Stone Labs

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO at bridgify. We provide point-of-sale (POS) and data processing solutions.

What challenge were you trying to address with Stone Labs?

Our client wanted a business intelligence tool to seamlessly process data gathered from cash registers. We needed a partner to help us create and produce the solution.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Stone Labs’ business analysts transferred the operations process into a programming language. They built the backend of the POS system using Python and HTML and its main function is translating data into various graphs. The interface is simple, it is accessed by a web browser that requires employee credentials to log in, then the system processes the data associated with that login. The information is systemized on different blocks that can be viewed in a dashboard that also includes reports for revenues, employees, and engineering elements. With this system, the business owner can determine various performance rates without being onsite. Additionally, the program can analyze the average of paid bills, the number of guests, and peak hours.

What is the team composition?

I was mostly in contact with the CEO, but there was also a project manager assigned.

How did you come to work with Stone Labs?

I knew the CEO and we invited him to a blockchain conference. We engaged as soon as he expressed an understanding of our project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €20,000 ($23,291 USD) on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from November 2017–June 2018.

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

We are still testing and just beginning to release the product, but so far there haven’t been any major issues with the code.

How did Stone Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Odoo Timesheet to communicate and track the project. The Stone Labs team was extremely goal-oriented. They were willing to work overtime if necessary.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very dedicated and reachable.

Any advice for potential customers?

Potential clients should keep working with them. They are invested in projects and you can trust them to keep their word.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company develops sports science athletic training for baseball. I’m a project manager.

What challenge were you trying to address with Stone Labs?

We wanted to create a tracking solution for our workouts and the data we collect. The system we used previously didn’t work, so we needed something customized.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a web-based portal for athletes and trainers to manage workouts and exercises. All of that data is collected in the backend for us to warehouse and evaluate. They mostly use SQL and HTML5, plus a lot of different templates. We give them control over which technologies they use.

The first iteration was a recreation of our Excel experience, but the product has grown from there. We present them with features and specifications, then they draft cost estimates and provide feedback. They make sure they build the right product and are mindful of time spent.

What is the team composition?

My two main contacts are a project manager who coordinates future work and a business admin who steps in as we move closer to development to plan out a course of action. I’ve spoken to the developers a couple of times but there is a bit of a language barrier with the development team.

How did you come to work with Stone Labs?

I found them through Upwork. I interviewed several providers and had one vendor previously that failed. We chose Stone Labs for their approach to business administration and their thoroughness. They also had experience with sports software.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April or May 2017. The first iteration went live about 6–7 weeks after development. We’ve since built on that and are several iterations in. We’re still working together.

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

We gather feedback from all of our users and sit well above a collective four-star rating. I’ve worked with Stone Labs for a little over a year and each iteration is considerably more complex than the last. Their ability to work within existing frameworks while considering our needs, making adjustments, and proposing solutions are all really satisfying.

How did Stone Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is one of their biggest strengths. We used Trello for quite a while and recently switched to Jira for bug and task tracking. We had a lot of conference calls at the beginning. As the products and the relationship matured, we moved to a weekly call and frequent emails. We increase communication as needed and they have no problem doing as many as four calls a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their business administration, project management, and communication are a breath of fresh air. They’re thorough and responsive and email me each day with updates. If there is a problem or a bug, they deal with it immediately. All those attributes help them stand out from their competitors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re pretty solid. We had a bit of turnover last year, but they’re always very communicative about it. Still, we wish we didn’t have those distractions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I treat them like they’re my own team. We’re honest about our business goals, project needs, and marketing needs and have had a lot of success. There can be a bit of a language barrier, but they’re intelligent people and it’s definitely worth pushing through.

Please describe your organization.

Primary JWT, founded in 1997 is the oldest, full-service advertising agency in Belarus. We are a part of the international J. Walter Thompson family.

What is your role at the company?

I'm an account manager.

What was the business challenge that you were trying to address with Stone Labs?

One of our clients is a large United Kingdom-based pharmaceuticals company. The goal of the project was to develop an iPad friend "eDetailing" presentation for their Belarusian sales representatives in order to assist them with communicating with physicians and patients, establish brand awareness, increase familiarity, and facilitate sales.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

The handled the development of an iOS eDetailer app on a turnkey basis and according to our technical design specifications. In addition, they were tasked with testing the program prior to launch. 

How did you come to work with Stone Labs?

They were recommended to us and, as we were completing our due diligence, we were very impressed with their technical knowledge and professional manner.

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

The project cost approximately $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I would prefer not to reveal the exact dates, but Stone Labs delivered the project in approximately a month and a half.

What were the results of the project, and are there any metrics you can share?

The results of the project were very good. Our KPI [key performance indicator] was our client's satisfaction, and we met that with flying colors. The client uses the presentation extensively in their work and has no complaints regarding bugs or technical difficulties.

How did Stone Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

What set Stone Labs apart was their availability and dedication to the project. They were always available to calls and meetings whenever we needed. This ensured that there were no surprises, and we were 100 percent satisfied at the end.

In hindsight, are there areas in which they could improve, or things you might do differently?

My only recommendation, and this applies to the majority of developers out there, I wish they had used more ordinary language. Myself and my team are not tech-savvy and, often during our meetings, their words went above our heads because we did not know the IT [information technology] jargon. I would recommend they use more common language with future clients.