7Factor Software

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

COO of a startup focused on saving and sharing social media/other content.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 7Factor Software?

7Factor led technical scoping & definition to help our team understand size and complexity of each potential application component.

What were your goals for this project?

Understand the size and complexity of each potential application component to drive packaging decisions for each release, as well as the level of outside investment required.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I am friends with the founder from working together at a previous company.

Describe the project in detail.

Our teams were split between internal design in Atlanta, and the 7Factor technical SME located in Colorado. Using online tools for collaborative design and project planning, we would meet to talk through wireframes and proposed features then 7Factor would estimate the work required to build it. Based on the outcome, in some cases they were able to recommend certain user stories be split with critical functionality taking place first, and interesting-but-less-essential items coming in a subsequent release.

What was the team composition?

Our internal team consists of business, product and design resources and we worked with a technical architect from 7Factor.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

No hard outcomes yet since we are starting up, but in working with 7Factor on this scoping phase our goals were certainly met in a manner that consistently exceeded our expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Efficient and effective - also appreciated the collaboration tools suggested by 7Factor. In this area and really all others, their recommendations were excellent.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our team of 3 was, and continues to be, blown away by their technical knowledge and their ability to communicate those concepts simply and effectively. Their approach was truly that of a partner and every interaction was collaborative and supportive. Work delivered was outstanding - insightful and professional.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing should change - don't mess with perfection!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a full-stack PHP developer at HandyTrac, a key-tracking platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 7Factor Software?

Our entire codebase was 20 years old, out of date, and had basically no frameworks. We were starting to encounter performance and maintenance issues, so we wanted it all rewritten in a more modern language. We realized we couldn’t do it with our own internal team alone.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

7Factor Software rewrote all the code from the ground up for our platform, which tracks and controls sets of keys. It’s a physical device that sits in the property, but it’s connected over the web to reports, logging, control access, as well as our own internal admin dashboard and ticketing system. The team also set up the infrastructure to ensure proper load balancing. They keep everything running smoothly. 

What is the team composition?

We work with roughly 10 people. 

How did you come to work with 7Factor Software?

We did a great deal of research trying to find a local company because we didn’t want to have to deal with the communication issues of a remote provider. We had several meetings with about three or four companies after narrowing down the search pool, and Jeremy (Founder) came across as the best fit. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent just under $1,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in April 2019 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s difficult to track, because we weren’t looking for more users, but rather a more stable system. We have about 20,000 users and there are times when a large number of them all start to communicate, which is activity the platform can now handle. Our database connections never time out anymore, nor do we have any issues saving. The system 7Factor Software has built is properly commented and follows a modern framework, so it’s accessible by our whole team now. 

The improvements made in the solution have probably doubled our efficiency. Our accounting department’s workflow has refined, as they now have access to their own dashboard and automated processes. 

How did 7Factor Software perform from a project management standpoint?

The team has been great in terms of communication. They’ve been very accommodating, welcoming us to their own offices for periods of collaboration. The team has also given us access to their Slack channel dedicated to the project, so we can see their communication and where they are in the timelines. 7Factor Software also uses Clubhouse, so we’re able to see their progression on stories and efforts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team goes above and beyond to provide transparency and stellar communication. Not only do I never have to worry about them not getting back to me, but they also have an excellent way of explaining technical aspects of the project to our non-technical stakeholders. It’s been a huge help and allows everyone involved to understand exactly where we are and what’s going on.

Also, 7Factor is an exceptionally knowledgeable group. We haven’t run into a single task the team didn’t know how to accomplish.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We slipped on the initial timelines, but we can’t entirely fault them because no one realized how big the project itself really was. It’s a minor complaint at best.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be prepared to give 7Factor Software as much information as you can about exactly what you want to have done. You’ll move along very quickly once the team knows what they’re working on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are Delta TechOps Technology Solutions, which is the dev shop for Delta Airlines. We develop internal-facing web applications and do business consulting for the different business units within Delta.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 7Factor Software?

As we continue to grow as a department, more and more people want our services. One of those groups really needed us to come through before budget season, but we didn’t have the bandwidth or the developers available to dedicate resources to the project. 7Factor Software supplied development resources to help us accomplish that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided two developers who worked for us remotely but were available any time we needed to do webcasts or phone conversations or screen shares. They worked in PHP on the backend with a Laravel framework and JavaScript with a Vue framework on the frontend.

They had a specific project, but we worked alongside them, helping to define the parameters of the project. We gave them a list of things and a prioritization order so that they understood what the highest value items to work on first were.  

What is the team composition?

We just worked directly with their two developers, both of whom were fairly senior. They added another project management resource near the end, but the majority of our work was with the developers.

How did you come to work with 7Factor Software?

One of my colleagues had worked with the owner at some point so we reached out, and when we interviewed them, they seemed like a good fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together at the beginning of 2019 and are just wrapping things up.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been very satisfied with their work the whole way through the project. They are very technically skilled and were able to perform all the tasks we assigned them without any development assistance to us.

All of our resources are currently tied up in other projects through 2020, so without their team’s help, we simply wouldn’t have been able to complete this project.

How did 7Factor Software perform from a project management standpoint?

We used JIRA for our technical documentation and tracking of tickets, and we had daily standup meetings as well. They were very responsive to our code review and worked with us to meet our coding standards. All in all, they consistently delivered and were really easy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think their attitude and flexibility impressed me the most. The combination of skill and comfort that they bring to the project is a very welcome surprise from an out-of-house development team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The customer management resource they brought on at the end didn’t seem entirely necessary to me, so I think we could have done without that addition. Other than that, they were amazing to work with the entire time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think it’s important to have a good scrum master dedicated to helping you liaison and coordinate to make sure everything is going smoothly, but other than that I think it mostly depends on the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company works to connect seniors to activity groups and encourage them to be active socially, physically, and mentally. I'm the COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 7Factor Software?

We needed to supplement our internal development resources.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We use 7Factor Software to supplement our internal developer resources. They do frontend, backend, and database work and troubleshooting. They have been instrumental in maintaining our existing systems while we’ve undergone a rebuild of our core product. They added features, troubleshot bugs, and were available for any escalation issues. Our tech stack included PHP, Angular, and MySQL.

What is the team composition?

We usually work with a team of 2–3, and they are able to bring in additional resources to suit our changing needs. 

How did you come to work with 7Factor Software?

Our CTO at the time of the engagement started had worked with 7Factor Software in the past and was happy with their results, so the collaboration stemmed from an existing relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested over $100,000 with them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2018 and have an ongoing collaboration.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our legacy product was built by another team who left us with a lot of bugs and issues we hadn't considered. 7Factor was great at cleaning it up, and any time we had a major issue or a bug, they found the source and dealt with it.

How did 7Factor Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They did really well. They're responsive, fast with communication, and good at explaining issues. If there was a judgment call to be made, they were very good at laying out possible paths to take. Most of our communication is through Slack. If we ever have issues, they're very responsive, even after hours.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were communicative, available, and fast. All around, they had the competence to do the job well and were great to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend them. We're really happy with their augmentation efforts, and they're a great resource. Part of our team was fairly junior, so it was helpful to have senior external support.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own an SaaS company, My Junna, LLC. Years ago, I hired a developer to create a system for my case management business. After years of development, I got frequent requests from other case managers who wanted to use the system. Since I knew the needs of case managers, I decided to sell the system to other users.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 7Factor Software?

In March 2019, my IT partner and I split ways. I needed a strong team that could scale up quickly if I had a large contract, or scale down if I needed support to fit my small budget.

What were your goals for this project?

My goal was to hire a team that could quickly ramp up production for larger contracts or simply serve as a support system when needed. I wanted someone who was responsive, flexible, and capable of expanding or contracting services to fit my needs.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I believe in taking advice from reputable sources and enjoy working with other reputable people. 7Factor Software came highly recommended by a trusted source. After speaking with the owner at length, I knew it was a good fit. He was responsive, prompt, and extremely hardworking. They had the ability and work ethic I wanted.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They provided support and moved code from my current server to a HIPAA-compliant one with AWS. They now provide limited software development and ongoing IT support to fit my budget.

What was the team composition?

The team easily ramps up or down.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a startup, I was concerned about disruption to my clients during the move. They stayed up all night to ensure a smooth transition. My clients didn't notice any disruptions.

When I had a request for information for a large national nonprofit, they worked full-time to get the software up to speed and present a great demo. Although I didn't get the contract, I came close because of their help.

My business continues to grow every week, and retaining customers by providing timely support and new features is key. They take a great deal of time to understand my needs. My business wouldn't be where it is today without their support. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They set up Clubhouse to create stories, show their work, and present the staging site for approval. They also ask clarifying questions when needed. Their communication is wonderful. I can review items and make changes before they finalized the product. That deliver exactly what I wanted and limit disruptions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I'm most impressed with their responsiveness, flexibility, and customer service. This project could have turned out terribly and given me a bad reputation, especially if they hadn't addressed quirks and glitches in a timely manner. The team works a great deal on the backend so future productions go smoothly. 

I'm a dedicated customer who loves 7Factor Software and can't thank them enough! Many companies lack good customer service, so it's refreshing to have such outstanding support and responsiveness. I'm confident in them. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

I wouldn't change anyting. They're a rare breed. I look forward to a long relationship with 7Factor Software!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the senior director of engineering at Quantworks, Inc. We develop custom data analytics solutions for organizations of all sizes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 7Factor Software?

We hired 7Factor Software to assist in the development of a legal system automation platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to deliver our platform on a short timeline with strict data sensitivity and process requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was familiar with 7Factor Software’s work from previous engagements and professional relationships.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

7Factor Software helped us develop our legal system automation web app with Angular. They also provided API development services with a Serverless on AWS.

What was the team composition?

This was a joint effort between three internal employees and three 7Factor Software team members.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their ability to smoothly roll into the project and willingness to tackle our challenges helped bolster the psychology of the entire team. This resulted in a net gain in velocity, quality, and overall disposition of the entire team.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They were always available to meet and discuss. Additionally, their team members were more than willing to help cross-train and provide support during release.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

7Factor Software came to the project with a high degree of professionalism coupled with a comfortable, relaxed disposition that fit very well with our organization. Their attention to detail, quality of work, and standards were incredible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, none that I can recall.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of engineering at an omnichannel marketing company. We focus on the automotive sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 7Factor Software?

We had a legacy platform that was becoming less and less reliable, and we were dealing with technical debt from previous attempts to solve problems. We decided to rebuild our system, and brought in 7Factor Software to help us migrate data and rethink our development processes. We also hired them to guide and train our team in using the new technologies that we wanted to implement.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began the project by identifying deliverables and setting deadlines with their team. About 6-8 weeks into the engagement, we co-hosted a day of hands-on training, where our staff had the opportunity to learn about their work. Afterward, we selected a group of our developers to participate in more in-depth training. The idea was to have these individuals distribute their knowledge of the new system to the rest of our team.

7Factor Software implemented a variety of development tools, ultimately establishing a build server with updated pipeline management. They introduced us to Docker and Concourse CI, which made up the backbone of our new, cloud-based system. They used Hashicorp’s Terraform to create a scriptable environment with a flexible infrastructure, and added Hashicorp’s Vault for sensitive data storage. They leveraged two AWS products, Kinesis and S3, to build out our development pipeline, and they integrated Datadog for cloud monitoring and container management.

What is the team composition?

We communicated with Jeremy (Founder, 7Factor Software) and two other individuals who were assigned to our project.

How did you come to work with 7Factor Software?

When I started in my current role, 7Factor Software had already completed a project for us, and a second one was in progress. I had the opportunity to meet with Jeremy and learn more about his company. I was impressed by his wealth of knowledge, and, after meeting with my leadership team, I reached out to gauge his interest in a third project. I knew that his team would be an ideal partner based on their track record of success and familiarity with our organization. After an initial discussion, we negotiated a price, and then decided to move forward with the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $140,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from September–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has transformed our development staff’s approach to building software. My team is excited about this new system, and I’ve seen an increase in their motivation and energy.

How did 7Factor Software perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication was frequent, and their team was on-site at least once a week. We used Slack to exchange information, and Jira to prioritize tasks. I met with Jeremy almost every week to review our workflow in Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The breadth of knowledge they have regarding a wide variety of technologies stood out to me. They were able to fully engage with any idea, concept, or tool that I put forth. No matter the context, their team could provide specific details and offer valuable feedback. There was never a situation where they had to research a topic and follow up with me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At times, they struggled to balance competing projects, and we sacrificed a bit in terms of planning as a result.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take advantage of their experience. Let them help you select the tools and products that will fit best with your project. They’re a well-rounded group of developers, and they serve as expert guides for cloud-based software implementation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the COO of an online homesharing platform that pairs homeowners with compatible housemates for long-term rent arrangements.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 7Factor Software?

We reached out to 7Factor to help us create a monthly subscription platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

7Factor developed our web-based app, using Ruby on Rails. We provided wireframes and specifications, but they also provided some insight into the best ways to proceed with the design and scope of work.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two main people and communicated almost daily.

How did you come to work with 7Factor Software?

We had a new team member who suggested 7Factor based on his previous experience working with them. After some initial conversations with their team, we felt like they'd be a good fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–September 2018. They continue to make themselves available to us as needed to add new features or troubleshoot any issues.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work 7Factor helped us with was directly related to an increase in revenue and customer retention. They were able to take our initial vision and turn it into an efficient, custom platform.

How did 7Factor Software perform from a project management standpoint?

We were managing the project on our side, but their team adapted to our processes very well and hit all of our deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility throughout the collaboration as we evolved the product was hugely valuable. They were very collaborative and willing to do what it took to get the best results, providing feedback and suggestions for improving the app where appropriate.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I've appreciated their support throughout the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do the due diligence to provide their team with detailed specifications and goals, so they have a clear starting point.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Trackter.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with 7Factor Software?

We needed a vendor to help us build a platform with more robust backend technology.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We're a marketplace for buying and selling products. 7Factor Software moved our platform into Docker Containers and fixed the problems with the original code. Then, they helped us get ready for enterprise level. The initial DevOps took about 60 days and then, they started the development process, which took about four months.

What is the team composition?

We worked closely with four members of their team.

How did you come to work with 7Factor Software?

We were looking for a company to speed up our development cycle, so we were asking for recommendations from other startups. We heard very good things about 7Factor Software, so we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between July–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They've helped us get our product to market, and we've started bringing in customers. We now have a real business, so it's been a tremendous help.

How did 7Factor Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very organized and communicated clearly every step of the way. We talked every week, and we had ongoing communication via Slack. They consistently met our deadlines and delivered on promises.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their DevOps were outstanding, and our in-house developers were impressed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were pleased with everything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They're great partners, so invest time in building a relationship with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of a consulting company. We help early-stage tech startups bring their products to market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire 7Factor Software?

We did not have the internal capacity to develop a client's software product after we had taken the project over from another vendor. 

What were your goals for this project?

The next version of the product needed to include upgraded frameworks, a rebuilt user interface, and new features. We also had to identify and resolve performance problems and then implement initial usability and functionality enhancements. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My company’s CTO recommended 7Factor Software. After interviewing Jeremy (Founder, 7Factor Software), my team determined 7Factor Software was the right partner for this project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

7Factor Software has provided software development, architecture design, and cloud infrastructure implementation services for an outdated software product. They have implemented deployment automation and automated testing systems. The team has also completed migration from Rackspace to Amazon Web Services.  

What was the team composition?

My team works with a software architect/lead engineer and two software engineers. We also engage with an infrastructure architect as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a product that was barely functional after five years of disregard. 7Factor Software upgraded the product to modern frameworks and provided significant performance improvements. For instance, 7Factor Software reduced the landing page's login load time from several minutes to under 5 seconds. This drastically improved productivity for current users and made the product more appealing to potential consumers. They provide automated tests to ensure that the product remains stable.

In the second phase of the project, 7Factor Software made the product more aesthetically pleasing and eliminated major performance and design issues. Our client’s sales of this redesigned product have increased tenfold. Finally, migration from Rackspace to AWS has cut hosting costs to one third of what they were. 7Factor Software’s automation implementation significantly improved code quality and stability.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

7Factor Software has addressed client requests. Every team member has been responsive and reliable. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

7Factor Software is the best development partner we have worked with. The team has the skill set and industry knowledge to create success for customers. Their diligence and timely deliveries have exceeded our expectations many times. Although it is unusual for 7Factor Software to make a mistake, they quickly resolve errors at no extra cost. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

They should scale their staff so that we can hire them for more projects.