Engineering Takeover and Full Platform Development for a Globally Recognized Healthcare Solutions Provider

About the Customer

Our customer is one of the world’s leading providers of innovative healthcare mobile applications specializing in patient care and medical data management. The end-to-end healthcare software combines the human psychology factor of a telehealth session and AI coaching with the clinically validated success of therapeutic interventions. The customer builds applications for end-users and adjusts them for the vast spectrum of client organizations: enterprises, health plans, health systems, and even pharmaceutical companies. It also covers a broad range of life challenges and chronic conditions through a clinician-proven platform and a network of communities, helping people take part in their care at any stage. With a truly global focus, the customer’s applications are localized in 10 languages and contribute to helping more than 18 million lives around the globe.

The Challenge

The customer faced significant challenges with their existing offshore development partner, impacting the progress and quality of their mobile applications and supporting backend services. The key challenges included: Need for an Engineering Takeover

The customer needed to transition the responsibility for their two mobile applications and supporting backend services from the existing vendor to a new partner. This transition had to be completed covertly to avoid any disruption.

Rapid Team Deployment

There was a need to create and integrate three engineering teams, totaling 22 people, within 60 days to take full ownership of the applications and services.

Legacy Codebase

The existing codebase was complex and posed significant challenges in understanding and maintaining the software.

Unrealistic Expectations

The expected delivery dates for new features did not account for the legacy system's complexities.

Fluctuating Business Requirements

Frequent changes in business needs required a flexible and responsive development process.

The Solution

Kanda Software stepped in to serve as the client's de facto engineering department, delivering a multifaceted approach:

• Seamless Engineering Transition

Working closely with the customer, Kanda established a parallel software and hardware environment that mirrored the existing setup. This approach enabled our team to gain deep expertise in the architecture, codebase, and CI/CD pipelines without disrupting production operations. Given the sensitive nature of the transition, our team executed the takeover with discretion and confidentiality.

• Team Composition and Management

Within the required timeframe, Kanda assembled three specialized engineering teams, carefully selecting members based on customer preferences and geographical considerations. Our project managers took on a dynamic role, overseeing daily engineering operations for both Kanda and customer team members, creating a unified and results-driven environment.

• Technical Assessment and Knowledge Acquisition

The team conducted a thorough analysis of the existing codebase, mapping out critical areas for improvement. Through intensive study of the code architecture, Kanda's engineers gained comprehensive product knowledge, enabling full ownership of the development process.

• Process Optimization

We established clear communication channels with the customer, helping align expectations regarding development timelines and complexities. The implementation of Agile and Scrum methodologies, supported by Jira for work tracking and estimation, created a transparent workflow. Regular performance metrics and status reports equipped the customer's leadership with the data needed for strategic decisions.

• Continuous Development

Our team focused on maintaining and improving the application within its existing framework while accelerating the delivery of new features aligned with the customer's product roadmap. Throughout this process, we maintained strict adherence to healthcare compliance requirements, including HIPAA, FDA regulations for digital therapeutics marketing, and standard data privacy and security protocols. AWS services provided the foundation for scalability, security, and efficiency. AWS's cloud infrastructure supported the establishment of a parallel development environment, which expedited the resolution of technical issues by mirroring the customer’s existing software setup. This enabled continuous improvement of mobile apps and accelerated the time-to-market for new features. The AWS environment also ensured high availability and seamless integration with diverse tools, such as React, Angular, and RestAPI, to optimize application performance and compliance with healthcare regulations.

The Results

Through agility, transparency, and a systematic approach, Kanda achieved:

• Successful Engineering Takeover: Seamlessly transitioned development and maintenance responsibilities without disrupting ongoing operations.
• Improved Predictability: By recalibrating the customer’s roadmap with realistic timelines, Kanda improved the predictability of feature releases.
• Enhanced Product Quality: Over time, product quality increased, resulting in fewer customer complaints and a better end-user experience.
• Strengthened Client Relationships: Improved communication allowed the customer to improve relationships with both existing and prospective clients.
• Positive Client Feedback: The customer provided highly positive feedback regarding Kanda’s approach to the takeover, the quality of work, and the professionalism of our team members.

The project is ongoing, and we remain confident in its successful outcome. By transforming the customer's challenges into shared objectives, Kanda continues to provide essential support, assisting the customer in overcoming obstacles seamlessly.