AnvilEight

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the operations director of a lead generation live chat service. Visitors to websites will be engaged in a very friendly chat with one of our operators and the operator will take down the details of in whatever the visitor is interested in. Then we pass those details on as informative work to the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the operations director of a lead generation live chat service. Visitors to websites will be engaged in a very friendly chat with one of our operators and the operator will take down the details of in whatever the visitor is interested in. Then we pass those details on as informative work to the company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had made an attempt to build the software ourselves, but it failed miserably for various reasons. We liked AnvilEight’s approach to product development, so we wrote the spec for them to run with. We built it together from the ground up. I am not very technical myself, but the system was built with Django. They are very good at Python and they are very switched on. The system integrates with our chat software. It absorbs the data into a database and then it spits it out in a way that we want it.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent a little less than $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

They began working in January 2016 and we launched in February of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Now we can be absolutely sure that there are no mistakes made in terms of where the leads are going.  Also, the speed that we are getting the leads out is now a lot quicker than it used to be. Certainly, the efficiencies have gone up by a substantial amount.

How did AnvilEight perform from a project management standpoint and What is the team dynamic?

We are in communication through Skype. Initially, it was just myself and my team and Andrey in terms of laying out the specification for what we wanted. One of the technical guys in the background is Rustlin, who is extremely helpful. Since the product launched there haven’t been many bugs at all, but when there are any problems they been very quick to go and fix them. They are very proactive. If a lead has not been sent for any reason, even if it's out of hours, Andrey and Rustlin are very quick and available fix the problem.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very proactive and responsive to my demands. I'm very confident that if I ever need anything done, especially if it's business-critical, it'll be done quickly. They're very intelligent in terms of their expertise in Django and in Python. And I'm very happy with the software. It works, it does exactly what I want it to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not particularly. No. I think we have a very good partnership together. It's very open. It's very transparent.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a founder of a digital marketing agency based in Southeast England. We work with a variety of clients, ranging from large multinational clients to niche SME firms. We’ve been doing design, digital animation, video, and apps for about 12 years now.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AnvilEight?

We had our own in-house Django capability—using 4 Django developers—but, for different reasons, that wasn't working for us. So, we were looking to outsource our Django development. We work with AnvilEight on a white-label basis.

How did you come to work with AnvilEight?

We put together the list of candidates from an online search. We reviewed about 5 companies, and AnvilEight certainly came out on top, as far as we were concerned. Some firms purported to do Django but didn't respond fast enough or at all. AnvilEight was very responsive. We actually started talking to them about 6 months before we entered discussions, and their way of working seemed flexible, which appealed to us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We predominantly did web development with AnvilEight. At first, we worked on a succinct web build. We handled all of the design and passed the work to them for the actual building. That was for the full CMS. Over time, we’ve outsourced the sites that we had developed before to AnvilEight, and they handle maintenance. Now, they work on new projects as well as maintain the existing websites that we have.

We work with AnvilEight on a white-label basis. One of the most recent examples is a straightforward web build with a fully functioning CMS in the back. They probably don't use everything as a client that they should be using, but in terms of a simple project for those guys to churn out, it’s perfect.

AnvilEight built an integrated payment portal like PayPal on a new site that didn't exist. We’ve done it for a single client, and then the portal becomes available to other clients who are sitting on that same CMS. We have another client who’s probably going to use that same PayPal integration.

AnvilEight also is working on a site with a large product database, which has to be integrated with Salesforce. They are working on data-driven sites insofar as they have product databases built into the backend that are maintained by product managers. They are also about to start working on an iOS app for us, which would be fairly data-driven as well.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with AnvilEight for almost 2 years. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We define success by how our clients perceive the work that we deliver. So far, it’s been excellent. We can't attribute any empirical data to AnvilEight, as we deal with all of the marketing for our clients. We drive the site’s performance, content, and strategy. In terms of the actual performance of the technology, it’s been very good; AnvilEight delivers to a very high standard. I expect them to create what we design, and they haven't let us down yet. They’re reliable and get along easily with our clients.

The initial project we did with AnvilEight was the most memorable due to its size and complexity. For that web build, they were able to help us in pretty much every area. It’s difficult to pinpoint their exact contribution. We obviously spend a long time researching the work, and we know what we want to hand off to them. They have their own internal tech or have outsourced their tech to other companies. If you compare them to a standard internal tech department, they’re a lot more flexible and responsive.

How did AnvilEight perform from a project management standpoint?

We have worked with 4 or 5 of AnvilEight’s guys so far, and we have a dedicated resource practically every day. We worked predominately with their chief executive, and he’s pulled together the right team for us. We use Skype and Skype for Business quite a lot. We also use Redbooth for task management across both teams.

What did you find most impressive about AnvilEight?

AnvilEight’s communication is good. The key thing for us was making sure that our people were able to deliver stuff in the right format for AnvilEight, and AnvilEight has been flexible in terms of working with our systems. We have groups where everyone can communicate, and that’s been impressive. I can send a message and get a response within 30 seconds from somebody at AnvilEight.

Are there any areas AnvilEight could improve?

I’ve been thinking about this. In terms of a major shift for us in our business model, using AnvilEight has gone as smoothly as it could. I’m very happy with them. I’ve had internal tech resources for 14 years or so, and it’s a joy not having internal tech resources, to be honest. AnvilEight gets stuff done and communicates well. In the early days, it took a little while to find the right tools for us to collaborate through, but that’s all good now.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a product manager for a small company that’s building an asynchronous app for bridge players. The app has bidding and e-learning functionalities. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AnvilEight?

We’d worked with 2 other companies when building a prototype, but we needed a new partner. Few companies can provide a combination of Django Python and native mobile development skills. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AnvilEight has built a complete extension of our app based on the features that we defined. The app features a scoring system, chat, and a sidekick offering instructions when users make a wrong move. 

We worked remotely, but I also visited AnvilEight twice. We used 3 resources from their team for most of the project, and a total of 6 people were involved overall. We decided that a dedicated project manager was not necessary for a project of our scope, so I arranged for 1 of their team leads to take on this role. AnvilEight works in Agile sprints, and they’ve been flexible in making changes. They want to learn and provide some great resources.

How much have you invested with AnvilEight?

The cost of their work has been $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with AnvilEight in early 2016. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Marketing is still ongoing, but we plan to make a deal in the US and implement localizations of the app. If the deal is successful, the project will continue.

Coming up with a bridge app is challenging enough, but incorporating an e-learning functionality for the game is highly complex. The iOS version is almost error-free. We have no complaints or requests on that side. Interestingly, the intricate logic was not our main problem. Instead, we ran into Android-related issues. This wasn’t AnvilEight’s fault. Google, during a large developer convention, recognized that 58% of Play Store apps received low scores due to instability. There are device-specific issues related to the app being able to wake the system from sleep, and Google is trying to resolve this problem through new monitoring tools that have just been released.

How did AnvilEight perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Telegram for general communication and YouTrack for more formal matters. AnvilEight’s CEO has allowed me to talk directly to the developers. We have set up documentation for the project, which keeps us from forgetting anything crucial.

What did you find most impressive about AnvilEight?

Their team shows great knowledge and commitment. They are willing to learn, improve, and work on items outside of our agreement. I don’t think we could have found a better partner than AnvilEight for the same fee.

Are there any areas AnvilEight could improve?

Their testing approach could be improved in terms of criteria, scenarios, and writing requirements. We had some general problems on the client side, not the developer side. Testing for these kinds of apps should never be underestimated. That’s the main factor of success, but the developer also needs to have a lot of technical knowledge. AnvilEight has a section on their website with requirements for requirements, including examples of good specifications. They’re focused on developing their company and aren’t mature yet. This will take time, but the organization as a whole is willing to learn.

However, this approach attracts a wide variety of clients, including some who don’t know what they need or want. Other firms like us, who know what they want, provide challenging requirements. Agile project management requires a more traditional setup. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-founder & CTO of a supplements company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Genetically personalised supplements. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire AnvilEight to accomplish?

• dev

SOLUTION

How did you find AnvilEight?

upwork

Why did you select AnvilEight over others?

Great culture fit

How many teammates from AnvilEight were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Code reviews

Total new devops solution with aws

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Testing documents. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

yes all on time and all communicated well. 

What was your primary form of communication with AnvilEight?

Virtual Meeting

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

The team offers great communication and goes above and beyond

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Mikalsen AI

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

B2B AI solutions

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire AnvilEight to accomplish?

• Development work

SOLUTION

How did you find AnvilEight?

Online Search

Why did you select AnvilEight over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from AnvilEight were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Backend and frontend work for big project

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Implementation of new features

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

All members communicated great and responded.

What was your primary form of communication with AnvilEight?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The quality of their developers was impressive.

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

More transparent hours spent on projects with timetracking

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of OrtoWork

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We automate project management tasks so that you can spend more time on value added tasks

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire AnvilEight to accomplish?

• Finalise code for an MVP

SOLUTION

How did you find AnvilEight?

Online Search

Why did you select AnvilEight over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from AnvilEight were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

I needed some bugs fixed in my Python Code and AnvilEight were able to deliver this quickly

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Code was working succesfully

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes they delivered items on time

What was your primary form of communication with AnvilEight?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their knowledge and speed of delivery were remarkable.

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

Nope

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO of latrock GmbH

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Latrock is an innovative developer and manufacturer of high-quality technologies and materials for construction, electronics, and automotive industries, striving for environmental sustainability and collaboration with global partners

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire AnvilEight to accomplish?

• development of a mobile application
• creating an intuitive and user-friendly UI/UX design

SOLUTION

How did you find AnvilEight?

Referral

Why did you select AnvilEight over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from AnvilEight were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Project Discovery and Requirements Gathering
• UI/UX Design
• Mobile App Development
• Integration with Backend Services

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Achievement of Project Milestones

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their project management was highly organized and effective.

What was your primary form of communication with AnvilEight?

Virtual Meeting

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

responsive communication throughout the project

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

there are always areas for improvement

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of getSparks.io

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

getSparks is a personal web content library that uses AI to make planning and research easier!

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire AnvilEight to accomplish?

• Build idea to a product

SOLUTION

How did you find AnvilEight?

Online Search

Why did you select AnvilEight over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

What was the size of AnvilEight’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Project involves overall development the product. This includes dev ops, prototyping, maintaining and delivering production facing application

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• I continue to work with the company from last 15 months

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

I am self managing my project

What was your primary form of communication with AnvilEight?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

Their flexibility and adaptability to change requests were impressive.

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

None at this point

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO of Yomdel

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Live Chat provider

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire AnvilEight to accomplish?

• Create Dashboard
• Create Lead Generation Tool
• Linking APIs

SOLUTION

How did you find AnvilEight?

Referral

Why did you select AnvilEight over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

What was the size of AnvilEight’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

A wide ranging multi-branch project delivered on time and kept up to date and running without any application issues

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Uptime

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Good scrum meetings, daily updates and project plan measurables

What was your primary form of communication with AnvilEight?

Virtual Meeting

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

I was impressed with their communication and delivery of the plan.

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

Not really no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Edge on Demand provides a full suite of software services for energy brokers in the US. I lead a team of remote software developers, some of whom are contractors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired AnvilEight for staffing augmentation on a Django SaaS project, for maintenance and new feature development

SOLUTION

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

Compared several vendors online, based on price and dev interviews

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

Maintenance and new feature development of a Django-based SaaS, delivered in two-week sprints, using Python, Django, JavaScript, etc. on a fairly standard AWS stack

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

Four software developers worked with us

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Generally, the code was delivered at a high quality. We had some communication issues in the first year, and let two developers go, but our current two developers have been reliable. They communicate well, deliver high-quality code, and share ideas for improvement

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

AnvilEight's developers have been integrated into our Scrum team, and communicate promptly using our Slack.

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

Reasonable rates, good communication, and availability of high-quality developers

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

More attention to billing details, including hours not worked due to vacations, sickness, etc.