SHIP IT Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former director of IT for a fitness safety company. I was responsible for all IT-related work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SHIP IT Inc.?

We had a legacy mobile application on iOS and Android that had been around since 2013. It was old and outdated, and we wanted to rebuild it. We didn’t have the talent in-house to do that, so we started looking for potential partners.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we worked with our company stakeholders to determine the project scope and budget, which we ran by them. We provided SHIP IT Inc. with high-level wireframes and preliminary architecture for the new app. We also shared a list of features and broke them up into tickets using a Trello board, and they helped us make a lot of technical decisions. 

Then, they started helping us with the backend of our existing application, which they rebuilt from the ground up. They used Flutter, Firebase, Amplitude, Bugfender, App Radar, and Mixpanel to rebuild the app for iOS and Android. The team helped us fix bugs and address other maintenance issues on the coding side. They also provided some app store optimization (ASO) and marketing services. 

The app requires users to create accounts so that they can log in. The app's core purpose is to help users stay safe when they’re out on a run or bike ride. It works similarly to a fitness tracker, and we use location tracking to monitor users’ exercise routes. If the app senses that a user has stopped moving for more than three minutes, it triggers an alert to their preferred emergency contact via text. 

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Tariq (President) and one other team member.

How did you come to work with SHIP IT Inc.?

We found SHIP IT Inc. on Upwork. We liked their versatility and were impressed by their Flutter and Android background, so we moved forward with the engagement. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with SHIP IT Inc. in November 2020, and I moved on from the company in July 2022; I’m not sure they’re still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SHIP IT Inc. delivered a functional, good-quality product that met expectations. Before working with them, the application lost money, and they played a key role in making it significantly more profitable. 

How did SHIP IT Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

SHIP IT Inc. delivered items on time and within budget. Tariq was a fantastic communicator, and working with him was very easy. He was very honest, ethical, and transparent, which I appreciated. The few times we faced delays, they quickly communicated expectations and set new deadlines. I trusted them implicitly, and they delivered. We used GitHub, Trello, Google Cloud Platform, and Google Analytics to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with SHIP IT Inc.’s expertise. They were very honest about specializing in mobile development using Flutter. Their focus and integrity led to high-quality work, which was a huge differentiator. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing they could improve on; they delivered everything we asked for.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

SHIP IT Inc. will do what you ask them to, so go for it and enjoy the process. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of Sembit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SHIP IT Inc.?

We hired SHIP IT Inc. for Flutter development support on a mobile application. We had mock-ups and a design, but we needed expert developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave them our mock-ups, and they've been developing everything for us. We’ve targeted iOS, Android, and WebAssembly. The application is also deployed as a web application, but it feels like a native mobile app. They've been building out the app using Dart and the Flutter framework. 

The app is an NFT-based project used to buy and sell certain kinds of tokens on a new exchange. SHIP IT Inc. has added animations and suggested many ideas that have improved the UX. 

What is the team composition?

We work primarily with Tariq (President).

How did you come to work with SHIP IT Inc.?

We looked on a lot of different platforms for a development team and even put ads on craigslist. We interviewed SHIP IT Inc., and they knew their stuff more than anyone else we talked with. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $50,000–$60,000 at this point. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2022, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The success of the work depends on how pleased the client is; when the client saw the animations we added, they were very happy with everything. We think the partnership with SHIP IT Inc. has been very successful, and the app is responsive and feels good to use. 

How did SHIP IT Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve stayed within budget, and everything is on track regarding budget and timelines. They’ve been very responsive, and they show up to meetings prepared and accurately report what they’re doing. We use GitLab for project management and communicate via Zoom and email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They go above and beyond in their approach and have clear communication. They’re easy to work with and very technically competent. Working with them has made our lives easier. They’re the best company that we’ve worked with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind regarding improvement. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have very clear requirements and collaborate with them on achieving your goals. Bring them in and trust that they’re experts in their field.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO and founder of a company that offers hardware and software solutions for tracking large animal ruminants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SHIP IT Inc.?

We hired them for software development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SHIP IT does contract development for us. They’ve worked on existing projects, and they’re currently developing a product for us from scratch. The team uses Flutter, Dart, Raspberry Pi, Ubuntu, and HeidiSQL. 

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Tariq (President), and SHIP IT has a developer working on our project.

How did you come to work with SHIP IT Inc.?

Before he started SHIP IT, Tariq did some contract work for us. We chose them because we knew Tariq, and he had a unique combination of understanding of our product and hardware and software interface knowledge. 

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of the project will be about $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

This project started in October 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since it's too early in the development process, we don't have any metrics yet. We've been happy with SHIP IT's work in the past, which is why we've hired them for this project. 

How did SHIP IT Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is excellent. We have weekly stand-up meetings to get updates, which is adequate for the project. Our primary communication tools are Slack, Google Meet, and Zoom, and we occasionally use phone calls. We use Jira for project management. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

SHIP IT's responsiveness distinguishes them from other providers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no complaints about them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise you to call SHIP IT, work out a specification, and work with them — I highly recommend them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director of Operations for a media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SHIP IT Inc., and what were your goals?

We needed a mobile app as a companion to our other cloud based services - in stadium scorekeeping, replays and ad plays on the main screen, and backend cloud services. The mobile app is the user facing segment of the system to engage fans in the stands.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We interviewed a number of vendors and were extremely impressed with Tariq! His interview and following work was fantastic.

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

We required a mobile application that could handle 3rd party event ticketing, coupon delivery, and accessing cloud data for team and player information, plus game day updates ... and all this for multiple schools and locations.

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

Tariq worked with us as a senior mobile developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Extremely impressed. Tariq knows his stuff, and he's an excellent team player and an asset to any organization he works with.

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

We used Asana, and everything blended together seamlessly.

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

They are very helpful and knowledgeable, always looking for the best solution, and delivering on time.

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

Work with us longer! ;)