ADVOX Studio

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a manager at Domneo Sp. z o.o.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Domneo is a Polish company operating in the interior design industry. We target customers who prioritize creating a unique bathroom experience without leaving their homes. Our online store features hundreds of thousands of products to fully equip interiors, along with ready-made bathroom designs by professional designers that can be purchased with almost a click. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire ADVOX Studio to accomplish?

• Creation of a magento-based ecommerce platform with multiple integrations

SOLUTION

How did you find ADVOX Studio?

Online Search

Why did you select ADVOX Studio over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

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

We hired Advox Studio to develop an advanced eCommerce platform for our company. They built a custom-designed website on Magento and integrated various external systems. This created a complex sales environment that connected our internal PimCore, Odoo (both customized) and WMS systems with the ERP, SAP and PIM systems of our capital group.

Moreover, Advox focused on implementing and enhancing the user experience with features like a bathroom arrangement module, shopping cart sharing, and product availability updates. Additionally, they implemented tools such as tile and materials calculators to streamline the purchasing process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project marked Domneo's debut in the eCommerce market. Creating a high-quality sales platform allowed us to deliver satisfying shopping experiences to customers from the outset. We've successfully operated for over a year, growing our base of loyal customers and standing out in the industry. The results we've achieved confidently position us as one of the leading companies in the field.

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

Constant communication with the project manager added significant value to the collaboration. This allowed us to ask questions, raise concerns, and discuss potential changes in real-time. Due to the project's complexity, modifications and new solutions were often needed, but the Advox team handled them while keeping to the timeline.

Such openness ensured the smooth delivery of the final e-store version in December 2022, ready for launch. Since then, Advox has been assisting us in the care and maintenance of the platform

What was your primary form of communication with ADVOX Studio?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

What stood out during our collaboration with Advox was their extensive experience in building sales platforms. This expertise was evident not only in the technical precision of the solutions they provided and their flexibility in navigating different technologies (Magento, PWA, external integrations), but also in their ability to translate these into business needs.

An added value was that Advox took over communication with other parties involved in the project (like external suppliers, hosting etc.), ensuring that every process was monitored and delivered with the necessary quality.

Are there any areas for improvement or something ADVOX Studio could have done differently?

Implementing such a large and complex system often led to changes in the project, which sometimes conflicted with previously set deadlines. However, proper work organization ensured that the project was ultimately completed within the expected timeframe.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Head of ecommerce of Elektra LT

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Elektra LT is a dynamic company operating in the Lithuanian market, specializing in supplying cables and electrical parts to wholesale and retail customers (B2B and B2C). In addition to its domestic market, the brand is expanding its sales internationally, starting with Poland, Latvia, and Sweden. 

As a Head of eCommerce i'm taking care of growth and success of the company's online sales. I oversee the design, development, and optimization of our eCommerce website to ensure platform compatibility with the company's business goals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire ADVOX Studio to accomplish?

• Develop a comprehensive online B2C and B2B sales system for 4 different markets.
• Progressive Web App
• Tailor-made designs and custom solutions for flexible product configuration.
• Implementing the sale of complex products in an online shop

SOLUTION

How did you find ADVOX Studio?

Online Search

Why did you select ADVOX Studio over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Experience

How many teammates from ADVOX Studio were assigned to this project?

Team

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

The starting point for the project was our previously existing simple version of the Magento platform. Advox redesigned the website, which served as the foundation for creating a new version of the platform. As part of the implementation, PWA technology was introduced.

Simultaneously, work was conducted on both the B2B and B2C platforms, followed by the development of 4 language versions. A significant part of the project also involved creating custom modules (such as flexible product configuration, a smart search engine powered by Elasticsearch, and an enhanced shopping cart module), which are the final part of the project.

Moreover, Advox developed an advanced RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) module to streamline the returns and complaints process, utilizing user-friendly forms to enhance customer service. Compliance with relevant regulations, such as GDPR and Omnibus directive, was ensured through dedicated modules, guaranteeing that the platform meets all legal requirements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was recently launched, and the new platform is still in the promotion phase to reach as many customers as possible. Because of this, it's tough to gauge customer reactions over time just yet.

However, the changes made are certainly helpful in better meeting the needs of online users, for example, a custom module that allows for the sale of pre-cut cables at special prices enables customers to purchase these items at more attractive rates. In the past, due to the lack of an appropriate technical solution, these products were recorded as costs and losses for the company

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

Thanks to our constant contact with the Project Manager, we were able to continuously monitor and participate in the development of the project. All questions or plans for future changes were discussed promptly, which allowed for smooth collaboration at every stage of the process.

What was your primary form of communication with ADVOX Studio?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

A major highlight of the collaboration was not only the correct technical implementation of changes but also the understanding of our business needs and the specifics of operating in the niche industry we are in. This allowed us to rely on solutions that would be genuinely useful for our customers and business partners.

Are there any areas for improvement or something ADVOX Studio could have done differently?

The whole process of designing and implementing the platform went smoothly. We left room for changes and decided to postpone the ERP system implementation and some frontend functionalities for practical reasons. However, finishing the platform is a matter of the near future.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Web Developer of the company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We supply over 400 highly effective professional supplements – only available to or through Registered Healthcare Practitioners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire ADVOX Studio to accomplish?
Magento Development

SOLUTION

How did you find ADVOX Studio?

Online Search

Why did you select ADVOX Studio over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from ADVOX Studio were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Advox has been our Partner for several years now, delivering reliable e-commerce solutions. They have helped us maintain an existing project in Magento 1 and build a brand new solution based in Magento 2. Both websites are running smoothly with latest updates and lots of customisations are business either reuiqred and wanted to try out. Apart from development, Advox Team is also helping us with server administration, keeps great version control and uses their experience to keep our IT budgets under control.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our websites have been growing in number of online customer registrations and sales.

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

Advox is well organised and meets our expectations in terms of project management. Over the years we have had sever PMs assigned to our project but the transitions were smooth and our needs are met. We communicate efficiently over chat and email, having weekly summaries online. We also have access to Jira that holds detailed history of all the work done and makes it easy to track, maintain and grow our wesbites. They are also very good in estimating the jobs costs once they get to know the project well enough.

What was your primary form of communication with ADVOX Studio?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We appreciate Advox's engagement and work ethics. Over the years, our business partnership has grown strong, and we appreciate the reliability that this company has brought to our e-commerce endeavors. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something ADVOX Studio could have done differently?

Since our companies use different software for online meetings and conversations, we're still searching for the best way to keep our daily communication organised. A better chat software would be an improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Kratki.com is a well-established company operating on the Polish market since 1998. The brand is recognized as a leading manufacturer of fireplaces, grills, and fireplace accessories. With over two decades of experience, Kratki.com has built a reputation for producing high-quality products and providing excellent customer service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ADVOX Studio, and what were your goals?

The premise of our project was to develop an online store for both the B2C and B2B industries that could smoothly handle periods of heavy traffic. It was also crucial to maintain consistency and a smooth transition for users moving between store variants from B2C to B2B. The technological challenge included updating the platform to newer Magento version and also adapting the platform to 8 language versions and improving the customer's shopping experience by developing a series of new solutions and creating a new design. As part of the ongoing efforts, we also decided to change the external ERP system we previously used by transferring its role to the Magento platform itself.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Making the decision on which software house we would entrust to the implementation of the project, we paid attention to several factors. The most important of these was having experience in using the Magento platform in previous projects. Another was the ability to effectively lay out the entire architecture of the eCommerce platform to suit our specific needs. An innovative and comprehensive approach to eCommerce store design, as well as an individual approach to the client, was also important.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The project first involved migrating old components to a new version of the platform developed on Magneto and creating a completely new site design based on ScandiPWA. After a series of tests, the processes of stabilizing the platform began, which allowed us to take the next steps, i.e. the implementation of the One Step Check Out and the segmentation of the platform into separate store views in different language versions. Based on the design of the site created for retail customers, we proceeded to work on the B2B platform, with the design and individual store elements corresponding to the layout of the B2C store.

As part of this portion of the project, modules specific to business contacts were implemented, such as individualized price lists, and a shopping list module. The current cooperation with Advox involves both the maintenance of the platform and the continuous improvement of individual solutions based on new opportunities. Therefore, the next stage of cooperation will be to expand the existing solutions with capabilities provided by artificial intelligence.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

A dedicated team consisting of Magento and React developers, as well as a design and testing team, was responsible for the development of the project. All activities were coordinated by a dedicated Project Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our new website operates in eight languages, allowing purchases in four currencies and enabling us to ship our products worldwide using a variety of delivery methods. Customers can use payment methods such as apple pay, gpay, kevin, klarna, paypal, bluemedia etc. during the purchase process.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

PM in Advox is based on agile methodology, with a high dose of flexibility based on our current needs. The technical communication, as well as scope defining is fully based on JIRA and coherent meetings. As for the flow, we work in 2-week sprints with release versioning, planned in advance for about a 1Q.

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

The most important aspect of our cooperation was Advox's understanding of our business needs, and they've provided the best solutions to achieve our goals. The combination of these features with the high quality of services offered allowed the continuous development of our platform based on increasingly new solutions and in accordance with current needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the E-commerce Manager in VCO S.A. - owner of Volcano clothing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ADVOX Studio, and what were your goals?

We were struggling with many errors on our website. Our main goal was to redesign the page fundamentals and bring our e-commerce platform to the next level.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We searched online for experienced Magento developers. Advox was one of the most suggested. After a few inteviews we knew thatthis is a

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

First of all, we conducted an audit of the website to diagnose errors. After that we prepred a brief which included the most important issues to manage. we fixed carrier plug-ins, improved website performance, improved website wisibility thanks to new blog and implemented new UX designs.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Two project managers, 4-5 developers,

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Improved website performance, new UX designs implemented with Advox-suggested changes. They provide great support and quick problem solving.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Project Manager is available at every time of the day. We communicate by phone, skype, whatever we need. He responds immediately, supports us whith his extensive knowledge and experience.

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

experience, time and quality of services.

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

In-depth research when starting cooperation with the client. At the beginning, we were assigned a less experienced project manager and a smaller team, which were not enough for our needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Leading manufacturer of electric city buses and trolleybuses. Position: Marketing & Int Comm Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ADVOX Studio, and what were your goals?

Developing online store based on Magento platform with two store views and multiple languages. Goal: increasing sales by renewing old web site, making easier access to store management.

SOLUTION

How did you select ADVOX Studio and what were the deciding factors?

RFP's and other positive references.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Magento installation, configuration of the test and production environment. Creating a multistore for PL and ENG language personalizing the product slider and the promotional banner. Preparing the possibility of subscribing for the newsletter and adding a comment to the orders placed. DHL and DotPay integration. Template customization.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We were working mostly with one project manager, who coordinated the work of the rest of the team. All needs and comments were communicated electronically. PM was estimating a time required to achieve the scope and "translating" our needs to the developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Too early to measure a concrete sales rise however implementing the store was a success and there is a significant increase of page visits.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

The project management style offered by Advox was tailored to our needs. They are flexible. Communication mostly through e-mails and phone calls.

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

Flexibility in negotiations however our project was about a small online shop, so our need were also small.

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

Everything is playing out pretty well for our company, thanks to the team's efforts. Communications could have been better but everyone is sometimes busy.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm working as Head of E-commerce in a premium online food/grocery store.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ADVOX Studio, and what were your goals?

The goal was to create online store based on Magento 2 platform in 3-4 months. The biggest challenge was to finish the project in a demanding deadline. In the scope of the project was to create the frontend of the store, individual customizations and to integrate it with ERP system (SAP Business One). The store was created from scratch.

SOLUTION

How did you select ADVOX Studio and what were the deciding factors?

ADVOX was selected in a RFP process. Proposed project duration time and its total costs were the most important deciding factors.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Installation of Magento 2 platform together with basic configuration. Implement graphic design for the desktop and mobile version. Development of custom modules based on requirements. Integration with SAP Business One ERP platform. Tests and production implementation.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I was only in touch with the project manager who was responsible for further internal coordination of frontend and backend developers, testers, UX designers and system administrators.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Almost all of the deliverables were delivered within agreed time frame.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

The project was managed in an agile way with minor scope changes in progress. During weekly sprints we discussed the project progress and planned further tasks. The communication was held in Asana, InVision and by e-mail.

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

The company proved a flexible approach in the project. The company willingly undertook new tasks beyond the scope of the project, which could improve it.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The MD estimation could be more accurate. The task updates could be provided more frequently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the tech lead of the web development team at Asambeauty GmbH, a cosmetics and beauty company, managing a mixed team of six external developers in total, of which three are from ADVOX.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ADVOX Studio?

We are getting into new fields like React and Progressive Web App (PWA) to make our new shop faster, more responsive, and mobile-friendly. There are very few e-commerce PWAs on the market, so the challenge was launching something new like this.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ADVOX Studio is involved with 2 Magento backend developers and 1 React developer working especially on frontend and backend tasks, touching all parts of business logic. They’re also deeply involved in creating PWA stack.

What is the team composition?

As far as ADVOX is concerned, we work with a project manager, a frontend React developer, and two backend Magento developers. Starting in September, we’ll work with a second frontend developer.

How did you come to work with ADVOX Studio?

We screened several companies and decided to test out ADVOX Studio based on their experiences and development capacities, particularly in Magento. They didn’t have a big limitation on capacity, which was very important for scaling up quickly. After testing them out for a few months, we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent €200,000 (approximately $220,600 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2018 (the relaunch project, however, started February 2019), and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Of course, we are faster with the capacity from ADVOX. If all parts are in place, we believe the website’s load time should be cut in half. Usability will also improve.

How did ADVOX Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager oversees the organizational aspect of the project and delegates work to their developers. I talk to the developers directly as well. We work in a kind of an agile way.

What I like about them is that they have two separate teams for backend and frontend development. Having specialized teams helps us staff in the way we need to.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like that we can bring together different kinds of people. For example, at first, we started with the two backend developers. And then needed a very good React developer and they had one in the pocket. Since they are quite flexible in capacity and are a bigger company, we have access to different kinds of expertise. It’s never a problem if we ask to talk to different people for their opinion. I like their flexibility.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there haven’t been any situations where we couldn’t settle in some way. We’re quite open-minded on both sides, which is a big plus. If there’s a problem, we talk about it and try to resolve it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise utilizing one of their project managers, as we did. It’s good to have someone who knows the developers so well and understands how to deal with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company supplies graduation gowns, predominantly to the UK school sector and abroad, as well as choir robes to churches. I’m the director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ADVOX Studio?

We needed to make some updates to our website. There have been a number of freelancers who worked on it previously, and we wanted to consolidate their work into a nice, cohesive, simple-to-use Magento-based site that would drive more customer engagement.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ADVOX Studio listened to what I wanted for the website and then had a look at the current form, as well as at some of our competitors’ websites. We worked out a roadmap, initially improving what currently existed so that we could maximize profit in the short term, but eventually developing the long-term goal of moving to Magento 2. They planned out the APIs that were going to work together with different parts of the new website, and we’re currently moving towards launching the new site.

They’ve also added a Sphinx search engine to the site. We had a rather clunky frontend that was custom coded and designed. One of the changes we made was moving to a new Magento theme called Porto to give a better UX to the customer while we were still on the old Magento site.

The new theme is more responsive and has a lot less unused, glitchy frontend bits on it. We also added a gallery to the site, along with many other changes ADVOX Studio has implemented in the past year or so with the goal of increasing the sales and boosting the number of visitors on site.

What is the team composition?

There are around four people from ADVOX Studio that I work with regularly. I have one main project manager overseeing the estimations who will determine the scope of the tasks. His work includes everything from making estimations in terms of the hours, to managing the developers sitting behind the scenes making changes, to implementing those changes on the test server and then migrating them to the live site.

How did you come to work with ADVOX Studio?

I initially found ADVOX Studio through a Google search when I was in Malaysia. I don’t know if my geolocation at the time aided in me finding them, but I got in touch and had a conversation with them before deciding that they were the people I wanted to progress forward with. The decision was based on how they reacted to my questions and queries, how responsive they were, and how their biggest priority has always been on the quality of the code throughout the whole site.

How much have you invested with them?

Our total investment is going to be £30,000–£35,000 (approximately $36,000–$42,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with ADVOX Studio in July 2017. I first started communicating with them in January of that year, and six to eight months after that, the new front-facing site with the new Porto theme launched. It was further tweaked until about a month ago, with the Magento 2 development starting now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The website is certainly nicer-looking and easier to navigate. It’s easy to search through and find products from different categories. The filters are working a lot better as a result of the work we’ve done with ADVOX Studio. We’ve rewritten the backend of the SKUs so that everything’s a lot more succinct on the management side and better and easier to use for the customers.

How did ADVOX Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive. If we send them an email, we get a response back within 1–2 hours, which helps things move much more quickly than they otherwise would. My project manager is also available on Skype, which we generally use around once a month, and he gave me his mobile number when the new website was launched so that he could help out in the evenings if needed. Between their communication and quality of work, they consistently demonstrate how committed they are to our project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Magento knowledge they all have between them, and the advice they give in terms of providing nice UI and nice UX for the website, have been invaluable assets for us. They provide lots of tips, like how to search for products more easily. Also, they have an absolutely unrelenting strive for quality of the code and the repository. They’re unwilling to negotiate or let the quality of that code lapse, which I think is massively important.

Are there any areas they could improve?

ADVOX Studio is the best web design agency I’ve ever worked with. They blow the socks off everyone else. I can’t think of anything that they could do better.

Do you have any advice for future clients?

It’s important to build a relationship with the project manager. When my current project manager first started, I was a bit worried at first, but after speaking with him and developing that relationship, I was able to trust that they’re doing the right thing for us as a business.

It’s also worth taking a bit of time to understand how they want to do things and listening to their outcomes. They’re focused on creating great websites, so take their advice and do what’s going to work for your particular business.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company specialise in delivering the best transport and warehousing products while offering only the best quality of comprehensive logistic services. We are present in 10 European countries. My position: Sales and eCommerce Executive Manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ADVOX Studio?

To develop company websites based on Magento platform: 10 countries (store views), 8 languages

What were your goals for this project?

To renew old website, improve communication with customers, collect more online inquiries

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Internal research and tender. We have considered 5 companies. Our eCommerce team was involved in this selection. Deciding factors were: price, condition and cutomer orientation.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We had to rebuilt our previous, old website. The project was prepared by my team and we were looking for company that can develope it. We had a problem with filling the internal position of website developer in our team, so we decided to outsource this project. Most of functionalities were design by us. Vendor was responsible for development proces. We have also discuss a lot of solutions during this process.

What was the team composition?

hard to say how many persons were involve in our project. They working on more than one project in the same time. We had dedicated "Project Manager which was resposible for contact with us. They probably recruited new employees during our project but probably not only because of our cooperation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Despite some small issues during development, the project was successful. We can see more interest given by our customers and collecting more inquiries.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The management of the project was quite positive. There was dedicated for us Project Manager that way of contact, responsiveness were very good. Deadlines were not kept but the reasons were not only up to vendor site. The project evolved during development process and that extend the project time. But there were also some delays from vendor side. We used Asana, Google docs

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Quite positive consulting feedback given by Project Manager. It is hard to compare with other vendors. We have outsourced this kind of project for the first time.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Some solutions could be better prepared/discussed before implementation process: options, functionality, management options, updates, etc