Apiqu

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company aims to improve the workplace via employee experience design, culture, and transformation. We also develop digital solutions for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apiqu?

After a few months of working on a large web development project, we realized that we needed to augment our in-house development team. Our goal was to find a senior developer who could easily conform to our standards.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Apiqu is assisting our internal development team with building a Sitecore website. While they were involved in developing a few frontend components, most of their work focused on traditional Sitecore feature development on the backend.

What is the team composition?

They assigned one senior developer to work on our account.

How did you come to work with Apiqu?

We connected with Apiqu through a mutual client. It is tough to find a talented Sitecore developer, so we reached out to them before we had a project lined up.

How much have you invested with them?

It costs us between $50,000 – $100,000 to outsource the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in August 2018, and we plan to launch the site during the last week of April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We usually do not like working with external developers, but Apiqu has been a tremendous asset to our project. Having an effective, high-performing development team is our primary objective, and our partnership with Apiqu has been vital in maintaining our high standards. Our client is highly pleased with the quality that we have delivered.

How did Apiqu perform from a project management standpoint?

Although Apiqu is technically a third-party vendor, the developer that they assigned to our account has become an essential team member. The developer was required to work in our office for the first couple of weeks, but they are now able to work remotely. Communication is frequent, with most of our correspondence is done via Microsoft Teams’ video chat feature. Being located within the same time zone was also helpful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In our experience, most vendors fall short of our expectations. Fortunately, Apiqu united us with an exceptionally skilled senior developer. We did not have to spend much time on training because they were already well-versed in Sitecore.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our experience working with Apiqu has been thoroughly enjoyable.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

While many companies rely on project managers, I feel that it is important to have direct contact with the team that is working on the product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Sheridan College is one of Ontario’s leading postsecondary institutions, educating approximately 23,000 full-time and 18,500 continuing and part-time students every year. The college attracts students from around Canada and the world. I'm the technical liason between business groups and the manager of web technologies and development operations. I mainly define and implement our web technology roadmap. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Apiqu?

We hired Apiqu to develop Sitecore solutions and give us a better understanding of Sitecore's marketing solutions.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a landing page that delivered dynamic content to several international target markets. The solution needed to leverage Sitecore's personalization features, multi-language capabilities, and Helix design principles.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Sitecore Canada recommended them.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Apiqu architected and developed our Sitecore solution. The project required a quick turnaround and used personalization and multi-language functionalities to influence business decision makers. They also supported our training and deployment.

What was the team composition?

Apiqu worked effectively with our development and digital marketing project team. They provided a UI and frontend developer, a solution architect, and two Sitecore developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project fulfilled several goals within our larger Sitecore strategy. It helped us build reusable Experience Editor components and better understand Sitecore's capabilities. We delivered the project on time in both Mandarin and English, but encountered issues with Chinese firewalls that will require additional effort.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Apiqu handled their own project management. Through consultation, we aligned our resources and deliverables. Regular online and in-person meetings also contributed to our success.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Apiqu's expert knowledge of Sitecore and .NET equipped them to find a solution quickly. They embraced their role as an extension of our team.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

Since we appreciated their lean staffing, it's challenging to imagine where they could improve. They recently added a full-time project manager. Given their growth and popularity, they probably needed another team member to free up other resources.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the practice manager within an IT provider’s creative and digital solutions team. I led operations that included web design, web development, and creative design for clients across different industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apiqu?

One of our clients got absorbed by another company that needed web development services for their Sitecore CMS. Our in-house team didn’t have Sitecore experience and we needed a partner to develop solutions for this company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The client gave us the functionality requirements. We included Apiqu in those conversations to assess the project’s feasibility and their capabilities. During the engagement, we leveraged their team as subject matter experts. Apiqu then worked on two distinct projects in that capacity. Our team created the wireframes and mock-ups, working closely with Apiqu to ensure the deliverables met scope and budget guidelines. Once we finalized those items, they implemented the designs within Sitecore. Apiqu’s deliverables included Sitecore configurations, custom programming, and frontend design. We did a couple rounds of revisions—and changed scope slightly—before making the final delivery.

What is the team composition?

We interacted with three people, but worked very closely with only two of them.

How did you come to work with Apiqu?

Our Practice Director sent out RFPs for staff augmentation services. Initially, we wanted a team that would appear as our employees to clients. I interviewed a host of candidate vendors including Apiqu. We selected them after a few of those conversations.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $15,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2016 and the project ended in January 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The end-client was very satisfied with the website. During the project, Apiqu’s service was exemplary. The team flew from Toronto to our Chicago office to meet the client and walk through the changes. That face-to-face time was incredibly helpful because we had been nervous about our lack of Sitecore experience. During the meeting, Apiqu answered every question on the fly and created a very comfortable environment for the three parties.

How did Apiqu perform from a project management standpoint?

I ran point on our side and Alexander (Co-Founder, Apiqu) ran point on their side; they also included a developer on calls. We had daily morning regroups; they would then send a breakdown of what they had accomplished that day. I didn’t have to pester Apiqu because the team was always on top of communicating and documenting work. From a project management standpoint, I couldn’t have asked for more. We talked via Skye for Business all the time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team fostered a great relationship with responsive service and outstanding communication skills. In addition, they were well-spoken and required minimal interpretation from our end. That quick back and forth saved us valuable time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were discrepancies between our spend expectations and the actual bill. We should have been clearer about our budget requirements, but they also could have been more transparent. Apiqu didn’t inform us ahead of time that the hours accumulated were going over the scope agreement. Early warnings to prevent unpleasant surprises would help.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the web and brand manager for the Canada Council for the Arts. We are a public arts funder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apiqu Inc.?

We were looking for extra development support. We wanted to find a provider with expertise in Sitecore, which is our content management system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first project they did was redeveloping and redesigning the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) website. It had about 200 pages in English and French. We provided them with the design composites, and they did both the front- and backend development of the site. Search functionality and a blog were added to the new site.

What is the team composition?

Our main contact was their CTO. We also had some opportunities to communicate directly with the developers.

How did you come to work with Apiqu Inc.?

We went through a competitive process of sending out an RFP. After evaluating their proposal, we found they met all of our criteria and passed the evaluation.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $30,000 CAD (approximately $23,000 USD) for the CCUNESCO website.

What is the status of this engagement?

The CCUNESCO website development took place from October–December 2017. We’ve hired them for other development projects, and we just completed one that launched today.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was very pleased with the CCUNESCO website redesign. The feedback we got from users is that it’s more user friendly in comparison to the previous version. They love the added functionality as well. We’re really pleased with how knowledgeable and competent they are with Sitecore.

How did Apiqu Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re timely and responsive. They mainly use Jira to communicate as well for bug fixes and troubleshooting. We also had weekly status update meetings as we got deeper into the devolvement phase of the project. The CTO was occasionally joined on calls by one or two other members of the team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re very impressed with how fast they work while still delivering quality products and services. Apiqu Inc. is always willing to help us out. They’re very supportive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

On the communications side of the project, we frequently had to prompt them to relay information to us about how the project was tracking to budget.

Any advice for potential customers?

Be clear from the start in setting expectations. Make sure they understand how often you want them to communicate on key issues.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the Director of Marketing at the Rotman School of Management, the business school at the University of Toronto.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apiqu?

We contracted with Apiqu for a Sitecore development project and a WordPress blogging platform update.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we implemented Sitecore in 2012, we left our faculty biographies on an old server, and our transition of those using an Iframe was messy. We wanted to fully host the faculty bios within our Sitecore platform, which meant allowing 180 or so faculty members to have access to the site and the ability to update their bios. We had a look in mind, so we established the wireframes and the look, and they built them. We also added fields for them to present their latest research and other work they’re doing.

We had also been using WordPress to host our admissions team blogging, and it was a poor experience for site users to read a blog on another platform. We had a lot of content that was not being seen, so we asked Apiqu to build internal blogging capabilities.

Midway through the project, we went through a visual identity upgrade. Apiqu made the appropriate changes to our fonts, colors, and homepage templates to better reflect the new brand.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two developers and a business manager.

How did you come to work with Apiqu?

We put together an RFQ for three local vendors, and we selected Apiqu based on their competitive price and proactive approach.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $50,000 Canadian ($38,500 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work began in September 2017 and was completed in May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our updated site is a vast improvement from what we previously worked with. The faculty finds it easier to use, and we are better equipped to showcase their information and research. Further, our internal bloggers are loving the platform.

How did Apiqu perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very talented developers, but simultaneously managing the project presented some challenges. I felt they should consider investing in that side of their business. We worked mostly through email, but their offices aren’t too far away, so we would occasionally meet in person, as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are a delightful group, and they were very cost effective.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a technology consultancy. We help our clients plan, design, and develop enterprise-level digital applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aqiqu?

We had a long-standing partnership with Apiqu. They provided additional development resources when we when we need them to scale up quickly—specifically on Sitecore projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Depending on the project, their developers provided assistance in our build cycle, led the projects from a technical architect and development standpoint, provided project management, and helped with QA. Using our wireframes and technical documentation, they helped us with two notable projects. First, they provided technical expertise to help create a solution for a utility company. Second, they implemented Sitecore 8.2 for an e-commerce solution for a liquor company.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with three of their developers, who also act as managers.

How did you come to work with Aqiqu?

When I joined the company, we already had a partnership with Apiqu. I simply inherited that partnership, but while it wasn't my decision, I was happy with their performance.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $100,000–$150,000 CAD ($76,880–$115,320 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in November 2016 and finished our first project in October 2017. We ended the second project in February 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Feedback on their work was positive. Our clients weren't directly involved with Apiqu, but at the end of the day, they were happy with the product that we delivered. This was the proof I needed to continue to work with them.

How did Aqiqu perform from a project management standpoint?

I managed the project. Their team was responsive, and we communicated over the phone, email, and Slack. They almost always answered back within the hour.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by their ability to adapt their work to be successful. I appreciated their responsiveness to our questions and high-level estimates on certain things that our in-house team didn't necessarily have the bandwidth for. They had a great attitude, were friendly, and willing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve on their timeline estimation. They sometimes missed out on certain details within their control. They also only provide Sitecore development, so diversifying their skills would make them more valuable.

Any advice for potential customers?

Try to be specific about the things that you want. Ask your questions in a couple of different ways. Oftentimes they told us they could deliver a request, but changed their answer as the scope became more complicated. Be buttoned down with your own set of requirements rather than leaving things open-ended.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-owner and the CEO of AutoLux, which is traded as Rapid City Transportation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Apiqu?

We provide detailed, personalized services to clients. Without software assistance, we would need an army of people to record all our requirements. Once we’ve recorded and stored an item, it's sorted and its information is made available with the click of a button. It’s quite convenient.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we started the collaboration, we explained our operations, logistics, and goals, and Apiqu designed the platform from scratch. In 2014, Apiqu rewrote the entire platform using C# and added functionalities to make it more usable. We launched the new version in 2017. 

We provide roughly 1,000 trips per day. Once we order a trip, multiple self-controlling features determine the customer's budget, the duration of the service, and their access to certain areas. This software immediately accepts the request or asks for verification, but automatically halts if we try to book a service in the past. Customers can select a wheelchair van, a sedan, a minivan, or a car with booster seats. After each trip, the software enables our quality control department to contact customers and record the results. 

All our drivers can choose a status on their smartphones. That information is sent back to the office, where it shows on a huge real-time map. That's one of the most attractive, useful features of the platform. We had a feature that showed the real-time location of cars long before popular ride sharing apps even existed.

Five monitors sort all our business by timeframe and status. Our representatives can see client movement and visualize business volume. Apiqu also implemented an automatic calculator for driver tardiness and a feature that tells us when drivers are speeding.

Before launching the new software, we outsourced a phone-based process and hired many people. Apiqu developed a complete solution. They didn’t trouble us with colors, button shapes, or other small details; they described how the solution would work and sent us a demo. We highlighted the parts that needed improvement, and they devised solutions within the day. Once we implemented this software on the outsourced company’s side, we started saving on human resources costs.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked directly with three people out of the six or seven on Apiqu’s team. One focused on communicating feature requests to their Android and iOS departments, and the other two worked on our software.

How did you come to work with Apiqu?

I’m far removed from tech development. I needed someone who could understand our operations and logistics and explain a product design. After meeting Apiqu’s CEO, I started talking about some of our problems. He gave me his opinion on how I should solve them, and we set up a meeting to talk about the whole picture.

How much have you invested with them?

The last project cost us around $300,000 CAD (approximately $230,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Apiqu in 2009. Development took a year, and we launched the platform in December 2010. They did a full redevelopment between August 2017 and February 2018, adding many new features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re proud of the software. We have a human-friendly design, and each of the 75 people in our office is happy with it. Since 2009, our annual average growth has been around 35%, with half of that growth because of the platform. It’s so detail-oriented that our employees can see every detail about our collaborators and clients.

We showed the software to a government institute that is keen on the security and protection of private information, and they’ve started using it. We started collaborating with them in April 2018, and it took them one month and two or three training sessions to learn the system. We’ve received nothing but compliments from them. This relationship brings in around $10 million per year.

How did Apiqu perform from a project management standpoint?

I would give them a 9.5/10. This is a software project, so we work 24/7. If we tell them about something we don’t like, all their people are on the phone around-the-clock.

If we explain what we want to solve, they give us a plan within a few days. They add our requested features relatively quickly. After testing, we’re done. They’re available at night and fix everything within an hour. Their reaction time is excellent. Most importantly, they know what they’re doing.

They wanted to share a system that's mainly designed for developers. We can launch issues for Apiqu to address them. We’ve used the system, but I wasn't part of the testing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re good workers and receptive designers. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Apiqu is a partner now, so we can tell them about anything we don’t like. They work on issues until we're fully satisfied; it’s not a take-it-or-leave-it collaboration. Therefore, it’s hard to say whether they could do anything differently. As long as we're happy, I don't know if a different model would be better than the one we have now.