Iconic Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of Canadian Black Book. We’re a leader in aggregating, enhancing, and distributing vehicle values and information. My primary responsibility is the development and implementation of mobile and Internet-based solutions for the B2B market. This includes the development of service-oriented architectures that deliver Black Book data in real-time to hundreds of customer systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Iconic Solutions?

We initially approached them when the iOS and Android platforms were first hitting the market. Since our internal resources didn’t have the expertise required to create a product for the emerging marketplace, we partnered Iconic Solutions to develop our first generation of native mobile apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We split the development effort with Iconic Solutions, so the whole process was extremely collaborative from the beginning. We came to them with a general design of what we wanted and worked together to finalize the initial scope. The platform’s first version morphed out of this process and was brought to market after only four months of development. Providing more than just development work, they were integral to the app’s frontend design as well. The current platform is highly sophisticated considering we’ve continued to build onto it for nearly a decade. Each app has strong native and web components. For example, all user activity data and authentication features are driven and stored by web services.

As an automotive content business that enables customers to look up vehicle values, our strength is in the wholesale market. To best serve our users, they utilized APIs written in C for iOS and Java for Android. The APIs integrate highly compressed data files to be stored on the app through a property compression routine. At this point, the platform holds nearly 40 years of car values within two megabytes of space. Building the apps in this way allows users to operate them without an internet connection.

While the platform consists of a multitude of features, most revolving around vehicle evaluation, Iconic Solutions is responsible for coding one of our more complex functionalities. They developed a scanning feature that operates through the mobile app. The feature enabled users to scan barcodes on cars to bring up the vehicle’s value. While we’ve since acquired a scanning software to iterate the feature through new platform versions, they did an excellent job designing the initial build. It was advanced enough to take pictures of a barcode and interpret information regardless of the vehicle’s wear and tear.

They’ve gotten accustomed to compiling the statement of work documents for us over the course of the relationship. We usually call them to lay out our plan for a new release or functionality and they’ll respond to us in a few days with their estimated project cost. They’re flexible to a certain amount of scope creep, but we’ve also had to amend agreements to better reflect changes in the project. However, as an agile shop, we’d usually push the extra work to the next iteration. We worked with Iconic Solutions to release a new version of our software every 6–12 weeks for several years.

What is the team composition?

They allocated roughly 3–5 resources to each of our projects. These teams included an assigned project manager, a lead developer, designers, and core developers.

How did you come to work with Iconic Solutions?

They were referred to me by a colleague. I called them up and we met face-to-face. Their portfolio was impressive and they were willing to work at a fast pace. Hiring them was the right decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent anywhere from $100,000–$350,000 per year. I’d say we’ve paid over $1 million in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

They’ve done a lot of projects for us, but the majority of our business relationship took place from May 2011–April 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Iconic Solutions has never turned down a project we’ve given them. More importantly, they’ve consistently delivered apps that look great and function properly. They have excellent resources available to them that put in the time to produce great work. Our customer base has quadrupled in size since we first engaged their services.

How did Iconic Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

We set specific milestones for them to reach and they’ve always hit their target. We use a variety of web tools to track project timelines and bug fixes. In addition to in-person meetings several times a year, we interact via phone, email, and Slack. They utilize an agile methodology.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Iconic Solutions works with honesty and integrity. We stopped looking at them as a vendor years ago. They do what they say they’re going to do at a fair price and with a quick turnaround time. From a technical standpoint, they’re very strong and are capable of offering valuable suggestions. That’s a testament to their adaptability because they had zero prior knowledge of the automobile industry when we hired them. Their team truly stepped up to the task while overcoming a variety of challenges. They’ve been great business partners.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I wouldn’t have used them for so long if I wasn’t highly impressed with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with any project that requires the use of a third-party company, it’s important to start the engagement with a detailed outline of what’s to be accomplished. More questions and issues will arise by initiating a vague statement of work. They’re willing to take on projects like that and will complete every step necessary, but the process will be quicker if they don’t have to design an entirely new concept.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Legacy Software LLC, an organization that has an employment hiring app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Iconic Solutions?

The purpose of our business model and app is to better connect potential employees and employers. We needed someone to build the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first approached Iconic Solutions, we just had a basic idea of what we wanted; we didn’t have mockups or screenshots or anything like that. We worked with them to develop the scope of the project and technical functionalities of the app. They were involved in the process from start to finish. Beyond mobile app development, they also created a promo video.

One of the more complex aspects that worked on was the algorithm that our app uses to connect potential employees with potential employers. We wanted it to be more specific than other products on the market, including a company culture component. Iconic Solutions developed that algorithm, and it’s been implemented on both the iOS and Android versions.

What is the team composition?

We mainly worked with the CEO.

How did you come to work with Iconic Solutions?

We searched online for a nearby firm and read reviews for various companies. I interviewed a few of them and felt most comfortable with iconic Solutions. I felt I could trust them and that they understand what we wanted to accomplish. The other companies didn’t seem to get what we wanted or weren’t listening, but Iconic Solutions was giving input into our project from the first meeting. They seemed sincere and genuine, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $225,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2017–February 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our initial userbase loves how the app functions and has given extremely positive feedback. We had few bugs, and the app performs incredibly well. For the time and money we spent, the product is clean, modern, and high quality. Iconic Solutions was integral in helping us build a functional and professional-looking app.

How did Iconic Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They met deadlines and delivered what they promised. They’re good communicators and kept us aware of the timeline. Unlike other firms, they set realistic expectations and honestly communicate any limitations or setbacks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were communicative and responsive, answering calls or emails quickly. I trusted them and knew they wouldn’t charge us for any unnecessary work. We expanded the scope a few times, and I’m sure building our app from scratch wasn’t easy, but they were flexible and accommodating.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They probably get a bit bottlenecked at the project management level, so they’ll probably have to bring in more managers.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have an open and honest conversation with them about what you want. You’ll get comfortable quickly and build a good relationship that will facilitate the rest of the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the director of operations at a medical device startup. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Iconic Solutions?

We engaged Iconic Solutions to develop, test, and validate a mobile app that connects with a wearable medical device via Bluetooth. They also developed an e-commerce enabled website and marketing materials.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to complete the process as quickly as possible to support a 510(k) submission to the FDA. In turn, this would reduce time-to-market. We also needed to develop the infrastructure to enable a successful commercial launch

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Iconic Solutions came highly recommended. They've developed a strong reputation in Raleigh, NC, and the surrounding area.

Describe the project in detail.

Iconic Solutions developed our mobile app for iOS and Android. Upon completion, they tested and validated both products. In addition, they built out an e-commerce platform and a clinical database. All of these product builds occurred at the same time.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a project leader or manager. Several technical experts provided development support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The FDA accepted our mobile apps and supporting documentation on the first submission attempt. They cleared the device for sale in the United States.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our workflow with Iconic Solutions was very effective. The most significant challenges we experienced came from frequent changes and new strategies my company made.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I most valued Iconic Solutions’ flexibility and willingness to make frequent changes. They offered professional guidance and recommendations. Instead of blindly following our directions, they asked appropriate questions to ensure alignment and understanding instead. Iconic Solutions pointed out potential issues that could arise from making certain decisions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

This was one of the first medical device projects Iconic Solutions worked on. They learned a lot from this experience. I recommend they continue seeking to understand regulations and requirements for medical device applications, software, and security