hedgehog lab

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of external affairs for a mental health nonprofit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with hedgehog lab?

We wanted to create a digital hub that was about building a social movement of people who were impacted by, affected by, or do something about preventing suicide.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The brief behind the project was to help us build a digital hub that would be a place where people could sign up to support the campaign and show their interest. We also wanted the digital hub to be a source of support and help for people who were affected by the issue. It’s a place where people could see others who joined the movement and hear their story.

We also wanted to include resources for people to read and watch. The platform hedgehog lab built is integrated with social media channels and has an interactive sign up capability.

What is the team composition?

We had a lead point of contact who was our main connection to hedgehog lab. At any one point we had two or three other colleagues who joined us in weekly meetings. There may have also been other people involved behind the scenes that I wasn’t aware of.

How did you come to work with hedgehog lab?

We were working with another creative agency who was supporting us in the development of the campaign. They were the ones who brought hedgehog lab into the mix in terms of delivering on the digital hub, because they didn’t have that capability in house. 

We met with hedgehog lab through the process of the campaign as the client, and we were really comfortable with their approach. They were great at dealing with people like me and my colleagues, who don’t have technical skills or knowledge. The team made us feel very confident about what we were doing and why at all times.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent in the region of £40,000 (approximately $54,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2020. We launched the digital hub in September, and we’re wrapping up with them now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

A few thousand people have signed up since we started the campaign at the end of September, which we’re absolutely delighted with. We also have the ability to use Google Analytics to look at the performance of the site. People’s experience when they come onto the site has been a huge part of being able to keep them with us and convert to sign up.

The hedgehog lab team also supported us to communicate with those people that signed up. We’ve been looking at open rates of our newsletter, which have been above the industry benchmark. 

Anecdotally, the team has helped us build something great. They helped and supported us in the process of design, giving us really good advice throughout with their knowledge and experience in creating websites and content. 

The team was absolutely crucial in helping us make some pretty vital decisions. They helped us understand when we were going in the wrong direction, without pressuring us to go with their advice. However, hedgehog lab’s suggestions were always well-intentioned, and we were often pleased to take them.

How did hedgehog lab perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. We always had an open communication channel. The night of the launch, we had a problem with the site, and even though it was after hours, hedgehog lab got on board right away to fix it. They were extremely responsive to the situation. We were very well looked after with hedgehog lab; I can’t speak highly enough of them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They turned the project around in days, when it was something that should’ve taken weeks. Their ability to respond in a really tight timeframe, and their patience with us as we were working through a complex campaign, was really impressive. 

We loved working with hedgehog lab from start to finish. Their ability to respond quickly, give us good advice, and be there when we needed them are all signs of a great agency to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing jumps out at me as particularly important. They’ve always been available when we need them and provided organized status updates. There’s nothing that springs to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As a client, we didn’t get to meet hedgehog lab until they were discussing with the other agency, but if we had, we would’ve been able to give them a much clearer brief on the project. My one regret would be that we didn’t insist on speaking to hedgehog lab sooner, because I think we lost a few days on the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of i-QAPP Limited. We’ve developed a mobile app solution for the hotel and hospitality industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Netsells Group?

When hotels host events of more than 200 people, their quality of service declines. Generally, people find it hard to get a drink, they end up standing in a waiting area, and when they sit down to dinner, it’s difficult to get a server’s attention. We wanted to use technology to relieve those issues and increase efficiency.

We were looking for a partner to build an app that would let users order and pay for their drinks.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed an app for iOS and Android, then they integrated the platform with the hotels’ EPO system and payment gateway. The discovery phase was dedicated to outlining project goals and guidelines. They designed the product around the input I provided.

Then we went through a four-month development phase. Once that was complete, we conducted QA testing to ensure everything was working properly before signing off on the project.

What is the team composition?

Michael (Operations Director) was our project manager.

How did you come to work with Netsells Group?

I came to Clutch and participated in the lead matching program. Clutch identified a number of potential partners in the UK. I had initial phone conversations with each of them and then I narrowed it down to three companies. All three companies gave me a pitch that described their history, experience, expertise, capabilities, and experience in the field I was looking to enter. After that, I interviewed all three companies over Zoom.

We chose Netsells Group after talking to Brannan (CEO). From the beginning, we appreciated their personal touch. They were very open and transparent; they took their time to explain everything in detail. When we had meetings, they followed up in writing. From there, we developed a project plan that covered the discovery, build, and QA testing phases.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £100,000 (approximately $135,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

From start to finish, the project lasted about six months from April–November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just completed the project and are about to take it to market. I was absolutely delighted with the final product.

The system is more efficient. Now, visitors place their orders on their phones, and their order prints out in the bar or kitchen. Going over the receipt, servers can see the location the order came from so they can deliver the order more quickly.

This helps hospitality staff work more efficiently by preventing mistakes when they input the guest’s order. On top of that, the hotels don’t need servers to take orders, they only need them to serve the guest, which can save them time and money.

I’ve been very satisfied with Netsells Group’s service and I plan to work with them again after we get market feedback.

How did Netsells Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They laid out the project timeline early on in our engagement. Our project manager communicated with us on a weekly basis. They provided regular updates so we knew that the project was on-track and in-budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very knowledgeable and experienced. On top of that, they had a great attitude and were willing to collaborate with us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Overall, I was very impressed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take your time on the discovery phase because that’s when they take the time to evolve the product around your guidelines. The discovery phase is very important.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital program manager for a Newcastle City Council, a large local government and we deliver public services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with hedgehog lab?

We had a basic prototype version of a product, but we needed to improve it so it would be more credible when we launched.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, they conducted user research. They went back to square one to understand what our users need. The collected 350 survey responses and provided us with a comprehensive report. They used various pieces of software to analyze and test how users would use the platform.  

Based on that information, they designed a new beta version. The next step was to develop a beta product that met accessibility and security requirements, as well as UK government standards.

What is the team composition?

There were about five people on the team, but I interacted with 2–3 people on a regular basis.

How did you come to work with hedgehog lab?

They were recommended to us, so we invited them to participate in our procurement process. They competed and won the work based on their tender.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £46,800 (approximately $63,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August and we wrapped up in November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a number of show-and-tell sessions and several stakeholders from our organization attended. Our executives provided glowing feedback. They were all very impressed because the new product is a huge improvement compared to the original prototype.

We also did a retrospective, which was like a debrief at the end of the project. We discussed what did and didn’t go well, and overall, we gave them very positive feedback. Very few things went wrong.

How did hedgehog lab perform from a project management standpoint?

They did really well. They communicated exceptionally well during the user research, but that could have been better through the development stage. Overall, they made the project really easy for me. I knew they were doing what we needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were nice people and they knew what they were doing. They were reliable and they came up with a great solution.

I was also really impressed by how they conducted user research. That had a huge impact on the success of our project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I knew that they were busy building the site and writing code, but I would have liked to have more regular progress updates during the development process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Outline communication protocols from the outset. Agree on how you communicate and how often they’ll be in touch. You might want to schedule weekly calls.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Handheld Health. We use academic, clinically-validated questionnaires to screen and prescribe exercises to people suffering from long-term health conditions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Netsells Group?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we received government funding to produce an app that people with COVID-19 could use to download an at-home exercise program. We only had six months to deliver the project, so we needed an app development company to help us with this project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had nothing to begin with, so we needed to interpret the academic research and make it into something that everyday people could understand. Netsells Group designed the app, did UI/UX design, and helped us to interpret what the questionnaires would look like if we weren’t there to screen them. 

The team also assisted with the flow of the work and helped us set up a developer account on the app store and got all of the SDKs ready. They developed it using Flutter, so it’s for both iOS and Android. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a discovery manager who was our initial single point of contact. Once the project started, we had one project manager. 

How did you come to work with Netsells Group?

We found them on Google. From other companies, I received an automated email, but Netsells Group’s CEO called me. We talked about the brief, and he said he would be keen on working with us. Netsells Group seemed really honest.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent £50,000 (approximately $66,000 USD) for this particular project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began talking to them in March 2020, and the project formally kicked off in April 2020. It was a 6-month project, and they were done in November 2020. We’ve just launched another project with them. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When the app started becoming more complete, they sent me a test version to use on my phone. I told them that it didn’t work properly, and within two hours, they fixed the problem. That was the only bug we found, so their QA was extremely thorough before they sent it to me.

How did Netsells Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered it on time and updated me every Friday about their progress and what they were going to do the following week, which was great. If I had other issues, I was able to drop them a line.

When I asked Netsells Group a question, I always got an answer within a day, which was fantastic given the lockdown and work from home situation.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was helpful to have one point of contact. A lot of app development companies outsource their work and the customer is expected to have some underlying knowledge. 

Netsells Group was very sympathetic, so if a customer doesn’t have the knowledge, they will adapt to that situation to get the customer what they want. They also have a very transparent pricing strategy, which is great for startups and established companies. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think off. They did everything I asked them to do and went above and beyond.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as clear and concise about what you want right from the start. They’re really good at translating what you want and making your vision a reality.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CTO at a digital agency that provides development services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsells Group, and what were your goals?

Netsells handled a large project for a third-party client, building a complex ERP system using .Net and Azure services. This client has had bad experiences working with developers in the past, so asked us to help with finding a match and running the project.

SOLUTION

How did you select Netsells Group and what were the deciding factors?

We reached out to Netsells based on their portfolio and experience with building large .Net applications for corporate clients. We also spent time speaking with their Lead Consultant who gave a full overview of Netsells’ technical expertise and approach to projects.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Netsells started off the project by producing a high-level technical overview of the platform, this allowed us to understand how this could integrate with existing back end services and APIs.

From here, they worked to spec out the technical architecture requirements and built out a plan for delivery of the system. The actual delivery of the project has been broken down into Scrum-based sprints to allow for long term delivery against a complex backlog.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked closely with their consultants, project managers, business analysts, technical architects and product owners in initial stages. During sprints we have constant contact with our project manager and product owner to understand progress against deliverables.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The first phase of development has gone really well and we now have a functioning MVP that is being used on the ground. The backlog is pretty large though, so we expect ongoing development with Netsells to continue for the foreseeable future, as we’ve been extremely impressed with the speed and quality of deliverables.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

The team has a good grasp of Agile methodologies and has incorporated us directly into requirements gathering and stakeholder feedback exercises. We have daily contact with our assigned project manager, who is extremely responsive and understanding of our/our client’s pressures.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Netsells experience and recommendations have made and continue to make a great impact. There have been significant changes to the system thanks to their knowledge and understanding of extremely niche technical constraints.

What has impressed us the most is their ability to think around problems and come up with viable solutions that don't balloon estimates/costs to an unsustainable level.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I don't think so. Netsells is doing a really good job. Especially when compared with teams we've worked with in the past.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a consulting company that was assigned to work with hedgehog lab for a high-profile individual.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with hedgehog lab?

The client spotted a gap in the market on a Caribbean island. We wanted to create an app to scale and launch his new company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We contracted them to provide a working prototype and to determine whether there was an appetite for the product through research. They were responsible for research, branding, and mobile app development. 

The project was broken down into two parts, the first being the prototype build, research, and branding. Next, we’ll focus on the full development of the app. Their market research helped us determine to develop the platform for Android only. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with about 6–7 individuals in total, including a project manager, an account manager, a branding specialist, a researcher, and a technical team. 

How did you come to work with hedgehog lab?

The client approached us with some initial research but wanted us to undertake some of our own research as well. He also requested that we find a partner company that was well-known and had a presence in the UK. We didn’t want anything to get lost in translation with various languages, either. 

We shortlisted about 25 app developers and examined their portfolios. After narrowing it down to three options, hedgehog lab checked all of our boxes. 

How much have you invested with them?

To this point, we’ve spent £30,000 (approximately $39,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on the prototype from August–September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve yet to test the prototype with users, but the team’s delivery was strong. They were on time and on budget, staying proactive throughout the effort to drive the project forward.  

How did hedgehog lab perform from a project management standpoint?

We were new to Basecamp, but they used it well for the project. They always returned to us with questions about our requirements and asking for our approval on progress within an appropriate timeframe. We appreciated that they always laid out next steps as well. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were unfamiliar with mobile app development, and they were willing to hold our hands throughout the entire process. They were clear with objectives and next steps. Tom (Product Manager) and Russell (Head of Technology) both have a wealth of knowledge. Our client was impressed with the level of branding that was implemented in such a short timeframe.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we neared the end of the project, things felt a bit rushed. It was sometimes unclear when we should expect final deliverables and alterations. This didn’t tarnish the overall experience, which was excellent from all perspectives. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open with your experience surrounding mobile app development because they’re willing to accommodate all levels of experience. Have a clear understanding of your goals and communicate them clearly. They’ll add more value to your project that way.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Chief of Marketing at a software company specializing in delivering SaaS products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Netsells Group, and what were your goals?

We engaged Netsells to assist with the development of a bespoke web application for one of our clients. This required several integrations with existing APIs. Our client also required it to be built using the Laravel PHP framework.

SOLUTION

How did you select Netsells Group and what were the deciding factors?

We required a partner with significant experience in Laravel and demonstrable experience in the delivery of high-quality applications. We were impressed with Netsells’ client list and extensive case studies, alongside the significant time they invested during our initial conversations to really understand the outcomes our client was hoping to achieve.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We first engaged with Netsells through a Discovery phase. This allowed us to work with their team to map out the system architecture, third-party APIs, and end-user requirements. We then commenced a build phase where Netsells delivered a PWA using NodeJS and a Laravel back-end.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked with their Discovery team (Business Analysts, UI, and UX designers), alongside front-end and back-end developers. We also had a Project Manager assigned throughout the project and QA testers to test code quality.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The final product was delivered to an extremely high standard and functions extremely well. We were very impressed with the speed and quality of the deliverables.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Our Project Manager was extremely responsive and kept us up to date at every stage of development. We communicated via email and phone, alongside having a dedicated Slack channel which made communications pretty seamless.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their Discovery process added a lot of value to the final product. The standard of development was also extremely impressive and the delivery timeline was kept to.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

We are currently in discussions with them regarding an ongoing relationship for future Laravel requirements. Any (admittedly to be expected bugs) are currently being ironed out by their QA and development teams.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of a technology company that develops systems that support mutual aid.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with hedgehog lab?

We wanted to build a smartphone application that allows family and friends to pool money.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked with us to design the architecture of the app and the UI. Then they built it for us using Java. The app is for Android.

They built a wallet that enables customers to send, receive, and pool money with friends and family. It’s integrated into a local payment system.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about seven people in total.

How did you come to work with hedgehog lab?

We found them on Clutch. We were looking for a UK-based company that had a strong culture that was similar to ours. We wanted someone who understood what we were trying to do and our brand. We wanted a collaborative partner with all the technical chops.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2019 and it wrapped up in April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were looking for a company that was able to build a great UX/UI, and hedgehog lab did a great job. The customer-facing aspect of the project was really good. The technical build was great, and the handover was fantastic.

The coding was organized and structured in a very accessible way, which is really valuable to us, because in the long run, we want to be able to manage it on our own.

The other thing is that they were very generous with that general advice. Part of the reason why we wanted to work with them was that we wanted to tap into their broader experiences and industry knowledge.

How did hedgehog lab perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Basecamp and another communication tool. The process was very collaborative. The creative process of working with them was a really positive experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The creative process and UI was really great. They worked with us and helped us think through how to make such a technical product user friendly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Spending time with the team and getting to know them is really valuable. We invested a chunk of time articulating our vision and our values with the aim of that being translated into the design and build.

It’s also important that you’re clear on milestones. They appreciate clear and consistent communication.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder and creative director of Jigsaw. We call ourselves the least superficial dating app on earth. We put personality first by covering our user’s faces in a puzzle and unveiling it as they exchange messages with their matches.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Netsells Group?

We needed Android development for our dating application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I have been working closely with Netsells Group as a development partner and that is the main focus, primarily on the product side of things. From the ground up, they built our Android platform so that we could then take the development from the initial based delivery internally and build our own team. 

That involved not just the actual development itself, but also a full audit on the UX and all of the support that goes into making the right feature decisions before going into any build. 

Since this initial delivery of our Android version, they have worked with us on a retainer basis which has been more sporadic based on Android and iOS for when we have needed certain features expedited. 

For example, we have two of their developers working with us at the moment to help us get a big UI overhaul in play. To support that, they have also dabbled in our website development which is ongoing.

It has been across the board really. From the technical side, they have assisted us wherever we have needed.

What is the team composition?

We work with five people from their team. I am primarily in contact with the developers and account managers on a daily basis.

How did you come to work with Netsells Group?

My co-founder, Alex, met their CEO in a pub which was a very unconventional way of starting a half a million-pound project. They grew acquainted and I think their CEO is also the head of product for a very successful app here in the UK.

They came on board as advisors, to begin with, and when the time came to build the Android version, we had an option to go with an agency that we were already very close with in Manchester, which is where we are based

We decided to branch up to York which is a couple of hours away on the train but worth it because they went the extra mile and put more development resources into it.

How much have you invested in them?

The base build of the product was about £150,000 (approximately $191,294 USD), and we have spent around that since then on a retainer basis.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2019, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have accumulated over 100,000 users in London. We have kept it local to London for now and will be branching over to the east coast for a big launch in September. One thing that amazed me after working with many developers is Netsells Group’s speed. 

Their work has been high quality and has been completed before any of us expected it to be finished. That has really given us a competitive advantage with getting features out the door sooner rather than later. The output I have found in the past with other agencies was missing that final 20%. 

Netsells Group has a dedicated QA and planning team that stays with the project all the way through the development cycle, which usually just gets passed off and the developers just have to deal with it. Because of that, you have people who are design- and UX-minded who are working alongside them on a daily basis.

We agreed on what we wanted and they gave it back to us as we wanted it with very little rounds of feedback because it just wasn’t necessary. They did it all internally and took the burden off our shoulders and that was priceless in terms of the other things that we were trying to juggle. 

We are extremely happy with the output and I talk on behalf of our entire team when I say that. Of course, there is still work to be done to get our Android and iOS app to a point that can truly compete with other dating apps. Essentially, it gave us a huge head start and it was better than we expected.

The moment we had the Android build available to us, we doubled our potential audience, therefore, halving our marketing costs, and added to the evaluation of the company greatly for investors.

How did Netsells Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Netsells Group keeps us in the loop through their company Slack channel. We had weekly calls and sometimes meetings in York, and their designated account manager stayed on top of the project at all times and was completely on the same page as the developers. 

Whether there were problems or opportunities, the team would keep us enlightened and we would keep making the decisions as soon as possible. In my past experience, if there was a problem, the company would wait until five days later when we had a weekly call. 

This team has no issue in picking up the phone. This allowed us to be really agile and the account manager, in particular, was great and on top of things.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are happy to be with us and you can see that in their eyes. It is like a big family and they have made us feel very welcome. Everyone we’ve encountered actually showcased through the words they said, the gestures they made, and the look on their face, that they actually care about the project. 

At no point did it feel like a chore, and because of that it is a really laid back and focused environment, but there is also that sense of excitement in the air that is invigorating for the soul and warms the heart, and I genuinely mean that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we first started the retainer, there were some teething issues with one of the developers just in terms of the quality. It was an anomaly in the process, and in all fairness, they nipped it in the bud as soon as possible. Other than that, there were no other problems. They’ve gone above and beyond. 

By and large, they did a lot of the legwork in terms of getting from 80% to 100% without us needing to get too heavily involved, but there was a fresh developer who came in who temporarily didn’t really resonate with things, but two weeks out of 18 months isn’t bad.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you don’t know what you’re doing, be honest, because it will speed up the process. Don’t think of them as just a bunch of people staring at a set of code. They are a group of people who all have specialties in everything that revolves around technology and software. 

There is a function that development agencies just do the development part, but actually my lead developer is so flabbergasted at their insight into the UX and user psychology when using the features and all of the processes that went into selecting our design choices and things like that. 

Although we got a train back from York, we would skip to the York station when we left their office because they gave us so many ideas. Don’t think of them one-dimensionally. Don’t think of any development agency as one dimensional. Ask for help in all areas because they seem to know their stuff and have a wide knowledge across the industry.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the UX/UI Designer for HVAC controls systems and the lead R&D researcher for Air Conditioning Solutioncs (ACS) Inc. ACS Inc. specializes in high end controls systems for HVAC chiller plants and complex duct work systems. Our company specializes in high-end commercial complexes and structures, rather than residential properties. We have designed, invented, installed, and programmed one of a kind HVAC systems for notable clients such as Simon Property Group, Equity, NBC Universal, Irvine Company, and many more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire hedgehog lab?

We wanted to create a mobile app to easily log critical HVAC system data and help us provide analytics for our customers.

What were your goals for this project?

To streamline the HVAC chiller logging process and automate analytics for ourselves and our customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed several app development agencies for several weeks. After careful consideration, Hedgehog Labs proved to be the most compatible with our needs. We were looking for an agency that would fit our budget, exercise communication synergy, and had a robust portfolio. Hedgehog Labs was ultimately selected because they checked off all of the boxes and promised the best value for the amount spent.

Describe the project in detail.

The scope of the project primarily focused on 5 key features, the ability to: create user accounts, manage teams, log chiller data, store data on a cloud database, and provide visual analysis of collected data. I designed a wire frame and low-fidelity prototype in order to help app development agencies understand our needs and user story. Hedgehog Labs used the low-fidelity prototype to produce a high-fidelity prototype.

We reviewed the user flow and features many times, while their programmers laid down the back-end foundation. Once our general review was complete, we conducted weekly reviews to verify time tables and the functionality of features of each sprint. Hedgehog Labs developed both the Android and iOS versions in parallel, but the Android version was completed a month prior to the iOS version. Aside from the primary project, Hedgehog Labs also provided assistance with branding and logo design for our project.

What was the team composition?

The team assigned to our project consisted of a Project Manager, Lead Developer, and a Managing Director. I primarily worked with the Project Manager and Lead Developer during our weekly reviews. We had about 4 to 6 other Hedgehog Labs employees assigned to our project, who worked under the supervision of the PM and Lead Developer. Little contact was made with the developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still in the early phases of our launch (which has been delayed due to Covid-19), but we are please with the overall functionality and design of the application.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our workflow was very efficient. Hedgehog Labs utilizes Monday.com for project management. I could log in at anytime to address any questions from the development team or track their progress on each sprint. If I added new tickets or made comments, Hedgehog Labs was quick to respond and always worked quickly to find a resolution to any changes or issues that came about during development.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to communicate effectively and work with their customers sets them apart. Although we had contracted Hedgehog Labs to develop an app for us, we have built a partnership and it feels like we are more than just another customer or project to them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

While Hedgehog Labs is great at communication and developing solutions to problems, sometimes their scheduling and time tabling can be off. Despite delays, I was always informed of why the delays were occurring and our contract has been revised--proving that they value good customer service.