galaniprojects GmbH

Background What does your company do and what is your area of responsibility?

CARIAD is the software company of the Volkswagen Group, which was founded in 2020 and specializes in the development and provision of digital technologies for brands such as Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche. The range of services includes advanced driver assistance systems, charging solutions, a unified infotainment platform, software for driving dynamics, as well as a new digital ecosystem and digital services in and around the vehicle. As Head of Division, I am responsible for the XiL platform, which supports the validation process for modern IT technologies.

Challenge What were the project goals?

The aim of the project was to develop a platform that supports both manual and automated test procedures in software development. This includes tests on various systems, from vehicles to control units. In addition, agile methods and the role of a Release Train Engineer (RTE) were used to establish process responsibility, which ensures structured and process-accurate implementation within a scalable team. The services provided included the introduction and continuous support of agile processes in software development.

Solution Why did you select this service provider over others?

galaniprojects was already active in the company through an earlier project, which led to an internal shift in mid-2022. The existing cooperation resulted in continued collaboration in the area of agile support. This cooperation lasted for two years and was characterized by galaniprojects' high level of expertise and agile know-how right from the start.

Please describe the provider's project approach.

The project was already at an advanced stage when galaniprojects' RTE joined. The onboarding went quickly and smoothly, especially as the team got to know each other during a PI planning session - a strategic event to agree the delivery targets for the next three months. The RTE from galaniprojects immediately took responsibility, defined clear goals and consistently drove the project forward. Thanks to this structured approach and proactive way of working, it was possible to ensure that the project objectives were implemented in the best possible way.

How many project team members were involved? What roles did they have in the project?

galaniprojects provided the RTE and supported an internal team of around 30 people as well as a further 30 employees from partner companies. The agile roles in the team included the product owner, who prioritized the project requirements, system architects, who were responsible for consistent interfaces, and scrum masters and the release train engineer, who were responsible for cross-departmental process coordination.

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

The collaboration with galaniprojects led to a significant improvement in organization and communication within the team. Strict adherence to agile methods significantly improved planning reliability, so that the planned scope of the project always matched the realized result. The general satisfaction and positive feedback from the team underlined the success of this collaboration. Over the past two years, galaniprojects has proven to be a reliable partner and has helped to sustainably improve delivery accuracy.

Did they deliver on time? How did they respond to your needs?

galaniprojects was able to provide significant support in meeting the deadlines through targeted analysis and optimization of internal processes. Even though they did not have a direct influence on all deadlines, as a strong process partner they made a significant contribution to identifying the causes of delays and implementing improvements. This proactive approach to feedback proved to be extremely effective.

What impressed you the most about the collaboration?

The exceptional energy and expertise of the provider's release train engineer made a lasting impression on us. Regardless of the challenges, galaniprojects always encouraged the team's motivation, actively practiced agile principles and successfully implemented them. The combination of high technical expertise and commitment was a decisive success factor for the project.

What areas can the service provider improve upon?

Our collaboration with galaniprojects was consistently positive and characterized by a high level of mutual respect. For internal reasons unrelated to galaniprojects' performance, the collaboration ended, although we would have liked to continue it.

Background What does your company do and what is your area of responsibility?

The Ombudsman for Science is a body of the German Research Foundation (DFG) that serves as an advisory body for all scientists and academics in Germany on issues and conflicts relating to good scientific practice (GSP) and scientific integrity. I head the office and am responsible for the organizational and administrative coordination of our activities, promoting transparency and ensuring the smooth running of all procedural steps within the framework of the advisory service.

Challenge What were the project goals?

Our aim was to design a new website, as our previous website did not meet our requirements and information needs. It was important to us to create transparency and present our process in a professional and modern way without appearing daunting. Together with our partner galaniprojects, we developed a concept in which they took over the technical implementation and we ensured through constructive feedback that user-friendliness and comprehensibility were maintained for all visitors. For us as a purely scientific team without in-depth technical knowledge, it was particularly valuable that galaniprojects was also able to communicate the technical aspects to us in a simple, understandable way.

Solution Why did you select this service provider over others?

As a public institution, the price-performance ratio was a decisive criterion for us, and the professionalism and expertise of the provider also had to convince us. We were looking for a partner who had experience with complex projects for larger institutions. We were very impressed by galaniprojects' overall performance, and it was particularly important to us that they were also willing to accommodate us in terms of price. This willingness also showed us that you attach great importance to working with us.

Please describe the provider's project approach.

Our project started with a comprehensive briefing in which we presented our ideas and, where possible, initial sketches. This was followed by discussions with galaniprojects, in which we were presented with designs. This allowed us to develop a tailor-made concept through dialog. We always had a personal contact who explained to us clearly how we could maintain and expand the website independently in the future. The iterative process with regular feedback loops was very successful. Our suggestions were taken seriously and implemented, which led to a long-term, trusting partnership.

How many project team members were involved? What roles did they have in the project?

In my opinion, the core team at galaniprojects consisted of a graphic designer and a developer. In between, a second graphic designer was brought in to optimize visual details. Overall, the project was managed by two experienced people.

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

Our new website has received very positive reviews to date, particularly due to its high level of user-friendliness and appealing design. As our subject area is often fraught with conflict, it was important for us to find a balance between professionalism and openness. The consistently positive feedback from users confirms that we have succeeded in this. Our content is perceived as transparent and accessible, which perfectly fulfills the objective of the project.

Did they deliver on time? How did they respond to your needs?

All deadlines were consistently met by galaniprojects, and the team also proved to be extremely adaptable in situations that required more flexible time frames. They were flexible in their approach to our processes, especially when it came to internal coordination within our committee. Their understanding and ability to implement all changes professionally and promptly still impresses me today. Nothing was implemented without our consent.

What impressed you the most about the collaboration?

We were particularly impressed by the patience and calmness with which galaniprojects accompanied the project. They explained every step to us with exceptional calm and always showed a high level of professionalism. The personal presentation by the graphic designers at our premises was also a sign of their special customer orientation.

What areas can the service provider improve upon?

There are no points of criticism worth mentioning about galaniprojects. I can't think of anything they could improve in their work. We are completely satisfied with our great collaboration.

Background What does your company do and what is your area of responsibility?

Porta is one of Germany's leading furniture retailers, both in bricks-and-mortar retail and in e-commerce. We operate two brands: Porta and Möbel Boss. While Porta covers the premium segment, Möbel Boss is aimed at price-conscious customers and younger target groups. Both brands have their own online stores, which were initially operated as separate organizations. In the course of merging these areas, we have introduced new technologies to create synergies and increase our efficiency. My main responsibility is to manage the company's software development activities. We are uniting all development activities for e-commerce under one roof.

Challenge What were the project goals?

Previously, all software development services were purchased externally. The aim of the project was to build up this expertise in-house. We wanted to shift responsibility from external service providers to ourselves, build up internal expertise and create the necessary resources. This gave us greater control over the development processes and enabled us to adapt more efficiently to our specific needs.

Solution Why did you select this service provider over others?

Unfortunately, the decision for the provider was made before my time, so I don't have any detailed insight into the selection process. Basically, galaniprojects fits in very well with our corporate culture due to their pragmatic approach and flexibility. This cultural fit was an important success factor for us.

Please describe the provider's project approach.

The provider's approach was based on partnership throughout. We acted as a joint team right from the start. The integration of the Galani employees into our own teams was seamless, which meant that there was no major need for coordination. The project management was on our side, but was optimally supported by the provider's comprehensive know-how. This approach enabled a high level of efficiency and flexibility in the collaboration.

How many project team members were involved? What roles did they have in the project?

A total of four employees from the provider were involved, including two Scrum Masters and two QA specialists. The scrum masters supported our teams with agile project management, while the QA specialists were responsible for the quality assurance of our new technologies.

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

Yes, we were able to successfully set up internal teams that work according to the Scrum framework. We have now established three teams that operate independently. Another result is the successful operation of new store technologies, which were safeguarded by galaniprojects' QA support. We have also seen a significant reduction in downtime in the operation of our systems, which is very important for our customers and our business success.

Did they deliver on time? How did they respond to your needs?

All set deadlines were always met. The partnership-based cooperation enabled simple and direct communication, which meant that feedback was implemented quickly and efficiently. The flexible and uncomplicated response to our suggestions also contributed to the high level of satisfaction with the project.

What impressed you the most about the collaboration?

I was most impressed by the provider's pragmatic approach, in particular their ability to adapt flexibly to our corporate culture, internal processes and specific challenges. This willingness to work with us as equals and adapt to our individual needs contributed significantly to the success of the project.

What areas can the service provider improve upon?

I can't think of anything specific at the moment. We are very satisfied with the services provided and, in particular, the partnership-based cooperation.

Background What does your company do and what is your area of responsibility?

I am the founder and CEO of BOTLabs GmbH. Our main goal is to develop the KILT protocol, an identity-focused blockchain. I am responsible for the strategic direction, the growth of the company and ensuring that our technological developments meet the needs of the market.

Challenge What were the project goals?

Our collaboration had several goals, with the main focus on application development. As protocol developers, we work close to the technical base and have strong expertise in RUST. As our internal know-how in Typescript is limited, we were looking for a partner who could relieve us of the burden of application development. The provider not only took on the pure development, but also the requirements analysis, interaction with the community, project planning and deployment. This comprehensive support, including ongoing operation, was crucial to the success of the project.

Solution Why did you select this service provider over others?

I knew the provider from my previous position as CTO of a large German publishing house and was already convinced of their high qualifications, budget security and reliability. In the past, we often had negative experiences with other IT service providers who were either unreliable or caused unexpected costs. Although this provider does not offer the cheapest solutions, it offers excellent value for money with high quality. In our blockchain project, where mistakes in social media can quickly make negative waves, it was particularly important for us to have a trustworthy partner at our side who offers professional and secure solutions.

Please describe the provider's project approach.

The first and most important step was the detailed requirements analysis. Great importance was attached to ensuring that all specifications and requirements were properly understood and documented. This was recorded in the form of epics, stories and tasks. The project was carried out in mixed teams (internal and external developers) and organized according to a Scrum and Kanban approach. Development was carried out in sprints, including extensive integration tests and regression tests. Once development was complete, deployment took place, accompanied by regular feedback rounds with our team. We also concluded a maintenance contract to ensure long-term operation.

How many project team members were involved? What roles did they have in the project?

In addition to application development, we work with the provider in several areas. In the project team, we had 2-3 dedicated developers as well as a technical lead and a scrum master. These roles covered all aspects of the project, from change management to on-time delivery. On our side, we took on the role of Product Owner for our product, while the vendor filled the PO for the application development project.

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

An important indicator of the project's success is that there were no negative reactions from the community - a particularly critical point in the blockchain sector. "Peace of mind" describes it aptly: I can rely on the provider without having to worry because the technical implementation is running smoothly.

Did they deliver on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We follow an agile approach, so fixed deadlines are not always a priority. Nevertheless, there are market-specific deadlines, such as the launch of a protocol, which we have to adhere to. The provider has always been able to deliver on time without compromising on quality. The costs were also always kept within reasonable limits, which was particularly important to us.

What impressed you the most about the collaboration?

What impressed me most was the constant availability of the team. Even in difficult situations, when challenges arose, we could always rely on their support. I was particularly impressed by the clear cost transparency and the consistently high quality of the results delivered.

What areas can the service provider improve upon?

As with any collaboration, there is always room for improvement from the client's point of view, especially in terms of costs. However, the collaboration was almost perfect and we are very satisfied with the results.