Kirana Labs

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Pórtico

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Design and Construction and Interior Design company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Kirana Labs to accomplish?

• Integrate email and cloud service
• Integrate processes included in Microsoft 365
• Automatization of excel to facilitate extracting information need for the input of check printing printer

SOLUTION

How did you find Kirana Labs?

Referral

Why did you select Kirana Labs over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Kirana Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Pround reseach or deu diligence of the actual proceses in our office. With it, conclusions were drawn and present to our board to further analize and together create a taylormade scope of work.

It included integrating all of our comunication and cloud services with Microsfot 365. With it, a compelte overview of how M365 works and a complete migration of all our existing information into the new plataform. 1:1 training to further undertand the power of the tools just accquired.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We now run our office using Microsoft 365. This has generated tremendous improvement in our internal comunication as well as our data storage and sharing and cooperative file editing.

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

Just as described on there proposal sheet. Times and scopes were all met.

What was your primary form of communication with Kirana Labs?

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

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

Their ability to understand our situation impressed us. They guided us to operate more efficiently by simplifying tools and software.

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

Maybe do follow ups after a certain period of time. This to review if there are any more questions or topics to atend.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Catch App

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Catch App is an innovative platform designed to connect restaurants with food lovers through authentic recommendations and exclusive benefits.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Kirana Labs to accomplish?

• We were looking for an external team that felt like they were part of the company, not merely a development service provider.

SOLUTION

How did you find Kirana Labs?

Referral

Why did you select Kirana Labs over others?

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

How many teammates from Kirana Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Key Deliverables
User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX) Design

Design an intuitive and engaging interface for both B2C (users) and B2B (restaurant partners).
Key screens:User home screen with nearby promotions
Benefit catalog with filters and categories
Restaurant profile pages with details and reviews
Profile management for users and restaurants
Focus on a seamless user experience, easy navigation, and attractive design to encourage interaction.
User Onboarding and Verification

Develop a user onboarding flow with step-by-step guidance for new users.
Restaurant onboarding process with necessary verification steps, allowing restaurants to upload details like menus, social links, and amenities.
Implement pre-defined fields and templates to simplify input for restaurants (e.g., pre-defined benefit names).
Promotion & Benefit Management System

Allow restaurants to create, modify, and monitor their promotions and benefits.
Three types of benefits: Discount, Promotion, and Gift. Each benefit type should have pre-defined templates for ease of use.
Include both regular and “flash” benefits with time-sensitive offers (e.g., 6-hour promotion duration for flash benefits).
Provide options for setting specific terms, conditions, and categories (e.g., minimum spend, reservation required).
Geolocation & Mapping

Integrate geolocation services to show users nearby restaurants offering benefits.
Display a map view with location markers for participating restaurants.
Enable location-based filtering and search for a more targeted user experience.
User Engagement & Reviews

Allow users to leave reviews and rate restaurants after claiming a benefit.
Reviews should be accessible on the restaurant's profile page for transparency and credibility.
Implement a review verification step to ensure only users who used benefits can review.
Social Media Integration

Integrate Instagram or other social media platforms for easy sharing of user experiences.
Allow users to share photos, tag restaurants, and add hashtags directly from the app to boost restaurant visibility.
Admin Dashboard for Analytics & Insights

Develop a dashboard for restaurant partners to monitor their promotions' performance.
Key metrics:Total claimed benefits and redemption rate
User engagement and average rating
Sales increase (estimated ROI)
Overview of user demographics and location insights
Dashboard should be built using Power BI or another BI tool for scalability and data insights.
Notification System

Push notifications to remind users of nearby promotions or expiring benefits.
Alerts for restaurant partners on expiring promotions, analytics updates, and important notifications.
Customizable notification preferences for users and restaurants.
Payment Integration (Future Scope)

Develop an initial framework for payment integration in the future, allowing users to make reservations with payment.
Placeholder payment methods (e.g., credit card, PayPal) for future expansions.
Backend Architecture & API Development

Scalable backend architecture to support real-time data updates, geolocation services, and high user engagement.
Develop APIs for seamless data exchange between front-end and back-end systems.
Implement robust security protocols to protect user data, especially during onboarding and verification.
Testing & Quality Assurance

Comprehensive testing for all app features, including onboarding, benefit management, and analytics.
Conduct user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure an optimal experience across different devices and platforms.
Ensure app compatibility with both iOS and Android systems.
Documentation & Training

Detailed documentation for the app’s functionality, user flows, and backend architecture.
Create an FAQ section within the app and a knowledge base for users and restaurant partners.
Provide training sessions or materials for restaurant partners to help them manage their benefits and access the dashboard effectively.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success include:

On-Time Deliverables: Consistently meeting all sprint deadlines with high-quality deliverables, showcasing our commitment to timely and efficient execution.

Trust Building: The strong trust we have established with stakeholders, driven by clear communication, reliability, and consistent results throughout the project.

Expert Recommendations: Our ability to provide expert-level recommendations in technology and strategy, which have been well-received and implemented, highlighting our deep understanding of the domain.

Stakeholder Satisfaction: Positive feedback and recognition from stakeholders, reinforcing our role as a trusted and skilled partner.

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

 
Their project management has been excellent. They consistently deliver items on time, ensuring that all deadlines are met with precision. Communication is clear and well-structured, which makes it easy to stay aligned on priorities and progress.

I am usually in contact with her, and their organization, attention to detail, and ability to adapt to our needs have been outstanding. They respond promptly and effectively to any requests or adjustments, always providing clarity and maintaining a highly professional approach. Their reliability and proactive attitude make collaboration seamless and efficient.

What was your primary form of communication with Kirana Labs?

Virtual Meeting

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

What I found most impressive and unique about this company is their speed, quality, and expertise. They consistently deliver high-quality results at a remarkable pace, demonstrating a deep understanding of their field. Their ability to combine technical expertise with efficient execution sets them apart, making them a trusted and invaluable partner in any project.

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

For now we are okay!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an upcoming startup looking to help freelancers find different on-site jobs. We’re developing a mobile application that will help connect service providers with customers. For example, if they’re a masseuse or a hair stylist, they can use our app to bring the service to their customers. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kirana Labs?

We needed a partner to develop our platform and launch our application. The app’s goal is for freelancers to schedule service appointments and get paid directly through the app. The company is in the first stages of being created, and I needed a service provider to develop the idea with.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kirana Labs is responsible for developing our mobile application, which will consist of two apps: one for freelancers and one for customers. Our engagement will last one year, and Kirana Labs is currently working on the apps’ UI/UX design. 

Kirana Labs has delivered the design sketch, which includes color schemes, fonts, and navigation flow. The team uses Figma for design and creating the app’s navigation process. Once the design phase is finished, Kirana Labs will work on our apps’ development.

What is the team composition?

Armando (Partner & General Manager) is my main contact, and I also work with a UI/UX designer.

How did you come to work with Kirana Labs?

I came across Clutch’s site through Google and searched for development companies in Mexico — I wanted to work with a Mexican company since we will launch the app in that market. Kirana Labs caught my attention because they had good reviews on Clutch. , and that caught my attention. 

I decided to go with Kirana Labs because they had previous work on their website, which is very important to catch customers' attention, and I liked their designs. One of their previous designs caught my attention because they built a startup company’s platform that was featured in the magazine Forbes Mexico.

Additionally, Armando was very nice and patient when explaining the development process since this is the first time I’ll get involved in a startup — this gave me the trust to choose Kirana Labs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $2,500 with Kirana Labs, and the budget for the overall project is $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Kirana Labs in August 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m happy with the work Kirana Labs has delivered so far, and the team works closely with me. Kirana Labs pays attention to every matter I bring to them and asks for our opinion throughout the process. 

How did Kirana Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve had very good communication with Kirana Labs, and they’ve been fast in delivering the app’s navigation mapping.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with Kirana Labs’ design skills. They have experience working with startups, which isn’t common among software development companies from what I noticed when looking for companies. 

Kirana Labs is open to my ideas and gives me suggestions to make them work, and that’s a key point for someone looking to launch a startup. Kirana Labs is very friendly with me since I don’t have experience with launching startups. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really like working with Armand; unfortunately, I know he won’t be involved in every stage of our project. However, it would be nice to keep him around since he’s been more open to listening to our ideas than other teammates, although all of Kirana Labs’ team has been incredibly helpful. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend being very detailed in what you want and require for your project, even if it’s just an idea. You need to bring all the necessary information to Kirana Labs from the beginning of your engagement with them because asking for extra requirements or features will cost you more. For instance, we started with an idea, but in the process, I came up with new ideas and extra requirements involved extra cost. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of an IT services and app development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Kirana Labs?

We were looking for an agency to create our brand image and develop an app and a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kirana Labs has created a website, a mobile app, and our company’s branding. They’ve used Webflow to develop our site. The landing page’s purpose is to display our apps and provide information so people can find us and contact us.

They’ve also developed the mobile app from scratch. We initially gave them a general idea of what we wanted, and they did everything from ideation to development. The app is for Android and iOS, and it’s meant to connect clients and partners. In fact, the platform consists of two apps that communicate with each other; it allows users to upload pictures, track locations, give rates, and communicate through a built-in chat.

For the branding process, they asked us about our brand’s name, ideas, and the images, web pages, and apps we liked. Based on that, they’ve created the whole content, including a brand book with all the guidelines and logos.

What was the team composition?

In general, we’ve had about four people in every stage of the project. During the design phase, we worked with a designer, a project manager, and three more people.

How did you come to work with Kirana Labs?

They were a referral. We talked with 3–4 developers, but we liked the quality of Kirana Labs’ work. They also offered a comprehensive package that included in-house development of everything we were looking for, which was a key factor for us.                                                                                                                                                                                                           

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them about a year ago, but we officially kicked off the project in January 2022. Currently, the project is still in process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work is excellent. In general, their time estimations have been accurate from the beginning. We had a short delay and finished about 2–3 weeks after the deadline, but we expect to have the final version soon.

Some of the deliverables have been the brand book and website, and both look incredible. Moreover, all the testing we’ve done in the app has gone well, so everything looks great so far. We still have to get the final version up and running, but it all seems to be high quality and up to our standards.

We’ve had some back and forths about things coming up differently than expected, but Kirana Labs has been open about making changes. They make sure everything aligns with our needs.

How did Kirana Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is excellent. We have deliverables almost every week; we only had a delay in the end, but it’s something minor when we look at the big picture.

We typically communicate through WhatsApp and meetings, and the team is open and communicative.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Kirana Labs explains everything to us. We’ve been impressed by how patient they’ve been throughout the process. We’d never developed an app, and the level of expertise and detail they’ve shown is extraordinary.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In general, we’ve had an excellent experience with them. Our only issue was that we still had many things to fix at the end of the project due to the delay. If they hadn’t left the adjustments until the last weeks of the project, it would’ve been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open about the project and your needs. They really know what they’re doing, so let them guide you. Kirana Labs can help you to come up with functionalities and provide suggestions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Im the CEO of the company. Imporey was founded in the year 2000 and we have growth the company to become a major retail supplier for the region (HEB, Walmart, Soriana etc.) and a Top 10 Mercado Libre Retailer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

During COVID 19 we saw a sales increase of over 200% in our digital sales channels (social selling, marketplaces, our stores) and we had problems to manage inventories, orders and invoicing for all.

SOLUTION

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

They offered us an initial assessment to map our operation, they worked for more than 3 weeks mapping our processes, systems, documents. They were the only ones who actually understood our operation before proposing a tech solution.

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

They designed and developed a custom web platform which we now use to track all our importations from Asia, track our inventories, manage our sales for all sales channels and track order shipping and invoicing. We use the system as a complementary solution which is connected to our ERP.

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

More than 7 people have been involved in the project including the company´s partners, sofrware developers, data analysts and UXUI designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to reduce our manual work to manage all orders by more than 60% beacause all orders are now centralized in the system and no manual coinciliation is made.

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

They used the SCRUM methodology, we had weekly meetings with all stakeholders and daily meetings with the day to day operation.

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

They are quick to find innovative ways to solve problems by using technology.

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

Sometimes I feel they could be faster to release new features for the system, I understand there is a quality assurance process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of office furniture manufacturing companey that manufactures in Mexico and sells projects in USA and Mexico

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kirana Labs?

Our companey has developed its own erp system and we are reach out to Kirana because we want a comaney to give service to our system and expand its reach as well as we need consulting in new technologies and apply buisness inteligence.

SOLUTION

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

We selected Kirana because I trust the founders I studied with them in colage.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

What we initialy started to work with them we asked them to descompilate our software and give us a diagnose on how is it working and how we can imporve it.

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

4 people came to the working sesions, two of the founders a softwre egeneer and an account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes they gave us the descomilated file of our software as well as a report in which they explained the actual state of our system as well as recomendations on what we should do in the future to keep it running at optimal performance.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was really eficient we had in person as well as zoom meeting periodicly in which we explained what we wanted and needed and they have results and feedback.

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

They want to help our business grow by helping us make better decisions in the technologies that we work with.

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

Not really so far we are really satisfied with their services.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

It is a company with more than 20 years of experience in the Real Estate industry, it has a presence in 5 states of the Mexican Republic and with more than 3 thousand offices, my position is to administer, evaluate technologies and propose business strategies

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kirana Labs?

We hired Kirana Labs to attend a technology consulting issue focused or oriented towards main competitors

SOLUTION

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

Kirana was selected for 2 factors that we consider important, it is a young company with fresh resources and it is a trend that we want to acquire to understand the market of new generations, as well as the economic factor

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The analysis of the project was based on 6 pillars

• Technological Services
• Social Networks and Website
• Sales Channels
• Communication with Clients
• Installations
• Agreements and Added Value

An analysis of these points was carried out by contracting physical and virtual services. progress Final meeting was held with deliverables

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

there were 2 resources, a project manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Opportunity areas were located, which within the deliverables it was determined to start a plan to continue with the application of proposals that are feasible in the first instance

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very good, we have weekly meetings for progress, we have contact via phone and WhatsApp group

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

The methodology they implement, as well as the punctuality and communication in the meetings were good

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

Maybe dedicate more time and deepen the investigation, we feel rushed

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the co-owner of a law firm that focuses mainly on corporate law in Mexico.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We are a business that recently started operating, so we needed to create a logo design for our firm, as well as a functioning webpage to display to our clients. We hired Kirana Labs to create our branding designs, as well as a WordPress-based web page, with the looks to create a professional image for new incoming clients.

SOLUTION

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

We researched online for companies in our area that focused mainly on web development. We called Kirana Labs and had an interview where a project idea of our liking was proposed and was inside of the price range we were looking for.

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

After our first meeting, we established contact with their graphic designer to start working on ideas for our company logo. We proposed some ideas to them to work on that included design and colors that felt represented our company.

A week later their graphic designer had a meeting with us in which she proposed various logo ideas to chose from, from which we chose two that with a few modifications became our company logos. After having our branding design was decided we had a meeting with their web designer to propose some ideas we had in mind regarding our web page.

Five days later he presented us with a mock page which we liked and made a few changes. After the mock was approved, we then sent our texts for the page and were presented with a final result to which we accepted. In the final stages, our domain was linked to the page design and was already running online.

Lastly, they handed us an online guide for us to know our ways around Word Press in case we needed to make some changes to texts or design.

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

We had a project manager assigned that was constantly updating us on the stages that the project was. He coordinated everything with the team so that activities were done correctly. We also were assigned a graphics designer that worked with us throughout the first stages of their service.

Lastly, we had a web designer that worked with us on the second stage of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching our website we made a small promotional campaign around it that had great positive feedback. Clients found the page to be professional and very attractive. The main characteristic of our web page was that it inspired confidence in them.

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

We had a project manager that was constantly updating us on the topics that they worked on. He kept us up to date on everything and explained in simple terms what they were working on for us to understand. This helped us understand the process better and have confidence in everything they did.

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

We believe that what was most impressive about their work was their ability to process our ideas and put them to work perfectly. They exceeded our expectations and handed us exactly what we were looking for. Also, their timetables were amazing. Everything was handed to us ahead of schedule.

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

We believe their work was phenomenal and exceeded all expectations. There were no issues throughout the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at an optometrist and ophthalmologist consulting agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kirana Labs?

We wanted to develop an e-commerce site for a business opportunity that was presented to us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked on two things with Kirana Labs. One of them was the process of importing our clients and getting everything situated in terms of making sure they’d reach out to us via email. They also made different CRM tools customized to our business needs.

The second portion of the work was right when the COVID-19 pandemic started. We were entering into an e-commerce business opportunity, and they developed and set up almost everything for us. Kirana Labs did the logo design and the user story that we worked on with one of them. They also developed the backend for users that wanted to see prices and the frontend for clients who are not wholesale — the look of the site changes according to the person that goes into our website to buy. Additionally, they enabled the management of the inventory and connected the site to Shopify.

Currently, they’re also working with us on another project that we can’t disclose yet.

What is the team composition?

We work with the project manager most of the time, but there are around five people involved. 

How did you come to work with Kirana Labs?

Someone recommended them to us, and we also saw them as guests at a Business Network International chapter. They sent us a proposal within the next couple of days. It was very detailed, the price was transparent, and there were no hidden surprises. They were clear in the full scope of work with everything that was going to be involved, and I liked how they set the proposal in my favor in the sense that they recommended certain things for different phases of the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2020, and the engagement is ongoing. We put the e-commerce development project on hold because we’re focusing our business on the consulting side at the moment. We’re pushing the rollout for that a little bit further since we’ve been able to navigate with our current business rate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Even though the e-commerce platform is on hold, they saved us a lot of time in the implementation of it. That has helped us leverage our business and enable us to show what our company can do. I also recommended them to some of my consulting clients, and they’ve been doing work for them; that’s making our business grow because our clients are now more confident just by the fact that their companies are growing thanks to our referral.

How did Kirana Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform great — if anything gets delayed for whatever reason, they communicate that right away. We mainly communicate via email to document everything, and we also do Zoom meetings. They can do phone calls as well if that makes it easier for me, but I prefer email to keep track of the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsibility and how they keep up their word is what stands out the most. They’ve been able to deliver what they promised because they never commit to something that they can’t do. It’s great to work with them, and their development efforts are super fast. They’re also very fair priced, and the ROI is great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing that I can think of is that they could get a bit more resources to cut down on the turnaround times. In my case, everything’s going smoothly, and I’ve never been in a hurry, but something that takes them three days to get done could take them less by adding resources.

Any advice for potential customers?

Try to break things down into phases, and have them work with you on that, so you’re not developing forever. Also, work on the user story and stay as true to it as possible, taking into account their project management advice — they’re great at knowing what steps to take in every phase of the project.