Scalamandra

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a Business Consultant. I develop a BI startup. I’m also engaged in investments and trading.

For what projects/services did your company hire Scalamandra?

I develop a BI startup. This startup will help reduce costs for businesses. First of all, we needed a web application design. I don't have a professional designer on my team, so we contacted with the company

What were your goals for this project?

Make a modern and intuitive design. We had a prototype as we see the design, but it was outdated and unprofessional.

How did you select Scalamandra?

I was looking for a studio that can help with the design. For this, I selected several applicants for the job. Based on conversations with the company, cost and proposed design options, I chose this company.

Describe the project in detail.

Firstly, we dealt with the UX part, for this we made a technical description of the project, made a Technical brief. Then, we defined the project structure and created a functional map. After that, we made the project structure and User flow diagrams. Then we took up the UI part and defined the product's stylist and developed the interface design.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a designer and project manager.

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

We showed our design to the first clients and explained the concept of the project, made a presentation of the project. After that, the first sales were made.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication was at a high level. We have posted all the necessary information in Confluence, Google Drive and Dropbox. The manager and designer always answered on time and did not keep us waiting.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They didn't just follow our instructions. The team worked well with us, showed initiative and proposed new ideas. The team took their time to understand our unique challenges and goals.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Perhaps development could be done faster.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of the medical center.

For what projects/services did your company hire Scalamandra, and what were your goals?

We have ordered a website so that people can find a place for an appointment with our medical specialists. Also, so that people can get acquainted with our clinic and find out our news.

How did you select Scalamandra and what were the deciding factors?

We chose this company because it was recommended to us. They also gave a quick estimate of the cost and offered to develop the site faster than other companies.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

A website that allows patients to sign up, then sign in, make appointments with doctors, and view their schedule. Moreover, it allows doctors to view their schedules and registrars to make appointments manually. The website has an admin page, where an admin can manage users.

1. They analyzed our wishes and requirements.
2. Drew up requirements for the project.
3. Created a design outline. After that, we approved it.
4. Made the design.
5. Programming.
6. Testing.
7. Deploy

Tech stack: React.js, PHP.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

A team of 6 people worked with us. Project manager, designer, 3 programmers, and a tester.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We have made it easier for our medical registrars. Now, most people make an appointment with us on the site. Also, people read our news and get to know us better.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We worked on the Scrum framework. The team responded quickly to our messages and advised us on our issues. The communication took place via Skype, e-mail, and Telegram messenger.

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

This company has a warm atmosphere. Their feature is the speed of project development; they completed the work quickly and efficiently.

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

We are completely satisfied with their work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a language education startup. We offer blended learning and a novel approach.

What challenge were you trying to address with Scalamandra?

We needed to make a website that showcased what we do in order to get funding. We needed to do so quickly, manageably, and at a low price.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I showed them what I liked and provided a wireframe of what I wanted. I’d already done research on what clients were expecting to find on the web page, so that wasn’t part of their work. Scalamandra took that and showed me the first draft five days later. I asked them to change a couple of elements, which they did in another two days.

I don’t know what technologies were used. There’s probably HTML, CSS, and a bit of JavaScript. This was just a temporary website that I needed to have as a placeholder. It’s more of a business card.

How did you come to work with Scalamandra?

I got introduced to them through a partner. She put me on a call with Scalamandra, and I gave them my requirements.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost was below $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with Scalamandra in May 2020, and they made the site in a little over a week.

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

I stumbled upon some difficulties with patenting so I haven’t been able to proceed with my business plan. I’m at the pre-seed stage, so I have little to show in terms of product. The site would’ve been a significant advantage for me had I obtained my patent and applied for the grant.

I was pleased with Scalamandra’s work. There was a glitch at one point that led to images not displaying. It was a problem with my hosting, and Scalamandra asked me to give them access, and they fixed it in a flash. They provided great support, and they offered me some extensions at an affordable price.

How did Scalamandra perform from a project management standpoint?

They were focused, and there wasn’t too much overhead on their side. They were on time with calls, were quite consistent with what they offered, and were open to feedback. They had a practical approach, and management was generally good. We didn’t use any management tools. This wasn’t a big project, and I provided them wireframes and examples of what the site should look like. We didn’t need multiple iterations, milestones, or numerous approvals. We basically had just two reviews.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re well-organized.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I gave them a clear indication of what I wanted the site to look like, and the style of their design was far from what I wanted. They either did whatever they felt comfortable doing, or they allowed me to stand out the way they understood it. Had it been a website I was using for production and attracting clients, it would’ve been a no-no. Given my goals and the price of the work, it was good. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I advise clients to do preliminary research, identify their target audience and goals, and give Scalamandra more input.