Tivix

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

We recently went live with the EOI portal, and our partners have responded positively. Over a thousand organizations have registered on the portal, and we’re already seeing EOIs across multiple countries. We expect to have over 4,000–5,000 participating partners for each of our three agencies.​

​​​​​​How did Tivix perform from a project management standpoint?

Tivix had a strong, full-cycle development process, assigning a dedicated project manager to every project. We had weekly calls to clarify requirements used a ticketing program to keep track of tasks.

I particularly appreciated the team’s collaborative attitude when it came to navigating our three agencies. Since we’re an NGO, we use a different feedback cycle than the private sector, which can be challenging. So, they suggested a hybrid agile approach: during the requirements phase, they followed a waterfall methodology; we’d then transition into sprints for the main development. Every few weeks, they’d showcase their work and incorporate our feedback for the next demo.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Despite the challenge of working with three agencies, Tivix maintained a collaborative environment. There were several instances when we couldn’t agree on anything; we’d often revisit requirements and change the scope halfway through, which delayed the project. As a result, their CEO would fly in and lead sessions to facilitate conversations. It was reassuring to know that we could reach out to him to help work through any issue.

I’d also commend their problem-solving skills. Tivix is a capable firm that’s committed to producing results. They understand how to transform business requirements into technical solutions. Once we explain our needs, they’re able to quickly create a mock-up, which helps us identify solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, they’ve delivered great work, but their testing and QA process could improve. At times, certain parts of the solution weren’t fully tested on their end, so we needed to send them back. Spending more time on in-house testing would help mitigate redundant work.

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

Their work is top-quality and always done right and on time. Tivix is so integrated in our process that it’s hard to tell where our team’s role ends and theirs begins.

How did Tivix perform from a project management standpoint?

Tivix is responsive and meets our needs. The frequency of our communication depends on the project, but they’re always willing to adapt to our schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Tivix isn’t afraid to take on hard projects. They provide support when needed and get the job down right. Recently, we had a relatively complex project that needed senior experience, and Tivix delivered something in a short time frame.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Give them access to as many of your projects as possible. Be open to them adding value in a variety of ways.

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

We have experienced very positive feedback from our users. Those who understand the complexity of the model have been amazed by how we were able to take something so complicated and put it in a form that can be used efficiently.

How did Tivix perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very good at communicating and are always responsive to us. They are both disciplined and flexible when things come up unexpectedly, and are always able to accommodate our needs. We often have in person meetings, but will also communicate through Slack or over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have worked with a lot of different developers throughout my career, and Tivix is by far the best at designing smart and effective functionalities. What they create is generic enough to build upon in the future, but also thoughtful and effective. Additionally, a large amount of our funding comes from grants with very specific requirements on how we spent our money, however Tivix always delivers the highest value no matter the price point.

Any advice for potential customers?

I would encourage anyone to research Tivix and hire them. They are a great company to work with.

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

The work was very much a success. We went over budget a little bit. I suspect that’s normal and would happen anywhere. Tivix worked with me to make sure it wasn’t company-crushingly over budget. Everything was delivered in the way that I wanted. The result was very user-friendly. They explained everything well to me. The website has a pretty clean frontend design. The deliverables included a road map of what they did. We had some questions afterward, and they’re generous with their time in terms of answering them. It’s definitely a very good experience. I’m one of the few proponents of outsourced development, especially building early products through this channel, because I actually had a good experience, whereas most people in my world have a pretty negative experience with a lot of cutting corners. I thought they did a great job. I can’t compare their productivity or performance to another company since I’ve never used a different provider.

How did Tivix perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Basecamp and Slack. Slack is where we spent the vast majority of our time. I don’t think we did anything over email. We had video calls. I live in Los Angeles, and they’re in San Francisco, so the entire team is onshore and working out of their office. I was there about 10 days cumulatively going through things, which was really helpful.

What did you find most impressive about Tivix?

Their lead developer/CTO spent a lot of time with us. In general, his involvement was crucial as an access point and a go-to advisor. I would suspect that’s unique in a shop that has a number of different projects ongoing at the same time. I thought that was really useful.

Are there any areas Tivix could improve?

My only constructive criticism would be beefing up the transition aspect of moving the work to an in-house team. We were asking for help a lot, so it would be an interesting package to offer to have a live document or a day where they could implement the transition. They were generous with their time on the phone. No 2 developers are the same, so we had a lot of initial confusion because the documentation wasn’t built for people who don’t do things the way they do.

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

Come in with a defined scope, very limited functionality, and an understanding of what functionality is needed because anything open-ended won’t turn out well.