Jafton

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of Cleo

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Cleo is an AI-powered financial assistant app that aids over 5 million users in managing their budgets, saving money, building credit, and providing cash advances during low-balance situations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Improve AI Functionality
• Strengthen the app's security features
• Develop and refine the mobile app

SOLUTION

How did you find Jafton?

Referral

Why did you select Jafton over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Jafton were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The scope of work included improving Cleo's AI capabilities for personalized financial advice, refining the app's performance and usability, and implementing an advanced AI chatbot system for interactive user engagement. Additionally, they developed a real-time budget tracking feature, enabling users to manage their finances more effectively. 

Recognizing the importance of security in financial applications, they bolstered security measures to ensure the best protection of user data. The successful completion of these tasks resulted in key deliverables like a more robust AI system, an interactive chatbot, an enhanced budget tracking feature, heightened security, and efficient financial integrations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There were increased user engagement and improved user retention rates. With the implementation of the AI chatbot and real-time budget tracking feature, there was a significant increase in user interaction within the Cleo app. These enhancements to user experience and the addition of practical, personalized features led to a higher user retention rate.

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

Jafton's project management was commendable and effective. They assigned two PMs to our app project, ensuring constant communication and oversight. These PMs were responsible for scheduling and conducting both in-person and online meetings, which allowed for regular project updates, immediate troubleshooting, and prompt responses to our needs. Jafton was punctual in delivering all project items, adhering strictly to the set timelines and milestones.

What was your primary form of communication with Jafton?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What particularly stood out about Jafton was their profound knowledge and expertise in AI development. Their ability to leverage advanced AI technologies to enhance the features and functionality of the Cleo app was truly impressive. It was unique to witness a company not only with technical competence, but also with a deep understanding of how to apply this technology to deliver practical, user-centric solutions.

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

Reflecting on our collaboration with Jafton, there are no specific areas of improvement that come to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a senior department director at TideCleaners

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A mobile app that offers a comprehensive, convenient, and high-quality solution for laundry and dry cleaning needs

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Improve efficiency
• Enhance security
• Improve scalability
• Transition to cloud or enhance cloud usage

SOLUTION

How did you find Jafton?

Referral

Why did you select Jafton over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Jafton were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Phase 1: Assessment and Planning 

• Jafton's team performed an in-depth assessment of the existing infrastructure, systems, and workflows, identifying areas for improvement. 
• Key deliverables included a comprehensive audit report and a detailed action plan. 

Phase 2: Infrastructure Development and Optimization 

• This involved developing or optimizing the current IT infrastructure to ensure it is efficient, secure, and scalable. 
• The key deliverables were a cloud-based infrastructure with automated code deployment and testing processes. 

Phase 3: Security Enhancement 

• Jafton's team was responsible for enhancing the security of the app, protecting against breaches and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. 
• The deliverable was a secure, compliant system and detailed security protocols. 

Phase 4: Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) 

• Jafton's team set up CI/CD pipelines to automate the process of testing and deploying code, speeding up the development process and reducing errors. 
• The main deliverable was a functioning CI/CD pipeline, along with documentation on its use.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

1. Reduced Deployment Time: The time it takes to go from code commit to production deployment was significantly reduced. For example, if it previously took several hours or even days, an optimized DevOps pipeline brought it down to mere minutes. 
2. Improved Security: This can be measured by a reduction in the number of security incidents or breaches. Furthermore, passing security audits or obtaining certifications also demonstrates improved security. 
3. Faster Incident Response: The time taken to detect and respond to system incidents is significantly reduced, enhancing system reliability.

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

Jafton demonstrated effective project management by consistently meeting or exceeding deadlines, thus delivering items in a timely manner. They proactively communicated about progress, risks, and any emerging issues, promptly updating us if there were changes that might impact the schedule or deliverables. 

They were responsive to our needs, adapting the project plan as necessary, while simultaneously identifying and mitigating potential risks. Additionally, robust testing procedures were established to maintain high-quality standards for all deliverables, and a collaborative approach was fostered, encouraging a seamless partnership with our team.

What was your primary form of communication with Jafton?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

Our team was impressed by Jafton for their deep technical expertise and innovative approach to problem-solving. Their ability to rapidly adapt to changing project needs, while consistently delivering high-quality work on time, was particularly noteworthy. Additionally, their strong commitment to customer satisfaction, demonstrated by proactive communication and a collaborative attitude, set them apart from other service providers.

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

Improving the documentation process might also be beneficial, enabling clients to understand and maintain their systems more effectively after project completion.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Tech Lead of an education company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A company dedicated to making coding accessible to a wide audience through its interactive learning platform

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• To scale up our iOS development capabilities
• To release of new features

SOLUTION

How did you find Jafton?

Referral

Why did you select Jafton over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Jafton were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Under a strict NDA, I can only share that Jafton was contracted to assist with our iOS application development, focusing on augmenting our existing team to enhance certain key features, improve performance, and contribute to the user interface and experience. Their key deliverables involved coding, debugging, testing, and integrating new functionalities to our app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw a significant improvement in the overall performance of our iOS application, a faster rollout of new features, and very positive user feedback on app enhancements. Specific figures and details, however, cannot be shared due to the terms of our agreement.

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

Jafton's project management was professional and efficient. They adhere to our agreed timelines and are consistently prompt in their deliveries. Their team was also very receptive to our needs, demonstrating a flexible and collaborative approach to addressing changes or additions to our project scope.

What was your primary form of communication with Jafton?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their team's technical prowess and professionalism truly stood out.

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

While their technical skills were exceptional, a deeper understanding of our specific educational technology landscape could have allowed for even more insightful contributions. But overall, these are minor points in an otherwise very successful partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a department head for a chain of supermarkets throughout the US. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jafton?

We hired Jafton to rebuild one of our applications. We don’t have any mobile expertise on our teams and needed assistance with frontend development. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app was built from scratch, but we gave them our requirements to start with. We began with a discovery phase that lasted about six weeks, and after that, they presented us with a proposal that we approved. We’re using Flutter for development, and the app is for iOS and Android. 

The application's key features include three delivery options: online delivery, a pickup option, and shipping of nonperishable items. The app also houses a weekly ad that is published from our CMS and syncs with our website. The application has the option of clipping coupons and saving them for later when a user is shopping for that particular item.

Jafton also created a savings streak feature that allows users to save from week to week and incentivizes them to use the app. The app has an offline order management feature that can be used when a customer can’t find something in the store as well. To utilize this feature, a user types in the name of the store they’re in and the zip code, and the app assists with finding the item in that particular store.  

The app also has the ability to scan barcodes. If users want to know more about an item, they can scan the barcode, and the information will populate. 

What is the team composition?

We work with three Flutter developers, a project manager, a QA specialist, and a DevOps person.

How did you come to work with Jafton?

I don’t know how we initially found them because another department was responsible for that. We met with the team, and they had strong engineering experience in e-commerce and retail, so we thought they would be the right fit. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested more than $700,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our conversion rate has tripled since we first launched the application, and every time we launch a new feature, we tend to see a spike in those numbers. We’ve had a lot of success so far with the ability to use memberships within the app. 

How did Jafton perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve had a few crashes, but they’ve been solved, and that’s just a part of the development process. Jafton stays on budget and has good communication skills. We use monday.com as a project management tool and communicate through email and Slack. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Jafton catches all the bugs directly, and their QA team has been very effective. They are strong developers and, overall, are a great offshore team. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We spend a lot of money with them, and they're worth it, but we would love it if they could improve their price.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go through the discovery phase because it is helpful. Even if you specialize in development, it's a good chance to find out things that you might not know. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive of a music video platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jafton?

We needed more developers. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jafton supplied us with one Swift developer and one Kafka developer on a monthly basis to keep our existing mobile app updated. The mobile app is available to iOS and Android users.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a Kafka developer, a Swift developer, and the CRO. 

How did you come to work with Jafton?

We found Jafton via a Google search. They had good reviews, so we decided to move forward with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Jafton from June 2016–December 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With Jafton’s support, we were able to update the mobile app on time and fix bugs. 

How did Jafton perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated with the developers via Slack. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their CRO, who was very knowledgeable. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing Jafton could improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be specific about your goals. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of a meal prep app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jafton?

We were trying to build a mobile app for iOS and Android. We wanted to build a mobile app where users could look up recipes, create grocery lists based on those recipes, and make a calendar for their meal plan. We also wanted the design to be very intuitive.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jafton provides us with mobile app development services. We initially provided the wireframes, but the documentation was created by them during the discovery phase. They built the app using Flutter for the frontend and Python for the backend. They were also in charge of the app’s UI/UX design.

Their team has already completed the app and is currently helping us implement any enhancements that we require.

What is the team composition?

We’re currently working with eight people from their company, including a project manager who serves as our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Jafton?

We found them through an online search. We read many positive reviews regarding their previous work, so we decided to go with them for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Jafton in October 2020, and our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Jafton has done a great job in terms of development and design. Their team consists of really good developers and designers, which is rare to find these days. Moreover, their communication is also good; they’re very prompt in communicating any problems or bugs that pop up along the way.

In terms of metrics, we’ve received good reviews on both the App Store and Google Play — in fact, we’ve recorded over 11,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.9. We’re also ranked in the top 100 health and fitness chart on the App Store, which is something we’re very proud about.

How did Jafton perform from a project management standpoint?

They meet deadlines, stay within budget, and resolve issues in a timely manner. They’re also very responsive. For communication, we interact through Zoom, email, and Slack. For managing tasks, we use Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What stands out about Jafton is their proactiveness in suggesting new features, ideas, and best practices to improve our app.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything specific that Jafton could improve on at the moment.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Talk to their founders — they’re very knowledgeable and experienced, so they can help you with the ideation process and creation of your app.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a director for a collectibles marketplace. We enable social commerce through live video shopping.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jafton?

We had a small in-house team, but we needed to engage more developers and engineers to help us implement new features.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jafton has provided us with a team of engineers and senior developers who’ve extended the functionality of our app. First, we met with the team to discuss our project and the type of engineering support we needed. We were looking for highly-skilled Flutter developers with at least five years of coding experience. 

Then, we collaborated on writing job descriptions. The Jafton team identified candidates, pre-screened them, and sent them to us to interview. We interviewed eight people and shortlisted a team of four, with whom we ultimately moved forward. Jafton was also responsible for facilitating the onboarding process. They held sessions with the new engineering resources to acquaint them with our app and share details regarding our goals. 

Since completing their onboarding, the Jafton resources have helped us develop our mobile app for iOS and Android. They’ve been responsible for building key features such as location identification, live streaming, and a chat function. They’ve also helped us with payroll. 

What is the team composition?

We work with four developers from Jafton. 

How did you come to work with Jafton?

We found Jafton through a referral from a friend. We met them at a technology event, and they 

were interested in our project and passionate about finding qualified candidates. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $150,000 in the partnership so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gained almost two million users and two million downloads worldwide since launching the app three years ago. Since Jafton has expanded the app's functionality and added new features, we’ve noticed an increase in downloads. They’ve also helped us effectively address bugs to avoid crashes.  

How did Jafton perform from a project management standpoint?

Jafton’s engineers have integrated well with our team, and we’re pleased with their performance. They meet deadlines, work within our budget, and are very responsive and open to feedback. We use Asana to manage tasks and communicate via Slack and email. We also use an internal project management tool. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with their ability to find qualified candidates who work well with our in-house team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing Jafton could improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend interviewing as many candidates as possible to find the best fit for your team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager for a software company. We provide scheduling software that helps organizations manage their hourly shifts and create efficiency in the workspace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jafton?

We were looking for staff augmentation services to expand our mobile team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jafton has augmented our staff with engineers to work on our existing hybrid mobile app. Before engaging them, we were falling behind on our commitment to ship out five key features for the app. Jafton has supported us by improving the existing app and helping us quickly ship out the backlog of features using Flutter. Some features include email reminders and calendar integrations with Microsoft. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve engaged five team members from Jafton: three mobile app developers, one QA tester, and one designer.

How did you come to work with Jafton?

We needed to engage a partner who specialized in hybrid mobile app development. It was also crucial for our partner to have extensive Flutter expertise. Jafton had the necessary expertise and experience building an in-house scheduling product, so we hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $300,000 in the partnership with Jafton. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with Jafton since March 2020, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Jafton’s support has enabled us to ship out five key features on time and meet our initial deadline. Our users love the new features and are very happy with the team’s outputs. After helping us accomplish our primary goal, we decided to continue the partnership with them, which also speaks to their success. 

How did Jafton perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve primarily managed the project via Asana and ClickUp, and Jafton has done a good job completing tasks on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Despite being offshore, we’re impressed with their ability to work and attend meetings in our time zone. We’ve hired other offshore developers, but Jafton’s willingness to accommodate our working hours has stood out as a value add. Their engineers are also very talented, and they have their own training academy. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Jafton could improve by hiring more nearshore engineers. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t hesitate to ask Jafton questions; the developers are skilled in English. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director. We are the go-to app for discovering Black-owned restaurants. Where food, culture, and community link, we connect thousands of foodies to culinary creators and restaurants, reimagining the dining experience in local neighborhoods nationwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to build a web-based solution to help foodies connect to culinary creators, and simultaneously help restaurants increase their sales. Jafton built our Android and iOS apps. We had a basic prototype ready but needed a complete redesign of the user interface and a ton of feature development.

SOLUTION

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

We searched online for app development companies. We found Jafton on Google and selected them based on their reviews and work portfolio. Jafton was the first company to call us back after we requested a call. I decided to meet them in person to discuss the project details and finalize the contract. During our meeting, Jafton assigned us a great technical lead, and I met the CEO as well. After first meeting, there was no doubt that Jafton would be a great partner in developing our project.

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

We built the apps natively. As for technology, we’ve used Swift and Swift UI for the iOS version, as well as Kotlin for the Android version. The scope included design and QA as well. Among the apps’ functionalities are a signup system, a subscription management system, and other features unique to our business.

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

There was a team of 15 people from Jafton, and we were usually in communication with 7–8 people. The project manager was my main contact, and I talked to the developers when needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within a year after our app was launched, we had over 200,000 downloads and achieved a 5-star rating in app stores. We've seen a great boost in traffic since launching the app, and people have commented on how easy it is to use.

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

Jafton has excelled at meeting deadlines and staying on budget. We had daily meetings and communicate through Slack.

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

The most impressive thing about Jafton was they were a business-oriented partner. They were genuinely interested in our company, in our business, not just development. Another impressive thing is their portfolio. Their team have have sharp UI/UX skills. If you examine their portfolio, you'll notice apps with easy-to-use interfaces and visually very attractive.

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

I cannot say anything about what they should be doing differently. It's their business and up to their management to make changes in the industry. However, as a big fan of technology, I would advise Jafton to keep up with new trends and be ready for the future of mobile app development. Jafton should know that AR & VR have moved beyond gaming and try to implement those in the development.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Allbirds. We make shoes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jafton?

We were trying to build a mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jafton has developed our e-commerce platform. The app allows us to showcase and sell our products; it has a login feature, a loyalty program, and an AR component to try the shoes virtually. Users can also track their orders, contact customer support, and more.

Additionally, Jafton offers maintenance services.

What is the team composition?

I’m not sure; I believe we had a large team working on the development.

How did you come to work with Jafton?

We found them online. We made a list, and our procurement department picked the finalists. We interviewed their management team personally and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2018, and the prototype was out in December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were one of the first shoe brands to try AR technology. Moreover, over 60% of our store visitors have downloaded the app, which is a significant success metric for us.

How did Jafton perform from a project management standpoint?

They met deadlines and stayed on budget. They joined our Slack for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They operated like a startup and were very agile. Moreover, they were knowledgeable about advanced technologies, such as AI and AR.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to use their skills.