Axisbits GmbH

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a junior partner at a technology firm that designs and develops regulatory compliance solutions for banks and other clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

We wanted to offer our customers a dashboard that would give them a simple overview of their steps to regulatory compliance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wrote a number of epics from various perspectives: one from a bank compliance employee, one from a chief risk officer, and one from our own perspective. We then requested Axisbits to develop a backend in which we could plug our existing tools and add and edit customer data in the frontend. Employees and chief risk officers can use the frontend as a dashboard to monitor all their individual tools, their regulatory calendar, and news and updates. We’re currently designing some extra features to be implemented over the next few months.

What is the team composition?

My main contact is Maxim (Founder & CEO, Axisbits). Not all of their programmers speak English well, so having one person as a direct contact is good for them. We can contact the rest of the team through our select channel. At the peak of development, we had five senior developers working on it and one project manager.

How did you come to work with Axisbits?

I’ve worked with Axisbits for a long time, so I contacted them directly.

How much have you invested with them?

$10,000­–25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s definitely had a positive effect on marketing. Our tool brings a lot of business value, but the new dashboard has the advantage of being more visually user-friendly. We’ve used it for events, and our clients have been happy with the improved functionality.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate through Trello, Slack, and Skype, and we keep our project files on Google Drive because that’s what they prefer. We also have wireframing tools such as InVision and Balsamiq that we use for specific stages.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have developed an open and honest relationship with AxisBits over the years. We’re radically truthful to each other and nobody holds back anything. If I’m unhappy with how things are going, I’ll say so, and they’ll say the same to me if needed. Max knows I need him to be clear if I’m not delivering so that we can ensure the most effective solution.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They stick to a specific technology stack because they know it well. It would be great if they could offer consulting based on more options, but I understand they’re bound by the size of their firm.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should make their project requirements clear before development, and make a proper estimate of how long the project will take.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of a design studio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

One of our clients needed software development services. 
 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We hired Axisbits to help us provide development and UI/UX testing for our client. We needed to create a design from scratch. They built a web portal and made a custom CRM for our client. We created the design, and after agreeing on it with the client, Axisbits took the blueprint and created the prototype, and created the whole website following that.

What is the team composition?

Axisbits provided us with a team of several developers and one project manager.

How did you come to work with Axisbits?

We found the team through a recommendation.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent around $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on this project from February–June 2017.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Axisbits created the website according to our specifications. They completed all of the work within a limited amount of time and in line with the budget we laid out.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

Axisbits managed the project quite well.  We usually communicated through email, Slack, Skype, Basecamp, QuickChat, and Telegram.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Axisbits is a team of skilled executors. We looked in the workforce for a team that could finish tasks in a specific amount of time and on a delimited budget. Many companies will tell you they can bring all types of benefits to your business, yet fail to follow through. Axisbits had the expertise to deliver on their commitments. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Axisbits was able to execute on the work I wanted. They would be a great partner for another project I want to work on together in a year’s time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO and project coordinator at StartGiving Germany. We’re a consultation and development company focused on corporate social responsibility.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

We needed a vendor to provide ongoing development support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked with Axisbits on a variety of projects. The most recent one involved a customization project for an online fundraising platform that they helped us develop initially.

When building the original platform, we started with a discussion of our requirements then put together a development plan. Axisbits helped us draft some sketches to map the user flow. Once we finalized the design, they built out the platform. We indented to use it for solely private donors, but we decided to incorporate it into our sister company as well. It’s a nonprofit, so we use the platform to support crowdfunding for charitable projects. We tested it with clients and fixed any bugs we identified.

We also provide consulting and fundraising services for corporate clients. One of our partners asked us to make several customizations to make the platform more tailored to their individual needs. Axisbits added some new functionality and created a new dashboard that met their needs.

What is the team composition?

Maxim (Founder & CEO, Axisbits) was our main point of contact. We also worked with a project manager and a developer. I think there were more people involved in the background, but I never interacted with them.

How did you come to work with Axisbits?

I started my role with the company in 2016, and Axisbits was already providing development support. Our staff found them through a freelance platform and assigned a small test project. After considering other factors like price and technical skill level, they chose to partner with Axisbits.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $5,000 on specifically the customization project. I’m not sure how much we’ve spent in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2016, and we wrapped up our latest project in October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Without Axisbits’ efforts, we wouldn’t have such a high-quality platform. It’s one of our core business offerings, and their contributions have been instrumental to our success.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

They have great inter-team communication, easily passing information from one person to the next. Axisbits translated all of our requirements into a working solution. I can reach someone from their team whenever necessary. They were very accessible across several communication channels, including Slack and Skype. Even though we speak different languages natively, the barrier never caused an issue.

We established very tight deadlines for this project. Our client was planning an event and needed our project completed by a scheduled date. We needed to keep them happy, so Axisbits went above and beyond to ensure we delivered on time. Their performance on this project speaks to the efficiency of their management skills. They explained their processes to help us understand the full timeline of their work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

This wasn’t an easy project, but the Axisbits team willingly took on the challenge. They showed a high level of commitment, working weekends and nights to complete tasks on time. We really appreciated their work ethic—dedication can’t be written into a contract. Whenever we identified an important element or task, they accommodated our requests and prioritized their workflow.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve run into the standard issues like miscommunications, unclear requirements, and testing errors. There were a few moments of tension, but nothing out of the ordinary. In the end, they delivered a quality solution, and we couldn’t be happier.

We have a great working relationship, and I always enjoy our interactions. I can’t think of any real areas of weakness. With every project, we learn how to collaborate more efficiently and improve our communication skills. The quality of their work is completely dependent on our ability to communicate our needs.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should explicitly explain their requirements and their business model with full transparency. The Axisbits team appreciates honesty and clear communication because it helps them provide realistic estimates. Clients will only overspend if they misrepresent the project’s requirements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a consultant. I work on different B2B projects, on the technical side of things, while also managing and hiring teams for my clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

They’ve worked on six or seven different projects, which were mainly web and mobile app development. For this project, I had a request from a client to develop his informational website as well as an MVP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided us with MVP development, web development, and some server maintenance services for another one of my clients.

The mobile applications were built for Android and iOS, cross-platform development on PhoneGap. They developed one app for my business and several for my clients, which were native iOS. The main features were payment security and payment systems.

What is the team composition?

There were four developers and one project manager assigned to me.

How did you come to work with Axisbits?

They were recommended to me. After hearing reviews and positive insight about them from other companies about their professionalism, I decided to work with them. They’re very skilled, and their price is quite low relative to European prices.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent more than $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from October 2015–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did everything correctly. I liked that the owner was involved in the whole process and helped to execute the tasks.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re skilled in project management. We worked with different tools depending on the project. We used Slack, Jira, Basecamp, GitHub.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their work sets them apart from other companies I have worked with—they’re well qualified and there are fewer errors in their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be good if some of the developers could improve their level of English.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for a business services company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

A client wanted to create the MVP for an upcoming project. The ultimate goal was to take advantage of a new market niche. Therefore, we needed a third-party vendor to build the mobile platform and associated website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Axisbits developed the website and built the mobile apps for iOS and Android. The client required extra security, so they used a custom CMS to build out the platform from scratch. We’ve since completed the MVP and delivered it to our client. In addition to providing ongoing system support, the Axisbits team helps us with Linux creation projects, design efforts, and email marking campaigns.

What is the team composition?

They assigned a project manager and three developers to our account. I also spoke with Maxim (Founder & CEO, Axisbits) on occasion.

How did you come to work with Axisbits?

After researching several different companies, Axisbits was referred to us by a separate third-party partner. I made a call to Maxim and we went over their pricing options. I also interviewed their developers and was impressed by their skills. I gave them a three-week pilot project, and they completed it to my satisfaction. After that, we decided to work with them in a greater capacity.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their contributions to the MVP project took place from May–August 2018. However, we continue to work with them when applicable.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They completed everything within the agreed upon timeline.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

Maxim was always available to field questions or review project specifications. We tried not to micromanage them or push the team too hard. They simply got to work and sent us reports several days before each deadline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They quickly understood the project and offered competitive pricing. Axisbits operates on the same wavelength as us, so we find it easier to work with them than other vendors. They speak English quite well, so we communicate often. They always keep us informed regarding a project’s progression.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I hope they continue doing what they’re doing. They’re perfect development partners for us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Coudrees, a French platform that helps people order made-to-measure fashion items online. We work with artisans and studios that have strong skills-sets but minimal self-promotion, letting them sell their services on our site but not their actual products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

We wanted to build a website that would differentiate us from other platforms, making it clear from the first landing page that, although we work with artisans as other marketplaces do, we focus solely on fashion and tailor-made, ready-to-wear products. Moreover, our artisans don’t pay us to sell their objects. Instead, they pay us a commission on the final bill.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We transitioned to work in PHP partway through the website development to better accommodate my budget. In the end, it also helped create a better site. 

What is the team composition?

The vendor changed ownership during the project (they became Axisbits after the ownership change), but I continued working with the same team. I started working with a project manager, a frontend developer, and a backend developer. The team has stayed the same even now that we’re in a support phase and have fewer tasks to accomplish.

How did you come to work with Axisbits? 

They were recommended by an experienced friend who was quite satisfied with them. I was looking for an agency that had strong front- and backend development and design skills, so I wouldn’t have to contract more than one agency. I was also aiming for an experienced partner since this was my first digital project.

I explored three or four agencies from different countries. Axisbits wasn’t the most affordable option, but they offered me the greatest value, including charging me through a European account, which is crucial to a French company like mine. Even though they’re based in Ukraine, they also have a European presence, so I could have some human contact with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost was €23,000 ($26,600), not including technical support or changes we asked for.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2017 until February 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Aside from the first purchase, where had a few bugs (that Axisbits fixed quickly), all purchases have gone through smoothly. I can’t speak to the final clients’ satisfaction, but the artisans we work with have been extremely happy. The site is working well.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

I had the same project manager for the entire time, and he was highly flexible. He reacted quickly whenever I needed to make changes and listened well. Had I been part of a big corporation, I would’ve been more nervous about some of the processes. Seeing as I’m a startup, I wasn’t too demanding, and they understood my brief well.

We completed the majority of tasks using email and Skype after realizing they worked better than project management software. Axisbits works well autonomously, setting up tasks themselves and delivering work with only a few minor bugs; there wasn’t anything crucial that would’ve disturbed the entire system.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Axisbits is incredibly flexible regarding price. When the concept changed, so did they—and they didn’t ask for increased payment when tasks grew more complicated. I’m satisfied with how they reacted.

I also appreciated their human, loyal approach. If I needed something done on Sunday, they’d get it done. They want to earn money, work with bigger clients, and become experts in their area. Though we had some ups and downs, the project went well in the end. I always enjoyed my contact with them; they’re personable, loyal, and fast.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We did have quite a few bugs and, had I been more demanding, I would’ve paid more attention to them. They’re not perfect, but they’re a good, fast team that makes fixes quickly.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Try to factor in as many details at the beginning as possible, so that the price won’t change too drastically. We altered the price a few times but never to a radical degree. Make sure to brief them well, so they understand what needs to be done.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work for an INC 500 luxury travel firm that specializes in premium cabin travel consolidation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Axisbits?

We hired Axisbits to assist with the development of a custom CRM and workflow automation tools.

What were your goals for this project?

The key goal of this process was to streamline existing business processes and increase our ability to manage data within our sales pipeline.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We explored several potential vendors for this project. Axisbits stood out from the competition in the level of commitment they were willing to offer for a project of this size. Their pricing and quality of previous projects made this an easy decision.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of several members including a project manager and 2-3 developers. Axisbits was able to add resources as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We will be deploying this software into production within the next 30 days. Based on our experience so far, we expect the deliverable to cut labor requirements by 20-30%.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was very impressive throughout the entire process. Axisbits’ communication was on point, and our deadlines were always met.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Axisbits took a unique interest in our business needs.  They offered useful suggestions and put in a consistent effort to make our product better.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There's very little they can improve on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a graphic designer at Plastpro, a fiberglass manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

We wanted to replace the visualizer program on our website, which allows users to view what the doors they’re considering would look like on their own houses.

The original system we were using was based on licensing, so we had to pay to use it but didn't actually own anything. It was challenging to efficiently tie it in with the website because it was a rigid system that didn't offer any flexibility.

We reached out to Axisbits to see if they can build a similar system that would allow us more control and provide more features. We liked what they had to offer. They are very professional in their proposal and realistic with the costs of implementation.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We reached out to Axisbits to see if they can build a similar system that would allow us more control and provide more features. We liked what the team had to offer—their proposal was professional and they were realistic about the costs of implementation.

They gave us the ability to manage our assets and the way that we create products for this tool to be very dynamic. We can approach the program directly and visually, as opposed to before when we had to connect with our provider every time we had a problem.

For the backend, they use Yii, which is based on PHP. The frontend uses JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, among others.

What is the team composition?

I generally work with three or four people from Axisbits, but my main points of contact separate are our project manager and a developer.

Our project manager sends me weekly updates and handles the technical aspects of the partnership, like hours logged. I also work regularly with a developer to discuss ideas and determine the direction we take. He makes suggestions regarding feature implementations and alterations, acting overall as a quick way I can clarify my understanding of our work.

How did you come to work with Axisbits?

I initially found them through a friend's referral, when I was working elsewhere. I wanted them to pitch for us because I already knew the quality of the work they created. Other companies also submitted proposals, but Axisbits was the clear winner in terms of organization, cost, and attention to detail.

How much have you invested with them?

Including both projects Axisbits is working on for us, we've spent between $60,000 and $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the summer of 2017 and still work with them as the project evolves. We've launched the initial version of the site and plan to implement other key features within the next few months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It's still in beta phase, so we haven't released a lot of features yet and haven't done promotion, but so far user feedback has been very positive. The new product is easier to use and mobile-friendly, unlike the previous one.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

The team has been flexible with us when we're late on deadlines or don't have work ready. The scheduling issues we've faced have been a result of our work, and we see their persistence and willingness to check in as a positive. We did have some hard deadlines for specific checkpoints, like a soft launch and a beta launch, and they put in the hours necessary to make sure that we met those deadline requirements.

We mainly use Slack for day-to-day communication. As we've been rolling out the product, we've started utilizing Trello for any sort of immediate feedback for the team. We use email to share reports, and they set up a Google Sheets spreadsheet for us to oversee tracked hours for each task. That allows us to keep track of budgeting and invoices, so we can see how much was needed for a specific task for that invoice, and how much that leaves available for the rest of that budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The communication, organization, and support they provide are excellent, despite being a remote team. Furthermore, we found them particularly flexible with their time and were always willing to accommodate the hours we worked.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They know what they do well and what they're good at. Though that's not necessarily negative, it can sometimes mean that they're less willing to work with technology they aren't as familiar with.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared for meetings. They accommodated our work hours as best they could, but there will always be times when they're unavailable. Take advantage of that time you do have with questions and comments.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an independent consultant for Victor Dmytrenko’s Marketing and Promotion Services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axisbits?

We needed quick updates for our new services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided design, development, and QA services. They made some changes to the mobile app and made several landing pages for upcoming conferences that we took part in. We work with PHP, HTML, and JavaScript. They also used JS and Java for Android.

What is the team composition?

There were usually four to five guys, which increased to 10 at times.

How did you come to work with Axisbits?

I worked with Maxim [Founder & CEO, Axisbits] five years ago, which is why I decided to use them again. I knew he could truly provide the required services.

How much have you invested with them?

$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together for two months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything was good.

How did Axisbits perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was on our side, and there were no communication issues. We just requested specific resources. We were able to meet in person, and we also used Jira, Basecamp, and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did everything we requested.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Some of their guys could improve their English skills.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't work with any company until you know what they do. Get qualified resources. I’ve worked with different companies, and I had no problems at all with Axisbits.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founded in 2013, our company hosts one of the largest online sales in Europe. Over 24 hours, well-known brands offer great discounts and special deals for consumers. This webshop is an international project for the biggest online sale event in Russia, Germany, and Austria. I am CTO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Axisbits?

We hired Axisbits to develop the website's product catalog and landing page. We needed backend and frontend development professionals to prepare and adjust the project before its release.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create an appealing e-commerce platform that could attract and handle an exceptionally high amount of users simultaneously. Additionally, we wanted a landing page that produced high conversion rates to attract clients and promote the event.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Axisbits by referral.

Describe the project in detail.

For this huge e-commerce project, Axisbits created a landing page and designed themes for mobile and desktop devices. They used the PHP/Yii Framework and MySQL, combined with caching to handle the high load during the event.

They have developed a complex advertising banner system, created a discount system, and implemented a purchase processing system that uses Paypal. To handle the vast amount of products, the search functionality was based on Sphinx. Axisbits has also created a dashboard for our partners and implemented a function that imported products through the upload feed.

What was the team composition?

The core team included one backend and one front-end developer, but the team composition changed several times. At one point, we needed someone to check the quality of the platform. Axisbits provided a QA engineer, who handled this task according to our needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

Thanks to the Axisbits team, more than 500 of the biggest e-commerce companies in Russia, Germany, and Austria took part with selected offers and deals. Over 7 million unique visitors generated high traffic for participating retailers. This resulted in conversion rates up to 15%, shopping basket values of €350, and a massive increase in sales.

How effective was the project management?

We handled management on our side, but it was very easy to work with the dedicated team. Communication with Axisbits was very efficient. Problems only rarely occurred.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We appreciated their commitment. They were always ready to help and added more developers or other specialists if we needed them. Their services and communication skills were excellent.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

In general, we were very pleased with Axisbits and could recommend them to other companies.