Extern Labs

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Edstruments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Extern Labs?

While building our first version of our web app, we hired them for front-end web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Before we brought their team in, we hired a design firm to create the initial idea for our UX. We also hired backend engineers to begin the process of constructing the backend. From there, we had their team take the designs and translate them into code that matched our specifications. After that, we collaborated on changes over the course of several months. They used React.js for the front-end work. 

Our apps have budget tracking capabilities for school districts in the United States. The tools can be used to track and manage transactions, make funding plans, and initiate approved purchase orders. They helped us create all of those features.

What is the team composition?

For the most part, I worked exclusively with one point of contact from their end. There were a few cases where he enlisted the help of one of his teammates. Even so, that teammate’s work was pretty limited relative to his.  

How did you come to work with Extern Labs?

We initially found them on Upwork after interviewing their representatives as well as those from other agencies. Our team decided on them because of the quality of their interview and early performance. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $20,000–$30,000 on their services.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019–March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The inital app design followed our specifications very closely. In that sense, they created the app with fidelity to the original design. They were also creative in finding ways to achieve design elements that weren’t straightforward. Our developers haven’t needed to do any significant edits to their work since our time working with them. We corrected a few bugs, but there were no serious issues. 

How did Extern Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

For the most part, they were good about completing tasks that were assigned to them and completing tasks that they saw necessary. They missed our communicated deadlines a few times, but they delivered work within our timeframes for the most part. Their team worked directly with me to ensure that we were clear on expectations. He was easy to communicate with, even across timezones. We communicated through Slack and email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were extremely communicative and invested in the success of the product. We could tell that they were interested in building a positive relationship with me as a client. When I visited India on a personal trip, he made the effort to travel outside of his home city to meet me where I was. His willingness to build a relationship really stood out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because our timelines were demanding, sometimes they delivered incomplete or error-prone code. That required us to request changes later. It would be helpful if they could find their balance between deadlines and quality.