Uitware

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President of Engineering of TeraCrunch

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build AI and ML focused solutions for our business partners that result in 5-40x ROI.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Migrate multiple applications with databases to PaaS from Virtual Machines in Azure
• Implement a structured deployment strategy with automated rollback and staging/dev instances.

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Online Search

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Experience fit project needs

How many teammates from Uitware were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of this project involves migrating an existing web application from Virtual Machines (VMs) to Azure managed infrastructure, leveraging Azure App Service as the primary hosting platform. The project aims to ensure high availability, scalability, and reliability of the application while incorporating essential features for monitoring, deployment, and data management. The scope includes configuring health checks, application logging, deployment and rollback strategy, staging and/or dev instance, and SFTP for file uploads. Additionally, the project requires guidance on database hosting, automated CSV import and file retirement, and Python scripting to integrate with Azure services.

Key Deliverables:

1. **Health Checks**: Implement health checks to monitor the application's status and performance, ensuring timely detection and resolution of potential issues.
2. **Application Logging**: Configure logging mechanisms to capture and store application logs, enabling easier troubleshooting and debugging.
3. **Deployment and Rollback Strategy**: Design and implement an automated deployment and rollback strategy using Azure DevOps or other suitable tools, ensuring smooth and controlled application updates.
4. **Staging and/or Dev Instance**: Set up a staging and/or development instance of the application, allowing for testing and validation of changes before deployment to production.
5. **VM and Backup Decommissioning**: Delete the existing VMs and their backups, ensuring a complete transition to Azure managed infrastructure.
6. **App Service Configuration**: Configure the application to run in Azure App Service, taking advantage of its scalability, security, and management features.
7. **Database Hosting**: Provide guidance on selecting a suitable Azure database service (e.g., Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, or Azure Database for PostgreSQL) and configure the database for use with the application.
8. **SFTP for File Uploads**: Set up Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) for uploading files to the application, ensuring secure and reliable file transfers.
9. **Automated CSV Import and File Retirement**: Design and implement a Python-based solution to automate the import of customer CSV files into the database, followed by retiring the files to cold storage (e.g., Azure Blob Storage Archive tier).
10. **Python Scripting**: Write Python scripts to automate tasks, such as CSV file import and file retirement, and integrate them with the application and Azure services.

**Additional Considerations:**

* Ensure compliance with security and data protection regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS, as applicable.
* Implement monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect potential issues and performance bottlenecks.
* Provide documentation and knowledge transfer to ensure the customer's team can manage and maintain the application and its infrastructure.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Migration of all applications and databases is completed within two months.

Deployment and rollback processes are automated, and production is in sync with source control.

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

Expectations were set at each weekly meeting. If expectations for the next week could not be met, the vendor sent an email explaining the situation, which sometimes could be resovled over email. Usually, all weekly expectations were met during the project.

I asked for the project to be tracked in our Gitlab issues tracker. Initial tasks were added to the repository, but updates to those tasks were not done, and the client did not do a good job of holding vendor accountable.

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

Virtual Meeting

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

Although deliverables and expectations were fairly detailed, there are always judgement calls or problems that need custom solutions. The vendor was able to suggest good solutions, or solve problems on their own.

Consistency of communication and availability was also appreciated.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

This is always a factor when working with a company in another country, but the communication barrier sometimes slowed things down. And we have some comments in our codebase now that are not in our native language. 

As noted in another feedback section, asynchronous updates to our project management tracker (gitlab) as asked would have been appreciated.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an Executive of Univisia

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We're providing software development and business applications configurations services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Develop Azure Migration strategy
• Microsoft Azure Training
• Review AWS Architecture & DevOps practices

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Referral

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Uitware were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of our work involved comprehensive cloud consulting services, including a detailed strategy for Azure migration, Azure training sessions, and a thorough review of the client's AWS architecture.

• Azure Migration Strategy: Uitware developed a comprehensive Azure migration strategy tailored to the business needs. This included an assessment of our client's existing infrastructure, cost analysis, and a roadmap for seamless migration of applications and services to the Azure subscription. The strategy ensured minimal disruption and optimal utilization of Azure services.
• Azure Training: To empower our team, Uitware delivered specialized training sessions focused on Azure fundamentals, advanced services, and best practices. These sessions were designed to enhance their operational capabilities and facilitate smoother management of the Azure environment post-migration.
• AWS Architecture Review: As part of the project, we also conducted an in-depth review of our client’s existing AWS architecture. This involved evaluating client's cloud infrastructure, identifying areas for optimization, and providing recommendations to improve performance, security, and cost efficiency.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Uitware's progress and success can be demonstrated through the following key achievements:

• Azure Migration Strategy: Successfully developed a tailored Azure migration roadmap that identified critical business applications and systems for a phased migration approach. This plan reduced downtime risks and provided a clear timeline for execution.
• Azure Training: Improved team proficiency, increased confidence and capability in managing Azure services.
• AWS Architecture Review: By implementing Uitware's recommendations, the client saw a reduction in their AWS cloud spend. Also after implementing Uitware's suggested security enhancements, the client has reported no security breaches or vulnerabilities.

These successes are reflected in the smooth transition to Azure, enhanced internal team competency, and improved performance and cost savings in their AWS architecture.

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

The project management throughout the engagement was highly efficient and responsive, ensuring that all deliverables were met on time and according to the agreed-upon scope. All phases of the project were completed on time, which allowed the client to begin their cloud migration and optimizations without delays.

Uitware team was exceptionally responsive to our needs throughout the project. Whether addressing technical queries or accommodating scope adjustments, they were quick to provide feedback and solutions. Any concerns raised were promptly addressed, often within 24 hours, demonstrating their commitment to delivering a client-focused experience.

Regular communication was maintained through weekly progress meetings and detailed status reports, which kept us informed of every development. The team made sure to clarify any complex issues and adjusted deliverables based on our feedback to ensure alignment with our evolving goals.

In summary, the project management was highly professional, with strong attention to detail, timely delivery, and a responsive approach to our needs, making the engagement smooth and effective.

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We found most impressive about Uitware was their deep technical expertise combined with a client-first approach. Their ability to tailor complex cloud solutions to our specific needs stood out, particularly during the Azure migration strategy and AWS architecture review. They didn’t just provide off-the-shelf recommendations; instead, they took the time to understand our unique requirements and designed solutions that were both innovative and highly practical.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

Nothing I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of Coxit

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Software development services 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Design AWS cloud architecture
• Interview AWS developers
• Review AWS Cloud infrastructure

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Referral

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• Professionals

How many teammates from Uitware were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The Uitware team was engaged to design and implement a comprehensive AWS cloud architecture for our clients. Their responsibilities included:

• Designing AWS Cloud Architecture: Uitware meticulously planned and structured our AWS environment to ensure scalability, security, and cost-efficiency.
• Creating CI/CD Pipelines: They developed robust Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) workflows, streamlining our development and deployment processes.
• Reviewing AWS Cloud Infrastructure: The team conducted thorough reviews of our existing AWS infrastructure, providing valuable insights and recommendations for optimization.

Their expertise and dedication significantly enhanced our cloud operations, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The projects led by the Uitware team yielded several measurable outcomes that significantly demonstrated progress and success:

• Improved Deployment Speed: The implementation of CI/CD pipelines reduced our deployment time by  allowing for faster and more frequent releases.
• Enhanced System Reliability: The optimized AWS cloud architecture resulted in increase in system uptime and reliability.
• Cost Efficiency: Through their review and recommendations, we achieved a reduction in AWS operational costs.

These outcomes not only improved our operational efficiency but also positioned us better for future growth.

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

The Uitware team demonstrated exceptional project management skills throughout our collaboration. Whenever we encountered challenges or had specific requests, the Uitware team quickly addressed them, providing effective solutions and adjustments. Overall, their project management approach significantly contributed to the success of our project, making the entire process smooth and efficient.

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Proactive mindset
• Commitment to continuous improvement and optimization
• Deep expertise and innovative approach to cloud architecture and CI/CD processes
• Cloud expertise

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

Everything was exceptional

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of a mental health app

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company develops an evidence-based mobile application tailored to the needs of young people to strengthen their mental health and increase their health literacy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Design Azure Architecture
• Design CI/CD Github Actions
• Design Infrastructure as a Code using Terraform

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Referral

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Uitware were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Design Azure Architecture:
  • Objective: Outline the purpose and requirements of the Azure architecture, focusing on scalability, security, and performance. 
  • Outcome: A robust, cost-effective architecture that aligns with business goals, ensuring high availability and disaster recovery capabilities.
• Design CI/CD with GitHub Actions:
  • Objective: Automate the software development lifecycle (SDLC) through Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) pipelines. 
  • Outcome: A seamless CI/CD process that reduces manual errors, accelerates release cycles, and enhances collaboration among developers.
• Design Infrastructure as Code using Terraform:
  • Objective: Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices to provision and manage Azure resources efficiently. 
  • Outcome: A maintainable and scalable infrastructure that supports rapid development and deployment, allowing for easy updates and rollbacks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Azure Infrastructure was fully automated

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

• Project management was done in Trello using Agile.
• All deliverables were on time
• Clear and regular communication helped them to deliver on time

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Quality of work.
• Communication and team work
• They were able to deep dive into non-trivial problems and solve them.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

Evertyhing was great

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Happyusers

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is engaged in 3D development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Implement ML Deployment workflow in Azure Cloud
• Design ML Deployment workflow in Azure Cloud

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

• Online Search
• Referral
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Uitware were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

The project involved deploying a machine learning application into Azure Cloud, covering architecture design, infrastructure setup, and deployment automation.
Key deliverables included a scalable Azure environment containerized ML models, and CI/CD pipelines for automated updates.
Comprehensive testing and detailed documentation ensured the system's reliability and maintainability. Post-deployment support and knowledge transfer were also provided to enable smooth operations and future scalability.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The deployment of our ML model to Azure VM has been a significant success. By leveraging Azure's robust infrastructure, we've seen notable improvements in our model's performance and scalability. This project has enabled us to achieve faster and more accurate predictions, reducing latency and optimizing resource utilization. Additionally, the cost efficiency and operational reliability of Azure have contributed to overall project success.

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

We managed project by ourselves and Uitware helped us with their technical expertise.
Uitware deliver scope of work on-time.

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

Virtual Meeting

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

What's impressive about Uitware's deployment of their ML model to a VM is the seamless integration and optimization they achieved. They managed to enhance the model's performance significantly while ensuring scalability and cost-efficiency. Their innovative approach to leveraging Azure's infrastructure showcases their technical expertise and forward-thinking mindset.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

Everything they did was perfect.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CTO of In2facts

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We train, coach, execute projects and do custome development for companies large and small.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Implement IaC and migrate a healthcare platform to a new tenant on Azure
• Mirror the production setup and replicate it with minimal downtime.

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Online Search

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Uitware were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

in2Facts developed an multi-tent application for one of its Healthcare customers. Initially the Platform was running on a purpose-built azure tenant for its customer and maintained by 

The following azure services were used:

• Frontend: Developed using Angular and hosted on Azure CDN.
• Backend: Relies on PHP running on Ubuntu 20.04 VMs.
• Mobile Apps: Built using Java and Swift for Android and iOS platforms.
• API Management: Handled by Azure API Management and Nginx.
• Data Management: Utilizes Azure SQL Databases, Redis Cache, and Azure Storage.
• Serverless Tasks: Managed by Azure Function App.
• SignalR service is used for websocket communication between Frontend Application.

After 3 years, the customer wanted to host the platform in their own Azure Tenant

Uitware was contracted by in2Facts to facilitate the migration of the healthcare platform to a new tenant on Azure!

Key deliverables

1. Assesment: Evaluating the existing infrastructure.
2. Migration: Transferring data and configuring the new Azure infrastructure. 
   1. Taking Security guidelines into account
   2. Infrastructure as Code using Terraform (consistent infrastructure)
   3. Blue-Green development (zero-downtime deployments)
   4. Modernizing compute resources
   5. Transition to Azure Bastion
   6. Database & storage optimization
   7. Fully automated CI/CD
3. Testing and Documentation: Ensuring functionality in the new setup and documenting the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Migrate a healthcare platform to a new tenant on Azure

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

Kanban approach and alomst daily contact with Uitware's team.

Bi-weekly demo's on progress made.

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Always available when we needed to get in touch.

Actively help in discussions with the Security team from the customer to explain the approach choosen.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of OFEC Consulting Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Software

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Maintenance of IT infrastructure

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Online Search

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Uitware were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Setting up and maintaining:

• Small business server
• Exchange server

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Smooth running
• Problems fixed

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

Perfect

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

Email or Messaging App

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

Uitware's knowledge was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Terrano

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Design and build IoT solutions for sustainable environment

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Advisory
• Web development
• IoT development

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Other

Why did you select Uitware over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Uitware’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Uitware helped to develop frontend and backend using .Net and Angular technologies. They took care of Azure setup, integration and testing of IoT solution and merged it with a newly developed UI.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Successful integration of multiple technologies
• Attractive frontend
• Error free operation
• Quick response to support queries

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

Communication was always professional and prompt. They shared responsibility in a manner that was convenient for the client to keep a hands-off approach. There was a good emphasis on clear understanding of requirements to avoid errors.

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

Honesty, clear indication of time required, low correction rate.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

Can't think of any

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the owner of DataClip

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Develop custom apps based on Claris fileMaker.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Create a PAAS solution on AWS

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Online Search

Why did you select Uitware over others?

High ratings, Good value for cost, Company values aligned

What was the size of Uitware’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Setting up AWS infrastructure to support our cloud base apps. server configuration, security, backup.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Completed AWS infrastructure

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

Very pleased with their work. Excellent communication. Quick with responses. Very knowledgable. Getting involved in the project and suggesting ideas for improvement.

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

Email or Messaging App

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

We were impressed with their development skills and excellent communication.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of logican solutions

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Build, deploy and support Business Process Management Software

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Uitware to accomplish?

• Help with our devops requirements

SOLUTION

How did you find Uitware?

Online Search

Why did you select Uitware over others?

Good value for cost

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

we asked Uitware to assist with ongoing changes to our CI/CD processes. In particular for help with Teamcity builds and integration with Octopus deployment

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Speed
• Price
• Performance

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

They responded in a timely fashion and delivered on time

What was your primary form of communication with Uitware?

• Email
• Messaging App

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

hard to find a devops team that is responsive and competent and fairly priced. They are all three

Are there any areas for improvement or something Uitware could have done differently?

Very happy with the service they are provided. No comments here