ThinkUp

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a project manager at a Uruguayan finance company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ThinkUp?

We needed to migrate our client's mobile application to a new technology with a new design, accepting more accessibility criteria.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ThinkUp has migrated our app to a new technology and rebuilt it. After signing the contract with ThinkUp, we had several meetings with the design team to define the app's design. Then, the development stage began, and I was in constant contact with ThinkUp's team. Afterward, we had face-to-face meetings where we tested the product together and attended to any incidents that arose. ThinkUp has used Flutter for development and built for Android and iOS.

The app's production release was in May 2024, and we've engaged ThinkUp to provide maintenance services. In the app, clients can request cash loans, electronic wallets, and credit cards. Our company's business is providing credits and loans. Our users can finance purchases through QR codes, and we offer a credit card and an electronic wallet to pay for services.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager, two Flutter developers, a QA specialist, and two designers.

How did you come to work with ThinkUp?

I met ThinkUp through a colleague with whom I worked at a different company and who is now part of ThinkUp's team. My colleague referred me to Mauro (CEO & Co-Founder), and after I contacted him, we signed the contract. ThinkUp provided a business proposal and presentation for the project. We reviewed the team's proposal with our suppliers and realized it fit our timelines and budget needs. We also liked ThinkUp's spirit and decided to go with them.
How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $142,000 on this project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with ThinkUp in November 2023, and the team continues to provide us with maintenance services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've seen high usage of our app, which is our company's most important product. We have approximately 60,500 installations.

How did ThinkUp perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication with ThinkUp is very fluid via email and Zoom. We've had some inconveniences as our previous app used old technology, and ThinkUp stepped up on time while migrating the app to consider the necessary changes and make decisions. We use Jira to collaborate.
Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I'd like to highlight Matias' (Technical Leader & Senior Android Developer) work. Matias has been active and demonstrated throughout the project his ability to go into the problems' details to find solutions. He's a proactive professional, very curious, and detail-oriented. 

At times during the project, when we encountered critical situations, Matias was able to resolve and get to the root of the issues on his own. Matias is self-demanding, and we really like his willingness and agility to solve problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What impresses me the most about ThinkUp is their knowledge of the technologies they work with. I emphasize that the team is young and eager to innovate, which is essential to me when deciding to migrate and redesign an application. When we saw the team's desire to innovate, we gave them more room to present designs to us and adapted to what they presented. That is one of ThinkUp's strengths, their ability to innovate, which they demonstrate all the time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only difficulty we've experienced working with ThinkUp is the difference in our work schedules. We work with a fixed schedule, and sometimes, finding the team is difficult. However, we always receive a response from ThinkUp, although sometimes it is with a difference of hours.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

The main thing is to come to the project with an open mind and listen to the team. Give ThinkUp the possibility to present proposals because they do a prior analysis of the market and present what they consider will improve the final product. New clients who hire ThinkUp need to come in with an open mind to hear what the team has to offer.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of IT for a soccer club.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ThinkUp?

We needed help with developing a mobile app. We wanted to hire a strategic tech partner who could help us develop a massive app. Our club has a lot of followers, and we wanted this app for digital ticket checking at our stadium, so this app would be used by many people simultaneously.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we worked together with ThinkUp on a research process to assess our needs. Our main goals were to have a stable and user-friendly platform and, thus, have more people accessing our stadium. Once we had established the requirements, we let ThinkUp decide on the best technology alternatives to create this app accordingly.

ThinkUp has already designed and developed this mobile app for iOS and Android, and its main feature is ticket redemption. Our club’s associates have the possibility to go to our stadium for free, so this app helps them redeem their tickets and access our stadium automatically.

Now, ThinkUp has finished the app’s second main feature, which revolves around ticket purchasing. This feature is ready to go into production. With it, users will be able to buy tickets directly from the app. Additionally, ThinkUp will provide us with app maintenance moving forward.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked directly with Guillermo (Co-Founder & COO). We’ve also worked with Matias (Technical Leader & Senior Android Developer), Virginia (Project Manager)

How did you come to work with ThinkUp?

Someone recommended them to us. Still, for this vetting process, we launched a public RFP, to which multiple companies responded, including ThinkUp. After that, we evaluated the different proposals, not only from a budgetary standpoint but also from a work quality perspective.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around March 2023, and our engagement is ongoing. Around July 2023, we launched the first version of our app. Now, we’re close to launching the second version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently, we have more than 20,000 users on our app. Since launching it, we’ve also seen a lot of positive feedback from our followers online, which is the most important metric because they’re the target audience. Successfully, they’re very happy with our new app.

How did ThinkUp perform from a project management standpoint?

We initially had a very tight deadline to launch the app, and ThinkUp was able to launch it on time and as expected, without any issues. As for communication, I have direct contact with Guillermo via WhatsApp and phone calls. He has been very responsive, not only during office hours but also after hours.

We’ve also used Google Meet and Zoom to have video calls with ThinkUp and our internal managers. In these meetings, we’ve shared ideas so that ThinkUp can understand the app we want. Making them understand what we wanted has been the most challenging part of this project due to the complexity of our industry.

Soccer is very different from other businesses. For others, having a management system down for a few minutes is not a big deal. However, for soccer matches, there are tickets selling and people entering the stadium in real time, so there can’t be any downtime or failures.

Moreover, the Soccer industry has very different needs than most, and one has to be involved in the industry to understand it. Despite ThinkUp not being knowledgeable about our industry, they’ve adapted well, understanding our unique challenges quickly. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I would like to give a shout-out to Guillermo, who has been very efficient, responsible, and knowledgeable. He has walked us through the process and immersed himself in the project to work alongside us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would like to congratulate the entire ThinkUp team. They’ve been an excellent strategic partner who has understood our challenge, taken our side, and provided us with a brilliant solution. They’ve guided us throughout the entire project. In fact, when we launched the app to the public, they were there with us in our stadium to provide support and prevent inconveniencies.

Overall, ThinkUp has exceeded our expectations. Before working with them, I hadn’t had the pleasure of working with a company so involved in solving a challenge. The most impressive thing about them is their value-added service. They’ve demonstrated that they’re not another development company; they’re a top-notch company in all senses, from development to production.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything ThinkUp could improve on; they’re already excellent.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Direct communication with ThinkUp is instrumental in the project’s success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a staff augmentation company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ThinkUp?

We hire ThinkUp when we have needs beyond what we have the internal resources for. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ThinkUp is currently providing us with mobile application development. We’ve given them documentation to start; key technologies include Swift, Java, and Kotlin. 

What is the team composition?

We work with about four individuals from ThinkUp. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $500,000 with ThinkUp. 

How did you come to work with ThinkUp?

Another individual within my company recommended them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ThinkUp provides very high-quality work, and their team is technically skilled. 

How did ThinkUp perform from a project management standpoint?

Anytime that bugs pop up, they take care of them effectively. ThinkUp delivers on time and within budget. We use Jira and Slack for project management and communication. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We’d like to shout out Juan (Android Developer). 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve been highly impressed with how personal their team is and the care they put into their relationship with us. They also have very strong communication skills, are transparent, and keep us updated. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with at this point. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Stay involved and ask a lot of questions. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a Data Solutions Company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are experts in data solutions, passionate about new technologies and focused on quality. Our mission is to collaborate with our partners in order to add value to their businesses through data-driven projects and solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Mobile App Development of a white label solution for Fintech companies

SOLUTION

How did you find ThinkUp?

Referral

Why did you select ThinkUp over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from ThinkUp were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

We partnered with ThinkUp to implement a white label mobile app solution for Fintech companies, providing data and dashboards in an easy and engaged way. Initially they helped us define the project scope with a Discovery phase. Then they delivered the UX/UI design of the app in Figma, and now we are still working together in the development of the mobile apps for iOS and Android.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• The final users gave us feedback super positive about the mobile apps and specifically about the user experience the apps offer. The users now can do tasks and ask for information and insights in an easier way than they did before.

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

ThinkUp delivered everything on time. They assigned a Project Manager as our main point of contact, who is always available on a Slack channel we created to keep communication fluent. We also have Sprint planning meetings and daily meetings. At the end of each Sprint they showcase the product to me and our Product Owner and Product Manager and we approve the releases.

What was your primary form of communication with ThinkUp?

• Virtual Meeting

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

They are not only excellent and skilled about Mobile App Development and Product Design, but also they provided very important ideas and suggestions to implement and enhance our Product.

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

At the moment there is nothing ThinkUp could improved on. I'm very happy with their work and our partnership. We will definitely continue working together as our business requires it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the founders of Bodhi.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ThinkUp?

We don’t have any mobile developers on staff. We hired ThinkUp to help us with that process because we didn't want to hire more in-house developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ThinkUp helped develop an iOS and Android resident app that ties into our core app. We gave them a brief overview; we showed them different apps to show them what we were trying to achieve. Then, they created a design for our approval. After that, we designed the backend, which included writing an API, and ThinkUp designed the frontend and UX/UI using Figma; they collaborated with our team to ensure the app was what we wanted.

The app automates various functions in a house or condominium; users can control the lights, climate, and shades, unlock doors, and receive package notifications.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 people from their team. We mostly dealt with Patricia (Project Manager).

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement started in November 2022 and was completed at the end of January 2023.

How did you come to work with ThinkUp?

We found them through a friend.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work was great. There were minimal bugs; they took our design and implemented it very well. We didn't fully release the app, but the team was very easy to work with.

How did the company perform from a project management standpoint?

ThinkUp communicated very well. We mainly communicated through email and texts, and there was a Slack channel for our developers and theirs. We made many changes, so the budget had to change, but the project management was on point. They beat our deadline; the only thing that may have slowed them down was us. They made sure we gave them what they needed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their speed and understanding of what we were trying to achieve were most impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they did well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the project manager of Buybutton, a platform that helps merchants to sell from Social Media using only a link.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired ThinkUp to develop the BuyButton mobile application and its Web dashboard. This platform helps selling from Social Media using only a link. Out goal was to provide a solution to online merchants to accept different payment methods in their businesses, automate purchases from social networks, and everything that is needed to manage an online store.

SOLUTION

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

Our companies have worked together on several projects. We have been excellent partners on several occasions.

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

This project stems from the need to offer merchants with online stores a solution that integrates the entire management process that they must face. We were not looking to develop another public purchase app, that solution already exists. We were looking for a real solution for merchants. 

With this initial kick, we achieved a successful product that includes web and mobile solutions for the complete management of an online store.ThinkUp was our technology partner at all times, understanding the business and translating needs into technical solutions.

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

The team is composed by 2 Flutter developers, 1 web developer, 1 UI/UX designer, 1 Business Analyst, 1 Project Manager and 1 Quality Control Analyst.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The launch of these products allowed us to grow exponentially. We have launched top-level products with indisputable quality, which speaks for us about commitment, dedication, and innovation. We are ready to continue growing this way, improving the platform and accompanying our users in their needs.

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

The management was excellent from every point of view. We have implemented Jira as a management tool and ThinkUp team has been very willing to use our communication tools, which makes them impeccable from this point of view. The entire team has been open to stopping at key moments and listening and exchanging opinions.

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

They are good on working alongside their clients with the goal of lead their markets.

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

There’s really no negative side to working with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

HEX is a boutique consultancy that creates brands and builds digital products through thinking & doing differently. I'm the COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

One of our core clients has a technology platform that they use to engage millennials. During COVID-19, their business was jolted because of their reliance on the in-person moments to create meaningful experiences. We hired ThinkUp to help with our development work to help bring this experience virtual, and even moving forward as we explore a hybrid model with the client.

SOLUTION

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

ThinkUp focuses on quality and a can-do attitude. We needed someone honest, reliable, and that could easily adapt to our team's structure and communication style as we engage with our client. They were able to come in and help us continue to get the job done as an extension of our technical team.

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

In working in an agile development structure, the details shift each month. Ultimately, it's about creating a meaningful and usable product that users love. All of our tasks and outcomes align towards that positive, engaging experience. We are in constant communication through Slack, standups and other meetings to ensure we're accomplishing what we set out to do in work together.

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

We've worked with backend developers from ThinkUp and continue to explore ways to utilize their talent.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're still engaging with the client and ThinkUp. Specifically, I can share that the quality is fantastic and that they're honest, reliable and easy to work with.

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

We have standups multiple times a week and utilize Slack for major communication. Other tools, like Wrike, are used to drive transparency and efficiency.

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

I have found it easy to work through staffing issues. If we see an influx of hours or need to change up how we're working, their leadership has been great in helping to accommodate our needs as a partner.

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

We're working through figuring out ways how to continue to build culture as a company, whether it's with partners like ThinkUp or our own team members. We're continuing to understand how to best communicate and anticipate needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there

I am the CEO at a crafts academy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with ThinkUp?

We wanted to create an app for our students.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ThinkUp is developing a mobile app for us. The app will allow our students to calculate the prices for crafts and products.

What is the team composition?

We work with about 4 people from ThinkUp.

How did you come to work with  ThinkUp?

I found them on. Upwork. We published the project, and they responded to our job offer. ThinkUp reacted very well to our budget and needs so we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested in them?

While the project is still in process, we have a set budget of $40,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started with this project about 7 to 8 months ago and it is still in progress.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although the project is still in progress, so far we have met with every milestone we’ve had assigned.

How did ThinkUp perform from a project management standpoint?

They always meet every deadline, which is one of the things I really like about working with them. ThinkUp is always very clear on their needs for the project and always makes sure to set deadlines that can be met. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their greatest strengths are their communications and their ability to listen. They are great at listening to the client’s needs and always make sure to have all the information needed for the success of the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I couldn’t say anything negative about the experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO at Neural Trainer, an Uruguayan company oriented to offer technological solutions to connect brain and motor skills to obtain the highest sports excellence.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkUp?

Our hardware devices needs to interact with a mobile native app in order to show training stats, exercises, time, success, failure, etc. We needed to connect a mobile app with the devices using Ble.

What were your goals for this project?

Provide a solution to professional clubs and all professional and amateurs athletes to improve their training. Allowing them to improve cognitive training, memory, speed reaction and much more.

SOLUTION

How did you select ThinkUp?

I know from a long time the CEO of the company. We played soccer together a couple of years ago.

Describe the project in detail.

The main idea was to develop a native mobile application capable of connecting, using Bluetooth, hardware devices (nodes) with the mobile app. The mobile app send messages to the nodes, and this nodes can show: forms, colors, numbers and letters in different time interval, repeat n times, and much more.

During the development of the idea, we provided the flow we wanted in the application and by discussing it with the ThinkUp team, they quickly understood the requirements and provided a satisfactory proposal to go ahead.

What was the team composition?

The team is composed by 2 developers and 1 UI/UX designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Advances in usability have been incredible. We managed to have a robust interaction with the developed hardware, which has allowed to reduce latency times in the communication of the devices. This allows a solid foundation for the projected growth of our platform based on increased functionality for clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

ThinkUp assigned to our project a team specialized in IoT and mobile development to obtain the development of a top application. Starting from the design stage, we were satisfied with the results.

During development, there was excellent communication between the teams (hardare, firmware and software) and that helped us to improve our final product more and more.

ThinkUp also provide great support with migration and backend services. They are always available to answer any question.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re very knowledgeable about the mobile development space.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s really no negative side to working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at Merkos302. We’re a nonprofit that helps Jewish communities around the world through social, human, and educational services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ThinkUp?

We’ve hired ThinkUp to help us synergize our technology usage through a custom platform. That way, we can make better use of our data to reach a broader community. Our goal is to elevate the impact that we’re making within the Jewish community itself.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

ThinkUp is developing a platform that will integrate all of our nonprofit’s touchpoints across the world, making us a one-stop-shop for the Jewish community. We aim to serve that community from cradle to death, meaning the solution should be able to engage with our users at every age/stage. 

So far, we’ve completed the research and initial development phases. Their team continues to work on making our solution cross-platform and cross-segment. Besides doing custom PHP work, they’ve been flexible in their ability to integrate multiple solutions into our platform — whether it be Salesforce, Drupal, or WordPress — to better collect data. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with over 25 specialists, though I can’t say who is employed with ThinkUp and who has been sourced for a specific project piece. These individuals have unique talents, spanning programming, architecture, marketing, planning, and behavioral sciences.

How did you come to work with ThinkUp?

It was through a referral. As a nonprofit, we have relationships with several philanthropists, one of whom had done business with ThinkUp and recommended them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent upwards of $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2020, and the engagement is ongoing. We’re going to be working together for a long time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This is a huge project with a large goal. When all is said and done, we hope that our solution will be an integrated platform for the Jewish community at all stages of life.

How did ThinkUp perform from a project management standpoint?

ThinkUp follows the Scrum process for development. Everything is based on short- and long-term planning, and they’re extremely goal-oriented. The team focuses on key performance indicators (KPIs), using built-in performance tools to manage the project. They’re also heavily reliant on Microsoft Teams for communication. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their key strength is really their ability to listen and understand their clients’ needs. Too many technology companies take their professional knowledge and experience for granted, so they think they know better than the client.

In contrast, Thinkup comes in with a blank page. The team does a full assessment of the customer’s needs to get an understanding of what the core problem is. They know which questions to ask to get that information and gain a grasp of the client’s organization. 

Once they have that, they’ll start to craft solutions. I appreciate that they always propose ideas from our perspective, and their deliveries are in line with that approach. Their outputs are 100% spot on because they took the time to get the inputs correct.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I want to find something to critique, but I can’t because they’re really that good. The team has shown extraordinary insight and professionalism, and the delivery is just exceptional.