CodeWell

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I co-founded Compagnon De Route, a firm for personal and professional development and growth. We offer services to individuals and companies–from training to support–to create a better quality of life and work.

What challenge were you trying to address with CodeWell?

We needed development services for web, iOS, and Android, to automate certain business processes.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We analyzed our needs and potential offerings in a collaborative process. They then developed the Android and iOS versions as a cross-platform app. Codewell integrated illustrations that accommodated our in-house style and implemented ideas we generated in iterative brainstorming sessions. Concurrent to app development, Codewell built and launched seven websites. The apps then went live after testing.

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with three people–seven resources in total. Other teammates helped with tasks related to their expertise.

How did you come to work with CodeWell?

Our local IT partner introduced us to them. We met CodeWell in-person and formed an instant connection. Next, we established project outlines and began work in quick order.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent €50,000 Euro ($57,979 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2017 and the partnership is ongoing.

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

CodeWell produced impressive applications that generated enthusiastic feedback for their professionalism. We’ve gotten new business opportunities as a result of the app’s unique offering in regional markets. We plan on having a long-term relationship with them.

How did CodeWell perform from a project management standpoint?

Luckily, their processes align with our internal workflows. Accommodating our creative mindset, CodeWell has managed each aspect of the project in reasonable timelines, even though we occasionally assign extra work. We’ve met the team on three occasions and their enthusiasm was noticeable each time. Project management effectively scaled the project in early 2018 and consequently exceeded our expectations.

Furthermore, we’ve encouraged them to be proactive and go beyond the scope’s parameters. We communicate via Skype and FaceTime, depending on the internet connection. Basecamp works well for us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Both founders have great vision and interpersonal communication skills. They take care of their team–ensuring a healthy work and leisure balance–in a way I didn’t expect for the IT sector. However, they’ve worked late evenings on occasion.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t have a project manager for a couple weeks during a staff change. CodeWell could have replaced resources more quickly, but development resumed normally once the new person onboarded fully. It’s important for the project manager to connect with the client.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of QFiks. We provide an app-based marketplace for miscellaneous job postings.

What challenge were you trying to address with CodeWell?

We didn’t have any in-house developers, so we needed a firm that could build the platform and help us achieve our vision.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired CodeWell at the beginning of development and they were involved in every step of the process. First, we provided some technical specifications and early mockups of the platform. Then, we visited their office for a 2-day design workshop where they mapped out the platform’s customer experience. During this time, one of their designers created our color scheme and button interface. Together we created new product specifications that included how the platform would be used and what functionalities it would have. Two weeks later, they communicated how we could create the system and how much it would cost. With a refined project scope, CodeWell built our platform as native apps both iOS and Android.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with 6–7 people from their team. This included the developer, two project managers, and two junior designers.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a total of €200,000 ($233,931 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from July 2016–November 2017.

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

CodeWell delivered excellent products. Users are content with the quality and simplicity of the app.

How did CodeWell perform from a project management standpoint?

CodeWell was always available to us and provided constant updates. Their project manager was reliably forthcoming regarding our status, time estimates, and potential problems. Whenever we had an issue with a bug, we could tell them and they’d fix it as soon as possible. We used the phone, email, and weekly Skype calls for communication. We also used Basecamp to upload work to a central location and facilitate daily communication between both teams.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I frequently recommend them because they stay ahead of schedule. If they knew of something that could improve the product, they came to us proactively. We’ve contracted programmers in the past, but CodeWell stood out through the quality of work they produced on both Android and iOS.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It took some time for CodeWell to understand our vision as we went back and forth with them regarding the app’s design and functionalities. Their graphic designer should collaborate more closely with the programmers. This occurred a while ago, so I don’t know if it’s still something that needs to be improved.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m responsible for digital transformation at one.Vip, a telecom operator in the Macedonian market offering mobile and fixed network services to corporate clients.

For what projects/services did your company hire CodeWell?

We engaged CodeWell to develop a chatbot solution using the Macedonian language and specific telecom-based use cases. Since our company does not have experience in this area, CodeWell seemed like the perfect fit—a young, local company that could supplement our missing expertise.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to shift customer inquiries from customer-service agents to digital channels.

How did you select this vendor?

We looked at local and international vendors but didn't get very far since development in Macedonian is difficult and costly for such a small market. CodeWell had won an award for their chatbot, plus they’re a local company looking for opportunities to scale up. We connected via LinkedIn, requested a proof-of-concept (POC) proposal, and decided to work with them.

Describe the project in detail.

We've set up the project using agile methodology with both our teams. We defined business requirements with CodeWell’s assistance and then brainstormed designs, set priorities, and defined the sprints. The project runs smoothly. We follow their progress in Basecamp.

What was the team composition?

Six people are involved on a daily basis.

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

The first deliverable was a POC demonstrating that the chatbot could utilize Macedonian based on a limited set of information. CodeWell then trained the bot, and the results were extremely promising based on their presentation of future implementation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Since we use agile methodology, we coordinate work easily through daily standups and Basecamp tracking.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

CodeWell has young and capable professionals. At the first meeting, we appreciated their refreshing approach to traditional telecom operations. All of our team members were impressed by their proactivity. Whenever we delayed a step, they stepped in and did extra work on our behalf.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are happy with the way the project is progressing.