DECODE

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Apollo

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Apollo delivers on moonshot ideas, from early-stage startups to long-standing enterprises. Apollo works across a range of industries and is comprised of writers, designers, and engineers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DECODE to accomplish?

• Implement a complex new software system for a major U.S. railroad

SOLUTION

How did you find DECODE?

Online Search

Why did you select DECODE over others?

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

How many teammates from DECODE were assigned to this project?

12

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

DECODE was hired to take a build out a new software system for shipping container reservations for one of the largest, high-volume freight train companies in North America.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For the first time in the history of Norfolk Southern railroad, a software team delivered on time and well within budget, giving this railroad the first-ever shipping container reservation system.

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

DECODE always delivered on time or early for every aspect of the project. They understood precisely what was needed for every milestone along the way. DECODE only hires excellent engineers who ask excellent clarifying questions to make sure we're all building toward the right solution.

What was your primary form of communication with DECODE?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

Hands down, DECODE is the best hard-core engineering firm I've ever worked with. They did everything right, at every turn. Deeply thoughtful, experienced engineers, I knew I was in good hands, no matter what complexity we had to solve.

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

Zero criticism for DECODE, I would work with them again in a heartbeat. Anything they take on, I know they will deliver.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Pinecone

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Pinecone is a software company that provides specialized digital solutions for the Hospitality and Industrial laundry industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DECODE to accomplish?

• The goal was to digitally transform our client’s hospitality services for their hotel & resort. The guest could reserve a massage, rent a bike, plan an excursion, all from the comfort of their hotel room. We also wanted the app to be white label, so it could serve the client on any possible locations.

SOLUTION

How did you find DECODE?

Referral

Why did you select DECODE over others?

High ratings, Great culture fit, Good value for cost, Referred to me, Company values aligned, Other

What was the size of DECODE’s team?

2-5 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with DECODE?

In-Person Meeting, Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

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

We hired DECODE to develop an iOS app both for the iPhone and the iPad. We also required UX/UI design from them. The app was made on the iOS platform to serve as a counterpart to its already-existent Android version. The point of the app was to create a virtual receptionist app, in order to make the guests stay more pleasant. Features such as the information center, currency conversion, meal ordering, and trip scheduling were all implemented to achieve that goal. DECODE wrote the code in Swift, also utilizing supporting tools such as RxSwift, Realm, and SnapKit.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• UX/UI design deliverables
• iOS app for iPhone
• iOS app for iPad

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

We synergized very well with DECODE’s team. Using tools such as JIRA for project management and Slack for communication, we were always in the loop. Using regular daily and weekly meetings also strengthened our teamwork.

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

DECODE’s focus on the project was most impressive to us. Never deviating from our stated goals, they kept to their schedule and achieved everything they promised.

Are there any areas for improvement or something {provider_name} could have done differently?

DECODE exceeded our expectations and we have no suggestions for improvements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a CTO at a digital products agency based in Florida. We design and develop digital products for startups and enterprise clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired a dedicated team at DECODE, consisting of two React Native developers, to develop a Luxury Travel Application for iOS. The app is an immersion platform for the modern traveler. It simplifies the planning process for each trip. Provides all necessary information in one place; automatic updates for Covid restrictions based on the destination, meaningful suggestions for accommodation, sightseeing, dining, and experiencing each destination to the fullest.

SOLUTION

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

DECODE came highly recommended by credible business associates. Their expertise in mobile app development convinced us to pick them as our development partner.

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

We wanted to create an app that would streamline and organize every aspect of trip planning. Based on user input (short in-app survey), travel agents can suggest highly personalized travel recommendations. Integration with Timatic provides automatic updates for Covid restrictions based on the destination. Leveraging Firebase Analytics, Braze, and Branch, we have an in-depth insight into users' behavior and provide them with meaningful push notifications informing them of the latest changes in their travel recommendations. The integration with a booking platform and Stripe (online payment processing solution) enables users with a safe and quick booking process, all in one app. We are happy to provide our users with a modern and user-friendly app.

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

DECODE provided us with a team of React Native developers. They were integrated with our in-house development team which consisted of backend developers, QA specialists, UX/UI designers, and project managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app was successfully launched on time with no reported bugs. All additional app updates with new features went smoothly, with constant improvements of the user experience.

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

The collaboration with DECODE exceeded our expectations. The synergy between our team and DECODE was established early on and kept throughout the end of our partnership. We were using Slack as our communication channel, while our product planning and development were tracked using JIRA. Daily standups, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and bi-weekly retrospective enabled us to be on top of the app development.

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

The DECODE team was completely dedicated to the project. They developed an app as specified and with constant care for the quality of their work.

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

We were delighted with the work and don’t have any suggestions for improvements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Klimaoprema d.d. - a leading Croatian manufacturer of cleanroom systems, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. Together with DECODE we created KOER - an app that helps monitor all connected HVAC devices in one place.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired a dedicated team at DECODE which consisted of a UI/UX designer, Flutter developer and a Quality assurance specialist. Together they developed a flutter application (Android and iOS) that helps monitor all connected HVAC devices in one place.

SOLUTION

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

DECODE came highly recommended by credible business associates. Their expertise in flutter development convinced us to pick them as our development partner.

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

The first goal was to create the user flow and prototype of the app. After that, we created an MVP and the first version for launch. Along the way, the quality assurance specialist tested the app and made sure it was bug-free. The app was successfully launched and after that, it was maintained by our in-house development team.

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

DECODE provided us with a senior flutter developer, a QA specialist and a senior UX/UI designer. They were integrated in our in-house development team which consisted of web developers and project managers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app was successfully launched on time with no reported bugs.

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

The collaboration with DECODE was very good. Through sprint planning, daily and weekly stand-up meetings we discussed the progress of the project and decided on further features. All features or bug reports were logged into Jira, while internal communication was held through Slack. They well like having an in-house development team.

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

We found it impressive that they were completely dedicated and focused on our project solely. They were very motivated to solve any issue that got our way.

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

We were very satisfied with the work and don’t have any suggestions for improvements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Software Engineering Manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired DECODE to help us develop a cross-platform mobile application. We've since rolled this application out to thousands of customers.

SOLUTION

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

We chose DECODE after researching several agencies based on the strength of their work and the professionalism of their staff.

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

Our mobile application is a data-centric tool used in the manufacturing industry. It is used to deliver complex documentation and training material to companies all over the world. DECODE built the app primarily in Flutter and Dart, with the data for the application coming from our existing APIs.

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

DECODE assigned a full team to our project, including developers, a QA Engineer, and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our app is currently in production and DECODE is working on expanding the feature set.

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

DECODE is very organized and easy to communicate with. We meet once per week to check in on project status, and they have a channel on our company Slack. Considering the time difference (10 hours) they are very quick to respond to questions and concerns.

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

My favorite thing about DECODE is how independent they are. They really don't require much management at all, although they respond well to it when it is needed.

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

I've got no complaints! I'd recommend them without hesitation.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

GDi is an innovative provider of applied technology solutions, with 30 years of successful growth and over 1,000 customers. Our software creates efficiency in both the public and private sector.

As head of Software Product Development I am currently focused on designing and developing multi tenant web applications as cloud products, with emphasis on single page applications (SPA) with responsive web design (RWD).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We created Ensemble W4 to fulfill the growing demand for workforce management software that is both efficient and simple to use. Ensemble W4 allows organizations to plan, forecast, and schedule work.

The entire stack consists of a web application that serves as the main dashboard, and native iOS and Android applications. Our solution is highly customizable, making it easy to cater to every customer’s demands.

SOLUTION

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

We received a recommendation for DECODE. After the review process which involved senior members of the engineering organization, we decided to collaborate with them. Their expertise and focus on building complex mobile applications were the reason why we’ve chosen them.

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

Both iOS and Android applications were developed and delivered by DECODE a few years ago. However, as the business grew we decided to add new features, and our in-house development team doesn’t consist of iOS developers, so we’ve decided to hire DECODE again to take care of the iOS portion of this project.

Initial work consisted of modernizing the codebase, resolving some known issues, and updating the app to work with the latest version of the iOS operating system, which later expanded into implementing new features for both platforms - iOS and Android.

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

DECODE’s engineers worked closely with our in-house Android and back-end developers, as well as project managers. The contract started with one Android developer, which later expanded to a team of 4 (1 Android developer and 3 iOS developers), and will further expand to three additional Android developers and one QA engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DECODE consistently delivered the app to our internal testers and project managers through automated deployment. Deliverables are high quality and we can rely on the newly implemented features without thinking about regression. Moreover, we got positive feedback from our customers as well.

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

DECODE team members joined forces with our engineers, using our development process, and the same tools like Azure DevOps, Microsoft Teams, etc. Given that fact, we have no communication issues whatsoever, as DECODE’s engineers personally take part in daily stand-ups and other meetings.

Their contribution goes beyond just software development, as they have the seniority and the expertise in automated deployment & testing and are introducing new development paradigms and workflows.

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

Working on several successful projects together, DECODE developers have become a valuable part of our team, supporting us in our mission of delivering top-quality workflow management solutions to our customers. They have in expertise in the area of mobile application architecture, automated deployment and testing, introducing new development paradigms and workflows.

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

Our collaboration with DECODE has been very good so far and there haven’t been any open pain points.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I head software engineering and oversee all software delivery programs for a cryptography startup in New York City.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DECODE?

We hired DECODE to help us develop iOS, Android, and desktop applications for our secure communications platform, as we do not have a mobile software development team in-house.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to create a suite of appealing end-user applications that would utilize our state-of-the-art cryptographic technology and our secure communication platform. The main purpose of the mobile and desktop applications was to showcase our technology while offering an enterprise-grade UX and features.

SOLUTION

How did you select DECODE?

Our CTO came across DECODE while researching the market of mobile development agencies. We went through a thorough, 6-months due diligence process on them, their references, previous projects, including an on-site visit to their offices by our chief product officer. The selection consisted of a series of meetings/workshops with DECODE’s senior staff, followed by an internal assessment.

The key reason for picking DECODE was their extensive experience in building carrier-grade communication applications for the telecom market.

Describe the project in detail.

The project aimed at producing applications for 4 platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS. Mobile applications are native, using Kotlin and Swift respectively, while the desktop is an Electron app based on React JavaScript framework.

The applications provide chat, file-share, and audio/video calling capabilities using our own secure communication platform and cryptographic protocols. We managed requirements and provided UI/UX design, and DECODE’s team provided software development and quality assurance, including CI/CD, test automation, and manual testing.

What was the team composition?

DECODE’s team consisted of 2 iOS, 2 Android and 3 Electron/React engineers, as well as 1 QA expert. We provided the product owner and scrum master. The whole team worked closely with our UX designer and the platform engineering team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The development went smoothly, and we were able to implement all the major features in the first 6-7 months of the project, as initially planned. DECODE’s team not only met but exceeded our expectations in terms of productivity, efficiency, and technical expertise. The app has significantly outperformed the old one and received positive feedback from the beta users.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The collaboration with DECODE was excellent. The combined scrum team: our product owner and scrum master, with DECODE’s development team, performed very well, as one team, although working on 2 continents with a 6-hour time difference. The work process has been carried out on our platform of choice, Microsoft Teams and DevOps, with all scrum ceremonies being observed and executed on time.

DECODE was proactive, responsive, flexible, and ready to assist in matters that went beyond their core of expertise.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

DECODE impressed us by their work attitude, team spirit, and in-depth knowledge of every aspect of the software development process, especially in the areas of delivery integration and automation, as well as test automation. They shared their know-how with our own engineering team, assisting them in solving some challenges and improving our own processes.

DECODE’s engineers are reliable, taking ownership of the work they do and actively contributing to making the overall product better, not just narrowly looking at their own responsibilities.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were more than satisfied by our collaboration with DECODE and I could not single out anything in particular that would require improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Contacts411 updates your contacts with the most comprehensive, up-to-date, public, personal and business information with the press of a button. Contacts411 makes your life simpler by delivering the most comprehensive, verified public, up-to-date contact information to you with one touch. We know high quality contact information is not easy to find or save, and searching is time consuming. With the Contacts411 app, all that is solved while keeping your address book information private to you.

As the president and co-founder I am responsible for making sure that we are constantly improving to meet our customers needs through innovation and quality improvements.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired DECODE to develop new features, upgrade and maintain existing codebase and to take care of our backend infrastructure. Specifically, this includes working on our mobile application using React Native, the back-end system written in Node.js, creating and maintaining our website and taking care of our AWS infrastructure where we host our backend, databases (DynamoDb) and other AWS services. DECODE has also created a database that allows our team to understand customer usage and potential issues while maintaining the anonymity of the user.

Goals were: We founded Contacts411 because we believe individuals and small businesses should have easy access to high-quality updated information on U.S. consumer and business contacts from over 13,000 verified, available data sources. Big businesses have been using this exact same data to keep their contacts up to date for years and we thought that individuals should get access to it as well to help them connect with others to enrich their lives and their businesses.

SOLUTION

How did you select DECODE and what were the deciding factors?

We received a recommendation for DECODE from our ex-employee. We then went through a review process involving senior members of the engineering organization. Decisive points for choosing DECODE were their expertise in building complex mobile applications with a big focus on scalability and maintenance, as well as their expertise with contact data which is at the core of our app.

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

The project’s goal was to develop new features, upgrade and maintain the existing codebase and later on to implement a new UX/UI for the mobile app. Regarding our backend system, DECODE was in charge of migrating part of our backend system from Python 2.7 to JavaScript (Node.js) for easier maintenance and integration with new features. They also worked on integrating new data provider APIs and creating complex algorithms for data filtering and decision making processes.

DECODE was also hired to implement our new website and to work on new features and maintain our Admin webapp, written in React.js.

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

DECODE’s staff was integrated into our product team, starting with 2 people and temporarily extending it later on to 3. Both members are full stack developers with a focus on developing mobile apps and backend systems using React Native and Node.js technologies and one of them is a Senior iOS developer. We also have a quality engineer from DECODE on the team part time as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through several app releases over the course of the project we managed to achieve a steady improvement of the app’ usability. We have added many new features in a timely fashion, and most importantly, we have added the unique and complex ability to update business and contact data at the same time.

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

DECODE team members were easily integrated with our staff, using our development process, and the same tools like Notion, Slack, Trello. etc. Given that fact, we have no communication issues whatsoever, as DECODE’s engineers personally take part in weekly stand-ups and other meetings. We treat them as our own.

Their contribution goes beyond just software development, they have the seniority and the expertise in automated deployment & testing and are introducing new development paradigms and workflows.

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

Working on several successful projects together, DECODE developers have become a valuable part of our team, supporting us in our mission of delivering top quality solutions to create connections to our customers. They brought in the expertise in the area of mobile application architecture, automated deployment & testing, introducing new development paradigms and workflows.

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

Our collaboration with DECODE has been excellent. We feel great about the value.  There is really nothing that we could suggest as an improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder and principal of our boutique digital consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DECODE?

We were looking for a reliable partner in mobile application development to extend our own team’s capabilities and expertise.

We hired DECODE because of their track record in mobile development, their expertise in the domain of communication and productivity applications, and their ability to go beyond just the mobile developmen, e.g. services in QA and J2EE development.

What were your goals for this project?

The idea behind the communication app was to make the life and work of the client's staff easier by providing them with a unified access point for communication and collaboration and act as a gateway to personal and work-related technology interactions.

This project had a significant impact on the business because it was solving every day problems for thousands of staff members, and it served as a basis for creating a similar application for guests.

SOLUTION

How did you select DECODE?

DECODE came highly recommended through our software development consultant and we performed a thorough screening of the company in general and each team member individually.

Our engineering leads carefully interviewed and selected every member of DECODE’s team making sure they adhere to our quality standards as if we were hiring them.

They were able to demonstrate software engineering and general skills required as well as extensive experience in building demanding mobile applications and distributed software systems.

Describe the project in detail.

Crew often use their private mobile devices and various applications to communicate with each other.

We wanted to provide them with a single application that is a unified point of access for communication, community and resource including features like 1-on-1 or group chat, news and events portal, staff directory, guest activity calendar, and family chat.

The app was designed as a hybrid one using React Native mobile framework containing common javascript code, as well as iOS and Android platform native parts.

DECODE also provided Java developers working on integrating the app with our backend systems via a microservices architecture, as well as quality engineers.

What was the team composition?

DECODE’s staff of 10 engineers was tightly integrated into a broader project team. They provided a well-rounded, self-sufficient team including a team lead, 4 mobile and 2 Java developers, as well as 3 quality engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Despite being quite a complex endeavor, the project progressed as planned at a fairly fast pace.

Within 6 months we were able to make first beta tests with actual staff members and received very positive feedback on app’s usability, performance, and overall quality.

DECODE’s team were very fast in implementing fixes, changes, and quickly producing new app versions frequently.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

DECODE team members were fully integrated into our client’s own project organization, using their development process, and the same tools like Confluence, Slack, Jira. etc. Although working 100% remotely, located on a different continent and in a time zone 6 hours apart, we had no communication or collaboration issues whatsoever.

DECODE’s engineers demonstrated professionalism on all levels, including command of the English language, proactivity, responsiveness, and technical know-how.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Throughout a demanding project, the entire DECODE team remained flexible, productive and thoughtful. It was impressive to see such professionalism.

Are there any areas for improvement?

DECODE has lived up to our expectations, becoming a trusted and reliable partner. We are glad that they listened to our advice and invested in strengthening their DevOps skills, which enabled them to contribute even more.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are one of the biggest banking software vendors in Central and Eastern Europe. With the staff of approx. 2300 employees , located in 19 countries, our products reach the market of 300 million people. My role is mobile solutions manager and I oversee banking applications engineering.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DECODE HQ?

We hired DECODE to help our own development team redesign mobile banking application with features like wallet, PSD2 support, currency exchange, and card, receipts and payments management. We need it for Android and iOS platforms. We didn’t have enough internal experts to do the work so we engaged DECODE to help us out.

What were your goals for this project?

We were starting a major upgrade of the mobile banking application we were delivering to one of the big European banking groups. The app is a mobile banking client for banks’ residential customers and it needed a big makeover, especially in terms of usability and UX. We brought DECODE in for the expertise in the area of mobile application development/architecture, introducing new development paradigms and workflows. The project had a major impact on our business as the app was used in 8 countries.

SOLUTION

How did you select DECODE HQ?

We got a recommendation for DECODE from our ex-employee so we went through a review process involving senior members of the engineering organization. Decisive points for choosing DECODE were their expertise in building complex and big mobile applications with big focus on scalability and maintenance.

Describe the project in detail.

Project’s goal was to redesign a tailor-made mobile banking solution and extend it with PSD2 support, wallet etc. The upgrade also included adding the mCash feature, enabling the customer to withdraw money from the ATM. DECODE was in charge of redesigning the iOS app architecture, implementing or refactoring a number of features on both iOS and Android, as well as improving the unit test framework for both platforms. They also contributed significantly to the new UI/UX look and feel.

What was the team composition?

DECODE’s staff was integrated into our engineering team, starting with 2 people and extending it later on to 3. Two of them are iOS and one Android developer. One of DECODE’s senior experts had a temporary team lead role overseeing our own developers too

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Through several app releases over the course of the project we managed to achieve a steady improvement of apps’ usability, have been adding new features in a timely fashion, made the apps branding process more efficient, which has been reflected in a 10% download increase (on average) for each new release.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

DECODE team members were collocated with our staff, using our development process, and the same tools like Confluence, Slack, Jira. etc. Given that fact, we have no communication issues whatsoever, as DECODE’s engineers personally take part in daily standups and other meetings. We treat them as our own. Their contribution goes beyond just software development, they have the seniority and the expertise in automated deployment & testing and are introducing new development paradigms and workflows.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Working on several successful projects together, DECODE developers have become a valuable part of our team, supporting us in our mission of delivering top quality mobile banking solutions to our customers. They brought in the expertise in the area of mobile application architecture, automated deployment & testing, introducing new development paradigms and workflows.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our collaboration with DECODE was very good so far and there were no open pain points.