CGS-team

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Creative Director of CreativeWorkStudios

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

CreativeWorkStudios is an independent creative studio developing strategy, film, content and digital experiences for global brands, institutions and cultural organisations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CGS-team to accomplish?

• Design and develop a sophisticated digital platform from initial concept through to a fully functioning product.
• Build a robust, scalable technical architecture capable of supporting complex user accounts, content, permissions and transactional functionality.
• Translate an evolving creative and strategic vision into an intuitive, polished user experience while remaining flexible throughout a highly iterative development process.

SOLUTION

How did you find CGS-team?

Online Search

Why did you select CGS-team over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from CGS-team were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

CGS-team were engaged to take a complex digital platform from concept through architecture, design implementation and full-stack development. The scope included building the core technical infrastructure, user registration and account management, profile and content functionality, permissions and access controls, administrative tools, and the front-end user experience across desktop and mobile. The platform also required a flexible architecture that could accommodate additional functionality as the product evolved. A significant part of the engagement involved iterative development rather than simply executing a fixed specification. CGS-team worked closely with us to refine workflows, resolve technical challenges, improve usability and translate evolving creative requirements into practical product decisions. Key deliverables included the production-ready web application, supporting back-end systems and databases, authentication and user-management functionality, content-management and administrative systems, responsive front-end implementation, testing and deployment, and continued technical support and development following launch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The clearest measurable outcome was taking the project from an early-stage concept to a live, functioning platform. Key outcomes included:

- Successful delivery of a working beta, followed by public launch. Deployment of the core user, profile, content, permissions and administrative systems. 

- Transition from prototype functionality to a stable production environment capable of supporting real users. Completion of successive development milestones while the product brief continued to evolve. 

- Establishment of a scalable technical foundation that now allows new features to be developed without rebuilding the underlying platform. Continued post-launch development and refinement based on real-world use and feedback.

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

CGS-team have managed the project extremely well. They are responsive, organised and pragmatic, and communication throughout has been clear and direct. 

Given the complexity of the build and the fact that the product has continued to evolve during development, timelines have occasionally needed to move, but these changes have always been discussed openly and managed sensibly. More importantly, the team have consistently remained engaged with the underlying problem rather than treating delivery as a box-ticking exercise. 

They respond quickly to feedback, are willing to rework or rethink elements when necessary, and have been particularly good at prioritising issues when something needs immediate attention. Overall, they have felt like an extension of our own team rather than an external supplier.

What was your primary form of communication with CGS-team?

Virtual Meeting

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

What has impressed us most is the degree of ownership they take over the work. They do not behave like a team simply executing a specification.They engage with the underlying product, question assumptions, identify potential problems early and contribute ideas when they see a better solution. 

That combination of technical ability and genuine product judgement is relatively unusual. On a complex, evolving build, their willingness to stay with difficult problems and think beyond the immediate task has been particularly valuable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CGS-team could have done differently?

The main area for improvement would be around documentation and forward planning as the product becomes more complex. Because the development process has been highly iterative, decisions have sometimes moved faster than the supporting documentation. 

A slightly more formalised approach to recording technical decisions, upcoming dependencies and longer-term development priorities would make an already strong working relationship even more efficient. That said, this is a relatively minor point and partly a consequence of the speed and evolving nature of the project rather than a fundamental weakness in the team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-founder of My Artics

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We explained to CGS what we were looking to build and they understood our vision from the beginning. They took the time to understand the realities of our users and translated that into a product experience that felt practical and scalable. The collaboration felt focused and accountable, and they stayed engaged through iteration rather than disappearing after delivery.

For a startup trying to move quickly while still building something scalable, having a partner like CGS made a real difference. I would definitely recommend them to other teams operating in complex, operationally heavy industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CGS-team to accomplish?

• Build our post-MVP experience

SOLUTION

How did you find CGS-team?

Online Search

Why did you select CGS-team over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from CGS-team were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

CGS partnered with us to take the product beyond MVP and into a production-ready phase. Their scope included refining and formalizing the product requirements, translating those requirements into detailed technical specifications, and leading full-cycle development through deployment.

Key deliverables included a finalized PRD, updated user flows, front-end and back-end implementation, third-party integrations, deployment support, and a structured QA process with documented issue tracking and resolution. They also incorporated iterative design and functionality feedback prior to release.

The engagement covered planning, build, testing, and launch support, resulting in a stable and scalable version of the application ready for continued growth.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Going live with all of our features accounted for

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

We met on a weekly cadence

What was your primary form of communication with CGS-team?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their responsiveness across different time zones was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CGS-team could have done differently?

English language

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Steer to Success

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online education platform for secondary school students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CGS-team to accomplish?

• Create a subscription-based on-demand educational video and digital resource platform

SOLUTION

How did you find CGS-team?

Referral

Why did you select CGS-team over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from CGS-team were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The development of Steer to Success involved creating an accessible, intuitive, and feature-rich online education platform tailored to support students, parents, and educators. The platform was designed to deliver high-quality educational resources, including free and paid content, with a focus on inclusivity, ease of use, and scalability.

Scope of Work:

Platform Design and Development:

Customised platform design that aligns with the Steer to Success brand and user-friendly navigation.
Responsive design for optimal performance on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
Integration of accessibility features, including dyslexia-friendly fonts, adjustable text sizes, and high-contrast modes.
Content Management System (CMS):

Development of a robust backend allowing easy content uploads, updates, and organisation.
User-friendly interface for non-technical administrators to manage resources efficiently.
Support for multimedia uploads (PDFs, videos, interactive quizzes, etc.).
User Account Management:

Creation of secure user registration and login systems for students, parents, and teachers.
Tiered access levels for free and premium content, including account upgrades.
Integration of analytics tools to monitor user engagement and resource usage.
E-Commerce Functionality:

Development of a secure payment gateway to enable seamless transactions.
Implementation of subscription-based and one-time payment models for premium content.
Custom discount code functionality for Pupil Premium students and other promotional offers.
Search and Filtering Features:

Advanced search and filtering options to help users easily find relevant resources based on subject, level, or category.
Personalised recommendation engine to enhance user experience.
Resource Delivery and Organisation:

Structured delivery of educational content, including course outlines, lesson plans, revision guides, and exam preparation materials.
Organisation of resources by exam boards, subjects, and year groups.
Guidance and Support Tools:

Integration of a support ticketing system for technical or content-related assistance.
Development of tutorials and guides to help users navigate the platform and utilise resources effectively.
Scalability and Security:

Development of a scalable platform to accommodate future expansion into additional subjects and exam boards.
Implementation of robust security measures, including data encryption and regular vulnerability assessments.
Ongoing Maintenance and Support:

Post-launch support to address bugs, updates, and optimisations.
Training for the Steer to Success team on platform management and backend functionalities.
Key Deliverables:

Fully functional, branded education platform with responsive design and accessibility features.
Comprehensive CMS for easy content and user management.
Secure user registration, account management, and payment systems.
Advanced search, filtering, and recommendation tools.
Tutorials and resources to support platform navigation and user education.
Scalable infrastructure to support future growth and expansion.
The CGS team successfully delivered all these components, providing expert guidance, attention to detail, and exceptional support throughout the process. The platform exceeded expectations in functionality, usability, and design, empowering Steer to Success to achieve its mission of delivering high-quality, accessible education.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Even before its official launch, the development of Steer to Success by the CGS team has demonstrated measurable progress and success, laying a strong foundation for future growth and user engagement.

Technical Readiness:
Platform Completion: The platform is fully developed, tested, and ready for launch, with all planned features and functionalities implemented successfully.
Responsive Design: Comprehensive testing has confirmed optimal performance and usability across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Backend Stability: Backend systems, including the content management system (CMS) and user account features, are functioning without issues, ensuring ease of operation for administrators.

Accessibility and Inclusivity Features:
Dyslexia-Friendly Design: Accessibility features such as adjustable text sizes, high-contrast modes, and dyslexia-friendly fonts are integrated and functioning as intended.
Global Accessibility: The platform is designed to support international users, with no geographical limitations or technical barriers identified during pre-launch testing.

System and Security Testing:
Robust Infrastructure: Scalability tests confirm the platform can handle significant user traffic, ensuring it is prepared for a successful launch.
Security Compliance: All necessary security measures, including data encryption and secure payment gateways, have been implemented and verified, ensuring user data protection and compliance with legal standards.

Project Execution:
On-Time Delivery: The project was completed on schedule, ensuring a smooth transition to the pre-launch phase.
Alignment with Vision: The platform accurately reflects the founder’s vision for Steer to Success, with features and design tailored to meet the needs of students, parents, and educators.

Foundation for Future Growth:
Scalability: The platform infrastructure is built to support future expansion into additional subjects, exam boards, and features.
Content Uploads: The pre-launch phase has enabled the team to upload and organise key resources, ensuring a strong initial offering at launch.

Pre-Launch Feedback:
Beta Testing: Early feedback from selected testers indicates positive reception of the platform’s functionality, design, and usability.
Stakeholder Confidence: The Steer to Success team is fully prepared for the launch, with clear operational workflows and support systems in place.

These outcomes reflect the comprehensive work completed during the development phase, positioning Steer to Success for a successful launch and long-term growth. The CGS team’s meticulous approach, attention to detail, and alignment with the project’s goals have ensured a high-quality platform ready to make a meaningful impact.

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

The CGS team demonstrated exceptional project management throughout the development of the Steer to Success platform. Their structured approach, clear communication, and responsiveness were key to the success of the project.

Timely Delivery of Items:
On-Schedule Progress: The CGS team consistently met deadlines and delivered all project milestones on time, from the initial planning phase to the final pre-launch stage.
Proactive Planning: Their ability to anticipate potential challenges and address them in advance ensured there were no delays or disruptions to the timeline.

Responsiveness to Needs:
Understanding the Vision: CGS took the time to understand my vision for the platform in detail, ensuring that every feature aligned with the goal of creating an accessible and inclusive educational resource.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Whenever changes or adjustments were required, the team was quick to adapt and incorporate new ideas or solutions into the project without hesitation.
Regular Communication: Clear and consistent communication was maintained throughout, with frequent updates, check-ins, and opportunities for feedback.

Attention to Detail:
Thorough Testing: The team conducted rigorous testing at every stage of development, ensuring that all features functioned smoothly and met high-quality standards.
Precision in Implementation: Every element, from the design to the backend functionality, was executed with a meticulous attention to detail that exceeded expectations.

Support and Guidance:
Comprehensive Support: The CGS team went beyond standard project management, offering guidance on unfamiliar aspects of platform development and empowering me to understand and use the backend effectively.
Problem-Solving: Their responsiveness and expertise were evident in their ability to troubleshoot issues and provide effective solutions promptly.

The CGS team’s project management approach ensured a seamless development process, with every deliverable meeting or exceeding expectations. Their professionalism, reliability, and commitment to understanding and fulfilling my needs made this a truly collaborative and successful experience.

What was your primary form of communication with CGS-team?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The most impressive aspect of working with CGS was their ability to combine technical expertise with a genuine commitment to understanding and delivering on my vision. They didn’t just treat this as another development project; they truly immersed themselves in the goals and values of Steer to Success, creating a platform that perfectly aligns with its mission of accessibility and inclusivity.

What stood out most was their proactive communication and attention to detail. Every question I had - no matter how small - was answered thoroughly and promptly. Their team consistently anticipated potential challenges and presented solutions before I even had to ask, making the entire process smooth and stress-free.

Additionally, their flexibility and adaptability were unmatched. As someone new to certain technical aspects of platform development, I appreciated how patient and supportive they were in guiding me through unfamiliar territory. They ensured I felt confident and equipped to manage and grow the platform moving forward.

Above all, the CGS team brought an impressive level of professionalism and care to every stage of the project. Their ability to translate my ideas into a fully functional, beautifully designed platform was nothing short of extraordinary. It’s rare to find a company that combines such technical skill, responsiveness, and a deep commitment to their clients’ success - and that’s what makes CGS truly unique.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CGS-team could have done differently?

Honestly, no. They were great!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder, Head of Design of Heartstring AI

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Heartstring AI helps individuals craft heartfelt speeches for love, loss, and life's most important moments using artificial intelligence to find the perfect words.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CGS-team to accomplish?

• I hired CGS-team for the development of the web app.

SOLUTION

How did you find CGS-team?

Upwork

Why did you select CGS-team over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Worked with them before on another project

How many teammates from CGS-team were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work involves: 

• auth with email, Google, Facebook, passwordless auth, editing info, viewing created heartstrings & their info, searching, implementing API
• managing highlighted text: keep, rephrase, reject tags, displaying approximate speaking time
• like an output version: adds an icon next to an output. 
• The tech stack includes React.js, Typescript, Node.js, Nest.js, Heroku, and PostgreSQL.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcomes from our ongoing collaboration with CGS-Team on Heartstring AI are centered around the progress and efficiency of the development process. Here's how we've been tracking: 

• Development Milestones: We've successfully met critical development milestones on or respectively close to schedule. 
• Quality Assurance: Early internal testing shows that our AI-powered speech-writing algorithms are progressing to perform in line with our expectations. The iterative testing and fine-tuning process have been key to aligning the technology with our vision. 
• User-Centered Design: CGS-Team's in-depth understanding of our goals has allowed us to incorporate user feedback early in the design stage, ensuring that the platform will meet the real needs of our target audience. 
• Budget Adherence: We've been closely monitoring our expenses and are pleased that our project is within the projected budget. This is a testament to CGS-Team's expertise in managing complex development processes. 
• Team Collaboration and Alignment: Their openness, responsiveness, and shared commitment to our mission have played a vital role. 
• Market Engagement: We've also started building awareness and interest in the product. 

Our landing page, which provides a sneak peek into Heartstring AI, has attracted potential early adopters' sign-ups. These outcomes demonstrate our joint progress toward crafting a solution that can make a difference in how people express their emotions through speeches. 

We're excited about our direction and look forward to continued collaboration with CGS-Team as we approach our launch in September. This version highlights the current stage of the project and emphasizes the aspects that can be measured at this point in the development cycle.

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

CGS-Team's project management was both efficient and responsive. We utilized a combination of tools that facilitated a streamlined workflow: Slack for immediate communication, Jira for task management, and Harvest for time-tracking. This trio of tools allowed us to maintain a constant and clear line of communication, ensuring that everyone was always on the same page. 

When it came to delivering items on time, CGS-Team was quite meticulous. They provided immediate feedback on all questions, which greatly helped keep the project on track. Their agility in responding to our needs and their proactive approach to task management through Jira contributed to meeting our milestones as planned. What stood out was their commitment to understanding our needs. 

Their responsiveness on Slack, not just during regular working hours but even beyond, showcased their dedication to our project's success. They were not merely executing tasks but actively engaging with us to ensure that the solutions were aligned with our goals. 

In summary, CGS-Team's project management was characterized by timely deliveries, immediate feedback, transparency, and a clear understanding of our needs. Their choice of tools and approach to using them created an environment where collaboration thrived and the project could progress smoothly.

What was your primary form of communication with CGS-team?

Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out to me most about CGS-Team was their unwavering commitment to quality in every aspect of our collaboration. This commitment was evident in the end product and every step of the process. Their attention to detail was remarkable. In the coding phase, they maintained rigorous standards, ensuring that the code was not only functional but also efficient and well-structured. 

They understood that the success of our project hinged on getting the small things right, and they never lost sight of that goal. But what set them apart was how they extended this focus on quality to their communication with me. They didn't just keep me updated; they ensured that I was actively involved and fully aware of each development, no matter how minor. 

Their transparent and regular updates allowed me to feel a part of the process rather than just a spectator. This combination of technical excellence and exceptional communication created a partnership beyond the typical client-vendor relationship. 

With CGS-team, I felt I was working with a group of individuals who cared about my project as much as I did and were willing to invest the time and effort to succeed. Their dedication to quality, both in code and communication, was impressive and a unique trait that I truly valued in our collaboration.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CGS-team could have done differently?

Reflecting on our collaboration with CGS-Team, it's challenging to pinpoint specific areas for improvement as they were consistently proactive and attentive to our needs. Whenever there was discomfort, confusion, or problems, they were always ready and willing to resolve the issue. Their openness to changes, even if required at a later stage, demonstrated a flexibility that made the development process smooth and adaptable. 

They were not rigid in their approach but embraced the iterative nature of development, understanding that adjustments are often necessary to reach the desired outcome. If I had to suggest an area for potential growth, it might be in further formalizing the process for managing changes, ensuring that both sides have a clear understanding of any potential impact on timelines or budgets. 

However, this is a minor point in the context of an overwhelmingly positive experience. Overall, CGS-Team's commitment to understanding our needs and willingness to adapt to the project's demands has set a high bar for collaboration. Their approach left little room for improvement, and I would readily engage with them again for future projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Project manager 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Develop medical innovation in the field of medical devices and IT

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CGS-team to accomplish?

• Develop a web-app for an existing mobile app

SOLUTION

How did you find CGS-team?

Upwork

Why did you select CGS-team over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from CGS-team were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

1. To understand the existing app design and function
2. To develop a mirror app for the existing mobile app that mirror all the design and function
3. To help in uploading the new web-app to our Azure account
4. To continue cooperation for the web-app maintenance

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

1. Delivery of bug-free web app
2. Delivery on time
3. Prompt communication and response
4. Interest in achieving the desired outcomes

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

During the development, they were very responsive to any feedbacks. They worked hard to understand our needs and worked to achieve our goals as requested. They maintained good communication with our team during the process.

What was your primary form of communication with CGS-team?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We were impressed by their interest in meeting our needs EFFICIENTLY. Did not request extra fee, despite our repeated requests to modify or fix some issue which clearly too them extra time and efforts.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CGS-team could have done differently?

The offered to hire a QA person for the project, but we preferred to hire our own. This could cause some delay..

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of computer service company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CGS-team, and what were your goals?

We needed a Flutter Expert to convert a Winforms application into Flutter together with a Front dev who will handle the backend.

SOLUTION

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

We looked online for the best options and selected six candidates. We decided for CGS as their Dev was a lot more expert than the others and he could speak English really fluently. The company CGS reassured us also a lot with their experience and their professionalism.

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

We had a number of meeting to finalize the scope of work. Then organized daily meetings when starting developping. The technology was already selected but their experience in Flutter was really impressive.

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

There was a project manager who followed us and a Flutter Expert. The company organization was also very present whenever needed. We felt really in good hands.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within the first month, we had already had a good draft of what was needed and after two the application was up and running beautifully. It went actually faster than we thought.

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

We used email for regular feedback with the project management and then Slack and Zoom with the Dev. With the CGS organization we communicated via email and Zoom and their reactivity was impressive.

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

Their expertize was amazing. The way they're organized is really working smoothly - we felt in real good hands.

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

I can't see any at this stage.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

PN is a platform where people can buy or sell their staff. It includes chat for customers and merchants, emails, and notifications for actions. Users can comment, follow one another, and rate products. We are the agency that worked with CGS-team. Our costumer was in Switzerland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CGS-team, and what were your goals?

The challenges are mainly bugs related to the notifications system, translations, image uploading, categories etc... Their challenge was also to work on a code that was previously done by another developper. They were WAY better than the other dev.

SOLUTION

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

Professional from the start, very clear quote, 2 calls of about 45 minutes to understand our needs. They had nothing but good reviews on the various platforms.

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

CGS-team fixed oneSignal notifications system, sending emails through the mailer feature, sending SMS through the Twilio feature, and auth with Facebook and Google. The technology stack used includes:

• TypeScript
• React Native
• NodeJS
• NestJS
• Social media AUTH /Google
• Facebook/
• OneSignal API
• WebRTC

The revision list was very big (more than 100 points) and point after point we managed to do them all and have a fully functional application (which is still very hard with a marketplace in 3 languages)

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

• Timur (Team lead)
• Sergiy (Mobile developer)
• Alexander (Mobile developer)
• Oles (Mobile developer)
• Olga (Backend developer)

All very professional and humans. Especially during the period of the war in Ukraine.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team fulfilled the demands and expectations. They delivered all the tasks qualitatively and on time. We're happy with the final result, as all the goals set for the work are achieved, and the product works much better now. Real professionals.

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

They provided immediate feedback, no matter if it was PM or СEO. Slack was for fast communication, Jira was for task management, and Harvest was for time-tracking. There were meetings twice a week, daily team calls, weekly demo meetings, and retro meetings. Furthermore, I wasn't charged for project management services. They really took time to do things well and I appreciated that.

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

As I mentioned before, the communication was fast. We could fix all issues and clarify all the nuances immediately. The team also strictly followed the deadlines and was proactive in their work and suggestions.

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

If any confusion or issues appeared, the team was always available to fix and discuss them fast. Also, they were open to any changes needed and provided them strictly and fast.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software solution company for B2B networking and supply chain management and optimization within the healthcare industry. We started the company about a year and a half ago.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Code Generation?

We’d been working with different developers that we found on Total and Upwork. Our goal was to get front- and backend developers to build our solution’s foundation and MVP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Code Generation helped us build our MVP and rebuild the entire web-based software from the ground up after we got funding and support. We initially gave qualitative explanations about what we were trying to achieve. They urged us to build an information architecture map so they could understand better what we wanted the whole platform to look like. After working with them to give them a big-picture understanding, we started working with their CTO, who was one of their best developers.

They took on projects within this information architecture, specifically database projects. They built a substantial part of our database, including the customer address book. Also, they helped create an inventory system and some consumer-facing purchasing and checkout processes. We had a separate team to handle the design. They used Figma, and we’d hand off the frames to our frontend developers, including Code Generation.

They wrote code in JavaScript, specifically MERN stack. They did everything from MongoDB for the database side and backend structuring to React for the frontend and UI.

What is the team composition?

We had two people from Code Generation on our team. Initially, we were in contact with a business relationship manager. He helped to sort things out and understand the project’s scope. We mainly worked with the CTO. He became our primary contact for backend, middleware, and frontend developers. 

How did you come to work with Code Generation?

We found them on Upwork. At the time, we were an eight-person team. We were looking for someone with good work. Code Generation showed us all their work in the beginning, and we were impressed with what they’d done, so we brought them on. They didn’t have many reviews or experience in Upwork, but they could help us build out the project visually and were low-cost.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started doing business in June 2021 and wrapped up in July 2022. We stopped working together because they had more opportunities to get paid more money. We didn’t have the bandwidth to keep them on our payroll.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We find it hard to measure a developer’s work quantitatively. Still, Code Generation’s team could do a project faster than anyone else, especially when we told them when it needed to be done. Also, they were literal coders. If we gave them a Figma wireframe, it’d look exactly like it. Some of our other developers had their own ideas, so they’d influence the interfaces. We liked working with Code Generation because they took what we said literally and didn’t ask too many questions or put their nose to the grindstone.

How did Code Generation perform from a project management standpoint?

There was a bit of a language barrier, but they were always willing to smooth that over. We had a big time difference initially because they were working in Siberia. However, they ended up moving closer to Europe, so we were more on the same page and had fewer hiccups as the relationship continued. They were always willing to reroute the frontend to different backend data points when we asked and further explained.

They used Slack to communicate daily, ask questions, and provide comments. We had video conference meetings twice a week via Zoom or Google Meet. They were comfortable using both. Also, Upwork had a way to track when they were active. Moreover, they adopted all of our systems and fitted in pretty smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Code Generation was fast and delivered one-to-one design translations of the product — they were identical replicas. They completed the projects perfectly. We were pretty blown away by them. Also, their CTO was probably the most efficient coder we had on our 16-person team, even by the end of our relationship. When he put his mind to it and was fully engaged, he was the most prolific and efficient team member.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The most difficult pain point in working with Code Generation was the communication back and forth. Sometimes there were misunderstandings because they’d finish projects so quickly that they wouldn’t be exactly what we wanted. For example, sometimes things wouldn’t be perfectly aligned between the frontend and backend as we’d hoped to present to our users.

On the other hand, they could’ve been more emotionally engaged with the product to the point where it became their baby as much as it was ours. However, that’s hard even for full-time employees or shareholders because motivating people is challenging.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Talk frequently and give explicit materials of what you want to develop. If you hand out materials and communicate with the developers, they'll be more capable of getting what you’ve described. It may not be exactly right, but you can talk to them so they can adjust it and fine-tune it until they get it right.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the head of software development at Pandemic Relief Supply and we specialize in creating software for supply chain optimization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Code Generation, and what were your goals?

We hired Code Generation for a MERN stack project to help create new features for our existing supply chain solution platform. Our goal was to increase the services offered within our platform for both our internal team and external users. Code Generation helped complete multiple features to help expand our software.

SOLUTION

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

I ran an interview process with many candidates and chose Code Generation based on both the previous work they had done, an online interview I conducted with them, for the ability that being a team I was able to expand with them as needed and due to the fact that if my personal assigned developer ever had an issue he was able to get help from another team member to help resolve it.

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

We used MERN stack to create a leads tracking system, improvements to our order management system, improvements to an inquiry based system for product pricing, an area for tracking commissions and other general improvements to the application to become more optimized.

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

I worked with two members directly from their team one being the manager of developers and one being a developer themselves.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After introducing the features created by code generation our internal team was able to a lot of our operations to a more centralized location rather than having a lot of different software to handle different parts of our business.

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

We had constant communication back and forth being able to chat whenever was needed. They allowed me to set up the style I wanted for managing development. In our case, we set up a task-based system where I was able to assign tasks and monitor as each was completed and provide feedback.

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

What I found most impressive is their ability to meet the deadlines I set consistently, we are a fast-changing company and the team at Code Generation is able to meet us each step of the way.

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

When we first got started we had to find an effective means of communication and feedback, once we figured out a good method that worked between our two organizations it became smooth sailing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Senior Product Manager here at Switch. We're developing a browser-based productivity platform to help improve the browser experience for knowledge workers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Code Generation, and what were your goals?

We hired Code Generation as we were looking to outsource the build for a particular module. Our goal was to utilise the expertise of the company to quickly develop a module that could be directly imported into our current build, to rapidly improve our offering.

SOLUTION

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

We considered several other proposals, but the professional organisation and communication from the team were paramount in our decision-making process. We needed strong communication skills as the project was likely to need quick decisions made as it evolved.

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

We were looking for full-stack react developers with experience using MongoDB and Elasticsearch. The scope of work was to implement a new feature in our Chrome extension, which will enable our customers to centrally search through the history of applications they’ve used. The Chrome extension was implemented with React, TypeScript, Node and MongoDB. We required a deliverable that could be built as a private npm package, so that we could add to our extension as a module.

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

We communicated with Oleksii, the technical project manager, day-to-day, and ad-hoc with up to 3 senior developers depending on the specific conversations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to implement the solution directly into our extension and launch within 2 weeks of delivery. We are still waiting on result metrics from the launch.

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

The project management was perfect - always accessible, and ready for a call if ever needed. We communicated through Slack day-to-day, and used Github as our code repo.

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

There were two things that really proved impressive about working with Oleksii and the team.

1. Their communication was impeccable. Whenever we had queries, questions, or needed updates, Oleksii would get back to us immediately and then update as soon as he could. When managing timelines with outsourced work, this made such a difference as we could run our internal development perfectly in parallel.
2. Time was not charged for troubleshooting or tweaks required from the developers. This gave us real confidence in the quality of the delivery, and gave us confidence that we could simply 'plug-and-play' the module on delivery.

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

We had one small piece of confusion on the timesheets, however, this was handled expertly by Oleksii ensuring that they were correct. Moving forward, we simply agreed to be more explicit with time-estimates/logging, to ensure each piece of work was confirmed before started. As I said before, this was never really a concern though, as the communication and quality of delivery meant that this was dealt with immediately.