Closeloop Technologies LLC

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder & CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Closeloop Technologies?

We hired Closeloop to help finish our wireframes + user experience design strategy for our online booking platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had searched for vendors on Upwork and also here on Clutch.co. I was looking for vendors with the highest rating and quality written reviews. Closeloop was a great match.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We initially wanted to hire Closeloop to help with mobile development (front-end primarily) for our mobile app MVP. Since we needed to finish design first, we hired them to help us finish our wireframes. We are bootstrapping our company so we didn't have a massive budget. Gaurav offered to start off with a small project, starting with our wireframes only, and worked out an affordable rate off of the strength of their passion/confidence in our solution. We finished our wireframes but decided to take on development in-house to keep our costs down until we launch but are keeping in touch to bring on Closeloop once we start earning revenue.

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

We worked with Gaurav Sharma, their Chief Marketing Office and primarily worked with their Business Analyst, Alok Yadav, who also had UX design experience.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had unfinished wireframes for 3 different user types with our online booking platform. We were assigned to Alok who spent time understanding our existing wireframes, along with our user personas, to redesign all 3 experiences for us to hand off to our UI design team for high-fidelity design.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective! Both Garauv and Alok showed tremendous passion in our project from the very beginning. I had a ton of fun working on this project together with them and we've built a great relationship in the process.

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

I personally had a blast working with Alok. He brought a ton of new ideas to the table and never hesitated to question/object any design ideas we were thinking about to help us improve our UX. He also took all our design feedback gracefully and delivered new updates on time, every time. He was also very receptive to adopting some of the new tools that we preferred to use for collaboration which made working together a breeze, despite the fact that we lived on opposite sides of the world (I'm in Boston and he's in India).

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

They prefer to use Windows/Linux based solutions i.e. Axure for design which very much feels legacy versus some of the more modern design tools like Figma. Also, given the time zone different, I think we could have found some more effective ways to trade ideas i.e. screen sharing with Loom. It also would have helped to use a project management tool like Asana and/or documenting meeting notes to measure progress weekly and keep ourselves accountable during project management. But not a huge deal since they delivered great results regardless!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder of MidWicket Labs, which is an online marketing company catering to businesses of all types in helping them establish their online presence and business grow.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

The biggest challenge was managing the team and projects especially amid pandemic when remote work became the new normal. We wanted a software custom developed to address team and project management challenges.

SOLUTION

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

We got connected to Closeloop via a referral. After a series of discussions, brainstorming and sharing software requirements, we got to understand their approach and problem-solving tactics that impressed us. The approach shared was on the similar lines to what we had thought.

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

The goal was to build custom software for managing the team and projects. Starting from brainstorming the concept to project planning, defining phases, resource allocation, timelines, testing and reporting, the communicator at Closeloop helped us start right and currently, I see it going pretty well, just like what we initially planned.

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

From initial project development talks to design and development, we have interacted and worked with around 8-10 people.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Any project assigned requires timely delivery and precise execution which I believe up to this point of time Closeloop people have handled quite well. Phase-wise delivery of modules is up to the mark, and I see the project coming together nicely.

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

Periodic calls are there to keep us informed. Major communication is done through emails, and for a quick chat we use Skype. What has impressed me is their documentation part, it's thorough, to-the-point and transparent. They are responsive to calls and I haven't faced any difficulty in reaching out to them so far.

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

They are communicative, transparent with details, and agile to work with.

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

We are happy with the way things have gone so far.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president and CEO of a technology consulting firm. We are an IT-oriented accounting company, and we provide all IT-related services to our customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Closeloop Technologies?

We partnered with them to build a custom platform for us in a quick and efficient manner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a lot of custom requirements, which they helped us with. The solution is a custom accounting program that automates the tracking of various resources across different time zones.

Initially, they had to understand our system and present the market compatibility. The platform also has functionalities such as tracking, accounting, payroll, and invoicing. They started with the design part first, then proceeded with the development after getting our approval. It was a collaborative process as we both had certain technologies we wanted to use.

What is the team composition?

We’re mainly in touch with their CEO and the assigned project manager, who’s working on this project from the US. There are also around 20 people from their offshore team who are supporting this project.

How did you come to work with Closeloop Technologies?

We were looking for a vendor that could help us in this area, and we got references from different sources. We also heard that their CEO had built a few other similar platforms, so we issued an RFP, and they responded to it.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve capped the project at $500,000, and we’ve now spent around $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2016, and our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The software has increased our revenue, and we can now look at more resources when it comes to hiring instead of tracking everything manually. Overall, they’ve been an excellent partner.

How did Closeloop Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve done pretty well in this regard — in fact, they’ve been involved in every phase of the project. Even with their onshore and offshore model, we always receive prompt communication. Their model has also been cost-effective for us.

We have daily stand-up calls, receive weekly updates, and use different platforms to communicate: Skype, email, and phone. They are very good at communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team grasps things quickly and finds the best solution for us. Furthermore, they are cost-effective, accessible, on time with deliverables, and out-of-the-box thinkers. They also know how to use the latest tech stack.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really can’t see any areas where they need to improve on; they’ve delivered on their commitments.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to explain the business use case to them, so that they can understand your business and provide the right solutions. Also, let their team share their ideas as you brainstorm together — they really want to be more engaged and it has worked wonders for us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing at Premier Growth Partners and oversee all marketing efforts for all of the Premier companies, including Premier Talent Partners and Ajna.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our company hired Closeloop to help us develop a custom, revolutionary talent platform, where job seekers and employers can connect in a modern, unbiased, transparent way. Our goal was to remove the friction and ambiguity associated with the hiring and recruiting process for both job seekers and hiring managers. Our intention is to promote a more authentic way of job search and hiring, where everyone is seen and evaluated equally and equitably.

SOLUTION

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

Closeloop had a really great grasp and understanding about our big-picture vision. They were able to fully immerse their whole team into our futuristic vision and entertained all of our creativity, whilst also custom crafting and curating a plan that could actually bring our vision to life with the proper technical backbone and structure needed for our software to be truly successful. Closeloop was very generous with time and allowed for a lot of discovery work and time, and a true preliminary period where we were able to gauge their work style, team capabilities, and interest in our work.

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

We started with a lot of discovery and whiteboarding for them to be able to understand our vision fully. We have them a running wishlist, a budget, and a 1,5, and 10-year plan and asked them to consolidate our wants and needs into an actionable plan. Once we identified and agreed upon key deliverables, they got to work on assembling an internal team to lead our project. We then got to work on an MVP model, which started with wireframes and quickly evolved into a functioning first iteration of software. Over the past 3 years, every phase and release of our software and continuous development has evolved further and greater.

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

I have worked closely with roughly 10 people at Closeloop, even more in a broader more general sense. I have worked with project managers, developers, designers, and engineers from the Closeloop team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In partnering with Closeloop, we were able to successfully launch our custom software. We are in the process of taking multiple versions of our project with them to market in the next few months and have already launched a version already in use.

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

We work very closely with Closeloop. They are essentially an extension of our internal team. We communicate with them on a daily basis, whether than be via daily touch base meetings, via email, via Skype, chat, or in person meetings. We collaborate using tools like Jira to project manage and share data and information. Closeloop is very responsive and always readily available. The fact that they have a hybrid team, both in the US and offshore, makes it feel like they are available and working on our project around the clock. When the US team is not working, the India team covers all the bases and vice versa- they provide 360 coverage and support.

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

The element of the longterm partnership. Working with Closeloop doesn't feel like working on a temporary project, it feels like working on an ongoing partnership on the same team. Assim serves as almost our CTO. We have no need to build out an internal technical team because we don't miss out on anything with having Closeloop be an extension of our internal team. We have access to everyone on their team the way we would internally. They make us feel as if they are working exclusively on our projects and for that reason it feels like they give us all of their time, attention, and resources.

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

No, we are very happy with our working relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of PACE Funding Group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Closeloop Technologies?

We needed a development partner who could build a custom IT platform for us in a quick and efficient manner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Closeloop Technologies has built a custom IT platform that allows us to sell, track, and fund home improvement loans. The platform features around 20 integrations with third-party data and functionality providers. They’ve also built different portals for homeowners, channel partners, contractors, and government regulators.

Additionally, Closeloop Technologies has built an iOS and Android app for us from scratch.

What is the team composition?

We primarily work and communicate with Assim (CEO). We also work with his project management team, which is composed of 30 people.

How did you come to work with Closeloop Technologies

Closeloop Technologies was referred to us by an acquaintance.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere around $1,000,000-$2,000,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2016, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Closeloop Technologies’ work automated all of our business processes. We’re now generating more business than before, allowing us to effectively double our sales.

How did Closeloop Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Closeloop Technologies performs well in terms of project management — they’re incredibly responsive and efficient.

They use Jira to manage the project and keep track of their tasks. They also come to our office every week to touch base with us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We initially worked with another company for this project, but we were very unhappy with the product they provided. But with Closeloop Technologies, we have a dedicated team that’s always willing to go the extra mile to deliver us the exact product that we need.

I really appreciate how they ask a lot of questions to really understand our business and provide the right solutions for our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything that Closeloop Technologies could do better — we’ve been very happy with their work so far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to spend a lot of time explaining your business use case to them to make sure that they really understand your needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm co-founder and president of a home improvement finance company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were trying to license someone else's technology, but it wasn't a great fit and they wouldn't give us the bandwidth needed to customize their technology for our business.

SOLUTION

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

We looked at three vendors: one each from US, Ukraine and India. Close Loop was the lowest cost, but we really chose them because they were clearly going to be the most flexible/agile. We knew that our business would be evolving rapidly and we needed a software development partner who would help us pivot quickly when needed.

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

They worked with us to specify and then they built two portals: one for our customers and other external stakeholders and one for our internal underwriting team. In 2021, we saw a major opportunity to expand our business so we worked with them to create a second generation of each of these portals, from the ground up.

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

We work with approximately 30 people now from Close Loop: everything from project managers to coders to testers to report writers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our industry is relatively small, so we have very good insight into our competition. Before we had Close Loop build our first generation portal, we were trivially small. Now we are second in market share and with a product that the largest company doesn't have.

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

They have a nice blend of formality and informality. Every request/spec is well-documented, but we also have frequent informal meetings help flesh out the spec and make sure that they are developing what our business really wants/needs.

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

They are much more flexible/agile than any development team that I've ever worked with, internal or external.

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

I think that they're struggling with the very competitive hiring market for software professionals in India, but it hasn't directly affected us yet.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the QA team lead of a tech company that’s developing a recruitment tool for the recruitment industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Closeloop Technologies?

We were in need of a development team that can help us build a tool that has a matching algorithm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Closeloop Technologies is helping us develop a product that can match recruiters with potential applicants. We started with a discussion of the basic requirements of the tool and came up with the decision to make it a web-based platform.

In addition, we mainly utilize MongoDB and JavaScript as our main development software.

What is the team composition?

We mostly communicate with two project managers and the CEO. Engineer-wise, we probably have about 30 engineers working on the product with us.

How did you come to work with Closeloop Technologies?

Closeloop Technologies was referred to our CEO.

How much have you invested with them?

So far we’ve invested about $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in January 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Closeloop Technologies is able to take our ideas from paper and implement them into a tangible product — they followed the flow of our development process and produce something we’ve never seen before.

How did Closeloop Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great from a project management standpoint, and we manage the project through Trello, JIRA, Basecamp. To communicate, we utilize Skype, email, and Google Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We like that they’re very involved partners. Not only are they able to produce high-quality results, but they’re also able to innovate within the process which has been very helpful and enlightening.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they could improve on because we have a good working relationship.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would suggest diving into the partnership because they have such a wonderful understanding of what their clients need.

I would also advise you to allow them to be part of the process as much as possible and allow them to produce the results you’re looking for.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a systems project manager. Our company provides a suite of tools that eliminate bias from the recruiting process using defined parameters for matching, gated content, talent, and job profiles. It's an on-demand hiring tool that instantly matches qualified internal employees and external applicants to new internal job opportunities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Closeloop Technologies?

We hired Closeloop to do the technical build of our SaaS tool.

SOLUTION

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

I wasn't part of the selection process

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

We partner with PMs at Closeloop to whiteboard technical specs of each workbench in our tool. Closeloop does the dev and first few rounds of testing then our team does additional testing before rolling out tools/features.

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

I've worked with the CEO, 4 PMs, a handful of engineers. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We keep track of enhancement requests using Jira and since the beginning of the project have closed out hundreds of jiras. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective.

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

The relationship with CloseLoop feels very collaborative. They don't just take our requests and build them, but they also offer advice and guidance when the solutions we requested aren't fully optimized. There's also a great deal of communication so that our specs are always fully understood before CloseLoop begins the dev work.

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

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager at a financial firm; we focus on home improvement loans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Closeloop Technologies?

We wanted to renew our internal portal, and we wanted a cutting-edge system that could serve our customers' needs. We also wanted to build out a different line of business within our industry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Closeloop Technologies has been developing a custom software solution for us; it’s a web and mobile online portal where internal, external, and borrower users can work. They built the platform from scratch, but they used our old portal as a foundation for what we needed. We also gave them a roadmap of what we’re looking for in terms of functional specs.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with 30–40 members of their team.

How did you come to work with Closeloop Technologies?

They were already working with our company prior to this project. They’ve been an important business partner with us and have done fantastic work, so it was an obvious choice when we were looking to create our next-generation portal.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent $250,000–$500,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we went live, we’ve had zero downtime, which is amazing for a project of this magnitude. Also, we’ve successfully engaged over 2,500 different business organizations that have worked with our portal, which entails 14,000 users — it’s impressive that we’ve been able to expand that large and quickly.

How did Closeloop Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been amazing with project management; their team has executed everything we’ve asked them and more. They’re also constantly on top of everything we need and come back to us to provide feedback and help us improve. Regarding communication, we have daily meetings with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re genuinely agile in development; as the client, we’ve pivoted many times in different directions throughout the project, and they’ve been able to move with us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — they’ve been excellent for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open-minded and let them take over the design and technology part of the project — their advice and input have been invaluable to us.