Softon Digital

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of a software development company. We provide nearshore services to US and European clients. I’m responsible for managing transformational technology projects.

What challenge were you trying to address with Softon Digital?

We were struggling to meet the exponential demand growth for software development services, especially with specialized skills such as specific platform or framework knowledge. There was a lack of talent available on our team, and hiring at the right experience level was taking longer than our end clients expected.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Softon Digital sources software developers across the region. They tap into more traditional markets than we operate in to identify talent and close the gap between the supply and demand of developers. Their talent also helps with design and quality engineering. They use Java, .NET, iOS, Android, Node.js, and React.

Initially, we aligned on expectations. We discussed our requirements and the seniority levels and soft skills we were looking for. We wanted developers with at least a basic proficiency in English and at least five years of experience servicing international clients. We also needed talent in specialized areas; we were looking for mobile engineers with industry knowledge. Finding developers with the right balance of global exposure, English proficiency, and industry experience can be difficult.

The operational phase, surprisingly, has taken longer than the expectation-setting phase. We’ve made minor adjustments to the technical assessment.

They’ve helped us redesign an app for an airline with an enormous customer base. The deficient app was harming the airline’s brand, so Softon Digital’s team did a deep dive into the application and helped rebuild it. They’ve also helped us implement QA automation for millions of lines of code. 

What is the team composition?

Right now, we work with around 10 of their teammates but we’ve worked with up to 40 in the past. The team fluctuates based on the demand, which is an advantage of working with them. Their teammates are all senior software engineers, principal software engineers, and senior mobile developers.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent just over $1,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the ongoing engagement in July 2020.

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

Softon Digital has helped us increase an app’s star rating from one to four. They’ve also helped increase the automation coverage of a global project from 12% to 80%, which is a good metric.

We’ve seen a huge difference in the quality of talent from Softon Digital compared to other companies we’ve worked with. Usually, companies send talent without the right skill set or language proficiencies, but this rarely happens with Softon Digital. They’re extremely responsive to our needs, and the onboarding process has been smooth. Softon Digital has been able to find software developers in 2–3 weeks, which has been unthinkable for our company. 

How did Softon Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Our team manages the technical projects, but Softon Digital has a teammate managing their relationship with us. Their customer relations manager manages everything we need, including rate negotiations and talent rundowns and swaps. 

They’re responsive and can resolve almost any issue in record time. The software industry has been really dynamic over the past 2–3 years, so their ability to pivot and adapt to any circumstances has been crucial. We’ve reduced the number of vendors we work with for staff augmentation to only two companies, including Softon Digital, because of their responsiveness, flexibility, and ability to resolve problems quickly.

We communicate via Skype and use Google Sheets, Dropbox, and similar tools to collaborate and share talent profiles. We haven’t needed to use a tool like Jira since they are so responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Finding the right talent is what they do best.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend them because we’ve done our homework and Softon Digital is one of the best players in the market. We’ve tried multiple staff augmentation companies, and they all say the same thing; they tell you they understand the desired skills, job descriptions, and company nuances. The difference is that Softon Digital actually does understand your company’s needs. The founders are software developers or have technical experience, so they understand the technologies and talent in technical markets. They also have the compensation figured out.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Critical Mass LATAM specializes in creating digital experiences across different mediums

For what projects/services did your company hire Softon Digital, and what were your goals?

Softon has supported Critical Mass LATAM with staff augmentation across disciplines such as technology and quality assurance.

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

We conducted a vetting process that allowed us to understand that Softon had the talent and mindset that aligned with our goals.

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

The Softon development and QA resources have supported Critical Mass LATAM projects across a variety of projects related to industries such as automotive, pharmaceutical, and many more.

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

We have worked with well over 20 different people from Softon in their staff augmentation model. A few of those roles include:

• Tech Leads
• Full-stack Developers
• Quality Assurance Specialists, among others

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

The Softon resources have been part of multiple projects, even ones that are still ongoing, that have had very successful launches and continue to bring new opportunities for Critical Mass LATAM.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Working with Softon is easy and straightforward. The communication flows very well and they're always flexible and adaptable to our different needs. Even when we encounter challenges, their response, and subsequent actions, are quick and effective.

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

They're capable of finding the right talent in a relatively short time, especially the key personnel in our industry.

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

There's nothing I can think of right now.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work as a client relations manager. Our company is a staffing company that works in IT, Sales and executive searches. We work with numerous clients throughout the country and with partners in Central America.

For what projects/services did your company hire Softon Digital?

We needed developers with numerous backgrounds and to build teams for various projects. They were able to provide a solid team to help us with completing and working on numerous projects.

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

They were able to fit our technology needs.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The clients we work with have teams of developers working on projects that need immediate attention and done with high quality. We have been able to build out teams to help our clients navigate through the different projects.

Describe the recruitment process in detail.

We discuss the needs of our client with Softon and provide as much detail as possible. With the information we send them they provide matches/resumes to what need. We conduct an initial interview and then send them to interview with the end-client.

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

With Softon's support we are able to complete and maintain projects important to our clients. The result has been a satisfied client.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have worked to keep lines of communication open and what roadblocks the team may have.

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

Fast response to the processes. They have the willingness to work with us and make sure details are met with the needs of the client.

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

Although there is always need for improvement, Softon has been a reliable partner.