Nortal

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the SVP of business operations at a news and media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pwrteams?

We needed to build our website and apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Pwrteams provides us with dedicated teams to build our websites and apps using React for the frontend and Java. The team has integrated into our company and provided us with developers, project managers, data specialists, and QA specialists. We’ve been working with them for over five years.

What is the team composition?

We have around 90 people on the team. They provide us with developers, project managers, data specialists, and QA specialists.

How did you come to work with Pwrteams?

We’d been looking for people with app development, frontend development, and data skills. We hired them because it was cheaper to get people in Sofia than in the UK.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested a large amount of money.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2019, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Pwrteams has helped us save time and money. They're bright and work hard. The team onboards quickly, and we start seeing results happening promptly.

How did Pwrteams perform from a project management standpoint?

Pwrteams communicates clearly. They're on top of the teams, actively address any issues, and update us on progress so we know when and what is happening. We mainly communicate via Slack and Jira, as well as emails, to a lesser degree.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Kristina. She's fantastic, works hard, understands the team, and wants them to be empowered to work as hard as they can. She always thinks about how to improve the team's situation so they can do their best work. She strongly focuses on ensuring people can work as effectively as possible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Pwrteams is a great team, and as much as we've been able to, we've moved roles from other areas because they're so good; they've learned how to work with us but haven't had specific training for our company.

Moreover, they're great at visualizing metrics around delivery, more so than other teams. They always have lots of charts and graphs to show and measure metrics. They're also easygoing and good to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend working with them. Take their advice because they know their market and industry. If you ask them for help, use their expertise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I've been working for Logitech for around six years as part of the global team managing our online channels, which include our online and IT operations. As the head of global e-tail operations, I'm also responsible for coordinating the shared service centers that we created with Questers, now called Pwrteams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Pwrteams?

We wanted to remove the operational workload from our global HQ to enable our team to focus more on our strategy, guidelines, mission, and added value. Therefore, we needed to reassign our operational tasks to a contingent worker agency. We hired Pwrteams to help us out, which at the time was called Questers. However, by November 2023, Questers was acquired by Pwrteams, and we simply continued working together.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We use Pwrteams as an agency for contingent workers. Their resources support our company's different teams in different departments and regions, so they have both local and global responsibilities. Currently, about 63 different workers from Pwrteams work for us across different departments, including marketing, finance, retail, e-tail, and global operations.

Pwrteams helps us manage all those workers, so they first take care of the talent acquisition. As the coordinator of our relationship with Pwrteams, I'm in charge of defining the rules of our engagement, the hiring process, the performance assessment, the bonuses granted, etcetera. Whenever we need new talent, we have an internal process to discuss the job description, salary range, responsibilities, and hiring process.

Then, we meet with Pwrteams's talent acquisition team to brief them and discuss the requirements and profiles of the candidates we need. Our goal is to ensure that Pwrteams is properly briefed and knows exactly what profile we want for each position.

Then, Pwrteams takes care of headhunting candidates, which includes placing ads and publishing the open positions. After some time, they send a list of fitting candidates to the hiring manager to review the resumes, conduct interviews, and perform tests or demo tasks if needed. Pwrteams is then in charge of doing the final proposals to the fitting candidates.

When a candidate is hired, Pwrteams' HR department manages them as employees and takes care of their payment, benefits, and other HR responsibilities. Basically, those workers work for us but are employed by Pwrteams.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we only had three workers from Questers working for us. Now, we have two main points of contact from Pwrteams, but depending on the number of open positions we have, there can be up to 4–5 teammates from Pwrteams working on talent acquisition tasks. Moreover, we currently have 63 resources from their team working for us. This also requires working with about 20 managers. Moreover, we've collaborated with other teammates in support functions.

How did you come to work with Pwrteams?

I was not part of the tender process to find Questers. At the time, my manager was in charge of identifying solutions to support our operations. He had some former colleagues or friends who were already using Questers to get some contingent workers. After comparing them to other companies, my manager decided to go with Questers.

Since Questers changed their name to Pwrteams, we've kept working with them. We haven't seen a lot of changes. Although there were legal reviews and a lot of paperwork initially, the most important thing for us was to secure business continuity to carry on with the great collaboration we had established with Questers. We had a meeting in December 2023 with one of the leaders at Pwrteams to express our wish to continue with a very good collaboration.

How much have you invested with them?

It's very hard to say how much we've invested in working with Pwrteams. We have to take into consideration their talent acquisition fees and the HR management fees. Obviously, some of those fees depend on how many new resources we require. For HR management alone, we pay Pwrteams approximately €100,000 (approximately $109,000 USD) per quarter. For talent acquisition, we pay them around €30,000–€40,000 (approximately $33,000–$44,000 USD) per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Questers in September 2018, but they were acquired by Nortal Group in November 2023. In February 2024, they officially changed their name to Pwrteams, and we've continued working with them since.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're a very special client for Pwrteams. The majority of the roles they hire talent for are related to the IT industry, such as developers and programmers. Therefore, our open positions are very different for them. However, they've managed to hire great resources for those very different profiles.

Thanks to them, we now have a very versatile and diverse team. This team includes business analysts, designers, customer media analysts, a product manager, an operations specialist, a finance analyst, and a communication specialist.

In addition to that, our worker turnover isn't very high, so we've managed to have the same workers for a very long time. For example, some of our resources have over five years of experience working with Pwrteams, which is exceptional for contingent workers. This indicates that these workers find good reasons to stay working with Pwrteams for a long time.

We've even worked with Pwrteams to create some career paths and do some promotions for these workers. For example, last year, we did manager training, skills training, and certification courses. Overall, our engagement has been a success because we've managed to keep people motivated and loyal to Logitech and Pwrteams

How did Pwrteams perform from a project management standpoint?

Although we now work with Pwrteams, my experience is as if we had continued working with Questers. I'm even working with the same people. Still, their performance depends on the profile we're trying to hire for. For example, digital designers are easy to find, there are a lot of candidates on the market, and we don't require senior profiles, so the process of finding them is very quick and easy.

On the other hand, we might require a digital transformation senior manager, which is a profile of a very high caliber that's very hard to find. On those occasions, we might need to go through 20–30 different candidates to find the right one, which can take a lot of time. At times, we've even reached Pwrteams' limit due to the required level of seniority. Overall, Pwrteams has managed to meet our timelines for the job positions we've needed to fill.

We don't use project management tools. We mainly communicate via email and use a feedback tracker I've created. On this tracker, Pwrteams can input their feedback and information for the candidates, and other interviewers can also input their feedback.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I would like to give a shout-out to Polina (HR Business Partner), who has been recently promoted. I've been working with her from a business partnership standpoint since the very beginning of our engagement. Together, we've done a lot of great things for the employees regarding training, performance management, and process management. She has been a great partner to me.

On the talent acquisition side, I would also like to give a shout-out to Elena (Lead Talent Partner) and Radostina (Talent Partner), who have been working for us and providing us with a great service.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Thanks to Pwrteams, we've managed to massively extend our team throughout the years with pretty senior roles. That alone makes them stand out. Moreover, their partnership and collaboration are outstanding. From the HR perspective, they've been very supportive.

Their team has brought extra ideas to the table, and although I don't have an HR background, I appreciate receiving proposals and suggestions to make our goals happen. I've also been able to bring my own ideas to the table. For example, we completely remodeled our office's open space last year, and we received great support from Pwrteams' facility manager.

Overall, we've had a great collaboration, and in the end, our workers are very happy about being employed by Pwrteams. They've established a very good HR environment and done some activities to take care of the workers and ensure they're doing a good job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Something that Pwrteams could improve on is their innovation. We've been the ones who have implemented innovation in our processes, such as tests, video interviews, and feedback trackers. However, we understand that we've made their usual work more complicated, and we've been expanding their usual processes. From that point of view, we understand that they want to spend as little time as possible doing other things.

Additionally, we sometimes experience a bit of friction in the talent acquisition part of our engagement. We may look very demanding and require a very complex hiring process because we have some strict conditions. On those occasions, we expect a more proactive collaboration.

For example, it would be great if they were more proactive in shaping the role, the job description, and the ideal candidate profile. We sometimes expect an added consultancy service or a more collaborative approach to help us figure out how the position we require should be expressed in the market. However, this small friction occurs on very rare occasions.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I have no particular advice.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Bliggit Wuppertal

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Bliggit, a pioneering startup in Wuppertal, manages Germany's first universal digital platform that revolutionizes online city experiences. 

The company brings citizens and local providers together, seamlessly consolidating fragmented citizen services such as administration, transportation, banking, and media into a single, comprehensive digital channel. This integrated strategy is designed to simplify user experiences, strengthen community connections, and foster the development of a more efficient, interconnected, and participatory urban setting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire pwrteams to accomplish?

• built up a scalable additional developer Team

SOLUTION

How did you find pwrteams?

Referral

Why did you select pwrteams over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from pwrteams were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

After determining the scope of work with the client, we selected two full-stack developers with experience with React Native, JavaScript, Typescript, Java, Spring Boot, Hibernate, JPA, and RabbitMQ,” says Maria, Client Partner/BDR at pwrteams. “The goal was to secure specialists capable of translating code into compelling features and contributing innovative ideas to advance the project.” 

In this collaborative effort, the appointed developers focused on enhancing the front-end aspects of the platform, ensuring a user-friendly and visually appealing experience. They also took charge of the application's back-end maintenance, implementing robust solutions like push notifications and KeepLocal API integration, which resulted in the availability of digital KeepLocal vouchers within the app. 

The dedicated developers' team assembled by pwrteams assist Bliggit in the following tasks: 

• maintaining and further developing the mobile app using React Native;
• ensuring the platform’s front end is accessible, functional, and user-friendly (TypeScript); 
• optimizing the platform’s background processes (Java, Spring Boot); 
• designing, developing, and testing new features; 
• setting up automated test processes for the application; 
• updating and extending technical documentation; 
• assisting in the optimization of existing development processes and data structures; 
• supporting DevOps and IT operations.

The Results Exceeding anticipated outcomes, the vetted developers' team engaged in the app planning, development, and maintenance processes, empowering the client’s decision-making process. "Even within the confines of budget constraints, professionals provided by pwrteams contributed more than just technical prowess; they infused a visionary perspective that sparked new implementation plans,” emphasizes Holger, CEO at Bliggit. 

“Meanwhile, we retained full control of the project throughout.” The team's dedication and proficiency led to a notable improvement in Bliggit’s team responsiveness. This enhancement was attributed to the team's swift execution of platform improvements, efficient issue fixing, and timely updates, resulting in a more agile and adaptive work environment. 

"Bolstered by two well-rounded specialists who ensure the stability and efficiency of the overall system, Bliggit can continue the further expansion of the platform. With their innovative suggestions for improvement and a proactive can-do mentality, the developers seamlessly integrated into the company, proving to be an ideal complement to drive further success. “We see them as part of our team, as together, we create a genuinely familial relationship,” summarizes Holger, CEO at Bliggit.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We doubled the efficiency by having almost "own" developers combined with the possibiltiy to scale up and down.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Everything was on time

What was your primary form of communication with pwrteams?

Virtual Meeting

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

I was impressed by their friendly, transparent, and open way of communication throughout the whole project and the 100% reliablebility.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Tech Lead of March

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Accelerating commercial real estate brokerage by leveraging data and AI to advance the dealmaking process.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire pwrteams to accomplish?

• We were in need of a skilled backend developer-data engineer

SOLUTION

How did you find pwrteams?

• Previous Company

Why did you select pwrteams over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from pwrteams were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Developing an internal tool that uses predictive machine learning algorithms to match commercial real estate supply and demand.
• Developing a Web Application that consumes CRM data and Open Geo Data
• User interface that allows filtering on big geo datasets in realtime.
• Building a matching engine that suggest leads or organizations that have a high chance of buying or leasing a property
• Sending proactive mails

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The product definition, along with its features, had been pre-determined and delivered within the specified timeframe. We successfully measured the conversion ratios of proactive emails that were recommended by the AI, surpassing the market standards.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Thanks to his open communication, he was able to work efficiently and focus on the right priorities, resulting in timely delivery of the project. Additionally, he was flexible enough to make necessary adjustments or changes along the way without any issues.

What was your primary form of communication with pwrteams?

• Virtual Meeting

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

The expertise in existing technologies, coupled with their eagerness to adopt and master emerging innovations, significantly contributed to the success.

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

No, there were no areas for improvement or any notable changes that PwrTeams could have done differently.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the former Head of Digital of a consulting company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company helps people to move more and better. We want to motivate everyone to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire pwrteams to accomplish?

• Maintain and further develop corporate platforms
• Testing

SOLUTION

How did you find pwrteams?

Referral

Why did you select pwrteams over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

What was the size of pwrteams’s team?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Maintenance and development of backend (Node.js) / frontend (React)
• Devops (Kubernetes, Cloudamqp, ...)
• Testing of deliverables

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Sprint Deliverables
• Delivering new platforms
• Continuity of day-to-day active users

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

• Very positive about the project management
• Always available when necessary
• Think pro-actively
• Great person skills

What was your primary form of communication with pwrteams?

Virtual Meeting

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

• Even though the team works remotely, it feels like a very close team with a great connection to our company.
• Communciation is going very smoothly

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

N/A