– We have a close and strong collaboration with Cefalo on product development and management. We see that they continuously innovate, including through the use of AI in their development work, says Marianne Gade Gørbitz, CPTO of DN Media Group.
The collaboration between DN Media Group (DN) and Cefalo has lasted nearly 15 years. It began with a need for rapid access to scalable senior expertise. Today, Cefalo is an important part of DN’s tech organization, with continuous development and AI initiatives as key components.
Over time, the collaboration has evolved into a long-term technology partnership. Twenty-two developers from Cefalo now work as an integrated part of DN’s development environment.
AI and technology as a shared focus
The media industry is changing rapidly, and technology choices impact user experience, cost levels, and revenue streams alike. For DN, it is crucial to have development capacity that not only delivers, but also contributes professionally — particularly in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, where progress is moving fast.
– We like how Cefalo is continuously evolving, now dedicating capacity to exploring how AI can be used in development work. They are very enthusiastic and skilled at sharing their knowledge with us, says Marianne Gade Gørbitz of DN Media Group.
The collaboration includes regular professional sessions and so-called TechComs, where knowledge is shared and experiences are exchanged — both digitally and in person.
– It is important that Cefalo is part of the transformation journey we are on. We operate in an industry that is constantly evolving, and our technology partner needs to evolve alongside us, Gørbitz emphasizes.
A mature model for distributed development
Cefalo’s developers participate in DN’s product teams on equal footing with internal developers. At the same time, DN has built up its development capacity in Norway, and today the distribution is approximately 50/50 between Norway and Dhaka.
The division of responsibilities is clear: Cefalo holds HR responsibility and provides local management for the developers in Dhaka, while DN leads product development and prioritization.
– It works well that Cefalo takes the HR-responsibility in Dhaka. It gives us predictability and a clear structure. We have close dialogue with Tom Handegård at Cefalo, which is important for making the model work, says Gørbitz.
The time difference is managed through established work processes and is now seen more as a strength than a challenge.
– The time difference can absolutely be an advantage. The team in Dhaka starts before us and catches errors before we wake up. With clear communication and structure, we gain significant value from having continuous development for 12 hours a day.
STRONG LEADERSHIP DRIVES STRONG RESULTS: Team stability has been a consistent success factor from the very beginning. DN actually has lower turnover in their Cefalo-team than in its local team in Norway.
Stability and knowledge over time
Team stability has been a consistent success factor from the very beginning. Several of the developers in Dhaka have worked with DN for many years — some have been part of the journey almost from the start.
– Availability and team stability are very important to us. The low turnover means a lot, especially since our setup is complex. We see higher loyalty in the offshore team than in our office in Norway, and the developers from Cefalo know us extremely well, says Gørbitz.
Stability does not happen by itself. Both parties actively work on competence development, role development, and new professional challenges, which helps maintain low turnover.
An important part of the explanation also lies in the recruitment process.
– The recruitment quality is very high. The people I speak with are very happy to work at Cefalo. It’s a mark of quality. They say they will hire strong senior developers — and they actually succeed in doing so, Gørbitz points out.
Relationships strengthens the execution
DN has visited Cefalo’s office in Dhaka on several occasions. As recently as last year, Marianne and several colleagues traveled there to work closely with the team.
– It makes a huge difference to meet in person. We collaborate more closely, share more knowledge, and achieve a better workflow. The office facilities in Dhaka are excellent, and the overall experience was very positive.
Openness about culture and communication is part of the way they work.
– We talk about cultural differences and are open about them. If something isn’t working, we speak up. In that regard, we find Cefalo to be responsive and adaptable.
THE BEST EMPLOYER FOR DEVELOPERS: A key success factor for DN is that Cefalo has succeeded in establishing itself as a high-end employer in Dhaka.
A model for the future
Today, the collaboration between DN Media Group and Cefalo encompasses both operational development capacity and professional sparring within new technologies.
– We get nowhere without technology. Cefalo is a partner we have had very positive experiences with, and this is a model we intend to continue with going forward, says Gørbitz.
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Written by Jens Wahlberg
