Gecko Dynamics

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work as a product owner for a telecom company that focuses on the interconnection between mobile network operators. As a secondary function, we offer texting messaging, VoIP, Facebook Messenger connections, and other services to the global market. We have other projects that target mobile operators.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

I worked with Gecko Dynamics on a service that provided an API over SMTP for secure communication. We wanted to grow the company’s reputation and be seen as a leading provider of enterprise solutions. Without our control, a lot of spammers could be included within the platform, so we needed a clever and expandable system.

The email service would be increasingly useful, generating more volume in the coming years. Our expectations were high because we wanted to provide a total solution for our enterprise customers. We wanted to give them security and a guarantee that a verified email originated from the bank. We’re essentially providing insurance to our customers.

We’re one of the major global hubs for text messaging. Our connection lines are secure in both physical and logical terms. We have direct lines with mobile operators, or we use a third hub. Our side connects to the hub, and we have contracts and assurances from their team. Both sides have credentials. Because of this, we can guarantee the route is not imperceptible. No one can create or launch a phishing attack against the recipients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed to create an extendable rules machine that applied rules, regulations, and settings according to the destination domain and actual originator of the message or campaign. We also wanted to track the metadata of each message, ensuring its complaint with transparency requirements and GDPR and other regulations. Because we expected a huge volume of traffic, we needed a range of IPs, a fast pricing mechanism, and fast authentication.

With the standard telecom operation at the routing or core network level, we had the same challenges. While the worlds are similar, I had to lead Gecko Dynamics through the whole project until implementation. We also have time-critical components, namely the SMTP authentication and charging plug-in, which are both developed in C++.

The infrastructure is around Linux and Docker images. It gives us the ability to expand the infrastructure without investing in additional hardware. Docker allows us to create new environments.

What is the team composition?

I believe we’ve worked with five people, including a sales manager and a technical project manager. We have a two-person team for Java development. We also employ a part-time system architect and one senior C++ developer.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

One of our previous project managers did extensive research on companies. We started a global RFP. After that, we spent a couple of weeks waiting for the request to reach interested parties. We went through an interview with Gecko Dynamics, and they demonstrated a competent response and approach. It was compatible with what I had in mind.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $80,000–$85,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Gecko Dynamics in July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m very happy with them so far. We’ve managed to close the first phase of the project, and we’ve moved to the second. We went through phase one with forward compatibility. I expect us to be ready for production by the end of 2019.

There were some technical issues due to the system being incompatible. We switched technologies and moved to phase two. The same analysis and business requirements will be served by a different technological approach but will still be compatible with the phase one work.

They’re quite responsive, meeting our expectations. They’ve managed to fit into our team’s plans, incorporating into our own infrastructure. We plan on launching a few products at the same time, which is a daunting task, especially because they have to be integrated with an existing environment. We’ve managed to deliver a stable service that can be easily expanded.

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

Despite my service, I’m not the biggest fan of emails. We have daily meetings over Skype, use Slack and have voice calls. One of the major demands we put in the scope was to communicate needs immediately, no matter what it is. As soon as those are communicated, we involve the specific team that can resolve the issue. It’s much better that we know a person is on the other side, rather than a machine.

The project manager is technical and competent. He understands our wants and concerns, keeping me informed at every turn. Another plus is that we can send the data directly from a computer or cell phone. The team at Gecko Dynamics works almost around the clock. They treat tasks as if they’re their own, and I quite like that.

We use an agile scrum for the development part, but the project management recording is on our side. We have to report on the status, budget, distribution, and other aspects. Thankfully, Gecko Dynamics help us with that as well. They provide us with fully detailed reports about their process and the deliverable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team tries to keep their promises, and if they can’t, they simply say that. If there’s an issue, they let us know right away. As a product or project manager, we always have buffers or redundancies. In this case, I didn’t see the need for that. I’ve had projects that seemed easy to manage, but took longer than six months to start production. While this project was a major one, it took them four months to deliver. The technology issue we had will take less than three weeks to fix, which I consider a success.

Their most valuable quality is that they’re true to their work. Along with being transparent about issues, all of the stakeholders are aware of what’s going on and where the money is going. That makes it much more comfortable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

All development companies have more or less the same issue when it comes to delivering documentation. At the end of the project, we need to have their full documentation of the project in order to close it. All the APIs and administrative parts need to be documented.

If the developers are doing well in the early stages, they should start by putting comments on future ideas in regards to implementation. This will have when we have to create documentation for escalations and customizations. In any case, we have to have it at the end of the project, and Gecko Dynamics is not that strong with the documentation.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Any potential customer should dedicate a person to keeping track of the project, in terms of budget, tasks, and materials. If the outsourced team is managing itself, the client needs to have requirements clear. I suggest having a project manager on their side because that would help with the analysis. The good part about Gecko Dynamics is that they do offer their minds. It’s also important to have the budget assured.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Hive Exchange Technologies LLC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We needed a partner to help us develop an app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a platform trading app for iOS and Android. It serves as a marketplace that allows users to buy and trade different assets. Users can also collect data on sales, inventory, and market metrics. In addition to their development work, they created a logo that could be displayed in the apps. At this point, we’ve launched the deliverables, making tweaks and updates as needed.

What is the team composition?

At any given time, there were 8–15 people working on the project from their team. This included two project managers, front- and backend developers, and UI/UX designers.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

I researched and interviewed several different software development teams, identifying the top five vendors from my findings. While narrowing it down, I was very aware of my company’s time constraints. We had a very stringent deadline that not every vendor would be able to meet. I made that a top priority in the interview, so Gecko Dynamics was up for the challenge. They were also transparent with costs from the start, which was encouraging.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,00–$250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in May 2019, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The deliverables are still in beta testing, but initial feedback has been good. We’d like to see improvement in the fluidity of swiping gestures in the final version. They’re planning to tighten that up a bit. Otherwise, the app functions wonderfully.

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in development is miscommunication, so I was glad to not have to worry about it with them. I don’t have a technical background, so my vernacular is different from most dev shops. This was a learning process for me, but their team made it easy. Throughout the different iterations, they communicated clearly, translating technical aspects of the development into ideas that I could easily interpret.

Whenever I called, I got a response within six hours, even with a time zone difference. We primarily used email and Google Hangouts to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The agility of the team was impressive. Halfway through the project, I realized that we didn’t account for factors that would present massive problems once we grew to scale. Once we alerted them, their team was able to come up with a solution on the fly. I also requested major design changes partway through the development. They were able to overhaul the whole design in about a week. Whenever we had a problem, they presented me with 3–4 potential solutions.

While I don’t have much insight into how the work was divvied up, I know they had to be working extremely efficiently to accomplish everything on time. They were spot-on with timelines, scheduling, and organization, especially since the project had to be overhauled twice. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s hard to think of anything major. When I was thinking of a taxation solution for the app, I ran into trouble because of its complexity. I was trying to brainstorm, going out of my way to solicit their feedback, but it was challenging. It would’ve been helpful to have more initiative on their end because that was an area in which I lacked experience. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be very clear in your communication and provide a thorough project plan. While being clear with your goals for deliverables is important, don’t be too ambitious. Stay patient with their team, because it’ll take a while to deliver everything. Once they complete, though, the results are excellent.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a full-service agency in Chicago. I’m the co-owner of the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We built an app that used Java and Angular for a large company. We’d worked with developers to create the app, but the relationship didn’t work as well for smaller projects.

We couldn’t engage them to continue development or support after the build. That’s when we reached out to Gecko Dynamics to see if they could provide Angular and Java support on an ongoing basis.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We handle most of the maintenance, but they take on more technical aspects of the build. They update Angular code and take care of any bugs that pop up. Their team has also added some new functionalities using Java. The app was built for a Fortune 100 client’s customers. It has a pretty large consumer audience, so it’s important that they continue to make effective updates to the web app.   

What is the team composition?

We have 1–3 people working on our account at any given time. For the most part, we have an Angular developer consistently working on small projects. He essentially functions as a staff. We had a Java developer for three months to create new functionalities, and for that span of time, we brought on a project manager to coordinate. We’ve scaled up and down flexibly with them.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

Initially, I found them on Clutch. The co-owner of our company is originally from Poland, so we were looking specifically for Angular and Java developers in Poland. Clutch helped us narrow that search to Gecko Dynamics. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $125,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started with them in May 2018, and our work together is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve been more flexible than other development companies. We had a complicated, variable project. They’ve been great at supplementing our team with high-level developers as needed. That way, we don’t have to bring a contractor on staff here, which is good because there’s not enough consistent work for us to do it. They’ve been accommodating, allowing us to ramp up and down whenever needed.  

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

We handled the majority of project management at this point, but they’ve coordinated specific projects well. When we did have a project manager from them, it was invaluable to have him coordinating on his end. We communicate over Slack, email, and Jira, which we use in-house. They were happy to work with our project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Angular and Java developers have met all expectations, shown great attitude, and communicated well. They’re knowledgeable problem-solvers. We rely on their recommendations to complete tasks. 

They’ve been flexible in supporting us, regardless of the scope of the work. Sometimes there are fewer hours needed, but they’ve been working full-time in others. The team has been very accommodating as the project ramps up and down based on the customer’s budget. They’re able to help us continue to support our client.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re great communicators, and I don’t have anything to criticize. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you don’t have a project manager or tech lead in-house to manage their developers, make sure to ask for a project manager from them at the start of the engagement. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Ukrnames, a Ukrainian Domain Registrar.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We needed someone to create an innovative and competitive platform for registrations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Gecko Dynamics developed a custom platform from scratch based on Java. Gecko Dynamics provided end-to-end services in the business and technical analysis. They did the UI/UX design, development, and testing. The team provided project management and maintenance as well.

What is the team composition?

We initially began working with four people; then, we worked with two Gecko Dynamics team members.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

When I joined my company, they were already working with Gecko Dynamics.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $900,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

My company began working with Gecko Dynamics about 12 years ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our platform serves 60,000 customers. It was a successful project.

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was very good. My company did all of the documentation and mockups alongside Gecko Dynamics.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their service was impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I’d have them improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the project manager at Spectrum Wellness, a new web- and mobile-based digital wellness platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We had a challenging project timeline with an internal development team that had limited bandwidth. In order to achieve the project's delivery goals and meet the launch dates, we required an outside software company to support us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Gecko had ownership of the frontend web applications in vue.js, HTML, and CSS for three web portals for Spectrum Wellness. They applied the design for the three web portals and the iOS/Android mobile applications.

What is the team composition?

Our team is composed of me as the project manager, the head of head of design, and the head of product. The three of us worked closely with Gecko Dynamics' account manager and project manager throughout the duration of the project.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

The managing director, head of product, and I sat down and searched for suitable companies based on the skillsets we required. Gecko Dynamics matched our needs in relation to skill base, location, and cost. Gecko Dynamics is a remote partner, so we arranged a face-to-face visit. This allowed us to set expectations for the work and provided Spectrum Wellness with reassurance as we could see previous projects that Gecko Dynamics had completed. This meeting proved pivotal in deciding to work with Gecko Dynamics and also provided a human feel to our partnership.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a project management perspective, I’m very satisfied with their work. Senior stakeholder feedback from our managing director and heads of product and design has been positive, and they trust and like what Gecko Dynamics is doing for us. We will continue our relationship with them going forward for any necessary software support.

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

Both companies established communications touch points from the start—weekly review calls, twice weekly project management calls, and instant access via Slack and email for questions that needed to be answered immediately.

Initially, things took a little longer than I personally wanted them to. It was my first time managing an outsourced software project, and Gecko Dynamics reassured me they needed time to understand our requirements and code base.

After a couple of weeks, they picked up the pace, and I’ve not had a problem based on timescales since. Once we established this working relationship, we negotiated any unrealistic timescales and came up with appropriate deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Gecko Dynamics has delivered high-quality work, and they’re very responsive. If we have a question or vice versa, we tend to share knowledge instantaneously and make sure we have the right people to answer the question on both sides. They’ve also given us options when we’ve given them a design and it doesn’t sit with the functionality. They go the extra mile and provide alternative solutions rather than just going with the flow and accepting what we’ve given them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re completely satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Since it’s a remote solution for us, meeting the company face-to-face is an advantage. Clients should have that initial meeting time for them to talk, show their work, and set an expectation for delivery.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the COO of Mstar Solutions Limited, a software consulting and development company. We find existing pain points for our clients and offer solutions for the short and long term. We provide custom development serves and contract partners from around the world to help our customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Gecko Dynamics?

Our client, a curator of luxury hotels, was facing multiple challenges. They needed a comprehensive understanding of their concept and ironing out their business model. The previous development team we used for this client had misunderstood the requirements for their application, so we decided to bring Gecko Dynamics into the project to solve communication problems between the two teams.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the collaboration to result in a successful project for the client, with no misinterpretations or confusion.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed several developers. We chose Gecko Dynamics because of the experience, priorities, and general understanding of the project. They also offered strong internal capabilities.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

To begin, Gecko Dynamics provided code review to take over from the previous team. They fixed several aspects of the current application and added the new features the client required. Outside the development services, their team also provided business analysis services, design consultation, and frontend design implementation.

What was the team composition?

They provided one full stack developer, one frontend developer, and the project manager who also served as a business analyst.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our client was relieved and happy to accept the finished product Gecko Dynamics produced. The project had been stuck before their team’s help, so they helped us move forward and collect payments from our customer. Having their support also allowed us to expand into other fields and markets, so it was good for our business.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They were strong communicators and they understood all protocols. All deadlines were expressed in advance and all stages of the project were documented. The project manager frequently interacted with my team and the client, which helped manage overall expectations. We had no communication issues with their team, as they could speak and write in English excellently.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We appreciated their honesty; they dealt with every issue that came their way. They only made promises they could keep, which allowed us to give our client realistic expectations. Their team provided quality services at a moment’s notice.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It could have been helpful if they hired more developers. Their skills were very impressive, but they could better market their services if they expanded their staff.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Senior Leader for Quality Systems at Cam Tram, Canada’s largest transformer manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We have three plants across Canada and needed to develop a centralized, online database to coordinate our teams. The solution needed to provide real-time information in a highly visual way for display on television screens to help eliminate our paper-based systems.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked with me to develop the custom software. We built it in stages, planning work up to six months in advance, and Gecko Dynamics helped me fine-tune the specifications before passing it to their overseas developers.

They installed the software on our servers and we continue to create new updates on a weekly basis.

What is the team composition?

Alexey Mykhalov [CTO, Gecko Dynamics] is my main contact. Because he’s located near Vancouver, we meet face-to-face each week. I also have a secondary point of contact in case of emergency.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

We searched for software developers online. Our industry has a lot of unique needs, so we wanted a company willing to create a custom system from the ground up. We liked that Alexey was local, as we wanted someone to visit our facilities firsthand to get a sense of the problems we wanted to solve. Because they use overseas developers, they also offered lower rates than their competitors.

How much have you invested with them?

Between $200,000–$300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014 and our relationship is ongoing. We’ll be working together for the foreseeable future, as we have lots of work ahead and we’ve been happy with their progress.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve doubled the size of our company and sales since working with Gecko Dynamics. The systems they’ve built have allowed us to keep our growing teams focused and in sync. The quality of our teams has also improved.

Additionally, we’ve seen warranty returns from customers decrease by 50% over the last few years. This can be partially attributed to the database system bringing live information right to the operators, helping them to ensure units are built to the customer specifications.

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

Their level of organization is one of their strongest assets. We coordinate projects through Jira and use a ticketing system to prioritize tasks. I enter new tickets each week, and because their developers are based in Eastern Europe, they’ve already started the new assignments by the time I start work the next day.

They're willing to work overtime during emergencies and respond immediately to any bugs or system failures.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our business has a lot of unique challenges related to geography, customer base, and the industry itself. Gecko Dynamic took the time to understand our company in order to create a solution to fit our needs. They visited our facilities to get a sense of how our operators work and asked the right questions. They watched our employees interact with the system in order to make improvements.

I’ve worked with companies in the past that try to apply predetermined solutions to a project, but Gecko Dynamic’s flexibility guarantees tailored results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Developers are in high demand in Eastern Europe, so they have some turnover issues. It can be a bit of a headache to get new employees caught up if a developer leaves.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We’ve had to redo certain aspects due to a lack of planning, which has caused some delays. Be sure to plan thoroughly so that the project moves efficiently. Alexey will be more than happy to help.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of Homebuzz, which provides software-based property management services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We engaged them to serve as our IT team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their services largely focus on web-user frontend experience and software improvements. They’ve worked on IVR [interactive voice response] systems using phone and text messaging. We employ the IVR system for security, authentication, and informational purposes.

We’ve also collaborated on UI development and design. Often, they’ll design interfaces based on my sketches. They will then code the backend to make the site responsive on multiple devices.

What is the team composition?

We work with 3-4 people, which includes the project manager and 2 developers.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

I found them through an online search. They were a good fit because the owner’s ideas and creativity aligned with our challenges. We started by engaging with smaller projects and gradually giving the team larger assignments over time.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $750,000 - $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work started in 2010 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

To give an example, we’re currently working on an after-hours calling service that our clients pay for per building. We’re now able to increase items 25% for monthly recurring revenue because they keep adding service features that grow our revenue and marketability. For example, we may start with texting, then offer call tracking, and finally syndication. We’re targeting our existing customer base while widening our reach through highly clickable features for property managers.

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

We have several points of interaction on a weekly basis: Skype, JIRA, and phone calls. JIRA works well as a tool to log and troubleshoot customer issues. We integrated Zendesk with our JIRA account, but haven’t added new technologies because they necessitate more training.

We collaborate very closely on technology and development issues. And yes over a 7-year period there were unexpected problems that we had to overcome, such as outages, design not being robust enough but our communication and feedback works well with the team to overcome these issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They get deeply embedded in an organization and create value. Their team is very intertwined with our company.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Due to our close partnership and growing operations, documentation isn’t always processed perfectly. Project handoffs tend to be more informal but it’s also a question of speed to market, so I can accept this. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make the scope crisp and clean. The project also needs to be well-documented and UI designs require excellent mockups. Investment in making deliverables solid will make quotes and schedules more accurate.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was working at GoMobile in Poland when I had my first contact with Gecko Dynamics. GoMobile was a small company of 70 people, and I was the sales director and one the founders of the company. I also worked with them during my time at Xplorex Mobile, where we developed SMS platforms XM SMS Pro and Fun Billboard.

Right now, I work and live in Gdansk, Poland, for a company called Powel. We are a large company, with approximately 450 employees worldwide. I am the Managing Director of the Polish branch, where we have 72 employees. My current company does not currently work with Gecko because we have no need at the moment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We were selling our services to the biggest GSM [Global System for Mobile Communications] operator in Poland. Gecko Dynamics worked in collaboration with GoMobile to develop part of the platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The code name was GoSMS, but we were selling it under the brand SMS Enterprise. It was a hybrid platform because it wasn’t completely online. Customers could connect their business processes to an SMS gateway and send automatic SMS notifications to their customers and coworkers.

The largest and most successful project we did was for a Polish airline, LOT. A GSM operator delivered the platform, but we developed it. It was a very nice internal communications system, and it worked there for several years. It was the main crisis communication system in this company at the time used to immediately notify people about any incidents on airport premises.

The app had a certain logic which required a reply using certain characters within 1 minute of receiving a notification. This meant that the notification had been received and that the necessary services were taking place. If nobody answered, the message would be sent to a person higher in the hierarchy and would keep moving up until someone took care of the problem. This was a perfect system because the person who confirmed the SMS was also the person responsible for taking action and involving other people.

We served around 200 smaller and very big enterprises in Poland that were using this SMS Enterprise platform as well.

What is the team dynamic?

We had anywhere from 5–15 team members. My point of contact was usually the CTO, but I spoke with the CEO and several others as well.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

I found them through my brother, who lives in Vancouver, Canada. He had his own IT company there, and since I was looking for developmental resources, I asked him for help. He referred me to Gecko and told me they were a great team located in Kharkiv. He had been working with them since the mid-90s.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost $400,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first started working with them in May 2001 and ceased working with them at GoMobile in May 2006. I continued cooperation with Gecko working on some new communication products and SMS platforms during my time at Xplorex Mobile.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a unique product, and it was a scalable platform. It was a bit smaller than the cloud-based services offered now. It was something that was very transparent for our clients because they could integrate their big IT systems with strict security, and then connect their interfaces through our SMS platform.

It worked for both big and small customers, and it ultimately made our business very successful. We were able to hire more people, and we were making more money. The GSM company was also very satisfied with our services, so we view the project as a triumph.

Between 2003–2012, around 180 million text messages were sent through our systems worldwide.

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was amazing. The response was really fast, and we used both phone calls and email to communicate. If something was very urgent, I could call any of their team members and receive a quick response.

My experience with working with them has always been very positive. They delivered projects on time, and the code quality was really high. After receiving our specifications, they would suggest technical solutions that saved us time and money, which our customers also appreciated.

Their reaction time was always perfect. They had around 17–20 people in the office in Kharkiv,  and even if the person in charge of the product couldn’t help me, there were several others who could. If we ever had an urgent request or a situation with our customer, Gecko was always very responsive. I have absolutely nothing to complain about.

We visited each other several times, and our day-to-day communication was perfect. We didn’t have to use in-person meetings in order to communicate. Our companies have similar mindsets, which also aided in our great collaboration. Gecko proved to be an extremely reliable, friendly company. I can’t recall any issue where we didn’t agree on something when a conflict arose.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I worked with them for several years, and only had good experiences. When I founded my own company, Xplorex Mobile, with my brother, I didn’t think twice before asking Gecko for help. They were my first and only choice. I continued for several more years in cooperation with them to develop other software solutions involved with SMS communication.

I can’t tell you how they compare to other providers because I didn’t have to find other providers. I’m happy with their service, and with over 10 great years of cooperation, they’ve proved not only to be friends, but reliable partners who I can completely trust. There were times when I couldn’t pay them on time, and they were always understanding.

After 9 years of continuous cooperation, I can recommend Gecko as one of the best business partners I’ve ever worked with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t recall any issues. They communicated well, and we were both satisfied with the collaboration. We have had a very close business relationship, and it’s almost like we work for the same company.

There were some team members who didn’t speak fluent English, but we were able to communicate in Russian, so it wasn’t an issue.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The people who work for this company are trustworthy, serious, and reliable. We trusted each other so much that most of our business was conducted through emails and phone calls. We didn’t have to rely on a written contract.

They know how to deal with other people. If there is an urgent situation, they try their best to understand and take ownership. My customer was also their customer, so I didn’t have to explain to them how important it was to find a solution to a problem. They would even work throughout the evening to fix bugs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president of Cascade Strategies, which is a 26-year old market research organization focused on large-scale e-commerce development, predictive analytics, and big data.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Gecko Dynamics?

We needed an agency able to develop websites and interpret the data properly for the following areas: biometric signals, neural signals, GSR signals, and some facial recognition coding. We had one biometric signals project for which we needed help in particular.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the biometric signals project, they built the frontend and backend using Java. The solution was structured to receive neurometric and biometric data. Building and correcting algorithms to make the data more comprehensible was also a key service.

The front end of our platform needs to be visually appealing and user-friendly. The functions and controls should be intuitive. 

What is the team dynamic?

The team was Ukrainian, but our main point of contact, Alexey [CTO, Gecko Dynamics], lives in Vancouver.  Alexey and I spoke on a daily basis to resolve unexpected issues such as malfunctioning signals or corruption. Eventually, he appointed an account manager that liaised between us and the various team members in Europe.

How did you come to work with Gecko Dynamics?

We used them previously to make a market research tool that did not include biometric signals. However, we chose to give them this biometric signals project based on our past collaboration.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $100,000 to $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in late 2014 and concluded around mid-2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project was not structured to achieve a quantifiable result. For similar projects, we tend to build apps for our clients, but do not see how they use them.

However, it is worthwhile to note that Alexey did build the system a team of political science professors at the University of Texas used to predict accurately the 2016 presidential election when many prestigious polling firms did not. Their success attracted national press attention from major cable news outlets. 

How did Gecko Dynamics perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. The account manager was instrumental in the coordination between our offices and the developers.

We interacted via conference calls and group emails, but primarily communicated with Alexey. We conducted web conferences on Zoom, Skype, and GoToMeeting. We used MATLAB for many of the algorithms. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were passionate about the work, which isn't always the case when outsourcing. Alexey and his team demonstrated a greater understanding of our mission than other companies had shown in the past. 

They combined superior math skills with existing technical knowledge, which also distinguishes them from competitors. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

The time different presented challenges that could be easily overcome with a local representative, especially for those customers who prefer direct interaction. 

Advice for potential customers?

Customers should consider appointing a dedicated account manager earlier rather than later. Doing so is likely to help manage the development process.