Origen Software

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO of Bloo Money

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We help businesses manage invoices and payouts to their freelancers. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• Build our MVP as a Web App

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

Referral

Why did you select Origen Software 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 Origen Software were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Origen Software was tasked with building our multi-sided MVP. 
Their key deliverables included:

1. Helping us scope out our product roadmap
2. Infrastructure set up
3. Developing backend
4. Devloping frontend
5. 3rd party integrations
6. Setting up user testing and deployment
7. Documentation and project management

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Product Development Milestones - The team took our low code MVP, UX and UI designs and translated it into a fully functioning Business and Freelancer management platform with robust backend infrastructure, and scalable architecture.

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

It literally felt like they were an extension of our team!

Team Readiness - Beyond the tech itself, we gained the experience and knowledge of what to expect from an in-house dev team, which has positioned us well for the next stage of growth.
Collaboration & Delivery - Despite being an outsourced project, Origen Software integrated seamlessly with us, meeting key deadlines and being flexible around our financial runway, which ensured consistent delivery without compromising quality.

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

Virtual Meeting

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

Overall, the project's success is measured not only by the product delivered but also by the foundations laid for our future growth.
I think the TEAM under the leadership of Harley Ferguson. From our first meeting and every meeting after that. They dedicated genuine time, effort, and energy to deliver exceptional quality to reflect our designs and customer feedback. It was a very collaborative approach, and it didn't feel like we were just another client. From costing to advising on infrastructure to working around our fundraising needs...this team went above and beyond to help us build our tech. We didn't have a CTO and we were worried about outsourcing but the team felt like an extension of our team so it was absolutely wonderful working with them! 

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

I would say, perhaps more work sessions behind the scenes on the dev and sprint execution would have been helpful. We don't have a CTO or an inhouse dev team so missing out on those experiences. Although I must add that the team was always ready to indulge our questions and share additional knowledge about the frameworks and infrastructure whenever the need arose. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of FilledStacks (Pty) Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile app development agency

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• Build a react-native mobile app

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

LinkedIn Network

Why did you select Origen Software over others?

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

How many teammates from Origen Software were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

A mobile app build from ground up matching the UI design that was completed beforehand. 

It had to integrate with an existing backend

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A working mobile app that our client was happy with. 

A functioning system matching exactly the original design.

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

I received weekly updates that included a breakdown of what they worked on, what they couldn't complete, what they plan for next week, and a demo of the work that was completed in video form. 

I also received timeline breakdowns, and clear requests for requirements when they needed them. 

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I was impressed by their speed of execution, the feedback on issues they faced, and the consistent communications.

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

In my case the breakdown of the work, at the beginning was too verbose, and I asked to have it simplified a bit. 

That's not really an improvement to make for everyone, but it's the only thing that comes to mind now. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Forget the Socks

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

FTS is a comprehensive gifting platform that helps users discover meaningful and shareable gifts for friends, family, and those challenging ‘what should I get?’ occasions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• To build the MVP version of our mobile app.

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

Online Search

Why did you select Origen Software over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Reference from an alumni

How many teammates from Origen Software were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The project involved the development and deployment of a fully functional mobile application for both Android and iOS platforms. Using wireframes supplied by our team as the foundation, the developers enhanced the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design to create a more intuitive and visually appealing product. They integrated the application with a Firebase database to ensure secure and scalable data management. In addition, the team provided guidance throughout the app submission process, ensuring successful publication to both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Key Deliverables:

• Cross-platform mobile application developed for Android and iOS.
• Enhanced UX/UI design building on the supplied wireframes.
• Integration with Firebase for backend database management.
• Assistance and guidance throughout the app submission and approval process for both app stores.
• Successfully published apps on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Monthly Progress Check‑ins: Regular status meetings ensured transparency, timely feedback, and alignment throughout the development process.
• Successful App Launches: The mobile app was successfully published on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, meeting all compliance and technical requirements.

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

The team demonstrated effective project management throughout the engagement. They were transparent in their communication, providing regular updates and ensuring we had clear visibility of progress at all times. They remained flexible and responsive to our needs, adapting to feedback and accommodating changes where required.

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

As a new startup still refining our processes, we found their understanding and adaptability particularly impressive. They were patient, supportive, and proactive in guiding us where needed, which made a significant difference to the project’s success.

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

At this stage, we have no areas for improvement to suggest. The team met our expectations throughout the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Lecturer of plant marketplace

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The marketplace is a South African-based e-commerce platform dedicated to buying and selling plants, offering timed auctions, direct sales, and an easy-to-use online interface for growers and collectors nationwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• I hired Origen Software to design and develop a fully functional e-commerce website tailored for the plant community. The goals were to create an easy-to-use platform that supports plant auctions, fixed-price sales, automated inventory updates, buyer/seller dashboards, and streamlined communication between users.

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

Online Search

Why did you select Origen Software over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Origen Software were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Origen Software was contracted to develop a custom e-commerce platform specifically designed for the plant community. The goal was to create a fully automated and accessible website where sellers could list plants and seeds for sale or auction, and buyers could seamlessly browse, bid, and purchase online. The platform needed to be user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and cater to the niche needs of the plant enthusiasts across South Africa.

Key Deliverables Included:

Custom Website Design and Development with the company branding and clean navigation.
User Registration and Login System for both buyers and sellers, including profile management.
Product Upload Functionality for sellers to list auction items or plants for direct sale.
Auction System with:

Start and end times
Auto-extension if bids are placed within the last 2 minutes
Reserve price logic with visual indicators (e.g., turning green when met)
Automated notifications for highest bidders when reserve not met
Direct Sales Module for fixed-price listings, with live inventory management.
Admin Dashboard for order management, user oversight, and platform control.
Mobile-Friendly Interface to allow easy access on phones and tablets.
Integrated Communication Features including email notifications and buyer-seller interactions.
Support for Google Forms Integration during early product uploads.
Future Scalability Planning to accommodate future upgrades like automatic bidding, ratings, or expanded categories.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successful Launch of the website: A functional e-commerce platform was launched, allowing for plant sales and timed auctions.
Over 75 Registered Buyers within the First Two Events, including many new users who joined through marketing and referral.
High Engagement During Auctions: Multiple bids placed on various auction items, and direct sales, demonstrating real buyer interest and trust in the platform.
Flawless Payment Processing: The integrated payment system functioned without issues, and all successful transactions were completed securely.
Seller Growth: Several trusted the plant growers and sellers registered and listed plants for the first time, with many indicating a willingness to return for future events.
Increased Visibility: Shared catalogue and auction links led to high traffic from across South Africa, reflected in consistent visits and interactions across the buyer portal.
Repeat Participation: Interest expressed by both buyers and sellers to take part in the next scheduled auction, confirming platform relevance and usability.
These outcomes clearly demonstrate that the platform met its primary goal: to create a digital space for then plant trade that is trusted, scalable, and user-friendly.

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

Origen Software demonstrated a high level of dedication throughout the project. While timelines occasionally shifted due to the evolving scope and additional features requested, they remained transparent about delivery expectations and communicated any delays clearly and respectfully.

They were highly responsive to feedback, often going above and beyond to ensure the platform aligned with my goals. Even post-launch, they continued to offer support, fix bugs, and implement improvements as needed. I appreciated the collaborative nature of the process, I always felt heard, and my needs as the client were prioritised.

Overall, their project management was flexible, client-focused, and solution-oriented, which was crucial for a dynamic and fast-moving e-commerce platform like the company.
While most deliverables were completed within reasonable timeframes, a few features required additional follow-up or slight delays due to testing or refinement. However, Origen Software remained transparent, communicated clearly throughout, and always followed through to ensure each phase was completed properly. Their willingness to accommodate extra requests was appreciated, even if it occasionally affected timelines.

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out most about Origen Software was their ability to translate a niche vision into a fully functioning and user-friendly e-commerce platform tailored specifically to my needs. They didn’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution; they truly listened, adapted, and built something unique from the ground up.

Their willingness to continuously refine the product, even as new ideas emerged during the process, was exceptional. I also appreciated their personal commitment to seeing the project succeed; it felt more like a partnership than a typical client-service provider relationship. Their responsiveness, flexibility, and technical expertise made the experience both professional and collaborative.
The website functions smoothly, includes key custom features such as automated auction logic and reserve price indicators, and offers a seamless user experience. Their responsiveness and commitment to refining each detail, even after launch, reflect a strong service ethic and dedication to excellence.
The final product exceeded expectations in terms of quality, custom features, and professional design. They went above and beyond the initial scope without charging extra for every adjustment, showing a genuine commitment to supporting my goals rather than just billing hours. Their pricing was fair and transparent, making the investment worthwhile.
From the initial concept to the live launch and beyond, they demonstrated professionalism, creativity, and technical expertise. The communication was clear and respectful, they handled feedback constructively, and they always found workable solutions to challenges. The final product not only met but exceeded my expectations, and I’m confident it will support the growth of the company into the future. I highly recommend them.

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

There were a few instances where newly added features required some refinements after going live. A slightly more thorough testing process beforehand might help streamline future rollouts. That said, the team responded promptly and professionally each time, which helped keep everything on track.
Their dedication to understanding my vision, willingness to go the extra mile, and ability to deliver a professional, functional, and visually appealing platform make them a trusted partner. They’re reliable, skilled, and committed to client success.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Manager - Website Content of MTN South Africa

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Africa’s largest mobile network operator. Providing voice, data, fintech, digital, enterprise, wholesale and API services to 291 million customers in 16 markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• To develop two website applications

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

Referral

Why did you select Origen Software over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Origen Software were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Origen Software were tasked to develop two microsites that showcased MTN unique value propositions. 

The mobile-friendly web builds were each unique and required an array of rich-media customisation. Some of the application deliverables included: User Registration, User Authentication, Password Security, Account Management and Role-based Access Control to name a few. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both applications had an in-depth user journey and required a lot of user-interaction. The measurement of success was not only, to deliver fully functional microsites but also allow for an intuitive user-experience.  

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

The run a tight ship, we ran two weekly stand-up/status sessions along with a bi-weekly show and tell progress session. They have a very responsive project management team, who kept all parties honest throughout the web-builds.  

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The Origen Software team are very professional, have great social skills, are easy to work with and integrated well with our existing third-party suppliers. I could really tell this team loves their craft and it showed by their stellar output. 

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

Origen Software has no areas for improvement, they provided a stellar output.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director / Co-Founder of SimplyPut

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

SimplyPut is a pocket guide to basic South African laws and business concepts which empowers users to both understand and assert their rights, and connect with legal professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• Develop the first version of our application
• Workshop ideas to include in the application
• Get advice about the South African Start up scene

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

Referral

Why did you select Origen Software over others?

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

How many teammates from Origen Software were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope included end to end mobile app development for IOS and Android. This included UX/UI design, wireframing, development, testing, and deployment. Origen also assisted in brainstorming with the founders about what should be included in the application, market segment selection, and general Start up advice.

By project end, we had:

• Published apps on the  IOS and Android app stores
• A web based Admin Consol 
• A game plan for the next 2 years

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Origen provided constant updates via meetings / emails of either screenshots of progress, or prototype versions of the application we could test. We set goals to achive and each goal had a distint objective, such as screen design, admin consol creation, etc

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

Their project management was great. I never struggled to get meetings or responses. All deliverables were completed before deadlines. Professionalism was present in every interaction with Harley or any team memeber 

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Hard quality: The quality and speed of their work.

Soft quality: I've had the pleasure of meeting some team members in person and not only do they match up with the quality of the company they work for, they are all round good people. 

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

While not necessarily a step for improvement. I would've liked to have a dynamic version of our application which didn't need a re-release of a version to provide updates. But again this was just a technical choice

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director and founder of an investment company. Our company does three main things. Firstly, we provide advisory to the public and private sectors. Secondly, we're a custodian of providing access to funding for small businesses and green economy ventures in particular. Thirdly, we're a direct investor in early-stage ventures ourselves.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Origen Software?

We needed help with website development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Origen Software designed and developed our website. After our discovery call, the team provided a few templates for the website design that fit my needs regarding the type of website that I wanted. During this process, I provided them with most of the wording, images, and logos that they needed to include on the website.

This is mainly an informational website users can leverage to get in touch with us. It has a call to action button so that users can click on it and get in touch.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Harley (Co-Founder & CEO), who had a team of 2–3 members working behind.

How did you come to work with Origen Software?

We found them through a referral from someone in our network. We initially had an introductory call with Origen Software about the services they provide, during which we also discussed the services I was looking for. During this call, the team also provided insight on how they could tailor their services to our needs, which I appreciated very much.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on this project around December 2023 and completed it in May 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Origen Software delivered a beautiful website. However, the website is not live yet, so we can't provide any actual metrics. The site will be live soon once we activate the actual domain. Overall, Origen Software's work exceeded my expectations.

How did Origen Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Throughout the process, Origen Software was nothing but professional, hands-on, and timely. They always responded efficiently and timely. Moreover, they delivered on time and on budget, and they communicated extremely well. We used phone calls and emails to communicate and Google Drive to upload some of the images.

Overall, Origen Software's project management was stellar. There was never confusion about who to speak to and when, as Harley was always available. We even communicated via WhatsApp because it was very easy for me to review drafts on my phone and take screenshots to provide my feedback via WhatsApp. They were very flexible in that regard, as they took my feedback from WhatsApp and put it back into the project flow to work on it.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Harley was absolutely fantastic. He was very accessible and available to us, and his wealth of experience made it very easy for my website to come to life. Throughout the project, he provided great advice. Sometimes, I thought I wanted one thing, but he would advise against it, using best practices for the look and feel. He worked on how to keep the website simple and clean. Therefore, he deserves a shout-out.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What Origen Software does best is understand the needs of their clients and the end customers. They were great at guiding us in terms of best practices and what the development should look like.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing Origen Software could have improved on; I was very happy with them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Communicate what you're trying to accomplish as clearly as possible and in an organized manner. Giving them as much information and detail as possible is helpful and goes a long way.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Squirrel Away

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are developing a Fintech App focusing on Investment Gifting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• To fully develop the App
• To maintain the App after handover and launch

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

We met them at a business pitch fintech competition

Why did you select Origen Software over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Origen Software were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Phase 1: Planning and Design (25 July 2023 - 10 September 2023)

1. Project kickoff and requirement gathering
2. Marketing research and competitor analysis
3. Designing user interface and user experience
4. Mock-ups review and approval
5. Prototyping

Phase 2: Development (11 September 2023 - 10 November 2023)

1. User Android and IOS applications development
2. Admin web portal development

Phase 3: Testing and Deployment (11 November 2023 - 25 November 2023)

1. Functional, performance, security, and usability testing
2. Bug fixes and final adjustments
3. Deployment and launch 

Phase 4: Testing and Deployment (26 November 2023 - 20 February 2024)

1. Further feature development on user application
2. Further feature development on administrator portal

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Origen consistently delivered high-quality code that not only met but exceeded our expectations. Their ability to quickly understand complex requirements and implement robust solutions was invaluable.

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

Yes, they delivered items on time and were patient in dealing with me, someone with no background in IT. So they helped in terms of holding my hand on this process of developing the App. Communication was excellent, with regular updates on progress and clear explanations of technical aspects.

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They are accessible, adhere to the timelines they have committed to and very good in communicating about the project and how things are going with the project, good or bad. I also like their patience in terms of explaining the processes especially to someone with no background in this process. I was extremely impressed with their skills and dedication as well.

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

I have had the pleasure of working with Origen. I am overall happy with Origen and as it stands, they have not given me any areas of concern.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Product Management of Deep Current

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A Digital Product Management Agency, we work with select distributed teams to advise on and deliver digital products to clients on time, on spec and on budget.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Origen Software to accomplish?

• Geo-Spatial Tax Data 'Map Explorer' in React.js
• React.js 'Economic Dashboards' for Municipality Decision makers
• Integrate with React.js application with API Tax Data
• Tax 'Data Download' feature with User Access control
• Design and implement 'landing page layouts' for Tax Data Portal
• Finish within limited timeframe before financial year-end

SOLUTION

How did you find Origen Software?

Other

Why did you select Origen Software over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit

What was the size of Origen Software’s team?

6-10 Employees

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

Origen Software was hired to complete the build of the first South African Spatial Tax Data Portal allowing users to explore rich economic data in both a Map Explorer (Geo-Spatial Map) and Dashboard visualization arrangement (Time Series Graphs). In addition, the data needed to made 'open-access', i.e. freely available for download behind a user login process.

Through a collaboration with the HSRC and Deep Current, Origen was able to deliver the portal on time, on spec and on budget at the end of February 2023. Together with Deep Current, who provided product management and python skillsets, Origen successfully delivered on the methodology specified by Deep Current. The methodology centered on using Uber / React.js libraries on the front end and a Python / SQL solution required by the client on the back-end.

On the front-end, the Map Explorer included the use of mapbox.gl, d3,js, deck.gl, with the uber h3 spatial index library. The 14 Economic Dashboards also made use of libraries for react.js from uber. For the back-end, data was uniquely provided by the client in a set of pre-aggregated anonymised csvs which needed to be adpated into a usable API served from a SQL database. A filter configuration was implemented and the API was built using Django, Python, DRF, SQL.

Finer transformations, needed to generate the relevant API structures, were done with libraries such as pandas and numpy. Uniquely for the front-end, Origen created a custom legend overlay to support the Map Explorer filter process, features such as 'linear/log', 'min/max', 'a choropleth map', '3d', 'opacity toggle', 'diverging scale colour', 'continuous scale colour' were added to allow economists and municipalities effective viewing the data.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• On Time
• On Budget
• Completed Specification

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

Yes, on time. However, Deep Current was responsible for Product Management / Project Management for this project.

What was your primary form of communication with Origen Software?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

• High skillset
• High standard
• Valuable insights received into best approaches

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

Nothing specific. As a team, we responded to challenges quickly to keep in step with the required project pace.