Softermii

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and founder of a small property management startup in California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softermii?

We're working to create software that centralizes communication between tenants, landlords, and contractors. Having already created the iOS app internally, we needed a contractor to build the Android version.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app enables people who rent their apartments or homes to easily report any needed maintenance. With a similar look to Instagram or Snapchat, it’s very user-friendly. Tenants can take a picture, add a description, and submit a maintenance request to the landlord. The program generates a group chat including the contractor hired for repairs. This social layer helps all parties involved easily coordinate to get the job done. At the end of the process, contractors can invoice the landlord. We’re working on additional features, including a billing option.

Having completed all the design, user stories, and the iOS version of the app, we were able to start coding right away. Their maintenance of the iOS app has helped us keep pace with the Android development. Even though we built the iOS version first, we lack the same resources.

They re-architected our backend technology, which is hosted on Firebase. Development moved quickly, and they built all the functions, including sign up, chat, networking, and photo capture.

What is the team dynamic?

For the first phase of the project, the techs focused on Android development. Currently, Evgeniy Kuropatenko is working with Firebase, and developers provide additional support for the iOS version.

How did you come to work with Softermii?

I initially found them through UpWork. Of the several providers I considered, they were the best to fit our needs. I used the first week as a trial period and they proved their merit via quick deliveries and strong communication and execution.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project just started in July 2017, and we are continuing to work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's been a very closed beta version, so we don’t have quantitative metrics to share. We’ve been pleased with them internally, however. They remained under the set budget from the very beginning, and were able to deliver significantly ahead of time. They’ve remained supportive outside of our periods of larger engagement, and quickly make minor changes or fixes.

How did Softermii perform from a project management standpoint?

Since they’re based internationally, our communication took place online. Even with the time difference, communication went smoothly, and they have strong English language skills. We held major meetings via Skype, and used our group chat and specific topic channels on Slack to stay in touch on a daily basis.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The speed and quality of their work was excellent. We saw eye-to-eye, and developed strategies together that kept things quickly moving forward. All work was completed ahead of schedule.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of product development for an e-commerce site.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softermii?

We have a website where customers can buy items. We also have iOS and Android mobile apps, and Softermii provides contract services to augment our existing in-house team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Softermii helped us with different development requirements for our mobile apps. We have an internal ticket flow that we added. I’d have to go back and look at the exact features of what they worked on, but they tackle everything from performance improvement to layout and UI/UX. They really work in concert with our internal team. Everybody kind of works on everything. We don't hand them a big project in its entirety. They basically follow our prompts and implement the results. On iOS, for instance, they developed a peek-and-pop implementation, and on Android, they recently helped us refactor our checkout flow. Softermii’s resources are kind of utility players. I know they also provide project management, product development, and UI/UX design, but we don't really use any of those services.

How did you come to work with Softermii?

We have a couple of people who worked with Softermii in the past when they were called IT Rex. We got in contact with them and went from there.
We do use other offshore contractors and contract groups that we choose based on recommendations. On the web side, we use some people from a different vendor. Softermii’s price was in our range, and we wanted to give them a try with no commitment. We did go through a couple of resource iterations, but the people we have now seem to be working out well, so we continue to use them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with Softermii for 5 or 6 months, since about January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re happy with the work that Softermii is doing, and they’ve been receptive to feedback. We have no real complaints. I would say they’re satisfactory in that they’re able to deliver exactly to spec but not really anything more than that. In terms of speed, they’re okay. I wouldn't say that they’re exceptionally fast or accurate, but the timing is what I expect.

How did Softermii perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicate through ticketing and Slack. Our lead engineers, on Android and iOS respectively, manage their tasks in a ticket flow. The senior engineers then report to me.

We take the development resources we’ve sourced through Softermii, and we onboard them with our own team and provide mentorship, guidance, and training. We invest in these people. We’ve also worked with them to find the right individuals. Sometimes, that takes time. We may try out a developer who may not work out due to the skill fit or a language barrier. They’ve been great about working with us to identify the right resource and making that resource available to work in whatever way that we feel is appropriate. They’re very flexible in that way.

We’ve used up to 4 of their resources at a time, but right now we just have 2 intermediate to senior people. We purposely sourced people like that because we want them to be self-starters and proficient on their own.

What did you find most impressive about Softermii?

Their onshore contact and representation are valuable.

Are there any areas Softermii could improve?

They’ve met every request we’ve had, and they’ve been responsive, so I have no complaints.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was director of operations for a firm called Be My Guest, a dating website and application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softermii?

Because we’re a small firm and we wanted to be efficient, we used Softermii and other outsourcers to help deliver the parts we needed for the application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The only thing Softermii did for us was build an app for iOS. We provided the specs, wireframes, PSDs, and part of the working model. We had all the user cases done in JIRA for them, so they knew exactly what we were looking for.

How did you come to work with Softermii?

We met them at a conference.

How much have you invested with Softermii?

I believe [$20,000?].

What is the status of this engagement?

I think Softermii started working with us in June 2016. The whole process of delivering the app took about 2 years, but Softermii was involved in the last 7 months of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The best part of our experience with Softermii was working with their project manager. We consider them part of our team, because they have full access to our JIRA and they submitted their code to Git like everybody else. When there was a bug, they’d help fix it, and they did work on the weekend once in a while. That was unexpected but nice of them. We relied on them like they were in our office.

Like with any outsourcers, we had to go back two or three times to deal with bugs. Softermii’s no better or worse with that than any other outsourced team; they’re pretty normal. We had a positive experience and I'd work with them again, but like anything else, you have to tell them when to fix something. If you deal with outsourcers, you’ll find that they always blame the other outsourcers for the poor code. Softermii did take some ownership of the code near the end, and they were able to figure out some problems, but it wasn’t stellar.

How did Softermii perform from a project management standpoint?

We supplied a lot of content for Softermii to work with. We can’t afford to hire people full time, so I might spend an extra four hours on one JIRA ticket if it means we can use Softermii and not someone who works full time. Like with any outsourcers, Softermii just does what they’re told. There was some initiative from them, but not a lot. We worked with one or two people there, and we actually followed their project manager when she left one company to work at Softermii. It’s really individual outsourcers that you're dealing with and not necessarily the firm. If it wasn’t for their project manager, I don't think we would have hired Softermii. We’ve dealt with a lot of outsourcers, and they’re all the same. You have to really prepare on your end so that they understand what you want.

What did you find most impressive about Softermii?

We didn't find anything that impressive about Softermii. They put out a large amount of code, but it wasn’t efficient, which we learned after the project was out. They are there to deliver nominally what you ask for. They did help with some of the optimization afterwards, but the problems had to be pointed out to them.

Are there any areas Softermii could improve?

Not really. They were engaged in the project, but they weren’t immersed in the project.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Softermii?

I would recommend that businesses should make sure their specs are there, inside and out, and they should make sure they do their QA in-house.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own JNN a small marketing company that also has branched out into building apps. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softermii?

I hired Softermii to recode an iOS and Android messaging app called Tiddle. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had been working on Tiddle with a few other companies for a few years, and every time I needed an update or something, it would cost me anywhere from $5,000–$10,000, it would take 3–6 months to fix, and it would still have a lot of bugs in it. I got sick of bouncing from company to company trying to fix them. Nothing worked until I found Softermii. Slava said, “I have to redo the whole thing because the code is horrible.” He gave me a price that was more than fair and gave me a date for when the project was going to be done. I was surprised to find that the app was delivered on that date and that it worked perfectly.

How did you come to work with Softermii?

I ended up hiring Softermii because they were at the top of their list on Elance. When talking to Slava, I thought, “I have to hire this guy. He’s the best of the best.” I remember speaking with him via phone—which I normally don’t do with most companies—and that seemed to go well. I wasn’t convinced that I had made the right choice at first because I had been hearing the same kind of song and dance for years. Eventually, I thought, “Whatever—it’s another $12,000. Let’s roll the dice.” I was determined to finish the app and test my theory to see if it would work.

How much have you invested with Softermii?

I think I spent roughly $12,000–$15,000 with Softermii. I think the start of the project cost around $12,000, then I added a few more features once the app was complete.

What is the status of this engagement?

I probably worked with Softermii over a year ago, and I just rehired them, but I'm putting off that project to do a video game, which I have a prototype for. Softermii is making the app for that. It’s a multiplayer, real-time, head-to-head, side-scrolling video game. I’m probably going to start it in April 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Tiddle is no longer available as an iOS app, but that didn't have anything to do with the work Softermii did for us on it. I did marketing for it, it had a couple thousand users, and it worked fine. No one who used it had any complaints, but Tiddle ultimately failed as a concept because it couldn't deliver its messages as well as an authentic carrier. While working on the project, I realized we weren’t even getting a 0.1% install ratio on invites. The numbers just weren’t stacking up, so a few months ago I said screw it, dump it, delete it.

How did Softermii perform from a project management standpoint?

I think I gave Softermii roughly 3 or 4 months to rebuild Tiddle. Slava re-coded the whole app and provided me exactly what I wanted, even though I didn't hear anything from him the whole time he was working on it. Every month or so, I would check in and ask if everything was going okay. He would say, “Don't worry about it. It’ll be done.” I thought, “Oh great. This is going to be another of those companies that promises me the moon and doesn't deliver.” And then, he delivered the app on the date he said he would, and it worked perfectly. Most of the companies I've worked with would ask for clarification on different features and specifics every few days. Softermii didn't do any of that. I couldn't believe it.

Are there any areas Softermii could improve?

No. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My current position is separate from the work I was doing when I hired Softermii. Right now I’m a partner in an IT company, but about two years ago, I had my own entity. I was a developer doing freelance projects at that point.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softermii?

I first engaged Softermii when I was freelancing. They’ve helped me with several projects, but the first one was an Android app that got too big for me to handle on my own.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The original app was meant to help people find apartments. We’ve collaborated on 4 Android apps in total, but the apartment project was probably the biggest. The idea was something like a nicer version of Craigslist with a directory, lots of images, and some very specific design features. There were several challenges to the project. The designer was really strict about implementing his vision, but we also had to adapt to the new Android design guidelines. I inherited the project from another developer, who had really left it in disarray. There was a lot of code that needed to be reworked in a short amount of time; I really needed an extra hand. For the other 3 projects, the design was given to us and there was a handoff from some other team. Sometimes a developer would have to make some design decisions, but in general, we didn’t have a designer doing mockups or anything. They just did code.

Softermii assigned developers depending on the size of the workload, but we never had more than 3 people working on one project at a single time. But at one point we had a few projects in parallel, so at one point there were five people involved. In the beginning, I just worked with Slava, their head guy, and then midway into our engagement, there was too much communication for him to mediate single-handedly so I started to communicate with the developers on Skype. I’d talk to two of their developers, the ones who had the best English.

How did you come to work with Softermii?

I found them on ODesk, which is now Upwork. When you create a project on ODesk, you automatically receive photos of developers who have a certain badge or a certain qualification level, and he stuck out to me. I speak some Russian and I’ve had good experiences with Eastern European developers, so I thought I’d give it a try. The conversation went well and we gave it a shot, mainly through ODesk originally. I did try with another freelancer who was referred to me by a former colleague, but he wasn’t very responsive and I felt like I needed someone who was more reliable.

How much have you invested with Softermii?

I would say something on the order of $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first connected in December 2014 and we worked together until December 2015. We’d build the projects and have some ongoing maintenance. Part of what happened was, I ended up getting larger projects as a result of the quality of Softermii’s work, so I needed a more established company that could provide web and QA and managers and all that. I worked with another company in Belarus for a bit, so things trailed off with Softermii for a bit. I’d still give him referrals or bring him on for little things, but he was really only officially on contract for about a year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A couple of the apps were featured on Google Play. One of the apps reached a 4.8-star review. They all had good reviews. The most successful of them reached about 500,000 downloads, probably more than that now. The companies who commissioned us were happy and they continued to refer us more work. We got good feedback from the end clients about the code quality and the developers’ depths of knowledge about Android and best practices.

How did Softermii perform from a project management standpoint?

We used JIRA, Trello, and Skype to handle ticketing and communication. I was very impressed by the responsiveness. I don’t even know when he slept; it seemed like he was available during my daytime and his daytime. His responsiveness was really one of the best things for me. When you’re in different time zones it can be a challenge, but he really made sure it wasn’t an issue.

What did you find most impressive about Softermii?

In software development, you don’t always get fully developed APIs and perfect requirements; sometimes you’re missing key information that you need to write your code. Previous developers that I’ve worked with would ignore the problem and then tell me they’d missed a deadline because they didn’t have what they need, but what I really liked about Softermii was that each developer took the initiative to reach out and get the information they needed. They’d tell me if they needed something or if they hit a blockage, rather than just telling me after the fact. They also had this entrepreneurial spirit: they really understand the importance of their work for the client. It’s not just writing some code and pushing it to the repository: this is going to go to real users and what to do matters. I never had to remind them of that.

Are there any areas Softermii could improve?

Like I said, they were very self-starting and would run with things, but sometimes they’d run with things a little too fast and the client would say, “Hold on, we didn’t say to work on this yet.” Softermii was very agile, but there were times when I felt like there was a need to balance that with being more methodical. Certain clients liked it, but others had a more stringent process and didn’t like that there had been unauthorized progress. Softermii thought they were working harder and doing great. I’d have to tell them that the company had asked us to do X, and if we did X and a little bit of Y, it’s going to raise an eyebrow.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Softermii?

It’s important to remember that with any company, especially a smaller team, the results are going to depend on the individual developers. It’s a company, but it’s comprised of individual people. I’d encourage you to learn more about specific developers you might work with instead of letting it be more like a black box. Find out about the developers’ skills, but also their history in the company. Here’s the thing: service companies needs to make payroll and it’s stressful to have people relying on you for that. But the work coming in is not consistent. It’s hard for companies to say no to new work, and it’s important for you as the person who’s hiring them to do your due diligence and understand who exactly they’re putting on the project and what that person’s work load looks like. Even if a company has good reviews, developers and processes can change, so do your homework.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a fantasy sports app that aims to be sort of a Netflix within sports betting. As of now, we’ve built our first MVP [minimum viable product] and we have just launched our Android version. Our iOS version is scheduled to be launched in the next week or so. Our backend is in place, too. After that, we will try to build our user base.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softermii?

We hired Softermii for the second phase of the solution. I started with some other programmers through Upwork to build the first MVP. After getting some user feedback, I wanted to take the development to the next level. I still didn’t want to hire our own internal developers, though, so I started looking for outsourced help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a functional prototype, and they rebuilt it and improved it. I wanted them to base it on the existing code, but that’s not necessarily a good idea, and programmers don’t generally like to build on another programmer’s code. So we actually ended up rebuilding it from scratch. They used the original version as a reference in terms of functionality, user interface, and game flow. They built the iOS and Android versions in parallel, both native.

In total, we have about 5–6 people working on the project, including dedicated iOS and Android developers, backend developers, and a project manager, plus the two owners who acted as backend developers and CTO’s on the project. Besides that, they have some quality assurance specialists and a designer. It’s rather cost effective to have that kind of team on hand without the salary burden of having them on staff.

How did you come to work with Softermii?

I found Softermii on Upwork. They seemed to have very good feedback and recommendations. I also noticed that they did some work for Dollar Shave Club. They seemed like a cool company, so I thought that if those guys at Dollar Shave Club had faith in Softermii, I could give them a try, too. We started out with a regular Upwork contract and originally ran all our communication and billing through that platform. After two or three weeks, we dropped out of Upwork and did a regular contract with weekly calls, a non-disclosure agreement, and so forth. At that point, I was confident enough that they would be the right team for us to base our further development on.

How much have you invested with Softermii?

It must be around $50,000 to $75,000 at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in late September of 2016 and they’re still working with me. I have no intention of letting them go. We still need to officially launch the iOS version; we’re just waiting on the Apple review process, which is especially rigorous in sports betting. We’ve already built the backend and the core functionality of the app. Now, we’re in the next phase, which is to launch a new set of features on top of the current version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s a bit hard to tell at this point because the app is so new. The Android app has been live for no more than a week or so and the iOS hasn’t been approved yet. I couldn’t really offer any specific data, but it has been quite easy to work with Softermii. I was anxious jumping into the project because it was quite a leap forward in terms of our investment and commitment up front. We agreed on weekly calls, and one of the first tasks was to do a redesign of the current version. They did very well with that; it was quite impressive. From there on, we did some iterations on the design and started developing, and I’ve had weekly calls ever since.

How did Softermii perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly Skype calls with screen sharing. Before the call, they would share the new build of the app and give us access to the backend. They used JIRA, but it was primarily for their sake. They would include JIRA reports in their invoices to show what they’d accomplished. On my end, every time they sent me a new version to test, I used Google Sheets to register all the tests. That’s what we’re doing now since the launch because there are some small issues that we need to register and resolve.

What did you find most impressive about Softermii?

If we’re talking in relation to other suppliers in Eastern Europe or India, I would say that they have been rather professional in their communication and in their project management. They've really tried to go the extra mile to handle the project in the best way possible.

Are there any areas Softermii could improve?

The only thing that was a bit disappointing was that we went over the estimated budget; it ended up being nearly twice what they had estimated in the first place. But having said that, I must admit that the initial description they were given was rough, so they couldn’t do anything but come up with a rough estimation in response. There wasn’t anything wrong with the final cost, especially if my alternative was to hire four or five full-time employees doing the same job. It would be better to give them a set timeline and budget to work with because their estimations can be a bit off. In the big picture, it’s not a big issue for me.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a company that has designed a product that is a virtual call button for retail stores and restaurants. Any time you need a store associate, you just pick up your phone and hit a button in the app and someone comes to you.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Softermii?

I needed a firm that had proven experience in developing great apps in both iOS and Android. I’m not a developer myself, so I needed someone to build the functional versions. The complexity we were looking for was going to require a team of backend people with database experience, frontend people with design experience and some technical development with the apps themselves. I needed people with strong skills in a variety of different areas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Before I met them, I had another UX designer put together the visual collateral we would need. I wasn’t entirely pleased with the work that the original designer supplied, so when that designer wanted to do the implementation and I was not interested, I decided to end the contract and find a replacement. I looked for an alternative firm to pick up where they left off to, and then when we launched the product, to make it better. Softermii developed the iOS and Android apps simultaneously, and they’ve done a fantastic job; I am super pleased with the work that they’ve done. They have a dedicated person on the iOS side and another on the Android side, as well as a dedicated back-end database person and a web interface designer. I’ve had project managers as well, and I love both of them. I’ve also had interactions with the CEO, who is personally involved when need be.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the summer of 2016. I’ve had such a pleasant experience with them. It’s very hard for me to justify bringing on full-time staff myself, and the team is so strong that I don’t want to disrupt it. We have an ongoing relationship with them and they invoice me monthly. We have a monthly budget, and if I’m pushing for more than what the budget will allow, they come back to me and tell me it will take more time. They have not yet surprised me with an invoice that I didn’t expect.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve had terrible luck with other providers, and these guys are a diamond in the rough. They’re such a pleasure to work with every day, even on weekends. I log on to Skype, I see them there, I get a “Hi, Bill,” and we have a talk about what was done the previous day or anything that I need. We’re in constant communication. I really feel like they are part of our businesses.

How did Softermii perform from a project management standpoint?

We use JIRA pretty extensively. We also use Google Docs and Dropbox from time to time. Right now a lot of the designs are being done in Sketch, and they share those screens with me through Zeppelin. We also use GitHub for them to upload the source code for each build. They’ve even helped us improve our process.

What did you find most impressive about Softermii?

They’re always pushing me to refine my ideas, which is refreshing. They’re always thinking ahead about how we can make the product better. I feel very much like they’re an extension of the team. They also have a talented designer that I didn’t expect. When I turned to them, I did not expect to get superb visual designs. I thought all I was getting was technical resources, and they do have design resources there that are very strong, much stronger than people I had before. I’m leaning on them to improve some of the screens, and they’ve made the product significantly better since I engaged with them.

Are there any areas Softermii could improve?

I don’t know what the size of their team is overall, but it seems like a relatively small team. My guess is that they’re under 20 people as a company, but I don’t know. From time to time it feels that I’m pushing to get something done and that resource could be tied up with something else, so it’s probably just an issue with the size of the business, and I’m sure they’ll grow over time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the CEO of a staffing app. 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile Staffing Application

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Softermii to accomplish?

• MVP Product
• MVP Enhancements
• Ongoing Support

SOLUTION

How did you find Softermii?

Clutch Site

Why did you select Softermii over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Softermii were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

3 different applications for Web, IOS and Android 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

100% completion of all deliverables along with appropriate handoff

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The team was very responsive, delivered what we asked for in the timeline that was promised and was quick to correct or pivot any business development needs along the way to ensure our project was successful

What was your primary form of communication with Softermii?

Virtual Meeting

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

Response Time, Quality Assurance, AI Development and Expertise, Business Development, 

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

Any feedback or changes requested by our team were promptly taken care of. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Senior VP R&D of a real estate company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Tech-enabled industrial real estate investment manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Softermii to accomplish?

• Support in creation of a fullstack web platform
• Devops

SOLUTION

How did you find Softermii?

Word of mouth

Why did you select Softermii over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Softermii were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Fullstack development, devops, QA

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Long ongoing project, as part of the intenral development team

What was your primary form of communication with Softermii?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

-

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Product of Sweepluxe

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We develop innovative and engaging online gaming platform, aiming to revolutionize the iGaming experience in the US.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Softermii to accomplish?

• Our objective was to partner with a software development firm capable of building a robust, scalable, and compliant gaming platform from the ground up. Specifically, we needed expertise in user-centric design, seamless integration of gaming mechanics, and adherence to strict regulatory requirements prevalent in the US gaming market.

SOLUTION

How did you find Softermii?

Referral

Why did you select Softermii over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Softermii were assigned to this project?

15

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

1. Market Research and Feasibility Analysis: Softermii began with an in-depth analysis of the market, identifying potential opportunities and challenges specific to the US iGaming landscape. They conducted a comprehensive feasibility study to ensure that our vision was achievable and in alignment with market demands.
2. Concept Development and Storyboarding: The team worked closely with us to develop the initial concept of the gaming platform, creating detailed storyboards to visualize the user journey and the overall gaming experience.
3. System Architecture Planning: Softermii designed a robust and scalable system architecture, ensuring that the platform would be able to handle high volumes of concurrent users while maintaining optimal performance.
4. Full-stack Development: The project included end-to-end development services, with Softermii handling both frontend and backend aspects of the platform. This ensured a seamless integration between different components of the system.
5. UI/UX Design: A major focus was placed on creating an engaging and intuitive user interface. The UI/UX design team worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the platform was user-friendly and visually appealing.
6. Regulatory and Compliance Implementation: Given the stringent regulations in the US gaming market, Softermii took on the responsibility of implementing necessary compliance protocols to ensure that the platform adhered to all legal requirements.
7. Security and Data Protection: The team conducted thorough security audits and implemented robust data protection measures to safeguard user information and maintain the integrity of the platform.
8. Beta Testing and User Feedback Integration: Before the official launch, the platform underwent extensive beta testing, with user feedback being actively collected and integrated into subsequent iterations of the platform.
9. Ongoing Technical Support and System Upgrades: Post-launch, Softermii has continued to provide technical support and system upgrades, ensuring that the platform remains up-to-date and continues to meet the needs of its users.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Since the beta launch of the platform, we have seen tangible results:

1. Over 10,000 active users within the first month of a beta launch
2. A 30% increase in average session duration, indicating higher user engagement
3. A significant reduction in bug reports and system downtime post-deployment
4. Positive user feedback and high ratings on initial usability surveys

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Softermii's project management was characterized by efficiency, transparency, and adaptability. They consistently met or exceeded our timeline expectations. Their response to our evolving needs was agile, often going beyond contractual obligations to ensure project success.

What was your primary form of communication with Softermii?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Softermii's unique strength lies in their ability to seamlessly blend technical prowess with a deep understanding of gaming psychology and market trends. Their suggestions often led to enhancements that we hadn't initially considered but proved to be critical for user engagement.

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

While we are immensely satisfied with their performance, one area for potential improvement could be post-deployment marketing strategies. Even though it's not their core area, insights into engagement strategies post-launch could add value.