DATAFOREST

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Ranktracker

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

I'm the Co-founder of the Saas which allows users to check their website's ranking on Google and provides data on the site's rank for specific keywords and tracks their performance over time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DATAFOREST to accomplish?

• Tune our PostgreSQL configuration and help us improve the reliability of our master/slave setup.

SOLUTION

How did you find DATAFOREST?

Online Search

Why did you select DATAFOREST over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from DATAFOREST were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

We were seeking an experienced database engineer to fine-tune our PostgreSQL configuration file and improve the reliability of our master/slave setup. The project presented several challenges, including the presence of numerous idle connections, high CPU wait times due to kernel IO processes, excessive locks reaching up to 3000, long transaction durations of up to 50 minutes, an IOPS bottleneck, and a significant delay in replica syncing due to master database overload.

Dataforest not only recognized the nature of these issues but also proposed effective solutions for each of them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

"From the very beginning, DATAFOREST demonstrated a high level of expertise and professionalism. They quickly identified the weaknesses in our current configuration, especially the issues causing the slave to fall behind during peak times and struggle to catch up. Their in-depth knowledge of PostgreSQL configuration files and their willingness to assist our development team, who had limited experience in this area, greatly impressed us.

Dataforest's implementation of monitoring systems, specifically Prometheus for Linux and Postgres metrics, and Grafana for master and slave dashboards, significantly improved our ability to monitor and analyze the database performance in real-time. Also, we were impressed with the attention to detail and the comprehensive insights provided through these monitoring tools, enabling us to make informed decisions and quickly address any potential issues."

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

The project was efficiently planned, executed according to the schedule, and all deadlines were successfully met.

What was your primary form of communication with DATAFOREST?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

One notable aspect of Dataforest's approach was their commitment to transparency and communication. They provided detailed reports on the work done, including the time spent on each task, ensuring that we were continuously updated on the progress of the project.

Are there any areas for improvement or something DATAFOREST could have done differently?

"DATAFOREST team expertise, dedication to problem-solving, and excellent communication make them an invaluable partner. With their assistance, we have achieved significant improvements in our database reliability."

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Technology Manager of (a/an) Automotive

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company focuses on standardizing the data exchanges between the many tools used in the process to develop and validate vehicles, their components, and their control systems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DATAFOREST to accomplish?

• Script development for UML data extraction

SOLUTION

How did you find DATAFOREST?

Online Search

Why did you select DATAFOREST over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost

What was the size of DATAFOREST’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

Data within one XML file shall be extracted to several AsciiDoc files by a python script and stored in a folder structure in the file system. AsciiDoc files are text files with the file extension .adoc. The XML file that shall be used for input contains exported data of an UML model. The UML model was exported from an Enterprise Architect 2.5 binary file using the XML export format XMI 1.1. This project is based on a script developed for a project in May 2021. This script shall be extended.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Several deliveralables during project run time
• Bug fixes and requests for changes were incorporated on time

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

The project management team was easy and fast to communicate.

What was your primary form of communication with DATAFOREST?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Professionalism, communication and high-quality of deliverables

Are there any areas for improvement or something DATAFOREST could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Senior Developer / Team Lead for a full-service digital marketing agency that exceeds client expectations and grows businesses with data-driven marketing solutions that resonate with consumers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DATAFOREST, and what were your goals?

We had to integrate a number of disparate data sources from a vendor with a complex mix of proprietary systems into a data warehouse. Our end goal was to produce a data-driven dashboard for business decisions. Our goal in hiring DATAFOREST was to rapidly develop the connections so that our team could focus on the dashboard.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found DATAFOREST through Upwork. They submitted the most comprehensive response to our initial request, along with an impressive portfolio of projects. From our initial conversation, it was clear that DATAFOREST would be a good long-term partner for data projects.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The used AWS architecture, including RedShift and Lambda, to build a collection of connectors between multiple data systems, and helped implement a connector between RedShift and Domo for the purposes of reporting.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with 4 people, including a sales and account management specialist, the owner, and two project managers. I know other internal resources worked on the project, but our project managers did a very good job handling that communication.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

DATAFOREST consistently delivered on scope, on time, and on budget. They communicated incredibly well and made helpful suggestions through the course of the project.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

I'm very impressed with the project managers at DATAFOREST who collaborated regularly with our team via Slack. They were very responsive and had a broad knowledge of the solution we built.

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

Their communication was great, and their ability to work within our time zone was very much appreciated.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Payment was a little bit difficult at first, but we have a lot of understanding for that because the war in Ukraine is likely impacting payment options.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are Cloud and DevOps Consultants. Advascale builds and optimizes scalable and easily manageable IT infrastructures. I’m a co-founder and the CEO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DATAFOREST, and what were your goals?

We were looking for a mix of expertise in web development and advanced knowledge in data engineering.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were looking for a team or a company that we could rely on to help us with a client's project. We were building infrastructure, but we had no deep expertise in Data Engineering and Web Development. We also knew some of their clients, so we had some good recommendations.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We've asked Dataforest to do business and technical analysis of the project, create the necessary ETL pipelines and build a web platform for managing and reporting needs. The Agile approach helped us to be in line with the timing and scope, ultimately 2 iterations of QA polished the platform.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We were engaged with the Solution Architect, Data Engineers, React Developer, Backend (Python) Developer and Project Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We have finished the project's first phase and are scoping out new activities. Agile approaches and targeted results have made this experience productive for us.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project deliverables and requirements were well defined, the project was planned perfectly, with all stages were completed within the scheduled timeframe. Communication was via emails, Slack, and calls.

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

DataForest knows what they do. They have the best data engineering expertise we have seen on the market in recent years. Beyond that, a proactive and data-driven approach has made cooperation beneficial and effective.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Can't think of any. We continue to work with them as technical partners. We appreciate the quality of their personnel, responsiveness, and attention to detail.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of risk management for Investment Capital Ukraine, an asset management and financial brokerage company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataForest?

The challenge was to automate and streamline our database.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DataForest automated the process needed to extract information from various operational systems. Then, they combined the data into our database to automate and streamline the reporting process.

At the start of the project, we discussed two stages of development, and we later added a third stage. They delivered the first iteration and then upgraded to a second version, after which we gave final comments and changes. Finally, they delivered the final version of the product. We’re currently negotiating with DataForest to see how we can work together further. 

What is the team composition?

I communicate with five people from DataForest. My first contact was with one of the co-founders, and I’ve also worked with a project manager, coders, an analytics specialist, and a programmer. There was a programmer switch during the development process.

How did you come to work with DataForest?

Since the project didn’t require too many hours, we couldn’t hire a large company because they require a certain amount of billing to start a relationship. We were looking for a mid-to-small-size boutique company that could handle the job. 

DataForest was perfect for us in terms of technical capabilities and ability to handle our order’s size. They also gave us very competitive pricing, and since their business analyst had extensive financial market knowledge, it was easier to communicate our goals.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around December 2020, and they finished the product in March 2022. Our partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product DataForest built is working. Our main metric of success is functionality and usability, and the product is performing at the level that we expected. 

How did DataForest perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager is designated to handle communication, project status updates, and timeline expectations. They always keep me in the loop of what’s going on. 

In terms of time management, the project took a bit longer than expected; we had calculated nine months, and it took a year and a half. However, it’s not entirely DataForest’s fault because we added a few features in the middle of the project and then another stage of development. We understand that they’re a small team with limited resources, one of whom left in the middle of the project, so things like these can happen.

We use Telegram to keep in touch, and their communication is good. They have some integrations with the platform, so a bot sends us status reports whenever there’s an update. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m really pleased with DataForest’s understanding of financial asset management. This industry expertise has meant that I didn’t have to explain the mechanics of profit calculation to the coders; instead, the business analyst took care of it. While explaining the industry can be a drag, it was easy with DataForest.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their resource management and timely turnover of the project. The timeline got extended quite a bit, and though I understand some of it was our own doing, they didn’t show urgency to fit everything into the original schedule. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Preparation is key! Even if you think you know what you want, the project can become a landmine unless you’ve gone through the steps to see the complete picture. I wish I had been more prepared and discussed everything I wanted to be integrated into the solution at the initial meeting.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a software development company that provides people with a tool to help them discover trending products and services in the e-commerce space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataForest?

We needed someone to provide us with custom software development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DataForest is helping us build and develop a custom software solution based on our designs. They utilize open-source software and other development tools such as Python and React.

What is the team composition?

We work with a project manager, QA specialist, front- and backend developers, two data engineers, a data scientist, and a DevOps engineer.

How did you come to work with DataForest?

I came across DataForest through Upwork and decided to hire them based on the services they were offering.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve invested about $460,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started in August 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of development, they’ve been consistently building everything we’ve asked them to without any issues. If we experience any problems, they come back to us with good recommendations on how the project can be improved.

How did DataForest perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is highly efficient from a process and project management perspective, as they don’t waste a lot of our resources when it comes to resolving issues with minimal intervention from us.

For every tool we want to build, they send us an estimate and breakdown of all the tasks, and put them up on JIRA along with the timelines. Moreover, we typically communicate through Slack and weekly phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with how they’re able to utilize their resources to deliver all of our requests.

Are there any areas they could improve?

One thing they could improve on is their approach to communication. They could be more efficient but other than that, everything else is good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

To get the most out of your engagement with DataForest, I would advise you to provide them with detailed information and requirements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Home decor e-tailer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DataForest, and what were your goals?

We hired them several times. Once to create API connections between certain marketplaces and our inventory and shipping software. Again later to automate some internal processes that involve Google Sheets and our shipping software. And we have plans for another internal automation.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found Alex on Upwork.com. We believed him to be the most professional of the candidates we met there, and his pricing, while not the least expensive, seemed fair.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

If I knew the technologies used, I'd have done it myself. This is outside my ability to answer.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I believe three, though I only dealt with Alex. Alex seems to serve as Project Manager, and we had at least one developer working on our job.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The end result is that the integrations worked to save us a lot of time. It added up to a somewhat large amount of money to have it all done, but ultimately after less than a year, it will have paid for itself in time saved. I was on the verge of needing another full-time employee to keep up with data entry, and the APIs and scripts he nd his team wrote eliminated that need.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Considering there's like a 10 hour time difference from the East Coast of America to the Ukraine, communication was surprisingly easy. We mostly used the Upwork texting system, plus Zoom calls with screen-share as needed. For the most part, I found the timeliness of his delivery to be on point.

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

Probably the communication. I never felt like I was being strung along, unable to reach someone quickly to report issues.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing worth mentioning.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there? 

I’m a product manager at BikeClub, a children’s bike subscription provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DataForest?

We wanted to migrate our platform to make it more compatible with other systems.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DataForest initially cleaned up our data storage to ensure that only an integral database would be processed. Upon accomplishing that phase, they migrated our existing React platform to Salesforce.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a data scientist, a data analyst, a product manager, and a tester.

How did you come to work with DataForest?

We posted a hiring ad via Upwork, which their team responded to. DataForest had the Salesforce knowledge and experience we were looking for, and they also offered their services at a reasonable price.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our collaboration ran from July–October 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Apart from successfully cleaning up all the data that we wanted to eliminate, DataForest curated our orders and subscriptions with an 85% accuracy rate.

How did DataForest perform from a project management perspective?

We communicated via Slack and periodic meetings. Despite DataForest's occupied schedule and our time zone differences, they collaborated effectively with us and completed the project on time.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

DataForest's Salesforce expertise was well reflected in their deliverables. They developed solutions that brought value to our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We would've appreciated more frequent meetings to make more room for questions and clarifications.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set clear requirements, start the project on time, and trust DataForest's expertise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of an automotive product manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Dataforest?

We needed their data management services for our marketing needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Dataforest has been helping us deploy our marketing efforts on data-reliant marketing platforms by conducting data mining services. Their team regularly monitors, extracts, and accumulates data that we can utilize across our campaigns. Once they submit their findings through an Excel file, I filter those according to our needs and edit the copyright details, product descriptions, and titles before integrating them into our Amazon account.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is Vlad (Co-Owner).

How did you come to work with Dataforest?

I knew Vlad since he was still working as a freelancer and decided to keep engaging him and his team when he formed Dataforest.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?
Our ongoing engagement started in June 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As with any data-centric engagement, my main success metric for Dataforest’s work is its accuracy. Our long-term partnership only proves that Vlad’s team is highly capable of delivering error-free and organized data lines, which enable us to acquire reliable product details for our Amazon platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Dataforest’s services are worth every penny — they deliver efficient results on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything that needs improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be communicative and transparent. Vlad’s team accommodates any requests and addresses issues professionally.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm executive chairman of Intellidex. We have operations in South Africa, UK and USA providing research and consulting services in financial services and capital markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire DataForest, and what were your goals?

We wanted to develop a customer-facing app that allows for analysis of vast amounts of data about banks. The goal was to create a MVP that we could take out to the market that demonstrated value in the data analytics.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We found them through UpWork and after some initial discussions and reviewing previous work we were confident they could handle the assignment.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We wanted a web-native app that scraped data and then allowed users to develop time series from the data and run various operations to present it graphically or download. The project went through a few iterations and testing rounds for the interface and engine.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We dealt primarily with one member of the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

While we are just at the start of taking the result to market, we are comfortable that we have a good product that will get traction.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They were on time and turned around requests quickly. In our project it was us that cause delays rather than Dataforest.

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

They've had a quick grasp of what we are trying to do and delivered to our spec without a fuss.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There were early iterations that missed some of the features that we wanted, but this was addressed quickly in subsequent iterations.