Indeform Ltd.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We produce plastic modular building systems, including floors and walls, which are traditionally made out of wood or metal. We manufacture these through injection-molding. I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Indeform?

We have been developing our own 3D software for the last ten years, and have used a number of partners. There were always technical challenges, and previous developers weren't always able to deliver the work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Indeform developed a cloud-based 3D modeler from scratch using JavaScript and WebGL, based on the solution we'd created in the past. The platform is similar to a kitchen planner but doesn't require any downloads or installations on the user side. Our modeler can work on any web browser.

We had a back-and-forth process around specifications. We assigned the wireframing and development of our framework to Indeform. They also built a shell around that to embed the tool into our website. The system can also calculate shipping costs and features a CMS [customer management system].

One of our platform’s most interesting feature is an algorithm through which users can generate intelligent assembly guidelines in-browser. Modules can be scaled automatically, with the number of parts and their size being calculated automatically. It's quite impressive, considering that it's not a simple array, but rather a room-based 3D assembly. These are features which are only now being developed for SketchUp as plug-ins.

We have communicated with a single contact from Indeform's side and also used a bug-reporting tool.

How did you come to work with Indeform?

Our company works internationally, so we have partners from multiple locations. We considered other developers and ultimately chose Indeform because of their professional communication.

How much have you invested with Indeform?

This information is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Indeform in 2013, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very happy with the product. Some users found the system easier to use than others, but we don't have any concrete analytics. People's experience with the platform has been positive in general, though. We are about to launch a new version which will track user statistics. The statistic will give us a better overview of the platform.

There will always be bugs in projects like ours. The question is around how fast and proficient Indeform is in fixing them. There have been some persistent issues, but most bugs are quickly resolved.

How did Indeform perform from a project management standpoint?

Indeform has been more than professional, compared to other suppliers. If we were to increase the scope of our work, we would probably adopt a collaborative project management system and move away from the one-sided approach. We haven't had any deadline issues, and the communication has been good. We had frequent Skype conversations in the early years, but we mainly keep in touch through spreadsheets, overviews, and quick emails.

What did you find most impressive about Indeform?

Indeform can solve problems and make things happen.

Are there any areas Indeform could improve?

If Indeform wants to grow, the company needs to hire more account managers to act as in-betweens. We haven't personally had a problem with this, though.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a startup company with an online platform which allows users with no expertise to create and share 3D animated presentations and catalogs of their products. The platform enables users to validate models of their content with augmented reality and even materialize it in 3D printing.

I’m the managing director, founder, and CEO. I set the strategy and goals for the company, look for investments, and coordinate work with our development, marketing, and legal teams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Indeform?

My business goal was to transform an existing prototype into a viable product. At that point, I had to complement our development team with experts in augmented reality and software development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Indeform provided the augmented reality development, and they also worked on other aspects of the software that made it easier to use for the user. We needed the program to work quickly in 3D, and Indeform made that happen.

Indeform has been working mainly FIWARE, JavaScript, WebGL, and MySQL.

How did you come to work with Indeform?

I found Indeform through Elance. I chose Indeform because their communication was great and they immediately captured what we wanted without a lot of technical specifications.

How much have you invested with Indeform?

This information is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in mid-2015, and the work is ongoing. Right now, we have a long-term contract agreement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re currently in the beta testing stage. Users have provided positive feedback on how easy it is to create a presentation with our software and how easy it is to see content on augmented reality. Our development team together with Indeform are the key to this success.

How did Indeform perform from a project management standpoint?

Indeform met all deadlines and adhered to the budget. We’ve been working together for almost two years, and we’ve developed a good relationship. We’ve learned the parameters with which Indeform works best, such as giving them two-week timelines rather than one week. Indeform's deliverables are always perfectly proofed and ready to turn over to production

What did you find most impressive about Indeform?

Indeform knows a lot of programming languages, they communicate well, and they work well with our development team. The team at Indeform is very reliable. They analyze things and give us dependable responses. It’s not necessary to explain what we want in minute detail. Indeform's team understands everything I describe without a lot of technical language, which I appreciate. On the other hand, when we gave them instructions, they worked exactly as we requested.

Are there any areas Indeform could improve?

The price could be lower, but I’m very happy with Indeform and hope to continue working with them for a long time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a startup trying to develop new technologies for the energy sector. We’re in the development phase and we’ll be seeking investment soon.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Indeform?

We wanted to make a simple prototype of a new type of multifunctional software platform. It provides an analysis of different forms of energy that customers and users might generate. The product provides communication and a platform for integration.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Indeform is our main partner in software development and they helped me design the prototype. I made the product specifications but they’re translating it into IT specifications, which I’m not very familiar with. We have never experienced this kind of work in this field, but there is still a collaboration between us. Indeform contributes heavily from an IT perspective, while I contribute from an energy point of view. We have an outcome of an idea of what is and is not good for the user.

We needed some standard features like collaboration tools or themes that can work together under the scope of a certain project. That would include messaging, file sharing, Gantt charts, planning, and some other unique features that are related to energy management. Since we are working on the first version, we won’t try to make absolutely every feature we want at this stage. In terms of technology used, we have a combination of several protocols and codes—Java, JavaScript, SQL database, Gantt Chart, and GIS.

How did you come to work with Indeform?

I was looking for a small company with a young team, preferably somewhere in Eastern Europe. This provides some advantages in terms of cost and skills; we were looking for this great combination and a good value for the price. I was searching through several different channels and I found Indeform through LinkedIn. I did contact other companies. However, Indeform had the best possible composition for the features we wanted in a company.

How much have you invested with Indeform?

It was between €50,000-€100,000 [$53,200-$106,400].

What is the status of this engagement?

I met Indeform in September 2015. It took six months to think about this project, get an initial understanding, and deal with negotiations. We signed an agreement in early March of 2016. The work is still in progress.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of the code is very good. We had some bugs in the project, but this is normal in the development process. It was not an issue because we resolved plenty of them, and we will continue improving the platform all the time. All the functionalities that I requested and hoped for were present in the product. We don’t have feedback from investors or users yet because it’s too early. We will start talking to people outside our development team in two months’ time.

How did Indeform perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m extremely satisfied with their team. They’re all young and talented people. Their written English is fantastic and we have had no issues with deadlines. They’re great professionals and hard-working people. Their IT expertise is made up of different people specializing in different areas. We communicate via email. I have relocated myself closer to their team for the development phase, so I’m meeting them at least once a week, even two or three times a week.

The only minor problem is a language barrier, but it is not substantial. Other than that, they are absolutely brilliant people.

What did you find most impressive about Indeform?

They really try to get things done. They’re all young and committed. They’re ticking off all the boxes that I can think of. In my experience, it’s difficult to find a team that ticks all the boxes. I would say that they’re quite unique and it’s been very good for us.

Are there any areas Indeform could improve?

Right now, they’re exactly what we need and getting everything that we are receiving from them. Later, of course, we will try to improve the product using in-house developers, using other developers, or using Indeform again.