Kyros Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an on-demand snow removal application. I'm the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyros Digital?

We hired them to help us build our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I met with them and started brainstorming. I had an idea of what we wanted, but we weren't sure what we could reasonably do with our budget. The app itself operates much like a ride-sharing service. Within the app, users can request that their driveway and sidewalks be cleared of snow by plow, snowblower, or shovel. Our vendors take pictures of the work they complete, and the customer signs off on it. We're currently in version 2.5, and we're working on other updates.

What is the team composition?

Their team is between five and ten people, and they work in synergy with another app company.

How did you come to work with Kyros Digital?

We looked at a few examples they provided, and I liked their story. They were entrepreneurial, and they could be agile. They offered good solutions, and their management team is local.

How much have you invested with them?

Right now, we're around the $30,000 mark.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May or June 2018. We have them on retainer through 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Feedback is good overall, and we're still making changes as we grow.

How did Kyros Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

I typically communicate with them through email. We had conference calls when we needed them, but I liked to see the visual process. They evolved as I told them what worked best for me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is great. They respond at any time, and it's good to have a team like this on our side.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Early on, they took on too much. Over time, they've learned their limits and become better organized. We've grown together, and they're much better than when they started.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be an over-communicator and ask questions. They will provide a roadmap and technical terms, and it helps to be open with them. I didn't know what was realistic with our budget, but they explained all of that to us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a realtor and the CIO of City2Shore Real Estate.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyros Digital?

We were looking to build a comprehensive, united CRM system to provide forecasting and analytics reporting.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kyros Digital delivered consulting services, created the platform, and provide post-go-live support. They utilized JavaScript and AWS hosting to develop a more robust and scalable CRM system than our previous software.

It serves to increase the requirements of our operations by optimizing our commission logic processing. It also provides our agents with a platform to manage their lead capture and client follow-ups.

The reporting component is in the form of a dashboard that provides metrics on all corporate levels, from brokers to agents to the entire company. Additionally, the platform runs business forecasting, where it predicts how the year is going to turn out. This gives visibility to trends, which is useful.

What is the team composition?

They performed very well. We held weekly touchpoint meetings to make sure we were on track. We didn’t experience any scope creep, and they met our budget. Our goals were completely realized.

How did you come to work with Kyros Digital?

We used their parent company to develop our first software. They then merged with Kyros, and suggested that we look at their new development team. We conducted a few reference calls, and they’d received very high marks from their past clients.

How much have you invested with them?

The initial project was around $110,000. We introduced a few enhancements to the scope for an additional $10,000­–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working in February 2019 and launched the system in October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received an outstanding response about how the new system has made a night-and-day difference for our users. Our internal team was astounded by the reliability and response rate of the software. It has an extremely professional user interface that’s easy to use.

Before, our dashboard took 45­­–60 seconds to load, but this new application takes five seconds or less. It’s resulted in a 75% reduction in logic processing time.

How did Kyros Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Our goals were completely realized. We held weekly touchpoint meetings to make sure we were on track. We didn’t experience any scope creep, and they met our budget, so they were excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by their knowledge of all current software tools and their adeptness in understanding our needs. We only had to communicate our requirements once before they delivered them. Their competence cut down the amount of time and reworking we would’ve otherwise expected.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t really think of anything major. It’s possible that they could’ve improved their initial unit testing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get your name I early, because there’s an upcoming development company that’s in high demand. Get them signed up and communicate your requirements clearly. That way, you can cut down on discovery time so that they can hit the ground running.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of HandGrown Jobs. We connect job seekers and employers in the cannabis industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kyros Digital?

I needed a vendor with the right technical expertise to execute my business plan. I’d tried some other firms, but none of them had the right skill set.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kyros Digital is building our platform from scratch. They were responsible for putting together the architecture and wireframes, then seeing it through to production. With their superior skill set, they’ve provided bespoke development services. Their team builds luxury products, not just run-of-the-mill solutions.

The platform accommodates two different user groups—job seekers and employers. Both groups have unique login capabilities. Employers can post job opportunities, and seekers can submit their applications. Job seekers can link their social media accounts to their profile on the platform. Kyros Digital also built a channel to facilitate communication between the two groups. Lastly, they integrated the platform with Google Analytics so that we can track our traffic and conversion rates.

We’ve completed an MVP of the platform, but the Kyros Digital team is still working with us to finalize the product and help us prepare for the market launch.

What is the team composition?

We work with a robust team from Kyros Digital. They dedicated a group of specialists to focus solely on my project, and they demonstrate unwavering enthusiasm.

How did you come to work with Kyros Digital?

After negative experiences with a few different vendors, we found ourselves behind schedule and over budget. Some of my colleagues recommended Kyros Digital, so we reached out to their team. They’re software architects, so unlike other service providers, they build custom solutions instead of using a platform like Wix or Flywheel. Looking back, I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, I’ve spent about $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Kyros Digital in September 2018, and the relationship is ongoing. I shared my financial constraints with them, and they were very clear about the services I would get for my investment. Based on that initial conversation, I knew that this was going to be a lasting partnership. Since then, the relationship has evolved, and I’ve engaged them for some additional services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I sampled and researched many of our market competitors to get ideas on how to improve the talent acquisition process. I shared my findings with Kyros Digital at the start of the engagement, and we used it to build the MVP version of our platform. Their team put a lot of thought and effort into the project, and now, when I look at other competitors in our field, we’re more attractive to our target audience.

Despite the successful build, we haven’t launched the platform yet. It’s technically sound, but we’re trying to get the timing right. We plan to go live closer to one of our major industry holidays. I’m confident in their work so far; they’ve overcome every challenge that I’ve thrown their way.

How did Kyros Digital perform from a project management standpoint?

Because I was frustrated with our previous service providers, I entered this partnership with a pretty aggressive approach. I challenged Kyros Digital with a tight deadline to see if they could handle it, and they exceeded my expectations by a long shot.

Everyone on their team is very experienced and detail-oriented. I’ve never felt the need to micromanage them, and they won’t let a single thing fall through the cracks. Kyros Digital even anticipates some needs and obstacles that I wouldn’t have predicted. They communicate high-level concepts in accessible terms. For someone with minimal technical experience like myself, they’ve been an extremely helpful partner.

In terms of communication, we primarily speak face-to-face or over the phone. Emails and text messages are fine, too. Kyros Digital has their own communication style, but they willingly adapt to their client’s preferences. They’re available whenever I need them. We meet to plan our next steps, and then schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss our progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Kyros Digital attracts top-tier talent, and it shows. With their extensive capabilities and superior skill set, they deliver high-level work that stands out from others in their field. I can’t think of a single area of weakness across all of their services. Their team welcomes challenges, quickly finding simple and elegant solutions for all of our needs. Their performance has made it easy for me to trust them. I’m confident in their abilities to execute whatever I throw their way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re doing everything right. Kyros Digital is dedicated to their craft. Once they finish my project, they should take a nice vacation, because they’ve certainly earned it.

Any advice for potential customers?

Hiring Kyros Digital was the smartest thing I’ve done for my business. Their positive work environment and collaborative culture set the tone for a productive partnership.