One Beyond

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior analyst at a consultancy firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

Broadly, we needed to provide information to our clients in a more modern, accessible way. We tended to produce lengthy reports, meaning details can be missed. We wanted to provide our clients with a searchable, centralized database of clients, their companies, and assets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DCSL Software developed an online database that uses cloud storage. Initially, we envisaged a directory of people. As the conversation progressed, we realized this idea wouldn’t link individuals to companies, business associates, family members, and their assets simply.

To discuss high-level requirements in-depth, we invited DCSL Software to a kickoff meeting. Their team considered the product and then provided us with a quote and timeframe estimate. We needed the project to be done quickly—within three months.

From that point, we quickly moved into production. They helped compile the mathematics for product features, making sure their team could build the database within the agreed-upon timeframe and budget.

DCSL Software handled the front- and backend development of the database. The platform is web-based. They relied on Azure to support cloud hosting, which means clients can access information from anywhere. For security, their team implemented two-factor authentication.

After the initial sales/scoping conversations on which the budget was proposed and commercials agreed upon, we then worked closely with DCSL Software on their “Sprint 0” process, so the team gained a more detailed understanding of the product. As a result, when the timeframe and costs were adjusted, they were a little higher than we were expecting, mainly because DCSL Software did not pick up on some of the detailed intricacies of the features required early on in the process. However, it was still within expectations.

What is the team composition?

We had an initial meeting with Jake from (Business Development Officer, DCSL Software) and Nick (Managing Director, DCSL Software), who comes from a software engineering background. I engaged with David (Project Operations Manager, DCSL Software) and 1–2 techs behind Andrew (Software Engineering Director, DCSL Software), who built the database. A graphic designer built the UI. 

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

The company looked at a few providers, and a colleague recommended DCSL Software. We met with Nick, whose team seemed competent enough to work on the project.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, the bill was £35,000 (approximately $45,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with DCSL Software between April–September 2019. We’ll definitely be continuing to work with them for this and future projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Anecdotally, the database has been really well-received by clients. We’re also very happy with the platform.

We had a few issues with the login at the beginning, but everything seems to be working now. There are still some bugs in the system, to be expected, but they are being ironed out. Also, as we started putting data into it, we realized that we missed components, which is on us.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

DCSL Software used a system called Sifter to log errors and changes. The project management was very engaged. We had a ‘snapshot meeting’ every week with David via Skype to review what needed to be done. The meetings sometimes seemed a bit unnecessary, but I guess they would rather over-communicate, which I know some people prefer.

Having said that, the meeting with the development team – the sprint meetings – were really effective. They allowed us to see progress, discuss the upcoming sprint, decide on priorities – overall, they were very engaging and allowed us to shape the project. DCSL Software cleverly ensured we kept on track in terms of timescale and budget while providing us with flexibility.

Their team managed the budget fine. We were happy with the final cost. It was more than the original quote, but we needed the platform to be more than initially envisaged. The database wasn’t going to do what it needed to do unless we spent that money. Overall, we received excellent value for money.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DCSL Software was willing to step outside their comfort zone. Andrew was dealing with an unfamiliar subject matter such as complex corporate structures. I took it upon myself to educate him on the topic, which he came to understand and used to build a very good product. His ability to step outside a software developer’s head and into our world was useful and impressive. I think what is most impressive is that they delivered a complex system on time and budget, which exceeded expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They need to be sure about the likely price and timescale before entering into the engagement, as it increased from the original proposal that we signed off against, albeit we were aware this was a time & materials engagement. This is obviously easier said than done, and I can see they have processes in place to protect against this and warn early on. Apart from that, I cannot fault the process.

I really would want to see them change their “snapshot” process, which seems a bit redundant. I have already discussed this with them, and they have taken it on board.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients need to make sure DCSL Software fully comprehends the requirements from the onset, and those guidelines should be clear in their own heads before going down the road of engagement. But in terms of advising clients, DCSL Software is very competent. They quickly grasped the complex requirements and delivered a final system, all within three months. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of The Good Exchange. We’re a UK-based tech company that’s operating in the charitable sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

We worked with a web development company that built and managed our web application. The company didn’t have the capability or capacity to take us from a startup to early growth. We wanted a partner that had greater, more relevant skills and were better placed to help us as a client. We needed an organization that could actually take on best practices and help us scale going forward.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we partnered with DCSL Software to review the code our past development company had written. It became clear that our providers weren’t capable of moving us forward because they were using legacy code and frameworks as opposed to best practices. Then, DCSL Software inherited our web application, which creates a single-stage-one application form and matches charities to multiple registered grant-making organizations that have funding schemes.

DCSL Software managed two key projects, working from existing code. They’ve moved us out of our Windows hosting environment and onto a Microsoft Azure server. Due to the legacy frameworks, that was actually quite a large task because the code wasn’t conducive to the switch. This enabled their team to build a proper deployment pipeline that we’d never had before. Now, we’ve got multiple test environments including UAT, test, live, and development conditions. Their also team fixed a lot of bugs they’d inherited. They’ve done a lot of work helping us through the use of Elasticsearch.

Recently, they’ve been working to rebuild the way we charge fees through the platform. Users who're giving money to charities can now contribute towards the fee that we charge. It’s been a huge amount of work from a backend and database perspective. Their team has finished phase one. Now, they’re working on phase two as well as providing support and maintenance to the platform.

What is the team composition?

It fluctuates. Currently, we’ve got about five or six on the project including a project manager.

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

We went through quite a tough recruitment process of development companies, of which DCSL Software was invited to after having reviewed the app’s code. Of the six or seven agencies considered and interviewed, we went with DCSL Software.  

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about £100,000 (approximately $124,400 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

They came on in October 2018, and it’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DCSL Software has delivered results on time and on budget. Moving us into Microsoft Azure has given us a far better deployment mechanism. Every time they’ve done a release, we’re not having the same problems we had before.

They’ve redone our fee model, which was also huge. That was a major piece of work in terms of how that’s calculated and presented to clients. That launched recently, and we’re starting to see positive signs. We’re starting to see donations coming in through the process.

Since DCSL Software has come in, the platform has been incredibly reliable. We haven’t had any downtime apart from scheduled maintenance. Their team has turned what should have been according to best practices into best practices. It’s far easier to use and a better platform.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

DCSL Software has been exceptional. Their team has been very responsive and we’ve got a good system with them. Their team hasn’t missed a date that they promised to deliver on. For the fee project, we gave them a very tight timeline to deliver on and they delivered on it. They have managed projects efficiently and effectively. Their team will continually ask questions to make sure they’ve understood the requirements. They’ve been good at providing suggestions to improve the project. It’s been a good, collaborative relationship in terms of structure and managing this project moving forward.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DCSL Software has been flexible, honest, and communicative. Their team has a positive attitude and work collaboratively. They’re a pleasure to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We weren’t a standard client for them. They inherited our platform, which their team would've built from scratch for most clients. Managing the terms and conditions became more difficult because their standard terms weren’t necessarily effective for our product. We had a few problems with them in the initial phase and trying to set our own budget moving forward in terms of cost. Now that we’ve been given a direct project manager, costing has been very accurate.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re going into a costing phase, make sure you’re speaking to your project manager. I think they were rapidly recruiting so we got bounced around to different members of staff who would learn our product then move on. Now we’ve got a quorum, which has been excellent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are one of the worlds leading material testing and product qualification testing companies. Based in 32 countries with a phenomenal track record of sustained growth. I am the Executive Vice President for Group IT (CIO) and am responsible for IT globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GuideSmiths?

We hired Guidesmiths to produce custom software applications for use within the Element Group. This has included websites, workflow approval applications and integration projects with customer systems.

What were your goals for this project?

To find a development partner who we could rely on to produce high-quality applications for Element on a consistent basis. Already we see huge impact on process efficiency through several of the applications that Guidesmiths have developed for the group.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was introduced to the Commercial Director via a colleague. I had been looking for a development partner for some time but had not found a company that effectively produced high quality, quickly and at a good cost. Following a review of other projects Guidesmiths had delivered we commissioned an initial project which has led to many others.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They have designed and developed a number of software systems for the Element group. This includes workflow management applications, consumer websites, dashboard solutions using PowerBI and also some integration platforms.

What was the team composition?

There is always a project lead from Guidesmiths and then senior developer with a team of other developers to produce the project. We are also starting to make use of the Business Analysis skills that are available for customers to use.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of Guidesmiths projects have had big impacts on process efficiency within the group, whether it is cutting time to go through approval processes, or creating world-class dashboards to display group performance.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management is always a combination of Guidesmiths and Element resource and has been very effective. Slack is used for day to day discussion with wither Skype FB or Google Hangouts used for communication

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The openness, honesty, integrity and technical skills of the business are very high. Cost is always closely managed as well. Communication between the commercial team and myself have been excellent and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Guidesmiths.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing specific.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a waste management startup called LDAT Online Ltd. (Landfill Degradation and Transport). I’d developed a simulation program under the same name while I was in engaged with various universities and waste management research projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

Originally developed 20 years ago, the LDAT is a simulator for the processes that take place in landfills. I created the first model myself, and it’s been through various iterations until it got to a stage where I felt I could distribute it online. 

Since I’m an amateur, I enlisted DCSL Software to help refine and build out the web version. I needed them to expand my program’s storage and processing capabilities through the cloud and make the UI more professional-looking.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I’m collaborating with DCSL Software to further develop my landfill simulator for the web. Before, I was mainly using open source technologies to build the solution (i.e., ASP.NET MVC, Azure as the server and host, WebJobs). However, it wasn’t that user-friendly, and the way I’d connected everything had led to pauses between the client and server sides.

DCSL Software sped up this process by using Node.js and Vue.js, which has resulted in much faster response times since more work is being done on the client side. Likewise, they investigated using parallel processing to speed up my C#-based calculation engine. They also updated the UI design to improve its look and usability. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with Nick (Managing Director, DCSL Software), Alexis (Technical Director, DCSL Software), and Dennis (Technical Architect, DCSL Software). They have a small support team, whom I visit every 4–6 weeks.

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

I was searching online for development houses fluent in Microsoft technologies. DCSL Software is a Microsoft Gold Partner, and everything that I’d read in their reviews seemed to work well. So, I talked to Nick about my project and asked if we could meet up to discuss it more.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about £50,000 (approximately $60,400 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with DCSL Software around June 2018, and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re still in the process of replacing our current website, which isn’t very user-friendly and suffers from long loading/processing times. As such, we’ve only had about 40 client institutions using it with about 500 hits so far.

The new iteration is much stronger and more secure than our current site, so we expect it to be a game-changer once it rolls out. I hope to make sections of the code open to users so that they can customize it for their particular methods and share their changes with the community.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve consistently delivered reliable work on time and on budget, involving me every step of the way. Nearly every month, they come up with detailed roadmaps and keep me updated on their progress. 

Communication is really transparent. If there are any changes, cost overruns, or difficulties, they’ll inform me. I’ve also asked them to deliver and publish their code through my Azure account. During meetings, we’ll go over a demo, and I can read the code to see what they’ve done. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve spent my life working in universities and as a civil engineer, so I’ve been involved with various companies. Compared to my past experiences, DCSL Software’s professionalism is of the highest order and in the truest sense of the word. Their work ethic alone is admirable. The team pays attention to what I want to do and have expanded upon it very well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's not always easy to see how their fees are being allocated on their invoices. Sometimes we have conversations about that, so I know that they’re working on improving it.

At the moment, the invoice lists the hours and rates for all resources involved, but they don’t specify who is doing what. I’m able to work it out based on the quotes and how they’ve partitioned the work, but I’d prefer it if what they were delivering were more closely related to the breakdown of the cost.

I need that information to explain to my collaborators how we’re spending their money, especially in terms of tangible output.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of 100 Days AS, a support program for managers changing roles. There are no other such programs, so this is a world first.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

We needed to build a solution from scratch, something we had never done before. We needed a programmer who could help us in translating our ideas into tools on a screen.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have a good grip on the content and have developed a best practice process for the first 100 days for a manager changing roles. We understand what should happen at what point. The critical thing is to bring that alive so that each user can have an effortless experience in getting the tips, prompts, and nudges when they’re needed. DCSL Software has helped us in simply bringing this alive in the software.

DCSL Software has helped us create the overall architecture of our solution. They’ve programmed the 34 different tools that we have been able to describe but needed to be translated into software. They’ve helped us develop a customer admin system and a homepage to introduce the solution to the broader world. There’s very little integration with the customer’s IT-architecture. It’s a simple standalone SaaS product. They’ve helped us in terms of getting Vimeo to work on our platform, which is much more challenging than we expected.

We relied on DCSL Software to develop every aspect of this software, including wireframes and mock-ups. We’re not particularly technically savvy, and it’s essential for us to be able to trust their choices of which technical solutions are implemented. They keep us informed and tell us the options to help us choose.

What is the team composition?

There’s a scrum master that keeps everything rolling, but we don’t communicate with her. Mostly we interact with a solutions architect and a frontend programmer.

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

One of our three founders has known the owner of DCSL Software for 20 years. We went to the U.K. to visit them, and we liked their development philosophy. We met their operations director, and we were impressed by how he nurtured and encouraged a cooperative culture so that no programmer would sit stuck for long before asking somebody else for help. They traditionally work with small and medium-sized businesses and startups, so they understand our size.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent £120,000 (approximately $150,570 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are in the middle of our final sprint. We’ll be launching in September in three countries. We’ve made three presales before the software has actually launched, so we have a massive interest in the market. DCSL Software has produced something with a modern look and feel. It has a good user experience for such a complex world—we have to summarize the journey of every type of manager. Making it as simple as possible is a challenge, but in cooperation with DCSL Software, we’ve done a good job.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been pretty seamless. We know who’s responsible for which decisions, and they keep track of their costs. They have productive presentations and demos of what’s been achieved in a sprint. We can see what the tasks are on a page that we share, so it’s easy to register issues and assign them to people on their team. The priorities are continually discussed.

Their response times are quick when we raise issues. They keep their promises and give accurate estimates of their scope of work. They’ve been pleasantly transparent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They run the project highly professionally.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They are competent at creating graphics and UX designs, but they could be stronger.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You might want to have your own graphic designer rather than ask them because it’s not their core competence.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the group IT director at a printing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

We entered into a partnership with one of the UK’s largest retailers to put together a piece of software that effectively managed their campaigns. We engaged DCSL Software to coordinate that development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DCSL Software’s team held a discovery session that allowed us to present our idea and decide on the technical capabilities required of the product. The software we had in mind would connect to other systems and transfer data through a series of APIs. In terms of functionality, the finished product would help our retail partner manage their campaigns and allow vendors to bid on specific projects. The software would also enable the marketing team to further track milestones and deadline dates, in addition to receiving alerts when tasks are not completed.

From a technical standpoint, DCSL Software served as the subject matter experts and was entirely responsible for the architecture of the system. They selected all of the technology for the build, which included SQL, C#, Microsoft Azure, and Kendo UI.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, 6–7 developers, and one product tester.

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

The relationship with DCSL Software was in place by the time I joined the company, so I am unsure of the selection process.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent approximately £1,200,000 (approximately $1,522,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned 2017–2019.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The result of their work is a scalable product that suits the needs of the customer. DCSL Software made suitable selections for the technology and overall functionality of the product. The head of retail at our partner company called it the best piece of software he’s ever introduced into the retail sector.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always able to add more resources to the project when needed, and they addressed all urgent issues promptly. We held two weekly meetings with them to critique their work and decide on the next steps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to scale up resources at any given time is a clear strength. We’d sometimes have periods where we needed work to be expedited, and DCSL Software always managed to find somebody that could help with little downtime.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we had a successful engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure your requirements are clear to make sure the project goes as smoothly as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the compliance lead for WaterAid Contracts, a nonprofit that works in overseas development, especially with water sanitation and hygiene promotion.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

We’d already built two versions of our existing system with DCSL Software and wanted to build a third. We’d revamped our business process around restricted funding, so we needed to update the system to support that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Because DCSL Software was already familiar with the second version of our system, we used that as the baseline for our conversation. We then created a scope of work for updating the restricted income system for the new process. They built the prototype for the new system, which goes through a sequence of authorizations for signing on new opportunities, reviewing proposals, and agreeing to and reviewing contracts.

What is the team composition?

We work with a team of three people.

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

They were hired before my time here.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started this project in November 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They understand what we want and meet those expectations. Their quality of work is good, and we haven’t run into any problems they can’t fix.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a good working relationship, and they’re highly responsive. Even when we submit change requests, they’re happy to work on the new scope. They work overtime, if needed, and we’re on track to hit our launch date goal. I have daily communication with the technical director and monthly meetings with a senior supervisor to make sure the project is going well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re extremely committed to our project and doing the best job possible. So far, the partnership’s been flawless.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The beginning of the project was a bit rocky, but it got better. They were busy with another project, so their time was a bit constrained.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Get to know them because it’ll make the partnership better.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of digital innovation for an insurance company. I oversee digital marketing as well as digital products for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

We needed them to develop a new web application that we will offer to clients as a value-added service. It is basically a little calculator which takes in some data inputs and also has a UI which allows clients to manage and adjust some of those inputs. The application is centered around health and wellness, and users can measure the likely impact of certain health and wellness programs in the workplace.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our application has a lot of complex assumptions and is based on actuarial calculations and data. We had quite a few sources of data, so DCSL Software had to build an admin portal and the main client portal, which is what the user sees. It wasn’t a straightforward task.

From the beginning, we had most of the calculations we wanted to do because they had already been done by a third-party consulting and actuarial company. DCSL Software translated that into a web application and also came up with a design so that it would be really easy to use and appealing for the end user. They also built an admin portal that we could use to manage the portal and data in the background.

When an employer logs into the app, they have a map. They offer things like medical and life insurance. They can see the countries where they have employees who are part of employee benefit programs.

They can select one of those countries and can download detailed reports about the levels of health and wellness in that country. The PDF report is prepared by a third party. After selecting the country, they have seven sliders that all relate to wellness programs, including a smoking cessation program, an exercise program, sleep, and healthy eating. It can also tell them the likely level of healthy behaviors for a given country.

There are a few buttons where they are able to adjust assumptions. For example, there are claims adjusted to the level of the country from the report, drawn from publicly available data from various reputable sources. They can also adjust it to their own claims. We have uploaded the medical claims we have received over the last couple of years for that country and workplace. It then gives them information that is more targeted to what they are experiencing in their workplace and not necessarily the whole country.

We initially took a couple of months to understand exactly how to do it because there were a few options. We had workshops and design discussions. We then had eight sprints, and each sprint was two weeks. It was a fairly long project, but we weren’t in a huge rush. We gave them the time they needed to get it right.

What is the team composition?

We had a software engineer, two developers including one for the map, and a project manager. We also had two designers that were involved.

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

I believe we found them through a Google search. We came to them with a brief and had a couple of meetings to discuss the brief. They then came up with a proposal, including all the technology they would be using.

We had spoken to four companies about the brief. At least three of them pitched for it and we selected DCSL because they were the most engaged and they provided the most detailed technical proposal. They had a fairly straightforward approach in terms of how to bring it to life.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent approximately £50,000 Sterling (Approximately $65,229 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project together from September 2018–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are currently wrapping it up and upgrading the portal. The tool will be offered once it is upgraded, but internally we are quite happy with what we have. There are a couple of bugs and final things we need to address before we launch it.

Other companies we worked with in the past were much more focused on using pre-designed systems and platforms and then customizing them. This was the first time I’d worked with a fully bespoke application and I think they were quite good. They were very detailed and tried to understand exactly what we want. They did their best to deliver on the brief we have. It has been a very collaborative process and they have been very engaged.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager wasn’t that involved, but the software engineer who was in charge of the project was very involved. He effectively served in a project management role. I think it was their choice to do it that way because it made it slightly easier. He understood exactly what we were doing.

They also have an account manager who calls me every other week to see how things are going. They are quite good in terms of having various points where they check if everything is going well and with different people so that we can assess any problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were able to build a really good and collaborative process together. We have demos every two weeks, and besides the demos, we exchange emails and we have phone calls. They are very collaborative and responsive. If there is anything that isn’t working as it should, or if the requirements have to change slightly, they are quite responsive to that. They will let us know if they can do it, or if there will be an impact on time and cost. They have been very engaged throughout.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their speed could improve, but it's also up to us to set that speed. If we were to complain or say that we wanted it delivered in less time, they would have put more developers on the project. They are actually doing that now in the project we are currently working on.

Potentially, it might be good to have a project manager that is a little more hands-on. At the same time, if the software engineer is doing that, it is fine. Sometimes, I feel that he might be taking too much on himself, so perhaps a dedicated project manager would make his job easier.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you are very clear about what you are looking for. In general, have a very clear brief about what you are trying to achieve. Give clear timelines in terms of what the expected delivery date is, and whether it is a hard deadline or not.

Try to have DCSL Software set out a really good plan in terms of the sprints. It might take a little bit longer at the beginning to have a really accurate plan, so allow a few weeks.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the managing director of a consultancy that provides advice, guidance, and training for multiple high-risk industries, but predominately the aviation sector. Our flagship product is a training management system.

Our software helps companies and organizations manage potentially high-risk training safely and efficiently. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DCSL Software?

The main business problem we saw across the aviation sector was overly complicated training processes. Teaching pilots to fly aircraft such as a Boeing 747 demands a huge amount of time, effort, and money. Even once they're qualified, keeping them safe and up to date involves extensive requirements and continued training. 

We wanted to create a straightforward and efficient training solution to help aviation-related organizations retain staff and improve employees’ efficacy on the job. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DCSL Software conducted a full scoping study to understand our requirements and came back with a proposal that detailed how they would deliver the program step-by-step. Once we agreed upon the contract and got started, they used a very agile and iterative process. They kept us involved the whole way through. 

The team helped us develop software to facilitates the incredibly complicated and expensive process of training pilots. Following a set procedure, it automates a systems approach to training methodology for aviation. We have the option to add integrations for APIs and compliance in the future. 

What is the team composition? 

The team DCSL Software assigned to our project included four developers and a project manager.  

How did you come to work with DCSL Software?

We scouted companies near us in the south of England that could support our development work. Of the three options we shortlisted and interviewed, we chose DCSL Software based on their track record and their staff's technical skills. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about £200,000 (approximately $260,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

My company first contacted DCSL Software before I came on board, but the project started properly in October 2018. We actually just finished in April 2019 and will sign off next week after completing the bug fixes. Going forward, we plan to continue using them in the future for additional development work. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Companies in the aviation sector can use our software to optimize training within the available time and budget while ensuring that pilots become as skilled as possible. 

Now that the product is finished, we've seen some useful metrics that indicate success from the customer experience perspective. 

On average, our automated process saves clients 75 percent of the hours it takes to manage a training system manually. Using our software, they can manage, assess, and evaluate their training systems. Accomplishing these tasks in a quarter of the time offers the best return on their allocated time and investment.

DCSL Software delivered high-quality code and created reliable functionality. The UX they designed is incredibly intuitive, and the design has a nice, clean feel to it. Our customers have expressed that using our product is quite nice.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Using the agile methodology, DCSL Software worked with us in short sprints so we could quickly catch anything that went wrong and easily get back on the right track. They answered all our questions comprehensively. 

We had the same project manager the whole time. He was incredibly skilled and highly invested in making sure the program ran on time and met our requirements. We were very pleased with the product development process.  

DCSL Software regularly scheduled Skype calls and face-to-face meetings. We met in person bimonthly and had calls at least twice a week. Using a mix of remote communication and face-to-face-reviews worked quite well for us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Since DCSL Software has quite a big team, I was especially impressed by their flexibility. They could scale up or down in size and pulled in more resources whenever necessary to accommodate quick changes and meet tight deadlines. They always provided the expertise and people we needed. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not really. DCSL Software had all the skills we needed and did a very good job.  The people on their team are friendly and easy to work with. They're incredibly collaborative and looked out for our interests as the client.   

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take advantage of the agile process DCSL Software uses. Stay in close touch with the project manager so you can maintain communication and understanding. 

If possible, work with the team face-to-face.  Meeting in person for review sessions in person was very helpful. We made the most traction when we worked in the same office, so I would advise future clients to take advantage of that option.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business analysis manager of a technology firm in the IoT, connected homes market. We offer a collection of smart wireless devices that connect with each other from different areas in a home. In my role, manage a couple of applications used to display information about our devices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GuideSmiths?

We were looking to modernize outdated apps. These two legacy apps were holding back our business’ efforts to scale up. We were looking for one or two teams to help us complete this initiative quickly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GuideSmiths first worked on one of our internal support tools that is used widely across our business. They migrated the system to a more modern platform, updating both its code and API. They’ve also helped with another internal solution. It was a native iOS app, and they migrated it to the React Native framework to accommodate both iOS and Android devices.

Currently, the GuideSmiths team is managing those applications while also assisting with other new products and features that we’ve launched elsewhere in the business.

What is the team composition?

For the first app, they provided two developers and a delivery and QA manager. The second team consisted of a technical architect and three developers.

How did you come to work with GuideSmiths?

I wasn’t involved in the selection process. We have a few different vendors we usually partner with, but this was the first time we chose to go with GuideSmiths, and we’re still working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost is close to $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2017, and the partnership is ongoing. Usually, we work with outsourced teams on a short-term basis; then we look for another team to maintain it or handle it internally. This was our intention with GuideSmiths, but they’re still adding value to our projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Because both of the apps are internal tools, it’s a bit tricky to quantify their success. Anecdotally, we’re much more productive. We used to lose a lot of time because of the apps’ old-fashioned and outdated architecture. Usage numbers haven’t changed much, but the new versions actually fill the need they were designed for, saving us time and making our processes more efficient.

How did GuideSmiths perform from a project management standpoint?

Each app project was managed differently. For the first initiative, we met with our team once a week to discuss the requirements and design elements. They were very easy to work with, compared to other teams I’ve collaborated with in the past. For the second project, we started by discussing out end requirements for the product then worked backward to determine a timeline.

In both cases, we shared tasks on Jira and used Slack for day-to-day communication. There were additional meetings and standups scheduled throughout.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They can adapt quickly to change, and they learn just as fast. GuideSmiths is very knowledgeable in their field, so we can have high-level conversations with them before making any decisions.

The team also takes ownership of their work, which I really appreciate. I can share a set of broad requirements, and they come back with something that completely aligns with my vision. At this point, they have a good grasp of who we are as a business, so they know what we need and what questions to ask.

Are there any areas they could improve?

GuideSmiths’ teams are based in Madrid and Budapest, and English isn’t their first language. In some cases, details and information have gotten lost in translation, and the work has taken longer than we’d planned. With that said, it’s not a significant drawback.

Any advice for potential customers?

Clients should be open with GuideSmiths in every part of the engagement. Even if they are only responsible for half of the work, explain the bigger picture.

In our case, they really only needed to understand about 10% of our business requirements. A lot of our processes revolved around these tools, but GuideSmiths could have done their work without this knowledge. Instead, they made an effort to learn about our business to understand the effects that their work would have, what customers would see, and so on. With that information, they understood their role in the overall project and delivered better results.