SpdLoad

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Bristol Groundschool

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Vocational training: theory training for commercial pilots and provision of training materials to other aviation training organisations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Assist in the design and development of a new portal for our customers

SOLUTION

How did you find SpdLoad?

Online Search

Why did you select SpdLoad over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from SpdLoad were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We have a small in-house software development and support team to support our bespoke LMS and web based SAAS services. We asked SDPload to provide a UX/UI designer and full-stack developer to assist on this projects, and other on-going development and support tasks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The first stage involved creating designs for a new portal using Figma. The designer first created wireframes based on our spec. When we signed these off, she produced UI designs and a working prototype. The latter was used to brief the developer and formed a reference though the development process. 

We managed the development stage ourselves, using a remote working developer provided by SDPload. Progress was managed by reports delivered verbally during bi-weekly video calls against our project plan. Project success was judged by hitting development deadlines and staged quality goals.

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

Both the team members provided by SDPload were highly responsive and adaptable. Both aural and written communications was to a high standard, as was the standard of the design work and coding. SDPload’s team members were able and willing to make suggestions where appropriate and adaptable to fit in with our requirements.

What was your primary form of communication with SpdLoad?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Competence, flexibility and value. They have been a pleasure to work with, and we continue the relationship on further projects.

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

Nope

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of AnyforSoft

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

AnyforSoft is a software development company with expertise in implementing complex web and mobile development solutions to empower SMEs with digital transformation in the new economy using Python, Drupal, and JS technologies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Deliver a tailored CRM system for our business needs

SOLUTION

How did you find SpdLoad?

Referral

Why did you select SpdLoad over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from SpdLoad were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Over the course of a two-year collaboration, SpdLoad tackled the unique challenges of building a CRM system for our business, showcasing their expertise in the JavaScript tech stack. Their deep understanding of our industry, specifically in SaaS and Marketplace niches, allowed them to deliver a tailored solution aligned with our business needs. 

One of the standout aspects of our collaboration was SpdLoad's meticulous attention to detail during the Discovery phase. They took the time to thoroughly understand our workflows, processes, and goals, ensuring that the CRM system was designed and developed to maximize efficiency and productivity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new CRM system has been a game-changer for our business. The user-friendly interfaces they created exceeded our expectations and significantly improved our team's daily operations. Also, the budget was managed effectively as they provided us with a clear breakdown of costs, and we appreciated their commitment to delivering within our financial constraints without compromising on quality.

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

Throughout the project, SpdLoad maintained transparency in their processes, keeping us updated on the progress and promptly addressing any concerns or questions that arose. Their open communication and willingness to collaborate truly made us feel like a valued partner. Additionally, their culture of team engagement fostered a positive working relationship, and we always felt supported and heard.

What was your primary form of communication with SpdLoad?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their core domain solutions in HR & Recruiting, Healthcare, and B2B Enterprise Solutions were particularly impressive, as they showcased their ability to navigate complex domains.

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

Can't think of any. Overall, we highly recommend SpdLoad for any software development needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the shareholder/Investor of a company in need of an cusomized matching platform

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

My portfolio company is a research company with free lancers and project managers working together for the client. Onboarsding of free lancers and clients, but as well quite some complex interaction had to be developed.

SOLUTION

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

My portfolio company had an offer to develop the platform for 600k, I asked them to talk to SPD and they developed the platform for a total of 120k Euro with lots of additional features.

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

I'm the share holder, so son't know all the steps. :-)

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

Project Manager, 2 Designer, 3 developer app

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was delivered despite the current problems because of the Russian Invasion with smalles possible delays

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

Key for a good project is the Project Manager. The PM has to be the bridge between client and developer. Olga was our PM and she did a wonderful job. The first 2-3 designs did not work, she did not ask for additional payment as others would do, she asked a 2nd designer and his first proposal was just perfect.

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

Very pragmatic people. They were very honest people!! I have asked for a very rough estimation for the first scope and it was 100k ( almost no inputs from the client, just 5 sentences)- This was in the budget. After this the estimation took place and PM together with the client outlined all demands etc. The result was not 100k or 110k, but 85k! :-) The client had no IT knowledge!!

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

It is very important to heep the good PM. If there is a much more junior PM, the projects would be more on risc. Olga was just perfect.(Experience, tech. understanding, understanding of the client wishes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a product manager at an education software startup. We are building a product to help teachers instruct their students reading comprehension.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We worked with SpdLoad to help engineer our MVP based off of designs that we had. Although we had the designs and a skeleton of a product, they helped flesh out the MVP functionality to the specifications according to the designs.

SOLUTION

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

We searched for this vendor online and upon interviewing them were impressed with their professionalism and experience.

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

Our product is a progressive web app built using Vue.js and Node. SpdLoad provided front-end resources to help engineer the layout and Vue components as well as make them reactive and hooked up to our backend.

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

I worked with one frontend engineer, one layout specialist, one project manager, and their account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SpdLoad was very thorough in their implementation and were able to suss out a lot of the ambiguity that was plaguing our design. Without that attention to detail the MVP would have been a mess so their thoroughness was very much appreciated.

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

We would get updates on story timeline progress every week as well as recordings and constant collaboration through Slack.

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

Absolutely their thoroughness and willingness to work through ambiguity impress us.

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

I think I was not clear enough in the beginning regarding a list of priorities which made it difficult to proceed. Although it is uncomfortable to push back on clients perhaps it is necessary at times to ensure everyone is on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m Co-Founder and CEO of Cangelo. We’re building a tutoring app that provides instant access to tutors for students who are seeking quick help with their homework

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired SpdLoad for the full cycle development of the educational platform with high emphasis on mobile apps

SOLUTION

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

SpdLoad was recommended to me by a previous business contact, so fit the bill perfectly when I was looking for a reliable software developer

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

We started with just an idea of the product and from the very beginning, the SpdLoad team proved to be dedicated to the project. They acted proactively and were very honest in their reasoning. We’ve defined the feature list and started with the design and wireframes. With each iteration on user flows and visuals we’ve been closer to the final concept of the app. Finally, we confirmed the design and all the functionality. The team suggested PHP Laravel and React Native as a tech stack which I was fine with so we proceeded with the development. So far, both apps have been released and SpdLoad helps us with support activities.

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

They assigned two front end developers, one back end engineer, one designer and one QA resource. Besides, they provided a person who was responsible for the project on the vendor’s side so that we didn’t have to manage ourselves and/or worry about the deliverables.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a very high quality application. They are available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Right now the platform is supported by 18 tutors around India and more than 10,000 students used the apps. The project is ongoing and we continue to improve and add new features, hoping to improve monetization!

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

The process is really transparent and straightforward. The project was managed in Jira and for communication we used Slack. We discussed all the details and confirmed features as one team. We had daily communication in slack and the project manager provided reports at the end of each working day. At the end of each 2-week iteration we had a demo call where the team demonstrated the progress.

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

I enjoyed working with these guys. Throughout the whole project, communication was transparent and I felt like I was accurately guided through each stage of the development.

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

Nope, would highly recommend the team to anyone else!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a marketing tool recommendations platform. Our startup enables businesses to maximize their marketing software setup by analyzing their standard stack of tools and suggesting alternatives and apps that could complement marketing tools already in use.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our initial request was for a graphic redesign of our existing website. Though already during cooperation they proved to be reliable partner. The team was pretty honest and they constantly were coming up with suggestions and valuable insights. So we decided to hire them for the development as well.

SOLUTION

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

We were contacted by a SpdLoad representative through Linkedin. We were deciding between several companies and they sold themselves with the case studies on their website, price and effective communication during our initial consultation.

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

As I said, we started with design and requirements documentation. Closer to the end of that stage we realised that the capabilities of the current implementation weren’t enough and in order to scale in the future we decided to start the development from scratch with PHP Laravel and React.js At the moment, the project is successfully delivered and already in production.

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

I was working with their BD, Yehor, as main project coordinator on the vendor side. Overall, the team consisted of a designer, a backend developer, 2 frontend developers and QA (who also served as business analyst on the project).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was delivered within less than 6 months and we’re happy with the result as the solution that SpdLoad suggested is way better than the one we initially planned.

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

Honestly, I enjoyed their style, they knew what they’re doing. We had daily communication over Slack. Besides, each Wednesday we had short calls with status updates. They also provided diligent documentation, development timelines, completed work updates and a clear breakdown of the hours and costs.

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

I’d say that their communication and transparency make them stand out. We were never left in the dark or wondering how far along the project was. I also felt like they genuinely cared about the project and its outcome.

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

No, I highly recommend them to anyone looking for high-quality, well-priced development. We plan to work with them again in the near future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Vice President. My job responsibilities include building partnership relations for the implementation of complex projects and performing the best distribution for our customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Today, I would like to share our feedback about the partnership with SpdLoad. We have been working together since August 2019 and developed three projects together, including one of the enterprise levels. These are: A Sports app for analyzing user performance and training programs. An App for selling tickets on game and sports events. A business solution for analyzing the work of companies & teams.

SOLUTION

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

Why do we engage other niche companies with strong expertise when delivering custom software solutions? Increasing productivity is the most significant benefit of working with a subcontractor and allows your staff to focus on core business needs. Hiring subcontractors is often beneficial when you need specific expertise that you cannot get from your staff. As in most cases, they have been working within a particular field for several years and have had an ample opportunity to hone their skills.

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

Frontend development: UI developing with React and Typescript, tests covering. Technologies: React, Typescript, Redux + Redux-Saga

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

5 Front-end developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their engineering team puts a tremendous amount of effort into business platform, which has improved its reliability and stability.

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

The team members joined us on our daily work flow which was very effective.

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

SPD team was very organized from a project management perspective and technically competent. Their team was very understanding and excellent in communication at all levels.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide people analytics solutions to our customer. We are international and consist of 10+ People. I'm acting as CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Customized Development Support of a large part of our Platform from technical perspective with an integrated team of UX, Design and Business People from our Company.

SOLUTION

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

Several companies from Germany, Eastern Europe, Near East were in the closer selection. In the end it was a matter of personal trust and mutual understanding next to other deciding factors like financials and operational model.

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

Development of web based platform based on react. Development of Enterprise Grade REST APIs based on python. Project management and coordination.

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

Between 2 and 3 people.

1. Senior Python Developer
2. Mid Level Frontend Developer
3. Project Coordinator

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're quite good in terms of development, professional acumen, and expected outcomes. Derivations from the expectations were almost always corrected after mutual agreements.

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

Fast, agile, easy, effort-less. We used Slack, Jira, Confluence and Trello for communication and work management based on the scope and area of work.

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

The personality and commitment of the founder.

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

This is always a matter of personal discussion between Provider and Customer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for a startup. We’re developing a chat tool that can be integrated into e-commerce websites to engage with visitors. It’s used for customer support and sales with a video and audio calling feature.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with SpdLoad?

We hired them to develop our online chat software from scratch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

SpdLoad designed and developed both the chat widget that embeds into websites and the client portal for website owners. There’s also an admin portal on our company’s side that they created. Their team developed the protocol for implementing the tool on client websites. 

We started with a prototype of what everything would look like, from the portal to the client section. They then created technical specifications of the features we needed to have. Their work was done using Laravel PHP and some open-source frameworks. We’re currently testing the product with them and continually adding or changing things.  

For the functionalities, we explained our vision and they helped us implement them. In terms of our business model, they worked with us and made suggestions based on their experience in the field. 

What is the team composition?

At the start, Maksym (CEO) was our point of contact. We’ve been assigned four people, including a project manager and a lead developer.  

How did you come to work with SpdLoad?

I found them through Clutch. The fact that they aren’t just coders made them stand out — they can provide a complete solution, which is good for a startup like us. 

I went to Ukraine and visited 5–6 companies. I went to SpdLoad’s offices and met their people, and I liked meeting them in person. 

How much have you invested with them?

The cost so far is slightly higher than €50,000 (approximately $54,100 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with SpdLoad in May 2019 and our engagement is ongoing while we test the product.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we’re not finished, the quality is very good in general. I haven’t found a single thing to complain about.

How did SpdLoad perform from a project management standpoint?

There is a dedicated project manager on their side and their management is amazing. They’re very detailed and cover everything. In general, they’re always in touch with us. We don’t need to chase them down. We communicate through Slack and Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of quality work and communication stand out. We didn’t have a lot of experience creating something from nothing, so we liked that they make suggestions and help achieve our vision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing to improve on the development side, but some marketing efforts could help reach more potential clients.  

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I’d suggest working with them since SpdLoad is reliable and they produce high-quality work. If someone comes across them, they shouldn’t even think about something else.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of Smartpolka, an aggregator and payment service for small and medium-sized businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SpdLoad?

We’re a startup and it was our first development experience, so we needed a partner to help us create the app.

What were your goals for this project?

The main objective was to get the service up and running by creating an app that allows users to buy things easily using QR codes. It needed to include web services and checkout features.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

SpdLoad was recommended to me by another person.

Describe the project in detail.

SpdLoad designed, developed, and configured our mobile app, handling both the frontend and backend portions of the work. They integrated Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and credit card payment. Overall, the app allows users to pay via QR codes, send messages, and receive analytics.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started testing the app in May. Today, we have a working solution for our clients and have made our first sales in nine fitness clubs in Moscow.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was interesting and effective. SpdLoad helped us fix issues, find bugs, and get everything running correctly faster. We also discussed database specifications together.

During the development process, it was very important for us to have project status updates and know which tasks were done, as well as the impact of the work on the system's operation. This helped both sides find good solutions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their team is focused on creating quality IT products.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It would’ve been better to discuss the details surrounding the UI and backend before building it.