Move Closer

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm employer branding manager at BNP Paribas Bank Poland - The bank for the changing world. Together, we are committed to being a leader in sustainable finance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Move Closer, and what were your goals?

The aim of the cooperation was to build a new career website for the bank. The website required a graphic refresh and a completely new arrangement of content. We needed a modern, accessible and friendly website consistent with the bank's values.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

MoveCloser was selected through an official tender. They suggested the most interesting ways of carrying out the project for us and showed great price flexibility. Most of all, MoveCloser understood the task and purpose best.

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

MoveCloser designed the UX website, the entire development - backend (CMS) and frontend of the new website.

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

A project manager was our main point of contant throughout the process. From the very beginning of our cooperation, we are also supported by the VP of business development - Sylwia. At some stages of the project, developers, designers and system architects came in contact with us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new website meets all the assumed goals. I think we managed to do more than planned. As a result, the page is even more useful for the end user.

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

MoveCloser has always been able to stand up to the task, even in more difficult times. The most important thing for us is the approach. MoveCloser showed the approach we expect from a partner we want to trust.

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

The approach and that's something :) and carefully responding to the needs.

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

Currently not. Each of my feedback has been taken into account and taken care of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Apreel, a software company. We create software for insurance businesses, banking customers, and payment card processes. We mainly focus on the insurance business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We needed someone to design and create a new website that would be attractive to potential employees.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were responsible for creating the design and mockups for the webpage. After that, we had an acceptance page and decided to let them develop the whole thing from scratch. They used a WordPress site, allowing us to manipulate the content through a framework that would support future changes, and they incorporated the design from their mockups. Other services included hosting, and they’re currently making tweaks and providing maintenance.

What is the team composition?

We generally communicated with Gabriela (Junior Project Manager, Move Closer), along with the graphic designer. We didn’t have direct contact with the programmer, who was also responsible for a workshop to introduce the tool to our team at the end of the project.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

We did a bid and I selected them based on their portfolio and a recommendation from a friend of mine.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m happy with their approach and the design they delivered, and that we can change the content moving forward. Our online traffic has changed significantly because of their involvement.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

They were responsive and always replied to us within a day. We were happy with their cooperation and timing. We contacted them by phone and email and tracked issues through Redmine.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their design skills proved as good as advertised.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could use the Redmine tool at the start of the project rather than changing everything via email. They began using Redmine at a later stage when we needed maintenance.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend them to a medium-sized company looking for fresh design.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Gameset, a gaming advertising agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We needed to update our website to represent our company better.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Move Closer redesigned and created new content for our website. They used HTML5 to build our platform on WordPress.

What is the team composition? 

Move Closer provided us with a project manager and a UX/UI designer from their team.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

We knew one of the co-owners of Move Closer. I believe it’s best to work with people you know already. They were a good partner.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March–May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Move Closer did a good job of positioning the website. They structured the platform to be easy to search and user-friendly. With the new version of our site, our company is now easy to find on Google. 

Many of our partners gave us positive feedback. They told us that they like the site’s look feel. The design is modern and fits our brand identity.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

Move Closer is flexible and quick to respond. They asked questions proactively and reminded me when I was supposed to deliver materials. We used a project management tool and communicated via email, phone, or in-person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The e-commerce projects and complex platforms they’ve built are impressive. Their projects have a very nice UX/UI design. Their clients said the backend works. They’re able to provide partners with simple or complex projects alike.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The prices are slightly expensive for the region, but not to the point where I wouldn’t work with them again.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Meet with the team and be clear about what you want. Move Closer will get the right idea of what you need very quickly. They’re business-savvy and can identify specific needs within different industries.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-owner of a currency exchange online company that helps people run currency exchanges and transfers, and we primarily focus on the Polish market. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We had an outdated and unresponsive web page which was developed five years ago with old technology. We wanted to upgrade our look, UX/UI, and our SEO to position ourselves better on Google. We also wanted to apply some automated marketing services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Move Closer is developing the consumer frontend of our web page on WordPress. Their team is improving UX/UI on our transactional system which is part of our consumer-facing platform. They are also building a custom transactional panel using Laravel PHP.

What is the team composition?

Their team size varies as needed. We work with Move Closer’s UX and graphic designers, developers, and project managers.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

We received a recommendation from a friend who has used their services. He recommended them as specialists and digital concierges.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested $10,000–$15,000 so far. We expect to increase the total amount spent by the completion of the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Move Closer in May/June 2017 and the engagement ongoing. We expect to finish the current stage of the engagement within the next three months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The work is yet to go live, so I cannot provide any measurable metrics.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

We have in-person meetings and use Jira for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Move Closer are active in providing ideas on system development to better fit our business' needs instead of jumping straight into the work. They provide technological consultation for our ideas and explain the functions well enough that we could understand— even with our lack of technical knowledge. They aren’t simply a software agency but a true partner in developing our solutions and business ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We could certainly be doing things at a faster pace, but this is also dependent on our company’s capacity to dedicate fully to the project. We aren’t on it fulltime, so the speed of the projects are mutually our fault.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

After Move Closer has been briefed with clear goals and final success measures, you should give enough space to contribute to the solution rather than having an overly prescriptive approach.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an enterprise resource planning systems implementer working with large production and distribution companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We were implementing a new backup solution, for which we needed to create a new website. We started looking for a partner that could help with this task.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed our website in its entirety, including its chat functionality. The team also helped us with content writing and translations, and created the visual design of our support software. They also recommended a video production company for some clips for our site.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with a project manager, a designer, and a developer from their team. I also communicated with one of their principals.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

We were looking for a new partner with deep insights in our field. I looked online and asked for references. I found Move Closer and it became clear that they were not a one-person company. They had dedicated developers and copywriters, as well as positive references from former clients.

How much have you invested with them?

The software design cost 6,000 Polish zloty [$1,750 USD], and the website creation had cost 11,000 Polish zloty [$3,210 USD].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2017 and plan to finish the site very soon.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site isn’t live yet, so we haven’t had a chance to gather user feedback.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

Any missed deadlines were due to delivery problems on our side. We decided to change the scope mid-development, for which they provided their support.

They were accessible and on time 99% of the time. We’re both based in Warsaw, so we’ve been able to meet in-person at their office three times. Generally, we’ve communicated using Skype and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They remained patient even when we pushed them or failed to deliver what we promised. The team was polite, open-minded, and friendly throughout.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a small advertising agency. We do digital and content advertising for clients in Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We needed development work and Move Closer is our partner in that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a small project and then expanded to bigger projects. Our first project with them was the first website for our company.

Our biggest project with them was the website for our main client. We often prepare landing pages for different kinds of projects and this was a campaign for a runners’ society. It was a rather big website, and they were responsible for software development. People could message each other using this website. My agency provided UX [user experience] and design and we gave Move Closer everything to develop the website. It took two or three weeks for them to prepare it. They still help us when we need to make any changes to the site.

What is the team dynamic? 

I know they have 20 people on their team and we were working with five of them.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

We started working with them in the beginning because we already knew each other. I trusted them and I knew they’re very good in their job. They have great development skills.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first project with them was in June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have any statistics. We received positive feedback from our client during our cooperation with them, though we don’t tell our clients that Move Closer is doing the work.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

Our companies are in the same building so it’s not a problem to communicate. We use Slack. They have good project managers who oversee the whole process in their company and communicate with the project managers from my company. Everything was on time and without any problems.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They try to know what’s going on in their category. They go to conferences and summits to stay up to date on technologies. I’m impressed that they make time to do that and think about their future. They’re trying to achieve the best for their clients and their projects. They are always trying new and efficient technologies for their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I know they have a lot of work to do. My company often has to wait or find other partners to do our software development. I don’t trust too many other companies so Move Closer should hire more people for their team. They do a great job and that’s why they’re growing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should be open and talk about what they want and don’t want. This includes the financial side, the scope of work, and the business. Move Closer can analyze everything the client tells them and prepare the best solution.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We help small and medium-sized companies create eco-friendly custom packaging.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We needed help developing the technology behind our design process, which required a lot of complicated backend development. Our system works with different backend languages, so we need to shift content between different platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Move Closer figured out the backend structure of the system and the mobile app. We built Rails and PHP backend services, and on top of that, we have WebGL and 3GS systems for viewing and designing the box. They were responsible for the PHP element and helped us out with other frontend tasks.

Recently, they started to offer sales center building, which helps a lot with our sales stack segmentation techniques. Since they have experience doing that with startups, they help us with implementation.

What is the team dynamic?

We work with two backend developers and two frontend developers from Move Closer. The senior developers work on bigger startup projects like ours, while the frontend developers help with small tasks like content marketing. The backend folks work in collaboration with the frontend folks on mid-sized projects, while the bigger projects are often made by the full-stack developers. Our internal team handles most of the requests, but Move Closer also handles related tasks.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

Other startups have given them very good reviews. They were responsible for a massive project for a restaurant reservation system, so I knew they could handle ours as well.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around €60,000 [$81,128] on their services. We are an Agile company, so we know what we are paying for.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2015, and the relationship is ongoing. Currently, they’re doing smaller tasks. We plan to start a big project with them next month—I know that they will be the perfect fit since they specialize in PHP for e-commerce platforms.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the app was just two months ago, and about 80% of our customers are currently using it. Since it was a joint project, Move Closer gets some of the credit for that. Meanwhile, the segmentation technique that we’ve built has helped us increase our customers’ attention by 60%, which is extremely important for us.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

Our communication is perfect. Since we use Slack and JIRA, we know exactly where the project is and where they are heading. Our engagement is on a monthly basis, which is fine because we didn’t know the scope of the work we wanted to give to them.

The work is going smoothly. They think about the project in general and the business behind it. If there are any misunderstandings, they take the blame and offer solutions, which is very refreshing. I always know that if something isn’t right, they’re going to make it right.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The founders, Piotr [CTO, Move Closer] and Mikolaj [CEO, Move Closer], are extremely good. They want to help build startups, and they treat us really well They know how to make customers happy, which is not typical of a technical team. Even if you pay a good hourly rate, it’s still about how the management talks to you. I really like Mikolaj. He is an extremely vibrant person and quite knowledgeable about technical matters. He explains things clearly, helping us understand what we should build.

Move Closer has in-house specialists for performance marketing and sales. It’s great that they are familiar with the services that help with marketing automation, adding customers, and analyzing the data. Most companies don’t have this knowledge, so you’d have to find other folks to do that. This can be tiring as people in that sector often find it difficult to work with developers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re pushy in some ways, but that’s helpful in the end.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Just describe your problem, and they’ll find a solution quickly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We run a Restaurant Week Festival. I'm the CEO of the organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We needed someone to develop our websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They consulted us on marketing automation, remarketing tools, AdSense, AdWords, etc. They also developed our current e-commerce system, and they're building the new version for us.

What is the team dynamic?

There are 3–4 frontend developers. The technology we are working on, among others, is PHP and Laravel. We also work with the WordPress CMS.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

We chose Move Closer because of their relationship with the founders of Restaurant Week. They work together not only on personal but also business matters.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $250,000–$500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since 2014. Restaurant Week has existed for two and a half years, and we worked with them for 12 years in another country.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The figures regarding traffic are fantastic. We have festivals during spring and autumn, and we have 100% more traffic for each festival than before. No one has had this kind of increase.

After the spring festival, we asked our guests and partners about their experience with the design and how they use the system. We were surprised that almost no one told us anything wrong about the system, and that we just need maintenance.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

We proceed with this work with the feeling that we are not only business partners but also friends. We are very honest with each other. If something goes wrong or something is delayed, we tell each other. We’re very straightforward and honest which helps to build trust.

I communicate with them through Skype, Google Hangouts, etc. We talk almost every day. Every Thursday, we have special meetings to run through the progress for the past week, and we run basic communication on Slack on a daily basis.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They sometimes understood us better than we understood ourselves because they've been with us for so long. This is the primary reason we chose them and that we've worked with them over for two years. They read our minds. They know what we are willing to do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some issues the past few weeks. The people that were developing the new system for us were also maintaining the old system. Their priority was to develop the new system as it was scheduled, and they weren't maintaining the old one in the way they should. There were some bugs that could have been fixed in five minutes but took 2–3 weeks. They were honest about the issue, but it didn't change the fact that those bugs weren't fixed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a global commercial real estate advisory company. I work in the marketing department and am responsible for digital: all websites, online marketing tools, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Move Closer?

We had a project for a new website’s content marketing, which was managed by the communication team. Together, we had to develop a website which would serve as a kind of blog on which we could post business articles and interviews. We needed a company with some experience, and which could deliver what we wanted within a strict deadline, unlike our last partner. This is where Move Closer came in.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were initially considering building a website and, along with it, a mobile app. When we discussed this with Move Closer, they advised us not to build a mobile app because of the risks involved if users didn’t download it. They suggested that we make only a blog on the WordPress platform.

Another reason for the platform choice was that our communication team, which manages articles, is not technical. WordPress would be a simple CMS [content management system] to post articles.

After the delivery, they came to our company and gave us a training session for the CMS, all on their own initiative.

What is the team dynamic? 

We had a CTO from their side, who was always available to us. I don’t know if they used one or two developers since there were changes in the middle of the project. We didn’t have any workflow issues as the CTO managed the team.

How did you come to work with Move Closer?

We considered two other companies, but I knew Move Closer’s general manager from a project in another firm. Compared to the other candidates, they were also strong in terms of their technical knowledge. They offered us their ideas before we even chose them, which was a big advantage. They were also open to negotiating the price and considering our tight deadline and previous bad experience with another developer, the budget was a little strict.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of the project has been around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first meeting with them was in May 2017. We managed to deliver the website within the deadline, on the 28th of September and had a launch a week later.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are continuing to work with them on performance. We’ve rolled out a three-week media campaign and the numbers are really good. 

So far, everything they’ve proposed and created has been the best we could achieve. I have no benchmarks for it because it’s been the first project of its kind we’ve done.

How did Move Closer perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication was great, and it was the main reason for choosing them. Their manager is focused on the client, and we could call him even during the night, knowing that we would receive support. I believe that this is their strongest characteristic — they focus on the client, and, through this communication, they provide their ideas and advice.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve learned a lot from talking to the team about the project, and they’ve proposed a number of tools we could use to improve our platform. They’re client focused; they listen to our needs, which can be hard when working with agencies. We can ask for something and find out a year later that the result isn’t what we wanted.

They also work Agile. We were informed on a daily basis about what was going on with the project and were able to solve every issue could be solved in no time at all. Anytime we’ve contacted them, we received an answer immediately. That has a lot of value for me and has made my experience pleasant.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we first met their team, we thought that those individuals would be the ones we’d be working with, but we also received answers from someone we didn’t know, which was a little confusing. At one point, we didn’t know who to contact to get something done as soon as possible. They work Agile, but maybe too much at times.  

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

The best value is in sitting down and talking with their team for 2–3 hours. They have valuable experience and can bring ideas from many other branches and areas which can be applied to the project.