Intellectsoft

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Woodside Hotels is an independent operator of luxury boutique hotels in Northern California. We operate a portfolio of 8 hotels across the region, from Carmel Valley up to Monterey Bay.

I am the vice president of sales, marketing, and revenue management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellectsoft?

We were renewing our digital landscape from top to bottom, including individual properties, our corporate website, and overall presence.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Intellectsoft redesigned and published our desktop and mobile web materials. I oversee all of the company's marketing efforts, so I acted as the key connection to Intellectsoft.

How did you come to work with Intellectsoft?

We went through a thorough request for proposal process looking for website developers. Intellectsoft was chosen based on their strengths and acumen within the industry. There were some personal connections to our president and chief executive officer, so after reviewing multiple candidates, previous work, and references, Intellectsoft came out on top.

How much have you invested with Intellectsoft?

The cost of Intellectsoft's work has been below $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Intellectsoft in the middle of 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The websites won't be published until January 2017. In terms of outcomes, we've been pleased with working with Intellectsoft's team over a period of 3 months, developing the site and partnering them with a separate creative agency.

How did Intellectsoft perform from a project management standpoint?

Intellectsoft has a robust team, providing experts in every field we required. Having a single point of contact and project management was one of the key things we were looking for. Intellectsoft was able to provide this, off shooting tasks internally to appropriate individuals for development or design. As we went through the project, we remained pleased at every turn.

What did you find most impressive about Intellectsoft?

Being a small, family-owned company, we are prone to provide feedback, so it can take some effort on the part of our partners to work with us and turn all of this feedback into actions.

Are there any areas Intellectsoft could improve?

As we moved towards launching our sites, we noticed that Intellectsoft has a tendency to work from the app, back. This may be a general trend in the industry, but we're used to developing the desktop versions of our digital presence first. Working the other way around was difficult for us, and it added some complexities. Once we got through some of them, everything started to flow smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

‎Liquid Studios is a consulting firm which deals with innovations in community development. The company is comprised of a network of some 180 consultants. The parent company of Liquid Studios designed and developed an app called Mi Rialiti .

I am the founder, president, and chief executive officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellectsoft?

We deal with many individuals and have had challenges around how people of different ethnic backgrounds, genders, and ages are treated. We wanted to create an application which would address, capture, and document those experiences, acting as a one-stop-shop for businesses, municipalities, universities, philanthropists, and others to see the impact of these experiences.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Intellectsoft is building our iOS and Android app. Our investors are suggesting that we also create a desktop version, which is something for which we'll engage Intellectsoft in 2017.

How did you come to work with Intellectsoft?

I was using the off-the-shelf software offered by Intellectsoft’s subsidiary company. I called them 3 years ago about a mapping function which we really wanted. It wasn't something we could do with the ready-made software, but they gave us an estimate for how much it would cost to build. I couldn't afford the $200,000 price at the time, but I checked back with them 2 years later and was put in touch with Intellectsoft.

How much have you invested with Intellectsoft?

The cost of Intellectsoft's work has been above $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Intellectsoft in March 2016. Our MVP [minimum viable product] was launched in October. Version 1 came out in November, and version 3, a week and a half ago. We estimate that our project has one more year to go.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Instead of being an enterprise solution, our app is intended for regular users, which makes it more complicated to develop. There's much more critique around it, as well as more expectations from people who are used to using other social media applications.

Our app is currently out in the marketplace. Our investors as well as the beta testers have enjoyed the app and are seeing its potential. We have mapped out several additional versions of the app.

How did Intellectsoft perform from a project management standpoint?

Intellectsoft's attention to detail has been great. Our project coordinator, in particular, has been fabulous. I receive summaries of our conversations, with tasks itemized in spreadsheets, including hours and estimated costs. It's been a great working experience.

Are there any areas Intellectsoft could improve?

As an architect, I can understand the design and technical process involved in development. After this project, I have developed a better appreciation for the steps that a lay person might not understand. Depending on who Intellectsoft is working with, these steps may be something to lay out formally to make the process easier to understand. I have the feeling that many developers simply don't do that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a software company with a solution that makes using Salesforce.com easier, and selling more effective. I'm the chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellectsoft?

We've worked with them for several years now. Our company was still relatively small when we first even considered outsourcing some of our development. We had a team of two developers, but they did not have native iOS experience. This forced us to consider hiring internally or partnering with another company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Intellectsoft has been involved in multiple different engagements, helping us develop and launch a series of custom mobile solutions for both iOS and Android. Our earlier projects were smaller, more like pilots. We brought them vision documentation and feature specs and then they'd go ahead and build the functional version, deal with testing, bug resolutions, etc.

Once we had established an effective process with them and we became more familiar with their work, we decided to begin roping them into more advanced project work. Most of the solutions they'd built have been data-intensive, and have required considerable understanding of nuanced business logic.

They've had a hand in a lot of our completed projects at this point.

How did you choose to work with Intellectsoft?

After much deliberation, we decided trying outsourcing our work. A number of places were considered, including India, Pakistan, China, etc. Intellectsoft was one of a number we vetted, but in the end, we were most confident in their abilities. 

What's the status of this engagement?

I can't remember exactly when we began working with them, but it's likely sometime around 2012 or 2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The best example is the fact that several products wouldn't have been launched for our own end-customers if it hadn't been for Intellectsoft and their dedicated team of developers. When we first began, we definitely had a lot more work in our pipeline than we could realistically complete within the specified timelines. It really came down to having access to the right technical skills for the right amount of time in order to get our releases out the door. All of that was made possible thanks to Intellectsoft.

You have to remember that we had only web developers on our team, so the prospect of having all this native development work thrown at us was certainly a lot of pressure. We then had to apply pressure to Intellectsoft to ensure that we'd have what we needed. For the most part, these guys have been able to deliver exactly what we've asked for.

How did Intellectsoft perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management, overall, is one of their strengths. Even in situations where things went wrong, they've gone out of their way to remediate and resolve them. For instance, one of the first larger projects we delegated to them resulted in having three different project managers assigned to us in 6 months. One of them experienced a nervous breakdown, which no one can ever predict, but Intellectsoft handled the situation very professionally. They were extremely apologetic and worked with us to identify a candidate that would likely work out. That kind of flexibility has been a key contributor to our success. They've always been willing to bend over backward for us.

What did you find most impressive about Intellectsoft?

Intellectsoft is very customer-oriented. On more than one occasion, they've been very accommodating to our unique or unusual circumstances. For instance, earlier in our business relationship, we ran into some finance issues and couldn't afford to continue paying for their services. It came down to us pinging them rather unexpectedly, requesting that we suspend the contact immediately because of our situation, even though it might have proven only temporary. They came back to us and proposed establishing a line of credit for us so we could continue developing our products. They simply said we could begin repaying them once we got things back in order. In all my years working with offshore companies, not once have any of them ever proposed such a thing.

Are there any areas Intellectsoft could improve?

The only real thing is their communication skills. This is typical of most offshore operations. Some of their executives have some great verbal and written English skills, but others could use some improvement. It'd be nice to see more consistent working knowledge of English throughout their team, but that's really the only area. These guys have been fantastic.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Eurostar is a transport provider. We offer high speed rail travel between London and the rest of the continent. 

What is your position?

I’m a business systems manager for the apps used on board the trains. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Intellectsoft?

We had a previous technology supplier who wasn’t working out. They developed a train manager’s application for us. It’s one of the main applications that we use. We were looking for a new company to help us improve on the app. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Intellectsoft migrated the application to the Cloud, has continued to support our team, and has developed the application further. 

How did you come to work with Intellectsoft?

I wasn’t involved in the selection process, but from the conversations I’ve had, I understand that we were looking for a provider who would treat us as an important client. We were looking for a company that was innovative and excited to work with us as a brand.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our ongoing maintenance contract is worth about £50,000 (approx US$73,300). With the development aspect, the total project is probably around £200,000 (approx US$293,300).

What is the status of this engagement?

It’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

From the user point of view, the app is a massive upgrade and it replaces a lot of paperwork. Previously, everything was done with paperwork. Train managers had to carry paper to report faults. The app allows them to communicate and record things better and it’s all housed in one application. It’s viewed as a positive step and as a real enhancement to the job.

What distinguishes Intellectsoft from other providers?

Intellectsoft is very flexible. Our project manager is excellent, always available and very organized, very transparent and reactive. We throw a lot of ideas at Intellectsoft and some we go with and some we don’t. They always find time to look into new things for us and have demonstrated a real willingness to react quickly to change.

Is there anything Intellectsoft could have improved or done differently?

Their time to deliver is not always as quick as we’d like, but that’s an expected thing with any client-vendor relationship.

BACKGROUND

We provide solutions that integrate Google productivity applications with the Salesforce CRM [customer relationship management].

I'm the CEO and CTO and managed the project from our end. It was my responsibility to oversee the complete planning, development, and deployment of the application, including marketing strategy and integration with the rest of the [our] products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Hundreds of thousands of companies use Salesforce to keep track of sales activities and customer data. There's always been a divide between the system's users use to communicate with their customers, [such as] email and phone, and prospects and Salesforce, where they're supposed to track that information. We knew that bringing the CRM to users' Inboxes would be a game changing solution, and we launched [our application] for Gmail in 2011 and have been pleased with the success it's enjoyed. We wanted to broaden our support for other email platforms and looked at iOS first. 

SOLUTION

[The application] was released initially to support iPhone, we later released support for iPad. The application is a full-featured email client with advanced CRM functionality built-in. The app was built 100 percent native with communication to our Salesforce-integrated platform via our private API [application programming interface]. Due to the nature of an email client, building a hybrid app (native+HTML5) wasn't an option.

We found Intellectsoft through online research. We spoke with several outsourcing firms during that time and selected Intellectsoft due to their impressive portfolio and hybrid onshore/offshore model. Before embarking on the full [mobile app] project, we asked Intellectsoft to build a proof-of-concept demoware app in less than two weeks for an investor presentation. They delivered.

Intellectsoft was a true partner throughout the process. They were our mobile development team. Once the project began, Intellectsoft lead us through a thorough design process that included mockups and storyboards. Intellectsoft engineers led the selection of the low-level libraries that we would use for email server communication. Their project managers managed their resources effectively and communicated with us professionally. 

We've been engaged with Intellectsoft for nearly two years now. We've brought some mobile development in-house as we've grown, but Intellectsoft has continued to be an important part of our mobile development team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Working with Intellectsoft has been a very positive experience. They’re a small company, and we found that as a result they were able to give us a great deal of attention. They possess strong competencies in mobile app development, and we never got the impression that we were dealing with anything less than top-shelf experts.  

Our project managers have been great, always keeping us in the loop with maximum transparency, and their development processes were executed very efficiently. We’re extremely satisfied with the applicatio] and we hope to partner with Intellectsoft for future projects.

BACKGROUND

Can you give a little bit of background information on your company?

I’m only 22 years old. When I first started the company, I was 21, which is just the beginning of this year. I had an idea for an application. Obviously, I’ve had every iPhone – I’m an iPhone fanatic. I had this idea for an app, and I thought, “Why not? I’m just going to do it. I’m just going to do it myself.” That was literally what it was. I just decided I wanted to do an app, so I did it. I went on Google, looking for developers in the U.K. I came across a few and phoned up a few. Even now, I’m 22 years old, and people won’t take me seriously. A lot of app developers said, “Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you’re going to pay so-and-so money?” I worked hard. I knew I wanted to do my idea. I believed in my concept. I believed in my idea. I believed in everything. A lot of app companies were just not taking me seriously. A lot of them were very unprofessional.

When I came across Intellectsoft, they weren’t my first hit on Google. They weren’t the first company I phoned. I came across them, and I looked at their website. They built a few apps for a lot of credible companies. I phoned them up. From there, it’s just been so smooth. They said, “We’ll send you a nondisclosure and just send it back to us.” They sent me the nondisclosure. I signed it. We talked about the idea. They loved it. They said, “Come in.” I went straight in to meet them in Central London. It was just perfect. They were so professional. They told me everything that had to be done. The best thing about it that they did is that they sent this specification document, and this document just outlined every single thing about the app. They really take their time. Whenever you need them, they’re in constant conversation with you. I mean it’s perfect. I have no faults about them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Can you give me an overview about the app itself?

We saw a gap where people were always playing this game. I don’t know whether you’ve heard of “Sudoku.” People are always playing “Sudoku” in this country, but they’re getting bored of it. There was this game that used to be out called “Countdown.” “Countdown” is on the app store. I saw the reviews of “Countdown” because I’m a keen “Countdown” fan. The reviews were awful, and everything was bad about it. I tried to play it myself, and it actually was awful. What I tried to do was fuse “Countdown” and “Sudoku” to create one game that is so user friendly to use. Yeah, so it was just really user friendly that everyone could enjoy it. People of all ages can enjoy it, not just the younger ones. The design of it is done so well, I think, from Intellectsoft. Kids can enjoy it. Adults can enjoy it. It’s so colorful with the bright display. It really takes advantage of the retina display and everything on the iPhone. It’s brilliant.

SOLUTION

Can you tell me about the scope of the project?

It’s only available for iOS at the moment. It will be available for Android in the future, but I’ve got an update coming out next month for iPhone. Once the update comes out, we’ve got our feedback on where it’s at, that it’s at the perfect stage. Whenever I’m at that stage where I think it's perfect, then I’m going to get it on to Android and the rest of them.

Approximately how long did development take?

Programming took up to four weeks.

How long ago was the project completed?

It was completed on the 21st of September, I believe.

Can you give a very general cost estimate for the project?

It was about $13,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Now that the project’s finished, how happy are you with the results?

Unbelievably happy. I’m very, very happy. I’m very optimistic. In particular, this update coming out, we just had some work sent to us today, and the work they sent is brilliant. Imagine you had an iPhone game. We’ve just implemented the new help screen. The help screen really serves animations. The thing goes on the screen, and everything is brilliant. They just sent it to me today, so I just approved it and everything.

It looks to be very well done.

Yeah. It had an amazing response. Amazing.

When working with Intellectsoft, is there anything special or unique that you noticed compared to other companies?

Even just any company in general, not just apps. If I email Intellectsoft, I’ll get a reply easily within half an hour to an hour. Even if it’s the silliest of questions, I will always – I have no qualms – I’ll always get a reply. If I need to phone them, and I get straight through to them, again. I’m answered there and then. If we need to Skype, we can Skype any time of the day between 9 and 6. It’s perfect.

Looking back on the project, is there any area that you would do differently a second time around that you think Intellectsoft can improve upon?

From my side, with regard to Intellectsoft, no. They couldn’t have done anything more. With regard to my side, I came across a few obstacles that I didn’t foresee. Like, for example, if somebody asks you what’s going to happen on a pull screen, you’re like, “Oh, God. I didn’t think that has to be in a pull screen. It’s so hard. I just didn’t think this would happen.” That’s just my experience and my knowledge that wasn’t up-to-date. You kind of learn as you go along as well.

BACKGROUND

Could you please provide a brief overview?

The project focused purely on creating an application and website that communicated with each other about where nightlife venues are located. The user would go to the website and register their details, which were then streamed to the mobile app. The app allows users to sort through all this information with tick boxes. The app solves the problem of where to go out at night because there's simply an overabundance of information out there.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Could you describe the process by which you selected Intellectsoft to work with?

We researched what companies were out there, obtained price estimates from them, surveyed their portfolio, and reviewed their proposals for the project. When we received estimates from other companies, they regurgitated the information we gave them, and put it in a generic template. Intellectsoft, however, actually produced some work before we paid them, which demonstrated their initiative, and offered us a glimpse of their work quality.

SOLUTION

Could you indicate the relative scope of the project?

They were involved in both parts [website & mobile app development]. This was my first time in this kind of business venture, so I made sure to give them as much information as possible. I did a bit of the design work without them, but they handled the majority of the design, too. The mobile app is only available for iOS at the moment, but that’s entirely due to budgetary limitations.

How long ago was the project completed?

The project was completed a few months ago. Support is still ongoing. Minor bugs and incompatibilities have emerged, but nothing too serious.

Could you provide a general cost estimate for the project?

We spent approximately £35,000 to £45,000 for the whole project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How happy are you with the project results?

We’re definitely quite pleased with the overall results. We had a couple of touch-and-go moments, but you get that a lot with any software. It all came off perfect, and finished working smoothly. We definitely got our money's worth with the whole project.

Is there anything you would consider unique or special about Intellectsoft when compared to other companies you've worked with?

They’re quick to get back to you. I think that's one of the primary things. I’ve noticed with other companies that they can sometimes be very delayed in responding to requests and inquiries. Intellectsoft doesn’t operate that way.

In retrospect, are there any areas that you think Intellectsoft could improve upon, or that you would do differently as a client?

There's nothing wrong on their side. From our side, we could have planned a lot more. Obviously, your costs are higher if you try to add something to a project halfway through; it complicates things, which is a little mistake we made.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder of a software testing company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

AI/ML Backed Automated Software Testing

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Front End Development
• Backend Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Intellectsoft?

Referral

Why did you select Intellectsoft over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Intellectsoft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Web Application development including:

• REACT frontend
• FASTAPI backend
• postgres db.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Strong test coverage
• Great code quality
• Fast movement given a difficult and dense product roadmap

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

Everything is delivered on time with correspondence coming in the form of:

• Email
• Slack
• Virtual Meetings

What was your primary form of communication with Intellectsoft?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Intellectsoft's engineering talent is first class. The team is responsive, helpful, and entertains our inquiries. They take the time to recognize our needs and blend with our culture.

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

None! They provide a great service with awesome people.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of a test automation tool provider

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Creates tooling for test automation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Build robust web application

SOLUTION

How did you find Intellectsoft?

Referral

Why did you select Intellectsoft over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Intellectsoft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The goal of the project is to create a high quality test automation web application for B2B clients. The scope of work includes a multi-environment cloud infrastructure, deployment pipeline, robust frontend and an API.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Release of product features ahead of initial schedule and high uptime infrastructure.

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

The team is very responsive and communicative.

What was your primary form of communication with Intellectsoft?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Company provides first class support and high talent developers.

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

Nothing notable.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Owner of Unplugged

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a self-guided Jeep rental company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Navigational App with Historical Voice Over

SOLUTION

How did you find Intellectsoft?

Online Search

Why did you select Intellectsoft over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Intellectsoft were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Intellectsoft helped transition our app from Apple Enterprise to the Apple Business Manager, which required several library updates in order for it to be published. Testing of the app and periodic updates were performed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The key measurable outcomes were as follows: Transition app from Enterprise to Business Manager App that functions off-line with updated navigation

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

The Intellectsoft team delivered a refined product on time and adjustments were made as needed by them in order to ensure the timely completion. We had periodical virtual meetings to discuss any issues with routine follow-ups until project completion.

What was your primary form of communication with Intellectsoft?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Intellectsoft provided a collaborative and integrative effort amongst my team, their engineer, and project manager to address our needs and ensure timely completion of the app. The team was available for virtual meetings at a moment's notice and routinely checked in with my team to ensure the app was functioning appropriately.

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

n/a