Bamboo Software, LLC

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the JavaScript Application Developer of SKYCATCHFIRE

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

SKYCATCHFIRE is a site and app development studio based in Ohio.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Bamboo Software, LLC to accomplish?

• AWS Architecture Support
• Devops Support

SOLUTION

How did you find Bamboo Software, LLC?

Referral

Why did you select Bamboo Software, LLC over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Bamboo Software, LLC were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The FM Tracks project entails a thorough architectural design and implementation of a web environment based on AWS services. The primary goal was to transition the FMTracks legacy application into a modernized, scalable, and reliable environment. A mix of RDS and Elastic Beanstalk was used to achieve this.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• RDS Database Implementation: 
  • Successful setup and deployment of the Amazon RDS instance. 
  • Ensured data integrity and security measures are intact. 
• Elastic Beanstalk Deployment: 
  • Efficient deployment of the legacy web application on the AWS Elastic Beanstalk environment. 
  • Seamless integration with the RDS database. 
• Operational Staging Environment: 
  • Activation of a fully operational staging environment that interfaces with the staging RDS instance. 
  • The environment's accessibility and functionality through the provided URL. 
• Rollback Safety: 
  • Availability of a rollback procedure ensures a safety net. The project can revert to its previous state in the event of unforeseen complications, ensuring zero data loss and service continuity. 
• DevOps Management: 
  • Smooth transition and integration of legacy applications and APIs into the new system with minimal disruptions. 
  • Demonstrates skilled project management and oversight.

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

We used Slack for most of our communication. Bamboo is very thorough and responsive. They are also very easy going so it was easy to communicate with them. They delivered tasks on time and were a delight to work with!

What was your primary form of communication with Bamboo Software, LLC?

Email or Messaging App

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

They definitely know what they're doing. They were instrumental in the architecture of our AWS services and were incredibly knowledgeable about the subject. They explained things really well whenever questions were asked. You could tell they've done this sort of thing before.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Bamboo Software, LLC could have done differently?

From my point of view as the lead front-end developer on the project, Bamboo was a pleasure to work with. There weren't any obvious areas where they could improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner at Elumynt, a digital marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bamboo Software, LLC?

We hired them to build a web app for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the engagement with a discovery call, during which we discussed our requirements with Bamboo Software, LLC in detail. They then came back with an estimate of how much time was needed to complete the web app. From there, they proceeded with the work, developing a working MVP for us from scratch. Their team also made some refinements to it based on our feedback and provided maintenance support. JavaScript was primarily used for development. The solution functions as an internal alert system for our agency.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Michael (Founder & Principal).

How did you come to work with Bamboo Software, LLC?

They were recommended to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $2,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Bamboo Software, LLC from November 2021–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were really happy with the results of the project. The app functions exactly how we wanted it to, and it’s been hugely valuable in monitoring our clients and improving our business efficiency.

How did Bamboo Software, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job from a project management perspective. We wanted to get everything done before the holidays, and they found a way to make it happen. They also stayed on budget and were very flexible. For managing tasks, we used Asana. For communication, we interacted via Slack and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We really liked their transparency and communication skills. We knew exactly what we would get, and they ensured that our expectations were fully aligned throughout the process.

Are there any areas they could improve on?

I can’t think of anything that Bamboo Software, LLC could’ve improved on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend working with Bamboo Software, LLC; they’re good at what they do.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a small business that makes special seals and filters used in laboratories. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bamboo Software, LLC?

We needed assistance with our dedicated systems around quality and customer-facing inventory management.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve already progressed in terms of our new code system, which will replace our legacy software. Michael (Founder & Principal) has worked on building some parts of that system. Bamboo has completely rewritten the app for sales and customer inventory management. They’ve had to do that in a way that allowed for productivity improvements in R&D. 

There’s also a backend component related to the serialization and deserialization of the codebase. On top of that, the team has worked on the system’s UI and dealt with actual users in our office to make the system work. We’ve also started a new project that deals with compliance systems and production control. 

In terms of tech stacks, the team uses SQL on the backend. There’s a data layer segregated from the system. The UI/UX is designed using ASP.NET with C# 7.2. We also use Azure DevOps for the repository. We’ve had these technologies in place for the legacy system, and Bamboo has provided improvements in them.

What is the team composition?

We only work with Michael. 

How did you come to work with Bamboo Software, LLC?

Michael’s former boss recommended him and Bamboo to us. They also demonstrated competence throughout the selection process. That competence also extended beyond coding — they were also able to work with people not trained in coding, which helped them better understand our requirements. That was the start of our engagement. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of workflow, a lot of our work has been shifted to the software written by Bamboo over the last 18 months or so. I can’t quantify that in terms of hours, but the system they’ve developed is critical in our operation.

Moreover, our business has demonstrated a much higher level of productivity. We can automatically process hundreds of purchase orders at a time directly through the software. Overall, the payback we get from our investment in Bamboo has been substantial. 

How did Bamboo Software, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Bamboo’s project management is excellent. We communicate more than once a week, and they always keep me aware of our priorities and progress through the DevOps board system. Overall, we have a highly transparent relationship.  

To communicate, we usually use Teams and video conferencing. We pull in other team members from the company as needed. Sometimes, Michael deals with them directly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The other providers we’ve used have been more website- and sales-oriented, and they don’t have the same programming expertise as Bamboo. On top of that, Michael’s team can adapt rapidly to our needs, and they’re more customer-focused.

To elaborate, their resources are more willing to deal with our legacy code to replace or improve it. They’re also willing to find new technologies that can help us add productivity to the software. When bugs are identified, Bamboo fixes them instantly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. Bamboo is all about improvements, so if we see a deficiency, it’s addressed right away.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Invest the time to acquaint Bamboo with your business needs. We’ve invested quite a few hours explaining to them why our software is important and how people use it. Users frequently don’t know enough about what’s possible with software. As a result, having a code systems consultant like Bamboo helps the business become more proactive.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the SVP of technology at Care Coordination Systems LLC, which provides software for healthcare care coordination to help manage multiple providers that provide care to a single patient. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bamboo Software, LLC?

We have a varying workload over any year and had some periods where we needed additional development bandwidth to fulfill our contractual obligations. So, we brought on Bamboo Software, LLC. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We've completed several projects with ​​Bamboo Software, LLC, who serves as our custom software development partner. One project was developing a cloud-based API to take in file uploads from a health department using C#, .NET frameworks, and AWS Lambda. They also wrote a SOAP-based interface using C# for another healthcare group that pushed records from our system to a doctor's office for further research. Both of those projects were done for the Washington state government. Bamboo Software, LLC also set up the CI/CD for our main software application and integrated it with our AWS environment using Octopus.

What is the team composition?

I've only worked with Michael (Founder and Principal). 

How did you come to work with Bamboo Software, LLC?

Bamboo Software, LLC was working with my company before I started working full-time. However, I met Michael years ago when he was freelancing, but I'm not sure exactly how the partnership began. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested $25,000–$50,000 with ​​Bamboo Software, LLC. 

What is the status of this engagement?

My company first began working with Bamboo Software, LLC in June 2020, and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The AWS Lambdas and Octopus deployments have been running since release and have 100% uptime. Michael writes code quickly, and his programs have very few bugs. The Washington state government was pleased with the projects because they worked as planned; Bamboo Software, LLC got us to the finish line on our project-related contracts. 

How did Bamboo Software, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Bamboo Software, LLC is my favorite vendor to work with because I don't need to micromanage them. I'm always overworked and it's refreshing to hand over a project to Michael and not worry about checking in more than once a week. We use Jira to manage the project and Slack, email, and phone calls to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of Bamboo Software, LLC's work really sets them apart from their competitors. Micahel writes and tests his work to ensure it meets our requirements, which is surprisingly rare to find in the development world. He makes time to ensure we're satisfied with his deliverables without making projects longer than expected. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Bamboo Software, LLC is as good as it gets — there is nothing for them to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to be very clear with their project requirements. Bamboo Software, LLC can crush a project, but it's essential to have more than just a nebulous idea when starting a development project. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Global It Manager of Trajan Scientific and Medical

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Trajan is a manufacturing organization that specializes in Laboratory workflow.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Bamboo Software, LLC to accomplish?

• Develope a critical business application tool that intergrates to ERP
• Create documentation for existing code

SOLUTION

How did you find Bamboo Software, LLC?

Referral

Why did you select Bamboo Software, LLC over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Bamboo Software, LLC were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Mike and team did an amazing job creating documentation and made modifications to streamline processes and system. Our team has a better user experience and enjoy using the tools Bamboo have created.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Customer Satisfaction and productivity improvements.

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

Bamboo met all deadline give to them and kept us updated on all progress. They responded in a timely manner for any question we had for them, which included daily stand-up meetings, regular email communications.

What was your primary form of communication with Bamboo Software, LLC?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their professionalism and friendliness. They're easy to work with and deliver great outcomes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Bamboo Software, LLC could have done differently?

Nothing for this project all areas delivered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a director at The Karcher Group. We are an integrated, interactive marketing agency founded 25 years ago. I lead a team comprising of UI and interactive designers, developers, project managers, and QA specialists.

We provide services for multiple verticals, including healthcare, higher education, government agencies, B2B, and B2C. We do all things around interactive marketing; SEO, campaigns, interactive website development, and application development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bamboo Software, LLC?

There was a multitude of things that culminated in us reaching out to Bamboo Software, LLC. We essentially hired them because we didn't have the available resources and skillsets in-house needed to complete a project for one of our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially provided them with the full scope and project plan that was used in the sales process. We had an initial scoping call where they could ask questions, and then execution began shortly thereafter.

What is the team composition?

I am familiar with two team members associated with the project. The project manager is our main point of contact, and there is one other resource from Bamboo Software, LLC's team. I am unsure if there are any additional people on the project.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Mike (Founder & Principal) has been outrageously helpful and thoughtful throughout the whole process. He has challenged the scope and come up with ideas and solutions that have ultimately benefited the project. 

How did you come to work with Bamboo Software, LLC?

I initially found Bamboo Software, LLC through a very loose recommendation. We conducted a vetting process that included Clutch. I reached out to Bamboo Software, LLC, and asked for a reference who was very satisfied with their services.

Bamboo Software, LLC offered a very unique skillset that was necessary for the project. They didn’t require any upfront time to learn the technology that was required, which was attractive.

How much have you invested in them?

We've invested around $14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December 2022, and it is an ongoing partnership. Our engagement with them is project-based; it is as needed rather than an occurring retainer model. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The immediate impact of the engagement is that we're able to deliver work on a compressed timeline, within budget. This has not only exceeded our expectations, but our client’s as well. 

We can essentially scale our team into those skillsets that Bamboo Software, LLC comprises that we don't have in-house. This allows us to now have full flexibility because we can accommodate technologies that aren’t ordinarily within our skillset or standard stack. That is really attractive. 

How did Bamboo Software, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Their methodology towards project management and the workflows that they use align closely with ours, making it very easy to integrate with them. The project was ultimately delivered on time and on budget, and they exceeded our expectations.

The team is very easy to get along with. They communicate very well and are thoughtful in their responses. They're respectful when they challenge ideas. They never came to us with a problem that they didn’t already have a solution for. I really respect that and I expect the same from my team. The way they operate has worked really well for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Bamboo Software understands how development projects should go. From a best practice standpoint, they do all of their discovery data requirements upfront, and they ask any questions upfront. They complain appropriately, and their burn is similar to ours. They spend a lot of time planning, and then the execution follows shortly thereafter, which always leads to a better product and project, in general.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Based on our engagement with them, I believe their model is working really well. It aligns very well with our culture, process, and workflow. I have no recommendation for Bamboo Software, LLC at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My recommendation for any vendor is to come prepared to discuss your project.  Have a scope, proposal, or project plan prepared prior to engaging. That is something that helped lead us to success. We came to Bamboo Software, LLC with all the documentation which outlined the project requirements, and it really benefited the outcome of the project.

With development work, you get what you pay for. I believe Bamboo Software, LLC is a quality partner, so you should be expected to pay more for their services.