Team Augmentation for Long-Term Cloud Strategy with Panoram Digital

The Client

Panoram Digital, a contract management company, plays a crucial role in assisting corporations with automating and managing their contracts. The company operates within a fast-growing industry that emphasizes secure document storage, template management, and efficient document signing. Their product integrates with DocuSign to allow fast and secure contract signing and is utilized by large enterprises to manage sensitive agreements like NDAs.

Headquartered in London, Panoram Digital is a key player in the contract management space, known for its innovative solutions and close relationships with clients.

Challenges in Freelance DevOps Alternatives and Remote DevOps Engineer Hiring

When Panoram Digital approached us in 2023, they faced infrastructure challenges within their contract management product. They needed to improve scalability and streamline their AWS cloud infrastructure to support their growing user base and operational needs. However, they did not require full-time in-house DevOps expertise nor additional project management services. Instead, they were looking for part-time remote DevOps support through a Team Augmentation model - a flexible approach that better met their needs than standard freelance DevOps alternatives.

In response to the client’s needs, we identified three key challenges:

• Specialized DevOps Expertise: The client needed an AWS-proficient DevOps Engineer to assist their team without requiring a full-time hire
• Complex Team Structure: The team comprises both in-house members and numerous subcontractors, creating a diverse team dynamic. This structure, while beneficial in terms of expertise, sometimes led to alignment challenges, particularly when trying to coordinate between different working styles and expectations
• Align our agile culture with the client’s waterfall process: The client works using the waterfall methodology, which differs from our typical agile approach. While this required an adjustment on our side, it was crucial to ensure that our specialist could integrate into their structured workflow and deliver infrastructure improvements effectively.

Solution: Flexible DevOps Team Support with Team Augmentation

Through our Team Augmentation service, we provided a highly skilled Remote DevOps Engineer on a part-time basis, tailored to meet Panoram Digital’s expectations, including their long-term strategy needs . Our flexible model ensured that the client received the AWS DevOps expertise they required without overcommitting resources. Our DevOps specialist focused on:

• Infrastructure Optimization: By reviewing and optimizing AWS cloud services, the engineer helped the client reduce cloud-related costs and improve performance
• Automation: The engineer introduced new automation solutions that streamline operations and removed inefficiencies in their cloud infrastructure
• Close Collaboration: Despite the part-time nature of the role, the DevOps Engineer collaborated closely with Panoram Digital’s team, adapting to their methodology while bringing in expertise from modern infrastructure management techniques

While we respected the client’s need for independence in managing their product and processes, we offered additional support from an Agile Project Lead, which enhanced the service delivery and ensured smooth operations.

Role of the Agile Project Lead

As part of our flexible DevOps team support through Team Augmentation model, the Agile Project Lead (APL) played a crucial role in ensuring smooth service delivery. As a process expert, the APL was not only responsible for supporting the DevOps Engineer and reporting, but also for offering direct advice on process improvements and potential efficiencies like optimizing workflows and addressing any process-related challenges.

This added layer of support is a unique benefit of Team Augmentation, ensuring our specialist remain focused and aligned with client objectives. The APL role includes:

• Ensuring Service Quality: the APL ensured that the remote DevOps Engineer’s work aligned with Panoram Digital’s long-term cloud strategy and infrastructure goals.
• Managing Reports: to ensure transparency and clarity, the APL provided detailed reports that reflected the value delivered by the DevOps Engineer.
• Regular Support: through bi-weekly check-ins and 1:1 meetings, the APL supported the DevOps Engineer in addressing ongoing challenges, discussing solutions, and helping to set development goals. This support ensured consistent quality, helping to eliminate any burden of personnel management for the client.

This structure provided Panoram Digital with a significant advantage. Compared to freelancers, who typically lack structured support, our Team Augmentation service ensures both high service quality and continuous development of the specialist. This ultimately provides a more reliable and cost-effective solution.

Advantages Over Freelance Hiring

Our Team Augmentation service offers distinct advantages over hiring freelancers:

• Structured Support: Unlike freelancers, who often work independently with minimal oversight, our Team Augmentation service includes the support of an Agile Project Lead. The APL ensures that the engineer is well-integrated into the client’s workflow, maintaining consistent quality, managing expectations, and offering professional development support.
• Long-Term Value: Freelancers may provide short-term solutions, but they often lack the continuity and long-term commitment needed for sustained infrastructure improvements. Our model ensures a dedicated partnership where the engineer remains aligned with client goals and project needs over time
• Transparent Reporting: The APL also handles all billing and reporting, providing transparency that is often lacking in the freelance arrangements. This allows the client to focus on project outcomes rather than managing administrative tasks.
• Professional Development: Our engineers receive ongoing professional support and development, ensuring they remain motivated and deliver high-quality work. Freelancers, on the other hand, may lack this level of structure and support, which can lead to inconsistent performance.

Key Actions and Technologies

• Infrastructure Optimization: Our DevOps Engineer has refined the client’s AWS infrastructure, which has saved the client thousands of dollars..
• Technology Stack: The team utilizes AWS, Azure EntraID, Java, React, Python, GitHub, Jenkins, and DocuSign to power their product. Tools like Jira, Confluence and Microsoft Teams facilitate workflow management and communication.

Collaboration Approach

The client works with a waterfall methodology, maintaining all plans and ideas in Jira. Our DevOps Engineer integrates seamlessly into this process, helping ensure infrastructure aligns with the project stages. The client maintains close business relationships with the end user, receiving frequent feedback that informs product improvements.

Long-Term Cloud Strategy with AWS DevOps Services

By leveraging our Team Augmentation model, Panoram Digital received the exact support they needed - AWS DevOps services, part-time flexibility, and structured oversight - all without the complexity of a full-time hire or freelance DevOps alternatives. This approach has proven to be a highly cost-effective and reliable solution, enabling us to continue contributing to the success and scalability of their contract management solution.

• Cost Efficiency: Through optimization to AWS infrastructure, we have saved the client several thousand dollars, which is crucial for the profitability and scalability of their solution.
• Flexible and Specialized Support: By providing a DevOps engineer on a 0.5 FTE basis, we offered the client the exact level of support they needed - balancing expertise with cost-effectiveness
• Employee Development and Satisfaction: The involvement of APL adds a unique benefit. Our DevOps engineer is supported, motivated, and focused on personal growth, which directly impacts the quality of service provided. The client avoids the challenges of managing freelance DevOps engineers, who typically lack this type of structured development.

Team Augmentation as the Ideal Freelance DevOps Alternative

Since August 2023, our collaboration with Panoram Digital has resulted in tangible cost savings, improved infrastructure, and enhanced operational efficiency. By matching the client’s specific needs - providing specialized, part-time AWS expertise through our Team Augmentation model - we’ve delivered exceptional value without imposing additional management layers.

The additional support provided by the Agile Project Lead has been instrumental in maintaining transparency, delivering consistent quality, and ensuring that the DevOps Engineer is well-supported. This combination of technical expertise and structured support makes our engagement a uniquely cost-effective solution, particularly when compared to freelance alternatives, which often lack the continuity and oversight needed for sustained success.

By aligning with Panoram Digital’s workflow and infrastructure needs, we continue to contribute to the scalability and long-term success of their contract management solution, reinforcing our reliable long-term partnership.