Soft Tech Group, Inc

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the IT Manager for a private, non-profit Catholic high school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Soft Tech Group, Inc, and what were your goals?

We have two separate software programs for Admissions and our Student Information System and there is no option to do automatic data transfers from one to the other. We hired Soft Tech to create utilities that would allow for the automatic data transfer back and forth for new students/families, and updated contact information.

SOLUTION

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

We found Soft Tech Group online and reached out to them to see if they could provide a solution to our issue. They were very friendly and cost effective, and we appreciated that they not only wanted to create the utility for us, but to continue to collaborate with our school on other solutions we will need with our various software. It's become a great partnership.

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

The original scope of work was to create a utility that would pull new student information and contacts out of our admissions software and push it automatically into our student information system.

I believe they used Python to write the script and are installing it on our server to run automatically. Our student information system unfortunately does not support an API to talk directly to our admissions software, so the script also alters the data it pulls from the admissions software so that it can be imported into the SIS.

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

The owner managed the project and kept constant communication with us. We also worked with the project team lead directly, along with one of his team members.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is ongoing but the progress has been great.

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

We used email primarily to communicate and had monthly virtual meetings for updates and demonstrations.

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

They have been very professional and helpful. They were able to work directly with our SIS support to ensure that the utility did everything it's supposed to do.

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

The original scope could have been a bit more detailed in the contract. We had multiple people on our end overseeing this project originally and it wasn't as clear for some as it was for others.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the current head creator for a digital marketing business. At the time of the project, I was the owner of a clothing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Soft Tech Group, Inc?

I hired Soft Tech to create a Shopify Plug-in for public use.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the plug-in was to take measurements of clothing and provide a size for the customer. This would limit the questions sent to the clothing businesses and lessen the amount of returns regarding size.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I selected this vendor through Clutch based on their great reviews. I was very happy with my decision.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The project was a Shopify plug-in with the ability to select a recommended size for the consumer so they did not make a mistake and order a different size.

This was done by creating a php UI that the consumer will guide through and fill out the various boxes of information depending on the type of shirt or pant. At the end of the questions a recommended size was generated based on the information asked for.

What was the team composition?

I only talked to two Soft Tech representatives the entire duration of the project. It was very smooth and communication was not an issue.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It inspired me to not only focus on basic digital marketing streams but it made me focus more on the analytical side of marketing and the languages of PHP and JS and Python will be needed to ensure I can succeed at my job. After viewing what can be done with PHP I was inspired to learn it.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Soft Tech handled all of this and provided me with the current step they were on until the completion of the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The lack of "management" on the project that was needed. They handled everything while I just answered very few questions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not to my knowledge, no everything was fantastic.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an executive at Youcerto. We're an audio chat and social media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group, Inc.?

We wanted to develop an MVP of our mobile app. We had gone through multiple companies trying to create an app, but we didn’t have any success. We were looking for a new vendor to help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Soft Tech Group designed and developed an app for iOS and Android. The app enables multiple users to communicate and speak to each other at the same time. They mostly used WebRTC to build the app.

What is the team composition?

I work with a project manager, but there is a team of people dedicated to our project.

How did you come to work with Soft Tech Group, Inc.?

I met Soft Tech Group at a Meetup gathering. I told them what I was looking for and they understood me right away.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $5,000–$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2019 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a working app that functions exactly the way I envisioned. It's an early version, but we can present it to our investors and future partners. We've tested the app with friends and family and the feedback has been very positive.

How did Soft Tech Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive and accepting of my feedback. We mostly use email and texts to stay in touch

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're great communicators and meet their deadlines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'd like them to be a little more clear in terms of the scope of the project and what we're paying for. We had a small miscommunication when additional work had to be done and it involved additional costs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them as much information as possible on how you want your website or your app to look. That will speed up the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive of a social media platform for medical professionals. It allows them to communicate and connect with one another, collaborating on and discovering the latest medical research.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group, Inc?

I needed a partner to build a web app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Soft Tech Group, Inc designed and developed the web app. They created features that allow users to build profiles and communicate with one another, and they implemented an API integration that interfaces with the NIH website to embed their research into the web app. Users are also able to upload files, like resumes, to their accounts.

What is the team composition?

I interfaced with the project manager in person and one other person via email.

How did you come to work with Soft Tech Group, Inc?

I found them on Upwork. I conducted a series of interviews with different firms, and Soft Tech Group, Inc best understood what I wanted to accomplish, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership lasted from September–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They built the web app, which is central to my business, so they had a huge impact. Their designs were simple and required a few iterations, but they got the work done.

How did Soft Tech Group, Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They were responsive and helpful, sticking perfectly to the timeline we agreed upon.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had an impressive work ethic. The project manager listened to what I wanted and created something that matched my requirements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should be clearer about what the final deliverable will be, especially for people who aren’t familiar with the web app world.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be clear about what you want and directly state it in the original contract. If you don’t specify you want it, it will most likely be left out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of communications at a nonprofit. We fight all forms of insurance fraud.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group?

Our website was aging, so we needed a company to help us update the consumer features on the site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redesigned the existing features, making them more contemporary and adhering to the modern standards of readership and visual appeal. It was a collaborative process and they were very patient with multiple design refinements we had to do. We had a limited budget, but they were able to do everything we asked of them.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager who acted as an intermediary between us and the design team.

How did you come to work with Soft Tech Group?

We put out an RFP for freelance designers across several job sites, so we received multiple quotes. Soft Tech Group was willing to do the most work for the budget that we had to offer, so we chose them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them for a few months in 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The design is very crisp and contemporary. We haven't launch the new designs yet because of the bigger corporate issues. We're going through a complete website redesign right now, so we're planning to integrate the designs that Soft Tech Group has done for us into the new design format.

How did Soft Tech Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive and patient. They have an office overseas, so it took a fair amount of effort to make sure we convey the ideas in a way they can understand. The intermediary person we worked with was fluent in English, so we overcame that challenge. They sent us the designs for review and we stayed in touch via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were patient and willing to work with us through all the details and corrections.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At the beginning, some of the designs required multiple rounds of review (also, because English was not the first language of some of the designers). But we ended up with a really good design concept.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you agree in advance on the goals and objectives. If your budget can't cover the research, work with them upfront on discussing what kind of website you think you need. It's their job to bring that concept to life, but you need to clearly explain to them what you're looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Dohan Designs. I'm an inventor with about seven patents, including a new romantic game app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group?

I engaged Soft Tech Group to develop an app for my game concept.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Based on my designs, Soft Tech Group developed an app for iOS and Android that allows users to play a game with a current or potential romantic partner. Their team has helped design the game's instructions and UI, incorporating features that enable each user to answer a series of questions (in text or voice format) with full sentences or phrases.

What is the team composition?

I mostly work directly with Zak (Founder and CEO, Soft Tech Group).

How did you come to work with Soft Tech Group?

I either found them through an ad I placed on Craigslist or Guru. After talking to Zak, I felt confident he understood my vision and he assured me he'd be able to work closely with me to help achieve it.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since around January 2018. We just finished a test flight in the app store, and they're in the process of making a few adjustments before the app is fully live.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, testing has gone well, and I'm very pleased with the app overall. Soft Tech Group successfully transformed a complex concept into a user-friendly app.

How did Soft Tech Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Zak is very responsive and flexible to my needs. Whenever an issue arises, he's quick to fix it. We mostly interact through phone and email, and I haven't had any communications issues with their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They listen and are very responsive to client feedback.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They've worked well with me from start to finish.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Outline the project in as much detail as possible to better guide the development process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of ENGL Education, an educational technology startup. We strive to make college textbooks more accessible and affordable for students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group, Inc.?

As a new company, we needed help creating an online platform that makes us stand out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

From frontend design to backend development, Soft Tech Group built the entire PHP website from scratch. One of the major features they implemented was e-textbook streaming, which requires a readily available database of course books. The innovative page-flipping technology gives the e-books a realistic touch. A lot of API integration went into the site for features like the virtual highlighter and the dictionary search function. Textbook solutions are available on the site so that students can verify their work. Students can also review their work with experts in real-time through the Q&A forum. Although the website isn’t complete, I’m able to access their work through the private server. I’m in the process of curating more photos and videos for the platform.

What is the team composition?

The first person I interacted with from Soft Tech Group was the owner. I contacted him for several things throughout the project, as he mentioned he’d always be available, but I primarily worked with the assigned project manager. They never disclosed the size of the full development team.

How did you come to work with Soft Tech Group, Inc.?

I came across Upwork while searching for web developers online. After posting our project on the site, we received around 10 bids for the job. Soft Tech Group’s responsiveness and the quality of their past work made them a top candidate, but we were hesitant due to their relatively expensive services. They explained that their work is priced higher because they create custom PHP sites, whereas their competitors are essentially charging us to modify default WordPress templates. Their willingness to discount their work for us solidified our decision to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The website was initially quoted at $8,000, but it increased to $10,000 once we realized more features were needed. 

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working on the website in March 2018. We anticipated launching the site on August 6, 2018, but we missed the deadline due to a few complications. Fortunately, everything was resolved and we were able to get back on track.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re developing our company’s primary product, so their work will undoubtedly have an enormous impact on business. The deliverables that they’ve completed so far have been excellent; the few people that have viewed the unfinished site were very impressed with the overall look and the e-book’s functionality. We have no complaints on our end.

How did Soft Tech Group, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Things started off shaky because I was accustomed to managing teams directly as opposed to working with a project manager. Once I adjusted, I found our email correspondence delightful. They're always available to answer my questions and typically respond within an hour. I never had to wait more than two business days for deliverables. Now that the project requires more work on our end, they’ve been very patient with us as I try to gather content for the site.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their optimism was both refreshing and comforting. Some developers didn’t want to take on our project for various reasons, but Soft Tech Group loved the idea. Their team was excited to be a part of our mission to provide affordable textbooks for students and their dedication to the project hasn’t diminished. When we send them revisions, they don’t just make the changes to appease us; they follow up with suggestions that would bring their work to the next level. The work that we’re creating together is amazing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I could be overlooking red flags because of my limited experience working with web developers, but our partnership with Soft Tech Group has been incredible.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

View the entire project from a wide lens instead of focusing on individual features. We made the mistake of prioritizing our preferred functionalities over UX; eventually, we had to make a lot of site adjustments because of the issues that arose after implementing a major feature. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner and founder of an online matchmaking site called Arrangement Connections.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group?

I needed a website built for my company, but it was going to be more complicated than a simple online dating site, so I needed a sophisticated agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My website allows users to create dating profiles and pay to sign up for memberships. Once logged in, members can connect with and message other users by searching their zip code.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Soft Tech Group’s owner, who also serves as a project manager, as well as a second project manager.

What is the status of this engagement?

The website development lasted from February through June 2018. The website has launched, and we are in the process of making updates as necessary. I am likely to use Soft Tech Group going forward to develop mobile applications for the company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website has been received very well since its launch, and I’m very pleased with the number of members who have signed up so far. The website matches what I envisioned. I couldn’t run my business without Soft Tech Group.

How did Soft Tech Group perform from a project management standpoint?

When we first agreed to terms, they presented me with a schedule of when each segment would be complete, and they have stuck to that timeline. Since then, they have made themselves fully available to me whenever I need to contact them. They have been very responsive, and we’ve worked well together.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m sure they have other projects to work on, but they don’t rush me. They take the time to listen to my ideas, and they add their own ideas, as well. I feel like a valued customer to them.

Any advice for potential customers?

As with any project, it is important to be clear about your intentions at the beginning of the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of MQT Global, a technologies holding group that has multiple startup companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group Inc.?

We needed a partner to develop our new e-commerce platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Soft Tech Group Inc. built an e-commerce platform, similar to Shopify, in about six to eight months. They recently finished intensive testing and have now started the pre-launch phase. The platform quickly builds websites and can even develop apps for Android and iOS within 24 hours. It also includes other features that e-commerce businesses need, such as social media management, SEO services, logo design, etc. Startup businesses can use the platform to build their digital footprint.

What is the team composition?

We work with the CTO, a project manager, and a backend development team.

How did you come to work with Soft Tech Group Inc.?

I knew the founding member personally, and they looked like a great fit, so we hired them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since November 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our team has been satisfied with their work.

How did Soft Tech Group Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

This project has had three phases, and Soft Tech Group has expertly managed each of them. They’re accommodating and stick to schedules. We mainly communicate through our project management software, email, and WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their management has nearly 20 years of experience in software development, making them highly skilled. They provide great feedback and are able to work on a wide range of requirements, from hosting to backend to design.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should continue to expand their services and areas of expertise.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clearly define your statement of work and provide thorough documentation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of an e-commerce company focusing on at-home gym equipment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Soft Tech Group, Inc?

I have a full-time job at a brick and mortar store. Since I didn’t have the time or the expertise to do it myself, I needed to hire someone to set up an e-commerce website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re designing and developing a Shopify website. It’s pretty much completed, but they're finishing up writing the copy.

What is the team composition?

I work with an assigned project manager.

How did you come to work with Soft Tech Group, Inc?

I was reading a book about outsourcing. It inspired me to go on Upwork and post my project. I filled out a form detailing what I was looking for, and they were one of the results. I invited them to take a look at the job and then we came to an agreement.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent close to $4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together about one month ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're still working on the site. It hasn't launched yet, but it looks fantastic. I'm expecting good results and a return on my investment soon. Right now, I'm very excited.

How did Soft Tech Group, Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager is great. She keeps me updated about everything through email and texts. We really haven’t had any issues. They’re fast and efficient. They’re on schedule to get the work completed sooner than expected.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have excellent communication, which is really important since I'm working at a different business all day. They've kept me informed the whole way through. Even though we’re based in different states, I feel really comfortable with them because of their level of communication. I feel like I can reach out to them anytime. I’m very pleased.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like them to explain in a little bit more detail what exactly they're doing. Like I said, their level of communication is great. It would be nice to have additional details of what they’re doing on various areas of the website.

Any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you're looking for and give them some guidance. They'll deliver in the best and most efficient way possible.