STX Next Client Reviews

Portfolio

Key clients:

Seerene, Coras, Hogarth Worldwide, FusePump, Vyze, StreetTeam, Realface, BetBright, KNMP, Paze, Decernis, Key Ingredient, T Dispatch, TB Seen, Newable Business Finance, finstreet and more.

Coras

StreetTeam

Seerene

Realface (Acquired by Apple in 2017)

BetBright

TBSeen

FusePump

KNMP

Newable Business Finance

Vyze

cielo24

Myntelligence

Paze.me

Key Ingredient Mobile

Polish State Forests (Lasy Państwowe)

Inteligo (PKO Bank Polski)

Key Ingredient

T Dispatch

Decernis

STX AR

Coras Mobile

Paze.me Mobile

Reviews

4.8

23 reviews

Submit Review

Sort by

Filter Reviews

Enterprise application development

May 25, 2017

the project

Team Augmentation for Digital Product Studio

"They help us develop the right software in a more efficient way."

Enterprise application development

Confidential

May 2016 - Ongoing

4.5

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

May 2016 - Ongoing

Project summary:

This review was STX Next supplies full-stack engineers who help develop a secure collaboration suite. Up to 5 resources support an internal group and continuously expedite production.

51-200 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Head of Development

Verified

the reviewer

Head of Development

Computer Software

51-200 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Verified

4.5

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"They help us develop the right software in a more efficient way."

May 25, 2017

Feedback summary:

Throughout the engagement, STX Next coded several custom features from scratch, demonstrating excellent technical skills. Their problem-solving abilities and eagerness to incorporate feedback continue to drive project success.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the head of development for a security software company. Our products allow users to conduct secure correspondence with other individuals by email or our secure collaboration software. Users can go online and collaborate in a secure environment and share files. The company started in 2008 and has grown steadily over that time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

We knew we wanted to grow a part of the development team, either internally or through an agency like STX Next who could quickly provide the resources we needed. We needed to get software developed and into production as quick as possible.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It’s a secure collaboration product, so I can’t tell you much about the tech stack. STX Next was confident and resourceful. The product’s an OpenStack platform, and they do the full development lifecycle for the frontend and backend. They provide development resources to help us with the full suite of software.

We currently have 3 developers, a tester, and a product owner working on the project. We gave them an idea of the kind of work we wanted, and then STX Next put a team together for us. When we first started working with STX Next, they had an office where the developers were based, but they moved our development resources to another office, so we had to transition to another team. We started with 2 developers and a tester and added a developer; now, we’ve got the product owner as well to manage the software as a whole.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

I wasn’t involved on the hiring side, but I think our CTO found them. We were introduced to STX Next, and it really went from there. Before we signed the contract, I talked with them about our products, our strategic vision, and what we wanted in terms of a results profile. We got quotes from them about what they could do, and that went through our chain for approval. I’ve been working with STX Next since the team was initiated.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve worked on a number of projects. We’ve seen better results when we’ve been able to isolate specific chunks of functionality from the main product. It’s a secure collaboration, so we have a PDF annotation part of the solution, which STX Next developed from scratch. It was a sub-system, and they took the requirements and worked on them in isolation. From a results point of view, we found that approach turned out much better. We’ve also tried to mix the development resources from STX Next into our team here, but we found that strategy was less productive than giving them bespoke pieces of work.

They are working on slightly different pieces, so I don’t want to compare them to other suppliers or our own team. I’ve had no issues with the performance of their developers. They seem to develop high-quality code that’s always been tested to a sufficient level. They follow the process to the letter, which helps us integrate them into our team. They’re always bringing ideas to the table as well. They’re not just a resource that delivers exactly what we tell them; instead, they come to us with ideas and alternatives.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

In my experience with outsourcing, you generally give the outsourcing company a set of requirements, and they deliver the requirements exactly as you specified. If it’s not right, it was your fault because you didn’t specify your needs clearly. But, STX Next is more collaborative. They talk about the problem and suggest ways that could solve it more efficiently. They look at alternatives, particularly when bringing in the product owner. He’s been trying to introduce more processes for developing this solution, whether it’s a customer issue or something we want to do strategically.

STX Next is unique in that they don’t just deliver what you ask for. They help us develop the right software in a more efficient way.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

When we tracked the 2 teams, they didn’t always communicate enough with each other. The STX Next team would be tasked with creating some functionality. While they were doing that, they’d refactor some code. It’s great from a development manager’s point of view, as they’re making the code better. However, they didn’t necessarily communicate that to our team here. When we tried to put the software back together, it caused conflicts. At the time, we were unsure why these conflicts were happening, and that caused a few issues. We went back to giving them isolated pieces of work to build from scratch, and that line of separation between the 2 teams certainly works better for us.

4.5

Overall Score It’s been really good. They give feedback and make the software better, rather than just delivering what we ask.

4.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

There are times when we haven’t given all the information they need; however, if they’d gone that extra mile, we probably would have gotten software out a lot quicker.

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

They don’t always get it right, but they do go back and rework any issue.

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

I have no concerns about recommending them to anyone.

Enterprise application modernization

May 12, 2017

the project

Platform Modernization for Events SaaS Provider

"Rather than looking for upfront specs ... [they] made an effort to understand the product."

Enterprise application modernization

Confidential

Dec. 2016 - Ongoing

4.5

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Dec. 2016 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next replaced an inferior product with an overhauled platform built mostly from scratch. The project team brainstormed and helped validate objectives before developing the new MVP.

51-200 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Bradley Wright

CTO, StreetTeam

Verified

the reviewer

CTO, StreetTeam

Bradley Wright

Computer Software

51-200 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Verified

4.5

Quality:

4.0

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Rather than looking for upfront specs ... [they] made an effort to understand the product."

May 12, 2017

Feedback summary:

The modernized product delivered by STX Next surpassed expectations and already drove significant sales increases. Direct communication with assigned engineers yielded very productive results, but this might not be possible for less technically experienced clients.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

StreetTeam is a word-of-mouth sales channel for big music festivals. Most of them tend not to sell out, and the best way for them to empty their remaining inventory is to have their biggest fans sell tickets to friends through a social network.

We provide a Software-as-a-Service solution which engages influencers and serves as a sales tool on behalf of their favorite festival. In exchange, they get returns to deepen their experience during the festival in the form of tickets, backstage passes, an upgraded camping site and so on. It deepens their connection to the brand while also helping the company sell tickets. I am the CTO of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with STX Next?

We had gone through a re-platforming after we figured out that the current technology in place when I joined the company wasn’t right for our ambitions of global reach, and in terms of the types of partnerships we wanted to sign. We made the decision to write a fairly minimal version of the product. That was launched three weeks ago, and it will be written in Python and ReactJS. Hiring engineers anywhere is very hard, especially in London

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

STX Next rebuilt a number of functionalities from scratch and employed a whole new architecture for the MVP. We had a microservices-based approach, API integration in the middle, and responsive mobile frontends. We went through a story-mapping effort in collaboration with STX Next, coming up with the features that the site needed to have, and drawing out a watermark through them. We outlined what the walking skeleton of the project would be. That skeleton formed the basis of the build.

We had two internal resources prior to STX Next joining the project. They have been working collaboratively from both locations in an Agile fashion. As we continue to hire internal people, they will join the bigger team that STX Next is a part of.

We are using 11 engineers, 3 test automation people, one QA, and one scrum master from STX Next’s team. We’ve been working with the same people from the start, apart from one or two individuals who have left for personal reasons.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

They were recommended to me by a couple of CTO friends, as a good way of leveraging highly-skilled Agile Python developers. STX Next was a way of building capacity quickly, given that they already had a very good team in place. There were three or four other companies under consideration, ranging from expensive London agencies through to very cheap ones from Eastern Europe. STX Next was somewhere in the middle, with a competitive price and high quality at the same time.

We had existing engineers in Wroclaw, Poland, which is also STX Next’s location. While I was there, I took the opportunity to visit their office and have a fairly advanced talk about what they did, and what they could do for us specifically. I spoke to their service director, Łukasz Koczwara, who is a very impressive person. He presented the whole team to me, talked about the engineers’ work, and let me interview them ahead of time. Based on what I wanted in terms of quality of process, demeanor and communication skills, it was an obvious fit for me.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started onboarding STX Next in December 2016. We picked up the pace in the first week of January 2017. The prototype took 12 weeks to build, which was our specified timeline. We have an ongoing collaboration with STX Next and plan to have them as part of our team for a while. We do plan to hire more internal resources, as we undergo more fundraising.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve seen increased sales. Clients have loved the look-and-feel and new features of the product, so we are seeing much bigger festivals sign up to us than before. We’re also in the process of building integrations with third-party ticketing systems. The new architecture demonstrates that we can more easily do that than before. We’ve seen sales and business-channel success, but we also have a stable platform on which we can build over time, whereas the old one was a bit harder to modify.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

I haven’t used any other agencies for this project, but, based on previous experiences, I found STX Next to perform well. They’re at least as good as some big agencies in London. We have a direct, one-to-one connection with our engineers, and they’re not hidden behind an account manager. This leads to much better teamwork, and better cohesion for the project overall.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

The quality of engineering is much higher than I expected. I was looking for standard, shop-level skills, but STX Next’s coders are very good. They’re people I’d happily hire internally. Their approach to Agile is quite surprising. Rather than looking for upfront specs and documentation, STX Next went through a proper scrum process, talked through stories and made an effort to understand the product. They want to be in it for the long-term, which is a bit different to the normal fire-and-forget agency model.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

Support is a touchy subject. STX Next operates in a culture with strict working hours, so they don’t offer out-of-hours support as a service. This was made clear from the start, and it’s not something I can fault them on. It’s simply a service which I wish they had. I have a very good relationship with their director, and we have had conversations on this matter. It may change in the future.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with STX Next?

They should never pick anyone who wants an upfront spec. The Agile process is the best way to build good products and software, so clients should be cautious of someone who wants one big info-dump, and goes away for two months. It’s important to see the work in progress. Agencies which want to get deep into the needs of the client and their users are the best choice. This is my personal bias towards methodologies, but it has worked well for me.

4.5

Overall Score

4.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

I can only compare STX Next to full-time staff, but I’d give them a maximum rating for value. They have some outstanding engineers who would be earning a lot more in London.

4.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

The only thing I would add is that, due to some timeline pressures, there were some cut corners. I wish that there was a bit more rigor about that stuff.

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Web development

Apr 25, 2017

the project

Python Developed MVP for Data Intelligence Subsidiary

"[They] never forced us to buy a service until we considered it to be necessary."

Web development

$50,000 to $199,999

Jan. 2017 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

$50,000 to $199,999

Jan. 2017 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next supplies a dedicated engineering team. The assigned developers help an internal group rapidly add new features to an existing cybersecurity solution.

10,000+ Employees

Paris, France

R&D Director

Verified

the reviewer

R&D Director

Telecommunications

10,000+ Employees

Paris, France

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"[They] never forced us to buy a service until we considered it to be necessary."

Apr 25, 2017

Feedback summary:

Organizational skills were a key strength from the very beginning. A complimentary project manager was assigned to prevent unexpected issues, which came as a pleasant surprise.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a cyber security and computer science company. I work for a subsidiary of a much larger company, which acquired us in 2016. I’m the head of R&D for my department.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

We were looking for additional manpower, and it’s hard to find good, affordable developers in France.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

STX Next provided developers for the technology we were looking for, namely Python. They have worked on certain features of our software, as well as GUI [graphical user interface] elements. We do have internal Python competencies but don’t have enough manpower. STX Next’s role is to speed up our development.

Our main project is a global security solution that gives users information about malware, trojans, bad domains or IP addresses, and so on. We needed to develop a web API that would connect to a number of different websites. STX Next worked on this component and also developed the graphical interface for it, which is an Angular2 portal.

We’ve used 2 developers and a project lead from STX Next. We expect to increase the size of the team, but there are some administrative and political aspects of our company that have delayed the process. I was not involved in selecting the resources assigned to us, but I did explain my needs to STX Next’s business developer, who understood them quite well. I needed senior, experienced people to whom we could add some more junior developers later.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

We were initially contacted by STX Next’s business department through LinkedIn. I researched the company on Google and saw that they were well-referred on sites like Clutch. I had a few meetings with STX Next’s team on Skype and appreciated the fact that I was never pressured into a commitment. We had never worked with an outsourcing company in the past, and we needed some time to determine what a good test project could be. I visited their office in 2016 and found that STX Next had reliable internal organization, so I became confident in them. We didn’t contact other companies because we had a feeling that STX Next would be a good fit. We decided to launch a 1-month test project and decide whether to continue after that period.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with STX Next at the beginning of January 2017. The project is ongoing, and there is no end date. We have enjoyed working with STX Next and plan to use them for any additional features we need to have developed, as well as other projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have an ongoing project, so I cannot share any official data for it. We plan to launch an MVP in 2 weeks, through which we will begin to demonstrate the product to customers and our internal people. We couldn’t have reached this point without STX Next’s help since the majority of our internal team is working on other projects.

In comparison to our own team, STX Next’s technical level is superior (at least for the 2 developers we’ve used).

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

We decided to use the Atlassian suite, including HipChat as an instant messenger, JIRA for tracking scrum projects, Confluence for weekly meetings, and Bitbucket as a code repository. I asked STX Next which type of tools they preferred before starting the project and was told that the Atlassian suite was a good choice. My own team uses internal messaging and tracking tools, which would not have been possible to share with external people.

We only asked for 2 developers initially, but STX Next assigned our project lead completely free of charge for 2-months in order to ensure that the project would be a success. They were planning to assign the lead to another project on the third month, but I specifically asked to keep him. I found it to be a very good commercial model. STX Next never forced us to buy a service until we considered it to be necessary.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

They are a very organized group. My team wasn’t used to working with outsourced resources, but STX Next made the experience very pleasant. I was very impressed by them and have really enjoyed the collaboration.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

I would have preferred to have more resources in order to make the project go faster. Working with only 2 developers prolonged the process, but this isn’t really an improvement point for STX Next. It has to do more with our company.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

This can always be improved, but STX Next was efficient in responding to our communication. I can’t find any fault with them.

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

I can’t really compare STX Next to anyone else. They were the first company we used for outsourcing, but they’re far less expensive than French developers. For us, it was a question of quality, not cost. We would’ve chosen them even at a higher price.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

I have no complaints. Without being asked, STX Next’s developers provided documentation and testing. It was a pleasure to work with them.

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Enterprise application development

Feb 10, 2017

the project

Flagship Product Enhancement for Marketing Technology Firm

"They are quite experienced and quite strong in the Agile process."

Enterprise application development

Confidential

Feb. 2015 - Ongoing

4.5

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Feb. 2015 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next accelerated the production of a platform that grants businesses the ability to customize their product catalogs and related data within their existing websites.

51-200 Employees

London, United Kingdom

CTO

Verified

the reviewer

CTO

Marketing & Advertising

51-200 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Verified

4.5

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

4.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"They are quite experienced and quite strong in the Agile process."

Feb 10, 2017

Feedback summary:

The project team demonstrated efficiency by streamlining processes and supplying frequent performance metrics. Resources always communicated effectively, and the deliverables were almost completely bug-free.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a statistics agency in the UK whose origin is handling product data. We work with retailers to extract their product catalog from their website, often by scraping but sometimes by API integration. We then create product databases that are used to get product catalogs on to different channels online. About six years ago, we started working with major brands to scrape the websites of lots of different retailers so the brands can find out how their products are being sold.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

We were looking to develop a platform that could provide multiple clients with a streamlined user interface. This solution would essentially let these end clients customize the integrations on their own websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started working with STX Next in February 2015. The first project was our platform, which was built with Python/Django. The frontend components appear on our clients’ websites in Angular, now in Angular 2. Clients can customize how their integrations look through the control panel that’s live on their sites. In those two years, we’ve also built a mobile app with STX Next.

The maximum STX Next resources we’ve engaged is 32. We tend to work with full-time people who stay for a while, so some of the people who started with us two years ago are still working with us.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

We didn’t look very hard when we picked the company because we had a recommendation from an associated agency. We started off with a fairly small team to see how things would go and expanded the teams over time.

How much have you invested with STX Next?

I don’t think my contract with them lets me disclose that. If you multiply that peak of 32 STX Next workers by hours per month, that’s where they are.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’re also engaging them with another project that’s quite confidential, so I can’t really go into detail.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

STX Next is really good about sharing operational statistics on performance. These are in terms of the predictability and velocity of each team. I’m not sure if the statistics are particularly meaningful because they’re on a sprint-by-sprint basis, but we’re very happy with that they’ve produced. Over the past two years that we’ve been working on the platform together, we’ve only had one or two bugs that clients have discovered. Obviously, there are other bugs here and there, but they identify them and triage them.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

We use JIRA primarily and GitHub, and then Google Hangouts for face time. They’re quite good about changing people out. They make sure there’s a sufficient hand-over period and we’re not charged extra for that.

One of the teams has been very good and has met every deadline. They make it very clear very early, and they’ve very good at responding to changes. However, another team is a bit larger and a bit more unwieldy. They don’t perform quite as well in terms of meeting sprint goals and things like that.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

One of the things that impressed me is that they are quite experienced and quite strong in the Agile process. Although they’re generally accommodating because we’re the client, they are good at saying, “Wow, this isn’t a very good way to work.” They offer alternatives so that the work runs smoothly. Reducing disruptions means that we get better value. We have a strong culture of Agile processes, and we’ve learned as a business ourselves from watching what they’ve implemented.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

It’s always tricky working with someone in a different country. We ought to fly out there more than we do. I think we’d get slightly better results if we were a bit more closely engaged. But in general, I’m happy.

4.5

Overall Score

4.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

They don’t work on a fixed price or deadline basis, so we’re ultimately buying people to sit and work. Based on the team I work most closely with, I’d give them about a 4.

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

Compared to other agencies in Poland and in London, they’re the cheapest.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Application development

Feb 02, 2017

the project

Data Entry Solutions Developed for Pharmaceutical Company

"It’s rare to find a shop with reliable access to this kind of value."

Application development

$200,000 to $999,999

Sep. 2015 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

4.5

$200,000 to $999,999

Sep. 2015 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next developed 4 separate data entry systems to track and manage complex data sets. They assigned a dedicated and talented team for each project to ensure speedy completion.

201-500 Employees

Hague, Netherlands

Hans de Wit

Manager, KNMP

Verified

the reviewer

Manager, KNMP

Hans de Wit

Pharmaceuticals

201-500 Employees

Hague, Netherlands

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

4.5

the review

"It’s rare to find a shop with reliable access to this kind of value."

Feb 02, 2017

Feedback summary:

STX communicated successfully using Bugzilla. They deliver solutions within the specified budget and on-time, which can be challenging for other suppliers. Clients can expect reliable service and attention to detail even on larger, complicated projects.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for the Dutch Royal Association of Pharmacists. My organization publishes a monthly database of all medicines, along with a lot of associated data.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

We needed a large number of data entry systems but couldn't develop them alone.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

STX Next helped build four of these data entry systems and are helping us develop 25 more. We’ve been working with STX Next for 1 1/2 years and in that time, we’ve built four systems. The first one was a data entry system for what we call the preference policy of insurance companies. They enter information about which specific medicines they cover and which ones they don’t. The data they enter is necessary for the preference policy. The other systems are similar, but instead of being for insurance companies, these data entry systems are internal. The second one was for pharmacists to enter corrections. STX built the system so that we could enter the corrections and provide pharmacists with the actual data on the medicines. There are new medicines every month and we have to enter the updated data.

The team from STX Next was always four people: two developers, one tester, and a team master. All four projects had the same size team, and each project was finished within three months.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

I found them in a database of European developers. We wanted a larger team that could do big projects for us using dedicated teams. We felt that the smaller parties in Holland couldn’t cope, and they are usually working on your project along with lots of others. STX Next could guarantee us that we could get a team and have them working exclusively for us. This way, the project was finished in the time they estimated.

How much have you invested with STX Next?

I think we’ve spent about €250,000 [approximately US$264,187].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2015. The fourth project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have specific data, but I have my opinion. They’ve delivered everything that they’ve promised. When you do a project with STX Next, you know that you will get your product and you’ll be able to use it when it’s done. It’s on time, on budget, it’s functional and it’s of a high quality. It’s correct and they deliver. Until now, everything is going this way. We know our project will be finished in three months and that’s very valuable for us. It’s quite predictable. They are a certainty in an insecure world.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve always used Bugzilla and STX uses JIRA, but because we are communicating, I don’t think it’s a problem. We want to continue using Bugzilla and they’re fine with that. We’re flexible.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

The most important part about STX Next is that they deliver in terms of time, quality, functionality, and cost. Normally, you get two or three of these things—it’s rare to find a shop with reliable access to this kind of value. They just deliver. For me, that’s very impressive.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

Up until now, no. Okay, there’s one thing they don’t provide. After a system is in place, you tend to have small things that need to be changed. This isn’t in their contract. They’ll make the changes, but it’s out of their own goodwill, on their own time.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.5 Cost

Value / within estimates

The first project was very cheap, and then they raised their rate. They’re not very cheap anymore, but they’re very good.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

4.5 NPS

Willing to refer

I’m not very outgoing and my company is not very outgoing either, so that costs them the last half.

Enterprise application development

Dec 08, 2016

the project

Ongoing Python Dev for Financial Tech Company

"[They're] willing to learn and understand our business ... instead of just coding to our specs."

Enterprise application development

Confidential

2013 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

2013 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next developed a financing platform that lets users explore and select possible corporate lenders. The solution relies on weighted distribution and caters to prime/subprime markets.

11-50 Employees

Austin, Texas

Sr. Engineering Manager

Verified

the reviewer

Sr. Engineering Manager

Financial Technology

11-50 Employees

Austin, Texas

Verified

5.0

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"[They're] willing to learn and understand our business ... instead of just coding to our specs."

Dec 08, 2016

Feedback summary:

Key highlights include a clear commitment to quality assurance, well-organized project management, and the ability to brainstorm proactively with their clients. It was recommended that STX Next improve their use of tools like Jira.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the senior engineering manager of a financial technology company. We have a marketplace that ties together retailers and lenders. We empower folks to get finance at moments of need when they are shopping. We offer a full spectrum of lending to people from various financial backgrounds, including prime markets and ones with lesser ratings.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

Our core API [application programming interface], as well as our financing application, have been written using the Python/Django technology stack. We wanted to increase our team, looking to find a cohesive group with a lot of expertise in these technologies. While we already had some outsourcing in place further East, it wasn't working very well. There was a lot of feature development that still needed to be done, including custom integrations with new retailers and lenders.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to create a way of waterfalling lenders into prime, secondary, and tertiary markets. STX Next built the service that enables this, which is called weighted distribution. In addition to layering, we can place multiple lenders at each level. Recently, STX Next has also worked on e-commerce functionalities, helping us create an offering in this space. Most of our original integrations were at a store level, but e-commerce has become a critical component of our growth. It's a browser-based functionality which can tie in online stores to our services. Our integrations were originally point-of-sale, requiring retailers to change their systems in order to integrate to our API. For light integrations in the case of partners who didn't want this expense, we offered a client-server browser app which users installed in the store. This app allowed clients to apply for financing without any of the existing systems being changed. STX Next helped us refactor this into our financing center using single-page architecture in order to build a browser-based app. It makes the store systems much more responsive. In addition, it has a much newer UI.

Rather than using them for set projects, STX Next acts as an extension of our team. The work is product-based. At peak capacity, we've used 10 resources from their team, including a Scrum master. We normally provide a description of what we want in terms of resources. Since we've worked on the same products, STX Next has been able to do most of the legwork for us. Our selection process is informal, with STX Next either recruiting people from the market or bringing existing resources in on a trial basis. So far, it's worked out very well. STX Next has more junior developers who want to gain experience so they would work on our project without charging us. After a new client comes in on their side, we retain the option to either keep them on a paid basis or let them move on. It's been a good model for the occasions when we needed extra capacity.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

We needed a talented team with Python skillsets. Our VP of engineering at the time discovered STX Next. I wasn't working for the company at the time so I can't provide more details.

How much have you invested with STX Next?

I've only recently been exposed to financial information, so I can't provide an exact figure.

What is the status of this engagement?

STX Next has been working with us for over 2 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our e-commerce functionalities have been a success. It was a big challenge, consisting of a complete refactoring of the solution which had been built over the last few months. It required a significant amount of changes in order to support an upcoming activation. STX Next was tasked with the majority of this work and they delivered it in time. The system had a fixed completion date. It needed to be ready before the holiday season so that we could fully unleash the system. I can't disclose numbers, but there's been a significant amount of revenue for the company that depended on reaching the deadline.

One of our large lender customers delivered late, which caused a tough time on our side. It was easy to amass resources on STX Next's side on short notice and get the work done. It involved extra effort, but STX Next was accommodating to us. Hiring and recruiting has been smooth. STX Next has moved fast in its market and we've always been pleased with the people they brought on.

When I started working with them, STX Next was using the Scrum methodology. STX Next has been good at training staff on the Agile way, which has made my life a lot easier. We've also had some career progressions, with resources moving from QA to product ownership, or from junior to senior levels, for example.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

Because of the distance and the fact that we're an Agile company, collaboration is essential. Our work hours are minimal in terms of interaction times; we're limited to 4 hours early in the morning. Also, our engineers tend to come in late but don't want to go home late. Our Scrum meetings happen in the morning. We use collaboration tools such as Google Hangouts for daily conferences as well as Jira, Confluence, and Slack. These enable us to be offline and still track progress.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

STX Next’s team is passionate and has a great work ethic. They are willing to learn and understand our business. Instead of just coding to our specs, STX Next engages with us as a partner, wanting to understand, improve the code, and deliver better products. There is a lot of change in our industry in terms of the clients which we're able to sign. Even though this can be disruptive, STX Next has been flexible in changing directions with us. They have an Agile culture, plus they're stable, tech-savvy, and able to self-organize. STX Next works well as a team.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

We have a diverse tech stack, primarily using Python/Django. We've recently added another resource who has full-stack experience and who is also good at frontend technologies like Angular.JS and newer frameworks. We are trying to train the rest of the team for more full-stack abilities, which will allow us to swing projects better.

Another thing which we're continually trying to improve on is the Agile implementation process. We work with STX Next in trying to become more lean and nimble. Tools like Jira aren't used very well at the moment. I don't know if this is necessarily a problem for STX Next to solve, but it would be useful to have some additional expertise on this front.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Web development

Nov 09, 2016

the project

Custom Development for Financial Services Firm

"I was amazed at [their] ability to take ownership over the product roadmap."

Web development

Confidential

Jul. 2016 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Jul. 2016 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next supplies on-demand Python resources to build custom features for a separately developed consumer financial solution.

1-10 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Gilad Amir

CEO, paze

Verified

the reviewer

CEO, paze

Gilad Amir

Financial Services

1-10 Employees

London, United Kingdom

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"I was amazed at [their] ability to take ownership over the product roadmap."

Nov 09, 2016

Feedback summary:

One key highlight was their ability to take complete ownership over their work, paying close attention to each detail and always taking into account the end-user and the overall business goal.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

paze is a financial services provider giving people access to their earned but not paid salaries throughout the month, for free. I am a co-founder and the chief executive officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

We needed the ability to scale fast and to onboard the right skill sets. We were about to launch the service and needed more resources for support and future development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our platform had already been developed when STX Next stepped in. We used them for developing the next phase of our technology. It is a Python-based system, so we needed a strong partner for this technology. We also use Amazon Web Services.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

I believe that STX Next sent me an initial e-mail, and I asked our COO [chief operating officer] to take a look at the company. He used to work with some of the best Russian development teams, for a different company. Back then, we didn't have a development team, so I wanted to see if we could work together.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with STX Next at the end of July 2016. They're currently supporting all of our development activities and will continue to do so in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A quantitative indicator would be the weekly call we have with STX Next, reporting on targets and achievements. Normally, they overachieve. This isn't because we set low thresholds or don't put enough pressure on the team. We're very pleased with STX Next.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

STX Next has been outstanding in this respect. We use a project management platform and are given full visibility into each and every task.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

I was initially skeptical about STX Next when our COO proposed them because I've had some bad experiences with previous suppliers. This is the 6th technology company I've started in my career, so I have a good benchmark for outsourcing partners. STX Next is the best company I've worked with, by far. I was amazed at STX Next's ability to take ownership over the product roadmap.

STX Next is an exceptional company within its industry, based on the quality of delivery and project management. The most important detail is that STX Next is a real partner for our company. The kind of support we saw and willingness to share risks have been outstanding.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

Not that I can think of. We haven't used STX Next's user experience design capabilities, so I can't speak on that front, and we've also only recently put an emphasis on testing. From what I've seen so far, STX Next's quality assurance services are in-line with their other work.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

Our value for money deserves a perfect score, but don't know how well STX Next competes with other players.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Web development

Nov 04, 2016

the project

Ongoing Development for Online Culinary Resource

"[They] stand out through the passion shown for the business."

Web development

Confidential

2011 - Ongoing

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

3.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

2011 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next supports and maintains an existing culinary website that helps users plan and prepare different meals.

11-50 Employees

Seattle, Washington

CEO

Verified

the reviewer

CEO

Internet

11-50 Employees

Seattle, Washington

Verified

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

3.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"[They] stand out through the passion shown for the business."

Nov 04, 2016

Feedback summary:

Highlights include clear technical expertise, access to a sizable talent pool, and a knack for proactively finding ways to improve the working relationship with clients.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company runs a recipe website. I am the chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

Our company has been around for 11 years and we have used STX Next as an ongoing development partner. I don't know if they built our website originally since I wasn't working for the company at the time, but they're responsible for it now and have been since my arrival. All of our technical needs are handled by their team, under our supervision.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

STX Next is adding new features and maintaining our website on a continuous basis. We work in 2-week sprints using an Agile methodology for constant product releases. They plan out and deploy each sprint. STX Next works in collaboration with our internal product team in order to continually improve our site. We have a custom-built site.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

I don't have this information. They were our partner when I arrived and I chose to continue using them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The company has been working with STX Next for 5 years. I've been collaborating with their team for the last year and a half. I'm very familiar with them and their leadership team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a roadmap and have been fulfilling it. As we are reaching the end of 2016, we have seen a 200% growth year-over-year in website traffic. This increase is due to working with STX Next on implementing the right features and doing the proper cleanups on the backend.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

We use the Agile methodology, so there are expected meetings 3–4 times a week followed by deployments and retrospectives. We have ongoing conversations with STX Next which works well for us. We have been using Unbounce for project tracking and will be moving to Jira next week. It was a joint decision; both of our team have used the tool in the past. We also use Slack for continuous conversations and have Google Hangouts meetings at 6–7 AM most days of the week.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

I've worked with many vendors in my career for similar work. STX Next stands out through the passion showed for the business. This starts at the top, with their principal. STX Next has paid a lot of attention to customer details.

Also, I've appreciated STX Next's openness and honesty during our retrospectives. They've continually looked at ways in which we could improve the working relationship and the internal team. I have almost 15 years of experience working in the digital world, and our retrospectives with STX Next have been the most honest I've participated in.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

We're one of STX Next's only publishing-media clients at this time. Their overall understanding of technical SEO components isn't as great, due to a lack of expertise in working with DoubleClick, ad tags, and other tools associated with our line of business.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with STX Next?

I don't have anything specific. Clients are definitely in great hands with them.

4.5

Overall Score

4.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

3.5 Cost

Value / within estimates

I've worked with other offshore teams, as well as with internal ones. Pricing can be very different between the two.

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

Mobile app development

Jun 27, 2016

the project

Mobile Prototyping for Consumer App Startup

“There were no negative aspects of our collaboration… We also appreciated how passionate and engaged their team was.”

Mobile app development

Confidential

Apr. 2016 - Ongoing

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Apr. 2016 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next was contracted to develop the client’s consumer application under a tight deadline.

1-10 Employees

Toronto Metro Area, Canada

Co-Founder & COO, Fizo Corp

Verified

the reviewer

Co-Founder & COO, Fizo Corp

Information Technology

1-10 Employees

Toronto Metro Area, Canada

Verified

5.0

Quality:

5.0

Schedule:

5.0

Cost:

4.5

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

“There were no negative aspects of our collaboration… We also appreciated how passionate and engaged their team was.”

Jun 27, 2016

Feedback summary:

Stakeholders are very happy with STX Next’s work. The user interface and workflow were expertly designed, and all work is delivered on time and within budget. STX Next also helped the client understand how the product would respond to market constraints.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our startup company has developed a mobile platform which is meant to deliver recruitment assistance for small and medium businesses. We are based in Toronto, Ontario. I'm a co-founder and the chief operating officer of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

We were presented with a significant business challenge in needing to recruit an outstanding software development team. More than just an outsourced team, we needed a partner that could assist us in developing the app in terms of both quality and time to market. Choosing STX Next was dependent on these 2 considerations. We also wanted to ensure that the team would meet and exceed our expectations, which was true for STX Next.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

STX Next has been in charge of design and the initial ground-laying process for our application architecture, in preparation for the Agile team. We were not only able to cover this, but also had a fruitful partnership with STX Next in extending our understanding of market forces and constraints. This gave us significant clarity for the strategic planning process.

In total, we've used 5 resources from STX Next. The selection process was handled by them. We were confident that STX Next would deliver the right people for the project.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

We considered 2 other companies before choosing STX Next. The recommendation for their company came through word-of-mouth to our Chief Executive Officer, who has acquired a wide network based on industry experience.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with STX Next in April 2016 and work with them remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had an amazing experience with STX Next. They were in charge of delivering the architecture and design of the product. We were very happy with both. The satisfaction level with our stakeholders was high as well. The performance speed of the system as a whole is entirely attributable to STX Next and the architecture they came up with. The user interface and workflow are expertly designed, too.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

STX Next delivered on-time and within the specified budget. There were no negative aspects of our collaboration. The only issues were with our understanding of how the product would respond to market constraints. STX Next helped us in this respect. STX Next used an internal project management software that we had access to.

What did you find most impressive about STX Next?

STX Next delivered an excellent product, with good quality and timeliness. We also appreciated how passionate and engaged their team was. We were looking for a partner that would care about the work, which proved to be outstanding from STX Next's side.

Are there any areas STX Next could improve?

No. The result has been perfect so far.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

4.5 Cost

Value / within estimates

I rate STX Next based on industry costs. When looking at our possibilities for outsourcing the work, we could have chosen a less expensive option, but the balance between cost and the type of team that we could work with tipped in STX Next's favor.

5.0 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

I haven't recommended STX Next yet, but I would definitely do it.

Mobile app development

May 16, 2016

the project

iOS Redevelopment for IT Startup

"Apart from their quality of work and timeliness, it was important for us to have clear communication. STX Next met this expectation very well."

Mobile app development

Confidential

Mar. 2016 - Ongoing

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

Confidential

Mar. 2016 - Ongoing

Project summary:

STX Next was initially contracted to develop additional features for the client’s iOS application. They were later contracted to to develop the Android application.

1-10 Employees

Tel Aviv, Israel

Mobile Development Lead

Verified

the reviewer

Mobile Development Lead

Information Technology

1-10 Employees

Tel Aviv, Israel

Verified

4.5

Quality:

4.5

Schedule:

4.5

Cost:

5.0

Willing to refer:

5.0

the review

"Apart from their quality of work and timeliness, it was important for us to have clear communication. STX Next met this expectation very well."

May 16, 2016

Feedback summary:

Though the project is only a month underway, the client is happy with the work delivered thus far. STX Next is praised for their high quality code, timeliness, and project management. The client anticipates a successful final product.

the review

Background
Challenge
Solution
Results
Ratings

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We are a small startup comprised of five members based in Tel Aviv, Israel. We've developed an SDK [software development kit] for both iOS and Android, which serves as an authentication service for our clients, based on face recognition. It's aimed at replacing the normal user name and password method, making it easier for our clients' users to log in to their services.

What is your position?

I am the software lead in Android development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with STX Next?

We were looking for iOS developers who could help us to get from a version one of our SDK to a version two. We were looking for a month-long collaboration in order to include a few required features into our platform.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement.

At the time, we could only look one month into the future. We knew that specific features were missing from our product, and we needed help in order to get there. It was a very clear-cut project, which was the base for our collaboration.

Aside from their iOS resource, we've also contracted a couple of Android developers from STX Next as well as a quality assurance person. We're now beginning a consultation with a security expert from their team. It's not a full-fledged project yet, though.

As I've mentioned, we are developing face recognition technology. One of our main concerns is handling spoof attempts, namely people attempting authentications using a photo of the user. STX Next integrated a library, which was internally developed in Israel for that purpose. We call it Liveness. They helped integrate it into the iOS SDK and made it a part of the application's flow.

We usually worked with a one-person-team from STX Next. The work was handed off once or twice between different developers, but, looking at almost any single point in time, only one person was working on the iOS development. That person would typically be managed by a team leader.

How did you come to work with STX Next?

We were working with a local company in Israel, which created the SDK as it was at the time, but we decided to stop working with them due to an unsatisfactory level of quality offered by them as well as their level of communication. We started looking for alternatives and were approached by STX Next with very good timing. They proposed a potential collaboration to our CEO on LinkedIn. We went through with an initial call and, from this, we already understood that this could be a potentially valuable collaboration. It was just that easy, and we kicked it off from there.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together for a month and a half. We are preparing to release the new version of the platform to our clients. The effort has not yet been completed since the product is not yet in the client's hands.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

I could measure their performance mostly through the work done on the iOS part of our project. Testing is still fully internal. The initial initiative, as it was defined at the beginning of the project, was done successfully. We are finalizing other aspects of the product before it can be sent to clients.

How did STX Next perform from a project management standpoint?

It was our impression that the quality of their work and their timeliness were very high. There were a few minor delays, but they were understandable. The requirements were not always fixed, and we occasionally changed specs as we went along. We were overall satisfied with STX Next's velocity and quality of work.

The main project management tool used was Atlassian JIRA. It was chosen at STX Next's suggestion, given that they are accustomed to the software. I didn't have specific requirements as long as something was in place. GitHub was used for hosting code and for collaborating. The code was already in place there, so it was the easiest path to take when starting our collaboration. We mainly used Skype for communication and tried to follow a somewhat scrum methodology, working with weekly sprints. It was a very short project, so this approach was appropriate. We had daily discussions and followed them up with weekly reviews.

What distinguishes STX Next from other providers?

Apart from their quality of work and timeliness, it was important for us to have clear communication. STX Next met this expectation very well. We had daily discussions. If a feature was a bit more complex, it would be discussed even a few times per day. I was very pleased with this aspect, especially given that they were an offshore firm, so we couldn't meet face to face. I feel that I can contact them at any time for questions, changes or clarifications. They are always very responsive.

4.5

Overall Score

4.5 Scheduling

ON TIME / DEADLINES

5.0 Cost

Value / within estimates

4.5 Quality

Service & deliverables

5.0 NPS

Willing to refer

I have recommended STX Next to a friend in Israel who has started working with them.

Marketing Software

Business Solutions

Business Solutions

Contact

CONTACT

Python Powerhouse - Web app development team

Headquarters

Focus

Service lines

Client focus

Mobile platforms

Mobile focus

Frameworks and CMS

Programming & scripting

Application platform

Portfolio

Coras

StreetTeam

Seerene

Realface (Acquired by Apple in 2017)

BetBright

TBSeen

FusePump

KNMP

Newable Business Finance

Vyze

cielo24

Myntelligence

Paze.me

Key Ingredient Mobile

Polish State Forests (Lasy Państwowe)

Inteligo (PKO Bank Polski)

Key Ingredient

T Dispatch

Decernis

STX AR

Coras Mobile

Paze.me Mobile

Reviews

Reviews

the project

the reviewer

the review

May 25, 2017

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

May 12, 2017

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Apr 25, 2017

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Feb 10, 2017

the review

ON TIME / DEADLINES

Value / within estimates

Service & deliverables

Willing to refer

the project

the reviewer

the review

Feb 02, 2017