Spyrosoft BSG

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of Arribatec. We now have more than 70 employees across six countries. We primarily offer enterprise research planning (ERP) and building information modeling (BIM) digital platform services and development. I have 16-17 years of experience building ERPs for people-centric organizations and adding development onto that core product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Better Software Group?

We hired Better Software Group to develop an engagement management solution. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our company designed the entire solution and handed over detailed specifications to Better Software Group. We had several discussions about the scope and made changes and improvements based on their useful input. Their role encompassed the entire development, testing, and validation of our product. They delivered all the materials before we started the launch internally.

Better Software Group is continuing to work on the UX and UI. They’re focused on understanding the solution, process, and the usage from the customer perspective, which has yielded interesting findings.

What is the team composition? 

We primarily worked with two of the ten resources from their team who were involved with delivering our solution. This was quite a big project for us. It took around 8,000-9,000 hours of work. 

How did you come to work with Better Software Group?

We searched the market for a team to give us extra development capacity. We ended up selecting Better Software Group, which is currently owned by former managers of Unit4's R&D development hub in Poland. Not many groups have experience using Unit4 Business World (UBW) as the ERP system. They have an interesting way of combining general development tools with UBW-specific competence.  

We initiated a dialogue to assess their ability to help us develop specific solutions. They had the necessary .net and web development skill in addition to the product competence we were searching for. They seemed like a valuable partner, especially based on reliable references for building mobile solutions.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $200,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2015 and concluded our project in October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our first success was selling the software they delivered to a large German engineering company. As we build the entire digital platform, Better Software Group's deliverable will serve as the frontend solution for all 1,800 employees. More than 1,000 users are already in the system. That customer is pleased with our solution because we’ve continued extending it further. Regardless of which system they use in the process, everything is accessed through our platform. We should be able to capitalize on this further as we continue developing it together.

How did Better Software Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a biweekly status meeting about our progress. The entire system is divided into five or six main deliverables. As we conducted prereleases of each part of the solution, we tested or partially tested each component internally before the corporate user acceptance testing (UAT). 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is smart and technically skilled, but I most value their approach. Rather than taking all our ideas for granted, they genuinely engage in the design process. They’ve challenged us to improve several aspects of the solution, especially the UX/UI.

Better Software Group’s high level of engagement has added significant value to our solution. They always help us find the best approach, even when it requires more effort and complexity from their side. We benefitted from their perspective throughout the process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Some of the estimates seemed a bit high, but their arguments seemed reasonable when I questioned them about it. Smaller teams can be more efficient in the long run, if you’re willing to accept a longer time to market.

The time and effort could be slightly more efficient, but I also appreciate that they didn't just start writing the code right away. They took the time to understand our business, the solution, and its design. This extra time could seem negative from a cost perspective but was positive in the long run. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They were generally on track with our expectations and the pricing and output. I don't see any real risks related to working with them. If you have a flexible, agile, open, and fair contract, they will definitely deliver on your expectations. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of NorthStar Battery. We provide energy storage solutions for different applications such as telecom, UPS, Transportation, and ESS (Engine Storage Systems).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Better Software Group?

We work on a global basis, and we’ve been developing our business beyond traditional battery and storage-solutions to also include wireless battery management. As part of our transformation, we’ve launched a concept called NorthStar ACE (Advanced Connected Energy). Within it are elements based on different mobile applications. Given that our traditional business is hardware-oriented, we needed to find a partner to support us in managing all of our software needs going forward.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

BSG has been developing an iOS and Android application for our Transportation segment. The first project consisted of 4-5 different sprints.

Our hardware and firmware contain a small BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) chip that’s integrated into the batteries. It sends signals to smart devices, providing measured data on the battery’s voltage and temperature. BSG was tasked to develop the full Bluetooth® communication interface and a component for performing additional calculations around the battery’s state of charge and state of health.

In addition, they created the full user interface for the guest and authenticated user modes, along with customized versions for our customers. In total, twenty different screens display information about battery health and status. BSG has supported with inputs on cosmetic changes to the app and also to the functionalities.

What is the team composition?

They assigned two teams—one for the iOS and one for the Android version of the app. In total, we’ve worked with 5–6 developers and a project manager since the beginning. The project teams are in touch daily or every other day. The team size should remain constant going forward.

How did you come to work with Better Software Group?

I found them on Clutch. I was looking for partners in Eastern Europe and contacted 2-3 potential vendors. We had a good intro session with BSG where we set up the fundamentals for the collaboration—everything from technical details to project management and commercial aspects. Following that, we made some reference calls, created an agreement, and launched the first project scope. Everything was concluded fast and efficiently.

We’d identified a few local vendors and 7–8 other candidates on Clutch, but I appreciated how BSG was both responsive and informative. BSG had good references in Scandinavia, which confirmed their establishment in our market.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with BSG in September 2017. The first release was done just before the new year, and we’ll release a second version by the end of March 2018.

We have plans for their team to work on other applications. We foresee working with BSG for anything related to mobile application or general software development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

BSG has developed an interim release, meant for internal and external piloting. It’s available on the App Store and Google Play, but it hasn’t been officially launched or promoted by us yet. After the second release in March 2018, we’ll start building success cases.

Everyone who’s used or tested the current app is happy with its functionality, look and feel, and response time. I haven’t had any negative feedback.

How did Better Software Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve generally performed well. During our reference checks, we’ve talked about the importance of quality management, including anything from small spelling errors to bugs. We brought it up early on, and they’ve assigned a quality control manager to both teams which has worked very well.

BSG has shown a lot of drive, willingness, and dedication. They’re fully invested in our project. There have been some delays, but BSG has worked overtime on weekends, still maintain the defined budget limits. There are some small improvements to be made in terms of scheduling, but overall, they’re very good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated the business flexibility outside of the actual app development. When it comes to commercial discussions or pushing the team to be ready sooner, BSG has shown a lot of customer orientation. We’ve shortened some deadlines, but they were able to accommodate us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If anything, there are still some smaller improvements to make in quality management. The current level is good, but taking that final step will make them an optimal partner for anyone looking for a highly cost-efficient and well-functioning software partner.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

We spent quite a lot of time on the early work—defining the scope and terms of commercial setups and expectations. BSG was happy to do this, so we spent a lot of time reviewing specs and made sure we understood each other. I don’t know how we would’ve performed without this, but we’ve been successful after doing it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m Stig Kjonstad, the Chairman of the Board at Arribatec. As a solutions provider, we develop and resell software and offer related services. We work mainly on the European market, with headquarters in Norway and smaller operations in Sweden, Poland, and Spain.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Better Software Group?

We work closely with UNIT4, a private equity company owned by Advent International in the U.S. We needed a digital work platform outside of their legal intellectual property rights, which could be synchronized with their transactional systems.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Better Software Group worked as our development partner to program and test ERP software. We handled the design and architecture internally. A bridge between our team and their key R&D staff helped facilitate scrum and weekly coaching activities. We provided scopes and explained our goals for the software’s applications and integrations. They executed all the fundamental development, and assisted with UX and UI.

We took an opportunity approach to our project. Our key product was the digital work platform, which functions as a process engine. We also created a CRM system with an engagement module that hosts software from various windows. As a management tool, engineering software companies can use it in forecasting.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two owners, Bartek Lozia and Slawomir Piwko, and a team of seven developers. If we experience success with this project, Better Software Group may be able to recruit more staff in the long term.

How did you come to work with Better Software Group?

I’d known both the owners from our work together at UNIT4 from 2010-2013, while I was a regional manager. When they started Better Software Group, their skill and cost levels made them a great choice for our new development partner.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent €200,000 ($237186) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together two years ago, in late 2015. Our engagement is ongoing, and we’ve split our teams at this point. They’re focusing on mobile app development while we work on ERP.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

From a business perspective, our key success has been selling this product to a couple of major customers. Now that the platform is completed, we can synthesize it with different systems and integrations. We've received very positive feedback from users of the software, and hope to make more sales in the coming months.

The software is good quality, although bugs are inevitable. We used a first release system, where versions will progress (0, 1.0, 1.1 etc) as we work to improve the product. They have a strong quality assurance program that provides testing and customer support.

How did Better Software Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We focused on customer control, while they handled R&D and programming project management. A local manager coached the team and functioned as our key contact. He spearheaded tasks, delegated work, and collected reports to share with us.

As the chairman, I'm not directly involved in the development process. Regardless, we had consistent communication, including daily dialogues and biweekly meetings. We used Jira, a quality and support tool, along with SharePoint for documentation.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re friendly, hardworking, and dedicated. We found it easy to discuss software, and they delivered a high-quality work product. The relationship was beneficial from a cost perspective. We could have outsourced this work to another country like India, but being in the same time zone made it convenient to work together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their language skills; they weren’t as comfortable with English, which is common for Polish developers. The key manager had a high level of proficiency, but the normal programmers were not at the same level. This mostly impacted our business dialogue; we had few problems communicating about the software system.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Director of Development at publio.pl, an internet bookstore belonging to Agora S.A. offering over 28,000 e-books, 2,700 audiobooks, and 350 press titles to our customers. We sell various types of literature: science, education, and self-help. Press consumers can choose from a broad variety of Polish top press magazines with “Gazeta Wyborcza”, “Polityka” and “Logo” among them.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What were your goals for this project?

Publio.pl and Orange wanted to create a brand new mobile application enabling readers to access books and magazines in a fast and comfortable way. The application would have Publio’s full list of titles and special offers. We wanted it to be available for download on tablets and smartphones, integrated with the user's phone number.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I knew them from previous work with them. They're a reliable and trustworthy company with whom I have implemented several other projects. A few years ago they developed a mobile app for us on iOS, Android, and Windows systems. They have experience in handling epub files, displaying them in an application, and can design modern applications. The cost of project realization and timeline were also important considerations in our choice.

Describe the project in detail.

This project with BSG started at the end of April 2017. We started with an analysis of our business needs, in attempt to evaluate the project. After that, we signed the contract. Negotiations lasted for several days. BSG prepared the documentation, cost estimate and timeline. It was important for us to know the costs before starting, so we agreed on a fixed price. During the work, there were several changes, which we paid for according to the contract rate.

The next step was creating mockups, that was done quickly and efficiently, within in a few days. The mockups had to be approved by both Publio and Orange. The next step was to design the graphics for phones and tablets, after a few interactions and discussions, we finished the graphic design. It took about 2-3 weeks, as Orange has a very demanding legal department that made many changes on pages where customers leave personal information as name, telephone number. They had no comments on the graphics themselves. BSG designed the logo and proposed a color scheme for the application, in line with Orange's guidelines. It was great design and UX work overall.

The next step was programming the application. Our testers played an important role by reporting errors to be quickly removed before launch. The process was complicated because BSG used APIs that were created at the same time in another company. The tricky thing was that the application was made in July and August and some of the developers had planned vacations. In spite of this, they finished work in early September 2017

What was the team composition?

We were given a Senior Project Manager, a UX Designer, a Senior Android Developer, and few Junior Developers and Testers. The size of the team was adjusted to the needs of the project at any given time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application has been downloaded several thousand times. It is bringing in revenue and we are happy with the result.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicated through Jira and had teleconferences once a week. Our communication was efficient.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are very strong at UX, graphic design, application design, and knowledge of current trends. They have impressive creativity, quick problem solving, and time management. It's good value for the quality of work done.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We could have spent more time analyzing business expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of Travelplanet, one of the largest online travel agencies in Poland. We are a member of a national group, Invia. The group operates in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. We have our own internet portal that customers use to choose which packages or tickets work best for them. We support all of the business via our call center, although we also have a few physical points of service located across the country.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Better Software Group?

We are in the tourism industry, so we do half of our yearly turnover in one quarter during the summer. Because of this, we had a very short time in between our high seasons. That’s why we needed external support that already had knowledge of what we were doing. We have our own team, but we made the decision to make a bigger, more ambitious CMS that could record all our data. We had already incorporated Better Software on a variety of different projects for our ticket business, which is on our main travel website. Afterwards, we discussed getting help from Better Software in our R&D work for the new CMS. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the CMS, we started with the project scope and what we wanted to achieve. After that, our core team evaluated the expected delivery time, but realized that we wouldn’t be able to finish before the next high season. That’s why we went back to Better Software with the idea of what we wanted to achieve from a bigger perspective and what our technical plan was. Better Software Group created their own team to join our internal team. We had the understanding that, after the project, the CMS maintenance would be transfered to our core team. It was an especially complicated project because we launched the new CMS simultaneously with a new Salesforce platform on our website, a new search engine, and  profit processing automation.

How did you come to work with Better Software Group?

We asked for proposals from a few companies. It was important for us to use a Warsaw-based company that had the skills we wanted. We checked references and then chose Better Software Group. They promised to create a team of high level of coders and to deliver everything on time. They had resources, knowledge, references, and the price was competitive. Better Software is located in Warsaw and we were sure that contact would be easier with the option to physically meet. 

How much have you invested with them?

We paid 110K for the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2015 and finished in February 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We went live in March 2016, which was our last chance to test the platform and solve any issues before high season. For us, it was very good quality and was successful based on simply being a nicer website. With all the changes, our revenue increased over 30% year on year. The CMS was one of the most important parts of this project and I’m sure the results are due to the additional team members we brought on. It has helped internal processing, and was definitely a smart decision for Travelplanet. Everything success connected to the new website project is partially thanks to Better Software.

How did Better Software Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Jira internally. It was very easy for our team to cooperate with them because they run their projects well and use the same tools.  

They provided 5 full-time people, sometimes adding dedicated specialists to help with deeper, dedicated tasks. I only met with them once a month, but our core team and their team were in contact every day. They had daily Scrum meetings sometimes physically in our branch and sometimes on Skype. Their team worked very close, almost hand in hand, with our core team. From a project management perspective, it was like having one big coding team working on a project without any problems. In the end, all development was finished on time and met our expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Usually IT projects are delivered a little bit late and off budget due to changes in the scope, so I was surprised when the product was finished by the deadline, with the budget in line with what we had agreed. It was impressive.  They pushed our internal team to compete on the timeline; they delivered on time, and so we delivered on time too.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could present themselves more objectively because they base themselves on the assumption that they are very good. They have the right people and the right methodology, as well as success working in the market. Therefore, they could be more aggressive on marketing aspects to attract more customers.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company deploys Unit4 ERP systems. We provide project managers, analysts and consultants who handle the deployments. I am the CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Better Software Group?

We needed to create a tool for better-managing the schedule of our consultants. We were using the same ERP data system which we deploy to customers, for resource management, but it requires access to a computer, which makes it difficult to use for consultants, while they are out of the office. We started looking for a mobile solution, and, since our team is using iPhones and Apple Watches, we decided to develop a tool which could display the schedule of consultants, and allow us to monitor the status of tasks. We don’t have any iOS resources inhouse, and started looking in our market for a partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Better Software Group has developed our iOS app. We can synchronize the tool with our task calendar. It helps us update information about our progress.

How did you come to work with Better Software Group?

I asked my contacts and made some research on the Polish market, looking for a company with good iOS products in its portfolio, and which could work on our budget and timeline. This was our first time working with an external iOS vendor.

How much have you invested with Better Software Group?

Our budget was €20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Better Software Group in the beginning of 2016, around March. The project finished in May of that year, after a 3-4-month process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has been working well for us, and we’ve started selling it to clients as well.

How did Better Software Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We did keep track of the schedule, but I couldn’t say exactly how many days the development took. We never had communication problems. We could schedule meetings with their project manager, and we received updates about the status of the project. I was in contact only with their project manager and architect, so I’m not sure how many developers were involved.

What did you find most impressive about Better Software Group?

The tool they created has allowed us to better manage tasks in our company. I can easily check which tasks are being addressed by consultants, and it makes it easier for employees to check their own calendar while working on-site with clients.

Are there any areas Better Software Group could improve?

The cost could always be lower for me, as a client, but they delivered on time, and I received exactly what I needed. The scope was realized, and everything was done within budget.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

Polskapresse Publishing Group is the largest publisher in Poland, and is the leader in regional and local markets. Social media helps our company track readers and their thoughts and issues. Polskapresse Group actively develops its internet presence. 

Our information services more than 9.5 million unique visitors to various media sites for news and TV. All of our services yield more than 8 million unique views per month, and constitutes almost one-third of all Web traffic in Poland. Polskapresse Publishing Group is owned by Verlagsgruppe Passau, a German media group active in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. 

What is your role and responsibilities?

My role during the project was to be project manager. I was responsible for collecting requirements, preparing software requirement specifications, planning application user flow, preparing first version of mock-ups, consulting back-end specification, building project teams, negotiating contracts with developers, making a consulting and marketing plan, managing the project, and reporting to the brand manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for the work with JOJO Mobile?

Our main target was to deliver current users more convenient, mobile ways of access to our real estate offers database. 

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of JOJO Mobile's work.

After analysis of the current internet traffic data in dom.gratka.pl, we decided to prepare a native Android application. 

What was your process for selecting JOJO Mobile?

Software requirement specifications and initial mockups were prepared by my team. JOJO Mobile was our developer and was chosen based on previous experience, a very good cooperation history, and their competitive pricing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

The application is clearly meeting consumer need. All KPIs are successful for this project. The project was completed on time and on budget. It's clearly a success for both sides. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of Product of Nordisk Film+

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide a streaming service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Better Software Group to accomplish?

• Develop all applications for our customers
• Be experts in streaming applications
• Make user friendly solutions

SOLUTION

How did you find Better Software Group?

Referral

Why did you select Better Software Group over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Better Software Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Brand new streaming applications for for WEB, iOS, Android, AppleTV, AndroidTV, Samsung and LG.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Various things as error rate monitoring, app ratings, load performance and amount of customers on our service.

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

The project timeline was met, and the communication was very good. They were very agile and meeting our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Better Software Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The always give an extra effort when needed.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Better Software Group could have done differently?

Some quality assurance could improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of the company. 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

TV media

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Better Software Group to accomplish?

• TV app

SOLUTION

How did you find Better Software Group?

Referral

Why did you select Better Software Group over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Better Software Group were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

-

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Phases

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

They delivered on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Better Software Group?

Virtual Meeting

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

They deliver

Are there any areas for improvement or something Better Software Group could have done differently?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was working as OTT Project Manager for the Canal+ Poland, one of major pay TV platform operator in Poland

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Better Software Group?

OTT platform backend, frontend development and systems integration. The goal was to demonstrate vendor ability to perform the challenging Time To Market business requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Yes

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Proof of Concept ott service with application for WWW, Android and iOS

What was the team composition?

PM, IT Analytics, UX Designers, Backend developers, Frontend developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It proved the validity of the new business approach

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

According to the Prince methodology and it was effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

High level of competence based on experience of similar projects

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not this time