Arcanys Client Reviews

Reviews

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Development

Mar 04, 2019

the project

Staff Augmentation for Investment Firm

“We’ve become more rapid in our build and release process because of them.”

Development

$50,000 to $199,999

Dec. 2017 - Ongoing

4.0

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

4.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Dec. 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Arcanys augments the internal dev team, providing offshore developers. They collaborate closely and work on various projects, including cloud services and web apps.

51-200 Employees

Auckland, New Zealand

Damon Murfitt

CTO, NZ Funds

Verified

the reviewer

CTO, NZ Funds

Damon Murfitt

Financial Services

51-200 Employees

Auckland, New Zealand

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

4.0

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

4.0

the review

“We’ve become more rapid in our build and release process because of them.”

Mar 04, 2019

Feedback summary:

Arcanys offers a great value while still doing high-quality work. The team is skilled and flexible, making them a great partner. They have good project management and communication skills, allowing for an optimized and efficient partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of NZ Funds, a financial services organization that specializes in investment management, wealth management, and financial advice. Our customer base is private investors, retail investors, and financial advisors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

We needed a cost-effective way to scale our IT team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Arcanys provides full-time resources who work with our in-house dev team, taking on tasks from within our weekly or monthly sprints. They recently collaborated on a geo-based cloud service for wealth planning and financial advising. Arcanys works in Azure Stack and uses SQL servers to accomplish their work. They also build web-based apps, using tools such as JavaScript, C#, and Entity Framework.

What is the team composition?

They initially provided three developers, but we went down to two.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

We wanted a cost-effective offshore partner located in the Philippines because they overlapped with our time zone. We did an extensive search, doing email introductions and phone interviews with about six or seven different organizations. We then did an in-person visit in the Philippines to conduct a deep dive into the businesses. We chose Arcanys because of their skill set, web presences, and client references.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $10,000 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in December 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our partnership allows us to move faster and enables our dev team to implement solutions quicker. We’ve become more rapid in our build and release process because of them.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, we’re happy with their level of communication, documentation, and responsiveness. We had to let one developer go because their work wasn’t what we expected, but Arcanys helped make the transition. They’re flexible and allow us to adjust their involvement based on our needs. We mainly communicate via Skype, email, and WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Unlike other firms, Arcanys is a genuine tech partner, not just a resource provider. They also have a payment structure that keeps them engaged in our projects instead of locking us into a partnership for a long time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As they grow, they should continue to focus on being a tech partner with advanced skill levels.

4.0

Overall Score The partnership isn’t perfect, but they manage problems well.

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

They meet our deadlines, but there’s been some scope creep.

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

We get good value.

4.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

We’ve had a few minor issues, but nothing major.

4.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Offshoring doesn't work for everyone, but it's been great for us.

Development

Dec 04, 2018

the project

Dev Partnership for Payment Platform

“They possess initiative, excellent problem-solving skills, and great personalities.”

Development

$200,000 to $999,999

Aug. 2016 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$200,000 to $999,999

Aug. 2016 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Arcanys collaborates with in-house staff to develop and maintain a financial tech company’s payment platform. Their team also handles cloud hosting security and ensures the platform’s PCI DSS compliance.

1-10 Employees

Hawthorn East, Australia

Mark Nimco

Co-Founder, Payment Logic

Verified

the reviewer

Co-Founder, Payment Logic

Mark Nimco

Internet

1-10 Employees

Hawthorn East, Australia

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“They possess initiative, excellent problem-solving skills, and great personalities.”

Dec 04, 2018

Feedback summary:

Their team has been a major asset and has helped scale up business significantly. Since partnering with Arcanys, business has grown nearly 150% year over year. Their staff has excellent technical skills and communicate progress effectively.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO and a co-founder of Payment Logic. We’re based in Australia and provide our customers with cash flow benefits from commercial credit cards while earning reward points. We also negotiate early payment discounts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

We utilise a hybrid software development team with resources based in Australia and the Philippines and we were looking for a technology partner to help our company scale up cost-effectively.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve been involved at every stage of development from defining project requirements to final deployment. Our staff build the payment platforms and then their developers help us to build and maintain web apps and cloud hosting infrastructure. Some of that includes overall security and payment card industry data security standard (PCI DSS) compliance. Everything is built using Microsoft technologies like Azure.

What is the team composition?

When we first began, we had two developers. Over time, we increased their team to six full-time staff, including a project manager/business analyst, three senior developers, and two QA engineers. We’re currently in the process of bringing on three more people.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

We were recruiting in Australia and Arcanys responded to our online job advertisement. We’d never hired contractors before, so we met with them to learn more about their business. Their technical capabilities, company culture, quality of staff, and cost structure were impressive, so we decided to hire them for an initial proof of concept project. After seeing the quality of their work, we were sold.

How much have you invested with them?

When we started, our investment was approximately $10,000 per month. We currently pay just under $30,000 per month and have spent around $400,000 in total to date.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since 2016 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Deloitte Australia’s Technology Fast 50 recently named us as Australia’s 34th fastest-growing technology company. We’ve averaged 148% growth over the last 3 years. This success has been supported by the agility, skill, and dedication of our Arcanys resources.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

I’d originally had some concerns about managing a team of remote resources, but it’s been much easier than I anticipated. We use Agile/scrum methodologies, so we talk daily via video conference. We strive to have open communication and it’s worked really well despite their team being in another country. To achieve this, we use Azure DevOps for planning, task allocation, and status tracking. It helps to have efficient workflows through our software development platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only do their staff have great technical skills, but they also possess initiative, excellent problem-solving skills, and great personalities.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are some subtle cultural differences between the Philippines and Australia. Occasionally, the team is so eager to please that they jump in and start working before the full project team agrees to a concrete plan. We’ve been working to ensure everyone’s in sync and trying to take the shortest possible path from conception to release.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

As great as our Arcanys resources are, they are like any other valuable resources: they need to be managed and nurtured. I suggest getting to know the team and encouraging two-way communication, which includes listening to what they tell you.

5.0

Overall Score

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

Nov 14, 2018

the project

Cloud Platform Dev for Smart Factory Company

“Their developers demonstrate a level of foresight that’s rare among outsourcing firms.”

Development

$10,000 to $49,999

Sept. 2018 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

$10,000 to $49,999

Sept. 2018 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Arcanys is developing a cloud-based manufacturing automation platform using AWS and Kubernetes. With the backend infrastructure firmly in place, they’re currently designing a user-friendly frontend interface.

1-10 Employees

Eveleigh, Australia

Neil Baker

CEO, Medulla

Verified

the reviewer

CEO, Medulla

Neil Baker

Industrial Automation

1-10 Employees

Eveleigh, Australia

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“Their developers demonstrate a level of foresight that’s rare among outsourcing firms.”

Nov 14, 2018

Feedback summary:

Arcanys implements a forward-thinking to approach product development. They consistently improve a complex platform and deliver polished code within established deadlines. Their project manager communicates effectively and leads a talented team of professionals. They’re a valuable resource.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of Medulla. We’re a technology startup that facilitates manufacturing operations by improving the traceability of products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

While we were able to create a functional model of our software internally, our team doesn’t possess the skills required to take the project further. Therefore, we needed a development partner to build a cloud-based version of the platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The Arcanys team are building our factory system from the ground up. It’s an AWS platform that utilizes the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. They use Kubernetes to enable continuous operation integrations that deploy automatically. Considering the previous build required us manually initiate procedures, I’d say they’ve improved the platform significantly. Now that the core functionalities are up and running, they’ve allocated several designers to implement an intuitive UI/UX.

What is the team composition?

They assigned us a project manager, two backend developers, a UX designer, and a QA resource.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

We previously worked with development firm based in India, but we weren’t happy with their ability to manage the time zone difference. That experience made look for a vendor closer to home. I connected with the co-founder of Arcanys through a network of professionals.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost fluctuates as the project evolves, but we generally spend around $10,000–$12,000 each month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We hired them in September 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I haven’t found any functional problems with the builds they’ve developed thus far. Their QA tester has mentioned a few bugs, but none that require immediate action.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

We run development sprints every two weeks, and their project manager ensures that everything goes smoothly. After I walk them through the sprint requirements, the manager creates a task list for each developer to follow. There’s a lot of work involved in that process, but they hit each benchmark as scheduled. Despite a small language barrier, communicating with them is fairly easy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their developers demonstrate a level of foresight that’s rare among outsourcing firms. Most vendors will build what’s asked of them, but won’t think outside of the project’s scope to solve problems. Arcanys looks at each project holistically and will recommend solutions before potential issues occur. By always looking ahead, they ensure that each new element can seamlessly integrate with the other modules in our roadmap. That ability is incredibly valuable to us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

An initial lack of communication resulted in us getting billed for hours without knowing what was being done. Once we communicated the issue, they addressed it quickly. We’ve been receiving frequent updates ever since.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Utilizing their project manager allows us to keep track of the engagement without having to allocate a dedicated resource.

5.0

Overall Score

4.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.5 Cost

Value / within estimates

They’re more expensive than similar vendors, but the quality of work is outstanding.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

Nov 14, 2018

the project

Project Management Platform Maintenance

"Arcanys’ younger staff won us over because they were in tune with current thinking regarding app development."

Development

$50,000 to $199,999

Jan. 2017 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Jan. 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Arcanys acts as an ongoing maintenance and development partner for a project management application. They’re currently revitalizing the app’s appearance while preserving its MySQL database and PHP structure.

11-50 Employees

Portland, Oregon

Emmanuel Abela

President, Manta Ray Consulting

Verified

the reviewer

President, Manta Ray Consulting

Emmanuel Abela

Project Management

11-50 Employees

Portland, Oregon

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Arcanys’ younger staff won us over because they were in tune with current thinking regarding app development."

Nov 14, 2018

Feedback summary:

The app performed well in an independent evaluation and has been floated as a possible government-wide standard. Arcanys has expert technical skills and fosters a transparent atmosphere with consistent communication. Customers can expect a forward-thinking partner with a modern style.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Manta Ray Consulting, a consulting group that primarily provides support for large projects relating to building and upgrading particle accelerators. Our customers are Department of Energy laboratories in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and other locations throughout the country.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

As part of our consulting work, I wrote a project management application that we utilize in the facilities we work in. A group based in Bangalore, India built the application, but they grew to busy to manage it and give me the attention I needed. Arcanys took over the application’s maintenance and development 4–5 years ago. It’s been a fruitful collaboration.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, they took over maintenance of the application developed by the Bangalore team. They learned a great deal regarding what the original design and development team did. I then gave them the green light to improve the application. They studied the front- and backend in-depth and provided recommendations to improve the app’s UI and backend performance. Afterward, they were responsible for keeping up with maintenance and adding enhancements customers requested.

As of August 2018, they’ve started to develop the second version of the application. To save money, they’re using the existing backend structure (an SQL database and .NET platform) and making mostly cosmetic changes. I’ve worked with two developers to evaluate the app’s current design and revamp it to be stylized and sexy.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a project manager in the early stages, who introduced me to the lead developer. I’m also a project manager, so I began working directly with the lead developer. She’s a brilliant woman, who, in my mind, is a miracle-worker.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

I looked at reviews online and narrowed the choice to 2–3 companies. After interviewing the people in charge and the developers we’d be working with about their experience, it came down to Arcanys and another firm based in the Philippines. Arcanys’ younger staff won us over because they were in tune with current thinking regarding app development. Though both firms had similar development skills, we liked Arcanys’ modern appearance.

How much have you invested with them?

My average expenditure with them in the early stages was about $3,500 per month. It’s tripled since then because we brought on a design and development team. In total, I’ve spent between $100,000–$200,000 with Arcanys.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the most recent iteration in January 2017, but I believe the overall collaboration began 4–5 years ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

An independent cost review of our work at a facility in Berkeley, California used the app to prepare and develop their plan. Two weeks prior, we gave community members access to the tool so that they could evaluate it. They were so impressed they recommended to the Department of Energy that all projects use the app going forward. Their recommendation made it all the way to Washington, which is quite an endorsement and success story for us.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve developed a tight-knit relationship with my team of developers at Arcanys, so the communication is wide-open. Because they’re in the Philippines, we talk over Skype. We also use Jira to upload stories and discuss technical issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have really talented developers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re 13 hours ahead of us, so I would change their time zone. I have to work late but that's just the way it is.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important to understand the cultural differences that exist between your and your provider’s locations. Empower them to speak their minds and alert you if you’re leading them down the wrong path. I told our developers this first thing, and we've been fine.

5.0

Overall Score It seems fake to give them all fives, but I’m happy with them.

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

They manage expectations well. If I need something done in a week, they’ll tell me they need eight days and then stick to that.

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

The work I’m doing would cost three times as much in the US.

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

There’s always room for improvement.

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

I’d recommend them to anyone.

Development

Oct 16, 2018

the project

MVP Dev for B2B Platform

“They take the time to understand their clients and what they are trying to achieve.”

Development

$10,000 to $49,999

Sept. 2018 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

$10,000 to $49,999

Sept. 2018 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Using Node.js and AWS, Arcanys developers integrated into a software company to develop the MVP of a cloud-based platform from scratch. They used AngularJS to develop the frontend and helped design the UI/UX.

1-10 Employees

Hong Kong

Jonathan Yip

Co-Founder, Deskvault

Verified

the reviewer

Co-Founder, Deskvault

Jonathan Yip

IT Services

1-10 Employees

Hong Kong

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“They take the time to understand their clients and what they are trying to achieve.”

Oct 16, 2018

Feedback summary:

Although the project is in progress, the results so far are high-quality. Arcanys sets themselves apart from their competition with their attentive and responsive approach. They make a concerted effort to nurture the relationship and collaborate with strong attention to detail.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Deskvault, a software company that offers consumers a secure, cloud-based virtual desktop solution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

We needed help building an MVP of our B2B web-based platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our platform from scratch using Node.js and AWS Lambda. They did some frontend work with AngularJS. In addition, they also helped me with UX and UI design.

What is the team composition?

We have a backend and frontend developer, who I interface with directly, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

I found them online. They were friendly and demonstrated a good understanding of what I wanted. I liked their culture, approach, and their style.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent around $20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in September 2018 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve done a good job, and I’m impressed with the results so far.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re happy with their level of responsiveness. We use Jira to manage the sprints, and for communication, we mainly use Skype, Slack, and some email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach makes them stand out. They take the time to understand their clients and what they are trying to achieve. They invest time in making the relationship work. They try to integrate their developers into your team and make sure that they are fitting in and that everyone is working well together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as involved and as technical as you can and get into as much detail as possible. You can’t just give them a brief; you need to actually be involved. If possible, fly there and spend time with them face-to-face to immerse yourself and fully understand how they operate and communicate what you are trying to do together.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.5 Cost

Value / within estimates

They aren’t the least expensive on the market, but you get what you pay for.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

Oct 16, 2018

the project

Dev Partnership for Healthcare Software

"Arcanys has worked with a number of other startups so they understand our timeframe and budget pressures."

Development

$50,000 to $199,999

Sept. 2017 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Sept. 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Arcanys provides development resources to an internal team rebuilding a web app. They’re transitioning to a Dockerised microservice architecture with a hybrid MS SQL and MongoDB database solution.

1-10 Employees

Sydney, Australia

Troy Haddon

CTO, Patienteer

Verified

the reviewer

CTO, Patienteer

Troy Haddon

Computer Software

1-10 Employees

Sydney, Australia

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Arcanys has worked with a number of other startups so they understand our timeframe and budget pressures."

Oct 16, 2018

Feedback summary:

Additional resources have improved responsiveness to customer needs and allowed for immediate business expansion. Arcanys’ payments allow resources to be scaled up and down easily, which is advantageous in a startup environment. Customers can expect a communicative and adaptable partner.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief technology officer at Patienteer, a software development startup. We’re developing a custom data analytics solution for hospitals that looks to improve patient flow and care.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

As we’ve grown, we’ve needed to increase the size of our development team. We decided to outsource the work because, as a startup, we have limited funds. Initially, we were looking to maintain our web platform and implement new features. Since then, we’ve expanded the scope to include revamping our platform and building a new MVP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired one developer initially, but have since brought on three more to help with the rebuild. This isn’t a typical software project where we start with requirements, scope out the work, and then design the product. Instead, we’re doing all those things at the same time, in addition to building prototypes and incorporating feedback. We’re using an agile approach to try and be as responsive as we can to our clients.

We built the original web app with a .NET Webforms and VB.Net in the backend, some JavaScript/JQuery in the frontend, and an MS SQL database system. For the rebuild, we’re transitioning to a Dockerised microservices architecture using .NET Core and C#, Angular 6, and a hybrid MS SQL and MongoDB database solution. We’re also introducing new technologies around data caching and SignalR for performance and user experience improvements.

What is the team composition?

We started with one developer and a part-time architect, who did a bit of consulting work. In August, we brought on their senior architect to help design our rebuild, as well as two more developers. After bringing on another developer last week, we’re now working with a part-time architect, four developers, and a project coordinator, who’s also a scrum master.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

After doing online research, I contacted a few companies whose websites I liked. They were all based in China or the Philippines, and I decided to with the Philippines because I thought we’d face fewer cultural and language barriers.

Arcanys' service stood out from the first phone call. I loved how they introduced themselves and immediately started onboarding one of the people we’d be working with, making them a part of the conversation right away. When I went over to meet them, they took me through their office and explained how we’d work together.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $75,000 so far and will spend $20,000/month for the foreseeable future.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all we have this year without outsourcing to Arcanys. We’re more responsive to our clients, and we didn’t have to delay the rebuild because of a lack of investment. Even though Arcanys is quite affordable, we haven’t had to sacrifice quality at all. They’re as good as any developers we could’ve hired in other countries.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve had no issues with communication since I screened everyone beforehand to see if they’d fit well with our team. Our project coordinator manages the team, tracking timesheets and reporting and ensuring everyone stays on task.

Arcanys has worked with a number of other startups, so they understand our timeframe and budget pressures. We have a flexible arrangement where we pay for dedicated resources on a monthly basis. This lets us bring people on and take them off as needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’d previously outsourced to a company in India and had major communication issues. A 15-minute conversation would take an hour, and we’d still receive work that was different than we discussed. This is the opposite of the case with Arcanys. Their people are highly experienced in .NET and Angular and pick up new technologies very quickly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I’ve seen.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open and transparent with them regarding your finances and needs. They’re trustworthy and use open communication to build a strong relationship. The back and forth helps them be more responsive and meet your needs better.

5.0

Overall Score

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Giving anyone a five for an IT project is nearly impossible. Still, they were good.

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

They're a little above market average, but the quality is worth paying for.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Mobile App Development

Oct 11, 2018

the project

Dev & Maintenance for Training Company

“…the application development has been successful because they’re very reactive.”

Mobile App Development

$200,000 to $999,999

Jan. 2017 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$200,000 to $999,999

Jan. 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Arcanys provides development services for a mobile application-based company. They handle the backend development, iOS and Android projects, and bring in additional services as needed, such as UI/UX.

11-50 Employees

Hong Kong

Antoine Vatar

CEO, Think It Twice

Verified

the reviewer

CEO, Think It Twice

Antoine Vatar

IT Services

11-50 Employees

Hong Kong

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“…the application development has been successful because they’re very reactive.”

Oct 11, 2018

Feedback summary:

Their development efforts produce excellent results, improving on the work of a previous agency significantly. They respond quickly and professionally to all requests, and work hard to provide answers to any queries or needs. Working in short sprints, they manage the work tightly and effectively.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Think It Twice, a company that provides mobile apps for corporate training. We aim to provide mobile education for retail professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

We needed development and maintenance services. I was looking for a team with excellent skills in technological development that could offer flexibility too.

I’d used an agency from Hong Kong in the past to develop the first software. That was done on a project basis and it worked well. However, by the time the largest scope of work was done in the app, the project-based work had become very expensive. We also didn’t have the same responsiveness from the team because we were no longer a big client for them. That meant we were looking for a new partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They have been doing almost everything development-related for the last couple of years. We have a small team in-house, but the rest is fully handled by a team at Arcanys.

They do our iOS and Android work, as well as all the backend. That’s concerns Python, data, and machine learning. In addition, I needed to review my UI/UX, and they were able to bring in a senior designer on a temporary basis to do it.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we had two or three developers. As our needs increased, we gradually added more people.

We have a scrum master who works part-time as we need someone to coordinate tasks and to make sure all sprints are filled. That person oversees several different teams so can learn from elsewhere in the company and apply those lessons to our project.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

I looked into hiring a full team, but it would have been very costly and, as I’m not a tech person, I wouldn’t have known how to manage them. I also tried hiring a CTO, but that didn’t work out. After that, I decided to reach out to Arcanys who I found through a referral.

How much have you invested in them?

We spend around $20,000–$25,000 per month with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2017, and it is an ongoing engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

With Arcanys, the application development has been successful because they’re very reactive. Whenever we have a request from a client, they will have someone that can answer the questions. They have a lot of skills within their company so whenever there is something that is missing, they can ask someone, even if they are not part of our team. When we do meet challenged, their problem solving fast. They provide a lot of flexibility that I didn’t have before.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m not in direct contact with the developers as the product owner handles them. In general, the communication is easy because there isn’t a time difference.

They hand in the sprints every two weeks, and there is very tight follow up on how much money we have spent, where it was spent, and what the results of it were. In terms of delivery, they’ve been very good so far.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very client oriented. Their advice is very good as they work hard to analyze a business, understand its needs and goals, then work out how to fulfill them.

I love their company spirit because it’s very human-oriented. I’ve visited them several times and our contact with them is always very friendly. We’re happy to work with them, which is important.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Whenever something needs to be improved, we tell them straight away and generally see immediate results. We don’t have any problems with them and haven’t faced any big challenges. When new developers come on board, there is a learning curve, but generally, they recruit people that are fit for the job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be sure to have a deep understanding of the project from the very beginning. Find out how the team works and who is responsible for what.

On their side, they need to know what to do, how to do it, and how long they have. That means be very clear with the communication and make sure it is regular. When you have a team on site, you can always pop in and ask a question, but when they’re remote, you need to make sure everything is completely clear before moving on.

5.0

Overall Score I’m very happy that I found them.

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

I’ve never known any developers that are on time, but they’re very good.

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

The price for the value is awesome.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

I’ve recommended them already and will do it again.

Development

Oct 10, 2018

the project

Angular Dev for Finacial Publishing Firm

“Their management style is very upfront, and they treat us with respect.”

Development

$200,000 to $999,999

Oct. 2017 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$200,000 to $999,999

Oct. 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary:

After performing QA checks for a fintech software, Arcanys has expanded their role into Angular development. They continue to manage the app, handling frontend work, building new features, and fixing bugs.

201-500 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Ian Hamilton

Lead Developer, Institutional Investor

Verified

the reviewer

Lead Developer, Institutional Investor

Ian Hamilton

Publishing

201-500 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“Their management style is very upfront, and they treat us with respect.”

Oct 10, 2018

Feedback summary:

Arcanys delivers high-quality code at a fraction of the cost. The team takes a communicative approach to ensure transparency. Although they could be more proactive in running the project, they’re excellent collaborators and manage their resources well.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the lead developer at fintech company called Institutional Investor, which is a division of EuroMoney. In addition to providing financial data, we run various conferences and memberships around the world. I work on the technical side, overseeing development for our websites and apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

We were developing a hybrid web application called ManagementMatch that helps connect investors with suitable managers and intermediaries. However, we outsourced some of the work to a development firm that lacked a sufficient QA process, so we faced a lot of issues with poor code. Arcanys initially joined the project to take on QA, but we’ve since expanded their role to include Angular development and maintenance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, Arcanys assigned a QA specialist to go over our software. As the project continued, we decided to bring on additional resources to support our development efforts. Arcanys currently functions as an offshore-development support team to extend our capabilities. The application itself is a hybrid between Drupal, PHP, and Angular 1. Our in-house team handles the Drupal and PHP work, while they handle the Angular development. Other responsibilities include frontend enhancements, new features, and system checkups and updates.

What is the team composition?

We work with a QA specialist, a senior developer, and a junior developer.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

6–7 years before joining Institutional Investor, I worked with Arcanys to create an app and an administrative system. At the time, I found them through a job listing platform where developers could bid on projects. Once I moved to my current role, I was keen to use them again.

How much have you invested with them?

Between the three resources provided, we pay about $12,000 a month.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them since October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Despite the application’s complexity, they’ve maintained it well and have continued to create new enhancements for a third of the normal costs. It would have been too expensive to work with local developers, but the Arcanys team produces technically sound results while remaining cost-effective.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re well managed, and the communication is spot on. Every morning, we have a stand-up call to go over tasks. The team reports everything to us, from giving updates to breaking down project costs. If they’re not completely sure about something or have questions, they tell us, and we’re able to have a conversation.

I also appreciate that they don’t overstep their bounds. Previous developers I’ve worked with have been too pushy when suggesting new technical solutions, at times doing things that we didn’t ask them to do. In contrast, Arcanys follows our instructions, coming up with work-throughs as needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their management style is very upfront, and they treat us with respect.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While they’re communicative and follow instructions well, they could be more proactive in product development. For this particular project, I didn’t want to run the project myself; rather, I wanted them to take the reins. In a sense, it would become more of their project as they evolved into an external team. Becoming more proactive without being domineering would help us in the long run. After meeting with Arcanys' senior management, they have agreed to move the team in this direction.

5.0

Overall Score

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

They're really good.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Development

Oct 08, 2018

the project

Dev Partnership with IT Services Enterprise

“Arcanys has a knowledge base and hunger to learn that makes them stand out from the competition.”

Development

$1,000,000 - $9,999,999

Jan. 2012 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$1,000,000 - $9,999,999

Jan. 2012 - Ongoing

Project summary:

Arcanys provides staff augmentation during busy periods of business. Developers work with NodeJS, Angular, and Java, and AWS. They’ve built several serverless applications and provide DevOps support.

501-1,000 Employees

Orebro, Sweden

Joakim Restadh

Senior VP, Enfo

Verified

the reviewer

Senior VP, Enfo

Joakim Restadh

IT Services

501-1,000 Employees

Orebro, Sweden

Phone Interview

This review was conducted by a Clutch analyst over the phone.

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“Arcanys has a knowledge base and hunger to learn that makes them stand out from the competition.”

Oct 08, 2018

Feedback summary:

With three resources allocated for every single in-house developer, Arcanys has transformed the size and capability of the internal team. Their support has been integral to every success that’s been achieved, and they work with each key account. They collaborate closely and communicate well.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the SVP for the information management division at Enfo. We’re a consultancy for services and IT consultancy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arcanys?

We were searching for resources that could help us during peaks in business. It’s hard to find resources where we’re located.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve done a lot of work together. Arcanys mainly performs Java development, NodeJS, and Angular. Everything they do is based on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform. They help us build many serverless applications.

We also use Arcanys as our DevOps team. Even for operations, they’re helping us to take care of the environments. They’re 100% integrated with our in-house team, but are simply not in the same room.

What is the team composition?

About 30 people from Arcanys work with us. Their dynamic works really well. There are a lot of testers and systems operations specialists. The tech lead works with a few supporting developers.

How did you come to work with Arcanys?

We had a relationship with one of the founders of Arcanys. We decided to try them first and see how things went. The initial engagement went very well, so we continued with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $1–$5 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since January 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We wouldn’t be the company we are today without Arcanys. They’ve helped us achieve lots of success stories. They support essentially all our work and operate the entire AWS platform we use, which is quite massive.

Arcanys is the most significant part of our team. They assign three developers for every one of our in-house engineers. We work very closely together. They help us serve all of our most important clients. One of the biggest companies in Sweden has 5–6 teams that work with them.

How did Arcanys perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very fluent in English and offer prompt response times. Arcanys is the best team we’ve encountered, which is why we stick with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The developers have a mindset and attitude we haven’t encountered before. Arcanys has a knowledge base and hunger to learn that makes them stand out from the competition.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could push back a little bit more against the services we request if they think there’s a better way.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should meet Arcanys in person if possible. Get people together in the same room at least once. You’ll see how nice of people they are.

5.0

Overall Score I’ve never encountered a team like this.

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

We don’t have much of a schedule. It’s all day long work.

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

They're outstanding.

5.0 NPS

Contact

Outsource smarter.

headquarters

other locations

Focus

Portfolio

Enfo - Nordic IT solutions company enabling data-driven and holistic business transformation

PaymentLogic - A payment platform that enables business payments on your credit card

RegisterNow - Engaging and professional easy-to-use registration forms

Think it Twice - Luxury corporate training specialist

NZ Funds - Auckland-based financial and investment advisor

Reorg Research - Financial market intelligence and analysis

RateMyAgent - Top real estate agent ratings and statistics website

FieldWiz - Innovative wearable tech for optimizing sports performance tracking and analysis

AED Global - An innovative residential building component and manufacturing solutions startup

Reviews

Reviews

the project

the reviewer

the review

Mar 04, 2019

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Dec 04, 2018

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Nov 14, 2018

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Nov 14, 2018

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Oct 16, 2018

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Oct 16, 2018

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Oct 11, 2018

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer