Cloudflight

BACKGROUND

Please give a brief description of your company.

CDP.PL is a globally recognized and awarded video games distributor and publisher in Poland. The company has focused its operational activities on the local market continuously since 1994. Our most notable current business partners are Blizzard Entertainment, Disney Interactive, Konami, Focus Home Interactive, Nordic Games, and Wizards of the Coast. We believe in an added value, wise life cycle management, and proactive marketing.

What is your role at the company?

I'm a co-owner acting as a CFO and COO and am also responsible for IT [information technology] and development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge that you were trying to address when you approached Divante?

There were a few challenges. First, we needed to rewrite our digital distribution platform to give us more flexibility and scalability. Second, we wanted to add a mail-order option without changing and complicating the sales path. Third, we sought to revamp the site graphics and visuals to show our digital and physical products clearly. Lastly, we needed all of this done very quickly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of the project, and can you describe the specific services provided by Divante?

The scope of the project included redesigning the website's graphics and UX [user experience], transitioning from the Spree platform to Magento, and extending the functionality of our mail-order sales. Divante was responsible for code writing, implementation and architecture of our new online shop engine. Another company, ArsThanea, was responsible for UX and website redesign.

What was your process for selecting them?

We searched for companies that could meet our business challenge, and would complement our style of work and our philosophy.

Do you have any statistics or metrics on the project? 

The total cost of the project was between $200,000 and $500,000

When did the project begin, and when was it completed?

We first got the idea for this project during the last quarter of 2013. We started working with Divante at the beginning of 2014, and the project went live in January of 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project. Are there any metrics you can share?

The project is still very fresh, and we are still measuring the results, but we have definitely achieved all of our original target goals: a scalable modern platform and a beautifully responsive e-commerce platform that is simple to navigate.

How did they perform in terms of the quality of their work?

Divante managed to develop integrations and functionalities without any hassles or hold ups, and they were always eager to go the extra mile. We had no critical issues even after launching The Witcher 3, which generated huge traffic on the site.

Is there anything unique or special about Divante that really makes them stand out? 

They are very devoted to the project. They worked for 12 to 14 hours per day to meet our narrow deadlines. Divante also went the extra mile by suggesting a lot of architectural and even usability improvements as the development went along.

Looking back on the project, do you have any constructive criticism? Is there any area that they could improve or you would do differently?

In our case, the project was quite big, taking more than 7,000 man-hours to complete, so maintaining real-time information on progress proved difficult. That's one area where Divante could improve. However, using scrum techniques, we were quite well informed about deadline estimations and progress eventually.

BACKGROUND

Please give me a brief description of your company.

EF Englishtown is an online English school for adults and busy professionals. We are a B2C business operating in 12 markets and employing over 350 people. As part of EF Education First, we draw upon a 45-year legacy of academic excellence and innovative language learning, helping more than 20 million people across the world successfully develop their English skills. Our mission is to use technology to create a fundamentally better way of learning English. Over 30 nationalities are represented among our staff across the EF Englishtown offices in the US, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan, Korea, and many other locations.

What is your role at the company?

I'm the Global Head of SEO & Content Marketing. As part of my role, I'm leading a team of seven people responsible for growing revenue from organic search. Our main source of traffic is company blog network available in 12 languages generating over 300,000 UV per month.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge that you were trying to address when you approached Divante?

We had a low conversion rate, and our user experience was not consistent across different parts of our website.

What were your company’s business goals for the project?

To redesign our blog publishing network, and unify its design with other parts of the website, as well as increase conversion from visitors to paying customers.

SOLUTION

Can you tell me about the scope of the project?

The scope of that project was substantial and included a complete re-design of a multisite WordPress installation available in 12 languages with an extensive feature set required. 

What was your process for selecting Divante to work with?

We selected Divante out of other five competing firms from India and UK based on the portfolio of their clients, quality of previous work and, of course, cost.

Can you give us a sense of the size of the project in dollar terms or personnel work hours?

The project included 250h of mostly front end web development with additional project management and testing. Divante will also be assisting with on-going monthly maintenance and post-release support.

When was the project completed?

The first phase of the project was completed on May 22, 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project, and are there any metrics you can share?

I don't have any metrics to share yet, as the project has just finished, but I'll be happy to share them later.

How did Divante perform?

Divante performed and delivered beyond our expectations. Everyone here has been pleasantly surprised with how quality the work has been.

When working with them, was there anything unique or special about them compared to other companies that you may have worked with?

Divante has great people who are passionate about digital work and have the skills to match their ambitious ideas for projects, and deliver them on time. 

I was also pleasantly surprised with their clear and professional communication skills at every stage of the project. 

Looking back on the project, is there any area that they could improve or you would do differently?

One thing to consider in future is to explore alternative project management software, as the current one (Redmine) is a bit dated. It works and I have no issues with it personally, but for some clients it might be too advanced and might feel like extra work they don't need in their busy schedule.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company. 

We are the leading distributor of gold and other precious metals in Poland. Our company sells precious metals to both institutional investors and individuals. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What kind of business challenge you were trying to address when you approached Divante?

We were trying to update and modernize our online store. Very few distributors of precious metals have modern websites. We felt one way we could differentiate ourselves would be by following the latest trends in e-commerce. For this reason, the size of the project was quite large.

SOLUTION

Why did you select Divante for the project?

We chose Divante based primarily on their past work. Our choice was heavily influenced by their rich experience in large e-commerce projects. They have access to the leading specialists in the field.

Can you talk about the scope of the project?

The scope was quite complex. Divante was tasked with comprehensive design and implementation of the store, including integrations with internal CRM [customer relationship management] systems that we already had in place. 

Can you give a sense of the size of the project in dollar terms or man-hours?

In total, the project consisted of about 2,000 hours of work, such as programmers, testers, and front-end developers.

When was the project completed?

The final project was delivered April 14, 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project and are there any metrics you can share?

We are very happy with the quality of the work delivered by Divante. The site feels modern and functions very well. However, it is still too early to speak of results or metrics.

During your cooperation, was there anything unique or special about them, in comparison to other companies with which you may have worked?

Divante has worked on a lot of e-commerce projects. Their experience in the field really showed throughout the project.

Looking back at the project, is there any area that they could improve or handle differently?

There is always room for improvement, but we plan to continue to work with Divante in the future.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company.

We are an FMCG [fast moving consumer goods] distributor. We are the main distributor in Poland for companies, such as P&G, 3M, SCJ, and Braun. 

What is your role at the company?

I’m the director of our contact center, I also oversee our e-commerce department.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge that you were trying to address when you approached Divante?

Divante has worked on several e-commerce projects for us. These projects have primarily revolved around integrating all our sales channels, such as sales reps, call centers, EDI [electronic data interchanges], and B2B [business-to-business] platforms, onto one consistent platform for both our B2C [business-to-consumer] and B2B operations.

What were your company’s business goals for the project?

Our goal was to make it easier for our customers to order from us. With an integrated sales channel, our customers would have more flexibility in the way they placed orders. We could also ensure they had the most up-to-date trade terms, promotions, and order history information.

SOLUTION

Can you talk about the scope of the project?

They were responsible for the full development and integration of our new B2B and B2C sales platforms.

What was your process for selecting Divante with which to work?

After we decided to go with Magento for our sales platform, the choice of Divante was quite obvious. They're very well known in that area. 

We've chosen to work with Divante on other projects based on our past success with them.

Can you give a sense of the size of the project in dollar terms or personnel work hours?

In total, we've probably spent around $300,000.

When was the project completed?

It finished February 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project, and are there any metrics you can share?

It's too early to speak about the business results of the project, but we are very satisfied with the quality of their work.

How did Divante perform?

Divante performed very well. They have a very methodical way of doing things, which made for a very smooth project.

When working with them, was there anything unique or special about them compared to other companies with which you may have worked?

Most of software companies say, "tell us exactly what do you need and we will program this for you." Particularly with our B2C platform, we had no experience and thus were unable to provide specific instructions. Divante consulted with us and gave us insights that went far beyond basic software implementation and coding.

Looking back on the project, is there any area that they could improve or you would do differently?

We did have a problem when they changed the project manager for our team, but they resolved this issue quickly.

BACKGROUND

Please provide a description of your company.

We design clothes for women. Most of our sales are in Poland, where we are located, but we also have customers in Germany, the Ukraine, and the Middle East.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I am the director of development and vice chairman of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Divante?

Like every retailer, we wanted to sell our clothes online. Our initial goal was to have an e-commerce site up and running in three months. It didn’t happen quite that quickly, obviously, because we had to integrate over 20,000 products with the online store. At the end of the day, we were able to do it in around five months, which was just fine.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

Divante designed the whole online store. We did the graphics with our own graphic designer, but they took care of all the online development. We now have a long-term relationship with Divante, and they continue to help us maintain and improve the site. We also are working with them on other ongoing projects that are separate from our main site.

What was your process for selecting Divante with which to work?

They came highly recommended to us, and we had a good feeling during the initial meeting. We talked the same language, and we were confident they could handle the project for us. 

We did look at a couple of other companies, but they were very expensive. Since we already had a relationship with Divante, we decided to go with them.

Can you provide a ballpark figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

I can just give you a general range. I would say somewhere between $75,000 and $150,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

Everything works perfectly. Divante worked very quickly, and they are very involved. As a result of their work, we are increasing sales through our online store all the time.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

They are very cooperative and easy to work with. They listened to us and were always ready to show us ways we could improve the project. I really liked that about them. Sometimes, we even have to stop them because they keep wanting to make more improvements, but that’s better than working with people who never improve anything and never recommend new solutions.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

We had some problems with communication after they joined with another company. For three or four months, it was really tough for us to work with them. But, after a few meetings, we began working with some different people in the company, and things changed for the better. The communication is great now.

What advice would you give a future client of theirs?

I don’t think anyone would have problems working with Divante. They are relaxed, professional and they listen to their clients. I would expect that anyone would have as good a relationship with them as we had. They’re great people, and I loved working with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We’re a furniture company located in the Netherlands. We have two brick-and-mortar locations and a third one under construction. 

What is your role and responsibilities?

I work on our IT [information technology] team, Web development and design. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Divante?

When I entered the company, our website was very basic. We were happy with our Magento platform and wanted to stay on that, but functionally and aesthetically, the site was very poor. We bought a plug-in from the U.S., which we could more or less could tailor to our needs, but we still were looking for major changes in programming, workflows, and the back-end. That’s why we approached Divante, to see if they could help us.

What was your process for selecting Divante with which to work?

We used to work with Dutch Magento developers who are, of course, very expensive. I estimated the length of time for this project, and decided that we would have to go abroad to find a company that would work with our budget. I had seen some of the work Divante had done in the past, and felt comfortable with their level of ability and our needs.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

Website redesign. We wanted to offer all the goods we had in our brick-and-mortar stores, online as well. This can get a little complicated because we work with a number of different vendors who have different ways of getting us their furniture; keeping track of inventory is very difficult. So, we were looking for a site that would allow us to make changes to our e-commerce pages quickly.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure or time estimate for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

At the moment, they’re working approximately 40 hours a week.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

The project is ongoing, but we’re very satisfied with the results thus far.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

Not at this time. But, metrics will be difficult because the project is quite large and the rollout has been gradual.

Is there anything unique about them that really makes Divante stand out, compared to other companies?

I’m impressed with their willingness to go the extra mile. At the beginning of the project, I asked them to come to Holland so I could show them what the procedure is for our vendors, and help them get a picture of what our physical process is so they could better convert that to a digital marketplace. That trip went a long way in building rapport with my team and me.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

Yes and no. Sometimes, I feel the communication could be a little faster and swifter in replying to my questions. Also, it can be tough stressing design and UI [user interface] to a programmer because they more or less ignore the look and feel of the site. But, of course, that is not unique to Divante. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Application Manager of an ecommerce company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Testing Services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Cloudflight to accomplish?

Improve Product Information Management System

SOLUTION

How did you find Cloudflight?

• Online Search
• Other

Why did you select Cloudflight over others?

we worked with Divante before

How many teammates from Cloudflight were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Software development for the Product Information Management.
• Customization for different topics like Product Development Workflows, Product Specifications and APIs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We highly improved the data standards in our Webshop with the PIM Project.

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

The developers respond quickly, even to last-minute requests and changes. Code adjustments are made quickly.

What was your primary form of communication with Cloudflight?

Virtual Meeting

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

The developers are very knowledgeable about where they need to make adjustments.

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

Unfortunately, the handover to a new developer and the transfer of knowledge did not go entirely smoothly. But after a familiarisation phase, it worked well.