Arch

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Marketing Manager of a engineering and manufacturing firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We lacked an integrated sales & marketing digital infrastructure that resutled in very limited automation, and required a custom solution that would feed into our existing ERP system, SAP B1.

SOLUTION

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

We found ARCH via desktop research and considered them alongside 4 other firms. The deciding factors were their pragmatic approach, knowledge and creativity, their understanding of our business needs and the level of detail they proposed during customer discovery.

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

Customer discovery workshop over 3 sessions to outline goals, potential challenges, key user personas , and mapping the existing user journey. Followed by mapping a detailed 'ideal state' user journey, feeding in the automations required and the different actions, systems and stakeholders at each stage.

Then the team went away to develop their proposal for the custom system and presented back to our team, with opportunity for Q&A and refinement. The team refined the proposal by creating a staged implementation timeline in order of features most important to the business for 'quick wins' and any futureproofing.

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

4 on vendor side, 4 our side.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were very impressed by the team and have since migrated our website and SLA over to them.

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

Communicated through Google Meet, email and telephone.

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

Durect access to the whole team. They’re very flexible and happy to discuss iterations and work around our schedules.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of a cosmetics startup — Sklin.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ARCH?

We needed a partner to help develop our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ARCH built several features including a price comparison tool, a search tool, a barcode scanner, and a product database. They enabled users to search for specific products and their information such as ingredients. Users can also share information with one another and make recommendations too.

What is the team composition?

We have two primary contacts, and the team consists of a lead designer, a product owner, a senior developer, and a commercial director.

How did you come to work with Arch?

We spoke with several companies and used Clutch to research them. ARCH’s umbrella company introduced us to them. We liked the quality of their previous work and their company’s smaller size. They displayed enthusiasm and passion for our project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in July 2020, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We expect to launch the product in the new year. They’re collaborative, giving us great suggestions for marketing strategies. Their team talks about us on their social media profiles, including Facebook and LinkedIn. ARCH also introduced us to other companies in the space, so we’re pleased with them.

How did ARCH perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re generally happy with their communication and the project’s timing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re personable, so it’s pleasant to work ARCH.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We would’ve liked to have seen more of the process from the backend and had more frequent updates.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

To get the most value for your investment, stay in close contact with their team to ensure the project stays on track.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re in the early stages of establishing a golf social media app. I’m the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ARCH?

I wanted a prototype of an application created.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went through a discovery phase. They created a prototype app and helped with some of the design work. They provided some of the imagery for an investor presentation. They did a landing page that would drum up some activity. The site lets investors fill in their information so I can share collateral. They acted like a chief technology officer or consultant.

The prototype is a series of images that look like an app. They have some bespoke features that are designed, and we plan to build it in-full when I gain investors. It will be available for iOS and Android.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with three people, including business developer, a designer, and a developer.

How did you come to work with ARCH?

I spoke to a larger agency, and although my project was smaller than what they work on, they pointed me towards ARCH. I liaised with several firms, and ARCH was great in our initial interaction. They gave me various ideas and put things in layman’s terms for me. They differentiated themselves because they supported our investment journey by providing technological insight.

How much have you invested with them?

I paid £6,000 (approximately $7,400 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a good-quality prototype. All of the feedback I’ve provided has been implemented, or they’ve made recommendations on bits and pieces. Overall, I’m happy with their work.

How did ARCH perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication has been great. They had technical awareness and used their experience to give pointers and suggestions. During the project, they kept to their timelines. If they couldn’t meet a deadline, they let us know in advance. They’re very forthcoming about things I want to tweak.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were hungry to win our business. From the early stages of our engagement, they were quite involved. Whereas some of the other development companies I spoke to just wanted to build what I asked them to, ARCH was enthusiastic and wanted to build on my idea from the original idea. They were with me throughout the journey and they can support us going forward with investors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice to have the prototype as if it were an app on our phone.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s definitely worth connecting with their business development team. They have a number of years of experience, which is very useful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Founder. We're a startup in the on-demand EV space. Helping consumers discover and hire EVs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ARCH?

We settled on working with Arch for brand, website and app development.

What were your goals for this project?

To launch a new cutting-edge platform that will allow us to disrupt the vehicle hiring sector.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We hired Arch after a number of meetings with others, we liked the approach they took with us, the questions they asked and the advice they gave, which went beyond how to develop the app.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we appointed Arch we undertook a series of workshops to help figure out the scope for the MVP, and then what the future phase post-go-live might look like. Arch then fixed the cost of the project to the scope and provided a sprint plan, which included timescales. We went on to enter sprints that saw us design and build in an iterate manner. This led us to being able to provide feedback and get to a product that we're really happy with.

What was the team composition?

We worked with Matt and Rob at the start, they helped us understand our challenges. We went on to work with Andy with regards to design and two other developers in the Arch team as we developed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Within 3 months we had a product to BETA, we were then able to push the product live to a private group in 2020. We're now planning some updates in conjunction with a full public release.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They've been amazing. Respond quickly to questions, great advice and always on time with getting releases to us.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The advice, team structure and willingness to help with questions that were not always project related.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I can think off.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of SuperSpellers, an education company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ARCH?

We wanted to create a game-based website that would teach primary schoolchildren how to spell. We needed someone to help design and develop our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ARCH helped us to design our educational platform and built a prototype based on the ideas that we shared with them. They came up with all of the designs. They made it so that when you go on the prototype, some of the video characters actually moved. 

The initial design is finished. Next, they will begin developing the whole platform; however, because of the current world circumstances, we don’t know when that’s going to start.

What is the team composition?

We have dealt with three people.

How did you come to work with ARCH?

We did a Google search of different developers, and ARCH seemed to be the most enthusiastic about the idea. We had no previous experience with web design, and they talked us through it.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent $8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2019, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gotten really good feedback. The quality of their work is really good. They’ve delivered exactly what we asked for.

How did ARCH perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is excellent. We communicate via phone and email. They’re really easy to get in contact with and talk to. Any problems we’ve had have been resolved. If we didn’t like an idea or design, we’d talk until we were happy. There was no pressure. The timescale was good. It’s been a really good experience dealing with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to talk to. When we didn’t understand what we were doing, they were really engaging and helpful. They understood our idea really well and were enthusiastic about it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I’d have them improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Explain what you want, and they will make it happen.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a mobility as a service company. We offer vehicles to consumers through subscriptions with flexible terms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ARCH?

We wanted to develop our online platform that provided an easy journey for consumers when they subscribe to us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ARCH functioned as both a consulting and a development agency. Their team helped us to visualize the platform. They helped us to understand how realistic our concepts were. Their team also helped us to create a go-to-market strategy.

They created our web platform and developed key features. Their team supported integrations including a CRM, which was key because we want to work with Intercom. They built in the ability for users to sign up and manage their subscriptions. Also, consumers are able to look at and select a vehicle. their team discussed the benefits of a custom CMS and are assisting us with it. Their efforts allowed us to have an MVP in preparation for an app development project.

We’re taking the time to carefully consider when to launch the product. We need people to subscribe to vehicles, which they can’t do during the lockdown. ARCH allowed us to agree on an appropriate point for us to reach and then discuss what our next phase will look like.

What is the team composition?

We have contact with three people from ARCH. There are additional developers working on the project behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with ARCH?

I cast a wide net and emailed between 15–20 companies. Many companies didn’t respond. One company explained that they couldn’t work with us but referred us to ARCH. From there, it was a match made in heaven.

How much have you invested with them?

The scope of the work changed but originally, we were looking to invest around £40,000 (approximately $50,500 USD) in their services. We managed to bring the cost of the MVP down to £30,000 (approximately $37,900 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and we'll complete this stage of the project in April 2020. The impact of the virus means that we won’t see the whole project through yet. Once we’re in a better position, we’ll continue the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They helped us to understand what we want to achieve. As a company, ARCH was professional and has strong standards. Their team made sure that we got what we needed rather than paying for features that we didn’t need.

We’ve seen drafts of the platform and they meet our expectations. We’re still waiting to get the final element of this stage as we’ve recently shortened it. From design, creative, and development perspectives, we’re satisfied with their work.

How did ARCH perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was organized and had a structure in place, which my team liked because it's clear. Their team was able to communicate with us about what we needed.

Their process is helpful because we can take our time and evaluate decisions on how to proceed. We have meetings when we look at their progress and scope out how far we need to go. They were understanding and flexible.

They’ve been helpful since day one. At the time when we looked for development companies, we didn’t have a budget. They’ve worked with us consistently to allow us to understand what’s required with the platform and the challenges that we could face. Their team's been helpful, so it's been a pleasure to work with their team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

ARCH was understanding, which was important because it was hard to contextualize our ideas.  They took the time to understand our position and eliminate the ideas that weren’t relevant to our product. Their team helped us to outline key features that would be beneficial to the platform. That allowed us to have an eight-month relationship and build our model. They were also cost-effective but that wasn’t the deciding factor.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re such big fans, so I can’t think of anything off of the top of my head.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t rush into anything. Take your time and evaluate your options to ensure that you’re in the best position to proceed. When it comes to working with any development company, ensure that they understand what it takes to build the platform. I had questionable experiences with other service providers, which reinforced my more tactical approach with ARCH. You need to look at the cost and decide if you can afford the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a startup based on the idea that home cooks can make a couple of extra portions to sell or give away.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ARCH?

We needed to build a website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ARCH built a website that people can also use on a mobile phone but it’s not an app. Their team followed the mockup that I created to show how I envisaged the platform.

The website allows people to register for an account. As an example, if you’re a user who likes to cook, you provide your basic details and recipes. Users can also upload a picture of the finished dish and set up a calendar that lists when dishes will be available. The site will also include a function for users to communicate with each other.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people from ARCH.

How did you come to work with ARCH?

I found a food app that I thought was lovely. I loved the product’s flow, colors, and simplicity. I found out who created the app and contacted them. That agency's starting amount was out of my budget but their team put me in touch with ARCH.

How much have you invested with them?

The project has cost about £40,000 (approximately $49,500 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2019 and it’s an ongoing engagement. They would’ve moved quicker but I’ve had to slow the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Recently, a relative tried the app and was able to use it without instruction. We’ll work together to identify any necessary corrections.

How did ARCH perform from a project management standpoint?

When we were busy, we communicated once or twice a week. If I wanted more contact, it would be no problem. Their team is responsive and keeps me up to date on their progress. ARCH is on the ball. If they say that they’ll complete a task, they’ll complete it. When their team sets a deadline, they always hit their mark.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their calm professionalism is most noteworthy. There are tasks that I expect to be difficult, but their team takes them in stride. Their team’s helpful and cares. ARCH is super.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think through your idea and outline it step by step. The more that you have a plan, the quicker their team will get the picture. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of technology for DMA UK, a trade association for marketing bodies in the UK and around the world. We offer services like legal advice, membership benefits, and learning/training courses for qualifications in the marketing industry. I’m responsible for the website solutions we implement.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ARCH?

We’ve worked with ARCH on numerous projects. We first hired them to build a bespoke awards platform, and that developed into other web and software development projects. We wanted to unify various disparate systems and make things much more straightforward.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The digital awards platform they built replaced the entire offline process. Entries can be submitted and judged all online, so ARCH made it one unified experience. After that, they built our new website CMS and custom CRM for the backend. We’d acquired a company, so ARCH migrated their legacy systems onto the updated architecture. They used PHP with a Zend framework and MySQL database.

What is the team composition?

I mainly interacted with the tech lead, but I also had direct contact with the developers.

How did you come to work with ARCH?

One of our IT partners suggested them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from 2011–February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They transformed our company’s image from small and old-fashioned to user-friendly and modern. We’ve improved our online offerings, which are much higher quality now. ARCH allowed us to look good without maximizing costs.

How did ARCH perform from a project management standpoint?

They asked the right questions to ensure they could work efficiently and accomplish project goals. They were constantly available, and we communicated every day.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The developers communicated well and explained high technical concepts in language that non-experts could understand. Even with tasks that didn’t directly involve them, they were willing to give advice and find solutions. I trust them and their opinion.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could create a financial model to be more specific about costs.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

If possible, have an internal team member work with them that understands some of the technical resources. It will make things go smoother.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the managing director of a company that specializes in tailored business software solutions for companies worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ARCH?

We hired the team to help produce a mobile application for a long-time client.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for help and guidance in fulfilling a client's brief for a solution, as our skill set in this area was somewhat in its infancy at the time of the project.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had known a team member for many years, and so they were a natural choice to turn to. We had also worked with them previously on highly successful projects.

Describe the project in detail.

The project encompassed the complete life cycle of developing the app. We had initial discovery workshops, which led to a detailed backlog of requirements. We used this list of requirements to scope the UI, from wire-framing through to full design prototypes. Then, we began the app development.

What was the team composition?

The project initially involved a project manager and a designer. After we built the requirements, we handed the designs over to a front-and-backend developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project success was demonstrated in the functionality of the solution. The app solved a problem for our client by making information more portable and readily available.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was very good. We had regular meetings and collaboration sessions via email, the phone, and Skype. Client involvement was of paramount importance, and so they were involved in the initial design process and during each piece of the development. The team could not have been more receptive to our needs or the needs of our client.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They had great attention to detail. When a client asked a question, they were able to explain everything and highlight the impact in both time and cost.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, there aren’t any areas for improvement. Since they were involved from the very beginning, they understood all of our goals, which is so important in software development. Future clients should involve the team from the very start of the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work with Recite Me Limited, a firm that designs, builds, and sells accessibility software. Our primary product helps our clients’ tailor their website content for optimal visitor interface.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ARCH?

We needed a CRM system that fit our process and ways of working. We didn’t want to fit our ways of working to a specified CRM such as HubSpot or Salesforce.

What were your goals for this project?

The CRM had to be innovative, flexible, and accessible anywhere.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by mutual connections. We chose them based on their initial demo of a CRM proposal and the customization they could offer.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed, developed, built and released to us a CRM system that fit our needs. We began with several meetings to establish our goals and ensure everyone on the project was aligned.

What was the team composition?

We had a main point of contact, with others on his team involved as required.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our sales team described the new CRM as “lightning quick” and a huge improvement over what we had before. We’ve seen a significant impact due to the visibility of each individual’s pipeline, as well as pipelines for our team. That’s allowed us to redirect our efforts elsewhere.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We use Jira for day-to-day task management, which made the progress transparent. They had someone attend weekly project update meetings and calls. Everyone involved was aware of the project’s status at all times.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness and willingness to get it right the first time stood out to us. They were committed to fixing anything that wasn’t right on the money as quickly as possible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can’t think of anything.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was updated by the client on October 1, 2019. The original ratings were: Overall- 5, Quality-5, Schedule- 4.5, Cost- 5, NPS- 5. New content is below: 

Please describe your company and your position there.

Recite Me is a cloud-based web accessibility assistive toolbar solution that allows website visitors to customise a site in a way that works best for them.   Approximately one billion people globally have a disability and they can often face barriers when visiting inaccessible websites that prevent them from taking an active part in life.   Recite Me’s innovative assistive technology makes websites accessible and inclusive through a unique range of features. This easy to use, award-winning software includes text to speech functionality, fully customisable styling features, reading aids and a translation tool with over 100 languages, including 35 text to speech voices and many other features.   This innovative software benefits millions of people who currently miss out on online and mobile content; Recite works across all devices, giving everyone the opportunity to use the internet the way it is intended.

How did you select this vendor?

ARCH was selected as a recommended local company with an impressive portfolio and knowledge of accessibility.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

ARCH, designed, developed and launched our new accessibility friendly website. The project started with a design/goal meeting that the Arch team understood perfectly, capturing our brand and core message. Once that was completed, everything was confirmed including workflows, wireframes and CMS preferences.  The team worked very quickly, and efficiently to deliver the new website on time and to budget.

What was the team composition?

After the design stage, we were in contact with two people from ARCH who were always on hand to keep us up to date with the project.

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

The new website has made it easier for our potential customers to access key information they need. Resulting in an increase in inquiries and time on site.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We used Jira and the project was on time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication, time management and professionalism