Hashtag Systems

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of commercial development for a startup biotech company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems Inc?

We initially approached them to clean up our existing website and bring it up to speed on WordPress.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I’m not a technical person, but they were able to take my input and find the right tool. After choosing WordPress they walked me through how to use it, and it was a very positive experience.

They dealt with a number of bugs and issues on my old website and then migrated it. I largely gave them our internal materials over PowerPoint, and they came back with ideas based on our language and graphics.

The site itself is a presentation of our company’s capabilities; it all used very standard technology.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 people at any time. Rajeev (Founder) was the engagement manager, and he facilitated the correct people coming onto the project at the right time. There was also a graphic designer, a WordPress expert, a Java expert, and others.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems Inc?

We did some research and discovered that they were local to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $15,000–$18,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October–April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before the new site, one of the major issues was the clarity of our message and the navigation; you already had to know where to go to find the information you needed. With the new site, the navigation and aesthetic are much improved and have a better personality. There were also crash issues with the old site, which were fixed by switching to WordPress. I very rarely say this, but I’m 100% satisfied.

How did Hashtag Systems Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They were under budget most of the time and very responsive. We communicated over Slack and telephone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did exceptional at creating a turnkey version of a website. They took someone like myself, who isn’t a website person and doesn’t know the correct lingo, and they checked what I needed and did the work. It was a full-service approach to website generation.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could further improve the graphic component of their work. They were conservative in the design — not going too far outside what we requested. Perhaps they could hire someone with a bit of a stronger design background, though. There needed to be a bit more of a “wow” factor.

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Spend the time upfront on the phone and on Slack to correctly define what you want. Additionally, share you existing collateral early on so they can get a sense of you and your messaging. This will help them not diverge too much from your message or aesthetics.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of Digital Strategy Works, a WordPress managed services and digital strategy company based in Asheville, NC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hashtag Systems Inc, and what were your goals?

I have worked with Hashtag-ca on multiple WordPress web development projects, including the one in this review. Having worked with the team for over 6-years, I have built a strong workflow with the project managers who assign tasks to developers and return those tasks tested and completed.

In every project, including this one, we have had much success working together to deliver high-quality WordPress websites to my clients in various industries - this one specifically in Real Estate. I consider Hashtag-ca to be a long-term partner in all my projects.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I was introduced to Hashtag-ca by a client on a project he had hired me to consult on as project manager. After building a relationship with Hashtag-ca on that project, I continued to use them on my own consulting projects ongoing.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

I generally provide the team with either wireframes in conjunctions with high-fidelity mockups and a style guide in Adobe XD. They translate the styleguide into the theme templates we are building. From time to time, there may be larger custom tasks that I deliver requirements for.

In all cases, we meet first to review the requirements. In some cases, since we've worked together before, they know my workflow so I just send them the assets and they return the work and we review it together or I review it independently and send functional change requests, which are completed usually overnight.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I've worked with maybe 3 or 4 project managers and the CEO of the company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Gernally, speaking, Hasthag-ca delivers the work required with the expected level of details and results my clients are looking for. I'm fully confident they will deliver what we ask for and if there are any discrepancies, they usually get resolved pretty quickly.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We use Slack to communicate. I'm in touch on Slack with their team and we have projects set up in Slack that we're all tied to. When I have requested, I post them to Slack to the specific PM I'm working with and they respond during their work hours. They always let me know when there is a national holiday or when they are not going to be in the office, so I'm well aware of what their schedule is.

Many of my sites are not complex in terms of custom development. Usually, changes are made overnight to specific workflow items I need to have done. We work on tasks in tickets and then complete the tasks, test, and move on.

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

I really liked their professionalism and their ability to deliver results or fix issues when they said there were going to.

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

There are times there are minor issues I catch that I think someone could have seen that I'll have to circle back on. But overall, they do good work and we figure it out. I leave enough time for these issues because we've never met in person, are working remotely across timezones, and there are cultural ques that can be missed. So, as long as you understand that, you're in good hands.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a boutique recruiting placement agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems Inc?

I was starting my company, and they helped me from the ground up to build a database and do a lot of backend and website work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hashtag Systems has helped me build a client relations database. It’s not only to keep people’s records but also to attach files and other complex features. They’ve built it on FileMaker, and our website is on WordPress.

I initially drew them some sketched of how I wanted it to look. They were able to execute it, and they partnered with me and got feedback to improve my vision. They’ve been really helpful. Hashtag Systems has also set up my email account and created forms on the website that will populate into FileMaker.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with three people. They have a point person for FileMaker and another one for WordPress. Now, I’m working with someone else on SEO.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems Inc?

I placed an ad and found them through that.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and the relationship is ongoing. I’m not going to let them go.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the business yesterday, and the website is up and running. We have people applying for the site, and we’re getting leads that way. On the other hand, Hashtag Systems has done everything I’ve asked of them and knocked it out of the park. I couldn’t have gotten to where I am without the quality of their work. They’ve been a true blessing.

How did Hashtag Systems Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great in terms of scheduling. They’re super prompt about responding to me and fixing any little tweak. It doesn’t take them more than 24 hours to fix them, and for bigger issues, it’s only a couple of days. Also, I don’t have to chase them down to get a status. The team is great at communicating and taking feedback. If I don’t like something, they just execute what I ask.

We use phone calls, emails, and Zoom to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m not tech-savvy, and they’ve held my hand through the process. Since I started the business on my own, I don’t have anyone to lean on, and they’ve become part of my team. They’re responsive and patient with me, even if I’m being picky. Hashtag Systems’ team is always happy to make these tiny changes and ensure it works exactly the way I want.

Also, they’re lovely and kind people. They make the process fun, and there’s nothing they can’t do. They tackle all my crazy questions and deliver in a timely fashion. I can’t speak more highly of their team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You’d be very lucky to work with them. As soon as you communicate what you’re looking for, they’ll show up and do their job better than you’d expect. If you have questions, use their knowledge and ask their advice. Hashtag Systems will come up with the best solution.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive at a portable x-ray imaging solutions provider based out of Washington. We're a limited liability company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems Inc.?

I wanted to revamp my website and also create marketing collateral.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Hashtag Systems helped us revamp the complete website from scratch; we dumped the older site, and they made the design for the new one, integrated it, and launched it. They also helped me work on creating marketing collaterals, like brochures, pamphlets, and booklets.

The older website was on Wix, which I didn't like because it appeared too essential. We also wanted to switch to WordPress because it has the most detailed and organized websites. I had reservations about switching because Wix is something you can easily control going to the website. At the same time, WordPress is a lot more detail involved where you need the expertise of folks like Hashtag — they convinced me, and so far, I don't have any regrets. 

We're currently doing designs on the fly, updating brochures and some of the versions of the product — a lot of that is just adding new features, a couple of new products, optimizing the website,  and working on the keywords.

What is the team composition?

I have about five different people I communicate with; there’s also a WordPress expert and another member from their team who helps develop our online store.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems Inc.?

I use Thumbtack to find local handypeople; I went on the app and entered a couple of keywords, and they were second or third on the list. As a business owner, I chose them because I value people who can respond promptly and give you direct feedback, direct pricing, and rates. I called about four different companies and what stood out for me was Hashtags’ responsiveness; they gave me the pricing, and in about 30 minutes, I was convinced and decided to give them a chance.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $6,000–$8,000 with them.

What is the status of the engagement?

We started working together in June 2021, and the partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have metrics at the moment, but they're spot on with the vision I had on how I wanted the website to flow since the beginning.

How did Hashtag Systems Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicate through emails, Zoom, and phone calls; they send me an email every 2–3 days updating me on the project, and if they have doubts or questions, they schedule a Zoom call for the team's meeting to get those answers.

What did you find most impressive?

The fact that they’re a one-stop-shop is what stands out for me; they know the whole board, like integrating payments, working on WordPress, doing Wix, and designing banners and marketing brochures. They meet all my needs under the same umbrella.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm still not completely happy with the website's speed, but I've talked to them about this, and they’re taking care of it. Besides that, everything’s going great.

Any advice for potential customers?

For anyone looking to work with Hashtag Systems, ensure that you have a clear understanding of what you want and a budget.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a program that offers Public Speaking, Debate, Reading and Math classes for grades K-12 students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire , and what were your goals?

We need to update our website on a regular basis for our new quarterly classes. We hired Hashtag System to update our website on a per need basis.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The owner knew what he was talking about, easy to work with and his rates are very reasonable.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We met several time to give background of our business, updates needed to our website and the turnaround time. Our website uses WordPress and hosted on Bluehost. Hashtag developers were very experienced in WordPress and Bluehost hosting. They usually turn around projects within a day or two which is what we need.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with four people: CEO, Designer and two web developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our updates always met our requirements and were done quickly.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We worked with the developers directly and were able to communicate our needs without having to go through a project manager which is helpful. Updates are usually done within 1-3 days.

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

The owner is will to work with us whenever we encounters an issues, such time difference, preferred developers and invoicing.

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

The time difference between US and India has to be planned out ahead of time so neither parties are not working at very early or late hours.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I oversee the wsebsite for our nonprofit and working wiht Hastag Systems has been such a pleasure. They are highly responsible, efficient and charge fair pricing for their good work. They turnaround work in a timely fashion -- often delivering even earlier than expected. They are smart and and excellent team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hashtag Systems Inc, and what were your goals?

Our website was built a few years ago but we have needed to revise and upgrade various things so they have been able to solve our issues and problems, improve the user experience and suggest solutions. Our goals were to make the site better, add pop ups, fix some of the bugs in the software and make the site better.

SOLUTION

How did you select Hashtag Systems Inc and what were the deciding factors?

Tyey were recommended by our IT person who has worked with them for a long time. He was very confident they would deliver what we needed and he was right!

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

THey solved our issues with WORDPRESS, added donation pop-ups, made our web menu static, sovled some isses we were ahving wiht video and more.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We wored with 4 excellent team members who were all developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The deliverables were all top rate adn the site is mjuch better now and highly functioning!

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

They were easy to work with and set up weekly calls to go over progress. Goals and deadlines were hit and their timeleing was spot on.

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

We enjoyed their prescision and responsiveness. The job was done quickly and well. They also responded right away and finsihed the job. They are also fair pricing wise!!!

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

NMA is a client-focused team of professionals helping businesses thrive through high-level web development and online digital marketing strategies for a variety of worldwide clients. I'm a Multimedia specialist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hashtag Systems Inc?

We hired Hashtag Systems to develop a number of hospitality websites that required a coding overhaul. We were extremely lucky to find Rajeev and Hashtag systems. In them we found a very professional group, with outstanding dedication to each project. A welcome sight in today's development world.

What were your goals for this project?

We focus on various high level projects, each require a specific type of approach because each project has a specific set of nuances which are critical to follow holistically. Hashtag is always able to mold itself as a team in order to optimize the project in the best way.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

NMA interviewed 8 specific developers and Hashtag Systems was one that stood out because of their integral approach to a project challenge I proposed before hiring. They showed to be resourceful and talented. Hence why we hired them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They provide the entire work scope. Design UX UI Development backend and front end database management and more.

What was the team composition?

Our "dream team" consists of 2 lead developers, 2 project managers and 2 maintenance/content specialist. 6 in total.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team allowed us to turn more projects around, and more quickly because of their efficiency. Allowing this streamline was and is any Agencies dream to possess.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We used simple methods which are tried and true. We used Trello, Slack, Google sheets and WHatsApp. It works at all levels.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What I admire most about this team is there temper. So even keeled. Nobody is higher or lower. no hierarchical structure of any kind. Therefore, information never gets passed down from person to person resulting in miscommunication. Ultimately, the team knows what each one is best at and does it effectively without any hiccups.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As they team grows, we will require greater execution and expertise in commercial grade stacks. We know Hashtag will get us there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a lab supervisor at the Family Fertility Cryobank and Fertility Center of California. I oversee a lot of daily lab processes as well as a lot of behind the scenes administrative tasks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems Inc?

We wanted to create a piece of software utilizing FileMaker Pro. We wanted that software to be a relational database. Our biggest challenge was taking the linear database we had in existence and translating that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We knew we needed to make the change to address the storage issue we were having and get rid of any redundancies. We also wanted the data to be easier to search. Their team moved everything from the linear database to the newer, relational one using FileMaker Pro.

What is the team composition?

There were three in total. Rajeev (Founder) was the project supervisor and coordinator. Chris (Senior Software Engineer) was more of a consultant. There was a developer who did all of the software programmings.

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems Inc?

I found them on Guru.com. I typed up information about the job, writing what we were trying to accomplish and what platforms we were looking at. We received many responses, but we ended up putting the project on hold. Hashtag Systems Inc was one of the handful of companies that followed back up with me. They also ended up being the most reasonably priced and had experience in FileMaker Pro. They checked all of the boxes.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $33,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in May 2019. The first phase is nearly complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The greatest metric for success in phase one has been that the software is functional. We’re now officially using the relational database. There’s definitely a learning curve, but their team has made it as seamless as possible.

Rajeev had extensive knowledge of the databases through the translation, but he also came up with ideas regarding how to make it user-friendly. They did everything in their power to make the new system easy for us. If we have any issues, they’re always available. Their customer service was impeccable.

How did Hashtag Systems Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They did have project management tools in place, but I didn’t familiarize myself with those.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their price was very reasonable. I also was impressed with how they look to achieve each of their goals within each phase. For phase one, it was drawn out in a methodical method, and they were able to hit off each of the points they suggested in a regular fashion. Hashtag Systems Inc gives knowledge that has a personalized touch for a very fair price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t thought about that one. They did such a good job that I don’t have any improvements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use the software that’s designed as much as humanly possible. That will help them troubleshoot.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director for Administration & in house IT for a Speaker's Bureau. We are a small company but support clients all over the world, but mostly in the US & North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Hashtag Systems Inc?

Are website was in dire need of a refresh and a complete overhaul was beyond our in house capabilities. We also wanted to integrate HubSpot with our CRM.

What were your goals for this project?

Wanted to see a significant increase in website traffic and wanted to be able to track the said increase via HubSpot.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had worked with hashtag in the past on smaller projects and they had handled those speedily and with 100% satisfaction.

Describe the project in detail.

Are website was in dire need of a refresh and a complete overhaul was beyond our in house capabilities. We also wanted to integrate HubSpot with our CRM.

What was the team composition?

We have a project manager, that is our main point of contact. But we also have 2 SME's that we can reach out to direct for particular questions or tasks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website has seen a major increase of traffic and our agents have started using the HubSpot API to track their inquires.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow has been outstanding with hardly any delay in response time above or beyond the normal. Actually there has been significantly less delay than expected for this type of work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their response time and attention to detail impressed us!

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of at this time. Completely satisfied with their work and work ethic.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I'm the CEO of appOnstream, a startup in Silicon Valley that’s creating and developing products for blockchain technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Hashtag Systems Inc - California?
 
I needed help with building our website. We don't have the internal resources for design or development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Hashtag Systems Inc - California designed our logo, as well as designed and developed a WordPress website. I worked closely with their team to give and receive feedback. They shared wireframes and images throughout the process. For the frontend, they used Bootstrap, Angular.js, HTML5, and CSS. Right now they’re hosting our website, and we continue to add new features.

What is the team composition? 

Their team is composed of one designer and multiple developers. I’m in direct contact with one designer and one development lead. 

How did you come to work with Hashtag Systems Inc - California?

One of my friends and co-workers suggested I work with them. 

How much have you invested with them? 

I’ve spent approximately $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement? 

Work began in January 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They do good work. The website is quite nice. I don't know much about web design, so I trust them to suggest, create, and define everything. 

How did Hashtag Systems Inc - California perform from a project management standpoint? 

I talk to them maybe once every few days. We mostly use Slack and Zoom. Their communication is excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

This is my first experience working with offshore or off-site developers. I think their coordination, availability, and meeting times are very good. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

So far, so good. I actually can't think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

For any company, it's a good idea to connect upfront with the people that will be working on your project. I have two points of contact, and both are really nice.