Desna Systems

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-partner of JeanAkins. I handle consultation and application design and development, spearheading the production of new ideas and solutions on behalf of our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Desna Studio?

We had good skillsets in our internal team, but we don’t have resources for every programming language we use. Initially, we were looking for a mathematical translation of statistical Arc code, trying to optimize that process. That meant first breaking it down completely, given that we were working with legacy code written that we didn’t fully understand. We also wanted to translate it to an optimized Fortran code, which was going to serve as an engine for something in the bigger picture.

It was impressive to find the skills we needed within Desna Studio; it was a match made in heaven. My relationship with a few of the people in their company has gone back 4–6 years for this reason. They came in and saved us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They began by decoupling the legacy statistical Arc code and then broke it down for us in a way where we could build new algorithms in Fortran. Some parts of the old code needed to be coupled with our new algorithm. They then took the initiative to rewrite the whole thing more effectively.

We then did more engineering work on our end, so things with Desna Studio got put on hold for a second. As we built up more capabilities in the application, they helped us write its frontend as a separate project. We would have kept them busy continuously, but we don’t have the money for it. They’re now working on another project with us, which is in its very developmental stages. We’re currently working on releasing an innovative product, and they’re working with us on it.

What is the team composition?

I’m in communication with two people from Desna, but I know there are more involved. Among those is Gennady (CEO, Desna Studio), with whom I’ve had the most contact with, and whom I’d describe as the mathematical genius. We have contact with other specialists, depending on the task.

How did you come to work with Desna Studio?

We were looking for specialists and had gone through a few people. Desna Studio was listed on Upwork and seemed impressive. We couldn’t even fully explain our problem, but we knew what we wanted—we discussed the issue with them over the phone, and, within 1–2 days, they came back with preliminary results. It blew my mind, and we knew right away that they knew what they were doing.

How much have you invested with them?

It was in the range of $25,000–$50,000. The current project will be in the six-figure range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We assess our contractors by their ability to solve problems, stick to budget and schedule constraints, their communication, and their creativity with solutions. We’ve worked with other providers who did a good job, but bad communication put us at some risk. In contrast, we’ve had great communication with Desna Studio, which has saved us some time. They’re able to stick to our timeline, our budget, and come up with creative solutions.

They also have a wide skillset and are quite skilled in each of those areas. They do a lot of mathematical stuff, but also electronics.

How did Desna Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We don’t have project managers on their side as this aspect is usually taken care of by people in our technical team. As part of our culture, we tend not to have project management as discrete roles. Our work is quite technical, and so is everyone involved. This being said, our next venture with them will require traditional project management as it’ll have many more hands-on components, especially when we get to rollouts. This will probably be part of their scope of work, but we haven’t discussed this yet.

They’ve performed very well. We come up with proposal documents and technical descriptions, then they put together schedules and milestones based on those. They’ve designed project management checks and balances, with things to look forward to. Understandably, nothing’s perfect, but any delays have usually been due to reconsiderations around requirements, either on their side or ours.

For our new venture, we’ve given their members credentials for many of our products and services, with no issues. We may have to shift gears in terms of how we operate this side of things as our organization grows, but they’ve handled that information well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their technical proficiency and honesty are the most impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t pinpoint anything directly. As they’ve grown, we've had to discuss their organizational changes. I can’t mention this as a fault, given that it’s true for us as well. I love their team, it’s been a great ride, and I’ve learned a lot.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

We’re consultants ourselves, and we know how it is to be approached by a client. Desna has confidence that we understand what needs to be done, but, after a two-hour meeting, we’ll often realize that we need to go about it their way, given the level of experience they have. Being willing to listen has saved us a lot of money.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and president of TĒGO Automotive Products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Desna Studio?

We were creating a mobile application and we needed help with the development and some mechanical parts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We told them our ideas and they brought them to life, developing an application for iOS and Android from scratch. The app is for a retractable front license plate on a car. They also helped us create a fob to work with the app and built the sensors that identify any obstruction or malfunction. So they created both the firmware and the software.

They're currently developing a wholesale website for us. It's intended for auto dealerships to review our product, its features, some videos, and the installation process.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and 4–5 other members of their team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $25,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in May 2015 and they completed the product in February 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't launched the application yet, but the dealers who saw it are impressed. We've got only rave reviews.

How did Desna Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Our product was manufactured in China for mass production, so Desna Studio had to deal with the time difference. They were amazing every step of the way and our project manager sacrificed his sleep to make this work. Desna Studio stayed in touch with the factory in China and resolved any bugs or code errors.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provide phenomenal service. They guided us through the entire process and educated us. The project is completed, but we can still call them if we have any questions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think so. I was very pleased with them. The most important things for me are communication and availability, and they were great at both.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go ahead and call them, especially if that's a new territory for you. They were patient and explained what can and can't be done, helping us translate our ideas into reality.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm CEO & Owner at Lorinthe BV, an international software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Desna Studio?

We subcontracted Desna Studio to work on a project for the healthcare industry. They needed to develop a custom social networking solution for medical staff.

What were your goals for this project?

We aimed to achieve high-quality and user-friendly results in a reasonable timeframe. We also needed to create enhanced security features.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found Desna Studio via my professional network. I then met with Gennady (CEO, Desna Studio). He understood our goals and requirements.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

First, we agreed on a scope that specified materials and deadlines. We shared mock-ups and Desna Studio showed us the first results after two weeks. The team then developed a dashboard with news, studies, and discussion groups.

What was the team composition?

We worked with two developers, one project manager, and one QA specialist. We interacted with Gennady during the project’s early stages.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Desna Studio successfully released the solution, and it is now used by over 1,000 healthcare professionals. We’ve consistently earned over 85% approval on user satisfaction surveys.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Our close relationship was essential to the project’s success. They were available to answer questions or process feedback immediately. We trusted them completely.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team was determined, engaged, and highly competent. The specialists were qualified and like-minded to our team. Desna Studio fostered a friendly environment; each resource achieved great results with the support of their teammates.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There wasn’t anything significant. The team should keep up the great work. They should share success stories on social media to highlight their capabilities.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and CEO of Larastock. Our website is a professional photo bank for all types of media, advertising agencies, design studios, and websites. It’s intended for anyone who needs to use professional creative photos, including actual or staged shots of famous people.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Desna Studio?

Desna Studio has worked with us since the very beginning when our company was only an idea. They’ve helped us with market analysis, MVP development, product release, maintenance, and testing. During the last few years, they upgraded the stock several times and continued to support the product. 

What were your goals for this project? 

We had a goal to create a competitive professional photo stock with a simple and user-friendly interface. Ideally, our users should feel comfortable working with our website on a PC, tablet, or even a mobile phone.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found Desna Studio through a person I knew who had worked as a part of their team for some time. They had excellent references. I considered three other very professional teams but liked Desna Studio’s teammates and ideas from the very beginning. They were well-prepared for our first meeting and had investigated the market before speaking with me. 

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project? 

Desna Studio has bravely faced and adeptly coped with all the challenges we had to overcome. They started our project with estimation and market analysis. Together, we went through the stages of MVP development, testing, and release. 

We progressed to an iterative process of product development by expanding the MVP with new and added features. The team continues to provide ongoing support. 

What was the team composition? 

I communicated with the CTO at the beginning. After years of cooperation, I started contacting the developers directly because it was more convenient for me. Since we’d established trusting and friendly communication, Desna Studio agreed to my request. Now, I usually speak with the lead developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Despite the short amount of time since it launched, our photobank already has customers. Our clients range from leading media and publishing houses to top advertising agencies.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
Desna Studio was very skilled at project management. We didn’t encounter any timing issues. For communication, we use mostly Slack and Skype to discuss pending tasks.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciate the way Desna Studio communicates with their clients. Their strategic approach to clearly explaining everything works exceptionally well for non-technical clients. They often say that they’re not just a company, but a community. Having worked together, I can confirm that their team is very friendly and close-knit which makes for an enjoyable atmosphere.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I don't have anything to add. I really enjoy working with Desna Studio. I wouldn’t say they’re entirely without any problems, but I didn’t face any with them personally.  I wish the firm all the best and plan to continue working with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of JSX Technology. We’re an integrator and manufacturer of technology products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Desna Studio?

We needed a design firm to produce reliable electronics and software.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed the products to be delivered on time and comply with our written requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They came highly recommended by my industry peers. Through multiple conversations, they convinced me they understood my requirements and had the technical capabilities necessary to complete my project. I had great communication with their principles.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They developed embedded software on a 32-bit microprocessor to control a complex luminescence measurement tool. They also created a circuit board layout design for the system.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, an electronics lead, and a software lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

They delivered designs and components that reflected our specifications on time.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We spoke with the project manager over email and Skype. She generally responded in less than an hour via email.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They communicated well. They’re the most responsive design vendor I’ve worked with, by far.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I saw.