Klan

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of product at a media and content creation business.

What challenge were you trying to address with Klan?

We were launching a community-based app for women. We didn’t have an in-house technology team, so we were looking for a company that could partner with us on the design and development work.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Klan designed and developed our mobile application. Access to the app was restricted to only women, so checks were run on the backend on each profile to ensure it complied with our rules. The app ran as a social networking app and had features standard across several social networking platforms. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with their client-facing team, which included a project manager. 

How did you come to work with Klan?

We found Klan on Google. After an extensive selection process, we shortlisted several companies and selected Klan. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement was from July 2020–February 2021. 

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

Our target was to launch within a very short timeframe, which Klan was able to achieve. Although it has since been removed, the app launched on the app stores within four months of the start of the partnership. We experienced a lot of organic growth; the community grew to over 100,000 women. The app was very successful, and our entire company was eventually acquired. 

How did Klan perform from a project management standpoint?

Klan’s team was very responsive. Our communication was a combination of several channels, including emails, phone calls, and text messages. We also used Basecamp to manage the project. Every timeline was met. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Klan was a true partner. They contributed extensively to the design and UX of the product. They were unlike any other vendor. They didn’t just execute our task; they thought about how to make the product a success. We needed them to take ownership of the product because we didn’t have in-house expertise, and they did. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They are a small team, so if customers need ongoing, post-launch support, they don’t have the capability to do so. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure the project is collaborative — make Klan feel like they’re a part of the entire product and delivery phase. Making Klan feel more like a partner than a vendor is essential because they bring a lot to the table.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the business development manager and a director at Goldiam International. We are a B2B manufacturer & exporter of fine, diamond jewelry to major US retailers and US wholesalers.

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

I hired Klan to be responsible for the design, development, testing and deployment of a B2B e-commerce portal. One important area in particular was that this portal had customized pricing for every SKU, based on over 15 different parameters. The team at Klan sat with me to understand how pricing of jewelry products works and then successfully incorporated and deployed a live pricing mechanism at the backend to readily price jewelry items for end-customers.

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

I spoke with a variety of people who had worked with the team at Klan and completed an introductory call with them to understand their process. I was thoroughly impressed with their workflow process and prior design & development work completed.

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

The team at Klan completely ran the website design & development process. They took examples from me of successful inspiration sites and their features to design our site. On the backend the team really did its magic in creating a customized pricing tool that was applied to each SKU set up on the platform. The requirement of this tool meant that we could not use ready web builders like Shopify but had to build & code from scratch. The end result is a highly intuitive website where one can use multiple features & access live pricing as you change over 20 different pricing categories (like Gold weights, diamond quality, sizes, gold color etc).

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

A project manager was the main point of contact along with one member each from the development side & the design side. I was also in touch with the sales head.

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

Customers loved the design & functionality of the website. It has become a revenue generator for our company.

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

We had very clear workflow established on a portal online. I could view and see where the team was in terms of the schedule and their superb communication ensured I was never anxious about the status of the work.

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

Keen desire to understand the needs & challenges of my very unique & niche business case, and have the ability to successfully design and deploy solutions for the same.

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

None at all. It was a pleasure to work with the Klan team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive at an e-commerce company dealing in the B2C business in India.

What challenge were you trying to address with Klan?

We hired Klan to provide website design and development services.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Klan has provided Shopify website design and development from scratch using React and JavaScript as the main frontend technologies. In addition, they help me implement my marketing ideas and strategies with clarity on how to execute them.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with around nine members of their team, including three designers, four developers, and two marketing specialists.

How did you come to work with Klan?

They were referred to us by someone who had worked with them before.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent close to $200,000 on the project so far.

What is the status of the engagement?

We began our partnership in June of 2021, and it's still ongoing.

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

We got covered by almost all the prominent media in India due to their effort. We've also seen growth in revenue, conversion rates, and the performance of our website.

How did Klan perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is good; they adapt their working hours to ensure on-time deliveries. Regarding tools and communication, we use Slack, emails, and Google Sheets.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is very flexible and sometimes works past the agreed working hours to achieve the project's goals. In addition, they've been kind enough to help me with marketing and strategies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should market themselves better and put their work out there because they're not doing themselves the justice they deserve!

Any advice for potential customers?

Provide them with the necessary tools and wireframes to better execute your project.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are platform with curated community of designers, engineers, product managers etc. We offer fully scalable tech solutions and outsourcing with guaranteed success.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kustard?

Kustard was hired for the frontend development for one of our clients - a California-based startup. They have a SaaS product for lenders, creditors and collection agencies that helps them stand out through their compliance and collection standards

What were your goals for this project?

We needed someone who can lead the frontend development

How did you select this vendor?

Kustard was recommended to us by a design agency. However, we evaluated them on multiple parameters before finalizing, viz. code quality, coding practices, project management approach, reference check etc.

Describe the project in detail.

Kustard was responsible for building the front end of the product from scratch. It's a speech recognition software that monitors every call for compliance and debt collector performance with its AI trained for optimal accuracy and actionable results.

What was the team composition?

It was a senior front end developer from Kustard who was leading the front end development

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

Yes, the engagement lasted for about 8 months and we were able to ship the product to the end customers

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was a staff augmentation engagement. The front end lead developer was a part of the engineering team and used to work with them throughout the engagement

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We liked the way they keep their team members updated on coding practices and project management. They have ensured that they have a good base set up so that both the quality and efficiency are good.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing so far

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of a Live Sports Production company. We specialise in the broadcasting of Live Sport Content.

For what projects/services did your company hire Kustard?

Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2019 marketing objective of the title sponsor ‘Network of Care’

What were your goals for this project?

To create a custom software to integrate with existing systems. The systems had to read info generated by the parent system and trigger a specified action in an appropriate time.

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with them In the past so pretty much knew the capabilities.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

So an idea was conceived in line with the marketing objectives of the Title Sponsor of an event. The idea had a lot of tech involved to deliver the final output. The technology required to deliver this output had two parts to it. One that already existed and was being used in the event and the other was to be built to give the desired output. So KUSTARD developed a custom software to speak to the existing machine and take required information from there and trigger an action. These machines were tested weeks in advance and deployed on race day. as the races progressed we achieved 90 to 95 percent result.

What was the team composition?

Wouldn’t know back end team numbers however on ground execution there were about 8 to 10 people overseeing the ops.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

So we created a film to showcase how this works and the film on YouTube alone has 33 million views. And was widely popular even now with a lot of brands who want us to deploy the same software to trigger actions relevant to the brand in other races. Tata motors in fact used it again in a much bigger event.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Right from development to execution we had complete faith in the capabilities of KUSTARD. At every stage of the development KUSTARD would send us an update and we would mutually discuss the development and then moved ahead. Testing was a joint activity and we tested in different environments to make sure that we got the desired result. KUSTARD planned even the testing in such a way that all stakeholders were perfectly satisfied.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

KUSTARD thinks fast and creative in their approach.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We all have immense room for improvement in every aspect. KUSTARD for what I need from them are top class in every aspect.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Company COO looking after the global operations and all business arms. We are one of the largest software providers in the recruitment and umbrella software space in the UK with a range of 6 products to service the entire employment services sector

For what projects/services did your company hire Kustard?

We were building a new mobile app and as such needed UI/UX design to complement it. Once the mobile app design was completed, we wanted our web portal to match the design on the app

What were your goals for this project?

Wanted to provide best in class technology with access to a mobile app as that is very limited within this space.

How did you select this vendor?

We had a review process of 4 vendors. Kustard was primarily chosen due to time constraints and also reference from my personal network

Describe the project in detail.

Had a few initial calls with the vendor to talk through the system and requirements. A timeline and a phased processed was agreed

What was the team composition?

We we assigned with a team leader, a designer as the main points of contact.

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

The redesigned web portal has gotten significant feedback from clients for the "modern design" We are still to receive comments on the UI/UX of the mobile app

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The work done by the vendor was good but the timelines were not met and kept being pushed back which caused up problems our end. Project and price negotiations could also be improved drastically . We felt that the vendor management just wanted to rush into things without having a proper negotiation process. Sales documents in terms of customised sales proposal was not presented rather all information was sent as plain text in emails. The offers we got from other vendors was more tailored which made it feel more personal

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The enthusiasm and commitment to a project is commendable. We did have a few times where there we changes our end and those were accommodated very well by the vendor. They were always ready to listen to our needs and wants

Are there any areas for improvement?

Management Team : Have a more personal connection with your prospects/clients. There was only one very brief conversation with the management and any discussions were routed to other people. As a business owner myself, I would like to have a close working relationship with the team (mainly management) Timeliness : Stick to the agreed timelines and do not deviate from them whatsoever. We as clients have our own internal plans and processes and changing timelines doesn't work well but a business like us Costs: Rethink your costing strategy. The vendor was by far the most expensive of the 4 we spoke with. There were some very established companies overall that were 20-25% cheaper. The only reason we went ahead with Kustard was because of time constraints and reference from personal connection

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Founder and seed investor of an early stage startup that is developing a solution for Film and Media Production industry. .

For what projects/services did your company hire Kustard?

Kustard has been engaged for the custom software design and development of our solution that will be used by Film and Media production teams

What were your goals for this project?

• Develop a ground-up solution
• The solution needs to be creative
• Design-oriented with a focus on a good User Experience
• Account for multiple use cases for Film, Advertising and Media
• Responsive Web Application
• Mobile Apps for both iOS and Android

How did you select this vendor?

We met them through a common contact and they started engaging with us as we began discussions on our product even prior to starting the statement of work

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

• Custom software for Film and Media production
• Design
• Market Research
• Software Development
• Project Management
• PoC Validation

What was the team composition?

Kustard has designated five key team members that have worked with us as a dedicated team. Other team members also get involved at different stages

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The solution has been well received by our PoC customers and Kustard has been involved in the sessions with PoC customers helping collect feedback We are now going into the next phase of development and Kustard has worked out an enhanced design based on the feedback we received.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Communication and collaboration is responsive. We are working with Kusatrd in an agile manner and for the most part deadlines are met, in instances of any delays, Kustard's communication always has te right explanations Kustard makes the effort to meet with us regularly and we have stand-up calls each week Tools are being used for communication and collaboration Basecamp Google Hangouts Google Sheets Google Docs WhatsApp

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kustard is a dynamic and creative team that goes above and beyond to ensure customer success. They have a great energy and provide much value over what is present in their scope of work. They also have a very solid understanding of the startup landscape and understand what it takes to build good software products. They are eager to learn and adapt themselves to the needs of the project. They are also very flexible in their approach.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Kustard could improve marginally in a couple of key areas Documentation Project Management and Scheduling User Interface Design

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of the company. We’re based in Mumbai, India, and we have five fulltime members.

What challenge were you trying to address with Kustard?

We were trying to develop a complicated mobile app with multiple modules.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kustard helped us develop two mobile healthcare apps that use AI. After registration, the user is prompted to the onboarding process. Kustard created three screens with different selections to choose from, and those screens change based on the selections made during onboarding. The user then lands on the home page, which has multiple features, including data-driven analytics that display clinical facts about the user, as well as analytics on the usage of the app itself.

They built the apps with React Native for iOS and Android, with multiple databases on the backend. Kustard developed 160 screens, which is on the higher side when it comes to mobile apps. They also replicated the complexities of WhatsApp chat functionalities, as that is what users were accustomed to. Kustard was able to find a third party to help them learn this technology quickly, and they implemented it on time.

What is the team composition?

We had a dedicated manager, but we interacted with different team members when required, including those at the coding level. This was especially so at the end of the project. 

Rather than having multiple communication pathways, Kustard allowed us to have our team work alongside theirs. We had continuous communication and technology development so that we could meet our timelines.

How did you come to work with Kustard?

We looked all over and India and even beyond, and we selected Kustard after two months of interviewing and evaluating different providers. It was difficult to find the right combination of experience with product strategy and technology development. Most of the companies we came across did development, but not product strategy and associated design. We found Kustard’s capabilities to be very strong in all of those areas.

We initially selected a company that was five times the size of Kustard and very well established. During the first strategy workshop, we felt that we were providing all of the suggestions, and we weren’t getting anything in return. We had to stop that workshop, come back, and quickly find another provider. The company we found also didn’t work well due to language and communication issues. One of their key members left, and there was a long delay.

We became less stringent on our selection criteria and selected Kustard based on delivery time, cost, consulting level, product strategy, and design. We interviewed their project managers and team members, went around to different clients, and even contacted the universities that they’d attended. I got a good feel for the entire process. It wasn’t just technology and skill levels that we evaluated, but also the kinds of projects they’d executed. What ended up being delivered was at a higher level than that which clients were asking for.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost so far is close to $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Kustard in late-July 2019. The project finished in November, but they’re helping us with the rest of the process to go live. We’re going live shortly.

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

Design isn’t something we can quantify, but the wow factor was definitely there. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 20 years, in the US and India, and I’ve not seen design as good as this. I don’t know how to quantify that, but I’d give them a 5/5 in terms of design.

In terms of product strategy (i.e., the ability to consult, rather than just being a doer), they studied our market and competition and came back. I’d give them a 5/5 in this respect as well.

Development or technology skills are a bit more common than the others mentioned. I’d also give them a 5/5, with respect to the skills we needed. React Native was the chosen technology, and they’re definitely good at it. They have people with the right kind of experience in terms of handling complex projects. We actually checked the complexity of their past deliverables and found that the people who worked with our team had previously worked on some of the most reputed mobile products in India.

How did Kustard perform from a project management standpoint?

They executed high-level turnaround times and communication. We got responses in less than an hour whenever we called. Our requirements weren’t clear at first, but they met with us and helped us to understand what we really wanted, to the minutest level possible. They boiled down what features we required from a business perspective, and in what order they would be launched. They gave us flexible options in terms of development. 

We knew that the project would run for 2–3 months, and they gave us the option to change features after a month’s time. We discussed the changes required every month and redefined the product strategy and development. This was a very difficult task.

There were extensions on the timeline, but that was because of changes required from our side. I’d give them a 4.5/5 on that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their ability to understand our business and suggest or recommend the right technologies, optimizations, and features. Kustard suggested key features themselves, whereas other companies we evaluated wanted requirements from us and would only do what we told them to. Kustard consulted with us on strategic, technological, and feature levels. They pointed out that too many notifications might actually disturb the user, so they gave us different options. They were business consultants for us, and they weren’t biased by what we said.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re technologically-focused, but their salesforce is a little weak. I told them many times that they should publish what they’ve been doing. They’ve worked with some of the largest companies in India and have created some really innovative products, simply from their thinking. Often, the clients don’t actually tell them the idea; Kustard provides the idea, and the client implements it. Looking at their website, I never got that sense. 

It took us more time to select them because it was difficult to differentiate them from other providers. They all talk about creative technologies, on-time delivery, etc. Innovation capability is not as highlighted on their website. Kustard could do a lot more for companies like ours if they sold themselves better.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The platform is for freelancers housekeepers. We started it as a platform for freelance babysitters but midway we changed it to freelancers housekeepers and shifted our business goals, mission, and vision along the way. 

Further market research and business consultations showed us that the Kuwaiti market is not ready yet for a babysitting service, but we plan to add it int he future. For now, will focus mainly on the health sector (think of nurses, geriatric care, people with special needs, children).  Starting with housekeepers is the easiest path, and it will help us achieve some of our significant business goals. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Kustard?

I needed someone to build the entire system from start to finish.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I went to them with my research, business plan, the prototype I built using Adobe XD, and all my data. They canceled the prototype and started all over again based on the data that I supplied them with. They designed and developed the mobile applications for the service providers and ones for the seekers. They also made the admin dashboard.

Over the course of the project, we made a lot of changes. I didn’t do good initial research on the product audience, but they kept changing the main features as I supplied them with additional data. For example, they were surprised to learn that in Kuwait, people don’t use credit cards when booking services. Kustard held long discussions with the payment gateway provider and proposed a solution that the former’s developers admired and considered building for other prospective clients.

What is the team composition?

The team consists of UI/UX designers, mobile developers for iOS and Android, backend developers, a solution architect, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Kustard?

I found them on Clutch. I contacted several agencies but I chose Kustard because I kept receiving a positive vibe whenever I interacted with them. They showed dedication from day one and asked a lot of questions, trying to understand the project in detail.

Even though I hadn’t signed with them yet, they gave me suggestions and shared data. They were excited to work with me because they were looking for a new project to nurture to demonstrate their entire skillset and potential. They were very patient because I was very hesitant at first.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $33,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2018, and the work is ongoing.

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

When they were doing the early stages of planning with wireframing, I completed a top-of-the-line course for interaction and interaction design to follow up with them and make sure they were doing good. I was surprised that they were doing exactly what I was taking in the course. It really caught my attention.

How did Kustard perform from a project management standpoint?

They always meet deadlines and respond. They’re very fast. Whenever I want them, they’re available. We use email mainly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve had to make lots of important and critical decisions, and they keep providing suggestions and advice. Kustard was completely new to the Kuwaiti market as well and has made a great effort to try to understand it.

Javed (Founder & CEO, Kustard) has a promising future. He’s a humble, patient, and smart individual. His management and leadership are one of the reasons why I signed up with them. When an agency is led by a good leader, you want to work with them because it makes you feel safe.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re technology people and not designers. I was aware at the start that they weren’t graphic designers; I am a designer, and I felt I could close a hole that they had with my knowledge and experience. That said, we worked together and learned a lot from each other. They made me feel a part of the team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of a cloud-based fitness management software.

What challenge were you trying to address with Kustard?

We were looking for a company to help us from the ideation stage and build the prototype, and in the end, create a product for us.

What was the scope of their involvement?

While working on the ideation of the product, they met with the stakeholders to understand the requirements. We told them that we wouldn’t get too involved in the technical specifications, but would be strict on the features of the product, including the UX/UI. The initial prototype finished in March or April of this year, and they’re now moving onto the product development.

What is the team composition?

There’s a project manager, one UX designer, and one UI designer.

How did you come to work with Kustard?

We needed a company that could understand our requirements and would design the products from a UX perspective. They needed to be skilled in both product design and technology equally. Our team searched for 10-12 companies on Google. After a few weeks, we were comfortable enough with Kustard to choose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Kustard began in January 2019.

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

Kustard met our expectations. We’ve received feedback on the initial prototype from prospective clients. They’re skilled in their field and can determine what the user wants and designs the product accordingly. Their team came up with the idea of building a prototype that we could take to the clients, and then make the product from there.

How did Kustard perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re happy with project management. We worked in short sprints and had two standup meetings a week. They give us access to their Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Kustard concentrates on the user experience. They focus more on the process rather than getting into the systems and coding right away. The method they follow emphases more on how the users will be using the product rather than building the features.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While I understand quality work takes time, they could speed up their process a little bit. Kustard could also be more open about marketing themselves. After working with them, we’ve seen that they’re much better than we thought they would be when we first started with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The way they work is a little different from conventional service companies out there. Make sure they understand the process before they start their work.