UkrInSofT

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software development company.

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInSofT?

I needed someone to help with animation and illustration. They needed to be very good and able to create commercial grade art.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did animation and illustration for a mobile interactive game app. It’s very cinematic.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact.

How did you come to work with UkrInSofT?

I found them through Upwork.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested over $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2017, and the work is ongoing.

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

The app hasn’t launched yet, but they’re experts for all things digital. Our partnership is a perfect pair in the end. I can’t put the digital aspects to paper. However, I thrive when it comes to conceptual thinking. They’re sort of dry on concept creation but can make the ideas look great.

UkrInSofT is the rocket fuel to the project. My team can do things now that we couldn’t before. We had relatively good artists before, but the final product is like going from the original iPod to today’s iPhone.

How did UkrInSofT perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style is great. They’re very militant.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stick to the schedule and are available when needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I’d have them improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should try to be open-minded.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an international advertising agency with offices in Madrid, Barcelona, Hamburg, Paris and Lisbon.

We handle global, local and regional accounts for brands like Unilever, San Miguel, Mattel and Burger King. I am the Head of Communications, responsible for all external communications and public perception of the company.

For what projects/services did your company hire UkrInSofT?

We hired UkrInSofT to build a custom CMS for our website.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted something unique, different from the rest of the websites in our industry that all look and function the same. We also need the back end to be very easy to use.

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by a colleague at our sister agency and digital specialist Huge.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

UkrInsofT provides website development, updates, bug fixes, improvements and general SEO tips and best practices. They help to keep our site fresh and working well as well walking us through any complicated issues, as I am not an IT expert.

What was the team composition?

The team is made up of several developers on their end and two lead contacts on my end. I deal directly with the CEO and communicate back to my team.

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

Our website is the face of our business and the one place where we can most effectively showcase our work. It is essential to our external communications and public persona, as well as a source of lead generation.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

There have been no issues on part of UkrInsofT in terms of project management and they have always been available, helpful and resolutive, at all hours. We have currently started working with an online project management tool so I can better track our needs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very accessible and flexible. They take us very seriously as clients and are always looking to improve.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement for every one of us. I would say that the team might want to make proactive suggestions about new features or ways to improve.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a beauty brand who developed a web app for our users in order to get additional help and tips for their skin care routine. I am the CEO of the company.

For what projects/services did your company hire UkrInSofT?

Creating a full web application including back-end and front-end developing with a fully design and functionalities on the platform.

What were your goals for this project?

Help our customers to become a member on our new platform and seek help and advice for their skin.

How did you select this vendor?

We got this company recommended from my friend who was working with them on their projects.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They reached the level where users can create their own accounts and get access to features like getting free products from the beauty company (us), reach dermatologists to ask for skin care advice, daily tips for their skin, advanced skin adviser through selfies and other similar features.

What was the team composition?

A lot of back-end and front-end developers and a project manager.

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

Launched and created on time and as agreed. Gave us the opportunity to launch something new and give our customers a better experience using our brand.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had the estimation very quickly and the project cost was real and very adapting to the budget of our company. The CEO, Juriy, was very polite and excited to work with us. We are impressed by how he managed all the requirements that we needed. The team which we proceed after that was very efficient.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication was next level. I had always help and support from the team and I am glad that they understand our needs. The way they completed our tasks was really impressive and quick.

Are there any areas for improvement?

For this project I got everything done what I wanted and we did not have any issues with them. So I think they are a very advanced company which takes care of their customers.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief executive officer for a startup.

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInSofT?

We worked with another company who overcharged us and underperformed. We needed a new company that could design a new website for us and fix the issues that arose with the previous company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a new website that was extremely fast and that performed well. Some of its features were complex, but the most important part of the project was developing the site alongside a large database. They used PHP for the backend and are constantly upgrading and updating the site.

What is the team composition?

There were four frontend developers, three backend developers, one project manager, and we occasionally spoke with the CEO.

How did you come to work with UkrInSofT?

I found them on Clutch. I interviewed four or five other companies, but their price and their owner really stood out. The developers I work with have a lot of experience and the rate is amazing. Yuriy (CEO & Founder, UkrInSofT) is the most honest person I’ve met. He’s straightforward, genuine, and passionate. The personal touch and the assurance of quality drew us to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $80,000 in this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018, and the collaboration is ongoing.

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

I sent the project to our users for some feedback of the UX. They delivered the site at the speed I wanted and have done a great job overall.

How did UkrInSofT perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager is great and always willing to do what is best for us. He’s very responsive and treats the project like it’s his own. We use Jira to manage the project, and communication via Skype or email is good. We can contact them at odd hours or on weekends and they’re always quick to respond. If there is ever any issue, they dive deep to solve it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They truly care for their customers and want to make them happy. They focus on long-term relationships and always consider the big picture. They have a far-reaching vision and are very concerned with our success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their cost estimation. We did make a lot of changes to the scope and complexity of this project, so several factors were beyond their control.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Whenever we reported a bug or an issue, we sent videos. That worked out so much better than sending a picture or a screenshot. Try to communicate all your issues and concerns ahead of time, and they will take action. They will consider everything you tell them and will try to make whatever improvements they can.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner and CEO of MySimpleBilling, a utility billing service provider.

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInSofT?

We wanted to develop a new desktop app for a more efficient billing process.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We primarily provide utility billing services for apartment buildings and retail shops that receive a single bill for multiple units. UkrInSofT developed an app that tracks water and electric usage, calculates the total utility costs based on current city charges, and splits the price evenly amongst all tenants. The app also factors in spaces with individual smart meters and deduct their usage from the total bill.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with their co-founder. However, other team members are present during meetings in case we have questions relevant to their specific role.

How did you come to work with UkrInSofT?

UkrInSofT was one of 10 potential partners we discovered while scouring the web for app developers. We administered a relatively simple test to get a sense of how well they understood the project and how fast they produce deliverables. Whereas most of the contractors either didn’t reply or answered incorrectly, UkrInSofT quickly provided an accurate response. They were also the only company to point out a mathematical flaw in our test. After meeting with their team, it was clear that our search was complete. They weren’t the lowest bidder, but we were very confident that they could handle the job.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $32,000--$35,000 to develop the platform.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working on the app in the latter half of 2013 and completed the project early in 2014.

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

We don’t have to measure statistics because our business growth speaks for itself. Our clients are so impressed by the app’s accuracy and efficiency that they’re referring their colleagues to our services. We’re continuously receiving emails and phone calls inquiring about our platform; astonishingly, these leads are generated through word of mouth alone. To adapt to our newfound popularity, we moved away from selling our manual billing services to vend the billing app.

How did UkrInSofT perform from a project management standpoint?

Despite being located in different time zones, they accommodated our schedule fantastically. We held weekly Skype meetings and scheduled phone calls when necessary. Project files were distributed via email. In addition to working diligently to meet the hard deadlines, they saved valuable time by informing us when our vision was impractical or prone to issues. Without their guidance, the app would have been a failure.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Most companies promote a personal client experience but fail to deliver once the sale is made. UkrInSofT actually followed through with their promise and maintained a one-on-one relationship throughout the project. We never had to go through multiple people to get something done. They’re very approachable and receptive to new ideas and overall a great partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything was perfect. We were pleasantly surprised that we never had miscommunication due to the language barrier, or issues with the difference in time zone. Their team is exceptionally talented, and their services were affordable.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use their knowledge and experience as a resource. Although you may have a brilliant concept, their expertise will undoubtedly enhance your vision.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Mobimex Group Ltd. Our platform allows mobile network operators to distribute content to end-users via SMS, and offers them a billing service to charge customers through.

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInSofT?

I’d designed the current version of our platform, but I wanted to take it to the next level. We needed help with gateway connections and various API’s.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We spent one week explaining everything in detail, after which they started development. We connected UkrInSofT directly with our mobile-network aggregators, and they built our whole platform from scratch. Our platform involved a lot of micro-transactions, so we had to ensure there was no off-time, that the information was stored properly, and that our marketing team and partners could quickly pull out different statistics.

We added an affiliate extension to the platform last year, which gives companies that don’t have currently have a platform the opportunity to use ours. We’re also adding more load to the system, and we’re live in several countries. We have direct connections in Iran, South Africa, Thailand, some European countries, and we're also making a connection in Iraq.

Mobile network operators are always changing their regulations and upgrading their equipment, so we constantly need to keep up. Our gateway will get obsolete, and, at some point, we won’t have a connection, so we need to constantly update the gateway, optimize it, and make sure that everything is up-to-date.

They’ve also developed simpler items for us, like mobile apps. They created a dating platform in South Africa, for Android and iOS, and we’ve also brought them a couple of German projects. Some of the technologies and languages they’ve used with us include: Caml, PHP, Python, MySQL, and Oracle.

What is the team composition?

I’m in touch with two or three people, but they have a whole group of developers working behind them. When they were building our platform, they had 38 people based in Ukraine.

How did you come to work with UkrInSofT?

We experimented with different companies, but we couldn’t find a one-stop-shop for everything. UkrInSofT was recommended to me by the friend of a partner of mine, so we talked on the phone, and then I went to visit them in-person. They’d been working for Israeli security companies, which impressed me, because I believe they have high demands and standards. UkrInSofT showed me some of their previous projects and were honest about the fact that they had never created anything like our platform before. They told me that they did know coding though, and that they weren't afraid to jump into new arenas, which definitely stood out to me.

How much have you invested with them?

Including all the projects we’ve done, we’ve spent less than 1% of our what our company is worth.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since 2011. 

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

The platform is working and we’re seeing great results.

How did UkrInSofT perform from a project management standpoint?

We usually communicate on WhatsApp and Skype, and if I have an urgent need, I can write them, and they will react immediately. We have 24/7 communication, even in areas that have a shifted work week such as Iran, Iraq, and the UAE. Our partners sometimes demand development work during the weekends, and there’ve been situations where UkrInSofT had to be alert during night hours, but they always found someone who could immediately do what needed to be done. They didn’t charge me extra for those instances either.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve had moments when something wasn’t working, and they were always ready to find a solution. They never give up and they work until the end. If they say something can’t be done, then I’m 100% sure that it’s the truth. I felt that they had a personal interest in us as well, that they were a part of the project. They were dedicated to us as a client.

What I like really is that I don’t have to talk to the developers. I’ve always wanted to have just one person to work through, and UkrInSofT delegates tasks to the people behind them. I just say what I need, how it should work, how it should look, and then they do it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As a customer, I can always complain about something, but we have to be realistic about the fact that we’re working with people and no one is perfect. They could improve in terms of estimating tasks though. I’m very happy with what we have, and that’s why we continue to work with them.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I believe that customers are in good hands, and I don’t have to give any advice. Bring your project, and get the best support there.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of Festplanung and EventAgent, two startups which provide global, online marketplaces connecting event planners to service providers and other interested groups of people.

For what projects/services did your company hire UkrInSofT?

I originally hired UkrInSofT for support and maintenance on Festplanung. After successful work on Festplanung, I hired them to develop the site for EventAgent from scratch.

What were your goals for this project?

First, we needed to keep the existing Festplanung site running smoothly, updating the site periodically to enhance security. Afterward, we wanted to develop a new platform for EventAgent that had a better UI/UX, and was more robust, than Festplanung. We needed everything including software design, database management capabilities, DevOps activities (e.g., hardware setup and administration), and integration with payment and SMS gateways.

How did you select this vendor?

Before UkrInSofT, I had worked with a few other companies that I was unsatisfied with. I began asking associates for referrals and was recommended to UkrInSofT.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They use mock-ups to build the system architecture using HTML, CCS, and JS; aligned servers and testing environments; ran a full development cycle on the server and database; integrated the payment solutions (e.g., Paypal, Sofort/EBICS) relative to email and SMS protocols; and enhanced server security.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of one project manager, one technical lead, two backend developers, two frontend developers, and two QA specialists.

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

Their work contributed to consistent revenue generation for these platforms - both of which struggled previously.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Despite some language barriers, communication through email or Skype was direct and effective. They responded immediately to my ideas and often provided supportive feedback suggesting solutions and best practices.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

After many disappointing interactions with other companies, I finally found one that I could trust and rely on. Even during disagreements, they always showed that their challenging of my ideas helped create the best product possible.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

Having a German speaker would've improved communication.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the technical director of Neat Media, an IT services firm. We provide IT support for small and medium-sized business in Chicago.

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInsofT?

We had a client requiring some additional work but I was already occupied with another project for them, so I decided to outsource it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I coordinated the client’s requirements ensure the project ran smoothly while UkrInsofT did all the work. They developed an internal business solution for recruitment and staff management for a private business. It was for record keeping and processing new applicants. The client does advertising on social media platforms so has a lot of prospects coming in, and needed to manage those.  

What is the team composition?

I worked with the owner and a staff member of their team.

How did you come to work with UkrInsofT?

I was previously involved in a software development outstaffing project. From time to time, there were leads for smaller jobs and a friend of mine recommended UkrInSoft as a good provider for these smaller types of projects.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from February to July 2016.

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

The business is still using the solution, so it has been of value. The client was happy with the work.

How did UkrInsofT perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. They were pretty flexible even though there was a time difference. Most of the time it was not a problem to reach out and give feedback, or for them to get back to us within 30 minutes if any issues came up. We used Redmine for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was happy to work with them and plan to work with them in the future as I am just getting back to outsourcing right now. I’m happy we were on good terms when the project finished and everyone was satisfied from all sides. Everything was good and there were no complaints.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It was pretty smooth from start to finish.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The client has to know what they’re looking for as sometimes they’re not completely clear in their needs. As soon as things are clearly outlined, it should be smooth.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Verifacto, a U.S. software company.

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInSofT?

We were looking to outsource some of our development work for our application.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us build the reports engine for managing insurance notices for our clients, specifically developing reporting features and some of the functions related to parsing some of the notices. The team used PHP as well as Python, and were in charge of developing the code and some testing as well. The project is currently on hold, but we’ll restart it soon.

​​​​​​What is the team composition?

They assigned four to five people to the project.

How did you come to work with UkrInSofT?

They were referred to me by a friend that had used them for a while. He gave really good feedback about their team, their capabilities, and their knowledge.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $20,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May 2015–June 2016.

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

The code they created is still used today in production and it’s currently generating revenue. We keep changing and adding to it. 

UkrInSofT provides a very wide spectrum of knowledge and was capable of handling simple design and development work as well as the implementation of all of the architecture that we provided.

How did UkrInSofT perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Skype to communicate with them as well as our in-house project management software. They have their own software for billing, which would tell us what they worked on and how many hours they spent.

We experienced a small language barrier but we made sure that everyone assigned to our project could communicate with us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were very pleased with their skills. There wasn’t anything that they couldn’t help us with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have another layer of management as a way to close the loop between their people as it’s very difficult to communicate between the teams. If they had a high-level manager that could see down and synchronize the team, it would be more helpful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If someone in the U.S. wanted to get a good development team for the fraction of the cost, this is the way to do it. You’re getting good quality for half of what you’re going to pay in the U.S.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of a digital agency in Germany. We have 40 people on staff and work on a lot of projects, web software, and online marketing.

What challenge were you trying to address with UkrInSofT?

We mainly needed help with some technology that was difficult for us to handle internally. For that, we needed to expand our team. We also needed experts who knew the technology for our projects.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked on the Web 2.0 project which is an internal portal for citizen journalists. It was a huge project which took over a year and a half to complete. Different versions were developed as well. They did everything when it came to the development including the frontend which was very difficult in terms of the design requirements. It used a lot of Hx JavaScript, as well as normal HTML and CSS parts. It’s very interactive application with a lot of frontend and a lot of complex interactions.

They used PHP and different API technology for the backend. There was a lot of developers working on this project who did everything from the frontend, backend, and server. We had to deliver it to our customer and it was a stressful, but it worked out.

What is the team composition?

We had about six or seven developers working on this project.

How did you come to work with UkrInSofT?

We chose them because they are a close and personal contact, so they understand the requirements and challenges. It has worked very well, which is why we still work with them 10 years later. We’re happy with their work and found we were on the same level, understanding each other.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

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

We received good feedback about the development. It was complex, but the customer was very happy.

How did UkrInSofT perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a combination of our project management and their project management. It’s definitely necessary to have both in order to centralize the communication and get it all done. Our experience has been very good. Our project manager was always there and helped us clarify certain important details.

The communication was in English and was transparent so that the developers understood what was going on. The project manager set the priorities and communicated them internally, which worked for us. We used Teamwork and Basecamp for project management tools. We also used bug trackers to organize the tasks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Besides the project manager, the CEO was also involved in the project, demonstrating a high level of commitment. They helped anywhere it was critical, which was important for us. It was good to have that contact.

Are there any areas they could improve?

What they do, they do very well. I can’t think of any areas they can improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

For web development or development of web applications, it’s important to have clear definitions and clarifications about the scope of the project and what needs to be done. Speak with each other and take the time to clarify the scope.