teonite

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a digital platform manager for a political research company. We publish five articles each day about politics and economics, as well as global issues like security and EU politics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

We were looking for a firm that could develop a mobile app for iOS and Android.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted our app to contain our analysis and information from meetings as well as briefings. They developed the app to connect to our CMS and our database. Once the app is downloaded, the user can get the media and analysis that the company puts together.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a product owner from their side, as well as one iOS developer and one Android developer.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

They worked with our parent company, who had a good experience with them. I wasn’t with the company when the work began.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May–November 2016. We continue to work with them on updates and maintenance of the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received some positive feedback from users. We don’t have a lot of users because we are paywalled, and the price is quite high. Out of about 1,000 users, 25% of those are using our app, and they’re quite happy with both the iOS and Android versions.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re open and communicative. There have been some delays, but we’ve been to blame for those. We use YouTrack and Basecamp for issue tracking and project management, and we use a Scrum method.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We also work with a Polish company who has to coordinate with TEONITE. Everything has gone well. To compare TEONITE with the other company, I would say that TEONTE is more understanding and pays more attention to details.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could maybe communicate their needs a bit better when it comes to IT or programming requirements from their side.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Include TEONITE in the early stages of the project. It can very helpful, and everything will go smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

TechSoup is a nonprofit international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provides technical support and technological tools to other nonprofits. TechSoup's office in Warsaw works with European partners of TechSoup. My role is to manage Program and Opeartions in the European region.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TEONITE?

We hired TEONITE to co-design with us and build a content base platform. The platform had to be integrated with an existing e-commerce platform.

What were your goals for this project?

Main business goal of this project is to support TechSoup mission by providing intuitive and simple portal, where NGOs can find relevant knowledge and buy necessary software and hardware for their operations.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We knew Teonite's projects from other organizations. We've checked the market, got three different offers and decided to go with Teonite, based on the offer, their approach towards our challenge and clear communication on what we can expect.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

TEONITE designed and built a content base platform integrated with an existing e-commerce platform. The platform is based on custom recommendation engine, linking knowledge base with a product catalog.

TEONITE started to work with us by organizing a worshop to identify our business requirements. Then we've received a first version of a document decscribing the platform functionalites.

TEONITE started to work with us using IT PM tools, checking on every new function delivery and adjusting it when needed. At the end of the work, we've made testing together and fixed all bugs. The other part of our contract was monthly maintnance of the platform.

What was the team composition?

Two people from TechSoup's side worked on the project (Project Manager and Director) and from TEONITE's site: Product Owner, Senior Consultant, 4x Senior Developer, 2 Senior Graphic Designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The immediate result of the project was positive reactions of our clients-non profits of a new look of the website. The platform has helped us to structure information and present it in a clear way. Non-profits received a place where they can easily browse information and look for products, tools they need.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

PM was efficent. We used a PM online tool to track progress, report issues, communicate on specific requirements and parts of development.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I think the most impressive was the agility of their approach towards our project and finding ways to get out of issues appearing during the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are always areas for improvement. The TEONITE team has extensive knowledge of information technology and web development. The other side had less of that knowledge. This disproportion showed at the end of the project, where something was assumed by one side and not taken into account by the other side.

It is very difficult to show to a client all of the options client has, but we think it is crucial for overall success of the project. So for me, it was about communication - which could be improved, but not the frequency of it, but rather on substantial issues.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a construction technology company. We provide a platform for construction sites that allows users to share information and run processes online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

We needed someone to help us develop the new version of our web application. Our internal team had already overhauled the UI and wrote most of the code, but we were short of people and needed a development partner to help us fill that gap.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TEONITE took over part of the application, which they developed using the React framework. In the later stage, they also took over the product owner role and had some contact with stakeholders. They’ve specified some tasks on their own and even did part of the design.

What is the team composition?

TEONITE provides an agile team, including a product owner, four developers, and one QA person. There is also someone with UX expertise on the team.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

A coworker knew someone from TEONITE and recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent €400,000 (approximately $446,300 USD) on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We specified the general outline of the work we expected, and they’ve matched it quite well.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via Jira and video conferencing. They are quite autonomous and always delivered on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re eager to solve problems. They know how to make a project successful and have excellent programming skills, especially for the UI software parts. They’re quite focused on what you want.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The TEONITE team had some difficulties understanding our complex application, but this is normal. They also needed to learn how to work with the stakeholders on our side. It has been a bit difficult because our stakeholders are in Germany while TEONITE is in Poland. It would be great if they could do this more to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important that you have close contact with them. Integrate them into your team and try to stay in touch. They have a lot of expertise, so use that and ask them early on if you have any changes in mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of GASTROFIX GmbH, a POS company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

We needed help with automation testing for our POS application in the context of surrounding applications. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TEONITE has provided the actual implementation and infrastructural knowledge we need in order to carry out testing successfully. The Python-based implementation of the testing also integrated with iOS apps.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we had a project lead that worked closely with us and the team was nicely integrated with our in-house people. Over time, it has turned into a close collaboration with our internal development efforts.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

We had a working relationship with them at the time that involved other projects.

How much have you invested in them?

We have invested around €100,000 (approximately $109,799 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them on this project in March 2018 and the collaboration is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to significantly reduce the time it took to do software releases. Initially, it would take us took four to six months, and we can now do a release every month because of the automation we have in place with TEONITE.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication has been good. We’ve been using the usual Google Suite and our own existing Jira ticketing system for managing the sprints and other things.

What did you find most impressive about them?

TEONITE is a highly qualified vendor.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. There’s nothing they should improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend giving them air to breathe in terms of designing things. Incorporate them into the creative side and don’t treat them as just a workforce for designs because they can also provide really good input into the design of a product as well as the technology.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief product officer of Qvistorp. We’re a software company developing an analytics software/business support system. We designed and produced it ourselves, and we commercialize it to blue chip companies in Europe.

I’m the chief product officer of Qvistorp. We’re a software company developing an analytics software/business support system. We designed and produced it ourselves, and we commercialize it to blue chip companies in Europe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

For our first four and a half years, TEONITE was our outsourced technology arm. We have our own tech team now, but we’re still a startup.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We outsourced all our technology and R&D to TEONITE. That meant they handled all of our development and gave us some input on the product development side, recommending a technology stack consisting of Python and AngularJS. They also covered our UI/UX design.

What is the team composition?

I was the only link between our company and their product team, serving as the product owner. They provided a project manager for a while, after which I stepped into that role. The team changed over time, but there were 2–3 people present throughout the project. At peak, we worked with 8–9 people, who came and went at different times.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

There was a lot of data crunching involved, so we were looking for a tech team with data science skills. I found them through a recommendation in our network and decided to go with them after the first meetings.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €700,000 (approximately $790,000 USD).

What is the status of the engagement? 

We worked with them between May 2016–April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were a solid and reliable team, really engaged in doing more than a regular contractor would be obliged. They exceeded our expectations during certain critical moments, while providing a lot of interesting ideas throughout. They supported our product roadmap and suggested features and changes in the tool.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

They were good in this respect, and I have nothing to complain about. I’d definitely recommend them when it comes to consistency and reliability. They brought in QTRAK as a management platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provided an R&D/technology department in one package, which was unique and meant that they covered all our technology needs. They delved into substantial things like data crunching, which came with ease.

Overall, I really enjoyed working with them. It’s not very common for a contractor to meet or exceed the formal terms of the collaboration, so I believe they treated this project as their own.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything negative to say.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

They have an experienced and advanced team. If a project is something simple, a cheaper alternative could probably be found, but for challenging, unique, or demanding work, TEONITE is the place to call.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We trade cryptoassets using quantitative and statistical techniques based on a cloud-based stack using a modern microservice architecture.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire TEONITE?

We needed development of a web-based dashboard for external investors to monitor our trading performance.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted our dashboard to be flexible for future add-ons, e.g. new statistics, and we wanted to use standard tools to avoid custom development later on. We also wanted it to have an accessible UI.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them based on a recommendation.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They developed our web-based framework, including a handful of standard web pages and graphical tools based on our markups, and interface with our statistics service based on GRCP.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a product manager and a lead developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The dashboard completed our system setup with a client interface. They performed very well against our expectations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They worked in weekly sprints and we held review meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They completed their tasks with a quick turnaround. They also had deep knowledge of the stack and tools used.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re very satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a freelance software engineer and I have one main client at the moment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

Our client had a high-profile project and we were short on internal teammates. We hired TEONITE to help supply strong software engineers and other resources for the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TEONITE developed a web-based platform for our client. Their developers built the platform to host a shared digital media library in one location. They assisted us in building the API services, and the back-office tools. Their team used AWS and Django Python to develop the systems.

What is the team composition?

They provided a full set of resources throughout the project, which fluctuated depending on the needs of the project.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

I had worked with the CEO of TEONITE in the past and trusted their capabilities.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost between $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April 2016–March 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They gave us the resources necessary to complete the project. Because of their dedication to finishing the project, I gained a new customer who was impressed with our success. Additionally, the platform earned significant traffic and continued to run smoothly while being migrated.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams were spread out over several locations, but we were able to sync our phone calls and meetings. We used Jira and Skype, and had daily standups that worked for all teammates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism stands out above all—regardless of the situation, they were easy to work with. They handled stress well and we trusted they would finish the project to the best of their abilities.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Though our side could have better communicated our expectations, there’s nothing TEONITE could have done better.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Being as open and upfront as possible with the TEONITE team will help ensure they can provide it. Honesty was the key in this working relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m head of the unit B2B department at T-Mobile Poland. I’m responsible for new business development and innovation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

We hired them to help work on our data-driven and monetization strategies. They also help us examine use cases that could bring additional value to our customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked with them on a number of projects to help us evaluate our telecom data. In one case, we ran a project for internal stakeholders who’re responsible for our B2C points of sale and branch locations. The other project was for large fast food chains.

TEONITE helped us implement different machine learning models in order to locate relevant patterns in the data that could predict which customers would buy our services, as well as their motivations for doing so. We’d then use those calculations to make business decisions, such as where to open a new store for internal customers.

For each project, we started off with discovery workshops involving internal stakeholders and external vendors. We identified what kind of data we were seeking and tried to identify significant variables. Next, we provided aggregate data for TEONITE to cleanse and process. There was a lot of back and forth between their team and ours to ensure the data was complete and consistent. Once we had results, we experimented to see if the patterns made sense with consumer behavior.

After we had a working model, TEONITE helped us build an application that could estimate the accuracy of our different machine learning algorithms. It’s able to handle hundreds of variables and analyze years’ worth of data. Once they got us a working forecast model, we used to provide additional insights to our internal staff and partner organizations.

What is the team composition?

I worked with their CTO, a project coordinator, and a data scientist, who was responsible for implementing the algorithms. Several other people also worked on the project, but I didn’t interact with them directly.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

I’m not really sure how we came across them. We’re involved in a networking organization for startups, so it’s possible that’s how we got in touch. Once we met them, it was clear that they could offer us a lot of value.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project officially ran from January–June 2018, but we also handled presales and business development prior to the official start date.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Prior to running this project, our business decisions were only 30% effective based on the way we used to analyze data. Since starting, we’ve seen significant improvement in our data, operations, and level of customer satisfaction. We’re still in the process of assessing the impact of these projects. We’ve run a sample, but it takes about 12 months for an activity to play out so that we can see if it’s effective.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

We used more of an Agile approach, so it was hard to create exact estimates for them to follow. That said, we had a fixed budget and some deadline limitations. They worked well around these parameters and the communication was excellent.  Our requirements frequently varied and we’d discuss changes every two weeks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They managed the project well and delivered excellent customer service. They communicate openly, which is important when working with large B2B companies. We have over 5,000 employees and it’s critical that everyone receives the right information in order to move forward on a project like this. TEONITE always tried to deliver the best possible service, even going above and beyond what was required by our contract.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a startup, so they’re a small company without a lot of processes. While this can be a good thing, it seemed like there was some tension and employee turnover due to personality conflicts. This is a typical part of the growth process, but it was a bit too visible to us and harms their professionalism.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Not at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

We’re often faced with integration challenges when developing projects or licensing our products to clients. We needed an external firm to help us scale up an integration project and develop custom components.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TEONITE augmented our existing development staff to build a web platform. They worked alongside our software architect to complete assigned programming tasks. We outlined the programming strategy for the backend system and had their team fill in the details. As a result, the backend was written in Python. The frontend was built using React and we granted them more autonomy in that effort.

The final product is a cloud-based digital movie store where users can download, stream, or purchase physical copies of films. The platform hosts a lot of integrations with third-party services to perform functions like tax calculation and secure product delivery. They stayed involved with the project after launch to provide maintenance and support as needed.

What is the team composition?

An assigned team lead was our primary point of contact. He organized their business analysts, front- and backend developers, and designers.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

They were recommended for this project by our engineering lead.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent just over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working them in January 2017. The platform launched in November 2017, but we kept TEONITE on retainer until January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

TEONITE’s involvement in this project helped dramatically reduce the platform’s operating cost. It’s essentially a free platform at this point. Also, they were able to develop and implement their work without requiring prolonged system downtime. We appreciated the smooth transition as it minimized the inconveniences experienced by our users. Most consumers didn’t need to change their passwords after feature integrations.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

They kept up with project deadlines and frequently communicated with us. Their project management capabilities were so strong; it often felt like they worked in our offices. We primarily interacted via Skype and used Jira to organize tasks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They approached our engagement like a local firm instead of an outsourced company. They’re up-to-date on the latest technologies and understand modern development lingo. The entire process felt open and effortless. They had an internal project management software but accommodated us by adapting to our approach.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had to move around resources throughout the engagement. In hindsight, we should’ve better outlined those aspects of the project from the start.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When working with an external vendor, it’s important to spend time communicating the project’s scope. Dedicate a single resource to manage TEONITE and keep them organized.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a product manager for a weekly magazine in Poland. I coordinate the technological and editorial sides of the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TEONITE?

In 2015, we started a new project to develop mobile news app in partnership with multiple vendors. TEONITE was responsible for building user-friendly Android and iOS versions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app presents information not as scrollable text articles, but as virtual cards that users can swipe and share with others. This design purposely makes longer articles look less lengthy. The app also counts the number of articles read; users’ avatars are positively correlated to the amount they read. We employ a freemium model that allows 10 free articles per month. Users pay for full access via iTunes and a third-party for Android.

TEONITE was responsible for the project’s technological requirements, specifically, the iOS and Android Apps as well as the backend development and payment integrations. Features include log-in, registration, search, categories, and a gamification element. 

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with their product owner, as well as their Android, iOS and backend developers.

How did you come to work with TEONITE?

The team was our first choice. We had good results when they previously worked for my company.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2016 and the app launched in February 2017. They’ve continued to provide ongoing support with modifications and bug fixes. They’re also making minor updates on a regular basis and adding features every two-to-three months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app has a 4.7 average score and 1,000 reviews. It has gotten 50,000–100,000 downloads on both platforms. The number of paying users is surprisingly good as well.

How did TEONITE perform from a project management standpoint?

The project was an extremely close and agile collaboration. We valued their opinions and considered them an extension of our team. We mainly used YouTrack as a project management dashboard for about 2,000 tasks and then Trello for minor items. We also emailed, Skyped, and met in person every two months. I spoke with their individual developers – iOS, Android, and backend – on a daily basis. The product owner managed sprints, hours, payments, sprints and together we decided on scheduled updates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Easy communication between teams helped foster a close partnership I haven’t experienced with other vendors. In a day-to-day context, TEONITE did system support and bug fixes on weekends without ever complaining about it. The team also had quick implementations and turnaround times. TEONITE had never developed an app as unconventional as ours; it’s a serious news app with an intended cartoonish look. The project challenged their mindset, but they still managed to complete the product according to our guidelines. The team was empathetic to our needs and understood the project immediately.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re a friendly team, which can make us ignore some more important details of the collaboration. We only discovered a year into the engagement that we hadn’t raised some important issues. We can be too excited and then discover only later that we hadn’t assigned responsibilities for particular systems.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important for a client working with TEONITE to discuss terms clearly—what the client can expect from them, and what they can expect from the client—so that everything is clear from the start. TEONITE is a great partner for long-term engagements. They put a lot of thought into the work and have a sense of ownership over the results. During the project, the vendors felt interchangeable, with the sole exception of TEONITE.