SoloWay Technologies

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a digital marketing agency that has been in business for 15 years. We work with clients from Russia, Scandinavia, and other countries outside of our location in Estonia. My name is Arvo Juhkov, and I’m the founder and CEO of the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

We create solutions that can help companies increase turnover, including an e-commerce system. We needed development help for it, so we contacted bvblogic. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked with bvblogic on 3 projects so far. I keep in touch with their project manager and our 4 main programmers, but I know that there are more people involved in the background.

One of the systems that bvblogic has worked on is an e-commerce platform for a Finnish electronics vendor. They have different locations in Scandinavia and Russia and are a large company overall.

Our second project with bvblogic was for the UK embassy. We created a web page and registration system designed for an upcoming seminar.

Another project was for a large taxi company in Estonia. They helped us develop a billing system which automatically outputs data for order numbers and payment information, as well as issuing locations for the cars in the fleet. The system allows the company to review the number of orders over a period of time, earnings, costs, and so on.

The team at bvblogic has used different PHP frameworks and WordPress templates for our projects. I’ve liked their work style and reaction time so far. They will always get in touch with me quickly if I have a problem, even during their holidays, which differ from the ones in Estonia.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

I got in touch with their principal and discussed a possible collaboration. He showed me a portfolio, and we started working together. We also use other partners and have our own developers as well, but we use bvblogic on our bigger projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with bvblogic around a year ago. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients have been very satisfied with bvblogic’s work. Our Finnish client has requested additional pages for their e-shop, and they can take and deliver orders more easily in general. They communicate directly with bvblogic, not only with our team. We trust bvblogic to work with our clients and have no reservations in this area.

The taxi company is able to see statistical information more easily and can attract new clients more effectively using that information for taxi locations and other operational data. They are a large Estonian company and have recommended us to other companies as well, so the collaboration has been successful for us.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

They have very fast reaction times. If I send them a question or give some feedback, their response is typically good.

What did you find most impressive about bvblogic?

They have a large team, and they can provide a multitude of services beyond web programming like mobile-app development. Being able to order different services from the same place is good for me since I don’t have to stay in touch with a number of companies.

Are there any areas bvblogic could improve?

I’ve worked with other external companies that used tracking systems that took screenshots of programmers’ desktops, allowing me to see what they were doing and how much time was being spent. It’s possible that bvblogic has a system like this, but we haven’t used it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We offer custom menswear with online and offline showrooms in Singapore and the UK. People sign up online, come into the showroom, and are measured. We then have their measurement profiles so they can go and reorder online when necessary. I’m one of the founders.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

We had a Ruby on Rails and WordPress developer before who did everything. We then parted ways with that person, so we needed someone else. We got in touch with a UK development house that ended up not doing a very good job, so we needed somebody else that do maintenance and upgrades of legacy systems, as well as handle building a suite of new systems that we had planned.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we had a booking tool that was relatively basic. We overhauled the booking tool, making it a lot more flexible and useful to our needs. We did a lot of upgrades to the WordPress website. In the end, we started with the development of an entire order management system that administers measurements and tracks orders along the process, and that is where we’re at right now. We just deployed that, working on upgrades to certain areas. It’s an open hourly agreement that we have with them now. We have one WordPress developer and a Ruby developer on standby doing work on a daily basis for us almost at full capacity. And then as needed, we take in frontend capabilities as well.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

They were referred to us through a middleman, but we had so many before that we failed with. They had the Ruby capabilities, they were located in Eastern Europe, which was important to us because of time zone and price, and they seemed to know what they’re doing. So we started working with them. The referral was helpful in that there was no need for a test; we just threw them in the water, and they started on it. We saw what came out, and it was good.

How much have you invested with bvblogic?

It’s been $30,000-$35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around June 2016. The project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s hard to say, but the impact of these systems is key for us. The booking part is super crucial. Before that, there was a customer service person who spent half her day answering customer calls to schedule and reschedule. The capabilities that we had were so limited. But those customer service calls have been reduced to a very low number now. In terms of order management, we’re still migrating into that system, but the impact of that will also be quite significant. Once everything is rolled out, I think it’ll easily save us one full-time person.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

We set up milestones and a project plan. It’s a relatively agile way we’re applying with them: we throw out specs, they review it, they come back with questions, and they start working on it. We have daily calls to align ourselves and test what’s out there. It’s not a massive project plan. We are using tracking tools as simply as possible. They have access to Basecamp and all these tools, but we’re resorting to Google Docs at the moment. It just happened like that, but it works very well for us.

What did you find most impressive about bvblogic?

They’re quite keen on doing a good job. When you work with third parties, oftentimes they overestimate their time and everything takes so much longer. I don’t feel like I’m getting ripped off at all by them. It seems like they’re charging us for a very fair amount of hours. If we think something is excessive, they’re willing to talk about it with us with them going back to their developers and asking why it took this much time. We agree on a new process in case something like that would happen again. It’s very fair from both sides. From that, we’ll have enough trust that we’re not going to challenge everything and start endless discussions. It’s a very friendly way of working together.

Are there any areas bvblogic could improve?

The problem with any outsource development house is that the talent leads, the superstars, aren’t going to work in an agency forever. We were lucky enough to have one of these superstars on the team, but unfortunately, they get sold out by companies with deeper pockets. Finding and attracting replacement superstars is tricky, but that’s not unique to bvblogic; that problem is an industry-wide issue.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is a consultancy firm to startup companies. I’m the senior consultant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with bvblogic?

We were trying to develop a backend business solution for a client that tied into our WordPress site. The project was a geotargeted e-commerce platform that needed additional data intelligence and a reorganization of the database combined with a frontend interface that made it easier for our client’s clients to interact with the solution and buy geotargeting ad services and e-commerce services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The initial phase was a 2-fold analysis on our database and current structure and also on the interface that was needed. We’re not quite finished with the database part of the project; we hope to be done by May. bvblogic is helping us work backwards to figure out what the best user experience is. They have provided an amazing interface for us. The WordPress side uses a lot of PHP, which they’ll match to our platform. The team bvblogic provided us was 5 resources that included 2 developers, 1 frontend developer, 1 account manager, and the project manager.

How did you come to work with bvblogic?

I met one of their managers through an outsourcing site. We talked on Skype and he was fantastic. He spoke good English and I felt very comfortable with his demeanor and felt I could trust him. I’ve since been introduced to other people at bvblogic and every person feels the same way. They’ve got great energy and they’re very trustworthy. They work very hard to get things right and they’re very communicative. I’ve had other outsourced relationships where the communication hasn’t been good.

How much have you invested with bvblogic?

We have spent between $2,000 and $3,000 so far with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2016, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My client is so pleased that they plan to work with bvblogic themselves on another project. If the process is an indicator of what the final results are going to be, we’re very excited. I think it’s important to communicate often and that’s what I advised my client to do. When crossing different languages, it’s good to be clear what you’re expecting. They’ve always been able to understand what we’re looking for. I feel like we’re in good hands. They seem like a big firm but we’re getting personalized treatment.

How did bvblogic perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicate mainly with the account manager through email, Skype, and shared documents. They communicate with our client using Slack. I have communication periodically with the other members of the team, who are also very organized. bvblogic will push the client to make sure they’re not missing deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about bvblogic?

They have the passion and the energy to execute well. They also have depth of expertise, which is really nice. I’ve worked with other firms that are 1 or 2 people but for this particular client that runs e-commerce platforms, there are so many different needs which bvblogic is able to handle. Their team acts like a small, nimble team but their company has a lot of resources to offer. It’s nice to be able to get things done with one agency.

Are there any areas bvblogic could improve?

Clients should be clear about any expectations they have about their project. bvblogic continues to get better in terms of American dialogue. Sometimes it would be helpful if they had a super strong English speaker at the account management level.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Manager at “CENTR OSVITY “OPTIMA” LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Optima School is the first and largest distance general education school in Ukraine, offering its students the opportunity to receive modern European education.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire SoloWay Technologies to accomplish?

• The main goal for us was to create an educational application, for which we turned to SoloWay Tech. Our request was to develop an application that would include a variety of lessons in the form of games.

SOLUTION

How did you find SoloWay Technologies?

Online Search

Why did you select SoloWay Technologies over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from SoloWay Technologies were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

SoloWay has developed the application for both Android and iOS platforms. A browser-based version of the application has also been created, i.e. our customers can play directly from any browser. They also developed a powerful admin panel to facilitate the collection of user statistics.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Now, we have the app for both Android and iOS platforms to provide users with better educational solutions. Users can log into their classroom with a password and, within the classroom, add their children to take courses. The app's lessons have sound and animation effects to engage students more.

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

I have had a positive experience with SoloWay's project management and delivery process. They were good at meeting budget and deadlines. The processes were transparent and helped me understand what to expect throughout the development process.

What was your primary form of communication with SoloWay Technologies?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They have been highly responsive to our needs and requests throughout the project, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration.

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

Nothing comes to my mind

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the head of digital transformation of Novoferm

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Building Steeldors and garage doors

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire SoloWay Technologies to accomplish?

• Secure DevOps
• Best infrastructure base as possible in our team

SOLUTION

How did you find SoloWay Technologies?

Referral

Why did you select SoloWay Technologies over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from SoloWay Technologies were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

• Managing all servers 
• Creating pipelines 
• Creating alerts

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Budget and failure rate (offline time )

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

Very fast and reliable

What was your primary form of communication with SoloWay Technologies?

Virtual Meeting

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

They are so fast, and they work on weekends.

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

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Applicature

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Applicature is a company builder and accelerator in the blockchain space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire SoloWay Technologies to accomplish?

• The SoloWay team developed an SDK for iOS and Android.
• The team has also developed a mobile application.

SOLUTION

How did you find SoloWay Technologies?

They are our partners

Why did you select SoloWay Technologies over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from SoloWay Technologies were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The SoloWay team has developed a software development kit and a mobile application for iOS and Android.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The SDK and the mobile application developed by the team have great functionality and work smoothly.

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

Their team was goal-oriented and always tried to solve problems as soon as possible. We usually have good communication and relationships with them.

What was your primary form of communication with SoloWay Technologies?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

SoloWay surprises with such impressive speed and offers a win-win partnership for both parties.

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

No, all good

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Recruiter of a software company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Software development

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire SoloWay Technologies to accomplish?

• Software development

SOLUTION

How did you find SoloWay Technologies?

Clutch Site

Why did you select SoloWay Technologies over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from SoloWay Technologies were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Software development. New features adding and existing features support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Time and service quality

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

Everything is fine

What was your primary form of communication with SoloWay Technologies?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their strict correspondence with our technical requirements is impressive.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Web-shop on lifting and lashing products

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were not happy for the perfomance of BE located team. BVBlogic has been providing us with development service since 2016. For the moment we are busy with migration to Magento version 2.

SOLUTION

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

Speed and cost/quality are the most important metrics for us.

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

We really have done plenty of things with this team since 2016: the most important are customized features and wed development of the new version of the site.

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

PM, 3 developers, designer, 2 analysts

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team is an important and valuble partner in the project's activity. Metaltis project grows each year in terms of revenue and number of orders: last year results: YOY: +28% orders and 16% Revenue.

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

The team is goal-oriented, always trying to solve the issues asap. We mostly have good communication and relations with the team.

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

They have impressive speed and a positive approach.

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

To use more QA

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO, Manufacturer of Man cloths

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hire Bvb to prepare for our company 3D configurator based on prestashop. We want to make our production/orders more automatic.

SOLUTION

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

I got recommendation. Most important for us was contact, team and knowledge.

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

Front End, Backend, 3D model in PlayCanvas, Site on Prestashop.

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

3 - Programists and one person responsible only for contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have great functionality and made to measure platform, thanks to bvblogic. Everything work smooth and fast. BVB always answer about all of our problems and find solution

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

We have our communication by WhatsApp and Trello. Efficient, easy and fast communication

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

Knowledge

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

For now, no idea.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

RE:ACTOR is an open innovation platform. Reactor works with the numbers of big and mid-sized corporations in Eastern Europe and is the main entry point for innovative technological teams and startups into this market through the real-life challenges from corporations in Finance, Retail, Energy, FMCG and other sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire bvblogic?

We hired bvblogic to support and upgrade our platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to make our platform more comfortable and user-friendly for our clients, and also to add some new features.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

bvblogic is our good friend-company, and we knew that they will do their best to complete our tasks

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

bvblogic took care of all aspects concerning development and supporting of our platform:

• hosting
• back-end solution 
• web-design
• front-end development
• consulting

What was the team composition?

The project team consisted of 8 people. The size of team changed over time depending on task, but mainly we worked with the same developers and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

bvblogic completed our tasks as we wanted to. It made our platform more professional and functional.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was well-organized, and they always complied with our deadlines. In our communication we used Skype and Google Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Professional approach and flexibility.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The sky is the limit. But generally it is a very professional and client oriented team.