Menlo Technologies, A Quisitive Company

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Atech Logistics is a third-party trucking company. We’re in the dedicated delivery pace, we have a couple of divisions that handle LTL and truckload operations. I’m a business analyst.

What challenge were you trying to address with Menlo Technologies?

A large segment of our business is in this dedicated contract carriage space, and we’re the delivery arm for a lot of our customers. We needed to track out assets, personnel, and all of our shipments, in real-time across the distribution centers we have around the country. This application would allow us to track the pieces and shipments that are being delivered on a nightly basis. We can also track the drivers and how they’re progressing on these routes.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an existing platform that did some of the same things but needed to be enhanced. We had a starting point, but they built a web app and a mobile app from the ground up.

 The deliverables included a web application that allows internal tech personnel and customers to log in and view the status of individual shipments. There, they can track the progress of drivers along the route, which improved visibility for the supply chain.

Coupled with an Android mobile app that allows drivers to scan shipments at the point of delivery and interface with the web app. This lets us know there are any exceptions.

The database on the backend is a SQL database.

What is the team composition?

I interfaced with a few of their teammates from their support team in Menlo, California.  I also worked with their development team in India as well.  I think we had 7–8 developers, a project manager, and a liaison.

How did you come to work with Menlo Technologies?

I found them on Clutch. We sent out a few RFPs to companies listed on the Clutch site. Going through the process, they understood what the project would entail, were competitive on their price, and we had a good initial discussion.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in March 2019 and it’s ongoing.

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

They were able to deliver on everything and their work is functioning well. It was pretty easy to measure if it was working or not because it was either up to the specs or things needed to be changed. If there were fixes or changes that needed to be made, they were quick to resolve all the underlying issues. Throughout the sprint process, they took some of our ideas, and we would review it at the end.

How did Menlo Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Our main communication was through Basecamp. For UI, we used Zepplin. They would push different screens, we would approve them and provide notes. We also held Zoom meetings, test live over the phone, and meet with the development team.

There are always going to be hiccups, but they were upfront with those. There were no big surprises.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication was refreshing. While working on an earlier version with another company, it was much harder to get ahold of them to have a conversation. Menlo Technologies, on the other hand, was very responsive.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not so much, if we were to change anything, it would be on our end.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We should have done a better job specifying what the deliverables would entail. If we were going to do it again, we would plan more because the devil is in the details.

The more specific your instructions are, the faster the turnaround time, and they’ll be more likely to deliver what you’re looking for.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of The Franklin Report. We’re known to be the Michelin Guide for a wide range of residential services such as: architecture, interior design, contracting, and plumbing in five major cities.

What challenge were you trying to address with Menlo Technologies?

We are massively expanding into a new vertical market. We knew we needed to upgrade our technology team.

What was the scope of their involvement?

So far, they’ve built about 20% of our new business. We were very specific in regards to our roadmap and wireframes, but they took full control of our tech stack, and made excellent improvements, and did so thoughtfully, effectively and efficiently.

What is the team composition?

They have a frontend team in the US and a backend team in India. Garrett (Project Manager) is extraordinary at taking what’s in my head and communicating it to the rest of the team abroad. We also work with Dave (VP, Global Engineering & Delivery) and he has been exceptional at working through any hurdles; nothing is unsolvable to Dave.

Paul (VP) on the business side has been terrific at understanding the financial ramifications and the big picture. And, quite importantly, Srinivas (Manager) is the day-to-day project manager in India who has been clear, helpful, skillful, responsive, thoughtful and, so far, on time and on budget! And the rest of the team in India (go Riaz) has been outstanding at making our vision become a reality as well.  

How did you come to work with Menlo Technologies?

We found them on Clutch and they got back to us much faster and way more professionally than other companies we contacted. And their references were impeccable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2019 and the project is ongoing.

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

We are still in stealth mode, just starting the alpha testing. So far, everything has been close to perfect.

How did Menlo Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Basecamp. It has been excellent for us. They also respond immediately to us through their well-developed 2-week sprints with any necessary communications posted on Basecamp; thus, I can easily edit what is being implemented in the code.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The four team members mentioned above really deserve a shout out. They’re extraordinary talents. The domestic/abroad interface really makes them very unique. Their responsiveness to feedback also distinguishes them. If I have changes, they’re very gracious about working it into the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They don’t have a single thing that needs to be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re incredibly experienced, so let them take the lead.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a community automotive marketplace primarily for performance aftermarket parts. Auto enthusiasts can come to our platform to chat, find parts information, or shop our e-commerce platform, where users can upgrade their rides. They can also upload photos there.

What challenge were you trying to address with Menlo Technologies?

We were building out our e-commerce platform. At that point, we had a prototype but needed to scale it. So, we brought on Menlo Technologies to increase our engineering resources as part of that effort.

What was the scope of their involvement?

There have been several phases to our work with them. One challenge is that there are hundreds of thousands of parts available in our industry. We needed a system to efficiently take them from manufacturers and load them into our online catalog. The first part of our engagement was building out that technology. 

From there, were quickly merged into building out our website further. In doing so, we added more features and enhanced the features we already had on the online catalog and community website.

In terms of technologies, it’s an AWS site using Node, MongoDB, Lambda, and elastic search in our development efforts.

What is the team composition?

It’s changed over time based on our needs, but I think we had about eight engineering resources on the project at its peak. Paul (VP, Menlo Technologies) was my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Menlo Technologies?

After considerable online research and referrals from friends, we went through a pretty extensive vetting process. That included a series of deep technical interviews with executives and architects. In that process, we discovered that Menlo Technologies was the most technically savvy and fit our team best. They were also elastic—when we needed more or less from them, they could accommodate.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in May 2019 and is ongoing.

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

We’re in a high growth phase right now, so everyone involved has to drive success. The work they’ve been able to provide at their price point had generated an enormous impact. They executed very well, so we were able to launch a significant number of new features to the store. We’re a successful e-commerce store as a result of all the work they were doing. They were able to get the job done very efficiently, deeply integrated into all aspects of the site. That isn’t to say that another dev shop wouldn’t be capable of a similar job, but they’ve been a key partner.

User feedback has been phenomenal. The older product that it replaced was a few years old. This version is faster and looks better to those using it. We’re truly on a fantastic trajectory. 

How did Menlo Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Consistently, they’ve been able to deliver on time and within the budget. The team is flexible, working in any style we need. We decided quickly on an agile development style and workflow, and they were very responsive while working that way. Our teams use Slack to collaborate. They’ve been very communicative in that, too. Because of all this, we’re able to ask them for their product and tech opinions and build collaboratively.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility with their resources was a huge key to our success. Additionally, they had the technological expertise in our main areas of focus. The technical staff is bright, quick, and not egotistical, which is a big asset. They come to us with opinions and designs that alter with new information. Their goal is to build the products we want, not to stick to philosophies. So, they have opinions, but not dogmas in the workplace.

They also have a global footprint. With that, we’re able to acquire staffing across the globe and in many timezones. That’s been a huge workflow advantage.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re really happy with them. They could strive for even more depth in their technological expertise, but they’re doing quite well with that already. Since I’m part of a startup, developments can always be cheaper, but I’m certainly not unhappy with the price either.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do primary research to understand their skills and how you can best use them to fill competency gaps on your end. For companies with strong project management, don’t engage them for it. The reverse is also true. Similarly with architecture, if you don’t have internal professionals in that area, you’ll need to utilize their resources. Because we did the upfront research and vetting, we were able to align our resources with them almost instantly. I’d recommend doing the same.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a venture capital firm.

What challenge were you trying to address with Menlo Technologies?

We were looking to build a web app for our external stakeholders.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Originally, I had a briefing call with them to identify our intended goals. Then, they wrote up a proposal, and we found alignment on the project together. About a week after they delivered the contract, they signed a project manager, designer, and lead developer to me. They worked for the next few months to build the app using React, hosting it on Microsoft Azure. 

The final product provides a catalog of companies in our portfolio for stakeholders to view and examine.

What is the team composition?

In total, there were about seven teammates. This included a lead developer assigned to us, a 2–3 member development team, a sales account executive, head of development, and a project manager. 

How did you come to work with Menlo Technologies?

I found them through an online search. We decided they’d be right for the job based on their flexibility with our timeline and budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $55,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from July–October 2018.

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

The project is operational, and the app is live. It’s functioning properly, without very many bugs. I would define that as successful because we were able to build what we intended. 

How did Menlo Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed excellently, responsive and communicative throughout. Our teams used Basecamp, but if there were ever issues, they were happy to jump on a call. We also had weekly standup meetings and were in contact multiple times each week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their development team worked quickly and was always responsive. They were always easy to get ahold of, which is very important in a project like this.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The design was limited due to our budget, but they could have been a bit more creative on the design end of the app.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the head of product for Kudos&Co. We create a safety-first social media community, primarily for kids under 13.

What challenge were you trying to address with Menlo Technologies?

We needed to rewrite an existing mobile application because we’d originally written it on a cross-platform development environment that was no longer working.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We spent several months talking with the team at Menlo Technologies to figure out which of their options made the most sense for us. We decided to redo the entire app in the React Native environment, so they’re providing us with two React Native developers. One developer specializes in iOS and the other on Android.

They duplicated the existing functionality and design by using the original app as a template. We had design meetings with Menlo Technologies to discuss how to adapt the UI for new features. They’ve added a feature to the app to support video. They're working on adding a Paint feature with filters and stickers. They also plan to add augmented reality masks.

What is the team composition?

My primary contact is their VP and head of technology. We’ve contracted with two React Native developers.

How did you come to work with Menlo Technologies?

We were introduced to Menlo Technologies by one of our advisors, who had an existing relationship with their owner.

How much have you invested with them?

We've budgeted for an annual contract of $240,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in April 2018 and they’re providing ongoing development work.

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

As a startup, we have a very small development capacity. They helped us get our new product out quickly. The app is very popular with its user market. The kids who use it, love it.

How did Menlo Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

I'm managing the project. I want the developers to be part of our team even though they’re based in Uruguay. They participate in our daily stand-up meeting. They’re members of our Slack groups, and we use Jira as an administrative tool. If we need a longer meeting, we use Zoom for video calls. They also came to our California office for a couple of weeks. They’re amazing at addressing problems and making fixes. If I send them a bug list, the bugs are gone by the next day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is patient and efficient. They’re extremely committed and capable. They put a lot of time, energy, and passion into their work, which makes them good team members. They're fun to work with because they have a good sense of humor and no drama. They do what needs to be done, do it well, and do it fast. They're awesome.

Any advice for potential customers?

Trust the advice you get from their management. They're a well-managed, professional organization with a lot of expert assets they can provide. They're willing to spend a lot of time upfront to help you find the right solution that’s a good match with their resources.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're the 4th largest US translation agency offering localization services.

I am the senior manager of globalization technology strategies. I am responsible for deployments to enterprise clients of any software or customizations relating translations.

What challenge were you trying to address with Menlo Technologies?

We had a customer who was looking for us to develop a Java-based cloud application for their resellers. It needed to aggregate a number of terms which needed translation, allowing users to vote on translations. Depending on the reliability of the translator, the reseller would make the decision of finalizing the term. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Menlo Technologies developed our software using Java, with a MySQL database customized to our specs. LDAP was used for user management.

How did you come to work with Menlo Technologies?

We had a previous relationship with Menlo Technologies' chief executive officer, who used to work for our company. Menlo Technologies was a natural fit. They had a very strong development arm and good knowledge of the software they’d be working with.

How much have you invested with Menlo Technologies?

The cost of our initial deployment was between $40,000 and $45,000. We have been building enhancements to it, amounting to around $20,000 per year, for each subsequent year. This includes support and maintenance. We have customers who need specific reports and enhancements.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work with Menlo Technologies began 6 years ago. The first iteration was released at that time, and it's still being used by enterprise clients. Menlo Technologies is continuing to support the software and make enhancements to it.

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

Our internal metrics were test cases which the software needed to pass. There is no such thing as having no bugs at all, but all the critical issues which we needed to fix in order to roll out were taken care of in a timely fashion.

A part of the reason for getting additional translation business is that our software is strong and reliable. It increased our standing with customers relative to competitors.

How did Menlo Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Menlo Technologies always met deliverable deadlines, even working over the weekend for this purpose. We had weekly report meetings, and if Menlo Technologies identified something as being a risk, they called it out immediately.

What did you find most impressive about Menlo Technologies?

Menlo Technologies is very good at participating in spec designs with us. It's one thing to work with someone who takes specifications and develops code, but with Menlo Technologies, we have a trusted consultant which we can use in order to find more efficient approaches for our projects. The productive discussions we've had with Menlo Technologies have made our specs better and ultimately improved the software.

Are there any areas Menlo Technologies could improve?

No. Menlo Technologies has even assigned a vice president of delivery for our company, so we always had an escalation path.

Please describe your company and your position there.

A corporate attorney, I also founded a startup to automate private investment fund subscriptions.

For what projects/services did your company hire Menlo Technologies?

Menlo Technologies needed to develop a web and mobile application from scratch.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted the company to become a market leader.

How did you select this vendor?

I asked around Silicon Valley’s venture capital network. After identifying Menlo Technologies, I vetted the company, checked references, and reviewed their past work.

Describe the project in detail.

First, we discussed our goals and opportunity in the market. Menlo Technologies then developed the cloud-based app from scratch for iOS, Android, and web. Features include AI, a custom-built e-signature functionality, and document acquisition and retention.

What was the team composition?

The team includes 10–15 between two continents.

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

The team got it right from day one. Their effort to understand our business and the unmet need in the market did not go unnoticed, rather it distinguished Menlo Technologies from the competition. Development was smooth and timely, especially given the solution’s complexity. The app is amazing—best in class—and we are just about to launch.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Menlo Technologies communicates effectively across a wide variety of platforms.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They understood our needs in a way no other vendor did. Consequently, the team was able to point us toward the best technological solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Please describe your company and your position there.

IHTC is a nonprofit bleeding disorder clinic in Indianapolis, IN. I am the Payer Relations Manager. I work on insurance issues and special projects.

For what projects/services did your company hire Menlo Technologies?

Menlo developed our first app.

What were your goals for this project?

We built an app that provided information to internal and external physicians about care management of bleeding disorders. The scope of the project has expanded to include patient-facing applications.

How did you select this vendor?

We searched online for app developers across the country, comparing companies' capabilities to our needs. Menlo Technologies stood out as the interactive partner we wanted. We discussed their performance with a current client and received positive feedback.

Describe the project in detail.

We discussed the scope of work with Menlo and agreed to terms. After they introduced us to the project team, we began work. We've been working just a few months.

What was the team composition?

We have had the same project lead throughout the entire project. Their developers and other team members stay in the background, but are available for consultation if needed.

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

Even though we've thrown a few curveballs at Menlo Technologies, they've kept the project comfortably on schedule. Its launch only awaits a few minor details on our end. They address issues and provide solutions promptly. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Weekly meetings are helpful in keeping our workflow and communication open. Our project manager and her team view all problems as opportunities. They establish an effective, efficient workflow. Their project management is impressive!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The word "no" isn't in their DNA. They greet any possibility, thought, or idea with curiosity. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our core product is a mobile app that serves as a "kayak" for ground transportation and food delivery services. We aggregate ride and restaurant options from popular apps to deliver convenience, comparison shopping, and coordination capabilities.

For what projects/services did your company hire Menlo Technologies?

We didn't have in-house engineers, so we chose to outsource app development and support.

How did you select this vendor?

We used various metrics, including company portfolio, client list, team size, economics, digital content quality, and references.

Describe the project in detail.

Menlo took over the project after we’d developed our minimum viable product. They were tasked with onboarding additional suppliers, updating the UX based on feedback, and maintaining the platform. Menlo did a full-stack mobile app development using the following technologies: React Native, HTML, CSS, Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, Amazon Web Services, Docker, Kubernetes, and RabbitMQ.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a relationship manager and their part-time CTO. The project also involved a project manager and two offshore developers.

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

Menlo’s execution was excellent and followed the project scope.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

During the development phase, the team was willing to work long hours to help us meet our milestones. It took a little time for both teams to adjust, but the workflow soon became quite smooth.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We are impressed with their CEO.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our project required a lot of knowledge transfer from another vendor. Menlo could have placed some additional controls around that process, allowing their dev team to be more effective sooner.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Toshiba Memory America, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Toshiba Memory Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of flash memory and solid state drives (SSDs). I am the Assistant General Manager of the SSD Business Unit (BU).

For what projects/services did your company hire Menlo Technologies?

We hired them to develop a mobile application for tracking sample drives.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to develop an internal application with secure login that could integrate dispositional information from various databases. The product had to be capable of capturing drive information accurately and efficiently each time the disposition status changes. We needed to be able to search drives using bar code scanning or a keyword search, and we wanted the app to facilitate complete physical inventories as required.

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with Dave Hickman (VP of Menlo) at my previous company. I invited him to participate in our vendor selection and they provided a cost-competitive solution with a solid understanding of what we wanted.

Describe the project in detail.

I provided thorough guidelines and documentation for the app's scope and specifications, including its key functionalities and technical requirements. Menlo provided solutions for each of my requests.

What was the team composition?

I was the primary project manager with a few contributors from my BU to define specs. Several additional IT personnel were also involved. Menlo had one project lead in the U.S. and a offshore development team in India. Their team was self-assembled and provided sufficient support.

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

The application has been developed but due to internal issues, the functionalities have not yet been fully utilized. However, the reporting functions were improved and we are able to more easily track sample drives.

How effective was the project management?

Each member of Menlo's team was very attentive, providing timely responses and solid support.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are a good team and were enthusiastic about being part of the project's success.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

Although the differences in time zones were a bit challenging, Menlo delivered the utmost care to minimize the inconvenience.