Flexdev

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Spots. We created an iOS app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexdev?

We launched our mobile app over a year ago as a home sharing platform for college students, but it evolved into more of a nightlife app. As a result, we needed a development firm to help us integrate more robust functionalities into the current system.

Once users started treating the platform as a social network, several local businesses wanted a presence on the app. The influx of new companies generated a sudden spike in user interaction  Before we knew it, our Spots app transformed into a sort of geographical Twitter. Luckily, Flexdev was able to come in and overhaul the entire system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Flexdev programmed several integrations for our backend infrastructure to support new features and functionalities. Those implementations allow users to create accounts for entertainment venues. They added other new features like the option to add friend profiles and transfer money through the app itself.

The new backend they developed supports the system requirements necessary to run an active social network. Flexdev also created new frontend designs that encourage user engagement. They're enhancing the app’s e-commerce functionalities and overall performance on an ongoing basis.

What is the team composition?

I met the whole team during our first official meeting. Justin (Partner, Flexdev) is our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Flexdev?

They were recommended to us by several colleagues. Justin had a good track record and demonstrated professionalism during our discussions. He took the time to analyze our market like it was his own, so we hired his team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $40,000 thus far. The total project is estimated to cost roughly $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Flexdev rebuilt our database and messaging structures into scalable systems. They also helped me design the frontend interface while their developers worked on the backend. Now that the backend is complete, they’re still working with us to polish the UI/UX. Everything they’ve delivered thus far has been exceptional.

How did Flexdev perform from a project management standpoint?

Justin keeps his developers motivated to work hard without burning out. Each resource has the adaptability and natural skill needed to succeed. They’re also proactive communicators, so that’s helpful. We share a Trello board I can use to track their progress. They also use Slack internally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Other firms I’ve hired in the past stick to the initial scope of work religiously. While that may sound good at first, that ideology can cause a lot of headaches when things inevitably go awry.

Flexdev is flexible when it comes to providing viable solutions. Since the team consists entirely of senior-level developers, they can easily fix minor issues without consultation.

They’re also able to internalize design concepts and project requirement quickly. Once we started explaining the kinds of features we wanted, they already understood what we were going for. Their depth of understanding demonstrated a willingness to embrace our creative vision and treat our project as if it was their own. Their open-mindedness makes communication much easier.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d appreciate more frequent communication. They perform well in this area, but I’m not opposed to being even more involved with the project. That’s only a minor criticism.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide Flexdev with basic wireframes, an understanding of the market, and a vision for the final product. They can handle everything from there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Grocery Delivery, Inc., a grocery company that delivers to vacationers in the Florida panhandle and along the Alabama Gulf Coast. We’re expecting to have a global expansion in the future.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexdev?

I needed someone to develop my app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re developing my iOS and Android applications to be compatible for tablets and phones. There are APIs for our grocery delivery company and our drivers—it’s a real-time delivery application. They also built a payment aspect into the app. 

Justin (Partner, Flexdev) educates me on different software so I can decide if I should implement it into the company. 

What is the team composition? 

My only point of contact is Justin.

How did you come to work with Flexdev?

I did research online and looked at various company profiles. I narrowed those down and gave Flexdev a shot, and I haven’t been disappointed at all.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re a very talented group of engineers that have been doing a great job. I’ve not shared the product yet with anyone, but the education on different software engineering options that I have received is unparalleled. 

How did Flexdev perform from a project management standpoint?

They constantly update me on what they’re doing and explain the things I don’t know once they’re completed. They email me updated versions of the project—I receive screenshots of what’s completed and what’s recommended. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their office is a huge place with several software engineers and technology gurus. It’s a very nice outfit for technology companies to pioneer their company in. Justin is very professional, educated, and knowledgeable—he has foreign engineers that come to the United States to work for him.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I’ve really been pleased, and I’m a very hard person to please. I have high expectations for myself as well as anyone I hire, and they have really wowed me with some of the things they do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No, I can't think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Book of Rhymes, Inc., an information company that focuses on rhyming words. Our new product is a website that helps creative writers find rhymes easily.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Flexdev?

I needed a partner to complete the dev and coding for my website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I already had the platform built, and Flexdev worked on optimizing the search feed and a few other features. They increased the search speed, so results appear much faster, and they also worked on the design and UX, moving the landing page to the home page. They ensured that the website functioned properly and worked on all browsers and devices. After receiving tester feedback, Flexdev integrated a feature that allows users to add a word to our database if it isn’t already in there.

What is the team composition? 

We mainly interacted with our account executive. In the beginning, we had a phone call with the founder, a developer, and our account executive.

How did you come to work with Flexdev?

We met at a pitch competition and connected. I reached out to them for a quote, which was quite competitive, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2018–January 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Potential investors are impressed with the UX/UI and function of the website. It had some glitches, but Flexdev fixed them, allowing us to do live demonstrations. They also improved the website so that users can more easily read the results.

How did Flexdev perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate via Slack, text, and email. Their founder is also very hands on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had a wide range of capabilities and transitioned seamlessly from one worker to the next. They work hard to meet deadlines and expectations. Even though I changed the direction of the project in the middle of our engagement, they accommodated and didn’t charge me extra.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would’ve been nice to receive more frequent updates and itemized records of their work.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Think about what you want and make sure to give them good input.