Sanddev sp. z o. o.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Project Creation and Implementation Manager of Tomsystem

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Tomsystem offers professional welding equipment and provides welding services based on the latest technologies in the welding industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sandstream Development to accomplish?

Implement an online technology selection system that enables an automated process of selecting technology adapted to the given parameters of the welding process.

SOLUTION

How did you find Sandstream Development?

Referral

Why did you select Sandstream Development over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Sandstream Development were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The prepared software, based on automated functionalities, ensures a quick and proper selection of welding technology, which is a key element in determining the quality of the welded structure manufacturing process. By entering the selected parameters in the web application, the user has the ability to generate detailed guidance on the equipment and process that guarantees the achievement of the target results. 

The application allows you to add and change configuration parameters, create user accounts, order online consultations, and send an inquiry. The end result is the generation of a detailed report containing the necessary information on the selection of the appropriate welding technology in accordance with the path the user has followed while using the application. 

In addition, the application allows you to automatically transfer the list of generated products from the report directly to the e-commerce platform's shopping cart. The added value of the application is the knowledge base, containing interesting facts, tips, and substantive information about welding. Each user can browse the knowledge base and use the available teaching materials at any time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The implementation of an online technology selection system that enables an automated process of selecting technology adapted to the given welding process parameters.

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

Sandstream Development was in constant contact with us and used various communication channels, which facilitated the implementation of the project. During the project, a tool was used to access ongoing work on the application, track changes and progress, and make suggestions and comments. As a result, the activities were effective, and each person involved in the project had an ongoing insight into the progress of work on the application. 

Regular meetings of the project team were held, during which the results so far were verified and the next actions planned. The project team quickly responded to any changes and presented us with interesting solutions used in web applications. The goals of the project and the time frame for individual tasks were effectively controlled, thanks to which the project was completed within the agreed time, scope, and budget. 

Sandstream Development carried out the project professionally and in line with our expectations. Ease of communication, vast experience, and attention to detail made building and implementing the application a huge success.

What was your primary form of communication with Sandstream Development?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We wanted our web application to be innovative, effective, interesting, and at the same time, easy to use, which is why we wanted to establish cooperation with an experienced supplier who would guarantee us the construction and implementation of a tool in accordance with our requirements.

Sandstream Development guarantees proven software technologies to deliver high-quality web and mobile applications. Their infrastructure solutions are tailored to companies operating in various industries. Sandstream Development has high-quality server solutions and proficiency in cloud technologies, thanks to which it implements projects in a reliable and effective manner.

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

During the cooperation with Sandstream Development, we did not notice any areas for improvement. The cooperation was at the highest level.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the general manager at Sandstream Global. Our services include list management, email service provider, search and contextual marketing, email marketing, affiliate solutions, and media buying. Therefore, I decided to create our bespoke solution for email marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sandstream Development, and what were your goals?

We have hired Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. to help us develop a mass email marketing platform. Our goal was to develop a scalable bespoken solution for sending millions of emails to our subscribed recipients. Sending dedicated email marketing campaigns is a part of our services. In the past, we were using commonly used solutions, but none of them fitted our needs.

SOLUTION

How did you select Sandstream Development and what were the deciding factors?

We were seeking subcontractors who will help us to speed up our software development process. In the past, we checked a couple of outsourcing companies, and this one was the best.

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

Outsourced programming services provided by Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. supports us in the development of our solution. At the very beginning, the team prepared to be a part of our product development team. They organized the whole development process in a very flexible way.

The final solution was a compound of several technologies, like internet technologies (HTML, javascript, React.js, redux), IT solutions (dozens of servers, domains, ISP.), and cloud platform solutions for scaling the whole system. Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. provided project management service, quality assurance service and of course, programming service.

When they joined us, we were after the MVP development phase. The entire process was fully automated. The project took around twelve months to complete.

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

The team size was changing during the projects. We started with three programmers and a dedicated project manager acting also as a Scrum Master. Then we decided to speed up the project, so additional two programmers and QA joined.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before we started our cooperation, we had strived for several inconveniences related to the limited functionalities of well-known and used spready solutions for email marketing. It is a very fragile part of the market, so if something is not working due to some bugs or lack of support, the whole business is affected.

The system developed by the team allows us to avoid such incidents. Since we launched the system, we have full control of the whole environment, making us happy because we can work without any delays.

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

Each month they were sending us an invoice with really burned hours. Sandstream development sp. z o. o the manager helps us organize the process in a way that suits our internal processes like CI, CD, or DoD. Our communication was via TeamSpeak, Google Meets, and join.me.

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

The hints which team share during the product development allow us to make the product even better than we plan initially. Seeing results from the very beginning was something that makes me feel comfortable, and now I understand why people love the agile way of working.

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

Nothing to improve. They are doing an excellent job.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO at pm2pm sp. z. o. o. We provide comprehensive training and consulting services in project management. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Sandstream Development, and what were your goals?

We have hired Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. to help us develop a game-based online project management app simulator. A game-based online simulation that allows gaining competence in project management while improving teamwork and leadership skills.

SOLUTION

How did you select Sandstream Development and what were the deciding factors?

It was an active search during which I reviewed different software companies. We spoke with several vendors and Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. seemed to be right for the role. A key thing which I realized was that many of these companies want to look at the cost first and the product second.

I liked their approach to the client, and thanks to that, they quickly gained my trust. Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. was a natural pick, rather than other vendors.

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

The application provided by Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. consists of two parts: intended for training participants (simulation environment) and the trainer (trainer panel). The scope of work included many expert DevOps services. Sandstream prepared everything in such a way that the entire development process was fully automated.

First, the team built and provided us with the product in the MVP version. Then they continued working on other functionalities of our application. During development, we have followed the agile principles. The app uses technologies such as TypeScript, Node.js, MongoDB, ReactJS, Redux.

The team has provided development work on both the back and front-end side with quality assurance tests and project management service. The project took five months. They have delivered the solution in the given deadline.

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

The software development team consisted of two programmers, a QA tester and a Scrum Master, our first contact point. During the whole development process dedicated Project Manager was supporting us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I can say that everything they have done works well. We use the finished product during our training. Through the practice in a simulated environment provided by the application, we can help our participants gain practical experience that shows project management’s realities and consequences.

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

Almost no bureaucracy. They were very supportive. From the very beginning, we were aware of how much it could cost and how long will it take. We signed the General Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement very quickly. Sandstream Development sp. z. o. o. operates based on various project management methods and methodology (IPMA standard, Agile, Lean).

We agreed that Agile suits the best for this project. Every week we organized sprints to discuss what was already done, see the latest demo, and decide what to prepare before the next sprint. We used JIRA as a software development process tool. We were communicating mostly via Google Meet/Hangout.

Their approach to solving any problems was very open and proactive. They were very encouraged to present their visions of addressing our needs and how to do it.

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

From the very beginning, the team seemed fascinated by the product. I was impressed with their transparency, the quality of work, and the overall process. The team kept deadlines all the time. They were always ready to give their best and offer a great solution. I am happy with their professionalism. I have collected many suggestions for improving the application.

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

I don’t think there are any areas for them to improve. They are doing a great job.