Answers

1. How can you contact us to start a nearshore/offshore software development project?

The easiest way to contact us is to email us at: office [at] ropado [dot] ro . We are prepared to answer your questions and offer useful information regarding nearshore/offshore software development outsourcing. We will be happy to present our company at your headquarters or schedule a meeting in Sibiu, on our premises.

Ropardo participates each year in a series of events dedicated to IT, in order to be in touch with the latest technologies and trends. We often meet our partners at international IT fairs such as CEBIT Hannover or others.

2. How do we start a nearshore /offshore software development project and how do we communicate during the project?

This depends on the project. Normally we receive the information regarding the software development project you plan to develop nearshore/offshore in the form you have available. In case you already have formulated specifications, we will study these and send our software development proposal, based on the development plan. One the nearshore/offshore agreement is signed, the project will be developed as commonly planned.

If you need us to formulate the project specifications, we will appoint an IT consultant who will discuss these with you within an analyses project. We are prepared to travel to your headquarters to clarify requirement and details. Issues may appear during the project development and these can only be solved within the project flow. Using our project and software development methodology, we take all possible steps to minimize these issues.

Read more about our nearshore/offshore software development outsourcing methodology and communication.

The key to our client relations is communication in each phase of the project.

3. How can we track progress in nearshore/offshore software development?

Our standard method for project tracking and handling issues and request for change is the web-based project management software iManagement.
In order to track progress in nearshore/offshore software development projects we can use weekly project status reports, reports on demand or we can use the method / tools preferred by you. Data may be transmitted via email, fax or telephone.

At your request, you may access directly internal documentation on condition that you keep it confidential (VPN secure lines, official trips to Ropardo premises).

4. Is it possible for the Ropardo team to work on our premises in Sibiu-Romania? Can they visit customers’ premises for determined periods of time? Who takes charge of travel and accommodation expenses in nearshore/offshore software development projects?

Yes, it is. We will make arrangements to work at the clients premises for limited periods of time, especially in the critical moments of the project (e.g. kick-off or delivery). The costs for an official visit during a nearshore / offshore project are represented by: costs for respective development time plus travel costs.
All these details will be discussed in details from nearshore / offshore project set-up. Depending on the travel time, all these aspects can be negotiated. At this time, travel of Romanian citizens to EU member countries is unrestricted.

5. Do you have a quality management system? How do you guarantee for the quality of the software developed in nearshore / offshore projects?

We use internal quality assurance standards for software development and implementing. These standards are updated periodically and all employees are trained on this subject.
Ropardo is committed to quality. Our team takes all the necessary steps to ensure that client expectations are met by the software application resulted from nearshore / offshore development project and also in related nearshore / offshore services: consultancy, implementing, maintenance, support.

Read more about quality assurance in nearshore / offshore software development projects.

6. What are the main technologies used by Ropardo Romania in nearshore /offshore software development projects?

The main technologies used by Ropardo in nearshore / offshore software development projects are:

Web: JSP, Struts, TomCat; PHP, JavaScript, HTML, XML; ASPX, ASP; WebServices (.NET, Java, Domino); WebMail; osCommerce; Flash MX; Domino Web / WebSphere.

Windows: Java (RMI, EJB, iBatis, Hibernate, CORBA); J2EE; .NET ( ADO.NET, C#, VB.NET); Lotus Notes Client; PowerBuilder; Delphi; Visual C++; Visual Basic; x86 assembler; Win32, COM, DCOM, ActiveX, OLEDB, ADO, DirectX.

Database: MS SQL Server 2000/2005, Oracle 9i/10g, MySql 5.x, PostgreSQL 8.x, Lotus Domino Server 7.x / 8.x / 9.x, Jeevan.

Development tools: Lotus Notes 6.0, Eclipse IDE suite (framework), Visual Studio.NET 2003, Power Builder 8.0, Delphi, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Macromedia suite, 3dStudioMax, ColdFusion.

Operating systems: Windows 2000/XP/NT, Windows 9x/Me, Windows CE, Linux.

Access the list of Ropardo competencies or nearshore / offshore project portfolio .NET, Java, PowerBuilder, Lotus Notes Domino and web technologies (Java Script, PHP, HTML5).

7. What nearshore/offshore services does Ropardo offer?

Ropardo provides nearshore/offshore software development, testing, implementing, maintenance and training services.

Read the complete list of nearshore/offshore Ropardo services

Ropardo is experienced and has expertise in nearshore / offshore development of Internet, Intranet and client-server applications for Windows and Linux/Unix for companies, local administration and the academic environment.
We have competencies on the following domains: knowledge and document management, project management, financial management, workflow management, ERP, CRM, multimedia and design, ecommerce (B2B, B2C), web portals, content management systems, market analyses, elearning.

8. Who owns the right to the sources and software application resulted from nearshore / offshore outsourcing projects?

You will own all rights to the software developed nearshore / offshore and its sources, as specified in the nearshore / offshore development agreement. At your request, it is possible to eliminate all references to Ropardo and not to mention you in our nearshore / offshore development portfolio.

9. What happens if we decide to stop a software development project already running?

For all ongoing nearshore / offshore software development projects, you main interrupt development, giving an agreed advance notice. You will pay only for the part of the project already done. We will also deliver all results and documentation developed up to that point.

10. How do I get to Sibiu, Romania?

Sibiu has an international airport with direct or maximum one-flight stops to all main European destinations.
If however you will land in Bucharest, arrangements can be made to travel the 270 km to Sibiu by car.

On our contact page you find needed information about how to reach Ropardo.

11. Can you make arrangements to have a nearshore/offshore dedicated team on the Ropardo premises in Sibiu Romania?

Ropardo has developed flexible nearshore/offshore software development partnerships, in project based fixed price formula or dedicated team formula, with time and materials price.

Learn more about nearshore / offshore project based projects or the dedicated team collaboration.

12. What is the critical size for a nearshore/offshore software development project?

From our experience, the right size for a nearshore/offshore software development project profitable for both parties is over 3MM. The cost reduction benefit from nearshore / offshore outsourcing is of course in proportion with the project size.

Volume benefits appear in case we set a framework for repeated project for the same nearshore/offshore partner because the costs of setting up the partnership and communication are one-time costs.

13. How do you assure maintenance and support for software applications developed nearshore/offshore?

Ropardo treats nearshore/offshore software projects the same as local software outsourcing projects, proposing solutions that guarantee maintenance and support for the software developed.

In the first place, we recommend that the client choose from the project setup phase for a maintenance and support agreement or an agreement for on demand interventions.

Secondly, the client has access to sources and application documentation so the maintenance can be assured at any given point by a specialist hired by the beneficiary independently from Ropardo

14. How do you communicate in software nearshore/offshore projects?

Depending on the nearshore / offshore software development project type and phase, we choose together with the client the best communication methods to ensure project success. We have set up a work method and hardware / software infrastructure allowing various communication means:

15. What is the response time in nearshore/offshore software development projects?

In project based collaboration, ensuring dedicated resources is a key element for short reaction time. This is implied in the nearshore/offshore dedicated team nearshore / offshore collaboration.

In both cases, the reaction time is one of the level of service terms agreed upon before the start of the nearshore / offshore collaboration and has to be convenient for the client as well as for us, ensuring the productive work of the nearshore/offshore development team.

Response time is never longer than one day. Of course we are flexible and time is shorter if the circumstances require it.

16. What is the structure of the Ropardo development team?

The level of experience of the most experienced members of the team is over seven years. This includes IT consultants, team leaders and project managers. The minimum experience of our developers is two years.

17. Does price vary depending on the experience of each team member?

When we work nearshore/offshore project based, the price does not vary depending on team members because the software developed is the result belongs to the entire team not one member individually.
When we work in dedicated nearshore/offshore team formula, depending on the requirements regarding expertise and experience of each team member, differences in costs may exist.

18. How do we ensure success and reduce risks in nearshore/offshore software outsourcing projects?

The development of a pilot project is often the best method to reduce nearshore / offshore project risks. Based on our experience, the best solution to minimize risks is to cover responsibly project phase and pay particular attention to quality assurance and testing during the nearshore / offshore software development project.
This means attention in the analyses phase in listening to requirements and formulating specifications, setting up the project, ensuring the suitable resources, establishing stages and milestones, testing the application in various stages and coherent continuous communication with the nearshore / offshore partner.

Ropardo Romania is the reliable partner for nearshore/offshore software development and outsourcing on .NET, Java, PowerBuilder, Lotus/Domino and web technologies, in project-based or dedicated team collaboration.