Crystal Logic

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a co-founder of a product company that creates complex, innovative and high-tech applications on iOS, related to the music industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We needed to have a robust backend developed by a team of professionals. Among our requirements, there was the development and implementation of a DDEX standard to encourage distributors to upload music to the app.

SOLUTION

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

We came across Crystal Logic via our partners who have previously used their services. Having received positive feedback, we decided to give it a try as well.

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

The team received an example of how music will be transmitted based on the DDEX standard from one of our distributors. After thorough research, they made an efficient way of transferring music to the platform. Following this, they built a robust backend that used the database where the music is transferred and redirected that music to the application. The app allowed for tracking song plays, payments, and subscriptions, calculating royalty fees for performers as well as an invoice system. The development team used Python, AWS, Swift, and REST for the project’s tech stack.

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

iOS Developer, QA, Backend Developer, and Project Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The vendor team upgraded our application from the status of a music player to the status of a full-fledged music platform. As a result, our user base increased by more than three times and the app’s popularity skyrocketed.

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

They did a great job with their Scrum/Kanban approach. We worked using Jira and Slack for communication. We had regular meetings and could see the team’s progress at any time.

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

They are highly competent. They were always in touch with us, which was a massive advantage for our project.

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

All good! We’re planning to collaborate in the future.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder and CTO of Eifware ApS, a digital agency that develops advanced software solutions for e-commerce clients. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Crystal Logic?

We had issues finding developers in our region, so we hired Crystal Logic to help us recruit developers in Ukraine. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Crystal Logic is our recruitment partner. At the beginning of each recruitment phase, their team works with us to determine which positions need to be filled and how we’ll execute the recruitment process. Generally, we need senior developers with PHP skills. Crystal Logic’s team then uses that information to develop a job description and find a variety of qualified candidates in the marketplace. Once they identify potential candidates, they spearhead an initial interview process and relay the most qualified candidates to our internal team. 

Crystal Logic also handled all of the taxes and payroll information for the Ukrainian developers — they relay the final invoices to my team to complete. 

What is the team composition?

I work with Andriy (COO). 

How did you come to work with Crystal Logic?

A colleague recommended Crystal Logic to me. We reached out to them, talked to Andriy, and hired them. 

How much have you invested with them?

Crystal Logic receives payment for every hour one of their candidates works, usually €42 (approximately $47) per hour for 37 hours per week. We spend about €6,200 (approximately $6,900) per month on Crystal Logic’s services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Crystal Logic began in September 2021, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Crystal Logic has quickly delivered the exact resources we needed — we continued the hiring process for the first three candidates they found, although two of them canceled their contracts. The new teammates have integrated well into our company; we focus heavily on ensuring they feel like part of the team. 

How did Crystal Logic perform from a project management standpoint?

We don’t have specific recruitment deadlines set, but Crystal Logic quickly delivers. We’ve used email to communicate, but have since moved to Skype to message each other directly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Crystal Logic isn’t a big, money-focused company. They’re concerned with our needs — Crystal Logic wants to ensure that they deliver what we need in order to facilitate a long-term partnership. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think their prescreening process could improve, specifically regarding candidates’ language skills and technology background. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise customers to be honest about their requirements and be open to providing Crystal Logic with more information than they think is necessary — their team needs the complete picture of the project to deliver. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a food delivery platform for restaurants in Denmark. Our platform is similar to Uber Eats.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Crystal Logic?

We needed more qualified developers to work on our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Crystal Logic provides a workforce for us, so we have Python, Xamarin, React, and JavaScript developers. They continue to support us as we're constantly expanding our features.

What is the team composition?

We're working with Crystal Logic's five developers. We're also collaborating with their CEO and CTO.

How did you come to work with Crystal Logic?

Crystal Logic was recommended to us by someone who had worked with them. During our early conversations, four things factored into our decision of choosing them. For the first one, I worked with them because they were recommended. The second was the fact that they were based out of Lviv, Ukraine, a place where I'd visited before and where I had good relations.

The third benefit was that I could hire an entire team of developers that had worked with each other before, so we wouldn't have a random set of developers coming together. For the last one, their skillset was a perfect match for us, and they had impressive English proficiency.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $150,000–$200,000, but it’s probably closer to $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing relationship began in April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any hard metrics available, but the quality of their work is good. Rather than treating them as an outsourced team, we strive to make them feel like an integral part of our development team. 

At first, our internal team had been concerned about outsourcing because it might mean that we won't need them anymore. However, as the project progressed, they found out that they complement each other quite well, so they've been very happy with the partnership.

How did Crystal Logic perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate over Slack, and we work through sprints.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciate their responsiveness and their sense of responsibility. They’ve always felt like part of the team, which also means that they hold themselves accountable for the deliverables they do and they take their work seriously. Above all, they deliver outputs on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they have no areas to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Integrate their developers into your team as if they’re part of your local team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

UNIQUE TRADE - Official distributor of auto spare parts and liquids. Auto Spare Parts Wholesale and Retail trade. My position is Head of Web Development, IT Department

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

For development and support web site of company

SOLUTION

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

The company's management selected the development team for the following factors:

• vailability of the necessary competencies
• price
• support opportunity
• flexibility of communication

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

The first part of the project was the development of the website. The development concerned the front-end part of the created design layouts. The duration of the first part was 1 year. The second part of the project was the finalization and modification of some parts of the website based on user feedback. The duration of the first part was half a year. The third part of the project is the maintenance and modification of the website. At the current time, there is a regular refinement of the functionality, the addition of new features, and the update of the system versions. General development steps: Coding, Testing, Review and Launch, Maintenance.

Project technology stack: frontend: Angular 9, Angular Material library, jQuery backend: PHP, Simfony, Apache, MySQL, Jenkins. Elasticsearch

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

From the vendor's team, 3 people have worked and are working on the project now: Front-end web developer (middle), Frontend Web Developer (senior), QA engineer (middle)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Two parts of the project have been successfully completed. Users and business customers are happy with the result.

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

The project is managed according to the Agile, Scrum methodology. Development proceeds according to spints, lasting 2 weeks. Development is managed in Jira.

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

The speed of reaction and flexibility when performing complex business tasks are their unique qualities.

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

Maybe. Everything can be improved, but there are no ideas from the customer's side.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COFO of Saxena Studio

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Fintech company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Crystal Logic to accomplish?

• UX Wireframes & Design
• Engineering

SOLUTION

How did you find Crystal Logic?

Referral

Why did you select Crystal Logic over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Crystal Logic were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Stealth fintech platform

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Completed the prototype on time and budget.

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

• Responsive
• Collaborative
• Efficient

What was your primary form of communication with Crystal Logic?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The skills of each team member of Crystal Logic are on point.

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

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at OneOf Inc

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

OneOf.com NFT Marketplace, OnePlatform client loyalty platform andWeb3 Tools and Identity

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Crystal Logic to accomplish?

• Feature enrich OneOf.com platform
• Create an all new OnePlatform web3 customer loyatly platform

SOLUTION

How did you find Crystal Logic?

Referral

Why did you select Crystal Logic over others?

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

How many teammates from Crystal Logic were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Architecture and software development for core product features in the OnePlatform Web3 loyalty platform

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First client live on new platform in 8 months and feature release metrics for every week

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

They delivered the project on time and to our expectations.

What was your primary form of communication with Crystal Logic?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The company has the ability to architect, develop and build full portions of the solution and has added immense value.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Development Manager of Illusioneering Ltd.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The company specialises in IT Consultancy, web design, 3D animation, hardware, networking and business support.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Crystal Logic to accomplish?

• bug fixing, introducing improvements to the existing functionality of a mobile application
• add new functionality to that application
• review the existing code and suggest improvements

SOLUTION

How did you find Crystal Logic?

Online Search

Why did you select Crystal Logic over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Other

What was the size of Crystal Logic’s team?

1 Employee

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

The project was a virtual queueing system written in ionic and angular. The scope of work included bug fixing, developing new functionality and analysing the code. Our company worked on the server part of the system and Crystal Logic helped with the mobile part, which included bug fixing, development and release of the new functionality.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• The aim was to add more stability and reliability to the application and have it cover more service areas and thus gain more customers and popularity.

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

Crystal Logic was very easy to reach and always willing to help., sometimes even outside of their business hours! The tasks were carefully discussed and handled with efficiency.

What was your primary form of communication with Crystal Logic?

Email or Messaging App

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

Goal oriented, sometimes going beyond the scheduled tasks, always reachable, easy to work with

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

There probably are, but we did not have that experience