TAKY IT Systems (Out of Business)

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of Grenade HUB. We specialize in outsourcing IT Specialists for remote work. We've built a network of more than 800 partner companies

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TAKY IT Systems?

We needed to support a client in improving a dedicated and sizable cross-platform application. The project helps users create presentations with a new level of UX, as well as many innovative functionalities.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We work in the same city as TAKY, so I’ve heard about their services’ high level of quality. After the initial meeting, we decided to begin a collaboration.

Describe the project in detail.

The project is based on Microsoft’s latest library solutions regarding the processing of text, video and images.

What was the team composition?

The Team from TAKY closely cooperated with the customer, even working directly in their office. Their developers supplemented the customer’s own development team and they adapted well, working efficiently under the leadership of the customer’s team leader.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The customer wanted to frequently update their application with various new features, and TAKY was a great help in accomplishing that ahead of schedule.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team closely cooperated with the customer, and the customer’s in-house team greatly appreciated the TAKY team’s development leader. They used the Agile methodology to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

TAKY was invaluable, not only in implementing a great number of new features to the customer’s applications, but doing so in a shorter time than estimated. The team showed a lot of initiative, inventiveness, and investment in their work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

TAKY should think about expanding their team so that they would be able to help us with multiple projects simultaneously.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of operations of an ad-tech company that focuses on the travel experience. We add value to "lost" travel time by engaging passengers during their journey from one place to another. At the moment, we focus on the taxi market.

I'm responsible for the execution of campaigns, the roll-out of our hardware solutions within the network of taxi vehicles, and the contact with our drivers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TAKY IT Systems?

We needed a tailor-made content aggregation platform as an essential part of our CabTab interface. On the backend, we required an extensive dashboard for the retention, processing, and securing of data obtained on passengers, drivers, and advertisement campaigns.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to maximize our efficiency and comply with the General Data Protection Regulations and privacy laws. We also needed to automate the hardware buy-in systems, our campaign planning and execution processes, and the registration and installation of vehicles as part of our framework for international and national expansion.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our financial director knew this company and introduced us to each other, knowing that they could meet our requirements with their extensive skills and industry knowledge.

Describe the project in detail.

Cabture uses highly digitalized and data-driven screens that revolutionize visitors’ experiences, providing customized and readily available information. Our interface consists of a content aggregator that displays touristic information and offers based on location proximity and time.

The tool also allows others institutions to interact with their visitors. For example, hotels can use it to thank their guests or airlines can provide a place for online check-in while passengers are on their way to the airport, as well as provide traveler advice or boarding gate information.

We’re especially active in the taxi industry at the moment. The CabTab engages, entertains, and informs travelers while also helping taxi organizations to allocate their resources more efficiently through the recollection of data. It can ultimately help companies acquire new customers and differentiate themselves. The processed data aids with machine learning to better predict consumer behavior. It also facilitates data-driven advertising to ensure that you’re targeting the right passengers at the right time.

What was the team composition?

Our team is growing fast, however, its core consists of five members who structure and manage the rest. Everyone is more or less familiar with our software, depending on their tasks and job descriptions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

We try to collect as much data as possible for our advertisers in order to measure the effectiveness and reach of their campaigns. We can measure the number of clicks and views of a certain campaign during a specific period or in a specific area.

The onboard Screen & Wi-Fi technology not only collects passenger data but also information about the vehicle/trip activity, e.g. the number of kilometers driven, number of trips made, speed, etc. The platform can be extended with monitoring modules and sensor technology in order to measure different variables that are of relevance for the fleet owner, such as tire pressure, fuel consumption, and more.

Right now, our interface collects all the GPS/trip data across the entire vehicle network, enabling a heat mapping interface that can be accessed by every single driver, showing them where the concentration of other vehicles is as well as the average waiting time per district. It has a positive impact on the optimization of taxi traffic, reduction of congestion and pollution, and more.

How effective was the project management?

This aspect has been effective although intense as the project has required lots of communication, feedback loops, and scope evaluations. The process is becoming more and more efficient every day and our methods of collaboration and communication are being optimized at every stage.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

TAKY showed a lot of engagement from day one. Their team is dedicated and delivers a high-quality work to the smallest details. They’ve shown their flexibility and patience to a large extent while complying with our needs and requests.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

We do have some communication issues here and there, but it stems mainly from our side because we tend to miss deadlines due to our busy schedule. I would like TAKY to take more initiative or be more direct in guiding us, as it can be a bit difficult for us to deliver and translate our thoughts and needs into something they can work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of software called Virtual Safety Management System [VSMS]. I have a background in safety management, risk management, flight management in aviation, and navigation services in Poland. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TAKY?

A couple of years ago, I decided to start my own project. It’s a safety management tool that consists of 30 modules for different purposes. The goal is to help businesses and organizations.

I started with my own team, but there was a need for the team to grow and I was looking for a company that could continue my project, which was already in progress.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re focusing on aviation, but the idea is to help safety management, quality management, and managing processes. We have modules for occurence analysis, for data presentation, reporting, audit management, gap analysis, and many more. 

My role is to specify and design from the user’s perspective of the software. They take the user stories and make them into certain requirements. They also help consult me in providing best practices in software development and do testing. Communicating it from the user’s perspective with the software development can be challenging sometimes. They do an amazing job.

We used Python and Django frameworks, and over the time we had to migrate to the latest versions. We also use Jira.

What is the team composition? 

There are 3 from their management and several developers. Talking to directly to developers isn’t a good idea because I’m not an IT person. I have a point of contact who helps me communicate what I want to their developers. 

How did you come to work with TAKY?

I needed a company that would work with me on this project as I’m implementing my software in one of the biggest aviation search and rescue companies in eastern Europe. I’m very lucky to have found them at an IT event in Warsaw.

How much have you invested with them?

Around $30,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2017 and the work is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m really happy with how the software was developed. The quality is amazing. I hardly find any bugs. Compared to what we started with, this is a huge improvement. 

How did TAKY perform from a project management standpoint?

We work Agile. They’re located in Warsaw, which is 850 kilometers from my location so we communicate remotely. It’s either screen sharing, WebEx, or by phone and email. The communication is really great and we’re in constant contact. They stick to the terms and dates and they deliver. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m very happy with our relationship. They are doing an amazing job when we work together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see any areas that need improvement. I’m very happy.