MANGOSOFT

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a founder of an IT company and am a fin consultant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were looking for a partner who will develop a real estate marketplace based on our functional and nonfunctional requirements. We had no capacity to cover such kind of development + we were looking for a team capable of ML/AI expertise. Our goal was to build a process with 2 weeks production delivery sprints.

SOLUTION

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

We already had expertise working with estern europe outsourcing providers. Unfortunately our usual partner was not able to rapidly staff the development team. I asked for advice and got a recommendation to talk to Mangosoft. Their team impressed me with a deep understanding of the right SDLC process as well as needs and requirements for development marketplaces. They also had expertise in the real estate niche.

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

technologies used. The idea behind was to develop a real estate marketplace with unique features (with 3d visualisation and predictive analytics functionality). We had to do a wide website structure with listings for US postal codes, states, cities, developers, buildings, prices etc. Also we had very complicated tech requirements from SEO perspective.

The scope of work was splitted on 2 weeks sprints also we initiated a discovery phase for selected tech to make sure that selected framework will meet SEO expectations for pages indexation since we made dynamic rendering. Tech stack were in use: vue.js, Ruby, MySQL

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

I was working with project manager and business analysis. Total team was 3 persons.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The task was to develop a marketplace. We already have landings for States, Cities, Postal codes, Developers. The website is on PROD. Every month the number of visitors to our site increases steadily by 30% visitors per month, and we still continue to improve site and structure together with Mangosoft.

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

Mangosoft uses best industry practices of SDLS, we had scrum with 2 weeks sprints. Task tracking systems were JIRA

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

They are reliable partners and they did their job well as a software house.

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

The most important thing for us is to have Mangosoft not only as an offshore partner but as a marketing partner. We want to get them out of the offshore contractor and get marketing and strategy advice

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a QA and consulting company founded in 2010 to create high-quality software, accelerate its delivery through custom development, flexible planning, test automation, and various IT consulting services. I am the CEO/Founder of a QualityWorks Consulting Group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MANGOSOFT?

We faced the challenge to update the existing game based on new trends. The game didn’t satisfy the tastes of modern teenagers as it was developed in 2013. So, it wasn’t popular with young people, but they were a target audience. We have no internal capabilities to address the given challenge. We were interested in this project but didn’t have relevant experience in game design. That’s why we apply to Mangosoft’s services asking a game designer to consult us on this issue.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to update the game according to new requirements and design specifications. It needed to have updated game functionality and characters that would correspond to teenagers’ tastes. Besides, the goal was to finish the project in a limited timeframe (4 months).

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Initially, we became Mangosoft partners on mutually beneficial terms - helping each other, if necessary. This company has all the internal resources to take on this project, including human and technological ones. As we managed to close the deal for this project with the help of this team at the initial stages, we continued to work with them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The team of artists, animators, game designers and developers was involved in the full-cycle game development - from creation artworks and animation to development on Unity. At the beginning, together with a Mangosoft’s game designer, we thought over what mini-games to do, what is in trend and what could attract the target audience - teenagers. This cooperation was based on an outstaffing model that involved our specialists in the project. The actual game development process was divided into 2-weeks sprints and thoroughly monitored by Mangosoft’s PMs as well.

What was the team composition?

Altogether, 10 specialists were involved from the Mangosoft’s side - 2D and concept artists, animators, UX/UI designer, game designer and Unity developers. They mainly worked on game design tasks. This team was so rationally planned that every specialist was involved throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All stated goals were met, namely, we managed to complete this project on time leaving end users satisfactory about new game updates.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Despite the fact that we had a project manager on board, the manager from Mangosoft was constantly in touch to control the project progress, answer all the necessary questions if needed. The responsiveness was as fast as possible. Task tracking took place in Jira and during daily calls via Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by how quickly the competent team was gathered for project completion, how active each team member was at all development stages. This team came up with valuable ideas for the project to deliver the desired product - a game totally updated to main trends.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Despite the productive communication, there is one area that should be improved - English of some specialists. It was possible to communicate with a team lead or PM who spoke English very well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of the digital marketing company. We offer a full range of marketing services, from advertising to digital transformation, consulting, brand management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MANGOSOFT?

According to the digital transformation strategy, one of our clients was interested in developing a mobile app, to expand the possibilities of their car rental business.

What were your goals for this project?

We analyzed the target audience and found out that 80% of the users are young people who prefer mobiles to use services - it is convenient in many ways. We aimed to keep the interest of the audience high and increase the number of clients by the end of the year with the help of a well-developed mobile app. So, we were interested in developing a simple, user-friendly app.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were looking for outsourcing companies that could provide custom app development services of high quality. We didn’t stick to the specific location, and we selected 3 out of 7 recommended companies.

We studied cases and reviews thoroughly, contacted software experts to discuss all the details and finally, came up with the solution to hire MANGOSOFT. Among deciding factors, we pointed out positive reviews, the high quality of completed projects, strong guarantees of the desired technical results, the willingness of the team development to meet our aims and purposes.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

After estimating the overall scope of work, we provided the team of developers with all the essential business requirements. Primarily, it was supposed to be a cross-platform mobile application.

In its turn, they provided us with the latest mobile app development standards. Within the first two weeks, we received 3 design layouts for iOS and Android apps. Our marketing team approved the design, and the development process started.

What was the team composition?

Throughout the overall project, we cooperated with a project manager who supported and guided us. Besides, a business analyst associated us to determine the specific functionalities of the app for the target audience.

The team of developers included an Ionic developer, a JavaScript developer, a UI designer, a DevOps engineer, a database programmer and a QA specialist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching the app on the market, we saw a higher customer satisfaction rate that resulted in a large percentage of downloads within the first three months. It became much more accessible to contact and easy to use the service for existing and new users. That’s what we expected from the project. Because of timely updates, there were no bugs in the apps work.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow was well-managed by the specialist at MANGOSOFT. Our teams communicated well with each other over Skype calls and Slack messages at least once a week. They responded to each feedback quickly and with rational arguments. Due to the well-planned schedule, our cooperation was effective as well - we launched the app as expected.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with the fact that this company was involved in the entire mobile app development lifecycle - from the business analysis to testing and deployment. All the MANGOSOFT’s specialists were aimed at the final tangible business results. Moreover, they all were patient as well when our marketers required new app features during the development process. It is worth to note the quality-price ratio of these services - we are satisfied.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We can’t list any vital areas for improvement. We were glad to cooperate with such a professional group.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of a product review platform that enables users to share their stories with a selected community. They can ask questions, discover new products, and keep in touch with other users.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire MANGOSOFT?

We hired MANGOSOFT to adjust Mixpanel and Firebase so we could finalize our iOS app development and add new user functionalities.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to track and improve conversions while bringing new users to the platform. The goal was to let users spread the word about the app to increase our referral rates.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them through word of mouth. MANGOSOFT completed a project for a friend of mine who was impressed with their expertise and quality/price ratio. He recommended them to me as a reliable provider, but their portfolio gave our team confidence in their skills.

Describe the project in detail.

We had an operational application but needed features that would enable better tracking and data collection. With the updated platform, we can monitor user behavior and set customized notification based on interests and preferences.

What was the team composition?

I worked with an iOS developer, full-stack developer, and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

By successfully tracking and monitoring user behavior, we can assess the viability of our platform. Due to the personalized notifications, we’re able to reach out users easier. These updates made our product more efficient and provided us with valuable data.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Whenever we sent an email, MANGOSOFT responded to us quickly. They delivered well-informed feedback and guidance throughout the process, proving to be a valuable partner. Our teams maintained constant communication and shared regular status updates about the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

MANGOSOFT asked questions to show their interest in successful results, ensuring that they understood both our business and system. The team took a results-oriented approach, being efficient and patient. We have an enormous piece of mind to know that everything was being delivered with the highest quality.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s nothing negative that relates to our project. Everything went smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the former vice president of the mobile gaming division of Bandai Namco America, a large videogame company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mangosoft?

We had two major challenges. The first was developing and coding a project in-game, and the second involved porting games from our existing mobile platform to the new Tizen OS for a major electronics company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided art and porting for both projects. They also learned the technical skills necessary to move our existing code over to the new OS. They made sure all of our art matched up and ran QA on the project. We had to port for eight different devices, which operated on C++, C#, Java, etc. They had to use multiple skill sets to port these products over and convert the code.

The other project they worked on was a wrestling style video game, with high-end arts animation, and 3D rendering and graphics. They provided the backend, serverside coding, and found a studio to work with us on the motion capturing. Mangosoft handled the art, and we handled the project management on our side.

What is the team composition?

It was a big project. I had over 100 people working in my division, and they had between 30 and 40 people at that time. I worked directly with Oleg [CEO, Co-Founder, Mangosoft], and our assigned producer worked with a producer on their end.

How did you come to work with Mangosoft?

I attended a show in Kiev to meet independent developers and studios for potential projects. I met Oleg and had a good feeling about him. He showed me some of their work, and we tested them on some smaller porting projects. Once they proved themselves, I gave them the bigger project.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $2,000,000–$3,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We had them on multiple projects. We started in 2012 and finished the big project around November 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They finished everything on time, which was important for our release timelines. Tizen had just come out, and the electronics company kept changing it. We constantly had to rework the code, and Mangosoft was very flexible. They were developing a moving target, with little sympathy or information from the outside company, and still helped us make our release date.

Their QA was very good, and the electronics company passed their work for release within the first review. They did well, especially considering the devices and OS were all so new. The other product went to market as well, with a solid backend. We’ve had no major crashes, and we have positive reviews.

How did Mangosoft perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Jira for all our communications and tracking updates. I’d look at everything weekly to make sure we were on track. Their responsiveness is good, and I never had a problem with the time difference. I’ve worked internationally for a long time, so I know to send updates late in the day. I usually got an update the next morning. Occasionally we’d have an emergency in the middle of the day, but I could always get in touch with someone, even if it was late for them. They were quick to try to get things resolved.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They produce really great art and do excellent work. They’re very responsive and gave us more a better value than some western companies. They’re hungry for work and passionate about gaming. They provided good feedback and weren’t afraid to make suggestions that would improve the end product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we were working together, they hadn’t gotten up-to-date on the latest code systems and 3D rendering tools. I’d recommend investing in cutting-edge systems and keeping people trained. I know they’ve progressed since we worked together.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This is a good group to work with. I’d recommend testing out any relationship; meet them in person to make sure they’re the right team for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a lending platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mangosoft?

We needed to augment our in-house development team, so we looked to outsourcing the work. Specifically, we needed help with our database, frontend, and backend.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I’m not involved with Mangosoft on a day-to-day basis, but they help with numerous different projects. Most of their work is related to the backend of our web lending platform, but they’ve also worked on APIs and security.

What is the team dynamic?

We have a project manager and four developers, two of which are full-time.

How did you come to work with Mangosoft?

A colleague referred them. We looked at a few other companies, but Mangosoft was the most willing to give us feedback and get involved with the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in the middle of 2016, and we’re still partnered.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t had any issues with their products, and they’ve all been good-quality work. Our in-house development team is happy with their assistance, and the platform is incredibly easy to use.

How did Mangosoft perform from a project management standpoint?

Mangosoft always delivers what they promised. We maintain consistent contact, and they usually respond within 24 hours. They’re much more efficient than our past agencies, and they frequently follow up to keep us updated on their progress.

We generally communicate via phone and use Jira to manage tickets, but each project is a little different.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They always double check their work and make sure it’s done correctly. They don’t turn anything in that hasn’t been properly reviewed by their team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Compared to the other companies we’ve used, they’re fantastic.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Mangosoft is going to take an active and involved role in the work you give them, so be prepared for that. They’re not content with doing the bare minimum; they like to provide feedback and be a true partner.