Linnify

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Cristina Boels and I am the Marketing Supervisor at Wens Travel, a full-service travel agency, one of the few in Romania, who understand the role of being a concierge, adviser, and guide in customizing vacations, but also business trips.

Our mission is to give sense, value, and joy to your trips by combining each and every detail in an authentic and unified travel package. Our purpose is to build partnerships based on trust, confidence, and loyalty. As a Marketing Supervisor, my role is to communicate as clearly as possible Wens’ message both internally and externally while attracting as many potential new clients as possible.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

In the beginning, we hired Linnify to help us develop an e-learning platform. This platform is dedicated to teaching people from special social groups that do not have access so easily to information about the tourism industry and encouraging them to pursue a career in this domain. This engagement took 2 months. We were very pleased about the high quality of the materials that Linnify delivered and how fast they made it all happen. We decided to start yet another engagement with them shortly after that.

This time for developing an onboarding tourism platform that would benefit both Wens’ customers and its employees. The platform facilitates the customers getting a touristic package fully personalized to their needs while also easing the workload for our employees. The idea of this onboarding booking platform came from the validation workshops that Linnify proposed to us which really helped us understand better what our customers and other potential users actually need, and how exactly we can alleviate their pains.

SOLUTION

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

One of our acquaintances recommended Linnify to us, having worked on a traveling web platform with them before. She was very pleased with the way they worked, their professionalism, and all the help they provided, which made us confident in choosing them for our own products.

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

The e-learning platform was implemented between May and June 2022. Key deliverables, in this case, included: User flows, UX/UI screens, UI interactive prototype, and the eLearning platform For the onboarding tourism platform, things were more complex. We went through Linnify’s validation process during June and July 2022. Through these workshops, we successfully determined the: problem statement, market insights, discovery interviews insights, unique value proposition, and high-level features for the platform.

The design phase of the platform took place between July and August 2022. In this case, the deliverables included: user flows, UX/UI screens (mobile and web perspectives), and UI interactive prototypes (mobile and web perspectives). The implementation phase took place between September and November 2022.

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

For the e-learning platform, there were 5 people involved:

• Catalin  - Account Manager
• Dragos - Product Manager
• Adrian - UX/UI Designer
• Vasile - Technical Lead / Backend Developer
• Stefana - Frontend Developer

In the validation process of the onboarding platform, and its implementation, there were 4 people involved:

• Catalin - Account Manager
• Dragos - Product Manager
• Adrian - UX/UI Designer
• Darius - Technical Lead

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too soon to tell as the platform has just been launched to the general public a few weeks ago. However, soon enough, it will be able to offer customers the best promotional proposal that is tailored to their specific needs, and it will help Wens’ employees decrease their workload, and increase customer satisfaction. What is more, the clients will be able to better understand the process of organizing a trip and will be able to figure out better and faster what their exact needs and wishes are.

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

The e-learning platform was implemented between May and June 2022. For the onboarding tourism platform, things were more complex. We went through Linnify’s validation process during June and July 2022. The design phase of the platform took place between July and August 2022. The implementation phase took place between September and November 2022. Both of these platforms were delivered fast and on time.

Our PM, Dragos was very helpful. He always had an overview of everything that was happening at all times. He always knew which are the next steps, what is going on within the team, and what is the status, and always made sure that we were updated on everything that is happening. This also helped us be reassured at all times. The communication was very efficient. The main communication channels were: Whatsapp and email.

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

I really appreciated their work methodology as I could clearly understand the flow from start to finish as it was very well organized, and clearly communicated. We really created the product together, and their validation process helped us a lot with what are our needs (as well as our customer's), what are our pains, and how we can solve them. It was amazing to us that we could take user interviews, something that we haven’t done before.

The workshops were extremely helpful for us to understand our potential users better. Another thing that I really appreciated was the fact that their help did not end when the product was delivered. We had another workshop to discover together which would be the best ways to promote our product, where to promote it, and how we cancan we make it successful. Their involvement and dedication were truly wonderful.

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

Sometimes, it was difficult to guide ourselves by Linnify’s sprints. We had to keep up with their rhythm when delivering the content they needed although it was a busy period for us. But at the same time, we didn’t clearly communicate it with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Delivery Manager for a company delivering software and technology services. We accelerate our clients’ ability to take advantage of new business models and market opportunities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linnify?

We needed to extend our team with extra node.js developers to help us build several microservices. the goal was to supplement our skills with additional experienced developers.

SOLUTION

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

We knew about this company and knew some of the key staff

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

They have provided a team of initially 1.5 seniors then 2.5 node.js developers. They were responsible to ensure the user stories are delivered according to the coding standards and to the definition of done.

Describe the recruitment process in detail.

We first discussed with their technical architect and presented them what needed to be done. Based on that, he proposed the developers able to support him in delivering and estimates to delivering that part of work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Due to their technical expertise and soft skills we managed to deliver on time and quality.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We worked in mixed teams, working remote, and not having the possibility to meet face to face the other team members, they managed to be part of the team very fast. They work hard to meet our strict deadlines and are responsive. They also adapted to our agile way of working. They were part together with us of the daily sessions, planing/refinements/retrospective and demos (all virtual).

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

They provided seniors, that were open and not afraid to challenge some of the solutions - if they had a better idea. Using arguments, describing the prons and cons, they managed to recommend slightly different approaches that led to better results.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Inventory Systems GmbH. We produce sensors that allow retailers to monitor stock levels and shopper activity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Linnify?

We needed help with mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, our sensors worked offline, but about 2–3 years ago, we upgraded them to IoT. This means that all the information collected through the sensor is sent to the Cloud. We hired Linnify to develop an app for iOS and Android that visualizes the data and changes the parameters of the system.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was a project manager from Linnify.

How did you come to work with Linnify?

We found Linnify through a referral.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere between €25,000–€50,000 (approximately $25,000–$50,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2020–January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Linnify met all of the milestones that we agreed on. They also delivered a high-quality mobile app and were quick to fix any bugs that we found.

How did Linnify perform from a project management standpoint?

Linnify performed well in terms of project management. They were incredibly responsive — they usually got back to us within 24 hours whenever we had any questions or raised any concerns.

We typically communicate through email, Zoom calls, WhatsApp, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Linnify was excellent at understanding our requirements despite us not being very specific about them. We were also impressed with the quality of the code they delivered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

For every little add-on, they produced new paperwork and a new contract that had to be signed. A little less admin work would have been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to assign a dedicated person for the project. It’s also a good idea to spend some time narrowing down your requirements before approaching them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I have a coordination and assistance role within Pro Vobis - National Resource centre for Volunteering. Pro Vobis is a nonprofit dedicated to the development of volunteerism through training, consultancy, research and facilitation of networking of all interested stakeholders, and to promote volunteerism in Romania as a viable and irreplaceable resource in solving the problems our society is now facing.

Voluntariat.ro is an ONG project. It is part of a much bigger project called “Coliția pentru voluntariat” (The Volunteering Coalition) which is an ACF project (Active Citizen funds) that is coordinated by a foundation in Iasi. There are three organizations under this umbrella, from which, “Pro Vobis” was the one responsible for the website creation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed to develop an online resource center to support the volunteerism movement in Romania. Voluntariat.ro is a platform where both volunteers and coordinators can find an accessible source where they can reach insightful information and the much-needed information to run their activities.

SOLUTION

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

We’ve actually come into contact with Linnify through word of mouth, and someone from our team knew their team. Our main objective was to have a platform where both volunteers and coordinators could have an accessible source where they can reach insightful information and the much-needed information to run their activities.

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

One of the things we loved the most was the safety that they offered us. We knew that any issue that might appear will be solved because they have the right expertise to do so. They managed to solve any problem that come up very quickly. Another thing that we appreciated was the feeling of confidence that we’ve had all through our collaboration. They assured us that the project is going in the right direction.

They handled the paperwork in a very efficient way, and any particular new requirements and little bugs were solved immediately. The communication with the PM, Anca , and other team members was a very professional one, while not being rigid at all. We knew that they are the right people to help us. We have to note here that the way Anca handled the meeting and the way she kept track of everything brought us more help than we could have imagined. This really helped us in our further tasks with investors.

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

We collaborated directly mostly with the PM, Anca , but we also worked with another 3 or 4 people from marketing and development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of evidence of success, the most important thing is that we now have a platform that can be used by anyone who wants to become a volunteer or coordinator. The information is more accessible than ever. As for improvement areas, I don’t have any complaints. There is nothing that comes to my mind.

There are a lot of development companies but the majority focus on requirements and don’t see the scope and the impact the project will have on. Linnify managed to see and help us right away. The people at Linnify are real experts, and that could be sensed right from the beginning. I felt safe and confident each step of the way. 

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

It was extremely helpful that all our meetings were documented in detail. We kept in touch via mail or videoconferences, and our communication overall went smoothly.

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

They built trust. We did not have any doubts about have a great result.

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

Nothing to add, everything went really well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the education director and co-founder of Medefine Education Group. Medefine Education is a UK-based company that brings together the experiences of doctors who have once been international students applying to medical school in the United Kingdom. We empower the future generation of doctors by mentoring them into unleashing their full potential and getting into prestigious UK medical universities. Our personal experience of applying to medical school as a foreign student brought to light the information gaps that international applicants need to fill in on their own. Thus, Medefine came to life to tailor help the future generations of international doctors to prepare strongly for their medical admission process. At this moment, Medefine Education helped over 7000 students get into medical school, especially from the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

7 years ago when Medefine started off as a project, we were very familiar with the situation as we were also once international students who wanted to study medicine in the UK. As we made it through, we realized the lack of information that the foregoing students need to deal with in their admission process and thus created an entity aiming to facilitate their already exhausting process by bringing together the medical students' communities and their insights regarding specific school admission processes.

SOLUTION

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

We needed a stand-out, wow-effect branding on a customized website for our clients' needs. We previously used Wix but felt the need to personalize their journey in the most suitable way for them. We’ve heard about Linnify through word of mouth and while checking on the competitors, Linnify best responded to our needs through a comprehensive set of services that included insightful design and branding alongside the development of the website.

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

Linnify created Medefine’s new branding, UX/UI Design, and web development. They provided a lot of guidance helping us to set the right tone in terms of branding. We had gone through two versions of the branding, and I truly liked the way things have adapted after the feedback meetings that brought very fast updates aligned with what we wanted.

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

A project manager, and a design team of 3+ people.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For us, it is a success that we have consistent branding that best represents our services tailored to our audience’s needs. Other metrics can be only measured in time but I am confident that they won’t cease to show up.

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

The project management was very patient and asked all the right questions at the beginning of our collaboration for us to get a better understanding of what we needed to achieve the results we wanted. If it wasn’t for the patience and the time dedicated to clarifying the vision we want to go with, the website certainly wouldn’t have been the current one, with which we are very happy with. It was impressive how, the day after we discussed implementing some new features or changes, they had already created the new version for us to bring feedback.

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

We love their personal touch, their impressively fast delivery of the product, and their feedback implementation.

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

Depending on the client’s needs, what would’ve improved our collaboration was to have more time to gather feedback from our team before the feedback calls with Linnify.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of a startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Linnify?

Our company was very close to going live, and we needed to have an online presence so people knew what we were about. I was working with an offshore firm, but unfortunately, the quality wasn’t there, so we decided to switch vendors.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Linnify designed and developed our website using .NET. I gave them the previous vendor’s work. The design was a collaborative effort; we had a template, and they also gave us input and feedback. The team made suggestions on the UX’s structure, focusing on responsive design. The website has tabs with information bout us and our product on a navigation bar. We’ve started another project with Linnify involving text and voice input in our mobile application. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with 3–4 people from Linnify, including the CEO and a project manager, plus 2–3 other resources they've leveraged. 

How did you come to work with Linnify?

I connected with Linnify’s CEO on LinkedIn, and I gave them what we had by then and asked for a quote, which they provided along with a timeline estimate. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around June 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m beyond happy with the results of Linnify’s work. The website is beautiful, and we get a lot of compliments on its look and feel. The site is also fully functional, and we’ve yet to see any bugs. Equally important is their effort to accommodate our needs; I’ve never gotten pushback, and they deliver on time and within budget. 

Additionally, I’m super impressed with their development team. I’ve hired over 500 developers and programmers in my career, so I know the good ones from the bad ones, and Linnify is good. They’ve delivered beyond my wildest expectations and dreams, not just on the product but also on their methodology. 

How did Linnify perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great at project management. We’ve had no issue with communication since the whole team speaks English, and we usually stay in touch via email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with how Linnify takes care of their customers. They really focus on our experience and creating a partnership. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’ think of anything they need to improve; they’re special, and I’ll continue to use them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Call me and ask about them! While every company has brochures that promise the best, there’s nothing like a testimonial.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of the Co-Founders of Romanian Adventures, together with Csilla.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Being so involved in the US travel industry market, we realized that there is a high demand for American travelers to go to Romania.

The destination is an emerging one. As Csilla and I have been part of the travel industry for so long, we’ve had a lot of inquiries from both clients and agents, for travel information about Romania (from how to get there to where to book accommodation, and so on). I would say the natural next step was to create this project, Romanian Adventures.

SOLUTION

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

We’ve actually come into contact with Linnify through Andrada, my sister, who was working there at the time and who was really excited about the team and what they’re doing.

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

Our main objective was to have a platform where travel agents could tap into personalized, ready-made offers of boutique properties, off the beaten path experiences that converged from our personal relationship with the locals.

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

One of the things I loved the most about our experience was how involved Catalin, Co-Founder and Business Manager at Linnify was in the entire process. He interacted with us from the beginning to the end. His approach was a fast-tracking one that took about a week, in which he went through all the stages of a product with us.

He went out of his way to understand the business model (reseller for travel agencies), something I greatly appreciated, as it is not that easy to understand. Not only did he try to understand it, but he then came with valuable input from outside.

That was extremely helpful for the whole project. The communication with the rest of the team was excellent. Our PM, Andreea, is highly organized and I think the way she coordinated each task, and the transparency that she offered (eg. a checklist with the tasks that are done) it’s the perfect example of how each company should handle their projects.

She is a great “translator” between the client, and the development team, succeeding in making sure everybody understands each other and their needs. The development and design teams involved were also very responsive to whatever we needed, and intuitive.

They offered us valuable feedback, and suggestions when we’ve encountered certain issues with the website. We were not aware of certain needs, but they were there for us, to help us find out what we need.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of evidence of success, the most important thing is that we now understand our clients better and acknowledge their needs and pain points. We also understand better what our product needs, and the steps we have to take next.

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

The project management was excellent. I have no words to describe how pleased I am about the whole experience and the way everybody handled the project.

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

I believe Linnify’s project management model was perfect and should definitely be implemented in each company.

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

As for improvement areas, I don’t have any complaints. However, I would suggest they try testing between their location, and other locations that don’t have a stable enough internet connection, before launching a website for example. But I’m well aware that they know about this issue.

As I’ve heard from them, they are currently working to improve their testing methods, which will also include this part. They’re constantly looking to improve themselves, which is amazing. I was super happy with the work done by Linnify, I would highly recommend choosing them as partners.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

GrasshoppHer brings forward-thinking women together to inspire, coach, and give each other a leg up. By challenging the antiquated silos of mentorship programs, and providing better access to a community of mentors, GrasshoppHer is disrupting the status quo and enabling girls and women alike to achieve more. Together.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

My former experience in ballet made me see firsthand what happens when girls lack access to leadership and guidance. That’s when I made a vow to do anything in my power to make a difference.

In my former career in consulting, I ended up specializing in women’s recruiting, retention, and support which offered me the chance to pilot test GrasshoppHer’s mentorship idea in a corporate setting. I absolutely loved the idea of supporting women through mentorship and learning. That’s when I started to think of a way to scale that idea. I did just that through an app.

At the time of our launch, there weren’t any technology-driven mentorship solutions specifically dedicated to women. I knew I had to do something to solve this problem. That’s how GrasshoppHer came about. Now that our community is more evolved, we are also focusing on the personal/professional development of our community members.

SOLUTION

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

I learned about Linnify from another company that did not have the necessary resources for the technology stack that was needed to support GrasshoppHer. They knew Linnify had what I was looking for and that they were suitable for my project. I’m glad they did that as I believe we are a great match.

GrasshoppHer already had a web and mobile application and an admin dashboard developed by another service provider, and, at that moment, we only needed Linnify to provide us with support and maintenance for them. There were 3 developers involved at this stage.

Along the way, we’ve encountered some issues with the mobile application which created lots of bugs for our users. Linnify helped us with everything they could, but at a certain point, they decided that they cannot continue like that.

They refactored the entire mobile application using the business logic of the web application. All of that at no additional cost for me. I really appreciated this as it was a helpful and needed step in the project’s development.

After some consulting, we’ve decided to move our focus solely on the presentation website and build our community there.

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

Linnify’s team that was involved in GrasshopperHer consisted of one project manager, three developers, and one UX/UI designer. Their project manager maintained the communication and coordinated the development team. It was a pleasure to work with them as I knew right away that their knowledge and level of professionalism were exactly what I was looking for.

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

3 - CEO, Development, PM

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of evidence of success, the most important thing is that we now understand our clients better and acknowledge their needs and pain points. This helped us a lot in shifting our objectives and moving to other areas of focus.

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

Regarding the project management and the team, in general, it’s been a great pleasure working with them. Everything went so seamlessly. I knew from the initial talks that they were real professionals (they started the project with an audit which helped me understand what was wrong on our end). I would meet once a week with the PM to set the priorities and the next steps for the project. For the other features, the team was great at setting objectives and making them happen.

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

Linnify’s people and the way they conduct relationships are absolutely amazing. It seems that their objective is to please the customer, and problem-solve anything that might come in the way of a product’s success. I believe a great relationship will work everything else out, and that’s exactly how I think about Linnify.

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

I cannot think of something that they should improve. I think they are doing an amazing job. Linnify is definitely a great strategic partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Law firm providing innovative legal assistance and advice, focusing on efficient, sustainable legal solutions tailored to the specific needs of one’s business.

Through our extensive experience and partnerships with multinational companies, public institutions, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and NGOs, we’ve developed a deep understanding of the market in which they perform, sustained by in-depth knowledge of our clients’ unique needs and goals. I am the managing partner of the law firm

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Linnify?

The collaboration has focused on creating a unique website for Lapusan and associates law company. The purpose of the website was to align the presentation website's quality and features with their level of professionalism. The differentiator has been a unique scheduling feature at the time in the local market.

SOLUTION

How did you select Linnify and what were the deciding factors?

The gut feeling regarding people and the way they operate frequently brings more valuable results than a very calculated risk. I knew Catalin Briciu and I like who he is as an individual. I wanted to work with him and I was convinced that the people surrounding him are similar to what I considered valuable in him.

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

UX/UI Design Branding Software development Project Management

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

Project management lead Developers UX/UI Designer Branding Designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has received praise and has been a conversation opener in regards to who has been behind the scenes of its creation. Regarding the scheduling feature, there have been meetings set up through it and struck as a remarkable addition to the website even for those who have set the meeting through the classical methods.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I am content with our collaboration. The vibe of the team is very nice. I’m sure that if you stick to not making major errors you will keep yourself on track.

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

The fact that Linnify is a very young company compared to everyone I worked with within the branch. The team's level of business maturity is a good one.

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

It will be a great addition to refine the follow-up procedure so that there is clarity on both ends and that things are completely taken care of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Naliciadji Vladislav and I’m Chief Product Officer at Stailer. Before Stailer, my expertise was rooted in Marketing, and I had focused on e-commerce companies both B2B and B2C services. Before the pandemic, I’ve been involved intensely in online shops. But as many things shifted massively when COVID-19 hit, so did my perspective. As for how Stailer came to life, Andrei (Ursachi, Founder of Stailer) and I were both doing e-commerce together.

At the same time, we were having another affiliate project with a big software company from the States. Since e-commerce has met a certain relapse with the pandemic, we decided to look around for other business opportunities. We did continue with the US partnership but with the eagerness to build a new product suited for the current times. The idea of Stailer wasn’t yet defined at the time but we could feel it coming.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

At some point, we came across one start-up idea similar to what we are doing now, but in a different niche and we started the research. Uber had also tried a pilot in Singapore at some point, in beauty. Through their app, you could have your nails done by the selected stylist in the comfort of your home. So definitely different, but interesting as inspiration.

In Romania, at that time when we started building on our idea, there were mainly SaaS (Software as a Service) apps given to salons where indeed you would make an appointment but they were quite limited compared to what we were envisioning that we want to do with Stailer. Competitors-wise, from when we started, 3-4 new apps in these areas came around. Yet given we've been in this field for a while now, I am well aware that there's so much more to it than just the idea of the product and its versatility.

SOLUTION

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

I knew Alin (Cătălin, Co-Founder Linnify) before starting the collaboration on Stailer. I introduced him to Andrei (Ursachi, Founder Stailer) and we started a project together while already building Stailer on our side. We soon realized we needed an app for Stailer, for the salons, and since we were already collaborating and getting along on that other project, it felt natural for Stailer and Linnify to start collaborating.

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

We started with a web platform but we shortly realized that we needed a mobile app for the salons, especially for the phone notifications. We realized that before the launch so that when we went live with it, we had the app ready as well. With Linnify, in the beginning, our main goal was to validate our MVP.

Having little to no technical background, it has been a game-changer to receive the guidance needed for us to understand exactly how everything works for the app to go to market. Linnify helped us build a stronger mindset that included the technical side of things. That was highly valuable to objectively synchronize the technical development with the business expectations. The MVP took around two months to build.

In this time, we started gaining a lot of clarity on what Stailer needed, and it has been a real confidence booster. Being in an incipient phase of my product management experience, collaborating with the team at Linnify has been inspiring when it comes to processes. Frankly, we had a lot of know-how to pick up in terms of management. We definitely couldn’t have made it without them. Especially with the app. Having no experience in the field, not knowing what type of people to hire, what software suits it best.

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

The team grow over time:

• Mobile Development
• Project Management
• QA Testing

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Another massive help that has its effects directly on the KPIs is the User App that Linnify developed for Stailer. Because of the user app, the appointments numbers skyrocketed. 70% of the appointments come through the app. Around 30-40% of our current success is thanks to their implication in the process.

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

Communication was a key aspect that brought a lot of value to our collaboration. What we have seen from their side was the value of unity within their team. Another thing is that we felt they genuinely cared for the product. The reason why I’m bringing this up is that we previously had less than pleasant experiences with outsourcing in the past, but with Linnify that fear dissolved completely.

We truly appreciate Linnify for sharing their know-how on internal procedures we needed to improve at the time. This involved QA, Sales, and Project Management teams. Our teams communicate through slack and we always set the roadmap together and we have weekly calls.

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

Linnify is a vital component of Stailer. We truly appreciated the strategic involvement of Cătălin who managed to share the vision of the project and bring ideas and suggestions that helped us align within the Stailer team. That had a lot to do with the needed features and their timing for the success of the project.

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

Nothing is crossing my mind right now as the collaboration between us has proved to overcome all of our initial fears.