OTAKOYI

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Solaris Japan is a leading online retailer for anime and video game products. I founded the company in 2008 in Tokyo.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OTAKOYI?

We had a very rudimentary "my orders" page which didn't allow the customer to edit or receive updates for his orders. Otakoyi helped us with redesigning the "my orders" page in a way that customers can now edit or cancel their order and also change their shipping method.

Claims for lost and damaged items can also be filed with the new system. The overhaul not only allows for a much better user experience but also cuts down on customer support tickets.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to integrate all order related actions into the "my account" page, so the customer could update their order without having to go through customer support first. We also wanted to automate more of the steps to reduce hours needed to deal with menial tasks like initiating a cancelation or shipping upgrade.

SOLUTION

How did you select OTAKOYI?

After approaching us through LinkedIn, we scheduled a quick call to talk about working on some potential projects together. The call went great and after looking a bit more at their beautiful web presence and quality of existing projects, we knew we had to work together.

We have worked with other companies in the past but none of them had the broad skillset and high quality of work as OTAKOYI. Right out the gate they were very pro-active and hands on, we could immediately tell we were in good hands.

Describe the project in detail.

We started off with a call going over the project requirements and the reasons behind why we needed to overhaul our "my orders" page. After that we provided slides of the current designs with explanation how things should change.

We left the exact implementations of the new UI up to OTAKOYI, since we were very impressed with their existing projects UI/UX. Just a few days later we received the first mockups for confirmation, to make sure the project was heading in the right direction.

They came up with great and clean solutions to implement all our feature requests and even added some of their own ideas to improve the overall user experience. We would keep receiving updates and interactive prototypes continuously. All our requests and tweaks were implemented promptly and communication was smooth.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned three people to our project. A general manager, a project manager and a designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within the first 6 weeks after the update, customer support tickets relating to order changes went down by 76%. Our customers are super happy with being able to quickly update their orders right from within their "my orders" page without having to reach out to customer support.

Also since the order updates are instantly reflected in our backend there is no longer any accidental fulfillments of orders that needed to be updated and didn't reach the fulfillment center in time.

The update has allowed us not only to increase customer satisfaction but also reduce cost at the same time. The whole project was a great success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Thanks to always having an open line of communication, the workflow between our teams was great. The frequent updates made it easy to see how the project was progressing and allowed us to quickly clarify or tweak details whenever needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Not only did the team implement all of the features as requested, they even filled in some of the gaps we failed to address. The result was that the overhaul ended up much more comprehensive than expected.

A lot of edge cases where considered and there for pitfalls avoided. OTAKOYI really took the time to understand the project and create something complete. So often when dealing with third parties they just try to rush through the project doing the bare minimum to check all the boxes without making sure everything actually makes sense and fits together.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Of course, everything could always be cheaper. Our initial budget for the project was a bit smaller than where we ended up at. But considering all the extra details that OTAKOYI made sure to include, the project also became bigger and in the end better than originally planned.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of WikiHero. We’re a startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKOYI?

I have a design background but didn’t a technical founder. I needed a partner to execute my vision.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

While I created initial designs, we started the engagement with business analysis. We had a round when we established the project’s requirements. Their team then managed the whole project including the development and the QA process. They built a responsive web app.

What is the team composition?

At the beginning of the project, I worked with an account manager and a business analyst to work out the scope. During the project, I worked with a project manager and three developers behind them.

How did you come to work with OTAKOYI?

One of the reasons that I decided to engage OTAKOYI was Clutch. I read reviews and searched many websites of development agencies in Ukraine. Their reviews on Clutch were the most trustworthy, so that’s why I decided to contact them. I looked at their past projects and thought that it was worth a try.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent about $20,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We officially started the project in March 2020, and our partnership’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We delivered on time at the right cost. They weren’t the cheapest option, but they were within the range. It’s a pleasure to work with them. When we met or reviewed features, it was an easy experience. We have a good relationship

We launched the website, and it works perfectly. We only had minor bugs, so it wasn’t a hassle to review the whole website.

How did OTAKOYI perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a Slack channel, which allowed for ongoing communication. Once every two weeks, we had a call to review sprints. We also had other calls as needed. While their team was fairly autonomous, I was in touch with their project manager who kept me in the loop. We also used GitLab where I interacted with the team and answered questions.

They kept their deadlines. There was maybe a difference of 1–2 weeks, which is quite good for development. It was a smooth process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They made the engagement enjoyable. Their team didn’t just want to make the product; they were transparent and helpful along the way. Their team proposed solutions and wanted to improve my idea. For example, there were a few cases when the designs didn’t fit the technical solution. Their team was independent enough to propose a solution that didn’t add another bundle of costs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s always room for improvement. There was one case when I asked for a search feature that could be hard to complete correctly. I said that we needed to test the feature, but they reassured me that there wouldn’t be problems. When we shipped, it wasn’t adapted to help people search. Their team needed more context and time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It would be helpful to lay down all the details with them. I had a clear vision of what I wanted, which could be helpful to them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of United Software Solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKOYI?

We needed additional full stack and design resources for several projects we got around the same time.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

OTAKOYI helps with the back- and frontend development and UX design of a web solution for a client. We specified our requirements for the type of resources we needed, such as having a good set of soft skills. We also asked for a project manager because we needed to coordinate some staff, and we occasionally need help with estimations as well. They sometimes speak directly with clients as well as with our internal team.

What is the team composition?

They had an engagement manager at the beginning, and then the project manager coordinates the team.

How did you come to work with OTAKOYI?

We used Clutch to find a company that had a good price and good quality.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent $100,000–$120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2019, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They had people available and built the team for us really fast. We have had a smooth cooperation. It’s a good feeling that they have our back. They’re experts at what they do. Our clients are happy, as are our engineers. They bring good value.

How did OTAKOYI perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is good. They have good communication skills. We talk every week, and they have ongoing communication with the team. They use Jira to manage the tasks and bugs. Their management takes time to communicate and ask what’s going on. They have feedback sessions from time to time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re honest and passionate about what they’re working with. They try to understand the project from the inside. They bring ideas on the fly, which helps a lot as well. They’re a great company to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything is good so far. They perform well. They exceeded our expectations of coordinating the team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them the project specifics and explain your ideas to them. They really want to lead the project. Give them a bit more information so you can expect more engagement. Sometimes, they bring really great ideas on how to implement things.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a branding and advertising agency. I am an Account Executive.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OTAKOYI?

We hired Otakoyi for a corporate website development project.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to develop a fully functional corporate website as per the design provided.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to us by another web development company.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They developed the website as per the UX and UI designs provided and created the content management system on Wordpress.

What was the team composition?

We were in contact with four key people which included a project manager, project support and two key company heads.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Otakoyi was able to deliver the initial phase of the development in a short period of time which enabled us to meet our client's deadline.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was great, organised and responsive. Daily communication was conducted via Skype.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their transparency, responsiveness, and professional work set them apart.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Perhaps more team members on a project who would be available when one isn't.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a software company that develops video apps for the automotive and real estate market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OTAKOYI?

We needed to revamp our customer invoicing system for our resellers. We were also looking for a couple of full time backend php developers for on-going projects and system support.

What were your goals for this project?

To completely revamp the customer invoicing system that we currently have and to have strong reliably team of developers to do additional projects and system support once OTAKOYI proved they were able to finish the invoicing project in time and within budget.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We went through YouTeam, an online outsourcing portal. We interviewed several companies and selected OTAKOYI after interviewing the developers that they were gonna provide for our project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Our resellers use our app to capture videos automotive dealers and need to have an easy way to bill the dealers for their work. Our invoicing system allows them to easily create an invoice directly from our app and send it to the dealer after completing the job while they are onsite. OTAKOYI was hired to help us completely overhaul the invoicing system to make it more robust and more user friendly.

What was the team composition?

A project manager and two full developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our users, esp. the resellers using our app to capture video and then be able to bill their customers from the app has increased the adoption of additional resellers using the app for their invoicing needs. In addition, this new invoicing system has led to higher retention due to higher usage and better integration.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We have a project management call twice a week to review the tasks assigned to the developers. Each task is assigned a deadline for completion. The project is well organized and has therefore resulted in timely completion of the projects and within budget.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We've been very impressed by OTAKOYI. Their developers have been top notch so far. They are very knowledgeable and very technically proficient. In addition, unlike other development firms we've worked with, these developers think outside the box.

They make recommendations that we haven't thought about. On top of everything, having interacted with management we feel we can trust OTAKOYI as a company. We are looking forward to working with them for a long time to come as a trusted development firm for all our development needs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We've thoroughly enjoyed working with OTAKOYI so far and have no complaints. The only one small issue is the time difference which makes it difficult to collaborate more closely.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CTO - I manage all the technology initiatives and operations at the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OTAKOYI?

Develop several web apps to streamline operations and reporting.

What were your goals for this project?

Making data accessible and useful. Helping Operations team correctly prioritize work. Streamline current data management processes

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommend by a business partner. We used them for a small project and they delivered ahead of schedule, and produced a product that exceeded our expectations. After the initial product, we contracted them to build several more web apps for us.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

1) Operations Dashboard - a page that summarizes current and scheduled work by employee, giving management a quick overview so we can identify issues (not enough work for an employee) and proactively work to remedy the situation 2) A Heat map showing amount of activity by region - helping hire and/or redirect current employees to service regions with higher volumes 3) An employee service locations map - showing areas covered by each employee, helping shift work to reduce employee drive time 4) A Portal where employees can get a quick overview of their overall work load, and communicate with the operations team.

What was the team composition?

Otakoyi provided a project manager, a designer, and 2 developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Tools Otakoyi developed are used daily to direct work done by the team. This visibility has helped increase worker productivity , and has led to significantly more work from the existing staff, as well as identifying areas we needed to hire additional staff.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very effective communication using a combination of Slack, Email, and web conferences.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Primarily the speed in which they delivered quality software. We've also happy with their positive attitude and engineering excellence - their suggestions significantly improve the products we ask them to build.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think of. They're able to quickly deliver everything we ask.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of Ikedayama LLC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire OTAKOYI?

We needed an efficient two-way flow of information between listed companies and investors, including both institutional and individual investors. So we were looking for someone with solid technical expertise to help us come up with a digital idea and its realization.

What were your goals for this project?

We decided to develop a progressive web application (PWA) - an app that works both on desktops and various mobile devices.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was searching for Ukrainian outsourcing companies and my choice fell on OTAKOYI. I filled the contact application and got a response shortly after.

Describe the project in detail.

OTAKOYI covered everything connected with frontend and backend programming, as well as Development Operations and the app’s design. Besides, they consulted us as the development proceeded, sharing their professional experience and vision.

What was the team composition?

Currently, the full team consists of four people: one front-end developer and one back-end developer, a DevOps engineer, and a Project Manager. Previously, OTAKOYI also gave us their designer for some period of time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The issue of mobility and accessibility was a bottleneck for our business growth, and the OTAKOYI team came up with an effective solution. We received an app that offers our clients quick and easy access to all necessary information related to their funds.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicated via Slack and conducted calls once a week all along the development process. They never missed a milestone deadline without a valid reason and seemed to be highly organized and systematic when working.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The optimal price-quality ratio of services. We definitely got more bang for our buck. I like that they firmly adhere to our requirements while remaining flexible to changes from the initial instructions. They have a quick wit when something has to be improved.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The whole process could be faster. Though speed wasn’t our top priority, I think that if they broaden their talent pool and allocate more experts to projects, then their company and partners will only benefit.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing for an online payment platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKOYI?

We wanted to build a new website and create new designs for our white papers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They focused on frontend development for our new site. Since they created our white paper designs, we’ve also leaned on them to design and create banner ads for our site. It’s very easy to go to them to ask questions or for other design projects.

What is the team composition?

We communicated directly with a project manager who had a team of 5–8 people.

How did you come to work with OTAKOYI?

We’ve been working together for so long—I think someone recommended them to me.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2016 and our project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everybody thinks the website looks great. OTAKOYI always listens to our requests and delivers what we need. We’re always happy with the designs, both aesthetically and technically.

How did OTAKOYI perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re always very responsive and stick to deadlines. They can’t give you a brand-new design overnight because good work takes time and they deliver good work. Their communication is always clear, and we normally contact them via email. However, they’re willing to use whatever platform is most convenient for the client.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They balance price, responsiveness, and quality very well. For anyone who has a modest budget and a realistic timeframe, they’ll deliver a quality product.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their concepts follow what we request very closely, but they could come up with a few crazier, more unique ideas once in a while.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear in your instructions because it will help them deliver a better result in a timely manner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT manager at Dunapak, a B2B packaging company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKOYI?

I needed help with development so that our customers could find all of their information about online purchases.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

OTAKOYI carefully listened to what we needed, and they developed a web app for our customers from scratch. They use their own engine that they developed by themselves. 

The latest project was this year, during which we started implementing IoT devices. They’re developing a dashboard, which hasn’t been done in the Ukrainian market. They did this from the beginning. The product is for predictive maintenance inside of our company.

What is the team composition?

There are eight people. For each project, there’s a project manager from their side.

How did you come to work with OTAKOYI?

We did a Google search and a market investigation of who was available in the market. We gave different companies our technical requirements. They passed through the tender we had. 

In Ukraine, it’s a bit complicated to ask a developer not to push what they know, but to find something new. We discovered that OTAKOYI could cooperate in this way. We’re glad that we found them. They’re a flexible and customer-oriented solution provider.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a rollout of this project in Poland, and our client is starting to use this solution for their customers. We just made a copy of the existing environments and adapted it to our Poland plan. On the Ukrainian side of the market, we have more than 1,000 customers in this system. The system is growing.

How did OTAKOYI perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything is good. I have two different project managers who I can easily speak with, and they deliver necessary information to the technicians. When I ask the project manager to do something, they’ll try to find time that day or the next. This hasn’t been my experience with most other companies. OTAKOYI is really flexible, and I’m really thankful for this service. We communicate via Skype, Webex, or TeamViewer.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have good quality service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We started from the beginning with the IoT project, and they didn’t have knowledge about market streams. I’d like them to develop themselves in areas other than main web development.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re customer-oriented. I recommend contacting them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a web design agency in Belgium.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with OTAKOYI?

I hired OTAKOYI for web development services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at OTAKOYI completed several small web projects and one larger one. One was a web to print platform that was for me. The others were for clients, but I handled all of the communication. Before sending the products to clients, I make sure everything is working well.

For the websites, we gave them the designs, and they made the wireframes. Some technologies used were PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, Laravel, and WordPress.

What is the team composition?

I had two main points of contact, including Oksana (Project Manager, OTAKOYI).

How did you come to work with OTAKOYI?

A friend of mine had worked with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with OTAKOYI from April 2018 to June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clients are satisfied. In development, quality can always be improved, but it’s a matter of cycling through the software at different times. They listen well to what’s needed but also think on their own. The team at OTAKOYI proposes, interacts, and creates a good collaboration.

How did OTAKOYI perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style was very good. In the beginning, there was some miscommunication about deadlines, but once we put this on the table, it was handled properly. Since then, we had frequent communication via Skype and ActiveCollab.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed with their flexibility.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the beginning, we had communication issues around deadlines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The team at OTAKOYI is full of good developers and think with the client. They’re getting bigger and better in what they do. I would recommend them to anyone.