Freshcode

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a therapist and founder of Naked Recovery Online and Naked Divorce. We host an online platform that provides curriculums to assist users in coping with personal traumas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with FreshCode?

While I hired a development company to build the base WordPress plugin for our platform, that vendor moved on and I became incredibly nervous that we would have to start from scratch. Thankfully, FreshCode came highly recommended by a friend and I hired them to take over the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our platform provides personalized curriculums for each user that includes checklists, journals, exercises, and also features a way for users to contact a therapist on our team if they’re feeling overwhelmed. FreshCode not only took over the development of this important software, they rewrote major aspects of the base plugin to make it more robust.

They optimized the platform’s speed and rewrote the entire journal functionality. They crafted a complex personalization function that allows us to provide specific recovery materials to individual users based on survey question responses. They also enhanced the platform’s e-commerce function.

They proactively added small dashboard plugins, including a graph that allows users to track how their feelings improve over time, and a function for users to set and monitor personal goals.

FreshCode helped port the base plugin across multiple subdomains and continue to provide support.

They're currently developing a new program for us in which they’ll clone the plugin and port it to a separate subdomain on a different website. Meant for couples counseling, this complex program requires separate modules for each individual, as well as a shared module for both partners, all of which must be tailored to that couple’s unique circumstances.

What is the team dynamic?

We’ve worked directly with the same project manager from the beginning and she passes our requirements to their development team.

How did you come to work with FreshCode?

A friend of mine works as a chief technology officer with a sophisticated risk management company. He recommended FreshCode after I explained my dilemma with the previous vendor, stressing their expertise with complex plugin development.

I contacted them and presented a demo. They seemed to not only understand the technical aspects of the project but also appreciated the importance of the work we were doing.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over £50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the major development work in May 2016 and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our revenue has doubled in the last year, thanks in part to the fact that they developed a platform that’s leagues ahead of our competitors.

We have a support agreement with them, but these hours keep accruing because we just haven’t had any issues. We had a number of problems with our previous vendor, but the project has run smoothly ever since FreshCode took over.

I'm a raving fan of FreshCode. I can talk about them until the cows come home.

How did FreshCode perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager is very meticulous. She works with me to carefully outline any development requests, passing it onto their development team only after she has a complete grasp of my needs. They meet every deadline, and I know exactly when to expect a first round demo if I request an iterative development. They’re also flexible in their communication methods. I use Moxtra as a convenient way to share project folders with our SEO and social media teams, and FreshCode had no problem adapting to this tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We always viewed ourselves as trauma recovery specialists, but we’ve since realized that we’re also an IT company. FreshCode has essentially become our IT partner. They're extremely professional in managing any scope change requests, highly reliable, and have an incredibly talented staff.

They’re excellent business analysts. If I describe the platform requirements, they ask the necessary questions to translate those needs into technical solutions. They also come to me with their own suggestions for improving the platform.

I was really panicking after the original vendor left, but I was amazed at how quickly FreshCode understood and enhanced the plugin.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve recommended them to a number of my entrepreneurial friends, but FreshCode is often too busy. I would love to see them grow so they can help these other companies.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Educadio ApS, a Danish company that’s been running for 1 ½ years. We develop software for primary schools as well as for businesses. We are working with some Danish clients, and have signed on to move into Norway. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with FreshCode?

We were planning to build a piece of software in the form of a digital training tool that businesses could leverage to teach their employees how to use tools like Office, web-based products, and so on. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

FreshCode built our software from start to finish. Everything is based on Java and JavaScript. Beyond a supplier, they’re our strategic partner, and they have a minor piece of equity for our product. This ensures us that our collaboration will continue.

We started out in a typical consultancy arrangement. Educadio ApS had some specs and money, while FreshCode brought the expertise for building the software. As time went on, we broadened that scope. They know a lot about building software but not so much about how to market their business. Right now, by engaging in this deeper strategic partnership, we are helping somewhat on how they attract customers. They want to expand on working even more with clients in Europe as well as the USA. They even have a big client in Australia. FreshCode has a lot of expertise that we’re missing in Denmark, so we’re focused less on price at this point. We’d have to spend a large amount of time to switch suppliers if they announced that they were leaving.

Every time we have an idea, we can call FreshCode’s strategic members (i.e. the product manager or even a programmer). For example, in the fall of 2016, I decided we needed to create an interactive video format. They ran through all our business goals first, asking what we wanted to achieve with the new format. Then, we started building the concept and the software. We tested it on some customers and were able to sell it 6 months later.

How did you come to work with FreshCode?

I had worked with them on a former IT startup. When I started Educadio ApS, it was a no-brainer for me to go back to the FreshCode team and continue the collaboration. The former IT-startup initially found their principals on Upwork through a chance encounter in July ‘14. We employed around 15 developers from Eastern European countries, including Romania, Poland, Croatia and more. We needed some hardcore server developers who could build a Java-based solution. The relationship developed from there.

How much have you invested with FreshCode?

The cost of their services has been around $150,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with FreshCode in September 2015 for Educadio. I had previously worked with them for another startup. As of July 2017, we have just begun 2 more projects for new customers at Educadio ApS.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a strict B2B solution, and clients run their own instance of our software on their servers, instead of on a software-as-a-service [SaaS] model. One client is running around 100 instances in test mode, for example, but I don’t have specifics on how users are engaging with the tool.

Educadio offers software as part of a bigger learning environment. We are developing all the components and kits that come with this as part of our main business. We’re still in development mode and haven’t sold the entire solution. As such, we didn’t actually aim to attract the clients we have for the modules we did sell.

How did FreshCode perform from a project management standpoint?

On a day-to-day basis, we communicate through Skype. Ivan is my main contact. Being non-technical, he is proficient in a number of languages and can manage the communication with the IT team. He is attentive, result-driven, and good at finding out what should be done and translating my non-technical requirements into the programmers’ technical abilities. He hasn’t promised anything he couldn’t deliver. It feels like we’ve known each other for quite some time, and I have visited FreshCode’s office twice.

I have talked to some of the programmers as well, but being limited by their English skills, sometimes it is difficult. One of the founders’ girlfriend teaches English at a professional level, and they’ve actively been setting up language courses for most of their employees. English is difficult for FreshCode’s team members, who are coming from Cyrillic writing, but they’ve been doing a great job.

What did you find most impressive about FreshCode?

I’m impressed by their ability to handle difficult technical tasks and deliver on time. I haven’t been disappointed yet, even though I’ve had some steep demands. FreshCode excels at estimating scopes for time, money, and ultimate expectations. They are extremely service-oriented, which was the biggest surprise for me. I’ve worked with programmers from other Eastern European countries who lacked the “human touch.” By comparison, FreshCode’s team is very attentive.

Are there any areas FreshCode could improve?

They’re lacking in how to market their services. The company needs to relate more to its customers in a non-technical more business oriented way. They have huge potential for growth. Instead of providing development for smaller, set tasks, they can easily excel at creating full solutions from A to Z. For this to work, however, future clients need to know that they are more than able. I know they are working hard on this but are not privy to give out details.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Partner of a software company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build custom software to help SMB execute their business processes more efficiently.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Help us maintain and extend a nationwide logistics system in Node.js

SOLUTION

How did you find Freshcode?

Online Search

Why did you select Freshcode over others?

Talking to their candidates we noticed a strong technical background, and good communication skill

How many teammates from Freshcode were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

In a scrum team Freshcode developers implemented user stories and participated in all stand-ups and meetings (English spoken).

Deliverables were Node.js code and React.js code implementing the user stories.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Weekly user story implementations measured in story points. The fact that the project lasted quite long shows that this was up to par with the end customer's expectation.

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

They have a clear structure of sales and management. It is possible to speak to management but you usually deal with sales.

What was your primary form of communication with Freshcode?

Virtual Meeting

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

Technical skills and work ethic.

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

English could be even better.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an Executive of OpsCo LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide digital advertising technology to North American publishers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Data management and automation.

SOLUTION

How did you find Freshcode?

Referral

Why did you select Freshcode over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Freshcode were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Created webtools for managing data related to digirtal advertising management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Delivered finished tools per our specifications.

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

All work was done on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Freshcode?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Freshcode's competence and communication were impressive.

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

n/a