Forte Group

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Vision is a full service Marketing Execution Services company specializing in highly tailored direct mail solutions to which I was responsible for the architecture and delivery.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

Forte was chosen to build a complete offshore team of software engineers and QA analysts. In addition, Forte supplied local resources to further augment the development cycle at Vision. This combination allowed us to scale up or down effectively as our needs changed.

What were your goals for this project?

My goal for the project was to build a highly productive team of senior, mid-level, and junior resources who were able to meet critical deadlines with quality solutions. Our customer base was rapidly changing in the way they conduct business, and we needed a team to handle the SDLC of our proprietary platforms to ensure their marketing execution success.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met the Forte team while serving in a similar role at a different organization and have been working with the same team of people ever since the beginning of the relationship.

It started as many relationships do, a single placement for a QA resource and Forte was brought in as a widely accepted leader in QA team deployments. I quickly learned their capabilities extended well past our initial needs and that as a company they really seemed to care about doing the right thing for my organization. I've been a customer ever since.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

This has been an ongoing relationship of staff augmentation using onshore and offshore resources to create a comprehensive team of developers and analysts.

Forte jumped in and their resources learned the primary platforms we develop and support along with vast integrations to external systems and we were able to build a team that could scale with demand, and where the Forte engineers could provide key contributions to the architecture and SDLC at Vision.

What was the team composition?

Our teams were comprised of full stack developers (.Net/SQL/Azure) both as well as QA onshore and offshore. We created a structure of working hours between the two regions and a base team for both facilities that allowed for a very collaborative environment and plenty of overlap for resources.

Our base team was comprised of four developers and three QA team members and was often scaled to higher levels to adapt to client needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our ongoing relationship with Forte has consistently provided the same results year after year. We stay on our budget, we deliver quality solutions, and we adapt to our clients ever changing needs. T

he impact it has had is quite simple, my time became more valuable. Having a core team and trust in the process being followed allows me to remain focused on the overall business activities and future architectural vision for the platforms that are driving our clients' mission critical marketing needs.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

As on ongoing partnership, our PM duties are largely internal as the Forte team of engineers are integral to our SDLC. As special projects arise and need extra attention to detail we can always rely on the Forte team to handle the project at any level necessary including me being totally hands-off.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Forte understands that one size, one model, does not fit all! My first impression was with the speed at which they delivered quality candidates for my team, and the consistency that kept coming with each new team member.

But most impressive to me is to watch what Forte has accomplished over the last seven or so years I've worked with their team. Their own growth and direction has done nothing but solidify that I chose the right partner for more than one organization.

They have proven time and time again that they have built a comprehensive suite of services capable of handling every phase of the SDLC and are a true strategic partner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

To say there has never been any issue to arise with a deep partnership involving many people would be untrue, of course with any business relationship. Building a brand new team of people will always bring challenges, but fortunately I do not need to look for areas of improvement for Forte. This is clearly a part of their organization's culture, and it's working.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Head of Global Sales & Marketing for sales-i, global leader in sales technology for B2B distribution and manufacturing companies that require actionable data to be delivered to the device (or CRM) of their sales teams in a mobile first manner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

Forte Group continue to take multiple disparate data sources from a variety of manufacturing organizations and provide a standardized format for sales-i to consume within their sales enablement application that is then pushed to independent manufacturers sales organizations, streamlining their sales process and increasing their ability to quickly identify sales opportunities

What were your goals for this project?

Reduce the time and effort of data consolidation to enable a cost effective way of delivering a sales solution to the Independent Manufacturers Rep industry.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Having has 20+ years experience in the IT industry I have a wide network of vendor partners to draw from. Forte was an obvious choice where a balance of quality, understanding of building out a strategic solution as a partner, and focusing on driving maximum efficiency via their hybrid model of offshore and nearshore services meant we could realistically achieve a solution that fits a sector that is very cost sensitive. Involvement, sponsorship and participation from their leadership team facilitated a selection process that instilled confidence and built trust that should result in a long term partnership

Describe the project in detail.

Forte take manufacturers product invoicing/sales data that typically comes through in a sporadic and multitude of different formats and stadardizes it as per sales-i's data extract guide. This happens typically on a monthly basis, however can vary depending on the clients requirements. As each consolidation process runs, Forte look to streamline and simplify the process by building automation into the consolidation process (typically by building out scripts), thus incrementally lowering cost which can be passed through to the clients benefit.

What was the team composition?

On the sales-i side we have sales leadership (me) brokering the deals with Forte's sales operations team. Once the deal is finalised and passed through, sales-i CSM team liase with Forte's delivery manager, process is established to ensure the data feeds are set up, and Forte pass the work on to their analyst team for processing. As we scale I'd expect the Forte team to increase at least in the initial set ups until they identify the appropriate scripts to automate where possible.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Projects are still early in their delivery cycles but initial feedback from sales-i clients is they are driving value from the consolidated sales data and expect to continue to drive sales performance as a result.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

With both firms being centrally based in Chicago the dialogue and interaction between our teams has been efficient and timely. The hand off to the relevant dept heads has gone well and we use a weekly reporting methodology to both inform Forte of client changes from their manufacturer sources and the sales pipeline for new independent sales representative prospects.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to quickly understand a partner's requirements and arrive at a solution is impressive. The ability to deliver quality output regardless of whether its delivered onshore, near or offshore. Forte has scale to deliver but still at a size where they can be agile and creative

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are always areas for improvement but I fully expect our relationship to evolve as we work together to expand this offering. Most of the areas of improvement usually point to a need for partners to communicate frequently, something I believe we can all make more of an effort on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I worked for a holding company for food delivery service companies in 34 countries around the world. My position was that of Director for our Professional Services and White Label disciplines.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

Forte Group was brought on board to provide Quality Assurance Services to support and augment our in-house Quality teams as we undertook development on the new global technology platform

What were your goals for this project?

The goal for the global technology platform was to provide consistent tooling, and services to companies that had been acquired by DHH around the world, each of whom was using disparate legacy systems to support their operations. The overarching goal was to create a reusable blueprint for migration of new companies to the platform and to realise the benefit of common and consistent reporting for all holdings.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Ultimately our decision to select Forte Group over the other contenders was based on our experience with the Forte Group people we worked with during the selection process. They were responsive to our questions, demonstrated a high level of knowledge and commitment during the process; they exhibit a culture similar to that of DHH, which was an important factor; additionally they has offices that were geographically convenient to DHH's Berlin location

Describe the project in detail.

Once selected, Forte Group conducted the appropriate meetings with the appropriate representatives at our company in order to draft a high-level test plan, along with a timeline in which more detailed test plans and test cases would be delivered. Forte Group did an excellent job of managing expectations throughout the process, never leaving us wondering about next steps / deliverables.

Their outputs struck the perfect level of detail for our organisation, and they truly listened to the things that were important to us (traceability, timeliness, transparency). Their consultants did an excellent job of tailoring their hours and outputs to be easily consumable by our teams.

What was the team composition?

Forte Group assigned a Team Lead early on in the process and that person stayed with us throughout the process. The number of Quality Engineers on the project ranged from 6-8 for the duration. Forte Group did a fantastic job of providing engineers who specialised in the various technologies that made up our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At launch, our global platform suffered from very few major issues. Conducting retrospectives was very much part of the culture at DHH and it was agreed that the issues that were found were not issues that the Quality Engineers should have been able to catch / anticipate.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Forte Group made good use of all available communication channels (in-person, phone, audio/video conferencing, and reporting) to ensure that they were not the cause of delays and that information was communicated in a most timely manner

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Forte Group bring a breadth and depth of experience in Quality Assurance that was unmatched by any vendor with whom I had worked. They do a fantastic job hiring bright consultants who also possess soft skills that make them a pleasure to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Forte Group met (and often exceeded) everything that was asked of them. They have a really nice way of underpromising and overdelivering - a rare thing in this industry.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Resident Home is a direct to consumer e-commerce company that specializes in home furnishing. I was a product management lead there and managed growth.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

We hired them to become our QA team. They were responsible for helping us outline , develop and implement a QA process as part of our development process.

What were your goals for this project?

Integrate qa into the build and release cycle. We needed help reducing the amount of bugs that went into production and asserting proper validations before releases. We wanted consultation on better ways to drive process- when and where to input qa

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Worked with them prior. They are always my go to!

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They provided consultation on qa and helped us implement a process into our build cycle.

What was the team composition?

QA lead and 2.5 QA analysts

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Bugs significantly reduced! It made developers more accountable to their code and helped changed mentality that quick and dirty is not always the best for customer experience.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was managed in Asana with me and product. We went through several iterations as the team grew. It was effective in regards to introducing qa to the build flow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Customer service was fantastic. They demonstrated dedication to providing the best service. Even in offboading , they held our hands every step of the way

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m Kilton Hopkins, CEO and co-founder at Edgeworx. Edgeworks helps developers to build a cloud-to-edge continuum where ioFog extends Kubernetes to seamlessly deploy microservices from any cloud to any edge.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

We hired Forte to create an advanced, open-source environment where developers could remotely run and manage software on any device closest to where the data resides (the edge) to allow business enterprises to gain time, reduce cost, and deliver accomplished multifunctional and flexible solutions as well as accelerate its edge computing application platform, ioFog, across operating systems.

What were your goals for this project?

1- To produce a usable, production-ready edge computing platform that had enough developer tools that users could get started with it as quickly as possible. 2 - To refine the initial generally available version after launch and add more advanced capabilities and features

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

For me Forte is a known and trusted entity with great reputation, curious people, solid technical talent and global locations that Edgeworx sought to support our growth. I had success working with Forte on a number of previous projects where I lead technology – so trust was already there.

They had ability to scale the delivery teams for us on a short notice – and that was also a key: sustaining a rapid growth. Previously their teams were proficient, communicative, and highly professional.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

A team of Forte software engineers initially focused on running Eclipse ioFog on Linux and later installed a new version of the product compatible with other operating systems. The team used an advanced technology stack composed of mesh network technology, machine learning on the edge, fog computing, and Linux kernel API to build a highly secure, open source platform.

To connect devices and sensors, integrate with various systems, and allow for real-time data processing and logic on the back-end, Forte’s development team worked with Edgeworx to create a microservices architecture. The team then used the Edgeworx ioAuthoring application to orchestrate and manage the edge software (microservices).

These two components provide a full set of technologies for building and running IoT software that executes wherever a developer chooses and in whatever programming language they choose.

Once the ioFog platform was built, Forte assisted in the development of tools (SDKs) to make it easier and less expensive for companies to utilize ioFog for their applications. The SDKs that Forte designed give developers the ability to write in languages they already know, making it easy for them to develop containers, microservices, policies, and processes that work in the IoT middleware stack.

What was the team composition?

Initially - a team of 10. It fluctuated given the product scope, with developers, QA, UX/UI designers, and a business analyst. But what was the most valuable to us was the fact that Forte knew exactly what we needed at the time and helped us grow into a bigger team and scaled our business along the way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Some direct progress and success include: a scalable platform, complete SDKs for building and running IoT software, lower-cost, higher-return IoT investment are some of the direct outcomes from this project.

Additionally, the architecture that Forte helped us build allows developers to easily leverage any language, framework, or SDK. Not only does it make building edge applications easier, it also offers businesses a secure, cost-effective solution.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow between the teams was very effective! We were in California and Forte’s team was offshore, we worked out a way to overlap more and the Forte team worked with us to accommodate the time difference. Even with this challenge, Forte’s teams remained responsive, effective and delivered with quality.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We enjoyed working with Forte. We love organizations like Forte Group and other integrators. They have the subject-matter expertise to do the coding work, they are in the business of writing applications. This allows us to be and do what we are meant to do: Edgeworx is the platform that serves applications; we are the infrastructure for the edge.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Only a minor suggestion. They could reduce ramp-up time on newly added project requirements by having a constantly updated training plan for team members - some way for the latest trends to get incorporated into the project faster, such as automated Docker container builds, etc.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The company is a manufacturer and a B2B and B2C seller of home decor, in particular art reproductions on canvas and paper.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

Our ecommerce platform expansion

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to expand our marketplace to its full potential from a technology stand point.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have considered many vendors but ultimately decided that Forte was the best fit.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Forte Group’s development team first implemented a distributed, RESTful search and analytics engine with Elastic Stack, which improved the performance of our website by adding a search and filter option that let customers browse our products. They also built in several features that enabled users to get personalized discounts, based on user data such as who the user is and how often he/she buys products from us.

The team also linked our CRM platform with all the product pricings to an automated sales tax managing system that’s available in every US state and even in Europe.

What was the team composition?

Up to 10 dedicated experts, developers and QA testers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The development team improved our Product Management System to enable faster and smoother product information distribution to our external eCommerce channels.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Everyone at Forte is a pleasure to work with. But, in particular, there are two MVPs - the account executive and the tech lead - that made this project run very smooth and deliver results that exceeded our expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. Forte’s team worked very well with our internal project team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and Founder of Lawyer Exchange, a platform that provides access to meaningful project work and opportunities for mentoring to emerging lawyers from experienced lawyers. Conversely, it assists experienced lawyers who are looking for both help with their projects and to identify other lawyers willing and able to manage some or all of the practices they have built. Over time, both parties will be able to build relationships for employment, partnership, and possible acquisition or succession.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

Lawyers need help finding work; small law firms need better ways to quickly hire vetted legal talent. We needed a technology partner to build a platform to help law firms scale while creating career opportunities for lawyers seeking work—all without the hassle or cost of hiring temp or legal staffing agencies. We opted to hire a software delivery partner rather than building an internal development team and found Forte Group to be an ideal fit. The Forte team helped us define and validate how the application would work from a technology standpoint, created a product roadmap, and was able to build a functional minimum viable product, then scale to get the product to market quickly.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to build a user-friendly application that would address a hiring challenge in legal services. The idea behind the platform was to create a community where lawyers can go for help and for opportunities. We wanted to build an intuitive, easy-to-use platform that could scale with additional features over time.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I didn’t feel like other groups I talked to were going to be as accountable as Forte. I was introduced to Leo (Solutions Manager) and was really impressed with the level of business analysis that Forte was capable of. I knew they were going to be really efficient, and when we started talking about pricing and scope, that’s when it drove it home for me that Forte was the right firm.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Lawyer Exchange was built using a microservices architecture, which allows the product to scale up and down seamlessly. When building in a microservices architecture, each service is independently deployable and runs as a unique process. When built using separate but tightly coupled modular components, our application is easier to develop, test, maintain, and enhance. We wanted payments integration, review, ratings, and referral features, and a seamless UX/UI for the application.

What was the team composition?

The team was comprised of a solutions manager and product owner, engineers, quality assurance analysts, and business analysts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to take a business idea and turn it into a working product in just six months. Now, we continue to add tools that make it easier and more attractive for lawyers to come to our community, seeking work and seeking legal help.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I can’t emphasize enough how Forte put their money where their mouth is. They delivered what they said they would deliver, and when. The team went above and beyond. When we called about emergencies or to shift priorities, it was no problem—things always got taken care of within 24 hours.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Forte feels like a partner. Often, when you have a contractor in any field, you feel like you’re dealing with an enemy. You always struggle with them over what you thought was going to happen versus what’s really happening. The Forte team connects those threads. Not only did we get what we expected, but they also brought things to our attention that we hadn’t even thought of. That has helped to make the entire application even better than what we initially imagined.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. I’ve been through a lot of builds in my life (probably 20) and no build ever hit the time estimate like Forte did. I’ve got a lot to do and needed a partner that would reliably deliver when they said they would.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

‎ParkNav is a street parking service. I am the chief technology officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Forte Group?

We needed to find iOS and Android developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Forte Group offered development resources. We worked directly with the individual developers on a remote basis. They ranged in number, but we've used up to 2 developers for each platform respectively.

How did you come to work with Forte Group?

I met Forte Group at a tech conference. They had reasonable prices, so we went from there.

How much have you invested with Forte Group?

The cost of Forte Group's services was between $20,000 and $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Forte Group 2 years ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Forte Group was our primary developer for most of the iOS and Android work. We were able to release our apps, and we're happy with the results.

How did Forte Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Forte Group's resources became embedded in our existing processes, with the exception that they were remote.

What did you find most impressive about Forte Group?

Overall, Forte Group has a smart team. They were able to understand our requests without a lot of back-and-forths.

Are there any areas Forte Group could improve?

Not specifically. The developers we've used are just out of college, so there's much that they can learn, but they're overall smart people. Forte Group gave us great value for our money.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an IT organization providing software solutions to the haircare, cosmetics and beauty industries. I am the director of quality assurance and process implementation for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Forte Group?

Forte Group is currently providing us with internship opportunities. We are presented with the best-and-brightest candidates that can help us establish software quality assurance best practices and finalize our deliverables.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We onboard a large number of interns every 6 weeks, around 6-10 people. So far, Forte Group has done a good job with the provisioning of well-qualified candidates. We have hired at least 2 people in total through this program. We will most likely be hiring at least 2 more before the end of the year.

How did you come to work with Forte Group?

I'd worked with Forte Group in the past, for other firms. The choice was based on my experience with the company.

How much have you invested with Forte Group?

I am not at liberty to disclose that information.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Forte Group 9 months ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

On the consultant side, we have been very fortunate to work with our contact from Forte Group. She is knowledgeable, with a good understanding of business processes and market demands of small-to-medium-sized organizations, as well as large ones. I've had experience working with Forte Group during my work for both types of organizations.

Forte Group has produced some very well-qualified candidates for us, who can hit the ground running and, with minimal training can achieve the goals and objectives of our IT organization. I hold high regard for their instructor and training staff.

What did you find most impressive about Forte Group?

Forte Group's team is willing to help and anticipate a substantial amount of organizational needs from our side. They've been acted as a long-term partner, always willing to work with us and offer solutions, rather than take part in the firefighting.

Are there any areas Forte Group could improve?

No, so far so good.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the IT QA Manager for Redwood Logistics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forte Group?

Our company leadership wanted to shift direction and increase productivity and to help provide that in a quick turnaround we needed to augment our staff.

What were your goals for this project?

Be able to have enough resources to successfully test (and deploy) important new features for our business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’ve reached out to them in the past to work on a project and when the need arose here recently, we reached back out in hopes they could help us.

Describe the project in detail.

I’d prefer not to talk I specifics.

What was the team composition?

QA team had a mgr and four other QA’s; two Sr and two mid-level plus one other senior consultant before augmenting our staff with additional QA.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With the addition of the QA from Forte we were able to have one of our most successful releases on this application. The Forte QA was able to jump right in, learn the app, and get testing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The Forte QA was able to seemlessly become part of our team

What did you find most impressive about this company?

My Forte representative; whenever I needed anything she did whatever she could to help.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of right now