DRUM'N'CODE

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an independent consultor that helps startups to allocate remote resources to accelerate their feature development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DRUM'N'CODE, and what were your goals?

One of my clients is Solucx, a Customer Experience startup with 100+ employees. Most of their dev team is allocated to maintain the application and they had a shortage of resources to implement new requirements and features. The goal for us to hire Drum'n'Code was to have dedicated resources to work and deploy high priority features.

SOLUTION

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

We selected Drum'n'Code at Upwork. Deciding factors were: - Tech Stack Knowledge - Positive review rates - Price - Background

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

We have shipped two modules so far. The first one was what we called the "Activity Log Module". This is an interface in the back office application where users can visualize all activities users had performed in the platform. They can apply filters, sort, and see metadata about every user action.

We received the design and specification from Solucx, the client, estimated the work and started the execution running 1-week sprints. We allocated 1 BE, 1 FE and 1 Tech Lead to the project. It took 6 weeks for the module to be fully implemented and handed over to Solucx. We are now following the same approach for a module called "targets and events definition". This module implementation is expected to be finished in the upcoming week.

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

4 people: - Front End Developer - Back End Developer - Tech Lead - Project Manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcomes were the functional modules as per the client's requirements. Solucx now have a functional log activity module available for their 130+ clients. Events module is also functional. Overall the quality of the deliveries is very good, the team is responsive and the implementation velocity is stable.

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

They actually fit within my project management style. They were provided access to the client's Jira environment. We use a Kanban to track the feature's implementation and run weekly rounds of QA. We use Slack for offline communication. We communicate offline on a daily basis and we have weekly calls to retro the previous week and plan the upcoming deliverables. They've also helped with documentation in confluence which is also very appreciated.

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

How they fill the gaps. Sometimes, specification is not ideal and the logic is not entirely clear. They are proactive in pointing out gaps and suggesting solutions to keep the project moving forward.

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

I would appreciate having more contact with Devs directly in the call. As they don't have full dominance of English, we centralize the communication in the tech lead. It is not a huge pain, though.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager of a software development company that has been in existence for around 15 years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DRUM’N’CODE?

We have a fairly large client that needed an overhaul of their existing web experience. We were very busy with other projects, and most of our technology stack was different from what this particular client required. Thus, we needed expert Symfony developers to help us not only with this project but also with the projects of other clients that also used Symfony.

This particular project was for a UK-government-funded service that assists people with special needs. Their site was out of date, and it needed to be brought up to new standards.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially hired a team to help us with the design and implementation of a new website, and they did an okay job, but we decided that it wasn’t good enough. DRUM’N’CODE took over the project, remade the designs, recreated the site’s specifications, and essentially overhauled the previous developers’ work, doing a far better job.

They then executed all the design specifications, and they were able to work under severe time constraints. We had around 12 weeks of significant development time, ending on a hard deadline that they were able to meet.

We initially provided the other developers with a detailed specification document for them to create the segments, so we provided DRUM’N’CODE with both the specifications and the segments created by the other company. They were also able to see that those segments weren’t good enough, so they helped us brainstorm new design ideas.

They also suggested new ideas about additional functionality and features that could be included on this site. Then, we collaborated to create the improvements’ documentation so that we could execute those improvements in a short timeframe. Finally, they were in charge of the QA before deploying the final product.

Thanks to the success of this project, DRUM’N’CODE is now working with us on other projects for local and Fortune 500 clients of ours on an ongoing basis, and they’ve continued doing maintenance work for the first project. Among the technologies that they’ve used are Symfony and JavaScript. We’ve also used Jira and Slack.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with Igor (Project Development Manager) from DRUM’N’CODE. He works directly with the developers to ensure that they understand our high-level specifications. We’ve also talked with Bodgan (CTO).

How did you come to work with DRUM’N’CODE?

We found them on Upwork. We sometimes use Upwork when we need to extend our team’s capacity, and we found them to have a very good profile.

DRUM’N’CODE weren’t the only candidates for this role; we interviewed four other agencies. Igor and Bodgan were part of the initial interviews, where we got to know them before we decided that they were the best option for us. They clearly understood our needs, and they were very good communicators.

How much have you invested with them?

During the peak of development, we were spending around $7,000–$8,000 per week, but we spend around $3,000 per week at the moment. Averaging $5,000 per week for the last 16 weeks, we’ve spent around $80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around May 2021, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The initial project had several deadlines where I needed to present the deliverables to a consortium and two other groups of people. They then evaluated if the design and deliverables met their expectations. Various times during those presentations, the consortium was really excited and happy with the deliverables. Additionally, they were very impressed with how we took their previous website and completely redesigned it into a very clean, attractive, and fast-operating site.

DRUM’N’CODE was also able to complete the entire initial project without much technical intervention from our side, which was great. Since the project went live, the feedback from the consortium and the people who are using the website has been overwhelmingly positive, proving that the project was successful. This result will lead to more projects from this particular service.

How did DRUM’N’CODE perform from a project management standpoint?

DRUM’N’CODE’s project management is very good. Their project manager and upper management are in a shared Slack channel with us, and they’re really quick at responding to questions or attending to issues.

In the last few weeks before the release of the first project, their team decided to make a significant amount of changes. This meant that everyone had to cancel holidays, work the weekends, and put in more effort on regular working days than usual. However, they were happy to do that, and they understood that this effort would lead to greater things. They definitely went the extra mile to complete the project on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DRUM’N’CODE’s communication and technical skills are impressive. They care about the project as much as we do, and they’re as responsive as I would be if I were leading this project. It has been reassuring to know that I can just give a task to the project manager, and I can see the tickets moving through Jira.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of that they could improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re looking to develop a website that uses Symfony, I recommend getting in touch with DRUM’N’CODE immediately.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an online marketplace website based in Latin America. I am the founder of this company and business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DRUM'N'CODE, and what were your goals?

We required the development of the e-commerce marketplace platform. The goal of drumnbass was to take our designs and product flow charts and convert them into a functional website and app. We required drumncode to Project Manage the development team, Develop the front and backend elements of the website, develop the apps and also write all documentation relating to the code and functionality of the products.

SOLUTION

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

I had some previous experience working with this team for a company that I worked for in the past. I was pleased with their results and work ethics, so I decided to use them again for my own project.

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

After reviewing the designs and flow charts, drumncode decided to use existing marketplace software (aimeos) for the project. They decided this would be better than coding from scratch for my budget and target dates for launch. We agreed on specific target dates for different milestones and so far they have been met without issue.

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

Currently there are 3 people working on the project - Project Manager, Front end developer, Back end developer. I am planning to also use 1 or 2 additional developers when we begin building the apps.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have not launched the product yet, but so far I am very happy with the quality and speed of the work.

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

We communicate on Slack when questions arise, and we have weekly meetings to discuss what was acheived and what is planned for the coming week. We also use Figma to communicate on specific design elements with my designer, since this is more practical. For the developers, we are using Jira and Confluence to track tasks and ensure functionality is explained correctly for the developers to understand the requirements.

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

They have very good communication, especially the use of Jira and Confluence to manage tasks and workflow. I was promised senior developers and I have senior developers working on the project. Both developers will also chat with me directly or within the group in Slack, which is impressive since this is not always the case.

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

I cannot think of any areas of improvement. I am very happy with this team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work full time at a professional accounting firm & I engaged DNC to assist with building a passion project of mine. Something I've been wanting to make for 2 years

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DRUM'N'CODE, and what were your goals?

DNC oversaw the complete build of my website from idea to finalization. They did so in an efficient and effective manner by making smart use of the API provider and making a intutive UI layout. The completed the task on time as promised for me

SOLUTION

How did you select DRUM'N'CODE and what were the deciding factors?

DNC had revelant experience building this type of live scoring website I was looking for. Upon review of their other website builds, it was clear they had the right experience to do my job. The cost was great without cutting back on quality which is not common for overseas developers

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

The project was delivered on time with high quality and effective costs; they identified what was most important to me.

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

UI Designed Project Manager Full stack developer CTO CEO

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have received very positive feedback on my website design and functionality to date from users so far.

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

We communicated as frequently as I needed over slack, google calls, whats-app & other channels as needed. They made them selves available for me on weekends and even public holidays

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

They are all in house - so you can tell they work together and share their skills with one another. It makes it efficient

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

Everything was great - they gave suggestions on how to make my website better than my original design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the managing director at a biotech company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DRUM'N'CODE, and what were your goals?

Drum'n'code was hired to develop a new website from scratch.

SOLUTION

How did you select DRUM'N'CODE and what were the deciding factors?

They were very responding and seemed very professional. Their rate was competitive. On top of that, I had a good feeling.

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

Rebuild of a website from 0. I don't know which technology they use

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

2 people I think. Not sure about their position My main contact is Igor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website is not launched yet but I know from the designer that it's on good progress. So far, I am very satisfied with the quality of their work.

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

We communicate via Jira. They are very proactive in communication and they communicate in a very structured way. Every step must be well described and understood before continuing. That's what I appreciate with them

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

As I said, they are professional, they have a very good communication approach. They seem good at website development but we'll evaluate this at the end of the project :)

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

I don't see any areas for improvement I am totally satisfied and I recommend this company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of White Elephant Agency. We’re a design studio that works with emerging tech and start-up companies across the world to develop websites, web apps, and products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DRUM’N’CODE?

We work with a variety of companies at different stages in their development, so we needed a partner whose supporting capabilities were robust. Our work requires full-stack expertise and knowledge of several different technologies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our most recent project, which has just launched, was a landing site for a conference. DRUM’N’CODE worked under a strict timeline and developed both the first and second versions. 

We supplied designs through our portal using InVision and Zeppelin, which DRUM’N’CODE would apply using React and send updates throughout the day. We would provide feedback, and the cycle would continue for a few days until we’d accomplished our goals.

What is the team composition?

My main of contact is Alex (PHP Developer, DRUM’N’CODE). I also work with Samir (Project Manager, DRUM’N’CODE) on various projects as well as another member of their team.

How did you come to work with DRUM’N’CODE?

I found DRUM’N’CODE on Upwork as a freelancer. Our partnership has extended over the years to a project-by-project basis. 

How much have you invested in them?

We have invested just under $25,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

I began working with DRUM’N’CODE in December 2018, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DRUM’N’CODE always provides a few options in terms of how to go about projects. That feature of their work allows us to bring choices to our own clients with flexible price points and timelines. 

Also, the team is always open to feedback and is accommodating if we’re not satisfied with the deliverable and want some revisions.

How did DRUM’N’CODE perform from a project management standpoint?

The team has performed well in terms of communication and providing us with their expertise, especially in cases when clients come to us without a clear idea of what they want.

We do a lot of our communication with them through Slack, Skype, and Pastel. We provide any additional supporting materials through Asana.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DRUM’N’CODE has been extremely accommodating during our partnership. Their ability to understand which workflows and processes are required by different projects stands out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve had a few challenges in terms of QA where we’ve had to bear the brunt of miscommunications on deliverables, but we’ve already seen a lot of improvement in that area.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have periodical check-ins and say on top of project management and deadlines.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a non-profit organization called TRAVEL WITH A MISSION (TWAM), which objective is basically to help people be useful around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DRUM'N'CODE?

We hired Drum'n'code to develop our Twaming platform, which is a platform helping those who want to share some knowledge, skills or experience to find structures where they can do so.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals for the projects were to put together those who want to share and those who want to receive in order to facilitate cross-cultural exchange as well as access to education.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Drum'n'code through Upwork platform.

Describe the project in detail.

On one hand, you have the Twamers, the individuals who want to share some knowledge, skills or experience. On the other hand, you have the Twamhosts who are providing an audience for Twamers. Thanks to the platform, Twamers can find Twamhosts and vice-versa.

What was the team composition?

There was a team leader who was constantly in touch with us. There were also some other people to help with the design and other developments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are happy of the work done by Drum'n'code. They listened well to our requirements and did their best to make things happen the way we wanted. They are also present to make sure the platform works the way it should. We hired them afterwards for another project, which is a sign that we are satisfied.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication skills were very good. Everyone I dealt with spoke very good english. They tried to answer our needs as fast as possible.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their customer care. They're always happy to answer our requests, and they try their best to be pleasant and effective.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Drum'n'code is still a young company and they are still learning by doing. The efficiency and the doublechecking can be improved but overall, I am really satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the COO / Head of Operations of Manas Express

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We run a logistics company in the United States that manages a large fleet of trucks across multiple states. Our operations span the full lifecycle of freight transportation — load dispatching, driver management, route planning, fuel and toll tracking, vendor coordination, payroll, fleet maintenance, and accounting

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DRUM'N'CODE to accomplish?

• Develop a transportation management system for our internal use
• Make our internal system available for sale to other trucking companies.
• Integrate AI into various company processes on our TMS.

SOLUTION

How did you find DRUM'N'CODE?

Referral

Why did you select DRUM'N'CODE over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from DRUM'N'CODE were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Before Drum'N'Code, we were using several TMS still running a lot of our operations on spreadsheets, emails, and a patchwork of disconnected tools. As the company grew, this setup became completely unsustainable. Our data entry specialists were spending hours every day manually typing in data from Rate Confirmation documents — PDFs that come from brokers and shippers with all the load details. It was slow, error-prone, and ate up a huge chunk of our team's time. Dispatchers had no centralized system to track their drivers' loads or schedules. We had very bad visibility into toll costs broken down by state, no accurate route calculations that account for truck-specific restrictions, and no single source of truth for payroll, fuel, or fleet maintenance. We needed a fully custom Transport Management System built from scratch — one that could centralize everything and actually understand the realities of truck logistics. We also needed the platform to be flexible so we could quickly adjust or add functionality demanded by new trends, rules, and requirements of the business

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform completely transformed how we operate: • AI document parsing eliminated manual data entry from Rate Confirmations — what took dispatchers 10–15 minutes per document now takes seconds. Across dozens of daily loads, this saved our team several hours every day and drastically cut data entry errors. • Truck-specific routing replaced guesswork with precise route calculations based on actual vehicle parameters, improving ETA accuracy and cost estimation. • Automated toll and mileage tracking by state gave us instant visibility for accounting and IFTA compliance — previously this was a painful manual process. • Centralized operations — drivers, dispatchers, fleet managers, and accounting all work in one system now. Much fewer spreadsheets. • Performance optimization — the system works fast and stable given the large amount of data the system processes every single day. • Analytics — a large system of dashboards, providing operative, accurate analytical data about core company workflows (Dispatch, Drivers, Profits, Fleet). Overall, the system allowed us to scale our operations without proportionally scaling our back- office headcount. We handle significantly more loads today with the same team size, and our error rate on billing and payroll dropped dramatically

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

Their project management was excellent. We worked through structured sprints with clear task decomposition, estimations, and delivery phases. Each feature went through staging before going live. Their team lead conducted regular code reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions, which kept code quality consistently high. Communication was transparent — they'd flag potential blockers early and propose alternatives rather than just waiting

What was your primary form of communication with DRUM'N'CODE?

Virtual Meeting

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

What really set DRUM'N'CODE apart is that they didn't operate like a typical outsourcing shop. They acted like a true in-house team — they cared about our business outcomes, not just completing tickets. When we hit the truck routing problem, for example, they didn't just flag it and wait for instructions. They researched alternatives on their own, evaluated Here.com, and came back with a complete solution that included per-state distance tracking and automatic toll calculation. That kind of ownership and initiative is rare. The AI document parsing was another standout. They didn't just deliver a feature — they worked shoulder to shoulder with our team over months to refine accuracy, handle edge cases unique to our business, and continuously improve the system based on real-world results. They treated it as an evolving product, not a one-off deliverable. The team was deeply technical but also capable of explaining complex architectural decisions in business terms. That combination of technical depth and business thinking made them feel like a genuine partner, not just a vendor.

Are there any areas for improvement or something DRUM'N'CODE could have done differently?

With a project this large and long-running (nearly five years), there were naturally moments where onboarding new team members took some ramp-up time. But that's expected for a complex system with a lot of domain knowledge. They handled transitions well through proper documentation, knowledge-sharing sessions, and structured handoffs — so it never caused any real disruption.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of a wedding vendor marketplace

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

An online Wedding vendor marketplace 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DRUM'N'CODE to accomplish?

• Front and back end Development

SOLUTION

How did you find DRUM'N'CODE?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select DRUM'N'CODE over others?

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

How many teammates from DRUM'N'CODE were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The development team was engaged to design and build the core platform, a two-sided marketplace for wedding venues and vendors. Their responsibilities covered both front-end user experience and back-end functionalityto ensure the platform could support venue owners, vendors, and couples throughout the booking process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project delivered several tangible outcomes that demonstrate clear progress toward launching our Early Access. 

Platform Completion Milestones:

Front-end build finalized with venue/vendor dashboards.
Admin panel (Laravel Nova) implemented and functional for internal management.
Feature Development:

Successful integration of unique marketplace differentiators.

Early access platform now supports account creation.
Security and infrastructure foundations in place to handle user growth.

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

The development team approached the project with a structured project management process that helped move us from concept to functional platform. They established a clear scope of work, broke tasks into deliverables, and provided updates during the development cycle

What was your primary form of communication with DRUM'N'CODE?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out most about this company was their ability to take a complex marketplace concept and translate it into a working platform with unique, custom-built features. Unlike many teams that stick strictly to templates or off-the-shelf solutions, they showed the technical skill and creativity to deliver solutions tailored to our needs.

Are there any areas for improvement or something DRUM'N'CODE could have done differently?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of Van der Vlist Transport Group

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Founded in 1930, the Van der Vlist Group has become a European leader in the abnormal and heavy haulage industry, offering comprehensive logistical solutions through multimodal transport methods, extensive storage and port facilities, and expert project management, all underpinned by nearly 90 years of experience, innovation, and a commitment to quality and customer service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DRUM'N'CODE to accomplish?

• Develop a high-performance, user-friendly website.
• Reflect our brand’s identity through the web design.
• Improve user experience across all devices.
• Increase online visibility and search engine rankings.
• Drive more conversions and enhance overall site functionality.

SOLUTION

How did you find DRUM'N'CODE?

Online Search

Why did you select DRUM'N'CODE over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from DRUM'N'CODE 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 the full design and development of our website, from initial concept through to launch. Key deliverables were:

• A responsive website optimized for both desktop and mobile devices.
• Custom UI/UX design that aligns with our brand aesthetics.
• Integration of SEO best practices to enhance search engine visibility.
• Implementation of an easy-to-manage content management system (CMS).
• Testing and quality assurance to ensure smooth performance across all platforms.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project led to significant improvements in several key areas:

• A 30% increase in website traffic within the first three months post-launch.
  Improved user engagement metrics, including a 25% increase in average session duration.
• A 20% boost in conversion rates due to enhanced site functionality and design.
  Positive feedback from users and stakeholders regarding the website’s aesthetic and usability.

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

Drum'n'code demonstrated strong project management skills throughout the development process. They maintained clear and consistent communication, provided regular updates, and adhered to the project timeline. All deliverables were met on time, with no significant delays.

What was your primary form of communication with DRUM'N'CODE?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What stood out most about Drum'n'code was their attention to detail and commitment to understanding our brand. They didn’t just build a website; they created a digital experience that truly reflected our values and objectives. Their ability to combine technical expertise with creative design was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something DRUM'N'CODE could have done differently?

While the overall experience was positive, one area for improvement could be more proactive post-launch support. Although they provided thorough documentation and initial support, more regular check-ins after the launch would have been beneficial to ensure everything was running smoothly and to address any minor issues that arose.