CrustLab

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m currently the director of development for a company that primarily serves the horseracing and greyhound racing businesses. We provide on-track terminals and field boards, hardware for racetrack support, and offer an online wagering platform for B2B customers. 

We’re both web-based and compatible with iOS and Android.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CrustLab?

We were looking to partner with a vendor to build our flagship product from the ground up.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CrustLab’s team is working to develop our betting application, which is based both online and on mobile devices. 

The frontend is built on React, while the backend framework is mainly Java. However, we use several different libraries in addition to Java, including Redis and other caching infrastructures. 

Our database is mostly MySQL with MongoDB, when appropriate. 

What is the team composition?

There are presently 10 developers working on our project, though we hope to expand to 15-16 team members.

How did you come to work with CrustLab?

We looked at several providers, including other offshore vendors. We had worked with one of the originators of CrustLab on a previous project, and we were thrilled to work with him again. Overall, CrustLab was the best choice for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $1,000,000-$5,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in November 2017 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received very positive feedback on the system CrustLab has delivered. Our current and prospective customers regard it as an excellent product. 

How did CrustLab perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams have daily stand-ups to stay up to date with their development progress and to clarify any questions or issues that might arise.

We use Slack and Skype as well as other venues for communication. For managing and tracking the project itself, we rely on Jira. Additionally, when we need to share screens, we use GoToMeeting.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CrustLab consistently adds value to our organization in many ways. 

We’ve been impressed by CrustLab’s recruitment processes and abilities. The team members are all skilled and work quite well together. 

Additionally, the team communicates very effectively. They aren’t afraid to ask for help or make suggestions to improve the project. Overall, our experience working with them has far exceeded those of other vendors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Over the course of our relationship, we’ve had ups and downs, as is normal when working with any vendor. CrustLab has done well to find solutions for any problem we’ve experienced.

Communication has lacked at times, but the team has taken steps to address it. 

As of now, we have no complaints other than to wish they were twice as big, so we could get more work done.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

CrustLab is accommodating and will work with you to address any needs you have. Be clear in your expectations and keep all parties accountable in managing them.