MVP Development Company | Asper Brothers

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a small literary charity and had no ability to provide events during the Covid Pandemic which threatened our operations completely. We are a small team of four running the charity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Rebuild our entire site including CRM integration, e-commerce and live streaming events plus online player. We needed to host online events internationally, take payment, live stream and provide online access to previous events. Asper were able to work to a small budget and an extensive features list.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

The team at Asper are professional, detailed, thorough and meticulous in their planning. They were delightful, helped with everything and gave sound advice throughout the project, working tirelessly to help us.

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

Rebuild entire website, create user accounts. Ticketing, e-commerce integration, Vimeo integration, CRM API integration and online player.

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

A lovely PM and two developers plus support from SEO and Founders.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team were excellent. The site works wonderfully and the results meant we stayed open and survived the Pandemic. We were deeply thankful to the entire team who worked over and above to help our little charity. We cannot thank them enough.

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

Clear, simple and thorough. Backlog impeccably managed and communication strong.

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

How kind and lovely the team were throughout. They helped us at very low/zero margin and were amazing.

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

We had a few language hiccups but nothing that we didn't resolve. The team were dedicated and did everything possible to resolve any confusion caused by our different languages. Their English was excellent, our Polish was terrible!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-Founder and CEO of a FashionTech SaaS Platform based in France.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Asper Brothers to help us with the development of multiple facets of our platform: ui/ux design, cross-platform mobile development, web development, python development and 3D. We needed to scale the size of our team during "rush" periods of development to meet our milestones. In order to do so, Asper provided us software development support with a wide range of competencies at Junior and Senior level.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found Asper Brothers after searching online for generalist software houses with affordable prices and flexible engineer availability. The general friendliness and broad experience of the team were the reason why we chose them in the first place. The quality of their work, their flexibility and availability were the main reasons why we kept going to them. We are thankful to Asper for their help with our software development, finding a good software partner is not easy !

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

They helped us with development various aspects of our SaaS platform from a Stripe Integration, front-end javascript development on various frameworks (Vue.js, React.js and React Native) and finally python development for 3D-based software. They also provided help with the design of our corporate website.

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

There were 6 people from Asper : a designer, a senior python developer, a junior front-end developer, a back-end developer and two full-stack developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are able to maintain our milestones and keep a clean code base. The quality of the work provided has overall been beyond our expectations. All the developers involved in the project were excellent at communicating with our in-house team about issues and possible evolutions or improvements, as well as maintaining a good rhythm of work.

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

Project management was handled by our in-house team, developers provided by Asper had regular catch-up calls (1-3 times a week based on the seniority) with daily updates via Slack. Merge requests were provided for any new piece of code and reviewed by our internal team.

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

The quality of the engineers we worked with as well as the overall energy and friendliness of the team we interacted with (particularly the Project Manager, CTO and co-founder).

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

Every developer they provided was interviewed before joining the project and an their anonymised CV was shared with us. This allowed us to clearly establish the quality and seniority of the developer we were going to work with, in full transparency. Their billing procedures are also excellent, with no hidden costs and a clear description of the time spent by each developer on our project. As far as we are concerned, we are extremely happy with our partnership with Asper and wish them all the best !

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of TaaS Automotive. I hire teams and sell projects to customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ASPER BROTHERS?

I hired ASPER BROTHERS to help build a platform for one of my clients. It’s intended to sell cars for private owners. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ASPER BROTHERS is providing development support as a third party. They work with an agile approach. To start, I wrote the user stories and laid out the priorities to brief their team. Once they looked over each one and asked questions to gather the most information, they created the story points and timelines. 

They’re developing the platform using AWS and Terraform code. Their team handled the entire dev-ops process for the project. Additionally, they’ve also built the back office for our client to use. It’s built with Laravel within a Nova Framework.

 What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with around eight people. There are front- and backend developers, DevOps teammates, a proxy product owner, and designers. 

How did you come to work with ASPER BROTHERS?

We needed to find a team that was eager to join the partnership but it was very expensive in the Netherlands, leading me to look farther away. We also wanted a team with a similar mentality so it was easier to manage. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between €400,000–€600,000 (approximately $446,000–$669,000 USD) based on the commercial value. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve delivered everything they’ve promised and the work has been perfect. I’ve never worked with such a reliable team, so we’re satisfied. 

How did ASPER BROTHERS perform from a project management standpoint?

Once a month, I go to their office to connect in person. The rest of our communication is through Google Hangouts, Jira, and Confluence. Working in sprints is very helpful, too. There has only been one instance of a delivery issue, and everything else has been on schedule. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re reliable, proactive, and eager to produce quality code. When they make mistakes, they’re honest. There have been several times where they point out suggestions for us to follow. I was also impressed by their initiative in creating metrics about unit tests, and they also strive to be better than the standard we ask for. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Improving their English could strengthen our communication and avoid miscommunications, but I know they do their best to train teammates and give lessons. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you’re looking for and it will work out. Be ready to guide them toward the solution you want, since they’re developers, not architects. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founded in 2016 and re-branded in 2018, our company helps people compare financial products to make better decisions about their money. Our experts teach customers how to save or invest money at every stage of their lives. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ASPER BROTHERS?

We were looking for a new software house to continue the development of our website. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted someone to take over the project as it was and become familiar with the current WordPress structure and implemented custom fields, scripts, and widgets. We also couldn't afford to wait and needed to start immediately.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had worked with the founders in the past and felt confident I could rely on them for web development; a check of their current portfolio confirmed their competence. Moreover, they were ready to replace our previous developer as soon as possible. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

ASPER BROTHERS has a comprehensive understanding of the WordPress engine. They customize existing functions and implement new ideas.

What was the team composition?

We work directly with a project manager who keeps things simple and a web developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have helped us fix multiple issues with our comparison and code financial calculators.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Once the sales process was created, we began working solely with the project manager. Knowing exactly who to approach with thoughts or questions has worked well for us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They challenged our assumptions and completed our goals with the quality we sought. They are also flexible and ready to adjust to our calendar.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the technology advisor at Packmojo, an online packaging business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ASPER BROTHERS?

We needed someone to develop the MVP of our company’s platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our platform allows our customers to get real-time quotes, pick colors, specify designs, and place orders. It renders packages in 3D according to users’ selections. An e-commerce engine manages our orders. 

Our side handled the UX design while ASPER BROTHERS provided development for the platform’s MVP. The team used PHP, Symfony, an e-commerce platform called Sylius, and AWS. They helped us choose our technology stack before the development started. They continue to build new features and enhancements based on user research and feedback.

What is the team composition?

We work with four developers and keep in touch with the company’s owners; they provide management-level input.

How did you come to work with ASPER BROTHERS?

We found them online when looking for offshore software development firms. After completing small projects at first, we found ASPER BROTHERS very dependable and trustworthy. This is our third or fourth project with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2018, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ASPER BROTHERS delivered the MVP on time according to our expectation of quality. We’ve had an excellent experience working with their team. They’re highly professional and have provided valuable advice.

How did ASPER BROTHERS perform from a project management standpoint?

The team has open and direct communication. The owners are personable and responsible, facilitating any challenges we’ve encountered with their developers. We use Slack to actively collaborate; ASPER BROTHERS uses Jira to manage their different sprints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very open and collaborative. We can talk freely to make things work and solve problems together. They deliver high-quality work on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve run into challenges with time zone differences and uneven fluency in English. We have to work very hard to make sure our communication is completely clear. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of a cloud-based housing platform that provides home searches and offerings. We have more than 7 million houses listed on the platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ASPER BROTHERS?

A local supplier developed the platform, but they did not specialize in frontend development, documentation, or testing. As a result, we engaged ASPER BROTHERS to deliver a whole package. The vendor needed to document the process, map the situation carefully, and improve where necessary. We also wanted new frontend features.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a streamlined agile scrum development process for the frontend and backend. Our team expected ASPER BROTHERS to have documentation in place, as well as monitoring, imports, exports, and error handling.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We considered numerous international suppliers and narrowed the list to three. The team had the best response and perfect English, which is rare in my experience. In addition, they were fast, polite, accurate, and had the know-how to make an excellent first impression. ASPER BROTHERS invited us to Warsaw, where we collaborated on the proof of concept (POC). After the POC’s successful delivery, we hired ASPER BROTHERS with complete confidence.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Deliverables have included documentation, frontend development, data management solutions, and cloud-based architecture and infrastructure improvements.

What was the team composition?

We work with two backend developers and a frontend developer on a daily basis. The founders have also been involved throughout the process. In addition to the core team, they have another two developers lined up in the background to ensure continuity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ASPER BROTHERS creates value for our growing customer base. Since the platform is our core, the team’s improvements and added features have been a tremendous benefit to our company.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

ASPER BROTHERS never misses standups, and their retros are always in place. We occasionally meet them in Warsaw because face-to-face contact helps speed up the process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team is a highly responsible and reliable partner. The founders and developers are genuinely interested in our progress and results. Likewise, their punctuality and quality of work stand out.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There’s little to improve. The team communicates in a clear manner while remaining open to feedback. Those attributes have been key for the remote partnership. Our side never stops learning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and president of CaseMGR Solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ASPER BROTHERS?

We needed a software firm that could provide front- and backend app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We knew what we wanted and just needed a skilled firm to deliver our requirements. ASPER BROTHERS came to our aid and developed a web app for us. Their technology stack included Python, Symfony, MySQL, and Vue.js.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with a lead developer and an associate developer. Their director of development is also available to us when needed.

How did you come to work with ASPER BROTHERS?

I knew I wanted to work with a company based in Poland, as I’m familiar with the prominent development methodologies used there. After researching and interviewing several companies, I ultimately chose ASPER BROTHERS for their affordable pricing.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $100,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a great application that’s lightweight and fast. We didn’t have to waste time pitching ideas back and forth. They built what we requested and added their expertise when applicable.

How did ASPER BROTHERS perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Slack and Jira for communication and management tasks. This is a big project for them and it took time to establish a reliable workflow. We were behind schedule for the first couple months, but they quickly learned from their mistakes and always respected the initial cost estimate. Initially, an assigned project manager led the project, but that seemed to create more work for me. They’ve since engaged a leaner approach and everything is going great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If I recommend a new idea or feature, they’ll research the possibilities and often come back with a better solution.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We experienced some issues regarding organization and scheduling, but they worked to resolve those problems over time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the team lead at a company that helps high-end venues develop new revenue streams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ASPER BROTHERS?

We hired Asper Brothers to implement a rough design we created. We did our best to identify the right technology for the job and did the up-front research to ensure we had as much clarity for them as possible.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to have an MVP to assist us in the process of gaining our first clients.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We used Clutch to research the best vendor to accomplish our goal.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They incorporated the project design, developed the project, and deployed their services to implement the MVP.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager, the main developer, and one of the owners was also heavily involved.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They successfully helped us create our MVP. While our designs were a good jumping off point, they identified several tools we could use that simplified the structure of our design. The feedback loop we had with their team was helpful in the process of understanding what we were trying to accomplish and is critical to delivering good software. They had an impactful role in lifting our business off the ground. It was a pleasure to work with them.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They used all the rights tools. They used JIRA and Harvest for keeping track of the project schedule. They assigned a project manager to us, which was very useful. At first, I thought I could interact with the development team on my own, but I quickly learned we needed a project manager on their side. She was excellent and kept the project on track.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

During our initial request for proposal, we interviewed a few vendors both domestically and abroad. It seemed like most of the interviewees were quick to tell us how complex and challenging our project was and sped directly to a quote. Asper, on the other hand, did the opposite. They wanted more information and asked me to write a spec before our initial meeting. In the end, I respected this approach the most, because they wanted the full picture before having a conversation. Their company slogan “work like brothers” is true. The owners are both friendly and empathetic. The marketing is true to the core of who they are, and the authenticity is obvious. You don't hire contractors when you work with the brothers, but rather they are an extension of your team.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

For many things, I'd say continue what they are doing. The approach of asking potential customers for upfront work is a great policy. This is more of a general issue, but working in different time zones is always challenging. I'm not sure what the best solution to solving this issue is, but it is something for potential clients to keep in mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m currently a supervisor for a company that specializes in ambitious construction projects. Since 2005, we have worked on bridges, railway crossings, pressure injections, steel and reinforced concrete structures, and wind farms. Previously, I was a site engineer for the company and advised the board of directors regarding new technologies at construction sites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ASPER?

In Poland, project management of construction companies happens manually. We needed a vendor that could examine our workflow and needs and suggest solutions that we could implement easily. The solutions had to be streamlined because crew members at construction sites don’t have access to much technical equipment. ASPER understood our situation and helped us navigate possibilities and apply them to our project management needs.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a realistic solution that would be usable immediately. ASPER stood out from other companies because of their constant validation of our needs. They recommended solutions that ensured effectiveness, not just aesthetics.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched on Google for companies that provide custom web solutions. We identified 3 companies and chose ASPER as our partner. We liked their results-focused approach, and their recommendations helped us build software we actually needed without spending a lot of money on non-essential features.

Describe the project in detail.

ASPER built a custom solution using PHP and Vue.js, as out-of-the-box products didn’t provide the features we needed. They prepared responsive designs to allow workers at our construction sites to use the app.

Initially, ASPER conducted workshops with our management board to identify their biggest concerns. Then, they worked with lower-level employees to understand our business thoroughly. They started to prepare a minimum viable project (MVP) plan and designed and developed the features accordingly, accomplishing each task through weekly sprints. Improvements happened quickly based on our feedback. We now have a project management app that meets our needs and isn’t loaded with extra features we’d never use.

What was the team composition?

The project team included a project manager from ASPER, a designer, and a full-stack developer. A few other people from ASPER advised us from time to time, but the permanent team involved those three people.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ASPER helped us to achieve much more than we expected. Our efficiency increased significantly once the app was launched. Our site engineers now spend less time on minor tasks, lower-level employees at construction sites know what they need to do at every stage of the project, we don’t lose documents, and our workflow has improved. These results have decreased our operating costs and the number of errors during projects.

How effective was the project management?

ASPER acts as a partner to their clients. They worked closely with us to understand our business and implemented features on a daily basis, relying on our feedback to ensure everything met our expectations. We communicated through phone calls and emails, used JIRA for project management, and monitored the developer’s work via Bitbucket.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our experience with ASPER has been priceless. We thought that working with a software company would be hard. We are construction experts and don’t know much about software. However, ASPER didn’t use any jargon and made sure we understood each step of the process. Whenever we had to make technical decisions, they always explained the implications of our options and how they’d affect our business.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

We spent a lot of time researching, analyzing, and understanding software-related terms before looking for a vendor. After working with ASPER, I realize now that I didn’t have to spend time trying to understand everything on my own. Companies like ASPER will gladly walk you through every step.