Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
It was a big project and we all underestimated how many hours it would take, not only for building the application but for all the elements we incorporated into it, as well as the website. Ventuso went beyond what I asked for regarding the product, and I'm happy with them.
How did Ventuso perform from a project management standpoint?
The process was not fine and smooth from the beginning. Ventuso assigned me a project manager who struggled a lot with his English, but I understood that I needed to be patient, especially since I'm a foreigner myself and know how hard it can be not to use your native language. I was required to type all the time, which slowed the process down. My project manager eventually stepped up and I encouraged him to talk to me directly, even if he didn't have good English skills. Since then, the process has been great. Ventuso's general project manager is fluent in English, both spoken and written.
What did you find most impressive about Ventuso?
Ventuso's team is willing to work until 1-2 AM, and they made sure to keep me posted on a weekly basis. Ventuso built additional features which were not included in the original requirements without charging me extra, making the final product better than what I submitted. Ventuso went beyond what I was asking for, which showed me the level of care they had. The team is also very friendly, and I was able to have conversations with them about anything.
Are there any areas Ventuso could improve?
My main issues have been with the project manager assigned to me. He doesn't have a lot of experience, but he's been learning.
Ventuso could improve in terms of timing. There were times when they didn't deliver. It's good to keep the client updated but also to stick with the timelines. Postponing by a week doesn't work business-wise, especially if I had to present the work to a client. The quality provided by Ventuso is good, but time is money; I need to sell my idea to people. Ventuso probably needs to add additional staff.
What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Ventuso?
I have a good friend who has seen what Ventuso has built for me and is interested in working with them. I told her that she needs to be patient and not work by percentage achievements (which is what most business schools teach) but rather by deadlines. There is also a language barrier, and other issues may arise. It's hard to collaborate with offshore companies, but Ventuso has given me a level of assurance.
Savings have grown 10 times over. Ventuso’s fast turn-around time, both with bug fixes and new feature development, makes them stand out. Though they could bolster their QA resources and efforts, they are responsive and efficiently handle changing project requirements and scopes.