Avenga

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of an app-retargeting company. We implement user-retention strategies and encourage former app users to start using our client’s apps again.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clearcode?

We were looking to augment our development team in one of our locations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clearcode helped further develop our platform. They utilized technologies like JavaScript, Node.js, Ruby, and MySQL.

What is the team composition?

We incorporated 3 full-time members into our structure.

How did you come to work with Clearcode?

I was familiar with their work in Cloud services in the U.S. and contacted them to discuss our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $150,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May 2019–January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team demonstrated great technical knowledge and provided valuable insight. They didn’t hesitate to take a deep dive into complex tasks. While we can’t provide any specific metrics, they were very easy to work with.

How did Clearcode perform from a project management standpoint?

While we were new to managing a remote team, their team demonstrated their comfort in handling an offshore relationship. They were flexible and transparent with their communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provided high-quality engineers and refrained from pushing a higher quantity of lower-level engineers. We liked their working attitudes and found them very easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could offer more suggestions and alternative ideas towards the beginning of the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared to manage a remote team, because we’ve found it to be different from working with a local team. Having said that, they’re a great team that I recommend.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of Fairfield Marketplace. We’re a startup in the FinTech domain that offers services such as non-performing loan management and debt collection.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Perfectial?

We needed help with developing our platform. I also wanted a team that I’ve worked with before, particularly one that is flexible, scalable, and reliable.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Perfectial developed the frontend of our platform using simple yet portable languages, such as HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and React for multi-platform adaption. They recently started working with me and other resources to build out services and the backend site. For those parts, we’re using Python and AWS services.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with a total of seven technical people and one project/account manager.

How did you come to work with Perfectial?

I first worked with Perfectial in 2010 when I was at a different company based in San Francisco. We had a decent-sized internal team, but we were overstretched in trying to build new functionalities and regulatory requirements on our roadmap. A former colleague introduced me to Perfectial. Our first project together involved multi-factor authentication. 

Perfectial was always clear on what they could and could not deliver, and they met every commitment that they agreed to. That’s one of the significant values of working with them. This platform will be my sixth or seventh project with Perfectial.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent €150,000–€200,000 (approximately $166,000–$220,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in November 2018 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve measured Perfectial alongside our internal team in terms of the efficient and effectiveness of their development. Perfectial has performed well so far—they’re very good at delivering on our requirements. We’re currently in the pre-launch stage.

How did Perfectial perform from a project management standpoint?

As I said before, Perfectial is upfront about what they can and cannot do based on our requirements and expectations. They’re careful to outline potential gaps or risks. We keep in touch with our project manager regularly, who’s been very helpful in managing the whole process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’d name several things. First, the breadth of technology that Perfectial can work with is impressive. Running a startup, we don’t necessarily have a lot of time to manage multiple providers to cover our technology stack. Having a single vendor that flexibly offers resources to meet our requirements is incredibly valuable. 

Second, their ability to deliver on commitments stands out. Third and finally, because we’re relatively close to each other—we're both in Europe—it’s much easier for me to work with Perfectial than with other providers located elsewhere.

Are there any areas they could improve?

More communication on the project management side can be helpful. That said, when things haven’t gone exactly as I expected, Perfectial is quick to adjust their team or processes so they can still fulfill their commitments.

Any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear, especially with the project manager or account manager, what your requirements are. In any remote collaboration, communicating your needs can be somewhat challenging. You need to interact more with a project manager so that they understand precisely what you expect.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a company working with data privacy. We help firms comply with data privacy laws, particularly the GDPR.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clearcode?

We needed a development partner to build a SaaS platform from scratch. We didn’t have the necessary knowledge in-house so we hired Clearcode for the task.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Clearcode helped us create our own platform and web crawler. We used to have an added service from another provider but decided to make something on our own. It’s a business intelligence service that’s connected to Power BI. The crawler needed to find and identify all tracking technologies used by other ad tech providers. It’s very much about what kinds of services are used to track people online for marketing purposes, and how we can find them.              

We had an idea and technical specifications for the project we were starting, but everything was kicked off with a meeting and a blank piece of paper. Clearcode was in on it from the beginning.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with three people from their team at the moment but had 12 at peak performance. We’ve had the same project manager since the beginning, and the rest of the team was appointed based on the skills we needed. This includes designers, on-call testers, and a split between front- and backend developers. We’ve pretty much worked with the same people during the project, on and off.

How did you come to work with Clearcode?

I found them online and started a conversation with one of their account managers. We then jumped on an airplane and went to Poland for an MVP session. We described the project and started from there. I didn’t really look around because we had a good feeling about Clearcode.

How much have you invested with them?

The total at the moment is at around €1 million (approximately $1.1 million USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Clearcode in January 2018, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clearcode created a viable product that we could go to market with within four months. We were able to onboard around 500 clients and implement the software into around 1,000 websites.

How did Clearcode perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re really pleased, both with the management team and developers. It has been an overall positive experience and we definitely recommend Clearcode. We’re happy with our project manager, who set everything up and really took the time, in the beginning, to make sure that everything was up and running. We set up a working structure that we could use for the long term.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re really good at adjusting to different teams and situations and can be considered a trusted partner. I’ve been in touch with different people from Clearcode—from management to designers—and everyone has been quite professional. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything in mind for them to improve. Everything is going as planned right now.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important to stay in touch and consider Clearcode a trusted partner. Meeting the actual developers can also help them when they have a question and need to reach out. They shouldn’t be thought of as just development partners, but also as people that clients can have a chat with about what to do next. It eases the communication flow and the development work a lot. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a SaaS provider. We specialize in digital out-of-home networks and work with any screen, from the back of a taxicab to a marquis in Times Square. We create software for clients who run those networks. I'm a product manager, and I am responsible for the direct interactions with Clearcode.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clearcode?

They helped us create the code between two of our major products and got those products to communicate with one another.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One product is a programmatic platform that acts as a portal to buy and sell advertising. We created our own supply-side platform a couple of years ago that lists and sells inventory in another product. Clearcode used our APIs for both products to extract information from one and place it into the other system automatically. That helped keep the information synched and reduced the workload.

A few months into the collaboration, we chose an off-the-shelf system to use as a visual platform. We extended that information into that third platform. We pivoted very quickly from wanting to create something from scratch to a buy process instead. They were very flexible as we changed the plan, and everything went smoothly. We use agile methodology, so we do estimations of stories and input that into the system.

What is the team composition? 

At any one time, the team included four or five people. As our requirements changed, we switched out a few developers. Initially, we had two backend specialists, a frontend lead, and a QA specialist. When we changed tactics, we switched exclusively to backend.

How did you come to work with Clearcode?

We chose them because of their experience in programmatic platforms.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent somewhere in the $50,000-$200,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together at the end of 2018 or right at the beginning of 2019. My project is just now moving into maintenance mode, but we also use them for a few other projects in our environment. We're very happy with their work, and they continue to help us augment our own development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's a small team, so all the estimates were fairly accurate from sprint to sprint. The platforms change a lot, and we did push the date back, but that was due to faults in the products. We were happy with their work across the board.

How did Clearcode perform from a project management standpoint?

They manage projects well, and we're very happy with them. I would recommend them to any other company.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are my preferred outsource company. They're friendly, professional, and they make everything easy. I get along with all the developers on their team, and we can joke over Slack, but they never lose their professionalism. They explain the more complicated issues, and I have a wonderful time working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

About six weeks in, we switched out a developer, which caused some concern at the time. Ultimately, the new developer was better suited to the project, and the change ended up being a benefit. There’s nothing I can think of that they could improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire them. We're very happy with their work and will continue to use them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a platform whose main focus is to organize client data. We have stacks to capture and organize data for online campaigns. I'm a data manager, and I coordinate the new platform we're building with Clearcode.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Clearcode?

We work with Clearcode on a module that is completely aligned with privacy laws and other compliances. Brazilian laws are very complex for our kind of platform, and we had several needs that we wanted help with.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They help us organize data in ways that are acceptable to legislation and regulations. From the ground up, they do all the development of the new platform. Their responsibilities include coding, building, and project management. Elements include trackers, databases, user controls, and UI.

What is the team composition? 

The team is about 8-10 people now. During the scoping phase, we used about 15, but that number has gone down for the development phase.

How did you come to work with Clearcode?

We reached out to them when we wanted to develop this project. They were a good agency for our needs, and they already had experience in our area.

How much have you invested with them?

I'm not responsible for the financial side, but I think we've spent less than $200,000 USD so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started around February or March 2019. The work is still ongoing, and we anticipate the project will go on for a while.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don't have any formal KPIs yet. We established early on that the first workable deliverables would arrive in September or October 2019, and we're on the right track to meet those deadlines. Everyone on our team is excited about this project, and it's been a good experience for us.

How did Clearcode perform from a project management standpoint?

They are great project managers. They're well organized, and they help us in areas we lack experience. They're the best partner we've used for several projects, and we're happy with their work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're definitely one of the best development companies we've worked with. They're much better organized than any other company we've encountered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they could improve upon. We worried that a change in project managers would affect the project, but we had no problems when we got our new manager. Everything is on schedule and going well, and their estimations are accurate.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Follow their lead. Our scoping phase was very detailed, and we followed the steps they recommended. They are good at arranging screens and establishing scope. My only advice is to hire them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-owner and CTO of NBTV, a digital media house with a technology background. We create digital channels and verticals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Core Value Inc?

We were building out a new platform for the spirits business and were looking for a development partner that aligned with our thoughts and objectives.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Core Value Inc developed the platform from start to finish. This project included delivering three platforms simultaneously: a web, mobile iOS, and Apple TV version. Their team uses Angular, Java, and AWS. 

The Core Value Inc team was involved in design and architecture work, as well as providing expertise in sales and e-commerce systems. Their team also built video capabilities. They also performed QA testing and continue to provide ongoing DevOps support to our platform. 

What is the team composition?

Our project has a team of 15–20 individuals, including business analysts, project managers, and developers. Core Value Inc has a good structure for software development and makes sure their people adhere to that structure and work accordingly. 

How did you come to work with Core Value Inc?

When I was shopping around for a development partner, my chief architect recommended Core Value Inc because he has some past experience with them. He highly endorses their team as someone I should consider as part of our search.

How much have you invested with them?

By the time we’re done, we will have invested slightly over $1,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Core Value Inc began in October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the really strong parts of Core Value Inc’s organization is that they were helpful in assisting our navigation of delivering three platforms at a time. We released our first version of the platform about 30–40 days and we are now working on rolling out an Android version as well as enhancements to the UX and back administration experience. The Core Value Inc team was great at the organization and management aspects involved in developing multiple platforms at once. I’m not sure we could have done it as well with another partner.

How did Core Value Inc perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very good in terms of communication. Core Value Inc is very structured, and we would have weekly tech and project management meetings. Our teams have ongoing daily discussions about metrics to communicate the percentage of completion on features of the platform. They also let us know about any issues, bugs, or anomalies we needed to address. We always knew where our time, money, and efforts were going, which is the key component of a good partnership.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Core Value Inc’s willingness to make sure that we are collectively successful stands out. Whether it's bringing on more resources or providing some other capabilities, they go above and beyond. They bring their broad portfolio of talent to the table. I have had bad experiences with vendors in the past, but Core Value Inc made me feel like I had nothing to worry about. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some cultural divisions that impeded communication. There are always aspects of projects that could be better, but there wasn’t anything totally detrimental. To their credit, whenever we were having any kind of challenge they would always step up and help guide the way.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t overestimate the amount of communication that could be needed to onboard everybody upfront. That was probably the biggest challenge for us. Their team was very helpful in bringing in more people, setting up more meetings, or having more discussions to make sure we get through issues quickly. This was possible because we stayed on top of communications. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m VP software development at Instem, a software development house that works within the life sciences industry pharmaceuticals. My position covers all of the software development and testing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Core Value Inc.? 

We had a significant contractual commitment. We needed to augment our staff in order to help us deliver that software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Core Value Inc. provided us with supplemental development staff who worked as integrated members of our teams. They also provided a software tester to give us additional capacity to meet the contractual requirements. 

Their team used a mix of technologies, including Microsoft SQL Server and the .NET framework. On top of that, they used an application lifecycle management (ALM) Azure DevOps system. 

What is the team composition?

For the most recent project, we had two people working with us. We used a team of 6–8 people on a previous project. 

How did you come to work with Core Value Inc.?

Instem was already using Core Value Inc. when I joined the company. At one point, we moved away from contracting for strategic reasons. We brought them back on when we changed our approach because of the value they provide. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $250,000–$500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The most recent project started in January 2017 and ran for 18 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They've become an integral part of our team’s ability to actually deliver the work we need to do. Core Value Inc. met all assigned deliverables, which made them very valuable.

Judging their contributions as members of a scrum team, the feedback has always been that Core Value Inc. consistently provides top performers. Their employees are often the strongest members of the various teams. We've been extremely happy with the contributions they've made, and continue to see the benefits of having them on board. Because of their successful work to date, we just brought back the two people we used recently for a different project.

How did Core Value Inc. perform from a project management standpoint? 

We led the project management and oversight. We got weekly updates and reports so that we could understand where Core Value Inc. was in the project and what they’d provided us. We also integrated them into our communication systems. We used Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Azure DevOps. They were fully integrated as members of the team and using the same technology as everyone else. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Core Value Inc. was quite flexible in their availability. We've got a good working relationship. They've been able to accommodate us, even when we required additional resources on short notice. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, at the moment we're very happy with the people we've used. Their team is so strong. As a fundamental issue, I expect augment staff to be able to work as if they are part of our team and have been for a while. Core Value Inc. is absolutely able to do so. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

I encourage you to work the way we do and incorporate them on your scrum teams. Give them the same tools as everyone else and treat them as if they're an FTE.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m a project manager for a clothing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Perfectial? 

We had a project last year to build a new company from scratch. We needed to hire an external resource to help us build an e-commerce website in order to drive retail.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Perfectial led development of everything technical involved with creating the website. In addition to the frontend, they developed all the backend-related data flows. The site handles shipping and payment capabilities, so they developed the data flow to both of those systems. They also helped us develop an analytics landscape and all the infrastructure necessary to enable data science. They created our data warehouse, defined the architecture of the data schema, and continue to maintain the data science environments. 

What is the team composition?

The size of the team varied depending on our needs. At the peak, we worked with a project lead, architects, engineers, and testers. In general, the team size was anywhere from 3–11 people. 

How did you come to work with Perfectial?

We started the project with a different company but were not happy with the deliverables. We switched to Perfectial because they were the strongest candidate based on recommendations. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $600,000–$800,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

Work started around October 2017. The first non e-commerce website launched in December 2017, then the full site launched in March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been really happy with them. Compared to other firms we worked with in the past, Perfectial had really stellar project management. The project manager kept things well-structured, and she was also quite technical and knowledgeable. She replied quickly and always came up with solid solutions when we came to her with requests. She also was good at estimating the time and cost for each task. We felt super comfortable having her as our project manager. 

How did Perfectial perform from a project management standpoint? 

The project manager was the key component to both the project’s success and us being happy working with Perfectial. She was excellent at understanding the business requirements and translating them into technical requirements. She also was quite proactive at making decisions about what could or could not be done based on our requirements. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their flexibility was most impressive. Perfectial was able to tackle unexpected problems. They could cope with different situations and still always deliver good quality. We would often come up with questions or tasks that were urgent. We could count on them to help us brainstorm to find solutions, and then ramp up or down resources as needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes there was a slight misinterpretation because of the language barrier. The project manager was crucial to making the project work despite that challenge.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Make sure you have a good rapport with your assigned project manager. When working with any company from another country, try to work with them in person as much as possible. That definitely improves efficiency and minimizes the language barrier.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and executive director/CEO of BitGive. BitGive is the first Bitcoin 501(c)(3) nonprofit, giving it tax exemption status at the federal level in the United States. BitGive has built a positive philanthropic representative organization for the Bitcoin and blockchain industry, bridging the gap between an innovative technology and its practical applications for nonprofits and humanitarian work in the developing world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Perfectial?

We were building the v1.0 of GiveTrack™, our cryptocurrency and blockchain-based donation platform, and we needed a solid third-party QA and penetration test team.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a well-functioning and polished product for the user experience (QA tests) and a solid penetration-tested platform, especially given the use of cryptocurrencies and processing payments.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Perfectial was recommended to us from a trusted advisor, and, after speaking with the team about our needs and timeline, we were happy to get started.

Describe the project in detail.

GiveTrack™ is our flagship project, a revolutionary donation platform for nonprofits to provide transparency and accountability to donors by sharing financial information and direct project results in real time. 

GiveTrack™ builds on Bitcoin and blockchain technology. It’s a customized platform for nonprofits that is data-centered and user-friendly, providing a comprehensive user interface. The future of philanthropy is real-time tracking of funds and driving more outcomes on the ground.

To ensure our platform’s security, we hired Perfectial to QA our product and perform a series of penetration tests. It was a short turn-around time before the launch, and their team took the challenge on with ease.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a team of penetration test engineers, a QA specialist, and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to QA and penetration test the platform’s high priority areas within our tight timeline and were confident going into our launch. Following the launch, we were able to continue with the remainder of the testing needed to have a thorough effort.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We really enjoyed working with Perfectial. The team was very organized and communicated very well and regularly. We were also able to bridge a big time difference, being on the West Coast in the US while they were in Lviv. We used Slack and Jira for daily communications and task management, and email for more management and executive-level communications.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Perfectial was very professional, clear in their communications, and organized. They followed through on their commitments and worked seamlessly with our team. They have a clean process and do high-quality work. It was a pleasure to work with them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our communications around future work beyond the initial contract did suffer from some misunderstandings, but we also had our role in this due to not knowing exactly what our needs would be post-launch.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the group vice president and process excellence manager of ABB, a leader in digital industries. We have five leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, Robotics and Discrete Automation, and Power Grids. I oversee complaint management throughout the ABB group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Solidbrain?

We rely on a management tool to register, track, analyze, and resolve customer complaints. By 2014, this tool had been in place for about twenty years. We needed help updating and adapting it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Since 2014, Solidbrain has updated and developed our complaint management tool. Their support is ongoing.

What is the team composition?

Our main contact is a senior developer. We do not have regular contact with other developers.

How did you come to work with Solidbrain?

Another department within my company hired Solidbrain; I don’t know much about the background of the engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

I’ve been working on the project since 2014. I’m not sure when ABB initially engaged Solidbrain. Our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The tool has garnered a reputation for being user-responsive, even though it is one of ABB’s oldest tools.

How did Solidbrain perform from a project management standpoint?

The senior developer is very pragmatic and transparent. If we present impractical ideas, the Solidbrain team is upfront and proposes great alternatives. Rather than expecting us to tell them what to do, their team is part of the thought process. They are incredibly committed and engaged. Our collaboration has been smooth and easygoing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Solidbrain conducts thorough technology tests before releasing anything. We are confident in the team’s ability to deliver high-quality work on schedule, which allows us to focus on other areas. They have made the collaboration effortless on our end.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of any, which is unusual for me.

Any advice for potential customers?

Engage Solidbrain’s team as much as possible. Make them part of the full process and ensure that they understand your requirements and goals.