Interview with Nabeel Zafar, Founder & CEO - Zeikh Technologies

Give us a quick overview on Zeikh Technologies. When and how did you begin this journey and what were your motives to be successful in app development?

I started Zeikh Technologies in December 2014 with an aim to provide quality services and applications made on world best development standards on cheap rates. Before that I had been working as a Technical Project Manager in two different multi-national companies where I noticed that mostly clients don’t get what they want because of lack of communication or lack of market research, and I also noticed clients complaining about how they were cheated by other software companies around the world; that was the point where I realized that I should run my own software company that would make sure to always go an extra mile to reach customer satisfaction.


What is your role in the management and development of Zeikh Technologies?

I make sure that we understand the client’s needs. Clients explain their project details to my project managers, once they discuss all details; I make sure that the application architectures are made in a way that the application could compete with other big apps. I also make sure that my employee’s needs are fulfilled on time, because if I don’t keep my employees happy, they won’t keep the clients happy.


Tell us about your biggest achievement in the industry

We had been working with big names and have deployed multiple applications for each firm. We have a privilege of working with USAID, PEPSI, Microsoft, ISNA, Depilex, Hal’rezo and there are many big project we are working on with our clients in USA.


How do you schedule the development phases of the apps to promise the timeline to your clients?

We make sure that we understand the requirements first. We stay in touch with the client, and ask questions and clear ambiguities. Then we propose two to three solutions to the client, each solution comes with a different cost and time estimates. Then based on budget and what’s best for the client, the client chooses one and we start working on the development of the project.

We mostly divide projects into 5/6 releases where we make sure to have status meetings at least once a week, to share progress with the client, because clients feedback is important in case if there are some changes we could incorporate them during the software development life cycle to launch application as per clients expectations and bug free on time.


How do you help your clients in choosing the right yet profitable platform for app development?

That totally depends on the application requirements. Let’s say if a client wants MAX 5 pages website being used for informative purposes we would never suggest the client to go for the MERN/MEAN stack solution, reason being that a simple custom PHP content management system would work fine, and will let client save a lot of money on hosting services as well. The technologies are recommended on the basis of the project requirements, like we are currently working on an application that 20 million people at least will use at the same time, the client wanted the application to be reliable and robust, so we are making it using MERN stack technology and will deploy it to AWS servers to make sure that the application performs perfectly.  


Which would you suggest for a successful and profitable business progression, Native or hybrid apps? How do you define the factors that influenced you to make this choice?

Well, nowadays there is nothing a hybrid app can’t do what native app can. ReactNative, Xamarin are one of the top hybrid app development tools, and the client can get the same amount of performance from a hybrid app that she/he should expect from a native one. The major advantage for such hybrid solutions is that the client usually gets 2 apps, Android and iOS by spending 50% amount of what she/he will spend for development of Android and iOS native applications.


How do you scheme your pricing model? How do you fix your budget?

Well, we write down scope of work, we break down requirements and make sure no requirements during the requirement analysis phase exceed 8 hours limit. After doing all analysis and writing down each and every requirement, we multiply the total hours by per hour rate offered for a certain technology stack.

We also provide lump sum development rates, and usually give clients a payment plan so that it’s easy for them to achieve their dream and goals, with a comfortable payment plan.


How helpful are the mobile apps developed by your team, for enhancing your clients’ business?

Mobile apps are one of the core systems for each business these days. The number of mobile app users is more than 60% than the one who tries to look for a certain business on a web browser. Keeping the statistics and people’s psychology in mind, we also suggest our clients to introduce mobile apps as well.


What according to you are the best practices to attain client satisfaction?

Understanding Clients Requirements
Keeping Client in loops
Constant Meetings
Constant application releases/demo to client to get clients feedback.
Be on time
Make sure not to commit inappropriate technology stack, time or cost estimate


How do you update your business system to be in pace with the technological advancements?

Well to be honest, I am a technology freak. Being a CEO I always try to learn new technologies and do my R&D’s on daily basis. Because I believe that if the person in command has a grip on all available technology stacks, then it also encourages employees to learn about new technology advancements and keep themselves productive and updated.


What are your thoughts about AR, VR and Internet of Things (IoT)?

My company has been working on AR, VR and IoT for past 4 years. AR, VR is the future, and we have had built quality applications that are already being used by hundreds of users.


What do you think will be the future of Mobile technology?

Mobile Technology is the future. I am sure that in 5 years from now, the statistics we currently have will increase massively and the current amount of users will increase to being 99%, where I believe 99% of the users will start exploring a certain business on a mobile app, although we had mobile first application development approach from past several years, but it’s going to take another 4-5 years for people to realize that how much mobile app development is important and what it can do to their businesses.