Scalefocus

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The Embassy of Bulgaria in the UK represents one of the largest Bulgarian communities abroad. Established in 1903, it promotes collaboration between the two countries and helps the Bulgarian citizens keep their connection with the homeland. I’m the minister for trade and investment in charge of boosting economic and commercial relations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

Our mission is to present Bulgaria and its community in the UK in the best way possible. Our old IT infrastructure and website were failing to deliver the right online image for such an institution. Sections were confusing in terms of UI/UX experience, there was overlap in the content, and it was an overall challenge to navigate.

We’d also have problems such as the website going down or being difficult to update, as well as traffic overloads, which is why we needed to hire someone to help us update everything.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to modernize our website in order to be able to provide secure services to our users 24/7, which not only consist of Bulgarians but also investors, partners, etc., interested in Bulgaria as a strategic location. Our goal was to fully digitalize the experience for all the users who needed our collaboration, providing quick and proper access, easy navigation, a fast service, and more.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were impressed by how ScaleFocus’ team transformed the online presence of the Bulgarian Embassy in the US and decided to entrust them the transformation of our online presence as well.

Describe the project in detail.

ScaleFocus helped us set up the IT infrastructure to keep our online presence at the highest standard. Their team transformed our website into a reliable and mobile-friendly portal according to our needs, using the latest technology and design imperatives for our purposes.

Their team reorganized the entire structure in order to address our main pain points. We’re now capable of providing a much better UX to all the citizens, investors, and partners that need our assistance and collaboration. ScaleFocus currently provides support and is responsible for handling the respective technology updates of the online platform.

What was the team composition?

ScaleFocus’ dedicated team consisted of three consultants. They currently provide support and managed services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We’ve already received numerous positive comments by citizens who are in regular need of information. The time spent on the website increased by almost 60% in just a couple of weeks after the launch of the new platform. Moreover, since most of the users are using a mobile device, improving the mobile experience was of utmost importance. We've mitigated the risk of system failures and can always count on their support in case of technical issues. In a nutshell, their managed IT services empowered us to be of better help.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The communication between both parties has been smooth and effective from the very beginning of the project. We have one person as a single-point-of-contact who deals with their entire team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

ScaleFocus provided brilliant support in identifying and formulating everything according to our needs. I was amazed at how fast we saw the positive impact of their services. Their team exceeds expectations by always trying to deliver outstanding solutions for the specific needs we have and by continuing to maintain our very beneficial relationship.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I believe there are always areas for improvement. From my experience with ScaleFocus, I have no doubts that their team is striving for excellence all the time and is looking for such opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

UPC is the largest cable network operator in Switzerland. Nearly 1.5 million customers place their trust in our various products for television, Internet, telephony, and mobile services. Since late 2014, UPC has offered their customers Switzerland’s biggest free Wi-Fi network, giving them the opportunity to browse the web at around 500,000 locations in the country and over six million in Europe free of charge.

I’m the digital marketing manager of the company. With my expertise and innovative and energetic personality, I’m constantly open to give my best to UPC next-level digital world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

UPC’s B2B marketing unit is pushing hard to update and transform the digital B2B portal to make its service offerings more transparent and easy to navigate for the different target groups. Our company needed a mature and reliable partner to escape quality degradation and the poor timeline execution issues we faced with freelance and other partners regarding the digital B2B portal.

What were your goals for this project?

One of the key requirements that UPC looked for in the new partner was the ability to steer delivery output instead of delivery capacity and bring in fresh ideas, UI/UX best practices, and telecommunications domain expertise.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

ScaleFocus was chosen as a partner for this initiative because they were a perfect match for the above-stated requirements.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

To begin, ScaleFocus’ team visited the UPC premises in Zurich to set up the project, meet the key stakeholders, and discuss business requirements and the roadmap for 2017 and beyond.

ScaleFocus was tasked with transforming the frontend for UPC Switzerland’s entire B2B portfolio. They worked with an agile methodology and quick release cycles, so we had something to implement every week. This also facilitated early user feedback and continuous QA.

The solution is based on top-notch UX practices, particularly regarding the content, structure, and flow of the main page and all sub-pages, the main and sub-navigations, and product categories and product detail pages. ScaleFocus’ experts work with technologies and software languages such as Adobe Experience Manager, HTML5, CSS2, CCS3, jQuery, JavaScript.

What was the team composition?

At the heart of the team is a project manager that’s also a senior UI/UX consultant, who acts as a single point of contact for all UPC stakeholders. She covers multiple roles from taking care of overall engagement supervision, main communication, escalation channels, and key knowledge build-up of the ScaleFocus team by regularly visiting stakeholders at UPC premises. She also manages the backlog and acts as the lead developer of the team.

Other team members include a UI/UX designer as well as QA specialists that perform early design test cases and validate functionalities before user acceptance testing. Also, part of their work includes end-to-end testing against functional and business requirements specifications.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ScaleFocus’ work did accelerate our scope analysis validation process and the prioritization of our requirements, leading to faster release cycles, early feedback, improvements, and pivots in the newly implemented digital assets. Also, by providing a dedicated team, ScaleFocus’ specialists can provide flexible budgeting for UPC.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Thanks to ScaleFocus’ experience in delivering advanced nearshore services and managing such engagements, we were able to quickly gain velocity and build a distributed team comprised of UPC and ScaleFocus members. Communication is always direct and open, which helps us quickly build trust and cooperation on both sides.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their developers and designers demonstrated an outstanding level of professionalism and in-depth knowledge of UI/UX development. We’ve had a positive experience of working with ScaleFocus’ team. Professionalism and outstanding results are intrinsic parts of their performance.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’re very happy with the entire engagement. Their team in Bulgaria has shown to us that the work ethic there is probably the closest one to Switzerland when comparing to other nearshore destinations like Portugal or Poland.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m one of the founders of Myosotis. We’re a startup that’s digitizing and bringing transparency to the daily routines and interactions of caregivers, the elderly, and their relatives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

All we had was an idea, so we wanted to find a consulting partner to bring it to life and assist us in implementing the technical part of our solution. Later, we asked them to develop a dedicated mobile app as well.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a sophisticated business analysis so we could better understand what we were facing.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A venture fund referred us to ScaleFocus as a top-notch service provider. After our first introduction call, we knew we were on the right track. Their team had an impressive technical background built on previous experiences with multinational companies and deep know-how of the newest technologies. They displayed an immediate understanding of our business needs and the problem we were trying to solve.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

ScaleFocus guided us through the entire MVP journey. They started with a comprehensive business analysis of our product to help us build the right solution, identify the best product/market fit, test our hypothesis, and determine functional and non-functional requirements to avoid unnecessary engineering hours. They then developed the app using a team of eight specialists. It runs on Android and has a .NET backend system. Connected to nursing homes, caregivers, and relatives, it has a user-friendly interface and can support an expanding feature set.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, a solution architect, a senior business analyst, and eight .NET and Android specialists.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The initial business analysis and design phase gave us a full overview of what we should expect. We used that to launch their MVP, which secured us further funding and a long-term cooperation with one of the leading nursing home providers in Germany.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It was highly effective. ScaleFocus was always available to answer any questions, share ideas for solutions, and keep us informed of development progress. Their team completed everything as per deadlines and supported us with high-quality deliverables.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We owe a great deal of our success to the dedicated work, knowledge, and technical guidance of ScaleFocus. Therefore, we strongly recommend their services to any startup. They offer transparency and in-depth market analysis and assist in defining key milestones. They turned our idea into a reality.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Looking back, both ScaleFocus and we could have performed quicker, but it was our first experience designing and building a custom application. Pivoting during the process actually helped us deliver a better product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of AVIQ Systems, which provides innovative solutions at the point where Internet, digital media, and broadcast television converge. Our portfolio includes set top boxes with a supreme (U)HD viewer experience for live TV, video on demand, and catch-up, as well as a full suite of TV services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

We carefully selected ScaleFocus to establish and operate our R&D center for over-the-top video solutions for content aggregators, distributors, and consumers. This project is a crucial stepping stone in our mission to offer an increasing range of products and services.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to develop and continuously improve our Android products and TV streaming services.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We investigated the possibility of finding a reliable partner. I've worked on a variety of IT outsourcing projects and have substantial experience working in India, Ukraine, and China. Bulgarian software engineers possess a work ethic and sense of quality closest to ours. After interviewing several firms, ScaleFocus stood out. 

Describe the project in detail.

Their engineers and consultants have played a key role in our product development, using advanced methods and providing services of the highest quality. We've collaborated on three major projects.

First, we developed a streaming set top box that includes hardware platform management, low-level Android development, the integration of streaming providers on the backend, performance optimization of both software and hardware, UI and UX development, and frontend streaming.

Second, we set up a hybrid solution unifying cable TV and over the top TV. This solution tailors tokens as a service for cable TV operators, joining IPTV and Iegacy broadcasting technology. There are also soft- and hardware performance optimizers. 

Third, we built a digital rights management platform for live and on-demand content. They integrated Microsoft PlayReady, SmoothStreaming, and VeriMatrix with the set top box. Now our devices allow users to watch live TV, movies, TV shows, and applications like YouTube. Its most prominent features include time-shifting, 14 days of EPG, cloud-based video recording, a video on demand store, and 7-day catchup.

What was the team composition?

We always worked with a senior team lead, and the team size varied between three and 10 people. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

With their help, we could focus on our core business activities and open new distribution channels. This new model of cooperation, built on trust and common goals, encouraged our growth and development. The products and services showed constant market growth.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

To achieve our goals, we used the most advanced communication tools and agile practices. Every team member established those processes and streamlined development. We had a continuous process without disruptions, in which both parties openly exchanged ideas and opportunities. Their engineers provided flexible, custom solutions that perfectly matched our expectations. Despite being a new company during the initial stages of our cooperation, their professional demeanor showed their commitment to common growth. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our work began as a typical customer-contractor engagement. After they far exceeded our expectations, it flourished into a mature partnership and strategic alliance. They have shown unparalleled devotion, punctuality, and willingness to go the extra mile. The technical guidance, knowledge, and capabilities of their internal R&D unit proved that they are the best IT partner for us. Their employees were the most impressive part of our experience.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Their team adapted to our requirements in a timely, adequate manner. Тhey should keep their standards the. We've had issues along the way, but can always discuss them and agree. We're quite happy with our partnership, and we respect their decisions and actions. We will continue to use their services, since they have provided high-quality solutions and became a long-term partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder of JOB CARE, an innovative platform that matches businesses and people with disabilities with employment goals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

We needed a partner who would be able to quickly understand and develop a web portal, which would serve as a mediator between businesses and people with special needs.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goal of the JOB CARE platform is to help Bulgarian businesses attract 120,000 people with disabilities into the labor market. Some of its other goals are to educate and train employees and businesses about how to collaborate for optimal end results.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

JOB CARE was implemented with European funding under Operational Programme Human Resources Development. Thus, we launched a public tender procedure to choose the best candidate for the task. After receiving several applications and carefully reviewing them, we decided ScaleFocus was the most suitable vendor.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The ScaleFocus team successfully delivered the JOB CARE platform, taking into consideration all requirements and implementing all necessary features. They also developed several different modules using the latest technology and following strict security best practices.

The platform facilitates communication between jobseekers and employers using modern, internet-based technologies. End-users have access to a job vacancy database, currently available positions, flexible search capabilities, and different information access channels. The site provides a fast and reliable way to get feedback and establish contact between employees and employers.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a designer, a developer, a QA resource, and a project manager for the whole project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

JOB CARE is a social innovation with the potential to completely transform the reality of disabled people in Bulgaria. Our initiative is gaining momentum, and we can already see the tremendous impact it will have. The site is now live.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The ScaleFocus team delivered the platform as per the agreed deadlines by complying with all requirements and needs. Their team was always there to help and assist by providing know-how and giving advice on how to proceed in certain areas.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

ScaleFocus was able to quickly grasp our needs, make them their own, and gather a team to deliver a finely-tuned platform. We strongly recommend them as a trusted software development partner and thank them for their dedication. We couldn’t have achieved these results without them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Founder and President of I CAN TOO Foundation, an international charity organization supporting children with special needs and their families. We support more than 650 children with special needs and their families and three therapeutic centers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

We needed a partner for web development. As a socially engaged company, ScaleFocus developed our new website pro bono.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a well-functioning web portal to reach our target groups – families with children with special needs, potential donors, volunteers, and other users – and provide them with the information they need.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our supporters recommended ScaleFocus, and we knew they were the right partner once we met with them. Their specialists have great professional experience.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

ScaleFocus familiarized themselves with our work and goals. After we agreed to a plan for the final look and functionality, they formed a team for full-stack development. They built an innovative and user-friendly web platform with an integrated online store.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a UX/UI designer and two frontend developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Visitors to our website can find the information they need. We’ve developed a strong visual identity on our user-friendly platform with an easily navigable online store.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team was always available to answer any question we had and kept us informed on the development progress. Our communication was highly effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

ScaleFocus did what we thought was impossible in rewriting and developing our new website. We strongly recommend them as a partner. They offer professional solutions and provide support with everything they can.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we have only positive experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder and chief revenue officer for Concord, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm focused on providing technology and business solutions in areas such as: digital and user experience; cloud applications and integration; data solutions and analytics; and information security. Our clients are typically Fortune 500 companies across various industries looking to solve complicated business challenges.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

We have partnered with ScaleFocus for complex software development on over 20 projects ranging from niche technologies to business critical cloud applications.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to build and nurture a relationship with a reliable offshore company that would help us provide premium IT services and deliver advanced technology solutions.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Over the years, we tried outsourcing services in the Philippines, India, and parts of Eastern Europe with limited success. Because of their excellent price to quality ratio and top-notch organizational and cultural fit, we now work exclusively with ScaleFocus. Entering the sixth year of our partnership, we continue to share the same general operating model, embrace a similar approach to client management, and value communication above all else.

Describe the project in detail.

Regardless of the project size or scope, every task ScaleFocus embarks on is treated with the same high level of quality and client focus. The team approaches each new initiative with a client-tested process that consists of initial onboarding activities, strong communication, thorough analysis of the central business problem, and strong solutions to resolve issues. 

What was the team composition?

The team composition depends largely on the difficulty and specifications of the project. We have worked with everyone from individual senior consultants to teams of more than 25 engineers. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

As a result of our partnership, our healthcare client realized a 40% improvement in time to market for new solutions. Additionally, our retail customer enjoyed consolidated vendor management across multiple solutions including Apache Camel, Spark, TIBCO, and DevOps.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Because of a mutual emphasis on strong communication and ScaleFocus’ transparent approach to customer service, the workflow between our companies has always been smooth.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

ScaleFocus is our go-to partner for trustworthy offshore development. With high quality and strong communication consistent across the entire team, they ensure we meet our goals on time and to the highest standard. Detail-oriented and focused on outcomes, they are always available and ready to help, in spite of the time difference.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Administrative processes can always be improved, but we work together to streamline our efforts. ScaleFocus offers us a better understanding of Europe, and we give them a better understanding of the United States. Going forward, we expect to take greater advantage of the strengths on both sides.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of software development for Fourth Ltd., a hospitality cost-control solutions provider. We offer cloud-based, propriety platforms and mobile applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ScaleFocus?

We needed highly qualified and experienced web and frontend developers to improve our UX through better web browser and device compatibility.

What were your goals for this project?

Our business’ growth meant we had to expand our technology hub quickly. We wanted to modernize our cloud-based solutions and make them more competitive in the market.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team and I were focused on further developing our software and building business connections so we wanted a partner who could grasp our need and solve it in a timely manner. We researched a few vendors and ScaleFocus the best proposal and a personal approach. Furthermore, the proximity of our offices would make communication and workflow between our teams easy.

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

The first step was to onboard the ScaleFocus specialists, who quickly became familiar with the nature of our business and started executing various software development tasks using frontend technologies like Ember.js. ScaleFocus’ team implemented a microservices-based architecture, breaking our existing logic into small, web, API services based on the ASP.NET Web API framework.

What was the team composition?

We always worked with 10 or more software engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new architecture allowed us to integrate all of our software products into one cloud platform, achieve interoperability, and scale up our hospitality management portfolio. ScaleFocus enhanced our pricing menu’s UX and improved our online payment processes, which enabled direct online payments and brought in higher customer satisfaction rates. They also introduced us to detailed reporting and smart analytics.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The workflow between our teams was flawless. ScaleFocus staffed technology specialists with great professional experience in a short period of time. Their employees joined multiple engineering teams and covered domains which, at that time, required premium contributions. They delivered with passion, excellence, and a tremendous level of engagement.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They turned out to be the best partner to support us in our endeavor. They were able to engage a professional team in a short period of time and develop our cloud-based platform, which let my colleagues and I focus on building business relationships.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

Everything went smoothly during our collaboration so I wouldn’t say that there were any areas for improvement. I’m happy with their overall performance and the results they brought us. If I had to choose again, ScaleFocus would still be my top pick.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the engineering manager of an engineering firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Upnetix JSC?

We have an innovative system for traffic metering, which consists of a device that collects real-time data on the number of vehicles at an intersection at a specific time. We needed a UI for displaying the data and metrics so that traffic engineers can perform their analyses and ultimately optimize traffic. We had a strict deadline and needed a partner that could speed up our product’s delivery.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided basic product guidelines and discussed each task of the project together. It basically was a web-based visualization tool, but we didn’t give them clear-cut requirements because they constantly changed. Their developer supported our internal team in building the frontend using React. The backend was based on Node.js, and the device that extracts data from the intersection involves NET Core technology.

What is the team composition?

They assigned an experienced senior developer that worked at our office most of the time. He had permanent communication with our internal backend and frontend developers.

How did you come to work with Upnetix JSC?

We hired a frontend developer separately, who happened to work at Upnetix JSC. Upon his recommendation, we contacted them for the project. After analyzing several other companies, we decided to go for Upnetix because of their reasonable pricing, which wasn’t the cheapest but it also wasn’t the most expensive.

Besides being responsive, it was also beneficial that we had already hired someone on their team. When we agreed on which developer to pick for the project, we were assured that he was skilled.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from June to July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The developer they assigned is a very nice person and easy to work with.

How did Upnetix JSC perform from a project management standpoint?

We gave the developer a few tasks and explained what the data means and how it needs to be displayed. We communicated with him directly and used Skype whenever he was out of our office.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their cost was reasonable. They also have about 100 developers, which we like for when we need a partner for future projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

At Bosch Software Innovations, we’ve been active in the internet of things (IoT) for nearly ten years. We have 250+ IoT projects in the areas of manufacturing, mobility, energy, smart home, buildings, and cities. I’m a software architect and team lead.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Upnetix JSC?

We have many projects with too few resources to cover all of them. We needed a strong team for an enterprise project, with minimal on-boarding time.

What were your goals for this project?

We had to support, continue to develop, and create a new application using Spring Boot, Hibernate, Oracle DB, RabbitMQ, and others.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did research on the market and chose them based on their experience and cost.

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

Our EffiLink platform offers a secure connection of customer systems to the Bosch Security Systems control room, via the internet or our network BoSiNet. The solution provides remote secure access to a customer device via the platform, as well as condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. In most cases, the platform allows incidents to be fixed and problems with devices predicted without going to the customer side.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team was onboarded for a week and all the issues were resolved on time. The customer happily accepted the new features.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was done on our side.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We had a very good working atmosphere throughout. The team is built with very responsible, qualified, and ambitious young people. The management is also very responsible and supportive.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

The team is effective and does a good job.