DCSL Software

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

Anecdotally, the database has been really well-received by clients. We’re also very happy with the platform.

We had a few issues with the login at the beginning, but everything seems to be working now. There are still some bugs in the system, to be expected, but they are being ironed out. Also, as we started putting data into it, we realized that we missed components, which is on us.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

DCSL Software used a system called Sifter to log errors and changes. The project management was very engaged. We had a ‘snapshot meeting’ every week with David via Skype to review what needed to be done. The meetings sometimes seemed a bit unnecessary, but I guess they would rather over-communicate, which I know some people prefer.

Having said that, the meeting with the development team – the sprint meetings – were really effective. They allowed us to see progress, discuss the upcoming sprint, decide on priorities – overall, they were very engaging and allowed us to shape the project. DCSL Software cleverly ensured we kept on track in terms of timescale and budget while providing us with flexibility.

Their team managed the budget fine. We were happy with the final cost. It was more than the original quote, but we needed the platform to be more than initially envisaged. The database wasn’t going to do what it needed to do unless we spent that money. Overall, we received excellent value for money.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DCSL Software was willing to step outside their comfort zone. Andrew was dealing with an unfamiliar subject matter such as complex corporate structures. I took it upon myself to educate him on the topic, which he came to understand and used to build a very good product. His ability to step outside a software developer’s head and into our world was useful and impressive. I think what is most impressive is that they delivered a complex system on time and budget, which exceeded expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They need to be sure about the likely price and timescale before entering into the engagement, as it increased from the original proposal that we signed off against, albeit we were aware this was a time & materials engagement. This is obviously easier said than done, and I can see they have processes in place to protect against this and warn early on. Apart from that, I cannot fault the process.

I really would want to see them change their “snapshot” process, which seems a bit redundant. I have already discussed this with them, and they have taken it on board.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients need to make sure DCSL Software fully comprehends the requirements from the onset, and those guidelines should be clear in their own heads before going down the road of engagement. But in terms of advising clients, DCSL Software is very competent. They quickly grasped the complex requirements and delivered a final system, all within three months. 

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

They’re still in the process of replacing our current website, which isn’t very user-friendly and suffers from long loading/processing times. As such, we’ve only had about 40 client institutions using it with about 500 hits so far.

The new iteration is much stronger and more secure than our current site, so we expect it to be a game-changer once it rolls out. I hope to make sections of the code open to users so that they can customize it for their particular methods and share their changes with the community.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve consistently delivered reliable work on time and on budget, involving me every step of the way. Nearly every month, they come up with detailed roadmaps and keep me updated on their progress. 

Communication is really transparent. If there are any changes, cost overruns, or difficulties, they’ll inform me. I’ve also asked them to deliver and publish their code through my Azure account. During meetings, we’ll go over a demo, and I can read the code to see what they’ve done. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve spent my life working in universities and as a civil engineer, so I’ve been involved with various companies. Compared to my past experiences, DCSL Software’s professionalism is of the highest order and in the truest sense of the word. Their work ethic alone is admirable. The team pays attention to what I want to do and have expanded upon it very well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's not always easy to see how their fees are being allocated on their invoices. Sometimes we have conversations about that, so I know that they’re working on improving it.

At the moment, the invoice lists the hours and rates for all resources involved, but they don’t specify who is doing what. I’m able to work it out based on the quotes and how they’ve partitioned the work, but I’d prefer it if what they were delivering were more closely related to the breakdown of the cost.

I need that information to explain to my collaborators how we’re spending their money, especially in terms of tangible output.

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

The result of their work is a scalable product that suits the needs of the customer. DCSL Software made suitable selections for the technology and overall functionality of the product. The head of retail at our partner company called it the best piece of software he’s ever introduced into the retail sector.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always able to add more resources to the project when needed, and they addressed all urgent issues promptly. We held two weekly meetings with them to critique their work and decide on the next steps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to scale up resources at any given time is a clear strength. We’d sometimes have periods where we needed work to be expedited, and DCSL Software always managed to find somebody that could help with little downtime.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we had a successful engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure your requirements are clear to make sure the project goes as smoothly as possible.

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

We are currently wrapping it up and upgrading the portal. The tool will be offered once it is upgraded, but internally we are quite happy with what we have. There are a couple of bugs and final things we need to address before we launch it.

Other companies we worked with in the past were much more focused on using pre-designed systems and platforms and then customizing them. This was the first time I’d worked with a fully bespoke application and I think they were quite good. They were very detailed and tried to understand exactly what we want. They did their best to deliver on the brief we have. It has been a very collaborative process and they have been very engaged.

How did DCSL Software perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager wasn’t that involved, but the software engineer who was in charge of the project was very involved. He effectively served in a project management role. I think it was their choice to do it that way because it made it slightly easier. He understood exactly what we were doing.

They also have an account manager who calls me every other week to see how things are going. They are quite good in terms of having various points where they check if everything is going well and with different people so that we can assess any problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were able to build a really good and collaborative process together. We have demos every two weeks, and besides the demos, we exchange emails and we have phone calls. They are very collaborative and responsive. If there is anything that isn’t working as it should, or if the requirements have to change slightly, they are quite responsive to that. They will let us know if they can do it, or if there will be an impact on time and cost. They have been very engaged throughout.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their speed could improve, but it's also up to us to set that speed. If we were to complain or say that we wanted it delivered in less time, they would have put more developers on the project. They are actually doing that now in the project we are currently working on.

Potentially, it might be good to have a project manager that is a little more hands-on. At the same time, if the software engineer is doing that, it is fine. Sometimes, I feel that he might be taking too much on himself, so perhaps a dedicated project manager would make his job easier.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you are very clear about what you are looking for. In general, have a very clear brief about what you are trying to achieve. Give clear timelines in terms of what the expected delivery date is, and whether it is a hard deadline or not.

Try to have DCSL Software set out a really good plan in terms of the sprints. It might take a little bit longer at the beginning to have a really accurate plan, so allow a few weeks.