GMI

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I started a company called Beri Gift, which means “giving” in Malay. I came up with the idea when I was in Malaysia.

What challenge were you trying to address with GMI Group?

They developed our mobile app for us. I had zero experience with mobile app development though I did have product development experience. They brought the coding ability and they brought the idea.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked through a scrum process, moving through from a proof of concept to an MVP. They used a Miro Board, which allowed me to talk remotely about my idea and the flow of the application. Then, we tested the idea and a few features.

The application is a wish list or registry aggregator. People can use it to either pull wish lists from different websites or to create one manually. GMI Group tested both a feature called a scraper (scraping wish lists from different sites) and a contact linking tool (helping people share with their friends). Once we were good to go with those we moved onto the MVP phase. This was around March 2020.

What is the team composition?

All total, I worked with around ten people. The CEO was helpful at initially mapping our product and planning for monetization. Then, we have a couple of sales and customer relations people. They keep me up to date and act as my main contact. We’ve also worked with a budget and timeline specialist in a project management role. There’s also been a design resource working with us. Finally, I work directly with the developers.

How did you come to work with GMI Group?

One of my initial partners connected me with GMI. They had a solid profile on Clutch, which helped me because I was new to the software design world. We interviewed 3-4 different companies and we communicated well with GMI.

I was also impressed by their initial concept walkthrough. It was probably the best one we saw, in terms of wireframes. They pinned down my idea and grasped my concept the most cleanly. Additionally, I requested they design the app with React Native and they complied. That was a big requirement for me so I could save money.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $25,000-$30,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2020. The app has just been approved by both the iOS and Android stores. Now, we’re waiting to gather feedback from users before we make any more plans, though we already plan to use them to develop version two of the application.

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

I love the design work from their side and the mobile app technology; they’ve done a great job on both parts. They gave us options for the design but didn’t overwhelm us with too many choices. I provided initial branding and they were able to implement that as well.

We did go over budget, but, as the customer, I changed my mind and added a few things so I was alright with the overrun.

How did GMI Group perform from a project management standpoint?

This is one of their strong suits. They were extremely punctual to meetings to the point where they were always waiting for me to jump on the call. Additionally, when I identified bugs or gave them feedback on designs they addressed them quickly. Our communication was smooth.

On the business process side, they had a fantastic way to track developer hours. Anytime I wanted, I could pull up a Google Doc and see what they were working on. They also used Trello to great effect. I always knew what was going on and what they needed from me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Thanks to their speed, I was able to see a testable UI in TestFlight almost one week after we started. That process was very smooth.

I also found them to be a very professional outfit. Even when we disagreed they maintained their professional manner so I was never concerned about sharing my opinion. If something was moving slower than I expected we were able to talk about it. This way, there were no surprised at our final MVP debrief — from their side or mine. We had a good working relationship.

Google approved our app with only one question, which we quickly addressed, but Apple took almost one month. They were being a bit frustrating with their questions and GMI gave me good advice on how to push back and fight and respond. Initially, I thought Apple was never going to accept the app but they worked with me to get Apple to relent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

My experience was that some developers were extremely strong and some were less so. I shared this feedback with GMI and they were attentive. They quickly switched out a new resource, which resolved the situation.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about exactly what you, although it can be hard to pin that down. GMI did a good job of listing out how much each of our asks would cost to ensure we got an accurate estimate. Scope creep can be hard to avoid but that’s on the product owner, rather than the developer.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a project manager a Coders Lab, a leading IT school in Poland that offers training in tech, UX design, testing, and more. Students can choose from a range of products to help them achieve their goals, including stationary, weekend, and remote options.

For what projects/services did your company hire GMI Group?

We were looking for a company to develop a CMS that would help our internal staff manage information on our courses. This team needed to specialize in programming web applications in addition to being proficient in Symfony and React.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal with the website was to convey our course information in a legible way so that we could gain more leads. It was also important that the CMS was user-friendly so that our staff members could easily update the content regardless of their technical proficiency.

How did you select this vendor?

We sent several inquiries to various companies and decided to collaborate with GMI Group. They communicated efficiently from the get-go and were very much involved throughout the whole process.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

GMI Group developed a dedicated CMS that allowed us to manage the information on our training courses. Initially, both sides were heavily involved in breaking down the project. We worked to determine a precise development timeline for each functionality and strove to meet those estimates.

In terms of key features, we’re able to configure every element of the site. This ranges from customizing the titles, descriptions, and keywords to moving modules around the page. The CMS also lets us prepare lead collection forms and pop-ups. From an end user perspective, customers can become better acquainted with our offerings, check the course dates and advisors, and sign up for training.

What was the team composition?

The team included a project manager, two backend developers, and a frontend developer.
 

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

Our new site is more SEO-compliant, which has resulted in higher organic traffic and leads. Furthermore, the site is easier for us to edit, so we don’t have to rely on our IT department to make content changes.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They organized the work using a Scrum methodology with two-week sprints. Strong communication helped us work more effectively with each sprint, which allowed us to complete the project on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Within the first few weeks, we established a harmonious collaboration between our teams and worked daily to complete the project. It didn’t feel like a typical client-contractor relationship; rather, we considered them partners. If we ever have the opportunity to work with GMI Group again, we’ll certainly use their services.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We should’ve focused on giving the development team a better understanding of the whole project. At times, some individuals were too focused on one functionality but didn’t consider the broader context, which occasionally led to some discrepancies. Fortunately, we had strong communication lines and quickly explained any deviations. They were then able to execute the project as specified.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm CEO and founder of Q2 Smart Lockers. We’re an innovative dry cleaner with locker servicing in London.

For what projects/services did your company hire GMI Group?

We needed software design and development.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to build a successful product. We were focused on our business so needed a technical partner to plan and manage all the IT matters.

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by a friend who worked with them before.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We ordered lockers from an external, overseas manufacturer with no software included. GMI then designed and developed a whole system to integrate with that hardware. We were able to manage all nine lockers remotely, while our customers had access to the online user panel and mobile application to manage orders and make payments.

Later, we decided to build the prototype second version of our product in Poland. GMI was involved in a whole process of development as our main partner. They provided mentoring and consulting, product design, and a team of developers and architects.

What was the team composition?

There was an IT architect, a designer, and four developers.  

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

The software was crucial for our startup, and without it, we didn't have a product. Their work was the most important thing for us at the time.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They hired the product owner to oversee the project. As investors, we met regularly on demo days to hear about the current status of the project and used Assembla throughout.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their focus on the product and the strong input from their whole team impressed me. They had a lot of ideas about how to improve our product to fit the end users’ needs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Communication, in the beginning, was a little bit difficult due to the quality of online meetings. We solved that problem by using Messenger.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Budlex Sp. z o.o. is building new apartments in the markets of Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Olsztyn and Warsaw. The offer includes flats in modern facilities on estates with a carefully thought-out layout of buildings and located in prestigious locations. Our priority is to further develop the developer's offer and expand the range of our operations. We strive for the highest level of satisfaction with our services, which has been repeatedly appreciated by our customers. At Budlex, I provide technical support for development projects from the acquisition of land, through building permits, selection of the general contractor and commissioning of the facility.

For what projects/services did your company hire GMI Group?

Development and implementation of a mobile smartphone application, innovative on the residential development market.

What were your goals for this project?

With a view to increasing customer satisfaction with the purchased apartment, we have decided to extend the range of improvements with an application that enables control of water and heat consumption in the apartment, facilitates contact with the service and caretaker and provides up-to-date information about the housing estate. We plan to extend it with new functions.

How did you select this vendor?

Competition of offers of companies offering their services in this field operating in the country.

Describe the project in detail.

They developed the app for both iOS and Android platforms - hybrid version.

What was the team composition?

Budlex: - project manager - Director of Commercial Affairs - Marketing Manager GMI: - 1x Scrum Master - 1x Front-end developer - 1x Back-end Developer - 1x UI/UX Designer

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

Increasing customer satisfaction - internal research

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The first discussions with the project contractor were aimed at determining the total scope of work. From the beginning, GMI was able to anticipate possible risks and interruptions. The design environment was adapted to our working mode and was simple enough for the product owner to meet his requirements and those of the development team. Thanks to the great attention to the quality of the code, the project was delivered on time and there were no internal complications associated with the product development. However, there were external complications (service providers), which GMI helped to solve with us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Customer care The experience of the staff was at a very high level. Transparent rules of cooperation No unpleasant surprises, just pleasure. Willingness to help and availability

Are there any areas for improvement?

Rather not, the cooperation with GMI is clear and trouble-free

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and Founder of Delivioo.com.

For what projects/services did your company hire GMI Group?

We hired them for application development.

What were your goals for this project?

To build a successful mobile app, using our mockups and an existing API. We also did a rebranding of the whole product.

How did you select this vendor?

We found them through Google and, after a quick call, we moved on with the next steps.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They worked on our iOS and Android mobile applications. Our web-based version of the product was ready, but to allow our users to use our solution in a convenient way, we had to provide a mobile version.

What was the team composition?

Two of their developers collaborated with DevOps.

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

This project was the first in our collaboration and after its success, we continued. They’re now working with me on a complex solution for logistics companies.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was ok. We used a dedicated Trello board, but at that time, they didn't have the support of a project manager. That meant it was sometimes challenging to keep up to date.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re a very professional contractor with a great level of experience and a good sense of responsibility. They use the scrum method, which simplifies communication and work progress.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would appreciate if the daily scrum calls weren’t so early.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a startup in Denmark that serves retail stores with gift card solutions.

For what projects/services did your company hire GMI Group?

I needed a vendor to help me create an MVP of a gift card app as well as its backend.

How did you select this vendor?

I did an online search and found GMI Group.

Describe the project in detail.

They developed the app for both iOS and Android platforms as well as its backend. They did everything based on the specifications I have them.

What was the team composition?

I communicated with a designer, a team lead, and the owner of GMI Group.

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

The app was not commercially viable, but the IT side of the project was executed very professionally. GMI Group performed above my expectations and the collaboration was relatively effortless. They were helpful in producing an MVP that we could test with customers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were very effective in this regard. GMI Group used Trello, which made tasks visible for the team and me. All communication was done professionally and promptly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re very keen on pleasing the customer, but they still act like true IT professionals with a great sense of what is doable at the moment and what would be best for a later version.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can't think of anything in terms of their technical skills.