Ventuso LLC

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ventuso?

We needed to scale up our software development, for both Android and iOS mobile applications. We also had quite a bit of backend, web service work that we needed to be done as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our solution automates the process of having to ask for the WiFi password at a friend’s house or restaurant, and then connecting. After you’ve connected through the app, the business can send you promotions and deals via a messaging component.

There are four different aspects to our solution. Ventuso has worked on the Android and iOS apps, and the server-side, backend web services. They’ve also done some web portal, HTML development for us. They act strictly as a code-writing shop. Further, they created a feature that will unlock buildings and garage gates that we’re considering integrating into the app, as well as a couple of other extra features.

What is the team composition?

We have a project manager, here in the U.S., that handles all communication with the development team in Vietnam. I had some direct communication with them in the beginning but not anymore.

How did you come to work with Ventuso?

I worked with their founder, who is now a partner in my company, about 15 years ago. They were pretty cost-effective, so we went with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since August 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

If we were to hire six people from the United States, to do the work that they've done, it would cost us 10x more. They’ve given us huge cost savings.

How did Ventuso perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate by email and phone, but that’s all done through the project manager. They turn around fixes within one or two days and produce features pretty quickly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They turn things around fast and they’re high-integrity people. They’ve been very honest and forthcoming with us, and haven’t pulled any shady deals or anything. They’ve been really good to work with. They’re very economical and they’re doing the right things to be successful and grow their business.

They’re also really good at iterating with us. With a startup and a brand-new product, you try things and prototype them up, but then you realize that it’s not going to work like you that. We’d send Ventuso a list of things to build and then get them back in pretty short intervals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

QA is probably one of their weakest points. It's questionable whether the software had been tested before it left the shop. A lot of the testing primarily gets pushed back on us. They do pick the problems off, but, unfortunately, the problems make it to me. That's one area that we've been trying to work with them on. It’s just a fact of the type of the business they are: they write code but don’t necessarily test it. I don’t really want to ding them on it, but they’re testing process is pretty lackluster currently.

Any advice for potential customers?

I don’t have any complaints with the guys. They've been great to work with and are a high-integrity bunch of people. They're very honest, and quick, and I like working with them. I really don't want to ever move away from them. Other than really try to define your QA process and expectations with them up front, I can’t say anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO of a small cruise ship company. We serve a number of locations primarily in Southeast Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Panama.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ventuso?

Four years ago, we moved to a new reservation system that presented challenges with our call center. Phone representatives would first make a sale and then conduct follow up calls to gather additional information for emergency contacts, food allergies, and payments. These sessions took an inordinate amount of time because the representative had to verify passport numbers before initiating the main conversation; this time wasn’t well-spent because the sale already occurred.

Consequently, we needed an efficient online system for guests to enter this slew of information, which we could then scrub and input into our reservation system. Since the original system was designed for internal use, we needed a user-friendly interface for customers. Ventuso also had to write API interchanges to enable transmissions between the guest portal and reservation system, which needed to interface with our credit card gateway. We wanted a visually pleasing look and feel, as well as a good flow.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project had several phases and involved multiple third-parties in addition to Ventuso. We collaborated extensively on design; our team – the marketing department and design group – supplied the logos and other artwork. Ventuso then formulated ideas based on our in-house work. After design, we worked on verifying and offloading third-party data – such as customers’ airline information – into the new system. Ventuso implemented privacy and security measures to protect demographic information including height, weight, and shoe size. Next, they built payment integrations and a third-party credit card gateway, which let customers pay installments via the site.

What is the team composition?

The project manager was our main point of contact. He mostly did the interface with a development team that worked behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Ventuso?

One of the reservation company’s sales associates recommend them as a cost-effective option. We also considered the software company that originally developed our reservation system. Their proposal was complicated and not what we wanted. We chose Ventuso because they had more flexible with their service offerings.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work started in mid-2015 and ended in late 2016. They’ve done support and minor customizations since 2016, but there’s no active work.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site reduced data entry work and streamlined processes, which saved us about 1.5 fixed duration employees (FDE). We were very happy with the site’s performance, UX, and user-friendliness. The site and individual information fields were functional and had only limited temporary issues. Overall, they increased efficiency by helping us adopt current technological trends in the customer service industry.

How did Ventuso perform from a project management standpoint?

They were cost-effective and quick in getting things done. The project manager made communication efficient with him as the only point of contact. Our schedule set frequent calls and email exchanges, which helped when complexities arose due to the number of vendors involved. Ventuso didn’t have any problems collaborating with other organizations or sticking to the project plan.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They completed the project for about 25% of other vendors’ estimates. Ventuso was efficient and easy to work with. Helpfully, the team didn’t allow scope creep or other things that would’ve wasted time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. The narrow scope helped them execute projects successfully.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clear expectations and guidelines helped us achieve our goals in a timely and cost-effective manner. We had a few exchanges during the design stage, but that back and forth is expected with subjective processes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

GEM [Group & Event Management] Software develops software for corporate meetings and events. We have partners in the travel and meetings industries. I am a co-founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ventuso?

We needed to find a development subcontractor for our work with a client. They were running a reservations software, and the follow-up was a time-consuming process for their sales team. They needed to obtain all personal information, determine arrival times, and make sure that clients had all required passports and visas, and so on.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started our work with Ventuso on one particular section of the portal. In order to facilitate the task and eliminate manual follow-up, we proposed the notion of an online portal for people who made reservations. We could send a link that would take them to a secured data-gathering system. Once that was done, the client requested additional functionalities.

How did you come to work with Ventuso?

We found Ventuso through a word-of-mouth reference. My business partner had had experience with Ventuso in the past, and after a quick discussion with them about their past work, we made the decision.

How much have you invested with Ventuso?

This is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Ventuso since April 2015. We're currently in phase three of our development. The customer has been happy, and they've extended the scope.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was happy with Ventuso's ability to get involved directly with the customer, even though they were brought on as a subcontractor. Ventuso jumped right in, participated in design sessions, followed-up questions directly, and was proactive in spotting issues. If elements of our design would have an unwanted impact, Ventuso brought it up to both my and the customer's attention, instead of developing the work as requested and then charging us to fix it. I was very happy with how this was handled.

The customer's website went down at one point, unrelated to Ventuso's work, and our contact from their team was on vacation. Another contact jumped in, diagnosed the issue, and fixed it without charge, even though it wasn't an issue of which Ventuso had a part.

How did Ventuso perform from a project management standpoint?

The only holdups we've had were on the client end. Ventuso's part of the work was done on time and on budget.

What did you find most impressive about Ventuso?

I've liked Ventuso's proactive approach to identifying issues before they became issues. Ventuso was thorough in the analysis portion which preceded coding, saving the customer money.

Are there any areas Ventuso could improve?

Ventuso hasn't given me any reason for dissatisfaction.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Ventuso?

Companies should involve Ventuso in discussions with their own customers. Ventuso is very insightful in making analyses.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are digital agency based in Singapore.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ventuso?

We needed a mobile app and wanted to leverage Ventuso's expertise.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ventuso is engaged in developing a mobile application for one of our projects.

How did you come to work with Ventuso?

Ventuso possesses strong knowledge in areas that we require.

How much have you invested with Ventuso?

Between $10,000 and $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working since early 2016 and have ongoing projects with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that demonstrates their quality of work or impact of the engagement on your company?

Ventuso can meet all technical requirements.

How did Ventuso perform regarding project management specifically?

They have done fairly well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ventuso's technical knowledge of mobile development is remarkable.

Are there any areas Ventuso could improve?

We are an English speaking agency, so communication could be better. Communication via email/Skype was good, though.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a startup company based in Denver, Colorado, focusing on financial education. I am the founder and chief executive officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ventuso?

We were working with a US developer but weren't on the same page business-wise. In short, he wasn't productive, so we let him go and then started looking at what would be best for the company moving forward. I realized that contracting a US company would be too expensive, so I started looking overseas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The biggest task was developing our portal and application. I use gamification as a learning process, and my target audience is bilingual. We teach financial concepts, from basics to the highest levels.

How did you come to work with Ventuso?

I have a developer friend who had worked with outsourcing companies in Vietnam. He recommended that I should look for a company in that area, rather than India. I used a US consultant in order to make sure that the proposals I sent to the candidates would be detailed enough. I started getting quotes left and right from different vendors overseas, not just from Vietnam, but from Russia, Romania, India, and so on.

Based on the appeal of Ventuso's website and the fact that they have a representative in Texas whom I could meet and talk to in person, I decided to choose them. Based on the email exchanges I had with other companies in Vietnam, I found Ventuso to be the right fit for the business.

How much have you invested with Ventuso?

Ventuso gave me a fair price, compared to the work done and with other quotes I received from Vietnamese companies. Ventuso not only told me what the cost would be but also gave me full details of what the project would entail. There were cheaper alternatives, but I picked Ventuso because they understood what they were doing and really cared about the customer. The exact figure is confidential, though.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Ventuso in July 2016. The project is ongoing, and I plan to launch the platform by the end of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a small ship adventure cruising company which sends people to various parts of the world for one-week trips. I am the Salesforce program manager for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ventuso?

We have a need for managing customer information, which is why we've hired Ventuso. We have Salesforce and reservation systems in our company. The two of them can speak together, but we also need to prepare manifests for our passengers. We needed a web passenger portal that would allow easier access from clients themselves as well as from travel agents and enable them to enter personal information which would then be used by our staff. We could know beforehand about any special meals, suit sizes for outfitting, and so on. We wanted an easy-to- use solution that would span both of our existing systems.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ventuso built our platform, also integrating it with a flight segments API. We're adding more functionality in order to make it easier for passengers to provide information.

How did you come to work with Ventuso?

We came to them through a consultant who had worked with our company and had used Ventuso. They have a good relationship, and we determined that Ventuso would be a reasonable company to work with, based on our conversation. We didn't have a selection process per se.

How much have you invested with Ventuso?

The cost of Ventuso's services has been less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Ventuso in April 2015. We've undergone specific projects but maintain a support relationship with Ventuso at this time. When certain items come up with the system, they're able to assist us. It's a sensitive system, and we lack technical capabilities locally.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't kept metrics, but the software has been an extreme time-saver for our company and passengers, bringing a 75% reduction by my estimate. Our previous solution was not data-driven, but the current one brings up whatever information we require and guides passengers. It took us a few iterations to get the platform to where it needed to be, but our users generally like it. We evaluated it base on how we use the data from the backend in addition to the online presentation.

It took us a few iterations to get the platform to where it needed to be, but our users generally like it. We evaluate it based on how we use the data from the backend rather than what its online presentation is.

How did Ventuso perform from a project management standpoint?

Our main contact from Ventuso was good at keeping track of what was happening, but I was mostly in charge of project management.

What did you find most impressive about Ventuso?

The timeliness of Ventuso's support and follow-up on any questions were amazing, compared to anyone else we've worked with. Ventuso has done the work efficiently, and they're cost- effective. They're there to provide the support that we need and deliver quickly. I wish that other support resources we've used in the past were as responsive as Ventuso.

Are there any areas Ventuso could improve?

Anything we needed to improve has been improved over the course of the collaboration, and I would feel comfortable working with Ventuso again, if any other relevant tasks came up.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Ventuso?

The hardest part of a project is writing out requirements and getting an idea of what you want before engaging the developer. Ventuso is creative on the technical side, but requirements should be clearly-defined. The only times when we had questions were when elements weren't ironed out.