Lloyds Digital

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a tech startup that completely re-imagined the art of gifting. We designed an app that enables users to create personalized video message cards which are then delivered with gifts purchased on our app.  In short, we turn every gift into unforgettable video memory and preserve it so it can be viewed and shared anytime with family, friends, and social media for years to come.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Lloyds design?

We hired Lloyds Design to develop the operational backbone of our app to allow its robust feature set to function seamlessly. The app's core architecture required a first-of-its-kind dev hierarchy to be designed, initially, on theory and educated guesses.

As the project matured, however, Lloyd's experience with complex code implementation ultimately replaced theoretical guesses with proven logic that simplified the process and made it easier to integrate key third-party software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Lloyd’s team plays an integral role in the development and design of most key aspects of our app and website. We utilize their dev architecture skills to achieve our preferred app and website functionalities.

Their main goal is to make it easy for our users to combine custom video creation with gifting. Though never been done before, Lloyd has been able to turn our concept into reality, and they continue to develop it.

What is the team composition?

We work with at least 12 people, but there’s probably a core group of about 7–8.  

How did you come to work with Lloyds design?

I had conducted over 30 interviews with organizations from all over the world to try to develop the app but was unable to find the right fit.  During one of my final attempts to get my vision launched, I connected with a firm that explored the project initially but ultimately declined due to timing, size, and complexity.  

As a result, they suggested I speak with Lloyd’s Design CEO Domagoj.  A call was scheduled and the rest was history.  During our call, I immediately knew his company needed a second look. Domagoj’s approach to the project was unlike any other firm I had previously interviewed.  They had the energy, creative ideas, and an overall desire to be a part of something big. I was impressed!

How much have you invested with them?

By the time we’re done, it’s going to be well over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership officially began in August 2020, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It has been a rewarding partnership from day one. Lloyd’s has built a collaborative platform fostering creativity from both sides resulting in brilliant ideas being implemented.  Thanks to their efforts, the app was launched on February 1 and continues to be improved with updates being deployed regularly.

How did Lloyds design perform from a project management standpoint?

The size and complexity of this project required both sides to be open to knowledge sharing and Lloyd’s team continues to excel in this area. We have a designated point of contact and project leader who has been exceptional.  We also have access to key leaders for each project segment and continue to receive immediate responses to emails, chats, and text messages regardless of the time difference. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their willingness to go outside their comfort zone and do things that help pave new roads to success. They strive at finding solutions and are genuinely committed to ensuring the products they put into the market are best in class.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Lloyd’s leadership is already working towards an expanded service portfolio and we are looking forward to exploring how these new services will help grow our brand.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them the project and let them do what they do best. You won’t be disappointed!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work in marketing and sales for one of Croatia's biggest wineries. Our Winery has a long tradition with over 700 employees. Amongst other marketing tasks, I am also the web admin for the website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lloyds Design?

Our company had an outdated website which needed to be redesigned. We needed a developer with experience in online commerce and web development to implement a web store. We did not have a web designer who could implement the changes within the company.

What were your goals for this project?

Along with a webshop, we wanted a clean dynamic website that would present the company to the world and be easy to use within the framework of a content management system. Our goal was to present our 800-year-old winery tradition in a modern way that was relatable to consumers.

SOLUTION

How did you select Lloyds Design?

The graphic design agency which was building our web content suggested Lloyds Design. Their references and the quality of previous similar projects within our field along with a professional team and fair offer gave them an advantage.

Describe the project in detail.

Because of the multi-layered scope of our company which includes a winery and agriculture we had several meetings with our marketing department, graphic designers, and Lloyds developers.

The main framework was submitted from which we grew the website as a whole. We worked together on a test site until the site was ready for the live version.

What was the team composition?

We had a project manager and developers who worked closely with our marketing department and graphic design agency. The project was one massive collaboration with Lloyds design holding the whole framework together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within the initial release, we noticed an increase in website visitors and web purchases. The modern flow of the site along with web marketing helped push the overall results. We received positive feedback from customers.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very dynamic and balanced between different parties. Changes and updates which came up from the initial framework were quickly implemented. The Lloyds team is experienced and motivated.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It was refreshing working with this company, their standard was definitely set higher than the rest. They were very patient with all aspects of the development process and suggested some great ideas on how to expand in the future.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The team worked around the concept which was presented to them to the best of their abilities.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We produce hot sauces based on natural production and cultivation. I am the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lloyds Design?

We decided on Lloyds Design to create our official website and web store to strengthen our market name.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to improve our sales and marketing.

SOLUTION

How did you select Lloyds Design?

They are located in our city and are recognized for their quality and quick problem solving whether it is big or small.

Describe the project in detail.

We first had a meeting where we commented from start to finish on how and what to do. This was followed by agreements on when to start and which options would be best for us and the market. Then it started with the design, coding of the whole system and of course tips on what is better for us.

What was the team composition?

We had a manager we were in touch with all the time but in reality the whole team was involved from the very beginning which did an incredibly good job.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We see progress right away! After the publication of the site, everything went up from sales to recognition and of course to some new contacts.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everything worked perfectly from start to finish. Their team is organized and always on time, which surprised us many times. Very few companies have this attitude towards the client.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were surprised by their knowledge of everything and the communication, patience and commitment they have to a particular task.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As far as we are concerned there is always room for improvement but they make the impossible possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a partner with Vector Vine, LLC. My responsibilities include Sales, Marketing, and Design.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lloyds Design, and what were your goals?

I engaged the Lloyds Design team to build a scalable SaaS to provide businesses with an affordable digital asset management platform to store their brand assets in a profile format.

SOLUTION

How did you select Lloyds Design and what were the deciding factors?

I have been following the Lloyds Design team through their work in Croatia. Some of my favorite brands in Istria use Lloyds for design and branding.

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

Building a scalable SaaS from scratch was a daunting task, but the team at Lloyds rose to the occasion. We conducted our meetings through video conferencing since I am in the US and they are in the HR. We met once in person in the beginning to plan the site development.

The Lloyds team accommodated all of my requests and edits over the 17-month process. The site is now live and I am getting great feedback from my clients.

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

I worked with several people at Lloyds from Domagoj who runs the show to project managers, designers, and developers. All in all, I have about seven or eight team members on our email threads.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My project was a new adventure for the Lloyds team and they got it to market. There were several challenges along the way and the Lloyds team found solutions. I look forward to continuing our journey together.

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

Lloyds is a modern company that utilizes the best available communication tools and applications. Deadlines were not always met but delivered in a reasonable timeframe. There are always going to be challenges when a US company conducts business with a European company. I am pleased with the end product.

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

The pricing made it possible for me to bring my idea to market. I would not have been able to make it happen with a US company.

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

In hindsight, I would have spent more time collaborating on the architecture in the planning stages to produce the best possible user experience for our clients.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We facilitate healthcare services between international clients and Croatian healthcare providers. The company was established in 2014 in Croatia and in 2015 in Sweden. There are three managers in charge, one in Sweden and two in Croatia. I am the Chairperson of the Swedish company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lloyds Design?

We decided that a new/modern website with interactive options and web shop would attract more customers. Therefore, modernization of the website, easy navigation and clear messages sent from us to the clients were the task we entrusted to Lloyds Design.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to increase the conversion rate from the website visits as well as to enable faster and more simple access to the services we offer. We wanted that the packages we decided to offer online can easily be adjusted for promotion and online sale.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Lloyds design was recommended to us by one reputable agency. Further on they recently completed the project for one of our medical providers (hospital) and their references were both favorable for LLoyds Design.

We selected them among four different options. They were presented to us in the meetings as a good team of young, creative and eager to deliver persons.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

After the initial and kick off team meeting the work started towards the end of January 2020. We delivered the agreed information (website content and visuals) in order for LLoyds design prepared web design - UI / UX (user interface / user experience), to create design prototypes / wireframes.

Front end development (Vue.js + HTML5 + CSS3) resulted in responsive pages for all devices - including tablets, smart phones, desktop computers. Back end development - WordPress CMS established a background functions and prepared the platform for the shopping chart implementation.

We didn't complete this function due to change in our objectives but we expect to implement in the course of the year.

After 3-4 months of work we received the project which was tested before we finally launch the website in June. We must state that the COVID-19 crisis affected the project in sense that it took longer than planned to complete.

What was the team composition?

The project team consisted of 5-6 people with the project leader that was established from the start and was a valuable stable point all the way through the challenging months (meaning - corona health crisis and working from home under pressure and in stressful conditions).

The team coordination with us worked well and we had several calls and teams meetings online where key issues were discussed and clarified.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is very early to say how strong the impact of the redesign and modernization was. It has been less than few weeks from the launch and release. We have started with the online marketing and campaign, expecting some results in the coming months.

We talked to our consultants and persons experienced in design and we received only positive comments. There were some constructive critics and we intent to discuss them with Lloyds Design in the near future.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was somehow distracted by the sudden COVID-19 crisis, as said earlier. Still, the project leader did all he could to enable the progress of the project. They were delays in delivery of some parts of the project (wireframe, for example). We communicated through emails mainly, phone calls, Skype and Google meet.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The project leader was easy to access and his response time was always good. The whole team worked with enthusiasm and were flexible accepting our changes and different ideas.

Are there any areas for improvement?

My suggestion to the team leader was that any, very short communication is better rather than responding later, after all information are prepared. It is good that your client knows you are thinking of him although not able to answer immediately.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are the official Tourist Board office in the city of Zadar in Croatia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lloyds Design?

We hired Lloyds Design for the developing of our new web page, as well as for re-design our mobile apps Zadar Travel and Secret Zadar.

What were your goals for this project?

Complete refurbishing of our existing web page and mobile applications in accordance to the newest web technologies and content / design guidlnes.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended by other companies in the industry and were chosen to do the project among three other vendors. The selection involved a primary offer and a peach / presentation in our office along with other couple of companies, that we originally contacted.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed, developed, configured and launched a new web site. Once we approved the workflows and wireframes, the production itself lasted for three months. The functional versions were ready for user testing every two weeks.

What was the team composition?

The project involved several team members from their side, but always with single project manager that concluded communication with our side regarding the technical issues, that can easily get misunderstood in translation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After several years of unsatisfactory solution, this new online system now profoundly helped to maintain our visibility and presence in the ever-competing tourism market online.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project manager was very forthcoming and receptive and the whole team from their side followed and correctly formulated our inquiries and ideas.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Excellent communication and fast resolving of any prolems we ancountered along the way.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Everything OK!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the market and sales manager EMEA for Calucem GmbH. We produce specialty cement worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Lloyds Design?

Our old website was static, not optimized, had a complicated structure, and had outdated content. We wanted to hire a team to build a digital marketing concept and strategy for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When LLoyds Design came on board, they helped our team redevelop and redesign our website, bringing it up to date. The team also optimized it for mobile access.

They continue to maintain the website for us.

What is the team composition?

There were about four of five people engaged in the project in total. We had a  project manager, who was our direct point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Lloyds Design?

We looked around to find a team to help us with the website transformation. Lloyds’ offer had the complete package; price, information and timeline provided, good references, and an impressive portfolio. They were also flexible in negotiations in terms of easy addition or removal of services as needed.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between €20,000–€25,000 (approximately $22,000–$28,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in October 2019. While the site rebuild wrapped up in April 2020, the engagement is ongoing as Lloyds continues to provide us with web maintenance services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website went live two weeks ago, and we’re currently in the fine-tuning stage. Visually, everything looks fantastic and we’ve received very positive feedback so far. Throughout the build, Llyod’s team worked smoothly with our own. 

How did Lloyds Design perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management style was good. Communication could be complicated at times, especially regarding tracking or making changes. We had weekly calls with their team to go through what was being worked on and what needed attention, as well as the timeline projections. We also communicated via email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Lloyds offered great ideas and presented solutions we hadn’t considered. The team is hands-on, and they’re experts in their field—they really know what they’re talking about. They’re a fresh, young, good-spirited team that wants to move forward. Their skill sets are impressive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could benefit from improving their project management, specifically regarding communication.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate often and have frequent alignment calls for a smoother process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the IT manager at a national professional organization for dentists. We are the national voice for dentistry dedicated to the promotion of optimal oral health, an essential component of general health, and to the advancement and leadership of a unified profession.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lloyds Design?

We had an outdated app that needed custom extensions developed for the ShoutEm platform. We also wanted to update the look and feel of the app and standardize it for phones and tablets.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to pull content from a database and give the look a modern look and feel.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Lloyd's was recommended from the app platform company.

Describe the project in detail.

We had meetings to discuss the current app and the steps required to develop a new app for publication on a newer platform. Once we defined our needs, we then created a project timeline and budget.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager to define needs and then Lloyd's distributed the work to developers and designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are currently publishing the app so we do not have any KPIs yet.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Lloyd's was easy to work with and available throughout the life of the project. The majority of communication was via email with video conferences scheduled when required.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

As with most projects, we changed the scope and added requests after the start of the project. The team was helpful with any scope changes and requests, going out of their way to make sure we were happy.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the managing director for RealCom Broadcast Ltd. We provide resources to the satellite broadcast industry. We’re currently developing broadcast opportunities in alternate markets using mobile apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Lloyds Design?

I needed to hire an external resource to develop an app to promote local businesses, events, and promotions.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to create an app for multiple clients and users. It should have claim/validate and purchasing functionality, along with location-relevant information.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I selected Lloyds Design after researching several vendors. I started the project with a freelance team, but they weren’t focused enough on the creative process. We had an initial introduction on Skype, and then I traveled to Croatia to meet the team. I was impressed by their hunger to develop their business in the industry.

Describe the project in detail.

I started by giving them the basic specifications and Visio workflows. We discussed the guidelines and functionality required of the app. They established a cloud documentation tool so that any work on project synopsis documents could be edited and commented by all parties. Both teams discussed and commented on design, screens, and color schemes via cloud collaboration. Lloyds Design used Laravel PHP framework, MySQL database, and hosted on AWS using S3, EC2, and RDS products from the AWS suite in their development of the app. 

What was the team composition?

I worked with a designer, a backend developer, a UI/UX developer, and several other members of their team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The finished product fulfilled all my expectations and specifications. Deployment has started but is very much in its infancy in terms of the number of downloads. Lloyds Design’s expertise was essential in overcoming any problems or challenges. They were also able to provide useful advice on efficiencies in design, workflow, and the user & client experience. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The whole project flowed seamlessly. I had set expectations on regular communication throughout the project, which was a critical factor in the success of this project from conception to delivery. We had weekly communication, as well as when required and occasionally outside of business hours. I always had the information I required from the members of the team who were working on each phase of the project.

Lloyds Design was positive in every meeting, helpful in offering new ideas, and receptive to changes. Any issues were quickly addressed. They’re honest and candid with respect to what could realistically be achieved. Their commitment to a "we will make this happen" approach helped develop trust in their capabilities and deliverables. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their openness and honesty were so impressive. Lloyds Design had the drive to achieve the best possible outcome of the project. They desired to build something, not only that I would be proud to own, but they would be pleased to create.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. If anything, I’d like to see more of this company in the UK.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a director at Alfa d. d.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Textbook and literature publishing house

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Lloyds Digital to accomplish?

• Front-end for custom end-user website
• Custom AI-powered mobile app development for end users

SOLUTION

How did you find Lloyds Digital?

Other

Why did you select Lloyds Digital over others?

Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Lloyds Digital were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Lloyds Digital designed and built a new digital platform for us to manage our educational content and users, with the ability to publish articles directly through the system. They built a smart search and browsing experience that lets users find materials by school type, subject, grade, and material type, with contextual suggestions shown on the homepage based on each user's profile. On the admin side, they built tools for uploading files individually or in bulk, tagging them with descriptions and custom parameters, and writing articles through both a visual editor and direct code access. They also integrated user registration with social logins and with CARNET AAI, the Croatian education system's authentication service, ensuring access levels are properly authorized. The platform includes built-in previews for common file types, full mobile functionality, and a custom PDF flipbook viewer with embedded links to related materials. Lloyds Digital also built a flexible content structure so materials can exist with just metadata before a file is uploaded, and a detailed accordion-style browser for methodological materials with grouping, multi-select, and zip downloads. Beyond development, they handle our ongoing technical maintenance and also managed our GDPR implementation, including the Cookiebot license and legal texts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Increased customer satisfaction by 25% and internal productivity by at least 20%. Also increased revenue indirectly (not possible to measure with current tools).

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Everything delivered in time and all milestones reached before deadline. Responses were fast and trackable via provided client-side, web-based management system.

What was your primary form of communication with Lloyds Digital?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They were consistently a very friendly, patient, cooperative, considerate, and dedicated team.

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

Invoicing and billing system could be improved by following clien't s profile more instead company's own internal needs.