Accedia

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Meetzoo is a startup Software-as-a-Service [SaaS] business. We provide a backend platform and app for users, with a goal of transforming the way in which people interact during business meetings. We’re connecting people’s existing calendars to social media within our collaboration platform, allowing them to have better continuity and thought-connection during meetings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Accedia?

Accedia led the development of our SaaS with a native iOS app with an AWS backend, that provides a collaboration platform built using Node.js and a RDS/MySQL service. They inherited MVP code and put together a secure, stable product while also releasing important new features.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with a technical architect from their side, who handled product design. We were developing exclusively for the iOS platform at that point in time. The backend was an Amazon Web Services-hosted infrastructure [AWS] using Node.js for the web services platform. We were using Amazon Relational Database, which is essentially a MySQL service. Accedia needed to put together an infrastructure which was both secure and multitier, making sure that we met things like the OWASP [Open Web Application Security Project] best practices around the web services and database. The platform also needed to be scalable, with an N+1 redundancy application server, making sure that the application was essentially stateless across app servers.

This is strictly a backend service—the collaboration platform which all the apps talk to, and use to exchange data. The frontend was simply an app, but there were a couple of web interfaces, namely a password reset form, email initiation pages, and so on. There is no main web UI; it’s simply a native mobile app with a SaaS backend.

How did you come to work with Accedia?

I’ve worked with other outsourced companies, from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic as well as India. My personal preference is always to near-source in Eastern Europe, and I’ve generally had good experiences with these countries as not only is their English very good, but there is a great cultural fit too and staff retention is high.

I came across Accedia after making inquiries in my previous business about a JavaScript framework called Kendo UI. I asked the manufacturer of this framework, a company called Telerik (which has now been acquired by Progress Software), if they could provide experts who could help us evaluate whether Kendo UI would be a right choice for us. They provided the name of Accedia as an expert team. I was very impressed with them and the work they did for me, so, when I later on had an opportunity to outsource for my new startup, they were my choice.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost is in the region of $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Accedia in October 2016. The project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had a very positive reception to the app. One of the key things in the early stages of a startup business, when it’s establishing product market fit, is to quickly iterate the app. While Accedia allowed us to release an app to the store in April 2017, we continue to release new features every month, which is amazing. 

We continue to release products, which is amazing. Fixing bugs is one thing, but it’s something else to listen to the user community, and provide enhancements and differentiated features, based on their feedback. I’ve never had such a high-productivity team.

How did Accedia perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve had a personal relationship and direct contact with everyone on the team, which was vitally important. I’ve worked with businesses which operated as black boxes, which I found disconcerting. What was great about Accedia was that they were an extension of my own team, with no differentiation between my employees and theirs. I knew each one of them, and spoke to them every day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with much larger companies than Accedia, as well as with smaller companies. What a client looks for is dependent on the size of their own business. If I had a huge company, I may have very different requirements than if I were a small startup. Personally, I want a company which appreciates my business, and which views the revenue as a large-enough aspect of what they’re doing. This was a part of my choice when going for a group the size of Accedia, but I equally didn’t want a company so small as to not have the professional attitude and support required.

When outsourcing, we’re not just outsourcing 2-3 developers, a tester, and a project manager, we’re outsourcing all other parts of management. Accedia clearly has great competencies, between the technical side, the commercial side, and the project management. Each of these is done professionally and efficiently.

I’ve dealt with companies in the past which, although great technically, didn’t invoice on time, or didn’t follow things up properly. Accedia has been great, from the NDA agreement to the invoicing, project management, and issue-handling. I know it can be tough for small, growing businesses to do, but, whatever Accedia is doing, they’re doing it right.

Are there any areas they could improve?

From a customer point of view, I would like to see more evidence of a mentoring culture within their company. Like any business, Accedia will have very experienced people at the top, but, as they grow, they will have to bring in more young and inexperienced members, and train them. I believe this does happen, but it’s not transparent from the customer’s perspective. I would quite like to know if, for example, they have a weekly triage of my project with the gurus within the company, perhaps producing a report on what they’ve thought about. I’ve never come across a company with this approach, but, if anyone could do it, Accedia would be the one.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the former Sr Manager, Software Delivery of a pay TV company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Pay TV - Previous Employer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Accedia to accomplish?

• Through the years, we’ve partnered with Accedia on various projects, including system upgrades, cloud optimization and customer platform improvements

SOLUTION

How did you find Accedia?

Referral

Why did you select Accedia over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Accedia were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Given the variety of projects, we have worked on together with Accedia, the scope of work is broad - it combines backend and frontend development, cloud infrastructure setup and product development. From building new APIs and streamlining deployments to boosting system performance, Accedia played a key role in shaping reliable digital/customer experiences across our operations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Working with Accedia has helped us move quicker on critical initiatives - whether it was rolling out new features, simplifying our infrastructure, or improving how teams work together. We’ve seen improvements in system performance, reduced operational costs and better alignment across teams.

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

Over the years, we’ve built a solid working process with Accedia. Having a dedicated manager from their side helped us stay in sync without overcomplicating things. They adapt quickly when priorities change and keep everything moving forward without compromising on quality

What was your primary form of communication with Accedia?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What impresses us most, besides their technical expertise, is the level of engagement from the team. They don’t just focus on delivering a piece of code - they take the time to understand the bigger picture and how each solution fits our goals. That mindset has made Accedia feel more like a true partner than just a supplier.

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

We are satisfied with the collaboration so far and haven’t identified any areas that need changing at this point

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Products and Reader Revenue of Economedia

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Economedia is the biggest quality publisher in Bulgaria, with a combined monthly unique audience of more than 2.5 million
Established as a local startup and still independent - privately owned by local entrepreneurs.
Its flagship publications are Capital, the biggest business media, and Dnevnik - one of the leading Bulgarian general news websites.
Economedia is the biggest conference business in the country.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Accedia to accomplish?

• We have the pleasure of working with Accedia on rebuilding our platform to create a more user-friendly solution tailored to our audience's needs. The goal is to increase user engagement, encourage interaction with our content, and develop new monetization opportunities, while also ensuring the platform is scalable for future growth.

SOLUTION

How did you find Accedia?

Referral

Why did you select Accedia over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Accedia were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Accedia is rebuilding our platform to provide an intuitive, user-friendly experience with an expanded toolset, while continuously adding new functionalities that bring value to users and improve the overall business model. Key deliverables include the development of mobile applications and multilingual support, improved security through database segmentation to better protect sensitive data, and new features aimed at increasing user engagement, such as curated experiences for logged-in users. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Measurable outcomes of the project include higher customer engagement, easier access to key website features, and increased revenue through new curated subscription opportunities.

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

The project management is well-organized, using Agile and Scrum methodologies to establish clear structure and defined responsibility roles. This made the whole process accountable and kept the workflow efficient. The Accedia team responded promptly to our feedback, adapting quickly to any changes. Regular and productive discussions allowed them to address our needs, guaranteeing key milestones are delivered on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Accedia?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I am impressed by how Accedia aligned their technological expertise with our business goals, making sure every decision added value to our broader objective of increased user engagement. They have brought valuable ideas and suggestions that improved the outcome. Their commitment stands out as they are going beyond just delivering the agreed-upon features and are contributing to the overall success of the platform.

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

I would not like them to change a thing about our collaboration. I am more than satisfied with the results so far. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Tech Lead of an advertising & marketing company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Find, convert, and keep more customers with LocaliQ’s growth marketing platform. 
We offer innovative technology and unparalleled expertise to move your business forward.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Accedia to accomplish?

Lead and facilitate development teams within the organization

SOLUTION

How did you find Accedia?

Referral

Why did you select Accedia over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Accedia were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Accedia provided a range of critical services to support our projects. These services included:

• Collaboration on Quarterly Deliverables: The team worked closely with our internal members to meet quarterly project goals, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of key milestones. Their involvement spanned design, development, and testing phases.
• API Development: They delivered fully functional APIs in multiple programming languages, tailored for seamless integration with our applications. These APIs played a critical role in connecting various systems and enhancing the interoperability of our platform.
• Database Solutions for the Data Lake: The team designed and implemented comprehensive database solutions for our data lake. This included optimizing the architecture to handle large datasets efficiently, while ensuring scalability for future growth.
• ETL Pipelines: One of their primary deliverables was the creation and maintenance of ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines. These pipelines streamlined the process of importing, transforming, and loading data into our systems, improving overall data management and processing capabilities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Timely Feature Delivery: Collaborated with teams on a sprint basis, consistently delivering features on schedule, ensuring smooth project progression and timely product releases.
• Proof of Concepts (POCs): Worked with team members to construct POCs that successfully evolved into fully-fledged products, now used daily by both our company and clients.
• Project Leadership and Handover: Led key projects and initiatives, providing seamless transitions that allowed other teams to easily take over and continue development without disruption.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Delivered thorough documentation, including process guides and technical specifications, which streamlined ongoing maintenance and future development efforts.
• Quick Adaptation: Quickly picked up new programming languages and adapted to working with new teams, contributing effectively from the start of each project.

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

Accedia team members consistently delivered on time, adhering to deadlines and sprint schedules. They were highly responsive to our needs, adapting quickly to changes and urgent requests. Their proactive communication and organized approach ensured smooth collaboration and kept us informed throughout the project.

What was your primary form of communication with Accedia?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out the most about Accedia was the level of detail and seamless culture fit of each team member. I frequently paired and worked alongside them, and they always felt like true members of our team. Their integration into our workflow and collaboration was so natural that it felt like they were part of our in-house team from day one.

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

Currently, none.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Business Analyst of an engineering company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Engineering and professional services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Accedia to accomplish?

IT Project

SOLUTION

How did you find Accedia?

Referral

Why did you select Accedia over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

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

Accedia helped us work thru some digital assets and the revamp of an app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Savings.

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

They had great project management skills and were timely and responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Accedia?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their openess and willingness to accomodate our needs, withou losing focus of the project objective.

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

On my point of view it was all great.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Development Manager of a consulting company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our start-up is pioneering a proof of concept for the e-commerce sector, aiming to utilize artificial intelligence to personalize shopping experiences and streamline operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Accedia to accomplish?

• We engaged Accedia with the objective of developing a proof of concept that demonstrates the potential of AI in transforming e-commerce through: • An AI-driven recommendation engine to personalize product suggestions.
• • Intelligent search capabilities to improve accuracy and relevance of search results.
• • A prototype of an analytics dashboard for insights into consumer behaviour and market trends.

SOLUTION

How did you find Accedia?

Referral

Why did you select Accedia over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Accedia were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of our work with Accedia was to conceptualize and develop a proof of concept for our e-commerce platform, which was no small feat. We aimed to integrate artificial intelligence across various facets of the platform to enhance the shopping experience fundamentally. This project was ambitious, seeking not just to test theoretical applications of AI in e-commerce but to lay down a practical foundation for its real-world implementation. At the heart of our collaboration was the development of two key AI-driven features: a personalized recommendation system and intelligent search functionality. The recommendation system was designed to analyse user behaviour and preferences to suggest products that they are more likely to be interested in, making every user's shopping experience uniquely tailored to their tastes and previous interactions. Meanwhile, the intelligent search feature was built to understand and predict customer queries, going beyond basic keyword matching to provide more relevant and accurate search results. To bring these concepts to life, Accedia's team undertook the task of collecting and pre-processing relevant data, designing the AI and machine learning models, and integrating these models into a user-friendly interface that could be seamlessly incorporated into our existing e-commerce platform. This process involved rigorous testing and refinement to ensure that the tools were not only effective but also reliable and easy to use.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The deliverables from this project were quite comprehensive: A fully functional AI-driven recommendation engine, complete with a backend that processes user data to create personalized shopping experiences. An intelligent search tool capable of understanding natural language queries and providing accurate search results, enhancing the overall usability of our platform. Detailed documentation on the architecture and functionality of the developed systems, ensuring that our team could understand, maintain, and further develop these tools. Training sessions for our staff, conducted by Accedia, to familiarize them with the new systems and empower them to leverage these tools effectively in their day-to-day operations.

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

Accedia's approach to project management was notably structured and responsive, which played a big part in the smooth progress of our project. They had a clear, organized way of handling tasks and milestones, and communication was a strong point throughout. They were pretty good at keeping things on track. Deadlines were treated seriously, and for the most part, deliverables arrived right when we expected them to. Of course, in a project of this nature, there were a few instances where adjustments had to be made, but even then, Accedia was upfront and proactive about managing any delays. They kept us in the loop, explaining what was happening and how they planned to address it, which really helped keep any hiccups from turning into headaches. Where Accedia really shined was in their responsiveness to our needs. They didn’t just stick rigidly to a set plan; they listened. When we had feedback or needed tweaks to the tools being developed, they were on it. Their team was quick to understand what we were after and flexible enough to adapt their work to better suit our requirements. This kind of adaptability made a big difference, ensuring the end product was something that really worked for us. Their project management wasn’t just about ticking boxes; it felt like they were genuinely invested in making sure the project succeeded for us, not just on paper, but in real, practical terms. They made it clear from the start that they were there to support our goals, and they backed that up with their actions, whether that was in sticking to timelines or adjusting plans to better meet our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Accedia?

Virtual Meeting

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

Accedia's genuine commitment to understanding our unique needs and adaptability stood out. It's not just that they have a deep well of expertise in AI and machine learning—which they do—but it's how they applied that knowledge to our specific context that made a difference.

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

Reflecting on the entire journey with Accedia, from the initial planning stages through to the completion of our project, it's hard to pinpoint areas where I'd suggest significant changes. Their adaptability, expertise, and the way they tuned into our specific needs were spot-on. When you work on projects of this nature, you quickly realize the value of a partner who not only brings technical prowess to the table but also a genuine commitment to understanding and aligning with your goals. Accedia did just that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Enterprise Architect of Andaria

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Founded in 2018, Andaria is an UK and Malta licensed payments services provider with focus on Embedded Finance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Accedia to accomplish?

• To augment our in-house Data and Software development teams.

SOLUTION

How did you find Accedia?

Used their services in the past

Why did you select Accedia over others?

• Great culture fit
• Very good previous working experience

How many teammates from Accedia were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Accedia were tasked with: 

1. Implementation of BI solution by employing DataBricks and Power BI technologies. 
2. Development of Azure cloud hosted microservices for our embedded finance offering with C#.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project tasks are evaluated based on delivery punctuality and quality, and Accedia consistently met both criteria. Their expertise in the technical field, coupled with their adeptness in comprehending the business domain swiftly to offer optimal solutions, left a strong impression on us.

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

All deadlines were consistently met. As the client, we managed the project's, and there were never any communication issues or lack of involvement from team members.

What was your primary form of communication with Accedia?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Accedia's remarkable quality lies in their integration of technical proficiency with a customer-focused ethos. Continuously, their team showcased an extensive comprehension of our project needs and strategic business objectives.

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

We could not have wished for a better partner than Accedia.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a department director at Siili Solutions Oyj

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

IT system integrator

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Accedia to accomplish?

• Development and maintenance of an internal resourcing solution

SOLUTION

How did you find Accedia?

• Referral

Why did you select Accedia over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Accedia were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Development and maintenance of an internal resourcing and staffing tool. Working in pre-defined sprints to deliver new capabilities and keeping the system up to date.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As the project is more small development and maintenance focused, we prioritize the product backlog regularly and evaluate work needed for upcoming releases. We also can balance with other internal system development as the priorities change during the year.

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

We have open communication channels and shared knowledge basis. Agile way and scrum has been our way of working. This works well.

What was your primary form of communication with Accedia?

• Virtual Meeting

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

Proactively raising development points with different solutions. They share their own ideas that are valuable for our side of the team. As we are quite similar as companies, our way of working is also quite the same. This helps the collaboration.

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

We have customer relationship related regular discussons where we can openly share expectations to both sides.