Saffron Tech

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of NestJoy, a startup that we haven’t launched yet. We’ll be selling fabric and wallpaper online, and we’re targeting the design industry.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed someone to develop a website that would differentiate us from the majority of our competitors. We wanted to have a visual website that allows customers to visualize the fabrics and wallpapers before they purchase it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech has designed and developed our website from scratch. The whole scope of the project has been very detailed and organized from the beginning — they sent us design mock-ups and walked us through every step of the process.

We’re currently in the final phase of the site’s development. We’ve added a few things to the scope during the last few weeks, which has extended the project by another month or two.

What is the team composition?

I work with Ankit (Business Development Manager) as well as a project manager, who hosts our weekly meetings and who I’ve communicated the most with throughout the design and development phases of the project. I also work with their head developer, who shows us how everything works and provides us advice and feedback.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

Saffron Tech was recommended to me by a friend, who had worked with them in the past. I talked to several different companies, but Saffron Tech was the only one who seemed to understand what our goals were.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $38,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

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

Unfortunately, we can’t provide any statistics or metrics yet, at least until everything is finished and the website is launched.

The quality of their work is on point with our expectations. There are still a few bugs that we’re working on and a few other things to fix, but overall, everything’s running smoothly and I’m really happy with the results so far.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was a little rough in the beginning, but it’s definitely improved throughout the whole project. After working together for a month, we’ve been able to figure out the best way to communicate with each other. 

Working around my and my team’s work schedules has been the most challenging part, but Saffron Tech has been willing to adjust their schedules to work effectively with us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really appreciated how Saffron Tech took the time to really gain a deep understanding of the project and our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Saffron Tech could have done better in terms of organizing the project and identifying our next steps during the initial stages, but we’ve since addressed these issues, and at this point, everything’s gotten better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It would be a great idea to give Saffron Tech visual examples or mock-ups of what you want to achieve to give them a better idea of what you want and to speed up the entire process.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of BizBoom. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech

We contacted Saffron Tech about six months ago to really bring our product vision to life. They’re helping us take our product to market and/or to investors. 

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Saffron Tech has been working with us for about six months on our web app. It’s a site for entrepreneurs to register their new businesses and ultimately build a consumer base. Our platform acts as a middleman between consumers and entrepreneurs in this ever-growing digital world. We also reinvest 10% of our profits into local markets and underdeveloped areas to give back to the community.

The project is divided into three phases, which include two months of business analysis, the wireframing and design, and what they call the technical feasible consultant phase. They’ve just finished off the wireframing this week, and we’re now heading into the technical feasible consultant segment, which will last for about a month and a quarter. We’re building the app in HTML with an Angular framework.

What is the team composition? 

I’ve worked with Ankit (Business Development Manager, Palek (Project Manager) who’s taken us through the wireframes, and Swetank (Senior Business Analyst). There are three others who’ve come in and out of calls. 

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

One of my business partners had a prior experience with Saffron Tech, which helped us during our search for tech companies. Through our additional research and negotiation, Saffron Tech ended up in the running lead. We came together collectively to realize that this was a project that they wanted to back. 

One of the benefits of working with them was that they were overseas. Our platform bridged entrepreneurs with other businesses to be able to work on an international scale. If that were the case, then we figured we should put our money where our mouth was. Since then, it’s been absolutely no issue.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re slated to spend just over $18,000 and are about $10,000 in at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2020, and the project is ongoing.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of digital growth at Erizo Box, which is a subscription box of creative games and activities for kids between 3–12 years old. The boxes can be delivered to subscribers’ homes on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed a partner to develop our e-commerce website. After conducting research, we decided that Magento would best meet our needs.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech designed and developed our e-commerce website on Magento 2. Their team designed the UI/UX, programmed the platform, and then connected us to necessary third parties to support logistics and payments. They also recommended an outlet to host our website.

Saffron Tech initially created it in Arabic but after four months, they recommended that it also read in English to save us time and money. We followed through on their recommendation. Their team gave us the source code for testing too.

What is the team composition?

I worked with 10–12 people from Saffron Tech.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

I posted on LinkedIn asking for proposals to build my Magento 2 website. After receiving 120 proposals, we shortlisted 5–6 companies. We chose Saffron Tech because they had Magento 2 experience and fit our budget.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $6,000–$8,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between September 2020­–February 2021.

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

Their team’s work was brilliant. From planning to delivering the final product, their team was excellent. We tested everything and it all worked. Their code was clean, so testing and deploying the website was perfect. The frontend was nearly perfect too. After modifications, we received exactly what we wanted.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Saffron Tech managed the project well. Each stage had different metrics and KPIs. We added a milestone because we decided to create an English language version, which we didn’t initially plan to do. That extended the project about 3–5 weeks but that was acceptable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Saffron Tech effectively communicated and replied to all of our inquiries with thorough explanations. Their team thought outside of the box, giving us solutions to any challenges. Many people understand Magento 2. However, Saffron Tech also professionally programs and deploys the technology.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their UI/UX design skills. Although the designs weren’t bad, they weren’t perfect either. I liked most of their work but that was one area for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have a great team that will exceed your expectations, especially with Magento 2.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of AdNet Advertising Agency. We focus on immigration law firms with our services.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed to build new software and initially hired a company that was unable to complete the project.

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the first few months of the project, Saffron Tech gathered data about the company and put together a BRD (business research document) that we then reviewed and edited. Based on the document, their team provided wireframes and demonstrated the app’s planned functionalities.

They’re building several modules and is currently working on an intake module. Among others, the tool will gather analytics, support automation and a document flow, and track several metrics.

What is the team composition?

My main contacts are the project leader and the business leader. They oversee a development team of 8–9 people.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

The company we initially hired for the project was unable to meet your requirements. We then turned to Saffron Tech.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$150,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began around September 2020, and it’s ongoing.

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

The team is professional and knowledgeable. So far, we’re happy with the look and feel of the products.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly calls. They document meetings for us to review and finish tasks on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Saffron Tech is exactly what we sought in a partner. Their team listens to us and documents everything. Our work experience with them is superior to our experiences with other companies. Their team members have different skillsets and really know technology.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if they had a local office to erase the time difference.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The BRD is key. They will do a great job for you.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and sole employee of my own company that is looking to launch a mobile app.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

I had an idea for a mobile app but needed help from a development team to bring it to life.  

What was the scope of their involvement?

The mobile app will serve as a social network that will allow incoming freshmen at colleges to create and answer polls to discover which other students are similar to them. I came to their development team with my idea and UI for the app. While they offer design, I delivered the designs myself.

They began building out the UI/UX onto the application, providing me with weekly updates that I could click through and provide feedback for future iterations. Week over week, they take in my feedback and incorporate it into the next version while building out the next stages of functionality. 

At this point, they’re working on building out the functionality of the app now that the UI/UX has been implemented. We’re working on the sign-up process and the internal tools the app needs to run effectively. Once they build the last few elements, they’ll be working with me to ready the app for launch in the App Store. I chose to start with an iOS version with the potential to build an Android version down the road. 

What is the team composition?

The team consists of a project manager and several developers and QA specialists. There’s an individual that specializes in every part of the build. 

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

My budget pushed me to evaluate more offshore firms. While most of Saffron Tech’s team is in India, they also have a main branch in New Jersey. That appealed to me. After sitting down with them to discuss the project, it seemed like they really believed in the idea. It was a great fit.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost is about $20,000. As I look to build out more features, I expect the cost to increase.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since August 2020.

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

They’re a receptive team, understanding my requests and feedback. If there’s an edit they don’t understand, they’re sure to ask questions to clarify points. It’s truly a collaborative relationship.  

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly Zoom calls with their team to communicate requirements and expectations. While there have been some communication hiccups, they’re quick to make my requested changes and very understanding of the process.

After our phone calls, they provide updates that include what will be included in the next iteration and request any information needed from me. Their internal project management process is great and transparent. I appreciate their pricing model being broken into milestones, so I pay them as they complete key components. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They work well as a team and always keep me in the loop. I’m confident in their QA process, knowing that there are many sets of eyes on the work being completed. The project is being conducted efficiently and carefully. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are occasionally small edits and changes that need to be made to their deliverables. It’s understandable, and they’re quick to provide the fixes in their updated versions.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I asked them to provide a weekly Zoom call. They were happy to do it but the meeting isn’t part of their standard procedures. If you’d like additional visibility into the project, I’d recommend requesting a weekly meeting.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and founder of Kapdec. We’re an e-learning company that builds software and provides services for students to learn math and science. We also provide life coaching and have sold learning management portals to school. It’s the whole gamut.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

I’d initially worked with Saffron Tech to develop a web-based math education portal. For a good number of years, they helped me build the software code and delivered a dynamic, responsive website that had many advanced features. They also helped me in the ideation stages to determine which features would be good.

As that project evolved, I needed them to provide continuous maintenance and add new features based on customer feedback.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Saffron Tech has assigned a dedicated developer who works on our payroll to continue building out our e-learning portal. Over the past nine months, that resource has helped enhanced the platform in many ways. We use a MEAN tech stack, which includes Angular and Node.js frameworks.

Additionally, we decided to release a set of native iOS and Android mobile apps with the same functions as our web portal. It’s an end-to-end project based on customer requests. They’re helping us with the scoping first and will move on to wireframing and designing later.

What is the team composition? 

I directly work with two people: a project manager and a resource who will help us with our wireframing. Behind those two, there’s an analyst, a designer, and two dedicated mobile app developers. We have an additional project coordinator as well. In total, that makes about 6–7 people.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

Several of my friends had previously worked with Saffron Tech and recommended them to me. I reached out to their New Jersey location and went from there. 

No other company that we’d considered had given me the kind of clarity that Saffron Tech did. Right from the beginning, they had a clear scope, helped me define what I wanted to see in the website, identified a tech stack that would keep us running for the next decade, and more. 

How much have you invested with them?

The costs have been in excess of $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I awarded them the contract for building my web app in February 2018, and we launched the beta version of that project in March 2020. Since then, their dedicated developer has been making enhancements, and we’re working on the mobile apps.

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

Their quality of work is why I’ve kept going back to them. It’s common for people to come and go during development cycles. However, even though the resources have kept changing during our project, I’ve never had a problem with the speed or quality of work. 

Their top managers are willing to jump on an issue immediately, too, so I’ve never said anything twice. They go above and beyond on every little thing. Even during the times when I’ve increased the scope of work, they haven’t been too finicky about it. They’re always fair in those discussions around cost and quality.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication is always spot-on. If I have to go to their founders with an issue, they make sure to resolve it within a day. They’re also good at sticking to the project deliverables and deadlines. That’s not to say there haven’t been minor delays, but that’s reasonable considering how large the project is.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Saffron Tech definitely knows what they’re doing. They understand what a product should be and how it will read to a consumer. I appreciate that they’ll listen to my requests and then advise me on alternative solutions based on their internal knowledge. Not to mention, I haven’t seen any errors in my solution, and we haven’t faced a single hour of downtime in the last nine months. 

I’d also include that they’re fair in their dealings around costs. If the scope increases a little bit, they’re not going to charge unnecessary money. They’ll try to stick to their commitments and work on your tasks immediately, which is hard in the software industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. I’d given them feedback before about onboarding a senior-level UI/UX designer. Of course, having a designer is good, but a senior UI/UX expert has worked on many websites and will know what customers want when they click on a button or how the flow should go.

They actually took my feedback and helped me improve my UX right from the start without charging me extra. They also hired a senior UI/UX designer to look specifically into UX/UI flow.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Overall, if you’re looking for good, quality software with minimal issues, then seek out Saffron Tech. They definitely deliver on their commitments, and you’ll build a good relationship with them.

Before engaging with a company, look at the scope and quality of their resources. Scope creep will kill any startup project and is the biggest pain point. Once that’s out of the way, you can think about cost. Even though they’re on the higher side for price, they’ve always guaranteed quality people, and that has helped me out the most. 

This review was published on December 9, 2020. 

Yogesh Makkar

Founder, Kapdec

Education

1-10 Employees

Cleveland, Ohio

$10,000 to $49,999

Feb. 2018 - Ongoing

Project summary: 

Saffron Tech is developing a web portal to help students improve their math skills. They’ve created a comprehensive roadmap to the process, designed a prototype, and are currently writing the code.

Feedback summary: 

Internal stakeholders have responded enthusiastically to Saffron Tech’s efforts. The team is collaborative and transparent, providing regular progress updates. Their ability to provide critical counsel on technical practices helps make them key partners in the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an education tech startup called Kapdec. Our goal is to help students supplement their education through our software. Our primary target audience includes from students grades 5–12 in India and the U.S.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed resources to build a complex yet high-quality software at a reasonable price. It’s an online portal that will allow students to study math through text documents and video lectures.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we provided a business model and a list of desired features to their analysts. They then converted our documents into a set of technical requirements. This involved outlining the software’s features, mapping out the steps, and dividing the development into phases. From there, they built a prototype of our web portal using HTML, including the design, screen flows, and graphics.

They’re currently writing the code in our selected language and are building the core features. The software will produce practice sets based on the user’s skill level. As the user improves, the program generates increasingly difficult problems. The team is also responsible for integrating the portal with commercial components (e.g., payment gateways) and finding servers to store the databases and video lectures.

What is the team composition?

We work with a dedicated project manager, a graphic designer, two business analysts, and at least four developers. There are also people who are working on the payment system.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

Several of my friends had previously worked with Saffron Tech and recommended them to me. I reached out to their New Jersey location and went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $40,000 thus far, but we expect to spend between $65,000–$70,000 by the end of the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work started in February 2018 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because we’re in the middle of development, we currently don’t have any hard metrics. However, from a qualitative perspective, we’ve been pleased with their efforts. Compared to other vendors we’ve worked with, their team is very competent. They take the time to listen to our needs, accommodating any changes we make without charging extra. Once we launch our business and begin expanding, we plan to retain Saffron Tech for future development.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

We track our progress through weekly phone conferences and emails. They’ve also provided a complete breakdown of the entire project from start to finish, including all tasks and how to approach them. At each meeting, they update us on where we are in the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Rather than strictly following our instructions, we appreciate that they come up with their own solutions to ensure best practices. Unlike other companies, Saffron Tech is willing to suggest new ideas that better suit our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In terms of development, nothing comes to mind. However, it would be convenient if they retained third-party providers for specific services. That way, we wouldn’t have to search for providers when integrating a payment gateway.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with any software developer, ask the team up front about how they’re going to break down and approach the project. This helps to gauge the timeline and eliminate ambiguities.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Flexyn Global. We’re a management and consulting company that’s currently working on a social app called Flexyn.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

I needed someone to build my social networking app.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Saffron Tech is at the helm of production, marketing, and US promotion of my social networking app. They’re designing a one-of-a-kind solution that combines social aspects, point-sharing, and challenges. The goal is to reimagine what challenges can be, replacing advertising with challenges.

They’re now working on the Android and iOS versions as well as a website for early sign-ups. The beta format of the designs should be complete within the next month.

What is the team composition? 

I usually deal with Ankit K. (Business Development Manager) who acts as my project manager. He controls if we need to add anything and gets us on-point with invoices, marketing, and more. I also work with most of their New Jersey office, which amounts to about 6–7 others. 

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

I worked with them on a prior project about a year ago and liked how their business flow and communication were. They seemed like a good fit, and I’ve been pleased ever since.

How much have you invested with them?

Soon, this project will reach $75,000. I think we’re going to have to put some more money into it.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on Flexyn this year, so that’s around February 2020. They’re still working on the app, now.

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

The quality is exceptional. I love their work, and I appreciate our back-and-forth. Everyone communicates via email, weekly Zoom calls, and WhatsApp. Not to mention, they move fast. I have no complaints there.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve never had an issue with deadlines so far (knock on wood!), though we don’t really have hard deadlines. Our teams are open with each other. I’ll let them know when I have my deliverables ready for them, and then they’ll take it and build it out. There hasn’t been a case when they’ve told me they would get something done and then a week goes by with no update.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a graphic artist, I love their designs. And, I love their communication because I always have several people I can go to for support. If someone is out, they’ll let me know by email. They really are a great team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re dead-on with everything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

New clients should keep their communication open. If you don’t like something or are uncomfortable, immediately shoot them an email, and they’ll handle it. We email each other several times a day, and there’s never been an issue.

This review was published on December 11, 2020.

Xanare Bomani

Co-Owner, Flexyn

Internet

1-10 Employees

New Jersey

$10,000 to $49,999

May 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary: 

Saffron developed a social networking app with a point system feature. The development, which is still in progress, includes both an iOS and Android version.

Feedback summary: 

The app is still in the development stage, but has been tested internally and is expected to be completed this year. They're exceptionally good communicators, never taking more than a few hours to respond despite the time difference. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Flexin is a marketing company that assists small businesses with their marketing endeavors. About 1.5 years ago we started moving towards a social networking app, which we wanted eventually to become our primary business. I am one of the owners of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron?

We were looking for a company with expertise in app development to build a social networking app for us in a timely order.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a social networking app with a point system component for both iOS and Android. The app is not integrated with other social media apps because eventually they will be competitors.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact in India and I met with their CEO in their local office in New Jersey.

How did you come to work with them?

I spoke to several app developers, trying to pinpoint the one I felt comfortable with. Saffron had a global presence online and they gave me an impression they would do a good job.

How much have you invested with them?

So far we've spent about $35,000, but I'm estimating that the total cost of the project will be about $85,000. (We’re in the first phase now, but we plan to do the second and the third phases.)

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in May 2017 and it's an ongoing project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're still in the development phase, so the app hasn't gone live yet – we're about halfway done with it. We’ve tested it and are confident our business plan and projections for 2018 will be implemented.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They're excellent communicators. At first, I was overwhelmed by the number of emails I received from different people, so we limited it to one main point of contact. Most of their team is in India, so we usually use email, phone, and video calls to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm very satisfied with their feedback and communication. Even with the time difference they usually get back to me within a few hours.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think so. I'm happy with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communication is important – keep up-to-date with emails and notifications and everything will be fine.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own a company that provides everything from website design and development to digital marketing services.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We’ve worked on several projects together involving website design, SEO, web development, and mobile apps.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We brought them on as a marketing partner, allowing me to focus on other aspects of the business. The majority of their work has convered website design and development as well as SEO. We’re currently working on a mobile app that’s going to be launching soon. 

The app functions as a dating app that ensure that users are verified. Users can also have friends vouch for them through a Facebook integration. The app allows users to review preferred matches and ask others out on dates. It’s made in native technology for iOS and Android.  

What is the team composition?

They have a large team, and I’ve spoken with about 20 of them. I speak with the CRM manager and a project manager on a regular basis for the current mobile app project. 

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

My partner and I started with another company that was taking longer to turn tasks around than we would’ve liked. We kept searching for another partner and found their services. They seemed genuine, transparent, and communicative.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’re spending about $40,000 on our current app development project. We pretty much always have a project in the works together.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since around October 2013. Our current project started in March 2020.

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

I’m happy with their work and the engagement. I’ve been comfortable working with them because they’re excellent at approaching and resolving problems. Their quality is always strong, and we’re pleased with their work.  

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re transparent, communicative, and easy to get in touch with. We get responses from them right away and know they’re always addressing our concerns quickly. They also always follow up with new information and progress updates. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is impeccable and transparent, which helps me feel very comfortable working with them. I’ve grown a good relationship with them and trust them to perform well.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. They always resolve problems and turn tasks around quickly. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more you collaborate with them and share details, the better the outcome of the project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of an e-commerce platform where users buy and sell things.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We needed an e-commerce app developed for Android and iOS.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed the Android app first, and then the iOS app. They used Java and Laravel for Android and Swift for iOS.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with two developers and two designers, one of each for Android and iOS, a customer relations manager, a project manager, and a QA lead.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

I found them on Clutch.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around July 2019, and the iOS build is ongoing.

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

Things went well for the first few weeks, and then it went downhill. Saffron Tech’s quality is extremely poor. They have tested and fixed the same issues repeatedly. They took over a year to complete the Android app, and are on the same track with the iOS app, even though it was supposed to be completed in four months. 

I canceled my contract with them and am trying to get all my files from them. They have given me 44 of the 100+ screens for the iOS app, and those screens don’t have the right design.

Their documentation of code is non-existent, and they dump the code with hard-to-understand passwords. In order to make the application solid, it will take entirely new code.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

They don’t manage the project well. They changed project managers several times, and none of them were organized, followed directions, or seemed to understand the technical side of things. 

We use email and Trello to communicate, and we also enter tickets. They are communicative as long as things go well, but it takes at least 48 hours to get a response once there are problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Saffron Tech was positive at the beginning, acting as though they wanted to collaborate and help us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Even though they were deceptively positive in the beginning, when things got going there was no substance. Anything that seemed positive in the beginning has been canceled out by all the negative. They also ask for additional money and insist on getting paid before work is completed. They hold files, even after the money is paid. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t engage with them. Their salespeople will make you feel comfortable and agree to all your requirements, but they have no intention of meeting your timeline or budget.

This review was published on September 13, 2018.

Ike C.

CEO, E-Commerce Platform

Retail

1-10 Employees

Portland, Oregon

Confidential

Feb. 2018 - Ongoing

Project summary: 

Taking over from a previous contractor, Saffron Tech revamped the design for a C2C app and handled development for Android and Windows. Features included the ability to like, comment, message, and video call.

Feedback summary: 

Saffron Tech took existing wireframes and elevated the design to a new level of modern and user-friendly. Their team excels at building rapport through regular communication and they’re happy to share suggestions for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and president at High Quality Demand, an e-commerce C2C startup that allows users to buy and sell products. We’re hoping to launch our app by the beginning of December 2018.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

We started with a different developer who did a little design and the wireframes, but there were a lot of communication issues and misunderstandings. We decided to look for a new contractor before moving on to our next development phase.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re developing our app for Windows and Android. So far, they’ve designed all the necessary screens and are testing how each one will connect. Once that’s ready, they’ll start coding the app and release a beta version by the end of October 2018. The video call portion is already developed and they’ve partially built out the transportation choice section. All of the more standard functions, including the ability to like, comment, and send messages, are about 70% complete.

After the app is developed, they’ll help us test and launch it. I’m also planning to talk to them about how to market it.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with the project manager and four members of the design team. There’s also a client relations manager who makes sure things are working well on both sides. There are additional developers, but I don’t give them feedback directly. I’ve met about seven team members in total.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

We found them on Clutch. When I interviewed them, they were very honest and quoted us an average rate for the industry. They demonstrated a strong ability to plan, provide documents, and issue reports. Their team offered superior communication skills compared to others we interviewed who fell in the same price tier, so we chose them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our original developers had made the app look good and user-friendly, but Saffron Tech’s improvements and expertise made the difference in quality very obvious. When I showed the newest iteration of the app to friends, they spotted the difference right away and said it looked much more modern, sleek, and like it was designed for people comfortable with technology. Saffron Tech’s overhaul significantly improved our product.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Asana to keep track of everything and the communication with them is excellent. They respond to us immediately and they send us Gantt charts to make sure we stay on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very personable and they challenge me to improve my ideas. We’ve gotten along well since the beginning, whether we’re talking through email, phone, video, or face to face. The longer we work together, the more relaxed I feel about our partnership and the more comfortable I am in meetings. They’re very open to having every team member join a call so that we’re all on the same page about what needs to be done. That personal connection really helps build trust and makes it feel like I’m working with my own employees.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing they could improve is the initial document they sent to me. I do a lot of research before I work with anybody and their first document wasn’t fully tailored to what I wanted. It almost made me reconsider moving forward with them. Fortunately, we connected very strongly during our initial two-hour call, which is the longest I’ve ever spent talking to a developer. I have no complaints about them, which is why I’m going to ask them about doing marketing as well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The search for a development company is a very studious one, and we spent quite a long time searching and interviewing multiple companies. We chose Saffron Tech for the reasons mentioned above and they have exceeded our expectations so far. I would strongly recommend them.

Star Ratings

Overall rating: 5

Quality: 5

Schedule: 5

Cost: 5

Willing to refer: 5

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Seamless Therapy. We provide services to teachers and schools, guiding them on supporting children who have additional learning needs in the classroom.

What challenge were you trying to address with Saffron Tech?

I needed someone to develop our mobile app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Saffron Tech is helping to develop our iOS and Android app from scratch. The app will serve as a tool for teachers in classrooms to support students with additional learning needs, particularly children who are experiencing difficulties with attention and concentration. Eventually, it will provide support for other learning needs, like dyslexia, executive functioning difficulties, sensory processing difficulties, and more.

When a teacher is using the app, they can create profiles for every student in their class who has difficulty with attention and concentration. For each child, the teacher will go through a questionnaire. Based on the answers to that questionnaire, the app will offer suggestions and different levels of individualized strategies based on the severity of the difficulties the child is experiencing.

The app will also feature regularly uploaded and relevant articles. There will be helpful videos and those kinds of things.

What is the team composition?

I’m in regular contact with about five people, including the project manager. There are probably more people working on my project.

How did you come to work with Saffron Tech?

While researching the best app developers, I read reviews on Clutch and really liked the look of Saffron Tech.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2019, and it’s ongoing.

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

The app hasn’t launched yet, and Saffron Tech has been fantastic throughout the pandemic. They've continued working on the project and have still been able to deliver.

How did Saffron Tech perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is really good. The team has good communication internally and also with me. They all seem to be on the same page, and they regularly update me on the progress of what they’re working on. I haven’t had to do any sort of chasing or following up.

They’re generally really on the ball and efficient. They manage the project very well; I’ve been very impressed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I looked into two other developers before deciding on Saffron Tech. I felt that they really understood my vision and were really excited about it. They also had the most creative suggestions and ideas about how to bring my vision to life. Their enthusiasm and creativity are what distinguished them from other companies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are occasionally minor misunderstandings because English isn’t their first language, but we always manage to clear them pretty quickly and easily. It’s never led to any issues or big mistakes. I wouldn’t expect them to improve upon that; it’s just a given when working with someone whose first language is not the same as yours.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be really clear on what your vision is and what your expectations are. Sometimes, I’m still trying to formulate what I want to do and what direction I want to go, in my own mind. At times, that has slowed things down a bit.