Daxx

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

We hired three engineers and they probably sourced 30–40 viable candidates for us before they managed to find the right fit.

We’re quite satisfied with the level of the engineers that they were able to source for us. We were looking for senior positions and experienced people and the engineers they sourced fit very well with our team. They are capable and very proficient, and so far so good.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they did quite well in terms of understanding our needs and the type of profiles we were looking for. They did a good job matching the people to the type of environment that we’re involved in.

Additionally, they also do a good job when it comes to us having multiple touchpoints with the engineers to see if everything is going well. They’re very transparent with how the work is going and are proactive in their communication.

The team is good at integrating our feedback into the sourcing process of candidates. Overall, they are quite a proactive team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In terms of highlights, I think they did quite a good job of sourcing, and they are very proactive in improving the quality of the candidates to make sure they mesh and are the right fit. They did quite a good job of that and we were very satisfied with the people who joined the team that we’re now working with. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In terms of constructive feedback, I would challenge the current pricing model right now because, with regards to the services they provide, beyond the sourcing and the HR support, there are the offices and special IT material.

As we require special material, we sourced our own computers and our engineers, because of the COVID-19 situation and people working remotely, they haven’t been using the offices at all. I would challenge their current pricing model, especially in this context.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t hesitate to be precise in terms of profiles and the type of people you are looking for. Daxx will be able to source the right people accordingly.  

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

The team managed to not only satisfy the needs of the project but also advised best practices through the project so that we could deliver the best application we could possibly have and be unique in the market.

They work independently and contribute a lot to the company and the project. They have enough experience to tell us if we’re on the wrong path and make suggestions on how to improve what we’re doing.

They’re skilled and experienced. When they joined, they weren’t really up to speed on what we were doing in the IoT world, but after a few sessions, they were able to understand the business case and work independently.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

Daxx is part of the team. The most important thing in this relationship is that we don’t have to manage them and we don’t treat them as an outsource company. They join the standups, the monthly meetings, and the strategy discussions.

They can really bring value without even asking them for it. They share ideas in the moment we discuss the projects. We use Slack and Trello boards for the sprint tasks and the backlog. We also use email. They use Bitbucket for the pipeline.

We’re satisfied with the timelines. Even if internal deadlines aren’t met by all of us as a team, the external deadlines are always met. We don’t have actual deadlines for them because we work as a team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I don’t do that much work with them; it’s mainly their team and our R&D team. It’s always been easy working with them. No matter how difficult the project is or how complicated it is, they always manage to help drill it down to smaller tasks or explain how to approach it better so we can make the most out of the time we spent together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re very flexible and understanding.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Their team is great, and so is their English. You’ll be able to easily transfer your project and knowledge to the team. They will be able to catch up with things quickly and deliver the quality that you need.

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

We run a sprint every week, and we have a 95% completion rate in the time we assigned them. On top of that, we come in on budget for where we think we should be for the client, now that we’ve got these developers.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Trello and Slack. All of our developers speak really good English, so there isn’t even a language barrier. Daxx spends time training their employees to speak English, so it’s easier for us. We have conference calls once a week too. Especially during the COVID-19 quarantine, it’s like nothing has even changed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to find really strong personnel sets them apart. They do that pre-interview step for us, and we interview them as well. By the time we get to the candidates, they’re pretty well vetted.

Daxx also finds a way to send things to them, since they’re so far away, like a birthday card or other gift.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I always want to get the latest and greatest equipment for my development team, but it just takes longer with them because they’re so far away.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is not to wait forever, like I did. They’ll help you save money, time, and frustration in the long run. Try to get a good picture of your project together for them so they can see all the technologies you need. I’m amazed at their ability to find a person with deep knowledge, that I would normally think it would take two hires.

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

Because they are integrated with our overall development team, it is difficult to pinpoint specific effects that they have had, but they are a significant part of anything that we have accomplished since we began working with them.

All of the work that they deliver for us is well built and functions very smoothly, so we have been able to entrust them with just as much of our portfolio as our in-house team. Technically, they are the best remote team I have ever worked with in 20 years of experience.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

Initially, they were more directly integrated with our team, and the developers would communicate directly. As the team expanded, we added a few project managers on their side who have been helping us to effectively monitor and direct all of the work that is going on.

Even though they are integrated throughout our different teams, the individual developers have been able to adapt to all of the different processes and project management tools of the team that they are working on. And on top of that, the project managers on their side are very disciplined about making sure they track all of their work and deliverables

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their engineers’ technical skill is just outstandingly strong, despite being a relatively young team. They have the skill levels of some engineers in the Bay area who have been working for over 20 years.

On top of that, there is a level of integrity from the individual engineers to the management of the company that you don’t often find from outsourcing companies. They are always on top of things and willing to accommodate any of our needs, which have changed dramatically over the years that we’ve spent working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I really have been completely satisfied with the service they provide to us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you work with any outsourced team, it requires an investment from your side to make sure that you establish clear expectations and that they know what your goals for the product are. If you just give them a list of requirements and don’t follow up, you will get a good product, but it might not be exactly what you were looking for — not because they did anything wrong, but because you didn’t provide them the guidance that they needed. Constant communication is absolutely key.

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

The product is launching soon, and we’ll look to expand the team according to the feedback we receive. Holistically, the quality is very high. Our resource has a deep science and mathematics background, which helps us in many areas.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicate with our developer through email, Google Hangouts, and video calls, with last being the most common. We also use Jira and Confluence to track the project. They make sure things are going well, identify next steps for growing the team and its skillsets, and communicate proactively.

When we have all-hands meetings, they participate; they’re just like a member of our team. If a team member needs to come to the US to meet with the team, Daxx handles the visas. They manage all the HR aspects so we don’t have to worry about them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their focus on employee retention and satisfaction is outstanding. They don’t simply focus on supplying a resource with the necessary skills but developing that resource’s connection to you as an organization. They also ensure their resources have the infrastructure they need to be successful. This is how they develop continuity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes we need part-time experts, but Daxx only uses a full-time model. When we go into rounds of QA or testing, we don’t need a full-time person. They’ve heard our feedback and said they’re going to add a part-time service soon.

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

Daxx has been able to put together a highly skilled team that is dedicated and focused on delivering an accurate solution. The team has always received and implemented feedback well, which tells me that Daxx found developers who fit across the company as a whole.

Daxx’s guidance concerning expectation, task, process, and project management has helped the company take huge steps in the right direction.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

Daxx helps us with project management for the team. We use Jira to track project progress and individual tasks, and have collaborative communication. While there are some deadlines that just can’t be met, Daxx’s HR manager and our senior PM do everything in their power to make sure the team is managed tightly and release dates are met.

It’s my opinion that we are all one team—Daxx, the development team, and us—so I try to meet with them regularly. I visit the Daxx office space a few times a year.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very involved not only when things are going well, but also when we face unexpected complications. They have always been there for us as a real partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be a great addition to their services if they were able to be more involved in the technical aspects of the projects. That expansion to their business would take some stress and worry away from clients.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to ask questions. If there is ever something additional that you want, something you don’t understand, or if you've run into an issue—whether within your process or team—reach out to Daxx and they will help.

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 evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Daxx was always fast to respond to feature requests. Before we started working with Daxx, we couldn't handle changes at anywhere near our current speed. The positive feedback our product has received is a direct result of Daxx' work.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

Daxx performed well in terms of project management. We use Trello and Intercom for organizing feature requests.

What did you find most impressive about Daxx?

In terms of higher-end virtual employees, we don't have a basis for comparison with Daxx. Compared to other freelancers, though, Daxx has provided a much more transparent collaboration. We don't have to worry about timeliness, which takes some weight off our team.

Are there any areas Daxx could improve?

The only drawback has been that we don't have a set contact person at Daxx for any issues which may arise. When we first got in touch with Daxx, we spoke to 4 to 5 different people, each one with a different role. Whenever I have a question or problem, I have to fire an email to all of them. 

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?

Our own engineering team is based in Amsterdam while Daxx is located in Ukraine, so there is a difference in our teams. We measured Daxx by their capability of hiring great technicians. Daxx has been able to satisfy us in this regard.

A second factor was whether Daxx would be able to provide an adequate work environment, which would encourage engineers to stay with the company. This is a problem in our field, given that it can take a while to get the right experience with a complicated product. Daxx has performed well on this second subject as well. Staff fluctuation is low.

How did Daxx perform from a project management standpoint?

We handle project management ourselves. We use tools like JIRA for project tracking. Daxx works as a part of our engineering team, utilizing the same equipment as we use in the Netherlands.

What distinguishes Daxx from other providers?

The most important issue for us was whether Daxx could deliver good engineers, and if they were capable of offering a good work environment. Daxx could do it, so I'm quite satisfied. Any issues with individuals wanting to relocate or leave the company were solved in a balanced way.

Is there anything Daxx could have improved or done differently?

Daxx could improve its sales pitch. Recruiting great people is a challenge for our company as well as for Daxx. Expanding their network in order to attract more people would be an improvement. This is just a general desire. Engineering companies have a greater demand than there is a supply in the market.