99x

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CTO and owner of an IT company called dev4real.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with cleverti?

We were short on manpower with good knowledge and good work ethics. We also needed extra resources for different projects we were working on with our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They are helping us by providing resources on a daily basis.

What is the team composition?

We work with one person daily and are working on adding another resource shortly. We plan to increase the number of team members by a few more throughout this year.

How did you come to work with cleverti?

I found them through a contact I trust. I explained that I needed assistance with manpower and that it was very hard and expensive to find resources locally. He knew a company in Portugal that could help, which was cleverti. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in September 2019 and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The big picture is that the resource is exactly what was promised, which has been good. He is available to us full-time and neither complains nor makes excuses. Everything is done on time and as requested.

I have had other experiences in the past with other companies who have said the resource isn’t available for whatever reason. With cleverti, there have been no complaints and everyone is happy. I can’t guarantee that everyone from cleverti will be the same, but to start with, our resource has been very good and he keeps his promises.

How did cleverti perform from a project management standpoint?

They are pretty prompt in replying to us even during off-hours which is surprising.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are not complicated to work with. There are companies that stick to the contract no matter what, whereas cleverti sticks to the contract and goes beyond when we need them to. They are very flexible. 

Portugal is very far from Estonia, so I was reluctant to work with them in the beginning, but they have proven themselves very well. Their sales talk was good, but more importantly, they’ve come through with everything they promised.

Are there any areas they could improve?

So far, there are no complaints about or negative aspects of working with them. They fulfill their promises and they always deliver.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Evolution Virtual. We create branding, marketing, visualization tools, and digital interactive solutions for the real estate development industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nextly?

We needed help building a few technically sophisticated products for developers to show off unbuilt homes to agents and buyers. Nextly is our development partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nextly has built multiple visualization and 3D-interactive tools for us. They include a kitchen visualizer, a product configurator, and a WordPress website.

In each case, we provide wireframes and designs to their team. Nextly then builds the product’s frontend in React and the backend in Node.js. They use Redux and AWS as well for hosting, and they’ve also completed database work.

What is the team composition?

We work with three people: a lead person, a full-time developer, and a part-time developer. The team’s point of contact varies depending on the project, but we also have access to Eduardo (??, Nextly), our developer, whenever we want to communicate.

How did you come to work with Nextly?

We found Nextly through Upwork. We led a large, open search for individual developers and teams, and Nextly seemed incredibly qualified.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration started in July 2019 and is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Nextly has done a spectacular job on sophisticated projects so far. They’ve been a great partner, and we plan to expand their role going forward. 

How did Nextly perform from a project management standpoint?

Whenever we give Nextly something to finish on their own, they hit their deadlines and check over their work carefully. We always receive a working product on time. We communicate through Slack, Skype, phone, and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Nextly is incredibly responsive at all hours of the day—even when it’s outside working hours on their end. We’ve sent them messages late at night in their time zone, and they always answer us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. To be honest, my tech team works with Nextly directly, but I do not. But they’ve been a great partner to us, and we’re happy with their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO and co-founder of a worker-centric platform. We support temporary and self-employed workers to earn more, save more, and invest more of their money.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

We needed help with platform development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They are building our SaaS platform, which is essentially a marketplace with some functionality we’re building in-house. Over time, we will handpick integrations with existing software, products, or services. They have used Angular and .NET for the frontend and backend.

What is the team composition?

We have worked with four people from their team, including two full-time developers. They’ve provided really great support throughout the engagement.

How did you come to work with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

They were recommended to us by our CPO, who had gone through the sales process with them. He recommended we speak to them, which led to a phone call with Tomas, and then we agreed to start working with them.  

How much have you invested in them?

We spend €6,600 per month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the collaboration with them in May 2019, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything like what we have with them (with the same timeframe and budget) if we had stayed with a UK-based development agency. To their credit, Andre (Senior .NET Core Developer, cleverti) and Carlos (CEO, cleverti) have worked incredibly hard, not just on a technical aspect around the product, but also to really understand the pain points and problems we are trying to solve. They have always held that vision and been able to transmit that naturally into their code.

The biggest compliment I could say is that it feels like we have known Nuno (Team Leader & Frontend Developer, 99x), Carlos, Tomas, and Andre a lot longer than we actually have. It has been great in terms of the quality of the product and the speed. Everything has been fantastic, and we are really happy.

How did cleverti perform from a project management standpoint?

We agreed to a set of project management systems that we, as well as the developers, are happy with. They have been really open to that the whole way. We have a stack that works well for us and ensures that we have really good communication.

One of the other attractions you get from cleverti is that Tomas provides excellent business development support. Nuno, who is the group CPO and is involved across all of the projects on more of a technical aspect, fills a question-busting, solution-providing role which we essentially get as part of the package. There are no hidden costs for that kind of expertise either. He acts as a very effective go-between with clients and developers.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s easy to scale up when needed, and it’s been a lot more cost-effective than anything we could get in the UK for the same quality. There is much less turnover than in a UK-based agency as well, leading to a continuity factor and a peer support element. They keep their developers happy, both financially and culturally. The culture within the organization is one of genuine support for the client. It is a really good, positive culture. We were lucky to find them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, not really. Nothing springs to mind, and we are really happy. The relationship we have with our two developers is what makes it for us. You don’t really know how it is going to go or how someone will react in certain situations until you start working with someone, especially in start-ups, where something has to be torn down if it isn’t built right. In our specific case, it has been pretty perfect. If there any issues that come up, or delays, they come up from our end. I can’t fault them at all.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company deals with spatial information, with quite a diverse project portfolio, mainly working for public clients. I'm the head of the software development unit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

We wanted to be more flexible in our response to our projects. It was difficult to find competent professionals to help with these tasks, so we were looking for a partner that would allow us to be more flexible and able to scale.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They work with us using web and mobile technologies, including Angular, Ionic, and Java, and we also use database technologies. Our upcoming projects will include Python.

What is the team composition?

So far, we’ve worked with five developers from their team, and there are three more joining us this month.

How did you come to work with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

I found them through their web page and contacted them. I was in contact with several companies, and 99x (formerly Cleverti) were the best fit for us and our goals.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2018, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve allowed us to start some projects we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to, providing us with solutions to scale some and set up others. The quality is very good so far. We have the same way of thinking about our work and what should be accomplished, which means the teamwork is excellent. They’re crucial for the work we do.

How did 99x (formerly Cleverti) perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication is really good. We’ve set up mixed teams with 99x (formerly Cleverti), divided between Munich and their office, and we have a manager on their side, who’s not directly involved in the work. If there are any issues, they provide us with the help we need.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have useful resources, which are difficult to find in our location. Communication and management are very good, as is the overall collaboration. We think the same way, and they do everything to find solutions for us. Our teams work well together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see anything in this regard. There can always be improvements during a project, but we work on them together. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

No, I can't name anything specific.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a startup based in Copenhagen. Our goal is to provide headhunters with the tools to find the right candidates under specific verticals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

There are limited and expensive development and technical resources in Denmark. We hired 99x (formerly Cleverti) to develop all the interfaces we’re using on the platform, from customer-facing to internal interfaces.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For development, we used Angular JS, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one of their developers.

How did you come to work with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

I was prospecting various outsourcing companies in Denmark. I’ve worked with other companies based in Eastern Europe and felt the relationships were never that constructive. After going in another direction, I found 99x (formerly Cleverti) purely by looking for Portuguese outsourcing companies on Google. I’m actually planning on moving to Portugal and wanted to see what companies were there, along with their prices. The fact that 99x (formerly Cleverti) was located in Europe made it easier when it came to billing and having only a one-hour time difference. I got in touch with them, and the relationship started from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between €40,000– €60,000 (approximately $45,000–$68,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with 99x (formerly Cleverti) over a year ago, and the project will finish at the end of April.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re currently raising money for the company, and I’d love to keep working with 99x (formerly Cleverti). Their sales manager is helpful and listens to the needs of his customers. They were highly-responsive; there was no time where I couldn’t get in touch with them. When it comes to development, I value their motivation and work ethic more than skill.

99x (formerly Cleverti) assigned us a junior developer who was highly-motivated and personable. There was an onboarding time where I had to explain to him about online technologies. He got better and better within a few months. Today, we outline tasks at a high level, and he works on those by himself. Since we’re a small company, every resource is critical. The developer wasted no time. He needed different devices to test the interface on, and there was no problem for 99x (formerly Cleverti) to do that. Their team is likable and always there to help. There were some setbacks, but nothing determinantal to our business.

How did 99x (formerly Cleverti) perform from a project management standpoint?

The developer used our internal Jira account, and I did project management. We were free to manage the developer as we wanted. I only required that he had the right toolset at every point in time. I made it clear that if he needed a Windows device in two hours, he should have it. They always delivered in that sense.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Apart from responsiveness, they delivered what we expected them to. 99x (formerly Cleverti) was interested in the project, working hard to better it. Their attentiveness to our process was also a huge plus. After a few months, a set routine kicked in, which lessened their questions. They knew I was managing the developer myself, so they received a status update from him every few months. I never had an issue with my developer; I was lucky.

Are there any areas they could improve?

99x (formerly Cleverti) did everything we needed them to in the right way. I don’t see any areas where they could improve. One time, our developer was in a noisy area, so I asked them to move him.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My business partner and I each have over 40 years of experience in the computer industry. We help legacy and mainframe organizations modernize their applications and computer systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

We have a variety of partnerships with other firms, one of which is 99x (formerly Cleverti). We use them to pull additional resources.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially worked with them on testing technologies and solutions, but currently work with them to transfer IBM- or Cobalt-based systems to distributed Linux platforms. It is difficult to find resources with experience in some of the technology we use, so the collaboration is particularly positive for us.

What is the team composition? 

We use their consultants as needed. We currently work with one to three, and will increase the team size next year.

How did you come to work with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

Our relationship with them predates the founding of our current company. They helped us build our structure, and we’re revisiting our relationship with them now to fulfill resource requirements for some of our projects. We have a long history with them, mainly thanks to the quality and affordability of their resources.

How much have you invested with them?

The current project involves between one and three of their consultants, who we engage full-time. Current costs are around €6,000–€7,000 (approximately $6,900–$8,000 USD). We expect to double that next year, based on resources we’ll need for coming projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our initial contact with them started back in 2009, but it took a while to work with them. We've had an on-and-off relationship with them since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project we were working on was going badly when we brought them in. We were struggling to find the right resources, but they gave us exactly what we needed. They provided high-quality consultants and really saved the whole process.

How did 99x (formerly Cleverti) perform from a project management standpoint?

They all speak excellent English, so are easy to communicate with. We only work with one to three consultants, so we manage the project while they deliver resources against the contract.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been in the business for a long time and have hired nearshore and offshore resources from a variety of countries. I particularly like my collaboration with cleverti. The level of cost is low, the quality is superior, and they’re much closer to our time zone.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be helpful to them if they expanded their visibility in the market. We plan to expand our business with them, and a stronger presence would help grow their pool of resources.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company that creates software for the oil and gas industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

I’ve used 99x (formerly Cleverti) for several projects. For this project, we wanted to make the functionality of our desktop application available on the cloud. We were building a web-based frontend for the app for the first time, and we needed a developer with JavaScript skills who could use the React framework we chose.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

99x (formerly Cleverti) advised us on how to use the framework and eventually provided us with the developers that we needed. We launched the first part of the application recently.

I’m not familiar with the technical details of the project, but we’ve primarily used JavaScript with the React framework. I know other technologies are used in terms of REST, APIs and proxies.

This was a one-off project, where we gave them our specs and they delivered, but I have worked with 99x (formerly Cleverti) in three or four other contexts. When I first started working with them, the company I was with was doing PHP development, testing, and support. The second project I did with them involved .NET developments for an e-health app for pharmacies in Norway. Later, in my role as the CEO of another company, I asked them to develop our web infrastructure.

What is the team dynamic? 

We have one dedicated person at 99x (formerly Cleverti), and we work with two others on an on-demand basis, depending on the workload.

How did you come to work with Cleverti?

I’ve been working with off-shore outsourcing development for at least 15 years with different projects and companies. I originally started outsourcing to India, but we had issues with the time difference and the travel time. So I started looking for alternatives that were closer to Norway.

My requirements for the new vendor were that they were in a similar time zone to us and that I could get to them in a few hours via a direct flight from Oslo. We chose to look in Portugal, because it has good universities, and it’s easier to find people with English proficiency Microsoft-based skills. We narrowed down our list to a couple of Portuguese vendors and eventually chose Cleverti. This was in 2010 or 2012.

How much have you invested with them?
I would have to check, but I think have invested about €50,000–€100,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

I think I started working with them on this project at the end of 2016, beginning of 2017, and we launched the app in September.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too early in this process, but initial feedback has been good. Most of our users are still using the desktop app and aren’t yet on the cloud. So far, we are very happy with what we’ve seen.

On a scheduling note, they were able to get the job done on an accelerated timeline. Our goal was to launch the app in October 2017, but we got invited to present at a September forum in Paris with a large crowd of customers. We asked our internal team and 99x's (formerly Cleverti) team to accelerate development so we could demonstrate it at the forum. We cut the schedule by a month, everyone got to work, and we were able to launch the product on Sept. 16.

How did 99x (formerly Cleverti) perform from a project management standpoint?
 

We basically see the 99x (formerly Cleverti) people as part of our own team. They adapt to our project management, which I appreciate. They’re very accommodating of our preferences in terms of stand-up meetings and communication platforms (Slack, Skype, etc.). We use Agile development and Scrum, and they have adapted to that as well.

When it comes to communication, they’re very good. They have solid English skills and articulate their concerns well.

I also appreciate the way their senior staff operate. If we have a technical question or need something outside the scope of the project, their senior people will join specific meetings and advise us along with their team. They never charge extra—it’s an extended part of the service. That’s one of the best things about 99x (formerly Cleverti). I think it helps them train their people and avoid technical difficulties.
  

What did you find most impressive about them?
 

Their overall quality is impressive. If I have a problem with a vendor, I don't search for another one–I just call 99x (formerly Cleverti).

I use 99x (formerly Cleverti) not only because of the quality of work they do, but also because of the management’s personal attention. They take my calls and go the extra mile to help me. I can call their CEO if I'm worried about anything, and he will call me back to discuss things. As a small client, we only have one dedicated person and a few additional resources, but that doesn’t change the attention we receive. When I was outsourcing to India it was difficult to get in touch with their management.
  

Are there any areas they could improve?

 I don't think there are any areas they could improve. They are expensive compared to other vendors, but they’re worth it for the quality and peace of mind they deliver.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of Spindots, a discount exchange network. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

They built our web platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They used native PHP to build our APIs. They also used JavaScript, MySQL, and some components of JSON. They integrated social networks, reporting systems, and a dashboard. They installed the system and they are now supporting both the platform hardware and software. There are some components of the platform we do in-house.

What is the team dynamic? 

There are two full-time developers, two part-time developers, and one project leader. There is another person that sets the platform and defines the criteria and security.

How did you come to work with 99x (formerly Cleverti)?

I’ve known them for a long time; some of our guys had previously worked with them. I knew they had the experience and confidence to build the platform.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent €50,000 [$60,000].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2016, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are a startup using the platform as a proof of concept to help us sell and implement the concept to some markets. This prototype is not the final version. We want to change some of the user interface components. The platform is online and people can use it, although it’s not finished. As soon as possible, we will continue to build it out. We are currently negotiating partnerships. 99x (formerly Cleverti) will be supporting us for a long time.

How did 99x (formerly Cleverti) perform from a project management standpoint?

We used both Microsoft and Git to manage the platform implementation. Management wasn’t difficult because we don’t have many people involved. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Things were well done and I like the API. The API is the connection with our other systems. It’s one of the main features of our platform. 99x (formerly Cleverti) created it by themselves without our help. It’s very efficient. It was important to define the technical architecture using resource systems that were not on the main domain. We had to rebuild some components and it’s very fast and efficient now. It’s been a good project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We need to improve the project management as we continue to grow. Right now we can manage the project with the team we have, but as we improve, we need to change project management, tools, and the connection between our two teams.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Group Head Of Product of a flower delivery e-commerce company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Flower delivery e-commerce.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) to accomplish?

• Improve Quality of Software

SOLUTION

How did you find 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti)?

Referral

Why did you select 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) over others?

• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Non-regression testing and automatic QA testing for our e-commerce website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Automated QA scaling efficiently without increasing headcount

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They have always delivered on time and responded to my needs.

What was your primary form of communication with 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The availability of resources every time that is needed.

Are there any areas for improvement or something 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am a manager of an IT services company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is specializes in IT services and software solutions. The company offers a wide range of solutions for public administrations and companies, including solutions in the areas of digitalization, e-government, cloud computing and IT infrastructure.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) to accomplish?

• Due to the local talent shortage, they partner with 99x Europe to have access to skilled and reliable engineers from Portugal to guarantee smooth software development work to meet the company’s goals and deadlines.

SOLUTION

How did you find 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti)?

Online Search

Why did you select 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Develop taxation software for government based on a standard architecture with different modules. 99x Europe was involved in the development of both the core and individual software.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Running software
• Tests
• Project milestones

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Timely delivery of results and active communication on progress. Proactive and timely processing of requests and orders.

What was your primary form of communication with 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Service quality
• Immediate response to requests
• Competent and service-oriented employees

Are there any areas for improvement or something 99x Europe (formerly Cleverti) could have done differently?

N/A