Since 2008, Flat Rock Technology, a software engineering, SI, Cloud DevOps, Cyber Security, and Customer Experience (CX) company, has been at the forefront of providing innovative and complex solutions to companies of all sizes. Over the years, we have grown into a reliable partner with a strong presence across six locations: London, Varna, Ruse, Burgas, Budapest, and Tbilisi. Our services include custom software solutions, cloud management, and outsourcing, tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.
Our Team With a team of over 400 highly skilled specialists, we excel in covering all phases of the solution lifecycle—from research and implementation to support. This enables organizations to create more cost-effective structures while they focus on their core activities.
Our Experience With 16+ years of experience and hundreds of successful projects, Flat Rock Technology has built a reputation for delivering projects on time and within budget. Our growing client base includes renowned companies such as Brompton Bicycles, Motor Fuel Group, AudioCodes, Hiddentec, Rithum, AJG, Pubmint, Aimbetter and many more.
Commitment to Excellence To ensure the success of our clients, we are dedicated to continuous improvement and constantly seek to upgrade our knowledge and skills. This commitment is reflected in our numerous certifications and accreditations:
Flat Rock Technology Has Earned:
Microsoft Solutions Partner for Digital & App Innovation (Azure)
Salesforce Partner
GCP Partner
ISO 27001:2013 Certification
ISO 9001:2015 Certification
ISO 20000-1:2018 Certification
Clutch Award: Top B2B Provider of Custom Software Solutions
Clutch Award: Global Leader in Custom Software Development
Cyber Essentials Certification
Carbon Assessed Organisation
Here, at Flat Rock Technology, we are eager to face new challenges and we would love to learn more about your project.
Flat Rock Technology offers competitive pricing with a range of project costs from $4,000 to over $1 million. Clients appreciate their value for cost, high-quality service, and effective communication. They adapt to client needs, providing flexible payment options and ongoing support.
Flat Rock Technology upgraded existing software to a cloud version, delivering on time and on budget. Clients valued their cost-effectiveness and competent technical team.
Effective Azure Cloud Management
Clients praised Flat Rock Technology for managing Azure cloud infrastructure efficiently, freeing up internal resources and improving processes. However, some noted communication could have been clearer.
Efficient Student Recruitment Platform
Flat Rock Technology efficiently developed a student recruitment platform, handling all aspects from architecture to backend development, resulting in a high-quality product.
Skilled Custom Software Development
Flat Rock Technology is commended for developing complex software solutions, including web-based applications and cloud-based systems, with high technical expertise and quick understanding of client needs.
Strong B2B E-Commerce Solutions
Flat Rock Technology created and maintained a B2B e-commerce site, integrating APIs and developing software for country-specific regulations, resulting in increased sales revenue opportunities.
Personalized Client Attention
Clients valued Flat Rock Technology's personalized attention, with senior management being involved in projects and ensuring client needs are met, fostering a strong working relationship.
Outsourced Management Resources for User Acquisition Agency
Finance & Accounting Outsourcing (FAO)
$200,000 to $999,999
Jan. 2018 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
4.5
Schedule
4.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"We are very happy with Flat Rock Technology as a vendor."
Apr 17, 2023
HR Head, Pubmint
Albert Godgelf
Advertising & marketing
Tel Aviv, Israel
11-50 Employees
Online Review
Verified
Flat Rock Technology helps a mobile user acquisition agency to outsource account management teams in multiple locations. They recruit people in management roles and provide them with benefits and facilities.
The client has built two strong teams in their target locations, and they're doing excellent work. Flat Rock Technology has delivered great results. They're organized and communicative. Moreover, their impressive work culture has been impressive. They genuinely care about the project's success.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the Head of HR of Pubmint
Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
We are an mobile user acquisition agency
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What specific goals or objectives did you hire Flat Rock Technology to accomplish?
Outsource Account Management teams across multiple offices and countries
SOLUTION
How did you find Flat Rock Technology?
Referral
Why did you select Flat Rock Technology over others?
Great culture fit
Good value for cost
Referred to me
Company values aligned
Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
We partnered with Flat Rock for a very specific goal:
Outsource Account Management teams in Bulgaria and Georgia
Recruit the best qualified people for an AdTech AM roles
Provide those teams with great benefits and facilities
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We managed to build two strong teams, one in Bulgaria and another in Georgia. Those teams are doing excellent work with handling our clients. And we continue to grow both of them as we are very happy with Flat Rock Technology as a vendor.
Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?
Very organized and open for communication, we have monthly calls and daily availability through chats and emails. On most hires we managed to deliver on time, and even when sourcing and interviews were slower it was communicated, and the situation discussed.
What was your primary form of communication with Flat Rock Technology?
In-Person Meeting
Virtual Meeting
Email
Messaging App
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
The general culture and people are always impressive. They really care about our needs, our on-site teams and always available for us - if it's the AM or the CEO of the company when needed.
Are there any areas for improvement or something Flat Rock Technology could have done differently?
On special hires, the market research and sourcing can be faster, but it's on rare occasions
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"One of the best in the business, you can always trust them to do their job and make sure you are happy
Azure Cloud Management for Translation Company
Cloud Consulting & SIIT Managed ServicesOther IT Consulting and SI
$10,000 to $49,999
Feb. 2021 - Feb. 2022
4.0
Quality
4.5
Schedule
4.5
Cost
3.0
Willing to Refer
4.0
"They understood what we needed without a lot of communication and always delivered exactly what we had in mind."
Apr 29, 2022
Manager, Translation Company
Anonymous
IT Services
Stockholm, Sweden
51-200 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Flat Rock Technology managed a translation company's cloud infrastructure on Azure. They deployed a virtual desktop monthly, migrated physical to cloud-based machines, did maintenance, and reviewed performance.
The client was happy with Flat Rock Technology's high-quality work, which yielded better processes. The team was accommodating to the client's requests and very professional in their timely deliveries. Their quick understanding of requirements and ability to meet them perfectly stood out.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a manager at a translation company.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock Technology?
We needed help managing our Azure cloud infrastructure. Cloud infrastructures are new for many IT departments that were forced into this environment by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we were early adopters, we didn't have the insight into how to take the took a step further. The idea of connecting with a third party was to free up resources internally and bring us a bit further in how infrastructure was managed.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Flat Rock Technology managed our Azure cloud infrastructure remotely. The team's primary task was the monthly deployment of our virtual desktop. We rotated all of the virtual machines monthly, and the team updated machines and redeployed them for us.
There were also a few one-off tasks they did for us. For example, they did a server migration; they migrated physical machines to cloud-hosted machines. They also purchased some resources within Azure for us. Additionally, they performed some maintenance work, reviewed performance metrics, and raised suggestions to improve our experience with the cloud.
What is the team composition?
We had one regular point of contact, and there were three more people from Flack Rock Technology involved.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock Technology?
They have an office in an area where we also have a location. We established personal contact with some employees on their end, and someone from our team recommended Flat Rock Technology.
How much have you invested with them?
They charged us based on a percentage of our total Azure spend, so the monthly sum fluctuated. I believe we paid them 20% of our spending, so we paid around £1,200 (approximately $1,500 USD) per month.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from February 2021–February 2022.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Overall, we were happy with the work Flat Rock Technology performed, which was very high quality. They always delivered everything we requested from them. Thanks to our engagement, we furthered our gain from being in the cloud and freed up resources during our partnership. We ended up with better processes than before, and we were pleased with their work on the server migration.
How did Flat Rock Technology perform from a project management standpoint?
They always delivered on time, and they were very professional in their deliveries and schedule. Although they suggested a ticketing tool, we didn't want to extend access to our internal team. We limited this project to one department that directly dealt with Flat Rock Technology.
Throughout the project, there were a few communication snags; I didn't always feel like they communicated clearly about what they were doing or delivering. We communicated via email.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I was very impressed by the quality of Flat Rock Technology's service. They delivered what we asked for without needing more details or for us to elaborate. They planned the deployment and execution of every request.
In my experience with third parties, a lot of communication is necessary to figure out our needs. With Flat Rock Technology, we felt well taken care of in that respect; they understood what we needed without a lot of communication and always delivered exactly what we had in mind.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Their communication could have been a bit better. Even though they always delivered everything in the end, it would have been easier for me to know what was happening if they'd been clearer about their activities.
Additionally, I was hoping to get a better idea of how to improve our cloud deployment and maintain it, which I told the Flat Rock Technology about. However, I don't necessarily think we know more or are in better hands now. We were paying a pretty large sum and hoping to get more than we could do ourselves, which we didn't. This is part of the reason why we called off our cooperation. Ultimately, they were a very good fit for us in some ways and not others. I don't necessarily think that's a point against them; it has more to do with where they are as a company versus where we are.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Have a very clear idea of what you want to achieve and try to communicate that very early on so it's completely transparent. You should set expectations based on what you're aiming to achieve. If you have clear expectations and a clear plan, Flat Rock Technology would be a good fit for most companies.
RATINGS
4.0
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
Cost
3.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
4.0
NPS
Software Development for Computer Software Startup
Custom Software Development
Confidential
Jan. 2019 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Flat Rock’s ability to grasp what we want to do and implement it quickly is really impressive."
Jul 22, 2020
Founder, Triteria
Andy Thompson
Software
London, England
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
A computer software startup brought Flat Rock on to develop their software. The team based the solution on Azure and used PHP. They’re currently providing ongoing services.
Though the platform just launched, internal stakeholders are pleased with the team’s work, noting their attention to detail and technological expertise. Flat Rock’s ability to iterate, collaborate, and deliver set them apart from their competitors.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder of Triteria, a computer software startup.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock Technology?
I came up with a concept for a piece of software. I turned to Flat Rock to develop that concept.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
I approached Flat Rock with a written scope and some wireframes I’d drawn up, and told them I was looking to build a web-based application. The team worked on the front- and backend development, and had some free hand in design as well.
The team came up with the entire solution, based on Azure, along with several other technologies including PHP.
What is the team composition?
I flew to their offices at the start of the project, and interfaced with about seven people. After that, I sort of left them to it. I have a direct contact with a project manager and don’t really speak with anyone else.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock Technology?
We’ve had a professional relationship for about 10 years now, from when I worked with them in a different role. They were the first company I thought of to help me develop the concept.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve been working together since January 2019. They built it over about six months, and we’ve spent the last six months iterating and developing further.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We just launched a couple of weeks ago, so it’s too early to speak to the success of Flat Rock’s work. However, throughout the project, they’ve delivered everything we’ve asked for. They’ve gone about the project extremely professionally and iterated very quickly.
How did Flat Rock Technology perform from a project management standpoint?
We communicate almost entirely through email. On their end, they use ticketing systems and other project management tools on their end. On my end, I typically take screenshots of what I’m working on and send it to them through PowerPoint with comments and requests, which they deal with accordingly.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Flat Rock’s ability to grasp what we want to do and implement it quickly is really impressive. It was a rather complex piece of software, and trying to explain it in written form has been complicated. Very rarely has the team misunderstood what we’re trying to achieve.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There’s nothing that comes to mind. Any mistakes we’ve had in the project have been due to miscommunications on our side. They’ve responded well to any changes in direction throughout the entire collaboration.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Go and visit them if you can. A lot of what we’re doing is highly detailed and needs a lot of interaction, so it will be helpful.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Chatbot Development for Telecommunications Company
Web Development
$10,000 to $49,999
Nov. 2019 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
4.5
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Flat Rock takes us very seriously as a customer."
May 4, 2020
Director of SaaS, AudioCodes
Cobi Gurievsky
Telecommunications
Tel Aviv, Israel
1,001-5,000 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Flat Rock Technology was brought on board to provide development resources to a telecommunications company. Using Google Dialogflow, the team is currently building a chatbot service.
The team delivers a level of professionalism and technical skill that internal stakeholders are pleased with. Flat Rock Technology is personable, provides high-quality deliverables, and works to continuously improve.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of SaaS for AudioCodes, an international telecommunications company. My team is currently developing a new SaaS product.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock Technology?
We have a large team of engineers, but we needed more resources for a rapid solution project we had. We hired Flat Rock to help us enable voice technology for a chatbot.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
The Flat Rock team set up our entire SaaS system. We created the PRDs and requirements for the team to work from beforehand, including graphics and UI. The solution enables developers, customers, and businesses to purchase a virtual telephone number, which is then connected to a chatbot. The process is voice to bot, rather than texting or typing. The team used Google Dialogflow to help build the web app.
What is the team composition?
Miroslav (Project Manager) was our main point of contact, and we also worked with about six other developers.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock Technology?
One of our executive managers recommended them. We brought them in and had a few meetings, and ended up being impressed with their experience. The team was competitive, responsive, and understood what we wanted to do, so we decided to partner with them.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent around $30,000 so far.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project began in November 2019 and is ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Flat Rock has definitely done a lot of the heavy lifting for the project. They’ve offered very professional services. We’re satisfied with the overall quality of their services.
How did Flat Rock Technology perform from a project management standpoint?
They know what they’re doing when it comes to project management. They’re smooth and professional, always giving us quick responses. They’re a team of creative thinkers who like to think outside the box.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Flat Rock takes us very seriously as a customer. They make themselves available to us, which is something we don’t always get from other providers. It’s been a great relationship.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They’re always improving on their technical skills. Our engagement has been really smooth so far.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
It’s really important to have a locked-in PRD. Know how your UI is going to be laid out. Also, understand that there will be a lot of surprises that neither you nor Flat Rock will be able to predict, and be prepared to be flexible, patient, and understanding with those additional hours.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"They’re always on time."
Cost
4.5
Value / within estimates
"We’re getting value for our money."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"I’ve already done so.
App Development for Insurance Broker
Mobile App Development
$50,000 to $199,999
Jan. 2016 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
4.5
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
“Their project lead did a very good job bridging the gap between their developers and our team.”
Sep 27, 2019
Digital Manager, Gallagher
Colin Nicholson
Financial services
United Kingdom
10,001+ Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Flat Rock Technology developed a password-protected iOS/Android app. Supporting an insurance broker, the app enables users to upload documentation and request a quote based on their policy.
The app performs as required and built-in analytics tools indicate the app’s success. While Flat Rock Technology’s team was reliable and innovative, their leaders fostered communication between the client and development teams. Despite being based abroad, there weren’t any language barriers.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the digital manager for an insurance broker. Though our offices are based in the US, I work from our UK office.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock Technology?
We hire Flat Rock Technology to expand our digital footprint and develop a mobile app.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
They built us a mobile app for iOS and Android. When users first load the app, it will provide instructions that they can click through. After providing a secure login and password, users can enter policy information, upload documents and photographs, and can contact us via screen to request a quote.
What is the team composition?
Our initial discussions were with their CEO, and we discussed the contract with their financial officer. Then we had a project lead, a product development lead, a senior developer, another developer, and testers.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock Technology?
We found them online, and they had already built a mobile app that was very similar to what we wanted to create.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $100,000–$200,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project lasted from 2016–2018, but we’re still in contact for maintenance and minor issues.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They delivered everything as we expected. We use Google Analytics to track the app's success. Using the admin facility Flat Rocks Technology. Built for us, we’re able to monitor the number of policies uploaded, users, and the number of quotes we received.
How did Flat Rock Technology perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project lead did a very good job bridging the gap between their developers and our team. Many of their teammates were based abroad, but communication wasn’t an issue. They were constantly in contact with us, and they spoke very good English. Sometimes they weren’t available on national holidays that we don’t celebrate, but overall, they were very helpful.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I was impressed by their experience and ability to come up with innovative ideas.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Although our communication was very solid, I wish they had a local office where we could meet face-to-face.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
We’ve learned that it’s easier when you’ve already scoped out your work properly. Decide what you want to do before your engagement starts and provide your project requirements up front.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Platform Dev for Financial Risk-Reduction Firm
Web Development
Confidential
Feb. 2017 - Ongoing
4.5
Quality
4.5
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"Flat Rock Technology is highly aware of the importance of meeting our targets, and we haven’t missed any so far."
Jul 8, 2019
CEO, Digilog UK Ltd
Lior Koskas
Financial services
United Kingdom
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Flat Rock Technology provides ongoing development resources and support to build solutions for a firm’s third-party clients. They’ve helped create cloud databases and interfaces, among other projects.
The team’s deliverables meet all requirements in every development phase. Flat Rock Technology provides timely work and top-notch project management. Their resources’ capabilities fall in line with expectations, and their reliability further ensures a continued working relationship.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the CEO of Digilog UK, a company specialized in utilizing and deploying voice risk analysis technologies in various behavioral analyses for the purpose of fraud prevention and detection. We mainly operate in the financial services sector.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock?
Flat Rock Technology has an amazing team of developers that can help us with our technological work very quickly. Our clients usually require bespoke solutions that can be deployed with their legacy systems. We needed resources to address requirements from specific clients, and Flat Rock Technology not only helped us find the right team but also to understand what’s required to develop the product within time and budget. Flat Rock Technology has been our partner for almost three years.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Flat Rock Technology has given us two lines of service. The first line of support is internal and for simple issues. They provide a second line of support for whatever is needed around our technology. For tasks that are a bit more complicated or that require integration, Flat Rock Technology will develop, help us integrate, or support us in resolving issues around the solution.
The main area of our relationship with Flat Rock Technology is the continuous development of the application—anything to do with databases, interfaces, cloud databases, and so on. Flat Rock provides these services on an ongoing basis.
Since November 2018, we’ve broken our scope into various stages and phases of development, each one with a list of tasks to achieve, from integrations to UI development, databases, and cloud servers.
We customize our systems for specific clients, based on their specifications, and we make sure we’re in line with whatever technology’s in the market. We always have to keep updating and improving on this. It’s a never-ending process. We use Flat Rock Technology for all tasks of this kind. They have the expertise, the knowledge, and the people, and they’ve done a fantastic job so far, so we’ll continue to use them on future phases.
What is the team composition?
Roussi (PMO Lead, Flat Rock Technology) is our account manager and main point of contact. We do visit Flat Rock Technology sometimes to meet more people from the team, including the developers and the QAs. However, we go to Roussi for everything we need, and he delegates it down internally.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock?
We did a lot of research before deciding on Flat Rock Technology. The team ticked all the boxes for our requirements, and we knew their capabilities well before starting any work.
How much have you invested with them?
It’s in the hundreds of thousands of pounds range. It’s been a very high investment from our end.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our collaboration with Flat Rock Technology started in February 2017, and it’s ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We have development cycles that end with a feedback and review section during a site visit. Flat Rock Technology gives us all the mechanisms and safety nets we need at the end of a phase to ensure the quality of the outcome. Even if something doesn't work quite right—as we would expect with any technology development—the team is always there to rectify it. We only came across this once, and they addressed those issues reasonably quickly.
We have a scoping session for every phase with Roussi and everyone else relevant to the job. We will outline the project and receive from them a timeline and a project plan that breaks down all the dates and what will happen at each stage. We can then evaluate our status within the project as well as add and subtract things. As we get closer to the end of the phase, there will be some mechanism of review and summarization before we move into the next stage.
We’re now at the end of phase three, and we’ve already gone through a couple of very long phases. It’s worked very well for us.
How did Flat Rock perform from a project management standpoint?
In our development cycles, we utilize target dates, but they are very much dependent on client information. Once that information is there, however, it’ll usually only take us a week to meet all the targets required. It’s crucial for us to meet the deadlines that we communicate to our clients and ensure that they see the results we promise.
Flat Rock Technology is highly aware of the importance of meeting our targets, and we haven’t missed any so far. We’ve shifted some deadlines between us because of factors out of our control, but Flat Rock Technology is generally exceptionally well managed.
We use Jira for the project outline and timeline, and we mainly communicate over the phone, Skype, and video conferencing. We also have face-to-face meetings once every two months or so. It’s always easier to go through the details and address the issues that may come up when we’re in front of someone. After that point, we’ll use email as the main line of communication between our teams.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Flat Rock Technology has various departments with different capabilities. The best thing is to work with someone who has access to each department and can delegate the work within the timeframe and scope. We don’t have to get involved with the work; we just see the end products.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t think so. Ever since we started working with Flat Rock Technology, we knew what their capabilities were and what they could do for us. There have been no surprises or disappointments during our three-year relationship.
RATINGS
4.5
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Database Dev for Investment Company
Custom Software Development
Confidential
Apr. - Oct. 2018
4.5
Quality
5.0
Schedule
4.5
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
4.5
"Their post-production support is as good as the actual work, and that’s been quite important for us."
May 22, 2019
CEO, Independent Real Estate Company
Anonymous
Real estate
United Kingdom
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Flat Rock Technology developed a database for a private art collection. They built the system using content from a previous iteration. The team provides ongoing maintenance and support.
Flat Rock Technology responded quickly to every request, even when dealing with a time zone difference. Transparent and professional, the team handled issues of all sizes and always gave clear timelines. They were flexible and accommodating, especially regarding payment plans.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m self-employed, as is my colleague. We work for the chairman of an independent investment company.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock Technology?
We hired them to create a database for our employer’s personal art collection. We had initially hired another company to make a bespoke database, but they didn’t have the proper developers in-house. We eventually decided to find another company because maintenance was becoming too difficult.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
We started the partnership by sitting down with Flat Rock to discuss the nuances of the database. We had them complete some smaller tasks to gauge their competency. The actual redevelopment of the database didn’t happen until further down the line.
Flat Rock took over the system and made sure that it was running properly. They soon made it clear that the system was poorly written and that the code wasn’t going to sustain itself over time. After some negotiation, we decided to accept Flat Rock’s proposal to completely redo the system.
They set up a curatorial database that serves as a private, in-house system. We have an ongoing support and maintenance agreement, and Flat Rock continues to host the platform and troubleshoot as needed.
What is the team composition?
They assigned a project manager to us. Originally, we weren’t sure whether the contract was for a UK-based project manager or not, but it ended up that he was based here more permanently. Most recently, we’ve been assigned a kind of customer manager as well, and she has a colleague that assists us when necessary.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock Technology?
We were originally introduced to someone who’s no longer working at Flat Rock. Our old IT company had a change of ownership, and the person who originally developed the bespoke system recommended that we reach out to Flat Rock. The rep that we spoke to was very knowledgeable and gave us a detailed breakdown of the services that they offer. We built such good rapport with the rep that we only reached out to one other company.
We didn’t have extensive knowledge of web-based platforms, but we felt that we didn’t have to shop around too much. We’re based in the UK, so the proposition of using a provider with very low comparative costs was attractive to our employer. Flat Rock was the best of both worlds. They were affordable but also had a London office. Although they’re based in Bulgaria, their proposal included a permanent contact in the UK, should we like one.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with Flat Rock in September or October 2017. We finalized the development plan in March 2018. I believe that development took about six months, including a three-month warranty period.
The warranty was quite useful for us in ensuring that the system did what we wanted it to do. We were able to make amendments within that time, as per the original scope.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Flat Rock delivered a scalable system that we hope to update in the future.
How did Flat Rock Technology perform from a project management standpoint?
There was a short period of time when our project manager had to return to Bulgaria, but that didn’t affect his responsiveness. He still got back to us within the same day. When he couldn’t give an answer, he would offer a detailed timeline to let us know that someone was dealing with the issue.
Now that the product is finished, our resource is somewhat less responsive, because most of our requests are less urgent. When we do have an important fix to make, they’ll typically get back to us that same day. Quite often, they can make small fixes within a couple of hours. They’re good about managing the time difference.
What did you find most impressive about them?
We’ve loved their can-do attitude and refreshing approach. Our previous provider could no longer offer support or a plan to deal with concerns that mattered to us. It got to the point where we could tell that it was a hassle to deal with us when we had an issue, particularly as we eventually found out they had no backup or record of the product’s code.
There were certain tasks that we couldn’t evaluate the complexity of because we didn’t have a background in IT. Despite this, Flat Rock handled every request in the same way. In other words, they never belittled our requests and were transparent with us if they felt that some tasks were relatively small or unimportant.
From what I gather, Flat Rock is still small enough that the people at the top are involved in most of their projects. Chris (CFO, Flat Rock Technology) is still copied on our correspondence, and this shows me that he’s committed to staying informed. They seem to be quite a cohesive company.
Aside from being a cohesive firm, Flat Rock was very flexible and accommodating. With my colleague and I, it was important that both of us could work from the office and at home, and Flat Rock was flexible around that. Also, our project manager was always reasonable in trying to get at what we wanted.
We needed to clarify some things with our project manager during the warranty period, and there was a bit of back and forth about what had been included with the original estimate. There were some instances where we had different perceptions about how things should be set up, and we struggled to communicate our concerns from an IT point of view. On the occasions when we were adamant about specific changes, they were accommodating. Our project manager and his team were understanding and open to negotiations.
Similarly, they were quite understanding about renegotiating our monthly maintenance. We were able to structure it so that we could pay quarterly or at six-month intervals. They’re a good company to work with from a maintenance perspective. Their post-production support is as good as the actual work, and that’s been quite important for us. Most companies don’t bother with maintenance after they’ve received their payment.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Ideally, we would’ve wanted to have a maintenance person that had been involved in the development, but the resource that we got was sufficiently updated regarding the work.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
It depends on the size of the company, but, if they have the time, it’s definitely worth it to have a face-to-face meeting, even just to present the requirements and to set up the workflow.
It’s important to get a feel for the project manager. Depending on the project, there can be a lot of things that Flat Rock can help with, and it’s a lot easier to get those things right from the beginning. That way, when you have an estimate drawn up, the actual desired outcomes will be made clear.
RATINGS
4.5
"There were a couple of misunderstandings, but Flat Rock was good about correcting them."
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
"We ran over the original timeline a bit when developing the database. We didn’t have a strict schedule, though."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
4.5
NPS
"It would depend on the requirements, but I’d generally recommend them.
Online Portal Dev for Vehicle Booking Service
Web Development
Confidential
Sep. 2017 - Ongoing
3.5
Quality
3.5
Schedule
3.5
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
4.0
“…their range of different skills make it possible for us to do things we couldn’t do before.”
Nov 15, 2018
CEO, Vehicle Booking Service
Anonymous
Arts, entertainment & music
United Kingdom
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Flat Rock Technology custom-built a web platform from design to development, both frontend and backend.
Applying a wide range of skills, Flat Rock Technology’s outsourced support has shortened development phases and improved outputs. Ensuring consistent communication, they’ve been responsive, organized, and helpful, though some deadlines were missed.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of a platform for booking classic cars.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock Technology?
We needed to upscale our development team and didn't want to hire internally. Instead, we wanted to work with a development house that would have all of the different skills we needed including design and frontend and backend development.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
Flat Rock Technology built a custom web portal for us including design and development. We’ve also been discussing with their mobile development team.
What is the team composition?
We work directly with a project leader and the head of development.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock Technology?
My partner worked with the owner of Flat Rock Technology. We interviewed about five different companies and chose them.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in September 2017 and it’s ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They have several developers on their team which allows us to both upscale and work at a faster pace than we could with our in-house developers. The development phase has thereby been shorter for us since we are less dependent on one person. We have a team at our disposal and their range of different skills make it possible for us to do things we couldn’t do before.
How did Flat Rock Technology perform from a project management standpoint?
We communicate with them several times a day. We set up all of the tasks with their own message boards through which we can communicate. We chat and have regular meetings via conference call to go through tasks and prioritize them.
They’re quick to respond and willing to help in any way they can. Sometimes we would like them to be quicker in delivering on project tasks. It’s hard for me, without programming skills, to understand how many hours some projects take. I would like them to work faster but it’s simply not possible.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I haven't had much experience with other companies to compare with. I can say that, compared to what we could do before with in-house programmers, this works much better because we are less dependent on one person.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I'm sure there are but nothing comes to mind at the moment.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Organize your projects into small tasks so that it's easier to estimate time requirements and set goals with timelines. It will be easier for them to understand what you want and the projects will be more transparent.
RATINGS
3.5
Quality
3.5
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
3.5
On time / deadlines
"We’ve had some challenges where deadlines weren’t met which created problems for us. The fault was on both sides because we didn’t break large tasks into smaller sprints that could be easier to manage and have achievable deadlines."
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
4.0
NPS
Mobile App Dev for University Student Marketplace
Mobile App Development
$50,000 to $199,999
Oct. 2015 - Jan. 2017
5.0
Quality
4.5
Schedule
4.5
Cost
4.5
Willing to Refer
5.0
“I've been in business for 20 years, and they're the best team I've worked with.”
Oct 1, 2018
Managing Director, S2DNT UK Ltd.
Gregory Newman
Education
London, England
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
Flat Rock Technology developed a native application for iOS and Android. They handled everything from architecture to functionality and oversaw the backend development.
The platform functions as expected, and the internal team is satisfied. Flat Rock Technology went above and beyond to deliver a high-quality product on time. Their expertise and exceptional communication skills made them a reliable partner.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the managing director at S2DNT UK. We're a mobile and web platform that connects small businesses with talented students from London universities.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with Flat Rock Technology?
I needed a company to build our student-recruitment platform from scratch. I was looking for contractors because it was more cost-efficient than having a full-time team.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
We shared our ideas with them and they put together all the architecture and functionality. Then, they proceeded to deploy a native mobile app for iOS and Android. They handled all the development aspects, including the construction of the CRM, CMS, and APIs. Flat Rock Technology continues to manage our updates, so we don't need a full-time in-house technical team.
The app connects employers with university students across London. We screen and interview the students on our platform for easy recruitment. Employers then use the platform to give the best students tasks in the fields of research, design, and social media.
What is the team composition?
We usually worked with our project manager.
How did you come to work with Flat Rock Technology?
I met their managing director through common friends.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about £140,000 ($183,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
The project started in October 2015, and we went to market in January 2017.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They worked quickly and efficiently. They produced some very effective technology, and I'm happy with the results.
How did Flat Rock Technology perform from a project management standpoint?
The process was very smooth, and they sent us weekly updates. I've been in business for 20 years, and they're the best team I've worked with.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I can't really compare them. I've mentioned everything above.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can't think of anything. From my experience, they're spot-on.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be very clear about what you want to achieve and how you want to get there. Since I was the only one designing the system, it was easy to maintain clear communication, which made things so much smoother for everyone.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.5
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.5
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
E-Learning Platform Development for Trading School
Web Development
$50,000 to $199,999
May 2012 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They're the most reliable, knowledgeable team of experts I've ever encountered."
Sep 13, 2018
Chief Global Strategist, Lex van Dam Trading Academy
Anonymous
Education
Almendralejo, Spain
1-10 Employees
Online Review
Verified
Flatrock Technology designed, developed, and launched the front- and backend of an e-commerce and e-learning platform. They also offer ongoing maintenance and updates.
The platform has earned praise from industry experts and operated for five years with only minor bug fixes. Flatrock Technology is experienced, honest, and thoughtful. The team always offers innovative solutions, delivers prompt turnarounds, and explains their decisions clearly.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm a director and the chief global strategist at the Lex van Dam Trading Academy.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Flat Rock Technology?
We hired Flatrock Technology team to build a bespoke online learning platform.
What were your goals for this project?
Our goal was to have the first and best e-learning platform for retail traders and investors.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor?
I interviewed through my network, searched for developers online, and came across Flatrock Technology on a review website. I was pleasantly surprised with their professional handling of my inquiry.
Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?
They designed, developed, configured, and launched a bespoke front- and backend system that operates e-commerce, e-learning, database hosting, and voucher redemption. They also provide ongoing maintenance. We've updated the website many times to meet our changing business needs, and Flatrock Technology always offers cost-effective solutions, timely deliveries, and attention to detail.
What was the team composition?
About 10 people were involved at the early stages, but professionals come and go depending on their skills. Our main point of contact is a stable project manager with whom we can communicate at any time.
We met their teams in the U.K. and Bulgaria and were thrilled with every member. We've seen their team change, but every recruit is excellent. We're happy to see that their teams maintain Flatrock Technology's friendly, dedicated culture.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
We run a successful e-learning and e-commerce website thanks to their work. Industry colleagues and partners have given the site positive feedback. It has run smoothly for over five years with only minor updates and fixes, which Flatrock Technology has executed without disturbing our day-to-day sales and business operations. More importantly, we sleep calmly at night knowing they always have our back.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
Their project management is impressive. They do a fantastic job meeting our needs and managing the work internally. No other service provider is so patient and wonderful. We have direct access to our project manager and their team, who always help in a timely manner. Flatrock Technology treats every urgent situation as a priority and solves them in the blink of an eye.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
They're the most reliable, knowledgeable team of experts I've ever encountered. They're also humble, which makes them an absolute pleasure to work with. They explain the technical aspects of their decisions patiently, and we always work out a reasonable solution together.
Are there any areas where they can improve?
Life is a learning journey for all, and they're professionals who continuously learn, reflect, and improve. All I want is for their team to stay at the forefront of the services they offer.
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