Dewais

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Product and Engineering of Chess.com

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Chess.com's mission is to help people enjoy their lives through the game of chess. As the #1 platform for online chess, we are focused on growing the game by building great products, making learning and improving easier, and delivering great chess content and events to our fans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Dewais to accomplish?
Our primary objective in partnering with Dewais was to have a dedicated team that could seamlessly manage and enhance our mobile application. We needed a partner who understood the dynamic nature of our platform and could consistently deliver high-quality solutions promptly

SOLUTION

How did you find Dewais?

Email from Dewais

Why did you select Dewais over others?

Great culture fit

How many teammates from Dewais were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Dewais undertook a multifaceted scope of work, including ongoing mobile application maintenance, bug fixes, and the implementation of critical features. Their key deliverables included swift and effective changes and the establishment of endpoints for enhanced user engagement during chess games.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project's success is evident in several key metrics: 

• Improved mobile application user experience. The implemented changes and features have resulted in increased user engagement during gameplay, fostering a more immersive experience. 
• Swift Issue Resolution: Bugs and issues are promptly addressed, minimizing downtime and ensuring a smooth user experience.

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

On time, and always responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Dewais?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Dewais impressed us with their commitment to our project's success. The ability to find a reliable developer who quickly adapts to our evolving needs and their unique understanding of our platform's nuances sets them apart as a strategic and dependable partner.

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

In general, Dewais has proven to be an invaluable partner in maintaining and improving Chess.com, demonstrating unparalleled dedication, expertise, and a deep understanding of our platform's intricacies. Their ability to adapt swiftly to our requirements has greatly contributed to our ongoing success.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Software Engineering of Neuraspace S.A

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provides services in the space-traffic management/space situational awareness domain.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• The primary goal was to hire a skiled front-end developer who could augment our team, contributing to the development of a complex solution.

SOLUTION

How did you find Dewais?

UpWork

Why did you select Dewais over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Dewais were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

The developer integrated with team very well, laying the foundation for subsequent development. The developer we agreed with wasn't a senior developer, but still proved a great match to the team and project. Key deliverables included seamless integration of React, Typescript, UI Library — MUI. Developer mastered libraries and technologies (Echarts and Material React Table) and implemented business tasks on their basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our platform grew significantly after hiring the developer. It was a pivotal moment for us, and Dewais provided the skils we needed when we needed them, in a very friendly and professional way.

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

Most of project management was on our side, not from the developer's side. Still, Dewais participated very efficiently whenever requested.

What was your primary form of communication with Dewais?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out the most was a combination of availability, professionalism, and friendliness. They were a perfect cultural fit.

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

Nothing in particular. It would have been great to be able to get more developers from them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Upplabs

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

UppLabs is a US-based software engineering studio focused on Fintech, Healthcare and Real Estate.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop a Customized Billing Solution
• Seamless Integration with Existing CRM.

SOLUTION

How did you find Dewais?

Referral

Why did you select Dewais over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Dewais were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The scope of work included a comprehensive review of our existing processes to tailor the billing solution to our specific needs. Key deliverables involved designing a user-friendly interface for the billing solution and ensuring its flawless integration with our current CRM system. Dewais worked closely with us to accommodate our pricing models and optimize our billing processes for greater efficiency.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project's success was measured by several tangible outcomes:

• Significant improvements in billing efficiency, leading to reduced manual efforts.
• Increased accuracy in billing and reduced errors, resulting in improved customer satisfaction.
• Seamless integration between the billing solution and our CRM, enhancing our overall workflow and data management.
• Cost savings achieved due to the customized solution and Dewais' reasonable rates.

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

The project management by Dewais was highly effective. Throughout the project, Dewais demonstrated a keen understanding of our requirements and was proactive in addressing them. Their team's ability to adapt to our unique needs and deliver on time was a strong point. They maintained open lines of communication, ensuring our input was valued and that any concerns or requests were promptly addressed.

What was your primary form of communication with Dewais?

Virtual Meeting

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

What stood out most about Dewais was their commitment to transparent and efficient communication throughout the project. Their team was not only technically proficient but also responsive and proactive in addressing our specific requirements. Additionally, their pricing structure was reasonable, making them a cost-effective choice for our project.

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

There’s always room for improvement. But it's worth mentioning that the small areas for improvement we noticed during our collaboration with Dewais didn't take away from the generally positive experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Lingu AS

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Lingu is a leading language training provider and edtech-company in Norway, offering students, companies, and schools unique learning experiences.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• to enhance our technical capabilities and scale our tech team for our online platform.

SOLUTION

How did you find Dewais?

Referral

Why did you select Dewais over others?

• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Dewais were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Dewais undertook a comprehensive scope of work, including bug fixing and technical debt reduction across various parts of our platform. Their responsibilities extended to providing direct user support, predominantly for our teachers, ensuring a smooth experience even when encountering software issues. They also contributed to refining specific areas of the system essentially optimizing our platform's performance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The collaboration with Dewais yielded tangible results. We observed a significant improvement in the overall stability of our platform. The optimized segments of our system not only contributed to a better user experience but also paved the way for future integrations.

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

The team members integrated seamlessly into our engineering teams and worked alongside our other developers, hence the milestones and deliverables were as expected.

What was your primary form of communication with Dewais?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The team has a good understanding of our requirements as a language course provider. They seamlessly integrated into our workflow, addressing our challenges effectively. Dewais demonstrated a commitment to our success, acting not only as an external team but as a valued partner.

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

The process can always be improved, but there are no significant issues to work on. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Dewais as we explore new opportunities and build on the solid foundation they've helped us establish.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Volta

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Volta is a startup incubator dedicated to providing tailored support to founders in Atlantic Canada. It focuses on individualized needs, helping startups navigate growth-related challenges through one-on-one support and capacity-building activities. Volta emphasizes action-oriented learning, linking startups with subject matter experts and resources for hands-on experience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop a proof of concept web application for founderfirst.ca
• Incorporate airtable into the solution architecture
• Incorporate a no-code platform for on going maintenance

SOLUTION

How did you find Dewais?

Online Search

Why did you select Dewais over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned
• Quality of scoping approach

How many teammates from Dewais were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Project Overview: We are looking for an experienced full-stack developer to help us build an MVP for our startup. The MVP will be a web-based platform that connects startup founders with support organizations in Atlantic Canada. We have already created the basic wireframes and specifications for the MVP and are looking for a developer who can work with us to bring our vision to life. 
• Responsibilities: 
  • Work with our team to develop the MVP using Node.js+ React, CSS - Tailwind, and Airtable database 
  • Build and implement new features and functionalities as needed 
  • Ensure the MVP is optimized for speed and scalability 
  • Collaborate with our team to troubleshoot and debug any issues that arise 
  • Communicate project status and progress regularly 
• Requirements: 
  • Strong experience with Node.js and React 
  • Experience with CSS frameworks, specifically Tailwind 
  • Experience working with Airtable or similar database systems 
  • Experience building web-based platforms 
  • Strong problem-solving skills 
  • Excellent communication skills 
  • Ability to work collaboratively with a team 
• Nice-to-Haves: 
  • Experience with Azure hosting or similar cloud-based hosting services 
  • Experience with startup environments and MVP development 
  • Experience working with early-stage startups 
• Project Details: 
• Estimated project duration: 1-2 months 
• Expected time commitment: 
• Full-time Start date: Immediate 
• If you are interested in applying for this position, please provide the following information: 
  • Your experience with Node.js and React 
  • Your experience with CSS frameworks, specifically Tailwind 
  • Your experience working with Airtable 
  • Your experience building web-based platforms 
  • Your experience with Azure hosting or similar cloud-based hosting services 
  • Any relevant examples of MVPs or web-based platforms you have developed 
  • Your availability and expected time commitment

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're excited to announce that we've successfully developed a fully functional proof of concept for our web-based platform. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our mission to connect startup founders with support organizations in Atlantic Canada. The platform has been rigorously tested and optimized for performance, setting the stage for the next phase of our journey—onboarding our early adopters. 

With the proof of concept in hand, we're confident in the platform's capabilities and are eager to collaborate with our first users to gather valuable feedback and make data-driven improvements.

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

We had the pleasure of working with a team that embodied professionalism at every turn. Their process was exceptionally well-defined, which instilled a sense of confidence from the outset. One of the standout qualities of this team was their communication skills; they were excellent at keeping us informed at every stage of the project. Updates were regular and insightful, allowing us to adjust plans and expectations in real-time. 

What impressed us further was their adaptability. They were agile enough to pivot or make necessary adjustments as the project evolved. Moreover, they were proactive in ensuring that the right features were completed as expected, often going above and beyond to exceed our project goals. In sum, this team is a perfect example of professionalism, communication, and adaptability, and I would highly recommend them for any complex development project.

What was your primary form of communication with Dewais?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The team's internal coordination was another remarkable aspect of our collaboration. Despite having multiple members involved, they managed their requests and interactions with us in a highly organized manner. This seamless coordination made it easier for us to interact with them, as we always knew who was responsible for what and when to expect deliverables. 

Even when there were gaps in our responses due to our own constraints, they exhibited great patience and understanding, never pressuring us but always ready to proceed when we were. This level of teamwork and understanding is something we found particularly commendable, as it facilitated a smooth workflow and contributed to the project's overall success. Their teamwork is exemplary and adds another layer of assurance that you're in good hands when you engage with them.

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

Not really. Will definitely work again with Dewais team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a wellness & fitness company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online fitness.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Add functionality to fitness app.

SOLUTION

How did you find Dewais?

Referral

Why did you select Dewais over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Dewais were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work included various tasks such as redesigning specific elements, adding calendar functionality, and accomplishing backend tasks. Key deliverables included a visually appealing and user-friendly app and website, seamless integration with fitness trackers, and the implementation of the desired logic and display features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Dewais team made successful integration of additional fitness trackers, calendars, implemented the logic to track and display training progress, and the accurate percentage-based display of exercise performance. These outcomes enhanced the functionality and user experience of the app, contributing to the overall success of the project.

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

The team was very responsive and kept me aware of the progress at all times.

What was your primary form of communication with Dewais?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What impressed us most about this company was their ability to deliver exceptional work while offering reasonable pricing. Their expertise in frontend and backend development, seamless integration with fitness trackers, and proactive approach to suggest improvements were all markable. Their commitment to customer satisfaction, professionalism, and effective communication also set them apart.

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

There are no areas for improvement or specific things Dewais team could have done differently. Their work and contributions were exceptional, and we were highly satisfied with the outcomes. Dewais team showcased their expertise and attention to detail throughout the project, leaving no room for improvement or suggestions for a different approach.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a product owner. The company is the owner of several real estate service-related platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

For our team we needed temporary help to create a frontend application for a part of our services. Together with Dewais we set the goal to create an MVP of the product so we could start the pilot with our target audience.

SOLUTION

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

We placed an ad on Upwork to recruit frontend help. We were looking for someone who had proper experience with several frontend frameworks. Other important factors were a personal connection with our team and a sufficient level of English language.

In the end we decided to go with Dewais since Pavlo asked the right questions when doing the interviews which gave us the confidence that Dewais was up to the job. Also the connection with Oleksandr who ended up helping us was a factor to make the choice.

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

The UX design was done and as well as a large part of the requirements. The objective was to take the design and requirements and turn it into a working product that was ready to do a pilot with.

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

There were 2 people working with us. Pavlo who was helping with the project management and Oleksandr dealing with the frontend development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We ended the collaboration with a working product that was ready to start a pilot with.

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

Project management was done very well — it was clear what the timeline was and the communication was clear.

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

The most impressive part for me was the agility in the sense that it took very little time for Oleksandr to come acquainted with the product and the team. It took only a week before he was up to speed and already delivering features.

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

There are no things that could have been done better in my opinion.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder INFTE.io, an online NFT marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Dewais?

We needed additional programming help, specifically front- and backend, and full stack development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Dewais helps us with custom software development. They initially provided developers we could select from, and we worked with them to identify a team that could work for us in the short term and potentially in the long term.

The software allows people to purchase NFTs tied with a physical product. The team has used TypeScript, React, Python, GraphQL, Django, and AWS. Additionally, they’ve worked with Docker and Kubernetes.

What is the team composition?

We’ve had contact with Pavlo (CEO), and we work with three people, including a senior software developer and a junior software developer. 

How did you come to work with Dewais?

We found them online, where we posted the project. Dewais contacted us for a follow-up regarding clarification and budget.

How much have you invested with them?

By the end of the project, we’ll have spent around $35,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2021, and the project will be completed at the end of March 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Dewais has a good understanding of their developers’ level, and they've provided flexibility in testing the junior developers and long-term commitments. We measure their success based on code shipped, and we’re now pushing towards finalization, so we don’t have metrics to share yet. 

How did Dewais perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication with them is great. Although coming up with hard deadlines is sometimes tough, we’re currently working towards the end of one, and Dewais has been flexible regarding resources.

We use Trello, Notion, GitHub, and Jira for project management. We mostly communicate through Slack, and we also use Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed by Dewais’ ability to place their developers in buckets. Typically, development houses are unable to do that accurately, whereas Pavlo has a good understanding of the developers’ skill sets and can accurately reflect them.

Dewais is based in Ukraine, and they’ve provided flexibility despite the uncertainty of the Russian Invasion, which we really appreciate. I would like to work with them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re not the cheapest. However, their rates are reflected in their talent. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a good sense of how technically challenging your product will be. If your project is more on the technologically advanced side, I’d suggest you lean towards someone with a more senior skill set. However, if you’re looking to develop a simple project, Dewais has teammates who can assist you and help you produce a decent product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO at ZiZo Technologies, a software company that produces a gamification platform for the workplace. We provide a lot of data analytics as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Dewais?

I needed developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Dewais provides four developers from their team that is solely dedicated to our project. They work on a scrum methodology. They’re working with the rest of our team. We’re working on an AWS infrastructure with bleeding-edge technologies and lambda functions.

What is the team composition?

We work with mid to senior-level developers.

How did you come to work with Dewais?

They were brought to me by our CEO, who had been putting out requests. Their salesperson reached out, and then I vetted them with other agencies.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $200,000–$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Dewais started in April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their engagement has been critical for our product. In terms of quality of work, it’s been consistent.

How did Dewais perform from a project management standpoint?

We manage the project from our side. They’ve been very responsive to our needs. Their developers are also flexible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The developers are vibrant, ambitious, and engaged. It’s exciting to work with a young and open-minded team. Their work quality is also great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have much to say on the negative side. Sometimes a developer isn’t pulling their weight, and you have to have a conversation, but that’s normal.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They do better with organized work. Since we manage the project on our side, that’s a recipe for success with them. We’re constantly involved with them, so I know that having structured work and project management is helpful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I handle digital marketing, including managing the company websites, for a CDN company that has locations around the world in Europe, Asian, the Americas, and Oceania. My responsibilities for the company include increasing website traffic and conversions. This specific project was designed to increase free trial and paid user conversions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Dewais?

We recognized an opportunity to increase our free and paid users by making the signup and onboarding process simpler and more intuitive. We recognized an opportunity to reduce signup friction by allowing users to sign up with their existing Google or Facebook account. Previously, the only way to signup was to create a new account with us. We hire Dewais to create the new signup flow that would allow for users to sign up with Google or Facebook, and integrate the information the user provides with our CDN platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We offer 30 day free trials and paid plans for our CDN. The goal for this project was to increase signups for both the free trials, and conversions to the paid plans, by simplifying the signup process and reducing friction.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had quite a few companies and freelancers apply for this project. We chose Dewais because the plan that they laid out made the most sense, and the questions they asked us indicated that they understood the project thoroughly.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Dewais developed and integrated a new signup and onboarding flow in react JS. We provided the specifications we required for the flow, discussed it with them, and they provided their input and made suggestions. Once we had the plan finalized, Dewais began the development, working closely with our internal team throughout the whole process to ensure the project was completed on time and to the required specifications.

What was the team composition?

There were two team members on Dewais's side, one account manager, and one developer. On our end, Dewais worked primarily with our inhouse software development team. Dewais collaborated very well with our inhouse team, to the point that it often felt like they were also inhouse.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since implementing the new signup and onboarding flow with Dewais, we have seen a major uptick in both free signups and conversions to paid plans. The new flow makes signing up much easier and intuitive. We have seen conversions increase close to 100%.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management, in terms of determining deadlines, milestones, etc. was largely handled on our side, and Dewais always stuck to the project plan, met the deadlines, and completed the work to the required specifications and beyond.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What I found most impressive about Dewais was their ability to integrate seamlessly with our inhouse team. Dewais smoothly cooperated with our inhouse developers and managers, to the point that it felt more like they were part of our inhouse team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No areas for improvement come to mind. The project went as smoothly as possible, and collaborating with Dewais was an excellent experience.