Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?
As we work on white label products for banks, I am rarely allowed to share my client’s names, but the quality has been satisfactory for Swiss banks, and myself. Most of the success comes from also managing them properly, which has worked well for me because they are overall professional. My previous frustrations with other firms have not been an issue here.
What did you find most impressive about SmartDev?
The overall quality and communication with the experienced Agile development management and developers is great. In regards to their location, Da Nang, Vietnam, it is always a pleasure to be onsite for extended periods of time. Their office is clean, with European standards, and has proper internet and video conferencing abilities which are crucial for managing remote development teams.
Are there any areas SmartDev could improve?
The time zone difference is the only real drawback, but if one gets up early its fine. This can’t really be improved. What is important in remote management is to manage the developers properly with regular skype/video meetings and a proper service desk/Jira. The issues we have had have been contained to the occasional developer considering his worth and asking for a raise, which inevitably is transferred to me for the final decision to raise or replace that resource.
The quality of the work SmartDev produced far surpassed other vendors, as well as their diligent project management style.