OpenSource Technologies Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the development manager for an online jewelry portal.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

I was looking for a trustworthy company that could build our website, which can be a challenge to find in India.

 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

OpenSource Technologies developed our website. It features elements like a dynamic banner which disappears when users are scrolling down, zooming for our product pictures, and so on.

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

I looked online for developers. I have developed my own portal in the past, so I am familiar with the process. Compared to the other companies we contacted—who promised to offer the cheapest and best solution—OpenSource Technologies could actually deliver what we needed. We visited their office and met the team. I had a chance to look at OpenSource Technologies' work process and became comfortable with them.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

The cost of OpenSource Technologies' work has been between $15,000 and $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with OpenSource Technologies in September 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

OpenSource Technologies has developed all of the functionalities we asked for. I was dissatisfied with some of the designs, but OpenSource Technologies made the right changes. Overall, I’m satisfied with their work.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a few delays initially, but OpenSource Technologies has improved so I'm completely satisfied with them. OpenSource Technologies understood that we had a deadline to meet, so they remained available to us even on weekends.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

I appreciated OpenSource Technologies' personal touch. If something was not progressing like we wanted, we could approach their principal and ask for changes.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

Communication was a bit of a problem in the beginning, but everything was sorted out. OpenSource Technologies is doing a great job at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Cognitive Today's objective is to educate people around cognitive technologies and provide services around this. We are based in Sydney. I am one of the company's directors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

We wanted to promote our services by utilizing social media channels to promote our company and educate people. Usually, there is a lot of misunderstanding of how it can impact channels like Twitter and LinkedIn.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

OpenSource Technologies is working with us on a daily basis, creating content which is published on Twitter and LinkedIn. They're working to update our users and educating them to bring them to the website. CognitiveToday.com is the basis for all our work, with our content being primarily published on the site.

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

I found OpenSource Technologies through a reference in India. I spoke to a couple of other agencies, but they were not as experienced in our space.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

The cost of OpenSource Technologies' services has been around $10,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Some of our content is getting worldwide distribution, and engagement has improved significantly. Re-tweets range from 50 to 100, depending on their type.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

OpenSource Technologies has assigned a project director to us, who is managing the work from her end, so we don't have to deal with day-to-day challenges. We simply advise and guide OpenSource Technologies. I haven't seen any missed deadlines so far, and communication has been good. We can set up project plans, outlining goals and have OpenSource Technologies' team follow them throughout.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

OpenSource Technologies has done the job required.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

No. We have a different approach from most people, so there are no right or wrong answers. We try different things; some of them work, while some don't. I have nothing negative to say about OpenSource Technologies' work so far.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Wesleyan College is a women’s institution for higher education with an enrollment of 700 students.

I am the application support specialist and developer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

We needed an overhaul of our website, which included making it mobile-friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our project was split into 2 pieces. The first portion was the design of the website. OpenSource provided the design and graphics. We got 3 Photoshop files with the designs of the homepage, landing pages, and content pages. OpenSource assigned a very intelligent designer to our project. He helped us with graphics, new colors, typography, and came up with a brand-new concept of the website. The second part of the project was the development of HTML cascading style sheets and JavaScript files. We worked with a different team for that. We were pleased with both teams.

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

I was looking for a company that could do web design inexpensively, so I considered overseas options. I found OpenSource’s website and online portfolio, which looked impressive. I called Manish and he impressed me further with his expertise. Becuase of that, I felt confident about signing a contract with them.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

The cost of the project was under $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project is complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We received style sheets from them but that was just a small portion of the complete project. I needed to implement that into our CMS and rewrite the content. End users have not yet seen the new website. I was impressed how much additional customizations they delivered. We are satisfied with their work and had a great experience collaborating with them.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

It took 1 day to process my concerns and implement the enhancements. Manish is a top-notch expert and was constantly updating me. When I was concerned about the timeframe, he talked to his team and they were even more responsive. They met most of the deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

They were very friendly and delivered every customization I asked for until I was satisfied.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

I feel like they could be more on target with the deadlines. At the end of the day, when I communicated what I needed, they fixed it. I would rather they give me their suggestions instead of me telling them what to do. The design team was top-notch.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company, Anatech Electronics, manufacturers RF [radio frequency] filters used in communication systems.  I am the vice president of technical sales and marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

We needed web development work done to make our site user-friendly and mobile friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our web engine is Magento, so OpenSource Technologies worked within that. They created a brand-new website and reorganized it to make the site more user-friendly. They added more functionality such as creating call to action tabs that would follow the customer constantly even though the user is changing pages. They are still working on the site to fix any issues we find. They’re also creating 5 1-page websites for me that might help with Google ranking. 

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

I did a Google search looking for a firm that was cost effective and would give us a good service at the same time. I approached 4 of 5 companies, and I told them what I wanted to do and what I’m expecting. OpenSource Technologies’ response back to me was very thorough. They gave me an analysis of the website as far as what was wrong with our site. The detail they gave me persuaded me that they could do the job.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

We’ve spent between $8,000 to $12,000 with OpenSource Technologies.

What is the status of this engagement?

I am currently continue working with them now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We’re a custom product using Magento. That part will be listed on our website, and a customer can request a quote. We also cater to engineers who are looking for custom RF filters. They have a set of specifications, and they can communicate that to us through our website. The only products that list pricing on the website are parts we have in stock. They’re using Magento as pure e-commerce, and it’s doing a great job on that. 

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a project manager that is very resourceful. She’s always on time and pushes us for information they need. When I have questions, they’re very responsive.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

They were always on time for meetings on the phone. The project manager would have the specialist who was working on the specific module that we had questions about be on the call which makes the meeting efficient.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

I don’t have any complaints. Anything I’ve asked for they’ve worked on and resolved it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Since 1976, the Ontario Painting Contractors Association (OPCA) has fostered collaboration to achieve success in advocacy, education, industry standards, and labor relations. The OPCA is a not-for-profit trade association designated as the Employer Bargaining Agency that represents the interests of the largest and well-established employers engaged in painting and coating in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector of Ontario’s construction sector. I am executive director of the company.

 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

We needed website development. We had a website which didn't serve our needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Web design and development was our main objective. The site was built on WordPress. They also developed a membership directory to solicit new business and corresponding administrative functionality. I'm not a micromanager, but I could describe my issues and conceptual ideas to OpenSource Technologies' team, who provided recommendations and fulfilled them. On the first level, OpenSource Technologies was commissioned to come up with a framework for my current problem, which I could have assigned to any other developer to implement. Once that process was completed, I was pleased with the outcome, and simply chose OpenSource Technologies as a service provider. 

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

OpenSource Technologies reached out to me with an initial offer. This was my third or fourth endeavor in creating the site that I wanted. OpenSource Technologies was the only successful company out of the local and East-Indian providers I've worked with. I had low expectations overall, but OpenSource Technologies was finally able to achieve what I had asked.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

We’ve spent less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project is completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I haven't received any feedback regarding the site yet. OpenSource Technologies fulfilled the requirements to design and implement the aesthetic and functional features of the OPCA website to allow for increased web traffic that will yield more credible and qualified leads for members of the Association.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We've developed our own processes for meeting the expectations set. OpenSource Technologies has met those expectations.

What distinguishes OpenSource Technologies from other providers?

OpenSource Technologies did what they said they would do. I was pleased with the creativity, technical knowledge, and responsiveness of OpenSource Technologies.

Is there anything OpenSource Technologies could have improved or done differently?

No. The fact that I would retain their services again is an indication that there isn't something that OpenSource Technologies could have done better or differently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

New Minds Group works with different agencies and clients. We provide a variety of services such as branding, website development, web apps, and applications. I’m one of the project managers that worked with OpenSource Technologies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

We had a client with a website that was created in Joomla. They needed an integration that didn’t really exist. Our client wanted to integrate QuickBooks with the invoice manager they were using in Joomla. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed to create an extension that integrates both Joomla and QuickBooks. OpenSource Technologies created the extension from scratch to connect these ports. They tested everything and were really helpful with the troubleshoots. It was a long process because QuickBooks and the extensions they were using in Joomla are quite complicated.

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

I’m not 100% sure how we met them. I think they were referred by friends.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

We’ve spent $30,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

It took about 6 months to do this project, from February 2016 to August 2016. The project is complete, but we keep them around in case we need help with anything else. We’ve been working with them for a couple of years now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The client can now invoice and receive payments without having to log into QuickBooks or going to the QuickBooks site. They can do these tasks on their internal invoice manager, which syncs with QuickBooks and the website. They are very happy to be able to do this seamlessly. They deal with almost half a million dollars in invoices and payments, so they’ve been very happy with the turnout.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They handled project management very well. We were in constant communication with Manish and Vijay, one of their developers. It is very easy to talk with Manish. We asked a lot of questions and they were always available. They were very helpful and very good with meeting deadlines.  

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

They’re very resourceful. If we didn’t have a person that could code a specific language, the next day they would get a person that could resolve the issue. That’s one of the things that we liked about them, that they can handle any type of issue.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

Communication could improve a bit.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Acquire Mobile Solutions makes white label mobile apps. I’m a technical lead. I wear multiple hats between development and project management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

We were looking for Ionic developers specifically. We were contacted by OpenSource Technologies, and they gave us an overview of the company and went through their skillset and presented some of the products that they sell in the marketplace for Ionic platform or Ionic apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The reason why we were looking for somebody for the Ionic platform was that we’re building a hybrid app - something for Android and iOS. We were looking for somebody who was well-versed in that technology, who could hit the ground running with our requirements that we have for the project that we’re building. They came to us and explained that they’ve built open source templates and sold various templates based on different verticals in the marketplace. I downloaded some of those and I was impressed with what I saw. From there we decided to work with them on a project. We had initial meetings to find out the scope of the project, how much time was going to be allocated for the project and from there we worked with them daily. They provided email updates for us daily too. We would connect via Skype to have conversations about how the project is doing and any questions that they had. Then on a weekly basis, they would summarize how far they’ve gotten with their tasks and what they plan to work on in the following week.

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

I have dealt with other companies overseas. OpenSource Technologies is very good at conducting business, and the communication was great between us. I felt very comfortable in working with all the people I spoke with there. The process itself was quite easy. They made it easy because they keep their word on getting back to us in a timely fashion. They were very accommodating.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

We’ve spent between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in September of 2016. We have completed the project that we were just working on. However, we’ve asked them to work on another project with us at the beginning of December. We were impressed with how smoothly the project went, so we’ve asked them to come on board for our next project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The project hasn’t been released yet, so we don’t have anything yet. I can say that they kept with the schedule and could complete the project within the allotted time. Everybody internally was very impressed with what they produced in such a short period. OpenSource Technologies could get the look and feel of the product and present it to us. Everybody was very excited to see the mobile app come to life. From there they worked on a lot of the back-end programming to make it a functional app. It was nice to see immediate progress quickly. Then from that point forward they followed up with being able to complete the functional portions of it. It all went very well. Everybody so far is very happy.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been very good. They would communicate with us daily and give us updates on how far they’ve progressed. Any questions that they had, they would clarify or send an email to us. They would also give us work logs on the tasks that they worked on which seemed very fair and honest based on what they produced and the kind of hours they were reporting. The project management side of things worked very well.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

The first point of contact was Manish who is great to talk to and easy to communicate regarding the services that they offer. Beyond that, the project manager was similarly very easy to communicate with. Just the fact that there was good communication is great. They’re very capable of what they advertise doing. I can’t say that I’ve been disappointed with any of their services yet.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

We’re moving into our next project. We will be using some backend developers, so we’ll see how that process goes. We’ll be expanding those needs and resources that we’re going to be using. The only thing - and it’s nothing we can help - but it would be nice if we were within closer time zones.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of Beautyjoint.com, Inc. We are an e-commerce website that sells cosmetic and beauty supplies. We ship domestically and internationally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

E-commerce is constantly changing so I needed some work done on our website. Specifically, I needed help with OpenCart.com. I had a module and the script had to be fixed here and there. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

OpenSource Technologies was responsible for online tool development. I needed some import and export functions. I’ll give you an example. I needed to have the ability to download product data from my website, make necessary changes, and then upload that back as a bulk file. OpenSource Technologies was able to create that tool for me. If there were any glitches or issues, they’re always right on it. We talked about it and got it resolved. There’s always a bunch of stuff that’s happening all the time.

One of the biggest things we’re developing is a new OpenCart website. We’re doing it from scratch. It’s a brand website for a product that we’re launching soon. I was very specific about how we wanted it to look and gave them a lot of examples from other websites. OpenSource Technologies got the idea of what I was looking for and they were able to do that. They asked questions about certain features and functions and I would reply with my preferences. They’ve always been accommodating.  

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

First of all, I prefer talking over the phone instead of exchanging emails. That was a big thing for me. I found OpenSource Technologies and I reached out to them. I first spoke to Manish. When I called their number, he was able to pick it up right away. We chatted and had a pretty good rapport; I had a pretty good feeling about OpenSource Technologies. But I didn’t go gung-ho and give him everything off the bat. I gave him a small project in the beginning. It worked out really well and we’ve been working together ever since.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

We have spent $10,000 to $50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started about a year ago, about September 2015. The project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

OpenSource Technologies did some API work for me on Amazon, along with other third-party marketplaces. That went pretty well. They also did SEO for our website and we’re getting more hits. They seem to know what they’re doing.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

OpenSource Technologies seem to be really organized. They’re in India and I’m in the US and they’re willing to accommodate my hours. They’re meeting deadlines, more so than my developers here. I also work with a developer here in the US. When you have 2 developers working on one website, there’s some conflict because they don’t know what the other one is doing. I’m the one who’s coordinating everything. There’s open communication and it does get resolved. Most of the time, everyone is working on a module so this hasn’t been an issue.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

They’re pretty honest. If there’s any issue, I can easily contact them. That happened once, I think it was 3 in the morning. I called or Skyped them late, and they stayed up and worked with me until it got resolved.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your business and what you do there.

I manage many popular websites in the pet guinea pig world. I'm a well-known guinea pig rescuer, internet resource provider and now manage a couple of e-commerce stores. I've been working in my niche for almost 20 years

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

Initially, it was for one website but with the idea of doing some other things. Over time I’ve stuck with them unlike some other support along the way. They’ve been with me through thick and thin and helped me get through a lot of projects and a lot of complexity in my world so I can stay focused on what I need to be doing instead of getting bogged down in the development aspects. There are two fairly decent projects for me. They were both for websites of mine.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I’ve been in the Joomla! world forever. That’s what I started doing my web development on after HTML. I was having a lot of difficulties staying on top of everything - my updates and keeping it well-managed. I needed some help cleaning up one of my Joomla! websites. When I first started talking to my contact there, which was Manish, we established our relationship and our ground rules and it all just evolved from there. They’ve never dropped the ball ever on what we’ve agreed upon as next items, next steps, etc. The other thing that I like greatly about them, especially Manish, is that he’s always able to help brainstorm beyond what I’m asking him to do and can come up with suggestions.

When the process begins, I have a clear idea of what I want for the design. We’ve had a few times where I’ve needed them to come back with some design refinements, and they’ve done a good job with that. For the most part, our working relationship has been pretty much modifying and tweaking what I already have. I decided to build my site with WordPress for SEO [search engine optimization] purposes and OpenSource Technologies helped steer me in the right direction when I needed advice. They also provided me with SEM work. They’re very versatile.

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

jReviews is a complex Joomla application that I'd been using on a couple of sites. I needed some help with upgrading all of my customizations and then managing it for me moving forward. They were recommended in jReviews community -- good credibility. It was the recommendation from the community but also my initial conversation with Manish. I’m always a little wary, but this time, it was great. As a small company, I was looking for a dependable company I can outsource work to. I wanted to be able to lean on a company in small amounts. They’ve always been great and flexible to work with in all ways.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

The project is under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

My projects are never-ending. It’s been a couple of years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

They have been doing some SEO work for one of my sites. The work they have done has definitely gotten us additional exposure. I’m happy with that. Anything I want to focus on whether it’s SEO, performance or security - any of those topics they’re able to hone in on and help me do whatever I want to accomplish.

I’ve had them do some pretty tricky development. For one of my projects, I had a custom project created some years ago with sophisticated JavaScript. The site was getting old, and I hadn’t put any attention into it. OpenSource Technologies’ developers were able to totally get that brought up to speed, make enhancements and feature changes and updates for me without any bugs. Everything was always as I asked for. I like their process. Everything’s tested before it goes live. I haven’t had any technical issues at all.

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

For me, the project management [OpenSource Technologies'] has been perfect. They work with me on what I’m comfortable with doing and work to my timelines but also help keep me honest and on track based on my goals. That part has been really good - better than anyone I’ve ever worked with.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

Manish and his team have been a pleasure. I’m not easy to work with because I’m knowledgeable about web development. I always want to do too much; I get impatient about things, and I get frustrated - but not with them. He’s been able to keep me focused in a way that works for me. I appreciate that.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

The only frustrating thing for me is the time zone difference. I wish everybody were in my time zone. That being said, even if someone’s on the west coast while I am on the east coast - I find that frustrating. Sometimes there’s just a time delay. That was just part and parcel, and I’ve learned to work around it. That’s my only issue. I know I can’t have my cake and eat it too.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We develop or import affordable loudspeakers for audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts, and multimedia users. I am the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OpenSource Technologies?

When we migrated to OpenCart's richer feature set we found we also wanted to improve our IT team's response time and experience. We needed a more responsive, more expert family of website developers, and our customers wanted a more dynamic browsing environment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

OpenSource Technologies first upgraded our OpenCart environment to the latest version, which gave us the fullest array of the platform's built-in features. OpenSource Technologies then helped us assess various add-in modules such as check-out upgrades, product listing and sales aids, and pricing and stock functions before installing and configuring them for us. They have pioneered new frontend page technologies for us, giving us a richer user experience we look forward to lending to the whole site over time. They’ve [OpenSource Technologies] been a professional, reliable, and we feel confident bringing any concerns to them.

How did you come to work with OpenSource Technologies?

An of ours recommended OpenSource Technologies. His focus is somewhat different than ours, but for our needs, they have proven themselves for each new project.

How much have you invested with OpenSource Technologies?

Our overall initiative is in the $10,000 – 50,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement will span at least a year before reaching a fairly static maintenance state. We expect to add a number of new strictly creative projects for 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did OpenSource Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

OpenSource Technologies appears to have a robust, well-designed product management system in place. They remain in good contact and we have yet to experience a major issue.

What did you find most impressive about OpenSource Technologies?

OpenSource Technologies' greatest asset for us is the promptness with which they work and the general expertise they bring to our project. Having used other services over the last dozen years, we find that OpenSource Technologies’ approach ensures excellent ongoing responsiveness, progress, and value. Perhaps the greatest difference with OpenSource Technologies is their simple honesty and diligence, a most welcome asset from any contracted service.

Are there any areas OpenSource Technologies could improve?

No.