DEVtrust

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a tech forward brokerage in New York City. We focus primarily on rental buildings but also had sales, commercial, and investments.

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

Our problem is that we deal with many clients and collect a large amount of sensitive documentation for each transaction. Collecting and compiling this documentation represented a large amount of time and resources for our employees. Our goal was to create a software package that would help automate the process while protecting our data.

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

Our company interviewed many developers based on their experience, cost, and reputation. They scored well on all of these points for our evaluation.

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

We built a suite of products for our business. We started with a client and employee facing dashboard for document collection and automated application compiling. We then added the front end page for our company and developed a mobile app to help schedule and manage requested client appointment times.

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

Many people worked on our project but I primarily dealt with the owner for weekly calls and a project manager that managed their team.

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

The project was completed and has been very successful for our company. It would now be impossible to operate without this suite of products.

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

The project management was excellent. I have a very busy schedule and the team performed successfully without a large amount of input. They followed the roadmap and designs submitted and they were quick to respond when bugs were identified.

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

This was my first large scale development project without and any real experience. Everyone in this company was nonjudgemental with all of my questions, quick to respond, and have proven themselves to be extremely trustworthy.

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

In my experience working with contractors over the last 20 years, all projects with have some unforeseen issues arise. In my case, many of the delays were client created and any issue that arose was addressed timely and fairly.

I can't think of anything this team could have done differently. I am very happy with our working relationship, which has extended well past our completed project.

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO / Educational Services

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

We wanted to build a database to help our customers find funding for college.

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

We started working with DevTrust when they were first beginning.

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

Devtrust has been actively working on my project for 3+ years. I've grown to trust their expertise and their employees. I'm very pleased with my product and my customers love it.

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

I work with 3 main vendors. G - Project manager A- main Developer R - President

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

My project is ongoing and we continue to make it better for our clients and customers. Devtrust built my software from the ground up and I appreciate their hard work and efforts for my customers.

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

Our communication with Devtrust has evolved over the years. We are now good at communicating and deciding on hours needed per task and deadlines of completion. I must say that Devtrust is very quick to respond during almost all hours of the day when needed.

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

Our project manager with Devtrust is amazing. She is excellent at communication and diligent in helping all parties understand the task and timeline.

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

Whenever there has been a concern, they have quickly addressed the issues and found a resolution.

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a San Diego internet marketing agency that is in business with our clients' businesses, and we don’t succeed unless they do. We are a tight-knit group of experts in business, digital, paid media, social, programmatic, web development, web design, SEO, email, marketing automation, and more. I'm the COO here and my main role is to oversee and manage our processes, both client-facing and internal with the production team.

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

We've been working with DEVtrust on a number of internal and external development projects. From site builds to application development, to adhoc support.

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

We were referred to them by a trusted industry partner. The deciding factor to engage and continue to work is their commitment to each project, clear communication, and a hands-on approach. 

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

We have done most work together in Shopify and WordPress, but we have also done some custom development andd integrations with several different CRM and marketing automation platforms.

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

Mostly two, one a technical project manager, and one sales support and overall admin operations.

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

Mostly we can share our website, Elevated.com, which has been a place where we continue to use DEVtrust's support to our own efforts.

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

DEVtrust uses Jira, which we have access and we're able to have dynamic communication about the project there. We also have them in our own company's client-facing project management platform (Basecamp), as well as in our internal Slack channel for quick communication. Overall we haven't had any issues.

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

Their professionalism and commitment. The team is simply the best development team I've worked with, and I've worked with more than a few in the past. Project management is also superior to any other development companies I've worked with, regardless of geography.

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

To say we have had no challenges wouldn't be truthful, but every time we have had challenges we were able to address them with both groups with minimal time. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software startup. I engaged with DEVtrust again as the head of engineering for an import management system.

What challenge were you trying to address with DEVtrust?

For the software company, I needed a development team to help me create a product prototype. While for the import management system, I was looking for a backup team to support our development efforts. I brought in DEVtrust for both projects.

What was the scope of their involvement?

DEVtrust provided software development services for both of my companies. They used Node.js, React, and the AWS API.

The projects were broken up into portions of an MVP. I prototyped and architected the system, wrote the ethics and stories into Jira, then gave the team particular pieces to work on. DEVtrust built the UI layer and worked on the API. We did some testing before they proceeded to change some configurations for the AWS API. 

What is the team composition?

There were a total of three people working with me: two full stack developers and Rahul (Director), who managed the team and did a lot of UI-related work.

How did you come to work with DEVtrust?

I’ve been in the tech space for more than 20 years and I’ve worked with a lot of different teams from everywhere in the world — India, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Canada, to name a few. There’s a particular set of skills and systems that I look for in the teams that I hire, like the way they communicate, take on work, and get feedback. 

Rahul, in particular, did really well during the interview. The way he runs his company is akin to small, professional shops in the US. It was a no-brainer to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

For the project with the startup software company, I’ve invested around $12,000 and for the import management system, I’ve spent around $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first engaged with DEVtrust in April 2020. They’re still working with both of the companies that I brought them into.

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

DEVtrust is not particularly fast, but not particularly slow when it comes to story points and bugs crushed. It usually comes with working with an external team. 

What’s good about them is that they have a more qualitative way of communicating, which eliminates problems within the 24-hour gap. For instance, if they have a question or need to explain something, instead of writing an email they will do a screen test and talk about what they’re experiencing. They provide audio and visuals to get rid of ambiguity.

We have an overlap of 4–5 hours between us, so DEVtrust is able to work nights and ensure that communication is ongoing. Their speed is average, but their communication is excellent.

How did DEVtrust perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management is good. It usually comes down to Rahul. He will jump in on a call and communicate excellently in English. He comes in to take feedback and has his team address issues right away. 

We typically communicate through Slack and Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their intuitive communication sets them apart. Sometimes we hire an outsourced team that has a non-technical manager. We’ll get the sense that they’re more of a salesperson because they’ll simply promise to do as we ask but will continue to have mediocre communication and work quality. With DEVtrust, we feel like we’re working with a partner as opposed to an outsourced development team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you’re clear with what you need. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of development for a rental listing platform. Whenever a person or business requires renting an apartment, a house, or a bike, we have agents who will show them all of the options according to their budget.

What challenge were you trying to address with DEVtrust?

We needed a backend platform that would manage our agent’s schedule. We also offer a unique incentive program for agents to receive more money if they perform better by showing more of our inventory. All of this was managed by an in-house solution that we needed help building.

What was the scope of their involvement?

DEVtrust helped our team with the custom software development in PHP and MySQL. They created a web-based solution that was also mobile-friendly.

They also provided QA. I prepared all of the Jira tickets for the DEVtrust team to work on. We worked in two-week development sprints, followed by two-week QA, and then we went to production. 

What is the team composition?

The number of people on the team changed with the requirements. There were 10–15 team members on average, including 2–3 QAs, and the remaining persons were developers.

The owner is my main point of contact and he is the engine behind the company. He provides me with developers and QA team members. They have an office in India and the US since he likes to have a personal relationship with his clients in the US. There was also a project manager.

How did you come to work with DEVtrust?

I did some reference checks and got very positive reviews from other US companies who worked with DEVtrust. When I started working with them, they were strictly offshore. Now, they’re in the US as well because they’ve been successful. They work 100% with US clients, and their English is very good. We started with a three-month trial basis. After three months, I saw that the communication was amazing, and we continued working together.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $400,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from January 2015–January 2017. Since then, I’ve worked with them twice on small projects, and I will use their services again in the future.

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

We had milestones they had to achieve. For the first six months, I had a monthly evaluation. Once I saw they did so well, those became quarterly. We had meetings to see that their targets were met and there weren’t too many bugs. They delivered according to my expectations. The project was good and successful according to US standards. We had a very successful relationship.

How did DEVtrust perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was surprisingly good. I figured there’d be a language barrier working with an offshore team, but there wasn’t any at all. I dealt with the project manager, a senior developer who managed all of the workflow and communication with the developers. We used Jira and Confluence to manage our project. Everything was very good and on time. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were professional in terms of technical knowledge and expertise. Whenever I had a new vendor that I wanted to introduce to my system, I’d go to them to brainstorm and get their opinion. Their knowledge was very helpful for me. This was on top of doing the work for me.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were not too many things that bothered me. I was really impressed with their service. I’m very strict about working with Jira. In the beginning, I had to get them accustomed to using my system. Now, they’re using Jira, Slack, and all of the channels I work with day-to-day. It started as a bit of a challenge, but they got up to speed quickly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you build a relationship with the owner and that he’s deeply involved in the project. Keep all of the US tools that software development companies in the US are using, and make sure they follow your guidance. I was very strict with my guidance. I wanted to do the project my way and not any other country’s way.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the branch manager for our insurance company that the website was designed for.

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

We hired them for the design and implementation of our website and integration with other API's.

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

We narrowed down a few different options and like them the best based on commitment and communication.

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

They created the website design, they implemented the changes to create a new beautiful website.

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

There were 2 team members, 1 QA and 1 Project Manager

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

Yes, they were very great with communication and making immediate adjustments or changes that were necessary to the completion of the project.

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

The main method of communication was skype calls and emails, both of which were very efficient and productive.

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

They did everything we asked in an efficient manner and were very knowledgeable about what they were doing

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

no, they were great.

Please describe your company and your position there.

President

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

Custom developments and applications

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

Did an interview process

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

I discussed what I was looking for and they helped find solutions.

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

3 different people.

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

They created an outline of the scope of work

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

communication is superb

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

They do great work. They are easy to communicate with and are always responsive.

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

it's hard to predict the time of any project-

Please describe your company and your position there.

Partner

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

Our Company needed customized software solution for order processing that connects to QuickBooks.

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

We met on Upwork and communication was the deciding factor

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

Order Processing, Complete Web site and design development, portal for customers and Qucik book integrations

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

3 people 2 developers and 1 project manager

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

They delivered everything on time.

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

Open line of communication with free flow of ideas

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

Communication, availability and professionalism

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

Better cost estimation

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the CEO and responsible for all purchases and development of the company

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

We created a platform that allowed our customers to have a custom branded mobile app for communication and notifications and was affordable

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

Originally we met them online through another company project we did and were very pleased .

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

they designed and deployed a system that allowed us to rapidly generate mobile apps for each business. once we created a flow sheet, development began in phases and after deployment, we had to have ongoing support for updates and changes.

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

I worked with Rahul and several of his associates and always had an easy time with communication and getting work orders updated.

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

They always met their deadlines and were a pleasure to work with.

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

The team's PM skills are the reason we have a 12-year relationship with this company.

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

Great understanding of the project and consideration of the timeline and goals of our company

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

none

Please describe your company and your position there.

Project Manager of a food delivery app.

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

To maintain and implement new features to our wesbite and mobile app.

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

Searched online for someone with fair pricing and good communication

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

Kick-off meeting to discus long term goals as well as creating a JIRA board to start managing various tasks

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

Team of 5 people

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

Good communication, Jira, Skype

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

They are responsive and work with you on what you need.