Key outcomes

• 2022–Present: CodeHQ and NZ Post partnership
• 6 Vietnam-based CodeHQ staff embedded across Mobile App, Parcel Notifications and general Digital NZ Post Scrum teams
• Delivery predictability improved by 30%, enabling confident quarterly planning
• Mobile app exceeded adoption targets
• Increased delivery capacity
• Reduced recruitment challenges by filling specialist roles offshore e.g., MuleSoft developer
• Cost-effective access to specialist technology skills, approximately 65% lower than NZ local partners
• NZ Post referred CodeHQ to its subsidiary, Fliway.

Challenges

NZ Post needed a trusted technology partner that could provide flexible delivery capability while filling specialist skill gaps across its digital teams.

Initially, the focus was on:

• Additional delivery capacity for web development
• Quality assurance support
• Testing capability for digital initiatives

As demand grew, NZ Post also required:

• Mobile development
• Website modernisation
• MuleSoft integration
• API development
• Parcel notification capability
• Ongoing support for critical customer platforms
• Access to difficult-to-source enterprise skills

Solutions

Embedded from day one

CodeHQ specialists were embedded within NZ Post's Scrum teams remotely from the outset, participating in ceremonies, planning sessions and retrospectives alongside internal staff. Head of Digital Platforms at NZ Post, Hylton Southon reflected on the early days of the partnership,

"We really liked what they brought to the table: their energy, engagement and willingness to contribute. They quickly adapted to our ways of working and became active contributors, sharing feedback during retrospectives to help improve collaboration across locations."‍

Scaling alongside NZ Post

What began as support for the web team expanded into mobile app development before growing into a major website modernisation programme. As confidence in the offshoring partnership increased, CodeHQ added front-end development, testing and MuleSoft expertise to support larger transformation initiatives. Southon said,

"Following the success of the mobile app engagement, we had a major programme of work to move the rest of our website off a legacy platform. CodeHQ brought in a tester, front-end developer and MuleSoft developer who integrated seamlessly with our website team, and they are still working with us today via Vietnam."‍

‍Specialist expertise on demand

The partnership gave NZ Post flexible access to specialist skills that were difficult to source locally, supported by CodeHQ’s onshore team in New Zealand. According to Southon, the ability to share specialist capability became one of the partnership's biggest advantages,

"We needed MuleSoft expertise across our four Scrum teams at different times, so we've been able to leverage the offshore CodeHQ MuleSoft developer across each team depending on where the capability is needed. It gives us access to specialist skills that we don't have internally."‍

An offshore delivery model that works

As the partnership expanded to include Parcel Notifications and other digital platforms, CodeHQ demonstrated that distributed delivery could improve both responsiveness and efficiency.

Southon has been impressed by how effectively the remote team collaborates during overlapping working hours, enabling work to continue progressing across time zones.

"The communication model works really well across locations. The CodeHQ team can continue collaborating through Microsoft Teams and Jira, and the NZ Post team can pick things up first thing in the morning. The time difference has actually become an advantage, allowing work to continue progressing while we are offline."‍

Outcomes

High quality and cost-effective

The partnership has enabled NZ Post to increase delivery capacity while maintaining high engineering standards and reducing costs.

The mobile app has exceeded adoption targets while delivering new customer capabilities, including digitised customs forms, richer native app experiences and more personalised parcel management.

"We found we were paying less, the people were engaged and the quality hadn't dropped. In fact, the quality was higher with the offshore team," said Southon.

A proactive, trusted extension of the team

Southon stated that, in addition to adding delivery capacity, CodeHQ has contributed knowledge, documentation and continuous improvement across NZ Post’s digital teams beyond the original scope.

She said,

“CodeHQ consistently produces high-quality documentation and supporting materials.
Every remote CodeHQ team member we've worked with has been open to change, collaborative and willing to contribute beyond their specific role. They don't just take direction; they actively participate in conversations, bring ideas forward and feel like a true part of the team."‍

‍A partnership built on trust

Over the years, the relationship has developed into a long-term strategic partnership built on consistent delivery and confidence in CodeHQ's offshore people. 

Reflecting on the partnership, Southon said,

"The thing that stands out most about our partnership with CodeHQ is the level of trust we've built. We trust them to provide the right people with the right skills and attitude, and they consistently deliver."

For NZ Post, the value extends well beyond cost savings. The partnership has provided greater flexibility, reliable access to offshore specialist expertise and the confidence to scale digital delivery without increasing permanent headcount.

Asked whether she would recommend CodeHQ, Southon said,

"For any business exploring an offshore vendor relationship, I highly recommend CodeHQ.
They are professional, delivering exceptional quality at a fraction of the cost, with every detail managed to a high standard. Having dedicated onshore support provides confidence and makes communication and collaboration seamless. Working with CodeHQ feels like a complete partnership rather than an outsourced service."