Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a research editor for an equity research firm. We provide investment research for hedge funds and other financial institutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions?

We needed an experienced development firm to rebuild our website and mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were experiencing a lot of problems with our mobile app and WordPress website. They didn’t always work correctly and had limited functionality. We found Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions and asked them to rebuild our platform with a custom CMS. Our project evolved into more than what was included in our initial brief. We introduced an additional website for them to build alongside the original scope. They were flexible enough to accommodate the sudden change.

We hired a freelance designer to assist our in-house resource in developing the platform’s wireframes. Once we had the designs finalized, we handed them over to Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions. After completing the website, they built the mobile app for both iOS and Android.

The app’s current iteration features a video playlist that helps users access more of our content. They enhanced a similar functionality on the website by adding an autoplay feature. Since they built the CMS from the ground up, we were able to request additional sections, fields, and tagging abilities. There’s also a bookmarking tool that can link pages between the app and the website.

What is the team composition?

They assigned a project manager, an Android developer, an iOS developer, and a UX designer. Another developer was added later to handle the API integrations. Once the core functionalities were completed, they allocated several QA resources to the project.

How did you come to work with Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions?

We initially considered an American development firm, but they recommended Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions. Considering they’re based in Europe and offered affordable pricing, we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost is roughly £100,000 (approximately $128,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2018. The new platform launched in October, but we have an ongoing maintenance contract with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They transferred everything to the new platform without losing any historical content. Having a content-heavy product, we were elated to hear that the transition went smoothly. Among their various contributions, they also enhanced the platform’s analytic abilities. As a result, we’re able to see who visits the site, when they log in, and what content they view. Our customers are pleased with the app’s improved functionality.

How did Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager did a great job communicating with us and setting up meetings. We met the team in-person a few times, but most collaboration was accomplished through video calls. They used Jira to track issues and changes within the test site.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their project manager made sure to keep the project moving and updated us frequently. We also appreciate their flexibility. Most companies wouldn’t be able to accommodate us as readily as Attrecto Next Tech Digital Solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

All the functionalities are clean. However, providing the entire frontend design was fairly labor-intensive on our end.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re receptive to new ideas and will work hard to accomplish creative objectives.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Centric Digital is a Digital Transformation Company. We offer end-to-end solutions for digital strategy, benchmarking, gap analysis, and strategic roadmap modeling. We can aid in the execution of the roadmap across all digital touch points of an enterprise, with internal technology support, staff augmentation, web development, and omni-channel product development. I am Head of Production for our Transformation Platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Attrecto?

Attrecto provided software solutions for our client product needs and is a developer for our own software platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Attrecto has worked on multiple products and projects for us. Smaller projects will include prototyping and proof of concepts, where the creation of a framework of a product is required in order to demonstrate specific usability or capabilities of a larger concept. Larger projects have included system architecture design, full end-to-end product development, deployment, and live operations support in coordination with teams on multiple continents.

How did you come to work with Attrecto?

I was introduced via mutual connections.

How much have you invested with Attrecto?

Projects have ranged in value from $50,000 to $2,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This has been an ongoing relationship over the last 3.5 years (since January 2013).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Attrecto has helped us produce tangible output from business strategy in the form of prototypes and products.

Our clients have always been happy with the results of their work.

How did Attrecto perform from a project management standpoint?

Good. On certain projects we have relied on their team to manage the project aspects, while we run the product management.

What did you find most impressive about Attrecto?

Attrecto is a very capable developer with a large knowledge base. The have a strong network of contractors from which to hire in order to scale quickly where needed. Attrecto has a great outreach to universities and a solid on-boarding process in order to obtain the best talent.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Artspace.com is a leading online marketplace and e-commerce space for contemporary art and ideas, offering both established and aspiring collectors the opportunity to discover, learn about, and purchase meaningful contemporary art at the click of a button. It launched its first app in December 2015, which includes exhibition listings by city (starting with New York) and a feature to view artwork from our site in your own room. With more than 300,000 members, Artspace.com sells and ships artwork to collectors in more than 30 countries.

What is your role or position at the company?

I am the director of product management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Attrecto Smartphone Solutions?

Our mobile platform was limited to our mobile-optimized web platform. The feedback we got directly from our users is that a mobile app will increase our member signups, and we will be able to convert more people into loyal users and ultimately buyers. We did not have competency in-house to design and develop an iPhone app.

What were your company's specific goals for the project, especially as it pertains to your industry?

Our main goal was for the app to be a recruiting and engagement tool for users and buyers interested in art.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

First of all, the app is another platform for our e-commerce business. Via the app, the users are able to browse and buy artwork available for sale at Artspace. One of the challenges of buying art online, especially high-priced items, is the lack of physical inspection or ability to see how the art object will fit in the user's environment.

The app, designed and developed by Attrecto, introduced a cool feature that allows a user to virtually project any artwork available in the Artspace inventory, at real dimensions, in the user's environment, and take and save a picture. This feature is extremely valuable, especially for a certain category of our users: home and office decorators who need to buy art for their clients.

Also in the app, we have added a feature called exhibition listings. It allows the user to find information and the precise location and map for current shows and openings by city or near the device location.

How did you come to work with Attrecto Smartphone Solutions?

I conducted phone interviews with nine vendors – seven from New York and two outside the United States. From those, I selected six and did RFPs [request for proposals]. From these six, only three met our time and budget constraints, so we met with them individually for discovery and planning. Attrecto impressed us with the way they prepared for the meetings, how quickly they learned our business, and proved a deep understanding of our requirements. In general, they had a very professional approach to the pre-contract process.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The project size was $90,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our project started in July 2015, and the first version was launched in January 2016. Since then, we've renewed our contract with Attrecto to the end of this year [2016] for customer relations, marketing strategies, analytics, and maintenance. Since January, we have launched four versions of the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We are extremely happy with the results of Attrecto's work; in just four months, 20 percent of our member signups are coming via the app.

How did Attrecto Smartphone Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Every single sprint has been delivered on time. Furthermore, when we had additional, or out-of-scope, requests, Attrecto's team worked during weekends to meet our needs. In spite of the time difference, we felt as if they were in an office next door to us. It felt as we were their only client.

What distinguishes Attrecto Smartphone Solutions from other providers?

Many things stand out to me: the effectiveness of Attrecto's planning and delivery, the flexibility with our requests and timelines, the knowledge of what's new and available in the tech industry, the ability to catch up business particularities in such a short time, and their innate innovation spirit.

In hindsight, are there areas in which they could improve or things you might do differently?

Not really. Project planning, communication – so important when the teams are remote, development, marketing and post-launch, and analytics consultancy are all at a high-quality level.