Leobit

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a gambling company with locations all over Europe. I’m based in our Estonia location where we develop software in-house.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

It’s difficult to find talented people locally. Since it’s a competitive market, we’ve tried outsourcing some of the development work. Our team is building a complex betting platform, with its own CMS.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at Leobit focused on integrations within the backend. They’ve worked on our internal CMS and back-office system. The main application is Ruby on Rails, with Vue.js on the frontend, and GraphQL for some sockets. The platform is on AWS.

People will come and go, but the onboarding involves sitting down with the new person and telling them about the project. Leobit’s team knows us as a client, in terms of what we’re looking for and how we work. Because we have a small team, all the onboarding is done on their side.

We don’t necessarily provide them with a lot of documentation. As far as I know, our approach is to give them access to the code and let them observe it themselves. We try to make the code itself understandable, which was one of the reasons we went for Ruby on Rails.

It’s more of a dynamic, continuous share of information through conversations. If there’s a specific integration, there will be documentation involved, but that’s mainly for external partners.

What is the team composition?

At the moment, we’re working with six of their developers. I had a project manager in the beginning, but our CTO and product owner are mainly working with them directly. While we had conversations to see who would fit, Leobit was mainly involved in the hiring process.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

We got in contact with their team through Upwork. Our team found a great candidate and started working with them, and it turned out that there was a company behind them. Because we had a good relationship, we decided to scale up with Leobit. They were reliable and knew how we worked.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested €250,000 (approximately 273,000 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Leobit started in September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We appreciate their team’s engagement. The team at Leobit cares about their work. When we’ve had crucial issues or things that needed to go live, sometimes they worked on the weekends. Based on my experience, their strong team cares about company values.

I’m not a technical expert, but everything they’re working on is performing well. They’re delivering senior-level work. Some of their team members have Master degrees in computer studies.

In terms of KPIs, it’s very intuitive at this stage. We’re a small team, and we’re measuring how well we’re working together. A lot of this is done by CTO as well, but not through clear data points.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is top-notch. Whenever we send an email, they respond quickly. Their entire team is kind and helpful. They’re respectful and try not to push us, which is another plus. It’s pleasant to work with Leobit.

We decided to increase the engagement after a huge milestone. We appreciated the effort that their team put in. Our team asked their management to buy a cake for them at our expense. I thought they wouldn’t charge us, but they did. Our communication was mainly through Skype and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re internationally-oriented. It’s good that an international company should apply modern, Western business practices. What stands Leobit out, in particular, is their developers. I find their way of engaging themselves with the project to be a great aspect of the company, compared to others we’ve dealt with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The cake incident is the only small thing I can comment about, but there weren’t any huge issues. That’s the only thing that stands out.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should be open and explain their needs. I wouldn’t treat Leobit differently than any other organization. They’ve helped us proactively, thinking about ways to improve the delivery of resources. I have nothing negative to say about their team. The same standards and expectations should be applied to Leobit as with the client’s internal team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is using some new algorithms and design to cater to a more tech-savvy audience when they look to buy homes. I'm one of the founders looking after product management and UX.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Leobit?

To help us turn our concepts into a fully functioning web app.

What were your goals for this project?

Quick delivery of features to enable us to launch, while keeping an eye on performance and errors.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We held discussions with several vendors and felt we had a special connection with Leobit. They did not let us down, assigning us developers with very good skills. Language and time zones were not an issue and we've communicated effectively.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They took our muck ups and specifications and turned them into fully working software. They also gave advice and thorough QA testing.

What was the team composition?

3 developers with different levels and skills and one QA tester. A PM oversaw the whole project and helped throughout.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are amidst conversations with investors and having a working web app simplifies the pitch.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had direct access to the developers and the PM. Constant and easy communication via tools such as Trello and Slack let us be constantly aware of what's going on, blocks and feedback.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their expertise, how reachable they were, and their flexibility stand out to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CIO of a staffing firm that tailors to the placement of interim executives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

We were using Salesforce as our CRM, but we needed a custom applicant tracking system and solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Leobit has completed two phases of the project. They built out our existing PHP system, rewrote it in Ruby on Rails, and provided new wireframes. The system allows users to sign up, complete an evaluation process, and upload their resumé. In turn, we can do a quick search based on specific criteria and then send relevant candidate profiles to our clients.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with a project manager, a requirements manager, a QA specialist, and up to three developers at a time.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

I believe we found Leobit online. My company put out a tender, which Leobit responded to. They gave us a quote, and we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere in the range of $100,000–$250,000. The first phase of our project had a fixed price.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in February 2018, and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project has been massively successful. We’ve grown twofold and reached our capacity for managing our business model because Leobit automated so much of our process.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

Leobit is professional and responsive. They’re dedicated to doing the right thing for us. They began by drilling down on our requirements. The first few weeks were very iterative; they clarified and made sure they understood the requirements. Then, they estimated project costs.

Our project manager is the best I’ve ever worked with throughout my twenty-five years in IT. She and her team are very proficient in Jira, which they use to track epics and then break those down into user stories. We have a great testing and production workflow. Every two weeks, Leobit delivers their work, my team goes through user acceptance testing (UAT), and then we push to production.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their commitment to understanding our business and maintaining clarity keeps the project on track. When we provided Leobit with a PowerPoint deck at the beginning of the project, we expected them to move right into development. Instead, they asked us to approve using a requirements manager to ensure they understood what we wanted. Although we were initially hesitant, this ended up being the best decision. Leobit shared mockups in Balsamiq, providing clear documentation of the solution and what it would look like. Now, we can show our users these mockups to demonstrate how the solution will work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We need DevOps services and support, but Leobit doesn’t work in this area.

Any advice for potential customers?

Before you start coding, you need to have your requirements and full wire-framed frontend done.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO of Realized Technologies LLC. We’re an online marketplace for real estate investments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

We hired Leobit to create a proprietary online investment portal with a solid UX for our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our in-house team designed and architected the web-based portal. Leobit then provided full-stack development services based on our wireframes. The team utilized .NET, JavaScript libraries, SQL databases, and Bootstrap. During the build, the Leobit think through the flow charts to ensure accuracy of data and the optimal site speed.

What is the team composition?

The scrum master manages the 5–6-person team. They mostly work behind the scenes, but we engage with the whole team about once a week.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

Received a referral when we were looking to replace our old vendor. Interviewed them and then gave them a small project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2016 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re happy with Leobit because they identify issues and make improvements in an effective manner. The team’s insightful advice makes the solution more efficient and user-friendly.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

The team’s communication and time management skills are great given the complexity of full-stack development. We communicate via semi-weekly conference calls and Jira regularly; the teams also email one another.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Leveraging expert resource allocation, Leobit assigns the right people to the appropriate tasks. The portal experiences very few bugs as a result.

Are there any areas they could improve?

More regular reporting would enhance the partnership, as wells as detailed hours and roadmaps for where we are in the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should scope out the project thoroughly ahead of the engagement because Leobit’s development team will work fast and surface several issues that weren’t thought through appropriately.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and managing director of Sportif AS, a consulting company. Our main focus is on the commercialization of sports broadcasting rights, event planning, and project management. We specialize in finding digital solutions for public health issues.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

We hired Leobit to develop our web and mobile apps. Our goal was to stand out from our global competition and get our product used in prominent sports events.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Leobit developed our web, iOS and Android apps. We began the process from scratch and their team built it according to our vision. The first part of the project has been completed, and they continue to offer different services and support us.

What is the team composition?

There are 5-8 people from Leobit working with us.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

We used Leobit in the past, so we knew they were a reliable team.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site and applications will be launched soon. Through the tests we’ve run, the feedback has been positive. We feel confident in the product so far and anticipate seeing a better impact once we launch.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

Leobit has been professional to work with. We primarily communicate through phone calls, email, and Skype. We use a separate company to manage the workload, so Leobit worked well with that team. Whenever there are issues, they collaborate effectively to find a solution.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We value that everything is delivered on time and they’re responsive. They also stayed within budget.

Are there any areas they could improve?

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

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Being well prepared is helpful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CIO of QVAuctor - ebiexperts. We develop software tools for the versioning and deployment of SAP BusinessObjects and Qlik documents.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

We wanted to create a web version of our existing desktop product. We hired Leobit to design the infrastructure and develop the initial versions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave Leobit precise technical requirements. They advised us on selecting technology and how to set up the web-based environment. Collaboratively, we created a new web interface for the existing engine. Leobit designed the web version’s document management system. The full-stack solution used .NET and C# on the server side and AngularJS on the client side.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and one developer.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

We did a Google search that focused on Ukranian developers. Leobit was reputable for quality and cost-effective development skills. Sharing the same time zone added convenience.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €5,000–€6,000 ($5,647–$6,776 USD) per month during that period.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between January–July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered quality results after completing satisfactory tests. But as a startup, we could no longer afford the partnership. We chose to pursue the project internally.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

The team was responsive and competent. We used Jira to track issues and communicated via Skype and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We had a positive experience and would hire Leobit again. We have already discussed new projects, but haven’t made any final decisions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Leobit is committed to their client’s success. They have ample skill sets and readily propose new solutions when necessary. Customers can expect good prices for services rendered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a software firm that provides media transfer solutions for broadcasting companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

Our development team needed more resources to build PHP-based apps, so we decided to outsource the project to a reputable company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

As an extension of our development team, Leobit helps us develop and maintain or file-sharing enterprise products. They initially built the software according to our specifications, but the relationship has evolved into a more collaborative engagement. Their current focus is using C# and PHP code to resolve bugs and interfacing with our clients.

What is the team composition?

We currently have one developer assigned to our account.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

They were recommended to us by a mutual connection.

What is the status of this engagement?

Leobit has been working with us since August 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After a series of unsuccessful projects, Leobit listened to our concerns and connected us with a talented developer. We now have a seamless development team that can transform any concept into a tangible product.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

Over the past three years, we’ve grown to see them as an extension of our team. In addition to the objectives mentioned in the daily Skype meetings with our CTO, Assembla service tickets are used to map out their daily agenda. The current developer has an amazing work ethic and is thriving in the collaborative environment that we’ve established.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We experienced countless setbacks at the beginning of the project, but Leobit was determined to find a resolution. Since connecting us with an adequate developer, their persistence is now benefitting our production efforts.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Most of our problems could have been resolved with better communication. There was a language barrier between our team and the first few developers assigned to our account, so they had a difficult time understanding our business structure. Leobit should take the time to learn more about their client’s business goals and workflow preferences to help them find the best match.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set clear expectations and hold them accountable. It should only take three months to decide if their services are a good fit, or if it’s better to find a new partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of a media system for rights holders in sports and e-sports.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Leobit ?

Leobit is our tech partner. They provide development for our media system. 

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to develop a new version of our technology and deliver on a deadline to integrate our media system in the apps of a large sports league.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Leobit by researching and interviewing multiple companies in Ukraine and narrow down the options to two companies of interest. We interviewed previous Leobit clients and starting together with a small scope. Since then, that initial project has led us into a broader engagement. 

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Leobit helped us with a total rebuild of our system based on previous knowledge and careful planning. They’ve been involved like a genuine part of our team every step of the way. We kept detailed documentation and frequently traveled to Ukraine for workshops. The roles and scope of our project were extremely well-defined. All these points were essential to a successful outcome.

What was the team composition?

The team from Leobit included 6–10 people. We worked with backend, mobile, and frontend developers, as well as an architect, a project manager, and QA testers. Two tech partners from our company also integrated with our client’s team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Leobit helped us deliver and integrate our media system for a large client. The results of their work were very satisfying. We have a highly efficient work process together. The key to our collaboration is our mutual passion and professionalism.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Putting extensive effort into setting up the communication pipelines and workflow was necessary and has paid off. We overcame a steep learning curve in the beginning. Now everyone feels like we’re on the same team. We regularly communicated over Slack and video conferences.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I most appreciated Leobit’s skills, friendliness, and professionalism.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

Communication can always improve. It is already good, but if I have to pinpoint one thing to improve, that would be it. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of data services for an online dollar store service that sells more than 100,000 products below the $10 mark. We’ve been around for more than three years, but we’re still in startup mode.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

Leobit provides Ruby on Rails and mobile development, QA, and more, including business intelligence and data engineering.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Leobit develops web and mobile apps for us. They’ve done the UI and backend development of our apps. The languages used are Ruby on Rails and native Android.

Leobit handles the whole range of data engineering and BI tasks. They helped us build an engineered-to-order process to put data into a central warehouse and generate reports, either Excel or reports in our current BI systems, Pentaho and Apache Zeppelin. They also use MySQL, Redshift, JavaScript, and Scala scripts.

What is the team composition?

We started with just 2–3 part-time people who logged 3–4 hours for us. We’ve scaled up, and now we have 6–7 in-house developers. We have one frontend person and a couple of backend people working on Ruby on Rails. We have some mobile developers, mostly for Android, and we have a BI or data engineer on their team. We have two QA people, one full-time and one temp, who help us with QA automation. They also have a delivery manager, the person making sure that the team delivers what was promised.

It’s a small team, and everyone wears multiple hats. Our VP of engineering decides who does what during daily stand-ups. Some of the Leobit people participate in those meetings to discuss the next task that will be assigned to them. They have a pool of people who can work on different tasks, but, if they don’t find a suitable person for our needs, they will hire someone, either permanently or on a temp basis. They’re very flexible on that front.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

As a startup, we outsource software development to optimize our cashflow. We found a portal for Ukrainian companies online. I contacted around 10 of those, and Leobit was the most reasonably priced. I’m from Ukraine, and, in the current market, the country offers the best ratio between money and what we can get for it. Leobit is highly flexible and allows us to ramp up our engagement with them.

How much have you invested with them?

Our spend fluctuates between $10,000–$20,000 per month depending on the number of tasks we have. We’ve spent $150,000–$200,000 on the total engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Leobit in June 2016 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Had we hired someone in the L.A. area, it would’ve cost us at least half a million dollars per year. During the last two years, we’ve spent under $200,000 with Leobit, which is a big price difference, five times lower.

They’re knowledgeable. We’ve worked with people at different stages of their careers, but most of us have been happy with the service delivered by Leobit. They do their best to try to find the right person for the task, and they help a lot in our data endeavors. It’s hard to find a good data engineer or BI person in offshore companies, and they were able to help us. They’re motivated, and they deliver what they promise all the time. We’re happy with them.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s an agile environment. We have lots of small tickets and tasks that they help us with as regular team members. Their delivery manager is great at trying to deliver what was promised and finding the best way to do it. They’re on top of tasks, and I don’t have to remind them of anything. They’re good at giving me multiple ways to solve any problem and providing a couple of candidates for us to choose from. We have a ticketing system, and we use Slack for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their flexibility and willingness to help. Leobit is really trying to help. It’s mutual; they’re a smaller, underdog company, and they’re trying hard to get into the space.

Are there any areas they could improve?

My only comment is not necessarily a problem, but I’d mention the retention of talent. People sometimes leave the project after finding different opportunities, but this is not Leobit’s problem per se. This is present in any outsourcing firm, especially in companies from countries with fast-rising economies. People find greener pastures more often than in the U.S.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should try them out. Leobit will deliver, and it will be a mutually beneficial relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of a company that runs a SaaS quoting platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Leobit?

We needed to augment our internal team for development and testing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our platform already existed; we just needed Leobit to work with our in-house dev team to develop and test new features and automations. The full stack developers work in Angular, .NET, and C# to develop modules for the platform, which manages incoming requests for quotes, helps users calculate quotes, sets pricing, and provides an online shop for buyers to accept or decline a quote. Leobit also integrated cloud storage into the platform.

What is the team composition?

They provide a project manager, three developers, and three QA analysts.

How did you come to work with Leobit?

We found Leobit online. They were a good fit and had an attractive price, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since June 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their testers are reliable and bring technical know-how to the project.

How did Leobit perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re reliable and work independently now, even though they’re remote. The entire team is organized and manages their tasks well. We communicate via Jira and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They work diligently and take responsibility for their parts of the project. They have a pool of experts that we can always call on when needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we're happy with the partnership.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

No.