DeepSoft

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

RGBsys specializes in factory ERP [enterprise resource planning] systems development. I am the founder and a principal partner of the company. I have a long background in engineering.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DeepSoft?

We needed to develop our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DeepSoft executed our supply chain software project in its entirety. C# was chosen as a development language by ourselves, and we used Microsoft SQL Server as a database. The platform is web-based.

How did you come to work with DeepSoft?

Two years ago, we participated in a Brazilian government program called SEBRAE, for helping small companies start out. Eighty percent of our funds came through that channel, and our obligation was to develop the project using one of the companies vetted by the program. We weren't familiar with DeepSoft but ultimately chose them after researching the other options and getting to know their principals.

How much have you invested with DeepSoft?

The cost of DeepSoft’s work was around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with DeepSoft in March 2016. The project was completed in August. Because of the success we saw, we continued our relationship with DeepSoft. We are beginning the marketing process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our main ERP has attracted more than 100 customers. Our main challenge is to market the product, but DeepSoft work was excellent. Our intention is to have DeepSoft as our ongoing technical partner, which is the best indicator of our impression of the company.

How did DeepSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

DeepSoft’s team is very methodical. The project was divided into multiple parts, each with a deadline. DeepSoft stuck to the schedule and was always open to implementing small changes. I have no complaints about them. We used our own tools, but also used the ones proposed by DeepSoft, like Team Foundation Server and Trello.

During the project, we discussed the technologies used. DeepSoft has expertise beyond what we were planning to use, around scientific projects and so on, but they were limited by us around what should be used for our platform.

What did you find most impressive about DeepSoft?

When working with partners, our company had always struggled in the past with maintaining schedules. DeepSoft was the first company to present zero issues in this regard.

Are there any areas DeepSoft could improve?

There were some areas (particularly programming start and stop procedures for SQL) in which DeepSoft’s team didn't have a lot of experience, but they learned quickly and ultimately obtained a deep understanding of them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are the leading oil manufacturer in Brazil, with an output of 2.4 million barrels per day. We are responsible for 10% of the country's GDP [gross domestic product]. I work in the company's research center.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DeepSoft?

We are using internally-developed software built with .NET and C#. The development requires expertise with geophysics, geology, and geomechanics. We wanted to implement new functionalities and needed help speeding the development of the tools.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The main part of our development has been done in-house.

DeepSoft has assigned up to 6 developers for our project. The team has been reduced to 2 people at the moment. Our software has been developed using .NET, C#, Windows Forms and others. DeepSoft has developed some 3D visualization and rendering systems for the software, as well as optimizing its calculation processes.

How did you come to work with DeepSoft?

We have certain internal limitations, based on which we've put together a list of specifications. A number of companies gave us quotes for those specs, out of which we selected DeepSoft. They offered the best solution at the lowest price. The work provided by DeepSoft was good, so we've expanded their involvement.

How much have you invested with DeepSoft?

The cost of development has been around 4 million dollars over the course of 6 years, 10-15% of which has been the cost of DeepSoft's services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with DeepSoft in 2010. The collaboration ended one year ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I was one of the coordinators for our coding taskforce. The work provided by DeepSoft was the best out of all the other companies we've used over our 6-year collaboration. We were given good documentation, including well-detailed APIs. DeepSoft was able to have a broad approach, looking at the general use of their product.

How did DeepSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

DeepSoft copied our project management structure, but they weren't connected to our main repository and tracking tools. Because they are located in Brazil, there were some limitations in how we worked together. DeepSoft has an Agile, Scrum approach. They've completed all iterations within our schedule. Deviations only occurred 3–4 times in 6 years. It was almost like clockwork.

What did you find most impressive about DeepSoft?

DeepSoft's team is passionate about the work; for me, this matters a lot. Also, DeepSoft's work on base-library development and skeleton elements is very good.

Are there any areas DeepSoft could improve?

DeepSoft could assign more specialists for engineering. They're very good programmers, but for clients like us, who need geological, physics, and mathematical expertise, there is a lack on DeepSoft's side.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

CGG provides geophysical services. I am a software developer within the reservoir-characterization department of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DeepSoft?

We're trying to develop a Petrel plug-in and workflow which would be used on different platforms. We didn't have the expertise for this, so DeepSoft was brought in for help. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DeepSoft assigned 2 developers for the majority of our 3-year project. A third resource was brought in towards the end. Regarding technologies, we mainly used Microsoft Visual Studio for C# and C++ development. Our codebase is usually C++, but Petrel is C#-based. It was quite complex work in this respect. 

How did you come to work with DeepSoft?

I initially met DeepSoft's team while working in Brazil on a joint R&D project with Petrobras. We also looked at different options, but DeepSoft had the full knowledge required for helping us. There was a good head-start, and DeepSoft had worked on similar projects in the past.

How much have you invested with DeepSoft?

The cost of DeepSoft's work has been close to $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with DeepSoft in 2012. The project was completed 2 years ago, in mid-2014. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I was the one reviewing DeepSoft's work. We reached our objective on time and extended DeepSoft's involvement beyond the initial 2-year contract. The project is on hold for the moment, but, if we were to carry on, we would probably ask for their help again. 

How did DeepSoft perform from a project management standpoint?

We were in close contact with DeepSoft's team visiting each other weekly and exchanging emails every day. We shared code through Microsoft's Team Foundation Server. We had a different tool in place, but we managed to go around it and exchange the work without any issues. I also had VPN access to DeepSoft's portal.

What did you find most impressive about DeepSoft?

DeepSoft is quite reactive, finishing the tasks we gave them quickly. It's difficult to compare them with anyone else because DeepSoft was the first company brought in to help us on a project. I give them very good marks for the work provided.

Do you have any recommendations for others considering working with DeepSoft?

I don't have anything in particular, but I advise clients to hire DeepSoft.