Smartym Pro

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide a solution for combining physical and digital products for gaming companies. I'm CEO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Smartym Pro?

We started to work with Smartym Pro from outstaffing of just 2 front-end developers. The team showed really high performance and as a result, the delivery of Web part was completely delegated to Smartym Pro, as well as the development of mobile apps.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goals were to increase the speed of the platform development to meet the project's deadline and set up the processes of quality and regular product delivery in conditions of constant changes in requirements and processing feedback from investors and users of the solution.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have successful projects before.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We had a positive experience of the previous cooperation with front-end developers of Smartym Pro, also the company had strong experience in the development and implementation of blockchain solutions.

So we delegated improvement of an existing algorithm of custom QR generation, based on IOTA and implementation of a custom QR code optical recognition algorithm on mobile devices via OpenCV suit (computer vision). As well as Mobile development ( app for IOS and Android ) and Web development. Smartym Pro could quickly form a suitable team and get involved in the process of delivery.

What was the team composition?

We started work with 2 front-end developers (Lead and Middle-level). Then we switched our cooperation to outstaffing of a cross-functional team consisted of: - Frontend team: 1 Lead, 1 Senior- and 2 Middle-level developers - Mobile team: 2 developers(Senior- and Middle-level) per platform (iOS & Android). - and PM, BA, QA shared across both teams

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We launched alpha version of our platform in just several months and started to attract clients. It's essential for a startup.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We have our own project manager, but part of the management was delegated to Smartym Pro as part of the delivery of Web and Mobile applications. The organization of work can be called really effective, the team always work within the deadlines and quickly make changes to the solution due to rapidly changing market requirements.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

In addition to the quality of work, they are always ready to consult us on architectural issues. They offer their vision of the development to improve the quality of the delivered solutions. Thanks to this approach, we are receiving up-to-date products and continue working with Smartym Pro till now.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Always there are. Some minor options. Wider tech-stack would be great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CTO of a company that adapts blockchain opportunities to everyday life. Our platform, LetKnow World, will contain a broad range of financial instruments for entrepreneurship and daily life along with convenient communication services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Smartym Pro?

We hired Smartym Pro to develop an ecosystem that provides all the necessary instruments and mechanisms for fast, convenient, and secure payments.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to erase the boundaries between digital and real money, allowing users to make smooth and fast cryptocurrency transactions. We wanted to launch the platform with core elements and onboard first users as soon as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were advised to work with Smartym Pro by one of their previous clients. We needed someone who could implement our ideas quickly, accurately, and efficiently. We were looking for a professional and trustworthy team that could understand our business goals, empathize with our project as much as we do, and make a product that satisfies our requirements.

Describe the project in detail.

The Smartym Pro team has developed and integrated different modules for our platform. The team has encrypted a peer-to-peer messenger based on the Signal app and created a blogging space from scratch. They’ve also developed a multicurrency wallet with the help of our API and a web cryptotrade platform using third-party tech. We are in the final stages of developing a perceptive exchange platform.

What was the team composition?

Smartym Pro has assigned staff who specialize in Android, iOS, web frontend, and web backend development. We’re also working with a technical writer, QA specialist, business analyst, and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Smartym Pro has already delivered a mobile and desktop app with a clear, flexible, and scalable architecture. We now have a fully functional and protected messenger with integrated blogs and a cryptowallet. Since our project is still developing and evolving, we can’t say anything about the results yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow has been smooth. They’ve successfully overcome challenges and issues during development and testing. Aside from having a dedicated contact person who manages the project, we also have weekly remote meetings. We visit the Smartym Pro’s office frequently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’ve maintained high-level project management and delivered excellent code.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Occasionally, it took more time to finish a feature or fix an unpredictable problem. Sometimes, there were situations when the project required more team members.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a mobile app development agency that creates apps for both startups and world-famous brands. We focus on psychology and user behavior.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Smartym Pro?

We hired Smartym Pro to develop a mobile app and web admin panel.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have a fully functional app that would allow residents of a newly built apartment complex to participate in the community and spend less time on chores.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Smartym Pro on Clutch. We were looking for a company that had good reviews and proven experience in iOS and Android app development.

Describe the project in detail.

We provided Smartym Pro with the designs for the iOS and Android apps, wireframes for the web admin panels, and user stories describing the functionality of the system. Then, Smartym Pro created software requirements specifications and implemented everything within two-week sprints.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a project manager, business analyst, two backend developers, two iOS developers, two frontend developers, two Android developers, and two QA specialists.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They successfully delivered the apps within the planned budget and time frame.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicated via Slack. Although we had weekly calls scheduled, we often skipped them because there was nothing to discuss—all minor issues were resolved within Slack conversations. This resulted in a great communication experience.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Smartym Pro delivered what they promised to deliver. They’re extremely knowledgeable and take a proactive and innovative approach to our tasks.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Both parties should work out all the details before development starts. I’d also recommend having a concise project closure process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the technical director for an open blockchain platform. We seek to create a global, decentralized marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Smartym Pro?

We contracted Smartym Pro to support our blockchain platform, which involves web, mobile, and custom development.

What were your goals for this project?

Our project aims to create the first standardized and self-sustained smart contract data layer.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We first met Smartym Pro at the Belarus Blockchain Conference. After interviewing their developers, we felt that they had a diverse technical background and fit in well with our team. Their ability to quickly understand the project and provide valuable suggestions helped set them apart.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Smartym Pro works closely with our in-house developers to support our platform, assisting with our web/mobile apps, smart contracts, and oracles.

The platform is a three-part solution that connects data providers with data seekers. It builds connections called oracles that translate real-time data into a format that Ethereum/EOS smart contracts can understand. This allows the contracts to be triggered or updated through external factors such as changes in exchange rates, political actions, and sports scores among other criteria.

With our platform, data providers can opt to become oracles by publishing and monetizing data feeds. By implementing a peer-to-peer curation process, we can rank and verify these feeds for data seekers to subscribe to.

What was the team composition?

We’ve worked with five resources who specialize in Solidarity, Node.js, EOS.IO, Java, and DevOps.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We’re still developing the project, so it’s too early to provide any metrics. However, Smartym Pro has helped us make significant progress on our smart contracts, Node.js packages, and web apps. They’ve integrated their team into ours, and we’re happy working with them.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It’s been a pleasant experience so far. The developers are dedicated to their tasks, and they’ve exhibited the necessary expertise to engage with our industry’s latest technologies. We also appreciate their effective, stress-free communication. Every week, they schedule progress meetings and deliver reports on the completed work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re willing to take the initiative to contribute to the project in any way.

Are there any areas for improvement?

With the increasing number of open tasks, we’ve wanted to expand their involvement and onboard other developers. However, this hasn’t always been possible because their resources are working on other projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the managing director of Peloton Blockchain. We operate in the financial sector, helping clients securitize assets and chop them into tokens that can be traded on an exchange. Our blockchain technology enables asset owners (such as energy and utility providers, debt issuers, and telecommunications operators) to trade their assets on the exchange.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Smartym Pro?

We launched a private, permissioned blockchain network based on Hyperledger Fabric and designed for Security Token Offerings. This network manages the entire security lifecycle, from issuance, listing, and secondary market trading to payments and redemptions.

An important part of the network is a utility token for value exchanges, which we wanted to distribute before launching Security Token Offerings. We hired Smartym Pro to build an Initial Coin Offering solution that allowed the distribution and sale of TONNES utility tokens on the Ethereum network.

What were your goals for this project?

The solution involved an Ethereum smart contract, integration with a Know Your Customer provider's API, a web frontend for users, a frontend for administrators, and a backend to orchestrate the process and exchange Ethereum for TONNES tokens.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Smartym Pro contacted us while we were assessing providers. Our selection process was based on their verifiable reputation, their experience in completing Initial Coin Offerings, the end-to-end cost, the market risk, and their engagement model. We assessed Smartym Pro against vendors in Australia and India. They scored best on experience, understanding of the market, speed and agility, and cost.

Because Smartym Pro was a new partner, we conducted additional pre-engagement checks, including call-back and address checks, calls with the Belarusian chamber of commerce, and a reference check with a previous client. Everything looked good.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Smartym Pro designed and developed our Ethereum smart contract, an attractive web frontend, and a secure frontend for admins to manage the Initial Coin Offering process. They also built a backend server and managed integrations with a Know Your Customer API Integration and a private blockchain API. They developed a secure, scalable AWS hosting architecture. We modified the scope and clarified our requirements because they asked good questions. 

What was the team composition?

We interacted with an excellent project manager, who was backed by frontend, backend, server, and Ethereum developers. Our project manager was transparent, helpful, and authoritative on the subject matter.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Smartym Pro far exceeded all our expectations. They finished our solution before its legal and marketing frameworks were ready. Having the technology layer ready first was a good foundation upon which to build. We were particularly grateful for our project manager's insight and advice. Without their support, we wouldn't be so advanced today!

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had regular online meetings on Google Hangouts and interacted daily on Slack. We worked in English, and there were no language or communication barriers. Smartym Pro was comfortable and easy to work with. They not only met deadlines, but also went out of their way to explain the process and offer valuable advice.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Smartym Pro didn't mess around. We appreciated their transparency and willingness to dive straight into the project. They even challenged us when necessary.

Their pricing was also excellent. They undercut proposals from other groups and stuck to the proposed budget and timelines without seeking opportunities for variation. I respected that a lot.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is a little to improve. We look forward to working with Smartym Pro on future projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of PawPal, a Swiss-based company that aims to connect dog owners with local pet resources. Our small team of professionals has a passion for pets and wants to create a trusted community for dogs via our mobile app. Our current target is to be Switzerland's market leader, but we eventually want to expand to North America and Europe.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Smartum Pro?

We hired Smartum Pro to develop our mobile app. 

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create a user-friendly mobile app that met both our budget and our deadline.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

This is my second experience working with Smartum, who we found via a Google search. We were pleased with the results of an initial test project and continued to work with them. 

Describe the project in detail.

Smartum was responsible for full-stack development, from initial research to product release. During their thorough discovery stage, they defined top-priority features, developed the product’s documentation, and designed the web and mobile layouts. They also localized the app to four languages: English, German, Italian, and French. The team is currently adjusting the released version by implementing various improvements.

What was the team composition?

We had a dedicated project manager who was supportive and engaged.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app, which is well designed and responsive, is in the soft launch stage. We are pushing the app to grow our user base, and we will continue moving forward with necessary changes once we reach our target.  

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They have been attuned to every detail and handled everything professionally, from the discovery stage and prototype to final development. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The Smartum team delivered everything we agreed upon within the specified budget. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are looking forward to working with them in the future for further product improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a co-founder of a startup that provides an Agile marketing automation platform for brand companies and merchants that lets them design and distribute loyalty coupons (passes) to customers. The platform can either be used by merchants that have a retail shop, bar, restaurant, or hotel to drive loyalty for their business to customers or by brand companies that want to drive sales through merchants. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Smartum Pro?

We wanted to create an online portal and application for iOS and Android to act as a solution for merchants. I have a commercial background and not an IT background, so I needed the help of another company.

We need to accomplish 2 goals with our app: increase customer loyalty to the point of sale and minimize communication between the merchant and the customer by decreasing the time spent in direct communication and reducing the risk of errors. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Smartum Pro is creating a loyalty service with client behavior analytics. Initially, we started with requirements and design development. Smartum Pro developed a highly detailed specification and design for the whole system and the initial version. The development, testing, and stabilization of this functionality were estimated to be finished in approximately 2 months. After we reviewed it, we decided to cut down the scope to get the functionality delivered in smaller pieces.

I had some initial ideas, and they provided helpful feedback. We talked about different solutions, what kind of platforms to use, how to design the portal, and how to handle the application in different stages. We first talked about creating the wireframe MVP. At this time, the 2-way application has not been developed. Bundle Loyalty is using wallet (Apple Wallet, Android Wallet, etc.) functionalities to start, but their work will be scalable.

How did you come to work with Smartum Pro?

I read some articles online and talked to 5 or 6 different companies. After I found them on Upwork, Smartum Pro gave me the best feedback and helped me the most. The other companies were kind of vague.

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

We’re spending around $15,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We first engaged them in February 2017 and have been working together since. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

They created everything in InVision and did a great job. The current product is impressive enough to convince people that I’m working with to continue our development goals.

How did Smartum Pro perform from a project management standpoint?

So far, we’ve worked according to a fixed-budget model. They mostly delivered things on time and within my price range. I usually communicate with the business development manager or a project manager. The project manager and the development manager speak English, and they communicate my goals to the Russian-speaking team members. I coordinated with them through Skype and email.  

What distinguishes Smartum Pro from other providers?

They deliver what they say they will. They took me seriously when other companies were really vague. All our contacts on their team always answer rapidly, so there have been no delays from their side. It’s hard for me to compare them, though, because this is my first solo development project.

Is there anything Smartum Pro could have improved or done differently?

Sometimes, it’s hard for them to understand exactly what I mean. They have good English skills, but the language barrier can create some problems. 

BACKGROUND

I’m a co-founder of HR and Management consulting companies located in Berlin. Together with Smartum Pro we’ve done a side project: a social app that would allow people to ask their friends and friends of friends to help find a solution to any kind of problem: from finding a good local restaurant to renting a flat.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Last year, we came up with an idea to develop a social app that would allow people to ask their friends and friends of friends to help find a solution to any kind of problem: from finding a good local restaurant to renting a flat. The app will allow people to seek help and advice throughout their network. Many people searching for help or advice ask their friends for it. There are multiple social networks and messaging apps that are suitable for this. However, we thought that it would be much better to develop an app specifically for that with suitable functionality and UX, e.g. getting hints at what information to include in a search, the possibility to pledge donations and an algorithm minimizing viewing unnecessary messages.

SOLUTION

We looked for a full-stack development team with a major focus on the development of mobile apps to start the development of our app from scratch. First, we needed to design the app concept as well as UI and UX of the app. We also needed a donations payment system to be implemented in the app as it is one of the core app features.

Smartum Pro provides us with full-stack app development: from concept development and design to code creation and testing.

The Smartum Pro team also has been providing us with advice regarding desired features, application usability and technical implementation solutions that would improve our product and the project flow.

We've done MVP for iOS for 6 months, now we keep going with the Android version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

At the beginning, among other vendors with similar level of expertise, Smartum Pro was really swift in communication and that was the main factor why we chose them.

In general, the main “metrics” I would talk about is meeting deadlines. There have been only few times when the team did not manage to deliver intermediate build on time. But if there were any problems, we were always aware of what was going on.

During the development, we came up with multiple changes of previously designed and implemented features. Following Agile principles, the Smartum Pro team accommodated these changes rapidly and implemented them with minimal time and cost impact. We like the rapid and transparent communication with the team. We appreciate the attention the team pays to challenges that our project faces, helping us to overcome them together. When we were expecting the MVP product, the team had to go through this process several times, but at the end we got a stable and a bug-free app.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

CityCard Unity offers solutions for sales motivation and customer loyalty. In addition to being a customer loyalty program, CityCard is a franchise as well. By purchasing a franchise, a company connects to the advertising system and becomes a partner. We operate in CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] B2B and B2C markets. Specifically, our target audience is small and medium-sized businesses. Our solutions allow them to attract and retain customers, as well as motivate users to make purchases. The B2C part provides users with the ability to combine the public places they use into a single discount system.

I am the CEO of our company. We’re a small team of 7 employees—marketing, product management, and sales.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Smartum Pro?

We were looking for a technical partner who could handle all technical related issues and help us to migrate our existing offline discount program to digital form. Our expectation was to build a system that allows local small and medium businesses to promote their goods and services. It also has to be quite scalable, from small towns to big cities. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

All of our development activities are outsourced to Smartum. The Smartum team had to add new features to our system and develop a mechanism for further business expansion. We wanted the ability to add new partners as we sold our franchise. Smartum also needed to provide our partners with a user-friendly interface for B2C communication and customer loyalty management. The main goal was to create a solution for transferring our offline loyalty system online.

Prior to project development, Smartum came up with several product concepts and started implementing them. Initially, they implemented an online discount card that provides discounts via QR or barcodes generated by the app. Then, they developed an admin panel that allows partner companies to efficiently interact with their audience. It also provides the ability to plug in additional paid services. Finally, Smartum developed an integrated bonus points system, a control panel for regional managers, and analytic tools for service usage tracking.

Smartum Pro had to extend the functionality of the loyalty program and develop a mechanism to attract partners via franchise purchasing for business growth. They also integrated several cutting-edge technologies in the system, such as ibeacon and chatbots. Right now, the Smartum team is working on the blockchain solution for smart contracts between our partners.

How much have you invested with Smartum Pro?

Currently, we have a yearly development budget of around of 40% of the total revenue.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our key metric for the development was the quality of the system and its ability to scale up. The product became self-sufficient and started to make profit a year after its launch. We see a growth of about 30% per year. We’ve launched the system in over 40 cities in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Next year, it will be launched in other European countries.

How did Smartum Pro perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was very smart. There were a few minor gaps when the development was put on hold with no proper documentation. The budget was higher than we expected, but the system itself became much more complex than it was in the initial stage. For example, we had additional conceptual changes in the system.

Are there any areas Smartum Pro could improve?

Smartum Pro could enhance the quality of testing and their response time to difficulties related to the user system.