Bornfight Studio

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of Krypto Investment Partners, a startup that offers services and tools for automated algorithmic trading in the crypto market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bornfight?

We wanted to build a platform for algorithmic trading and were looking for help with its development from a skilled agency.

We had some business/technical specifications for what we wanted to do with the service, and we knew that we had to deliver something in a very short period of time, so everything might not be as specified and consolidated as possible.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we didn’t know everything that we wanted and we made changes to our business and technical requirements. It was also difficult to choose the right technology.

Bornfight were responsible for developing certain parts of the system. When we began, we thought they would do almost everything, but that was narrowed down to one service which they helped us to finalize and launch. They did backend development for the platform, which provides streams of crypto market data to the end users. These can be used for analysis and to decide which markets will be triggered and create trading strategies on top of them.

We used Redhat OpenShift as a base for the platform, with the code in JavaScript and TypeScript combining the other languages and technologies as well. The platform itself is a combination of different technologies as it’s using micro service approach. They also did QA and testing for us, but we did the end-to-end testing.

What is the team composition?

There was initially a team of 18 people, but by the end of the project, there were five people involved. I was in touch with the project manager from their side.

How did you come to work with Bornfight?

We know the owner of Bornfight.

How much have you invested in them?

We invested between €550,000–€600,000 (approximately $688,00–$802,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from December 2017–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At the end of the engagement, the first service became fully operable. We had huge expectations, but it wasn’t possible to fulfill all of our services that we initially planned, and only one service was launched. However, it wasn’t their fault that we couldn’t deliver all the services. Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with what they did deliver.

How did Bornfight perform from a project management standpoint? 

The project management was very good. We used GitLab, Whatsapp, and email while the developers used Slack for most of the communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The contract has expired, but there is always the option to start discussions about future engagements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Some of the developers could improve their code writing skills since some system modules were over-engineered.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear with your specifications, especially when initiating a complex project. For us, there was a lot of jumping from one technology to another and changing business requirements until we found with what we were satisfied with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the online marketing manager for a premier hotel group with luxury hotels and villas across Croatia, including Dubrovnik, Cavtat, and Mljet. Our properties combine outstanding leisure and business facilities with superior services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bornfight?

We approached Bornfight to produce a new, tastefully designed website that elegantly showcased our portfolio and captured our brand messaging.

What were your goals for this project?

We sought to improve our on our previous website’s user experience and functionality. Ultimately, our goal was to boost our numbers in terms of visitors, sessions, and bookings.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected the top web agencies based on their previous work and recommendations. After sending out a detailed brief, each agency responded with rough proposals, cost overviews, and vision boards. Following a screening process, we selected Bornfight for their attention to detail.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We provided a challenging brief with distinctive enquiries regarding our brand architecture and visual identity. Based on those initial technical/design requirements, Bornfight handled the full-cycle design and development process, including the e-commerce integration with our booking vendor. They now continue to provide ongoing maintenance and support.

jWhat was the team composition?

We had a medium-sized team that consisted of a project manager, a designer, and technical staff.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Bornfight’s team effectively pulled together our extensive list of specifications into a well-designed website. In addition to having a tremendous impact on our brand presentation, the site has become one of our main selling tools and serves as the first point of contact in our buying funnel. Users can now easily book stays, and we’ve seen a substantial increase in revenue.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They had an effective workflow and were responsive throughout. We mostly communicated via email, Skype, and phone.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Not only was the Bornfight team easy to communicate with, but they were also genuinely focused on all of our challenges and worked to resolve them promptly. We valued their need for continuous improvement and innovation.

Furthermore, they were constantly upbeat and friendly while still being professional. They remained patient with our never-ending requirements and were open to feedback and ideas.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Looking back, there are always things that we could have changed. Perhaps we could have defined the project scope in greater detail in terms the volume of content that needed to be edited and implemented.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director of WOLACO. I run all our marketing programs and lead the development and launch of our women’s line, which will be released in 2019.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bornfight?

As we continued to grow, we wanted to elevate our primary consumer touch point—our website. As an e-commerce first business, this is the most important destination for us. The existing website didn’t meet the standard we had for our brand and business as we continued to grow and elevate, so we needed a partner to redesign our site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bornfight redesigned and built a new e-commerce webpage, integrating shopping functionality and our blog to elevate our brand representation and, ultimately, increase our conversion rate. They built the site on Shopify and implemented creative solutions to create a customized and unique user experience. They integrated various functionalities that required creative thinking and innovative solutions. For example, we are working on a functionality to purchase products in bundles for less. They are also incorporating the blog into our site, which had previously been separate. Bornfight worked with us to find a unique way to hero our founding product, that highlights the product benefits, while providing an engaging user experience for site visitors.

What is the team composition?

We had an account manager who was our day-to-day main point of contact and acted as a liaison between the tech/design teams and myself. We also worked with multiple designers, tech experts, and a project/client success manager.

How did you come to work with Bornfight?

We stumbled upon the work of the lead designer and liked what he created. He introduced us to his team at Bornfight, and that's how the relationship began.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been partners with them since May 2018, and the work is ongoing. We launched the first part of the site and are now working on phase 2.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received positive feedback on the site from our customers. Its new design has helped improve performance over the past month as we introduce new products at a rate that we have never done before and move into the holiday retail season. Bornfight integrated many design elements into the site that make it easy for our internal team to edit it on an ongoing basis.

How did Bornfight perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re incredibly responsive and communicative, making sure we’re updated on any changes to the project. They stick to our timelines and are always available whenever we have questions or concerns. We use Teamwork to discuss deadlines and milestones, and we use InVision for feedback on wireframes and designs. Their team went above and beyond in understanding our brand and providing excellent service.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is united around their company mission to work with passionate determination, and that attitude is prevalent in all of our interactions. They positively and confidently work to overcome any challenge presented to them. We thoroughly enjoyed working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We'd like them to communicate further in advance on sprints that might require additional budget.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

The more you can view Bornfight as an extension of your own team, the better the relationship will be, and the better able they’ll be to find solutions that fit your needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing manager of Šimuni Camping Village. We’re a top camping site in Europe with a capacity of 3,000 people.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bornfight?

When we began the project, we had a nonfunctional website. We also wanted more organic traffic. We had been working with a different agency that wasn’t fulfilling our needs, so we wanted a team that put the client first.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bornfight built us a responsive website and integrated the Hotjar tool. They implemented promotions and campaigns on our site. One device they’ve created is a website calculator. They are currently developing a custom software for our booking and project management needs.

What is the team composition?

They provide a dedicated account manager, who has remained the same since the beginning of the engagement. They’ve supplied multiple people from their team, including designers, developers, social media specialists, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Bornfight?

After deciding we needed a better firm to work with, I reached out to Bornfight, previously known as Degordian, and we had a great first meeting. The company recently split into two, and we continued the project with Bornfight, who provided our entire original team.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested €1.4 million (approximately $1.6 million USD) since 2013. The project with Bornfight individually has cost €500,000 (approximately $570,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in 2013 with Degordian, and continued with Bornfight in September 2016. The work is ongoing, and we hope to launch the system in 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The bookings directly from our site increased by 300%, which was significant considering we don’t work with external booking platforms. The new website launched with a promotion for the first 50 reservations made, an initiative that earned glowing reviews by our users. The platform's flow has improved, and we’ve received positive feedback on it. Everything they’ve done has been measurable, which we appreciate.

How did Bornfight perform from a project management standpoint?

Bornfight is always striving to meet deadlines and discusses project goals and briefs. They use their own project management tools and communicate with us over email and phone. Their communication is fantastic.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Instead of just solving issues for us, they’ve given us the tools we need to help ourselves. They’re always suggesting new ideas and backing it up with quality data. Additionally, the software they’re creating will make us unique in our industry.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they could do better; they’re a brilliant team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the senior brand manager for the global corporate communications team at HARTMANN GROUP, which is a global healthcare company that provides solutions for professionals and for home use. We produce a wide range of single-use products that improve the lives of people with incontinence, support faster wound healing, and shorten the time needed to perform surgeries. We also bring quick and accurate diagnostics at home.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Bornfight?

We hired them to develop a web-based application to use as a registering and organization tool for managing our biggest internal conference. It would help communicate with and connect the participants of the event while also allowing them to take part in our satisfaction survey and to share input after the conference.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to reduce the time needed for organizing the conference, minimize the number of mistakes that can occur, connect participants, and provide a place for the exchange of information and communication about the event.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We looked for a company with good references that could do the task quickly and not just do what we ask them to but also provide advice and recommendations. We considered three companies and two ready solutions. The deciding factors included the company’s presentation, price, their communication during the selection process, and reviews and recommendations. We had a team of three people, including the VP of corporate communications, involved in the selection process.

Describe the project in detail.

They developed, designed, and configured the application. The project began with our requirements, which were adapted or upgraded during several meetings. There was also a testing phase during which we realized that we needed more functionalities—those were quickly developed and tested again.

One of the biggest challenges during the organization of the conference is to gather information about participants in a timely way and to avoid mistakes when changing or updating information. Bornfight solved the issue by providing a profile for each participant and allowing them to add and change their personal information as needed.

The app allows participants to see who will be present at an event and it allows them to read more about other participants and to connect and chat with each other. They can also see the agenda for the conference and apply for the limited-availability side sessions—once the session is full, no one can apply anymore, which is a tremendously helpful function that minimizes mistakes in handling that part of the conference. There’s a feedback survey as well that participants submit through the app and after the event, we send each participant their notes in case they used the Notes section of the app.

The application was delivered and launched in time for the conference organization but we continued with backend work for the functionalities which were used during the conference. We had their full support through the entire project and also during the event.

What was the team composition?

There was a project manager who was—and still is—our direct contact as well as several different developers working on the solution.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

The solution was developed and launched in time for the conference. The management board and the participants thought it was a major improvement compared to the former years. In the following year, we added some new functions and still use the app successfully for our event’s management.

How effective was the project management?

The project management was extremely collaborative, helpful, and responsive. They typically answered our inquiries within an hour or so and provided advice and ideas for improvements. We communicated via Skype, phone calls, and in person. Whenever the project manager was abroad or on vacation, he would still check-in to make sure the work was running well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are a team of young enthusiasts that are serious when it comes to their work but they never forget to have fun along the way. It’s a pleasure to work with such a team!

What tips or recommendations do you have?

The only recommendation I would have is to test the solution well and then test it again. There are always new ideas popping up as the solution develops and Bornfight responds to ideas amazingly. They even provide recommendations proactively. That is, however, a stronger reason to test, test, test the solution more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a marketing communications manager of Lufthansa Airlines, and I’m responsible for the UK, Ireland, and Iceland markets. I oversee a lot of the B2C campaigns locally, as well as the cooperation with the head office in Frankfurt for marketing at the Pan-European level.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Bornfight?

One of the first campaigns we used them for was Lufthansa Dreamscapes. We were launching 4-5 new routes called “sunshine destinations” to Panama, Tampa, and Mauritius, among others. We wanted to target a broad audience with that message digitally.

The global advertising work is all done by Lufthansa. When it comes to local marketing campaigns, we reach out to agencies we have relationships with, like Bornfight.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first couple of campaigns were mainly online. The initial project involved them creating our B2B training for the Lufthansa Academy, which is an e-learning platform.

Bornfight created the Dreamscapes concept, which was a Pan-European campaign involving a microsite based on little-known facts about selected destinations in the French, Italian, and UK markets. This campaign was a test-run, and they did a nice job, so we continued working with them.

We have a creative agency based in Frankfurt which is globally contracted, and they’re responsible for our above-the-line creative (out-of-home advertising). We have a set of motifs and artwork which we use locally, and Bornfight has worked within those boundaries for any microsite they’ve created for us.

They were always available when we contacted them. We worked with Ivo Novak [Director of Digital Marketing Services, Bornfight], and he was available all the time. They tend to work quite quickly due to being a smaller agency that has their resources in one place.

Recently, we were looking to promote our route to Munich out of the UK, and Bornfight is a digital, social-based agency, so I asked them to come up with a concept we could execute quickly. They came up with a digital treasure hunt using Google Maps which will be posted to our Facebook.

What is the team dynamic?

We’ve had a close collaboration with Bornfight, and they are flexible in that respect. We like to make sure we remain involved in any creative campaigns being executed locally, and they’re happy to entertain that by working closely with our clients. We would brief them, have the team come back with ideas, and once we settled on one concept, we communicated through email and weekly updates thereafter.

We used screen sharing, which allowed us to view their presentations and microsites as they were being developed. We were very involved in the process, which is what we prefer as a brand.

How did you come to work with Bornfight?

We had a good relationship with a colleague who was formerly based in Croatia, which is where Bornfight’s main office is located. We began working with her when she moved to our office in the UK, and she recommended Degordian to us. We were quite happy to work with Bornfight immediately, based on the work they’d done with our colleague in Croatia.

How much have you invested with them?

The Pan-European project came out of our head office budget. Locally, the cost has been between €50,000-€70,000 [$60,000-$85,000].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Bornfight in 2014. At the time, I was in a different role and not so heavily involved. My predecessor was working with them more, so I’m unsure of the exact date. The Dreamscapes project took place in September 2015, and before that, we had worked with Bornfight on a local campaign. The relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Dreamscapes campaigns won a couple of awards in the tech industry. It has garnered quite a lot of attention in terms of press and PR, mainly in trade news sites.

I’m still waiting for results on the project they did for me recently.

How did Bornfight perform from a project management standpoint?

Bornfight communicates very well. They are usually trying to contact me to sign off and approve concepts, since I stay so busy most of the time. My initial contact has since moved on, but the current one is great, and always willing to talk to me. She understands that it’s not really our job to be experts in the digital area. She is able to explain everything about the backend to us in a simplified manner even though English isn’t her first language.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They made an awesome microsite for the Dreamscapes campaign, and their development team is very strong. The site was user-friendly, unusual, and eye-catching. We were all very impressed with what the development and design teams came up with. They’re also flexible in working with limited budgets, and they’re able to create a campaign that keeps our end goal and KPI [key performance indicator] in mind.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They tend to go for the same approach. I want to see things done differently and take risks sometimes, but they have a habit of proposing similar campaigns if they know they will work. It’s a small area, but getting a brand new concept out of Bornfight can be a bit of a hassle.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a publisher but we also build a lot of products with our partners that range from mobile apps to commerce products to events, correspondence, and core tools.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Bornfight?

It was a matter of resources. We have a lot of projects, but we’re a small company and needed help with design and development for special projects.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We’ve worked on a couple of projects with Bornfight, ranging from small scale projects like the creation of media banners to large scale partner websites. They have been our partner for multiple large scale website projects. They do mostly design and development for us and it's co-branded work.

Our content suggests activities to people in their cities; we’re kind of a lifestyle guide. One project we’re working on with Bornfight is using maps to showcase interesting places in major metropolitan cities. They’ve been able to understand our very specific vision and adapt to that very quickly.

How did you come to work with Bornfight?

We saw a site that they had built for another client and we really liked it. We thought the aesthetic was really forward thinking and awesome, so we reached out to them. We have a lot work, we work on very quick timelines, and we have very specific needs, but Bornfight was able to answer that.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them May 2017 and have been working together since.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Not yet, but there will be.

How did Bornfight perform from a project management standpoint?

They are great. Most of our communication with them is over email. We have one main point of contact and we’ve met some of the other designers and developers. 

What distinguishes Bornfight from other providers?

They’ve been really great. The ease of working with them has made our lives very easy and that goes a long way. When we need to make changes with them it is not a huge deal. It sounds trite, but they’re very cool people, and that goes a long way when you’re working with a partner like this. They’re flexible and have a good understanding of what we need creatively.