Makeen Technologies

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

The development work went smoothly. Several challenges we faced resulted from Outlook Amusements' difficulty with committing to one particular direction. Makeen Technologies handled the changes very well. They were always accommodating. Even if something wasn't necessarily within the original scope, they'd still find a way to make it work without having to reassess or change orders.

How did Makeen Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management model was interesting, because we both had our own project managers who worked collaboratively. We mostly communicated via phone and Skype. Their lead was skilled and thorough. On occasion, he was very matter-of-fact about certain things and prioritized the developers' interests. When our president put pressure on me to complete work, I didn’t want to experience too much resistance from our vendor.

What did you find most impressive about them?

No matter what the technical problem is, they're always willing to drive the architecture and design and formulate a solution. Oftentimes, third parties you work with want you to dictate the exact way things should go. Makeen Technologies is a lot more collaborative. Depending on the strength of the organization, sometimes you need to be able to simply rely on whomever you hire.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The biggest issue centered around the estimation of dates. With many companies I work for, it’s critical to hit deadlines you commit to. If you don't, then there can be a lot of at least political ramifications. That's definitely one area that I would like to see them improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Define and stick to the scope of your project.

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

They did what they said they were going to do and provided us with the resources we asked for. People who worked on the project were conscientious, diligent, and brilliant. They were fantastic to work with and I would do so again without hesitation.

How did Makeen Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed incredibly well, as did the resources they provided. They were always pushing deadlines and making sure that things went forward. They were also heavily involved in coming up with ideas. It felt like they were really a part of our team as opposed to just a vendor.

We communicated mostly through Jira, Slack, and Skype. The people in our company who work out of Los Angeles met with them fairly regularly in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They always provided us with fantastic people. They were very easy to get along with and did what they said they were going to do, which is always nice when working with a vendor.

They were an incredibly professional and fantastic partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything was as we wanted it. They did a great job, and I have nothing bad to say about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re hiring expensive and clever people, you will probably receive very good ideas of ways to improve your business. If you want to take the most advantage of someone like Makeen Technologies, you should think of them as a partner, not an implementer.

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

Our customers—businesses, business units, and employees of our company—truly enjoy the experience. We're able to achieve a faster go-to-market time, which benefits our employees and the businesses that depend upon us.

One of our apps was over 20 years old internally and, using my requirements, they helped us create a phenomenal UI/UX experience. The feedback from the users has been very positive.

With another application, which is a video-based application, they created an administration tool enabling adjustments without a lot of coding. They met our requirements creating cutting-edge designs and the result was fantastic.

One more application they helped us develop used Bluetooth beacon-based technology for a scavenger hunt as well as QR codes, and that’s been a big success for us.

How did Makeen Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They make sure my requirements are clear, always follow up if they need a clarification, and handle change management exceptionally well. They’re invested in our success and involved in our daily stand-up calls; even their CEO is involved when necessary. We mostly communicate via email, phone, Slack, or Skype, but we also have in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provide an end-to-end positive experience, especially when there is a need to do the work quickly and correctly. From an administrative perspective, they've done a great job and their code is top-notch.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything specific because every project is different and areas for improvement can be found retrospectively for each project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure your requirements are fleshed out in advance.