NeoCoast

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

We've successfully delivered multiple iterations of our software, relying on NeoCoast for the key parts of the development.

How did NeoCoast perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive. We have daily or even hourly contact with their team via Slack, video conferencing, and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve worked with a number of offshore development companies, but working with NeoCoast was a real eye-opener. There has been a lot less friction and their communication skills are fantastic. They're critical thinkers and they always have a positive attitude. Many companies just want to build what you tell them to build, but NeoCoast can work creatively and effectively without clear requirements. They've been able to engage with us on a much deeper level than any of my previous offshore vendors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We're a 24-hour business, so sometimes we'd like support after hours. NeoCoast is more of a traditional shop, so it'd be valuable to us if they could develop the capacity to extend their working hours. Additional skills, for example, in data science would also be great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't think of them a separate entity and make them part of your team.

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

We judge progress based on what’s been deployed as a new feature or a fix. The features in our application are our outcomes.

How did NeoCoast perform from a project management standpoint?

We manage everything with Trello, and everyone communicates via Slack. When we need to conference, we jump on a call and either do a demo over Skype or Google Hangouts.

We’re constantly producing and deploying, if not weekly then every other week. We go through phases of more deliverables at some times than others. That’s the nature of the features themselves which are sometimes more complex than initially thought or have more bugs than anticipated. They’re continually looking for ways to improve processes to decrease bugs and improve efficiency.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re willing to change their team makeup and hire new staff based on our requirements which allows us to scale up or down as needed. If we want to introduce new technology, they’ll find someone to do it. They’re flexible, and we know that we can change things quickly if needed. No matter what the project is or the direction it’s taking; we can get a developer to do what we need quickly and at high quality.

We also really like the way they manage their staff. I’ve been to their offices and it’s a positive environment.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s not specific to them but staying aligned with business priorities is always challenging with remote teams. If we have a large number of features and bugs that we want to be addressed, knowing intrinsically which ones are a priority for the business is critical to ensure that the highest priority ones are addressed first. It’s a two-way street: we have to communicate too. Sometimes, though, we’d like to have them better understand which problems are costing us money and where to focus their efforts.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as specific and clear as you can be about your goals. Maintain constant communication. You get the best out of the relationship when you work side-by-side even though it’s remote. We don’t set a task and wait for it to be deployed to review it.  We talk every day. That’s how we know what they’re working on, the challenges they face, and how we can make their jobs easier.