S-PRO

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Collabri Ltd., a P2P freelance app.

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

I needed someone to look at my idea and tell me if it’s doable or not. While I had the idea, it needed to be developed further.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a consulting phase where they reviewed my idea. I only came with a business idea. They made a proposal of all the things that I needed to achieve what I wanted to and gave a lot of advisory services.

Next, we entered the design phase. I had a previous agency working on the design and S-PRO reviewed everything that was done. Some things were missing and there were gaps in the user experience flow. Their team was able to analyze that and create new screens and finalize the user experience.

They developed the custom mobile app for iOS and Android, a platform where users can have peer to peer connections with other users. Users can also post services for different tasks. Users can see tasks on the map and connect with the people and transact. Their team integrated Google Maps and have all the individual services and tasks listed on the map. I also wanted to have list views where I could sort functions to sort and filter and the ability to chat with people. Whenever a task was performed, the S-PRO team went back to the task to rate it and have ratings of users filed in their profiles so other users can see how they performed.

In the beginning, I asked them to include a payment system integration and make me a proposal. I decided the payment system was too much of an investment at this point in time. At some point, if I’m feeling ready and confident this app is going to work, I may do that.  

By September, they completed 90% of the tasks. Then we began a phase of bug fixing and beta testing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with seven members of the S-PRO team, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

The design agency I had previously was in Switzerland and their proposal for development was too expensive. I did a final Google search to check for other agencies in Ukraine because they have a lot of talented developers and are fluent in English. I browsed 20 companies and retained three and contacted them.

S-PRO was the company that we had the quickest connection with. They were really interested in the project. They got back to me right away. They had a really nice relationship manager, who I am still working with. Based on what they delivered in the discovery phase, they made me a proposal, and we started with development.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested about $85,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with S-PRO ran from March–September 2019.

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

Since I'm a sensible users, I tested the app from top to bottom. Everything is working and there are no bugs. They captured my vision and mission. S-PRO does a great job, but you still need to be there to check the quality and give them feedback because they rely on your comments to improve what they did. It’s a team effort.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was good. They were always available. In the beginning, we had weekly calls. I knew they were working on it, but at the time I didn’t have Jira and was a bit outside the loop. I asked for a closer work collaboration which is when we implemented a daily call and I was given access to Jira.

I wasn’t an easy client. The app is complicated and there’s room for a lot of dualities. They handled it well despite the difficulties along the way. It wasn’t easy sometimes, but they were very attentive to my feedback. Whenever there was a critical issue from my side, they were very reactive and took it very seriously. They handled my requests really well. We got along extremely well and we’re friends now. Whenever they need my help, I help them. They’ve become closer partners to me.

We were slightly above the budget but it's because we redesigned the platform multiple times at the beginning. My budget was extremely tight. I explained to the client relationship manager that I wouldn’t be able to pay the full amount of the bills for it because my cash flow was diminishing and I needed more time to pay. She said it wasn’t a problem and that they’d find a solution. We easily found a solution that went well for them and worked for me as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really wanted to make me feel happy about the project and delivered the right quality at the right time. It was a very positive experience and I learned a lot.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything went well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Engage in a discovery phase and really define what you’re looking for. Set clear targets and goals you want to reach. Be involved in the project. If you don’t track it, then you’re probably not going to get the result you hoped for.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a product manager for a blockchain development company.

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

We were asked to develop a piece of software by our client. We were at capacity, so we used S-PRO to help us with that project.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The client gave us a list of requirements. They had a new concept involved a specialized kind of financing. Instead of charging interest, it uses specific rules and workarounds to manage loans.

S-PRO helped us develop the business logic behind that. They developed everything from scratch, including the design and backend databases.

They went out of their way to understand how the product would work and how this kind of finance works. They had their own suggestions about what makes sense and what doesn’t, and what we could do. They used InVision for design, and we had an AWS cloud setup. They built an MVP that they hosted locally. After that created a full-on website we showcased to the client.  

What is the team composition?

I was in close contact with them. They assigned a project manager, a product manager, two front- and two backend developers, and a QA engineer.

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

A friend recommended them to me. I considered different projects to work on with S-PRO, but those didn’t go through. When this specific project came to us, our company was at capacity. I brought in S-PRO then, and they were able to deliver.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $10,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with S-PRO in July 2019. The MVP is complete, but we hope to develop the platform further.

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

Everyone who’s seen the application told us it was great. The design was a bit too simplistic, but we were just developing an MVP. I’m sure S-PRO could deliver a better design if we wanted to build out the whole thing. I was more wowed by most everything else they did in terms of speed, communication, and so on

The project took longer to start from our side because we had to go through a back-and-forth with our client. The client didn’t confirm what they wanted, but we really liked what S-PRO built, so we’re pitching it to new clients. We’re looking to customize the platform more if we get clients.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

They sent us very clear breakdowns and timelines. I spoke to Misha (Sales Manager, S-PRO) over Telegram and WhatsApp, and I communicated with the team over Skype and Telegram whenever I needed to.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to make any changes I wanted very quickly. Misha, the person I spoke to initially, was amazing. He was always available, and he got things done.

They mostly stood out with their help on the business logic. They actually learned about the project and told us more about what could work better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. I really like them, and I’ve recommended them to a bunch of people.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

They go out of their way to help, so I don’t really have any advice. Whenever I connect someone with Misha, I know they’re in good hands.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Soapbox Network, We’re a blockchain startup in the video streaming space.

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

They’re our primary developer.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our streaming platform, creating a distributed network where people can store and transcribe video content as opposed to having it in a centralized location. It also uses cryptocurrency to incentivize engagement on the platform. It was a monumental undertaking and they did everything from the architecture to the actual development. They’re using Java and Python to develop new blockchain and cryptocurrency from scratch. We’ve extended the scope of our original project, and now they’re helping us with the UI/UX of the platform.

What is the team composition?

Our primary contact was through our account lead, but we also worked with their CEO and another team member.

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

We started working with several consultants we found online and started cultivating a vast development network. A few people recommended S-PRO, so we contacted them. They came in with the best presentation and pricing compared to any other group. They had the greatest competency and were very professional.

How much have you invested with them?

The project will end up costing $800,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in April 2018 and it’s ongoing.

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

They’ve been instrumental in bringing this project to life. We had a concept, but they drew it up and built it. Along the way, we’ve inspected the code, tested and refined the product as we went. So, we haven’t found any issues. Everything they promised, they delivered. The results are better than anything we could have expected.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

At the beginning of the project, we had a small language problem because we don’t have any Russian speakers on our team. However, they quickly rectified this issue by bringing in another person who was more proficient in English. From that point on, it has been smooth sailing and we’ve developed a strong partnership.

They were extremely responsive and accommodated our schedule despite being in a different time zone. Even when we needed to implement changes, timelines weren’t affected. They delivered everything on time and in budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When we were sourcing a developer, a lot of the other agencies we were talking to said the project couldn’t be done. Nobody else was willing to push the envelope and be creative to bring our vision to life. I was impressed that S-PRO kept true to what we envisioned and developed it exactly the way we wanted to.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If they really want to break into the North American market, they need a few more team members proficient in English.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

First of all, I’d highly recommend them. In terms of making the engagement as beneficial as possible, be open and transparent. Ask for what you really want and describe your vision. They’ll deliver.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of CryptoTap, an Ethereum wallet application.

For what projects/services did your company hire S-PRO?

We brought them on during our crypto wallet app planning stage to assist us in determining our scope, architecture, budget, timeframe, and future product development plan

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a convenient, user-centered mobile application for cryptocurrency payments and investments.

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them based on market research we conducted. They seemed as if they could deliver a beneficial outcome and work both independently and collaboratively.

Describe the project in detail.

In the planning stage, they clarified our development workflow, which helped us understand how the app will look and feel. They also delivered a written specification an estimation of the project. We then created an MVP with investing features that would attract potential investors. These features would also make the post-MVP app more competitive and increase its chances of meeting users’ expectations.

What was the team composition?

We mostly worked with Margaret (IT Sales Manager, S-PRO).

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

We came away from this engagement with a clear project plan and an efficient way to organize our resources and activities to deliver a working prototype. They also delivered a set of business requirements and accurate price estimates.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Flawless English and utilization of collaborative technologies made it easy to communicate. They went the extra mile to ensure the job was completed to our satisfaction.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their professionalism and commitment to getting the job done stood out to us. Margaret was an absolute pleasure to work with and was professional and courteous in all our conversations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I saw. I’m happy with the way everything evolved.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and founder of a small business. As of today, I only have one internal employee, but I use freelancers from all over the world. 

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

I had a customer that was interested in developing a web-based system. The freelancers I usually work with only develop mobile apps, so they lacked the requisite knowledge for this project. I searched for web developers, and then I found S-PRO. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

This first project only involved web development, so the build was relatively straightforward. I had designed all the materials for my client using Adobe XD. At that point, a clickable version of the system was complete. S-PRO assessed that iteration and gave me an estimate of how much it would cost to fully develop. My client accepted the price they quoted, so S-PRO started developing the product based on the demo or wireframe I'd made. The technology stack they use includes a PostgreSQL database, a Django REST framework for the backend, and a React.js library for the frontend.

About two months later, a different client of mine wanted a system that was both web- and app-based. We used the same wireframe process again. After discussing our requirements and technology options, we agreed on the budget and scope. Development has been ongoing for some time now for this much larger system. There were a thousand questions that needed to be answered along the way, but they've made the process effortless and stress-free. I'm quite happy to be working with S-Pro. 

What is the team composition? 

I have one central point of contact at S-Pro along with the project manager they assigned to our engagement. 

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

I found S-PRO on a freelancer page called UpWork. I needed an established software company who could provide both mobile and web development. S-PRO can do both. In particular, I choose them based on positive reviews from past clients. Their proximity to Norway, since they're in Ukraine, was one of the main selling points. They’re one hour of a time zone away from our location.

How much have you invested with them?

The price tag of our first project was a little under $15,000. The second project, which we're still working together, should cost around $80,000. It might even surpass $100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February of this year. S-PRO finished the first web development project at the beginning of May. They’re still working some hours to add new features and make changes at our client's request. 

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

The product is a closed maintenance system for an apartment complex, so it's not for public use. They’ve just started registering users and already have 70 complexes involved, each with their own manager in charge. Our product’s notification system will make it much easier to keep track of maintenance requests from tenants. The end users haven't fully started using it yet, but our client is fully satisfied. She's expressed that she got exactly what she wanted. 

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well. S-PRO is an extremely easy development partner to work with. Whenever I send them a message, I get an immediate response. They go above and beyond to create or fix anything we request as quickly as possible. Even now, when they many responsibilities going on, they still try to find time to make small changes to our maintenance system. I'm super happy with them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Even though we had two concurrent projects, S-PRO made our work effortless. We probably could have done even more because they made it go so smoothly. They're easy to get in touch with and will always make time to talk with me when I need them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can't think of anything right now. I'm delighted. If I get new projects that are too complex to handle internally, I won't hesitate to hire S-PRO again. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd encourage potential clients to get in touch with S-PRO. They are accommodating and consistently honest across the board. When I have budget meetings with clients, it's helpful to have detailed invoices that show us the exact work that's been done. S-PRO genuinely helps you every step of the way, even if you know nothing about web development. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a new startup company that is developing a software app for iOS and Android.

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

We started to develop a prototype using a previous supplier. We were looking for a more organized, proficient, and professional vendor to continue the project.

What was the scope of their involvement?

S-PRO developed on our fintech and social networking app using React Native. They configured centralized-online wallets for individual users and integrated our app with an end-to-end payment system. Their team is currently offering technical support for the payment system and developing a double-layered, family-friendly safety system (as our product is to be used by children).

What is the team composition?

The team consists of 5–10 people, including 2–4 project managers. They scale the team depending on our requirements.

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

Our CTO was searching through a third-party vendor marketplace. During that time, we interviewed various vendors. In the end, we chose S-PRO because they were the most professional and proposed a competitive price.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $25,000–$35,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in September 2017 and it is ongoing.

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

Overall, our executives are happy with the results so far. Skillfully structuring our ideas into reality, their team's technical knowledge is vast. S-PRO's feedback/advice is always useful and critical to the ongoing success of the project. We are planning to release a new version with them.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

We speak to our assigned project managers, QA, and other members of their staff every day via Skype or telephone. They are always available even outside office hours for technical questions. Their team is enthusiastic and professional, and we receive updates from them about ongoing issues. Even though we are based in different countries, I have a wonderful connection with their team and they always reply within 30 minutes or less. More recently, we met them in Ukraine and we were pleased with seeing their workflow in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They communicate well with us and are enthusiastic about the project. S-PRO are open to feedback and are always looking to improve. Even when the project was going in a bad direction, they were able to find solutions and change our initial disappointment into satisfaction. Their team continues to develop trust and fondness between our teams.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the beginning, we had some miscommunication that could’ve been easily avoided with more attention to detail. S-PRO missed some easily understandable concepts and had trouble managing a lot of projects at once. Their CTO could’ve focused on better managing his team. However, since our current project manager joined the project, everything has been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Follow up with them for updates on the project to avoid issues that could be easily avoided. Their English is quite good, but discussions on technical concepts can be difficult. Also, be available to speak with them when they need your feedback.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is a virtual development organization that outsources development efficiently. We wanted to accomplish certain business objectives with an online solution.

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

We wanted to develop an online platform.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We put together an NDA, and I gave S-PRO the specifications to design a platform with backend and frontend components. It involved Python and JavaScript, and was based on Amazon Web Services (AWS). They provided the expertise to deliver this.

After we agreed upon the configuration on paper, they resourced the project adequately and assigned a project manager to liaise all communication with the development team. We agreed on timelines, and they delivered a basic version of the platform in six or eight weeks.

S-PRO developed a backend administration console that allows us to configure certain aspects of the site. The platform has email notifications, and real-time notifications are pushed to its frontend. There are JavaScript calls and integrated social media logins on the frontend of the site, plus a dashboard interface that displays information with real-time calls to the backend. There are integrated notifications, email notifications, and some JavaScript animations as well. S-PRO met all the challenging aspects of the delivery.

They also provided QA services. They had an agile team with quality assurance capabilities. I received access to their Jira instance, and could become involved in development as I saw fit.

What is the team composition?

S-PRO assigned one back- and two frontend developers, one QA tester, and one project manager. Most communication went through the project manager, who was completely fluent in English.

Although some developers had strong English skills, they were more reluctant to speak during calls. Their written English was absolutely perfect, though. I communicated with the developers through written messages on Slack and email as needed, and had Skype calls with the project manager if necessary. All the Jira communication was written as well.

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

We used several channels to scope out development agencies. I am based in Dublin, Ireland, and I approached some local groups to understand their capabilities, deliveries, and costs. I also looked on Upwork.

I narrowed the selection down to S-PRO based on not only cost, but also on the fact that they gave the right signals. The complexity of their development resourcing and capabilities was good enough, especially given how challenging the world of development can be. Their skillsets ranged from simple websites to complex platforms with front- and backend functionalities.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost has been more than €20,000 ($23,000 USD) at this stage. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with S-PRO in October 2017 and the initial engagement lasted two months. I’ve continued working with them based on the quality of work and their ability to maintain an ongoing relationship. They've been commissioned for a second phase of work, which hasn’t been delivered yet.

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

The platform is the whole offering of my business. It’s still in its very early stages, but it is being used for market testing. Although we haven’t made a full release yet, S-PRO’s work has allowed us to perform initial alpha tests with customers. We are currently planning the beta release. Based on their work so far, we can be confident of the delivery date. We know that they will be able to deliver enough for us to conduct beta testing.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management service was great. It added a level of reassurance to know that someone from S-PRO was driving the project timelines from a client perspective. They had two different project managers working with us, one for each phase. They were both brilliant, with excellent communication skills, and contributed to the project's timely delivery.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated not only their capabilities—which they’ve probably advertised and emphasized—but also their genuine desire to deliver what the client wants.

That was huge for a development agency, which quite often deliver what they perceive to be the deliverables. S-PRO genuinely wanted to be successful in our eyes and provide the deliverable we wanted. They were willing to work on our relationship, which is why it's ongoing. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is always work to be done in any relationship. Since I'm Irish and they're Ukrainian, we were always working on communication. I saw their willingness to work on this as a positive, not a negative. 

As with any project, I drove communication and ensured that everyone stayed informed of progress. They handled this well. When it came to clarifying the more detailed aspects of the system, they needed to reach out and make requests, which was perfectly fine. I was perfectly happy to receive clarification requests.

I wouldn’t want to see them marked negatively for this. They genuinely put in the effort to ensure project success. They worked harder than most in this area.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Gain a strong understanding of what you want, from both a technical and business perspective. If clients deliver requirements well, S-PRO will deliver. It’s harder for any development agency to deliver something that wasn’t well-defined from a business and technical perspective. Documents your deliverables well, and you will guarantee your delivery with S-PRO.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the current CTO of LIBIFY and previous CTO of Regiondo. I’ve worked with S-PRO during my roles at both companies. 

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

Our mobile app lets users compile a list of emergency contacts they can call with the push of a single button. Users can also send an SMS text with their positions. We offer this service through a dedicated device, and the mobile app is an alternative way to use it.

After delivering a mobile app for Regiondo, S-PRO is continuing to provide ongoing support and maintenance.  Our current project at LIBIFY also involves a mobile app, plus web development, QA and project management. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

We usually work together on a full-time basis. S-PRO quickly identified the types of developers we needed based on the technology stack we were using. They created most of the scope based on our concept and discussions. Besides a list of new features, we didn’t have many functional requirements.  Their plan for the first few weeks included several tickets to complete right away. Since S-PRO has their QA testing, we discussed which devices and platforms to include.

S-PRO built the first app from scratch. We provided an API and had some bug reports. Using React Native let us develop a cross-platform mobile app for Android and iOS at the same time. One of our projects is based on Vue.js. We didn’t have any in-house engineers who worked with this framework, so S-PRO quickly secured a fulltime developer. They even fixed poorly built elements of our existing app, as well. 

What is the team composition?

Even though we have several product owners, we don’t have a project manager. S-PRO assigned us one who can act as a liaison. We can also contact the developers directly if we want. Whenever we request short-term developers, they can usually find new talent within 24 hours. They provided QA testers along with the software engineers. 

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

I found S-PRO online, rather than through a referral. About three years ago, I was looking for an outsourced company that could build a mobile app for my previous company. I chose S-PRO based on their rapid, clear communication from several providers in question.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work has varied, but it totals between $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with S-PRO in September 2016. The first project was finished in December of that year. After the first release, we switched to another project.  As far as I know, everything was ready for the second release when I left the company, after which they started several new tasks for that app. 

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

Our project was a three- week release, and we launched our current app a few days ago. From a business and budget point of view, the collaboration was quite good. Even though they estimated precisely, there was a one-week error. Since they were working on a fixed-cost basis, we still could maintain our budget. When we identified one issue, they were willing to resolve it without any further cost. I believe it hadn’t been discussed clearly. 

Our project manager makes everything clear and simple. I never have to wonder about minor details or which people should be involved in the next stage. They capably plan and resources independently, based on the upcoming work.  Our meetings were all well-organized, and everyone from S-PRO’s team always knew precisely what needed to be done.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate on-demand. We chat on Skype almost every day and discuss more significant tasks via email. Our presentation meetings for items like new releases occur every 1–2 weeks. After our meetings with their project management and developers, S-PRO sends us follow-up summaries. At times, they’ve involved developers and QA resources in these meetings. Mid-month, they touch base with us to gauge how we the account management process and whether we need to pause development. 

We use an internal project management tool is called uTrack. This ticketing system includes developer accounts, which lets us assign tickets to specific resources. S-PRO also uses Jira internally sends us detailed scopes exported from that tool. After finishing tickets when we don’t need new developers for the next few months, we can reorganize resources.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve appreciated their honesty. We were their first client to ask for Vue.js.,  a technology they lacked the expertise for in-house.  Even though it wasn’t featured in S-PRO’s scope, they agreed to have one of their resources learn it. They assigned him to us at a lower price, and he did a great job regardless. They compensated for his lack of experience by only charging us for every second hour of his work.  Within one month, S-PRO found a skilled permanent replacement that had the exact skills what we needed.

They smoothly transitioned between the two developers with only a 3-5-day overlap. During that brief period, they were both working for us as the project changed hands.  We didn’t experience any problems or delays. The first developer stayed with us for as long as was needed to close the tickets.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of any.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

The clearer of information you provided, the smoother development will go. Having specifications in place helps, but we decided to delegate this task to S-PRO. It worked well to connect our product owner to their project manager. This did mean we had to pay for that resource ’s time, but thankfully, they have reasonable pricing.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software development company.

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

We were looking for development partners to build a cryptocurrency exchange platform, and they seemed like the perfect fit for our profile.

What was the scope of their involvement?

S-PRO is our technical partner, with whom we develop software on behalf of our clients. We’ve worked together on multiple projects. For one project, they built a cryptocurrency exchange platform from scratch. They analyzed the business case, and then went beyond the specifications we agreed upon, proactively proposing optimal solutions for developing the platform. It’s a simple crypto-to-crypto exchange platform, with functionalities for buying and selling cryptocurrencies, as well as exchanging one coin for another. They also included a nonstandard functionality to short coins.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with quite a few of their team members. For this project in particular, they assigned at four to five people, including a project manager, QA specialists, DevOps, developers, and designers.

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

I searched through Google and other platforms.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since 2017, and the crypto-exchange project ran from November 2017 to March 2018. The main development is nearly finished, but we have an ongoing maintenance relationship.

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

In terms of technical aspects, the whole process and the results are more than we expected. Whether the product itself will be successful more or less depends on marketing. The client hasn’t yet been able to share their success stories, since we’re still in development.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve maintained communication from start to finish, and did so on an as-needed basis, whether that was daily or weekly. They tried to get an understanding of what had to be done, and they would suggest anything else that they thought we would need.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I can’t choose one single quality. They’re open to communication, they have a willingness to use whatever work style and format fits the client’s needs best. Their team looks after the needs of the client, and always tries to find a good solution for both sides. They’re also open to partnering in the long term.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I advise clients to get in touch with them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager and co-founder of a business that offers sales competitions and sales training for brands. 

What challenge were you trying to address with S-PRO?

We reached out to S-PRO to have our brand sales and marketing mobile app developed. From a brand perspective, the app shows the brand from their best sides with sales competitions and learning features. The app is for people who work at different retailers—for example, if a sports brand wants to reach out to all the people who work in a sports store. We wanted a complete product in a certain amount of time and within a certain budget. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

S-PRO did most of the development from the start. One feature is the actual sales competition where users can register their sales and see rankings. Another module or feature lets them earn points. The app also has a messaging feature where users can communicate with the sales staff in the stores.

They’ve done a hybrid of backend and frontend development for us. We’ve trusted them along the way and gotten good advice. We’re not well-versed in technology. They always let me know if we need to do some upgrades or changes. The app is built on Ionic for both iOS and Android. We’ve finished version 1, but we’re continuing to working with them.

What is the team dynamic?

About 4 people were involved. There was a project manager, a frontend and a backend developer, and at some point, there was a guy working on our app who got promoted. So, now he’s more like a manager. The original manager quit.

How did you come to work with S-PRO?

We read reviews on Upwork, and they seemed like a trustworthy company. We had Skype meetings with 3 companies—an Indian company, a company in Spain, and S-PRO. Based on our feeling that S-PRO would do a good job, we chose to work with them. They fit our profile and were a good match. We had a lot of changes along the way, but they’ve given us great advice and are a reliable partner. They communicate well. All in all, it’s been a really good experience. Since I’m in and out of the country and don’t really have any references that I know personally, I never know what we’ll end up with for outside vendors. We are still working with S-PRO and doing new projects.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together January 2017, and our collaboration is ongoing. 

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

This is not a consumer app. We measure our success by how happy the brands are and what the marketing director is saying. So far, they’re very happy. We’ve done reviews in the app using the survey feature. As part of the survey, we asked users how happy they are with the app. We got really good scores. These campaigns are customized for a smaller audience, so we can’t really measure success in numbers.

How did S-PRO perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent and follow-up well. Language could’ve been a barrier, but they had a supervisor or a project manager to minimize any issues. We interacted on a daily basis, first through Upwork and then using Skype as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s hard for me to compare S-PRO since we don’t have many other providers. All I can say is we are thrilled with the work they did, and we reached our goals in finishing the app. We’ve had few problems with performance and downtime. Everything works well.

They’ve helped us change our hosting and did an excellent job. I wouldn’t recommend them if they didn’t. I get at least 5 offers every week through LinkedIn and email from developers who want to connect with us. We’re sticking with S-PRO.

A friend of mine was looking to do a SmartWORKS app. She asked me for a reliable provider, and now she is talking to Igor [Co-Founder and CEO, S-PRO] as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

For us, it’s important to work and talk with the same people in order to keep a close connection. There’s nothing I can think of that hasn’t been working.