Stfalcon

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of a peer-to-peer rental service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Stfalcon?

We needed help with software development.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to have a fully functional product with a modern design.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Stfalcon was not our first partner for this project. As a small startup with a limited budget, we chose our first outsourcing company because of their low rates. After two months, we were disappointed with the results, so we searched for another development vendor.

I looked for recommendations from my network and got good feedback about Stfalcon. We chose them based on their portfolio. I was happy to see that they’d successfully created several products with thousands of users.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Stfalcon designed, developed, configured, and deployed a new client server web application. They created it almost from scratch. When we started working with them, we had just formalized our ideas and created a simple prototype. The Stfalcon team dived deeply into the product and shared lots of brilliant ideas. Since they had extensive experience, they were able to implement best practices.

What was the team composition?

We worked with seven people from their team, including developers, a project manager, a designer, and a QA person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve launched an out-of-the-box service that has received positive feedback from its first users.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was highly professional, with a balance between quality and speed. The team complied with deadlines and communicated delays ahead of time. Their project manager was my only contact, which saved a lot of time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Stfalcon was a real partner, not just a contractor. They were deeply involved in the project and provided exceptional value. They were not afraid to disagree with us, which resulted in a better product.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There was very little they could improve. They are an open-minded team of professionals.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am on the management team of a mobile app agency. We design and develop mobile apps and responsive mobile content for businesses of all types.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Stfalcon?

We hired them to help with the development of two projects—an Android app and a virtual reality (VR) solution.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal for both projects was to deliver high-quality and modern solutions for our customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Initially, we met with Stfalcon’s CEO in San Francisco and continued to have regular correspondence on a potential partnership. We were considering several companies, but Stfalcon was the one that impressed us most with their deep experience and professionalism. After studying their portfolio carefully, we decided to partner with them.

Describe the project in detail.

First, they helped us develop an Android app for a multinational corporation that wanted to showcase their entertainment technology and demonstrate its benefits to potential buyers. The other project is a VR application that will make it easy for patients with specific medical conditions to get better healthcare for their condition in the U.S.

What was the team composition?

The team consists of Android mobile developers and project management professionals.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Android app enjoyed a great response from our client, who has told us that it has helped them progress a few large sales opportunities.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our collaboration has been effortless. We’ve been impressed by Stfalcon’s rapid development and adherence to deadlines, which our clients appreciate. They are always responsive and accountable for all deliverables, demonstrating a clear understanding of the scope of work and potential pitfalls during development.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The results are indeed the most impressive thing about Stfalcon. Also, we appreciate their ability to quickly grasp the more complex aspects of our project and incorporate the newest updates into their development process.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don’t have any tips or recommendations, as I believe their team is already on a path to continually optimize their service offerings.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a platform for cooking recipes called Cookorama.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Stfalcon?

We wanted to create a search engine for recipes, but it has smoothly evolved into a cooking community. In light of this change, we needed to create a proper platform for our audience.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a platform, including a website and mobile applications, where people could easily share and access cooking recipes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We needed a company experienced in developing new projects for startups who could understand the needs of our market. Stfalcon was the best choice we found when researching. We liked the way their manager and developers communicated with us and how they helped to develop our idea.

Describe the project in detail.

Cookorama is the first social media site for people who love cooking. It's a platform where users can share recipes, rankings of recipes, and discuss cooking. However, it's not limited to reading and writing recipes; we offer an interactive place for sharing experiences, discussing different ways of cooking, and we also hold contests where users can vote for the best advice. The project had to develop in such a way that it was simple for users, but also aesthetically pleasing.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a manager, two developers, a designer and DevOps.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

Stfalcon successfully developed the website and two mobile apps, on both iOS and Android, helping us to attract more users. The platform started its work in Ukraine, now we have many users from other countries, mostly in the USA, Russia, Portugal and Poland. In Ukraine, it is commonly known platform, almost anyone looking for a recipe will find us.

How effective was the project management?

The management was effective. The solution was delivered on time and we had reliable support after it's launch, including help with publishing the apps to stores and redesigning the site when needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The developers are very professional and have a great attitude towards their work. They are collaborative and come up with great ideas for project development. After the site's successful launch, they suggested developing mobile apps that brought us more users and made the platform's content better. I was also happy with the fact that all work was finished on time; nothing was postponed during development. We did great things together.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and managing director of a boutique agency that offers full-spectrum digital services for the luxury goods industry. We help luxury brands go digital on a global scale.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Stfalcon?

We needed their help on a new project that had unique features and specifics for users.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create a platform that delivers the best user experience, allowing people to communicate and find friends in an easier and fun way.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We needed an experienced company that could become our partner and help us with various design and app development issues that we couldn’t manage internally. We were looking for a Ukrainian IT company since they have good reputations and prove to develop high-quality solutions.

Describe the project in detail.

We worked on an app with Stfalcon. As I mentioned before, our aim was to create maximum comfort for a person while using our app. Another one of our targets was to develop the app so that it would be really easy to maintain and update to new versions.

What was the team composition?

We initially worked with the sales team, who supported us well on the documentation and legal part of our cooperation. Then, the mobile app team was involved in the development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Stfalcon delivered clean code on time and improved the app’s architecture, which significantly reduced the number of bugs and facilitated quality assurance. The app itself also became much easier to support and maintain.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They have a professional attitude towards project management and all their processes are well-organized.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

There are two things worth mentioning: first, they managed to deal with technologies they hadn’t used before in just one day; second, their code quality is very high and all our managers were really impressed and happy with that.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Stfalcon is a really good team of professionals—they know their job! My only recommendation for them would be to constantly keep learning and growing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Kyivstar is the biggest telecommunications operator in Ukraine, providing communications and data services. During our cooperation with Stfalcon, I was in charge of Shop Kyivstar, the new e-commerce project for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Stfalcon?

Our company expanded its business and launched an online store specializing in smartphones, tablets, mobile phones, TV, etc. We hired Stfalcon to develop solutions for our e-shop.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for a company that could not only provide a digital solution but also deliver the same value that we give to our customers. The goal was to develop an e-shop with an attractive design that would keep customers on the page and boost sales.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Due to the strict requirements we had, we held a tender in order to choose the right company to provide a solution for us. The main criteria were the company’s experience, portfolio, and the qualifications of their team. After considering some candidates, we decided that Stfalcon was the most suitable for the work.

Describe the project in detail.

The work was well planned. Together, we came up with a user interface solution that was very effective which consisted of creating landing pages for each product instead of traditional descriptions. It increased our visibility and helped us attract more attention from customers. The marketing plan also worked more efficiently.

What was the team composition?

There was a team of UI/UX [user interface/user experience] designers, a team of frontend developers, and project and content management teams.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

I can’t disclose financial outcomes but in the period of May-August 2017, the overall number of people that visited our e-shop increased threefold. I’m very happy with the results.

How effective was the project management?

Their project managers were very organized and communicated well. All issues were solved as quickly as possible according to the complexity of the problem.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Stfalcon proved to be able to develop quality solutions, had a professional attitude, quickly reacted to any kind of problems, and was flexible when coming up with solutions. Also, they demonstrated a mix of both creativity and a pragmatic approach, which is a synergy that I really liked. It helped us find good solutions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

It was started as new venture – online project PreOrder.it. We have try to validate an idea to collect pre-orders on consumer electronics goods online and then sell it to retailers.

I'm the Founder and CEO. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Stfalcon?

We needed to create a website with a very complex back-end.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our web service was for placing pre-orders on newly announced devices, tracking news about it and getting offers from suppliers.

It was quite simple outside but has complex CMS inside. It was built on PHP. 

Its users are tech-savvy people, enthusiasts who are interested in new devices, gadgets etc.

They were responsible for all IT-related parts of our venture – web server management, administration. Software architecture and development.

How did you come to work with Stfalcon?

I contacted them based on a recommendation by my partners. And of course, they gave me good proposal (prices were good too).

How much have you invested with them?

It was under 100k USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We didn't plan an end date for the project – it was continuous development. We have worked together about two years and after they continue their support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very professional and responsive.

They have good price and skills, and they are very attentive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I think everything was made right (from their side). Unfortunately, our business model wasn't the best.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

I'm a student in Madrid. Along with a few friends, we built a dating app. 

What is your position?

I am a co-founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with stfalcon.com?

Once we came up with the concept of the app, we needed a development company to build iOS and Android apps for us.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

stfalcon designed the app and developed the original prototype. Then, from there, they developed an iOS and Android app for us fully, including back-end and front-end development. They also helped us to set it up on a server. They are currently helping us launch the app in the app stores. I was so happy with their design work. It's a cool design. 

How did you come to work with stfalcon.com?

We did some online research and stfalcon had good online reviews. Before contacting them, I called many companies around the world, and they were not able to understand my idea. stfalcon got it right away.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project is completed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We received positive feedback about the design of the app. We tested the app extensively, and it works great. It does not have any bugs. It works perfectly.

How did stfalcon.com perform from a project management standpoint?

stfalcon had a project manager who was always available to us. She was focused solely on our project and was excited about it. They not only performed what we requested, but they also suggested changes. They helped us make the app better.

What distinguishes stfalcon.com from other providers?

I'm happy with stfalcon's design skills. They built us a more advanced product than we sought to do because they were so enthusiastic about our project. They gave us many ideas and proposed different options. They guided us through the whole process. I'm planning to work with them again in the future.

Is there anything stfalcon.com could have improved or done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization and your position.

The company I’m working for is called Framework Days.

We organize different IT events for developers and managers: large conferences for various programming languages (JS, PHP, Java, functional programming language), frameworks (.NET, Angular, React) during the year; meetups that we call IT Saturdays on different trending topics/technologies and webinars/workshops. We are located in Kyiv, Ukraine.

I’m the operational director and I also organize all the events here.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Stfalcon?

We needed a tech partner to assist us with various design and development needs that we could not meet in-house.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

They created a website for us and did some graphic design as well. They also helped us design various print images and pictures. They are currently helping us with website support. Right now we are in a process of starting a redesign of our website. We are working with them on prototypes. The framework of the website is Symphony.

How did you come to work with Stfalcon?

Actually, I can’t tell you because it started before I joined the organization.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Our website was created about five years ago and it is outdated so right now we understand that there aren't many results to share. That is why we’re working on our redesign. We’d like to change everything that we didn’t have much time to do before. This summer we are in the process of redesigning. At the time, the website was great; it just became outdated. They did everything we needed. We didn’t have problems. Sometimes some bugs may happen but they fix it very fast and we can communicate efficiently. 

How did Stfalcon perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re in the process of changing project managers because she went higher up in the company. While we were working with them everything went smoothly and it was really nice because we had some bad experience with another company and I can compare project managers. In this case, we were totally satisfied. In terms of deadlines, they were mostly on time. Sometimes, timelines need to change, but they're good about communicating when anything like that happens.We understand that happens sometimes.

What distinguishes Stfalcon from other providers?

They are an excellent partner and reliable service provider.

Is there anything Stfalcon could have improved or done differently? 

It took us time to get to know the new developer or new designer. But for the last half a year we didn’t have any changes and we worked with the same people. For us, it wasn’t comfortable because we had to spend more time on tasks and explanations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

LiveExpert.ru is an experts' advice online marketplace that is popular in Russia.

What is your position?

I manage the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with stfalcon.com?

We wanted to develop an online platform where users could access experts and chat with them. We wanted people to able to access our platform from their phones, so we needed to partner with a company that could create mobile apps and a web-based application.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

stfalcon did three mobile projects for us, including Android and iOS apps. They were fully responsible for the design and development of those apps.

How did you come to work with stfalcon.com?

We have an office in Ukraine, as does stfalcon. We found them through personal connections.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative?

It cost between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We have gotten good feedback on all three products they developed. We are very pleased with them.

How did stfalcon.com perform from a project management standpoint?

stfalcon performed very well. We've had a couple of issues with them, but nothing major. I would give their project management a four out of five.

What distinguishes stfalcon.com from other providers?

Even though our projects were not very big, stfalcon was very involved and committed to our success. After the projects are completed, they kept on giving us support as needed.

Is there anything stfalcon.com could have improved or done differently?

They can pay more attention to testing. We didn't order the testing service – we did that internally – but I still wish there were more emphasis on that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Our company is KeepSnap. We have a platform that allows photographers to sell their photos online.

What is your position?

I'm the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Stfalcon.com?

We were looking to create a very complex platform as well as an Android and iOS application to support the platform. The platform allows photographers to upload their pictures and feature them online in a secure way. Access to those pictures must be limited to the photographers and the subjects of the pictures themselves. We were also looking to implement a watermark functionality on the pictures, so people couldn't download them. We wanted to create an e-commerce platform where people could buy the pictures from the photographers through PayPal or direct credit card purchases. We partnered with Stfalcon.com to develop the platform and the mobile apps.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Stfalcon.com was fully responsible for building the platform and the mobile applications from scratch. We provided the concept and informed them of the specific functionalities that the application required, and Stfalcon.com developed, tested, and maintains the website and apps. Various Stfalcon.com teams have been involved in our project, coding and building the apps and the platform. Stfalcon.com developed everything using Symfony2, a PHP framework. They also developed a server for Windows users. That server needed additional software in order for users to be able to access the photos.

How did you come to work with Stfalcon.com?

I had worked with Stfalcon.com for another project, which included website and app development for a social network for car owners. I was satisfied with their work, so I reached out to them for this project.

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

The size of the project is in the $50,000 to $200,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We're still working on the project. We've been working with Stfalcon.com for a year and a half [as of September 2015]. It took about six months to make a complete system from scratch so we could launch the website. Stfalcon.com works with us to implement new features and develop new mobile app features as we see fit.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We currently have more than 10,000 photographers registered on our free application, which is higher than we originally expected. We also have 300 photographers registered in our paid directory, where photographers publish their profiles so clients can find them and hire them to shoot events. 

How did Stfalcon.com perform from a project management standpoint?

Stfalcon.com's project management is very good and transparent. They implement a project management system that allows us to see what they are working on at all times. I can clearly see which programmer is involved in each aspect of the project, and how long they spent on it. I can also create new tasks for them directly on the system. It's been very easy to work with them.

What distinguishes Stfalcon.com from other providers?

Stfalcon.com can manage large, scalable projects with ease. I hired them because they can build a completely new system from scratch with the exact specifications I require. They don't take the easy way out. They go above and beyond to accommodate their clients' needs.

Is there anything Stfalcon.com could have improved or done differently?

No. I'm satisfied with their work at the moment. I can't think of anything that could be improved.