Codeex

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a freelance senior project manager in the technology industry. For the past three years, I’ve been working for a Web3 cybersecurity company, and for the past year, I’ve been involved in building a Web3 security toolkit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Codeex?

We hired Codeex to help us create a tool that checks smart contracts for fraud, errors, or issues.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My company is building an overall toolkit to check errors and inconsistencies on Web3, blockchain-based ecosystems. This product is basically a Web3 security and audit-making automated platform. For this project, Codeex is helping us develop an extension for browsers like Chrome and Firefox that checks on smart contracts. Initially, we shared a document detailing our requirements with Codeex, and they worked with us to enhance it.

Our platform has two purposes. The first purpose is educational — we’re putting together information about blockchain, cybersecurity, decentralized accounts, and data information to share with our customers. The second purpose of our platform is to provide a set of different tools to help users ensure that the blockchain ecosystems, payment gateways, and other systems they use are secure. 

The set of tools we provide includes an audit mechanism that uses the extension Codeex has helped us build. Using this extension, we send information about those systems to our blockchain experts and joint experts from Codeex to verify and audit smart contracts. We also provide users with our opinion and a certified verification that their ecosystems and smart contracts are safe to use.

As for the technology stack, we’ve used a few conventional technologies. For example, our backend uses Node.js, and Codeex has chosen AWS for database management and hosting. Frontend development technologies for the extension depend on the browser — Chrome and Firefox have their own stack. Still, the overall UI uses React.js.

What is the team composition?

In the beginning, we thought a team of four engineers from Codeex would be enough, but we then had to grow that team with designers. We now work with seven of their teammates, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Codeex?

Our CEO is Armenian, which is a small country; everyone seems to know each other. Although I don’t know the story behind it, he already knew Codeex’s CEO, so their partnership happened organically.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent between $120,000–$160,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Codeex in August 2022, and our engagement is ongoing. We’ll wrap up the project in a couple of months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Some of the main success metrics for our platform are its performance and the number of bugs it has. In early 2023, Codeex delivered our product’s MVP. Although it had some bugs and needed some changes, they debugged it and launched version two within a month. This new version has been working well, so we’ve seen better performance, and the issues have significantly decreased.

We recently received the platform’s third version. It’s currently under testing, and it has worked quite smoothly so far, so we’re very happy. Codeex has developed the platform’s core feature beautifully, and the bugs we’ve experienced are on the supporting functionality only.

How did Codeex perform from a project management standpoint?

Codeex has worked very fast, although we’ve had some issues with timelines and experienced some delays. Still, what they’ve achieved over the last 8–9 months is phenomenal because creating a product like this would have taken 1–2 years somewhere else.

In addition to that, we’re very happy with Codeex’s communication. We use the tools they use to collaborate, which include Discord for messaging and calls, Google Meet for conference calls, and Jira for task management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Codeex has worked very well overall.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be great if Codeex tested their timelines and estimations. A couple of times, we’ve had 20%–40% deviations from their original estimations. Perhaps, planning the project from a task-level perspective and analyzing how long each task will take would help them stick to their estimations better.

Still, Codeex has achieved phenomenal results quickly. It’s like they’re driving 100 miles per hour and never stop. If they’re driving the car 100 miles per hour and need to stop to fix some issues with it, it’s obvious that their estimated arrival time will deviate.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the co-founder and senior manager of the projects we implement as a software solutions company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Codeex?

We engaged Codeex to help us with software development. We'd created a CRM and digital construction management platform, which was our main tool. We were trying to expand into different markets, such as Germany, the US, and other European countries. We needed to simplify the product to make it easier for us to handle, so we approached Codeex to support the more elaborate components of developing the software. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We approached Codeex during the idea phase; the first step was, to sum up our idea in the form of a requirements document. We spent a month figuring out what we wanted and finalizing the requirements. Then, the team started working on the development phase using JavaScript and React. 

The whole software development process took almost two years to reach the final stage. Currently, we're working on the last marketing step and building a public website. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with about ten team members, including backend engineers, frontend engineers, designers, QA engineers, and project managers.

How did you come to work with Codeex?

We knew Codeex ran a software development company, so we approached them to help us.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent a little over $300,000.

What is the status of the engagement?

Our partnership started in January 2021, and we're still working together. The platform is finished, but we still need the front and landing pages.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our project is complex, so putting the initial idea together and making it work has been challenging. We don't have a quantifiable metric, but Codeex has helped us build a functional product, which is an important KPI. Overall, we've been impressed with their quality of work.

How did Codeex perform from a project management standpoint?

We've had some delivery delays, but Codeex has communicated smoothly. We've held regular calls to review the product, share our screens, test the features, and conduct internal testing. We use Jira to manage the project and Discord to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Codeex shares their ideas and makes valuable suggestions about the product. I appreciate their willingness to share open and honest feedback rather than listening to us and doing whatever we say. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We've had instances where the team hasn't met the deadline estimations; it would be great if they observed that in the future.

Any advice for potential customers?

I suggest having a clear strategy for what you expect. Also, it would be great for you to maintain an open line of communication with Codeex. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the COO of a software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Codeex?

We tried to figure everything out on our own, but we had no expertise in blockchain technologies because we mostly work on web-based projects. We wanted to build a metaverse project on the BNB Smart Chain (BSC), but the metaverse is very big when you have NFTs, and there is the financial portion which means that a lot of money would be going in and out. From a security perspective, we wanted to bring in experts in the field.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The initial idea was to have a virtual mining farm that users could create. We had the idea to make a metaverse TiFi project which meant that the initial version would be a 2D map, and people could purchase parcels. This would allow users to have a  virtual miner attached to a parcel. These would essentially be Global Network Tokens (GNET), so there was a reward. 

In the future, we plan on creating a 3D version and a VR-based application where people can put on VR glasses and experience it that way as well.

From a technology perspective, we requested to use Solidity as a smart contractual running language, which is Ethereum based. We also used BSC, Hardhat, and Node.js on the backend for the metaverse. We requested Vue.js on the frontend so that we could maintain it in the future, and PostgreSQL for the database. For the VR part, we requested CANVAS in 3D Secure, and the final version will use Unity as a programming language.

What is the team composition?

There are around 15 people in total. We work with the CTO, CEO, CIO, four frontend developers, two backend developers, a team of blockchain developers, and 3–4 Solidity developers.

How did you come to work with Codeex?

We had everything documented, and we were looking for someone local to us so we could meet them in person. We wanted to work with a company that was local because we knew this would be a big financial venture and thought it would be better to get to know our partner. 

There aren't many Web3 companies where we are, but we chose Codeex because the price was acceptable, and they seemed to be able to meet the requirements that we had.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent around $185,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in March 2022, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re very satisfied with the results. We launched the project in August 2022 and then decided to continue developing and evolving the product.

How did Codeex perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, there were no issues. We decided to use Extreme Programming (XP), which can be difficult when it comes to development because if any ideas come up as we go along, we ask them to add those to the project. They’ve been able to manage all those changes and requests effectively. We use a group chat on Telegram for communication and Jira for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They work hard to keep us on schedule and work outside of regular working hours. We were pushing very hard to finish the initial project, and they managed to deliver it on time. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything that could be improved upon.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Prepare the business plan and the documents prior to starting the work to take some of the stress off their team.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a survey feedback tool for banks and large corporate clients. We started a year ago as a fintech startup, and I’m responsible for all IT.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Codeex?

Our goal was to develop a complete application for Android, iOS, and the web in a relatively short time, so we needed a whole development team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we started, we were still polishing our ideas with investors and our team. With Codeex, we scoped out the requirements and started the design process to get more specific on the timelines and the features we wanted to include.

Codeex has developed a mobile and web application with two independent systems. The app is a review tool; users can provide feedback, and businesses can create an account for free and invite all their colleagues. People can communicate directly with the banks through a ticketing system, and an API dashboard illustrates all the feedback data in various ways for the business and the bank.

Banks use the platform to engage with their clients and start feedback sessions, which are basically surveys that companies can reply to through the app. Additionally, we do benchmarking across banks, so they can view data for how they’re positioned in the market.

For development, Codeex has used Vue.js for the web, Node.js for the backend, and a PostgreSQL database. They’ve also used AWS for the infrastructure, an API, Swift for iOS, and JavaScript for Android. In general, we have a lot of support stack.

What is the team composition?

The team has varied throughout the year, but we’ve had a maximum of six full-time teammates.

How did you come to work with Codeex?

I’ve had a close relationship with the CTO and founder for over eight years. I had experience working with Codeex outside this project. We initially did some research, but ultimately, we trusted the ability and specialty of Codeex’s resources. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than €100,000 (approximately $104,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since November 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve launched our product, and the engagement has been a rewarding experience. Although we’ve scaled down to maintenance, we still work with them. They’ve engaged with us in challenging the product and setting the features. Moreover, Codeex has been professional; they always meet our expectations. 

How did Codeex perform from a project management standpoint?

Our scope has changed along the way, but the scope and budget were never part of the deal. Codeex engages their resources full-time, and we do most of the management. Nonetheless, they’re responsive and great in terms of communication. We mainly communicate through Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They engage with our demands on more than a technical aspect. The team understands the product and the problem we’re trying to solve. Moreover, they engage with the features and UX/UI design, so they make the best products.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, it’s hard to comment on any improvements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I can only recommend them to anyone who wants a software development partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Co-founder of the company, it is a SaaS based platform

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our goal was to develop a custom made SaaS platform.

SOLUTION

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

After careful evaluation and the ability to convince us technically

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

SaaS based platform based on Php, Nodejs and AWS Serveless

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

Their were around 8 people, we worked with their Project Director and CTO and Team Leader

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcome was to launch the project on timely manner and succeed which was achieved.

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

Daily project updates, weekly updates and weekly meetings. Very structure using Jira.

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

They take full ownership and act as a stake owner in the project.

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

Great company to work with, we couldnt ask anything more

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a consulting and analytics company providing different services and solutions to governments and other clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Codeex to implement an analytical project, where a lot of urban data from different bodies had to be put together and analyzed. The goal was having a unified platform that given information and predictions on how different aspects in a city/society are/will be.

SOLUTION

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

We held a tender and called for submission of proposals for the development of the platform. We were paying attention to the experience, portfolio, culture and communication of the vendor.

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

The project, as already mentioned, entailed creating a smart analytics platform that received data from different urban management bodies and institutions, and turns the whole data into useful information. So the overall development was comprised of 3 steps:

1. Creating APIs with the appropriate institutions' databases, through which we receive their respective data.
2. Putting this whole data together into charts, and tables, basically turning it into useful, readable information.
3. Analyzing the data, the information, and patterns and suggesting predictions, and offering measures to undertake.
4. The technologies used were IT programming languages and servers (which were outsourced).

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

The whole team was 5-7 people big (depending at which stage), but the direct communication was with Codeex's project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project's smooth and successful implementation was one of our significant accomplishments. We were happy to engage with Codeex and with their team, because of how effectively they performed and how smoothly they communicated.

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

The management style was agile, flexible, open and friendly, as a tech company should be. They had a good set of communication and productivity tools that they were using, including, Jira, Discord, Google Calendars, Google Meet. And they adapted to our tools as well at some points.

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

What's impressive was their flexibility and ambition to implement the features at the best possible level. Anything less that excellent was not an option.

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

Maybe taking a bit slow and planning a little more. This does take more time, but it allows to avoid errors and problems in future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Co-Founder, CEO, providing in financial services worldwide

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Codeex built up our fintech digital product, which they took from definition to implementation.

SOLUTION

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

We were looking for good price and good experience. We luckily found both for Codeex.

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

The product was comprised of a web version, as well as mobile apps. It had a lot of components, including payments, security elements and approaches, etc. So far it's working quite well.

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

We directly dealt with their CTO and the project manager. For the most part all went smooth and in a way better than expected.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All in all we're quite satisfied. The timelines were slightly extended, but that is also due to a lot of components added after starting.

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

They're flexible in communication. We had weekly fixed meetings, and interim quick standups, update calls, where we discussed estimations and how the implementation went.

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

Their approach was quite unique. They were smooth in communication and had good business culture, which we initially did not expect.

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

Nothing specific that comes to mind. Maybe sticking better to the timelines, but then again project requirements were slightly changed during implementation.