Grappus

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CPO at NAVNEET TOPTECH. We’re an educational technology company that works in the B2B space. Our primary target audience is schools across the country in the K-12 segment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus?

We hired Grappus to provide us with UI/UX design services.

SOLUTION

What is the scope of their involvement?

We had a design project that involved developing a learning management system (LMS). The solution would enable schools to manage all their learning and teaching materials inside and outside the classroom. Grappus helped us design the UI/UX from scratch using Figma. The product is web-based and has an iOS and Android version. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with about four people from their team, including a project manager and a senior designer.

How did you come to work with Grappus?

We found out about Grappus through a recommendation. They went through an evaluation process. Based on the case study that they had submitted, the conversations, and the terms of engagement that were published, we decided to go with them.
 
What is the status of the engagement?

We worked together with Grappus from August 2021–January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, we had a fairly good experience working with Grappus. We were also satisfied with the design.

How did Grappus perform from a project management standpoint?

They met all timelines, used Jira to manage tasks, and followed Agile methodology. They were also fairly approachable and accommodating.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciated the amount of research that they did. They also focused on detailing the screens that they published, understanding the user completely, and developing flows based on the users. Overall, there was a fair amount of detailing in every aspect, which they were very good at.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could work on their post-delivery service and ownership of the projects.

Any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to comply with the processes — it really helped us deliver a finished product on time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I have been working in the IT industry for the past 20 years and wanted to build an app that would strategize for any company's digital marketing initiatives. Backed by O3 Capital (Banglore based VC fund), my co-founder and I secured Angel investment to create a tool called DMIST. (Digital Marketing Intelligence Strategy Tool)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Grappus?

Hired Grappus to build the UI/UX for my digital marketing strategy tool- DMIST

What were your goals for this project?

1. To create an intuitive and easy to use User Interface and Experience so that every business can strategize towards their Digital Marketing goals.
2. To build a machine learning algorithm that would dynamically update various activities for an optimized outcome and predict best practices for a business using test cases.
3. To create a gameplan for every digital marketing initiative in one tool encompassing SEO, SMO, Brand Reputation Management, Communication, and Content Curation Strategies.

SOLUTION

How did you select Grappus?

I got in touch with them as they were highly recommended by a friend who was also their client.

Describe the project in detail.

Grappus is building the UI/UX for the Dmist application. They have so far built the wireframes for the screens which look very impressive. There are 6 modules in total and around 30-40 screens which need to be built for mobile and web versions.

What was the team composition?

Grappus is doing a 5-week sprint with a total of 4 designers and UX developers. 2 Designers 2 Developers 1 Project manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The wireframes so far are excellent. Looking forward to getting the designs done soon.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their communication has been perfect. Every day our team has a 15 mins scrum call to outline the activities of the day and results so far.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their design skills are the best in the market. Having compared with other Indian companies, they excelled in various aspects, however, their design skills are the best by far, that's the reason we decided to work with them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I would have to update this once the project is complete. However, so far they have been excellent!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Transportal. We’re developing a SaaS platform for car rental companies in India.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus?

We went to them to develop our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Grappus developed the front- and backend of our system. Our teams had a few workshops to begin the work. We defined each feature and divided the scope into phases.

They built all functionalities, including the booking platform, database, and network connectivity. Additionally, they were responsible for the entire UI/UX, which involved the interaction of various platform elements. They used Adobe InDesign to create the UX. The platform was built on React on the frontend and Node.js on the backend.

What is the team composition?

There were about seven people from Grappus involved. We had a project manager, three backend and two backend developers, and a UI/UX designer.  

How did you come to work with Grappus?

They were recommended to me by a friend. They have an office in our area, so we reached out. After a few meetings and reviewing their portfolio, we found their work impressive and wanted to engage with their team on this project.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work was a bit above $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Grappus between June 2018–2019. We moved the project in-house after that point.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platform is still a work in progress, so we don’t have metrics yet. In terms of anecdotal feedback, Grappus delivered exactly what we wanted. They helped us get a running start, test the product with customers, and understand what was required for the future of the product.

We don't have a technical co-founder, so we were very happy to find Grappus and fill that role. Their design work and communication skills both stood out.

How did Grappus perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very helpful and organized in communication. We found their knowledge to be particularly helping in getting this solution off the ground.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their design abilities are remarkable. Grappus took a design-first approach, which gave us a better idea of how we were going to move forward.

It was optimal compared to investing in development and realizing the end result wasn’t what we wanted. That could've easily happened without their help.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I see them as a design company and not a total expert on business. They did what I asked them to do, but they could log changes requests and hours more transparently. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I highly recommend Grappus. They’re very good with design and can deliver great work for both large companies and small.

We’re a small startup, but they delivered our project with the same passion they would’ve had with a large client. I was happy to work with them, and I’d highly suggest giving them a call.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a former co-founder at HireEasy, a B2B recruitment platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus?

I needed people with a strong technology emphasis to come in as co-founders because I didn’t have the money to pay at first. I needed help with prototyping and development of the product. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us think through the concept and helped us with customer research and competitor intelligence reports. They came up with a list of similar apps. They helped me talk to a lot of customers in India. Then, we did a sequence of four iterations of design prototypes. We did some development work as well. 

Unfortunately, I had to leave the project and am not working on it anymore. I needed a visa and a monthly salary.

What is the team composition?

There was one excellent designer, one business person, and two developers. Anuj (Co-founder, Grappus) was also heavily involved. Other people may have been involved as well.

How did you come to work with Grappus?

Anuj and I used to work together. I’ve seen the work they have done for a mutual connection. They were willing to come in on an equity person base. The way they do design and graphic design is beyond just getting a product out there. For them, it’s about bringing pure delight. I wanted to work with that kind of people.

How much have you invested with them?

I should have paid them $10,000, but they worked with me on a potential basis. They didn’t push me to pay them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2017 until March 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They took an extremely complex process and simplified it. Their attention to detail is fantastic. I love the designs and their clean look and feel. There was a great flow to it. When I showed it to a number of recruitment agencies, even in the US, the feedback was that it was phenomenal. I’m a big fan of Grappus. 

How did Grappus perform from a project management standpoint?

I have no complaints. I was in the US and they were in India, but they worked late hours for me. I was able to contact them at any time. We communicated via email and Google Hangouts. They used a prototyping app that made it convenient for me to comment on their work. They promptly addressed my comments. I enjoyed working with them tremendously.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They don’t cut corners. They’re a no-nonsense company. They’re all about quality and building something that delights people. They’re not just about making money but want to create beautiful designs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When I first looked at their website and the work they did, their website was a little slow, but they’ve improved that. The other thing they could potentially improve on is being able to be pragmatic at times. There’s some beauty in being a perfect design company, but sometimes cutting corners may not be such a bad thing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re looking for a cheap, ordinary experience and just looking to get the job done, Grappus is not the team for you. If you’re looking for high-quality emotional UX and a team of extremely passionate people who are going to display that passion, then you should work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of an education platform that helps children between the ages of 3 to 12 to learn how to read English. The app first locates their current reading level to navigate them to their desired level.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus?

We were looking for a technology vendor that would help translate our vision into an app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Grappus designed and developed our React Native application for iOS, Android, and web application and backend. The backend is used by teachers to keep track of what they’re teaching in the classroom. We gave their team the wireframes and documentation. The app is a combination of an LMS (learning management system) and reading platform. Teachers get assigned courses that they can take into their classroom. They can track progress and do assessments. The platform also has a help section with a chat feature that allows them to interface with us. There’s also a section that acts as a mini social network with course pictures and comments. The second project they developed is a reading app for children ages 3 to 9.

What is the team composition?

We have a primary point of contact. About ten people work on the project.  

How did you come to work with Grappus?

A friend had a great experience with their team.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost between $60,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Grappus began in December 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Grappus continues maintaining the apps, still developing the web version. The iOS and Android apps work well, have been well-received on the market, and are ranked highly on the App Store. It’s been number one for four weeks in a row and has won several awards. It came out on top amongst several EdTech companies in the country, even working in the low-end markets.

How did Grappus perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style is excellent. We communicate in-person, and through Slack, WhatsApp, and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Grappus is responsive, taking ownership of the product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s naturally difficult in the tech space, but they could improve with timelines.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Grappus is a great design firm. They’re world-class and can compete as global products.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior UI/UX designer at an insurance company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus?

Two years ago, our company was going through a digital transformation as everything was outdated and nothing was digitized. I needed support from people that could help me move faster and come up with solutions wherever our needs were. We needed to prototype ideas and quickly deliver them. There were no UI/UX designers in-house because the website we had was built either by developers or business stakeholders.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, it was very UI focused. I would come up with wireframes and tell them precisely what to do. Eventually, they got used to how I think and what the business requires—they have a good understanding of how we work and can meet us at that level, creating wireframes, getting together as a team to come up with ideas and solutions, and then presenting them to us.

Now, they’re focused on UX and UI. They did the UI/UX for our website, the purchase journey with everything that is transactional, and then the mobile application.

What is the team composition?

There are two UI/UX designers and two HTML developers.

How did you come to work with Grappus?

I was looking to hire someone in-house, but we weren’t able to find someone. My manager suggested outsourcing to someone based in India. He gave me a couple of names and, out of those, Grappus had the people we were looking for. They were outgoing, open to criticism, and able to offer suggestions.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $170,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They helped us launch a product much faster than we could have on our own, thanks to their due diligence. They do their homework before coming up with an idea and always take the initiative. They’re aware of what is happening in the market when it comes to UI/UX and technology, keeping on top of trends and incorporating them into the projects. They’re top-notch and hard workers. If they don’t have anything to work on, they come and offer to help with something else. We can count on them to give us good, high-level solutions.

How did Grappus perform from a project management standpoint?

Whenever I give them a task, they put together a full-fledged team of developers and designers. They take the job, talk to other designers, developers, and managers, and bring us solutions. It’s an internal process for them.

I manage the two designers and HTML developers, continually communicating via Slack and phone calls, with Zoom for live visuals. They send me a recap on whatever they’ve worked on at the end of every day. We also use Trello to keep track of the tasks that everyone is working on and to give feedback.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Often vendors only care about the job. However, Grappus understands that they need to truly believe in the brand to give better solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since they’re offshore vendors, they could have tools to work with outside clients. However, everybody knows how to communicate, which means there are no issues.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

SCIO is a consumer healthcare platform that integrates a plethora of services such as vitals, telemedicine, and healthcare knowledge to provide a comprehensive understanding of our customers’ health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Grappus?

Grappus was hired for end-to-end development and design of the SCIO platform.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create a world-class infrastructure that was intuitive, convenient, and could be scaled to millions of users across India.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had heard good reviews of Grappus through our contacts. Once we began working with them, we were impressed by their diligence and professionalism.

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

In addition to designing and developing the frontend applications for Android and iOS, Grappus also built our online digital presence with scalable backend operations to manage, combine, and analyze data.

What was the team composition?

With seven to 10 members at any given time, the team was allocated based on experience and skill. Dedicated project and scope managers, as well as the founders, were, and remain, in touch with us constantly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We began the project with multiple vendors. When one shut down, Grappus assumed full responsibility of that code base as well as their own. Their scaled quickly, allowing us to minimize our losses. Overall, Grappus was very professional, dedicated, and hard working in ensuring they achieved their goals on time. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was pretty effective. Regular interactions with the team and managers allowed our changes and requests to be implemented very quickly.  

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We appreciated their constant communication, adherence to deadlines, and professionalism.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There is not much they need to improve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Avido, a software company that delivers strength and conditioning workouts to athletes for training purposes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus?

We hired Grappus to build an iOS mobile app. Due to budget constraints, we couldn't engage a domestic developer based in the U.S. We decided to outsource this work to a reliable offshores team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Grappus collaborated with our in-house backend developers. Our two teams were in constant communication to develop an iOS app and mobile website. The expertly brought the wireframes and screens we’d designed in-house to life. We discussed, documented, and reviewed each new feature request. They carefully worked through all the iOS guidelines as they implemented an optimized, streamlined UX/UI design.

Grappus designed unique displays for a customizable workout calendar. A scheduling function accommodates both concurrent and rotating training cycles. Weekly displays are easily modifiable for different fitness techniques. The streaming plug-in lets clients watch videos during their training sessions. The program’s useful planning feature lets them set goals and track progress. Athletes can input and edit the actual sets, reps, or distance metrics they complete mid-workout or afterward. The app stores cumulative workout histories. All these tools empower clients to update their athletic goals for each season.

What is the team composition?

One of the team’s owners started the project with us. After he captured the essence of our scope and relayed specifics, we worked with a project manager. When internal problems arose, the owner proactively got involved again. Having two dedicated leads helped us work through these problems faster.

How did you come to work with Grappus?

We sought out a reliable company who would never give up on our project. Having a vendor quit if things get difficult is the worst-case scenario. First, we looked at their portfolio to assess their UI/UX capabilities. Multiple U.S.-based contacts provided positive referrals, as well. After compiling enough positive feedback and seeing the strong quality of their work, we felt comfortable hiring them.

How much have you invested with them?

Grappus held daily phone calls with either myself, my co-founder, or our internal backend developers.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started our year-long partnership with Grappus around December 2016. After working together through 2017, we took and break and just recently started a new project with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team produced a sophisticated mobile app that met all of our challenging requirements. They delivered an excellent product for our company that maximized ROI. I’m a firm believer that whatever initial terms you agree to, Grappus will diligently see through to the end. After entering into a contract, we never had to worry about them backing out. Their training and consultation have been very useful for our company.

Grappus exhibited altruism, generosity, and committed work ethic that proved integral to our success. Our internal backend team struggled with the REST APIs not working among other errors. At no additional cost, Grappus proactively resolved all these problems. Even though this work extended our timeline, we couldn’t have afforded to pay for this fix or resolve it in-house. They even took the time to explain their findings and methodology.

How did Grappus perform from a project management standpoint?

Grappus was regularly in direct contact with myself and my co-founder. Slack and email are our main forms of communication. They respond to most messages on the same day. Since we finished the final iteration, they’ve been executing requests within 2-3 days. The app isn't completely live yet and we know all our users personally so bug fixes aren't a critical concern. I encourage them to take longer if needed, but they resolve every urgent matter within 24 hours.

I really appreciate their scheduling system, which uses milestones and corresponding weighted points to prioritize and plan work. This program checks off completed tasks to track progress and gives me the option to review and leave comments. At the end of each milestone, we pay the respective invoice and begin the next phase.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Grappus excels communication and availability. Our partnership was night and day compared to our prior offshores vendors. The team's English fluency makes for an effective ongoing dialogue. Beyond linguistic translation, they clearly articulate highly technical concepts in laymen’s terms.

Despite a 9-10-hour time zone discrepancy, Grappus was willing to accommodate any schedule we requested. At first, I worked with them from midnight until early morning. When I found this unsustainable, they switched our daily calls to the morning our time, which is past midnight for them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I wouldn’t say so. Grappus did a very good job with our project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We requested an overly expansive MVP off the bat and based our quote on excess requirements. There was too much code to accurately predict issues we'd encounter mid-project. It’s better to outline a tight, tangible two-week scope and expand from there unless you have in-house engineering experts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Sweat Together, a social matching platform for fitness-focused individuals. We connect users looking for dating, business, and friendships.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus?

We were looking for a company that could help us build and design an application to house our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Grappus managed all aspects of the development process. We had another firm in the US that helped us design the layout and create wire frames. The Grappus team worked with them directly to optimize UI/UX and ensure a smooth execution. The app was built in a Django framework using Cassandra and Python. The app is currently for iOS only.

The layout is a swipe-style platform similar to popular mobile dating apps. The frontend is seamless for the user, and there’s a fairly complex algorithm on the backend that matches accounts. The app also offers chat functionality to those who have matched.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Anuj (Project Manager, Grappus) on day-to-day tasks, and Dhruv (Co-Founder & Lead Frontend Developer, Grappus) served as a project lead. We also have direct access to their backend developer. The company has developed a robust design team over the course of our engagement, but at the start, they focused solely on coding.

How did you come to work with Grappus?

We initially hired a well-known app development firm to do the project, but after the first sprint, we found them to be very spread out and difficult to communicate with. We were looking to establish a close partnership, and a few colleagues recommended Grappus as a potential option. We interviewed a total of about eight companies, and a majority of them were based in the US. We were choosing a company based on their quality of work and their ability to get projects done quickly. After thorough consideration, Grappus was clearly our best option.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August of 2015 and launched the apps in December 2016. Grappus is providing ongoing maintenance as necessary.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw about 40,000 downloads within the first few months. In terms of stability, we’re about 99.9% crash-free on a day-to-day basis.. There were very few bugs early on, and those that did occur were corrected very quickly.

Early on in the process, I had a UX developer on our end review the code and they were very impressed. I’ve consulted with a variety of contacts in the technology space including founders and investors, and everyone has complimented the work that Grappus did for us. Dhruv is especially talented; his iOS development skills compete with some of the top app developers in the US.

How did Grappus perform from a project management standpoint?

They overdelivered on this aspect of the project. They took a holistic approach to the project and went above and beyond the original scope of work. They were very accommodating and often worked on our hours rather than their own, which made the experience seamless for us. Whenever there are bugs or other issues, we contact the entire team rather than a single point of contact, and someone usually responds within hours. There have been no language barriers whatsoever.

Dhruv functioned as a co-founder of our company in terms of his level of engagement and availability. He’s much more than a coder, in that he helped us build this company collaboratively.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re incredibly impressed by their entire process. They’re very capable and they execute on what they promise. The quality of work that you receive for the money you pay is astounding. Working with a similar firm in the US would be close to four times the price. Beyond that, Grappus brings a lot of passion to your project. It never felt like they were just doing the project for a paycheck. They take pride and ownership in the deliverables they provide and take time to overdeliver.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. For what they’re providing, they’re as good as the best out there.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have a very clear vision of what it is you're looking to build early on. Work out as many issues as possible during the planning stages, because making adjustments during the coding process is more difficult and can result in additional costs. Involve them in your planning stages and listen to their opinions on execution. Keep your product as streamlined as possible and focus on quality over quantity in terms of features.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a B2B travel startup that helps companies save on travel and expense, which is typically the second largest controllable cost a company has behind payroll.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grappus Technologies?

We needed to find a team that could work quickly, nimbly, and affordably. As we’re a startup, things change every day. In the Bay Area where we’re based, the cost of in-house engineers and an engineering team is quite expensive so we were looking to find a way to manage that.

Our biggest goal was to be able to deliver our MVP [minimum viable product] by a specific deadline so that we could get clients and our next round of funding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first phase was defining our business logic and external dependencies. We pointed them in the direction of the companies we thought we would need to work with, and they researched the API capabilities of those third party companies. We’re not technical, so they invested in that research for us and assessed what it meant for our platform.

We needed to scope the product in terms of capabilities. We began with the frontend and then looked at what that meant for the backend. Our internal team had the responsibility of mocking up the frontend UI [user interface] and then Grappus took our vision and translated it into project sprints, so we could see what functions and features were driving the most work and highest costs. Subsequently, we modified our scope for the web application development.

We also did a spin-off product that was a mobile app. Our company is a web application so we contemplated what it would look like as a mobile app. They provided all the mobile application UI work. However, for strategic reasons as a company, we decided not to pursue the mobile app.

What is the team dynamic? 

We had one project manager, Anuj, a backend engineer, Ankur, and two other engineers that we worked with from time to time. They also enlisted the support of other engineers on their team that we didn’t have a direct line of communication with.

How did you come to work with Grappus Technologies?

We had a personal reference for them from somebody who had worked with a member of their team on a previous project and spoke highly of them. We did look at other agencies and evaluated them using metrics of cost and delivery time. Grappus was one that hit the mark on those 2 metrics. With the added bonus of the recommendation, they were the best choice overall.

What is the status of this engagement?

The majority of the work was done from fall of last year [2016] to spring of this year. We had a working relationship with them for months before that, and are still in touch today. We may continue to work with them on future projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work allowed us to win contracts from Global 2000 companies and household names. Their scrutiny from an information security perspective ensured that we developed a product that meets the security standards of companies like those.

How did Grappus Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We used a project management tool called Pivotal Tracker and had daily calls and standup meetings using Google Hangouts. Typically, they had 4 attendees on those calls and we had me and another project owner on our side. We would set a clear vision for the days’ priorities and our expectations. They always responded to emails within 2 to 3 hours, which with different time zones can be hard to do. They’re very responsive, especially since as a startup, our hours are not always 9 to 5.

Anuj [project manager] would step in if there was any confusion. He was involved on all phone calls and if there were any language barriers, he was always there to help. Things could have fallen through the cracks if he hadn’t had that level of commitment and involvement throughout.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their collaborative nature was brilliant. They were adaptive: project priorities change and things needed to move forward quickly sometimes and more gradually at other times. They added people to the team to help things move quickly when we needed and decreased resources when the pace was slower. They never pushed back on changes and we were able to communicate the importance of those changes and why they were being made. It was great to have a partner that you know can meet your needs, even as those needs evolve.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It was overall a positive experience. We’re always looking to bring down costs, but I think they were priced competitively for their quality of work. There are agencies out there that are going to be cheaper. If they could bring down their price then that would be wonderful, but I think the challenge and the tradeoff is that when the price is too low, what’s the quality of work?

Do you have any advice for potential clients?

Get to know the team and the individuals that are working on your project. There is nothing like face to face communication so invest time at the beginning as it will set you up for success, especially in the remote work setting. Knowing who these people are will help you understand them, so when things go wrong, you can work through it better. It also helps you to communicate better and understand overall expectations and pace.