Surf

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We've developed a series of apps showing mobile and Wi-Fi network coverage, plus the performance of said networks. We build these maps by allowing users to collect data on our behalf. Someone can launch the app, run a speed test, and we will use the information gathered for that specific carrier instantaneously. We're located in Paris, France. We were recently acquired by an American company. The organization we're now a part of is composed of around 60 people.

What is your position?

I am the Chief Technology Officer. I oversee all development within the company, from mobile to database work.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Surf?

When our startup was incorporated, we already had an app on the Android market. I had developed it myself and it wasn't pretty at all. We hired a designer who worked on all its screens. We then needed a company that could implement a pixel-perfect screen, based on our designs.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Surf has worked on mobile app development with us. We've worked on a number of projects, the bulk of the work always focusing on user interface [UI]. We give them a set of Photoshop documents [PSDs] and technical specs, including the required interaction with our servers. Their team then delivers the work based on our material.

From time to time, we've worked on one-off research and development projects for specific technical issues related to Android. We've had them research private application program interfaces [APIs], hidden elements, or how a specific phone would work in a specific environment.

They've built two versions of our UI. The first one was built in 2010. We did a complete redesign in 2013. Surf was involved in the entire implementation process in both cases, amounting to thousands of man-hours.

We initially only worked on Android applications. Surf didn't have iOS expertise at the beginning of our relationship. We'd had some bad experiences developing for this operating system, and I wish they had development capabilities from the start. Right now, we have in-house iOS development capabilities through the American company who acquired us, so we don't use Surf. If we hadn't been acquired, I would have definitely started iOS development projects with them this year.

How did you come to work with Surf?

We found them through Upwork (then called oDesk). I posted a job and got a number of respondents. I initially selected another company which did a bad job of implementing our screens. I don't specifically remember if I contacted them or vice versa, but once we selected them, half of our app was completed within a week. It was absolutely perfect and I had no comments to make about their work. We've been working together ever since, and I've never looked at another Android provider since then.

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

A rough estimate for all the work we've done over the years is $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them for five years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Over the years, we've worked with a number of their employees, around five or six. We've always been satisfied with the delivered work.

How did Surf perform from a project management standpoint?

We typically send them a fairly technical spec, followed by a back-and-forth via Skype, along with questions and answers logged into Google Drive documents. Once Surf has delivered the work, I will start testing on my device. UI is always perfect. Whatever issues arose were due to misunderstandings between what I wanted and what their interpretation of the specs was. It's a common occurrence when working with a remote team. I've always been very satisfied with them.

What distinguishes Surf from other providers?

Being technically-oriented, I'm an unusual client. I haven't been very exposed to their project managers or designers. We never use those services. One of the reasons I continue to work with Surf is that they're nice guys. Not only is Surf technically good, but they're nice to talk to.

Is there anything Surf could have improved or done differently?

They could improve their project management, specifically for non-standard projects which involve research and development, and other requirements they're not accustomed to. Developers tend to drift a little bit in situations like these. It's only a minor negative, almost not worth mentioning. Whenever we work on ordinary projects (i.e. implementing an app from specs and PSDs), it simply works.