What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The software is part of our system. It's very important that it’s reliable, stable, and performs as it needs to. It's fundamental to our success.
How did Archer Software perform from a project management standpoint?
We use Jira and communicate by phone, email, and even WhatsApp. I have the personal phone numbers of all of the project managers I’ve worked with and most of the company executives.
We’ve worked with some great project managers who manage things very well as well as a few bad project managers that didn’t. The company management follows everything very carefully, though, and listens. Two of the project managers that I've said weren’t suitable for our project ended up out of the company. They listen and try to understand what the customer needs. If the team doesn't perform as expected, they respond very well.
They’ve helped us organize ourselves more effectively. When you work with a developer that is nearby, you don’t always pay enough attention to thorough documentation and proper definition of product specifications because you believe that you can change things easily. When you outsource to a remote location like with Archer Software for us—an arrangement that also includes a language barrier—you have to take more time and think more deeply about your specifications. In the end, you get a superior product that is better designed and executed.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The main thing is their ability to dive into projects quickly with a professional team built specifically for each project. They analyze the project, understand the competencies required, and staff the team appropriately. The level of services is highly competent, personalized, and reliable.
They also make sure I get the service that I need on time. In cases when there’s been a delay, they’ve worked through weekends or holidays to meet deadlines and didn’t charge more for it. They take responsibility for the timetable and deliver what they promise on time and within budget.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They're growing, and it’s not as easy as it used to be to find highly-qualified developers. It's become harder for them to keep their prices competitive while maintaining quality.
The initial release was adopted quickly without many issues in UI/UX, and Archer Software has continued to provide their development expertise in optimizing the performance of new versions. Expect dedicated resources who integrate fully with the project team and match in-house hours.