The Big Byte

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am director in Qubiz, a one-stop-shop for IT services, operating in Romania and serving reputable clients worldwide. We help our clients build and run effective & high-performance software solutions, fit to their business, regardless of scale.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire The Big Byte, and what were your goals?

We had a project started, with ambitious and unmovable deadlines - and while advancing with its delivery, its scope and complexity extended based on the needs identified along the way. As a result, we needed to extend our capacity and expertise, on short notice, with experienced engineers able to plug-in to the running project and speed up the delivery with maximum effectiveness. In this respect the Big Byte team was a perfect match, enabling us to have a sound launch of the platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We reached the Big Byte through a referral, and straight from the initial talks we identified a good fit to collaborate, anticipating the independence and effectiveness that has been actually confirmed.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We've been building a virtual experience platform for an USA-based customer, consisting of several modules - such as scheduling, matching engine and event delivery (audio-video). Our aim was to delegate ownership of one of the modules towards Big Byte, which their team was supposed to handle independently, delivering it back to us in a workable, tested state that integrates flawlessly with the other modules.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There were two engineers involved in the process, who were able to understand and analyze the requirements very quickly and proposing architecture, technical design and actual implementation of the assigned module.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We were very satisfied with the delivery, which achieved all the objectives: in quality, in budget and in timeline. No defects have been identified nor by our testing nor after launch, except minor cosmetics or optimizations. The module we received was easy to integrate in the overall product and no refactoring was required. This, it enabled us to have a workable product successfully delivered to our client.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Project management and overall project delivery adopted truly Agile principles. Despite several sub-teams and many stakeholders, we managed to act and work as one team, with minimal overhead, spot-on communication and maximum flexibility to adapt.

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

We appreciate the expertise of Big Byte engineers. We were impressed with their ability to quickly understand the requirements and get things done without any lags or any overhead. Quick start, steady delivery, high-quality work.

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

Usually in similar collaborations we were used to get more frequent status reports along the project - which was not the case here. At the same time we didn't really needed such reports, having the confidence from start that project parameters will be met. And they were.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an IT consultant at Shutters Factory Ltd, and we sell and install plantation shutters. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Big Byte?

We were looking to differentiate our brand on the UK market, and one of the ways we could do that was by having a custom-made ordering system. We hired a vendor to develop our platform, but they weren’t providing the results we were looking for. We needed a new partner for this project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Big Byte completed our CRM development project that a previous vendor had started. The development was already substantial when they took over, but the app wasn’t functional. We gave them a detailed project brief, and they analyzed the existing program. From there, they’ve handled everything regarding the project, including its UI/UX design.

The app is for our internal use, handling CRM functionalities and product configuration. It’s built using CodeIgniter and AWS. The Big Byte is currently implementing updates and new features to the app.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with their owner and another developer. 

How did you come to work with The Big Byte?

I was friends with The Big Byte’s owner.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent £12,000 (approximately $16,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2021, and our partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Big Byte has successfully taken over the project and made the app functional. We’re now using the platform, and it increases our productivity by at least 30%. They’ve met our goals. 

How did The Big Byte perform from a project management standpoint?

The Big Byte’s project management has been done by the books. They are organized, and they’ve delivered on time. We use Slack and Jira to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Big Byte is really knowledgeable — they can create anything we ask. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The Big Byte places too much emphasis on project management. I understand that they need to be clear and organized, but that’s causing us to lose development time. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Put together a strong brief and establish your needs and objectives before engaging with The Big Byte.