CodigoDelSur

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1: I’m the CEO of a platform that provides users-permissioned financial data to lenders in emerging markets.

Respondent 2: I’m the co-founder and COO of the platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

R1: We wanted to build an MVP cost-effectively and flexibly. As an early-stage startup, we didn’t want to hire engineers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

R1: CodigoDelSur provided low-cost resources that built a high-quality MVP with clean code. They used React Native for mobile development and ReactJS for web development. Their team built the app's web backend using typescript and a variety of AWS frameworks. As their services can be turned on or off, we have a flexible arrangement.

What is the team composition?

R1: We work with a product manager and two engineers. It's a cost-effective and flexible solution for us to develop high-quality products. We just increased the number of resources this week.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

R1: While at a previous company, our head of product and myself worked with CodigoDelSur. The engagement went so well that we decided to engage them on this project.

How much have you invested with them?

R2: We spent between $100,000–$150,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

R2: We started our collaboration in 2018 and it's ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

R1: They’re able to lay-down code quickly. That code takes two forms including a scrappy MVP that effectively provides core functionality at low cost, meaning time in development hours. The second form that their code can take is a product that was built meticulously. For us as an early-stage company, success metrics include shifting to users, testing, and iterating rapidly. We’ve measured success by the output of code and the number of features built in a short period of time.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

R1: Their team was happy to use all of our tools. For the development, we used JIRA and GitHub. For prototyping, we used Zeppelin. They participate in retrospectives with our team, which provides a good feedback loop. With us leaning into the team, they lean back and that creates a collaborative engagement. They’re essentially team members.

What did you find most impressive about them?

R2: Our PM was on top of the engagement, providing write-ups for all of the code delivered during each sprint. That was helpful for our fundraising efforts. From a technical standpoint, the frontend developers are machines. The quality of the code that they produce, in the time that they produce it, is amazing. The service level is high too.

Are there any areas they could improve?

R1: There’s an occasional margin of error with communication. They’ll agree to a task without understanding the connotations. We address these challenges with them.

R2: If we didn’t have a product manager who’s fluent in Spanish, we would’ve had delays to the implementation of code.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a NYC based tech company, I'm the co-founder and COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CodigoDelSur?

APP development in Android and iOS. Website design and development

What were your goals for this project?

To develop a MVP based on our design concept of the APP

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Referral

Describe the project in detail.

The project took about 7 months, building the APP in Android & iOS & website from scratch, including UX/UI design, backend, website design.

What was the team composition?

A team 7 was working on the project.

1. Business development manager
2. Project manager
3. UX/UI designer
4. Website designer
5. Backend developer
6. Android developer
7. iOS developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team is very professional and efficient, very open communication and quick response. They offer daily catch up meetings, weekly summary reports, and end of sprint demo review meetings. Any bugs or crashes identified, they can fix them quickly within a few hours once notified.

We had a good experience working with each team member. The project manager is very open to share his valuable best practice experience as guidance for us. We fully trusted and respected each team member as they demonstrated top talent quality and delivered good results along the way. We also very much liked to hear their thoughts and ideas during the development process to find the best approach to resolve issues.

At the end of the project, it's simply very easy to get everyone on the same page and think likely toward the same goal. As a client, it's a great learning experience for us to work with professionals and experts during the process. We'd keep close partnership and continue working with the company.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We didn't experience any workflow hurdle or difficulty in communication, everything was smooth and transparent. Thanks to the project manager, he really helped a lot and made the whole experience great.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They're good at what they do as it says. They provide good quality work at a good price.

Are there any areas for improvement?

N/A

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Taste Labs. We’re a recommendation tech company We have web and mobile app that helps users find recommendations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

We needed a platform to increase user activity and help us collect data to improve our recommendation algorithm.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CodigoDelSur specifically helps us with the frontend of our mobile app, though they’ve also worked briefly on a few aspects of the platform’s backend. They use our tech stack, so the frontend was built with React Native and the backend bit was NodeJS and JavaScript. Specifically, they’re improving our UX while our internal team develops product functionality.

What is the team composition?

We had 2–3 developers working with us consistently, though they could scale the team to as many as six people when needed.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

I found them on Clutch. All of our local development companies were very expensive, so we decided to use an offshore firm. We were looking for a team with a very specific skillset and a lot of experience in React Native. We whittled down a list of thirty companies to four finalists. They then completed a few weeks of sample code or a sample project. We selected CodigoDelSur based on their performance—they delivered the best product.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our collaboration began in March 2018 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re the last step between product development and the consumer, so they’re a pretty important part of our process. Without building their part, we wouldn’t have any metrics on B2C. They’re well-versed in all tech libraries and are very resourceful because they have extensive experience. Knowledgeable, they saved us money because they’re able to address problems quickly and efficiently.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

All of their projects are assigned a manager, and our project manager is completely fluent in English. We’ve had a great experience and we haven’t had any miscommunications. They’re also very communicative, which is really important for our team. We want to know if there are any red flags. They’ve become an extension of our team.

We’re also really happy that they’ve been able to scale up or down based on our needs. We’re often waiting for feedback from our clients before we can make any updates to the frontend. In the interim, they scale down to remain cost-efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They know their market and who they are best suited for. They’re honest and will only take projects that they know they can deliver well on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a company that provides English and Western horseback riding lessons.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

We hired them to develop an MVP for our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided approximately 200 user stories, which CodigoDelSur used to build the MVP. They completed 15 two-week sprints.

What is the team composition?

The four-person team included a project manager, a UX/UI designer, and frontend and backend developers.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

We researched local companies before receiving a recommendation for CodigoDelSur. After contacting several US-based companies nationwide, we decided to reach out to the team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$199,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from May–October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

CodigoDelSur completed the MVP on time for our October 2018 launch date. They had remained on schedule throughout the process. The team continued to make improvements and changes through the end of the year. At that point, we decided to pause development and focus on building the user base and inventory. They subsequently provided support as needed.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

Although it was an offshore partnership, CodigoDelSur remained accessible and available via Skype, email, and instant message. They provided regular feedback and were particularly responsive during the testing and user story stages. What’s more, the team had very strong English skills. The project manager went above and beyond, taking charge and making the engagement a seamless experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CodigoDelSur’s great attitude made the entire team a pleasure to work with. They allocated resources exceptionally, especially when our developers went on vacation. The transition from the regular to replacement teammates—and back again—was seamless.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, because the team has gone above and beyond with enhancing our marketing. The team provided good QA testing, and remained available and focused throughout the engagement. They stayed on top of the sprints, ensuring that our side didn’t experience any interruptions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of engineering for a software service company in the enterprise drone space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

We hired CodigDelSur to help develop our native mobile apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CodigoDelSur helped our team build mobile apps for iOS and Android that were used by drone pilots in the field to capture, analyze, and send data. They worked on a variety of different technologies, including DJI drones, JavaScript, Objective-C, and Apache Cordova.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about six to eight people at any given time, which included software engineers and QA resources.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

Our company was already working with them when I came onboard.

How much have you invested with them?

They generally charge $50 per hour for services.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from January 2017 to July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

CodigoDelSur's team of engineers consists of highly skilled, competent coders. They did a good job of providing development support for our apps and we were very pleased with their work overall.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was very hardworking when it came to engineering projects. We handled project management on our end, and they adapted well to our preference of using Jira to track tasks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very easy and pleasant to work with. They were also flexible when we needed to make changes and responsive whenever we had any questions. As far as the quality of their work, they delivered to specifications, so we're pleased with the way things turned out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own a product and technology consulting firm that helps other technology companies research and build product ideas and prototypes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

We were looking to build a complex web application for small businesses. We had determined the product strategy and requirements, but needed assistance in executing on our idea.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CodigoDelSur led the design and development processes throughout the project. The application we created is integrated with multiple web services and required complex APIs that allow us to pull data from several sources. They utilized Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) for storage and cloud services.

What is the team composition?

We worked with between three and four developers depending on where we were in the project.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

I found them on Upwork. I was considering several firms and after interviewing them, I found that CodigoDelSur’s quality of work stood out. I was looking to avoid a vendor that wouldn’t require active management throughout, and their team seemed to be capable of working independently.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between October 2017–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have user feedback yet, but I was very happy with the results. The platform is very customer-focused and the UI looks great.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

Their diligence in managing the project allowed me to take a hands-off approach, which was exactly what I needed for this project. They took ownership and initiative while emphasizing communication with fast response times and daily updates. They utilized a scrum methodology and broke the project down into sprints to facilitate progress tracking. They were very transparent around the work they were doing and their model worked very well for us overall.

Considering the complexity of the project, the CodigoDelSur team did an excellent job prioritizing the various aspects of it. Knowing what to do first in a project this involved is a skill in itself. From a communication standpoint, they were responsive and spot-on. They use Teamwork as project management software, which I had never used before. It was easy to learn and incredibly helpful during development.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their approach to UX/UI and interaction design yielded results that other companies wouldn’t have been able to attain. We were very impressed and pleasantly surprised.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wish we had focused on certain aspects of the project a bit more, but I could’ve spent more time with them had I not been working on other projects. Overall, I don’t have any meaningful feedback in terms of process or quality of work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Picartio. We make apps that convert photographs into cartoons and animations. Our main software turns the user’s selfies into emojis.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

We needed to have an app developed for both iOS and Android. Our expertise is in creating backend algorithms for image processing, so we didn’t have an in-house resource dedicated to frontend development. Therefore, we needed to hire an outside contractor to complete the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We used CodigoDelSur to develop apps for iOS and Android. Beyond the development stack, they used Git to maintain a repository that we could review and a RESTful API for server communication. They probably utilized various libraries to build the apps, but I don’t have access to those details.

What is the team composition?

CodigoDelSur allocated a project manager, an iOS developer, and an Android developer.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

We went through different listings websites while initially looking for a contractor. After interviewing several contractors, CodigoDelSur stood out from the pack with their mix of background expertise and availability. They were also in a similar time zone as us and communicated well during the interview. We selected them for these reasons.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $20,000 and $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with CodigoDelSur from January–May 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The schedule was met and we were able to launch the apps on the App Store. They were willing to work with us as we changed the UI. Internal feedback was positive as the final products delivered the specifications we required. The apps garnered a fair number of users, but not the amount we needed for the next round of funding. We believe the reason was related to the backend technology we had and not the apps themselves.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

We had regular communication through Skype and used a messaging service called WeChat. The project manager and the developers were present for all videoconferences. This allowed us to speak about technical issues and give our feedback visually. The development approach was sprint-based and we were happy with the progress of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Having one manager oversee development on both Android and iOS helped keep the two projects on track. The project manager was especially good at getting to the crux of a problem. We also wanted the app to be operational in both English and Chinese. We provided the Chinese translation and CodigoDelSur offered to create a Spanish translation as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The app was targeted toward young audiences, so providing more feedback as to what would better appeal to that demographic would’ve been helpful. Additionally, more familiarity with the Android app marketplace in China would’ve been beneficial to the project’s success. Although, it may have been their first time getting an app certified for the Chinese market. At least it was a learning experience for them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and founder of a company that created a study app for sailors preparing for the Navy-wide advancement exam.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

We'd previously been working with a PHP site—all custom code—but realized we would have scaling issues with the PHP within two to three years, so we decided to reprogram the website in Node.js.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their main project with us has been to redevelop the site in Node.js and to develop fully functioning admin and content development panels. They’re also working on an API for our mobile app.

In addition to Node.js, they also used React and PostgreSQL.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

We needed a firm whose team members were experts in Node.js. After searching for the top companies in the field, we quickly found Codigo.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $175,000 and $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began work April 2017 and continue to collaborate.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're a productive company that creates quality code. Their emphasis on task management and establishing workflows from start to finish helps us track the product’s progress.

The product also uses a lot of Navy-specific terms and relies on a knowledge of rating exams, but they worked diligently to understand it all.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

We would typically work in two-week sprints until we got really close to finishing the website and were just focusing on cueing what we had. We worked largely in Teamwork, which was a new tool for us and which we found very effective, and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I've worked with programmers from a variety of companies, but Codigo's communication and responsiveness is uniquely incredible. Communication is important for us, and that doesn't go unnoticed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CTO of a babysitting jobs application that connects parents to college students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CodigoDelSur?

When the app was built, we started using Braintree for payment processing. We hired Codigo to transition us from Braintree to Stripe.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They used the technology stack we already had. Our app has a Ruby on Rails backend deployed to Heroku, and the mobile app is built with React Native. They also worked with our push notifications solution, which uses the OneSignal API.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager and a developer.

How did you come to work with CodigoDelSur?

I found them through a platform called Crew.co. From the start of the interview process, they seemed very polished and understood how to onboard a new client.

Several of their developers had skillsets that really fit our needs. They had experience with payment processors, specifically Stripe, and with building Rails mobile apps. That was the stack we needed.

We were looking both domestically and across the globe. We loved the prospect of working with a South American company. Codigo offers better prices than domestic developers, but are still in the same time zone and have very high English proficiency. It made a lot of sense to hire them.

How much have you invested in them?

We are working on an ongoing sprint basis, and have invested around $30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in February 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are about 80% finished with the project. So far, the thing that impresses me most is their flexibility. They work with us to figure out the best implementation, and are willing to shift directions when we find a better solution.

Our legacy code lacks tests in certain places. They have jumped in and gotten those up to speed to ensure that everything will be properly tested during the migration. When we ran into edge cases, we have a solution in place. They've been really flexible and responsive in that regard.

How did CodigoDelSur perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is fantastic,  and they are very responsive to our needs. They communicate throughout the day and are very easy to work with. They've fallen right in line with the processes and systems we use, which are pretty lightweight. Since it is such a small team, most of the project is managed through verbal or text communication.

The one challenge of working with them, versus our previous contracting company, is the time to get them onboard. Since it is a large code base and a complex project, the ramp-up period was probably a little longer than it would have been with the existing local contractor. Otherwise, things have gone fairly well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility and communication, as well as the overall ease of working with them, have been the highlight for me. Some contractors can be very challenging to work with, whether it’s getting them to understand the directions or making them responsive to our requirements for the code and features.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and general manager of Bikelight. We’re developing an urban mobility system focused on the safety of cyclists. It involves an app with hardware and light devices which help cyclists communicate with the app and with their environment.   

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Codigo del Sur?

We won a technology contest in Chile and started this project in January 2017 with another group of Chilean developers, which didn’t work well, so we began looking for other companies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project was initially planned for Android, so they took what we already had from the previous company—which wasn’t very good— and worked over that. They’re developing and improving our MVP at the moment. We expect to get more funds soon to start developing the iOS version.

What is the team composition?

They’ve assigned a project manager, a UI/UX specialist, a backend developer, and one or two frontend developers.

How did you come to work with Codigo del Sur?

A Canadian company recommended them to me and I really liked their work, so we hired them a couple of months later. They’ve been a great partner until now.

They’re very professional and one of the best in Latin America in their field. I was surprised by their amazing facilities when I visited their offices—they’re just on another level. Also, their personable approach makes you trust them.

How much have you invested in them?

This part of the project will cost about $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them at the end of February.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re about to launch the MVP sometime in April. What I can say right now is that they’re actually delivering a solid product. I got more from them in the first two weeks that what I got from the previous company in six months.

From what I can see, they’ve got all the main concepts of the app established, which is very valuable to me. They’re also developing a special algorithm for the app, which is more than what I asked for.

How did Codigo del Sur perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a project management platform in place and we have daily meetings on Skype with them, which helps us directly talk about the work progress, our needs, feedback, etc. They also deliver reports and ask for our comments so they can keep improving their processes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Codigo del Sur is very responsive and fast; whenever we ask for a change, we have it by the next day. They’re perfectionists and I think we couldn't have made a better investment. I’m sure we will have a high-quality product in the end.

I’ve worked with many companies and I’ve never seen such professionalism. They’re very flexible and committed to my project, making exceptions and showing a great appreciation for it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m so happy with their work that I don’t have anything negative to say. Maybe they could take on more projects like mine—ones with small budgets but greater social impact. They have incredible skills and they should share them with projects with that have great potential but no budget.