Volanto

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a small company providing logistics services for customers in the exporting industry. We have a four-person in-house team and also work with seven collaborators.

I am the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Volanto?

We needed better optimization. Our business processes are quite complex, so we had problems with communication. We only collaborate with around 20 companies, acting as an outsourced export department for them, but we weren't receiving sufficient information from them. We needed a CMS [content management system] for optimizing these relationships. Our second challenge was the optimization of transport. We set up routes across countries, which requires a lot of information before a customer receives a package.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a concept around how we needed to solve our problem. Volanto handled everything on the programming side, including the preliminary cost analysis. Volanto also provided ongoing support. Our project was built using JavaScript.

How did you come to work with Volanto?

We researched 10 companies in our area, comparing their services. Communication was essential since IT projects are far removed from our business. We needed a partner who could translate questions into our language. It was easy to collaborate with Volanto in this respect.

How much have you invested with Volanto?

The cost of Volanto's services was around $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Volanto in October 2013. The project was completed in January 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most important thing for me was to maintain a timetable. We checked our progress constantly and planned for the next month. The collaboration was very good, and any delays were mainly on our side. The work was up to our standards.

How did Volanto perform from a project management standpoint?

We worked with two of Volanto's project managers. We complained about our first contact, and that person was changed as a result. After that, the collaboration was much better. Some companies don't have any response even after a customer complains, but Volanto was receptive to our feedback.

What did you find most impressive about Volanto?

Volanto's cost was much better than their competition, which was a big advantage for us.

In the beginning, we were mainly looking for a solution for our problem. Volanto was flexible in choosing the technology for our software and explained why one option was better than another in terms of usability and cost. As opposed to other companies we looked at, Volanto wanted to work with us in solving our problem rather than sticking to one technology or approach. They presented a number of options, which was perfect for us.

Are there any areas Volanto could improve?

The ongoing support services could be improved. We have a single IT resource, and we don't have a lot of experience in the field, so we would have appreciated it if Volanto has given us more information and advice about what we should expect after the production phase ended.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a startup in the online assessment business, providing a software-as-a-service platform. I am the chief executive officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Volanto?

When we initially started, it was much easier for us to outsource programming to a software house than to individual coders.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Volanto developed the backend and frontend of our web application using Java. Volanto also offered design work in the beginning, but we switched to our own designer after a couple of months.

How did you come to work with Volanto?

Volanto was recommended to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Volanto in November 2014. We are ending the collaboration at the end of Q1 2017 as we started using our own full-time team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product we designed is successful. Volanto delivered a product in compliance with what we agreed upon, on schedule, and with good quality of code.

How did Volanto perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management wasn't ideal, but we figured out a satisfying process for both of our parties.

What did you find most impressive about Volanto?

Volanto is quite lean and flexible, making it easy for us to implement changes.

Are there any areas Volanto could improve?

Volanto should make time estimates more accurately.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a direct-to-consumer company of custom home decor brands, focusing primarily on window draperies and shades. I am the founder and chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Volanto?

We did not have a web presence when we started off. Volanto helped us build on Shopify our online store, and set up the backend and checkout.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shopify is a pretty neat way to get any online store started, and Volanto helped us with the entire set up. Volanto helped customize the templates based on the designs we offered and set it up completely from the time the user comes to our store, to the time they place an order and checkout. The good thing is that Shopify offers these templates, the backend is hosted on Shopify, and they offer checkout.

How did you come to work with Volanto?

We found Volanto on Behance. They were the first development firm we had worked with. Their team is pretty strong and had already worked with other e-commerce brands in the past. They also understood the e-commerce phase pretty well, so we felt comfortable giving the project to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started at the end of 2014 and worked with them for around 7 or 8 months. The work is now completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I appreciated the speed it took them to get things done and the quality of the work. When we would review the requirements of a new feature or design, they quickly developed and put it up on the online store’s website.

How did Volanto perform from a project management standpoint?

We are based in the US but they are remote from the US, so time management and communication could have been a little bit quicker.

What did you find most impressive about Volanto?

They are very dedicated as well as customer service-oriented. They believed in creating a good relationship rather than getting it done, moving out, and not being in touch. The team delivers quality work, making them a good team overall.

Are there any areas Volanto could improve?

Their front-end specific skills could be better. Bringing in more front-end experienced developers would be a big addition to their existing team. Other than that, I really cannot think of anything else that comes up as an obstacle for companies of our size, especially when you are getting started.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a marketing and advertising platform. We have identified what we believe to be a niche in the field. It can be a benefit not only to the consumer base, saving modest amounts of money, but can also allow us to provide our platform at no charge to the business base. In doing so, we can be very selective about whom we want to put on the platform, only going after highly-rated businesses. I am a co-owner and partner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Volanto?

We needed to have a mobile app and website built. Specifically, our users will eventually have access to a wide range of features on our app. We wanted to ensure that we went with a high-quality company with a complete team in place for iOS, Android, and web design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Volanto has built a real-time tracking map for our Android and iOS apps; businesses showing up on our platform are displayed by proximity. We have Facebook integration, allowing our consumer base to voluntarily share restaurants, retail stores, and service companies they've visited or are currently visiting. Users also have the ability to see the same information from their friends. We have built-in statistics allowing people to see how much they've spent by date, by category, and by individual business. Savings continue to accumulate as people keep using the app.

We've recently finished our tiered discounts phase. Initially, we only intended to offer 10% discounts for customers but we’ve now enabled companies to modify their discount rates. This is helpful when they need to bring in more consumers, allowing them to offer inflated discounts as an added incentive.

On the backend, we had Volanto build out a dynamic set of statistics for the business owner/general manager to use. They can consume this data for enhanced knowledge of the Ddukt consumer base.

How did you come to work with Volanto? 

Volanto came highly recommended. We found Volanto through an associate of my business partner's. I took a trip out to Poland and visited their team and Volanto's owners. During a face-to-face meeting, we laid out what we wanted to achieve and offered some example platforms. We also provided good documentation around what we wanted the product to be and what we intend for it to become.

How much have you invested with Volanto?

The cost of our project with Volanto is in excess of $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Volanto in June 2015. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The original scope has been completed and our apps are fully functional at the moment. The easiest way to sign up on our platform is via Facebook or Twitter, but users can also create accounts through their email addresses. We have 2 more phases of development left, consisting of additional aspects that were initially left out. Taking small steps has been a wise decision.

We went to Volanto with most of our concepts in mind, but they were pivotal in providing constructive feedback. They further enhanced our ideas and opened our minds to new and better concepts that fit our business model. Many of the additions we've made to the initial development were by way of Volanto's influence, which we’ve appreciated. As we have only released our platform on a limited basis, we do not yet have any relevant statistics, as far as Volanto's impact on our business. We plan to fully launch in the spring.

How did Volanto perform from a project management standpoint?

Items being lost in translation was a big potential challenge, but Volanto has assigned very good project managers to us. This has helped to overcome any language barriers. Considering what we knew going into this collaboration, in terms of language barriers and so on, we've been able to overcome every challenge. Volanto has assigned the right people in order to mitigate any potential delays in putting out our product.

What did you find most impressive about Volanto?

This is our first app development project, so we don't have a lot of experience in the field. From a client perspective, we've been extremely pleased with the assets Volanto has under one roof, whether they are designers or coders. If a resource isn't available, Volanto hasn't been shy in obtaining outside help.

Are there any areas Volanto could improve?

There isn't anything I could say at the moment, but I'll know more in 2 to 3 months when the next phases are expected to be complete. We have had some dynamic statistics and logical items that needed mending, but this is being worked on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a creative agency designing and developing web and mobile apps. I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Volanto?

We were working with a startup in New York City that had a $30,000 budget for building a prototype. I reached out to Volanto because of our budget limitation. There was no way in which we could have done the same work in the United States with a domestic supplier. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Volanto was hired for the iOS development of our solution. It's a charity application with an interface similar to Instagram but, when tapping on an image, instead of sending a 'like', users send 1 cent to the person who posted the image. It is meant to help out students working through college, who have unforeseen expenses.

We worked with one iOS developer and a project manager from Volanto. We handled the design and functional specifications. Volanto was also involved in other projects at the presale level, helping me answer technical questions and create estimates.

How did you come to work with Volanto?

I was referred to Volanto by a friend who owns a software development company and had used them on a few projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Volanto in July 2015 during a 6- to 8-month period that concluded in December. I am starting a development office in Brazil, but I would work with Volanto again. They're the best company I've found during the last 5 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Volanto was able to follow our scrum project methodology correctly. The team's English was impeccable, allowing me to have conversations at the same level as with someone in the U.S.

Our developer was good technically, having a good understanding of Objective-C. Sometimes, designs can't be implemented in a functional way, but Volanto's developer helped us find solutions and make adjustments when necessary.

How did Volanto perform from a project management standpoint?

On the project management end, Volanto was amazing. I felt at ease, which made the client feel at ease as well.

Volanto delivered within budget and on time almost every time. Any delays were communicated in advance, so there were no surprises. Following a Scrum methodology allowed us to be more flexible. Especially in the case of startups, clients can change their minds in terms of features to be implemented. We were able to reassess the most important features on a weekly basis, sticking to our timeline and budget. When something was out of scope, Volanto worked with us in creating new specs. We used Basecamp for tracking the project.

What did you find most impressive about Volanto?

Language skills were important. I've worked with companies based in India. Even though they spoke English, I could only convey 80 percent of what I wanted to say via spoken language. Cultural and technological differences played a role in those cases. Volanto was more aware of the American culture, so we didn't need to create 10-page emails explaining to them how to switch a text box with a checkbox. Volanto has a vast amount of technical expertise, so they were able to answer questions we had in areas other than mobile.

The time difference between New York and Poland was acceptable, compared to that between India and us, for example. This made Volanto practical to work with.

Are there any areas Volanto could improve?

Volanto could work on selling its services better, but there isn't anything besides this. I enjoyed working with Volanto. We each assumed our responsibilities, working with detailed designs and specifications.