Onix-Systems

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of messageLOUD. Our Android app reduces distracted driving by reading aloud messages as they’re received. This allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

While our Android app has become quite successful in the marketplace, an iOS app with similar capabilities doesn’t exist. We needed resources who could overcome those technical challenges and develop the iOS app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve built an iOS app that can read messages aloud, using our designed wireframe. Because an iOS with similar capabilities doesn’t exist, they’ve needed to overcome significant technical problems to ensure product functionality. It’s a case of finding the right technical solution. They’ve developed the backend for the app, which has a notably complex server-side architecture.

What is the team composition?

The four-person-core team includes back- and frontend developers, a tester, and a project manager. We exclusively work with the project manager.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We originally contracted them through UpWork for another project. When we began conceiving the iOS app, we spoke with 15 app developers who deemed the project impossible. We then approached Onix-Systems’ project manager with our idea. Despite the technical challenges, they accepted the task.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began in December 2016 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re currently in closed beta and plan to transition into a public beta in a few weeks. As a result, we lack current quantitative metrics on the app’s success.

However, from a technical standpoint, we applaud their incredible technical skill. This is a project that has never been done before; the app either works, or it doesn’t. Onix-Systems has produced a functional app that others have labeled impossible, which is a testament to their expertise.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been truly excellent. We primarily use the ticket management platform Redmine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their outstanding ability to solve extreme technical challenges distinguishes them from their competitors. We praise their innovative approach to overcoming difficulties that have never been addressed before.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Adopting a consistent and methodical mindset is crucial in solving complex technical challenges.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company's product is aimed at giving good information and visual aids to people interested in physical training. We are based in Canada. I am one of the co-owners of the company, and one of the main IT [information technology] people.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

Our code base had been created, but it was an organic construct. We wanted to make sure that we'd be able to create a solid base for our products. The idea was to remove some of the functionalities and focus on core elements, making sure that we had a robust framework.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided the target architecture as well as a demo for our first platform. Onix has suggested some changes and provided creative ideas in order for us to obtain a product focused on what we wanted to accomplish.

We've worked in an agile manner with Onix, getting inputs from one another. There were no order takers in the project. We've worked with up to 3 developers from Onix as well as a project manager.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We decided to make a post on Upwork and leveraged some partners who had been working on the platform for a while, in order for them to help us identify the right people. We published an RFP [request for proposal], explaining the project, and contacted 3 candidates, before finding Onix.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Onix in January 2016. We've had an open roadmap, with a focus on the core of the platform. This has been done, and we're on the verge of engaging Onix again in order to continue the work and enhance the product. Our product will always be evolving, and I see no reason for not continuing to work with Onix unless we adopt technologies, which aren't their forte.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our work was successful. From what I've seen, the code produced by Onix was very clean and efficient. The platform works great. Our only difficulties were part of getting to know each other and working as a team, making sure that we understand each other. We're a French company, and English is also our second or even third language. It was our main difficulty, but it still wasn't that much of a problem.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Onix was closer to working in an agile manner than our own team. They knew how to manage scope, which is important from a project management perspective.

We're in the process of getting an estimate from Onix for the rest of the work. There were some differences in understanding during our discussions, but that was a part of getting to know each other.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

We've always had good service because our project manager was also the customer relationship manager in a way. We felt privileged to work with someone who was always there. I don't know how many hours Onix worked, but it seemed to be a lot.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

Some elements need to be better clarified in written form. Onix needs to make sure that documentation is clarified before engaging anything. This never reflected on the price that we paid or the delivery time.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

Clients need to make sure that they clarify requirements and have confidence in Onix. The team will propose some very interesting approaches.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a software developer offering our own products, and also working with clients ranging from startups to billion-dollar companies. We provide mobile application work, usually from the ground up, based on business needs. In the case of startups, we typically start with a pure concept, and bring the application to market.

I am the owner and Chief Product Manager of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We have a need for developing high-quality products able to generate money and attract users, but within a reasonable budget and a fast timeline.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We've collaborated with Onix-Systems on a series of products, and we have a very close relationship with their team.

Onix's contribution has been light in terms of design. We do this through our own resources and through other contractors, depending on the type of application. We handle the design for business applications almost exclusively in-house, and we grab outside designers for social networking apps.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

I had a startup 5 years ago, and was looking for resources. We went through a number of firms and gave each one trial projects, with less than great results. I found Onix, gave them a little project, and without having coded before, I could tell that the work was far better done than what I'd seen from other vendors. Based on this, I gave Onix larger projects over time, with very good success.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

The cost of Onix's services is between $10,000 and $15,000 per month, on average.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with Onix-Systems for 5 years, and have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've worked on around 12 different projects with Onix-Systems, excluding very small ones. In terms of results, we always stood where we wanted for our customers in terms of quality and reliability of delivery.

We've worked on social networking apps which are very complex to market, ERPs [enterprise resource planning] for internal systems, and so on. We've had some very happy startup and corporate clients.

We host all of our work on Amazon's infrastructure, and always deploy systems which are robust, with levels of redundancy in the case of corporate systems. We've never experienced downtime that would lead to business issues. Typically, our systems are up into the high 90% range, and there have been no business interruptions caused by our systems. Like with all software, we have experienced bugs, but they get resolved with a very fast pace.

The apps developed with Onix's help have achieved 4.8 stars on the app stores, on average. We judge applications based on their utility, but we also look for reviews mentioning bugs. Generally speaking, we've had apps with tens of thousands of users, and bugs have never been an issue.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

We set out realistic timelines and scopes of work. They can change quite often, but in general, clients have been happy with our ability to deliver.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

We've worked with Onix for 5 years, and never had to question whether our projects were important to them or not. We receive Onix's full attention even on smaller projects, where they're not making much profit. Onix has a very consistent approach and responsiveness.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

More design capabilities would be a nice ability to have access to, but I've tended to prefer independent designers. Projects can differ in this regard, so it's better to pick people based on the current one.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

I've worked with some of the most talented people from Onix, but it's still important to articulate what the business is before jumping into code, making sure that the team understands what a company does and doesn't do.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company has developed a wine app. I am the Chief Executive Officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We needed resources in order to develop and release our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix-Systems has developed our application for iOS and Android. It involved a very heavy backend, an admin website, as well as native frontends for each version.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

I went through a 3-step due diligence process, initially asking different companies for quotes on apps which already existed in the market. I then sent specs for our own apps to 3-5 candidates. Onix was shortlisted, and after some further talks, I visited them in Ukraine, in order to make sure that they'd be the right partner for us.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

The cost of Onix's development has been under $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Onix-Systems for around a year. Their part of the development has been almost completed. We plan to submit the apps to the stores for review within the next month. The delay had been on our side, due to the large amount of data which needs to be entered in the backend.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are satisfied with Onix's work. We've had a fairly large project, with a fair amount of resources assigned to it.

We haven't received a lot of feedback at this stage, because the app is highly dependent on its backend data. I have performed testing myself almost on a daily basis.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

It proved to be more complicated than initially thought, but we tackled problems together with Onix. They were able to review issues and provide feedback, instead of simply doing what we asked for. Onix let us know when there was something wrong within our specs.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

I have had IT experience within large organizations collaborating with other large IT vendors. This type of work is different than with smaller companies like Onix. I've tried to impose a standard framework, which isn't always optimal, but we did well overall, and I'm satisfied with everything done by Onix.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

Onix could provide more documentation, but this isn't always the strongest point of smaller companies. Things can always be improved, but Onix has provided good service so far, and they've been straightforward to deal with.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

Onix will help clients achieve a result, but development needs to start with a strong base. Clients also need to make sure that they have strong specifications, and that everything is documented.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a small web development company based in Montreal, specializing in open-source PHP applications, including WordPress and Drupal work. We focus on outsourcing and coordinating larger offshore groups.

I am the Chief Technology Officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

One of our clients was seeking to build a non-native mobile app. It was a combination between a backend PHP and an AngularJS frontend.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix-Systems has a large team, as far as I understand. When we had our interview, they mentioned that their specialties were CakePHP and AngularJS, so we haven't used them for anything else. Design, for instance, isn't something that we'd outsource.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We found Onix through Upwork. They had high recommendations for work on PhoneGap, AngularJS, and CakePHP apps. We went through the normal vetting process, sending out an open application, scaling applicants, and having personal interviews. We used Onix for a small job initially, which was a similar piece of work, in order to see how we could get along and what Onix's level of responsiveness was.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

The total cost of our project with Onix was $45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was completed at the end of May 2016, after a 2-month development period. Our client has begun a second phase of their product, using interns for code maintenance and updates. We've completed our contract with Onix amicably, but we haven't had any similar projects since that time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our direct client was the application architect, and they were strong in the technologies used. We didn't have a lot of facetime with the end-users on the business operations side. Our client was satisfied, but they had a romantic idea of outsourcing to a Chinese-like factory where people would be working all day for no money. They had to adjust to the fact that Onix was a team which functioned like any other developer in North America, but at a slightly reduced rate. Things didn't progress as quickly, but the client was satisfied with the quality of the code. He is particular about this type of thing, so it was a big vote of confidence.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

We were satisfied with Onix's performance, and would consider hiring them again. We had a moderate budget and an understanding client, which helped a bit. There were small miscommunications which we were able to smooth over in our context. With a more problematic client, I'd consider a different team. The project managers and tech leads from Onix were responsive and had good communication skills, but we needed to be more embedded into the team. Once we started working with the senior developers, we found their English to be very poor. This is not a criticism, but rather a tradeoff when working overseas. When we started the work, we found that the tech lead from Onix was very strong, but communication on a day-to-day basis proved to be difficult.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

We've dealt with developers from India and Asia, and generally found that they like to make a strong first impression by putting their best men in the first row, after which the competency drops off rapidly. With Onix, we found that they maintained a good quality and presence throughout the course of the project, which convinced me to trust them in the future. Trust is a big issue when working with an offshore partner. I wouldn't hold the communication issue mentioned earlier against Onix. It's simply the nature of this type of development.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

A bit more structure would help. Our project was a bit disorganized, with a sloppy Agile process. We weren't good at establishing fixed schedules, so it's not something which I'd hold against Onix in particular. Onix didn't go out of their way in order to help formalize the process using the project manager and tech leads on their side. This would be a good improvement to make in order to reassure clients, by providing reporting and daily updates from a more English-fluent counterpart.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

Any prospective client needs to treat Onix's team with the same respect that they would give to high-quality engineers from North America, but they should also be prepared to insert their own process. We asked for some flexibility, but Onix proved to be a bit disorganized in the end, with developers entering and leaving the team, and unclear timelines. Clients shouldn't be afraid to establish ground rules and a framework within which Onix should work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We provide services for website owners, helping them gain more conversions. I am the founder and CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We needed support for creating the architecture of our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix has provided development and support for our website. We're currently working at an enterprise level, but also have plans to expand. Onix provided a dedicated team of 3 developers for our project.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We found Onix through Elance, which is called Upwork currently.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

Onix has spent more than 7,000 hours for our project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with Onix for 3 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

On a scale from 1 to 10, I would give Onix a 15. I'm very happy with their work.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Collaborating wasn't so easy in the beginning, but Onix has become an extension of our team, making it very easy to work together. Our project manager has been amazing, along with the rest of Onix's team.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

Onix is a very human and professional company, which is a good combination for making a successful project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We have two companies that do business with Onix. The first company is called Virtual Workflow. Virtual Workflow produces a product called ROI Genius, which is an enterprise level end-to-end business solutions system.

The other company is Alternative Spaces Inc. We are developing a social robotics department, and we'll be bringing people together to be developing for Jibo. You can read about it on the Jibo website. It's the first evolution out the door of a social robot that's able to recognize faces, recognize natural language and they're going to be releasing a VSDK [vertical solution development kit] in October [2015]. 

At that point, we will have a team from Onix that will be able to write skills for the robot, which will be sold on the Jibo skill store, and we will be able to service other developers who wish to develop their own skills for Jibo and add it to the robot.

Jibo started out as a brainchild of our firm, but this is a competitive space now. It's a good place to start, but Jibo was originally developed by a person at MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology] and she did a Kickstarter and raised about $2.3 million . Then, they went out and raised about $20 million to manufacture the product. Now, they've expanded it to China, and I think they've raised another $11 million. 

The other thing we do at Alternative Spaces is represent Onix in English speaking countries. We work primarily in the United States and we have a sales and marketing team who is able to take and refine all the needs of the clients in fluent English with directions that are easy for Onix to be able to complete the tasks rapidly and accurately. 

What is your position?

My position in both of them is CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We decided to find a long-term development partner for complicated projects. The best recommendation that I can give to firms in our situation is that when you start with a team of people, then you should continue developing with the same resources because platform development builds on itself. It's a full-service platform.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

They are developing a standard development kit for the robotics firm and providing ongoing platform development work for the marketing firm.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

I looked at firms with my partner, who is a computer scientist. When we decided to launch our startup, he put together a simple routine and went out and found five different companies that could write the routine and sent out the requests. He wanted to see how much it would cost and what would come back. He picked two American companies. He picked an Indian company. He picked a Ukranian company, and I believe he picked a Chinese company too. 

All of the quotes from the offshore companies in India and China came back with many questions and the American companies were very expensive. Onix came back the next day with the task complete and said it was simple. 

Onix's competency level was so much higher than everybody else's that there was no question about whom we wanted to work with. When we started working with Onix-System, we created a team that could turn things around overnight. So we became a 24/5 shop for production and 24/7 shop for support, which is important because of things that needed to get done the next day were done as our team here was sleeping. We got up in the morning and everything was tuned to the client, which has built us a tremendous business. I think speed and accuracy make a big difference.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

It was between $200,000 and $1 million. But, I will also say that in 2016 we'll be above $1 million. It will keep growing. We found that there's not too much difference between people in the west and the east except the east was the Soviet Union and so, while they had all the technology, they needed there was some base infrastructure that we had available to us that people in Eastern Europe didn't. Even though they were extremely proficient in programming everything they were doing. The structure of the company and the structure of all the companies that I watched over there – they vary greatly. The CEO at Onix and I have become very close and so we work together to make sure that everything works smoothly. It's a giant advantage.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been doing business with them now for eight years. We have the same team member who started with us and been with us the entire time. Onix-Systems is extremely reliable, hard working, and intelligent. 

We're actually increasing the amount of work that we're doing together. An example of that would be the social robotics piece we're putting together. This is going to be a brand new department we're putting together because there's not a lot of expertise in this area right now and one of the things that Onix wants and that we want is always to be ahead of the curve. 

Before even the SDK is released, we will have the team in place. They'll have done their homework, and people will be practicing so that when we hit the ground, we can hit the ground running.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I can't give you statistics from the customers. That wouldn't make any sense. We went to Asbury Park where they had no people and found a way to bring 51,000 Facebook fans on and then wrote software and protocols to convert them to 11,000 leads. That's kind of personal for the people that are running that business. We send out millions of pieces of mail. 

Onix is primarily interested in doing business with mid-range companies, so I'm talking with somebody tomorrow who's got a privately owned $250 million company and he's the type of person that will need ongoing help as he moves on.

We do work with startups, but it's a lot more difficult because they're usually missing one or more important elements and you have to walk them through that. It's more time consuming.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Right now, there's 90 people who are programming, and the capacity is to build up to 200 people in the current building that they own. The capacity is there to do bigger jobs, and I know they have the project management ability to take on jobs in the $1 million range.

What distinguishes Onix-Systems from other providers?

I would say the fact that they tutor everybody in English is a unique benefit. Everybody there either speaks or write English perfectly. They also have a learning center to bring new technologies and new people aboard. As a growing company, they're not isolated.

Is there anything Onix-systems could have improved or done differently?

No, I speak to them on a daily basis and my representatives speak to them on a daily basis. They even have conversations with some of my clients – direct one to one so I would say that there's nothing they could improve upon because we are in contact every single day. We're in voice contact and face-to-face contact almost daily. It's not writing back and forth. It's understanding the issue or the task and really understanding why that task needs to be done that's turning out really superior work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Sunbeam Education

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

SEN Tutoring

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Onix-Systems to accomplish?

• Website coding

SOLUTION

How did you find Onix-Systems?

Online Search

Why did you select Onix-Systems over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Onix-Systems were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Significant overhaul of my website, building complex systems.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Built the website from scratch that is now performing well. Systems are all working after some optimising (as is expected).

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Great communication, very friendly and extremely competent. I can't recommend them more highly.

What was your primary form of communication with Onix-Systems?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Very coordinated and affordable. Great customer care!

Are there any areas for improvement or something Onix-Systems could have done differently?

I have no criticisms of them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Drimatech. We develop a driving simulation running on our own driving simulators mostly used in driving schools across Germany and Finland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We needed help improving our graphics and getting advice on technical aspects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix-Systems has been helping us with various tasks that require different knowledge, including 3d modeling, performance optimization, and overall UX. The team has been working on improving our graphics, performance, and overall look and feel. Onix-Systems has delivered terrain improvements, advice on performance bottlenecks, new shaders, and light sources.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with one teammate from Onix-Systems.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We found Onix-Systems through an online search. We chose them because they had high ratings, and their pricing fit our budget.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2026, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Onix-Systems' work has resulted in positive feedback from our clients. We've also seen a 25% improvement in frame rates and a reduction in load times.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Onix-Systems has delivered on time. We communicate via virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Onix-Systems' knowledge in various areas has been impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing Onix-Systems could improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I'm an executive at Exit Reizen

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Exit Reizen is an experienced tour operator specializing in personalized travel to the United States and Canada. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Onix-Systems to accomplish?

• Design and develop internal web application

SOLUTION

How did you find Onix-Systems?

Online Search

Why did you select Onix-Systems over others?

• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Understanding of our needs

How many teammates from Onix-Systems were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Develop an internal web application to streamline operations across departments, improve workflow efficiency and centralize reporting. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project resulted in improved operational efficiency, reduced manual processes, and enhanced cross-department collaboration. Measurable outcomes included faster task completion times, fewer data errors, improved reporting accuracy. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their project management was transparent, with regular progress updates and defined milestones. They were highly approachable and responsive, addressing our questions and evolving needs quickly while maintaining flexibility and a solution-oriented mindset.

What was your primary form of communication with Onix-Systems?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their ability to quickly understand our needs and translate them into effective solutions was impressive. They genuinely think alongside us and focus on what delivers the best outcome for our business. Our questions were taken seriously and consistently addressed by the right experts.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Onix-Systems could have done differently?

Onix-Systems delivered the project professionally and fully met our expectations.