Onix-Systems

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CTO of the company headquartered in San Diego.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Onix-Systems, LLC, and what were your goals?

Our company wanted to develop an iOS app that would be helping our customers navigating complex market of products. Our goal was to develop the app as fast as possible, while keeping it reliable and bug-free.

SOLUTION

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

We have reviewed tens of companies and interviewed around 10. Several deciding factors were the age of the company, it's size, recommendations and reviews from happy customers.

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

Our company provided developers with designs and wireframes, and after series of meetings with developers and project manager we have developed a detailed project plan, selected applicable technologies and frameworks. Key functionality was delivered in three months, according to the initial project scope.

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

Our team worked with a great and supportive project manager, and senior iOS app developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our iOS was successfully launched according to the initial scope and was well accepted by users. By now it's rated over 4.8 on app store, and is still a valuable asset for our business, with tens of thousands of returning users on monthly basis.

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

The project manager was very supportive, always available and helpful. We were always able to reach project manager via Slack, all tickets were managed via Trello, additional questions were resolved via emails.

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

We value their availability, flexibility, and eagerness to do their best in what they do.

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

We were always receiving all updates and communication was timely, the project was delivered near to perfectly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an alcohol kiosk company and alcohol brand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems, LLC?

We wanted a user-friendly website that allows our customers to purchase online without too much confusion.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix-Systems basically created a website that loaded fast and was optimized for mobile devices. It showcased all of our products and was able to show up on desktop tablets and any device without any issues or loss of quality. They also came in and implemented a layout and logo and replaced the logo I was initially married to. The logo they came up with is going to be the one I’ll be using on our beverage cans now.

What is the team composition?

I probably worked with about 4–5 different people during the design and development phases.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems, LLC?

I found them on Upwork and saw that their work and reviews were really good. One thing that I liked about them was they gave suggestions before they even brought me on as a customer — Onix-Systems was already helping me out with different problems without me even paying them.

One thing that sold me to them was they told me that they’ll set up my website, so even if we don’t end up working with them in the future, it’ll be easier for another company to come in and do whatever they need to do.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–April 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t really deployed the website so we haven’t had any traffic yet. It’s pretty much just a showcase site right now since the actual product isn’t ready yet. However, we really like what they delivered.

How did Onix-Systems, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed really well from a project management standpoint. On a scale of 1–10, I would give them a 10. They managed the project well, answered all my questions, and kept me updated. They also let me know about any delays so I had no complaints.

We normally communicated through Upwork or Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In my opinion, the quality of their work and how easily they respond to questions and concerns are top-notch. I know there’s a time difference between our companies but they’re really good at responding in a timely manner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I thought the money that I spent was a little bit expensive, but looking back now, I thought they did a really good job. It was well worth it, so I don’t think they could’ve done anything better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sometimes, talking to someone can be confusing, but having a visual aid to point out exactly what you want to change can prevent a lot of misunderstandings. This can also enable you to get your project finished the way you want quickly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder/CEO of a paddle tennis educational website. We launched in December on the platform Onix built for us and we have on-going work as the platform keeps developing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Onix-Systems, LLC?

We hired Onix to build our whole platform, from start to finish.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a platform that allowed us to manage users and update content on our site.

SOLUTION

How did you select Onix-Systems, LLC?

A friend of mine who is in the tech world recommended them to me.

Describe the project in detail.

We met with the Client Relationship Manager and the Project manager and came up with some discovery stage deliverables and they were able to give us project estimation.

A presentation was given which showed us the outline of the project and the different stages + an estimated time frame. We had regular meetings to discuss progress and payments were made as we went.

What was the team composition?

• Project Manager x 1
• Designer x 1
• Front-End Developer x 1-2
• Team Lead x 1
• QA Engineer x 1
• Back-end Developer x 1-2

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were able to launch and in the first 2 months, we have 600 paying subscribers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very good, we had very few issues and when there were they tried hard to rectify the situation.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We are impressed with their professionalism and transparency in their work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I think the better they can get in communicating and explaining the whole process of building a website (or whatever service they are doing) for someone with limited technical knowledge, the better customers' expectations will be managed.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a Strategist at Aloa. We are a platform for outsourcing software development for startups. Onix is one of our trusted partners who we contract our work out to.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Onix-Systems, LLC, and what were your goals?

We have had a handful of projects, ones that were needing a dev team to build everything from scratch as well as some that were handoffs to improve an existing application.

Our goals are to build a successful product and experience for our clients, and in order to do so, we look to companies like Onix to support us in our need.

SOLUTION

How did you select Onix-Systems, LLC and what were the deciding factors?

Our vetting process is very exclusive. We have vetted through thousands of firms and have only selected 11 to be within our network. We start off by qualifying based of UI/UX. Onix has a tremendous design department, so they passed round 1.

After that, we asked for at least 3 US client references to reach out to. All said glowing things, so the passed round 2.

Round 3 was interviews. We jumped on calls, did code reviews, analyzed their development processes, and ultimately determined that they are more than qualified to be part of our network.

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

The exact details of the scope of work are under NDA so I can't explain it specifically.

However, we have worked on projects across many industries and tech stacks with Onix: We have done projects utilizing React, Javascript, GTP-3, Unity, Swift, Kotlin, and Python.

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

I have worked with 10+ people from Onix. During my day to day, I work most closely with Onix's Project Manager and Account Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They're amazing, and always are! We have a very strict policy and low tolerance for sloppy work, so the fact that we continue to send work their way speaks volumes about their quality of work.

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

We use AloaManage, a proprietary management tool to facilitate the management of the relationship.

Onix has fabulous communication skills and is consistently available for the client's questions or concerns. They are also very proactive in raising points to the client and setting proper expectations.

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

Their diligence and willingness to go above and beyond to support their clients. Onix is very relationship focused, which isn't the norm when it comes to outsourcing.

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

Very little - we do review feedback with them every other week, and by in large, they tend to have very few things to improve upon.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of messageLOUD. Our Android app reduces distracted driving by reading aloud messages as they’re received. This allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

While our Android app has become quite successful in the marketplace, an iOS app with similar capabilities doesn’t exist. We needed resources who could overcome those technical challenges and develop the iOS app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve built an iOS app that can read messages aloud, using our designed wireframe. Because an iOS with similar capabilities doesn’t exist, they’ve needed to overcome significant technical problems to ensure product functionality. It’s a case of finding the right technical solution. They’ve developed the backend for the app, which has a notably complex server-side architecture.

What is the team composition?

The four-person-core team includes back- and frontend developers, a tester, and a project manager. We exclusively work with the project manager.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We originally contracted them through UpWork for another project. When we began conceiving the iOS app, we spoke with 15 app developers who deemed the project impossible. We then approached Onix-Systems’ project manager with our idea. Despite the technical challenges, they accepted the task.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began in December 2016 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re currently in closed beta and plan to transition into a public beta in a few weeks. As a result, we lack current quantitative metrics on the app’s success.

However, from a technical standpoint, we applaud their incredible technical skill. This is a project that has never been done before; the app either works, or it doesn’t. Onix-Systems has produced a functional app that others have labeled impossible, which is a testament to their expertise.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been truly excellent. We primarily use the ticket management platform Redmine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their outstanding ability to solve extreme technical challenges distinguishes them from their competitors. We praise their innovative approach to overcoming difficulties that have never been addressed before.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Adopting a consistent and methodical mindset is crucial in solving complex technical challenges.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company's product is aimed at giving good information and visual aids to people interested in physical training. We are based in Canada. I am one of the co-owners of the company, and one of the main IT [information technology] people.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

Our code base had been created, but it was an organic construct. We wanted to make sure that we'd be able to create a solid base for our products. The idea was to remove some of the functionalities and focus on core elements, making sure that we had a robust framework.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I provided the target architecture as well as a demo for our first platform. Onix has suggested some changes and provided creative ideas in order for us to obtain a product focused on what we wanted to accomplish.

We've worked in an agile manner with Onix, getting inputs from one another. There were no order takers in the project. We've worked with up to 3 developers from Onix as well as a project manager.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We decided to make a post on Upwork and leveraged some partners who had been working on the platform for a while, in order for them to help us identify the right people. We published an RFP [request for proposal], explaining the project, and contacted 3 candidates, before finding Onix.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Onix in January 2016. We've had an open roadmap, with a focus on the core of the platform. This has been done, and we're on the verge of engaging Onix again in order to continue the work and enhance the product. Our product will always be evolving, and I see no reason for not continuing to work with Onix unless we adopt technologies, which aren't their forte.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our work was successful. From what I've seen, the code produced by Onix was very clean and efficient. The platform works great. Our only difficulties were part of getting to know each other and working as a team, making sure that we understand each other. We're a French company, and English is also our second or even third language. It was our main difficulty, but it still wasn't that much of a problem.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Onix was closer to working in an agile manner than our own team. They knew how to manage scope, which is important from a project management perspective.

We're in the process of getting an estimate from Onix for the rest of the work. There were some differences in understanding during our discussions, but that was a part of getting to know each other.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

We've always had good service because our project manager was also the customer relationship manager in a way. We felt privileged to work with someone who was always there. I don't know how many hours Onix worked, but it seemed to be a lot.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

Some elements need to be better clarified in written form. Onix needs to make sure that documentation is clarified before engaging anything. This never reflected on the price that we paid or the delivery time.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

Clients need to make sure that they clarify requirements and have confidence in Onix. The team will propose some very interesting approaches.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a software developer offering our own products, and also working with clients ranging from startups to billion-dollar companies. We provide mobile application work, usually from the ground up, based on business needs. In the case of startups, we typically start with a pure concept, and bring the application to market.

I am the owner and Chief Product Manager of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We have a need for developing high-quality products able to generate money and attract users, but within a reasonable budget and a fast timeline.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We've collaborated with Onix-Systems on a series of products, and we have a very close relationship with their team.

Onix's contribution has been light in terms of design. We do this through our own resources and through other contractors, depending on the type of application. We handle the design for business applications almost exclusively in-house, and we grab outside designers for social networking apps.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

I had a startup 5 years ago, and was looking for resources. We went through a number of firms and gave each one trial projects, with less than great results. I found Onix, gave them a little project, and without having coded before, I could tell that the work was far better done than what I'd seen from other vendors. Based on this, I gave Onix larger projects over time, with very good success.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

The cost of Onix's services is between $10,000 and $15,000 per month, on average.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with Onix-Systems for 5 years, and have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We've worked on around 12 different projects with Onix-Systems, excluding very small ones. In terms of results, we always stood where we wanted for our customers in terms of quality and reliability of delivery.

We've worked on social networking apps which are very complex to market, ERPs [enterprise resource planning] for internal systems, and so on. We've had some very happy startup and corporate clients.

We host all of our work on Amazon's infrastructure, and always deploy systems which are robust, with levels of redundancy in the case of corporate systems. We've never experienced downtime that would lead to business issues. Typically, our systems are up into the high 90% range, and there have been no business interruptions caused by our systems. Like with all software, we have experienced bugs, but they get resolved with a very fast pace.

The apps developed with Onix's help have achieved 4.8 stars on the app stores, on average. We judge applications based on their utility, but we also look for reviews mentioning bugs. Generally speaking, we've had apps with tens of thousands of users, and bugs have never been an issue.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

We set out realistic timelines and scopes of work. They can change quite often, but in general, clients have been happy with our ability to deliver.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

We've worked with Onix for 5 years, and never had to question whether our projects were important to them or not. We receive Onix's full attention even on smaller projects, where they're not making much profit. Onix has a very consistent approach and responsiveness.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

More design capabilities would be a nice ability to have access to, but I've tended to prefer independent designers. Projects can differ in this regard, so it's better to pick people based on the current one.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

I've worked with some of the most talented people from Onix, but it's still important to articulate what the business is before jumping into code, making sure that the team understands what a company does and doesn't do.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company has developed a wine app. I am the Chief Executive Officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We needed resources in order to develop and release our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix-Systems has developed our application for iOS and Android. It involved a very heavy backend, an admin website, as well as native frontends for each version.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

I went through a 3-step due diligence process, initially asking different companies for quotes on apps which already existed in the market. I then sent specs for our own apps to 3-5 candidates. Onix was shortlisted, and after some further talks, I visited them in Ukraine, in order to make sure that they'd be the right partner for us.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

The cost of Onix's development has been under $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Onix-Systems for around a year. Their part of the development has been almost completed. We plan to submit the apps to the stores for review within the next month. The delay had been on our side, due to the large amount of data which needs to be entered in the backend.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We are satisfied with Onix's work. We've had a fairly large project, with a fair amount of resources assigned to it.

We haven't received a lot of feedback at this stage, because the app is highly dependent on its backend data. I have performed testing myself almost on a daily basis.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

It proved to be more complicated than initially thought, but we tackled problems together with Onix. They were able to review issues and provide feedback, instead of simply doing what we asked for. Onix let us know when there was something wrong within our specs.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

I have had IT experience within large organizations collaborating with other large IT vendors. This type of work is different than with smaller companies like Onix. I've tried to impose a standard framework, which isn't always optimal, but we did well overall, and I'm satisfied with everything done by Onix.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

Onix could provide more documentation, but this isn't always the strongest point of smaller companies. Things can always be improved, but Onix has provided good service so far, and they've been straightforward to deal with.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

Onix will help clients achieve a result, but development needs to start with a strong base. Clients also need to make sure that they have strong specifications, and that everything is documented.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a small web development company based in Montreal, specializing in open-source PHP applications, including WordPress and Drupal work. We focus on outsourcing and coordinating larger offshore groups.

I am the Chief Technology Officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

One of our clients was seeking to build a non-native mobile app. It was a combination between a backend PHP and an AngularJS frontend.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix-Systems has a large team, as far as I understand. When we had our interview, they mentioned that their specialties were CakePHP and AngularJS, so we haven't used them for anything else. Design, for instance, isn't something that we'd outsource.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We found Onix through Upwork. They had high recommendations for work on PhoneGap, AngularJS, and CakePHP apps. We went through the normal vetting process, sending out an open application, scaling applicants, and having personal interviews. We used Onix for a small job initially, which was a similar piece of work, in order to see how we could get along and what Onix's level of responsiveness was.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

The total cost of our project with Onix was $45,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was completed at the end of May 2016, after a 2-month development period. Our client has begun a second phase of their product, using interns for code maintenance and updates. We've completed our contract with Onix amicably, but we haven't had any similar projects since that time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our direct client was the application architect, and they were strong in the technologies used. We didn't have a lot of facetime with the end-users on the business operations side. Our client was satisfied, but they had a romantic idea of outsourcing to a Chinese-like factory where people would be working all day for no money. They had to adjust to the fact that Onix was a team which functioned like any other developer in North America, but at a slightly reduced rate. Things didn't progress as quickly, but the client was satisfied with the quality of the code. He is particular about this type of thing, so it was a big vote of confidence.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

We were satisfied with Onix's performance, and would consider hiring them again. We had a moderate budget and an understanding client, which helped a bit. There were small miscommunications which we were able to smooth over in our context. With a more problematic client, I'd consider a different team. The project managers and tech leads from Onix were responsive and had good communication skills, but we needed to be more embedded into the team. Once we started working with the senior developers, we found their English to be very poor. This is not a criticism, but rather a tradeoff when working overseas. When we started the work, we found that the tech lead from Onix was very strong, but communication on a day-to-day basis proved to be difficult.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

We've dealt with developers from India and Asia, and generally found that they like to make a strong first impression by putting their best men in the first row, after which the competency drops off rapidly. With Onix, we found that they maintained a good quality and presence throughout the course of the project, which convinced me to trust them in the future. Trust is a big issue when working with an offshore partner. I wouldn't hold the communication issue mentioned earlier against Onix. It's simply the nature of this type of development.

Are there any areas Onix-Systems could improve?

A bit more structure would help. Our project was a bit disorganized, with a sloppy Agile process. We weren't good at establishing fixed schedules, so it's not something which I'd hold against Onix in particular. Onix didn't go out of their way in order to help formalize the process using the project manager and tech leads on their side. This would be a good improvement to make in order to reassure clients, by providing reporting and daily updates from a more English-fluent counterpart.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Onix-Systems?

Any prospective client needs to treat Onix's team with the same respect that they would give to high-quality engineers from North America, but they should also be prepared to insert their own process. We asked for some flexibility, but Onix proved to be a bit disorganized in the end, with developers entering and leaving the team, and unclear timelines. Clients shouldn't be afraid to establish ground rules and a framework within which Onix should work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We provide services for website owners, helping them gain more conversions. I am the founder and CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Onix-Systems?

We needed support for creating the architecture of our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Onix has provided development and support for our website. We're currently working at an enterprise level, but also have plans to expand. Onix provided a dedicated team of 3 developers for our project.

How did you come to work with Onix-Systems?

We found Onix through Elance, which is called Upwork currently.

How much have you invested with Onix-Systems?

Onix has spent more than 7,000 hours for our project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with Onix for 3 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

On a scale from 1 to 10, I would give Onix a 15. I'm very happy with their work.

How did Onix-Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Collaborating wasn't so easy in the beginning, but Onix has become an extension of our team, making it very easy to work together. Our project manager has been amazing, along with the rest of Onix's team.

What did you find most impressive about Onix-Systems?

Onix is a very human and professional company, which is a good combination for making a successful project.