Vavatech

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm specialist of communication and promotion in National Centre for Culture. National Centre for Culture Poland is a cultural institution with 60 years of tradition, which has been operating under its present name since 2002.

The focus of the Centre is on developing and professionalizing the cultural sector by raising the qualifications and skills of managers, animators and other professionals through a variety of trainings conducted by Polish and international experts as well as through education and exchange programmes.

At the same time the National Centre for Culture aims to maintain and promote national and state traditions along with Polish cultural heritage and also to foster cultural education and nurture interest in culture and art.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Cooperation with Vavatech was based on the adaptation and development of the NCK website.

SOLUTION

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

By the request oforproposal.

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

Vavatech adapted the website www.pracujwkulturze.nck.pl to the WCAG 2.1 standard, performed additional development works, including graphic works, and carried out UX / UI consultations.

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

The team consisted of a project manager, programmers, as well as a tester and a graphic designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to the cooperation with Vavatech, our website is available to more users, especially those with disabilities, e.g. eyesight, hearing, movement, but also with intellectual disabilities or cognitive disorders. Additionally, our website has gained new functionalities.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Vavatech adapted the website www.pracujwkulturze.nck.pl to the WCAG 2.1 standard, performed additional development works, including graphic works, and carried out UX / UI consultations.

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

We are very happy with the cooperation with Vavatech. All works were performed in accordance with the order and on time. We highly appreciated their competencies and skills of the company's employees as well as good contact at every stage of the contract. We also emphasize reliability, professionalism and good preparation for the implementation of all changes.

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

I have no reservations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a company running transports stock market wherein we enable other companies to increase sales and buys through transport orders from each other.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vavatech?

We asked the company to create a system that increases the effectiveness of transportation and makes it easier for haulers to find the best way to transport their products.

What were your goals for this project?

We just want to provide an accessible way for haulers to transport their products.

SOLUTION

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Vavatech created a dedicated system not only for logistic and shipping companies but also for those who need to transport a cargo on a specified route, aimed at users in the whole of Europe, working in 13 languages.

What was the team composition?

We had a team of software developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The creation of the system allowed us to make a product that made it easier for the haulers to transport their products in a comfortable and effortless way.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team dedicated to this project has been very professional and has always complied with deadlines. The project management was also really impressive.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The work done by Vavatech is totally transparent. They are using time measuring tools, which allow you to see how much time they spend on particular parts of a project. They are also very eager to discuss the details and change the project whenever it is needed.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have no reservations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the office manager for Voluntary Labour Corp. We work to prevent the social exclusion of young people, advancing young workers. Our focus is on youth 15-25 years old. We support employers who take young workers on board and provide them with vocational training.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vavatech?

We started this project 20 years ago, and have needed to modify it over the years. We needed some ongoing development support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed two of our systems that support our work. They also provide ongoing maintenance and technical support.

What is the team composition?

We work with 3-5 people.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $130,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in January 2018, and we continue to do so.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They provide a lot of support and help for us. We received a certification in social politics in 2019.

How did Vavatech perform from a project management standpoint?

They always answer our questions and meet deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are professional and easy to work with. They know our system well. We plan to continue this cooperation.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

In the Main Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection I am working as a Senior Specialist in the Office of Phytosanitary Supervision Department and International Affairs

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vavatech?

Maintenance, support and development of the system.

What were your goals for this project?

To improve the work of our institution and make the system comply with the new regulations appearing

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have chosen Vavatech by a public tender.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The system is a complete solution, supporting the institution in carrying out tasks for which it is responsible (phytosanitary controls, issuing plant passport, rotation of seed). Moreover, the system supports the work of the Laboratory in the Main Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection. Vavatech provides maintenance services of the application software, supporting the institution in the implementation of activities. In addition, the company does the work related to the optimization of the functioning application software

What was the team composition?

Main developers that set the details of the project, software developers who help the team with supporting and developing the software

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The system we use is now working properly and complies with all new regulations

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was very satisfying. The team always keeps the lines of communication completely open and adjusts to any customer's needs

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team is very flexible when it comes to any customer's needs

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have no reservations

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Association 61 is a non-profit organization, which aims to increase the transparency of the public life in Poland. We run two websites: mamprawowiedziec.pl and jawnylobbing.pl. I am a project manager and analyst.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vavatech?

Mam Prawo Wiedzieć is an application created to help Polish citizens access information in an easy, user-friendly way. We run the biggest and most complex database about polish politicians and prepare voting advice application (VAA) before each election. 

The team also created and maintains a database, administration panel and API for the website jawnylobbing.pl.

What were your goals for this project?

The development of the mamprawowiedziec.pl website: preparations of new functionalities, new layout of the website, remodeling of parts of the database and creation of new panels.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had worked before with the main developer of the project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We collect information about candidates and elected politicians via online surveys and research. The system allows citizens to check who, aside from politicians, affects the Polish law.

We provide a comprehensive source of knowledge about their political views, professional experience, financial data, voting records, and election promises. Used technologies: PHP, Laravel, PostgreSQL, Java, JavaEE, Spring, Hibernate, JSF, PrimeFaces, WildFly

What was the team composition?

The main developer that sets the details of the project, software developers who help the team with creating the software, project coordinator (from Association 61) and 3 different IT partners responsible for delivering different parts of data and for the front-end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Vavatech has improved our working environment. During three years of development, we run four different projects connected with four elections in Poland. Vavatech prepared functionalities for all of them. We also changed the layout of the whole website.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was a duty of the team member of Association 61. It was effective thanks to good communication skills of developers working in Vavatech and a clear and open communication system used by Vavatech.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by the team's communication and engagement. They are team of experienced and skillful developers

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have no reservations. We keep working together on the development of the website and database.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a digital platform manager and editor for a political news platform. We publish daily analysis and newsletters about the country’s politics and economy. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vavatech?

We needed custom software development and hired them for the task.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When our company started, we needed a CMS in order to publish to the internet. Vavatech adjusted and customized the CMS that was developed for our parent company to our needs. We prepared the wireframes and technical documentation and Vavatech took care of the backend development. They developed some modules that allowed us to publish our analysis and briefings as well as our newsletter system. Vavatech used Java, Python, HTML, and CSS for the development work.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with their senior developer. In addition to him, we had a team of three or four developers.

How did you come to work with Vavatech?

We decided to use the same system that was used by our parent company and as well as the same developer, which was Vavatech.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in 2013, and the collaboration is still ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They helped us develop and publish three products, and support us daily when issues occur. Thanks to Vavatech’s work, we’re able to publish our content daily and send it to selected users.

How did Vavatech perform from a project management standpoint?

They were generally good at complying with project requirements and meeting deadlines. Vavatech is quite organized and has committed developers on their team. There was a time when the senior developer who was working with us changed, but I think it was a good change.

Vavatech is also quite good when it comes to prioritizing tasks and categorizing them. From a project management point of view, it has been a good collaboration. We mainly use Basecamp and email to communicate. I’ll give them a call for urgent matters.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Vavatech is very responsive and open to our suggestions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, they’re too optimistic when it comes to assessing timelines, however, they’re rarely behind schedule.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the section manager of the National Services Network at the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP). Our network is a collection of business support organizations that provide services to entrepreneurs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vavatech?

A previous integrator had built our initial IT system, but we needed resources to create new modules. We engaged Vavatech to develop and support a new Java-based IT system that would help us assist organizations within our network.

What were your goals for this project?

As a government agency, our mission is to aid entrepreneurs by leveraging our network of cooperating business support organizations.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We held a public tender, and they replied to our contract.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected Vavatech, we held numerous meetings to align our business needs with their technical capabilities. Their team was responsible for planning and building new Java-based modules. After completing the solution, they integrated it into our existing system and provided ongoing support.

What was the team composition?

Their team consisted of a business analyst, programmers, and the VP who oversaw the project. There were other staff members operating in the background, but we didn’t interact with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new modules were fully operational and integrated well with the rest of our system. We learned a lot from their business experience and were happy to continue cooperating with them in new development areas. Eventually, we were able to support the whole system in-house.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Compared to the previous vendor, there was a clear and visible change in the quality of the project management. The account manager handled the project professionally. Moreover, we appreciated their thorough business analysis before each development phase. It helped us align our expectations with their technical solutions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They delivered the project within the timelines as promised, and I valued their professionalism. Additionally, their business expertise showed us new ways to effectively utilize our IT and was crucial to our success.

Are there any areas for improvement?

In terms of the project, nothing comes to mind. However, their competitors promote themselves aggressively, so it may benefit them to engage in pre-sales activities.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an IT consultant for the Warsaw Philharmonic, a national orchestra and concert hall in Warsaw, Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vavatech?

Our internal web application was outdated (written in the early 2000s). It needed to be completely rewritten since we were lacking service support or access to the original software. The UX/UI [User Experience/ User Interface] was no longer up to par, and the code was unmanageable, as the former developer used a closed database system. We had no API to contact and, thus, no opportunity to update the existing software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vavatech created a new application with an updated interface that allows the user to schedule concerts. The scheduling system is used internally for art management and assists the art manager in scheduling these concerts. The app's core function is to act as a skeleton of a schedule by matching the tour type and time slots for each school. In addition to matching and scheduling, the software also automates invoices.

What is the team composition?

We were in touch with 2 main project leads in the beginning. As the project progressed through the development phase, we mostly worked with 1 person.

How did you come to work with Vavatech?

Due to a government regulation in Poland, as a public institution, we must put out an “open order” for hiring vendors. This means the job is posted online and any company can freely enlist to compete for the contract. We then were able to choose from the submitted proposals.

I had previously seen Vavatech's HR recruitment stands at past conferences.

We ultimately chose to work with them, because we found them to be enthusiastic and friendly, which can be rare in the IT industry. Since the people on our team had little experience with web development, it was important for us to work with a more extroverted, amicable vendor in order to create a positive atmosphere of cooperation.

How much have you invested with them?

I prefer to keep this confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2017 and the project was released in December 2017. We're still in the process of integrating it with the proprietary software of another company in order to launch it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Vavatech has created a more user-friendly application that produces accuracy in scheduling. Users will be able to perform their tasks within the software more effectively than before.

We're still tweaking some areas to enhance the usability, and we anticipate positive results.

How did Vavatech perform from a project management standpoint?

Vavatech communicates using Redmine software. We initially tried the software, but our employees were not that comfortable using it, so we've reverted to communicating mostly through email. Vavatech's response time has been swift in both cases. Their team is cognizant of timelines and flexible in their approach.

There's been occasional miscommunication, but overall their team has been proactive in delivering iterations properly and on time.

Due to other regulations in Poland, projects need to be planned in advance, favoring the Waterfall approach. Vavatech's team has been great at adapting to these requirements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm most impressed by their team's positive and friendly approach. They've been good at responding to criticism compared to other vendors in their field. Their team has been open-minded and cooperative. We've always felt comfortable discussing any issues or questions with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Some elements of Vavatech's mockups were missing in the beginning phase, meaning they prepared only schematic proofs of concept. We would have preferred to see the full, detailed design of the application in earlier stages of the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a product manager and editor of an app for a weekly news magazine. The new mobile app is cofounded by Google.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vavatech?

We needed help with the backend development of an app for iOS and Android, using our existing CMS [Content Management System]. We wanted to offer our daily briefing of news through the use of digital cards, which needed to look the same on all devices and be easy to edit for our staff.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vavatech took the original backend of our digital magazine and modified it for the app, splitting long articles into visual cards to help readers move through longer articles through a series 10 to 15 cards. That way you don't feel like you're reading a long article because it's really quick to move from one card to the next. It packages long-form articles into an easy-to-read format when on the go.

Vavatech had to make 200-300 changes to make the app work from our original CMS. Additionally, they were tasked with the challenge of simplifying the CMS for our editors to use to reflect how the text is to look in the app. They had to ensure that all the cards displayed properly on all of the thousands of varying of Android devices and iPhones.

What is the team composition?

We had a team of four or five developers responsible for the backend, which is separate from the company that built the app.

How did you come to work with Vavatech?

We've been working with them for many years. They were already responsible for our CMS, so it was natural for us to keep working with them. We weren't actually looking for different companies since we already had good experiences with them.

How much have you invested with them?

I prefer to keep this confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together for about two years, since January 2016. The mobile app launched in February 2017, but it's an ongoing project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work they've done is close to perfect. They don't stop until we're satisfied with the results. Even with the most difficult task or problem, they'd put all their time and energy into it until they had a solution. They never gave up.

How did Vavatech perform from a project management standpoint?

Vavatech is highly organized and they finish all tasks in a structured way, communicating mostly through Basecamp. They're very professional—you get the feeling that they take their jobs seriously. They always estimated the cost of a task before anything was started.

When we had a lot of back and forth in the early stages of the project, they were always quick to respond and take care of issues. I don't have the knowledge to handle certain issues, so their help was extremely valuable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their organization and structured approach to tasks were impeccable. Unlike other developers, they don't leave out any details. They discussed all possible scenarios, outcomes, and cost estimates upfront.

Although their prices are average for this kind of work, they're extremely time effective. In two to three hours they would do work you'd expect to get in a week's time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. We'll continue to work with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Involve them in the process as early as possible. Their advice is as valuable as the developments they offer. Their feedback can save you money early in the process because they might have a better solution than what you had initially planned for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a Digital Editor for a media publishing house. We publish several magazines as both hardcopy and digital editions. I’m responsible for marketing, sales, formatting, and technology for the digital editions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vavatech?

The first major task we undertook together was building a new, flexible CMS. Two months of analysis had indicated that our previous system was in need of an update. We’ve been working to update and improve it since 2009.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vavatech developed a brand new digital platform 3-4 years ago. It’s an exclusively internet based business unit for our B2B transactions. Our new CMS system has many IPs [Internet Protocol addresses] and is connected to mobile apps, marketing tools, and payment platforms.

Using Java, they’ve developed features including a user base, user profiles, and moderation tools for internet discussions. We’ve enhanced our digital editions by inputting interactive graphs, video, and streaming services. There’s now an online payment option, a metric paywall, and marketing dashboards with key performance indicators.

What is the team composition?

I usually talk to the CEO of the company, Miroslav, once in a quarter to discuss major plans. He sends us summaries of completed work and invoices. Our relationship is more managerial than talking on an everyday basis. For eight years, we worked with a team leader who was the main architect of the system. Throughout our many years of engagement, I’ve been in contact with 10-15 programmers, and personally, collaborate with 4-5.

How did you come to work with Vavatech?

We initially searched for a company staffed with young programmers who’d graduated from Warsaw Polytechnic or Warsaw University, which have the best development programs in Poland. We conducted a SWOT analysis to find the best vendor.

We knew we’d be a minor client for big corporations with 200-300 programmers. Vavatech was innovative, had won awards, and had teams proficient in both Java and Ruby on Rails. They were both equipped to meet our needs and eager for our business.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked together since 2009, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Vavatech has helped us achieve our main goal of offering quality products at a low price. They provide high-quality programming, and prices are consistent with the market average. We haven't had any significant delays that derailed the project.

Our CMS has become much more expansive over the course of nine years of work. It now functions beyond the scope of publishing text and multimedia materials. We’ve made our digital editions more engaging for our readers by adding interactive features.

How did Vavatech perform from a project management standpoint?

As we began working on multiple products, we started having to compete internally for technological resources. Developing an agile technique helped us restructure our priorities. Now, we have separate backlogs and give precedent to specific projects each quarter. Each of our product managers now has a dedicated technical payroll accountant from Vavatech.

They notify us if a task will take more than five hours of programming work. This flexible dynamic helps us decide whether to pursue more expensive facets of the project. They maintain effective communication, without giving excessive details for each small bullet on the backlog.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Vavatech has accomplished the biggest challenge for tech companies, namely fostering a highly skilled team that’s also loyal and predictable. This is notable, considering many developers’ tendency to quit a project unexpectedly for a more attractive job offer. Their team is highly professional, and they seem to feel connected to our magazines' success. I appreciated their willingness to work off-hours, including nights and weekends if necessary.

Are there any areas they could improve?

After our main architect at Vavatech switched companies, the assessment of timelines and cost has seemed less valid. Without the ability to predict any complications, there have been some unexpected costs. Conversely, the new lead is better at communication.