Daxx

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We interact with those developers directly all the time. They are amazingly communicative and the language barrier is not a factor. They’re competent, funny, personable—they are definitely not automatic developer robots. They were chosen specifically for us. We were given a number developers to choose from and we interviewed them directly. Daxx took internal responsibility, conducting performance evaluations for the developers. Once we selected the lead developer, he took responsibility for giving skill and speed tests to the junior developer candidates that we were considering. Once we shortlisted them, the lead developer said, “Look, let me help you by leaving out any potential employees that might be right but aren’t a good fit.” They have done an exceptional job.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated with them through Basecamp, Bitbucket, email, Skype, and Facetime. If we had questions over the weekend, they would Facetime us from home. They absolutely became part of our team.

What did you find most impressive about Daxx?

Most companies in the marketplace, especially those working in tech, have very specific impressions when it comes to outsourcing. We’ve worked with other companies that outsource, we’ve also worked with developers in-house. I can say that going with Daxx was not just the best decision that we made, it’s a decision we would recommend to anybody. They’re very European in their approach to setting up their company structure. They are so thorough. Everyone we deal with goes the extra mile, from admin to accounting, developers, and basic emails—everything. They really get the job done. We’ve had terrible experiences with developers, so we honestly went into this the same way you go into a relationship after breaking up. However, we were completely blown away by everything about them.

They are a perfect fit for us. The lead developer is extraordinary. As an individual, he clicks well with our particular mindset, our company, and personal cultures'. He is not just an employee; we feel like we made a friend and he is somebody that we want to know. And this is a company that we want to know and work with, so we continue to do so even once our project is finished.

Are there any areas Daxx could improve?

When the project is done and launched, we would be able to provide that feedback. But for now, I can say that we are 100% satisfied in terms of development and gear up. Once we have that data, I’m sure we would be 100% satisfied as well, but you never know.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

As we continued working with Daxx, some of their developers came to our company on work visas, becoming a part of our local team. We liked what they did and how they did it, so we wanted to have them closer to us. Daxx helped us staff our team with professionals who are very easy to bring up to speed. We don't have to waste very much time with people who aren't right for the job.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

Daxx' team delivered the work on time and with good quality. We use Microsoft Team Foundation Server for our collaboration, and Visual Studio for the development itself. We have a continuous integration process using scrum technology. We divide the work into sprint cycles, and have regular meetings at two-week intervals, talking about what needs to be done.

What distinguishes Daxx from other providers?

What I found noteworthy about Daxx is their ability to maintain a strong HR presence, allowing me to concentrate less on these tasks. When working with an offshore team, we need to make sure that we understand the dynamics of the human factor, assessing who is and isn't working out well. Daxx's HR has worked closely with me in making sure that those problems are addressed quickly. 

Is there anything Daxx could have improved or done differently?

Daxx has done a pretty good job as it is, so there isn't much that needs to be changed. They could provide more internal tooling for developers. At the moment, we need to provide software licenses for their workstations ourselves. Trying to get that software installed from our location is more complicated than we'd like.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Daxx is good at taking care of their domestic employees. They have events, make evaluations, and hire new staff within two-week periods. Daxx has done everything that we asked for in order to make us happy. Daxx has also collaborated with us in trying to find more work during slow periods.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

If we ever had an issue with a particular resource, Daxx handled it fast. There were no problems in terms of delivery. We use GitHub for project tracking. We also have our own project management system and use the Asana task tool.

What distinguishes Daxx from other providers?

Daxx is able to hire people fast, based on our profiles. They're able to maintain those resources, which I think is distinguishing about Daxx.

Is there anything Daxx could have improved or done differently?

Daxx could improve in terms of pricing. One of the reasons for using them was the speed of obtaining new resources and simpler contracts, but pricing is becoming a problem.