Digital Fusion

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Sameview, an online platform for disability care coordination. We help families that care for young children with disabilities put all of their support, like doctors and therapists, together so that they are collaborate closer together.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Fusion?

When we were working with Digital Fusion, it was quite early in our company’s stage. We worked with them to build our initial MVP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with scoping the requirements, wireframing, and initial design. Then Digital Fusion built our prototype using FileMaker, making it available for iOS.

The prototype was for customer feedback. We had to run a trial with a customer who provides disability support services to families in Australia. We needed a fully functioning application that allows families to connect with disability support. It also needed to track important information and communication between doctors and therapists.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with three people. Stuart (Client Manager) was my initial business development contact who looked over customer engagement and technical issues. Then Morgan (Solution Consultant) did all of the scoping and design to turn my requirements into technical work. After we moved into the actual building and testing in the operational phase, we worked with Daniel (Senior Developer & UX Lead).

How did you come to work with Digital Fusion?

I decided on the platform I wanted to use to build my product. I asked FileMaker’s own representative in Australia about the leading people in the market. From there, we started our conversation with Digital Fusion.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $30,000–$50,000 AUD (approximately $20,800–$35,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–November 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Based on customer feedback, we started making changes to launch the product in the real world. Our relationship with Digital Fusion has been very supportive, which is pretty rare for companies of that nature.

The timing was crucial to the project because we were part of an accelerated program that was sponsored by one of the largest telecommunication companies in Asia. There was a competitive element to that program. Digital Fusion quickly helped us be the faster to release a working product out into the market.

How did Digital Fusion perform from a project management standpoint?

There were no issues with communication. They’re very personable and easy to talk to. When it got to the actual coding, Daniel was extremely fast. It was beyond our expectations. I felt that I had good value for money working with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Value alignment is very important. I wanted a developer or company that care about the things that I cared about. There’s a lot of people that put software out there, but I believe that the best results come with good value alignment between the customer and contractor. I felt that everyone invested in supporting my business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

To be honest, I don’t think there’s anyone better than them. I haven’t met anyone as capable and as professional as Digital Fusion is.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Digital Fusion brings an added value as an industry-leading and knowledgeable team. I would suggest tapping into their capabilities to enhance your own product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of Aerial Toolbox, an aviation SaaS provider. Our product aids aviation and enables pilots to record their daily flights electronically. As a result, the flights are assigned against the maintenance and the status of the aircraft. It creates invoicing and it’s very integrated, complex, but easy to use.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Digital Fusion?

We were a little ahead of our time in our thought process. We needed to find somebody who was able to create electronic record-keeping for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Early on, we provided them with a brief. We then liaised and discussed our industry with the assigned developer from Digital Fusion. They went on some flights and saw how pilots operate and how our business operates. After that initial discovery process, they used FileMaker to create our database and they’ve since maintained it for us.

What is the team composition?

Stuart (Client Manager) and Craig (Founder) are our primary points of contact. They also assigned a developer to us.

How did you come to work with Digital Fusion?

They were a local company who were experts in FileMaker.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2014 and the collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They are totally driven by us and our requirements. Our primary goal has been to reduce operational costs, which drives our efforts to sell the product to other groups. The product saves time and money because it automates what would otherwise be a manual process. 

Now, we have quite a close relationship with Digital Fusion. They’re responsive to our needs. If we feel things aren’t going in the direction that we envisioned or there are time issues or any complaints, they are very accessible and receptive. We’ve managed to keep our partnership on track with our requirements. 

How did Digital Fusion perform from a project management standpoint?

Once they assigned a project manager and we introduced some really good ways of tracking progress, the project management aspect of the project significantly improved. We use Slack and Trello. Also, as a client manager, Stuart is incredibly good at creating rapport with people. He’s a good listener. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We struggle with their cost. We’ve exhaustively sought and looked for alternative development mainly to drive the cost down. However, in all our intense searching and investigating, we haven’t been able to find an equal partner who we could rely on and who could also provide the directives and the substance required. After we exhausted all the options available to us, we have decided to stay with Digital Fusion. We’re delighted with them and how they respond.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They look after us by giving us a reduced rate from the normal developing in recognition of our long history, relationship, and the opportunity it gives them to develop something quite unique. If I had any way to improve the relationship, I don’t think I could. They’re a super accommodating, accessible, and committed team.

Throughout the years of engagement, it hasn’t all been rosy. However, the rough patches that we’ve had, we’ve been able to address professionally and move forward positively.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s not about the company but about the people. They have good people. I encourage people to engage with them.