 2018, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything is going really well, and it's interesting to work with them to find new people with new skills that help us evolve the product. The app ratings are very good, and our users review us well. In a customer survey that we ran recently, 96% of users said they'd recommend the app to a friend.

How did Equaleyes Solutions Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

We don’t do much project management on their side. As communicators, they’re very good collaborators. They work with us daily for standups, and we communicate all the time through Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with other outsource teams in the past who were not as skilled as Equaleyes. Setting expectations with them is always easy, and they really act as a part of our team. They’re committed to the project and share in our successes. It’s a very positive experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some difficulty surrounding management over a holiday, but we resolved it quickly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're very caring about the profile of developers, beyond just the technical aspect. It's important to chat with them to work out the best person for your project. Personalities matter, and they're an important part of our collaboration.