EB Pearls

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and sole member of White Bow Gift Registry. I’m an accountant by trade, and I’ve come up with the concept for a gift registry app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EB Pearls?

I don’t have an IT background, so I contacted different developers to build my app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave EB Pearls a specifications document, which they translated into tech terms. I had limited funds, so they recommended developing it as a web and iOS app first, leaving out Android. They also developed a marketing website for the app.

There are a lot of gift registry apps, but they’re limited to one store, and none of them are geared toward birthday parties. Users can put in the wishlist of a child through the app, along with the party details.

When someone purchases an item from the registry, it’ll be marked as purchased to eliminate duplication. EB Pearls will also be helping me with marketing. I’ve only done some blogging and social media posting so far.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a developer and a digital advisor on the app. There was also someone guiding me on the marketing website.

How did you come to work with EB Pearls?

I looked online and contacted around three developers. The thing that impressed me about EB Pearls is that they forced me to come up with a business plan. They asked me who I was targeting and what the concept of the app was. Everything was just in my head, so having that discussion helped.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$100,000 AUD (approximately $38,500–$77,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

I first contacted them around May 2019. I had to take care of documentation and trademarking, and COVID-19 also slowed me down. EB Pearls was available when I picked things up again, and I’m thankful to them for that. I launched the iOS version in December 2020, but I haven’t done marketing for it yet.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had a concept, and EB Pearls delivered according to what I asked for.

How did EB Pearls perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Trello for project management and Google Docs for documentation. They gave me a dashboard to check the downloads, and I also have control over the website.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m a solo entrepreneur, and I’m not very good with tech. EB Pearls guided me and helped me a lot in this collaboration. 

There were a lot of things I didn’t understand, and their help was really important. They’ve had to explain some things to me a few times, and they were really patient. I was the one leading the process, and EB Pearls was flexible to my needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are one of Australia's biggest aged care agency. I manage one of these aged care facilities. I was tasked to work with EB Pearls to work on our website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EB Pearls?

We hired EB Pearls to design and develop our website. It involved reviewing our old website, reviewing our competitor website and analysing the current aged care landscape to determine a strategy for our website.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the website was to improve our corporate identity and enhance our value proposition among our customer base. By doing this, we were hoping to raise the number of leads we receive.

SOLUTION

How did you select EB Pearls?

EB Pearls did a great job for other players in our industry. When we review their past experience and also spoke to their past customer, they seem to have in-depth knowledge of our industry. We liked their approach of collaboration and agility.

Describe the project in detail.

EB Pearls worked through the Value proposition canvas determined the pains and gains of our customers and reviewed the competitor. By doing this, they came up to us with a strategy and the messaging that we need to present on our website. They collaboratively involved us during this process and presented us with a wireframe to outline all our requirements.

Then they presented us with the home page which,it was excellent and we worked through the internal pages where we also received feedback from some of our customers. This was then developed in WordPress and they inserted all the content provided by my team. They also set up all the analytics and made sure all the SEO issues were fixed going live. This means, our website is performing well in SEO and the speed is better than ever before

What was the team composition?

We worked with Dannie at the start of the project who was our account manager. EB Pearls had multiple staffs involved in the project among them there we were below that I can remember:

• Mike - Creative director
• Akash - sales
• Tiffany - WEb design
• Dannie - Wireframe and account management
• Sudeep - Technical lead
• Rupika - QA There were also 3 developers in the project but I can't remember their name

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

One of the biggest progress was that we were successfully able to record the number of lead we receive and it integrates directly to our CRM. Making it really easy. We have received far more number of leads from the new website in the last few years. EB Pearls was also able to ensure our keywords ranked better (they showed us before and after data) and our speed was really good compared to what it was. Overall we have received a really good feedback.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

I think the team at EB Pearls was really really helpful. They were very understanding of the fact that we were not technical and they took time to understand our pains and gains. I would say hats off to the design team for making our website look the best in the industry and we are really happy with the collaboration we have with EB Pearls. As a matter of fact, we are working on 3 other projects for our sister agency with EB Pearls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

EB Pearls have been really flexible and easy to work with. They gave us enough direction and support to make sure our website was industry-leading. They had a good eye for design and we were really impressed with their performance. But the biggest game-changer was their knowledge of technology. I am now able to manage my website easily to create effective marketing campaigns

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have been really happy with EB Pearls so far. I hope they will keep up the good work with the next 3 websites.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Achieved Music, a music platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EB Pearls?

I wanted to build a mobile app for up and coming musicians to display their music, progress, events, and gigs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed my mobile app, as well as helped me with capital raising. They built up a prototype and I moved the whole step of the design. I gave them an idea of what I wanted and they showed me similarities, which helped me build the design more. There were different mentors to talk to, and that definitely helped in guiding me.

I need funding before we start building the full app, and we’ve moved onto building a website to bring in revenue. We’re a quarter of the way through the build of the website now, and they’re using WordPress. The website will launch in February 202, which will start making us money to put towards the app.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Akash (Director) directly and I was pointed to Mitchell, (UX Designer) who did the wireframe with me. Then, I worked with another person who was part of the design team.

How did you come to work with EB Pearls?

I looked online at different articles for the 10 best companies in Sydney. Some companies I contacted didn’t return my calls, but as soon as I sent a query to EB Pearls, they were available right away. They were very engaging and told me what their process was.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost will be $28,000 AUD (approximately $21,600 USD). The prototype was $8,000 AUD (approximately $6,200 USD). The website will be $19,000 AUD ($14,600 USD) total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2020 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They built exactly what I wanted from scratch. The prototype gives me a functional-looking app to show investors. EB Pearls has been nothing but supportive. I give them nothing but praise.

How did EB Pearls perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication is good. We go week by week. We’ll talk about something on a Wednesday and they’ll start working on it right away. If I have any updates or changes, I can put them in comments or send them a text message and they’ll reply right away. They’re always available, even in the evening. We use phone, email, and Figma.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a very tight group. They all sit in the same office. They’re very hardworking and determined, as well as friendly and easy to talk to. They always put you first, listen to you, and make you feel like a superstar.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s not an area I can think of for them to improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a product manager with a social media application designed for pet owners and pet businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EB Pearls?

They’re our software engineering partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

As product manager, I manage EB Pearls through the agile development of our application. As we’re devising our product roadmap and deciding what new features and functionalities we want implemented in the application, the EB Pearls team is in charge of building whatever’s in our road map. 

We began by building the app for both iOS and Android in native environments. We’ve also started using Flutter, whereby we’re building across iOS, Android, and web at the same time. We’re currently managing both builds simultaneously, iterating slowly. 

What is the team composition?

I liaise with a total of about 11 people. I manage a team of about eight developers, and we also have a team lead, a QA lead, and a project manager. 

How did you come to work with EB Pearls?

EB Pearls was working with our company before I joined the team.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our relationship with EB Pearls goes back about two years, but I started working with them in July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re really happy with EB Pearls’ work; they’re wonderful. The team works very hard and they’re always open and accommodating to whatever pivots we make within the organization.

As an example, when I took over the product team we moved from waterfall into agile. The team was extremely responsive, and they picked up the new strategy really quickly. Additionally, when we moved from native to hybrid, they handled the shift excellently as well. They’ve gone above and beyond when it comes to self education.

I consider EB Pearls to be agile and flexible, highly collaborative, and overall, very hard working.

How did EB Pearls perform from a project management standpoint?

Despite our time difference, we’ve managed to fit all the rituals into the time we do have. We operate in two-week sprints, and the releases depend on the urgency of whatever it is we’ve built. We average three monthly version releases on iOS, but they also are able to make quick turnaround times happen as needed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The level of service we get from EB Pearls really stands out. Their high attention to detail and eternally positive attitude are what make working with EB Pearls so good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think I have anything in that regard. All the challenges we’ve faced have been a result of much larger disruptions, rather than their abilities. They’ve been really supportive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

What’s really worked for us is to manage the product in tandem with EB Pearls. We’ve been stronger together.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a founder of a start-up based in Sydney.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EB Pearls?

To assist in the development of a mobile application.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a platform to increase access to justice in an innovative and creative way.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I researched and waded through online reviews for various developers and narrowed it down to three that had good reviews, well designed websites and had worked with reputable clients. I then met with the three prospective developers and I chose EB Pearls based on the transparency and understanding of Akash and the team.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we green lit the project, we met with the team to go through our plans in detail. After that we corresponded via email to finalise the designs and wireframes. We also had another couple of meetings for some stickier parts. Following the planning stage, the team utilised Trello to roll out each stage of development and take on feedback.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager in Australia who helped us with the wireframes and design. Where the project moved to the build phase, we were provided with a new project manager offshore who kept the project moving.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Too early to say yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Communication was easy and things kept moving at a good pace.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They deliver elegant solutions that look good and function as intended.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There were occasional communication breakdowns. However, these were remedied with by follow ups and clarifications.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and owner of QuoteUp, a mobile application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EB Pearls?

Since we’re based in Australia, we were looking for a local app development team to build our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Based on my experience as a product designer, I gave them basic wireframes. With their guidance and suggestions, our team built a few high-fidelity screens and user flows. We wanted their team to have a better understanding of what particular features we wanted and how to execute it effectively.

EB Pearls took care of the entire development. The app, for iOS and Android, is made for builders and client invoices. If the other user doesn’t have the app, the quote or invoice inquiry can be sent via text or email. To make this possible, the app has connectivity with web browsers and also with other QuoteUp app users. They are currently working on our exclusive AR Measure tool.

What is the team composition?

Locally, I spoke to the UX lead and lead developer. Along with Akash (Director, EB Pearls), I was in constant contact with several project leads, engineers, and project manager on a daily basis.

How did you come to work with EB Pearls?

I researched app developers in and outside of the Sydney area. I interviewed a few different developers to get an idea of how they operate. I also factored the distance to the CBD before deciding to go with EB Pearls.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $150,000 AUD (approximately $103,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with EB Pearls in February 2019. The project will be released in October, but it’s an ongoing project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My fellow co-founder is in the building and construction industry. He’s testing the product. We also receive constant feedback from some of our subscribers. It’s been working well, and we haven’t had any reports of bugs, errors or major delays in product updates. We’re now moving to build AR functionality within the app.

How did EB Pearls perform from a project management standpoint?

We frequently communicate to stay up to date with all of the progress. Most of it was done through the project manager. When we started the build, we spoke to the architect and UX lead to give them an idea of what we wanted. The team at EB Pearls delivers on time. There were a few minor delays (most of them were out of their control) but we haven’t had any issues with the overall delivery. EB Pearls have proven to deliver an excellent product on time.

Overall, their work was delivered on time, and the price is reasonably competitive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Being new to app development, EB Pearls was super helpful and guided us throughout the whole journey and process. Their demeanor and ability to keep us happy, made them a joy to work with. They always offered advice on the best practice/ways to implement and suggestions on how to improve the product. We could not have released without their assistance. They’re now committed to helping us with building AR within the application. That’s a big bonus. I also appreciate that we have a direct line of communication with their Lead Developer. They include us in the project management aspects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The development has taken over 18 months, so there was a lot to build and cover over that time. I am a bit of a control freak, so, I want to know everything that goes on (all the time) and sometimes I felt like I had to chase information. From a project management point of view, I would like daily updates and to be included more without having to ask. In saying that, their communication was thorough and once I raised this issue with them during development, they agreed with my approach and provided me with regular reports on progress, wins and blockers, this was done using Google Sheets and Trello boards to great success.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Request for development progress reports and deadlines.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of an online career portal where visitors can search for different types of potential careers. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EB Pearls?

I hired EB Pearls to transform my concepts for a mobile app and a website into fully functional solutions. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EB Pearls built a website and a corresponding app for iOS and Android platforms. 

Features include an advertisement banner on the solutions where companies use location-based services to display ads to our various demographics. Also, there’s an accessibility functionality for users with disabilities. 

Information on the platforms (e.g university programs, gap year opportunities, and job support) is accompanied by corresponding links to external websites. Users can scroll through careers alphabetically and filter occupations by categories such as salary ranges. There are multiple sections, including motivational quotes as well as support for at-risk youth or those struggling with mental disorders. 

What is the team composition?

I work with the main project manager, Akash (Head of Sales, EB Pearls) and another project manager.

How did you come to work with EB Pearls?

I interviewed 3–4 providers and was dissatisfied with the vendor I chose. So, I ended up looking for another provider online. When I interviewed EB Pearls' head of marketing, I was happy with their attitude, experience, company size, and price. I was also glad that they offered support before and after launch. 

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested between $50,000 and $200,000 with the team.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in June 2018, and the partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Based on my satisfaction with the team’s quality work, I increased the project scope to include the development of two other websites. 

How did EB Pearls perform from a project management standpoint?

After defining the project plan, they reasonably adhere to the schedule. The two project managers ensure the team is on track to deliver solutions that meet the quality standards initially defined. There weren’t many glitches when they tested the products, and they had a fantastic response to all issues. 

As beginners to app development, we appreciated how they explained their choices throughout the process. I’m always well informed of their progress, and they respond to my feedback immediately. They met our needs in a logical, responsible manner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of support and reliability distinguishes them from other providers. They’ve been very conscious of our budget and don’t put our investment at risk by overextending themselves.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s not a great deal they can improve as their process works very well. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

At the beginning of our partnership, they advised me to create a very detailed scope using different perspectives (e.g. long term needs) to ensure the design and functionality are thoroughly thought out. If anything was challenging in this process, they walked us through it and offered explanations considering the price of service. This was effective, and future clients should take the same approach.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the National Manager of a not-for-profit initiative. We are part of Australia’s National Disability Services, a group of non-government disability service providers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EB Pearls?

We hired them to create an app.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to provide a user-friendly interface for people seeking work in the disability, community, and aged-care sector. We wanted to create a tool that these workers could use to find the right employer. Our target market is people who don’t usually sit at a desk with a laptop. However, a high level of IT fluency is not necessary for the majority of entry-level roles. What’s important is having the right personality and the ability to work one-on-one with vulnerable individuals.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We researched and shortlisted four potential vendors. EB Pearls’ response to our proposal gave us the confidence that they were the organization for the job. They provided great clarity on the scope, timeline, and stages of the project.

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

They designed and delivered an app that gives users access to a database of more than 1,000 roles. The app interfaces with a pre-existing website and job board.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and two designers in Sydney as well as a team in Nepal.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app now gives smartphone users a faster and simplified UX. It has added another dimension to our service and given us a steadily growing database of job seekers. Plus, it has the benefit of generating additional job applications for our client base of employers.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management team was in Sydney while most of the production work was completed in Nepal. EB Pearls stuck rigidly to our production schedule. Communication was strong, with no language barriers. We had access to key people when we needed it.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It was great to have an IT project done on time with no surprises. Their response to our brief was very detailed, way beyond the other contenders. Furthermore, they were able to deliver according to what they promised.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO, director, and co-founder for SHOUTback, a video-driven discovery platform within the hospitality space. Our goal is to give venues more autonomy over their marketing activity instead of losing trade to delivery apps, third-party aggregators, and promotional platforms. On the consumer side, we want to increase the quality of engagement with the millennial demographic by integrating high-quality video content with venue promotions. We’re currently building a cashless marketplace in Adelaide, Australia and have plans to take it national.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EB Pearls?

We needed to develop our minimal viable product (MVP) within a three-month timeframe. Outsourcing some of the work made us nervous, but we needed to quickly find an organization we could trust.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EB Pearls developed our web and iOS app, and we’re currently building for Android. They built full admin, backend, and dashboard functionality for the apps. They’re also building out certain aspects to the functionality based on some pivots that we’ve recently gone through.

We just signed another deal with EB Pearls to do a project for a multinational beverage corporation. We’ll start that in the next couple of months.

What is the team composition?

I tend to work directly with Akash (Head of Sales and Marketing, EB Pearls). Anything more technical goes through my CTO, who deals with the project managers directly. They have a team of up to 10 developers for web, iOS, Android, and full-stack.

How did you come to work with EB Pearls?

We got seed funding to build an MVP, but it was much smaller than we’d anticipated. We had to find a local firm that wasn’t expensive and that could work under tight time constraints. We searched online for the best ranked dev companies in the Sydney area, and our choice was between EB Pearls and two independent developers. Akash was very patient and confident, assuring us that he could handle the project. One team came back with a cheaper quote, but Akash matched it because he wanted to be on the project, so we hired him.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2017, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received nearly 100% positive feedback on the product’s aesthetics, functionality, and UX/UI. We have some high-level strategic partners who’ve used our platform to do some sponsorships and low-level activations. These are sophisticated companies with large tech budgets, and they’re impressed by our product.

We finished the MPV under $50,000, which was vastly cheaper than anything else that had been quoted. EB Pearls was even able to add a few new features later on in the process.

How did EB Pearls perform from a project management standpoint?

Akash is professional, reassuring, and takes his business seriously. He’s responsive and good at customer service; whenever we have a problem, he always deals with it. We had a few delays, but Akash promptly resolved them when brought to his attention.

We originally set a goal for a stripped back MVP in three months, but we changed quite a bit. We evaluated the value proposition and decided to extend the timeline, which worked out well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were willing to negotiate on the price, which we appreciated since we’re a small startup. It’s easy to be overlooked or considered a low priority, but we never got that impression from EB Pearls. They paid a lot of attention to us and were sympathetic to our limited budget. From our first meeting, Akash saw our potential and wanted to be a part of it.

Once the developers fell in love with the project and could see why it was unique, they started becoming more efficient. On the whole, I’m happy with their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At times we found the time difference and language barrier to be difficult to manage, however, this was a minor thing given the budget we had to work with. If I’d paid $300,000, I would’ve expected more. But for $50,000, we got way more than we would’ve gotten elsewhere. They outsource their work to Nepal, which is why they can keep it cheap. The language barrier means things sometimes get misinterpreted or overlooked. However, we always solve it, and the project managers speak English well.

Sometimes, the turnaround time wasn’t as quick as I wanted. They need to respond to emails quickly, even just to acknowledge the email. Having an open line of communication gives the best customer experience. They still did a good job, though.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of an online marketplace for transport and warehouse distribution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EB Pearls?

We needed design and web development for our online marketplace.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EB Pearls has been building the site and listing B2B services for warehouse space for the last few months. The site is a full web platform with multi-login, including a customer login and supplier login. It has a fully integrated management system to automate invoicing and billing and to manage bookings and quotes. It’ll have reoccurring payments, but we’re currently testing real payments, which should be finished soon.

We developed a few different mock-ups and wireframes together to see how it would flow. There are numerous different stages, processes, and statuses, which made the work complicated, but EB Pearls worked it all out. They built the design alone, using PHP and Laravel.

What is the team composition?

We work with about three people in their Sydney office. I’ve also worked with 6–7 different overseas developers.

How did you come to work with EB Pearls?

I found them through Clutch.co. I narrowed it down to three firms in Australia. One had a global presence but gave an expensive quote; another came back with an incredibly cheap quote, which made me question the quality; and EB Pearls was right in the middle, so I decided to go with them.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent around $30,000-$50,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in July 2017, and it’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site will launch next month. It’s fully functional and hasn’t had any problems so far.

How did EB Pearls perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re good. I frequently meet them in Sydney for major updates. We have weekly Skype calls with their overseas team, which they prepare agendas for. Once the demo site was online, we were able to go on each week and change things.

We also communicated through Trello, which has boards with tasks that were completed or need to be completed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’d never made an app or website before, so their input and partnership were invaluable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything I wanted was achieved on time. We would’ve released sooner, but I kept adding to the scope.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go to them with as much information as possible; they'll complete exactly what you want.