HashCode d.o.o.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the access networks strategy and planning director at a telecommunications company. We’re part of a Dutch telecommunications company, serving both as a mobile and fixed operator in Croatia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HashCode?

We decided to modernize our entire radio network. At the time, we wanted to launch a comprehensive effort to modernize not only the radio equipment at cell site locations but also reinforce the infrastructure, replace the power supply units, and more.

The project was quite complex, so we were looking for a company that could help us set up smooth and digitized processes for the whole endeavor. We also needed to set up a number of small tools that could help us exchange our customers’ equipment as smoothly as possible.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

HashCode has consulted us on what would be the most efficient process for preparing and delivering a huge set of parameters involved in the network modernization. These parameters have included the configuration of several elements needed to integrate and deploy new equipment on new sites.

They’ve also helped us define the correlation between the configuration we had in our planning database with the one in the live metrics. One of the first steps was to check the alignment of the parameters between those two sources, based on which we could have a cleanly panned database and be able to deploy the adjustments.

For every consulting process, we first provide them with high-level requirements, and HashCode’s team comes up with a proposed solution for us based on those. We either accept it or ask for adjustments. Then, they develop the required tool, which we apply in our daily processes.

The tools that HashCode has developed are based on and planned around our existing tools so that we’re able to connect them and use them efficiently. These tools use Java and SQL as the technology stack.

We now have a complete set of tools ready for our network modernization process, and we’re currently swapping the metric planning tools. Thus, HashCode is now working on adjusting an interface to help us drive the process without major interruptions.

What is the team composition?

Around 4–5 people from HashCode have been involved in the project.

How did you come to work with HashCode?

I knew a few of HashCode’s team members. They had moved from our local Ericsson subsidiary to HashCode, and we were looking for a partner with Ericsson expertise because we were swapping Nokia equipment for Ericsson equipment. Additionally, HashCode had already been recommended to us, so we contacted them.

We ultimately decided to work with them after they showed us some of their past projects, one in Japan and another in the UK. They demonstrated to have vast experience and understanding of radio operations and planning.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our collaboration in July 2018, and it is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to HashCode’s help, we’ve developed many different functions and tools. Currently, we have six of them up and running in our environment. This toolset has helped us modernize our entire network, encompassing 2,200 sites, in a year and a half. It has been a very extensive project, yet, it has been very successful thanks to their help. Furthermore, my engineering team — which has about 30 people — is very happy with the tools that we’ve deployed. 

How did HashCode perform from a project management standpoint?

HashCode has performed well, especially because we’ve collaborated with them in person. During the discovery phase, we had two people from HashCode on-premise shadowing our experts so that they could understand our needs and see how they could help us in specific cases. After that, we had monthly meetings and weekly updates via Microsoft Teams due to COVID-19. Since then, we’ve continued our collaboration without any major interruptions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The biggest advantage of working with HashCode is that they’re very capable of understanding our needs, so they’re able to deploy the solutions we need very quickly. We work with a few other big corporations, but they mostly offer off-the-shelf solutions that we can’t customize. It is very hard for those companies to understand our specific needs, and if by any chance we convince them to provide us with a customized solution, they take about a year and a half to deploy it. However, HashCode provides custom solutions even in a day or two; it is much easier to work with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend HashCode. Their team can take on unusual tasks because they have a great capacity for analysis. Thus, I recommend connecting with them and being open to applying completely new solutions that could improve your business processes, results, and performance.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a GIS analyst at Vodafone UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HashCode?

We hired resources from HashCode to optimize our processes since our networks were getting more complex.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We asked HashCode to provide us with a tool that could calculate the population of a certain location or district in the UK. We provided them with our old codes and explained what functionalities we needed. They then came back to us with a tool that has a 100-meter coverage, can generate boolean files, and can convert these files to a 25-meter resolution. HashCode also provided user guidelines for this tool.

How much have you invested with them?

The solution cost between £10,000–£49,000 (approximately $12,000–$61,000 USD). At the time, we did not have the approval to avail of the full package. Later on, though, we received management’s go-ahead to purchase HashCode’s full package. Between those two instances, the price varied a bit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We got in touch with HashCode in January 2017. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The mechanism and algorithms of the tool are really good. I code myself, so I was able to tell that the programming behind the software was solid.

How did HashCode perform from a project management standpoint?

We usually got in touch with them via email. They were very responsive and never had a problem providing us with support. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The communication was a stand-out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would’ve been nice to have received more support from them on top of the written guidelines that they provided.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Negotiate the price beforehand and prepare in advance for the costs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a telecommunications company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HashCode?

We needed help with radio parameters and network configuration.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we had a few meetings with HashCode to set the project's scope. From there, the team set up our ratio parameters and network configuration. For example, if a customer decided to do a specific frequency change or deploy a new frequency, HashCode configured the parameters. 

They also optimized the performance of our radio stations by collecting social data, analyzing it, and then coming up with improvement recommendations to boost our network performance.  

What is the team composition?

I worked with the CEO and discussed the requirements with 1–2 people. In total, I was exposed to 3–4 teammates from HashCode. 

How did you come to work with HashCode?

I knew the CEO because he used to be a colleague of mine.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €1 million–€1.5 million (approximately $1 million—$2 million USD) a year with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January 2012–March 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

HashCode was extremely flexible and fast in optimizing our frequencies and network. Their ability to crunch a large part of our metrics into a relatively short timeline was a major benefit.

How did HashCode perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was very good; they met timelines and expectations. Additionally, I had a good personal connection with the CEO. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

HashCode had a good combination of great telecommunications knowledge and IT expertise. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was very pleased with them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise you to test their ability to understand your requirements.