Novateus

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Software Product Manager of Hi-Crush Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We produce, load, store, and distribute proppant for use in the process of hydraulic fracturing in the Oil and Gas industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Novateus to accomplish?

• Simplify the management of carriers and drivers across a vast network of 3rd party carriers
• Create a queue based system to distribute the workload for drivers more effectively
• Group drivers based on their regions instead of where they could possibly work
• Automate the communication of the start of shift work to carriers in the network

SOLUTION

How did you find Novateus?

Referral

Why did you select Novateus over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Novateus were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

My company owns a last mile application that does an amazing job at managing proppant from where it is produced and moving it to the well site. Once at the well site it does a great job managing inventory on location and takes care of the complete life cycle. The industry has changed quite rapidly that the volume of traffic moving loads from the origin to destination has increased 10x over. 

what it was 3 years ago. While the aforementioned system can handle that, the problem arose in managing the 3rd party carriers and drivers that came along with it. It is nearly impossible to ensure that all of your drivers are showing up for work on time, they are being distributed work evenly, and their management is notified when there are problems with particular drivers efficiency. 

Novateus helped us design and develop to automatically group these drivers and jobs into a zone, queue these drivers up automatically, based on their activity, and assign them loads by a simple drag and drop setup. We also moved drivers in from an SMS check in system to an app based system which allowed the queueing process to work and automatically communicated the status of the check ins to the carrier's management. 

Lastly, the roster import allows our users to update their entire roster within minutes which took a whole day of 2 employees to do before. This dramatically reduced the time for our users that they spent checking on driver statuses since it was all put in one location to manage. It also helped with driver retention because they were all being treated fairly by evenly distributing the work across the network 

Completed Deliverables 

• Group drivers and jobs by zones 
• Queue drivers based on their activity automatically 
• Driver check in via the mobile app 
• Shift setup to differentiate the shifts 
• Automated notification on check in status to carrier management 
• Automated notification to our management on carriers check in status 
• Roster import to handle a weekly changing driver list of over 1000 drivers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Management of driver rosters improved 16x doing it manually Complete visibility to driver check in which was virtually non existent before 20% improvement in driver retention Assigning loads is 4x faster with drag and drop setup

What was your primary form of communication with Novateus?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They were very responsive. I usually got some response within an hour of problem. We wanted visibility using jira to the dev ops and use it for our roadmap. We had no push back at all from using it from Novateus and developers use it to communicate questions to us directly instead of having a middle man.

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

Their intuition with app development. Sometimes when you have an idea, it can be difficult to explain the details of how you want it function to get to the end result while the end result is relatively simple. Novateus does a great job using their experience to create an enjoyable user experience to get the perfect business result that we look for.

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

Not really. Any issues we ever have with the application that we did not foresee when it was developed, they are always quick to respond and get a solution out to our end users.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

PPMG is a construction project management consultancy We provide comprehensive project management expertise and customized consulting services. Our focus is on delivering high quality solutions that enhance and optimize our clients’ business processes, operational efficiencies and overall project success. I am the Owner and President

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Novateus was hired to convert a .net single tenant application to an AWS multi tenant application while adding functionality and improving UI/UX.

SOLUTION

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

I was working with another developer for several years who was unable to handle the increasing development workload. I personally know the owner of Novateus and we started a conversation regarding scaling up the development team. After several meetings I decided to engage Novateus to help with a dedicated development team that could take over the development of the existing application and start working on the next generation of the application. The deciding factors to hire Novateus were based on their experience in the project management space, deep understanding of multi-tenant SaaS application solutions, and their price per developer resource.

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

They are currently working on two projects for my company. The first project is the management of my existing web application. They are currently updating the cloud infrastructure, adding new functionality, and fixing bugs. This application was not developed as a multi-tenant solution so we have to manage multiple instances of the software for each client that uses it.

The application is a .Net application on Windows servers. The second project is to create the next generation of the software using more modern technologies with a multi-tenant architecture. We are also adding new functionalities to support the RFP process, several integrations, and adding our own reports module versus using Microsoft BI. This next-generation application will be built using AWS cloud services, Angular, and Node.

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

We currently have 4 dedicated developers and 1 dedicated tester. We also work directly with the owners as it relates to project management.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our development deliverables have significantly increased. Our issues reported by customers have significantly decreased with the addition of a testing resource. The overall management of my projects is much more structured with planning, development, and deployment.

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

This is where I have seen the biggest improvements. Before we were not using any project management methodology or tools to manage and track development tasks. Now we are following an Agile methodology and planning 6-8 sprints in advance. We are using Jira for Project Management, and Slack, Teams, and GitHub for communication. We are using Zephyr Scale for test case management, and Freshdesk for ticketing. We have 2 development calls per week with the owners to discuss both projects.

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

Their eagerness to learn new things, ability to process requirements quickly, and work ethic.

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

Nothing stands out worth mentioning. I am very happy with the results so far.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder of investment company that generates profits by buying and selling stocks on the market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I hired Novateus to apply my trading strategy to a rules engine. The engine would then make decisions to buy or sell stock at a given time.

The system was designed to automatically make these decisions with minimal interaction from the user.

The goal was to expand daily trade quantities while also improve performance and speed to enter the trades.

SOLUTION

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

I found Novateus by searching on Clutch looking for local Custom Software Developers.

The deciding factors to hire Novateus was the great communication, affordable price, acceptable project time length, and their desire to build something great with us.

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

First, they developed a rules engine that was specific to the mathematical algorithm I use for trading stocks. This was the majority of the project due to its size and complexity.

Every time we ran into a road block we were able to come up with solutions to keep the goals and targets in sight. The program is being hosted on AWS which gives me access to it from any internet connection. After the rules engine was complete we began testing, debugging, and optimizing.

Novateus corrected found issues and optimized the engine so that our execution time is excellent. Once the back end was running smoothly Novateus topped it off with a simple and sleek front end, User Interface.

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

Three. Every week I had call meetings with the two founders of Novaetus. We discussed the previous weeks progress, the current weeks goals, and any ideas or issues that we needed to address.

Nearing the end of completion when we began testing I mostly talked to the main developer over the project. Since he had actually developed the software it was easier for me to talk directly with him when addressing issues.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Novateus delivered a software program that did exactly what I wanted it to do. Going in to the project I was not even sure it was possible to convert my vision into a reality. Novateus bridged that gap, and now my custom software is alive and turning my dreams into fruition.

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

Communication is key for me in anything I do. Novateus meet and exceeded my standards for clear, concise, and open lines of communication in a timely manner. Some communication through text, calls, and in person. Weekly calls were through Zoom, but most of our conversations were via Skype.

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

Their willingness to tackle our project with having little previous knowledge of the financial markets. They were excited to learn and to create something we would be happy with.

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

Nothing stands out that I was unhappy with enough to worth mentioning.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

GoCleanHands - Managing Partner B2B and B2C PPE/sanitization product distribution and sales.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Novateus?

GoCleanHands engaged with Novateus to design and developed an e-commerce site where we can sell our PPE supplies online. Novateus also integrated the GoCleanHands vending machines into an administrative panel where we can manage our machines, inventory, and sales. Novateus integrated the GoCleanHands vending machine’s sensor data with its IoT server solution.

What were your goals for this project?

Research, develop, and launch an e-commerce site to educate, market, and sell the GoCleanHands PPE products. Research, develop, and launch the vending machine IoT infrastructure to enable proper management and sales of distributed machines, people, and PPE.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We went through a process of evaluating a number of service providers against an internally developed metric. In the end, Novateus was the most responsive. Selecting Novateus was a simple decision when you combine the time to engage in the project and ultimate delivery with the cost estimates [which were competitive] on price.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Novateus provided services directly related to our goals defined above. They researched, developed, and are helping with launching the e-commerce site and the vending machine IoT infrastructure to enable proper marketing, management, and sales of distributed machines, people, and PPE.

What was the team composition?

Novateus put together a team that consisted of 1 front-end developer, 2 back-end developers, 1 electrical engineer for the hardware integrations, and 1 project manager. The team primarily worked remotely.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

GoCleanHands and Novateus are still engaged [and will continue]. We are now in the initial stages of launching, however my experience working with Novateus has been wonderful. They have exceeded all of our expectations. I believe this solution they are developing for me will increase my business revenues 100 fold.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We engaged in industry best practices which were managed by our internal team lead and the Novateus project manager.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Novateus provided a truly end-to-end service. They have great designers that are very creative and great developers that are able to execute the designs. Their engineers that could handle the IoT aspects of the project. In the past, I have never found all of the above in a single company.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As of this review, I have no comments for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the founder and creator of Urgent Medical Info. It’s a secure online platform for storing and sharing medical information.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Novateus?

They provided development services and testing. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a website for desktop and mobile use. The work included encryption and strong security measures for logging in.

They also helped us develop a way to share personal medical information with others for a time period that they’re comfortable with. For example, you can use Urgent Medical Info to send a babysitter a child’s medical history and allergies, and it’s easy to unshare it once the babysitter’s shift is done. 

What is the team composition?

Randall is my main point of contact, but I also worked with Sean. 

How did you come to work with Novateus? 

I received a recommendation from a colleague who is the CEO of his own organization. 

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $10,000-$25,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in January 2019, and they completed the development that March.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m really happy with their work. The website runs smoothly and we haven’t experienced any bugs since the launch. Their design met all the specifications I gave them, and they even improved upon my initial concept.  

How did Novateus perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very on top of it. They kept me informed of their progress and testing. We communicated through emails, phone conversations, and video calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness was impressive. If I reached out, they always got back to me within the day. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a real estate marketplace that connects buyers directly to sellers. The platform walks them through the sales process, saving them thousands on real estate commissions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Novateus?

We were looking to create custom software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created custom software that makes it extremely easy to execute a real estate transaction. They've done web and mobile development for iOS and Android.

What is the team composition?

We have six members on their team, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Novateus?

I had a previous software development firm and wasn't having great success. I went to high school with the owner of Novateus' wife. They had a background in forms automation, so they were a great fit for our company.

How much have you invested with them?  

We've invested $130,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2019, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The design work is extremely clean. We get good reviews from users and good feedback from users. We've also gotten customers from the platform. Overall, it's been successful.

How did Novateus perform from a project management standpoint?

They've exceeded my expectations as far as hitting goals. What I'm getting versus what I'm paying is astronomically different than the firm I was with before. They get so much done at an excellent cost. It's a no-brainer to continue working with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication and speed and development has been extremely well done. Those are the two biggest factors and the timelines are laid out clearly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at this point. I'm an extremely satisfied customer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to make sure you have clear objectives of what your customers’ needs and wants are. Go to them with your plans completely ironed out, or else it'll take longer and it'll be harder for them to execute.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder & CEO of Rx Interactive, Inc,

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Novateus?

We are trying to address the challenge of COVID 19. The goal is to empower users to track their symptoms. It also has contact tracing abilities that are user driven.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a simple and engaging design that can be used for presales as well as make the next steps of development easy.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were a referral from another business in the Villagex accelerator in New Orleans.

Describe the project in detail.

They provided an UX/UI design in the form of a clickable prototype.

What was the team composition?

Less than 5.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not yet

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were timely and the communication was clear and simple.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their quality of work was amazing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Novateus?

software development

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

responsiveness, creativity, budget

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

I hired Novateus in 2017 to redesign and redevelop a transportation management software. The project was overly ambitious with an aggressive schedule that required a total rebuild of the software from a single tenant system to a multi-tenant system with dozens of new features and functionality. A total rebuild of web and mobile apps.

What was the team composition?

US and Overseas dev team consisting of front-end, back-end, mobile app, UX/UI, design and Dev manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Novateus team ramped up quickly in order to hit the agreed-upon schedule and budget. It is because of their innovation and performance on that project I would rate their performance as “exceptional”. Companies looking to automate with custom software development should consult with this team of software professionals.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

schedule, quality and budget