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Booster for the digital evolution of business

5.0
19 reviews

We provide IT-experts who integrate seamlessly into your team. Every week we deliver regular results via honed processes.

You need us in 2 cases:
1) you need to augment your team with IT experts;
2) you intend to improve development efficiency.

Our expertise covers mobile and web app development, new technologies (AI/ML, Big Data, AR/VR, IoT, chatbots) and IT consulting, including IT audit and digital researches.

Facts about the company:

- We have delivered IT-experts to 200+ projects (Hamleys of London LTD, Penske Media Corporation, Mary Kay Inc., Alcon, 9Gag etc.);

- 10+ unique client-focused services;

- 170+ professionals.

Facts about the team:

- Each IT-expert has 3 years experience in commercial development;

- MBA experts with more than 12 years of experience in IT;

- ITIL certified auditors;

- Certified product designers.

 

READ MORE...
 
$25,000+
 
$50 - $99 / hr
 
50 - 249
 Founded
2009
Show all +
Taganrog, Russia
headquarters
  • 80 Petrovskaya St.
    Taganrog , ROS 347900
    Russia
    79000555550
other locations
  • 1275 Venables St #330
    Vancouver BC V6A 2C9
    Canada
    18777775763
  • 1275 Venables St #330
    Vancouver BC V6A 2C9
    Canada

Portfolio

Key clients: 
SheKnows,  Mary Kay Inc, StyleCaster Media Group, Hamleys of London LTD, Penske Media Corporation (Rolling Stones, etc), etc.
Omnichannel e-commerce platform developed including QR code payment feature Image

Omnichannel e-commerce platform developed including QR code payment feature

We developed the marketplace for business owners to register their stores and carry on trade online. For offline purchases in the store the instant payment by QR codes placed physically on goods was implemented.
A flexible tax rate management system requires an initial set up after which prices are calculated automatically depending on the province.
We also created mobile apps for merchants and customers.

Site optimization for high loads: more than 50 million users per month Image

Site optimization for high loads: more than 50 million users per month

We applied lossless compression to content.
Then we took some load off the server by providing an extra reverse proxy server.
Partially refactored code also accelerated the speed of the website.

New paywall integrated retaining subscriptions and user's loyalty Image

New paywall integrated retaining subscriptions and user's loyalty

We developed the new paywall connected to the core via API and removed the old one.
A counter tracks the number of articles the user read and shows the notification if they reach their limit.
Unsubscribed users can read only a part of an article.

AI-module integrated for virtual colored contact lenses try-on Image

AI-module integrated for virtual colored contact lenses try-on

We analyzed the solutions offered on the market and chose the most appropriate platform. We integrated VisageSDK into the CMS allowing to upload the photo and to virtually select colored contact lenses prior to purchase.

Traffic increased 3,5 times due to promotion solution Image

Traffic increased 3,5 times due to promotion solution

We developed a virtual makeup system. After uploading a photo, the user chooses some parameters, ‘try on’ different variants of the makeup and get the information on those they liked.

Strategy worked out to seamlessly integrate new e-commerce module without shutdown of system Image

Strategy worked out to seamlessly integrate new e-commerce module without shutdown of system

We designed the architecture of the new e-commerce module. The solution is to plug the new module into the current system via the ESB bus without violation of data integrity.

Custom modules implemented and data security increased without investment system shutdown Image

Custom modules implemented and data security increased without investment system shutdown

We transfered the application to a custom solution to ensure greater security and optimised the architecture. We used Vue.JS to replace the application front-end with modules unnoticeably for the user without system shutdown.

Complex functionality seamlessly integrated for an interactive Medici library Image

Complex functionality seamlessly integrated for an interactive Medici library

We implemented an editor that supports co-editing mode.
We added new modules that allow to execute complex sorting, objects grouping, change history viewing, etc.
We conducted the full system and code audit, and optimized development processes: changes are committed to the Staging environment only after testing.

Internal processes and integrations with 3rd party systems (SLA) automated Image

Internal processes and integrations with 3rd party systems (SLA) automated

We automated the SLA contract management platform and integrated systems for monitoring (Zabbix, Ansible) and collecting information on the infrastructure state in real time.
We prepared a system for notifying contractors and automatic calculating the cost of monthly support, depending on the number of failures and downtime.

Reviews

5.0
19 reviews
Sort by

Web Development for Translation Company

"Working with Umbrella IT has been a collaborative effort."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Mar. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT developed a website for a translation company. The team worked within a Symfony framework to build the site, as well as attaching a WordPress blog and performing site maintenance. 

The Reviewer
 
Russia
Yuriy Zaycev
CEO, Driving International Authority
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The website is functional and stands out within the client's industry, meeting the expectations of the internal team. Umbrella IT establishes a smooth workflow, ensuring effective communication and collaboration. The team is hard-working and knowledgeable.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

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.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    I don’t remember a time where they missed a deadline.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would absolutely recommend them.

Development for Archive Portal

"Their level of technical and support qualifications are outstanding."

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Dec. 2018 - July 2019
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT used AngularJS and Java to develop new features and complete development for a research institution’s archive portal.  

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Firenze, Italy
Lorenzo Allori
IT Director, The Medici Archive Project
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Umbrella IT completed the project while implementing requests throughout the project. They approached challenges head-on and were very flexible to changing requirements. Their team established a solid partnership by providing superior tech support and meeting deadlines.

The client submitted this review online.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Since its foundation in the early 1990s, the Medici Archive Project (MAP) has been innovating new strategies for research in the Humanities. This research institution with the mission of actively generating scholarly discourse and embracing disparate dimensions of scholarly experience. At the center of this operation has been MAP’s online platform, BIA, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Fully online since 2013, BIA provides access to an unparalleled range of digitized early modern material. As of 2015, this material comprises over 24,000 transcribed documentary records, 18,000 biographical entries, 87,000 geographical and topographical tags, and over 300,000 digitized images from 292 volumes of the Mediceo del Principato. I am the IT Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I hired Umbrella IT because I needed a highly qualified development team to build some of the new software features needed to the MIA’s system, which is The Medici Archive Project’s archival community sourcing portal.

What were your goals for this project?

Finish the project using freelancers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Rating on Upwor,

Describe the project in detail.

We needed to develop some modules of our software using JAVA, AngularJS, etc.

What was the team composition?

A techinical Project Manager, a Front End developer, a Back End developer, a Graphic Designer, a QA testing person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team, directed by Alexey, was highly capable. They used JDK 1.6 и Spring 3.2.1 and NodeJS, MongoDB for the RichTextEditor module which are the technologies we required. In fact, I was never told that any feature I wanted to add was too difficult to build for them. The team was very flexible in terms of design changes. I asked for many alterations throughout the process and never went at odds with the team.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Umbrella IT provided the Medici Archive Project with expert advice and qualified work to meet the software requirements we provided them. We have built a confident relationship with the Umbrella IT team. Their level of technical and support qualifications are outstanding.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have met tight deadlines, accommodated last minute changes and delivered high quality results that met all stakeholder needs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

post sale guarantee on the code produced.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    check above
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

IT Staff Augmentation & App Dev for Agricultural Platform

"The project manager was very talented, professional, and had good management expertise."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Feb. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT augmented a development team to offer native Android app and web development.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Moscow, Russia
Alexander Derzhavin
CTO, SmartSeeds.ru
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The app successfully launched and received user downloads. The solutions they developed have driven a significant number of conversions and differentiated stakeholders in the market. They are a professional team with a seamless communication style.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of SmartSeeds.ru, an agricultural automation platform. We have several parts on our platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We have our own IT team but we needed additional resources who could help us with development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team worked along with our in-house group as one big team. They solved the same issues as our internal team, and they worked on the same projects and issues. But, they worked remotely in their office in another city. 

 Now, they are developing native Android applications. (They develop them with no help from us.) They've also done web development.

What is the team composition?

About 15–20 people worked with us.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

We did some research and found several companies that help with outsourcing development. Umbrella IT showed us big projects in their portfolio, and they impressed us.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested $300,000–$500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app they've developed successfully launched to Google Play, and it has been downloaded. They worked as fast as our team, and there weren’t any issues.

Without their help, we wouldn’t have the same number of transactions. Our company is in the first position in the market for the service we provide. Without Umbrella IT, we’d be in the second or the third.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

There were no problems with project management from their side. The project manager was very talented, professional, and had good management expertise. We had regular daily meetings, and there were no issues with communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re professionals, and they have great authority in the IT area. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could lower their costs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend using them. They were very helpful!

5.0
Overall Score We had no problems with them. 
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They met all the deadlines. They’d work on weekends if needed.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    If we only worked with our internal team, we wouldn’t have been able to solve all the issues. Umbrella IT helped us to solve the challenges, and we get good value for our money.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Development and Staff Augmentation for Digital Publisher

“They bend over backwards to give us what we need, when we need it.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$1,000,000 - $9,999,999
 
2014 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT provides staff augmentation for engineering service roles on an ongoing basis for a digital publisher. Their talent contributions fluctuate as needed and the team contributes in a variety of technical capacities.

The Reviewer
 
1,001-5,000 Employees
 
Los Angeles, California
Jared Canova
Vice President of Technology, Penske Media Corporation
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Umbrella IT’s efforts have been met with high praise. The team members put customer service first and go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their clients are satisfied. Customers can expect a strong work force that takes no issue with scaling up or down.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of the technology of the partner network at Penske Media Corporation. We’re a digital publisher that owns a number of different brands, which include monetization and a publisher network.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

Initially, we needed help with fixed-scope projects. Later, we recognized we needed more of an elastic workforce, so we moved to a staff augmentation model with Umbrella IT. We wanted to the ability to have, remove, and change skill sets on the team at will.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Umbrella IT has been effective at getting us the right talent, very quickly. Their personnel has done a number of projects for us; the lion’s share of their work has been serving as an engineering force. We’ve used them in reprogramming and data engineering for various technologies. Additionally, we also use them for QA and project management.

Past projects include content management services, microservices architecture, middleware, frontend development, and WordPress based websites, just to name a few. They also manage all the management tools for the partner network as well as all of the publishing sites and a lot of internal administrative tools.

What is the team composition?

Our team varies quite a bit. On the low end, we’re augmenting our team with three people from Umbrella IT. On the high end, we’ve had as many as a dozen people at a time.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

Initially, one of the companies that we acquired had been using them for project work. After we decided to implement the staff augmentation model, we started using Umbrella IT on a more permanent basis.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested more than $5 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2014, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Generally speaking, we tend to retain Umbrella talent more than other firms. While I’ve had to cut back and even close the contracts of other companies we work with, we view the Umbrella team as part of our team. They’ve grown with us and we’ve given them an opportunity to learn, and they’ve pitched into help well beyond just in engineering. We’ve shared a very close partnership, as a result.

For example, one of their project managers filled in as a product manager for a few months while we were looking to backfill, and they did an excellent job of building relationships with our stakeholders. Another one of their engineers has been with us for 4-5 years and was recently promoted to a more senior technical role in our company; he’s really grown in the role and it shows. Overall, they tend to focus on solutions and outcomes more than just tickets. They’re not just an outsource firm for us, they’re intricately involved in our process from planning all the way to execution.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve time-shifted their work to be available during the day for us even though they’re remote. It’s very beneficial and has helped with communication but also with building the team as a cohesive unit. They attend standups, meetings with our users to explain how things work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They bend over backward to give us what we need when we need it. They’ve been flexible with scheduling and even rates, at times, where we need to make rapid swings and changes in talent as business fluctuates. With other partners, during those same times, had a lot of friction in the process. It was totally different from Umbrella. Our account manager would come out and visit Russia to visit us and ask what we needed and would find a way to do it. It’s something I haven’t seen with our other providers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At this point, things are pretty good. There was a time when one of the other providers had a local presence in the states and they were able to send staff on-site to work side by side with our team. It would be great if Umbrella would consider providing the same option.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice, if it’s a non-technical organization, is to have reasonable expectations for hiring engineering personnel. Honestly, Umbrella is one of the easier firms to work with. They can work effectively in a fixed scope or augmentation model. If they’re in a fixed scope project, make sure they have clear requirements and expectations. If they’re in an augmentation model, then make sure there are no communication barriers.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Design & Maintenance for Media and Events Company

“They fill in the blanks, and they really understand what we want. They make sure we get products that work.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Feb. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT designed a site for an investment database within a media events company. They merged disparate elements together into a cohesive site before moving into a maintenance agreement.

The Reviewer
 
5,001-10,000 Employees
 
Montreal, Canada
Christian Charest
Financial Database Manager, Contex Group Inc.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The quality of work that Umbrella IT provides is high. They follow instructions, make useful suggestions, and are well organized. Though there is a difference in time zones, their communication is good and their response times are quick. They always deliver on requirements.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We were recently acquired by a larger conglomerate, but, in essence, we are a media and events company. My division has a database of pension plans and other institutional investment service providers. Through that database, we connect key people who make investment decisions for pension plans with portfolio managers and other vendors who can help them. We provide key information for both sides, including important contact information. I'm the product manager for the database.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

My predecessor hired them to help design our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They completed the design work a little over two years ago. When I started, everything was already in place, so I can't outline all of their involvement in the initial design. Since I've been at the company, they handle day-to-day maintenance and fix any bugs that arise. In the past, they oversaw some larger-scale projects. Our website is a bit complicated, and we outsource a lot of features. They put all the separate parts together into a site that is usable for our end users. I asked them to make some adjustments to the content when I joined. The site is hosted by HostGator, and the database architecture is provided by Caspio.

What is the team composition?

I work with three people on a regular basis. A product manager is my main point of contact, and I also interact with a programmer and a QA specialist.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

They were already in place when I joined the company, but they were originally hired as a cost-saving measure. They charge considerably less than companies in North America. I'm not sure what steps my predecessor took to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

The initial project cost somewhere between $40,000-$45,000, and we currently spend about $3,000 a month on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

I believe the collaboration began in February or March 2017. We have them on a retainer system, which comes to about 20 hours of work each week.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were previously owned by another company, so the original look and feel of the site was completely different. I don't have any quantitative feedback about the results of their work, but the quality they provide is very good. They follow instructions well, and they make useful suggestions. They fill in the blanks, and they really understand what we want. They make sure we get products that work.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very organized, and they send almost daily updates that are very detailed. They manage projects through Trello, and most of our communication happens through that tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is very good, even though they're in Russia. Our window of communication is early in the morning for us, but we never have to wait for a response. Our interactions are excellent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm very happy with their work overall, and there isn't anything I can think of that they should improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you know what you want, they will deliver on your requirements. I give them clear instructions, and I've been satisfied with everything so far.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web & App Development for Lead Generation Tool

"We're pleased with their work overall and they continue to meet or exceed our expectations."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Oct. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT provides additional development staff to work on a web and mobile (iOS and Android) platform, using Symfony  and React Native.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Spanish Fork, Utah
Scott Hunter
VP of Technology, ProNexis
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Umbrella IT provides high-quality development services overall, including valuable expertise in Symfony software. Despite some occasional miscommunications, their team is very proactive about reaching out and transparent in their approach overall.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of technology for ProNexis, which provides solutions for small business owners regarding lead generation, management, and handling.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We were looking to increase our development capacity through staff augmentation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first project Umbrella IT worked on included the design and build out of a three-pronged, multi-platform tool that involved a web interface and a cross-platform Android and iOS app. We provided rough specifications and wireframes and they generated screenshots, using Bootstrap templates and Symfony software. They also used React Native to build the mobile apps.

What is the team composition?

We work with about four people, including an account manager, web developer, and iOS and Android developers.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

I think we found them through a site that recommended developers certified in Symfony.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $80,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since October 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're very happy with the work they've provided overall. A lot of our users like the design and functionality of the app they've helped us develop.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform well; they're proactive about reaching out to us and being as transparent as possible. We generally communicate and track projects through Trello, Slack, email, phone, and Google Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We're pleased with their work overall and they continue to meet or exceed our expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although their team speaks English very well, there's some room for improvement in overall communications.

Updated Review

This review was updated on October 31st, 2018 by the client. The original star ratings were: Overall - 4, Quality - 4..5, Schedule - 4, Cost - 4, NPS - 4. The new content is below.

When I gave the review, Umbrella IT came back to me to ask what was wrong. I could not come up with a good reason why I didn't give them all fives. I was probably just reviewing hard that day. We have worked together pretty well. 

 

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Tech Integration for Digital Marketing Company

“Their spectacular service is bringing both of our companies more business.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Sep. 2017 - Aug. 2018
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT assisted with the web integration of full stack technologies. They developed a web app on the MongoDB and Node.js platforms, in addition to identifying best practices and building architecture maps.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Golden, Colorado
Amanda Daume
Director of Sales Enablement, Revenue River Marketing
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Umbrella IT has sparked an increase in business since they came on board as the primary web vendor. Their team is highly skilled and knowledgeable, but their customer-focused approach to business is their greatest strength.  

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Revenue River is a digital marketing agency that focuses on full stack technologies. As the director of sales enablement, I work with clients to develop sales systems and custom integrations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We were working with a client who wanted to integrate a dozen different technologies into four different lines of business. More resources were necessary to provide a seamless user experience for their customers. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

With their support, we were able to identify and establish all of the different business requirements. They walked us through a user story exercise that helped us conceive ideas that hadn’t thought about before. The stories were later turned into an architecture map, and we selected the best app features based on their detailed explanations. Mongo DB and Node.js were two programs they utilized during the development stage. Although I’m not a classically trained developer, they insisted on a collaborative process and allowed us to give feedback on their work along the way.

What is the team composition?

We have a dedicated project manager who oversees a team of three developers.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

My teammate posted our project on a website and received about four bids from qualified companies. We interviewed all of the candidates and selected Umbrella IT based on their skill and knowledge.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent at least $50,000 on this particular project, but the total is somewhere between $75,000–$100,000 for all of the work we’ve done together. Our monthly invoices can range from $7,000¬–$20,000 each month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with Umbrella IT since September 2017. We just wrapped up the first phase of the project, and we’re currently developing the scope of work for phase two.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the past, our clients would commission one long, drawn-out project and never follow up. Now that we’ve partnered with Umbrella IT, our projects are being extended. Their development process is highly favorable for our customers; they allow our clientele to contact them directly for questions beyond our expertise. Their spectacular service is bringing both of our companies more business.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

We appreciate their straightforward approach to business; they never underperform because they never overpromise. On the rare occasions when their work doesn’t meet expectations, they immediately follow up with an honest explanation and a speedy resolution. They’re also very transparent about the time it takes for them to complete work, which in turn helps us provide accurate timelines for our clients. We’re able to view their progress through Trello, and we keep regular correspondence via Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had a terrible experience with our previous web developer, so working with Umbrella IT was very refreshing. Whereas most vendors build to specification with no regard to functionality, they present every possible design option before moving on to development. We know that we’re making the best decision every time because they go out of their way to provide detailed pros and cons lists.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should make it a rule to always check in with clients before making internal decisions. There was an instance where they selected Mailgun as a transactional e-mail delivery platform without running other mail options by the customer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear understanding of the project and its requirements; this allows them to start the development process immediately without spending valuable time generating ideas. Also, take advantage of Umbrella IT’s expertise. Their expertise will bring your project to new heights.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Software Development for a Toy Company

"Their quality, expertize, and attention to detail is very high."

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Jun. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT developed an online catalog for a franchise business, enabling stock tracking and monitoring. They worked on the software development and QA testing.

The Reviewer
 
London, England
IT Director, Toy Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The software is soon to launch for its users and the business expects to see its positive impact shortly. The project was managed well throughout, with the team communicating effectively, adhering to best practice, and becoming increasingly confident in sharing their ideas.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT program manager for an iconic toy shop.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We're recently focusing on enhancing our franchising and wholesale solution, expanding across multiple locations around the world, with over 120 stores. We have systems in place to transact with our franchisees and wholesale partners. However, a lot of this process is manual.

The challenge was to design an automated system that would facilitate transacting tracking stock and servicing our wholesale franchise business. I designed a solution and we were developing it in-house. Due to the scale of a deficit in the business and the timescale in which I had to deliver it, I had to look for an outsource partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided them a prototype for them to develop. We’re running an agile scrum project and they’re developing the software and doing the testing.

It’s an online catalog for franchisees and wholesale partners to purchase stock. A huge part of it is the QA, in terms of test certifications to ensure that a product is legal and suitable to be shipped to certain territories. There’s a lot of logic behind the functionality to quickly and easily enable a franchise partner, but also handle merchandise and determine its suitability.

There’s also a product information management side of things, in which we extract data from our merchandising system, consolidate various attributes, and display it on the site for our franchise partners and our merchandisers.

What is the team composition?

They have a project manager in charge of two developers and a QA tester. I initially spoke with Stas (CEO & Founder, Umbrella IT).

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

I looked on sites like Upwork and stumbled across a few profiles, then contacted them directly. Initially, I gave them a simple task to check out the quality of their work and communication. I was very satisfied with the response, which is why I gave them more and more work.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I expect to see an impact within the next two weeks. We’re opening up to users for business acceptance testing very soon.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very professional and their communication is very good. The level of their project management expertize is very high and uses best practices. The method I like to use is scrum agile and they’re very in line with that. Early on, I worked out the velocity and agreed upon principals of development and scope.

We use Teamwork with Kanban style boards, as well as Teamwork Chat. We also use video conferencing every day. I have a standup with them in the morning and throughout the day we’re in contact via Teamwork, email, and chat for more urgent questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their quality, expertize, and attention to detail is very high. I’ve worked with many developers and companies and they rank amongst the best over the past 15 years. I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality of their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be slightly more confident and forthright with their opinions and giving feedback to improve the product and the processes. They were quite reluctant to do that initially. It was more instructional. I did speak with them about wanting their feedback and the fact that we’re a team, regardless if they’re offshore. More recently, they’ve been a lot more responsive in that sense, which I appreciate.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very specific with your requirements. There’s going to be a language barrier, but it hasn't had much of an impact on us as the person I deal with speaks fantastic English. We brought her and the CTO over for a week, which was very helpful.

Creating a prototype also helps speed things along. I definitely recommend doing that because it cuts down on documentation and unnecessary requirement gathering. It allows them to go ahead and do what you need them to do.

5.0
Overall Score They’ve exceeded my expectations.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    The scheduling was very contingent upon the planning.. They’re very punctual with their deliverables.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Dev for E-Book Retailer

“They’re talented, transparent, and their prices are good. Working with them makes each day so much better.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Apr. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT is rebuilding the e-commerce site and several internal sites for an e-publisher. Using the previous site as inspiration, they are modernizing the entire system and deploying a cloud-based interface.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
United States
COO, E-Publisher/Bookseller
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Umbrella IT provides regular status reports and their work thus far exceeds expectations. Their project management earns them praise and their leadership understands the task at hand. They anticipate needs and are strong communicators.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a large, independent e-publisher and bookseller. I’m the COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

We worked with a developer for over a decade to develop a site where we sell books, as well as several internal websites. We had a very customimzed and complicated system that developer could no loger  support. We had problems with security and were spending too much to maintain it. We reached out to Umbrella IT to see if they could either repair or rewrite the site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially approached them with the hope we could just fix the issues with the existing site, but we determined that wasn’t a viable option. We completely rehauled the sited and the internal sites until the scope became very large. We replaced everything from frontend to backend.

We gave them our previous site to use as a starting point, but the newly devloped site will be based off of modern technology. Umbrella constantly give us new ideas and we settled on Symfony as the basis for our programming. They’re working on everything from security to our cart functionality.

They  are bringing it all to the next level of modernity and security. They’re helping us deploy on a new cloud interface that will be much more responsive and cost-effective. They also manage end-to-end design and QA.

What is the team composition?

We’re currently working with a team of about 6–9 people.

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

We did a web search and found them. We saw they had great reviews so we thought we would give them a try.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve currently spent about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around April 2018. It’s an ongoing collaboration.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They share information daily. They give me status reports each morning and I’m always excited to check in with them.. They provide all the information  I want and more. Their mockups are good and I like the progress they’re making.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is phenomenal; they do better than any company I’ve worked with. I have one point of contact for daily communication. We use Skype, Trello, phone, and email. I was pleased when I learned they use Trello.

They give us regular updates and we meet weekly or bi-weekly. They go through everything they’ve finished and I can ask questions or get reports on anything that is in progress. The project manager ties the whole thing together and acts as my proxy on their team. They really understand my needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re talented, transparent, and their prices are good.. They’re a great group, with great project management and reporting.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing at this point. They anticipate our needs and deliver exactly what we need. They’re always communicative and we’ve had no major problems. They’re amazing to work with and I recommend them highly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use them; you won’t be disappointed in their work.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Dev for Retail Lead Generation Firm

"They’re always available and they understand our project."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Dec. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Umbrella IT is designing and developing a scalable property estimation tool using Node.js. The platform prompts users to answer questions and calculates their home value. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Hamburg, Germany
CEO, Lead Generation Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The platform receives great feedback and surpasses competing tools in quality and usability. Umbrella IT is extremely flexible, communicating promptly and working long hours to deliver on time. Their large resource pool enables them to pivot rapidly, minimize delays, and uphold excellent standards. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We generate leads for real estate agents by offering online property evaluation tools where users can check their home's current value. We connect them with partner agents across the country. I’m a co-founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Umbrella IT?

Our main challenge was building a scalable, web-based solution from scratch without using a CMS. This isn’t a new service, but we’re one of the first to offer it. We needed to define every process, from the look of the platform to the functions of user accounts. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Umbrella IT has handled everything from design to Node.js programming. We designed mockups, which they used to create our design. Since they did a great job, we requested very few changes. Then they passed the work on to their developers.

The product is a multistep form where users choose details like the number of rooms in their house. Since long forms are bad for conversion, our product transports users from one step to another. It’s simple, but has conditional logic: if a user specifies that they have an apartment, there’s no use asking the size of their land. Umbrella IT had built similar solutions for other companies, and they've done a great job with ours.

What is the team composition?

We work with five or six members of their team, including a project manager and two full-time developers. We also have two or three QA specialists and one designer. 

How did you come to work with Umbrella IT?

I checked the billed hours of companies on Upwork. I’m from Russia, so I specifically looked for Russian companies. Even though they aren't as cheap as Indian companies, they're better. I found four companies on the platform, talked to all of them, and settled on Umbrella IT.

I chose them because their contact asked the most questions. I received quick estimates from the other companies, but after three calls with Umbrella IT, they were still asking new questions. I knew they would understand the scope of the project. Their estimate was the highest, but not because we were overcharged. They could simply tell how much time it would take.

How much have you invested with them?

It cost a bit more than $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Umbrella IT in December 2017. We planned to finish the first phase in April, but have worked uninterrupted with their team since the beginning. The collaboration will continue for at least six months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback is good. We're satisfied with their work and have come up with more ideas. 

Many companies use the same kind of form and claim to offer the same service, but our platform actually shows results. Once a user creates an account, we show them a rough estimate of their property's worth. Users like that they don’t feel cheated after clicking through a lot of pages and giving their personal information.

How did Umbrella IT perform from a project management standpoint?

They do a great job. We’re happy with the project management. We have Skype calls once every one or two weeks; most of our other communication is through email and Skype. They’re always available and they understand our project. 

Our project manager has been around from the beginning until now, which isn't common. He knows the details of the project, always asks about our plans and is always available through text or email. Since he knows what's going on, I don’t have to catch up with him if we haven’t been in touch. They obviously want to utilize their resources but are still interested in the build.

In the middle of the project, we had some problems and weren’t satisfied with their progress. I called our project manager on a Saturday and he sorted it out by Monday. They worked during the weekend to build what we wanted.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Since they're a big company with lots of resources, they can quickly change developers without affecting quality. Our main developer became unavailable within a month, but the project manager alerted us and found a replacement from their staff of 120. 

Our current developer is amazing, and I’m confident that it will remain this way. This is an important advantage for small companies that might depend totally on Umbrella IT. Even though they're a contractor, I don’t feel exposed to risk.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could communicate and brief us on tasks better, but those are minor issues that come up during every project. Their performance is impressive. 

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer