Proexe

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company builds innovative parcel lockers using our custom designed Smart Locks. I am CEO and Technical Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Proexe?

We needed mobile application for performing required business processes (deliveries, returns, multidelivery) using our devices. Interactions with Smart Lock are mostly performed using mobile application. We needed a company that would be able to easily handle Bluetooth Low Energy communication with our IoT devices.

What were your goals for this project?

Number one priority was reliable communication with IoT devices. There could not be recurring communication errors. The usage should appear smooth and easy. The second goal was to make it easy to use and customizable.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have given advertisement on popular website with description of our needs. We have received multiple offers. We have selected proexe as medium priced offer but the company had good quality website, extensive portfolio and was easy to communicate with. They appeared to understand what we need and had no issue of doing extensive testing of BLE communication with our IoT devices.

Describe the project in detail.

We have prepared extensive documentation by ourselves. We knew what we wanted and we have already prepared REST API on our backend. We have done initial meeting with Project Manager from Proexe and had realtime view into project board.

We have been receiving releases every week so we could test them properly. All UI and UX work was also done by Proexe. Company uses tools which make outsourcing mobile application development easy; invision, Firebase App Distribution, project management software. So good process is in place.

What was the team composition?

We had graphic designer, project manager and two software engineers. Only the latter working full time over our project. The development included code reviews by other employees and doing initial QA.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We use our application in many configurations, for residential buildings, for Click & Collect customers, and other segments. The applications enables us to easily customize business process by means of configuration. At the same time we are satisfied with the quality and performance of the application. We keep adding features as new requirements arise.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The tools do the job. The company has adopted many of them and uses them correctly. We kept email communication to minimum. Most work is done using project management software - easy to ask or respond to a question in a timely manner. The workflow worked great for us. Frequent releases kept us updated and make us aware that everything is going in the right direction.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The company uses the best tools that are available and writes quality software fast. We were surprised that no major problem occurred during development of BLE communication. All requested features were developed without much engagement from our side. We were receiving incremental work that was of good quality.

Are there any areas for improvement?

When we return with a new major set of features it would be great if we could just drop them and have the development start. We wait up to a month but when the work starts than it goes smooth.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Vectra is the biggest Polish cable operator, with TV and internet services. I’m the chief development specialist, focused on the TV Everywhere platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Proexe?

We needed to build a new platform in a very short time.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a few components of our platform, including an app for mobile devices, one for PCs, and one for Android TVs. Proexe was our consultant for certifications on Google and Amazon.

They’re also developing the backend software for the applications. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with around 10 people from their team.

How did you come to work with Proexe?

They’d worked for us before, and they delivered high-quality solutions quickly. 

Initially, I’d seen some of the projects developed by them. Proexe had built the biggest over the top (OTT) platform in Poland, for a large Polish TV station. We knew their quality, and we knew that they were a very flexible and modern team.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project started in August 2019 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We decided to build a new platform because the previous one had been built in 2011, using older technologies. The applications from Proexe are very fast and well-optimized.

How did Proexe perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is very good, in my opinion. They communicate frequently, they make good notes during our meetings, and their consultation is very accurate.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

The performance optimization of the applications is very good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Any company can improve. However, looking at all the projects we’ve run with Proexe, I don’t see any specific areas for improvement. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should consult them about new ideas. Proexe identified some new technologies on the market, which we used in our products.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager of a software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Proexe?

I had previously developed a website that needed to be evaluated before launching. A few main issues prompted me to consult with Proexe and another firm. Security and performance issues like software bugs were slowing it down. Due to significant status fluctuation, it was not expandable. Both companies advised me not to launch the website if there was going to be a higher transaction.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I hired Proexe to rebuild our website due to the aforementioned issues. After evaluating the source of these problems, they rebuilt the backend. In addition to the website, they’re working on a direct native mobile app for iOS and Android.

The design work was a combined effort. I provided wireframes for the website, but they took care of all the details for the app. I personally developed some of the screens, and they designed additional ones as the project expanded. While I handled all the marketing, strategy, and branding, their team executed the documentation and specification.

What is the team composition?

I worked with one project manager, and three or four developers were also involved with the project.

How did you come to work with Proexe?

After unsuccessfully trying two companies from India, a friend of mine indicated that Polish web developers are generally both affordable and proficient. In-depth searches led me to shortlist five companies. I held several interviews with their management and CEOS, and assessed their profiles and examples of their work. We narrowed our options to two vendors, of which we ultimately chose Proexe.

Since I was seeking an agile dynamic and a vendor I could depend on, I avoided big-name companies, who wouldn’t have prioritized my project. Proexe fits all my criteria. Before they started development, they gave me a very detailed evaluation of my current website and outlined their strategy.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we've spent $13,600. Rebuilding the website cost $5,600 because I provided most of the interface design and wireframes. Their work was basically limited to development. The app, however, costs $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work on the website began at the beginning of December 2017 and is wrapping up this week. We're starting work on the app, which will take about 6-8 weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Proexe’s web development efforts resolved the security and performance issues. The site is now ready to launch, and we are beginning work on a related mobile app. I’m impressed by the quality and efficiency of their work. In my past experience, similar projects took up to four months. Their team was able to complete the project in 5-6 weeks. They’ve already finished the specifications for the app, as well as the design of the interface.

How did Proexe perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Trello to communicate, and they usually respond very promptly. I like having access to specific information about when they’re working on my project, and what exact work they’re doing. For example, I know which features are finished and tested, and which ones are in progress or have yet to be started.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Other companies I've worked with on web development for 10 years would only check in every 2-3 weeks. In these cases, the customer usually has a communication blackout until certain milestones are reached. Proexe, however, always keeps you updated. They tell you exactly where they are in specific project stages.

Are there any areas they could improve?

User experience and the user interface is one area they could work on; they're good, but they could be better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would highly recommend using them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Flower Chef is a British startup working through an app-only model. I’m a co-founder and CEO of our online flower company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Proexe?

We wanted to deliver the greatest mobile experience for our users. We felt doing it via an app would be the best way to do it, but we didn’t know where to start.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Proexe built a custom solution for us. While they worked on coding, our team members worked on the design and what we wanted from a business standpoint. We created an application that showcases great pictures of our bouquets and allows users to check delivery times based on address and demand. It all started from a business idea which developed into a simple solution for clients to quickly buy our flowers.

The process is designed to get users through as quickly as possible. We incorporated a delivery time estimation and chat feature. We’re integrated with the Facebook and Google SDKs [software development kits], and the technology stack is extensive despite the fact that it’s a simple retail app. We built it from different blocks to serve our purpose, and we didn’t write any custom code unless it was necessary.

It’s a native iOS app written in Swift 3, which has been upgraded to Swift 4. We use Zendesk for chat, Stripe for payments, and cart.io for processing cards. We use Google Places for looking up addresses, as well as Facebook and Google for analytics and advertising. There’s also an Account Kit from Facebook for logging in, as well as an integration with Branch which allows us to index our app content in the Google engine.

What is the team dynamic?

The CEO is involved in the process. If we have a question about anything, he moves that process to the project manager. There’s also a lead iOS developer, as well as other people who are helping. I shield the entire process, and they always have a team member available to answer to any of our needs. I don’t have direct contact with every team member.

How did you come to work with Proexe?

It wasn’t very easy to find people like Proexe. In Poland, we’ve found it very difficult to find an entire chain solution, especially in regards to a retail app. We went through a process of contacting and meeting a lot of developers here in Poland, and asked each to show us something attractive. None of those companies met our standards because they could only manage logic-driven apps.

Proexe had one app which we really liked, and it was the closest thing to what we wanted from a design standpoint. Their price was attractive, and their nearest competitor was double the price.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a 5-star rating in the App Store. In terms of the app, it’s top quality. The Facebook integration is great, and we’ve reached #16 on the Polish app store. We just launched the service in October after we tested it in Warsaw, and we plan on taking what we’ve learned to relaunch in London.

Together with Proexe, we’ve delivered something pretty great.

How did Proexe perform from a project management standpoint?

It was great. We use Trello, which is fun because it feels like things are being achieved when they move to different places.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are primarily coders, but they are careful to deliver exactly what the client needs, which is great. They are everything we imagined. When we started the process, we learned a lot about how to create apps and websites. They deliver everything we want. The other co-founder, Angelica, is more involved with aesthetics, and she is very particular. They listen patiently and deliver accordingly.

They are understanding, and they really listen. Even the CEO is knowledgeable and involved with the coding of the apps they create.

We came to the conclusion that we’re actually a tech-enabled company. We looked for people who weren’t going to push development of the entire backend for us, but instead, tell us what we needed on our business development page. Proexe was really great, and I enjoyed working with their intelligent team. Our app is gorgeous.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, it was perfect. We’re going to stay with them forever.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

MoonyLab is a photo printing app based in Poland. We print mobile, Instagram, and Facebook photos, and ship them worldwide. The app converts the photos to PDF files and works intuitively for users.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Proexe?

We wanted to build an easy-to-use app with a global reach. The objective was to make photo printing easy and fast because the main proto printing apps we’d tested took too much time to work. We had an idea of what the app needed to look like but aren’t technical people and don’t have any internal developers either, so we decided to outsource everything.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Proexe helped us build the iOS and Android app from scratch. We worked together for the design, but the main project was handled by them.

We wanted to upload pictures from as many platforms as possible—Facebook, Instagram, mobile devices and Dropbox. The main goal was to have smooth uploading, and the ability to transform the pictures into PDF.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked with around 4 people from their team through our customer relationship management platform, but I don’t know what the full size of the team was.

How did you come to work with Proexe?

We wrote to some companies about our ideas and had a couple of meetings. We chose Proexe because their team understood what we wanted to create and had a competitive price.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $30,000–$40,000 in their work so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Proexe in May 2015. The final app has been launched for months, but they continue to work with us in developing new functionalities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app’s ratings are pretty good—at around 4.5 stars. We have around 100,000 downloads on iOS and Android combined and the general comments have been positive.

How did Proexe perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Trello, which works well when it comes to managing the work with clients. Compared to other development teams we’ve used for the website, it’s smooth to work with Proexe in terms of time management and everything else.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are transparent with time management, client contact, and with the overall control of the project. We can see what Proexe is working on and know when they’re going to finish.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are the biggest content delivery network [CDN] in Poland. We work with partners like TV stations, mobile operators, and cable operators to deliver solutions like OTT [Over-the-Top] televisions, set-top boxes, and mobile applications. We are an OTT portal and content delivery network.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Proexe?

Our main responsibility is to deliver portal, web, and CDN solutions. One of the components of these are mobile applications. We needed a company which could deliver such a solution for us, and decided to start working with Proexe.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Proexe delivered an OTT mobile application which works as a part of our ecosystem. It allows users to watch TV and video-on-demand, like movies. It’s being used by the biggest companies in Poland, like the mobile operator Play, TVN, and other cable TV operators.

The app is available on Android mobile and TV devices, and iOS. Proexe also developed a Windows phone application for us in the past, but that platform is not the most popular anymore. I don’t know what technologies were used for building the applications. In terms of backend communication between the app and our servers, we have end-points using the RESTful technology. Proexe’s application uses our API interface for connecting to the servers.

We have our own graphic designers who, for the most part, have handled the design themselves. But, Proexe’s responsibility has also been to design the app from the user’s point of view, in terms of navigation and creating a good user experience.

What is the team dynamic?

I have worked with 4 people from Proexe in total, but mainly with the delivery manager of the mobile application. I have also worked directly with the developers, but that was not a common situation.

How did you come to work with Proexe?

One of the owners of the company had worked for us as a programmer. Five or six years ago, he decided to set up his own company. We knew he was a very good programmer, and decided to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

I don’t have this information.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Proexe in January 2016. We have started new projects, and Proexe is also providing maintenance work. We will continue the collaboration over the next few years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have some statistics, but I would have to collect this information. Mostly, we’ve been happy with Proexe’s work; the quality is okay.

How did Proexe perform from a project management standpoint?

During the project, we’ve worked closely with each other. Proexe was included in our project management process for the development of the application.

We’ve mostly worked with Agile Scrum methodologies, in an iterative way, with tasks and user stories. This is our internal approach, and we’ve tried to work with other companies in the same way. We assigned tasks through ticket systems like JIRA and Redmine, and, after the work was completed, we made tests and either delivered the results to clients, or improved the product.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The reason we haven’t created a mobile application department in our company was that it would have been difficult to find the right skills. We started working with other companies, and Proexe has the right skills in terms of mobile development. Their knowledge in the area is deep, and they can solve a lot of problems, instead of developing applications without understanding what’s going on under those applications.

Our collaboration is good. Things can always be improved, but the distinguishing factor about Proexe is that they are good engineers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve the development process, in terms of testing and fixing bugs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own a couple of companies, and have collaborated with Proexe across a few projects. Currently, I’m the CEO of a company developing portable spirometers for patients with asthma. Additionally, I’m the co-founder, shareholder, and manager of another company developing mobile apps that help physicians make medical decisions. They work as a knowledge center, rather than as companions for a device.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Proexe?

Our device requires a mobile app which works with it for control and recording of readings. The app needed to be developed by a team who could follow specifications, and was properly equipped with people, knowledge, and skills.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app will provide the function of collecting data from an iOS or Android Bluetooth-connected device, making calculations on it, then converting these into results to be displayed on the screen. We provided the algorithm for this.

The app will provide a history of previous readings to the user, and will also have other common functionalities like logging in, storing data on the phone, and also sending data to the cloud in an encrypted form.

Proexe was asked to develop one version for patients, and another for physicians. The latter is bit more complicated because it needs to store multiple patient files. So far, they’ve developed one version, and they are currently working on the other. We haven’t started working on the database yet.

We’ve also worked on the connectivity between the app and the device, as well as the computation of the raw data into results. The data will be stored on servers as a backup, but also shared between the two apps.

I don’t possess knowledge of the technologies they used in development. I know Proexe used native languages, and that the backend hasn’t been developed yet. The algorithm we wrote was in C++, and Proexe implemented it into the code.

What is the team dynamic?

There have been 4-5 people involved in this project, including a coordinator. We have different resources for iOS and Android, and I know there are more people working on the backend based on what we’ve seen in the communication system.

How did you come to work with Proexe?

A colleague of mine was looking for a company that could provide mobile app development services a couple years ago. I pulled them into this project based on my experience with the previous one.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Proexe around 2 years ago. This particular project started in February 2017, and is currently ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any qualitative measures, since one of the apps is still under development, and the other is nearly finished. Things are going according to plan.

We take care of debugging and quality checks. We are currently looking for errors and reporting back to Proexe, which was something they clearly communicated to us before we started the work. The number of overall errors in the design or code is normal. Taking care of this on the client side is not that bad, because we can influence the shape of the app while it’s being developed, and it will improve the final outcome significantly. On the other hand, it’s more effort on our side.

We did write specifications, but there were some adjustments during the process. They are sometimes related to bugs, but this allows us more flexibility.

We are happy with the quality of their work. Proexe is doing a very good job, and I’ve seen improvements in their services over the last couple of years. They are very focused on the work and structure, and they really listen to what we need. This is important when trying to cope with and solve issues with what we assign to them.

How did Proexe perform from a project management standpoint?

They are using web-based communication platforms like Trello and Slack, which works very well. Proexe is very responsive. Deadlines are met, but the way in which our project was designed allows for flexibility. Proexe has provided more services than we expected in the beginning.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are a small company, which allows for the personal service they provide. When speaking with them, we really know that they are actually working on our project. We’ve kept the same team, which makes us feel more comfortable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see anything at this stage, but there are always things to improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

My company works in bus transportation and bus station activities. We also have built a system to manage bus stations, transportation activities, and ticket sales. I'm responsible for the IT department and management of all IT projects

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Proexe?

We were looking for an experienced and qualified contractor to develop the mobile part of the ticket sale system we’ve created. We didn’t have enough time or resources to create a mobile application in-house. As a result, we decided to look for a company which could create it for us and provide expertise in mobile app development.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of the work and Proexe’s involvement in greater detail.

The goal was to create an Android app, which would limit the time bus drivers needed to spend on selling and validating tickets. The app was supposed to integrate with our central sales system, which would allow the customers the see the occupancy and the exact location of the bus in real-time. The app had to achieve all of this without Internet access, so all data could be stored and updated upon re-connecting.

The Proexe team was responsible for planning and developing the Android application.

How did you come to work with Proexe?

They were recommended by our trusted business partner.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

We’ve spent around $19,000 so far, but we are still working on some new improvements.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started around June 2016 and finished after around 4 months. However, we are maintaining the relationship in the form of maintenance and improvements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What are the results of the project, and are there any statistics or metrics you can share?

The app is currently used by over 100 of our bus drivers on a daily basis, and we’re still gathering the ticket sales statistics. Our IT department was very pleased with the mobile application.

Proexe were supporting us from the beginning to the very end of the project. We appreciate their assistance, as it was one of the key elements that made this project a success.

How did Proexe perform from a project management standpoint?

I would give them a 10 out of 10. The project was managed efficiently and professionally. Their communication was clear and precise, and we could reach them any time to clear up any issues that we had during the development. All deadlines were met and the app was delivered within the agreed timeframe.

We used Trello for communication and Gitlab for code management. Proexe frequently released beta versions of the application using Fabric.

What distinguishes Proexe from other providers?

They are very flexible in their approach to software development. We made a lot of changes and tweaks during the course of the project and Proexe were very open to implementing these changes, instead of sticking strictly to the documentation. Adapting to change was what made this project successful.

What do you appreciate about them?

I appreciate the high quality of the apps they delivered and their great communication. We could always reach them or schedule a meeting to talk in person.

Is there anything Proexe could have improved or done differently?

Some of the issues that came up during the course of the project could have been predicted at the beginning of the project. However, we understand not everything can be foreseen in IT projects. We also had to introduce new elements in the app due to changes in our business strategy.