Metryus

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Ilia Obraztcov, I’m a VP of Technology at Smartlands Platform. Smartlands is a worldwide Platform for tokenization of real economy assets by issuing security tokens (ST). We are a tech company which connects real economy and blockchain to create new exciting opportunities for companies and investors.

Smartlands allows companies to issue low-risk tokens, secured by assets in a real economy. The system is built on Stellar network and employs advanced blockchain technology with fast, cheap secure transactions and extended capabilities.

I’ve joined Smartlands team about a year ago. As a VP of technology, I was in charge of development process organization and maintained cooperation between our in-house team and developers from Metryus. One of the main goals for us was on-time delivery of the whole digital platform to production. Development process had started about 10 month ago and we release was planned this summer of 2019. Together with Metryus team we performed it successfully.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Metryus?

We have partnered with Metryus aiming them to provide react-native front-end development, as well as UX/UI design, as the platform required adaptive interfaces for web and mobile.

What were your goals for this project?

Main goal of this project was development of a token-sale mechanism, which provided a simple way to buy security tokens for a non-blockchain savvy user. In addition to regular investments in Stellar Lumens (XLM), the idea was to provide an option of exchanging any other cryptocurrency to XLM, and possibility of investments via bank transfer. All these flows required front-end development and UX/UI design, which was provided by Metryus.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had in mind several software development companies, some of them I knew from previous projects and some were recommended by friends. I’ve selected 3 teams with most relevant technical stack and sent them a briefing. In fact, the tender process was not too complex, but Metryus provided best feedback in terms of price and quality of their proposal.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Here is a functional description of the product part designed and developed by Metryus:

• Login screen (allows user to log in with Stellar Network blockchain private key, supports Stellar Web-Auth protocol);
• Signup screen (generate new Stellar Network wallet, configure account to store regulated assets and security tokens);
• Token purchase screen (allows user to purchase tokens with Stellar Lumen XLM and with the bank transfer. do all underlying blockchain transactions and interacts with smart contracts for security tokens);
• Crypto exchange (allows user to exchange every supported cryptocurrency to Stellar Lumen XLM, via integration with Changelly service provider);
• Compliance (interface is done according to regulation compliance requirements, contains all mandatory disclosures, links to documents, footers, etc.).

What was the team composition?

The team on Metryus side composed of 1 PM, 1 Front-end Tech lead and 1 Front-end Developer and 1 UX/UI designer. On our side project was managed by VP of technology and we had also a back-end team operating on our side.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We already have about 10000 customers, who has been waiting for digitalization of our project, so the best measure of success for us was their positive feedback regarding tokenization services implementation. We had interviewing them after launch and found out that about 80% of usability decisions made during the project were correct.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Descpite of distant team management, we did not feel any inconvenience in communication. The workflow was quite smooth. We had weekly meetings according to scrum methodology and agreed on additional calls between our team members when it was required.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I find most impressive about Metryus their ability to add value to existing product backlog by improving some features even architecture updates. Their flexible mindset and adaptability to changing requirements to the product were on a high level. Generally, we had a very positive experience of this cooperation.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't mention much that they can improve. Metryus team is very professional, maintains both good project management and code quality. Since the project was really small, they didn't delegate much of the resources thus the timespan of the project was a bit longer than we expected, however all the deadlines were met. And we're really looking forward to bring Metryus team for the development of the future projects we have down on the road.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations for the service center at First Ukrainian International Bank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Metryus?

We needed a company to help us create mobile applications. Our in-house development team could develop the app for iOS and Android, but we had no expertise for mobile design. Metryus had the background to build the interface based on the customer experience and best practices.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our full-service mobile application is centrally related to credit card usage and management. Functions include deposits, withdrawals, and loan payments. It shows users their transactional history from payments to all kinds of fund transfers from account to account.  

What is the team composition? 

I worked directly with the delivery manager. One designer from Metryus collaborated closely with our development team. They almost always worked on our premises.

How did you come to work with Metryus?

We considered a few different companies and had each one design prototypes for two use cases. Metryus was recommended to us. We chose them based on the results of their work during our evaluation. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Metryus delivered everything on time. Since it launched, our app has reached 360,000 downloads and has a very good NPS (net promoter score).  

Based on the reviews in the market, Metryus made the right choices for the UX they designed. Customers say our new app makes it extremely easy to conduct transactions compared to the old version.

How did Metryus perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was above my expectations. I was pleased that Metryus could work onsite with us at our location. We worked in the Agile methodology and used tools like Slack and Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Metryus was readily open to using our communication tools and working at our offices. I haven’t seen this level of willingness from other providers, who usually expect us to adapt to their preferences. Metryus capably provided unique solutions. They were markedly different compared to the ones available on the Ukrainian market.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, our cooperation was better than I expected.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to work with an international team like Metryus. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I used to be the CFO and Deputy CEO of the International Bank of Azerbaijan. I also was in charge of all of the IT of the project. The processing center was called AzeriCard.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Metryus?

We needed help with our digital banking projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The main project was the building of our digital online banking. It was quite successful so we started to do new applications for online banking. We started integrating these applications into the existing core banking system in Oracle FLEXCUBE. At that time, the bank had a very limited digital banking platform. It was limited to a few transactions and basic operations like payments and transfers within the bank.

With Metryus’ help, we created the new app for live transactions. It was a very smooth integration with the banking system. The bank has a processing center as a subsidiary. Most of the client transactions went through this processing center. There was huge work done on that side to integrate this app into the current system.

The main challenge was different operations had gone through the different platform systems. If you wanted to make an account transfer or payment, we did it through the banking system. If it’s card operations, it went through the processing center. It was very successful.

Apart from the apps was the whole brain of this integration, of the system itself, how the transactions go from the different gateways. It was a universal app used for all the platforms like iOS and Android. The desktop version was successful also. From a technical point of view, we were comfortable with it. The bank is now promoting this product in the market. It works quite well.

They also did some other projects with automated banking systems.

What is the team composition?

I was in touch with Dmytro [Founder & Chairman, Metryus] as the head of the group. There was also Alex [UX Engineer, Metryus], who was a more technical guy. We had 2–3 guys working onsite and writing the business process, the integration matter. They talked to the IT guys at the bank and processing center. There were also some other people offsite supporting us remotely.

How did you come to work with Metryus?

We initiated an RFP and sent it to the existing partners and companies that the bank had communications with before. We’ve had other projects previously with Metryus. We collected several offers. We found that Metryus provided us the most flexibility. Metryus was very supportive. They provided the most flexible plan of action, and we liked their proposal the most. After comparing it to other proposals internally, we also analyzed other companies that we hadn’t collaborated with before. We also got in touch with Oracle and asked for their proposal or for other companies they could suggest to us. They told us of a couple of companies, but they didn’t know the bank or the market like Metryus did. For their pricing, flexibility, and overall quality, we selected Metryus. They were the best option for us because of the historical knowledge. The background is always very important.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2016, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The previous platform of the bank had 15 services. After implementation of this new system, the number of services provided is more than 50. We integrated services that had never been integrated in the country. The operations traditionally and conventionally in Azerbaijan have been provided only in the physical offices and not digitally. The new banking product contains a full range of services. One of our requests was for customers who don’t have cash and have the card account, it must be available to complete any transaction there including international payments, local payments, transfers, deposits, lending, etc. The idea was to move to digital and mostly online for all the non-cash operations.

How did Metryus perform from a project management standpoint?

All their support was timely. They did a very good job. Once we decided the schedule and timetable for the project, it was easy to monitor and control them to push some other stages. The only issue was when the hardware we ordered took longer to deliver. There was a limited capacity of the hardware, which is one of the reasons why we had some delays. That’s when our slow period was. Then, once we received it and installed it, we came right back to our timetable and it went well. I was very content with the work that they did. We used a project management tool where we placed our tickets with our request, errors, issues, and proposals. The main tool to communicate was with this system. We also used email and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The main distinction, which was essential for us, is their flexibility. They never said they couldn’t do what we wanted them to do. Even if it was complicated, they always responded positively to us and were flexible. Sometimes it took longer on their side to change something technically and to rewrite code if we changed the app. The main difference between them and all the companies I’ve dealt with so far is their workflow. Metryus was very flexible in their responses to the bank’s requests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve in capacity. They don’t have many employees. As a customer, we would like to get a response to our request quickly and efficiently. Keeping in mind that they don’t have hundreds of technical guys or programmers there, they must queue their requests. Generally, if the company is bigger, they have more resources and their response time could be better. Time is money for the customer. We were satisfied with the timing though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to negotiate and discuss all the possible scenarios and all the possible outcomes in advance, at the beginning of the process. We’ve had situations when we didn’t discuss a matter at the beginning and we had to discuss it at a later stage. That led to reconsideration of some points we previously discussed but keeping in mind the new details. They work best when they know all the information right away. Think twice, analyze all the details, and provide the company with all the possible details, requests, and customizations as early as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the three co-founders of Infin8, a FinTech startup company. Our organization is essentially building and producing a universal mobile banking app that will replace other individual mobile banking apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Metryus?

Most users normally have relationships with multiple banks, and therefore maintain several accounts with multiple products. This makes it hard for users to have a holistic view of their finances, initiate transactions, and carry out their daily banking needs. We wanted to create one mobile banking solution that would replace these multiple apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had connections within the banking industry when we decided to create this app, but we didn’t have the skills to actually build the software. We hired Metryus as programmers and interface designers, but they ended up providing much more due to their deep knowledge of the banking industry. They were able to give us recommendations that actually shaped the nature of our product.

They are utilizing technologies, like React Native, to build the app, which essentially allows them to develop once, then deploy on multiple platforms. It not only allows for us to take advantage of specific features in the operating system, but also allows us to implement things on top of the common code stream if we wish. It’s quite flexible and saves us a lot of time during development.

Currently, they are working on Apple, iOS, and Android versions, but we plan on developing further with them for additional versions if something else comes along.

What is the team dynamic?

I’m mainly in contact with Dmytro [Co-Founder, Metryus] and Vitalii [Co-Founder, Metryus]. I didn’t interact with the developers very much. We communicated on a daily basis during the development of the first product version. We spent anywhere from 30 minutes to 4–5 hours together at a time.

How did you come to work with Metryus?

I’d worked with Dmytro and Vitalii previously, so I really trusted them. They’d implemented the core banking system for my previous employer, so I was already aware of their capabilities.

I did reach out to other companies in Greece, Romania, Poland, etc., but decided to go with Metryus because I trusted them. Our technical evaluation showed they were using the best technology out of all the other companies, and they were also proficient in React Native.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent approximately U.S. $50,000, but we’re looking at a 3-year collaboration that will cost around U.S. $200,000 annually.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in December 2011, and we have an ongoing relationship. We are in the process of formulating an agreement with them for the next 3 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re just starting up, and the first solution is finished, but we are still trying to figure out which market to launch the product to. There are some regulatory aspects that we need to take into consideration, so we can’t just launch in the Apple Store right away. Once we get the appropriate license, we plan on going live in Cyprus in January.

We also have to connect the app to the respective banks, which is another aspect. Therefore, we have to create interfaces with the banks that we’re going to be operating in. We are projecting that we will reach 1 million users across 5 countries by the end of 2018.

Currently, we’re going around to different banks and trying to onboard them. After we launch in Cyprus, which doesn’t have too many banks and is full of technology-savvy people, we plan on spreading to Greece, Romania, and other areas in the Balkans.

Bankers have been giving us extremely positive feedback, and we already have 2 banks that have agreed to interface with us once we’re licensed. I’m positive we’re going to get all the major banks in Cyprus in the upcoming months.

How did Metryus perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management has been very good. We’ve had clear and honest communication throughout, even though when they started building the app, they were setting up their company and building their own website. We always know exactly when Metryus is spending time on our project, and when they’re spending time on internal projects. We had a successful collaboration due to our mutual honesty, which resulted from the good relationship we already had prior to this engagement.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are extremely knowledgeable of the banking industry, and because of that, they’re able to apply their technical abilities in a way that makes the entire package very attractive.

I could’ve found cheaper resources, but it would’ve been people who simply follow orders. Metryus, instead, has an active role which helps us shape the product and make it better. What differentiates them from other companies is that they’re focused on quality instead of quantity. I could’ve outsourced to India, for example, where I would’ve had more developers working faster for the same price, but they wouldn’t have been able to provide the same quality as Metryus.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we initially started the project, they were trying to manage external and internal work with the same people. We managed to overcome this by being very honest and having them provide clarity on when they were working on certain things. They have problems like any other startup, and they have to put a process in place, so they are still a work in progress.

Do you have any advice for potential clients?

Based on my experience, I would advise potential clients to have transparency and clarity between them and Metryus. Don’t be afraid to disclose information to them. Their knowledge of the banking industry allows them to provide valuable advice. We have to be very clear and upfront regarding the deliverables, just like on any project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Snapclass. Social microlearning app for creative entrepreneurs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Metryus?

UX/UI design for mobile app and landing page.

What were your goals for this project?

Clickable UI prototype for MVP.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Researched on Clutch and contacted Metryus directly.

Describe the project in detail.

After the initial consulting call we scheduled a meeting in their office in Kyiv. During the meeting we outlined next steps and process. We started working immediately.

What I really liked is the fact that they were super fast to respond to my comments and proactively helping me find solutions to emerging challenges. Within a month I received UX/UI design of the MVP and landing page.

What was the team composition?

UX/UI designer and account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was able to test key assumptions with my landing page and UX/UI prototype.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used video calls and in-person meetings for communication as well as project management apps.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responses were swift, and they were willing to share their expertise.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No.