Frequent Asked Questions

 

 

Communication with Evoluxis

General communication between Evoluxis and its clients is done via e-mail. Each message gets sent to the task developer, the expert in the field (i.e. database expert, GUI expert, business module  expert, etc) and the project supervisor.

Each type of mail has a specific response time interval (i.e. 1 hour for a production bug, 2 days  for design analysis). If unusual situations occur during the offshore software development project, in which the person to which the message was addressed cannot reply in the time agreed upon, the project supervisor finds out the reasons for the delay in response and takes immediate action to ensure that the customer receives the answer in the shortest time possible.

Project status

We will keep you updated:

• » by providing you with weekly reports (via e-mail, phone or Internet phone)
• » by sending you the last versions of the programs being developed. Normally we do this by-monthly, but we can reduce the time interval between two consecutive "deliveries" if the circumstances require it
• by means of the time sheet reporting system. Programmers access this system online to record all the time they spend on projects. You can also access the time sheets based on a user name and password we supply to you

Project scope

The answer is YES. While we do not possess the resources demanded by large offshore software development, the cluster of companies to which we belong will certainly find all the man and machine power required.

AROBS is one of the founding fathers of a major business conglomerate that brings together the most important providers of IT&C services from Cluj-Napoca. With over 500 specialists at its disposal, this cluster can handle almost any type of IT&C requirements.
Even if your project seems to go beyond our capabilities you can still write to us and we will forward your request to all members of the clusters.

Module development

We can develop whatever you require us, as long as we or the IT cluster we belong to possess the necessary resources. To do so, we need comprehensive and clear specifications. These specs will also become part of our contract and actually define our contractual obligations to you.

Preparing the perfect specifications is easier said then done. If you have already put them together for your project, just send them to us and we will request any additional details on an as needed basis.  With the specifications complete, we will prepare a contract and have it signed. We are willing to make slight alterations to the specs while working on the project, as long as these changes are fully justified.

If you have no specifications, the situation can become somewhat... sensitive. To put it simply, you would have to hire us to prepare the specs for you. This process requires face-to-face meetings either at your site or at our headquarters. Meetings you would have to pay for...

 

Work arangements

Depending on your specific requirements, we can employ any of the following arrangements for software outsourcing:

• » the project-based approach, in which you are providing all the project details and we are doing all the work on our premises
• » the remote team approach, in which you lead a team made of the number of AROBS developers you require. This team is also working on our premises.

When working on a project basis we need to agree on the project specifications, which would be thoroughly analyzed by one of my senior developers. Based on her evaluations, we can then offer you a price quote and an estimate for the project duration. We would also set milestones and agree on any aspects regarding delivery. Upon project completion we can do the installation, support and maintenance as convened upon.

When the remote team approach is employed, we fully allocate the team to you and your projects. Keeping the team busy would be your responsibility. I recommend this approach mostly for vaguely defined projects, as well as for projects that require a lot of field-related and/or specific knowledge (e.g. specific knowledge about admission procedures followed by private hospitals in England). In such cases, the specific knowledge is rarely made public and even if it were, the programmers would continue do to what they know best: programming based on customer specifications.

 

Working at your site

YES, we can. We charge on per day basis. Accommodation and transportation expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the circumstances and of the duration of stay, these additional costs can be negotiated to a certain extent.

Romanians need no visas to travel to the Schengen zone and can even work for up to 180 days per year in the European Community and the US without specific work permits.

 

Quality assurance

All our programmers must follow strict internal procedures and guidelines when working on software outsourcing projects. For example, when it comes to database projects we write automatic programs that deal with all the aspects of the logic. (database normalization, integrity, etc.)

Delivering outstanding quality at affordable rates is AROBS's main goal. We do our best to ensure that the client gets a bug-free software. Furthermore, we provide support for our software for the time agreed upon in the contract (usually three to six months). This warranty offers the customer the opportunity to use the software in the field and report any potential problems to us. We guarantee that we will solve all of them in the shortest time possible. Over the entire warranty period, AROBS will fix any glitches in the software that are not related to inappropriate usage. Any failures owed to the improper use of the product can also be fixed for the price specified in the contract. Upon the expiration of the warranty period, the client can have it extended for the sum previously agreed upon.

During the support period, AROBS fixes the problems within the agreed response time (normally no more than one working day).

 

Technical support

Our support team is made of people with excellent linguistic skills. They have either spent a long time in countries where English, German or French is the native language or studied and practised these languages thoroughly in Romania. General communication for support purposes is done via e-mail. Each message gets sent to the following persons:

• » the task developer
• » the expert in the field (i.e. database expert, GUI expert, business module  expert, etc)
• » the project supervisor

Each type of mail has a specific response time interval (i.e. production bug: 1 hour, design analysis: 2 days). If unusual situations occur in which the person contacted to handle the issue cannot reply in the time agreed upon, the project supervisor intervenes to check the reasons for the delay in response and takes immediate action to ensure that the customer receives the answer in the shortest time possible.

 

Unfinished projects

YES. As we mentioned above, this kind of work is more suitable for project-based contracts. We will be able to provide you with the estimated number of hours required by this project. This estimate can be adjusted as the specs evolve.  

 

Supported platforms

Windows (3.11, 95/98, NT/2000 and CE), UNIX (SCO, Linux ), Palm OS, Apple and AS/400.

 

Programming languages

Mainly RPG III, RPG IV, Java (Visual Age and SanFrancisco), Centura, C, Microsoft Access, C++ (Microsoft, Borland, Code Warrior), Visual Basic. 

 

Evoluxis' services

• » Testing, maintenance and customization of various types of software.  
• » Legacy software maintenance ( RPG, COBOL, BASIC).  
• » Development of client/server applications in different fields (medical, ERP, management).  
• » Appliance programming: Palm Pilot, Windows CE.  
• » Development of tools for multi-language conversion of applications.  
• » Software localizing and translating.  
• » Internet application development as well as Web base development for NT, AS/400, Linux.  
• » Development of visual components, custom controls, various classes etc.

 

 

Confidentiality issues

During the term of our Agreement and for up to 6 years afterwards, AROBS will use reasonable care to prevent the unauthorized use or dissemination of any confidential information you provide us with. Reasonable care means at least the same degree of care we use to protect our own confidential information from unauthorized disclosure.
Confidential information is limited to information clearly marked as confidential, or disclosed orally and summarized and identified as confidential in a writing delivered to us within 15 days of disclosure.

Confidential information does not include information that:
» we knew before you disclosed it;

• » is or becomes public knowledge through no fault of us;
• » we obtain from sources other than you and who owe no duty of confidentiality to you or we develop independently.

 

Pricing policy

Just for the sake of jumping on the bandwagon, we can offer you the following popular slogan to describe our pricing: "with AROBS you are getting the greatest value for any dollar you pay". Depending on the salary levels from your local markets, you can save up to 50% of the total labor costs by enlisting our service. We are not promising the lowest rates available because such an approach signals low quality. We have excellent specialists who are getting good wages by Romanian standards. Fortunately enough, these standards are far below those in your country.

 

Pricing models

The answer is simple. Depending on the type of software outsourcing project, we apply one of two simple pricing methods: the hourly-based pricing and the project-based pricing.

The hourly-based pricing
In this arrangement we act like the Romanian extension of another company's team. This approach is suitable for long-term projects and for projects that require specific knowledge or skills. Everything related to project management and control and to project analysis rests on you. The arrangement allows you to assign us small tasks on a long-term basis. By small tasks we understand tasks that would take from several hours to a few days to complete. Using this method, you only have to pay for the time you have booked. Depending on the project length, you might even end up qualifying for significant discounts. Another advantage of this approach is that it allows you to modify the specifications without having to recalculate the cost of the entire project. You will simply pay for the extra time required by your changes.

The project-based pricing
If you do have a project defined, send us the specifications and we will make all the necessary estimates (time and money, as well as the number of people that must be allocated to the project). The price estimates can be provided based on man-day rates.
Any subsequent modifications of the product will be dealt with separately. The project-based model also enables us to offer some discounts. As no two software projects are identical, our rates can vary greatly depending on the project complexity, scope and on the set of skills and expertise the project requires. As soon as we get a clear picture of your project, we will let you know our price estimates.

 

Payment arrangements

If you opt for the project-based pricing you have to make a down payment that we will be stated in the contract. Another bulk payment will be made upon project completion, when you are convinced that we have fulfilled our part of the promise. All intermediary payments will be milestone-based. All the other details regarding payments will be specified in the contract you will sign with us.