Oyova

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Travelive is a luxury travel agency, specializing in Mediterranean Destinations. I am in charge of Technology-related projects across the company. (systems, integrations, etc)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Oyova?

We hired Oyova to design and develop an online portal integrated with our travel database software and online payment platform.

What were your goals for this project?

The end user (client-agents) had to be able to search and book services, make online payments, get necessary documents for their bookings and browse content.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were recommended/introduced to us by another agency.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

design-development-testing-launch

What was the team composition?

3-4 people from Oyova, 3 people from Travelive. I was the point of contact for Travelive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still building our content and pricing policy for the portal so it has not been launched yet. It has been internally launched though to our Accounting dep and has significantly cut down time previously needed to data entry transactions in multiple systems.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Weekly group calls and much intermediate communication to align objectives and ensure timely delivery.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed by their broad technical skills and short response times

Are there any areas for improvement?

none that i can think of

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a local landscaping business servicing Jacksonville, Florida and the surrounding area. My position with the business is coordinating all of the sales, projects, and services, as well as billing and payroll for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Oyova?

Our main goal with the project was to stand out from our competition. In Florida, there is a huge need for landscaping services in both residential and commercial, and we were looking for a partner that could help us design and develop a website that gave us a more professional face.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started out with a few meetings where we explained to them what we were looking for and they gathered some images and ideas and then pretty much took the reins from there. Their team put together the full design wireframes, offered great suggestions in terms of features we could include, and then built out the entire site from scratch.

What was the team composition?

All of our communication flowed through two people, including a project manager and frontend designer. Since we’re not a technical team, they communicated the requirements to the backend developers themselves from there.

How did you come to work with Oyova?

They are local to Jacksonville, and people we know have used and recommended their services so it was a pretty easy decision for us to make.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was probably in the $1,000–$3,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

The whole project was turned around incredibly quickly, lasting probably for the month of June 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The biggest way that the project helped us was by eliminating existing costs that we had as a company. Prior to building the site, we had to rely on a paid leads service that could help carry us through particularly colder months and things like that.

Once we had the website put together, the majority of people who were contacting us were actually just finding us online and going through our contact form, so we were able to stop paying for incoming leads. That saves us time and it makes the entire process easier for our customers, so it’s really a win-win.

How did Oyova perform from a project management standpoint?

The whole process was incredibly easy for us to manage over email with them. The person who took the lead on it made sure that we had all of our questions and requests taken care of and that we were able to review their work easily without having an extensive back and forth about any changes we wanted to make. They were really helpful throughout the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What I really liked is that we didn’t have to give them all the answers or show them exactly what we wanted the final site to look like from the beginning. They gave us the confidence to trust that they were going to build out a site that made us look good, was user friendly, and performed well for us, even without us putting a lot of effort into figuring out the technical side of things.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing in particular that stands out as something they could have done better in my opinion.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No matter how big or small your project is, use the tools that they have available. It’s going to make everyone’s job a lot easier, communication will stay open, and you won’t run into any problems that you can’t solve together.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a florist who designs daily signature arrangements, as well as special event and wedding florals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Oyova?

We were tracking our orders manually and then would have to cut off sales for a certain date after we reached our capacity. This meant monitoring our emails 24/7 and then going into the backend of the website to turn off the ordering capability by hand. We also had to manually change the day of the week on the website home page daily.

What were your goals for this project?

We hired Oyova to develop an e-commerce site with an ordering and inventory system. We also needed them to create a dynamic home page so that the day of the week updated automatically and an overall updated look to our website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Oyova was recommended to us from a friend and we were familiar with some of their work. We knew they had the expertise to analyse our needs and ultimately come up with a solution that worked for our business.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed, developed and executed a backend business ordering and inventory system. They used our current order form as a template to create a custom ordering system that allowed us to manage available dates, number of arrangements for sale each day, the price per item and delivery charges.

The system tracks our inventory automatically, closes out the day when there is no more inventory available and notifies the purchaser how much inventory is left in stock when they were placing an order. They also integrated our website with Instagram and updated the overall look.

What was the team composition?

We had a project lead, two primary developers and a project manager that we worked with directly. The project manager communicated with us regarding open tasks, provided updates and followed up when items were completed.

Our project lead was available to answer questions, offer solutions and walk us through how to mange the backend system. The two other developers worked on the specific tasks and communicated as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As a florist, a fresh modern website that integrates with our social media has had a huge impact. Its the first impression someone has of our business and our style. Our new ordering system has had a tremendous impact on business efficiency.

We no longer have the stress of checking emails constantly which has given us more time throughout the day to focus on our business and ultimately allow us to open up more sales.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was exceptional. They hit every deadline, completed the project ahead of their timeline and delivered above expectations. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What we found most impressive was their ability to identify our business needs and create a custom solution that addressed those needs and simplified our business processes. Also, being able to communicate with the project manager and directly with the developer was an added value. This allowed us to streamline the process and ultimately save time. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very satisfied with our experience and the end result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Privately owned website providing information and promoting Vermont businesses and events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Oyova?

Our site is Cold Fusion and we were having problems finding programmers to address issues. We hired them to fix some problems we couldn't handle in house and to help us out with some problems. Unfortunately we ran into some serious issues with health problems with our own staff and family members last year. OYOVA did a quick pivot and ended up handling some of our weekly updates while we spent about 2 months dealing with hospitals and funerals.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to have some old code updates and to develop a relationship with a company that did CF programming for us.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They came highly recommended by a company that we worked with about 10 years ago who no longer did CF programming. The company we worked with prior to Oyova also changed their business model and no longer offered CF programming.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The project changed. At first it was a few quick fixes. We started to work with them on a longer term project to update the site to make it more mobile friendly and do some SEO work. Health problems with our core staff members kind of hurt the process. No fault of theirs. They have been very receptive to problems that arise and if we haven't needed anything done, thy proactively touch base.

What was the team composition?

Beth Rener is our go to person at Oyova. We email or call her and she checks in with her team to determine who needs to do a particular job.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had to stop the long term problems on our end. We are a small business and staff health problems lead to us having to stop almost every project. Unfortunately COVID will most likely delay any future large projects for at least 6 months to a year.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They were good. Weer were bad. We had a lot of projects and the person on our team in charge had a hard time prioritizing and focusing. I'm sure it must t have been frustrating for them.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Very professional and responsive to our calls/emails. Even if they could not immediately work on something, they responded to let us know they got our requests and when they would be able to follow up.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not on their part.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager of a retail gun shop in Jacksonville, Florida.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Oyova?

We had an outdated site and needed help starting fresh with a new platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created our new site from scratch. We wanted a site that we could customize ourselves, so we wouldn’t need a developer if we wanted to make small changes. We gave them some content, and they focused on the site’s design and development.

What is the team composition?

We had one project manager who was our main point of contact. A few times we had a conference call with the designers and developers on the call.

How did you come to work with Oyova?

Initially, I just did a web search for web developers in our city and started calling the ones that had the best Google ratings.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2019 and went live in June 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our old site would give us 1–2 email requests per day. As soon as the new site was published, we started to get 30 emails per day, so people are definitely finding the site much easier now.

How did Oyova perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very good at project management. Usually, our project manager responds within 5–10 minutes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness was helpful, especially for someone like me that doesn’t know much about web development.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything they could’ve done better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have any questions throughout the process, ask them and they’ll definitely answer them. You don’t have to sit there and be anxious about how things will turn out, they’re very open.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of digital at a medical-grade skincare company.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Oyova?

We were looking for a multi-site platform where we could change multiple sites at once. We also wanted to have customers select a staff member or a different location, so that the dermatologist and physician’s offices could reward their staff members as an incentive. Finally, we needed a site optimized for easy navigation throughout the shopping experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We did a pilot testing study last year. We worked with Oyova to test out what the website templates would be for this program. With each account, they’d customize the build-out for the site. The team uses WordPress and WooCommerce to build out the sites. They did mostly development but also had a hand in designing it.

What is the team composition?

We have one main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Oyova?

They came on before my time.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $100,000–$150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and our work is still ongoing as we continue to onboard new accounts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve sales for our accounts and they’ve been able to honor customer sales through the accounts that we launched. We’ve also had positive feedback from our accounts regarding the websites.

How did Oyova perform from a project management standpoint?

We have one status meeting per week and we’re also connected via Slack.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re super responsive and eager to problem solve and troubleshoot with us. The team helps us think outside the box and have been flexible in terms of working with us. We really appreciate that in general in our partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We need to find a way to manage costs better with them. Like any agency, they have billable hours; we’re trying to create new sites without additional customization, which can add time and cost.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing specialist for a nationwide roofing company. I handle anything and everything digital that goes out.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Oyova?

We do all door-to-door sales, with four subsidiary brands that we act under. We were working with a team for our web development needs, but they weren’t meeting what we needed. We were growing pretty quick and needed someone to help us quickly and efficiently improve our website so it was top quality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We recently updated a series of landing pages for everything on our site with them. Since COVID-19, we couldn’t go knocking on doors anymore, so we had to figure out a better way to attract homeowners to our business. This led to their team helping us develop a referral program. We designed it on our end and then their team developed it. 

They supported all of our brands by creating several landing pages. They’ve also helped us translate everything on one of our websites to Spanish, since we work with a lot of Spanish-speaking subcontractors. 

What is the team composition?

Beth is my point of contact for anything I need help with, and she disperses it to her team. I’ve spoken to about 3–4 people from their team, but I’m sure there’s more.

How did you come to work with Oyova?

Our director of marketing knows the owner of the company. When we were done with the previous relationship, it was an easy no-brainer to go with them since we knew they do quality work. 

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spend around $1,500 per month with them. We’ve spent in the range of $10,000–$15,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since November 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve helped us prosper during COVID-19; without their work, we wouldn’t be able to flourish like we are. Without the new landing page for the referral program, we likely would have lost some jobs and not be doing as well as we currently are. Within a day, the page was up and running efficiently. 

They’ve really helped us reach other cultures than the ones we normally target. Being able to switch the site over to Spanish has really helped us build relationships with subcontractors quickly. They’ve helped us attract higher-quality candidates because of the detailed pages they’ve put together. 

How did Oyova perform from a project management standpoint?

They are extremely efficient. We mostly email back and forth very efficiently. They’ve been very thorough. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everything seems personal when we’re working together. Even our emails touch on how we’re doing and our families, so it’s never 100% business and that’s really important for our family-oriented culture. To have that same culture with them has been fantastic. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with a bunch of projects and set expectations that they will be met exactly as you need. Expect everything to be up and running in the fastest time possible. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Freestyle Slides, an inflatables manufacturer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Oyova?

We needed website support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve supported us over the years with our website. Anytime we have issues, such as technical problems, they help us. That’s their primary role. Oyova helped redesign our website, and they made some changes as far as the languages that were on the website, as well as some of the content. 

We’re in the process of creating a new website and the team is going to be involved in that. Once that’s done, we’re going to get them to handle our social media. 

What is the team composition?

We work with three teammates. 

How did you come to work with Oyova?

It may have been my marketing director at the time who researched and found them, but I wasn't involved in that process. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in 2015, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve kept our website up and running. This is important because, if our website is down, customers aren’t able to reach us.

How did Oyova perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is easy to work with and easy to get a hold of. With other companies, you have to wait for them because they’re busy. But Oyova has great communication skills and excellent customer support. We communicate with them via email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of communication stands out, as well as the fact that they’re always available. Those are the most valuable parts of our relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions. They’ve hit the mark on everything we’ve needed. Everyone can improve, but I can’t identify anything in particular. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Look for that level of communication to help you get the job done efficiently. If you’re looking for good support, you’ll find it with Oyova.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a full service creative studio focused on crafting brands that create emotional connections and memorable experiences. I serve my company as the Director of Client Services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Oyova?

We outsourced Oyova for a large scale custom website that we designed for a real estate private equity client.

What were your goals for this project?

Designing and developing a high-end and flexible website that represented the dynamism of our client.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have previously worked with Oyova and knew they would be a great partner for this website.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Oyova developed, configured and launch a robust custom website that my team designed. They were extremely hands on during our design process as well to ensure the actual development of the site would go as planned. It began with a kick off call with the Oyova team to discuss project goals and milestones. They worked on a very strict client-demanded timeline and met all deadlines.

What was the team composition?

The Oyova team was small yet nimble. It consisted of a project manager, lead engineer and director of operations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My team and my client were all extremely pleased with the final product, the knowledge and efficiency of the Oyova team.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was amazing throughout the entire process. We were working under a strict timeline and the project management adhered to that and worked continuously to execute in a timely manner. There were frequent status calls and email updated tracking the progress.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge and skill set and being able to communicate in a way that someone unfamiliar with the process would understand.

Are there any areas for improvement?

My team and my client were very happy with our experience.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Interface is an engineering consultancy firm. I am in charge if coordinating Oyova's contract with Interface. We are redesigning our website which was last updated over nine years ago to access more clients, keep a record of all our work, and better align us with where we would like to position ourselves in the future; a Ugandan company seeking to provide pragmatic solutions to complicated social problems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Oyova?

For web development. Our website was outdated, our information scattered and we wanted to appear more current, offer our readers and clients a minimalistic and contemporary interaction with us, and we wanted to be organized.

What were your goals for this project?

To get a contemporary, well organized, appealing website up and running

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They were well recommended by pixel, a company my boss had worked with prior. After a number of interview with Ryan and Beth we chose to stay because they were quick to adapt to our vision, and suggest things we may not have thought of but needed. In conclusion through a recommendation but also a great impression was made from the interviews we had with them and a scan of their portfolio showed us they were the best people to execute what we wanted.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Website and Development. 1. Full redesign and UX upgrades. ( adding more sections than the previous site had) 2. Word Press Theme Conversion Simply, revamping the previous website to accommodate new sections, create new themes with more current features such as slide bars, sidebar pages, etc...

What was the team composition?

Ryan Boulware : head of design and web Beth rener: account manager Chenoa Rivera: Adminitrative Assistant

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our project is still ongoing but we expect more visibility and more clients.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very impressive since we are across the world. We had very efficient and brief zoom meetings and work was delivered efficiently. Very good candor with the team, and they were very patient with us when I needed to get caught up.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication with me admist the holidays, the pandemic and the time difference.. The job has gotten done, and the execution is very close to what we envisioned. They are very flexible, attentive, patient, and understanding.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Since I was not as fluent in what was happening with the web design, and there was an experience gap, I feel that I would have appreciated more inclusion and some more explanation at my level.