DataXDev

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a software consulting company based in the United States, and I am the principal software consultant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataXDev?

I hired their team to help us with a custom software medical application that I was building.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Once they received our requirements for the final product and some initial explanations of how we wanted things to work, they pretty much took over the development process entirely from there. By the time they delivered the first version, it only required a few more changes so we went through a few iterations before arriving at our finished product.

What is the team composition?

I interacted with one person from their team directly and she coordinated all of the work on her development team’s side.

How did you come to work with DataXDev?

Through the process of researching teams with the specific expertise that I needed, I came across their team and decided to take a chance with them. They were a great fit, so we moved forward with the process from there.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project around July 2019 and were able to launch the app that month but are continuing to work together on other development tasks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product has been very successful for us, and is fully customized for our use. It never really worked properly in the past, so this is a huge step up and I honestly have no regrets about the project whatsoever. It was definitely worth the investment.

How did DataXDev perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team is very professional and willing to help with just about anything you ask, so it made the project very easy to handle. We primarily communicate via email or Skype, and our project manager always responds to me right away no matter what time it is.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think the responsiveness was one of the most impressive aspects of working with them, for me. On top of that, their expertise is absolutely top notch, so you can tell you’re in great hands the entire time.

A lot of developers will just do exactly what you tell them and nothing more, and if it doesn’t work out perfectly it’s your problem. They will actually make sure that what they deliver to you is a working, attractive solution.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wish they had even more developers so we could do more as a team, but I’m able to handle the less important tasks so it hasn’t been a problem at all. Overall, the collaboration has been perfectly effective.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Their site could probably have more exposure, because it really doesn’t do their team justice. Don’t let it put you off because they are an absolutely excellent team to work with and can definitely get whatever you need done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of BS Group. Our main product is a booking platform for sports venues.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataXDev?

We needed someone to develop our website and mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created the backend, management system, and web application. They’re currently developing a native Android and iOS application.

What is the team composition?

There were typically 3-4 people from their team working with us at any given time. There’s a full-stack developer who is full-time, an iOS developer, and an Android developer. The CEO of DataXDev is also very involved, he’s one of my main contacts.

How did you come to work with DataXDev?

We were referred to them by a friend. After meeting them in person, we chose to move forward because of their reputation and portfolio.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement began in September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve been very efficient with their work and always stay within budget. We evaluate their work on the delivery of the specific features that we’re adding on a monthly basis. After completing the development for the management system, they’ve continued to make updates based on user feedback. 

How did DataXDev perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is good. The deadlines are flexible and I don’t use that as a metric. Instead, they give us a timeline of when certain updates and add-ons can be completed. Sometimes the timeline changes, but its never an issue because we have such a strong relationship with the owner. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with other vendors previously where communication was a big problem, as was lack of involvement from upper management. They also overbilled. 

This was not the case with DataXDev. They focus on deliverables and we’ve never had any problems with the payment. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they have been good so far.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Walk them through every aspect of your business. That’s what worked for us. We explained what kind of business we were doing, what challenges we’d face in the future, and what might change throughout our development process. We also requested a lot of flexibility from the very beginning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO at a medical development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataXDev?

We needed help with software development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DataXDev developed a tip location system for PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) lines from scratch. It’s a software-based system, for Android and Windows, that detects whether a catheter is in the right location without using x-rays. The system gives a graphical display without even touching the screen. It was developed to ease tension for doctors.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a smaller team during this project. The team included the owner of the company and several developers.

How did you come to work with DataXDev?

I worked with them back in 2004. From experience, I knew their excellent quality of work, their process, and how DataXDev throws themselves into a project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with DataXDev from June 2013 to August 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DataXDev delivers amazing software and thinks with the customer. The result was a perfect working system. We’re still doing clinical trials with key opinion leaders who’ve seen various versions of the software. Every time we received new clinical information and background, their team updated the software within a week or two. Doctors are impressed with the speed of the features implemented.

How did DataXDev perform from a project management standpoint?

We started with a thought, and DataXDev was capable of thinking with me. Their team strived to understand the business they’re working with. They studied the background and read the history of the systems. Their team oversaw the whole project and managed it well. I was delighted. We used Skype and WhatsApp for communication. Their team was readily accessible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their reliability is extremely high. DataXDev delivered what they promised. If something wasn’t working, their team provided a logical explanation and helped any way they could. The owner is an excellent mathematician. We need calculations for our device, and they proved their value by adding teammates that were skilled in mathematics.

We will be working with them again very soon.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes there is a communication barrier with offshore teams. By the end of the project, it all works out. DataXDev invests in their people and dedicates their time to benefit their team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the managing director of two holidary rental companies: Discovery Holiday Homes Ltd. and Lake Como Homes Ltd. These companies grew from 10 to over 1,000 properties between them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DataXDev?

Our goal was to create a marketing platform for holiday rentals, initially on the Northern Italian lakes and later across Europe. 

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to rapidly establish a leading presence in specific rental destinations while creating a frictionless, multi-channel booking experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Since industry needs were changing, we needed a development team that was flexible and capable of building outward. We found DataXDev online. We based our selection on their responsiveness, but continued to work with them because their deliveries worked perfectly every time. 

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

DataXDev managed the platform architecture, multiple currency payment options, data integration and distribution to online travel agencies, complex financial price presentations, and rule management. They handled all the technical aspects; we only managed the visual data flow. We paid for the server hosting, but its management was under their control.

What was the team composition?

They allocated team members to sprints, but the team always included key individuals who had experience with our project. Their senior management was clearly also competent. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We sold the businesses. It doesn't get much better than that!

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They liased directly through email. We handled document detailing and ran tests in a sandbox environment before deployment.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication was excellent. They did whatever we asked, even though we gave them some serious edge cases, and everything worked the first time. They promptly solved issues with our APIs and servers.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

We needed their technical skills. We relied on our design teams and rental experience to build a preferred workflow, which they coded.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the team lead of development for Shiji Deutschland GmbH. We’re a software development company based in Munich. We offer a proprietary property management system and also provide cloud-based solutions for hotel chains.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataXDev?

We needed some extra hands to help us achieve our go-to-market goals.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They initially covered the whole development cycle of each module of our software, but for the last several years they’ve mostly focused on interface development, third-party integrations, and how to link our system to different third parties.

One integration was with multiple online travel agencies. They also did POS and back office integrations, such as financial export interfaces. In addition, they handled payment gateway integrations like SIX Payment, which is one of the largest we currently have in our system.

Beyond that, they’ve also spent several years working on our systems. They’ve designed some of the interfaces and modules and redesigned or reimplemented other parts.

What is the team composition?

We currently work with one developer but have worked with various others over the years. When we initially started working with them, there were five or six assigned to our project.

How did you come to work with DataXDev?

I believe we found them through a headhunting company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $1 million–$1.5 million USD over the years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our redesign project in 2014, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our end users are mainly hotel employees and,  as far as I can tell, they’re happy with the system.

How did DataXDev perform from a project management standpoint?

From a management point of view, there isn’t much to do. We’ll explain what the user story should be or what bugs we need updated and they handle it.

In terms of communication, we’ve used a project management tool for communication and we’ve had daily stand-ups. We also touch base via Skype and email, depending on what’s most effective for a given project. Communication is usually the biggest challenge with a remote contractor, but it’s gotten easier over time as their team has learned our business. They’ve learned how to ask the right questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have an ideal outsourcing relationship. There aren’t any communication or delivery problems. They know our software so well that they’re able to jump into any module or any user story or feature, and everything works as it should.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open. If you are open, you get openness back.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of FrippVacation. We are a property management company based in Fripp Island, South Carolina.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataXDev?

Initially, our company only offered a basic listings site, but we soon realized we needed a more complex property search and booking feature. We looked for a solution in the software market, but couldn’t find anything that fit our specific needs. We needed a company to build that functionality for our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the start of the partnership, we intended to only purchase the search engine feature, but soon decided to enter into a simple contract for the development of a new website. I gave DataXDev some of my own HTML and they drafted a few design options. We decided on a small template, then built a responsive interface using Bootstrap and integrated the booking engine into the site’s backend. The engine allows us to manage inquiries and respond with offers, rates, and agreements. The user can view their accepted agreement, publish comments, and make their payments and any additional purchases. The entire process is paperless.

Following the initial site, DataXDev helped us develop a sister-site called FrippIslandStay.com, with various membership options. They helped integrate Stripe into both of our websites’ payment processes, allowing users to split payments. We continue to further develop both platforms with new features and improved functionalities.

What is the team composition?

I have worked with 5—10 representatives from DataXDev throughout our partnership.

How did you come to work with DataXDev?

We first found them on a website that listed software components while we were searching for solutions related to vacation rentals. The other options didn’t seem to fit our vision and would have required a lot of additional customization. DataXDev seemed prepared to handle our project.

How much have you invested with them?

I estimate we spend between $20,000—$25,000 each year. In total, we have probably spent $200,000—$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2005 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We receive positive feedback from many of the property owners using our site. Many of them are dropping their other rental services and relying solely on our company to book their clients.

How did DataXDev perform from a project management standpoint?

Most of our communication is handled via Skype, and we use the translation function when necessary. We use a management tool to track the development of our features and prioritize our work. DataXDev’s organization allows them to quickly fix critical issues, despite a seven-hour time difference. They leverage their IT knowledge to lay the foundation for smooth projects and high-quality results.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I am impressed by the cost of their services. We are paying nearly 10 times less than what a U.S.-based developer would charge for the same work and quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We can’t visit them in person to address critical issues and concerns, but this just forced us to plan in advance, create documentation, and organize our requests more efficiently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I worked with DataXDev in my former position as co-founder of Facilis, a Finnish IT company that provides nearshore services and software development to customers across Europe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataXDev?

We needed to build a team of developers quickly and onboard specific skills to meet a customer’s requirements.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us develop software for a web-based hotel booking system. The client required a .NET team for particular functionalities and both UI and backend work on a certain module. We provided wireframes and documentation and DataXDev did widescale work on the module.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of up to six people for this project. I mainly worked directly with their founder and other key people. We had a group of developers that I rarely interacted with.

How did you come to work with DataXDev?

I first met them around 2008. We did some research in Eastern European markets and identified about six companies in Ukraine. DataXDev stood out immediately and we’ve worked with them on a number of projects since. They’re the only partner we’ve worked with for this long and on this scale.

How much have you invested with them?

When we worked together on the hotel booking system, their cost was over $100,000 each year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2009. We became less involved over time and eventually ended our role in the project in January 2015. I believe it is ongoing engagement with DataXDev and the client.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I check in with the client occasionally and they are still happy with the quality of DataXDev’s work. They’ve always met requirements and expectations. They’re punctual, committed, straightforward, communicative, and honest. The length of the project shows that they’ve done a good job.

How did DataXDev perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well. They keep their promises and are proactive when issues arise. They’re one of the best Eastern European companies we’ve worked with and we’ve never had any unpleasant surprises from them. We communicated primarily through Skype, but also emailed for day-to-day items. We occasionally spoke over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very responsive and easy to reach. They provide comprehensive, credible estimates and plans promptly. When I have a job that requires technology in their stack, I contact them first. I never have to wait long for a reply or a proposal. They’re personable and easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their team is small, which is both a challenge and an advantage. They’re sometimes at full occupancy and don’t always have resources available when we come to them with a new project. As an advantage, the team is essentially hand-picked and everyone knows what they’re doing. We only use other suppliers in their technology stack when they’re occupied. If they expanded their bandwidth, we’d use them more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Vreasy, a property management software used within the vacation rentals industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataXDev?

We had just signed on a new partner and needed to implement their API into our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DataXDev implemented a new API into our vacation rental booking platform, providing the management, architecture, and implementation of the project. We provided them with requirements and some guidance, as well as some of our own developers to work alongside their team.

As the client continues to make improvements to their own API, DataXDev provides ongoing maintenance and updates as needed. 

What is the team composition?

A lead the developer manages the project, and about six people work on it in total.

How did you come to work with DataXDev?

One of our clients recommended them to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested between $30,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since August 2016 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DataXDev successfully integrated our partner's API into our platform, making it accessible and easy to use by our users. They've ensured that a lot of complex features are fully supported and functional. As the project continues to be demanding, I have nothing but good things to say about how they handle the work.

How did DataXDev perform from a project management standpoint?

They're efficient and deliver on their promises without any surprises along the way. Rather than blindly accepting every task, they're honest about what they can and can't achieve within set timeframes. They're also good about providing creative solutions or alternatives, so we're always working on any potential issues in advance.

Early in the relationship, they traveled to our office and spent about a week with our team, but we now mostly communicate through Skype, phone, and email

What did you find most impressive about them?

They operate with a very high level of integrity. Despite having products and clients in competition to our own, we can trust that they're not sharing our technology in any way. They're good at compartmentalizing their other projects and clients. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's a challenge to be both a product development and outsourcing development company. I would advise them to choose one direction when it comes to providing a platform versus maintaining that platform, because it requires a lot more time to be 100% successful at either.