UDTech

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is an IT consulting agency, primarily for Oracle software. We provide consulting services as well as in-house software products to Oracle customers for a variety of solutions. Our in-house development team is responsible for engineering and maintaining our software offerings.

I am the Engineering Lead for our development team. I'm responsible for the product direction, architecture, implementation, and maintenance, as well as delegating tasks to other developers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire UDTech?

We employed UDTech for assistance in developing an Apple TV app based on specifications gathered from a comparable, existing Android app. Additionally, UDTech assisted in measuring tvOS app viability, feature-set, etc. Our team has no experience with the technology, which made it necessary to enroll assistance from UDTech.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a functional tvOS app with functionality that mirrored our existing Android app as closely as possible. Our desire is users would have identical experiences, independent of platform. This would allow our business to support our offerings across a wide variety of platforms to increase the amount of users.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We initially searched for vendors via Upwork. We compared a number of vendors, however, no other vendor appeared to have both the communication skills and the examples of past work to showcase. Myself and my CEO were the other resources involved in the selection process.

Describe the project in detail.

The scope of the project was to create an Apple TV app that mirrored the functionality of our existing Android app. The functionality primarily included displaying a number of content on the connected television. The variety of content includes videos, images, news feeds, twitter feeds, etc.

Our team provided UDTech with screenshots of the existing app, and wireframes of future features (planned for the existing app). Documents including logic, interfaces, etc, was also provided to the development team.

The vendor was responsible for implementation and communication regarding any impossible features (due to platform differences). The desired app was a native tvOS app, which complements a SaaS offering.

What was the team composition?

The vendor provided two developers, a project manager, and a sales manager. The developers implemented the app, the project manager managed communication and change requests, and the sales manager guaranteed satisfaction and deadlines. If I recall correctly, I do not believe the team size change during development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The delivered software is functional and appears to implement all desired functionality present in the original Android app. Any discovered bugs have been met with a commitment to resolution quickly.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was typically checking in with preset milestones, gathering feedback, and implement feedback or change requests during each subsequent iteration. The project was managed via milestones, so all interested parties were aware of the current state of the app. No obvious or large issues were caused by a language barrier.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The developers are very talented with their technologies and were able to complete all tasks on time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

An exposed project board with individual tasks would be helpful in understanding the app state between milestones.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of digital marketing at devPHASE. We do design and development for agencies and direct clients in Cincinnati.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with UDTech? 

We had a quick turnaround project, and several key members of our team were on other accounts. We didn't want to turn down business from a large agency in Cincinnati, so we needed to hire an external resource to help us develop a mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

UDTech led the development of the app for both iOS and Android. The app was designed by the agency in Cincinnati. It’s a peer-to-peer chat and study platform that will be launched at one major university and hopefully grow to multiple campuses. The app allows college students to connect with other students to get to know each other and also to create study groups. Key features include a searchable list of classes and an online study group portal.

The app launched last week there, and UDTech continues to provide ongoing support. It's still an active project as we still go to them for answers to a few questions. 

What is the team composition? 

My main point of contact is her Yuliya (project manager, UDTech). 

How did you come to work with UDTech? 

I think I found them on Upwork. We interviewed a couple of firms and found that UDTech had the best experience. They’d built apps with similar functionality. They did their due diligence and outlined what it would take to develop the app. I liked their presentation and felt they could meet our quick turnaround time. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $60,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began around September 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has been successfully submitted to and approved by Android and Apple. The client is super happy with the app as well. In terms of overall impact, hopefully, this leads to more work for us. We can use the app to showcase our work as we’re finding potential clients. Now that we have a good relationship with UDTech, we will definitely use them in the future on other projects. 

How did UDTech perform from a project management standpoint? 

I communicated with Yuliya almost daily during development. We had daily meetings, and we also chatted via email and Slack. They're pretty open to multiple forms of communication. Given that apps are developer heavy, we'd have various sprints going on at once. At this point in the engagement, we speak maybe once or twice a week, depending on what’s going on. 

I let the owner of UDTech know that Yuliya is fantastic. She's always responsive and a total rock star. We prefer to work with her as our primary contact on any future projects. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

As a smaller shop, we've worked with a number of other external resources. We definitely want to use UDTech again because they're excellent at passing along cost savings. They’ll recommend we go a particular route or else it could take an extra 30 hours of work. That’s something I’ve never experienced. They look at the project from all views and variables to help us make the right decisions. They really guide us through the process. For them, it’s not about picking the path of more work and more money. They're honest about our choices and that sets them apart. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. Typically the biggest pitfall is communication, but this project went so well. Communication is 10 out of 10. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

For any project, try to have all the details ready upfront to help them to provide an accurate estimate. We were quite detailed on the number of screens, and user flows required for the app. There are a lot of unknowns in development. The cost and timing can be thrown off if you don't have the details worked out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and head of product of a video company. We’re revolutionizing the role of video in internal communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with UDTech?

We needed a vendor to assist with our extensive digital design needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Essentially, UDTech took the position of our design team. They’ve been an integral part of our process for many years now. The team collaborates closely with the product and tech teams to develop the UX/UI for our products. If we hire additional consultants, UDTech will work directly with them as well.

At the start of our partnership, they served as junior design resources. Once business picked up, we increased their involvement in our core design work. They proved capable, so we promoted them to lead designers. We’ve seen their skills evolve—from basic Photoshop to the latest trends and technology. They are a true partner, continuing to scale with us as we grow.

So far, we’ve completed many projects. Currently, they’re working on the backend of a video conferencing tool that we plan to release later this year.

What is the team composition?

We consistently work with a dedicated project manager and a team of designers. At any given time, we’ll have between 3–6 designers. UDTech scales their resources to accommodate our specific needs and the volume of work. Often, they assign one designer per product, but sometimes we collaborate on discovery projects or engagements with a third party.

How did you come to work with UDTech?

My partner found them through a local reference. We both have offices in the same city in Ukraine. We’d heard of them before we started our company, so when the need to outsource our design work arose, we partnered with UDTech.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2012, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

UDTech helps us create products that distinguish us from our competitors. We have a respectable reputation in our industry, and part of that recognition comes from their team’s work. We’re consistently met with the challenge of making our tools seem simple, despite the behind-the-scenes complexities. The UDTech team helps us find this balance, refining our approach to creating and consuming video content.

We have rapid R&D processes, and UDTech is careful never to delay their part in the workflow. They’re nimble in all aspects—demos, analysis, or full UX design projects. The team keeps our pace but remains flexible to our schedule. We can count on them to consistently deliver polished designs.

How did UDTech perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management skills are great. The team is responsive, accommodating, and willing to go the extra mile for us. If they need to work late, they will. If we task them with something urgent, they’ll work through the weekend. Overall, they have a dedicated, yet easy-going work culture. It’s a fun partnership.

Our project manager is superb. She is highly communicative and proactively assures that no details get lost in translation from our team to theirs. We use an assortment of tools to track the project, including Trello and Jira. We have a special board in Jira that tracks our design-specific tasks. We also use Zeplin to share approved designs with our tech team, who can immediately begin the coding process. Over the years, we’ve developed a project management system that works for both sides.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of dedication and pace of work really stand out. They show consistent drive, producing deliverables as quickly as we need them. If we request changes, they adapt quickly. So far, it’s been a fantastic relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Whenever we felt that they could improve something on their end, we approached them immediately. They are always receptive to our feedback and make adjustments accordingly. For example, when we realized we needed a project manager on their side, they filled that position. As a result, we work faster and have a stronger relationship. On a different occasion, we suggested that they switch from using Photoshop to using Sketch. UDTech willingly made the transition and the results have been great. Their designers quickly learned a new tool, and it’s definitely increased our capabilities in terms of work pace.

Any advice for potential customers?

For a sizable design project, make sure to establish a project manager on their end. This will maximize their return rate and improve the overall workflow. It’s not necessary for small projects, but when there are a lot of moving parts, it’s great to have a consistent point of contact to ensure details aren’t missed.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a managing director in the investment banking division of a global bank. Based in Hong Kong, I focus on providing services to technology, media, and telecom companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire UDTech?

We’ve hired UDTech on multiple occasions to create short animated videos to enhance our proposals for important client transactions.

What were your goals for this project?

Our objective was to increase the energy level in the room, create an unexpected experience using multimedia, and improve the overall quality of our proposals and meetings.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched online for a video company, and tested out several. We chose UDTech for a trial project based on the quality of their demos and our initial interview. We were incredibly impressed with their team’s professionalism and responsiveness during the trial project, and felt they were a great fit for our ongoing needs.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

UDTech has produced a number of brief videos, generally less than two minutes. Most of these projects required very short notice, but they’ve also worked on several projects with longer timelines. Those projects included creating a 3D VR video to work with a particular VR headset that is only available in the China market. They were responsible for all of the details of the look and feel of the videos: colors, coordination of sound and visuals, and relevance of visuals to the overall objective.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

For each project, UDTech assembled an appropriate team for the requirements. They provided drafts on schedule and were willing to revise as requested. The team worked well with limited input or direction. They also quickly and accurately responded to specific feedback. The team was always willing to try multiple solutions in order to solve complex problems.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Regardless of if they completed projects in as little as three days or as long as several months, the outcome was always a high-quality video that achieved our objectives. Their overall quality of work and creativity is exceptional.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

UDTech was able to effectively accommodate multiple workflow processes despite time zone differences. The team was incredibly responsive and willing to pull together sufficient resources to meet our most unreasonable deadlines and demanding expectations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive aspect of UDTech was their professionalism and their adherence to our sometimes unreasonable schedule. They never failed to deliver a great product on time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s very little UDTech needs to do to improve. They should just keep doing what they're doing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of e-commerce for a luxury goods and jewelry company. We started with diamonds and are now launching our own brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with UDTech?

We were using a development agency in the U.S., but we had a difficult relationship with them. They did a custom build which forced us to go through them for any work we wanted to be done. We wanted a partner to develop the platform to our specifications.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The platform was already developed, and they came to our rescue. They helped on the backend and developed our operational processes for the online administrator. They made it a seamless process for us.

We buy diamonds from consumers through a very simple online experience. The customer inputs the information about the diamond, and then we give them a range of what we would pay for it based on its characteristics, sight unseen. They can then go through the acceptance process, and we send them a prepaid shipping kit which they send back to us. After we evaluate it to make sure it is everything they said it was, we pay them in cash. UDTech revamped our entire backend and how we see the product coming in, the pricing, the shipping steps, as well as all the notifications that go out to the customer.

We are currently overhauling the frontend design, which is also going to have implications on the backend as some of our business rules are changing slightly. We have a design team that took care of the design, but UDTech is in the process of implementing the designs and some new backend functionality for us as well.

What is the team composition?

Mostly, I work with our project manager, who is great at interpreting technical terms for me.

How did you come to work with UDTech?

They came highly recommended by one of our partners whose wife had used them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything works properly and is tested prior to submitting to us. They are very good at seeing how the site is built and recommending the best solutions based on what we are asking for. They see bugs before we do and work to resolve them. They are very on top of things.

How did UDTech perform from a project management standpoint?

It is a very easy relationship. They are extremely thorough with QA and are also strong forward-thinkers. They anticipate a lot of problems that could arise and come up with solutions before we start development.

They are very communicative and I work with them on a daily basis, mostly through Basecamp, which the developers have access to. It works really well for us with the time difference. I give them material, and by the next morning, they are commenting. The project manager and I communicate in Basecamp and everything is documented there. We do a few phone calls, and if it is the start of a bigger project, we usually have a kick-off call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

There is never anything they can’t do. They always research everything and come back to us with the best solution, which I think is a great partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I am extremely happy with our service from them. I am very happy to work with UDTech.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want upfront, and clearly articulate that. Give them as much information as possible. Getting a clear description of your project, your business rules, and what it is you want out of the project is really important to get set up in the beginning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own DVBLogic, which specializes in personal TV recording services. We make DVR software for different platforms, which allows users to distribute live and recorded television throughout their house.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with UDTech?

We have several in-house competencies but do not have the talent to build interfaces and functional designs. We needed an outside firm for those services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project focused on mobile devices – phones and tablets. Initially, they held several information sessions with us to review the product, its features, the targeted user-group’s behavior. The team created two separate functional designs for Apple and Android devices with unique interfaces for each platform.

The app also features social functions in addition to recording capabilities. The team enhanced social interaction in the app’s program recommendation features; users can share program-specific information.

What is the team dynamic?

We had two points of contact: the technical team’s supervisor and the account manager, who was responsible for the overall project, including timeliness and organization.

How did you come to work with UDTech?

We were working with a web design company that recommended them to us when our needs exceeded their scope.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work on this project started October 2016 and ended April 2017. We also have on-going parallel projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We achieved a good functional design and interface, which resulted in positive user feedback.

How did UDTech perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well in cost and schedule. The team divided the seventh-month engagement into stages between conception, prototype, and final design. Some scheduling issues arose, but these were normal instances that occur in any project. Overall, they followed the timeframe structure in a responsible and professional manner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They split their team to have experienced staff working on both technical and interface aspects. That strategy increased our comfort working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take advantage of all their services, which include testing and integration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a provider of B2B services to retail markets. I am the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with UDTech?

Our main challenge was to create technical specifications for an application that would help retail services get more customers and retain them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

UDTech has provided everything from consultation to gathering technical requirements, making wireframes, design, coding, and deployment. They are the whole design and development team for this project.

We used the Yii PHP framework and SQL servers for the web application, which also needed to be HIPAA compliant. This was one of our biggest challenges, and UDTech aided in the process.

What is the team dynamic?

I'm assigned to a project manager, who coordinates the developers under her, but I also have direct access to the team for certain matters.

How did you come to work with UDTech?

I found them on Upwork and liked their profile, as well as their communication with me.

How much have you invested with them?

For this project, the cost of their work has been over $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with UDTech 18 months ago. Besides maintenance, we're constantly adding new features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I measure their success based on how well the platform works and how well their design matches our requirements. User-acceptance testing has revealed criticism, but nothing overtly negative. If a design or feature doesn’t work well, they go out of their way to make sure we’re satisfied.

How did UDTech perform from a project management standpoint?

They're always on time with deadlines, easy to communicate with, and responsive. Every interaction is tracked through multiple management tools like JIRA, Asana, and Basecamp. I can also reach them anytime on Skype, even outside of office hours.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Two things I look for in companies are their ability to track bugs and their understanding of what we want, especially when working with groups from outside the country. UDTech has a standard process of tracking bugs, and they've done it flawlessly, not to mention their design creativity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should be as detail oriented as possible because that can make the developer’s life easier and lead to fewer hours being charged since things won't need to be fixed later or added on if missed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and owner of a company that designs games for kids. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with UDTech?

I wanted to build an application to support a kid-focused, real-life game. I was looking for a company that could provide a full solution—taking a script and transforming it into an animation movie—and apply other graphics capabilities for the application itself. It needed to have a simple interface that all kids could use and not take the focus away from the game but still be interesting for kids and a seamless part of the user experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

UDTech helped with the animation creation, which is the main part of the game. I slowly developed confidence in their abilities and gave them more and more things to do, including the development of the app itself. They are using the Unity framework with Firebase and Amazon Web Services. The visual work is being done in Adobe After Effects and Photoshop.

The more challenging parts of our app are mainly related to the interface. We needed to find a solution for embedding QR codes and allowing kids to take pictures in the app.

How did you come to work with UDTech?

We came across them on Upwork, a freelancing platform. We started small and slowly increased the volume of activity. We chose UDTech based on instinct and their response to our request. The team was proactive and came to us without having to be chased. From the beginning, I felt that they were willing to do good work.

How much have you invested with UDTech?

The cost of their work so far has been ₪200,000 Israeli Shekels or around $55,000. The work is about 70% complete.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with UDTech at the beginning of 2017. The most significant part of the project is still ahead of us. UDTech has continued to work on the animation, app development, and graphic design. They handle almost everything for us. The app is projected to launch in 2 months. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

Our success is based entirely on my opinion of UDTech’s work. We’re a small company with 1 big project, and they are our main supplier, so I would have pointed out any area that I wasn’t happy with.

How did UDTech perform from a project management standpoint?

They have taken the time to investigate issues before providing an answer; when they do, they usually deliver on time. UDTech has done well. Some of the delays were related to us as well.

UDTech uses Basecamp for project management, which they introduced to our group for the first time.

What did you find most impressive about UDTech?

I got the impression that they understood the idea behind our project from the start and were engaged with it. UDTech gets the work on a deep level and always looks for the next course of action to expand the business. I have increased their involvement based on this ability, as it’s convenient to work with a single supplier for several services.

UDTech offers multiple options and does everything with a good attitude. That’s true of both their project manager and business development person.

Are there any areas UDTech could improve?

I noticed only minor issues relating to project details. UDTech is not perfect, but neither am I. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of Brainchild Engineering, a development company focused on the design and engineering of electro-mechanical products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire UDTech?

I hired UDTech to design and develop an app and printed circuit board (PCB).

What were your goals for this project?

We hoped to receive a ready-for-production PCB and application.

SOLUTION

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

They completed all tasks and met my expectations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was extremely effective to have a single point of contact.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were professional and responsive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The estimate of the project cost was low, but we still finished on time and at a reasonable price.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Well, they did exactly what I asked them to do. That's all that matters.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was a simple, one-person interface to me, and it was extremely effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Simple, professional, extremely fast/responsive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The development estimate was low, but we did finish the project out under a reasonable final cost and time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We’re a consulting service currently working for one of the largest airline companies in Europe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire UDTech?

We made an app for internal use to motivate employees by increasing their physical activity.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for quick, friction-free production and professional delivery.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them online.

Describe the project in detail.

UDTech developed a step counting app for increasing physical activity for our employees.

What was the team composition?

We were mainly in contact with our assigned project manager. We engaged with the developers as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any metrics since the app is only for internal use.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They were very effective in this regard.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

UDTech is friendly, supportive, and professional.