Esquared Consulting Inc.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a non-profit religious and cultural community organization with many groups that operate within our community. These include a heritage language school, traditional folk dance and literary arts, youth and seniors' groups, ecclesiastical, philanthropic, and heritage preservation and promotion.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Esquared Consulting Inc.?

We had to update our online presence as well as to provide members with church and community information including services and events, programming, donation and payment options, etc. Our membership wanted easier access and options when in came to accessing information and staying informed so we needed to start with a totally new website.

What were your goals for this project?

The main objective was to provide easy-to-navigate information on, and promote, our many community groups including our language school, church services, community events and activities, payment and donation options, and volunteer opportunities

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A member of the vendor's team was well known to our community from when he was in Edmonton and part of the greater community organization. The vendor was contacted based on known previous work, similar to what we were looking for to help after attempts to develop the website in-house were did not meet the intent and objectives of our community.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The vendor designed, developed, configured, and launched a new website. The process started with establishing a budget and timeline with milestones while at the same time gathering infomration and a wants (nice to have) and needs (must haves) list from the various groups that operate under or in cooperation with our organization. We appointed a project manager from our board of directors to act as the liaison between us and the vendor. A site layout and navigation philosophy were established and, once approved, wireframes were developed for review and comments. Functional testing, including the payment system, were performed to ensure we had minimal issues once the site was up-and-running. Once launched, the vendor assisted with minor improvements based on community member and general public use and feedback. Recommendations and direction from the vendor were key to developing a functional and user-friendly site.

What was the team composition?

The project team consisted of a project manager who was the one-point-contact from our organization that was a conduit with the vendor. Our internal team consisted of members and chairs from our various groups and committees to ensure the appropriate content and functionality were incorporated into the website development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website has contributed to increased awareness of the services and needs of our organization as well as decreased the time spend manually processing payments for memberships, sacraments, school registration, donations, etc. The time saved can now be put to good use in other strategic areas of our organization to maintain focus on continuous improvement and cost efficiency.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was the key element to effective communication, expedited schedule delivery, and a seamless transition from our existing systems and processes to our current setup.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Most impressive was their response time and understanding of our unique requirements and needs. There were no major surprises and any issues were communicated and resolved in a timely and respectful manner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only area I could suggest is for potential clients to establish requirements and have as much relevant information and data available in advance. This would reduce the amount of cycle time spent on the transmission, handling, vetting, and coordination of information. Although the project timeline was less than we initially expected, this can help even further reduce project duration.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of WealthBridge.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Esquared Consulting Inc.?

Our website was dated. We wanted to simplify our web presence, making it more specific in terms of how we use our site at this point in our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Esquared Consulting Inc. rebuilt our website. Their team revamped the language on the site such as verbiage. They developed a new presentation and rebuilt elements to improve how the site renders for both handheld and desktop platforms. Their team also changed the flow and the layout. They redid all of the artistic elements, managing graphic design to make sure the platform was visually appealing. Their team also supported our photography. They worked with our photographer to direct content based on how it would look best on the site.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Esquared Consulting Inc.?

We were an existing client of theirs. Before this project, Esquared Consulting Inc. maintained our previous site. It was natural to engage them in this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $20,000 CAD (approximately $15,100 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in March 2019 and it ended in December.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had positive feedback from clients in terms of how the site renders. That’s the biggest piece of feedback at this point. The new site flows much better and freshens up our brand.

How did Esquared Consulting Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Mostly, we communicated via email but also had a couple of conference calls when we discussed draft samples on the laptop, so it was an interactive experience. The project moved between high and lower priority for us and their team accommodated our schedule. They were responsive too.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Esquared Consulting Inc. was responsive and took leadership on pieces of the project. They were open to discussion and answered any of the questions or queries that we had. Their team was able to come back and explain the rationale for decisions, which demonstrated that they spent time thinking through the project. That was reassuring.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were really good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Our process of communicating by email was a good format. It’s always good to have information in writing. Also, don’t be shy about having conference calls to look at a piece together and have a dialog. That’s important, especially at the earlier stages where you’re trying to get more on concepts. It’s good to have a sharing of information.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a small real estate investment company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Esquared Consulting Inc.?

I wanted a small, simple website to showcase who we are and what we do.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted something easy to find, simple to navigate with content that is easy to change.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I put our a request on linkedin and selected Esquared based upon their references and the past websites they had designed.

Describe the project in detail.

I had an initial consult with them to discuss the project and they prepared a couple of different options. We selected one and provided them with the content we wanted.

What was the team composition?

Myself and one project manager from Esquared

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Website is up and running and is easy to find, navigate and change

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their team worked excellently with our own.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Attention to detail and response time

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the former owner and president of Rhino Legal Finance Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Esquared Consulting Inc.?

We hired Esquared Consulting Inc. for website development and SEO.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to maximize our visibility and obtain focused business leads.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Esquared Consulting Inc. based on their presentation and insight into our business.

Describe the project in detail.

Esquared Consulting Inc. helped us reach front-page exposure online and created our business website.

What was the team composition?

We dealt with senior members of the Esquared Consulting Inc team, so we always felt important.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were satisfied with their work.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Esquared Consulting Inc. gave us the attention that we needed. They worked in a timely and efficient manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with the quality of their work, attention to detail, and availability.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, nothing comes to mind.