Next Latinoamérica S.A.C.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the COO of a software service company. We are based out of United States. We mainly build custom 3D software for small to mid size companies across the USA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Next Latinoamérica S.A.C., and what were your goals?

We hired Next on a contract basis to do software development using three.js, HTML and Javascript. The goal was to build a 3D product configurator that could be embedded in our client's website seamlessly. The configurator would display a 3D model and allow user to change colors on different parts of the 3D model. Need to incorporate a range of 300+ color textures. The complexity was in the dynamic nature of this project. We had 600+ 3D models and 300+ colors that needed to be managed.

SOLUTION

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

We selected Next based on their past experience and skills. Our main deciding factors were the cost of development and availability of all relevant resources in one place. We also needed the resources to be available as needed.

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

The team selected Firebase as the backend system for storage. They create a dev project and a production project. Github was used for versioning. They designed the database schema and the file naming structure for hundreds of files that needed to be swapped in/out at runtime.

They also developed an admin interface for us to manage uploads and updates of the files into firebase which was very helpful. All development was done in three.js with a firebase interface. They helped us get the client integrate the project into their website.

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

Three people worked with us: a three.js developer, an HTML/Javascript developer and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was delivered successfully and is now live on our client's website. The client is happy with it and has mentioned created engagement with their wholesale buyers as a result.

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

The Next team uses standard communication tools and are very flexible with them as well. They joined our team on our internal communication tool called Samepage and were readily available via Slack as well. Project Managers were using Trello to track and manage the tasks. We also had a daily cadence for standup meetings for project status updates.

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

We liked the fact that Next was always open to scope changes and feedback from us and our clients that led to modifications to code and more work on their part.

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

I believe they could make their timeline tracking a bit more stricter in order for timely delivery

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of an AR-based touring company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Next Latinoamerica S.A.C.?

My team had built an AR-based native app for iOS, and we needed someone to help convert it into a Unity-based project. That way, we could run the app on both Android and iOS moving forward. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I initially met with Arturo (Co-Founder & CEO) to talk about the project’s requirements. Then, we sent them a link to the app, and the Next Latinoamerica team became familiar with it. After that, we started working on a game plan to port it over to Unity, providing their team with all the UI/UX assets we had. Next Latinoamerica essentially transformed the designs to work in C#. Apart from that, the team also had to do some AR core integration and native coding for Android and iOS platforms. 

At present, we’re still working together. In terms of app features, there’s an onboarding screen that walks end users through the app and user workflow. Then, users can move into a login screen, which works hand-in-hand with our backend. Once the user registers, they’re taken to a map; we’ve integrated Google Maps into the entire app for this functionality. Push notifications are also featured, while geolocation tracking is implemented for AR functionality localization. Users can also enjoy video and chroma key effects. All of these are tied back into our AWS cloud infrastructure. 

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Arturo. I also interact with a Unity developer and an Android and iOS engineer from their team. 

How did you come to work with Next Latinoamerica S.A.C.?

I found Arturo’s profile on UpWork and then searched him on LinkedIn. I saw his company’s previous works and found that we had mutual friends in the industry. As a result, I chose to work with him.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $8,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2021, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Next Latinoamerica has done a great job. They’ve accomplished most, if not all, of the tasks we’ve agreed upon in a timely manner. We’ve run into some issues here and there, but they have great communication as they help us fix such problems and move the project forward. 

Moreover, our teams have done great collaborative efforts to resolve issues in our backend. We’ve even conducted brainstorming sessions to figure things out. On top of that, their resources are always available; it’s been an honest pleasure working with them as they keep their end of our bargain. 

Further, the Next Latinoamerica team is great at coming up with new ideas. They help us choose which kind of tech features to add to the project. Overall, we’ve given them great feedback, and we’d definitely work with them again in the future. 

How did Next Latinoamerica S.A.C. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication has been great. They sometimes go a bit over the original timeline estimate, but that usually happens in such coding projects. Nothing outrageous that would keep me from working with them again has happened. To communicate, we use Zoom, emails, texts, and phone calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Next Latinoamerica does quick work, and they’re highly reliable. I like that Arturo doesn’t only speak on the technical side of things but also from a business perspective. To elaborate, when I tell him about a feature I want to add, he helps me align its technical and business aspects. By contrast, other firms can only talk about the technical aspects of the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice if we had more access to native platform developers in case tough questions arise. Having somebody who’s used to Android development and another developer who’s used to iOS development would help us bridge the gap between platforms. They’ll also be great assets in the future.

That being said, the whole Next Latinoamerica team has done a great job for us, and we’ve done everything we need to do — we’re plowing ahead. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go into the engagement with a clear idea of what you want. Next Latinoamerica is great at bringing out past examples, so leverage their existing body of work . They’ve done plenty of cool development work in the AR/VR space, so if you’re still formulating ideas or concepts, it’s best to see their previous work. They’re cutting-edge projects that inspire new ideas and concepts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of an augmented reality platform in the startup phase that will go to market in the first quarter of 2022.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Next Latinoamérica S.A.C.?

We needed a company to help us execute our vision for the product and adapt to discoveries along the way to improve the product and drive the roadmap to success. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Next Latinoamérica S.A.C.'s development team employs a variety of software development skillsets for our augmented reality product. However, I can't elaborate on the exact architecture of the product because it still hasn't been launched. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with two of the owners from Next Latinoamérica S.A.C. They also manage a team of developers, but I don't engage with them. 

How did you come to work with Next Latinoamérica S.A.C.?

One of my partners found and hired Next Latinoamérica S.A.C. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $50,000–$200,000 with Next Latinoamérica S.A.C. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in April 2020 and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I will eventually measure their impact by their timeliness, implementation of our vision, and product's overall functionality. However, the product has yet to be launched, so there are no specific metrics. 

How did Next Latinoamérica S.A.C. perform from a project management standpoint?

Next Latinoamérica S.A.C. was very methodical and worked in sprints. They informed us about any issues that came up along the way or if they had a new way to attack the project. 

They meet deadlines, and if there are any delays, they let us know in advance. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like their professionalism and temperament. They have a passion for the product and are committed to excellence. They're also great at explaining aspects of the project to those of us who aren't as technically savvy. 

They've done some extraordinary work in a short amount of time — they've really worked overtime to deliver. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients need to be very clear with Next Latinoamérica S.A.C. about their scope of work. Both parties need to understand to know precisely what the project will require.