C-BIA Consulting Ltd

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CIO at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with C-BIA Consulting Ltd?

We hired C-BIA to assist us with our Microsoft integrations for our business intelligence platform. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

C-BIA is our partner in Microsoft integrations for our business intelligence (BI) software. They create bespoke coding solutions for us to improve our Microsoft BI platform. Their team utilizes Microsoft’s platforms to integrate and leverage APIs between different internal systems. C-BIA also provides ongoing maintenance services. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with several onshore and offshore teammates from C-BIA. Currently, we work with a UK-based project manager and a group of offshore developers. 

How did you come to work with C-BIA Consulting Ltd?

I worked with C-BIA Consulting Ltd in my previous role, and when I started my current position, I saw we had some integration challenges. So, we went to the market and received several proposals for Microsoft development work. We eventually partnered with C-BIA Consulting Ltd. 

How much have you invested with them?

We usually invest £75,000–£80,000 (approximately $93,000–$106,00 USD) with C-BIA a year. However, since we’ve expanded our contract, we’re now paying over £100,000 (approximately $133,000 USD) a year.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with C-BIA since August 2016 and our partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

First, because we’ve been working with C-BIA’s developers for so long, we’ve been able to build a lot of continuity in our relationship. 

In general, we measure C-BIA’s success by whether or not they can deliver quality development initiatives within our budget and timeline. For maintenance services, we measure their ticket response time. We have a monthly review with C-BIA, and they have a performance dashboard where we can measure and review their performance. 

How did C-BIA Consulting Ltd perform from a project management standpoint?

C-BIA is great at project management. Their budget management and reporting are very strong — we always know if there are changes to the deliverables. They also have a project dashboard where we can track their progress. Internally, we use Wrike as our project management tool and Marval to host our IT service desk. 

We communicate with C-BIA in various ways, including regular virtual meetings and email correspondence. If anything urgent needs to be addressed, we call their development personnel. We’ve also had face-to-face meetings with their onshore and offshore teams, but those all occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think C-BIA’s openness and honesty are notable. There is always total transparency when things are not going well and they hold themselves accountable, especially when deliverables are late. The C-BIA is very proactive in highlighting risks and suggesting risk mitigation efforts that can be taken. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s difficult for commercial organizations to make a profit, but sometimes their pricing is more sales-focused than customer-led. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise customers to invest time in their partnership with C-BIA. It’s essential to be open, honest, transparent, and respectful. Everyone needs to know what they’re working towards, and all work should be a win-win for both parties. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Vice President, IT of American Institute for Foreign Study

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) provides cultural exchange and educational programs, including study abroad, au pair placements, and camp counselor opportunities, to promote global understanding and personal growth.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire C-BIA Consulting Ltd to accomplish?

• Mobile App Development
• Business Intelligence

SOLUTION

How did you find C-BIA Consulting Ltd?

Referral

Why did you select C-BIA Consulting Ltd over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from C-BIA Consulting Ltd were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Provide application development and support for our Mobile App and for our Business Intelligence suite.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a successful mobile app deployed to the Apple Store and Google Play Store which is generating sales and supporting our au pairs.

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

The project management was effective.

What was your primary form of communication with C-BIA Consulting Ltd?

Virtual Meeting

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

They are flexible to work with and resourcful at solving problems

Are there any areas for improvement or something C-BIA Consulting Ltd could have done differently?

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