Tekton Labs

BACKGROUND

Can you give some background information on your company?

We’re a business intelligence company, and one of the services we provide is data quality. What we do is take information from our customers, and they give us their data on whatever they have on their databases in terms of names and addresses. Those names and addresses require extensive cleaning, particularly in the case of addresses where it’s hard to make it systematic. It’s not like in the U.S. where you have some order. Here, it’s crazy. So, what do we do a lot is take that information, clean it up, and then use artificial intelligence to take that information and make sense out of it without any intervention of humans, calling out as much as we can. Call them out. That’s one of our main businesses. We have another staff like geomarketing and business intelligence, but I don’t think that’s related to what we did with them, with Tekton.

What is your position within the company?

I am the chief executive officer – general manager, we call it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What we your company’s business goals or reasons for working with Tekton Labs?

When we started working with Tekton, we were a very small company. We have maybe 20 people in our staff, and we don’t have a complete development team. We had some people just running processes or doing small stuff but nothing big. Nothing integrated in the whole system. So, that was our first attempt, which we’ve been doing since. To clean up, to create an application that will streamline all the process and integrate it to one single slope. So, since we didn’t have all the information or all the people we required, we needed to outsource some of the other processes, or the process of development, and part of that went to Tekton. Other stuff was done with the team we’ve had. The problem was that on the core was a piece of software that we needed, which was to run artificial intelligence on cleaning up text. Finding differences between one string of text and the other, and figuring out if that was the same or similar, and then how similar it was or different. We asked Tekton to develop that specific piece of software to take one text, compare with the dictionary and show us that we have one hit, two hits, 10 hits, or no hits.

SOLUTION

What was your process for selecting Tekton Labs to work with them?

We were a small company, so we don’t have a very extensive or big process. We have worked with Tekton before on smaller pieces of software. Actually, a couple of their employees works for us before while they were still students until they graduated, and went to work with Tekton. They recommended us, and said that this is a company that’s very flexible, that it won’t charge you a ton of money because they’re also starting, and they’re very curious people. Curious in terms of they do a lot of research, they want to find new staff, so it won’t be like a safe company. You won’t do that with IBM, which will take us three times their time, four times the money, and maybe we’ll get a limited result. We have their recommendation of this people who want to work with Tekton. We have been doing small stuff just like turning out fires in case of development. They have been working with us, and they gave us the result. So, when it came time to make this bigger development, we went to them.

Can you tell me a little more about the scope of the project?

We give them the general idea of what we wanted to do, and then we involved them onto taking that whole concept and making it into an architectural plan. We selected the coding language, which was Java. That’s because that’s what we require. Other than that, we gave them freedom to design based on that general flow how they will be doing their part of the problem. We accommodated some of their needs, or some of the processes they have developed because they came out with some recommendations on changes on the whole process. It was a very interactive process. It was all like this is what you have to do, and they gave me the result.

Could you give me just a very general estimate of the cost of the project? 

It was definitely under $50,000. I don’t remember the exact amount. It been a while since, but I’m very sure it was less than $50,000 because at the time that would have been our whole budget. This piece of software has become a cornerstone of our services, and then we used it for maybe three or four years. We changed it just because we, as a company, have evolved, and the software just as dated. But, at the time, and for several years, they gave us such really good value for our money.

Do you know what technologies were involved?

As I said everything was developed in Java script and the database was SQL server. They were involved on working on customizing the way the memory was used because one of our problems is that they eat up all the memory, and the process are pretty fast if you are not efficient. They made changes to better use the memory of the server. That was basically it. That’s what I know because my mechanical background is really limited.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How happy are you with the results of the project?

We are very pleased. They had some problems during the process among other things because we didn’t have a whole idea of what we were going to do. It was not every extremely structured process, and that’s on our fault. Tekton started working, and as I said, it became a cornerstone of our services, so I have to be happy because as I said they gave us a very good money.

When working with Tekton Labs, did you find anything unique or special about them compared to other developers you may have worked with in the past?

I would say the flexibility in one side, and their willingness to work with technologies or with processes that they were not really familiar with from the start. All the things have artificial intelligence, and so on, that wasn’t something that they brought to the table. We asked them to do the research. Even if they weren't familiar with the specific technology, they found out how to solve our problem, then implemented the solution. 

Looking back on the project, do you think there’s any area that Tekton Labs could improve or do a bit better in?

Well, I have to talk about the Tekton from years before. They were just starting, so their planning process and time management, what I realized at the point is that they had problems controlling the project just because they didn’t have enough resources. They were five people at the time, so that was not a very big company. In general, the planning process was highly variable. The way they controlled the times, deliverables, and the timing of the deliverables. We had some problems with that.

BACKGROUND

Are you a startup company or a part of a larger organization?

Startup.

Are you the owner of the company?

I’m a partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your main business goal going into the project or reason for undertaking the development?

It’s to complement a website with a mobile product.

What was your process for selecting Tekton Labs?

Word of mouth.

Did you develop just for iPhone and iPad?

Those and Android as well.

SOLUTION

Could tell me just a little bit about the scope of the project?

It’s a simple text-based educational tool. It pulls down education materials in real-time basis from a host, caches the responses from the client. When the host is available, the telecommunication link is available, it sends the result that it’s been stored, it’s cached back to the server so when the client logs on to the server, the application they can see all of the work that they get on their mobile device.

Could give me an estimate about the cost of the project?

Under $50,000.

How long do you expect the development to last?

Six weeks or once a month and a half.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How happy are you so far working with Tekton Labs?

So far, I’m very happy. They’re very attentive, and they have good follow through. They’ve demonstrated a strong command at the technologies and development process.

Compared to other developers you may have worked with in the past, have you found anything that’s unique about Tekton Labs?

I think they’re very competent. They really do understand technology.

Do you think there’s anything they could do better or slightly improve?

It’s too soon to tell. Right now, I can’t identify anything.

BACKGROUND

Can you give some background info in your company? 

I provide consulting and sourcing services for companies in Peru that want to do more business with United States and companies in the U.S. that want to outsource to Peru.

Are you the owner of the company?

Yes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your main business goal or object going into this development project with Tekton Labs?

My main goal was to provide services for our clients in the U.S. that needed development, cost figures, have 100 percent accountability. Many companies have been burned in the past doing development through outsourcing with no way to have any recourse. So, I was the intermediary in meeting those work needs. As a client, I hired Tekton, and then resold the services to my colleague.

SOLUTION

What was your process for selecting Tekton Labs?

I have about 800 contacts here in Peru and their name kept coming up. I had met with them a couple times with some networking function, and then I was invited to see their offices, and see how they work. I was given an education on agile and scrum and see the benefits of that. Finally, we decided to pick them because they were able to provide, prior to us entering to their contract, prototypes that gave us a working application to see how our final application would work.

Could you tell me a little bit about the scope of the project?

The scope of the project was a CRM to interact with a call center. What was important was the U.S. client wanted to be able to monitor the office in Peru, receive the data, update the data and also have accurate inputs from the CRM and the representatives working in Peru.

Can give me a general cost estimate of the project?

Yes. Under $50,000.

How long ago was it completed?

That was completed about eight months ago.

Is Tekton Labs doing any maintenance or support?

They are providing support. It does have a maintenance contract, and they have been beneficial on a few times what needed. The real issue on any maintenance was not issues with the program, but issues with operator error.

Do you happen to know what technologies were used in the project? 

No. I’m the guy that’s looking for the “any” key.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How happy were you and your client with the results of the project?

Both of us are very happy with the work they've done, and I've referred other clients to Tekton since then. They’ve got a couple of smartphone applications that seemed to make sense, and I’ve got some clients talking to them now about doing smartphone applications for their enterprise smartphone application.

When working with Tekton, is there any unique or special about them compared to other developers you may have worked with in the past?

Yeah. Other developers in the past tell you everything’s fine until you hit a deadline, and then it’s not fine. Because I’m the one putting parties together and I make my living based on my reputation and my consulting …

… they just hang you out to dry?

Right. It’s dangerous for me. The difference in working with Tekton was, throughout the process, there were problems that had to be addressed and overcome. However, throughout the process, we knew about the problem, and how it was being addressed, so we can adjust timeline and not look back. When they encountered something or were asked for an additional request, they were told that they said no. But, then, they offered a solution as to what could be done and a timeline for it. That was important because that maintains an open dialogue that, in turn, enhances my reputation as a solution provider as opposed to just being a salesperson.

Do you think there’s any area that Tekton could improve in or maybe do slightly better?

The only area I could see improving on is possibly improving some of their layman’s language when talking with clients.

They tend to talk at too technical of a level?

Sometimes. Not all the time and, if your client says that they don’t understand, they’ll communicate it in a different way.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Head of Data & Analytics of a supply chain, logistics, and transport company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Airline

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Tekton Labs to accomplish?

• Build solid and robust data foundations

SOLUTION

How did you find Tekton Labs?

Referral

Why did you select Tekton Labs over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Tekton Labs were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Accelerate data engineering processes

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Increased data capabilities by 25% and go-to-market agility by 20%

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

We had a great communication, they constantly delivered on everything promised and always had a great teamwork spirit, which aligns with our core corporate values.

What was your primary form of communication with Tekton Labs?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their people-first focus allows them to get the most out of their talent, which then translates into great quality of work and deliverables.

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

Complement their staff skills with new tecnologies is always helpful

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Manager of a financial services company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Make the world a safer place.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Tekton Labs to accomplish?

• Build software

SOLUTION

How did you find Tekton Labs?

Referral

Why did you select Tekton Labs over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Goog hunting skills

How many teammates from Tekton Labs were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Provide high skilled software engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their responsiveness and attentiveness greatly contributed to the overall positive experience.

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

They have a highly skilled team qualified to find the best fit for each requirement.

What was your primary form of communication with Tekton Labs?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They integrated seamlessly with our internal teams in a very short period of time.

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

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President/CEO of Inergy Tech Corp

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provide a platform to enable our customers to link their field transations to their Backoffice efficiently.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Tekton Labs to accomplish?

• Coding
• Efficient productivity
• Provide expertise in technical coding scenarios, UI/UX, and efficient platform performance.

SOLUTION

How did you find Tekton Labs?

Referral

Why did you select Tekton Labs over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Tekton Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

There's no way to list 7 years of deliverables. Code platform continue coding/support

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We never had measurable outcomes besides the initial coding. We've been on dedicated teams since the initial work was complete.

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

Initial project was "done on time" but they fixed bugs for an extended time period and balked at that towards the end. Because of that, we switched to a deviated team so we didn't have to fight change requests, scope requests, bug fixes that were not tested/overlooked even though we paid for testers initially. We then moved to our own testing to save that money that wasn't being utilized properly. 

I'd say Tekton does not strickly adhere to projected timelines. We don't put much stock in what's quoted from a time perspective, it's only used to put projects in to order of priority. This is not to say we don'tfeel our team is working hard, but more there is not a direct push by Tekton or us to adhere to quoted timelines. Please understand what I'm saying. 

Our dedicated Tekton team always responds promptly, clearly, with solutions, etc. I'm onlyanswering the direct questionsabove, not trying to get my team in trouble or whatever. In fact, everyone on the initialTeam is not longer with us or Tekton. The current team always responds promptly. We are satisfied with response times!

What was your primary form of communication with Tekton Labs?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Tekton Labs has always been great at finding solid solutions to our problems, even if new to the coder. I also really appreciate the ability for one of our dedicated coders to be able to speak with other Tekton employees who have more knowledge or experience than them. This is a huge reason we continue to use Tekton.

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

I think the project leader has taken a backseat to daily operations. She's always available, don't take me wrong. She's not doing anything "wrong" at all. Very responsive ect. She may be doing more than what I know behind the scenes from a time management of Diego. She still has value, however we speak with our coder directly most days. My partner and I have many years experience managing people, so this isn't a thing we feel we get the most value out of currently.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am tech lead at Globality, an AI Procurement Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Tekton Labs?

We needed help to develop API & UI Testing tools and other infrastructure work / support

SOLUTION

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

Previous relations. Great candidates

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

-QA Support - Cypress & Karate Tech Debt - Karate Reporting Infrastructure - PoCs

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

2

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to the help, we're much further along in automation test tooling

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Great! We worked on a sprint by sprint basis with Standups and 1-1s

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

They have high-quality candidates.

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

Some resumes could use improvement. Interviewing at first, resumes may not match up with skillset