LANARS

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a team of 7 engineers and we design, develop and distribute industrial and consumer products . I am the general manager.

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

The task was to build a prototype of an electromechanical aktuator device with PC and app communication to verify feasibility.

What were your goals for this project?

Make sure that the idea can be manufactured and work as intended. The prototype is used for marketing to test demand and customer acceptance.

How did you select this vendor?

Recommendation from a friend that was working with Lanars before.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The took over the idea description and brief sketches and developed a working prototype that fulfilled requirements as desired. This included mechanical and electrical design of the subcomponents. Creation of firm- and software and also the mobile application development.

What was the team composition?

Team consisted of: - project manager - hardware engineer - electronic engineer - embedded software engineer - software developer - app developer

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

The delivered working prototype exceeded our expectations. Core features were implemented and we could start with the market evaluation.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project was neatly management and organised. PM communicated effectively. Task was fulfilled within budget and time expectations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I have never experienced that kind of expertise in product development. The extended network and a deep knowledge of technology helped to take the right decision without additional loops.

Are there any areas for improvement?

none so far

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Defigo, an intercom company.

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

We needed a highly competent team to help us with development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provide offshore development for the whole software platform from embedded devices, cloud services, etc. They use C# and AWS in development. There were two different Android apps and one iOS app. There’s also a web admin interface.

What is the team composition?

At most, we had 10 full-time developers.

How did you come to work with LANARS?

We found them on Upwork. Initially, we started with a test project. Through the last five years, we’ve cycled through offshore developers. We were looking for a strategic partner that we could have a long-term relationship with. After a long search, we found LANARS. They’re very forward-thinking. They joined us from the idea phase all the way through to completion. If we’re busy and don’t have time to do specifications, they will do that for us. We’ve been happy with them.

How much have you invested with them?

Our team invested over $650,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017 and the work is ongoing.

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

Their quality of work is really high. They have a pragmatic approach to it. They’ve really helped us from mapping out the specifications through the end. They’re not just consultants; they take responsibility and pride in our project. We showed customers how the projects worked and they enjoy them.

How did LANARS perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very flexible and positive in their approach. Everything we throw at them, they take with a smile and a positive attitude. They always deliver and do what they say. They’re really honest and good people to work with. We don’t have to write everything down before we get started. They do whatever it takes to deliver.

We manage the project ourselves. Usually, we give them a specification and they give us a fixed price on that. They have more of a DevOps role than just a development role. They aren’t always on time, but they always meet the cost. We work in an agile model. Their English skills were good. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We trust them. They do what they say they’re going to do. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We don’t have any issues with LANARS.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should try them for a project. Give them a small project first and make specifications that aren’t very detailed. Ask them to augment it, and then you’ll see how they deliver. Anyone would be happy with it.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are small startup, 6 people in total, working in healthcare industry. Lanars helped us to development iOS and Android app for our core system. The app enables hospital staff to mange clinical data for patients who have been referred to the Clinic for care. The app can be used to navigate the following information: patients' data, clinical documents, images, lab results, medications and vital signs.

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

We hire LANARS for iOS and Android development.

What were your goals for this project?

As we already had existing system that is operating in our partner hospitals, we had a need for Android and iOS apps, with a focus on clear UI/UX. Our users are mostly older people, so we cared a lot for simple onboarding process.

How did you select this vendor?

We contacted few companies from Ukraine and LANARS seemed to be the one who completely understood our requirements, business model and goals. We also liked the team, we were impressed by their attitude towards us and work itself.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We already had our web based portal for hospital and patients management. The purpose was to develop apps, for both iOS and Android phones, used by hospital staff and patients. At first we thought of one app for both sides, but after few meetings with LANARS, their BA proposed us 2 apps.

That was a great suggestion and made it much easier for us to scale our architecture. All the milestones were finished in time and we are still in a process of development. We already expanded our team with LANARS, so now they are also assisting us with our backend part.

What was the team composition?

During last two years we had different team composition. We started with two mobile developers, designer and PM. The team has grown since then.

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

We finished the app stage on September 2019. The feedback is great, so we are pleased with the work done so far. At the moment more than half of our users already using our app.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was done on the side of LANARS. Every time we started new scope of work, as they call it Sprint, our dedicated project manager provided us with a complete breakdown of tasks, estimates and deadlines. The good thing is that before each release they were sending us a test version.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with their commitment, work ethics and communication skills. Each time we required some new information or an update, they answered us very quickly. I also liked that, not only they did perfect work, but their inputs during planning phase were really valuable.

Are there any areas for improvement?

From the very beginning they informed us that healthcare is not their main domain. Nevertheless things went really smooth. I understand that it's impossible to be experts in each domain, but I would definitely say that LANARS are experts in development. I'm sure I would recommend them to any type of business

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our bank is playing a leading role in establishing important market intermediaries such as depositories, credit bureau, clearing and payment institutions. I work as chief of operations in London branch.

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

We hired LANARS for development of our new service and app for it. They also helped integration of 3rd party services and 3rd party banks APIs.

What were your goals for this project?

We are developing an app that connects our clients with other banks, making it possible to interact with different bank services and make inbound and outbound transactions

How did you select this vendor?

Company was recommended by a consultant. We also visited their headquarters in Ukraine. We were negotiating during 2 months, during which they were really helpful in terms of merging our requirements into tech documentation.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They were developing iOS and Android apps, along with intermediate server. LANARS also covered QA and security part.

What was the team composition?

Our team consisted of 4 mobile app developers, 3 web developers, not sure about QA team as they did that inhouse. We also asked help with UI from time to time. So, overall it was a team of near 10 people.

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

App was successfully delivered in time. Right now we have a focus group of 500 users. We are constantly getting feedbacks, so the work will continue in future milestones. Overall satisfaction rate is 87%, so I can say that we are pleased with result.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was done by LANARS under my supervision. They added me to their corporate Jira, so I was able to see report and progress on each team member involved. Communicate was smooth, and the good thing is that we are almost in the same timezone.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication is perfect. We really like their office, and their entire staff is very friendly and openminded.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I wish they had office in UK

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of the co-founders of Babytesterne.no, Norway's largest review site for baby gear.

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

LANARS has helped us build our web page: babytesterne.no. Everything from the ability to log-in, add products, leave reviews, and create a customer profile. 

What were your goals for this project?

To have a well-functioning web page with all the features we wanted. We also wanted the page set-up so that we would be able to handle it without coding expertise.

How did you select this vendor?

LANARS was recommended to me from a friend.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

LANARS started the project by cleaning up a mess leftover from a previous vendor. We then started to build the webpage almost from scratch and used a combination of code and plug-ins, as we wanted a webpage that we could handle our self (we do not code).

What was the team composition?

We've had one project manager, and that is the only person we have to contact to get something done.

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

We would never be where we are today if it was not for LANARS. They've worked so hard to accommodate all our wishes when it comes to both functionality and design. They work fast, structured, and are not too pricy. They're also very nice people.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Great!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They're fast and they have a lot of competencies. They manage to solve everything we ask for.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that come to my mind right now.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a social reading platform that connects people reading the same book at the same time.

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

I decided that the best format for my concept would be a mobile app, but I lacked experience in the business. I engaged LANARS to build the app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with LANARS to refine my initial set of specifications. After I approved the quotation and timeline, they designed and developed the app for iOS and Android. They also provided QA and project management.
 
The app allows users to select the books they’re currently reading. Users are then brought together in a chatroom with other people reading the book.
 
What is the team composition?

LANARS’ project manager was my one point of contact. Two developers worked under him—one backend and one frontend—and there were two QA specialists assigned. We met every two weeks during the active development phase. They had demos, and I was able to tweak the things that weren’t exactly what I was expecting.
 
How did you come to work with LANARS?

I had a budget, and I contacted 7–8 mobile app development companies with detailed specifications. I received responses with their understanding of the work and quotations. I’d never heard of LANARS before, but I liked their response and they seemed organized.
  
How much have you invested with them?

We spent $45,000.
 
What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with LANARS in June 2018, and we finished in February 2019.

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

A first version of the app was downloaded by 400–500 users after launch, and everyone I’ve shown the app to in person has been impressed. After getting some feedback, I decided to make some adjustments to improve the app and get a better conversion rate when I start advertising again. The results have been better than what I was expecting, and the app is very cleanly built.
 
How did LANARS perform from a project management standpoint?

Software development isn’t an exact science, but the project went well with LANARS. Their estimation and management led to a successful product. We used Trello to track the work. They delivered a new part of the app to me every two weeks, and I logged the issues I encountered in Trello. LANARS also uses Jira with other clients.
 
What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their honesty. LANARS gave us a very good quote in the beginning to compete with other agencies. I made some change requests after that, but they never tried to ask for higher prices. They’re honest, transparent, and easy to work with.
 
Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d prefer to have had a bigger talent pool to choose from when one of their team members went on vacation. At the same time, if they were bigger, it would be much more complicated and probably more expensive. It’s only a minor complaint.
 
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s beneficial to have project management experience as a client.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and director of Dean’s Technology Solutions, an IT company.

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

I wanted to build a native iOS and Android app that allows shoppers to compare the prices of groceries.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project commenced with a discovery phase. LANARS developed requirements, created foundations and wireframes, and performed testing. They built the multi-platform AWS app, including the backend structure and database, using Node.js and other technologies. The team enabled an admin end, where stores can add their icons to a master database. On the user end, shoppers can create a grocery list and see where to find their items for the most inexpensive price.

My partnership with LANARS continues; they provide support and software adjustments as needed.

What is the team composition?

I have worked with a sales manager, a business analyst, a project manager, and 2–3 developers.

How did you come to work with LANARS?

I found LANARS on Upwork. They were one of the most engaging and solution-focused vendors that I came across, and they have remained so.

How much have you invested with them?

I have spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with LANARS in 2017, and the work is ongoing.

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

The pilot testing has garnered excellent reviews and positive responses. The quality, function, and UI/UX are top-notch.

How did LANARS perform from a project management standpoint?

As development progressed, many requirements and needs changed. LANARS accommodated all of these changes seamlessly. They are an engaging partner; depending on the need, we meet weekly or monthly. We use Jira, Asana, and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m satisfied with the app. I’ve been impressed by their ability to receive feedback and make changes as needed. The quality of work that they produce is excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The time difference is challenging, but that is out of their control.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CMO of FundingPartner, a crowdlending platform connecting SMEs in need of financing with investors seeking attractive returns.

For what projects/services did your company hire LANARS?

We needed a full-service web development provider to help with everything from large redesigns and developments to daily maintenance issues.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to maintain a fast, optimized, attractive webpage that converted customers.

How did you select this vendor?

I didn’t join the project until after LANARS came on.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We send them ad-hoc maintenance tasks and urgent issues, as well as larger projects. They’ll typically receive a brief scope and then ask clarifying questions before proceeding with the solution.

What was the team composition?

I’ve mainly been in contact with our account manager, who has sent our tasks to the relevant people. LANARS has a broad skill set, so it’s great to have an account manager that understands what we want and gives good briefs to developers.

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

They’ve been our main provider for 18 months and we’ve always been perfectly happy. We have a fast and effective webpage, and LANARS responds quickly to any issue we raise. They’re always coming up with ways to solve issues more efficiently and increase our webpage’s speed.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Our account manager handles project management and directs our tasks to the appropriate developers. They make sure the developers are up to speed. It’s quite a seamless process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They offer a wide range of services and have a diverse knowledge of their field.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I can think of right now.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a big data and IoT [internet of things company]. I was the senior director of network operations for the company.

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

We needed to build a dashboard integration for different video sources. It would allow us to visualize the data coming in from different customers, making it easier to consume by our frontend engineers. LANARS helped us build our platform and backend integration.

What challenge were you trying to address with LANARS?

LANARS built an admin panel which allows us to customize dashboards, as well as the engine feeding data from various monitoring sources. We aggregate data from many IoT end points, with the platform serving as a way to visualize that data.

The backend integration uses a proprietary platform owned by my company, while the frontend was built using open-source graphical libraries like Highcharts. The integration between the frontend and the backend required Node.js, while the admin panel used AngularJS, which is how we managed to display the different graphs from our backend customer data.

How did you come to work with LANARS?

We bid the project to many different companies. LANARS came back with a good plan during our initial phone calls. They were thorough and provided suggestions regarding technology.

How much have you invested with LANARS?

The project had 2–3 phases, and cost between $60,000 and $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with LANARS in June 2016. The project ran for 2–3 months, as we continued to add features.

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

I'm no longer working for the company, so I don't have access to the platform that LANARS built. It was well-used and shared to many customers who were involved with our platform. It was a successful project.

How did LANARS perform from a project management standpoint?

LANARS assigned a project manager, and we primarily worked through Google Docs files.

What did you find most impressive about LANARS?

LANARS' team is experienced and thorough, developing our project in its entirety.

Are there any areas LANARS could improve?

Not at all. LANARS is a solid group. They never pushed us in a wrong direction, and were open to suggestions.