Lithios

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a startup called Dispatchr; we’re a construction project management app that helps manage on-site staff.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Lithios?

I was working with a construction company to automate the process of managing construction workers out in the field, and I needed development assistance. We wanted to create a web application that could send daily tasks to specific workers and job sites to make the process easier, and track when jobs are completed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lithios has helped us build the web application from scratch. We went through a design and development phase, and they integrated the web app with third-party applications such as Twilio, a phone provider. They’ve also integrated Stripe, which is an online payment software.

They’ve used a software called Mailgun to automate our emails and Heroku, a server application. We’ve also worked on QA and finding bugs, but we haven’t explicitly outlined maintenance in their scope. We plan to work on web sockets to enable live updates and build other features as we continue the engagement.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Kassidy (Operations Lead), Kyle (VP of Operations), Brendan (VP of Technology), and a developer.

How did you come to work with Lithios?

I was looking for a web development partner local to Raleigh because that’s where the construction company is based. I researched development agencies online and reviewed their portfolios, employees, and accomplishments. 

Lithios seemed like the best fit because they’d worked with B2B and B2C customers, and their frontend looked great, so I reached out for a consultation. They made me feel very comfortable, as though they’d be able to handle the project, and I trusted them to get the job done. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested roughly $50,000–$100,000 in the project with Lithios. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Lithios in March 2022. We launched the product in August 2022, but the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We recently launched, so sharing specific metrics regarding user engagement or revenue is hard. Lithios developed the application in a short amount of time, according to the specifications. They’ve included all the integrations and features I asked for, which is impressive. 

How did Lithios perform from a project management standpoint?

The Lithios team is very professional, and I like their project management process. I came in with a solid idea of the product, which I outlined in the initial scope document. Lithios has executed the work so quickly that we haven’t had to track the project at the task level. 

They’re quick to respond to requests, often within the hour, which has been great. They’ve been flexible with design iterations and given us additional iterations beyond the scope at no extra cost. 

Lithios has been great when it comes to development time. We have biweekly meetings via Google Meet, and they always have significant updates, so the development process has happened very quickly. We typically communicate via email and text, which has been really convenient. 

In terms of staying on schedule and within budget, we’ve been very flexible with each other, and they’ve met expectations. We agreed to a specific payment structure based on three clearly-defined milestones. Even though some tasks ran a bit longer than expected, that was mainly due to changes on my end or one-off complications with the specific task. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been most impressed by their communication style and easy-going attitude. I have a technology background and work with developers and designers, which I think has given me an edge and played a role in the project’s success. The Lithios team is driven and focused, and I feel like we speak the same language regarding technology. We’re very aligned in our working style, which has made the project successful and easy. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing Lithios could improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more features and concepts you define before working with Lithios, the quicker and easier the process will be. That doesn’t mean you won’t be successful with just a concept because I think they’re competent and professional enough to produce great work regardless. 

I think the best way to succeed with Lithios is to trust their process because they know what they're doing from a development standpoint.