What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The difference between when we started working with them and now is night and day. We’ve been able to start accepting new contributors in a certain part of the business, and we’ve picked up some other enterprise clients. It’s been a really exciting time to be working with 10Clouds. We had a product launch, and we launched on schedule–what more can I say?
How did 10Clouds perform from a project management standpoint?
They’ve been a pleasure to work with. In the past, I’ve hired other formulas, including hiring other offshore vendors who ended up costing me money. The budget was certainly a factor in hiring 10Clouds, and I’m able to do more because of their rates, but I’d say the most important thing is their expertise. We wouldn’t be working with them if they didn’t have the level of expertise and professionalism that we demand. Otherwise, they’d be costing us money and risking the business.
Our partnership works pretty well. I think any type of vendor relationship comes down to personal relationships, i.e. how they connect with your team, how they communicate, and whether there is a level of trust. We’ve been able to establish a relationship that certainly makes everything go smoother.
They’re six hours ahead of us, which took some adjustments on our end. However, there are some advantages to the time difference. No vendor wants a client hovering over them. We have daily scrums, morning our time and mid-afternoon their time. This seems to work well for everybody since they can relay what progress they’ve made that day, ask questions they have for us, and provide updates. We also discuss what they’ll be working on when we’re sleeping.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their expertise makes them stand out from other service providers, as does the type of people within their organization. They’re the kind of people we like working with. 10Clouds’s team is flexible and understands that clients sometimes have changing or last-minute needs. I see them as a real partner in our success, and that’s why we continue to work with them.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I’d say not in the context of this project. We’re pretty much on track with everything. During the first couple of months, both sides had to make scheduling and communication adjustments, but that comes with engaging a new vendor. They worked to understand the project scope and what our needs were. We got through that phase as expected.
Any advice for potential customers?
This is general advice, but definitely make sure that project management is in place, whether that’s an individual or a team on your side or theirs. When you deal with any type of developer, clarity is the most important thing; without it, they’ll go down rabbit holes.
Make sure your product and goals are clearly defined. The project manager should always have a firm grasp of what the team is doing and the progress they’re making. As things come up, which they always do, you need to be able to trust the project manager. With strong project management in place, productivity will be high.
10Clouds provides skilled developers that take ownership of their work and seek to provide the best solutions. The honest and transparent team is open to learning new skills and taking on challenges. A scrum master ensures the work is moving forward, which adds further value to the partnership.