Promatics Technologies

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of Pata Hao. We mostly deal in the property market, but we also provide marketing for properties online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Promatics Technologies?

We needed an iOS and Android application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We didn’t have a centralized place where everyone could come and look at our product, or where people could post their properties. We were mostly depending on posters and banners but we wanted to join the digital world and post our properties on the internet.

The application is for both iOS and Android. I prepared a proposal for them as well as basic guidelines for the application. We designed it together and they brought in a lot of suggestions on the technology side of things as that is their expertise. They were really hands-on and were able to deliver the project in seven weeks.

As of last week, we started another contract with them to build us a web portal which will be connected to the application.

How did you come to work with Promatics Technologies?

I was searching for a technology company that was within our budget that dealt exclusively with mobile and web applications. I went online and found several, of which five replied to me. We narrowed it down to two and ended up going with Promatics because they came up with the best solution.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on this project from April to June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started from scratch and now have a functioning application. We just recently rolled it out and they will be running tests for the next three months.

We haven’t started doing business through the application as we're in the process of populating it. We have a campaign encouraging real estate agents and landlords to post their properties online so that we can have them in our application.

Our market is very challenging because it's common for people to use Android 3 and 4, but we've been able to bring a product they can actually install on their phone and that operates without any bugs. They've been very flexible and we received a lot of assistance from them.

How did Promatics Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They did well and exceeded my expectations. They went above and beyond to do things I was supposed to do. We had meetings on a daily basis for approval and continuation of every step.

They were able to do the work quickly as I needed it to come out on time. Their timing was perfect. There were several challenges throughout as they're in India and we're in Africa, including a lot of technological differences, but we're pretty happy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very good at communicating, sometimes communicating hourly using WhatsApp.

There were certain things I didn’t initially understand as this was my first mobile application development. We went into this blind and the project manager was very useful as he was able to explain the things we didn’t understand.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In every business, there is always room for improvement. Sometimes it was a bit difficult to communicate because of the language. Right now, I don’t have anything I am unhappy about because they delivered my product in the way I wanted. We wouldn’t have extended the contract if we weren’t happy with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Focus on marketing as there's a lot of competition there.

In our market, the application we developed is way above a lot of people’s targets. They were the most reasonable I could find.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder of a startup for an on-demand logistics app. We have a extensive experience in the logistics sectors and are associated with other firms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Promatics Technologies?

We wanted to build a mobile app for Androids and iOS. Although the app was central to our business, we lacked the technical background to build it. As a result, we needed offshore resources to build the project from the ground up, including design, development, and deployment as well as maintenance.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a platform that would enable anyone to easily send packages with minimal costs. The app would foster dynamic interactions from users and couriers alike.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

To curb development costs, we sought a firm in India that could provide high-quality work for a reasonable price. We shortlisted several vendors through online research and recommendations. After the initial interviews, we requested proposals.

We were impressed with the amount of effort that Promatics Technologies put into preparing the proposal, and their business analyst was knowledgeable. While they weren’t the most inexpensive, they seemed genuine and had a superb understanding of our requirements.

Describe the project in detail.

They designed an app for Android and iOS from scratch that allowed users to list packages for delivery within a particular city. Willing couriers could see the listings and take the assignment. The app also features search capabilities to see scheduled courier routes and times, allowing users to conveniently request pickups and pay for them. Ultimately, the app allows people to earn money while traveling in addition to a cheap delivery service.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a project manager, an iOS developer, an Android developer, a backend developer, and a web service specialist as well as a designer. We primarily communicated with the project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We successfully launched our app in stores for beta testing and have scheduled a limited release later this month to a wider set. So far, we’ve received positive feedback from our beta users who complimented the app’s design and overall functionality. We currently plan to collect the feedback to build an improved build after a few months.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicated effectively with the project manager. He made us feel comfortable and updated us on the development process. During certain development phases, we spoke with the other team members to discuss major sections of the app. Overall, their team was responsive, and we never had to wait more than a business day for an answer.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

To be honest, I initially didn’t expect such a high level of customer service. They were exceptionally good in taking care of things. Although we had delays on our side due to other commitments, they ensured that everything remained on track. They were detail oriented, focused, and committed to finishing the project on time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that I would like to point out specifically.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Insightuk, a facility services provider in the United Kingdom.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Promatics Technologies?

We hired them to create a quoting system app to better coordinate with our customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had a clear idea of what I wanted the app to do. We went back and forth with the technical aspects, and Promatics helped craft a design. While I initially envisioned a fairly text-heavy layout, they convinced me to add more pictures to increase usability.

They provided wireframes which included a number of features I hadn’t considered, including a notifications section to improve communication with the end user. They then built the native iOS and Android apps for both mobile and tablet platforms, as well as a backend website to store the information.

The app allows our customers to organize their own quotes, but also provides information about all of our services and products.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with one person throughout the entire process. He was available whenever I needed him and accomplished any task without question. He was a dream contractor.

How did you come to work with Promatics Technologies?

My proposal included a complex algorithm to work out pricing. While we presented this to four different companies, Promatics was the only one that seemed to understand what we were asking. They asked relevant questions about our project, and I could tell they would be a good fit.

How much have you invested with them?

Just under £6,000 [$8,020 USD].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2017 and the app just launched on the App Store and Google Play.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We showed demos to industry insiders throughout the development process and they are all very excited to use the app. They love the concept, but also Promatics’ execution.

How did Promatics Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We organized the development in stages, tweaking the project every step of the way until it met my exact specifications. We communicated multiple times each day through email, and if I sent them a request, they would respond with the results and next steps.

I’ve asked them to look at a couple of minor problems since launch, many of which they’ve already solved.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm amazed they were able to produce such quality results at such a low price. I expected to pay twice as much as they charged. They offered an unending commitment to my product, and the value for money is simply off the charts.

I made a number of change requests throughout the project, and they executed these tasks at no extra cost. While a number of companies claim to guarantee customer satisfaction, Promatics lives up to that promise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They consistently went above and beyond my expectations, so I have nothing negative to say.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As long as you effectively communicate what you want, Promatics will work with you until you’re 100% satisfied with the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a very large IT consulting firm as a business analyst. This project was for a startup that I am doing with friends. The company is called Pepoolar.

The startup involves online knowledge sharing of many different topics. Different authors can publish media on our platform and interact with readers to improve the overall education of the group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Promatics?

I needed to hire a development team to build our core product on iOS and Android. We don't offer physical products, our main asset is the mobile app platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the mobile apps on both platforms from scratch. They were responsible for design, development, and launch. Now that the applications are both live, I am working with them on a three-month maintenance contract. They offered 3 months of free support as part of the main contract.

How did you come to work with Promatics?

I probably found ten different companies. My main criteria was the budget. I spoke to the CEO of Promatics and thought that he understood my vision and would be a good fit. He was convinced that they might be able to achieve what we want to achieve. They also offered a really competitive price.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The total project took eight weeks to complete. We started in May 2017 and published the application live in July.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Yes, they were successful. There are definitely hiccups and issues. They were able to fix all the bugs and problems before the deadline. There are always issues during development projects so the changes were expected.

We made a log with all of the issues and tracked them. They were able to fix everything without delaying delivery.

How did Promatics perform from a project management standpoint?

My major communication source was via email but they are open to having phone calls. If you request a call, they will do it. They generally work on India time so we had to speak to them around midnight EST.

I think they are very good with project management. They give you a single point of contact so you just need to email one person. They usually respond within one or two days. Sometimes, they were slow to respond and I had to follow up by email. They followed up within one day probably 80% of the time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I originally spoke with one of the managers and the iOS developer. I'm very satisfied with their collective experience. They were able to manage the project well and I'm satisfied with their competence.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They definitely need to improve their overall quality of initial delivery. They have internal validation before they hand it to the customer. However, there were a number of mistakes. They probably just did basic unit testing before they passed it to me. I would suggest that they focus more on internal validation.

Any advice for future clients of theirs?

Other customers can really rely on them for development work. If the project requires testing, I would recommend that the client creates their own development testing team. I wasn't very happy with their validation. I wouldn't lean on Promatics for testing.

The other suggestion involves the design template. We were over 90% happy with their initial design but of course, we had to provide suggestions on colors and the logo. It is pretty good but not as strong as their development competency.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the co-founder of an online platform based in Hong Kong through which customers can make appointments with salons or with freelance beauty professionals who come to them. For the moment, we’re focusing on the Hong Kong market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Promatics?
We engaged Promatics to develop the mobile responsive website. We asked them to do the web design as well as the backend development work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
They created the entire platform for us. We had an idea in mind already, and they provided some design concepts. It’s a complex platform, and they were good at replicating what we had in mind. The bulk of the work was focused on the development side. I had given them instructions on how it needed to work, and they came up with options for how to produce the most efficient website. They handled the project management as well.

How did you come to work with Promatics?
We were looking for someone in Hong Kong and other regions. A few development agencies in India were recommended to us, but then we found Promatics on Clutch. They were highly rated, and we decided to hire them because they provided us with the most comprehensive and cost-effective proposal.

How much have you invested with them?
The original quote was $4,000, but since then we’ve requested quite a few changes and additions so the total cost is between $6,000–$7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in November 2016, and the website has been completed. We still engage them for further support and maintenance work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We haven’t launched the website yet, but we are satisfied with the product. As far as functionality goes, they’ve done a good job, and it’s operating well. In terms of design, they did what we asked, but I think it could be better. We’re working with a PR marketing agency now that has had access to the site, and we’ve shown it to close friends and family. People think the process is smooth and easy to follow.

We have to get salons onboard to partner with us. We had a few salons that were apprehensive, but when we showed them how the website worked and how easy it was for them to monitor the dashboard, they were really positive and liked it. That’s thanks to Promatics because they did a great job with the dashboards.

What did you find most impressive about them?
What I really liked about the team was that whenever I had an issue that needed to be resolved or I saw a potential problem in the way the site was working or the process itself, I could come with ideas to fix it. However, these might not be the most cost-effective solutions. The team is very good at coming up with alternative options to make the process better for us, and they didn’t try to sell us something more expensive. They were good at coming up with productive ideas that were more cost-effective.

Are there any areas they could improve?
It’s a bit unfair to mention the design because we asked them to replicate something. But they could have been better on that front. They’re pretty engaging and took feedback well. Sometimes there were delays, but I think that’s common for IT projects.

Any advice for future clients of theirs?
My advice is for any developer, not just Promatics. The customer needs to be clear about what they want. The issue for us was we hadn’t done research up front, so we had to make changes throughout the process. There were things we thought would work but didn’t. You need to be 100% sure about what you want and have done the research upfront.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of an app called SellBuyVideo. It’s a marketplace, similar to Craigslist and Letgo, which uses video to promote and sell items instead of using static images.

Someone can post a video of what they’re trying to sell and how much they’re asking for it, and they can capture or post the video on the app. Buyers get a better idea of what they will purchase because of the detailed video rather than a one-dimensional picture.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Promatics?

The opportunity I wanted to address was creating a virtual, more realistic buy and sell experience. I've held onto this idea since 2012, and I finally contacted Promatics to build the app and bring my idea to the market. I’d like for the app to become a norm in the marketplace, and I believe it can because a video is the closest buyers get to a real-life purchasing experience. Therefore, the opportunity was a virtual depiction of items for sale.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had the initial idea for the iOS and Android app, and I had a lot of sketches drawn out of what I wanted. I sent that to Promatics and they took over the development from there. They sent back wireframes in which I would write my changes on, and then they would make them.

Promatics made the whole process easy for me, even though I didn't know the industry or the tech involved. They took my sketches and used my designs to do the coding that brought the app to life.

How did you come to work with Promatics?

For me, the cost was the main factor in choosing a company. Promatics had a reasonable fee for service.

I viewed their work online and then I talked to the owner of the company. I had a lot of conversations with him and asked a lot of questions in order to make sure that everything was legit. I also did my own research and read articles about Promatics through other US-based companies. All those factors helped me to ultimately choose Promatics.

How much have you invested with Promatics?

It was slightly less than $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The app is completed — Currently, I am trying to finalize server space and find app management. My plan is to launch the app by the end of July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m satisfied with the work Promatics has done, especially with their responsiveness and how they’ve helped me through the whole process. Being so naive to the building and technology of apps, it was great to have someone hold my hand through it all. I believe with the baseline and version 1 Promatics has delivered that my company will be able to only grow and go up from here.

I’ve shown the app to friends and family to test functionality and user ability and everyone thinks it’s a great app idea and solves a problem of pictures not always telling the whole story. They think the app itself is user-friendly and it can help people change the way they buy and sell things online. They also feel like it’s an app that should currently be available on the App Store helping people more efficiently sell their items.

How did Promatics perform from a project management standpoint?

I can almost always look at my phone at 9:30 AM and see that my contact who’s handling my project has sent me a daily update. It meant a lot to me to know where their team was with the project and what they were working on rather than just wondering where everything is — I really appreciated that. I also appreciated their receptiveness to the changes that I wanted to make because I made many. Even if I wanted to make small changes, they were receptive to them.

What did you find most impressive about Promatics?

Promatics’ ability to help me develop my idea was great, especially as someone who didn't know anything about the industry or process.

Are there any areas Promatics could improve?

I don't think so. I had to come up with a logo and some of the design aspects for the app, and I know it’s not their job to offer advice, but I didn't really know what I was looking for. It would have helped if they had some form of design team or offer two or three design ideas. However, their job is to develop the app, and they achieved that.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Promatics?

My advice to other companies is to just go for it. I held onto this idea to long because 1) I didn't know what to do or how to start and 2) the companies I contacted wanted me to pay what I wasn't comfortable paying.

You can always develop the app offshore and then bring it back and be a US-based company. I think in the current climate, anything foreign is sometimes frowned upon, but if we’re utilizing overseas assets in other areas, why not technology. I think it gives us a baseline to create what we want to do and then advance it further over here. If anyone is hesitant about using non-U.S. based developers, I would say to not be worried. My advice is to do your research, vet the company, make sure they’re legitimate, and then go for it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an Indian technology company focusing on the information-as-a-service concept for agriculture. We take data from farmers and sellers, build strong datasets, and run econometric modeling and machine learning algorithms on them in order to predict behaviors and design improved products. We were founded one year and 3 months ago, and we have 10 employees, 50% of them focusing on customer support. We also have one technology expert in-house. 

I am the founder and chief information officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Promatics Technologies?

We are a new company with limited resources, so we needed a technology partner for building our systems. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a relatively new concept and some specific requirements around it. Promatics Technologies worked based on our mockups, figuring out a solution in collaboration with our team.

Because we participate in farming events, we've had set deadlines. Promatics Technologies was able to work additional hours during these periods, even on weekends, which we appreciated.

Promatics Technologies assigned 3 developers (1 of them in charge of PHP work) and 3 testers for our project.

How did you come to work with Promatics Technologies?

We had a couple of options in our list, including Promatics Technologies. We found the company on Upwork and initially gave them a small, 2-3-week project developing an application for farmers. The idea was to test our ability to get work done using Promatics Technologies, and it ended up well. There were some initial trust issues along with the fact that we were working remotely, but as time passed, we developed a strong relationship from a business perspective.

How much have you invested with Promatics Technologies?

The total cost of our project with Promatics Technologies was $110,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Promatics Technologies in November 2015. We have finalized our initial streamline, and the app was launched on the Play Store. We have also completed a second project with Promatics Technologies, and are running a 3rd one currently. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, we have onboarded 198 sellers and 2,500 customers. 7% of customers use our app on a daily basis, and 25% of them use it weekly, which is very good engagement. Promatics Technologies helped us shape our application, allowing our group to gather data from customers.

How did Promatics Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Promatics Technologies was good in this regard, but not exceptional. Timelines were only missed in 5% of the time, and then only by 1-2 days. That usually happened because Promatics Technologies wanted to ensure that testing was done properly. We used Skype to discuss mockups.

What did you find most impressive about Promatics Technologies?

Promatics Technologies was willing to go the extra mile for us whenever we had urgent requests. The team had people available even on holidays, ensuring that we'd have the product ready for the next day.

Are there any areas Promatics Technologies could improve?

Time and project management could be improved somewhat, by using dedicated tools. I do understand that Promatics Technologies needs to run multiple projects simultaneously. They also have a very good price, compared to market standards.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company specializes in creating user and installation manuals. I am the owner and chief executive officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Promatics Technologies?

We hired Promatics to create a tool designed by our company, which allows us to create multi-language manuals easily, using a text and translations database.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Promatics has mainly offered web development for our SaaS application. There was quite a lot of programming involved, but it resulted in a functional website in the end.

How did you come to work with Promatics Technologies?

Promatics was referred by a friend and business relation. I believe that he found them on oDesk.

How much have you invested with Promatics Technologies?

The cost of our project with Promatics for the first year will be between $10,000 and $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Promatics 5 months ago. We will continue the collaboration for a long period of time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I am very satisfied with Promatics' work. The testing was done mainly by my colleagues and me. There are always things to improve, from design to programming issues, but all our feedback was implemented by Promatics according to our needs. The result was very much how we wanted it.

How did Promatics perform from a project management standpoint?

It's always important to find a way of working together with any new supplier. After working for a few weeks with Promatics, we found what worked best for us, and I'm excited to continue the working relationship.

What did you find most impressive about Promatics Technologies?

I haven't worked on this type of project often, so it would be hard to differentiate Promatics from other developers. All our experiences have been good. Promatics listened to and understood our needs. They did what we wanted, but also shared their opinions.

Are there any areas Promatics Technologies could improve?

Other programmers may be able to find improvements in Promatics' work, but, looking at it from a user perspective, based on our initial requirements, I cannot find anything wrong.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Promatics Technologies?

Through working with developers, I've learned that it's important to be specific with what I ask for. If the requirements are vague, it can lead to many issues. This hasn't happened in Promatics' case, but it is true in general.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We offer a recruitment platform for the Indian market, which includes educational resources. We focus on both employers and students.

What is your position?

I am the founder and managing director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Promatics Technologies?

I needed help in designing and developing my website. I also needed guidance in the process, given that I have no development knowledge. Specifically, I needed to know how I could control the site and what resources I would need.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Promatics designed my website and guided me along the way. They were a teacher for me.

How did you come to work with Promatics Technologies?

I was Googling developers. Their name came up, and I gave them a call. We had a brief conversation in order to gauge how long the project would take, what their pricing was, and so on.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total development cost was around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The majority of the work has been completed. There are a couple of modules in development still, like the payment one. For the time being, I am not requiring fees from any of my users. The original estimation for the project was eight weeks. It took a little longer than expected to complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I have no metrics yet, given that we're still in the process of announcing the site to a wider market. We did a few small advertisements for it last month and people registered with us. They gave us positive feedback about the design of the website and how user-friendly it is.

How did Promatics Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

I am happy with their services. I was able to contact anyone from their team online easily whenever something went wrong.

What distinguishes Promatics Technologies from other providers?

They have good team leadership skills at Promatics and strong technical ability. Everyone is very friendly and easy to approach. There is a bit of a time difference between India and Australia, but they were understanding in this respect. I was always able to send them anything via email and expect it to be notified once it had been completed instantly.

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

I can only comment about the team with which I worked. I have no negative comments about them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are an artificial turf supply company based out of Chicago.

What is your position?

I am the owner. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Promatics?

We wanted to create a user-friendly website that also has advanced features. We wanted our new website to be up to date and responsive.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Promatics provided web design and development for us using custom technology.

How did you come to work with Promatics?

I'd worked with their company previously through a mediator and was satisfied with their work. Promatics had the best background and pricing, so I got in touch with them directly through their website when I needed additional work.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total cost for the project was less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work is 95 percent complete, and the website is online. We're testing the site and fixing a few bugs. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I'm satisfied with the website. Promatics did a great job. I've had a number of websites developed for me in the past, so I'm used to working with developers. I wasn't used to the quick turnaround that Promatics provide. They gave me daily updates in clear terms and were always upfront about the progress.

The quality of the work is great. The overall design of the site, including its back-end, is exactly what I requested.

How did Promatics perform from a project management standpoint?

They are a professional company. They took my requests, itemized everything, and gave a response to each question and issue I had. The process was quick and fully involved on my end. I was not expecting to have such an ample level of communication, but that was a good thing. Promatics provided in-depth data constantly, which took me a long time to get through in order to get a response to them.

What distinguishes Promatics from other providers?

They have the capabilities to deliver anything I ask of them.

Is there anything Promatics could have improved or done differently?

There were instances in which I'd have to point out things that I thought they'd notice on their own. They could test through their code more and do checks on the rough drafts they send out.