DARK BEARS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

MobileCozmo is an e-commerce website, offering online an shopping experience with products such as mobile phones, laptops, electronics, watches, and clothing. I am the copywriter and sales specialist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Dark Bears?

We needed work on our website as a whole, including the domain, software, marketing, graphics, and website design as well as general improvements to our website's process.

What were your goals for this project?

To make enhancements to our website in order to keep up with developments in the field of e-commerce.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended to us by another company. We saw a few other vendors, but they weren't as experienced or qualified as Dark Bears.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They design, develop, and engineer our website systems and processes. They also work on the servers and chat systems, and on the SEO.

What was the team composition?

The team is made up of around ten people. They each have lots of experience in their relevant fields.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has improved our progress. The team gives 100% to the project and offers their full focus to the work.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

It's excellent. There are no issues or errors in their work.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The friendly environment they create and their understanding of our requirements and demands.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

It would be good if the timing of our working hours and theirs lined up.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The company is a technology service provider. I’m the operations manager. I handle everything including marketing and website development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

Our existing website was obsolete, and we had changes in our services, so we had to make those changes on our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Dark Bear made a new website for us including frontend and backend. The thing I liked the most was that they had a portal where I could request changes, and they would update it. We had four to five resources from Dark Bear working on the project.

How did you come to work with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

This was the second time we used Dark Bear for our website. I enjoyed working with them and called them again. I will probably be calling them again because we need to refresh our website this year.

What is the status of this engagement?

In 2016, we had an issue that Dark Bear helped us take care of. That was the most recent project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any metrics or feedback.

How did Dark Bear Web Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Their responses were immediate, and I liked that about Dark Bear Web Solutions. I would put my change request in their portal, and I would see a response the next day.

What did you find most impressive about Dark Bear Web Solutions?

We had an issue with our ticketing system, and we wanted that to be integrated with our website. We were having some technical issues, but Dark Bear didn’t give up. They kept working until the issue was resolved and I appreciated that.

Are there any areas Dark Bear Web Solutions could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a business based on a mobile application called Bridge Messenger. It’s a social media app that scans 20 miles around your area, and it’ll pick up everybody’s profile who has the app. You can then add them to a list of nine social medias linked up to your profile, or you can message each other through the app. I am the president of the company, organizing and designing what the project will look like.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

We had a project manager who was hard to communicate with, acting as the middleman between the development team and us. Things weren’t getting done because we weren’t able to communicate with the developers. We wanted to get the project done promptly while ensuring the quality of the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Once we got the project manager out of the picture, Dark Bear Web Solutions and I were able to communicate. They developed and designed the app and site, as well as the backend and frontend functionality of it. We first had the app developed for iOS. We were sending each other designs back and forth on what the page will look like. I’ll send something to them, they’ll send something back, and that’s how it went until we finally agreed on what it’s going to look like. We still go back and forth now since we’re working on updates. With the update we are launching within the next month, it’ll be available for Android, too.

How did you come to work with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

It goes back to the project manager we had. He was the one that found the development team. He managed the project, but we weren’t able to directly communicate with the developer team since he wouldn’t give us their emails. Once we started testing the messenger through the app is when the team from Dark Bear Web Solutions and I started to communicate via phone calls and FaceTime.

How much have you invested with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

The investment was over $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Dark Bear Web Solutions in August 2015. The project finished three or four months later (November or December 2015). A lot of the delay was because of the project manager, but we got the project done quickly as soon as he left.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have gotten good feedback and ratings on the app. However, the ratings change with software updates. We are planning on marketing the app more once this update comes out for both the Android and iPhone platforms, so we will start hitting marketing then and go from there. Right now, it’s still in the testing phase with the servers to see how it’ll hold up. However, we’ve been offered to sell the apps twice for over six figures and declined both offers.

How did Dark Bear Web Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Dark Bear Web Solutions was excellent. I was very happy with the work they did. They were easy to communicate with and very easy to get a hold of them. If I texted or called Dark Bear Web Solutions and they didn’t answer, they would call back within a few hours. To me, communication is important in business.

What did you find most impressive about Dark Bear Web Solutions?

I have worked with other developers before, and Dark Bear Web Solutions is a lot more flexible. As far as payments go, they’ll definitely work with you.

Are there any areas Dark Bear Web Solutions could improve?

I don’t have anything negative to say about Dark Bear Web Solutions. They’re doing very well and have helped me out tons of times. There is nothing more I could really ask of them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a supplier of aerospace hardware and electronic components. I'm a director in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

We had some deficiencies with our website where we were trying to incorporate our ERP [enterprise resource planning] system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Dark Bear rebuilt the website, and they linked it to our ERP system. I believe there was some SQL [Structured Query Language] programming that was involved in that.

How did you come to work with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

It's been several years since I came upon them. It was through a Google search.

How much have you invested with Dark Bear Web Solutions?

We have spent over $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Dark Bear a few years ago. The project has been completed, and we’ve retained them for ongoing work with website maintenance and things of that sort.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We certainly have better visibility because of our website. Dark Bear made it a lot easier for us to enter customer inquiries into our ERP system by linking quotes that come directly to our website. It made us more efficient and made the task a lot more automated with less human intervention.

How did Dark Bear perform from a project management standpoint?

I think they did very well. Dark Bear was easy to work with. They would be on the phone on the weekends working. They were very prompt in their responses, and it was easy to get hold of someone. Communication was not an issue.

What did you find most impressive about Dark Bear Web Solutions?

Dark Bear is distinct because of their responsiveness and their customer service. They were very prompt and respondent to queries. I could get hold of them quickly and easily. They always jump in immediately to render assistance. They go way beyond the call of duty.

Are there any areas Dark Bear Web Solutions could improve?

They've done everything I asked of them, so I couldn’t say if there's anything they can approve upon. There's nothing that I've asked that Dark Bear hasn’t followed true on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of IT of Morris Group of Companies

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Turnkey modular workforce accommodation industry, and a leading global provider of turnkey workforce accommodation camps and modular solutions in both North and South America, from expert consultation to providing a complete turnkey design/build/installation/operation solution to numerous sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire DARK BEARS to accomplish?

• Finding a team that could not only create a technically solid application but also comprehend the complex workflows of the construction and modular labor industries was one of our toughest tasks. From our first conversations, DARK BEARS showed a strong dedication to comprehending our company requirements and converting them into a workable digital solution, which is why they came highly recommended.

SOLUTION

How did you find DARK BEARS?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select DARK BEARS over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from DARK BEARS were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work that DARK BEARS undertook was extensive. They were responsible for the entire app development lifecycle, from concept and design to development, testing, and deployment.

Key deliverables included:

• Custom Workforce Management System: A centralized platform that allows our field supervisors to track workforce accommodations, manage room assignments, and oversee employee movement across different project sites.
• Inventory & Asset Tracking: A module integrated with our existing ERP systems, enabling real-time tracking of equipment, tools, and resources across multiple locations.
• Employee Self-Service Portal: A user-friendly interface for employees to submit requests, check accommodation details, access schedules, and receive important company-wide notifications.
• Offline Functionality: Since many of our worksites are in remote locations with limited internet access, DARK BEARS implemented an offline mode that syncs data when a connection becomes available.
• Real-time Communication & Alerts: A messaging and notification system that facilitates instant communication between project managers, site supervisors, and field employees.
• Seamless Integration with Existing Systems: DARK BEARS ensured the app integrated smoothly with our current ERP, payroll, and logistics software, eliminating the need for manual data entry.

Throughout the development process, DARK BEARS maintained regular communication with our internal IT and operations teams, ensuring that each feature aligned with our business objectives. Their iterative approach, with frequent testing and feedback loops, allowed us to fine-tune the app before full deployment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After the mobile app was implemented across all of our sites, its effects were instantly apparent. Manual procedures were greatly reduced, and our labor operations became much more efficient. Among the significant enhancements were:

• Quicker site allocation and labor deployment, which lessens administrative bottlenecks.
  improved resource tracking, reducing inconsistencies in inventories and wasteful spending.
• Because workers could easily submit requests and access real-time updates, employee happiness and engagement increased.
• Delays in communication between corporate and on-site teams are decreased, which improves responsiveness and decision-making.
• We observed noticeable gains in our ability to monitor our assets, coordinate field operations, and react swiftly to worker accommodation needs. The software turned become a vital resource for our daily tasks.

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

The outstanding project management of DARK BEARS was one of the most notable features of working with them. They made sure that every stage of the project was finished on schedule by closely adhering to deadlines. DARK BEARS was quick to reply to our requests for changes or new features, frequently offering innovative ideas that improved the app above and above our initial goals. 

What was your primary form of communication with DARK BEARS?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

It was impressive how well DARK BEARS was able to combine technological know-how with a thorough comprehension of our sector. They took the time to understand our particular problems and created a solution that was suited to our requirements, in contrast to some development companies who adopt a one-size-fits-all strategy.

They stand out for their timeliness, attention to detail, and capacity to streamline intricate processes into a user-friendly application. Every feature they provided was thoroughly tested to make sure it complied with our exacting operating requirements, which further demonstrated their dedication to quality.

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

Nothing in mind