Syberry

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a neurocognitive psychometric research and development company. We build software that improves brain function in the context of driving a car. Our training improves people’s visual and situational awareness while driving. I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

We had a downloadable driving simulator. It was a complicated software in that it measured response times to a 30th of a second, so it couldn’t rely on an internet connection and really needed to reside on a computer. 

It was a downloaded product for years, but the technology improved to where we could have an online one, and that’s what Syberry worked on with us. We developed the initial version ourselves, but changing its entire architecture would've been a challenge.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Syberry first developed an online version of our teen product, followed by the one for adults. We’re developing them as web apps for now. We also plan to develop an awareness course in the form of a native mobile app.

It works on all Chromebooks, but getting it to run on iPads is a challenge, particularly since they’ve gone away from the mouse. There are also limitations around screen sizes and how a driving simulator will appear on an iPhone screen, for example.

The database part is also complex, given that we measure response times and accuracy, and we collect pre- and post-data. We use that granular data both to make our product better and to develop predictive algorithms for the insurance companies so that they can improve their pricing models.

Similarly to the telematics in a car, for measuring driving behavior, we measure the driver’s ability to avoid a crash. That’s a whole different metric than how the car is being driven.

What is the team composition?

They have a team consisting of a project manager and at least two engineers.

How much have you invested with them?

The total spend so far is a bit below $200,000, and we’ll probably invest another $100,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Syberry in January 2019. We’re finishing our third project with them, and we have two more lined up. We went live with the adult driver program just this week, and we’re still tweaking it and the teen version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They haven’t been perfect, but we’re somewhere between satisfied and very satisfied. With any software project, there will be things that impact the customer experience. It can be either our fault, a combination between us and Syberry, or just Syberry’s. 

We’ve had all of those, but they’ve been responsive when making mistakes. They’re a good company all in all, and we’re going to continue working with them. The best thing I can say is that the software works. It’s not flawless, but our customer experience has by and large been improved by adding online capabilities. 

Around 90% of users are opting for the online version now, versus the downloadable one. We had a couple of hiccups where people couldn’t log in, but Syberry found and resolved the problem in about six hours. We work on this 24/7 with our own tech support, so we notice issues like this right away. 

That was a six-hour downtime that could’ve been avoided, but being able to find and diagnose the problem so quickly was appreciated. Syberry realized immediately that it was on their side of the fence and they needed to jump on it.

They’re dedicated and responsive, and I’m sure they were working until 1–2 a.m. their time in order to fix our problem by noon. They pulled an all-nighter to fix our problem, and that’s something we don’t find every day.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform really well. We have meetings twice a week with the team and once a week with their CIO. I attend those meetings about half the time, so that I can watch how their project managers deal with our people and vice versa.

We have really good communication. We’ve had a couple of project managers across the collaboration with Syberry, and they’ve both been good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They deliver a good product for the price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

A little more attention to detail would be nice, but I don’t know how practical that would be in the bigger scope. I understand software development from a conceptual standpoint, so I do cut them a break when they make a mistake. 

We’ve been able to build a team where people don’t blame each other when something goes awry, but instead, come together and fix it. That’s how our team works with theirs.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should be very articulate in their specifications and know what outcomes they want going into it. Syberry does a great job if given articulate direction, and they’re also good at suggesting alternate approaches and technologies. If they understand what success looks like in the end, they’ll do a good job.

We went into this project with a lot of information. As such, we’ve had a pretty good experience. It’s been a challenge for both parties because we have a unique and very technical product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a STEM teacher and the director of educational technology at Seton Hall Prep.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

The idea for the Covid Resource Network started off in our STEM class as a project. Our class is project-based learning, so students pick their projects, and I approve them.

For this project, the students came up with the idea for a website that would link organizations that have needs to people and organizations who are willing to donate.

We recognized it as a catastrophic need in this country, so we wanted to create a powerful database. We knew that we couldn’t do it alone, which is why we hired Sydberry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a meeting with all of the team members and they introduced themselves to me. Syberry then began the project. When I got onto Fox News to talk about the project, they created a splash page for it just so that I could have something out there. I created the Google Form for the splash page.

Throughout the process, my students would share their opinions and I would relate that information to Syberry. They developed the website for us, working on both the front- and backend. The team is now working on making improvements to the website. 

What is the team composition?

One teammate was in charge of the project, and Timour (EVP) stepped in occasionally.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

We searched online and found different websites that listed the best web development companies in the US. After reading testimonials, I messaged 8–10 companies. Within two hours of sending my message out, I got one positive response from Timour who said Syberry do it.

We also got another response from another company, but after seeing how nice Syberry’s website was, we went with them. Timour also told us that the whole team would be behind the project and they would do it for free.

How much have you invested with them?

They did the work for free, but the project would’ve probably cost between $21,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in April 2020, and the website went live about three weeks later. We’re still working with Syberry.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We now have 35 companies who have used our website to register themselves and make donations. The website they developed is fully-functional, powerful, and easy-to-use. 

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

We had frequent team and Skype meetings to get the website ready for the launch. We communicated every day with our point of contact via email, and then every other day via video chat. When meetings got heavier, Timour would get on and help us. 

Syberry accelerated the deadlines as long as I was cooperating. They wanted to get the website out as quickly as possible, so they sped up the process. Now that the website is out there, they are still making improvements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They never once asked for any kind of publicity. When I put “Syberry” on the bottom of the website, it was my decision. And when I was on Fox News, they never asked for a shoutout. Additionally, I knew what I wanted, but I’m not a web developer. 

So, the team did a great job of speaking my language and translating it into the product. They are as invested in my website as I am and their ability to communicate how the website works is wonderful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions. I couldn’t be happier. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When we did a lot of team meetings, I made sure to make screencasts. So, I would advise other customers to do the same because it will save both parties a  lot of time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the delivery manager for an IT solutions provider. We mainly focus on the healthcare and finance industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

Our client wanted us to build a centralized and cloud-based medical system. We were looking for a company that could help us develop this software product. We needed them to deliver consistently while committing to our client’s time and budget expectations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Syberry started with a discovery phase and prototyped the product. They created wireframes and then moved into the main development stage, which took approximately two months. 

The client’s original expectation was to create the product within nine months. We had seven months for delivery, and it took approximately that time. The initial release took us nine months to complete, from the first day to deployment to production. It initially launched in January 2019, and we’re still working with Syberry to build new versions.

What is the team composition?

During the discovery, there were 3–4 people. For the main phase, there were ten people. There is also a project manager and business analyst, as well as software and QA engineers.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

They were a referral from one of our customers.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It was absolutely critical for the product to have a high-quality UI and on-time delivery. We have received very positive feedback from the end-users.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is good. We had a lot of communication and on-time delivery, which is a good indication for us that project management is properly organized. They recommended using Redmine and Trello, and that worked very well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to promise a delivery and make it happen for a seven-month project was impressive. We expected it, but it was still impressive. We didn’t employ any technical CTO on our side. They designed the whole thing from scratch, and that was impressive. They made good technology choices.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had very good communication at the beginning of the project, but we would’ve liked to have received more intermediate versions in the initial phase. Not doing so probably helped us get the product faster, but we were still worried whether everything would be on time. I recommend that they make sure clients see the results more frequently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The key thing is to be able to trust the team you select. If you hire the team, you should trust them. It’s always risky, but that’s what worked for us. We didn’t have a lot of discussions.

BACKGROUND

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

We were working on a very large project that required services outside our area of expertise. Our client’s old site was built on WordPress, was buggy, not very secure, and couldn’t support the amount of traffic coming to the site, so it needed to be updated. Syberry offers advanced and custom programming, so we brought them on to finish the product for us.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped develop a complex e-commerce web app that required shipping integration. Everything was built on AWS. Additionally, the product was highly regulated, so the platform needed to meet very specific sales requirements. We’ve gone through three phases with them—initial development and then two modification projects.

What is the team composition?

We’ve had a new project manager for all three of our projects. In total, we’ve had a team of about 12 staff members, including developers, engineers and QA team.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

I found them through an online search and carefully considered them and a few other agencies.  I wanted to be careful with a project of this size, but selected them because of their portfolio and price.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $250,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in June 2017 and is ongoing.

SOLUTION

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

Our customer is really pleased with the outcome and wants our team to continue working on their web projects. Compared to the previous site, the new platform is fantastic and we haven’t experienced any downtime since the launch.

If we hired full-time developers for this project, it would have required 4–5 new team members to manage and monitor shipping. Just by automating the site, we saved a lot of resources. So, the investment in Syberry has paid off tremendously. They delivered a turn-key product that has been very profitable for us.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management software is linear and takes us through the whole development process—from scoping out the project through building, quality control, punch list, wish list, and bug fixes. It really helps organize a very complex development process. They also offer a software package that simplifies the process so it is easier for our team to understand.

We can communicate with them through the project management system or through our assigned project manager who then disseminates information to the development team. They delivered everything on time and communicated payments clearly, so it has been a positive experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They use both local and offshore developers, which means that we can utilize high-level, experienced developers for a more affordable price. They were able to bring in the greatest minds in project management, hardware engineering, quality control, testing, and development for less than it would have cost us to hire an internal team member.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of any criticisms at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your due diligence, ask a lot of questions, and fully explain your expectations and intent. By doing that, you’ll help Syberry meet your expectations. They’re creating a custom-developed piece of software. Items on your punch list may seem trivial, but should be addressed in advance because small programming changes to the end-user can actually be very large or difficult programming changes for a developer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the vice president of products at THG Energy Solutions. We're an energy software data management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

We were looking for an outsourced partner that could provide a full spectrum of software development services, including business analysis, scoping, development, testing, and quality control.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We transferred the development responsibilities of one of our cloud-based software platforms from another outsourced group over to Syberry. That product was already on the market and in front of customers, so there was no launch to oversee. Rather, Syberry took over the ongoing product development efforts. We went through a fairly rigorous onboarding and knowledge transfer process so their team leads and development group could become familiar with the platform. And from that point on, they’ve served as our software engineering team.

What is the team composition?

Syberry has assigned about a dozen people to our project, a group that includes a business development contact, a project lead, various levels of software developers, and a QA resource.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

I know a colleague at our company went to college with Timour (Executive Vice President, Syberry), but I’m not sure if the introduction was made there or through a broader evaluation process. I took my role after Syberry had been introduced.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $1 million so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in February 2018 and remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our primary focus when hiring Syberry was to improve our product’s frontend performance. Because of their efforts, the customer experience has been enriched to a great degree. On a project-by-project basis, I’ve been impressed with their ability to understand our business needs and apply that understanding to their scoping, development, and deployment processes.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

There has been some turnover of the project lead role, but the transition process has always been smooth from one to the next. Overall, the team has been accessible and responsive. When working with an outsourced team, it’s natural to have concerns about communication, but we have never experienced those problems with Syberry.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their willingness across the organization to understand our industry. They understand our needs, our clients’ needs, and they proactively make recommendations of how we could do better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project lead turnover was something I was mildly concerned about at the time, but they’ve done a great job of alleviating those concerns by continuously putting high-quality people into the vacant position.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I understand that there might be some apprehension about entering into an agreement with a company whose workforce is mostly based in Eastern Europe. My recommendation is to keep an open mind. Syberry has proven time and again that language and time zone barriers will not stand in the way of establishing a successful relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a mobile home transport and permit service. I'm the vice president.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

We wanted to update software that contained multiple databases for our permit service. We deal with 48 states, including hundreds of special forms for counties within those states. They found a way to aggregate that information in one, cohesive source.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They went through what we had and what we were using, which was extremely outdated. I walked them through our process, and then we planned on how to update it and make it more flexible. They came up with ideas, we went through them, and we went back and forth until we came up with solutions.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three or four different people over the course of the project.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

I looked on the internet. I called several companies who didn’t get back to us, but Syberry answered our call and were happy to help us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent approximately $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around September 2017. They completed the project around October 2018, but they still help us when issues arise.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're still inputting information into the framework they provided. We needed to create forms and transfer all our data manually. Because of that, we don't have any metrics to report. When we've finished, the system will save us time and act as a hub for the information we need.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed admirably. There is a time difference, but our schedules worked well together. They've always been helpful, and they answered all my questions. They were very patient throughout the process, and our partnership worked out very well. We spoke weekly or every other week, depending on where they were in the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their dedication and willingness to help were impressive. They were efficient and kept everyone on task.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should improve at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This was the first time I've ever done anything this big, so I don't have anything to compare it to. I was pleased with the process, and I would recommend them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CTO of MyMelo, a media platform focused on the broadcasting industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

We had several upcoming tasks, including performing updates and adding core features to our platform. We needed additional help for this development so we hired Syberry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To begin, Syberry assigned a project manager and identified the key resources our team needed. They analyzed the existing code for our tech stack and we gave them a breakdown of our requirements. We agreed on sprint cycles, platform choices, and laid out our expectations.

We’ve provided them with a feature roadmap that includes all of the development tasks we’ll be using their team for.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around 12 people from their team. They provide a project manager who coordinates the work and a technical lead.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

We looked at multiple review platforms to find the right vendor and came across Syberry. We spoke to their previous clients to find out more about their capabilities. We were drawn to them because of their experience with a technology stack similar to ours.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $500,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in April 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work they’ve produced has been high quality. We were able to fully launch the platform and we’re in the process of getting feedback from our strategic partners. We’re seeing solid adoption numbers for our product and we’re confident moving forward.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

We went through a few changes of staff along the way, but it was perfect once we settled on the right team with Syberry. They’ve managed the project like a well-oiled machine. They iterate the work during our two-week sprints and are efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team has a deep skill set that covers all our engineering needs. Whenever I ask them to do something, they’re capable and willing to do it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Having more stabilized communication structures could make the time difference less of an issue. We’ve worked together to make the process more efficient.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Try to provide as much detail as possible. Their engineers are skilled at delivering exactly what you ask for, so the final product will be better if your idea is defined, precise, and articulated.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and executive director of Velikom International. We provide IT solutions to clients ranging from web development to e-commerce platforms to video streaming systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

Syberry helped us develop and deliver a video streaming and integration software product to a third-party client. The solution needed to meet our client’s needs, and we wanted to resell it in the future.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The product allows our client to capture video, analyze it, make GPS inquiries, and then take the appropriate actions on the resulting data. We first outlined the scope to Syberry. Their team then followed up with additional questions that we needed to ask the client to better understand their needs and infrastructure. Once we had fully identified the client’s requirements, Syberry’s architects and project manager laid out the project schedule. They then began developing a web version and a desktop application version of the software using PHP and Wowza Streaming Engine. The team provided multiple iterations and solicited the client’s feedback, making adjustments as needed and providing QA.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about 5–8 team members, including a project manager and several specialists in PHP, Wowza Streaming Engine, and QA processes.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

I knew one of their vice presidents and was talking to him about collaborating on various projects. When this opportunity came around, I reached out to Syberry because they have expertise in streaming server technologies. We sat down for a formal conversation, and their references and breadth of knowledge impressed my team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $400,000–$500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in early 2017, and the project lasted 7–9 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Syberry delivered an end product that met every requirement, beat our agreed-upon deadline, and exceeded the client’s expectations. We expect a long-term relationship with our client and with Syberry.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

The team made a clearly defined plan and stuck to their timeline from start to finish. We had daily check-ins, weekly status updates over the phone, and meetings with our client every two weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Syberry grasped the project concept quickly. They understood the client’s vision and needs and translated that into a defined plan and a solution. They proved their technical expertise and project experience from the get-go.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I personally like a lot of communication from vendors I work with. However, other clients of theirs may be overwhelmed by the volume of information that Syberry provides. I’m sure the team can adjust as needed.

Any advice for potential customers?

Share as much as possible to give Syberry a full picture of the project, its requirements, and its challenges. You will be able to trust them, and they’ll prove it to you in the delivery.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of a company called Steel Estimating Solutions which provides a tool to estimate pricing for steel erection.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Syberry?

There was nothing in the market to automate steel pricing estimation. I had an Excel spreadsheet I used that I wanted to turn into software. I needed a partner to do that with me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Syberry built my software from scratch based on my idea. The user inputs all the quantities of steel for a building project into the tool and receives a price estimation that they can use to bid for the job.

We went through a discovery phase after which we agreed on a price and they started the development. They completed the first version within five or six months and we worked on that initial product over the following six months. They continue to make enhancements to the product.

What is the team composition?

I communicated with a project lead and had a team of five or six people including developers and testers.

How did you come to work with Syberry?

I searched online and ended up speaking to three vendors. Syberry made me the most comfortable. They best understood what I was trying to accomplish. I felt lucky with the decision I made.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $250,000 at this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2016 and its ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The software is flawless and has been since the release. We haven’t had any challenges with issues or bugs over three and a half years. It’s user-friendly and we haven’t had any complaints from users. Our clientele continues to grow.

How did Syberry perform from a project management standpoint?

We talked every Monday and then throughout the week depending on the tasks. Communication was constant. My project lead was straightforward and always kept me informed. He’s also very smart and helpful: whenever I would come to him with an idea, he would think about it for a while, come up with a resolution, and put it into place. I feel very fortunate to have found Syberry and to have worked with my project manager.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most impressive thing is that they do what they say they’ll do. They give me a timeframe and they hit every deadline that they set. Communication was huge for me and I was very impressed with how they handled themselves.

Are there any areas they could improve?

From my experience with them, I don't see any need for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about what you want the end result to be and have everything included in the discovery phase as best you can. If everything is included, it will save you time and trouble down the road.