Veepal

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Operations. Our company designs and sells custom programmable USB HID control interfaces.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Veepal?

Veepal helped setup our Magento website and continues to provide support to us to keep it fuctioning properly.

SOLUTION

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

We found them online. My reason for utilizing them was their extensive knowledge of Megento, attention to detail and good communication skills. We also chose them because they are fair and honest. A majority of contractors offering Megento development extort their custmoers with manditory month service programs. They force you in to a monthly subscription system that is uneeded and dishonest to put it nicely. Then when you need support they charge you more. Once Megento is setup it doesn't require constant monitoring. Veepal is a fair, honest, and rare vendor. They charge me for the work they actually do.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We have a very good graphic artist on staff and know the look we want. We needed help with the coding and implimentation in Megento. Veepal did this for us and continues to support and help us as we make changes or have to adapt to Magento updates.

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

We work with Vipal and Sanjay.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I think our website speaks for itself. www.xkeys.com

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

A+

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

They are willing to work with a small company. Most vendors will not or if they do they want to charge you an outragous amount and force you to an excessive month fee structor designed to extort money from you. Veepal is willing to work on a project based fee and hourly with no obsene monthly subcription scam.

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

Not on our project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I worked with Veepal for over a year to provide extra support for special projects and overflow work. I found the team to be helpful, responsive and competent. There is no doubt I would reach out again for future needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Veepal?

Staff augmentation - hired team for month(s) long work. There were multiple projects but included a SaaS development, WordPress work and some creative UI/UX.

SOLUTION

How did you select Veepal and what were the deciding factors?

I needed flexibility and good communication.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

As mentioned earlier we had team members to handle overflow work so the projects were a variety. However, for each task or larger project we had 2 approaches, detail out the tasks and ensure understanding, as the team to support our project planning.

Describe the recruitment process in detail.

We interviewed a number of candidates provided by Veepal and selected those with the best fit.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Projects and tasks were completed successfully and on schedule. When there was a rare issue, the entire team jumped in to support a resolution.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very good -- they adapted to our tools and reached out as needed. Their availability to discuss with us was also flexible.

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

The team's cooperation and flexibility of the organization stood out in the partnership.

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

I'd like to see more team members to be available at varying hours 24/7. I know they are working on that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CTO of both the iGive and iConsumer loyalty shopping platforms. Founded in 1997, iGive.com lets users browse through nearly 2,000 stores and brands and a portion of each purchase is automatically donated to a charity of their choice. There’s currently about 35,000 active charity partners and new ones can be added at any point. Membership for the platform is free and we measure at about 350,000 users who have contributed over 9 million in charity donations.

In an effort to attract the millennial market, we launched iConsumer.com in 2015. Again, it is a loyalty shopping site, but users will receive a portion of their purchase back in the form of Bitcoin and iConsumer stock. Our goal is to introduce the younger generation to investing with minimal risk.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Veepal?

When we launched iConsumer.com, we soon realized that internally we needed to shift a lot of our development resources from iGive.com to the new platform. We needed a partner to continue the research and development processes for iGive.com while we worked to establish the second site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Veepal worked on the backend coding for iGive.com. It was a fairly large learning curve, given the website’s age and the range of different developers that worked on it in the past. The team learned the various coding styles used in the platform’s backend, then started fixing our backlog of bugs. After that, the team developed enhancements for the system, both small and complex. They submitted all of their code for our review, then made any tweaks or changes we requested.

Once Veepal cleared iGive.com’s development backlog, we used them for the iConsumer platform. Mainly, they helped program additional features for the site. We also tasked their team with developing the APIs for the launch of our new iOS and Android mobile apps. They were a valuable resource in our efforts to redesign the apps’ backend.

What is the team composition?

We were assigned a team of two from Veepal, a project manager and a developer.

How did you come to work with Veepal?

I had previously worked with the Veepal’s owner when he worked with a different company. In looking for an offshore partner, I reached out to all of my contacts. I described the project and asked for their availability. The owner let me know he started his own company and could provide a developer with the right expertise, so I chose to work with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2015­–August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Without Veepal’s development assistance, our platforms’ technical elements would not be where they are today. The iConsumer platform wouldn’t be anywhere near as far along in its maturity and iGive.com would still have a backlog of necessary work had we not enlisted their development services.

How did Veepal perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly team meetings over Skype to discuss our progress, any additional communication was over email. We tracked and assigned tasks on a project management platform, which really helped us set deadlines and determine priorities. It was a very seamless process. We appreciated their management style.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Veepal wasn’t afraid to dive into any project, no matter how challenging. Learning a new system can be overwhelming, but the team proactively worked through each task. We assigned development projects that weren’t straightforward, there were times when they had to interact with a third party, and some of the technical information was pretty obscure, but we were never disappointed with the results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, I think Veepal did a fine job. Of course, there is always room to improve in terms of testing code. On occasion, there were misunderstandings and miscommunications where we had to take a step back and review their work, but we expected that in partnering with an offshore team.

Any advice for potential customers?

The key to working with an overseas development group is clear communication at every step of the process. Clients should present Veepal with clear project requirements, a plan for implementation, and their testing expectations at the beginning of the partnership. This’ll ensure they’ll get the results they expect from Veepal.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the COO of an insurance broking firm operating from Dubai, U.A.E., with offices in the U.A.E., U.K., and India. Our company assists our clients in finding the right insurance coverage for their businesses and personal possessions. I am responsible for underwriting operations across all our brands and business partners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Veepal?

We hired Veepal to build an insurance platform to assist customers in finding insurance policies online through our website and on smart devices.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the project was to create an online insurance selling platform from scratch. Veepal assisted us in delivering our online platform from concept and design, to testing and implementation.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had three companies shortlisted for the project. Veepal won the contract due to their experience, strong reviews from other clients, their professional approach throughout the negotiation process, and agreement on project deliverables.

Describe the project in detail.

Veepal assisted our firm in design, development, testing, and launching of our online portal. They are also providing general after-launch support, and are specifically helping us develop new features.

What was the team composition?

We had a full-time project manager, designer, two developers, two testers, one business analyst, and a content writer assisting us on the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

The project was delivered ahead of schedule and we were consulted during each step of the process. All issues were identified and tracked for resolution until sign off was given. After launch support has been exceptional.

How effective was the project management?

Project management was very effective. Veepal not only delivered the project ahead of time, but throughout the project they recommended various initiatives and implementation strategies to reduce our overall costs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism and can do attitude is the best part of working with Veepal. We will engage them for all our future projects.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

None, Veepal is a professional company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of Complete Respite Solutions Inc. We are a company that helps coordinate and facilitate respite care for family caregivers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Veepal?

We need help developing our e-commerce platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took an existing ERP [enterprise resource planning] system and built our e-commerce platform on top of that, along with some management customization on the backend of the software. They did a great job in taking our requirements, translating them, doing functional specs with the software, and delivering what we needed. They used Odoo. I was the sole decision maker for the resources.

On the customer-facing side, they built the e-commerce platform where the family member can come in, register on the website, and enter all the information about that family member that they are providing care for. In the backend as we enter in those facilities and service providing organizations that a family member contracts with through us, there was a set of algorithms that match what they provide to what the family member needs.

When they do a search to either schedule someone to go their house and stay with their family member while they're gone, or find a short-term stay at a facility, their needs are matched. We facilitate the coordination and scheduling of those resources.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked with Nilesh Patel [Software Developer, Veepal].

How did you come to work with Veepal?

We've been in the software business for 30 years. We have never outsourced any type of development, but this was more or less a side project of mine so I didn't have any of my own resources available. We did a little research, talked to Odoo itself, looked at websites, read reviews, talked to their customers, did a series of interviews with them, and provided them with scope documents on what we're trying to accomplish. I felt very comfortable with them, so I selected them. I have never regretted it.

How much have you invested with them?

I paid them hourly and it totalled $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from April 2017 to October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback has all been positive with no negative feedback or issues. The design is easy to use and very cool, with great modifications to the system.

How did Veepal perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Skype, Google Hangouts, and Confluence to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very good at keeping you up to date on what's going on. They're also great with documentation and at understanding concepts of what we're trying to accomplish. They've done an outstanding job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

None. They did a great job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go ahead and pay. They're a great group of guys.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a Partner at a company providing tailored solutions to meet the needs of companies with the intent of giving an edge to their businesses. We offer ERP implementations, IT consultancy, payroll management, and software development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Veepal?

I needed a technical team who could work jointly on my Odoo ERP projects. We were facing the challenge of finding a reliable, long-term service provider with an excellent and functional consultancy team who could grasp the client’s key requirements. We also needed a strong supporting team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed to establish an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system for the mining industry. Veepal discussed the project in detail with us and prepared a SRS (Software Requirement Specification) document. Then, they submitted a proposal along with a development plan, which was followed by signing the contract and getting started. We used Skype and Freedcamp for communication, which allowed us to easily transfer information.

What is the team dynamic?

They assigned a dedicated Odoo team to work on our project.

How did you come to work with Veepal?

I found them on Google where they were at the top of the list for Odoo services. Veepal looked quite promising among other providers.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000 - $49,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from April 2017 – June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve contributed a lot, and they’re now my technical backbone. I am 100% satisfied with the results and support they’ve provided.

How did Veepal perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is one of their main strengths. They have a great sense of managing projects.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are a one-stop destination for all my technical needs. They have a good functional, consulting, and development team. Resources were kept informed about the latest Odoo updates, which was a key requirement in delivering stunning work to my client.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As I said earlier, they are a one-stop destination for me. They are a well established team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Tabbid is a social network of micro jobs in Italy. It is a marketplace where users can delegate minor tasks to users on a free-for-all platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Veepal?

I needed to build an interactive social platform. Since we are offering a new micro jobs solution, it had to have a big impact on the Italian market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Veepal created my website using CodeIgniter [PHP framework] and HTML. I worked mainly with 1 person in developing the website. The website is done, but I have a lot of features to develop. Every month, I plan a new feature based on what users ask for. Veepal has assigned 2 developers to work on these new features. For example, because Tabbid is free for all users, I’ve decided to build features based on advertising. The first feature allows users to advertise their Tabbid profile on the taskers’ page. If they pay €2 [$2.28], users can also show their mobile number on their profile. That’s the second feature.

How did you come to work with Veepal?

I had 3 companies to choose from, but I decided to choose Veepal because I saw their website. Veepal had the skill set I needed around social networks and the development of web solutions. Also, Nilesh Patel [Project Manager, Veepal] followed my lead during the process and was always available. He understood what was on my mind.

How much have you invested with Veepal?

We spend around €500 [$570] per month on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in 2015. The collaboration will continue for the next 3 years as Veepal will manage my website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Veepal is helping me grow my customer base and market share in Italy, where we are the first website to do micro jobs. They are always available even when I'm online during the night. They have the ability to manage and resolve issues on the website. They also develop new features rapidly. Veepal’s skills allow me to create a good solution.

How did Veepal perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very good in communication. All requirements were sent via Skype messages, not video calls. For me, it’s a good system of communication because they answer quickly.

What did you find most impressive about Veepal?

They’re a good solution for a small company like mine who needs to develop a web project.

Are there any areas Veepal could improve?

No. I don't feel they have to improve something because they're always available even during the night.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the executives of a startup that produces software for medical and health institutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Veepal?

We developed some ideas to change software parts and interfaces and needed professional help from an agency. We have software people but they can only build websites. We needed expertise for the frontend and backend development of our software. We needed help with getting the data entered into the system and how it would be processed and managed on the backend.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us with our software for hospice and health organization. We had ideas of how we could take our project to the next level, and developed some extensions of it, but had problems implementing those in our software. We asked Veepal to help us with that, as well as with some backend and frontend programming. We had already created some designs and wireframes in-house and Veepal took it further and developed the missing parts for us. We’ve done 5 or 6 projects with them.

How did you come to work with Veepal?

I read somewhere about India’s top 100 developing agencies. I had a lot of contact with other agencies and individuals, but the contact with Veepal was very professional and fast. They offered a good price for good quality and had the full package of what we were looking for. Other people couldn’t get it done in the timeframe we needed, or couldn’t create it how we specified.

How much have you invested with Veepal?

We spent between $20,000–$25,000 for the last part.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on the project in 2016 and it was completed in May 2017. We plan to develop further projects with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have had a positive impact on our business. It’s hard to attribute certain metrics to them because there were so many people involved in the project. The direct feedback from our team and the people that we’re working with has been positive. The things they developed are working well; otherwise, we wouldn’t continue to use them.

How did Veepal perform from a project management standpoint?

They communicated very well. It was very much like Agile development work. If there were problems with the software, we contacted them and they responded quickly. If it was necessary, we called them on Skype. The time difference wasn’t a big problem.

Are there any areas Veepal could improve?

I can’t think of anything. Our team was happy to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We are a software development and web strategy consultancy. We are based out of San Francisco. We’re a young company so I use a lot of resources that are not in San Francisco, Veepal included. We’ve been in business for a little over two years.

What is your role and responsibilities, please?

I am the CEO. I primarily focus on business development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Veepal?

I needed to use resources that had lower prices than the local resources available.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They have mainly done small application work for us.  One of their projects was a small web calculator with some interactive info graphics. Another one has been a WordPress web update project. We’re working on a project now for updating a Shopify theme, which involves a lot of CMS customization.

What was your process for selecting Veepal to work with?

I’ve been working with off shore teams for almost 20 years. I reached out to some former colleagues who connected me with people in Eastern Europe, Philippines, Brazil, and India primarily.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

Project started around a year and a half ago and the relationship is ongoing.

Do you have any stats or metrics to track improvement from the project?

I would say Veepal is batting around 98 percent. We had a couple of communication challenges at the beginning which have since been resolved.  The work has been consistent, when there are things that are unclear we get them resolved pretty quickly.

I would say that Veepal’s team, as they get to know the people, I think the communication improves and we can address issues a little faster. It’s getting better; we’ve only been working together for a little over a year and there has been significant improvement.   

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

Veepal is very responsible at getting back to us quickly and communicating regularly throughout the projects. Communication is the most important part of our relationship because were not co-located, so communication is the only way for us to successfully run projects together. I value that above everything else and Veepal makes sure that happens as smoothly as possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We’re a company located in Fort Collins, Colo., and we write reservation and management software for the outdoor industry.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I’m the president of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Veepal IT?

We needed someone to do some code optimization for us, as well as get some reports written. Subsequent to that, we wanted to do some updates to our online reservation interface, the user interface. Also, we wanted to create a responsive design. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

I had them do some SSRS [SQL server reporting services] reports, and I had him update our code so it would be tablet and phone compatible. Our code was getting slow and sluggish in time as we added to it. The source code needed to be reviewed and optimized so it would perform more efficiently. They excelled [at] optimizing the code and doing the responsive design. Now, we’re updating one of our reservation modules, so they are adding new features for me. We’re probably about 60 percent through that project, so I haven’t seen the outcome of that and won’t for about four weeks. I’m confident that will come in fairly bug free and according to specs.

What was your process for selecting Veepal IT with which to work?

We found them on the Internet and had a number of email conversations with them, [and] then phone conversations. I gave them a small project to see how well they would perform. In the end, we felt they were a right fit for us. 

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

A little less than $15,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

When did you start working with them?

We started working with them around February of 2013. The relationship is still ongoing.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

The optimization and the responsive design work were done very well. Their company knows how to resolve issues and ask questions when necessary. Additionally, they are good at meeting deadlines. When you outsource, that doesn’t always happen.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies?

They have great communication and are punctual about meeting deadlines. Additionally, their company is very fair on pricing and adheres to the original estimates.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

I think it would be a real strength for their company if they would take some of their senior coders and make them mentors to the younger ones. I think their company could move a lot faster and more efficiently. They could have people on board that could get the projects done very efficiently.