Actuate Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.: 

Online Hardware retailer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address?

We wanted Actuate to create a brand new website with some custom development for us on Magento 2 and migrate our data from the current platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement and team dynamic?

 Actuate supposed to carry out all the necessary work in a timely manner to a high standard accordingly with the current ecommerce trends and tech requirements

What's the status of this engagement?

The project folded due to the agency not being able to provide the final product with a satisfactory quality and within the specified timeframe.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with your partner evolve?

The relationship started really well, the communication was great and sense of helpfulness from actuate gave us a lot of confidence to rely on them. Unfortunately, when the 'real work' on the website began, everything was taking much longer than anticipated, the communication was still good, bit there wasn't anything coming out of it. We lost faith and trust in actuate being able to perform and provide us with the finished product due to several failed attempts of custom dev, low quality of work, constant delays and several failed estimates of project finalization dates. Despite stressing on how urgent the project is, we have found out after nearly two years of waiting that we were allocated 8h of development a week...

In what ways can they improve?

There are many areas where they could improve in my opinion, but the main one is:
- to have a project manager who is more technically minded, can answer questions and have deeper technical knowledge to be able to manage the project and provide advice
- check their work by someone competent before it's released to a customer
- stick to the agreed timeframes
- don't bite more than you can chew

What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?

 Unfortunately, I can't recommend Actuate for this type of projects.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published on Nov 13, 2024

Rafal Bielinski
General Manager, Buller ltd
eCommerce
Bordon, England
11-50
Apr 2024 - Ongoing
$10,000 to $49,999
Verified

Project summary
Actuate Digital migrates a hardware retailer's website to a new platform, designs the frontend, and advises on achieving the required functionality. They also integrate the website with a new ERP system.

Feedback summary
Actuate Digital is still working on the project, but they've consistently met the deadlines so far. The team manages the project efficiently and keeps the client updated about the project's progress. They also answer the client's queries honestly and actively seek solutions to challenges.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the General Manager of Buller ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online hardware retailers

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Actuate Digital to accomplish?

• Move our current website to a new platform
• Overlook transition to new ERP and connect it with the new website
• Increase sales on the new platform once up and running

SOLUTION

How did you find Actuate Digital?

Referral

Why did you select Actuate Digital over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligne
• Very helpfull and honest

How many teammates from Actuate Digital were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Move to another web platform
• Create new, user friendly web front
• Advise on best solutions to provide required functionality of the new platform
• Connect new platform with new ERP
• Coordinate transition
• Once new ERP and website up and running - work on increasing sales and website traffic

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project is still ongoing - however we receive updates, and we are kept up to date. All dedlines were met so far.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their project management is good, friendly, and efficient. Very honest and personal approach, all deadlines met so far, we are always up to date and we feel looked after. 

What was your primary form of communication with Actuate Digital?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Knowledge and honesty - you don't deal with your ususal sales people, you talk to someone who has the knowledge to answer most of your questions on a spot and is actively looking for a solution to your problems instead of trying to sell you a piece of software or a service.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Actuate Digital could have done differently?

Everything is going really smooth so far and we can't see anything that could be done better to improve the overal experience.

RATING:
Overall rating:    5.0

Quality:    5.0

Cost:    5.0

Schedule:    5.0

Willing to refer: 5.0

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Manager of Robinsons Bawtry Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Retailer of high end designer fashion

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Actuate Digital to accomplish?

• Rebuild our website
• Improve conversion rates
• Ongoing efficient support

SOLUTION

How did you find Actuate Digital?

Online Search

Why did you select Actuate Digital over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Knowledge of the product

How many teammates from Actuate Digital were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Rebuilding our website became essential after realising that the original site was not only constructed with several functionality issues but was also built on a platform that didn’t align with our business needs. This choice of platform limited our ability to optimise for performance, SEO, and overall usability, impacting the customer experience and our operational efficiency. By shifting to a more suitable platform and addressing foundational issues, Actuate have been able to create a site that is faster, more responsive, and fully optimised. This rebuild allows us to develop a website that truly represents our brand and provides a seamless, high-quality experience tailored to our business needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The website rebuild delivered several measurable outcomes that demonstrate its success:

1. Increased Site Speed: Page loading times improved significantly, resulting in faster navigation and a better user experience, which has reduced bounce rates.

2. Enhanced User Engagement: We observed higher user engagement metrics, including increased time spent on the site and lower exit rates on key pages, indicating a smoother, more engaging experience.

3. Improved Conversion Rates: The rebuild led to a noticeable increase in conversion rates, as users are now navigating more easily and completing actions, like purchases or sign-ups, with fewer barriers.

4. SEO Performance: With optimized structure and content, we saw improved rankings in search engine results, driving more organic traffic to the site.

5. Mobile Usability: The site is now fully responsive, leading to an increase in mobile users and engagement across devices.

6. Operational Efficiency: The move to Shopify simplified back-end processes, reducing time spent on manual updates and allowing our team to manage the site more efficiently.

These outcomes collectively highlight the project’s success in building a high-performing, user-friendly site that supports our business objectives.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project management throughout the website rebuild was exceptional. The team was highly organised, setting clear timelines and milestones from the start, and consistently delivering each phase on schedule. Communication was seamless, they kept us informed at every step, proactively addressing any questions or adjustments we had along the way. They were extremely responsive to our needs, often going above and beyond to ensure our vision was met while offering valuable insights and recommendations. Their commitment to both meeting deadlines and accommodating our requirements made the entire process smooth and efficient.

Their expertise and dedication to our project have been evident at every stage. They took the time to truly understand our goals and seamlessly brought our vision to life with a beautifully designed, high-performing website. Communication has been smooth throughout, and they are always quick to respond to any questions or concerns we have. Since the launch, we've seen a noticeable boost in engagement and conversions, which speaks volumes about the quality of their work. I couldn’t recommend Actuate highly enough for anyone looking for top-tier web design and development services.

What was your primary form of communication with Actuate Digital?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What impressed us most about this company was their blend of technical expertise and genuine commitment to our success. Mat & Jess have been with us from the beggining of our journey and they didn’t just treat the project as a typical website rebuild; they took the time to understand our goals, challenges, and brand vision, tailoring their approach to align with our business needs. Their attention to detail, innovative solutions, and proactive communication were exceptional. Additionally, the team’s ability to anticipate potential issues and provide insightful recommendations made them invaluable partners. This level of dedication and personalised service truly sets them apart.
 We are highly satisfied with both the process and outcome as well as the support they continue to give us. They were highly organised and efficient throughout the entire project, ensuring everything was completed on schedule. Their punctuality and reliability made the whole process seamless and stress-free. I couldn’t be more impressed with their commitment to timeliness and meeting deadlines. We received far more than we expected given the cost, with attention to detail and a commitment to excellence at every stage. The project was completed on budget, and we feel the investment was more than worthwhile. Highly recommend for anyone looking for excellent service at a great price!

Are there any areas for improvement or something Actuate Digital could have done differently?

I can confidently say that Actuate Digital is currently executing every aspect of the project to perfection. From the initial consultation to where we are now, their attention to detail, professionalism, and expertise have been outstanding. They have met all our requirements and expectations, ensuring that everything is being completed on time and to the highest standard. Based on my experience so far, I truly believe there is nothing more they could do to improve the process or outcome. They are doing an exceptional job, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Celtic Law Ltd

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a firm of solicitors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Actuate Digital to accomplish?

• To update our website
• To convey our company values to our prospective clients
• To make us stand out from other law firms

SOLUTION

How did you find Actuate Digital?

From a business networking group

Why did you select Actuate Digital over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• I got to know Matt personally through a regular networking group we used to attend.

How many teammates from Actuate Digital were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We used Actuate to develop a new website for us which would help us stand out from other law firms. It needed to represent our business and our values. We also wanted the site to be accessible for all - to include photographs, video material and text.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The website receives lots of compliments - in particular because it is not a standard/boring website! We have a website that we are proud of and which properly conveys the type of business that we are. We have also used Actuate for any changes and updates since we had the website made (adding new employees, services and locations for our offices). The team are very easy to deal with and prompt with their responses!

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

All communications are prompt - the website was delivered on time and any amendments we have made since have also been attended to promptly. This is important because our regulator often insists on changes and its crucial that they are done on time. 

What was your primary form of communication with Actuate Digital?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I like that the company is modern and forward thinking. I was able to visit them at their offices initially. They are easy to work with and had some really good ideas when it came to designing the website.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Actuate Digital could have done differently?

No :)

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Gym Manager of Instinct

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a modern training gym, with over 300 member.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Actuate Digital to accomplish?

• Website Optimization
• SEO

SOLUTION

How did you find Actuate Digital?

Referral

Why did you select Actuate Digital over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Actuate Digital were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Rebuilding the website to optimise the functionality of the site. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Site views & convesion rate

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They were an absolute dream to work with.

What was your primary form of communication with Actuate Digital?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Communication & delivery of projects.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Actuate Digital could have done differently?

n.a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing of Extronics Ltd.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Extronics designs and manufacturers Ex hazardous areas products for the process industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Actuate Digital to accomplish?

• Increase site speed
• Improve user experience
• Increase leads via site

SOLUTION

How did you find Actuate Digital?

Existing retainer client

Why did you select Actuate Digital over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• We had worked with them before

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of this project was to replace our existing site with a brand new website that was faster, had a better UI, was easy to develop, include a modern design. Our existing site was slow, included excessive code based on old practice, and plugins preventing it from reaching its full potential. 

To reverse out of it and try and develop the site further would of been too expensive and time consuming. Therefore, we decided to work with Actuate to design a new site covering all the areas listed above.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Site speed improvements - the site is much faster and uses best practice website building methods meaning our Google scores has improved. This will help our SEO efforts and customer experience on the site.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project was managed through an account manager who liaised directly with the developer on our behalf. We had several meeting to discuss design and technical specification for the site in the early stages to ensure we understood the scope of what is required. Work was finished to a high quality and within the agreed time frame.

What was your primary form of communication with Actuate Digital?

Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The developers have a lot of knowledge of best practices and site design.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Actuate Digital could have done differently?

As a one person marketing team for an SME, I have limited knowledge of the ins-and-outs of website development. I feel customers in my position would benefit from a dumbed down approach to communications on the specifics of the site development. Dev language is very confusing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Acquisition & Retention Manager of Reliant

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Electronic goods retailer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Actuate Digital to accomplish?

• Conversion rate optimization
• Website Performance and Development

SOLUTION

How did you find Actuate Digital?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Actuate Digital over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Actuate Digital were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Ongoing Website & conversion rate improvement and optimizations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• improved conversion rate 
• improved user experience on site

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Always on hand to support in executing workload requirements. They provide expert opinion and advice, helping lead the direction to achieve targets.

What was your primary form of communication with Actuate Digital?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Expertise

Are there any areas for improvement or something Actuate Digital could have done differently?

n/a

UPDATED REVIEW

Digital Trading Manager, Electrical Products Retailer

eCommerce

11-50 Employees

United Kingdom 

Confidential

$50,000 to $199,999

Jan 2022 - Ongoing

Project summary

Actuate Digital has created a Hyvä theme Magento 2 website for an electronic products retailer. The goal is to increase conversion rates and improve customer experience.

Feedback summary

Actuate Digital's work has improved the client's site conversion rate and page load speed, meeting expectations. They foster a positive working relationship through constant communication and a collaborative approach. In the end, Actuate Digital has completed items ahead of schedule.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Digital Trading Manager of an ecommerce company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Online Electrical Goods

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Actuate Digital to accomplish?

• New Website
• Increase Conversion Rates
• Improve Customer Experience

SOLUTION

How did you find Actuate Digital?

Referral

Why did you select Actuate Digital over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Actuate Digital were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

To create from scratch a Hyva theme Magento 2 website with A rated page speed times withbest in class website capabilites

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our page load speed times increased from F to A rated Significant improve in website conversion rate

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Excellent project management with constant communication from the PM. The initial project was completed before expectations and the current development is managed efficiently with support from there end on hand whenever we require

What was your primary form of communication with Actuate Digital?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We have established a great working relationship with the PM and head developer both very approachable and knowledgable within web development.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Actuate Digital could have done differently?

None.

RATINGS

Overall rating: 5

Quality: 5

Cost: 5

Schedule: 5

Willing to refer: 5