WEBCASE

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re one of the top 10 real estate agencies in Moscow.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WEBCASE?

We were developing our first website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WEBCASE developed our website from scratch using Django, Python, and Vue.js. They also leveraged different APIs for external web services.

What is the team composition?

I’ve been in contact with Ilya (Founder & CEO) and a project manager. I don’t know what the size of the team is.

How did you come to work with WEBCASE?

I chose WEBCASE because they had a large portfolio. I talked about my project to Ilya, who was very professional. She was able to answer my many questions.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with WEBCASE in July 2018, and the main project took 3–4 months to complete. They still provide ongoing maintenance and support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform WEBCASE developed has allowed us to acquire more leads. We needed to create an accurate map of the metro stations in Moscow, which was very difficult to do, but they managed it. The map they developed allows our users to create filter options.

I’ve been very happy with WEBCASE, so I plan to work with them on another project.

How did WEBCASE perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager is friendly and detail-oriented. We communicate through Skype and Telegram.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed by their speed and effective communication.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. It’s been a great experience.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I’ve recommended them to business partners.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We publish news and information for the retail petroleum market and for filling stations in Belarus. Our main goal is to deliver correct and reliable data to our customers, including market events, analysis, reviews and ratings, and up-to-date price and discount information on fuel and petrol station services. We also serve as a discussion platform where our readers and clients can share their opinions with others. I am a concept idea creator and project owner. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WEBCASE?

Since this was a startup, we needed a good web developer that could bring our ideas to life with our assistance and control. We developed a clear understanding of our needs and some detailed technical instructions. We wanted a product that was complete, fine-tuned, user-friendly, and innovative.

What were your goals for this project?

Before we launched our project, there were no complex information and media solutions in Belarus that focused on the retail petrol station business. Some journalists wrote articles on the problem, some media published fuel prices, and some people tried to publish an online map of Belarusian filling stations. Meanwhile, people were posting on forums to express their attitudes and share their experience. 

Our principal goals were to connect those people and roll out a unified, convenient platform that could satisfy all parties. We needed to make modern, effective, functionally approved and efficient decisions about how to fulfill it. A lot of design and programming needed to be done.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We used a two-stage procedure to select a vendor. First, we announced an open tender on a special web portal where many web developers sought jobs. After choosing some potential vendors, we began separate negotiation processes to choose a winner. 

Our project generated real interest among developers, so we got 25 or 30 applications in the first round and conducted negotiations with the five companies that had the best propositions. WEBCASE was one of these. Our main selection factors were terms, experience, cost, a portfolio from previous jobs, and initial realization propositions. 

We selected a winner collectively. Employees responsible for the commercial, technical, design, and programming elements discussed the offers and voted on the best one.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

In the beginning, we gave them our technical guidance and project brand book as regulation documents. We agreed to conditions, set terms, and signed papers to get started. 

WEBCASE was responsible for a turnkey contract that included the web design, HTML coding, programming, testing, and initial launch of our server. 

During the development process, we established a proper system of coordination and cooperation. WEBCASE consulted with us to determine how they could better realize some features on our web portal. They suggested solutions and gave us proper recommendations.

What was the team composition?

I don't know exactly how many people from WEBCASE were involved in our project. There were seven or eight people, ranging from executives to responsible officers, depending on the issues we discussed. 

We maintained close contact with our project manager. When we needed consultations between specialists, they connected directly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After launching the project, it took us about four months to get to the top of the Belarus retail petrol filling station business. A bit later we got an invitation to enroll in the governmental petroleum media pool. We're still novices in the market, with a lot of work to do, but our first results were amazing. People read our stories, use our services, and quote us. They like us as a special media resource.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their project management was quite comprehensive, flexible, and responsible. it took both parties some time to work out the proper coordination and speak the same language. But once we had done that, we mostly understood each other. Sometimes they didn't comply with deadlines, but we preferred quality over raw products. We used Skype, email, and Google Tables for communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

WEBCASE was very flexible and sensitive toward clients, so you can make a deal with them.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

We would like them to be more attentive to details and finished results. They shouldn't comply with deadlines in a way that makes quality directly suffer.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of an international dating service. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WEBCASE?

We hired them to create a CRM system our business. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to automatize business processes. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them through an internet search and they seemed the most professional. 

Describe the project in detail.

WEBCASE first initiated a discovery phase to understand the purpose of the project and the functions we required. We worked together to design the UX/UI blueprints. After we approved everything, they developed the system in a span of a year because the system was multi-functional. Their team currently advises on technical issues and creates new features. 

What was the team composition?

We work with one project manager, one designer, and two developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The CRM system automates most of our administrative process and makes our business much more efficient. We take on more business and can handle more tasks at the same time. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our workflow is effective and convenient. They plan new features with us immediately and work quickly to create solutions for our request. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very competitive and exemplify a high level of professionalism. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, there are no areas to improve so far. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m head of management of Nikar, a multinational Cyprus-based company that buys and sells property investments. People will be able to go to our website to check prices for goods they wish to purchase: property, cars, agricultural goods, commodities, services. We compare prices from different sellers and service providers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WEBCASE?

We contacted WEBCASE to develop our website around a year ago. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I believe they used Python for the programming. We explained our idea to them and then they designed the website. We negotiated the design with our partners, after which WEBCASE continued with the actual development. They’re also helping us with some design work for another one of our startups.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with their manager who handles the contract and does a great job.

How did you come to work with WEBCASE?

We didn’t know who to contact at first since we were a startup that didn’t know much about programming or web design. We found WEBCASE on a website for web designers.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $70,000–$75,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December 2016. The website is complete, but we haven’t launched yet because we’re still collecting data. We’re planning to launch in midsummer in Cyprus and Ukraine. We also plan on expanding to the rest of Europe and the U.S. at some point.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have metrics since we haven’t launched the website yet. We’ve tested the product with users and they’ve all been delighted. They did finish the project really quick, which was good for business. Their responsiveness is the most valuable thing about working with them.

How did WEBCASE perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re very happy. They do something immediately when we ask it of them with no problems. Their prices are also ideal. We communicate via Skype since we’re located in both Ukraine, Moscow, and Cyprus. We haven’t had any communication problems since we both speak Russian.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They respond quickly and their delivery is high-quality. They don’t charge us extra and are honest about prices, which is great because you never know how a project is going to evolve. I would recommend them.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no suggestions for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend thorough planning prior to starting the work. If you make changes after starting a project, it might cause delays. Think about what you desire for an end product so that you don’t risk having to alter your schedule.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a director at CARGO-CARDS, which is a freight portal. We bring together shippers and logistics companies, with several categories on the website. We have also tried to create an efficient platform for communication and PR.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WEBCASE?

Our portal is complex on the backend. We needed a highly-skilled team to accomplish our needs in terms of product functionality. This was our first attempt at developing this platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They implemented the project in its entirety, from the design of the layout to server programming and configuration.

We have a convenient system for searching cargo companies, as well as a complex system in place for registered users. There are elaborate rules for data access; some of it is for everyone, while some is for authorized users only.

Their team suggested we use the Django Python framework and so the entire project was done through that.

What is the team dynamic? 

They assigned a layout designer, 3 programmers, and 2 project managers for our work. We mostly used Skype for communication, as well as email.

How did you come to work with WEBCASE?

I found them online after looking for Ukrainian developers. I found several options and conducted negotiations with each of them. It was a difficult and time-consuming task, since there were multiple to choose from, but I think I made the right decision.

How much have you invested with them?

I have spent around $7,000 for this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them during summer 2015. The project lasted a year and a half, followed by a 6-month period for improvements. We have kept in touch with their team but the collaboration is not as sizeable as it was.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We spent the first few months fixing bugs and improving the search system of the portal, making it more convenient for users. All the small features which could be improved were addressed in this process.

We still need a couple of months to truly test the platform, since most of the functionalities have only been tested by myself so far. I am not a quality assurance engineer, but I’ve done this in order to save money. When I found bugs, I made a note of them and they were corrected by them.

How did WEBCASE perform from a project management standpoint?

I dealt with 2 project managers from their team and both were patient with my requests.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did their best to deliver a good product. They are a growing company; I have seen their team develop their skills across the course of our 2 ½-year collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a local moving company providing services in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WebCase?

We’ve been in business for many years, so we know all moving companies have the same ways of communicating with customers. We were previously using Google Sheets to record all of our information, but we needed to have an internal system to streamline the process. We wanted to eliminate the nightmare of having to keep track of all the paper agreements customers signed when we moved them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WebCase built a web-based application that allows us to internally send emails, keep computer files, and notify customers of their upcoming registrations. We’ve started using this app on tablets where customers can sign, pay, and receive a receipt via email.

To access our system, I go online and enter my login and password, then I am able to see all the information about my company, jobs, schedule, trucks, and employees. Everything is in the same place, which is a huge relief for us because we don’t need to use spreadsheets anymore.

We probably spent 4 months developing the system with WebCase, which included a lot of requirements, features, and changes. Everything is working now, and we have access to the application from our cell phones, computers, and tablets.

We’re also using WebCase for some additional projects, including online booking. We have a regular website for the moving company, and our next step is to integrate the system into the website. This will give our customers the option to make reservations, as well as choose dates and payment methods online, instead of calling into the office.

I believe WebCase built our app using Python, and the website was done using WordPress.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked with a project manager who communicated with the rest of the team. I prefer this method because I only have to speak to one person if I have a question, or if I notice an error on the website.

How did you come to work with WebCase?

I decided to look for a company in Ukraine because of cost and the fact that there are a lot of professionals there. I went to freelance.ua, a Ukrainian website for freelancers, and posted the project file. Two or three companies contacted me, and I chose WebCase because of their high rating. We discussed my project needs, and they offered fair prices.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on this system in September 2016, and it went live in November or December 2016. It took about 3 months to get from the first version to product completion, and we’ve made improvements thereafter. It’s been working fine since February 2017, and every month we have a new release, so our work together is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There are two aspects to our project, including Google Analytics for the website and the functionality of the internal system. We pay for GoogleAds already, so using Google Analytics is a bargain for us and helps us focus on our online reputation, which is the most important aspect of our business.

We have a total of 35 employees who’re all using the internal system on their cell phones to check their salaries and job statuses. The movers can also use the app to access the customer’s information when they are sent for a job.

The web app has been working without any issues, and we don’t have any complaints. There are some things we don’t like, but we’ve been working on improvements over the last year, like adding new pictures and removing features.

How did WebCase perform from a project management standpoint?

I can write them a message in the morning, and as soon as they’re in the office, they respond. I’ve never had any problems with their communication or project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re doing well, and I haven’t had any problems with them. They have the same quality of work as US companies, but at lower prices.

Are there any areas they could improve?

My main concern has been the time difference. It’s not a problem for me to wait, but if they want to work with customers in the US, they need to change their shifts or hire people who will work at night so they can immediately reply to questions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

KNOW is a learning, ed-tech platform that allows people to share their knowledge through short videos or text cards called nodes, which are 3 minutes or less, or 300 words or less. I am the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WEBCASE?

We were pivoting the organization towards the concept of nodes and knowledge-sharing, which hadn’t previously existed. We were looking to approach a younger audience, in order to address the lack of attention to detail in which is common nowadays.

The website brief was for something engaging and easy to use, but more complex than a WordPress site. Our target market of Muslim Millennials are savvy web users, familiar with the likes of Dropbox, Google, and YouTube, which are all more polished avenues. If we were to be a viable alternative, we needed a high-end solution which could compete.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WEBCASE built our website using Django Python. I am not an IT person, but I researched the technology and found that it was ideal. It’s dynamic and contemporary, as well as meeting my criteria to build a robust platform. They suggested this technology and told me they were specialists in the field. Big names such as Dropbox and Pinterest using this technology, which gave me confidence as well.

The website they created is complex and feature-rich, with courses and a social network similar to Twitter.

I had requested some branding and app development work since this was the next step for us, but WEBCASE told me that they purely focus on websites, which is understandable.

What is the team dynamic? 

I interacted with two people in particular: a salesperson/project manager (who was the main English speaker) and a developer.

How did you come to work with WEBCASE?

I had been using a number of different companies and decided that I needed to take the project into my own hands. I posted it online on Upwork, and WEBCASE bid for it. The work was quite expensive compared to other groups on that platform, but the main thing for me was finding someone who could actually do the job. I received quotes for $3,000 to $4,000, but I didn’t mind paying extra in order to have confidence in the company.

They were very detailed in their proposal, describing what they would do and how they would do it. That made me realize they knew what they were doing. I had a Skype call with them, and they summed up everything they needed to say in 20 minutes. It was very efficient, and I was genuinely impressed.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, I’ve only paid for the first phase, which was 6,000 altogether [currency not stated]. The next phase will have a separate cost.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with WEBCASE in January or February 2017. They’ve completed the website according to the current phase. The next one is planned, but we’re not at that stage yet.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Looking at the site, it’s clear to see that it’s well-produced and high-quality. The feedback has been unanimously positive from the few people I’ve sent it to. We’ve only had a soft launch to our own list of beta testers.

In terms of metrics, we’ve posted 300–400 pieces of content in a couple of months and have over 100 organic users, without any marketing. The numbers are slow, but that’s because we haven’t launched yet.

How did WEBCASE perform from a project management standpoint?

Their native language is Russian, but there are English speakers in the team, so communication wasn’t too difficult. They are better in written than spoken English, but when we did have to speak, it was fine. A few things could get lost in translation, so we had to paraphrase and be sure to make instructions very clear. For example, there’s a Facebook feature called Instant Articles, by which a user can click on an article and have it come up immediately. This was quite difficult to explain to them, although it’s quite a normal feature here. I’d give them a 7 or 8 out of 10, in this respect.

The time difference wasn’t too bad as they’re only one to two hours ahead of the UK. I often work on weekends, and the project manager did message me regularly on the weekend, but told me that the developers only work during the week. It was good to know that he was available, and I can't hold those working hours against anyone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked on a number of different businesses in the past, and have used other freelancers and companies. With WEBCASE, everything was very smooth. The website had been two years in the making, and they took it on, delivering within three months. Many others had struggled with it but with WEBCASE, I had instant confidence. They were structured in their approach and gave me set deadlines and costs.

Although I had an idea in mind about the site when I began with them, my ideas evolved during the project and they were flexible about that. They incorporated the new work into the base cost, as long as it wasn’t significant. 

The other thing I was most impressed with was that they are solution-focused. It may sound like a cliché, but I’ve worked with many different agencies and wanted to find someone who could take the problem and sort it out. As an example, some of our wireframes and designs were missing, so, when creating a page, WEBCASE offered to simply design those elements themselves.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were a couple of times when the project phase didn’t meet deadlines. The main scope was broken down into milestones, and, instead of finishing in March, it was at the end of April or early May. Some of this was down to me, but it was also down to them. WEBCASE may have underestimated the complexity of certain things.

Do you have any advice for potential clients?

Capability-wise, WEBCASE is a competent group, but the caveat is that I managed them well, whereas someone more hands-off might not have.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of iPass. We provide electronic loyalty cards for companies. After noticing I had an excessive amount of plastic cards, I came up with the idea for the service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WEBCASE?

We needed help developing our web-based app. I didn’t know how to implement my ideas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WEBCASE helped flesh out our ideas by developing and testing our web-based application. We allowed 6 months for the project, but they finished it faster than that. The product is complete, but we haven’t launched it yet because we still need to do some marketing. We are now working on our website.

How did you come to work with WEBCASE?

My colleague found WEBCASE on a freelancing site, and they were the first team we chose. We explained the scope of the project, and after they contacted us, we had some meetings to lay out planning. They gave us a fully working program service.

How much have you invested with them?

$6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from May 2016 to September 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I will have some Google Analytics data in the future, but so far, I’m impressed with WEBCASE’s performance. Their planning, scoping, and development processes are great, and they actually finished the project under budget with time to spare.

How did WEBCASE perform from a project management standpoint?

They responded quickly to my questions, and they were always available via phone or Skype to help with any issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I faced a lot of problems when testing this service, but they were always available to help.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of any areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the internet marketer for a furniture company called Dom Mebeli.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WEBCASE?

We hired WEBCASE to develop our online store.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a ready to use, competitive site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We created a project application that we posted online. After a difficult selection process, we chose WEBCASE.

Describe the project in detail.

Our company has 11 storefronts in the Zaporozhye region, but we wanted to enter the wider Ukrainian market with a good e-commerce site. We wanted the site to be modern, convenient, and adapted for mobile devices.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a designer, marketer, programmer, and project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All our expectations were met. The site was designed according to our preferences, and we were glad to work with WEBCASE.

How effective was the project management?

We were satisfied with the work of the project manager.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

All tasks were performed by the exact set time.