Umbrella IT

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Vasterra

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We create websites and mobile applications and specialize in developing CRM and ERP systems, real estate solutions, and online stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Umbrella IT to accomplish?
We hired Umbrella IT to create a hybrid workflow software to help our team optimize the remote work of our employees. It was necessary to develop a tool for project management, with the ability to integrate into the company's existing process system.

SOLUTION

How did you find Umbrella IT?

Online Search

Why did you select Umbrella IT over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Umbrella IT were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Umbrella IT developed custom software for us to meet the company's needs: video conferencing, task management and document sharing were now integrated with existing HR, project management and communication tools, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. In addition, Umbrella IT provided training for our team. They also provided ongoing technical support and regular software updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After implementing the hybrid working software, we saw a measurable increase in productivity. Task completion rates went up by approximately 30%, as the software helped streamline workflows and reduce communication delays.

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

Umbrella IT managed our project very well. The software development and integration was completed on time. The team kept us informed with regular updates and responded quickly when we needed changes or problems arose.

What was your primary form of communication with Umbrella IT?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out most about Umbrella IT was their ability to blend technical expertise with exceptional customer service. They not only delivered a high-quality software product, but also tailored their approach to fit our unique needs, showing a deep understanding of our company's goals and challenges. Their proactive communication and willingness to adapt solutions in real time were particularly impressive.

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

Umbrella IT did a good job overall, but they could improve in a few areas. Speeding up their response times during critical project phases would help, as faster support can make a big difference. Also, making their software interface more user-friendly could enhance how comfortably people can use it, perhaps with better training on the more complex features.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Product Manager of Subsense

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We develope state-of-the-art non-surgical Brain Computer Interface based on Nanotechnology for treating neurological disease and control external device and environment with user's mental command. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Umbrella IT to accomplish?

• Develop website that can comprehansively discribe the complex approach of our product
• Create the intuitevely understandable animation and images of the novel technology
• Prepare the multipurpose template of the presentation for scientific and corporate needs

SOLUTION

How did you find Umbrella IT?

Referral

Why did you select Umbrella IT over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Umbrella IT were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

• Develop 1 page website,
• Prepare different options of brand colors, fronts, web design,
• 4 technical animation,
• 1 hardware design render,
• 2 specific AI images, 
• Adjust the webpage structure for different devices (laptop, PC, smartphone, etc.)
• Create the presentation based on the information at the website,
• Create the template of the brand presentation for different needs in several formats. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a regular weekly meetings with the Umbrella team where they demonstrated the progress in such apps like figma, webflow and new website itself

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

The great benefit of this team is flexibility in general and desire to deeply understand the purpose and specificity of the task. Some tasks took more time that was planned, more money as the consequences but the results were great and worth it. 

What was your primary form of communication with Umbrella IT?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They showed enthusiasm to work with initial uncertain tasks and professionalism to reach out the goal in the best way

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

Maybe a bit more clear information about the resource allocation or principal of work would help us to stay on one page about timing and budget. But I should say that they managed all the issues very professionally and collaborative at the end

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Business & Operations Manager for Bolandia Creative Inc which has 3 apps:

• Life Lapse
• Kwote
• Zoomyy

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop mobile apps to solve problems and increase efficiency for users. Our apps are centered around social media and content marketing.

• Life Lapse was built to decrease the cost and technical requirements for shooting amazing stop-motion video.
• Kwote offers beautiful, ready-made branding packages for solo-preneurs and small businesses.
• Zoomyy adds a zoom effect to photos to make them more engaging. We need technical expertise to bring these ideas to life!

SOLUTION

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

Searched online and compared. Umbrella IT has won numerous awards and offer amazing services at prices we were happy with. They showcase case studies and client success stories on their website as well that definitely gave us the proof we were looking for.

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

We've worked with Umbrella IT for a while now and have onboarded projects in several ways. From formal briefs and discovery meetings, to informal slack discussions that spawn ideas. It's pretty easy to get work onto the board with them and find the right combination of resources when we need them.

Sometimes we need a designer, sometimes we provide UI and just need it developed. Sometimes we just need to consult on bugs/issues we're experiencing. We mainly work in iOS and App dev and they've built things for us in both Swift and Flutter in Firebase.

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

We've worked with quite a number of people from Umbrella IT from:

• PMs/Client Success
• App Designers
• Dev QA
• iOS and Android Developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Umbrella really helped make Life Lapse a reality. It has over 10,000 5-star ratings and our android app has virtually zero user issues (this is basically impossible given the super technical nature of our app and the wide variety of Android devices out there).

They greatly reduced the time it takes for us to add new template packs to Kwote by developing a control panel that allows us to add content without a new Apple or Google release. They continue to support our in-house efforts while taking on newer projects. Just incredible work overall.

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

The project managers we've worked with have all been great. Extremely responsive despite our timezone difference and extremely organized. They've shown they're able to take a lot of chaos from the startup side and help us build and define solid requirements, uncover and fix blockers, and keep us moving. We've been so happy with the PM work!

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

They are SO knowledgeable and accessible when we have questions. Developers and PMs seem to always be able to point us in the right directions and provide extra value by shedding light on tough questions. They also have a lot of great ideas to help enhance or add to our own.

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

So far we've been super happy with the work. We will definitely continue to use them to help us grow and build new and existing apps under Bolandia Creative Inc.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the director of product innovation for a startup in the amusements industry. Within our team, I drive the product vision as well as work with our customers to ensure the lifecycle of our products meets the needs of our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

For several years, I did most of our UI/UX design. While the design and output were adequate for our MVPs, we really needed to take it to the next level. The UI/UX spans multiple mobile apps, self-serve kiosks, and desktop designs.

SOLUTION

How did you select Umbrella IT and what were the deciding factors?

We conducted a search for our outsourced partner. To be honest, we have not had a lot of luck going to agencies in the past. We used an online search tool and conducted multiple interviews including with Umbrella IT. It was a clear choice based on the knowledge base and understanding the Umbrella IT team had.

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

The scope was to take our MVP product and update the UI as well as to expand it into a design system that can be used to scale our product into the future. This comprised of roughly 500 various "pages" across multiple types of devices (mobile, kiosk, desktop).

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

We worked with two people at any one time. There was a project manager as well as a UI/UX artist. There were a few handoffs during our time and each one was handled smoothly with little to no interruption to our workflow.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The UI design has really taken our product to the next level. We've converted multiple prospects into paying customers and won accolades from our peers and potential clients.

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

We have a video conference call on Mondays to kick off the week. We use Slack for messaging throughout the week. We use a project planning system (Smartsheet in this case) to track deliverables. I believe the Umbrella IT team us using Jira for their tickets, but for this project, I am not involved in that side.

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

As stated, we haven't had the best of luck outsourcing to agencies in the past. Umbrella IT has changed that. Super professional, high-quality team members that care about our product. The output has not only been well-received but has really helped us take our product to the next level.

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

As we got rolling, it took a little while to form a workflow that we all could get behind. There have been a few times where we've gone back and tweaked nomenclature and asset naming. Beyond that, I would do everything the exact same way again.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of a new mobile payments app

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Umbrella IT?

The first UI/UX design of our app, including a working prototype we can use in our app development and initial sales

What were your goals for this project?

Create a working prototype using the ideas we had, in a visually appealing version of the app that could be used by our app developers to build the front-end

SOLUTION

How did you select Umbrella IT?

Via Upwork

Describe the project in detail.

We had an initial phone call with Umbrella to review the project and scope of work. After deciding it was a good fit, we had a few calls with their team to discuss what we wanted and were looking for. Once started, we had daily check in via Slack to follow the status of the project and make any changes or ask questions on the fly

What was the team composition?

One project manager and one to two designers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The prototype is very good and has been very useful in our initial sales meetings, with good customer feedback. Our app developer also noted that it will make it easy for him to develop the app using the components provided by Umbrella

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Communication was clear and consistent via Slack and video calls were made available when necessary

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Quick response times. They took our ideas and made decisions without us micro-managing all minor details. Anything that was a question or concern was presented, but we didn't have to go back and forth on every detail - their self initiative was the best part.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Making it easier for us to modify the prototype after the project was complete would be nice, but otherwise very good!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of digital for Ikano Bank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We initially hired them to develop a mobile app for iOS and Android. The first company we hired wasn’t meeting our needs, so Umbrella IT took over development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first started working with them, they immediately dove in to understand the problems that we were experiencing after our first partnership. Then they used native technology to finish development and deliver according to our initial plan.

What is the team composition?

There were about 20 people initially working on the project. Now we’re working with a software development team comprised of one analytic designer, a project manager, a developer, an architect, and two QA testers.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

The tender itself took quite a long time. Then we needed to follow regulations

They were the best fit based on their experience. They also offered a great price and were flexible. They tried to understand what we were looking for. They proposed a few options for us to choose from.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started the project in March 2020 and they delivered it in November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They met all of our expectations. They were very experienced and used their extensive knowledge base to provide multiple solutions as the project changed.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

Their sales process was great. They created several options for us to move forward. It was really important that both of our teams were aligned on our project goals, so we established metrics to track the project’s progress, outlined the product roadmap, and planned synchronization calls to ensure we were on the same page. By setting clear deadlines and deliverables, we were able to stay on track.

They were also very transparent and accommodating when things came up. Our contact person helped us manage the scope as we had to adjust our plans.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They remained calm and came up with reliable solutions in challenging situations. When they took over the project, they were able to address all of the challenges we were facing.  

As a startup, we also adjust the project scope frequently, but Umbrella IT responded immediately and found a solution while keeping our deadlines in mind.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t know what they need to do better. They just need to continue to work with the same speed and passion they already are.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re looking for a new partner who can create custom solutions in a unique environment, Umbrella IT is the best choice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a drilling expert for Novatech NTC. We are part of Novatech, which is an independent gas company in Russia, and we deal with issues in wells.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We needed help developing custom software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Umbrella IT provides custom software development services for us. They built a digital solution for searching our database and an architect software for planning jobs.

What is the team composition?

We work with three people full-time: a manager, a developer, and someone in analytics.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested about €35,000 (approximately $42,000).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around May 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The database software is expected to be released by the end of the year; the other one has been released and works well. They worked quickly and did a good job. We are satisfied with their work and are enjoying the software.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Slack and Trello to communicate daily. Umbrella IT is responsive and have met all deadlines we’ve set.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Umbrella IT team is friendly and hard-working.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could have more people available to work with us; this is a common problem for many companies.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They are not afraid to jump into projects for you. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the product manager for a wholesale trading company in Russia. We focus on providing food supplies to restaurants, cafes, hotels, and shops.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We needed someone to develop a mobile app for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Umbrella IT team created iOS and Android applications that address the marketing issues we were facing. The apps also help our clients order their supplies in an effective way.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of approximately 6 people. It consisted of iOS developers, Android developers, designers, and a QA tester.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

We’d worked with them on another project, and after that one, we decided to engage them in building our mobile app.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on this project in January 2020, and it’s an ongoing engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has served us greatly, especially from a marketing perspective. In addition to being an effective e-commerce solution, it also enables us to know important stats. We’re now more aware of our conversion rate, as well as the number of app installations, purchases, users, and more. We’ve enjoyed an increased online rating after kicking off this app.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve been very comfortable with my point of contact at Umbrella IT. He oversees all tasks and deadlines, and he’s been excellent at keeping things on track. We communicate through email and Telegram, and he’s always available to answer my calls and messages.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very dedicated to their projects. They can also foresee problems and offer appropriate solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While there’s always room for improvement, they’ve shown us very good results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a small branding and design firm. I’m the head of the web development team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address Umbrella IT?

We were working on a project with a client who wanted their desktop and mobile app built in React Native. However, our in-house team didn’t have the expertise or resources to take on that kind of work. So, we reached out to Umbrella IT for help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the desktop and mobile apps in React Native. The apps were designed to work as a virtual project manager and have the ability to collect testimonials. 

What is the team composition?

We had two developers, a QA person, and a project manager named Artem who was our main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

We found them on UpWork. We liked their communication and the wide range of skills they possessed. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested about $31,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2020, and we’re still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, I would say the experience has been exceptional. The artwork was exactly what we wanted, and the backend development was clean. It was great to work with someone that we could trust and rely on. Their team gave us excellent advice and shared their knowledge which has been incredibly helpful. 

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a Trello board where we could see their progress. We also had weekly updates and phone calls. It was seamless. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their wide range of abilities and skills set them apart from other developers. They accomplished exactly what we wanted. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some trouble adjusting to their payment system, but that was more on our side, not a result of their shortcomings. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Be fully prepared before passing on the work to them. Make sure you know what you want things to look like and iron out the details beforehand.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of Driving International Authority. Our organization is basically a translation agency, but we are focused on the translation of driving licenses all across the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We were looking for someone to help develop our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Umbrella IT  developed our website for us. They are responsible for everything that is website related, including site maintenance.

In the beginning, they provided wireframes and documentation. They used Symfony framework and WordPress for the blog. When a customer visits our website, they can fill out a form. Following that, we receive their information through our admin panel.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with our project manager. He's a great guy and I've come to rely on him.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

We were both located in the same city. They offered a complex solution, told me they could do everything for us, and the price was right.

How much have you invested in them?

Overall, within the last three years, we have invested around $100,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Umbrella IT began in March 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything has been working fine. The website looks good and stands out within our industry.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management is very good. I have no complaints. Working with Umbrella IT has been a collaborative effort. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I don’t have that much experience with developers, but I am totally satisfied with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They may have some room to improve, but I am not sure where.