Qulix Systems

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

We see a cost-benefit to working with them as opposed to hiring onshore. We don't have to worry about overhead costs such as benefits.

In terms of direct client impact, having a breadth of knowledge and resources to access for different types of implementation is also very beneficial. We're not spending time and money on training. Internally, we leverage them for things that we need.

Overall the benefit of manpower and reduced cost is the biggest benefit for us.

How did Qulix Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

We have project managers on both sides. We constantly update on both sides, which helps us deliver the project since most of the time, the Qulix team is just one of the components. We use status-tracking tools like JIRA. They work very well with those platforms. They're very responsive. We talk on a daily basis with one or multiple people on the team, either directly with developers or through the project management contact. We also use Slack to communicate or instant messaging; it's very efficient.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The talent pool that they've built up over the years across multiple platforms is the biggest efficiency.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Generally, we're happy with the number of defects that we find. Resolutions are dealt with quickly. Occasionally, we've had to emphasize the priority of certain points, but this is normal in the development life cycle of any company.

In general, the feedback for our products is good. Our clients don't interact with our development team at all. We keep communication separate in order to ensure that in the case of any defect, the person in the middle, typically an account manager is able to handle the issue with the development team and the client respectively.

In time, feedback has gotten better as we learned how to work with Qulix Systems and how to provide new specification models in terms of Excel, and use JIRA properly.

How did Qulix Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

We work on a sprint basis for our development process. This involves two weekly get-togethers. Every two weeks, we evaluate how many points were developed vs. how many were initially planned. We also track the number of defects detected on a weekly basis.

As we add new functionality and solve problems in the existing functionality, we're likely to create problems along the way. The software is quite complex. We strive to get a good idea of the number of defects, which are likely to be deemed important. We use JIRA for project management. Document exchange is also through email and Google Docs.

What distinguishes Qulix Systems from other providers?

They're extremely polite and hard working. This attitude is part of their local culture: their people work hard and give honest opinions on where we should or shouldn't spend our money. We receive constructive feedback constantly. As a client trying to develop new, groundbreaking models, we might try to push the boundaries too far or develop something unrealistic. Qulix Systems help us stay on the ground and make the right decisions in terms of investments. This is a unique proposition for their company. On top of this is their ability to understand complex calculations and implement them into a good product.

Is there anything Qulix Systems could have improved or done differently?

They should have a more proactive approach in terms of providing solutions to known, identified problems. This is something we're constantly working on.

In terms of results, could you share any statistics, metrics, or user feedback that would demonstrate the quality of their performance?

I suppose the primary thing is, we don’t get any complaints in terms of significant problems from clients or their own end-users. We’ve seen a very high retention rate with our clients in terms of them using the platform for upwards of three or more years, and they all keep renewing their contracts. Overall, I think that all stakeholders have been impressed with the solutions crafted and delivered by Qulix. That has to do with the service we provide to them, but also the underlying platform itself. It’s a combination of a lot of contributors, but Qulix definitely holds their own.

We used to maintain a project-based arrangement with them. However, in the last 18 months, we’ve moved to a more agile approach with more flexibility. We’re pretty much always in constant communication with them. They’ve met all of our expectations.

When working with Qulix Systems, is there anything that you would consider unique or special about their strategic approach or development methodology that distinguishes them from other vendors?

Whenever we’ve got a particularly big or complex bit of new functionality, they will come spend a few days with us on site. We don’t experience cultural or language barriers in any way when dealing with their developers or project leads. We feel like they’re almost an extension of our own organization. That’s how well they can integrate with our in-house team.

What advice, if any, would you give a future client of theirs?

I suppose the only advice I would give is not to be swayed or influenced by past experiences with offshore development, and treat them as a genuine partner, and the relationship should work, even flourish.