Omega

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

They exceeded our expectations, wrote quality code, and did exactly what was needed. One feature we wanted to implement was Apple Push Notifications (APN) so people are notified when they get a message. There was some verbiage that didn’t make sense but they fixed it immediately.

How did Omega-R perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicated directly with the CEO who relayed everything to his offshore team. Communication was very good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They went above and beyond what we asked of them, and that really impressed us. Their team takes pride in providing what the client wants. They’re better than companies I’ve worked with in the past.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any criticisms.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend them for modifications, but I know they could also do a project from the start. They do quality work, so it can get pricey for full projects. Be flexible and understand that you may need to be available at odd hours since they have offshore resources.

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

This was a very large-scale project. We made two trips to Russia to visit their team, and we’re always impressed with the quality of their work and overall experience. They’re upfront with us when our ideas don’t work. That’s pretty rare for programmers in my experience. When they’re giving input, they also provide very good alternatives for our ideas. 

Even for something as simple as a logo design, they were able to identify possible issues with scaling that we may run into in some environments. In response, they built a different logo for us that functioned in all environments. We were impressed with that solution and initiative. They want everything to be just right for us.    

How did Omega-R perform from a project management standpoint?

They operate in sprints, sending us very detailed weekly reports on their work and progress. Their payment process is simple and easy. We’ve never run into a language barrier or any major problems with communication. It’s easy to deal with them effectively.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to innovate without being asked is so rare in the industry. They think about and suggest innovations with a complete understanding of what we’re trying to achieve. Some groups stick exclusively to requirements, even if it means they come up with something that’s incorrect. Their suggestions really distinguish them. They always provide great specialists with impressive skillsets as well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. They’ve been welcoming and impressive each time we’ve visited them. It may be helpful for them to build a presence in the United States.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use them as much as possible in your ideation process because they have great ideas and diverse backgrounds. You’ll end up with better ideas sooner into your process. Avoid just handing them requirements if you want to get the best from them.

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

It took Omega-R approximately three months from the time that they started developing to deliver an MVP. We did user testing to make sure the functionality worked and that the core concept was resonant. Then they optimized the app and connected it to the Spotify API. That enables instructors to use their own music playlists. We launched the first beta version of the app in January 2019, and we currently have instructors using it. 

How did Omega-R perform from a project management standpoint? 

I was happy with their project management and budget, especially in terms of how close they were to the estimate. They ran sprint plans, and we had regular Skype calls. I'm a non-technical founder, so I had local engineers do a code review. They consistently were impressed with the quality of the work done by Omega-R. It wasn’t flawless or without its issues, but overall they were quite impressed with the product that was delivered. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Omega-R was really invested in the project. They're not a huge firm, so I got a lot of time and attention for the size of my project and budget. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

The frustrating part for me is that I still don't have a finished product. I've been at it for about a year, and there's still work to be done. I ended up deciding to hire some local front- and backend developers as well as UX/UI developers because I need to go faster. 

Also, they're good English speakers, but there's a difference between hearing and understanding. Sometimes there wasn't a clear understanding of what I was asking for. For me as a non-developer, there were obvious flow issues that are still aren’t right. I'm not sure what the disconnect was or if it got lost in translation. The basic conventions of how an iOS app should run are somewhat intuitive for me. The current design of the app is not as straightforward as I'd like. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Having someone technical on your team to help guide the process will be a more fruitful and productive experience. I’ve learned a lot along the way, but I still don't read or write code. I probably would have gotten to this point faster—and without as many hiccups—if I had a technical co-founder to manage them and the process.