Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a technology and management consulting organization. I'm the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd?

I'm often called upon to create new product concepts or pivots. The first project we brought them in for was a SaaS product directed at social media and marketing users that was out of date. We either had to shut it down or update it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with them to update the platform, improve some of the features, and create a consistent support relationship with paying subscribers. We reestablished its viability as a business, and we've subsequently worked on rolling out a new major version to keep up with social media needs and behaviors. The product is designed for mobile and web.

Together, we did migration and upgrades of existing libraries. A large portion of the project was in Java using Play Framework. We also used a NoSQL service, updated the database, and added some UI implementations. Most of the designs are created by someone else.

What is the team composition?

There is some elasticity, and the team fluctuates between two and ten. I only interact with a few contacts there, but most of my communication is directly with developers. I act as the project lead, and we only occasionally had a project manager on their side for specific implementations.

How did you come to work with Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd?

I found them through Upwork. They had all the necessary technical competencies and showed some experience. During the interview, I spoke with about six developers, and their lead developer came across as amenable, competent, and willing to take on the challenge.

How much have you invested with them?

The entire scope of the project fell between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I had an existing relationship before this project, but we started on it in 2017. Our collaboration with them is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They adapt to tools and practices I need, and I can rely on them to stay on track and be predictable. I score them very highly, and their acquisition of technical competence is accelerating since we first started working together. It took them a little while to get on top of the NoSQL technology we're using, but once they committed to it, they mastered it. They onboard new plans quickly, and they work well with pivots and designs at a good level of clarity. They create prototype-ready features that can be effectively tested and brought into service in a controlled manner.

How did Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

We manage the project on our side, but they perform well. We use a standard agile project management tool to keep track of tasks, and they're proficient at moving them to different stages of readiness. They notify us whenever anything is complete, and their work is very amenable to agile methodology.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're always transparent, and they're always very clear about staffing and their approach to the project. I feel that's in direct contrast to a lot of remote development shops who are more opaque. They make commitments and hold to them, and they stay within all our budgetary and timeline targets.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'd like to see them make improvements in DevOps and release management strategies. They would benefit from offering ready-to-go services for web stacks and other containerized services. Their feature velocity is healthy, and I never have to ask when they will deliver a feature.

I only know my own needs, but I get the impression that some of their other clients are less skilled at setting goals and making sure things get built. I wonder if their flexibility is a liability to those clients who need a firm structure. They let me lead the project, but they would benefit from a ready-to-go management practice for their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get a project manager and have them meet with your designers to come up with a strategy to leverage Thinkitive's talents, flexibility, and desire to please.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company that makes and sells line-of-business software to the global legal cannabis industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd?

We mainly needed a partner to provide flexible staffing and software development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

While the majority of Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd’s work is software dev, they’ve also provided some software support. We typically provide them with written functional specifications, although there have been times when third-party partners provide the specs. For smaller projects, Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd sometimes writes their own, but we always review them before starting a project.

We do lots of cloud development in AWS and Azure, and the main programming language is C#. The work is usually on the Microsoft platform, but we have had them work on limited iOS and Android projects. Most often, the team simply augments the US dev teams, but they’ve also completed entire projects by themselves. The products they work on are quite varied, but the solutions are typically for legal cannabis dispensers, cultivators, and manufacturers. The software streamlines sales and transportation services.

What is the team composition?

We have one main point of contact, and the rest of the team scales up and down according to our needs.

How did you come to work with Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd?

We were searching for offshore staffing, and someone referred them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in June 2015, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They produce innovative work that’s increased our ability to bring products to market faster. We’re pleased with the quality of their work and the value they bring to our company.

How did Thinkitive Technology Pvt Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

We use a variety of tools to communicate, and we typically have daily meetings with project leads. We use Office 365 and the complete Microsoft stack, including Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They meet functional and quality requirements, which has helped drive overall customer satisfaction.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because they’re an overseas partner, communication in English can sometimes be a bit difficult.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be as specific as you can about your expectations. Communicate your needs explicitly, and they won't disappoint you.