*instinctools is a leading AI and software development company with 25+ years of experience in guiding global businesses through Digital Transformation.
Their comprehensive services include:
AI and Machine Learning development,
custom software solutions,
BI and Big Data,
IoT,
and enterprise automation.
They specialize in end-to-end AI integration, helping businesses harness the power of analytics and automation to drive innovation and efficiency.
With its global presence that spans from headquarters in Germany and the USA to dynamic development hubs in Poland, India, LATAM, and Kazakhstan, *instinctools has been at the forefront of delivering innovative technological solutions for businesses of all scales worldwide.
Powered by 400+ seasoned in-house professionals, the company provides self-managed cross-functional dedicated teams to reduce development costs while increasing speed to market.
The company's decades-long commitment to excellence is validated by the following ISO certifications:
Quality Management System - ISO 9001:2015
Environmental Management System - ISO 14001:2015
Occupational Health and Safety Management System - ISO 45001:2018
Information Security Management System - ISO 27001:2022
Clients value *instinctools for their budget-friendly pricing and good value for cost, consistently highlighting flexibility and quality. Project costs range from $30,000 to $2.5 million, with teams typically comprising 2-10 members. Their services are praised for timely delivery and effective communication.
The company is commended for its transparency and open communication. Clients appreciate their responsiveness and ability to engage in meaningful discussions, ensuring alignment with client goals and expectations.
Proactive Approach
Clients noted *instinctools' proactive approach in suggesting improvements and offering solutions beyond the initial project scope. Their initiative in understanding and addressing client challenges is appreciated.
Challenges with Team Consistency
A few clients experienced challenges with team consistency, particularly with changes in project leadership or developers, which sometimes led to transition periods that were less smooth.
Technical Expertise
Clients highlight *instinctools' strong technical skills across various projects, including mobile app development, custom software solutions, and integration with complex systems. They are recognized for their ability to quickly grasp new technologies.
High-Quality Deliverables
Clients consistently noted the high quality of work delivered by *instinctools. Projects often exceeded expectations, with deliverables being functional, bug-free, and well-received by end users.
Strong Project Management
Multiple clients praised *instinctools for their effective project management, timely delivery, and adherence to deadlines. They utilize Agile methodologies and maintain open lines of communication, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
"Their communication was very direct, helpful, and pleasant."
Nov 25, 2020
Head of Web Office, Nonprofit
Thomas Imboden
Other Industry
Switzerland
201-500 Employees
Online Review
Verified
*instinctools provided development staff augmentation for a nonprofit, in order to finish their React-based website. The team had two developers that supported the client's internal full-stack developers.
Thanks to *instinctools' efforts, the client was able to launch their website on time. They were well-organized and skilled.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
Head of Digital Marketing Team of a nonprofit
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire *instinctools, and what were your goals?
We hired two developers from *instinctools to support our internal full stack developers. The project was the launch of a new website based on React technology. The website had to launch on a specific date in October 2020.
SOLUTION
How did you select *instinctools and what were the deciding factors?
I was contacted by *instinctools after a linkedin post of my own. We selected them due to the high development skills, availability and references we got.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
*instinctools was introduced to the team and architecture and got into it very quickly. After that we explained the details of the epics and user stories. Up from then the assigned GitHub issues were developed independently with help via Slack and calls. The technology used was React and the known web development stack.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
1 Senior and 1 Middle Developer Profile
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
The project was launched on time and in budget. The cooperation was very helpful and we extended it with the senior dev till Mai 2021 at least.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
Very well organized with clear summary of the tasks and time used. Their communication was very direct, helpful, and pleasant.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
How everything is organized and communicated, the affordable costs, skills, reliability and availability.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
No
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"We are fully satisfied with the work done"
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"Very well organized with a great availability"
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"Very affordable and fair price for contractors and clients"
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Java Dev for IT Outsourcing Company
Custom Software Development
$1,000,000 to $9,999,999
May 2015 - May 2020
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
4.0
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They had many ideas that customers approved and implemented."
Nov 2, 2020
Product Owner, Outsourcing Company
Anonymous
Business services
Romania
501-1,000 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
*instinctools was hired to develop custom software for an IT outsourcing company. The key tech stack they used was Java, and they also provided quality assessment services for the client.
Although they noted that the team switched project leadership from time to time, internal stakeholders and customers were satisfied with *instinctools' performance. They were able to create customized software that helped make one of the client's customers a top-performing brand in Europe.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a product owner for an IT outsourcing company based in Romania. We offer services for various customers from staffing and IT to customer support services. Our main client is a German company that sells tires.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with *instinctools?
We had to change the system that we used for our shops because it was a very expensive corporate solution. Our company wanted to create an in-house solution, but we didn't have enough resources to build such a platform in a very short time, so we hired *instinctools.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
*instinctools was involved in the software development of the new system. However, we’re not currently doing much development or new features. We’ve decreased the usage of the system and their team’s engagement. Our network team has also grown a bit so we’re able to maintain this product with our own resources.
What is the team composition?
At first, we had a team of around 12 Java developers plus some QA specialists. This year we only had six people involved from their side.
How did you come to work with *instinctools?
*instinctools contacted someone from our company and offered us their services. Initially, we gave them a small project to make a proof of concept (POC). We were very surprised and satisfied with the results. So, after that, we decided to take them on board for a long-term project.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested €2 million–€2.5 million (approximately $2,370,500–$2,963,100 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
The engagement lasted from May 2016–May 2020.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We were very satisfied with their services, and our clients loved the new system. For instance, a few years ago, our German client bought a system that used custom software, which was difficult to integrate with our client’s backend and warehouses. *instinctools got this job done.
They managed to move around 10 shops and worked for the entire brand — it’s now one of the top-performing brands with shops in Germany and Europe.
How did *instinctools perform from a project management standpoint?
There were good times and bad times. From time to time, they changed the number of people allocated for the project, which we didn’t like. However, they had many ideas that customers approved and implemented.
What did you find most impressive about them?
What we always liked about them was they were very invested in the project. They looked for market trends and came up with ideas on how to improve the shops and add new features and functionalities.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They should have more stable resources for the project. Within five years, the team leader on their side changed three times. The leader also did project management, and every time the leader changed, we had a transition period that was not always easy.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Give them the freedom to innovate because they have the resources to build something good.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
4.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Mobile SDK Development for Android Devices
Mobile App Development
Less than $10,000
Oct. - Dec. 2019
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
4.5
Willing to Refer
5.0
"For us, the main result is that neither our customers nor we managed to find any issues whatsoever."
Jan 28, 2020
Engineering Manager, Ada Support
Nick Slavsky
IT Services
Toronto, Ontario
51-200 Employees
Online Review
Verified
Addressing a gap in a SaaS company's clients' needs, *instinctools created an Android software development kit (SDK) that allowed the end clients to integrate the company's software into their mobile apps.
*instinctools used provided documentation to figure out the best way to implement the SDK functionality. Their Android expertise combined with their independent workflow made them an ideal technical partner for the project.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm an Engineering Manager at a SaaS company out of Toronto, Canada, focusing on customer service automation. My job is to ensure that the implementation of new clients is a scalable and repeatable process.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire *instinctools?
Our capabilities to integrate with our clients' web pages were excellent. However, we noticed that there was a gap between web and mobile capabilities. Our existing clients had to write a lot of boiler-plate code to integrate our software into their mobile apps.
The prospective clients were asking about an SDK during sales calls. Without having an in-house mobile development team, using a vendor to build an Android SDK was a quick win for us.
What were your goals for this project?
For a company like ours, having a mobile SDK is more like a table stakes rather than a competitive advantage. Therefore, we were trying to reduce the friction points that our larger clients experienced while integrating our software into their mobile apps.
On top of streamlining the mobile integration for our existing clients, we also "checked a box" for our sales team, thus slightly improving our deal win chances.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor?
Ironically, Instinctools reached out to me on LinkedIn around the time when our procurement was searching for local vendors. For me, there were two decisive factors:
Instinctools provided a solid track record of dev hours they already spent developing for mobile platforms, which serves as a proxy for experience.
Instinctools is a Belorussian company, and I, having worked with developers from the former USSR countries, have immense respect for their skills, education, and attitude.
Describe the project in detail.
The scope for the project was well-defined, with us providing the systems requirements documentation. The vendor then was responsible for estimation and technical implementation that resulted in the desired business outcomes.
We entirely relied on the vendor's expertise and ability to figure out the best way to implement the SDK functionality. We had frequent touchpoints and were collaborating efficiently to clear all the roadblocks that emerged.
What was the team composition?
The vendor provided two Developers and a Project Manager. Since this was a relatively small project, the team was stable, and there was no overhead on managing the vendor from our end.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
For us, the main result is that neither our customers nor we managed to find any issues whatsoever. Not for the lack of trying ;) This outcome lays the foundation for our future work together.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
The project didn't require a lot of management on my side. Both developers had solid skills and were autonomous. We used Slack to communicate, and the team was VERY responsive, especially outside of their working hours, due to our time difference.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I was pleasantly surprised that there was no need for hand-holding and project management from our side. This, paired with their understanding of Android development, provides a competitive advantage, especially compared with other vendors that require very detailed specifications.
We were also VERY impressed by their flexibility around the contract wording. Our legal team was adamant about specific changes, and at some point, during the contract negotiations, I thought it was the end of the line. So when Instinctools accommodated our requirements, I was happy, relieved, and impressed.
Are there any areas for improvement?
None at this point
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.5
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Outsourced Dev for Development Company
Custom Software Development
$200,000 to $999,999
Sep. 2015 - Ongoing
4.0
Quality
4.5
Schedule
4.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
4.0
“They’ve become a true partner.”
Aug 30, 2019
Managing Partner, Dev Company
Anonymous
IT Services
Netherlands
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
*instinctools augments an internal team to provide assistance with Java development and system engineering on a range of projects. Solutions of note include the creation of large Spring applications.
*instinctools transparent, capable team offers insights for improving end results. They produce high-quality deliverables on time, working after hours if necessary to meet deadlines. They’re upfront about any anticipated delays.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a technical director and managing partner for a company that provides software development services.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with *instinctools?
We work with a number of outsourcing partners to augment our in-house capabilities.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
We’ve used them for a number of projects with multiple clients. They typically provide Java development support—for large Spring applications, for example—but also assist with system engineering.
What is the team composition?
We scale the team as needed, but typically work with three developers and project manager.
How did you come to work with *instinctools?
We put out an RFP and they seemed to meet our technological needs.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent $500,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in September 2015 and our relationship is ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
While it takes time for us to explain our requirements, they always produce high-quality deliverables.
How did *instinctools perform from a project management standpoint?
There’s always room for improvement, but they deliver on time and let us know if they expect any delays. They’re also flexible, willing to work after hours to meet deadlines. We primarily work through Jira, but we also use Skype, Crucible, and Google Hangouts.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their quality team isn’t afraid to have open discussions, highlighting ways we can improve our products. They’ve become a true partner.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Costs can always down. It would also help if some developers improved their English-language skills.
RATINGS
4.0
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
"There’s always room for improvement but they produce high-quality code."
Schedule
4.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
4.0
NPS
Custom Software Development for Nonprofit Healthcare Organization
Custom Software Development
$200,000 to $999,999
July 2018 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They try to understand what the project is about, and they actively suggest solutions."
Aug 28, 2019
Technical Lead, CANet
Dimitri Popolov
Other Industry
London, Ontario
1-10 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
*instinctools custom develops mobile applications with associated dashboards and web portals. The solutions allow patients and healthcare professionals to track a dynamic flow of patient information.
A self-management app for patients was well received at an industry event. Stakeholders anticipate an ongoing IT project to optimize processes for patients and clinicians. *instinctools is a responsive team with a well-organized management style. Their technical skills have been a highlight.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the technical lead at CANet, a nonprofit healthcare organization. We improve care for patients with cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms). We’re designing innovative IT systems for that.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with *instinctools?
We needed to develop an innovative IT system that would streamline workflows associated with cardiac arrhythmia between patients, caregivers, clinicians, and nurses.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
They provide IT services for two projects within the framework of our IT system. They developed custom mobile applications and web portals. There was also a tiny blockchain project.
For the first project, they designed a mobile application with a set of dashboards. It concentrated on patients’ post-myocardial infarction self-management.
The clinically formulated dashboards had messages for patients. The information included medications as well as medical and lifestyle parameters. Just by looking at the dashboard, the patient would know where they are in their journey.
The second project concerns web and app development. It’s a much bigger project — it’s focused on remote management of patients with implanted cardiac devices. Patients have a station at their home that transmits information about that device (e.g. whether they had shocks) to the clinic.
We focus on the workflow that happens after the device clinician receives this report from the implanted device. The report is scanned and sent to the doctor. Then, the doctor looks at the report and patient history to determine whether the patient is in OK condition. That information is sent to the patient and the family physician.
*instinctools created a mobile app for the patients in English and French. They also created a web portal for all the roles in the project. It’s a single login password screen, but each role sees a totally different workplace. There are different screens for patients, clinicians, research coordinators, and device clinicians.
Technologies used include React.js primarily for frontend development to implement the web portal and mobile app. They also use technology that’s specifically for the healthcare industry: a custom backend called Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR).
What is the team composition?
For the first project, we worked with 15 people on their side. My three points of contact were the account manager, a project manager, and a technical lead. The developers, testers, and QA engineers came and went as needed.
How did you come to work with *instinctools?
They reached out to me through email or LinkedIn, and they looked interesting. I kept their details because I knew outsourcing would be a good model for us.
When we were deciding on a vendor, we invited them to take part in our RFP. They won the tender.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested $375,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in July 2018, and we are still working together.
The first project (involving post-myocardial infarction self-management) lasted six months from July 2018 until December 2018.
We started the second project (concerning patients with implanted cardiac devices) in November 2018, and the work is ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
For the first project, the impact was very significant and positive. We presented it at our annual conference, which is a big Canadian gathering of all the specialists who deal with cardiac arrhythmia. It was extremely well accepted there.
The second project is a workflow optimization that’s going to have a dramatic impact. We’re starting to enroll patients and our target is 2,000 enrollments.
We’re going to have an impact on clinicians by reducing their cognitive load. At the moment, they spend several minutes figuring out the reports they receive. Our system could provide a dramatic time reduction ( time spent could be reduced to within a minute or two).
When a decision is made, the patient will have the information at the same moment. They won’t have to go through all the paperwork, faxes, and emails.
How did *instinctools perform from a project management standpoint?
I’m super pleased. Their work is reliable and functional. They take pride in being strong technologists. They walk the extra mile with you. They selected the project methodology consciously and correctly. They try to understand what the project is about, and they actively suggest solutions.
They have very good processes, good quality staff, and good project management. I dealt with two project managers and both were excellent. Their project manager runs the agenda for each meeting, which is a huge help for me. Recently, I started introducing their project manager more and more into calls with my colleagues.
The communication is timely. Their written and spoken communication works well. There aren’t any language barriers. The only thing is, I have to have the meetings in my mornings because of the time difference.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They listen to the context of a problem, and then they actively search and suggest a range of solutions.
They are great at technology, and they take pride in that. They’re not trying to take over our business agenda — they just do what they do.
Are there any areas they could improve?
If their technical person had better English, I’d be able to loop them in more easily into communication. That way, their technical leads could communicate more.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"I haven’t found any fault with them."
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"We never had a delay."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"The price is excellent. It’s great value for money."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"I’ve already recommended how great they are.
Mobile DevOps Support for IT Firm
Advertising
Confidential
June 2017 - Ongoing
4.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
4.0
"Their technical knowledge and skills offer great advantages."
Mar 2, 2018
Executive Assistant, Morebis
Irene Matkovska
Software
Cherkasy, Ukraine
51-200 Employees
Online Review
Verified
*instinctools assists with mobile app creation and development, providing consistent coverage to ensure around-the-clock availability in an outsourced engagement.
Once *instinctools joined the team, appreciative customer feedback increased and has remained consistent. Their professionalism, language proficiency, high-quality deliverables, and flexible pricing continue to impress.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m an executive assistant at Morebis, a Ukrainian-Polish IT company with U.S. management. We offer our clients fully integrated mobile application development. Our team has a wide range of mobile platform capabilities, which allows us to create mobile applications in the most innovative way to maximize device potential.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire *instinctools?
We wanted to integrate outside development operations (DevOps) within our international team to increase our level of support for a certain customer.
What were your goals for this project?
We needed reliable DevOps support with enough flexibility to cover shift changes on our end.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor?
We received several personal recommendations for *instinctools. After I coordinated extensive interviews with their management and technical team, we hired them because of their skill level and customer satisfaction. Additionally, *instinctools had flexible rates and was ready to provide long-term support.
Describe the scope of their work in detail.
*instinctools seemed like a good fit for us both technically and psychologically. I handled the initial feedback from the customer, and *instinctools cooperated with our onboarding process. Their desire to start working immediately made them stand out from other candidates.
What was the team composition?
We now have an international team of five DevOps resources.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Our project is currently under an NDA. The work is ongoing, but we’ve received constant positive feedback from our customer about *instinctools’ professionalism.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
The customer handles the project management and shares feedback via email regularly. We are happy with the quality of *instinctools’ work.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their technical knowledge and skills offer great advantages. Also, I was impressed by their English proficiency.
Are there any areas for improvement?
We are satisfied with their progress thus far.
RATINGS
4.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
4.0
NPS
Development for Security Analysis Software
Custom Software Development
$10,000 to $49,999
Feb. 2016 - Nov. 2017
4.5
Quality
4.5
Schedule
4.0
Cost
4.5
Willing to Refer
4.5
"[T]hey focused on delivering top quality features."
Feb 23, 2018
Sr. Software Engineering Mgr., Synopsys
Anonymous
Information technology
Boston, Massachusetts
5,001-10,000 Employees
Online Review
Verified
*instinctools handled the development of two major features for a security and quality analysis product. They worked alongside another vendor to integrate a data analysis engine.
Their team’s deliverables often required no extra iterations despite only being proof's of concept. *instinctools is capable of quickly learning the technology a project requires and will execute on time and at a high level. Their effective project management also minimized the language barrier.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m the senior software engineering manager at a company that develops tools that analyze software security and quality.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire *instinctools?
We had an existing product that performed static analysis on software source code and was implemented as a plug-in for popular integrated development environments (IDEs). We needed to add two major features to that product. One was to support an additional IDE and the second was to add additional computer language. *instinctools took the lead on both of these features.
What were your goals for this project?
We needed these two features to be completed in a timely fashion and with a high level of quality.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor?
They were already one of our contractors when I joined the company. Our VP of engineering at the time worked with them previously.
Describe the project in detail.
The first project for adding support for a new IDE was completed before I joined the company. The second project was to add a new computer language to one of our IDEs. Our internal project lead and I worked out the major features of this language, as well as a rough schedule for implementing them. We then assigned the implementation to *instinctools’ project manager.
We used an agile approach for this project; there were daily scrums and two-week sprints over a period of six months. They worked closely with both our other employees assigned to this product and another team that provided us the static analysis engine for the new language. *instinctools’ developers were responsible for integrating the analysis engine with our IDE plugin.
What was the team composition?
For the first project, they provided a project manager, three developers, and a QA engineer. The overall team for the language support project consisted of six developers, three QA engineers, and a project manager. One of our employees also served as our development lead, architect, and agile project manager.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?
The language support project exceeded the features we originally planned and was delivered on time with high quality. The early development tasks were generally proofs of concept (POCs), with follow-up assignments for completing the implementation of the corresponding features. In many cases, though, the POCs ended up being complete enough that the follow-up tasks weren’t necessary.
How effective was the project management?
Their project management effectively eliminated any human language barriers and ensured that all development tasks were done in a timely manner.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their staff was able to quickly learn all the various technologies we had to work with in order to implement the features we required. Additionally, they focused on delivering top quality features instead of just implementing them within the initial and less-detailed feature specifications.
What tips or recommendations do you have?
For these two projects, *instinctools assigned a relatively large team and a project manager, which was very useful. Since then, we’ve engaged them in two other smaller projects but having a project manager for these was less useful.
For a mid- to large-sized team, you should include a project manager in all of your planning and status meetings, but for small teams, only the developers should be involved on a daily basis.
RATINGS
4.5
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
"Development and testing tasks were delivered on time and with high quality."
Schedule
4.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.5
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
4.5
NPS
Long-term Dev Engagement for Industrial Automation Startup
Custom Software Development
Confidential
Feb. 2016 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They spent quality time and provided quality work for us, which we've appreciated."
Jan 18, 2017
Commercial Director
Anonymous
Manufacturing
Munich, Germany
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
*instinctools' supplies dedicated engineers who focus on improving a host of existing industrial automation solutions. Assigned project teams design, develop, and test new features.
Language barriers fail to impact project outcomes, which is rare to find in offshoring scenarios. Assigned teams are well-organized and composed of a wide variety of skill sets, which helps prevent project derailment.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We develop automation technology. We are a Munich-based startup company, which was formed out of an engineering office in 2014. I am the commercial director of the company.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with *instinctools?
Most of our projects revolve around the automation business, controlling core generator units and other machinery. We have worked together with *instinctools on developing different stages of our software.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
*instinctools was partly involved in the development of our app, improving it massively by providing QA as well as UI/UX designs. *instinctools also developed a smart bus driver, which is a special protocol for communicating with the PLC or code-generation unit of the machines. *instinctools assigned three resources to our project, including a full-time developer and two part-time ones.
How did you come to work with *instinctools?
We created the concept and developed the first stage of the app, after which we looked for a company that could provide more resources for parts of the project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with *instinctools 1-year ago.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
There are no metrics to share.
How did *instinctools perform from a project management standpoint?
*instinctools' team was dedicated to our project, even working during the night. We are based in Munich while *instinctools is partially based in Belarus, so there is a small time difference. *instinctools was available almost all the time when we needed it. They spent quality time and provided quality work for us, which we've appreciated. If we had any questions regarding the organization, *instinctools addressed it. We initially used GitHub for the collaboration but moved to the Atlassian suite.
What did you find most impressive about *instinctools?
They are organized. We did not experience issues with communication, and they were always responsive to requests and questions. We were not expecting things to go as smoothly as they have.
Are there any areas *instinctools could improve?
We have not been working with them for all that long, so I cannot say. It is possible that they could be more proactive, but that could also be on us, too.
RATINGS
5.0
"The overall experience is very positive. We've worked with another developer, and *instinctools was much better."
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
"Even when *instinctools didn't know how to develop a certain feature, they found a way."
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
"*instinctools delivered on time, with delays being mostly our problem."
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
"The cost was very good, especially when comparing *instinctools' rated with the ones in Germany."
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
"We have recommended *instinctools, and are also starting a new research and development project with them.
Custom Dev for Business Consultancy
E-Commerce Development
Confidential
Jan. 2013 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They take the time to really understand the problem before they begin trying to solve it. "
Dec 15, 2016
Project Manager, Tech Firm
Anonymous
Other Industry
Romania
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
*instinctools helped the internal team migrate data from an existing site to a recently developed e-commerce platform. The engagement now involves ongoing dev/design.
Assigned resources require minimal micromanagement and always come prepared to contribute in meaningful ways. *instinctools brings a proactive and enthusiastic approach to service delivery at a very competitive price.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Netex Consulting is a Romanian company offering a broad range of services for different clients in Western Europe, including call center, back-office, processing, logistics, and so on. We also offer software development and project management. I am a product owner for the company.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with *instinctools?
We needed to find an additional workforce around certain technologies like Java. The partner needed to learn our existing code and come up with solutions. The idea was to delegate work we could not do ourselves to this partner but on a long-term basis.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
We have had a single ongoing project with *instinctools involving a client's e-commerce platform. We have migrated it from a previous technology to the current one. *instinctools worked in collaboration with another one of our contractors.
I was given CVs for our resources from *instinctools, but I didn't conduct interviews. We were mainly interested in having self-sustaining teams, given that we have 25 other developers. Micromanagement would have been difficult, so we've had an Agile approach, defining milestones and reiterating whatever didn't work the first time. *instinctools has its own internal management, but I have taken part in standup meetings.
How did you come to work with *instinctools?
We have worked and continue to work with other companies, but we've always tried to expand our workforce. I was given a lead from someone in our company. I contacted* instinctools and gave them a trial project.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our relationship with *instinctools has been ongoing since late 2013.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
The first impression that a company makes is very important to me. *instinctools took our code and showed up with a first result without asking too many questions. This assured me that they knew their stuff. It is rare to find companies as proactive as they are, but they take the time to really understand the problem before they begin trying to solve it.
How did *instinctools perform from a project management standpoint?
*instinctools has been able to deliver on time and within budget for about 75% of the time, which is actually very good, especially for development projects. Our first project with them was supposed to take 2 months, but it took 4. We work on a time-and-materials basis and wanted to have a long-term relationship from the start. It's up to us to provide *instinctools with enough workload, as long as they give us sufficient resources. We also decide upon any change requests, so assessing costs and benefits is an internal matter. Software is never on time, within budget, and bug-free.
We use Jira for project tracking.
What did you find most impressive about *instinctools?
We have managed to obtain quality expertise at a good price. *instinctools is able to deliver good quality without micromanagement.
Are there any areas *instinctools could improve?
It's hard to have long conversations in English with many of the people from *instinctools' team. We were not looking to talk with each developer, and *instinctools' team leader has good English skills.
RATINGS
5.0
"*instinctools provided good quality throughout our business relationship."
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Custom Dev for Ed Tech Startup
Web Development
Confidential
Apr. 2016 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
4.5
Schedule
5.0
Cost
4.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"[They're] a professional and well-organized group."
Dec 9, 2016
CEO, Education Startup
Anonymous
Education
Boston, Massachusetts
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
*instinctools supplies on-demand Java engineers who help manage an existing ed-tech solution, which is meant to improve teacher evaluations and professional development activities.
Assigned engineers have always brought superior knowledge and productivity to the table. Project deliverables are functional and typically bug-free. Pricing is very competitive compared to domestic suppliers.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
We're a SaaS [software-as-a-service] company providing a product for teacher evaluation and a professional development tracking tool to kindergarten through 12th-grade public schools. I am the chief executive officer of the company.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with *instinctools?
We were looking for a high-quality senior developer for the Java platform. We had an existing product that was continually extended and needed resources that could jump onboard quickly and become key contributors.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
*instinctools has handled senior-developer-level Java programming for our platform. We have implemented an event-scheduling feature that allows users to set up schedules, similar to the functionality of Upwork, integrating with customer calendars.
We've only worked with one developer from *instinctools. We were given a few resumes to look at, after which we went through a few interviews for our resource.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with *instinctools in April 2016. The work is ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
We've been very happy with the resource we've gotten from *instinctools. They have been very knowledgeable and communicative. They're also very efficient with their time. They rarely miss deadlines and the features they develop come with very few issues.
Our product is fairly mature and complicated, requiring capable senior developers. It may sound simple but, in practice, it's hard to find developers with enough capability to contribute to a high-end product like ours.
How did *instinctools perform from a project management standpoint?
We use CodebaseHQ for ticket and code management.
What did you find most impressive about *instinctools?
*instinctools is a professional and well-organized group, from representatives to project managers, giving us the overall confidence that they'll be responsive to our needs.
Are there any areas *instinctools could improve?
No. *instinctools has done everything requested of them. We will probably expand their responsibilities and tasks.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
4.5
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
4.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
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