Finoit Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and CEO of Data Service Co. We're a software and hardware provider in the healthcare industry. We work with highly secure environments, including EDI and HIPAA transactions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Finoit Technologies?

We needed additional development resources, so we were looking for a development partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They oversee design architecture and database development for our web platforms. They work with a variety of technologies, including .NET and SQL. We had some issues before we engaged Finoit (due to the work not being done properly), so they helped us correct those issues and integrate new technologies.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager and at least two developers.

How did you come to work with them?

We did a review of their rankings and interviewed them. They seemed to be everything we were looking for, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2013 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're very productive and cost-effective. The quality of their work is excellent and they give us confidence to explore new technologies.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

We have repositories and help desk features. We also use email to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're honest and committed to quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They’re great at what they’re doing and run their business very well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Good communication is essential.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a company that provides marine navigation services through a mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Finoit Technologies?

We needed experienced programmers to assist us in developing both the backend and frontend of our iOS and Android apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

While we have internal engineers who are the lead architects of the system, Finoit assists us in developing our Android app’s backend system through Python. They also assist us in building out the Android app’s frontend primarily through Java.

Some of their points of involvement include developing code that allows a unique ability to share information between app users and crafting a sophisticated moderation algorithm which is used to ensure that information on the platform is relevant to users. They also assisted in crafting code for our course builder. Although we had designed the code in principle and logic, we were unable to execute it properly, so they helped that process immensely.

We’re currently in the process of developing the iOS app with their assistance.

What is the team dynamic? 

Depending on our development schedule, we work with between three and eight people who are split between full-time and part-time. Deepesh Baghela serves as their project manager and reports to us.

How did you come to work with Finoit Technologies?

My professional expertise is outsourcing, so I’m familiar with vendors within the Indian market. I became aware of Finoit while working at another firm and decided to place them on the roster of companies we intended to interview. We were looking for a vendor that we could treat like employees, but manage and hold accountable through Key Performance Indicators as we would with contractors. We interviewed a dozen companies, and Finoit met our criteria and gave us a lot of confidence. We decided they were the best option.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $50,000

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in July 2016, and we continue to work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app hasn’t been formally released, but internally, we’re very pleased with their deliverables. They typically complete tasks before deadline.

How did Finoit Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Deepesh, our project manager, is excellent. Although he’s never been boating, he immersed himself in our specialty and gave us advice as a boater would, which was phenomenal. He’s extremely detail-oriented and keeps a perfect log of every single call we have together to keep track of everything we discuss. He ensures his programmers are producing quality work within the allotted timeframe. We can’t say enough positive things about him. In fact, us renewing our contract with Finoit was contingent upon having him as our project manager again. 

To communicate with their team, we primarily used Skype For Business and Workbench — neither of which we're fans of.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They offer a great product at a reasonable price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Finoit’s coding can not only be a bit convoluted, but it can also be commented in a strange hyper-language that’s nearly impossible for anyone but the developers to understand. The first rule of programming is to make sure your code is written for people instead of computers. I think Finoit could do a better job at ensuring that we can understand their coding as much as their developers do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When doing business with offshore developers, it’s important to interview potential vendors and evaluate sample code provided by them if possible. Don’t assume you’ll get what you paid for — more expensive options don’t guarantee better work. Finoit developed high-quality work for us at a very reasonable cost.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-owner of a social media app meant to help people gather using a GPS-style locator for events. The app is intended to drive real-life interactions in various communities, both for recreational and political purposes. I'm in charge of managing all outsourced work performed by Finoit as well as other developers and graphic designers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Finoit?

We came up with the idea for an app in the summer of 2016. After the election, we decided it would be important to give people the ability to get outside of their social media echo chambers and find friends outside of their comfort zone. We started with the question “How many times have your existing social media channels led to an in-person meet-up with someone you don't already know?” The answer is usually never.

We needed to have the app made, and we had nothing in place before we engaged Finoit. This is our first mobile app. It is meant to help people find peers the same way they would on Tinder, but with an entire field of users that could be filtered by social causes and skillsets. Users can find people who care about the same things as them. It would be a swipe-right-swipe-left process but focused on causes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Finoit designed a state-of-the-art geolocation app for iOS and Android. They created a GPS-powered map that allows users to tag their current location, called a beacon. Other users can join them in whatever they are doing, say a micro-event, without the users having an established connection. Finoit also created a real-time event newsfeed management system. It allows users to track invites received and track notifications from other users who want to join their event.

We made specifications with fine degrees of detail. They took those, gave us quotes, and provided the product in installments. We reviewed their output as they hit milestones. It was a matter of going back and forth through the specs we provided and slowly having the product rendered. Finoit also offered marketing services, but we didn’t take them up on it because we figured we could hire someone in the U.S.

How did you come to work with Finoit?

We were introduced to Finoit by a trusted colleague who knew we needed an efficient and well-built product. After meeting Mukesh [Co-Founder & Director, Finoit Technologies] in person, we were convinced of Finoit's technical depth. We saw that they had the ability to create an original mobile application of this scope.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their services has been around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in September 2016 and had a fully functioning application by March 2017. In April–May 2017, we made small technical updates to the design and functionality of the app.

It has been soft-launched. Our major launch events are coming up in the fall, and Finoit will be helping with this process. They are currently doing minor updates and changes to the app. Finoit is also helping us with another solution for our other business.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Finoit delivered a state-of-the-art product; we would never have been able to launch this app without them. The delivered app has been consistently high-quality, with few errors compared to previous software products we've tried.

Since we are in an early beta stage, I don’t have any numbers. We’ve gotten some feedback from small focus groups spread out across the country. Some of that is being relayed to Finoit, and the rest is being held back for a version 2.0.

How did Finoit perform from a project management standpoint?

We do not use JIRA or a similar tool, so I don’t have an idea of how quickly Finoit implements things. They prefer communication via email, but I like JIRA and similar tools. They are generally consistent about hitting all the points in an email.

Finoit has been efficient and responsive despite a 12-hour time difference. While it is always a challenge to work with a serious time zone gap, they have been very accommodating. They are eager to correct any miscommunications or reach greater clarification right away.

We’ve asked Finoit to check in with us at every major step, especially when they need to make a decision about a more expensive option. Since my business partner and I have a primary business, we are more price-sensitive than time-sensitive. Finoit is good in this regard, giving us options for achieving the same goals in a cost-effective manner. They are clear about what could start a different budget line item.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked on a software project before with a team in the U.S. At the price point, the quality Finoit offers is tremendous.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would have liked to have a tracker program like Pivotal Tracker or JIRA. That being said, I’ve never felt disadvantaged by not having access to one of those trackers. I think Finoit is diligent and moves quickly. It’s possible that they also assessed our abilities to stay on those programs and elected not to use them.

Sometimes, we’ve identified errors that Finoit claimed they couldn’t duplicate, which meant we had to figure out the issue. There were a few times when they came back, telling us they fixed all those things, but we found otherwise. It was not frequent, but it did happen once or twice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company has developed a hardware controller. I am the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Finoit Technologies?

We needed to develop a small application with which end-users could control the hardware unit. I looked for companies which could support our development and found Finoit.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have used Finoit Technologies for 4 projects so far, all revolving around the software for our controller. Finoit has built apps for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone for us, all with the same functionalities. They primarily did GUI [graphic user interface] design and coding for us.

How did you come to work with Finoit Technologies?

I searched through development directories and talked to a number of companies, including Finoit. I found them to have very good communication.

How much have you invested with Finoit Technologies?

The cost of our latest rework project with Finoit had a cost of $3,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Finoit 3 years ago, and plan to use them for upcoming projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I'm very satisfied with Finoit Technologies. They have good programmers. I am a PC software developer myself, and have looked at Finoit's code; it's very good quality.

We did identify bugs in our application. Finoit is not as good as Denmark-based companies at quality control, but they are able to fix errors which we identify, even 2 months later.

I like working with them. Communication is quick and professional. I have worked with many companies and this is one of the best!

How did Finoit Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Finoit has made an effort to maintain the schedule, but running multiple projects can make keeping deadlines hard.

What did you find most impressive about Finoit Technologies?

Finoit has a good team which works hard. I plan to use them again.

Are there any areas Finoit Technologies could improve?

I am in charge of building specifications, and it can be difficult for Finoit to understand my goals as a customer if they don't have access to the hardware controller. Finoit was able to do it, but running a remote project made things more difficult.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a business transactions law practice based in Washington, D.C. I am the founding partner of the firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Finoit Technologies?

Finoit created a website for our firm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Finoit developed our WordPress website and worked on a number of other projects for an e-commerce company that I used to run. The work extended beyond web design and involved different PHP module implementations.

How did you come to work with Finoit Technologies?

I had used Finoit before, and they were reasonable, very responsive, and understood what I was trying to accomplish. I wanted to go back to Finoit because they provide excellent service.

How much have you invested with Finoit Technologies?

The total cost of Finoit's services has been around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I have been working with Finoit for 2 to 3 years. Even though the website is static, Finoit continues to provide support for it whenever I need to make changes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Most other law firms use template websites. We have a unique page, which Finoit helped us with. It has excellent SEO and allows me to do what I need to without going back to a developer.

What did you find most impressive about Finoit Technologies?

Compared to other developers I've used, Finoit was very responsive and understanding of what I was trying to do. They're also reasonably priced. This is the reason I keep going back to Finoit.

Are there any areas Finoit Technologies could improve?

Not for me.

BACKGROUND

We are a Toronto-based start-up in the grocery industry. I am the founder and Chief Executive Officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We were looking to develop a mobile application to tap a unique market segment in the grocery space. We needed a well coded and reliable app for Android. Speed to market was definitely a critical factor.

SOLUTION

We discovered Finoit Technologies on a contracting portal. Their breadth of skills and attention to detail in their portfolio set them apart from others. They assisted with scoping and planning and executing the coding, as well as backend development of the app. The overall project duration was one year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

The result was a well-coded Android app that covered the agreed upon scope. Finoit Technologies went above and beyond in some areas to assist when help was needed beyond the scope of the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I have developed an iOS app. I am the founder of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Finoit Technologies?

I needed help executing my vision. I wrote user stories and made wireframes for the app, and shopped around for a developer.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Finoit Technologies developed my app for iOS.

How did you come to work with Finoit Technologies?

I looked for developers both locally and abroad, trying to find the right fit for my price. I can't remember how I found Finoit, but I liked the work they'd done in the social media space and put them through the process. It seemed to be a good fit, so we got the ball rolling, and made a contract.

How much have you invested with Finoit Technologies?

The minimum viable product build had a cost of $7,500. The next round of development is expected to be $4,000 to $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first version of the app was launched in May 2016. Version 2.0 is in development at the moment. I've sent Finoit user stories for it, and they've also provided ongoing support for the existing version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I understand business objectives as well as the development process better than the average person. The feedback I have for the app is based on analytics and user testing. We didn't run into any bugs after the app was delivered, given that I could detect anything in advance, and write in requests. Whenever a bug was missed, we caught it during the testing process, so the final product was clean and functional.

I don't know if the process would work the same for someone with less experience than myself. Many people have ideas and work with developers in fine-tuning it, as well as detecting opportunities for mistakes and challenges. I didn't run into any problems with Finoit because I gave them more information than normal.

How did Finoit Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Finoit developed everything that I asked for. Anytime we had a challenge, or if I didn't like something, we had a healthy back-and-forth. The process was smooth, compared to other developers I've collaborated with.

Like any other project, they might provide a rough quote, but once the idea is splashed out, it may end up taking more time and costing more money. Coming in with a clear understanding of the goal will lead to an accurate quote.

What did you find most impressive about Finoit Technologies?

It didn't take Finoit a long time to adapt to me as a customer, but this always depends on what each person's needs are. They provided some good ideas, but I knew exactly what I wanted.

Are there any areas Finoit Technologies could improve?

Anyone going into a development project should know their strengths and weaknesses as a buyer. Finoit was trying to offer me more than I was asking for in terms of design and user experience elements. Whether I was right or wrong, I did stick to what I initially wanted. Everything depends on who the client is and what their needs are.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a freelance web development and design company. I am the founder and owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Finoit Technologies?

We handle most of the design and client management in-house and outsource some of the backend work to various companies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Finoit has provided development services for our company.

How did you come to work with Finoit Technologies?

I found Finoit on Elance [now Upwork] some time ago, interviewed them, and sent them specifications for a small project. Finoit seemed to be very thorough and educated. Their principal was very considerate and available, giving me all the time that I needed, and answering all my questions, so I felt comfortable moving forward with Finoit.

How much have you invested with Finoit Technologies?

The total cost of our project with Finoit was between $10,000 and $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Finoit one year ago. The initial phases of the project have been completed. We have an ongoing collaboration for updates. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our app has had around 1,000 installs over the past year. The reviews have almost all been favorable. It has a 4.9 average rating and 23 reviews with only one of them negative.

How did Finoit Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

I found Finoit to be very good at estimating work. We came to a way of narrowing the scope of a project, breaking down estimates to actual hours. This helped the project get completed and gave us much better control. The overall duration might vary by a few hours, but it wouldn't run more than by a month, as tends to happen with usual quotations.

What did you find most impressive about Finoit Technologies?

I'm 100 percent satisfied with Finoit.

Are there any areas Finoit Technologies could improve?

I always want the development team to be present alongside myself at the table. I handle management aspects and don't have a full understanding of iOS requirements or what the best way of implementing something is. I always tried to push for conversations during the requirements stage. Finoit comes from a realm of experience, which I don't have, and it's important to have different points of view. Finoit is good in this respect, but there's definitely room for improvement.

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

Clients should clearly define their work as much as possible. The better this is done, the more successful they will be.

BACKGROUND

Our company is an online survey firm based in Los Angeles, CA. While small (but growing), we strive to offer best-in-class feedback solutions that allow our customers to extract impactful insights. This, ultimately, will help them improve their business operations via employee surveys or increase their market share via market research surveys. As the founder of the firm, I have the primary responsibility of setting our strategic direction, including as it relates to technology development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Many of our competitors fall into one of two categories: market research/organizational consulting firms or software development companies. In particular, for those companies within the former category, they may offer services around survey development and research. However, they may struggle when it comes to addressing the technological needs of clients. In fact, in many cases, they have to rely on established software—resulting in increased expense and complexity. Conversely, for those companies within the latter category, they typically have limited expertise in research and may simply provide technology for researchers to manage their own projects directly. Our company not only offers best-in-class technology, but also a team of expert researchers. This equates to our company offering a one-stop-shop for organizational or market research. Ultimately, this allows us to offer more holistic, streamlined, and tightly-integrated services.

Our company targets individuals within two primary realms: market researchers and organizational researchers. These researchers are charged with managing research engagements via external and internal consulting, respectively. While much smaller, some clients also come from the educational sector.

SOLUTION

Finoit Technologies was initially discovered via a third-party outsourcing website. Considering that the scope of the engagement not only required a provider with a high-level of expertise within the latest technologies, but also strategic support as well, more thorough due diligence was required. Finoit was compared with five other highly-regarded development firms across a specific outsourcing website and the Internet at large. They were evaluated on their technical competence, project management expertise, support, communication, and pricing. Across all five factors, they stood out amongst the competition.

Finoit Technologies worked with us over a period of approximately 12 months on this particular engagement. They worked collaboratively with us to conduct a needs assessment, craft requirements, develop wireframes, create mockups, and develop the application. They even provided insight into the marketing plan, which speaks volumes to their investment in the success of the application.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Finoit Technologies worked on the application for approximately 10 months, managing all elements of the engagement. While the project took approximately 1.5 months longer than the projected project schedule, the delays were largely due to delays on my end. The primary outcome of the initiative was the delivery of an online survey platform that provides the most intuitive survey building experience. They have gone above and beyond on the engagement and have shown much flexibility with requests. I’m so impressed with Finoit’s work that I’m continuing to work with them on further enhancements to the application, and plan re-engage them on other separate projects as well. Furthermore, I’ve also recommended them to other colleagues looking for custom application development.