Blackthorn Vision

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a company of scientists and engineers specializing in water and environmental projects. I was an independent application developer, contracted over a long term to develop database applications, mostly interactive reporting front end to the enterprise resource application used for operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blackthorn Vision LLC?

We needed help to off load some of my workload to expedite delivery of some additional features for the desktop apps.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to add new interactive data views as well as add new features to existing data views.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I interviewed several candidates, and selected BV because of the knowledge and experience of their developers.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Olek, the developer assigned by BV to this project, got up to speed on the existing apps, and added new features, delivering code through Visual Studio online.

What was the team composition?

I continued to work with the client to define requirements and design solutions. I gave Olek direction and reviewed and tested his code. He worked independently of me, remotely in his offices in Ukraine.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

These apps are used daily by several manager in various departments. The successful operation of the business is dependent on the existence of these apps.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

At first, we did pair programming, and I did code reviews of Olek's work. Gradually, I began to hand off small tasks for Olek to do on his own. As I became more comfortable with Olek's talent and skills and reliability, I gave him credentials to access and update the source code.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The quality of the work done by Olek is impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could change their time zone to US Eastern Time. :-)

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an electrical software development company. We’ve created software that designs and provides technical estimations for electrical projects (mainly those that are high-voltage and involve electrical generation).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blackthorn Vision LLC?

This software was a long-held idea in my mind and I approached Blackthorn Vision to actually develop it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After I provided Blackthorn with a general wireframe and an overview of desired functionalities, they developed my desktop application in C++.

There was no precedent to work from because, at the time, there weren’t any similar products around. We developed a completely new software step by step, with frequent checks and tests. They’d create something, and I would see how it worked before making the necessary adjustments.

The software allows users to build project plans while estimating the value of those projects. Each user installs the software on their own machine and has to input an activation code to make it work. Each user has a unique login, and they can customize the software in accordance with their specific needs.

The software works pretty much like a puzzle game—it features pieces that you put together to create an electrical diagram. The software takes those pieces from a database and puts them on the drawing board, where you can create the system or design you want. As you customize the project, a cost estimate is automatically generated in the background.

What is the team composition?

Victor (Software Engineer, Blackthorn Vision LLC) was my main point of contact. He’s very sharp; he quickly understood exactly how I wanted the software to work.

How did you come to work with Blackthorn Vision?

I found them through a google search. I found Blackthorn to be a good fit because they had engaged in a comparable project in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, I spent over $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Blackthorn in the fall of 2017 and wrapped up around a year later.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Blackthorn did a great job building the software, which is currently working just as it’s supposed to. While there were plenty of bugs along the way, Blackthorn quickly resolved them upon discovery; they were very responsive in this sense.

Since the deployment of the software, I’ve gotten very good user feedback. It’sproprietary software that’s only being used by a few people at this time. I built it for internal use in our company, and we’ve been satisfied with it. I’ll go to Blackthorn in the future if I need more help.

How did Blackthorn Vision LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

I would’ve appreciated better project management; I don’t believe we had a project manager assigned to us. I’d expected the project to be a bit faster and cheaper. They were unable to fulfill the requirements within our set time and budget, but I admit that it was a hard estimate, to begin with.  

While Viktor did a great job building the software, I felt that he may have been stretched between other projects. I suspect that this is why my project took longer than estimated. While communication was smooth, there were points where Viktor had difficulty finding time for my project. In the end, he’d only work on it for one day a week, trying to fix whatever bugs we had.

From their perspective, the project was completed, but, as the customer, I wanted all bugs fixed. He did eventually finish fixing them, but it took a little longer than we thought. All that being said, it wasn’t a major issue—I was satisfied with the end product.

We used email and video chat for communication. We didn’t have a time zone issue, and they speak perfect English. I didn’t have any problems understanding them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re technically very competent. They know exactly what they’re doing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re very busy, with so many projects going on, so they could use better project management. Blackthorn could improve their communication with the client, and work to stick to the original timeline and budget.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I’d wholeheartedly recommend Blackthorn Vision. However, I do advise clients to make sure that everything—a time schedule, a defined scope of work—is on paper. Doing so ensures that everyone is in line.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the executive vice president of an AI software developer. We focus on the area of AI called explainable AI.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blackthorn Vision LLC?

We needed help with custom software and web development for our company. We have a core engine that has a lot of capabilities and AI algorithms and an enterprise-class architecture. It didn’t have a designer user interface to create the applications for our core engine.

We crafted similar applications in the past and we knew how to create the user interface, but needed an organization that could build those capabilities that also had a good appreciation for how to build a web-based tool. We needed it to be in the cloud, and we needed a cloud architecture. We also needed them to support the user interface development challenges that we knew we would have ourselves; both conveying what we wanted, as well as our customers understanding that their needs are fulfilled.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

There were three major components to the software. For each of the, there was a design document that was created. They have very detailed user interface requirements and we take exactly the same product and use it in three or four different market verticals in our customer applications.

They’ve also done user sessions where they interacted with our customers to see how they’ree using the tool as well as to get feedback, and that alters the design sometimes. We provide an API to our software, but they need to know how to construct the user interface and apply that API to create the necessary features.  They’ve been able to meet all of our requirements thus far.

What is the team composition?

Their team consisted of a senior architect and user interface developer and architect, as well as two supporting engineers, and a user interface engineer.

How did you come to work with Blackthorn Vision LLC?

One of our investors had worked with them previously. They recommended Blackthorn to us and we followed up with the CEO. We began working together shortly thereafter.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve invested over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in October 2018, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The impact of their work has been substantial. You can divide our software capabilities into two bundles which are our core software and the workbench, which is our design tool. Every customer that we present to, any information that we send out, or any project that we do involves the workbench which Blackthorn helped us to create. It is an essential part of the business and we know that because we have tried at least one other substantial implementation of the workbench which was nor successful. It has taken us five years to and get the right team together to create it. For me, Blackthorn is that team.

The product is very good. We had conversations early on about quality assurance and quality control, and they do an excellent job of that. There is always more to do and they are always willing to do it.

We have a very aggressive roadmap for development for both the core software as well as the workbench. We have a lot to do and at every step, we have to make sure that the quality is good as well as make sure that previous features that we have are not impacted in any way.

They are still on board, doing a great job. I really like the team we have.

How did Blackthorn Vision LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very good and our communication has been great. We have several channels of communication such as WhatsApp, Webex, Skype, email and telephone. They use Microsoft tools and we use their visual studio web-based platform to track progress and tasks. We stay on track. Their engineers are quite good, and they keep us well behaved as well and it has been a good relationship.

We have meetings twice per week on Mondays and Fridays to ensure that they are in alignment with us and we understand what they are doing. We want to make sure they are delivering to a specific schedule based on a number of sprints that they complete towards that deliverable or milestone.

There haven’t been any issues when it comes to time difference or a language barrier. We have one person that was based in Portugal for a while, and we haven’t run into any issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It is a good balance of hard engineering details and flexibility. They do push back when there is something they don’t understand, schedules or if allocations of their resources are being disturbed by some request that we make. They help us enforce a degree of discipline which shows up in quality. In keeping things on track, you make sure you have the time to check the quality. It is a big part of achieving really good quality software. They stay on target and on point. Discussions aren’t arguments; they stay focused on the problem until it’s fixed. I really appreciate that aspect.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I rely on Blackthorn to make sure that our resources are being used efficiently. I can only see the final product and the discussions that lead up to that, and they seem to do a good job on that. The only downside I see is that I wish I had more downtime and financial resources to spin up more of their people. I think we have a good management structure and eventually, we will have more resources to have the capabilities we want.

One thing that could be improved is payment. We are essentially paying a fixed amount which gives them a lot of freedom in how they want to allocate people, but I don’t have complete visibility into their cost structure, but it would be helpful if I did. Overall, it has been a good situation, but there is some tendency from my managers to have more details and I can’t provide that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to follow their lead. Choose a small number of things to focus on and don’t try to boil the ocean. Stay attentive to hard targets, as it’s critical for the success of the project.  To create software, it’s necessary to have a good understanding of what’s needed, so you can guide the development team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of customer engineering at SiTime Corporation. SiTime is a leading developer of MEMS-based (micro-electro-mechanical systems) frequency control products, including crystal oscillators (XO), temperature compensated crystal oscillators (TCXO), and voltage controlled crystal oscillators (VCXO).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blackthorn Vision LLC?

We contracted Blackthorn to develop an automated competitor cross reference tool which accepts one or more competitor part number(s) and matches them to the SiTime equivalent device.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to deploy the online cross-reference tool to the SiTime website within three months.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Blackthorn had an excellent track record and reputation, and they gave a very reasonable price quote for the project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Blackthorn developed an online cross-reference tool, which involved creating a database of competitor devices that reads in data from an excel spreadsheet provided by SiTime. Blackthorn also developed the complex match logic and clean, easy-to-use user interface. This project was especially complex because all competitors have different part numbering schemes, and the matching logic had to comprehend this as well as store thousands of lines of information into the database.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a project leader, lead developer, and QA engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before we implemented this tool, the cross-reference process was very manual and involved downloading each competitor datasheet and matching parameters to the most equivalent SiTime device.

Now, implementation of this tool will save hundreds of manhours of time per year and also make life easier for our channel partners. Last year, it took our team a lot of time to cross a list of 3,000 competitor devices; by implementing this automated cross reference tool, this type of task can be accomplished in only a few minutes.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team leader created a project plan along with the associated man hours of each task. We had weekly phone calls to assess status and test the software as it was being built. It was very effective, and the project was released on time to an aggressive schedule, given the tool complexity.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Blackthorn Vision LLC had a very professional demeanor and drove all tasks to completion. They did what they said they would do and did it on time like clockwork.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, none that I can see. They had an outstanding performance.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder and the CEO of RemiPeople, an online recruitment web app that removes the subconscious bias from the hiring process. It’s a SaaS product used in business to streamline hiring.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blackthorn Vision?

During recruitment, there are multiple biases in play that people aren’t always aware of. So, we wanted to create an online tool that allowed organizations to not only find the best candidates but also consider more diverse options. Blackthorn Vision joined the project to develop the beta software of this tool.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a collaborative approach rather than us just giving instructions. Initially, we discussed our needs and detailed what our product would deliver, and they helped us refine our requirements. From there, they handled all the coding and UX design to build the beta version. They linked the tool with Stripe and SendGrid, which allowed us to send automated emails to confirm applicant submissions and updates.

The software itself is an online recruitment tool. Companies can create job posts through our app, which generates a URL address. Candidates can then use the link to go through our screening process and complete their application. This involves a series of questions that assess the candidate’s capabilities with regard to their day-to-day duties. We then anonymize the applicant, removing identifying information such as name and gender before passing it to the recruiter. Companies can also see the applicant’s CV but only later in the process. That way, the process solely focuses on relevant work skills.

Once a recruiter scores the applicant, they can see each candidate on a leaderboard, which enables the recruiter to quickly sort through resources that they’d want to pursue. Candidates will then go through a structured interview process using a tool that loads questions. Online interview templates are also available to load comments and immediately score responses. The software will average the scores, input them in the leaderboard, and provide a summary of the candidate’s performance at each stage of the recruitment process.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a designer, two backend developers, two frontend developers, and a coordinator who took care of testing and communication.

How did you come to work with Blackthorn Vision?

We wanted to explore more cost-effective development options, so we looked for firms overseas. I made a rubric, shortlisted 4–5 companies, and spoke with each one to refine the list. I also spoke to some of their clients.

Eventually, I went with Blackthorn Vision because we felt more comfortable with their range of services. Their business development personnel was also active in terms of responding to our inquiries and following up.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$200,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently, Blackthorn is cooperating with us to address various bugs and issues that none of us had thought about during the earlier development. These are inevitable system issues, but the team has been responsive in correcting them. They’ve also provided creative solutions to our technical challenges, working hard to help us achieve our goals.

How did Blackthorn Vision perform from a project management standpoint?

When we first started, it took us a while to be clear about what we wanted, which resulted in some confusion. But they stuck with us and sorted everything out. We also faced some unforeseen challenges on our side after the initial software iterations. This caused some delays, but Blackthorn strove to stick to the schedule. We coordinated the project through email and Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to their technical skill, the team is responsive and have been a real partner throughout the process. From the CEO to the lead developers and point of contact, they’ve all been highly helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We wish they would have given us firmer direction at the beginning on what needed to be done and when. At the time, I hadn’t gone through a development process before, so I would’ve appreciated more guidance on key points. We ended up losing a bit of time during the first six weeks because we were all trying to get on the same page.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the tech lead and CEO of my company, which provides custom controls in Windows applications, iOS & Android applications. We provide graphics & visualization to customers around the world in Scientific, Financial & Medical industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Blackthorn Vision LLC?

We needed additional software developers to develop, maintain, and support custom controls for real-time graphics and visualizations.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to build custom graphics and visualization components in a variety of languages. I was also looking for documentation and technical customer support services.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Blackthorn Vision because of their strong reviews and reputation.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They’ve designed, developed, and maintained several graphics and visualization components using C#, .NET, WPF, XAML, Objective-C, Swift, and Java. We started with a single developer and have grown the team every year since. They’ve also contributed toward documentation, teaching, and learning on our clients’ behalf. Finally, they’ve worked directly with clients in tech-support roles to ensure they can best use our software.

What was the team composition?

The project team is now composed of ten people including developers with various skill sets, project management resources, and sales assistants.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Blackthorn Vision has helped me scale my business, which is undoubtedly a key factor in our success. They’ve created award-winning software that customers describe as ‘best in class.’

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We carry out project management on our side, but their team has been quick to take up tools like Github, Microsoft Teams, Youtrack (similar to JIRA), and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their loyalty and willingness to fully integrate with my team and business is amazing.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They could improve their account management for larger projects and/or provide floating resources for project management. Other than that, I have no complaints

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company that creates hardware and software for the card game Bridge. Our technology allows players to collect and track scores, register for tournaments, publish standings, etc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WebpageFX?

We needed to outsource some of our software development due to the volume of work and limited amount of time we had to complete our projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our in-house developers create specifications for a software they need built, and we send those specifications to Blackthorn developers, who will create the software using Microsoft Visual Basic .NET, Microsoft SQL Server, Entity Framework, Windows Presentation Foundation, and other Microsoft programs.

What is the team dynamic? 

We work with two to three developers at a time. Although they are outsourced, they act as part of our team. We communicate through Skype, TeamViewer, email, and issue tracking systems, and that works very well. 

How did you come to work with Blackthorn?

We advertised one of our projects on UpWork, specifically requesting a development house, as opposed to a single developer. After reviewing our options, we decided to go with Blackthorn because they specialize in Microsoft software development, and we work primarily with Microsoft programs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them 2015, and we continue to work with one of their developers full-time and another part-time. I can see our company still working with them five years down the line.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The projects are ongoing, so I can’t provide any information on the impact they’ve had on our work.

How did Blackthorn perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very cooperative. If we ask that something be changed, they have no problems making those changes. If one of their team members drop out of a project or we’re not happy with the work of one of their developers, they’re very quick to replace them. They also don’t charge for work that doesn’t meet our expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re interested in the long-term relationship with us, as opposed to short-term gain. That’s paramount for us because the software that we developed is an ongoing project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We don’t expect the same level of productivity that we have with our in-house developers because they have much more knowledge of Bridge, but Blackthorn could be a bit more productive. They take up to 20 hours to do what our developers can do in ten. 

We’ve also worked with a couple of people from Blackthorn that were unsuitable for the job we required. When you outsource a job, it would be ideal if the company had the best people ready to work with you without trial and error.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We recently visited their offices for a couple of days, and it was very helpful to see where and how they work. It improved how we communicate with each other. I would suggest potential customers visit their office. It’s very professional, and that’s not something you get to see through their website.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Orderica.com. We primarily provide e-commerce solutions. We also have jewelry management solution software, which is a POS and inventory management solution combined.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blackthorn?

I engaged Blackthorn about three years ago to implement an inventory management solution. I wanted to use WPF [Windows Presentation Framework], and a big portion of their developers specialize in this.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blackthorn provided me with good support and good developers. The application is a very extensive inventory management solution that provides customer, vendor, and item management. It can integrate with my e-commerce solution using specific integration APIs. The technologies used were primarily .NET and WPF. The language was C#, which is the primary language for .NET. WFC [Windows Communication Framework] was used to some extent for the interfaces; then we changed that to Web API, which is being used now for integration with the e-commerce. It’s a cloud-based solution.

How did you come to work with Blackthorn Vision?

I found Blackthorn on Upwork, where they responded to my job post. I interviewed a few companies, and I ended up going with Blackthorn. I asked them to do a couple of tests for me, and I liked what they produced. Their quality was better than other companies I tested. The price was a little higher, but I chose them because of their quality.

How much have you invested with Blackthorn?

I’ve invested $70,000–80,000 over the last three years.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with Blackthorn in the summer of 2014. I concluded my collaboration with them recently. I’ve reached a level where I don’t need new development, and I have less expensive resources in India.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I had a very good experience with Blackthorn. They’re professional, and they do what they promise to do. We only recently started advertising the product, so I don’t have many metrics. I’ve gotten good feedback so far. Blackthorn did what I was expecting them to do; they’re great implementers. The best advice I can give someone who wants to use Blackthorn is to make sure you know what you are looking for. We changed direction a couple of times, which caused the project to take longer than anticipated.

How did Blackthorn perform from a project management standpoint?

I was the project manager. When we made changes in the direction, Blackthorn followed what we requested.

What did you find most impressive about Blackthorn Vision?

I appreciate their loyalty. Blackthorn was always trying to resolve my problems. I know they could have gone to other clients with higher budgets, but they went along with us and the numbers we could afford.

Are there any areas Blackthorn could improve?

I didn’t have any negative interactions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Operations Director of Prydis Wealth

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Financial planners to UK clients

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blackthorn Vision to accomplish?

• Client Portal
• Document Creation

SOLUTION

How did you find Blackthorn Vision?

Upwork

Why did you select Blackthorn Vision over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Blackthorn Vision were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Client portal to colelction data and transform the data into advice documents

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Capturing client data and transforming into advice documents. Number of clients engaged, feeback from advisers.

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

Yes, delivered on time. Scope is continually evolving and they adaped very well.

What was your primary form of communication with Blackthorn Vision?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their culture is to go above and beyond to achieve the right outcome for us.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Engineer of Kipling

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

a

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blackthorn Vision to accomplish?

• Develop UI application

SOLUTION

How did you find Blackthorn Vision?

Referral

Why did you select Blackthorn Vision over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Blackthorn Vision were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Design and Develop UI software for our company. Create new pages integrating with our backend using our REST API. Write unit tests for all pages.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successful creation of UI pages without any bugs such as errors/lags etc.

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

most deliverables were delivered on time with high quality. The engineer assigned and management team was very responsive to our requests.

What was your primary form of communication with Blackthorn Vision?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I’m impressed with their commitment, and they take pride in their work.

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

None.