EL Passion

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product manager at an HR tech startup that provides employee engagement and lifecycle survey products to companies of all sizes. I’ve been working there for about a year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EL Passion?

Our platform allows users to view data analytics for surveys they’re conducting. In the beginning, the platform was thrown together to get the product out there for customers. As a company, we needed to do a complete refresh of our frequently-used product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

EL Passion redesigned the UX/UI of our entire analytics platform. The product includes data analytics for three product modules. It also has the ability for customers to manage their company settings and user databases, launch surveys, and poll out to their employees. We looked at their work through InVision, providing feedback and iterating on their designs.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two people.

How did you come to work with EL Passion?

Before I came aboard, our CEO engaged with EL Passion. The reason we met with their team was that our company is distributed internationally. We’re based in the US, but working with a company in another time zone isn’t an issue for us.

We were looking for an agency to complete the redesign without having to invest our resources in bringing on a full-time UX designer. We needed flexible support that fit within our budget. Outsourcing to a company in Europe provides that.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with EL Passion from September 2018–April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything was completed earlier this year. I emailed them just today about a different project. The engagement was a resounding success. The work that their team delivered was a vast improvement over what we had before. In terms of customer experience, our product is at the top of the market. Customers and prospects have said it’s one of the best platforms they’ve seen on the market. It offers a better experience for customers.

Internally, the feedback was also excellent. All of our teams are engaging with customers and people looking to reengage with. Everyone was blown away with how much better the product looked. It’s made the difference in securing deals moving forward.

How did EL Passion perform from a project management standpoint?

Our working relationship with EL Passion was great. They’re incredibly responsive and open to our feedback. Their team works in an agile manner, reacting to changes quickly. We’ve worked well together despite being in different time zones. We would meet a couple of times a week, going over updates and providing feedback. We also had an open communication through Slack, where we would send input, and they’d send updated designs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The communication between our team and their designers was excellent. They were available, even after we started implementing the work. They were engaged, checking down the road whenever we had questions and anticipating when the designs would go live. Their team wanted to see it up-and-running. Their level of enthusiasm was phenomenal.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. From my perspective, our experience was positive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Booksy is a booking system for people looking to schedule appointments for health & beauty services. Customers can download the app (available for Android & iOS) to find local services. I’m the co-founder and CPO of Booksy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EL Passion?

We decided that to provide better value for our clients, both of our apps, Booksy (B2C) and BooksyBIZ directed at B2B customers [partners], needed a redesign and functionality refreshment to better correspond to the ever-changing market situation.

We reached out to EL Passion to help us with both, the design and development of the apps. The B2B-targeted app needed an update for two mobile platforms, iOS and Android, whereas our main app, Booksy (B2C) required UI&UX assistance on the IOS OS.

What were your goals for this project?

The main focus of the B2B app update was the introduction of some key strategic features, i.e new businesses onboarding and the addition of message blasts strongly suggested by our partners in the course of time. We also wanted to refresh the design.

For our B2C app, the crucial element was to adjust it visually to the overall iOS OS look and feel and to make it compatible with various screen sizes. With these tweaks applied, we aimed at increasing our booking number by 50%.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were looking for a partner who could help us in both design and development and do so in a relatively short period of time. We heard about EL Passion from Docplanner, one of EL Passion’s former clients. They were very satisfied with the quality of cooperation as well as the end result and that contributed highly to our final decision to pursue our project with them.

Describe the project in detail.

The project kicked off just after our signing the contract; EL Passion’s designers conducted several in-depth interviews with us regarding our UI and UX expectations to gain a profound understanding of the challenge. The team of assigned developers and designers started the project directly from our office so it was convenient for us to issue any ad-hoc concerns.

After the introductory period the project was continued remotely and, thanks to the tools introduced to us by the EL Passion team, it turned out to be very efficient. The EL Passion team suggested the Scrum methodology for our cooperation and provided us with finished elements of the project by the end of every sprint. The method was effective and allowed us to keep control over the whole process.

EL Passion successfully delivered all requested screens and designs with the refreshed UI & UX as well as developed new desired functionalities for our B2B app.

What was the team composition?

The project was realised in two parts. During the first iteration, a team of 3 iOS developers and 2 Android developers helped us to develop a new version of our B2B app.

Later, 3 iOS developers and 2 UI/UX designers recreated the navigation and information architecture. Our Product Owner was working directly with the developers which was convenient and streamlined the whole process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to EL Passion we were able to create apps meeting all of our previously established expectations. The B2C app improved our client conversion bringing a significant increase in the booking numbers.

Since the launch, we received positive feedback from our Partners regarding the changes in the B2B application who noticed the enhancements and appreciated the introduction of new functionalities.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our team remained directly involved in the whole process and thanks to the initial two-team cooperation we were able to establish well-performing communication channels.

The introduction of the necessary tools on the EL Passion’s side alongside their unshaken way of results delivery benefited the pace and quality of the communication. They were always there ready to share their knowledge and expertise.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We continue to be impressed with EL Passion’s team professionalism and their extensive skill set. Our cooperation remained smooth throughout the whole project, we were regularly updated on the apps’ status and could test and improve elements right away.

The end-result UI designs and animations were stunning, and they are probably the major factor why we would/will [stronger] choose to work with them again.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Initially, we thought that we could add ad-hoc features after the project’s closure. However, we had to go for the maintenance offer to apply any changes. We would appreciate a more flexible solution for that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO at Humon. We empower people with actionable insights about their body, allowing them to be the best version of themselves. Our first product measures how muscles use oxygen, which is the best metric of physical exertion. With this data, our algorithms prescribe the perfect pace and workout intensities in real-time, provide post-workout analysis about how the body is responding, and suggest future activities based on this information.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EL Passion?

Our company hired EL Passion to aid our in-house team in developing our backend application and infrastructure.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals with EL Passion were to take an existing but primitive backend application and get it production-ready. This included adding features, improving reliability, and refactoring code for future scalability and maintainability.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

EL Passion was introduced to me by another firm with whom I had very successfully worked with. I trusted the party making the introduction and was pleased with the initial interactions I had with the team at EL Passion, so I made the selection to work with them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Once we selected EL Passion, their engineers integrated quickly and seamlessly into our in-house team of developers, as well as the other contracting firm which was working on our mobile application. We all shared a single instant messaging channel, where EL Passion immediately became part of our cohesive team. They coordinated with the rest of the team to build changes to the backend to support the work of the mobile team. This required working in concert to roll out new features, fix bugs, and future-proof the backend codebase.

What was the team composition?

The EL Passion team has scaled as necessary to meet our internal needs, but the average composition involved a senior engineer and mid-level engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We met our initial deadline and had a successful launch. Now, we’re continuing to improve the app by fixing bugs, adding features, and enhancing its design. As a young and growing business, we’ve faced many challenges, but our software hasn’t been a bottleneck.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Overall, our workflow has been seamless. EL Passion's engineers are pleasant and professional to work with. Direct and constant communication between our two teams has been critical to operating efficiently. Our successful collaboration wouldn’t be possible without the excellent communication between our team and every member of their team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I have been most impressed by the knowledge of the EL Passion team and their ability to integrate so easily into our existing team. Without either of those attributes alone, success would not have been possible. Having strong technical skills and knowledge to discuss and think through problems in real-time together made our collaboration a success.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The benefits of strong communication with the EL Passion team have been clear and described above. This was achieved with each team member throughout our collaboration. The only area to improve was that this process was a bit different for each team member, with their hours and schedule all a bit different. Having a consistent and transparent understanding of the expected process from the start would have helped.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a health startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with El Passion?

Our first attempt at building a platform for health professionals with another development company was not successful, so we engaged El Passion to take over the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted to develop a mobile application for Android and iOS that allowed health professionals to follow up with obese patients while they are at home. Users can enter their personal information and updates into the app and then start a dialogue with their healthcare provider through the platform.

When we engaged El Passion, we had a clear set of specifications because we had already begun working on the app with another partner. We held a kickoff meeting to transfer all of our existing work to El Passion and give them more of an understanding of what we were aiming for. They figured it out quickly and ultimately delivered what we wanted.

What is the team composition?

We work with a technical team of about five people.

How did you come to work with El Passion?

Their CEO contacted me several times in the past, but we were never in the position to hire them. Luckily, she contacted us again while we were searching for a new partner. We discussed our project through a series of calls, and we selected El Passion after also interviewing a few other companies.

El Passion made a really good first impression. They were curious and understood our needs. And they followed-up nicely after the meeting. All of the companies followed-up, but El Passion really stood out.

How much have you invested with them?

We expect to spend about $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work with El Passion began in February 2019 and remains ongoing. Our system is up and running in a pilot phase now, and we’ve decided to continue working with El Passion for building our next version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Two local students are writing their master’s theses on our project, so they have researched the implementation of our system. Through their interviews and surveys with patients and health professionals, we’ve received a lot of positive feedback. The system is somewhat basic, but users have liked it. We had a few small issues once we first launched it, but El Passion solved them quickly. Since then, the app has been quite stable.

How did El Passion perform from a project management standpoint?

They are quite professional in how they run the project. We have daily standups, and they adapt quickly to our preferred methods or strategies. In that regard, they’ve been straightforward to work with compared to past vendors.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility and willingness to pivot when we think is necessary is really appreciated. Their curiosity makes them stand out. They are invested in our project and meeting our goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm quite happy with them. I have no areas for improvement for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd recommend being on the project every day yourself, as opposed to leaving all the work up to them. You have to be involved in some way.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an engineer at a technology development company. We deliver web services through various applications and domains.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EL Passion?

We hired EL Passion for a rapid build of a new application that we're considering launching.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our company designed and built a proof of concept internally for a user behavior analysis tool, which would help website owners track user activity and collect feedback from users. We demoed it to EL Passion and asked them to provide a more professional design and assist in building a prototype. We agreed to a collaborative partnership in that they would develop the frontend using React while our in-house team maintained the backend.

What is the team composition?

We had one full-time designer for the first month or so and then brought on a full-time developer and a part-time junior developer.

How did you come to work with EL Passion?

We had worked with EL Passion on a previous project, so we already had a decent working relationship with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $45,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned February–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They definitely met the requirement of coming up with an intuitive design and helping us bring our idea from an initial prototype to something that we will be proud to present to a broader user base.

How did EL Passion perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated daily through Slack, and we used Jira for development tasking. EL Passion did a good job of giving us project updates. There were no bottlenecks in terms of communicating.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The designer we worked with was the strongest resource for us. We could tell he took a personal liking to the project. He engaged regularly and had a lot of opinions and ideas, so it was like he was part of our in-house team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. EL Passion did everything we asked of them, and they were very accommodating throughout the process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When working with an outsourced team, in general, it’s vital for the internal team to maintain the work that’s being done. We had to find that balance so that we picked the appropriate time for EL Passion to transition the product back to us near the end of the development process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of 4URSPACE LLC, an online network that connects clients, brands, and project managers with architects and general contractors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EL Passion?

We needed a design team for our new mobile application platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team developed new features for iOS and Android. They used Sketch to design the UI/UX.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two designers.

How did you come to work with EL Passion?

My CTO referred El Passion after working with them on a successful project. We decided that El Passion was our best choice.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started worked together from August–October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team’s innovative suggestions resulted in a design that exceeded our expectations.  El Passion felt like an extension of our team, not just another consulting firm.

How did EL Passion perform from a project management standpoint?

They managed everything perfectly, delivering work on time and within budget. The customer relationship manager ensured that the project stayed on track. Availability was a notable strength; we communicated daily on Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team did a deep dive into our goals. Their different points of view influenced us to consider alternative approaches. Overall, El Passion was professional and a positive asset for our team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a senior digital marketing specialist for a company that offers non-wage benefits to companies in Poland and other European countries. Our main product—MultiSport Program—gives our users access to sports facilities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire EL Passion?

Through our website, we offer our MultiSport users access to seasonal activities and promotions. Winter activities are among the most popular, and we needed to create new content on our site presenting a new offer in a very short time. We hired EL Passion to design graphics and new subpages.

What were your goals for this project?

We hoped to create a modern and friendly UX design that presented our latest offer.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We hired EL Passion because we believeD their offer and dedication were the most suitable for us. At the time of the engagement, we also had an ongoing project with their team, and we were satisfied with the results they had provided.

Describe the project in detail.

EL Passion had only seven days to deliver all of the graphic designs of the website. During our initial briefing, we discussed our expectations and business goals, and we provided them with the required specifications of the project.

Within two days, EL Passion delivered low-resolution mock-ups of three subpages—complete with new illustrations, GIFs, text, and photos. We gave them some feedback, and their designers began work on more high-quality mockups. The designers finished their work on time, but they did not provide a responsive web design (RWD) version. They claimed they did not have enough time to do that. We afforded them one extra day to deliver an RWD version. They fulfilled all of their obligations once we had an RWD version.

What was the team composition?

We had direct contact with two designers and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website developers were satisfied with the completed designs. We constantly receive positive feedback about the graphic elements of our website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our teams used Slack to communicate and InVision to upload designs and provide feedback. Overall, it was very easy to work together.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

EL Passion demonstrated professionalism, flexibility, and dedication from start to finish. They delivered results that met our expectations. Our project manager was always supportive and eager to solve any issues.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I don't think any other company could deliver better solutions in that tight of a timeframe.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a UX designer for Tellius. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and I work remotely with our product team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with EL Passion?

We wanted EL Passion to help provide design-related solutions for our website and product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The EL Passion team supplies a range of services for our website. They designed the site before I joined the team, and now provide good support in building the product UI. They create prototypes by using InVision and put it through multiple design flows and screens. Their designers also create animations for our site as well as product interaction-related micro UI animations.

What is the team composition?

Depending on the task, EL Passion provides a specific designer.

How did you come to work with EL Passion?

We found EL Passion through references and reading online reviews. From there, my manager contacted their team looking for a designer.

What is the status of this engagement?

Although I joined the company in July 2018, EL Passion started working with us in 2016, and the engagement is going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

EL Passion has done a great job in providing everything we’ve asked for. The deliverables meet our standards.

How did EL Passion perform from a project management standpoint?

The EL Passion team uses InVision and other necessary design tools; the designers at El Passion are highly collaborative and easy-going in nature. We do the project remotely and have to work with time differences. Additionally, we use Slack to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

EL Passion's designers have been highly available and continuously produce strong designs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

An improved collaboration channel could lower the burden on both parties but this is due to limitations found in any current design/collaboration/communication tools. Other than this, El Passion's service is up to the mark.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the managing director and CEO of Peloton Blockchain. Our software services company is building securitization trading software. We focus on equities, unlisted fixed income, and cryptocurrencies. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with El Passion?

We hired El Passion for UX/UI design and development. I needed professional web frontend work for one of our applications. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Originally, El Passion made the designs in Sketch and then they put them on InVision for me to review. Once I approved the designs, they built the software in React.js. One of my products is an exchange trading venue. 

We didn’t have the skill set internally to design and develop the UI. We tasked El Passion with creating a slick, clean frontend UI for traders to log in and view order decks, a chart of prices, and the available pairs to trade.

What is the team composition? 

We've been through a few projects together at this point, but they assigned one designer and one developer for our first project. They brought in a senior developer to help with a particularly sticky problem at one point.

How did you come to work with El Passion?

Globally, developers charge a range of prices. I considered other firms in the US and India. El Passion was in the mid-tier for pricing, which was important, but we hired them based on their response to my initial queries. I sent out a standard set of questions to several vendors. 

The way El Passion responded showed me they'd read and understood the brief properly. When I progressed to a call with their team, they were immediately engaging. They offered responsive, great communication and we clicked immediately. 

How much have you invested with them?

It's been a little bit piecemeal as one project turned into another over the course of a few months. In total, we're spent around $30,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2018. The initial project is done.  El Passion is currently helping us white label our products for clients. Occasionally, clients have specific demands for a web application. In those cases, I ask El Passion to have their designers create mockups of screens and graphics. If the client approves the designs, I ask them to develop them. We're going to have an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

El Passion produces excellent quality deliverables. I'm a former developer, so I reviewed the code they gave me and I was very happy with it. Their designs are beautiful. 

They tend to provide estimates that seem high based on what the developers say, but typically come in well under those figures. I'm always pleased in the end. 

How did El Passion perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is very predictable. We used Slack for day-to-day communication, which was excellent. El Passion is very responsive and engaging. We've built a great working relationship.

El Passion always notifies me early if they won't be able to meet a deadline. They never tell me last minute or double the price because they're running late. If it will take an extra 18 days, they tell me upfront so there are no surprises. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I most appreciate El Passion’s friendliness. They're pleasant to work with and are all smiles.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don't think so. I'm happy with El Passion. I've worked with quite a few teams over the years and I like them a lot. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a startup that provides email capturing services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with El Passion?

I engaged El Passion to design and develop our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

El Passion delivered an MVP product of a capture forms platform, including its design, UX/UI, frontend, and backend work. They used Ruby on Rails and AWS.

What is the team composition?

I worked with about five people, including a project coordinator, a couple designers, and a couple developers.

How did you come to work with El Passion?

Other businesses in my building had worked with them before, so they came highly recommended. They also offered very reasonable rates for their services. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together for 4–5 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

El Passion delivered a very sturdy, well-coded product. We've been able to capture hundreds, if not thousands, of emails through it thus far.

How did El Passion perform from a project management standpoint?

They were responsive through Slack and documented the work well, creating specifications and managing tasks through another project management platform.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They transitioned our team from one stage to the next very well. The mockups, design, and MVP they provided were done very well, and they were very communicative throughout the engagement.

Are there any areas they could improve?

In a perfect world, they would be more available during regular US office hours.