Serfe

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a commercial real estate agency in New York City. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Serfe?

We needed to develop a website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Serfe developed a WordPress website for our company that includes several plugins. They continue to provide maintenance and ongoing support as needed to keep the site updated. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with three different people on their team.

How did you come to work with Serfe?

We wanted to work with Serfe, because they were so responsive, professional, and courteous from the start. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've probably invested over $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since 2013, and the relationship is ongoing.

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

Despite the highly competitive nature of our niche industry, the site Serfe built has served us well. I'm very satisfied with the ROI the website they've developed has generated. 

How did Serfe perform from a project management standpoint?

They use a unique online tracking platform that allows us to provide comments on features in a very organized, timely manner–I've never seen anything like it. They're also extremely quick to respond to any correspondence. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They never drop the ball, even as complexities arise within projects. They're good at coming up with solutions and are very persistent in problem-solving, which is rare in their industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

HomeJab is a real estate media and production company that offers photography, video, 3-D tours, and aerial drone shots. We produce content for real estate agents like property pages, materials, and download links.

What challenge were you trying to address with Serfe?

We were building an automated system that schedules, processes, and delivers orders after they're edited. When we first started working with Serfe, our main goal was to integrate our site with our editing partner that is based in Vietnam.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Serfe set up a basic API that populates photo and video files on our site once our editing partner completes tasks. After creating a property page, the system automatically delivers the final content to our customers without requiring manual intervention. They programmed our product in Angular.js on a Laravel framework. The platform is cloud hosted on DigitalOcean. Features include a Vimeo video player and Amazon S3 photo storage.

What is the team composition?

We had one main point of contact who worked with a team of 3-4 engineers during development. For our current maintenance and upgrade needs, 1-2 resources are involved with our project.

How did you come to work with Serfe?

I posted our project on UpWork and received responses from several teams. Serfe sent a specific price quote and detailed memo that overviewed their philosophy on how to program and work as a team. This thorough description of how they operate set them apart from comparable vendors who contacted me.

How much have you invested with them?

We initially spent $20,000–$30,000. At this point, we've probably invested over $100,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together at the end of 2015. Our project has been ongoing for more than two years now. Serfe has stayed on to maintain the system and add additional features.

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

Serfe built products that gave us the critical ability to automate most of our post-production process. It’s rarely been offline, and they quickly mitigated a security issue that arose.  Creating an automated system allows us to scale up our operation and do higher volume work to increase sales. We wouldn't be able to grow if we had to deliver everything manually and take care of the systems' functionalities ourselves.

How did Serfe perform from a project management standpoint?

Serfe has their own custom support ticket system that's comparable to email. It's very easy to get in touch with them. This tool allows us to follow progress and the dialogue. It organizes the project and lets us easily bring other points of contact into specific conversations. We've never had any issues with communication. Their entire methodology works very well for our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They delivered our request for a relatively complicated system that’s intuitive to use. The team even built many additional functions after the initial project ended. Serfe put all the pieces of our complex software together so it runs smoothly. Working with them has been a very good experience overall.

Are there any areas they could improve?

More testing on their end before launching a new function would have been helpful and saved time. At times, having to do that myself was time-consuming, and there were some obvious bugs.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-owner of Creative Countdown, based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We are an online site that creates custom countdowns. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Serfe?

Our site is built with CodeIgniter. Serfe played a key role in the backend, with the application part of the programming.

If someone comes to our site with a specific event they’re counting down to, it will calculate their event date and put the dates in. They can put entries on each page and pick a design. It’s a builder app that allows the user to create a printed countdown at the end and they put the order in.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve been working with Serfe for maybe two or three years and in that time, we’ve been constantly improving and adding features and details to our app.

Testing is a big part of what they do. They make sure that everything is correct before they put it up.

What is the team dynamic?

Right now, we toggle between two different developers that are familiar with our project. It depends on who is available because we’re not consistent in the workload and we’re not on a retainer for 20 hours or one person. One month, we may have a lot to do and the next month, we don’t.

How did you come to work with Serfe?

I came across Serfe through Elance (now Upwork), and that’s still how we work with them. We knew that we needed someone familiar with CodeIgniter and we talked to a few people. The time difference wasn’t that much, which was good. Their communication and English fluency is good as well. That made everything a little easier.

They’re also good at what they do and get it right the first time. That’s my big thing: Either do it right or don’t do it. I can’t stand having to go back through and QA and test.

How much have you invested with them?

Maybe $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2015, and the engagement is ongoing.

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

The app is functioning more smoothly. I know this because I have a lot fewer clients emailing me that something wasn’t submitted, there was an error, there’s this, there’s that. Before Serfe came in, we had constant issues, and with new things coming out, there’s always going to be that one little thing or tweaks that we need.

How did Serfe perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been really good. They’re quick to respond, and when something is done, it’s done correctly. Their estimates are right on, so they don’t go over. We’ve been really happy. They’re very easy to work with.

Everything has been through email, and they’re quick to respond with any issues. When I submit an issue that’s come up or if customers suggest a change, they’re quick to make those edits and get back to me. There’s a tracking system they use through which we submit tasks. You can see whether they’re pending or in progress.

We’ve been through some other developers and it hasn’t been as successful. We’ve been really happy with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re meticulous. There have been a minimal number of issues after they’ve posted something.

Also, they aren’t afraid to ask me if something, some detail is confusing to them. Instead of posting something that they think is right to see whether it works, they confirm everything. That goes back to communicating what they’re doing, making sure that’s okay, and telling me how long that’s going to take.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business analyst officer at Biedler’s Electric Motor Repair. We’re a combination of repair, retail, and wholesale.

What challenge were you trying to address with Serfe?

We needed help with our online website, primarily selling industrial belts and hydraulic hoses.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were using Magento as a platform and they provided server setup support. We did some upgrades on the first website and later on added the second website and continued doing upgrades and tweaking things.

What is the team dynamic?

I’ve worked with 4 different developers depending on their specialty, their level of expertise, or the specific needs of the project.

How did you come to work with Serfe?

We had someone local when we were starting our first website, and they got it setup and going but their level of expertise with the Magento platform was limited. I was looking for a Magento expert and I tried a couple of developers in India but wasn’t thrilled with the quality and the cost that goes with that, plus the amount of effort needed to manage it.

I started looking at reviews for Magento developers on E-lance and found Serf and started working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested several tens of thousands over the course of the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together 3 or 4 years ago and it’s an ongoing relationship.

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

The process that they use is very robust, which really stands out to me. In the case of other developers, some of them didn’t work with a development version and a live version setup for checking on errors before a live site update. Serfe is very structured in their process, demonstrating what they develop and then transferring it to production.

They’ve also done a very good job of not having downtime on the live site while making some substantial changes.

How did Serfe perform from a project management standpoint?

Compared to other developers I’ve used, Serfe’s project tracking system is the best that I’ve seen. They have a project management system built into their website that lists the project and the tasks that they’re working on with estimated hours, and their progress on each; you can even add notes and upload files. It really helps to know the status of the project and its individual tasks.

They’re also good at meeting deadlines and I haven’t had any significant communication issues; they’re able to understand what I’m trying to accomplish. I wouldn’t necessarily want them writing content for the website, though.​

​​​​​​What did you find most impressive about them?

The biggest thing is that they are building our website in such a way that it won’t get broken. We’re moving forward and they’re using good review processes and error checking so that when something goes live, it works and doesn’t crash the site.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve been pretty pleased with them.

Introduce your business and what you do there

I’m the founder and co-owner of an educational website. This website is used by people preparing for the NAVY advancement exam. It includes a spaced repetition algorithm which predicts when the students will probably forget information that they’re attempting to learn so that it can present that information again to them. This customizes the learning experience for the students. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Serfe?

We were trying to figure out the spaced repetition algorithm and how it would work best. They turned it into an actual algorithm in the website. It was a very difficult problem to accomplish. They took this from our very first MVP to a website that serves thousands of sailors.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They used PHP, Javascript, PhoneGap. They built our iPhone and Android apps that synchronize to the website through the API.

What is the team dynamic?

Between 5 and 10 from my perspective, over the years.

How did you come to work with Serfe?

I chose them because they’re in the same timezone and have a stellar reputation. I found them through a freelancing site. They seemed like the best choice for us and I reached out to them.

How much have you invested with Serfe?

[Confidential]

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in 2015 and it’s an ongoing collaboration.

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

This work resulted in a fully functioning website. A lot of people are happy with the user experience and customers are satisfied. We got to this point thanks to Serfe. We’ve been able to grow the website a lot. Having them on our team to add features and change the website as needed has been very useful to us.

How did Serfe perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was done via project management tool or tracker and we’ve worked with a few development teams. Their communications were one of the best that I’ve come across in this type of development.

What did you find most impressive about Serfe?

Sebastian is an amazing programmer. They took our specifications and turned it into the website exactly how I had specified. I’ve worked with other people and I could see the stark difference between what they were able to provide. They have good resources for the backend, as well as the frontend.    

Are there any areas Serfe could improve?

There’s some area for improvement in their voice-to-voice communications.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The business is StudySpanish.com. It is an online resource for learning Spanish.

What challenge were you trying to address with Serfe?

The original site was almost entirely CGI-based. It is a big challenge to find somebody who understands this technology.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They looked at the original site, thought about the options based on functionalities that we were interested in and ended up recommending Wordpress with some heavy customizations. 

How did you come to work with Serfe?

It's hard to find resources, especially if you are not a big player that can offer huge amounts of money for developers in the US. I was looking at Elance and I knew there were good developers in Europe and SouthAmerica. Based on reviews, I found they [Serfe] had a really high success rate. Knowing they speak Spanish was a big plus too. I narrowed it down to them being my first choice and luckily they were available. 

How much have you invested with Serfe?

Probably around $150K at this point. For comparison reasons, you could probably multiply that by 5 times if were developed in the U.S. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in 2015 and it's an ongoing collaboration. 

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

The quality of the website is a lot better. The speed is great and the quality of code and HTML is really good. They're really good at not just developing but also analyzing. It's been helpful to have them look at things when I'm trying to accomplish something. They have resources that are really smart and can provide good options.

Users like the website a lot. I've had good feedback from people saying they like the layout. Across the board users have been happy with it and this is exactly what we were looking for.  

How did Serfe perform from a project management standpoint?

They are really communicative. That was one of the concerns, not only language difference. I do speak Spanish, but the other concern was just distance and the lack of proximity, but they are extremely good at that. They have a kind of forum they use so you can communicate, create tickets and collaborate there in addition to email, Skype calls and the like. But I never felt like I couldn't reach somebody. Every time I reached out to them during working hours I got a response. They know this is really important and they're good at it. 

I never regretted it. I was concerned at the beginning, because I do work in IT and I'm an IT director here in the D.C. area, and I know how projects can go. It was never an issue with them. 

What did you find most impressive about Serfe?

I think everything was done really well. I liked their development methodology. It's somewhat like Scrum. They create iterations, figure out what they are going to do and then build it.  You can see that rolled out while they work on the next set of things, even while you are in production.

They had a nice test and production environment. They helped us figure out where to host it and roll it out. They do a good job of knowing how to work on things and how to have the right methodologies in this kind of project. 

Are there any areas Serfe could improve?

The only thing that might have been a challenge is that collaborating by email or communicating when my Spanish wasn't great or when one of their developers' English wasn't great, but language barriers were there but it was only with one individual really. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of MyPerfectColor.com, which was created in 2003 and is the first website of its kind. It offers color matches of over 130,000 colors across 100+ paint brands, and even enables you to choose lighter or darker versions of any color. Every color is available in a huge selection of paint types, including pint-sized paint sample mini-cans, aerosol spray cans, gallons, quarts, and 5-gallon pails of any finish of Benjamin Moore paint.

What challenge were you trying to address with Serfe?

We needed to develop an e-commerce platform that could help us sell paint online. The first version of MyPerfectColor.com was implemented on Volusion.com, but this platform didn’t have all the features needed, and the developers we were using weren’t doing a good job.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Serfe developed our e-commerce platform using HTML, PHP, [Apache] Solr, and MySQL. I am not sure how many developers were used, but I estimate 3-4. There have been many resources used over the years. They helped us define the requirements, design, develop, test, project manage, and deploy the custom site.

How did you come to work with Serfe?

At the time, I found Serfe through Elance [Upwork]. They built some small HTML widgets for us in the beginning, and I was happy with their work.

How much have you invested with Serfe?

The cost of their work for this project was between $50,000 and $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Serfe in 2008. The current project started in February 2011, and is ongoing.

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I’ve always been happy with Serfe. I’m not looking for any other developers. They’ve been amazing to work with. Since 2008, they have handled numerous large and complex projects for us. They do great work; they’re honest and upfront when dealing with issues, and they stand behind the quality of their work.

How did Serfe perform from a project management standpoint?

They are using a custom tracker developed by the company. It’s a robust tool for communicating online, and it works well. They complete the work on time, within budget, and they meet expectations. You are crazy not to hire Serfe for your project.

What did you find most impressive about Serfe?

They’re good people. They’re thoughtful and do good work. I’m happy with Serfe.

Are there any areas Serfe could improve?

No. I used to work at Amazon.com where I managed a team of developers. Communicating specific features is always a challenge, and unexpected things come up, but Serfe has been responsive, and they’ve addressed issues right away. They’re forward-thinking and generally good people.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the editor and the founder at ReadOasis provides a language learning platform using stories graded into 10 levels.

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

Serfe developed our Learning Management System. The system tracks word counts, reading speed, quiz scores, and many other learning features.

How did you select Serfe and what were the deciding factors?

We have been working with Serfe for many years. And they have done excellent work for us.

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

Serfe developed learning management systems as plugins in WordPress.

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

I've worked with 3-4 different people.

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

It's hard to measure, but over the years, system has become refined and easier to use.

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

Communication is great. Their system works fine.

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

They have consistently worked well, produced good results in a timely manner. They are trustworthy and highly skilled.

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

I cannot think of anything.