Visla

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an activities focused hospitality brand based in San Francisco.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VISLA?

We needed to build a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

VISLA developed our WordPress website from scratch. I gave them mockups and designs for their team to copy. The website’s in beta and the content’s being populated, so it’s not fully functional yet. Their team still makes tweaks.

What is the team composition?

I interacted with two people at VISLA: the CEO and one other person from their team.

How did you come to work with VISLA?

A previous business partner referred us to VISLA. He knows more about technology than I do, so we recruited their team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in June 2019, and their team delivered a final version in November 2019. Had I been more responsive, the site could’ve been done sooner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team built the website according to my requirements. The product seems to be working well. VISLA was reasonable and responsive to changes, so I enjoyed working with their team.

How did VISLA perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated through email and they did well. Their team wanted us to use Slack, which I didn’t want to use. That prevented us from going back and forth. We ended up having a long email chain that became hard to manage over time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They stuck to their bid price. Their team was super reasonable with any changes. After I explained what I wanted to do, they provided a variety of different options rather than offering the most expensive plan like other vendors. The price variation between VISLA and other service providers was substantial.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there are any major points for improvement. The email chain was a challenge but there are challenges in any engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I was not super responsive via email at times and that impacted the project’s timing. Keep it moving on your end and VISLA will do the same.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director and owner of a company that provides software solutions for the transport, warehousing, and logistics industries. We’ve been in business since 1991.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VISLA?

What we were looking for was a partner to help us with the development of an Android app that would capture real-time deliveries at the last-mile point of delivery.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

There were two major components to the project. They handled the frontend design and development of the application themselves, building the entire thing from the ground up. Then there was the integration with our existing backend transport management system, which is where we took the lead and they helped us with some of that work.

From the beginning, we gave them full specifications for what we wanted, but from there we worked collaboratively with them to enhance those specifications. We were able to utilize their expertise in our back and forth over improvements to the overall end product.

What is the team composition?

We engaged between 4–6 people from their team. Some of those people had a UI/UX background, as well as several of their senior management and a few developers. The cross-functional group that they brought allowed us to really get a diverse set of perspectives that led to a really great product in the end.

How did you come to work with VISLA?

We did a lot of research across companies in a lot of different countries, but from the beginning of our interactions with VISLA they stood out from the pack. We knew right away that we had found a partner that we could work with effectively and really trust.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from about August 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The finished product has been exceptionally beneficial, not only to us but to our end customers. It is extremely stable, which is incredibly important when you have close to 1,000 drivers relying on it, and because of how user-friendly it is, anybody can pick it up, so we haven’t had to invest in training people to use it either.

How did VISLA perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, we had to collaborate fairly significantly in order to smoothly integrate the front- and backends, and they handled that quite well. We were in constant communication with them, and I actually went over to visit their office to get a better understanding of their team and their style of work.

They made it clear from the beginning how they would work, and they stuck to that commitment throughout the project. The majority of our communication was over Skype, both calls and texts, and they used a variety of collaboration tools that helped us track and share mockups of various aspects of the software during the development.

What did you find most impressive about them?

VISLA has a great ability to gain a clear understanding of the client’s requirements and then hit the ground running.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They have handled the project well, even through staff changes, and we are very happy with the entire experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you fully explain your specifications from the outset. They will build exactly what you ask for, so as long as you make sure you explain clearly, then you can relax knowing VISLA will deliver results for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a startup software company. We focus mostly on mobile applications. Beginning product development early in 2019, our primary product is a mapping service platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VISLA?

I had the concept of the app, but I don’t have any software development skills. We needed to put together an MVP for our mapping platform, so we brought in VISLA.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, I decided to test their skills on a three-week project. In that time, they produced a very rudimentary app for me. I could tell that they were able to accomplish the tasks I would be assigned to them throughout the development. So, we decided to continue working on the MVP together. The overall goal was to create the iOS app for launch in the App Store. That involved programming in ArcGIS Runtime SDK, because the app is centered around mapping.

In addition to the development, one of their co-founders is also a design lead with talent and a strong design aesthetic. He created clean, clear designs and much of the original artwork for the platform. That appealed to us throughout the build.

Now, I’m still in contact with their team at least weekly. At this point, they’re making small changes to the app as I begin pitching it to investors. After I recieve feedback, we’ll likely start up another sprint with them.  

What is the team composition?

I worked extensively with Eric (Co-Founder, VISLA) and Andrew (Co-Founder, VISLA). They had developers working under them on our account. There were about four developers in total. 

How did you come to work with VISLA?

I started by doing some online research, using Clutch as a resource. I came up with a shortlist of potential vendors using Clutch and other sites. I was interested in working with a Polish company, so I narrowed my search that way. In total, I considered about 10 companies, interviewing each of them. 

I had a great interaction with VISLA, and they seemed like the right-sized company for my business. After seeing that they solved similar problems for other companies, I decided to hire them. They seemed to have a combination of everything I was looking for in a vendor. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $35,000 CAD (approximately $27,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted between February–November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We recently launched the app. At this point, it’s primarily serving Ontario, Canada because the app is very geographically focused. Within that pilot area, users have indicated that they appreciated certain features, finding value in the product. The feedback has been great so far.

How did VISLA perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great project managers. While we sometimes struggle with the six-hour difference in timezone, I understand they’ll always get back to me in a reasonable amount of time. They’re very flexible, responding to emails late at night to accommodate our schedules. Their responsiveness was remarkable. Their team was also willing to provide me with advice on how to best manage my tight budget, helping me get the most out of the partnership.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They went above and beyond until the very end. Wanting to showcase my app on their website as a case study, Eric created tons of additional artwork to bolster the information on their website. He offered that artwork as a gift to me, allowing me to use it in my presentation slides to potential investors. I would’ve spent $500 on that design work somewhere else, but he was willing to share that with me free of charge. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was some difficulty mid-project when some of their developers moved on to other positions. Their new senior developer had to then get up to speed on the work, which took some time. There were also several national holidays in this time, so things got a little hectic with our project. While this was outside their control, it was a frustrating time because our project was at a standstill. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As someone who’s never developed an app before, their ability to show me the ropes of development and best communication methods was appreciated. The engagement was just as good as I anticipated.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Apt. App, a web and mobile platform that enables residents to communicate with their neighbors, property staff, and surrounding community.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VISLA?

Our technical team was in a state of transition because we were working with another development company that got acquired. We now rely on VISLA for all of our development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

VISLA is currently building out our mobile and web apps. They also monitor the apps for any bugs or technical issues that might arise. While we provide all of the wireframing and strategy, they code these out for us. In the all-encompassing software solution they’ve created, VISLA has brought our business ideas to life.

While the app has many core functionalities, our most well-known feature is our anonymous neighbor notification. Apartment residents are able to anonymously notify their neighbors if they experience a common disturbance. The app also boasts a robust reporting capacity. Users are able to pool reports to see different analytics for how each feature is being used.

What is the team composition?

The founder of their company serves as our project manager. We work with their founding team which consists of three members.

How did you come to work with VISLA?

They were recommended by the previous company that we were working with.

How much have you invested with them?

We just got started, so we’ve only spent around $15,000, but this number will rise as time goes on.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2019, and I suspect that our engagement will be a long one.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since our collaboration is still in its very early stages, I don’t have any strong statistics on hand. I can speak to how communicative and responsive they are, which has been impressive given their remote location. If we experience any issue, they’re right on top of it for us. They’ll often still be working, even past their midnight. On top of that, they’re very attentive and detail-oriented.

How did VISLA perform from a project management standpoint?

They excel at project management. They’ll set out different workflows and roadmaps for us, and keep us constantly updated. We used emails, weekly phone calls, and Skype for communication, and Trello and Google Sheets to keep track of project progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail and their ability to communicate have both blown me away. They’ve exceeded our expectations with those two things. We look forward to seeing more as we continue our fairly-new relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner and co-owner of La Millou. We manufacture luxurious baby blankets, linen, soft toys and children's accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VISLA?

We hired VISLA to revamp our e-commerce website, especially the mobile version.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to increase conversion rates and improve the aesthetics of our web service.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our IT consultant recommended them. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

After identifying major bottlenecks in the customer acquisition and selling process, they redesigned and redeveloped our web service. 

What was the team composition?

We worked with five people from their team, which included a project manager, UX designers, and software developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Their work has had a very good impact on our business. Conversion rates increased immediately within the first six months after launch, with our mobile conversion rates nearly tripling within the first year.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

VISLA gained good insight into our business relatively quickly and managed the project very well. Our project manager was responsive and attentive. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

VISLA demonstrated an impressive understanding of aesthetics, UX, and our company.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

Though the end results were fantastic, there were occasions in the middle of the project when we did not feel well informed. To be fair, we did not have much time for meetings, but there is room for improvement in their progress reporting.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and technical architect of an app media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire VISLA?

We hired VISLA to build an iOS and Android streaming media app.

What were your goals for this project?

Our MVP had to be done within a quick time frame for a possible round of investments.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were referred to me by another business owner who I trust.

Describe the project in detail.

We did the logical design and passed over layered .PSD files. The VISLA team then got to work. After 2–3 weeks, we started having regular meetings to review and refine their output.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a manager and a developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within two months, we went from concept to published in the app stores. They delivered ahead of schedule and within our budget.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was excellent. We used a Slack channel.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Initially, Andrew (Developer & Co-Founder, VISLA) helped me for free. He showed me he could help me by actually helping me.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I had a perfect experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a founding partner of 1043 Labs, a high-end software development and consultancy shop focused mostly on high-speed software, backend big-data products, analytics, etc. Our clients consume and process a lot of data (e.g., social media, transactional).

We handle the architecture, implementation, and development before continuing with consultation on big-data analytic platforms. We also have experience with software as a service (SaaS) for applications we’ve done for our clients. We usually focus on the web interface within those applications, so there’s a lot of API and web development involved.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VISLA?

We have more of a partnership with VISLA rather than a client/vendor relationship. Our teams specialize in different areas, so we’re able to collaborate to enhance our overall abilities around software consultancy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One of our clients needed a mobile app, so we leveraged VISLA’s expertise in this area. We developed the API layer and then handed it over to them to build the mobile app on top of it. They’re very proficient with overlaying mobile applications (e.g., iOS, Android) on top of interfaces.

We’ve also worked with them on some web development projects, but we haven’t really had a chance to see them in action since our firms overlap in this particular area. They’ve helped us design our company’s website and we’re engaging in a new project with them now. They’re taking over a web app that we did and doing a redesign. They’re using a typical web app stack technology.

What is the team composition?

They’re split up into three teams with separate disciplines: mobile app development, web development, and design. There are two managing partners who oversee all the projects. They don’t funnel communication through a single point of contact. Instead, they expose their team to our team, which is really good. We work directly with their team members.

How did you come to work with VISLA?

We had a client who brought them in for another project, so we didn’t actually find them. They were brought to us.

What is the status of the engagement?

We started working with them in June 2017 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have any hard metrics, but I can say that we’ve garnered clients who I don’t think we would’ve been able to without a full suite of services. They allow us to offer a more complete solution to our clients and we continue to find more areas that they’re able to help us in.

How did VISLA perform from a project management standpoint?

Their output is extremely well-documented. We’ve used inVision, Sketch, and the whole suite of Adobe tools. They use all modern technology. They’re generally pretty good at estimating, scoping, and staying on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their work culture is very much like companies in the U.S. Their communication skills are great and they take pride in their work. You can sense that they care about every project they undertake because they put so much detail into everything. I’ve managed offshore, remote teams in the past, but VISLA stands out in terms of both communication and flexibility. The time zone difference doesn’t cause us any problems. Their technical prowess is top-tier.

They’re also very good at writing clean code. They’re probably one of the best design firms I’ve ever worked with. They’ve been able to help us with mobile apps, website design, marketing, branding, and creating color palettes. The content they produce is phenomenal and they’re honest if they think a design is bad. Many designers will just do whatever their client wants, but VISLA isn’t afraid to push back when they disagree.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any suggestions for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of ShareRocket, a software as a service [SaaS] company that creates ratings for media companies. We measure their social activity and then value it for advertising or internet business metrics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Visla?

We needed a partner to design a digital product and develop a native iOS app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We actively collaborate together on a UI/UX design and product development on a web platform. They’re helping develop a native iOS app from scratch, integrating with both Dynamo and our API. We work on the projects together, but Visla mainly does the design and programming.

What is the team dynamic?

We work with team leads, depending on the project and its phase. Visla has a design, app, and web platform lead we’ve worked with.

How did you come to work with Visla?

I worked with one of the team members when they were at a different company, so I knew I could trust them. We have a U.S.-based development company that does our big data, architecture, and software development, but we wanted a firm that specialized in UI/UX and app dev, so we chose Visla.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January of this year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just did a soft launch for the app, and we’ve received excellent feedback on its design and usability. Our other project is still in progress, but Visla hasn’t missed any deadlines for it.

How did Visla perform from a project management standpoint?

They're offshores, so we have 1–2 project meetings a week to stay on the same page. We also use Envision to share design work and Slack for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re responsive and their design and usability are great. I've worked with lots of organizations in this field, and Visla is one of the best. They’re easy to work with, accommodating, and integrate well with existing developers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve met all our deadlines, but it would be nice if they were a bit clearer on the progress of their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're highly experienced, so trust that they’ll do great work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work as a ground safety officer for an airline. We fly transatlantic connections between Ireland and the United States and short-haul flights within Europe. I look after safety and ground operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with VISLA?

We were developing an app to enable loading crews based in American stations to communicate with centralized load control in Warsaw. We have our own web developers who work on our website and programmers who work on our own company booking app, but they didn’t have the free time to work on this app as well. We had to outsource the work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We produced the graphic design and examples of what we would like to see on each screen of the app. It was very difficult to express what we wanted the developers to build. We flew them into our head office in Dublin to show them the operation and explain how it works and why we need the app there. They saw what the app is supposed to do.

They developed our iOS and Android app. They programmed it from top to bottom. It’s quite a critical app. We’ve got doubled and tripled systems that are very important components in our login communication for the aircraft loading.

The app collects the data from baggage loading at each of our 12 American stations, including how many tons of freight are in a particular position in the aircraft. It then sends it to centralized load control, which does performance calculations for the aircraft to be able to fly based on the load. An aircraft behaves roughly like a seesaw. If you load all the baggage in the nose, it will dive. If you load all the baggage in the back, it will constantly go up. It’s important to transmit an accurate loading pattern so the aircraft stabilator can compensate accordingly.

It’s a standalone system. We wanted it that way at this stage. In aviation, we like independent systems because of security and other aspects. They host the backend of the app on their own server. We continue to receive support for the apps.

What is the team dynamic?

Artur [Co-founder, VISLA] and Andrzej [Co-founder, VISLA] were assigned to our project. On our side were me, my colleague, and my boss. They did development and testing, and we did the graphic design on our side.

How did you come to work with VISLA?

We started to ask around for some reputable programmers and we came across VISLA. They offered very good value for money and had quick development speed. It was easy to contact them, and they were quick to respond. We looked at a couple of providers, but VISLA seemed like the most feasible team.

How much have you invested with them?

The initial development was €3,000 [$3,558 USD], plus the support and hosting package.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June of last year, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There have been no loading errors from the moment we launched to now.

How did VISLA perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. They implemented any feedback or changes that we came up within days, not weeks. That was a pleasant surprise after dealing with our own internal IT.

We communicated via phone and email mainly. We’ve met with them in Warsaw at some stages as well. It’s easier for us to get face-to-face time since we’re an airline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They respond quickly and deliver quickly. It was done in 1 ½–2 weeks.

Are there any areas they could improve?

From our point of view, there’s not much they could have done better.

Our flights to America are during the nighttime in Warsaw. We’d prefer to have someone in Warsaw monitoring the emergency phone in case of any malfunctions, but there have been none so far. We have a support phone number where our guys can leave a message to report any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We were happy with what we received from VISLA. It helps to have someone who speaks Polish. They do speak English, but it’s probably easier to communicate in Polish. My boss and my colleague are Irish and don’t have any problems communicating with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an IT startup that’s developing a fitness app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Visla?

We needed the dev help to build an Android, iOS, and web version of our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

On all three versions of the app, a user can plan workout routines, access an exercise database and analytics, and purchase workouts that the app guides you through. We decided to gamify the app, so there are training points and monthly goals, as well.

Visla was our main technical partner; we only used their software developers. We hired another firm to design the user experience and wireframes, and then Visla implemented them. However, we invited the Visla team to give their input and offer suggestions for any improvements on the features they were developing. It worked out well, and a lot of the innovations for our app came from Visla.

What is the team dynamic?

At the most, we had five software developers. Now, with developing wrapping up, we only have three. There was no project manager, so I was deeply involved in the dev process.

How did you come to work with Visla?

I’d worked with the CEO of Visla before, and it went really well. When this startup began, I looked into Visla and another company, but we ultimately chose Visla because they had the best developers for our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began last October.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our app is in the Play Store, but we’re not doing any marketing yet, and we still have test users. We did interviews with them, and they offered some insightful changes that we decided to make. Overall, the quality of the app is really good; it almost never crashes or has bugs.

How did Visla perform from a project management standpoint?

They didn’t do project management, but they managed their employees well. For example, a developer left in the middle of our project, but they quickly replaced him without running into any timeline issues.

Their team is responsive and knows the technology well. We mainly use Slack and Skype to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been in this field for over 20 years, and Visla’s developers are some of the best I’ve ever worked with. They not only implement the features asked for, but they create code that is maintainable and well-structured. Their developers take personal responsibility for their work, making it high-quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because they’re so small, even one developer leaving can cause workflow issues. It would be nice to see them reach a certain size so that their workload is manageable.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you don’t live near them, take time to build trust and communication by going to their office and meeting with them. You could even work with them in-person for a week or so.