Zitec

I am the VP Operations, Financial Services Company of (a/an) Financial services

Financial services company providing America’s small businesses with working capital

• Track, Analyze, and Process thousands of transactions daily

Online Search, Referral

Great culture fit, Company values aligned

In-Person Meeting, Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

Zitec helped our business migrate from an Excel-based workflow to an application that handles the entire advance approval, customer portfolio management, as well as automated debt collection stages.

• Handle greatly increased volume with same headcount
• Reduce errors in reporting and deal flow

Great team. Worked with us to understand our needs and were able to use their expertise to offer suggestions that we hadn't thought about. Good about relaying their progress and always available to talk to as items came up

Two-fold -First, honest people that genuinely want their customers to succeed. Inquisitive nature to figure out the true problem so that they can help build the best solution for the long-term. Secondly, ability for them to draw upon resources to expand with project. Started out as a CRM project but grew into ERP. They were able to bring people aboard to handle all aspects during our pivot.

N/A

Please describe your company and your position there.

Pegasus Legal Capital is a New York-based financial institution providing settlement advances to cover lawsuit spending for different personal injury cases. I am Alexander Khanas, Principal at Pegasus Legal Capital.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

We started the collaboration by discussing the issues our teams encountered in their day-to-day activity. The purpose was to see how software development and business process automation expertise could digitally transform the business, resulting in lower operating costs and more streamlined and automated processes.

Together, we decided that the initial focus should be on the lead generation and management process, as we were seeing a substantial influx of new leads, and using a generic CRM was no longer a viable option to handle them.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found them through a referral of another similar software model project in California.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We chose Zitec as our partner right from the get-go, because they were able to understand and translate our business needs into practical and engaging software.

Although this was their first interaction with a legal funding company, they realized that this is a very competitive business and that time is our most important asset.

The software that the team continues to develop provides us with more time, efficiency, and agility in the end. One of the projects developed by Zitec is a PHP custom-built platform (known as Orion) which automated the lead intake activities, contract generation, and signing (via digital signatures).

Another functionality is the reporting and decision-making module, supporting managers to act swiftly on real-time information.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Over 10 (designers, developers, managers, etc.)

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

• Lead generation and management data was centralized in a single software application (down from 4 tools)
• Contract generation time was reduced by over 30 times to less than 30 seconds
• The digital signing of contracts increased from less than 10% of all contracts to over 50%. Each contract signed digitally has a turn-around time of several hours vs. several days for paper-based contracts
• By building Orion on top of Microsoft Azure, we were able to comply with new, strict security policies and have a highly available and scalable foundation.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

One goal for the project’s first stage was to build a solid technical foundation that can act as a catalyst for the transition of Pegasus from a financial services company using technology as an add-on to existing processes to a company built around technology, a true FinTech.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We're impressed with their communication skills.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I can't think of anything they need to improve on.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Operations Manager at Narada, a Romanian Social Business based in Bucharest with its mission to democratize the access to education for every child to reach its personal and professional potential.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

Our organization built in house two platforms which are at the core of our mission (hartaedu.ro and naradix.ro), but soon after launching the platforms, the demand we had, outgrew the platforms capacity. At that point, we contracted Zitec to take ownership of our platform's maintenance and future upgrade projects.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Researching the options we had, Zitec proved to be one of the most reliable partners to take care of our platforms and after an interview we had with them, we decided we are going to collaborate. We chose them based on previous reviews they had from other customers and based on the knowledge needed for our platforms to perform.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We worked on multiple projects together, such as: Platforms optimization As we worked via Jira, the workflow for platforms optimization was: We conducted customer platform tests We identified bugs, ux/ui problems, etc We prioritize the problems and give them further to Zitec to be solved As they were solved, we were constantly updated on the process B.

Landing Pages Building We provided Zitec with the wireframes designed to be implemented Had a debrief call based on the objective of the LP Had constant check ups along with the implementation Had final check up when the implementation was finished C. We also worked on specific short term projects such as new features development. All the management was also happening via Jira.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Project Manager - Marius Wordpress Developer - Andrei Databases and Servers - Ionut 

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We can refer as success to the two platforms they are covering the maintenance for: naradix.ro and hartaedu.ro and mention also the landing page naratix.ro/together which was a project started from scratch.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Everything was completed as required, always having a very smooth communication either with the developers or the project manager. We mostly aligned via online calls, but they also paid a visit to our office to better understand and align with our needs.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The workflow is always based on better understanding our core needs and very smooth communication and alignment.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

At this point of the collaboration, no.

Please describe your company and your position there.

certSIGN is the main developer and provider of cryptographic solutions and trust services in Romania, with projects in the field of digital identity, trust services, legal archiving, and cyber security in over 20 countries.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

One of our core business focus is on digital identity. As cloud computing use is growing, we witness an identity shift - from the physical ID card to digital identity.

We were looking to develop a solution that encompasses all attributes that uniquely identifies a user, includes their identity in social media/networking, and allows for securely authentication to various online services, including government or banking. We also wanted to take it one step further, to identity decentralization, where the end-user is better protected against identity theft. This is why we teamed up with Zitec, to leverage their blockchain expertise and develop the first service in Romania that guarantees blockchain identity, certME.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Zitec provided engineers to certSIGN to develop a distributed application that runs on an Ethereum-based private blockchain, enabling users to perform trusted digital onboarding on their mobile devices with supported online service providers.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

It’s 100% online, with many services - from banking to utilities - that are accessible anytime and anywhere, directly from the user’s phone. The personal data of certME users is stored encrypted only on their mobile devices. The blockchain is used to record proofs of verification of the user's identity.

As a result, users are guaranteed that their data cannot be accessed without their consent, and the complete record of access to their data is transparent and anonymous on the blockchain. On the other hand, service providers are guaranteed that the data received from users is valid and that their identity has been verified with a substantial level of assurance.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

• 1 Blockchain & Mobile Engineer
• 1 Android Engineer
• 2 iOS Engineers
• 2 Quality Assurance Engineers
• 1 Software Engineer

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

certME is the first solution in Romania that allows the management, verification, and guarantee of reliable digital identities, with clear benefits for users who no longer waste time traveling to the supplier’s headquarters and enjoy a digital experience in accessing a wide range of services 100% online.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We used various approaches in different stages of product development including scrum, kanban and hybrids thereof. We used MS Teams to communicate and coordinate and Jira to track development.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We had direct access to the whole team, which made it easier to communicate our ideas. Things can be lost in translation if you're only talking to a project manager.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

While the most senior developers show imitative and independence, the less experienced developers sometimes need closer guidance.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Co-Founder & CEO of the most relevant software marketplace in the region, which helps companies to choose the right software solution, based on their Digital DNA.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

We were growing our presence on the local market and our digital strategy included SEO activities (to improve our ratings, grow website traffic and generate more leads) and performance marketing campaigns.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Considering the previous experience of ZITEC team with IT companies and their needs, we found a good match with our main objectives.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and campaigns.

We have already prepared a brief before signing the contract, so the next steps included brand positioning, setting up the OKRs. Zitec helped us with the keyword research, copywriting and feedback for part of work.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with an integrated team (Project manager, SEO specialist, 2 performance marketers).

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We managed to improve our ranking on Google for several key words and we have also generated more qualified leads.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Zitec was great at managing our expectations and meeting our deadlines. Mostly, we shared insights and feedback through e-mails, but we also planned weekly calls.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their capabilities to understand specific characteristics of every business, industry, processes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

An extra dose of creativity is always appreciated.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Startarium is the most complex digital platform for early-stage entrepreneurs in Romania, works on 4 pillars, meant to support the 4 entrepreneurial growth verticals – know-how, tools, a network of people and organizations entrepreneurs can get in contact with and active funding and development opportunities. My position is as a Community & Product Owner.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

Our main scope was to improve the users' experience on the platform and, through that, to increase the time spent on the platform. We needed to relaunch a better version of our platform. Zitec was working with us throughout the whole development process. They are providing us constantly support for our technical challenges and the further development of the platform

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We already knew each other, and the Zitec founders already supported Startarium and our community, so when the time came for us to design a new digital platform, they were the first that came to mind to join forces with.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We have worked in sprints, first discussing our goals and objectives and building a road map together. Next, they provided mock-ups and wireframes and we had various feedback loops, followed by implementation.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We work with 1 project manager and 3 developers.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The new version of the platform is performing better, and we see an increase in the time spent by the users.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They are super responsive, whenever there is a thing that we need to fix, they are managing to find a solution ASAP. We use different channels for communication: Slack, email, Jira & Video Calls.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They are determined and enthusiastic when it comes to working on a new project. They try to find an easy way to explain technical information to non-tech people, which is very helpful.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

For the moment I don’t have any kind of recommendations.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the sales manager of the online pharmacy. Our company has also a regional pharmacies chain and a pharmaceutical warehouse.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

We hired Zitec to help us create and implement a complete marketing strategy. We wanted to increase our brand awareness and to grow faster the online sales.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were already working with Zitec on another project and we were very satisfied with the collaboration. They recommended us their marketing department. We had a meeting and decided to work with them because they understood our needs and the challenges we were facing and we knew that Zitec is a reliable company.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

They made a complete marketing stategy based on our needs and goals. The plan included: brand awareness and performance campaigns (Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram Ads, Bing Ads, Youtube Ads, Programmatic and Direct Buying on local websites, Outdoor, Radio), social media strategy, email marketing. They also created content and visual elements (including videos) for our online and offline campaigns.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked mostly with 2 persons: Creative Director and Digital Marketing Strategist

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

After 1 year of collaboration we had a 48% increase in website traffic, more that 50% new users and 40% growth in sales

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We work very good together, we have a good communication. They are always very responsive to our needs and open to new ideas, they are creatives and most important hard working.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their creativity, the willing to learn and explore new things

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not for now

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Development Manager and Board Member within the company, also in charge of various core internal IT projects and initiatives. Honest General Trading practices wholesale trade to trading companies. The company is a supplier of various DIY items: tools and hand or power tools for construction, gardening and landscaping

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

Zitec was tasked with rewriting the Android mobile application, which is mainly used for placing orders. The app has approximately 150 internal users, sales agents and managers, who use the application in their daily job.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We select 3 potential collaborators after a web search. We chose this vendor based on their past projects, and cost estimate.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The Android application was developed using CROSSWALK. Due to the incompatibility with API 31, we wanted to migrate the application to android.webkit. Zitec proposed that we rewrite the application altogether, following a modular architecture, in order to simplify future app updates.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

• 1 Android mobile engineer
• 1 QA engineer
• 1 Project Manager

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Can not comment at this time.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project was organized using agile methodology and principles. The one-week short iterations were very effective, with weekly brief statuses and on-demand discussions with the technical team.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was impressed with their communication skills.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I don't find at this point things that can be improved with a considerable impact on collaboration.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Cars2View was developed to meet the market and client's needs for comprehensive data that would drive business goals further, faster, more efficiently, generating demand and establishing thought leadership for the next generation of automotive sales technology. I am the IT Director of the company in charge with all developments deliveries.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec?

For managed services, Dev-ops and cloud counseling.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have first analyzed the cloud service providers (AWS and Azure). After we have decided to go with Azure we have received a recommendation to use Zitec services to implement the cloud solutions.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

Cars2View is a new online data driven solution developed for the automotive industry to help dealers make informed business decisions based on market input. By scanning and tracking market prices, Cars2View eliminates the guess work and delivers fact based results. Cars2view is used to track trends and pricing in automotive industry. Cars2View is an AI driven platform that generates real time results

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

CTO was the main contact person, then the head of Dev-ops and other resources like Security, collegues from dev-ops team and of course the project managers and account managers.

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

The solution we developed is using the full potential of the cloud services we decided to implement together with Zitec. For example, we had implemented a specific process of ETL which is using Azure functions together with Azure queues that ingest a huge amount of data in a very short time with a fraction of the cost. Also, the solution requires very little maintenance, so is cost effective from dev-ops as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow is very effective, we have dedicated persons for each topic we need to address. Of course, the CTO was involved in all major decisions about the architecture and design of various components.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Was very impressive the one stop shop kind of IT service provider. All our requirements and needs for our cloud infrastructure were delivered on time by Zitec.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Proactivity in terms of upgrading to the next generation of services, when they appear.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Tazz is one of the largest quick-commerce platforms in Romania. It focuses mainly on food and groceries delivery. I am Chief Product Officer, managing the Product & Technology Department which has about 70 employees.

For what projects/services did your company hire Zitec, and what were your goals?

We hired Zitec for the development of the Tazz mobile applications (iOS and Android native languages).

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Based on the portfolio presented and also by recommendations from the market, from previous companies which have worked with Zitec before.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The Zitec team was responsible for Project Management, Development (mixed team) and Quality Assurance. During the duration of the project, they worked closely with our product team. The technologies used for Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. The Zitec team had the main responsibility for developing the mobile application, while integrating it with the Rest API back-end which was developed in-house. The main features of the app are the common e-commerce features (marketplace, online commerce, push notifications).

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

1 Project Manager 4 Mobile App Developers 1 Quality Assurance

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The app was developed in 6 months. In a short time it has become the No.1 app in Romania in the Food and Drink category. Since it was launched, it was constantly appreciated reaching now ratings of over 4.4 out of 35k reviews (Android) and 4.8 out of 29k (iOS). The Zitec team has reached all development objectives agreed in the project kick-off.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The development was done by using Agile methodologies, initially Kanban and later Scrum. The communication with the team was done in Slack and the backlog and issue-management was done in Jira.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was really impressed with the sens e of ownership and responsibility of the Zitec team. They were real team players who worked very well together with our own developers.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I cannot think at the moment of any areas of improvement.