At Planet Argon, we believe good software deserves a longer life.
For more than 20 years, we’ve worked with organizations that rely on Ruby on Rails applications at the core of their business. These applications hold years of human effort and investment. Too often, we see teams assume the only way forward is to throw it all away and start fresh. That’s risky, expensive, and usually unnecessary.
Our mission is to help teams extend the life of the software they already have. We preserve and adapt Rails applications so they remain reliable, maintainable, and ready for what comes next. By doing this, we give organizations something they can’t get from a rewrite: continuity, momentum, and the confidence to keep shipping.
Most of our clients don’t need a large internal engineering team. Some have been stuck bouncing between freelancers. Others rely on a single over-stretched developer. What they need is something in between: the reliability of a team, without the overhead of full-time hires. That’s where we come in.
Through upgrade projects, ongoing maintenance retainers, and fractional development support, we help companies avoid costly rewrites and focus their energy on growth.
Behind every system is a story of people, teams, and hard work. We treat that effort with care, guiding organizations to evolve their applications instead of discarding them.
Software is worth preserving. Done right, it can continue to open doors to new opportunities. That’s the work we’re committed to.
## Company Information - Minimum project size: $25,000+ - Hourly rate: $150 - $199 - Number of employees: 10 - 49 - 1 Locations: - Portland, OR (Headquarters) - Founded in 2002 - 3 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish ## Services, Focus Areas, Industries, and Clients ### Service Lines - 55% Web Development - 30% Custom Software Development - 10% E-Commerce Development - 5% UX/UI Design ### Focus Areas - Frameworks and CMS: - 85% Ruby on Rails - 10% React - 5% Other frameworks and CMS - Programming & Scripting: - 70% Ruby - 20% JavaScript - 10% Other programming & scripting languages - E-commerce Systems: - 60% Shopify - 10% Big Commerce - 10% Other ecommerce systems - 10% WooCommerce - 10% osCommerce - Application Platforms: - 40% Amazon Application Development Framework - 40% Heroku - 20% Linux server ### Industries - 20% Financial services - 10% Hospitality & leisure - 5% Business services - 5% Non-profit - 10% Real estate - 20% Advertising & marketing - 5% Education - 15% eCommerce - 10% Medical ### Clients - 30% Small Business (<$10M) - 50% Midmarket ($10M - $1B) - 20% Enterprise (>$1B) ## Pricing Snapshot Average rating for cost based on this provider's reviews: 4.5 out of 5 **What Clients Have Said** *(This summary is based on verified Clutch reviews.)*: Planet Argon's pricing is considered reasonable, with projects ranging from $80,000 to over $1.5 million. Clients appreciate the value for cost and transparent communication regarding budgets and timelines, often maintaining projects within retainer agreements or fixed scopes. **Most Common Project Size**: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 12 reviews *(Pricing information for this provider is based on reviews where the project size was available.)* ### Pricing by Service - Web Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 9 reviews - Custom Software Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 4 reviews - UX/UI Design: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 2 reviews - Application Management & Support: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 2 reviews - Cybersecurity: $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 based on 1 review - Mobile App Development: $200,000 to $999,999 based on 1 review - E-Commerce Development: Confidential based on 1 review - Other IT Consulting and SI: Confidential based on 1 review - Application Testing: Confidential based on 1 review ## Reviews Clutch investigates each reviewer's identity and work history. Every review goes through a rigorous, human-led verification process to confirm the reviewer's identity, and reviews that we verify are visibly marked as 'Verified' so you can trust that they come from a real client. [Learn More](https://help.clutch.co/en/knowledge/how-clutch-verifies-reviews) ### Planet Argon Review Insights Overall Review Rating: 4.9 - Quality: 4.8 - Schedule: 4.7 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 ### Top Mentions - Communicative (9 mentions) - Timely (7 mentions) - Collaborative (4 mentions) - Creative (4 mentions) - High-quality work (4 mentions) - Easy to work with (3 mentions) - Efficient (3 mentions) - Proactive (3 mentions) - Transparent (3 mentions) - Great project management (2 mentions) - Open to feedback (2 mentions) - Professional (2 mentions) - Results-oriented (2 mentions) - Unique expertise (2 mentions) - Detail-oriented (1 mentions) - Exceptional performance (1 mentions) - Experienced (1 mentions) - Flexible (1 mentions) - Puts the customer first (1 mentions) - Well-organized projects (1 mentions) ### Review Highlights **Meticulous Documentation** Clients appreciate Planet Argon's detailed documentation and reporting, which helps keep projects on track and provides clear insights into project progress. **Proactive Problem Solvers** Planet Argon is recognized for identifying potential challenges early and providing proactive solutions, which helps mitigate risks and ensures project success. **Occasional Budget and Timeline Adjustments** While generally effective in managing projects, some clients mentioned that initial budget estimates needed adjustments due to scope changes, highlighting the importance of clear initial planning. **Cultural Fit and Alignment** Clients value the cultural fit and alignment with Planet Argon, which enhances collaboration and ensures that the team is in sync with client values and objectives. **Challenges with Team Turnover** Some clients noted challenges with team turnover, which required time for new team members to become familiar with projects. However, Planet Argon is acknowledged for managing these transitions effectively. **Technical Expertise and Innovation** The team is noted for its technical expertise and ability to implement new technologies and innovative solutions, which enhance the functionality and user experience of client platforms. **Strong Client Understanding** Planet Argon invests time to understand client goals, business processes, and brand identity, which allows them to provide tailored solutions that align with client needs and enhance project outcomes. **Expertise in Ruby on Rails Development** Planet Argon has a strong track record in managing and upgrading Ruby on Rails applications, as noted by multiple clients. Their ability to handle legacy systems and perform complex upgrades while maintaining system stability is consistently praised. **Flexible and Adaptable** Planet Argon's flexibility in adapting to client-specific requirements and constraints, such as using existing CMS structures, is valued by clients across various projects. **Positive Impact on Business Growth** The solutions provided by Planet Argon have been instrumental in supporting business growth, with clients noting increased system capabilities and improved user experiences. ### Planet Argon Reviews #### Support & Dev Services for Digital Mktg Agency (Featured Review) **The Project** - Services: Application Management & Support, Custom Software Development, Web Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Dec. 2022 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon provides ongoing support and enhancement of a digital marketing agency's internal tools. They're tasked with maintaining a Ruby project and diagnosing issues as they arise. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director Web Services, RYNO Strategic Solutions - Industry: Advertising & marketing - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jan 16, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon has been a reliable partner, impressing the client with top-notch project management and communication. They run Agile sprints and use Jira, Kanban, and Story Points to ensure a smooth workflow. Their expertise, professionalism, and high-quality work are hallmarks of their work. ""Their project management is top-notch."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Director Web Services of RYNO Strategic SolutionsDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.We provide digital marketing strategies designed to scale your home-services business - from HVAC to plumbing, electrical, roofing, and more. Our home-services experience and custom tailored campaigns make us the best at what we do. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Planet Argon to accomplish?Support and enhancement of Ryno's internal tools **SOLUTION** How did you find Planet Argon?I don't knowWhy did you select Planet Argon over others?High ratingsGreat culture fitCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Planet Argon were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Planet Argon was able to take over a Ruby project for us and improve it beyond expectation. They grew it based on evolving requirements and helped maintain / diagnose issues as they happened **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?No metrics - this is ongoing supportDescribe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Their project management is top-notch. We have a designated PM on every call and he is 100% on top of everything. We run Agile sprints with all associated tools - Jira/Kanban/Story points etc. The communication is the best we have from all our partnersWhat was your primary form of communication with Planet Argon?Virtual MeetingWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?We have a few providers that we work with. Some things that stand out about PA areCommuication - regular meetings, great use of Jira, and slackHigh level of technical expertise. Ouur assigned technical expert can fix everything!Professionalism and high quality throughoutI enjoy our interactions and trust the PA team to deliver on our projects every timeAre there any areas for improvement or something Planet Argon could have done differently?No. I have no notes - they do great! --- #### Ruby on Rails Codebase Upgrade for Software Solution Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Dec. 2024 - Aug. 2025 **Project Summary**: Planet Argon upgraded a Ruby on Rails codebase for a software solutions company. The team analyzed the codebase, created an upgrade plan, executed it, and mentored the client's internal development team. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director of Engineering, LabArchives - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 501-1,000 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Sep 29, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon successfully upgraded the client's codebase and delivered a detailed upgrade plan, risk assessment, and mentorship. The team held regular meetings to discuss plans and provide feedback on progress. The client praised the team's expertise, understanding of goals, and professionalism. ""The level of talent in the people that we worked with was incredible."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Director of Engineering of LabArchivesDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Software solutions for scientific research **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Planet Argon to accomplish?Working alongside their team to upgrade Ruby on Rails from 2.3 to 3.2 **SOLUTION** How did you find Planet Argon?Online SearchWhy did you select Planet Argon over others?Pricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitPast experience with similar projectsHow many teammates from Planet Argon were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Analyze current Ruby on Rails codebase and dependencies Create an upgrade plan that included risk assessment, milestones, and anticipated timelines Partner with internal development team to plan and excecute on each milestone Mentor and educate internal development team to allow for continuation of the project without assistance **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Delivery of detailed upgrade plan, including milestones and anticipated timelinesDelivery of risk assessement, including known dependency issuesSuccessful major Rails upgrade of codebase Team interviews which reinforced new knowlege gained from mentorshipDescribe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Framework upgrade projects are fortunate to have very clearly defined, easily measurable objectives. Our team met before each major version upgrade began to discuss the plan and anticipated timeline, then regularly thoughout the project to provide feedback on progress.Being a software project, some tasks met anticipated timelines, some were early, some took longer. The overall delivery timelines met our expectations.What was your primary form of communication with Planet Argon?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?From the initial conversation I had with Robby, I felt very comfortable with Planet Argon's technical capabilities and their previous experience with similar projects. Everyone we met with took the time to understand where we were and where we were going. They offered specific guidance without ever trying to push us into a direction that didn't match our goals.The level of talent in the people that we worked with was incredible. They were onboard and making meaningful contributions in the first week. They were able to drive the project forward while teaching and mentoring our internal team, which is exactly what we were hoping for. Complete professionalisim from day one.Are there any areas for improvement or something Planet Argon could have done differently?They completely understood our goals and did all that they could to help us work towards them. There is nothing substantial I can think of that I would have changed. --- #### Web Development & Cybersecurity for Organic Meat Co **The Project** - Services: Cybersecurity, Web Development - Project size: $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 - Project length: Jan. 2016 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon has been supplementing an organic meat company's web development needs since 2016. The team built the site from scratch using Ruby on Rails and has maintained and improved it ever since. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Leader, Applegate - Industry: Food & Beverage - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jul 14, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon has reflected the brand's style and tone through the aesthetic look and feel of the site. The team has spent a lot of time understanding the brand and business goals, enabling them to make suggestions and build on ideas that fit the brand. Overall, it has been a positive experience. ""I've been impressed with their ability to deliver things on time and on budget."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there.I'm the e-commerce and digital marketing leader at Applegate, a natural and organic meat company. We’ve been around for over 30 years and are distributed nationally in supermarkets from Whole Foods to Walmart and everybody in between. My team handles all of our e-commerce business, including how we show up on retailer platforms and last-mile providers like Instacart. We’re also responsible for all our digital marketing, including the website. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon?We were doing web development in-house and wanted to reallocate our resources toward our e-commerce business. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement?Planet Argon has been supplementing our existing staff, and over time, they’ve taken on all our web development needs. We’ve done one complete site rebuild with them 8 years ago. Most of what they do is on retainer monthly, and we have constant projects of maintaining and improving the site. We provided quite a bit of content for the rebuild, but they built the site from scratch. During that implementation, they put us on a new CMS. The site has quite a few third-party tools integrated with it, such as product locators, product review plug-ins, and digital coupons. We have around half a dozen different third-party vendors supplying some kind of service to the website.When consumers come to our website, the majority of the traffic is unique users driven there from their search activity, or if we have a campaign running. They’re usually exposed to the brand, looking at different product categories, looking at recipes, and so on. Existing shoppers tend to use the site for our FAQs. We have a lot of consumers with food allergies who need to see which products are safe for them. We also get a lot of consumer inquiries through our help center on the site, where they can search for answers on their own or reach out to our consumer relations team if they have something that isn’t answered in the content on the site.Some of our consumers have very specific questions and need to speak to a representative. The team handles all the security and coordinates with our parent company, which has some stringent security requirements. They have to ensure we’re compliant with corporate expectations.What is the team composition?My team works most directly with them. The person I have the most contact with is Michael, the software delivery manager. He’s the project manager for all the work we send to the team. My team deals primarily with him, but in some cases, they also talk directly with the developers.How did you come to work with Planet Argon?We had some specific requirements. The existing site was built with Ruby on Rails, which made it a smaller pool of qualified agencies. We talked to a couple of different vendors and independent contractors. We were looking at all kinds of options, and through searching, we found Planet Argon. They met all our technical and business requirements. When we talked with them, we were impressed with their process and the questions they asked. They wanted to understand the brand, which made it feel like we could develop a meaningful partnership.How much have you invested with them?We’ve spent approximately $1.2–$1.5 million.What is the status of this engagement?We started working together in January 2016, and the partnership is ongoing. In a month or so, we’re kicking off a major rebuild. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?Conversions for us include using the product locator, signing up for our email, downloading a coupon, and illustrating purchase intent. I also think of success in terms of things that are a little harder to quantify, like the aesthetic look and feel of the site. Planet Argon has been able to reflect the brand’s style and tone.In general, they’ve been very good at bringing issues to us preemptively. For example, they’ve told us there’s a major CMS upgrade coming that we need to execute this year. They’re very good at seeing things that are on the horizon and advising us. They get our input on what we want to do about it. They’ve always been very responsive and capable of remedying bugs in development or things that we want to improve.How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint?We used Jira for a long time and are now using a similar tool. The team is always transparent with us about what tickets or issues are being worked on and who they’re assigned to. My internal team inputs our comments and feedback directly there, so it really works for us.We meet regularly and communicate frequently through the Jira tool, so there’s a lot of collaboration at a high level and on a day-to-day basis.What did you find most impressive about them?I've been impressed with their ability to deliver things on time and on budget. Typically, if anything goes over budget, it’s because we’ve changed the scope or added ideas along the way. They’re very disciplined in that regard.Are there any areas they could improve?I can’t think of anything.Do you have any advice for potential customers?They've spent time understanding our brand and business goals, and they educate themselves on our brand, mission, and style so that they have some context. When you request things, they understand the bigger picture and can make suggestions and build on ideas in a way that fits the brand. That's a really important part of the process, that you don't always get that with the partner; they might be happy to just execute requests and don't have that level of intimacy or familiarity. --- #### Custom Software Dev for Design & Printing Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, UX/UI Design, Web Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Feb. 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon provides ongoing maintenance and support for a newspaper's legacy Rails system. The tasks include bug fixes, code clean-ups, new feature developments, and Ruby on Rails upgrades. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CEO, Newspaper Club - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jan 30, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon has improved the client's system and prevented them from losing time or business due to outages. The team is easy to work with, takes the client's requests seriously, and works hard to solve problems. They have a simple but effective project management process and communicate well. ""They make hard things look effortless."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the CEO of Newspaper ClubDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.Print on demand newspapers **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Planet Argon to accomplish?Maintenance, upgrades and feature development **SOLUTION** How did you find Planet Argon?Online SearchWhy did you select Planet Argon over others?Pricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitGood value for costOtherHow many teammates from Planet Argon were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Ongoing maintenance of a legacy Rails systemBug fixes and code clean-upsNew feature developmentsRuby and Rails upgrades **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?The tasks and project management are really efficiently run by Michael, our PM. The developers communicate frequently and are very easy to work with as they look into the problem. We usually stay within our retainer budget, and any overages are discussed beforehand.Our system is in a much better shape since we started working with Planet Argon, and we do not lose time or business to outages.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?There is a simple but totally effective project management process where we receive a weekly report (short and transparent) and have a weekly meeting. This meeting is generally less than 30 minutes, is super-relaxed but runs really well. The whole team is extremely easy to deal with - they always take our requests seriously and work really hard to solve the problems. Communication around tasks and tickets is all done through JIRA - this works really well. Just enough info but not too much.What was your primary form of communication with Planet Argon?In-Person MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?They are so relaxed and friendly, but they are also amazing developers and fantastic project managers. They make hard things look effortless. They took us seriously when no one else would and made our lives a million times easier through their diligence.Are there any areas for improvement or something Planet Argon could have done differently?Clone Michael ;) --- #### Support & Dev Services for Digital Mktg Agency **The Project** - Services: Application Management & Support, Custom Software Development, Web Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Dec. 2022 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon provides ongoing support and enhancement of a digital marketing agency's internal tools. They're tasked with maintaining a Ruby project and diagnosing issues as they arise. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director Web Services, RYNO Strategic Solutions - Industry: Advertising & marketing - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jan 16, 2025 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon has been a reliable partner, impressing the client with top-notch project management and communication. They run Agile sprints and use Jira, Kanban, and Story Points to ensure a smooth workflow. Their expertise, professionalism, and high-quality work are hallmarks of their work. ""Their project management is top-notch."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Director Web Services of RYNO Strategic SolutionsDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.We provide digital marketing strategies designed to scale your home-services business - from HVAC to plumbing, electrical, roofing, and more. Our home-services experience and custom tailored campaigns make us the best at what we do. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Planet Argon to accomplish?Support and enhancement of Ryno's internal tools **SOLUTION** How did you find Planet Argon?I don't knowWhy did you select Planet Argon over others?High ratingsGreat culture fitCompany values alignedHow many teammates from Planet Argon were assigned to this project?2-5 EmployeesDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Planet Argon was able to take over a Ruby project for us and improve it beyond expectation. They grew it based on evolving requirements and helped maintain / diagnose issues as they happened **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?No metrics - this is ongoing supportDescribe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Their project management is top-notch. We have a designated PM on every call and he is 100% on top of everything. We run Agile sprints with all associated tools - Jira/Kanban/Story points etc. The communication is the best we have from all our partnersWhat was your primary form of communication with Planet Argon?Virtual MeetingWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?We have a few providers that we work with. Some things that stand out about PA areCommuication - regular meetings, great use of Jira, and slackHigh level of technical expertise. Ouur assigned technical expert can fix everything!Professionalism and high quality throughoutI enjoy our interactions and trust the PA team to deliver on our projects every timeAre there any areas for improvement or something Planet Argon could have done differently?No. I have no notes - they do great! --- #### System Audit & Migration for E-Learning Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: June - Aug. 2022 **Project Summary**: Planet Argon performed a Ruby on Rails upgrade assessment for an e-learning company. They created a roadmap and a schedule and upgraded the client's system with minimal disturbance in their processes. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director of Product, Applied Educational Systems - Industry: Education - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Mar 16, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon successfully completed the audit and risk assessment and shared migration proposals. The team kept the client informed of their findings and recommendations, and the client found them easy to work with. Overall, the passionate team surpassed the client's expectations. ""They were very hands-on and kept us well-informed throughout the process."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position. I am the Director of Product of Applied Educational Systems Describe what your company does in a single sentence. We develop digital curriculum systems for Health Science and Business Education teachers. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Planet Argon to accomplish? Review our Ruby on Rails code. Build out an upgrade path. Upgrade our system with minimal disruption. **SOLUTION** How did you find Planet Argon? Online Search Why did you select Planet Argon over others? High ratings Great culture fit Good value for cost Company values aligned Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables. A Ruby on Rails upgrade assessment including a code audit, will be presented to company and highlight the following areas: An upgrade assessment for the current rails version Audit of current and forked Ruby Gems for compatibility with an upgrade A risk assessment, and mitigation recommendations, for upgrading to a new Rails version An upgrade roadmap and proposed schedule A Code Audit of: Setup documentation / onboarding External dependencies Rails conventions Routing Asset Management Test coverage Continuous Integration **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success? Audit of current and forked Ruby Gems for compatibility with and upgrade A risk assessment, and migration recommendations, for upgrading to a new Rails version An upgrade roadmap and proposed schedule. Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs? They were very hands-on and kept us well-informed throughout the process. What was your primary form of communication with Planet Argon? Virtual Meeting Email or Messaging App What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? They are truly passionate developers, easy to work with, and we genuinely had fun working with them. Are there any areas for improvement or something Planet Argon could have done differently? No they exceeded expectations. --- #### Dev & IT Services for Online Learning Platform **The Project** - Services: Application Management & Support, Application Testing, Other IT Consulting and SI - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Mar. 2022 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon provides ongoing IT and development services for an online learning platform. They review the company's current codebase and help with technical decisions, strategies, and solutions. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive, Imago - Industry: Education - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Mar 12, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon has provided insightful suggestions that help the client improve their setup while maintaining spend efficiency. They deliver on time and are responsive. Further, they conduct virtual meetings for a smoother workflow. Their analytical skills stand out. ""We are impressed by how quickly they are able to get in and make some analysis."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position. I am an executive of Imago Describe what your company does in a single sentence. Providing K-12 students with social emotional learning curriculum; it’s what we do. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Planet Argon to accomplish? Outsource CTO function Review current codebase and stack setup Small development work, if needed **SOLUTION** How did you find Planet Argon? Referral Why did you select Planet Argon over others? Referred to me Other Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables. 60 Day Goals: Planet Argon will create a transition plan with V2 Solutions for taking responsibility of emergency support Planet Argon will investigate and attempt to resolve the performance issues associated with publishing Planet Argon should have a good understanding of the IMAGO application, hosting, and business Planet Argon will assist V2 Solutions with prioritization of work Planet Argon will provide IMAGO with an assessment of V2 Solutions team performance and skillset Planet Argon will assist IMAGO in making a decision on which development company to partner with (V2 Solutions or another) Planet Argon will establish, and document, a uniform set of processes and tools for Planet Argon and V2 Solutions Planet Argon will establish a good working relationship with IMAGO’s UI Developer (John) Post-60 Day Goals: Planet Argon will contribute to technical strategy discussions with the IMAGO team Planet Argon will drive discussions with IMAGO on the future development of the application Planet Argon will continue to investigate outstanding performance issues with the goal of resolving these before the new school year begins Planet Argon will assess the current hosting and deployment process and advise IMAGO on any recommended improvements **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success? Suggestions for improvement in current codebase and setup Getting our development vendor on track with minimum development requirements Maintaining spend efficiency Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs? They deliver and are responsive. What was your primary form of communication with Planet Argon? Virtual Meeting Email or Messaging App What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? We are impressed by how quickly they are able to get in and make some analysis and start providing real time recommendations for managing our development vendor. We were on the path of terminating a long relationship with this vendor and with Planet Argon's help we saved them and the relationship. Are there any areas for improvement or something Planet Argon could have done differently? Nothing significant enough to note at the time of this review. --- #### Web Dev for Dermatology Firm **The Project** - Services: Application Management & Support, UX/UI Design, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: June 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon developed a Ruby on Rails website app for a dermatology firm. The team continues to provide routine development support and regular maintenance to the website. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Digital Marketing Director, West Dermatology - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1,001-5,000 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Mar 3, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Thanks to the contributions of the Planet Argon team, the company was able to stabilize their existing RoR application and make enhancements to resolve technical issues and bugs. The team is highly communicative, and internal stakeholders are impressed with the vendor's client-centric approach. ""What I find most impressive is their ability to help develop solutions in creative ways."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position. I am the Director, Digital Marketing of West Dermatology Describe what your company does in a single sentence. West Dermatology / Platinum Dermatology Partners provides medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatology, as well as skincare products. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Planet Argon to accomplish? Stabilize our Ruby On Rails website application. Develop mission-critical application enhancements. Provide routine and regular maintenance to our website application. **SOLUTION** How did you find Planet Argon? Other Why did you select Planet Argon over others? Close to my geographic location, Great culture fit, Good value for cost What was the size of Planet Argon’s team? 2-5 Employees What was your primary form of communication with Planet Argon? Virtual Meeting Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables. Transfer and manage site/application files and hosting. Stabilize broken components and deliver on a number of needed enhancements, including online scheduling modules and variable content. Launch new sites on RoR platform. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success? Search engine rankings Supported practices on the application Site enhancements completed Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs? The project was to help stabilize our exiting RoR application, and then to help build in some enhancements/correct some tech debt once they were fully supporting the team. One of the first major enhancements and deliverables was the integration of self-scheduling application through a third party to our website. Our internal teams did not give us a lot of time, but the PA team landed the enhancements on time! What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? While their approach to customer serivce and client relations is great, what I find most impressive is their ability to help develop solutions in creative ways. None of the complex content issues were a problem, and the team was always open to new information/new requirements regardless of where we were in the process. Are there any areas for improvement or something Planet Argon could have done differently? The PA team experienced some turn over at the beginning of the relationship, but I'm not sure it was something they could avoid. It slowed down the work temporarily, but the team more than made up for it over the long haul. --- #### Mobile App Dev & Maintenance for Religious Institution **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: June 2022 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon serves as the primary mobile app development partner of a religious institution. They're responsible for Ruby on Rails development, code redevelopment, and custom app maintenance and support. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Manager, Religious Institution - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Nov 8, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon has successfully delivered a fully-functioning platform and consistently accomplishes their tasks, much to the client's delight. The team is highly responsive, and internal stakeholders are impressed with the vendor's willingness to educate themselves on existing platforms. ""The team has done a great job of finishing their tasks, and they’ve delivered a faster and more streamlined solution."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am a manager at one of the offices at the headquarters of an international religious institution, mainly dealing with our custom software and publications. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? The development and maintenance team we’ve been working with for 12 years had to retire, so we were looking for a vendor to maintain and further improve our suite of several custom apps. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Planet Argon is our primary custom app development partner, providing us with Ruby on Rails development and maintenance, code rebuilding, and ongoing support. The team initially brought in several developers to lead a major app for legislative work. They finished that project in eight months using the Sprint methodology, learned how to support all of our apps, and transferred them to their system. Some of their current tasks also include, firewall monitoring, security updates, technical error resolution, and sprints for developing specific improvements we request, as well as improvements they suggest. What is the team composition? We’ve mainly been working with Gary (COO), Michael (Digital Project Manager), a lead developer, and five other developers. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? We came across Planet Argon through online research, and our previous vendor helped us talk to them to see if they could be a good fit — which turned out to be true. How much have you invested with them? So far, we’ve invested about $500,000. What is the status of this engagement? Our ongoing partnership started in June of 2021. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We measure the partnership's success through the accomplishments of tickets throughout the development process, and for maintenance tasks as well. In addition they send regular reports and we have regular meetings. They are also amenable to ad hoc meetings at need. In addition to numerous improvements to our entire suite of custom applications, they also inherited an incomplete application which they finished in time for a large conference that we held, working to a hard deadline. Their time estimates have been accurate and they communicate well. Also they have provided creative and useful suggestions for improvements. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? Planet Argon is consistently responsive and delivers their tasks on time. They contact me when aspects of the project need to be discussed and provide me with a detailed approach to their plans and actions. We utilize JIRA for project management and ticketing, and typically communicate through Slack and Zoom. What did you find most impressive about them? I am impressed at their ability to take on our multiple, complicated existing apps and learn them quickly and well, and quite happy with the numerous improvements they have made for us. Also, their attention to maintenance and support tasks in addition to development has been great. Are there any areas they could improve? It took a while for us to find a middle ground on how to structure and categorize our financial reporting and payments with them, but we’ve since worked it out, and we’re happy with where we are now. Do you have any advice for potential customers? My advice is to take advantage of their willingness to meet on a regular basis to stay on top of the projects consistently. --- #### Web Maintenance & Dev for Graphic Artist Training Platform **The Project** - Services: Application Management & Support, Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Mar. 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon has taken over an existing web platform built on Ruby on Rails for an artist training provider. Now, they’re in charge of ongoing maintenance and further development. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** General Manager, The Gnomon Workshop - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Sep 21, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon was able to seamlessly assess the client’s platform in a short period of time, and their development work has helped grow said platform successfully. The team is timely, communicative, and open to feedback, and their work is precise. Additionally, they always provide multiple solutions. "“Our engagement has been successful because, thanks to them, our platform keeps growing.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the general manager of The Gnomon Workshop, a company located in Los Angeles, California, providing professional training for artists. We have prerecorded tutorials of over 300 artists supporting our platform. On it, users can purchase a monthly or annual subscription, log in, and access an entire virtual library of courses where they can learn about 3D design, traditional design, game design for engines like Unreal, and more. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? A different company helped us develop and maintain our website. However, at some point around March 2021, that company was acquired by another one, so they wouldn’t be able to work with us anymore; they were closing their business. Therefore, we needed to find a new company to take care of our website. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Planet Argon has been in charge of our website maintenance and development needs since our former provider got acquired. Firstly, they worked with us to understand what we needed — they wouldn’t build something from scratch but take care of something created by another company. We initially discussed our needs regarding the maintenance of our website and application, as well as future web development. Planet Argon took the first month to understand our needs in detail, and they then assessed all the information they got from our previous provider. It was a lot of legacy information. Still, by the third month, we were already operating as if nothing had happened. Currently, Planet Argon helps us make changes and updates to our servers as needed, mainly using Ruby on Rails as the technology stack. They know how our system works, so they also suggest important changes needed to keep everything operating seamlessly. What is the team composition? We’ve worked with 4–5 people from Planet Argon, including a couple of developers, a project manager, and a couple of people for ongoing help desk support. However, depending on the complexity of development tasks, they bring in more people if needed. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? Our former company referred us to them. They already knew our needs, so they sent us a list of possible companies that could help us out, and Planet Argon was included in that list. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent around $80,000–$100,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in March 2021, and our engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Working with Planet Argon has been a great experience. The transition from our previous provider to them was very smooth, and they took care of everything within a very short period of time. Moreover, our engagement has been successful because, thanks to them, our platform keeps growing. We’ve assigned them some development tasks, and we’ve been very pleased by how our site has been growing. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? Planet Argon is very communicative and great at staying on time and on budget. They’re also very open to suggestions, and they make changes quickly. We use Jira for project management, where we can communicate about the project. Additionally, they email me weekly reports on the project’s progress, and we have biweekly Zoom meetings. What did you find most impressive about them? Planet Argon is very precise in their work, and they always provide me with various solution options to choose from. They’re also very responsive, so it is like working with them in person; I never wait for them to respond, and they’re always on top of everything. Are there any areas they could improve? No, they’re great. The only challenge I’ve had was using Jira initially. I had never used Jira before, and I felt it was very advanced for a company like ours. However, it only took me a couple of weeks to get used to it, and it is now very easy for us to use. Still, it has nothing to do with Planet Argon’s work. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be clear on everything and provide them with as much information as possible. --- #### Web App Dev for Sporting Goods Brand **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Sep. 2018 - Nov. 2019 **Project Summary**: Planet Argon designed the UI/UX and developed the frontend of a web app using AWS and React. Collaborating with their partners, they integrated a DocumentDB backend to establish a long-term marketing tool. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Technical Delivery Director, Sporting Goods Brand - Industry: Retail - Client size: 10,001+ Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Nov 8, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: The project has received positive feedback from users, and they’re expecting an even bigger impact after a global launch. Planet Argon proposed creative ideas while closely following project requirements and maintaining brand standards. Their collaborative approach resulted in a strong partnership. "“They clearly have a smart team and are experts at what they do.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the technical delivery director within the brand marketing technology branch of a sporting goods company. I look after, implement, and support various tech solutions at our global headquarters. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? We’re creating long term development plans, two years out. Our challenge was to take a current keynote-based communication process and turn it into a data-driven solution that would be available globally for users. We were developing a web app, and had the backend engineering capacity, but needed a UI/UX frontend team. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We provided a technical style guide and documentation because, as a recognizable brand, it was really important that the product reflected our design standards. Following our wireframes, they helped bring a data-driven MVP to life. We built the app using React and an AWS cloud environment for the frontend, and Amazon DocumentDB for the database. It was a very collaborative project and the app needed to appear as if it came from a cohesive team. They focused on the frontend UI/UX development while we worked on the backend. Now, the app allows leadership to create long-term marketing funds through a database-driven online tool, rather than manually keeping track of campaign details. Additionally, the platform marries brand concepts to the product it’s going to support. What is the team composition? Our primary contact was Gary (COO, Planet Argon), particularly for strategy and contracts. We then had a project manager, two frontend developers, and a UI/UX specialist working on the project. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? They’ve worked with other teams within our company before, and we heard some great things about them. The collaborative approach they take made them a good fit for our team. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent about $250,000. What is the status of this engagement? The project started in September 2018 and we wrapped up in November 2019. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? There are a lot of really excited users who love the product we delivered. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback. Currently, it’s only being used here at HQ, but we plan on global activation next year. It’s very cross-functional and cuts across sales, brand merchandise, distribution, and supply-chain. We believe we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg in how the app will impact the company. We’re really happy with the designs, and Planet Argon followed our standards very well. They were great at providing feedback and offering different options while achieving the same end result. They clearly have a smart team and are experts at what they do. If I had to recruit and establish a team myself, the project would have taken much longer. Although this project has been completed, we absolutely plan to use their services again in the future. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? They adjusted to our own project management style and followed an agile methodology. They were flexible and willing to work with us, making them a great collaborative partner. We used Jira tickets to manage tasks, Slack to enable communication between all of the engineers, and Confluence for documentation. However, there were a few points when communication could have been improved. What did you find most impressive about them? Their UI/UX designer, Genevieve (UX Developer, Planet Argon), was a huge standout. She brought our vision to life and the designs were excellent. Are there any areas they could improve? When teams from two different cultures work together, sometimes there are road bumps. Overall things went smoothly, but they could have been a little more proactive and communicative. Often, we’d be planning things, and at the last minute, we’d discover that one of their team members wasn’t in the office and that portion of the project couldn’t be completed right away. In that way, they could’ve been more pragmatic when it comes to communication. --- #### Event Management Portal for Event Staffing Agency **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Jan. 2018 - Mar. 2019 **Project Summary**: Planet Argon built an event management portal that can quantify customer interactions quickly and efficiently. They worked closely with the internal team to develop the product and may provide later updates. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive Director of Strategy, Productions Plus - Industry: Arts, entertainment & music - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 22, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon was communicative and organized, proactively finding solutions and improving the product. End clients are happy with the results, and the software has received lots of positive feedback. The team did have a bit of turnover, but they dealt with it well. "“They took time to understand our company and the importance of our project.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the executive director of strategy for Productions Plus, a nationwide staffing and talent agency that specializes in product specialists, brand ambassadors, and presenters, especially in the automotive space. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? I had an idea for an event management product, and I needed a partner to develop it. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? I told their creative team and strategists what I wanted to build, and they worked with me to put everything together. They designed, programmed, and tweaked the product until it was ready for launch. They used Ruby on Rails and collaborated with me to build the product to my specifications. The product serves as a way to allow staff to track client conversations and interactions without having to gather their personal information, which many people are reluctant to give out. After a conversation, staff members will use the software to record the data in a quick and sufficient manner. This then quantifies the conversations so an end client can better see the impact of the experiential marketing across their overall marketing campaign. What is the team composition? We worked with a project manager, designer, strategist, and various developers. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? The founder is my cousin. We talked to a few different companies, read their quotes, and reviewed past work, and we found Planet Argon to be the best. What is the status of this engagement? We worked together from January 2018–March 2019. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Various clients are happy with the tests we’ve done, and the software received lots of positive feedback at a recent trade show. We’re happy with it so far, and we’ve already begun looking at potential updates for future iterations. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? They communicated well and kept us on track with time and budget. They let us quickly know of any project changes and responded to my questions in a timely manner. We held weekly meetings to assess project progress. What did you find most impressive about them? They took time to understand our company and the importance of our project. I was able to give them the elements of my idea, and they made it a reality. They didn’t shy away from the challenge at all. Are there any areas they could improve? Their team had a bit of turnover, but they did a good job of making sure new team members were up to speed and ready to work on the project. Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs? Be clear about your goals and project intentions. Let them provide feedback because they’ll be able to make your project even better. --- #### E-commerce Web Support for Organic Food Products Company **The Project** - Services: E-Commerce Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Feb. - Aug. 2018 **Project Summary**: Planet Argon migrated a website to the Shopify Plus platform. They also provided maintenance and support. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Chief Marketing Officer & Head of Online Sales, Aloha - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 15, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon delivered a high-functioning and engaging website that guaranteed a satisfactory end user experience. Respectful and reliable, the team worked efficiently and possessed strong business acumen. ""The team never overlooked an opportunity to engage consumers through the site." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am the CMO and head of online sales at Aloha. We sell plant-based and organic protein powders, drinks, and bars on our direct consumer website, Aloha.com. We also have content and recipe information for our consumers on the site. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? The website had been developed internally, and many of the original developers were no longer with the company. My team needed help navigating the unique code and custom features. We also wanted to migrate to the Shopify Plus platform. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Planet Argon migrated our site and then completed maintenance and bug fixes. They made changes as needed, such as updating product pricing. What is the team composition? We worked with Robby (Partner & VP of Engineering, Planet Argon), Corinne (Former Web Developer, Planet Argon), and our project lead Siobhan (Former Digital Project Manager, Planet Argon). How did you come to work with Planet Argon? Aloha had a pre-existing relationship with Planet Argon when I joined the company. What is the status of this engagement? We worked with them from February—August 2018. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Planet Argon responded immediately if our site was ever unstable or unresponsive. That was key to ensuring customer satisfaction. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? Planet Argon’s team was respectful, responsive, and reasonable. They had great business sense and were mindful of time and budget. We communicated via email and Jira. What did you find most impressive about them? Planet Argon was a top-notch partner agency that provided a great service experience. They truly recognized the importance of e-commerce to our business. The team never overlooked an opportunity to engage consumers through the site. Are there any areas they could improve? No, I don’t have any constructive feedback for them. My only regret is that I didn’t orient myself better to their offerings, as I would have re-hired them for another project had I know they had the necessary capabilities. Any advice for potential customers? Communication is integral to the client-vendor relationship. Be sure to communicate expectations, goals, and business practicalities like time and budget. --- #### Website Development for Food Discovery Company **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Mar. 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon overhauled a website using Ruby on Rails and React. They created custom pages and executed third-party API integrations. The team continues to provide support and work on improvements. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 4.0 - Schedule: 3.0 - Cost: 3.5 - Willing to Refer: 4.0 **The Reviewer** Director of Brand, Food Discovery Company - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 13, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: The team is detail-oriented and committed to success. Notable strengths include high attention to detail, a proactive mindset, and responsive communication. Customers can expect Planet Argon to be open to critical feedback. ""Without Planet Argon’s assistance, we wouldn’t have been able to have such a successful relaunch of the site." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the director of brand for a hybrid food and technology company. Our discovery platform uses automation and robotics to scan plants for healthy and sustainable ingredients and proteins. I’m in charge of brand marketing and the design team. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? Originally, we developed an e-commerce website with another partner. The unsuccessful partnership—time-consuming builds, downtime, and unstable coding—coincided with our pivot away from e-commerce. We then hired Planet Argon to overhaul the site as a lightweight and functional solution. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We limited the overhaul to web development only. Planet Argon collaborated on the UX and custom page development to support our brand marketing and sales teams. They used Ruby on Rails, PHP, React JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. The team also integrated third-party APIs including MailChimp. The rebuild took approximately one month. Since then, we’ve had a retainer for additional feature development. The teams discuss outstanding tasks during the weekly phone call. What is the team composition? We interface with the project manager a few times per week. I speak with the VP or founder for higher level issues—extending hours, changes to the statement of work, etc. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? We put out an RFP with specific requirements for Ruby on Rails and React development. Ideally, the vendor would be smaller and versatile. Since we’re a smaller outfit, they needed to invest in our mission and accommodate our occasionally-reactive approach. We hired Planet Argon because the team fit our vision for an attentive vendor that could grow alongside us. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in March 2018 and the partnership is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Anecdotally, retailers and distributors in the food space often have antiquated and archaic processes. This situation compelled us to build one-off custom pages with Planet Argon so restaurants and retailers could access the needed information. These pages contained user-friendly buttons and quick load times. Without Planet Argon’s assistance, we wouldn’t have been able to have such a successful relaunch of the site. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? We appreciate the ability to call developers directly because it expedites problem-solving. The team usually responds within 24 hours. What’s more, Planet Argon is detail-oriented and cares about getting everything right. That attitude distinguishes them from other vendors. They proactively improve features and bring issues to our attention, using a host of task management tools including Jira. What did you find most impressive about them? Planet Argon is open to critical feedback because that insight enables them to perform better. They identify optimal solutions for work inside the ecosystem of the website and its display. That quality is rare among other agencies. Are there any areas they could improve? No. A few tasks fell off the radar, but those were quite minor. Their project management skills have improved over time. Overall, the experience has been positive. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Lay out clear timelines and specific requirements. While planning is essential, things do come up unexpectedly. Be flexible and available for either the development or design side of the project. --- #### Claims Processing App Dev for Insurance Brokerage **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Jan. 2014 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon built an administrative web portal that automated core business processes using Ruby on Rails. They developed frontend wireframes and functional buttons for the systems UI. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Finance & IT Liaison, Insurance Brokerage - Industry: Financial services - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 15, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: The solution improved efficiency by automating time-consuming manual procedures. Planet Argon provides constant availability, working outside of normal hours to ensure valuable up-time. Their focused project management produced a technical tool that’s proved to be a persuasive selling point. ""Even if its late on a Friday, they’ll look into a bug and fix it or give us a workaround to survive the weekend." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m a finance and IT Liaison for a marine cargo insurance brokerage. We insure goods as they are shipped across country by freight forwarders. Really, we’re insuring the freight forwarders. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? Originally, we needed someone to maintain our existing website on retainer. We then expanded the contract to include building our administrative portal. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? The web admin portal is the largest project we’ve worked on. We started by mapping out our current manual process to ensure transparency for all parties involved. Then, we separated the flow of handoffs into separate checkboxes that had to be filled before a task could pass through the gate at the end of the automated system. They built the portal with Ruby on Rails and other open-source tools. For the frontend, they developed wireframes that showed how things would interact for us to approve. After we signed off, they produced and programmed the buttons to do what was expected. The system itself issues online declarations of insurance by freight forwarders on behalf of their shipper. Planet Argon helps us change those declarations, adding new functionality to the admin side, so it’s easier for us to use. If we have a new customer, or if one has specific requests, Planet Argon makes those changes too. Along with maintenance and special requests, we’re going to have them handle a few other projects on the books for next year. What is the team composition? We worked with a project manager, a backend programmer, and a frontend designer, who created the wireframes. There were also people working on the backend behind the scenes. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? Our initial site was built by an independent contractor. When they moved on to different opportunities, we went with another independent contractor. This one too left, moving to work for an established company. We realized that we wanted to work with a company that had policies to deal with someone being out sick, or on vacation, or out of the office. Before they left, our last independent contractor put out a job listing, through which we found Planet Argon. We reviewed what we needed throughout the interview process and determined they had the appropriate depth of support. What is the status of this engagement? We’ve been working together since 2014, and the portal launched in August 2017. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? The system reduced the administration and back-and-forth communication we devoted to the old system. Now, when we have turnover in the claims department, we don't feel the usual urgent need to replace it. It’s been a great tool to show new and potential customers. It’s generated quite a bit of interest in the last year. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? They were responsive and organized, moving us through the portal process to hit key milestones with ease. When we get distracted by other priorities, they push our buttons and keep us on task. We work with Jira and one other tool that I don’t recall the name of. What did you find most impressive about them? If something happens on the website, they’re aware of the need and responsive. Even if its late on a Friday, they’ll look into a bug and fix it or give us a workaround to survive the weekend. We’re scheduled to use our retainer at certain times during the month, but if something comes up outside that timeframe, they’re responsive as well. The site generates income for us, so if it’s not working properly that causes problems for our business and customers. It hasn’t been down for more than an hour in a year, and the one instance it was down wasn’t in Planet Argon's control. They identified the problem and developed and recorded a solution it as soon as it appeared. That way, they know how to fix it if it ever occurs again. Are there any areas they could improve? I can't think of anything to pinpoint. Do you have any advice for potential customers? I have a CEO that’s quite interested in seeing his vision come to fruition right away, and there are times when we have to tell him that a feature will have wait for the next step or the next release. Clients should be sure to manage internal expectations and communicate the current scope of work to stakeholders, so as not to be run off-course. --- #### Ember System Dev for Electronics Manufacturer **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: **Project Summary**: Planet Argon upgraded a website to support new electronic turnkey solutions, designing an engaging UX environment and implementing an automatic quoting system using Ember technology. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 3.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Web Applications Supervisor, Screaming Circuits - Industry: Manufacturing - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Sep 19, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Through Planet Argon’s attentive organization and creative designs, the beta site attracted positive user feedback and provided a robust replacement to the older platform. The team’s collaborative approach, rapid turnaround time, and maintainable code contributed to a rewarding partnership. ""They have an impressive ability to learn new technologies and implement them." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the web application supervisor for Screaming Circuits, an electronics manufacturer. We assemble printed circuit boards [PCBs] for engineers who typically are doing a prototype of their new electronic product. We also do some short-run projects. I help run a small team in-house that works on the website applications. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? We wanted to update our aging website and reached out to Planet Argon for assistance. Our market had changed from just being an assembly house for circuit boards to more of a turnkey provider. More customers wanted to come to us and asked us to provide the board parts and assembly without requiring them to provide kits. We wanted to create a quoting process that was built around that service. Now, customers visit the website and can enter their specifications and upload their bill of materials. We will automatically quote the cost of the boards and assembly all in one piece and present different options for putting everything together. The quoting system is the central design of the website. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We built the core of the website internally and put an API on the top. Then, we worked with Planet Argon to create the frontend of the website in Ember, which utilizes the API that we’d built internally. They led the design, and we took their deliverables, did some usability testing, and made modifications. It was a highly collaborative engagement. We are no longer working with Planet Argon. We’ve added to the site and handle the maintenance on our own. What is the team dynamic? We had the project manager, a designer, a user experience [UX] designer, Annie [Design Strategist, Planet Argon], and a visual designer at times. Annie was an integral part of the project and assisted throughout the process. We had at most three developers at a time on the project. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? I’d worked with Planet Argon on a previous engagement at a different company. I personally knew them and was impressed by their ability to create challenging projects with current technology. I knew they could help with our site, even though Ember was a technology they had not really used previously. Even though we looked at other vendor possibilities, the fact that I had previous experience was a big factor in selecting Planet Argon. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in the summer of 2014 until the end of 2015. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We had burndown charts to figure out what we needed to finish and when. As far as quality goes, we were constantly testing. We had a full-time tester on-site during the project. Anything that didn’t test well would go back into a ticket and get reworked. We also had a beta phase with our customers where we’d invite certain customers to use the beta site and share feedback. We eventually opened the entire beta site to anyone in order to collect more feedback. We monitored the usage until we felt the site was useful enough to serve as the primary website and then flipped the switch. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? They provided continuous updates. We used Jira for ongoing collaboration and had weekly management-level meetings. Our two teams were raising tickets for each other and burning through them. It was a complex project with a lot of collaboration between teams. We did have to extend the timeline to allow for that. We had clear communication throughout the process. What did you find most impressive about them? They have an impressive ability to learn new technologies and implement them with high-quality code. Often, if you go to an ad agency and ask them to build a website, you end up with low-quality code that works but isn’t really maintainable. Planet Argon, as a true development house, produces code that’s engineered well and highly maintainable. Are there any areas they could improve? Planet Argon offers excellent development help. They have lots of energy and strong creative thinking. The project did become more complex than we first realized, and we had some timeline shifting, but that’s not anything surprising. The only drawback is that they’re a smaller group, so they can’t offer as many design resources for us to lean on. They have only one visual designer, which doesn’t offer the same richness that a large team could. Do you have any advice for someone who is considering using Planet Argon? After working with them twice, I’ve been deeply engaged each time. We’re local to Planet Argon, so I spent quite a bit of time on-site, which is highly valuable for a large, complicated project. The team works well with an agile methodology, doing small iterations until we get it right. Even in the design phase, just keep iterating until you hit your goals. --- #### Code Audit & Database Updates for State University **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Mar. 2015 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon assumed responsibility for an existing online reporting system when it outgrew internal oversight. They focus primarily on database administration and feature enhancement. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 4.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Program Manager, State University - Industry: Education - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 29, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon’s contributions have boosted widespread productivity, especially with the 125-150 data entry employees. They’re understanding of various internal constraints and have been reliable and responsive. Though they’ve experienced turnover, they manage the project well and scale effectively. ""They’re friendly and easy to talk to, with a knack for identifying the [best] resources."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am a program coordinator for a large state university. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? We have an internal online reporting system for a large federal grant. It has been managed internally by the university over the last 10-or-so years. It outgrew our ability to keep it within our servers and manage it, and we started looking for a tech company which could help take this over, update it, and manage its database. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? When Planet Argon entered the project, the first chore was to perform a code audit, assess the program, how it worked, and to what degree it had been neglected. It required a number of fixes behind-the-scenes in order to make it more efficient, functional, and accurate. There was a continuous need on our end to extract reports and adjust them, but, as we worked with Planet Argon, they made changes and introduced efficiencies so that we could extract a report and not have to modify it. We could get our hands on the data we needed to report against the federal grant more efficiently. Planet Argon cleaned some elements up and worked with us on storyboarding what an improvement would look like. This happened both on the backend, making a better user experience for our 50-year-old staff, but also allowing me, as a program manager, to get the type of data we wanted and needed for reporting to our funder. Requirements change each year, so Planet Argon helped us build the system such that we could better-respond in the way we were required. They made suggestions, giving us new restructuring ideas, and have been able to fix some of the issues which were invisible to me, but which have improved the overall functionality. The website is intended for an educational outreach program centered on nutrition and physical activity which works with low-income families, adults, and youth. We’re using federal dollars for outreach in schools and the community, from food pantries to housing developments, any place where our target population might be found. We teach a series of classes, and also work on community engagement projects, like working with corner stores and getting them to provide healthier foods for the neighborhood. Everything being done by educators needs to be reported, whether it’s a series of lessons, or coalition meetings, in order to change what is being offered in the school cafeterias. It’s a statewide program, and it needs to be organized according to who is providing the service or education, and where. It’s a large database which has to capture this information and hold on to it for a number of years, for auditing purposes. It was somewhat chaotic in places, but, once Planet Argon came on, they were able to help us keep it in a neater fashion. We had not put resources into it for a number of years. I believe that the site was built with Ruby on Rails, and a part of the problem was finding someone able to work with this technology. We haven’t used Planet Argon for any other services. The site is mainly used for staff reporting, and doesn’t have a need for marketing or design services. Because it’s still being housed on our university server, it has been too difficult for Planet Argon to interface with it and make changes, given its different protections. They have been setting up an outside server for the program, which has made it easier for them to work on the system. Right now, we are working with 3 people from Planet Argon’s team, including a project manager who assigns the different fixes needed. Another person is working on migrating the server, and the 3rd is in charge of basic fixes and adjustments. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? I went online and looked for a company with Ruby on Rails expertise, and which was local to me. I wanted the ability to meet in person, and Planet Argon was the first option I came across. I contacted them, received a quick response, and we got together to talk about what we needed. We didn’t contact any other companies. How much have you invested with Planet Argon? The code audit has had a budget of between $100,000 and $150,000, including the work in the upcoming year. What is the status of this engagement? We started working with Planet Argon in March 2015, and have an ongoing collaboration. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? I couldn’t provide any quantitative information, but we certainly have happier employees. There are 125-150 people using the system, who have really appreciated the efficiencies in the data entry. We have a lot of data to handle, which takes up much of their time. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? They’re easy to get in touch with, responsive, and never seemed to get crabby. The project management has gone well, with our only challenge being that Planet Argon has had a significant turnover. Because our project is so complex, it takes time for the new people to become familiar with it, and navigate the work. They have been able to become familiar with our system well. What did you find most impressive about Planet Argon? They’re friendly and easy to talk to, with a knack for identifying the resources who are best fit to interact with us. There will be some team members who are focused on tech stuff, which makes it hard to have a conversation and understand what they’re talking about, or vice versa. Planet Argon has been sensitive to this, and they’ve made sure that we have access to a person who can translate. Are there any areas Planet Argon could improve? The staff turnover has meant that, when the people who came to understand our system and form a relationship with us leave, it will be hard for us. I certainly don’t hold this against Planet Argon, because people simply move on. The company tries hard to reestablish the team to our satisfaction. It’s been a difficult issue, and it’s one of the reasons why Planet Argon is going through the process of marketing its program so that there will be more constant employees in place. --- #### Custom Redevelopment for Online Retailer **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Nov. 2014 - Aug. 2016 **Project Summary**: Planet Argon developed a site to handle a subscription box service and recurrent billing, among other requirements. They modernized an older version entirely and incorporated new admin features. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CFO - Industry: Retail - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 9, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon focused heavily on the end user experience. They took time to understand and visualize company goals, and then creatively fulfilled those requirements. The project team was actively involved, communicative, and available regularly for changes and routine project updates. ""They were really excited about everything we did and [were] very supportive."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the CEO/CFO of a subscription box company that ships boxes of Japanese snacks to our customers every month. We also work with Japanese snack manufacturers to host promotions and collect marketing data for them. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? At the time, no one in our company was able to create a website from the ground-up. We were working with some out-of-the-box website providers, just “duct-taping” some plugins and extensions together. With the volume of business we were doing, it was no longer sustainable. We weren’t in a position to hire a full-time developer, so we reached out to Planet Argon, who had some experience with the subscription management system we used. We asked them to build an entire website from the ground up. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We migrated the subscription management portion of our site to more of an enterprise-level service. Planet Argon connected the subscription management, or the recurring billing, to the rest of the subscriber features. It wasn’t so much replicating, but building a better version of what we had before. The payment part of the system remained the same and they rebuilt the rest of it. They have several people specializing in certain topics, so we worked with four or five at one time. We had a project manager as well. In addition to the subscription platform, they also connected the website to a shipping aggregator to generate the shipments, ensure they go out on time, and ensure the proper products go out to our customers. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? When we were on our old platform, it wasn’t sustainable, so we decided to move our subscribers to a new subscription management system, Chargify, which is more of an enterprise-level subscription management system. We reached out to Chargify to get recommendations on developers for the actual website. They had worked with Planet Argon in the past and recommended them. We did reach out to several other companies, but Planet Argon was the best fit, so we decided to go with them. How much have you invested with Planet Argon? I believe it was a little north of $250,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in November or December 2014, and the project wrapped up in August 2016. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? Rather than just listening to us and doing whatever we asked them to, they really took the time to understand our business and our target market. They were able to provide recommendations and work with us as partners, rather than just a vendor, to really build the best experience for our customers. Recently, we were acquired by another company, which is why we stopped working with Planet Argon. As a result, we’re off that platform now, so I don’t have any numbers. Without the website that Planet Argon created for us, I don’t think we would have been in a position to be acquired, so it played a pretty big part. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? At the beginning of the project, we took a week or two to really understand each other. After that, we had an update meeting every week for about 30 minutes so that we were on the same page. Maybe once a quarter, we would have a much longer discussion on where the company was going, if we’d changed any strategies, what we wanted to do in the short and long term. We had a lot of communication, and we used GoToMeeting. We also talked on the phone and through email. We utilized Google Docs and JIRA for project management. What did you find most impressive about Planet Argon? I would have to say it’s the communication. Compared to other vendors we’ve worked with, they are much more involved. They had actual interest in what we were doing. They were really excited about everything we did and very supportive. Are there any areas Planet Argon could improve? The only thing would be the estimates. When we started the project with them, we got a much lower estimate than what we ended up paying. To be fair, we did add a lot of new features. We were on a retainer basis, which maybe wasn’t the best approach. It could have been handled on a project basis rather than on retainer. They were very transparent in what they charged us, but the billing model could have been a little different for our project. --- #### Platform Redevelopment for Philanthropy **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Jan. 2012 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon rebuilt a custom database and grant application portal. New features include payment processing, document sharing, and complete user histories. The team remains focused on further enhancements. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director of Operations - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 9, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Communication was nearly seamless and the project team exceptionally talented. Planet Argon takes a thoughtful approach to problem-solving and attempts to grasp the whole situation well before proposing ideas. The entire process was transparent and well-organized. ""[We keep] going back to them [for] the quality of their work, how responsive they are, and their creativity." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We are a private grant-making foundation that awards grants to nonprofit organizations around the state. I am the director of operations. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenges were you trying to address with Planet Argon? We previously used a PHP custom software application for grants management and a database that was very outdated and did not have the flexibility we needed. We began working with Planet Argon in 2013 on a broad scope project to overhaul the system in Ruby on Rails and improve the user design and interface. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Planet Argon redesigned the whole database and grant application portal that included an admin side for staff to process grant applications, contracts, payments, and reporting. It’s the primary tool we use for all our work in the office, as well as communication with applicants. Planet Argon started the project with two days of discovery, where they sat with everyone on our team to understand what we do and what we needed. They then decided on the team they needed to assemble for our project and developed a timeline. We worked with them for two years on this project and have retained them on subsequent contracts for system enhancements. The composition of their team didn’t change over the course of the project, which is something I really appreciate. We’ve worked with other firms in the past where you’d get a new project manager almost every month. Olivia [Halfen, Senior Project & Account Manager] was our project manager from beginning to end, and we also had the same designer throughout the process and the same core engineers and programmers as well. We still, to this day, work with the same team of people we had back then, so there’s definitely continuity. In our previous software, we had to get one of our programming staff members to build an application form for us every time we needed one. The new Planet Argon system now allows anyone on the operations team to go in and build a form on the fly. In 30 minutes, we can have an application posted, where it used to take weeks of programming to get that done. On the applicant’s side, they can upload files and see their history, including submitted applications and reporting schedules. The groups no longer have to contact us to get this information; they can find all their history with us in one spot. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in 2013, and our relationship is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? The number of applicants applying to us generally stays the same, but the Planet Argon redesign provides a better experience for our applicants and our staff. Staff members can log in and see the tasks assigned to them on the dashboard. Our old system didn’t have a workflow. Now they can log in and see the payments needing approval or a report they need to review. It’s all centralized now. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? With Planet Argon, we broke everything down into iterations, because the project had such a large scope. They estimated what they thought it would be, but then as we finished each one, we’d re-scope and determine the next step. It was very clear along the way, and we could adjust as needed. We also really like the communication style. During certain parts of the project, we had a weekly call either by phone or video. They’d come to our office when needed, or we’d go there. We never had to guess what was going on. We also used their dashboard system so we could keep track of the project as well. The communication was impeccable. What did you find most impressive about Planet Argon? The things that keep us going back to them are the quality of their work, how responsive they are, and their creativity. They really take the time to understand what you’re doing and what you’re trying to solve before they throw options at you. I consider them a partner. They’re not trying to sell you something you don’t need. Are there any areas Planet Argon could improve? We had open communication along the way. Sometimes there would be a little confusion about who is doing what piece of the work, as our internal team would also work on projects. Because we had regular communication, though, that was always addressed as soon as it came up. It was never a surprise. What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Planet Argon? From my experience, you can find multiple firms that would have the same technical expertise. It’s important to find the group who is the right cultural fit with how your team works, and definitely the firm that’s in alignment with your vision for the project, especially if it’s a large one. You’re going to need to work with these people for an extended period of time, in our case two years. Make sure you’re philosophically aligned with the firm. --- #### Product & Corporate Site Dev for Investment Management Startup **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Feb. 2008 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon built a custom solution meant to analyze SEC disclosure data. A corresponding site was then developed for marketing purposes. Platform improvement continues, unabated. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & CEO, Investment Research Firm - Industry: Financial services - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 1, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: The developed platform now managed $200M worth of investments, which demonstrates how quickly customers have adopted it. Planet Argon brings exceptional customer service to the table and uncompromising responsiveness. ""Planet Argon is very much a part of my team."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We’re an investment research firm. We apply a very specific research methodology that requires number crunching in computer intensity and develop investment strategies based on that data. My firm specializes in utilizing SEC [US Securities and Exchange Commission] disclosures from large investors, hedge funds, and institutional investors, who have to disclose their holdings on a quarterly basis. We take that information, decide what is useful and what is not, and build strategies from the information that we think is useful. I’m the founder and CEO. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? When we first became a company in December of 2008, what we had was a research product. Since then, we pivoted and became an investment firm, not a research firm. We registered with the SEC as an investment firm in 2010 and developed our investing strategies and started applying them on behalf of our clients. In 2012, we started deploying exchange-traded funds based on our strategies and no longer offered the research product. However, the research product that we developed is the underpinning behind how we develop our strategies today, and we couldn’t do our job without it. The original idea behind my firm was to develop a research product that exploited the data set that we were using and to offer that product to users who pay the subscription fee. We hired Planet Argon to help us build a web-based and in-the-cloud research platform. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? One of the things that I love about them is their ability to service what we need, when we need it, even as our needs changed. For example, when we first deployed, we needed to build out the research platform and the research product. Then, we needed to build a marketing site—the face of the website. We went through a couple of iterations of that. Over the years, we’ve added new features and capabilities to the research platform. They’ve been very flexible and always high-quality, no matter what they’re working on. The research site is really where the bulk of the development has happened over the last eight years. Essentially, what we’ve built is a platform that simulates investing in a particular way based on a certain set of rules. They have developed and coded that capability within the simulation platform. There’s a GUI [graphical user interface] with graphs and tables, so it is very user-friendly. You can’t see it because it’s not on the marketing site, but that is where the bulk of the coding has been. None of the requirements were determined before hiring them. They were early proponents and advocates of Agile development. Not being a software development expert myself, Agile development really appealed not only to me but also to where we were in terms of defining the requirements of the software. You didn’t have to define everything up front at once; you could develop in an emergent way. That was really perfect for us. I didn’t have a hand in putting the team together at Planet Argon. Back then, they were a small team. It’s interesting that the people on the senior side who were involved from day one are still involved in my project today. Although there have been several developers over the years, all of them have come up quickly and have done very well. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? There were other companies under consideration at the time. Like anyone looking to develop software, we searched overseas as well. I decided that a local team would help reduce the risk in the project quite a bit, especially one that was close to me. I’m based in San Francisco, and the folks at Planet Argon are based in Portland. So, they were über-accessible. Again, since the requirements were emergent, I thought it was important for the teams to be close to each other. What is the status of this engagement? The first line of code was written in February of 2008. They’ve been on retainer every day since then. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement? We’re an investment firm, so we don’t measure ourselves by the number of visitors that come to our website. We’re an asset manager now, so we keep track of performance by the number of dollars that are being managed through our strategies, and the high-water mark in August of 2015 was over $200 million. I don’t have any internal teams, and they’re the only team I have used in this respect, so I can’t compare their performance to other suppliers. Expectations made at the beginning of the contract were kept most of the time. That is the cool thing about Agile. It helps manage the promises/expectations dynamic. They were always very upfront with no sugarcoating. If they said that they could do something in an iteration, they always did it. If I asked for too much, they would be realistic and explain that we would need to divide this into two iterations. That really helped the process move along quicker because there were no dashed hopes or fixes. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? I interact with them as needed. Another cool thing about them is that they use tools like Atlassian and JIRA to make communication and tracking tickets really efficient between us. I can communicate with whoever I need to on a particular issue. All of the communication is monitored by everyone who needs to know at the same time, and that really helps with efficiency. I’ve visited them on-site a couple of times. I try to make it up there at least once a year. I found it to be a beneficial exercise. It’s always good to meet the people that are working on your project. What did you find most impressive about Planet Argon? The senior people running the show are really special. In the software world, it is really easy to get mired in difficult processes: either the teams are overseas, or there is a lack of communication, or you get lost in the shuffle between clients with the larger agencies here in the US. Planet Argon is very much a part of my team. I consider them almost like employees and partners. That’s the big difference-maker when you’re dealing with software development studios and teams. They’ve been there since day one, so I couldn’t recommend them more. Are there any areas Planet Argon could improve? Nothing comes to mind at this time. --- #### Custom Development for Food & Beverage Retailer **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: June 2016 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon replaced a desktop site and its static mobile counterpart with a single, responsive website. The project team then helped update the aesthetics to coincide with a rebranding effort and optimized the site’s UX. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Digital Media Manager, Applegate - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 2, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Transparency and budget/timeline management are strengths. Another highlight is Planet Argon’s unusual ability to convey complicated, technical details in an intelligible and relatable way. ""I’ve never seen any firm work with clients the way they do." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the digital media manager at Applegate, a natural and organic meat company. I oversee all the digital assets, including our website, digital coupons, and email marketing. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? We had been running a static mobile site and a desktop site for some time now, and it created a lot of redundancies. We hired Planet Argon to move us from two versions to one responsive site. At the same time, we were also undergoing a major rebranding, which meant updating our logos, our packaging, and our general feel. The third component was optimizing our website’s user experience in certain critical areas. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Planet Argon delivered the whole responsive site, as well as maintaining the integration of our third-party applications while keeping a cohesive look and feel. This included our native product locator, product locator widgets on our detail pages, our help center, and our product review platform. Our current site is static, so we worked with Planet Argon to create a streamlined, seamless product. They did a great job creating more dynamic fields. We turned some image fields into text fields so that we could have more control over them. The other major component was a style guide, which we asked them to produce for us so that we could reference it after the project was completed. The guide will help us keep the site cohesive stylistically on an ongoing basis. The whole team was comprised of a product manager, one to three frontend developers, two backend developers, one designer, and one design strategist. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? Our developer found them, actually. As soon as we spoke with them, we knew that we had chemistry. We selected them over other firms for a number of reasons, but one key reason was that they were flexible with our needs. They usually work with Bootstrap, but we wanted to stick with our current CMS structure, which is Foundation. They were great with letting us do that. What is the status of this engagement? We started working with them in June of 2016. We flew a team out to meet them in Oregon before we got started. We’re currently in the final stages of the product. The bulk of the work is done, but we’re going to continue working with them throughout the year for any needs that arise. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? They’ve been such a pleasure to work with. There was one critical staffing change during the middle of the project, but there was barely a bump in the road at all. They’re also really transparent about progress and budget. I really love working with them. I’ve worked with a lot of vendors in my time at Applegate, and I wish I had more like them. We’ve had a really good experience. I especially admire their commitment to their client’s experience. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? We used a ticketing system through JIRA, so we were able to keep track of progress on sometimes as many as 230 separate ticket items at any given time. Every week, we got budget updates and progress reports. We met weekly as well to hammer out each ticket item. What did you find most impressive about Planet Argon? I’ve worked with developers in the past, and it’s not always a seamless experience. I found that Planet Argon had a unique blend of strong technical expertise coupled with strong customer service and interpersonal fluency. I’ve never seen any firm work with clients the way they do. They’re able to execute all the technical items, but then also go through and communicate what they’re doing to someone like me who doesn’t have the technical knowledge they do. They also have people with cross-functional skills. Their lead graphic designer has years of development experience, so he was able to provide guidance about decisions we were making that weren’t in our best interest. For instance, not choosing a particular style that would limit us down the road or cause potential issues. The team really had to train some of us on responsive design and creative treatments and walk us through the backend process. They did a great job communicating effectively. Are there any areas Planet Argon could improve? I will say that we spent too much time in the initial creative exploration process. We came in having done our own wireframes and design work, so we knew what we wanted for the most part, but we opened the door for them to spend a lot of time in that exploratory stage. That pushed back our timelines—we initially planned to launch at end of December, but we pushed into February. It also meant that we overshot our internal budget forecasting a bit. I will say that we opened the door for this exploration initially. I think it was a learning curve for all who were involved, as the ultimate outcome resulted in a beautiful product—a fusion of our initial designs and a smarter UX approach. --- #### Long Term Dev Engagement for Real Estate Tech Firm **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Mar. 2014 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Planet Argon maintains an existing database designed to manage real estate. They also replicated an e-commerce platform meant to market/sell vacant land; and it evolves as the business grows. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Vice President - Industry: Real estate - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jan 23, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Assigned developers are more qualified and reliable than any of those hired from other suppliers. Clients can expect weekly progress reports and meticulously detailed documentation, which helps prevent project derailment. ""They're really top-notch as far as communication is concerned." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We run a real estate e-commerce business that sells vacant land. I’m the vice president. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Planet Argon? We had an existing Ruby on Rails backend and we had been struggling to find new, experienced Ruby developers to work on it. We had our own internal developer, and then after about 2 months, we let our employee go. Instead of getting a contractor or hiring another Ruby developer internally, we decided to try an agency for our ongoing development. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Behind that website, we have an enormous backend that populates our website but it also runs workflows for a lot of different things. They have made a lot of improvements and upgrades to that system. One big project they did was a customer preference center. Customers would get an email every time a new property is marked ready, which is a feature we didn’t have before. Another big project that they did was moving our whole frontend onto Rails from WordPress. Now, we are able to have more flexibility with our frontend. They dealt with the problems in the legacy backend and they’ve done a great job of navigating it. They also upgraded our versions of Rails and Bootstrap. They have made sure the whole system is in better shape. There are staging and testing processes that we didn’t have before. We have an assigned project manager. We’ve always had between 2–3 developers and a frontend person occasionally. That’s 2–3 backend developers that are familiar with our system. When we have a frontend need, a frontend person will jump in. We are mostly interacting with 1–2 points of contact. How did you come to work with Planet Argon? They were one of multiple possible partners that we approached and considered. I found them online and they happened to be local to us. It wasn’t a necessity to be local, but they were. I liked the vetting process with them. They had been around a while so they weren’t here today, gone tomorrow. I also liked that they employ their developers. It wasn’t one guy that said he had an agency and then he hires out a bunch of contractors. It was a real agency where they have all their developers on their payroll. To me, that’s a sign of a successful agency, and that was one of the reasons I chose them. It was the best fit for us. How much have you invested with Planet Argon? We’ve spent at least $150,000 on their services. It was slow at first; we were starting with a monthly retainer that was small. We’ve done both retainer and project work with them, and we’ve done some projects alongside our retainer. I feel like they do tackle things to be as efficient with your budget as possible. What is the status of this engagement? It’s been over two years since we began. We’ve been working with them every month with a steady retainer. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? I’m sure someone else could have done some of it, but I feel like they are very efficient. They are on top of things. How did Planet Argon perform from a project management standpoint? They do weekly progress reports and set up JIRA for communication. I’ve worked with other agencies that are not as attentive where stuff just rolls week to week but nothing really gets done. As far as making real progress, they are way more on top of it compared to other agencies that I’ve used. They are checking things off and getting through tickets instead of working on a lot of things without getting anything finished. In retainer work, sometimes a lot can happen but not a lot gets done. That’s one area where they stand out—they can actually get something finished. What did you most impressive about Planet Argon? They're really top-notch as far as communication is concerned. Like I said, in my experience, I’ve had poor agency work that is not as defined and specific. They follow through and document everything, meticulously. I’ve appreciated the reporting and follow-through. Are there any areas Planet Argon could improve? None. I don’t have any issues. --- #### Website Recovery for Wine Retailer **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: Less than $10,000 - Project length: October 2021 **Project Summary**: Planet Argon was tasked with reviving a wine retailer's website. Their current platform had been inaccessible due to an automatic database maintenance. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive Director, Independent Wine Education Guild - Industry: Education - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Oct 19, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: Planet Argon restored the site within 48 hours, switching to Amazon Web Services. The vendor was collaborative, fast, calm, and focused throughout the engagement. They were also quick to work on pragmatic problem-solving solutions to resolve emergencies. ""They were collaborative, fast, calm, and very focused."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and your position there. I am the Executive Director of the Independent Wine Education Guild, Canada's largest and senior WSET school, providing wine, spirits and sake education and certification programs to wine and spirits, hospitality and retail professionals (and enthusiasts). **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** For what projects/services did your company hire Planet Argon, and what were your goals? Our current website, built on Ruby and Rails technology, became inaccessible due to an automatic database maintenance on Heroku. **SOLUTION** How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors? We searched for a specialist firm with expertise with Ruby on Rails technology and with a proven track record of resurrecting websites. Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used. Planet Argon (Robby Russell) activated emergency services after scope was agreed. The application was redeployed to Amazon Web Services and an older version of a Linux operating system was installed since the older versions of Ruby were no longer supported by Heroku. How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions? We worked with Robby Russell **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables? After approx. 48 hours they site was resurrected, switching to Amazon Web Services, then a further major glitch involving transaction processing with PayPal was further resolved. Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness. They were collaborative, fast, calm, and very focused. What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? The speed at which Robby worked and the pragmatic problem-solving solutions that he proposed to resolve the emergency. Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently? No. We are very impressed and grateful to Robby for getting us out of a bad situation. --- ## Portfolio & Awards ### Project with Meyer Memorial Trust We crafted a re-engineered admin tool that streamlines processes for foundation staff and their constituents to help Oregon flourish. Meyer Memorial Trust highlights how we recrafted their grant management software to streamline their work and better connect them to their constituents. Click here to read more about our partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust. ### Project with Skoshbox We partnered with Skoshbox, a delightful Japanese snack subscription box, to redesign and rebuild their order system and user interface. The result was a more intuitive ordering workflow and tighter integration with their ecommerce tools, which enabled Skoshbox to scale their business exponentially. Click here to read more about our work with Skoshbox. ### Project with Oregon Coast Aquarium Marsh Myers, Oregon Coast Aquarium The Oregon Coast Aquarium saw a unique opportunity to engage youth in exploring the natural world in a new online application called the Oceanscape Network. Part resource, part homework tool, part experiential app, the Oceanscape Network aims to connect kids and teenagers to science and nature. (Think encyclopedia of all things ocean.) But to develop this comprehensive site was no small undertaking. To make it a true network, we needed to create an application that would successfully enable functionality for the three main users of the site: teachers managing their classes, youth completing a scientific inquiry and using the network as a guide, and the Oregon Coast Aquarium staff keeping content not only fresh and engaging, but also organized and intuitive. Click here to learn more about our work with the Oregon Coast Aquarium. ### Project with Intel ### Project with American Express ### Project with Converse ### Project with Screaming Circuits Screaming Circuits' business depends on a complex, logic-based form and ordering system for their customers. We rebuilt this order system to ensure accurate communication between several moving parts of their workflow. This project is built with Ember.js. Click here for more information about our work with Screaming Circuits. ### The Oregonian: A Redesigned Recipe Box Application We partnered with The Oregonian's media team to reimagine and re-engineer a responsive directory of over 3,600 recipes to foster exploration and inspiration. Click here for more information about our work with The Oregonian. ### Industry Recognitions - Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces for 2025 - Rails Foundation Contributing Member - Heavy Bit - Interview with Robby Russell ## Key Clients - Disney ## Packages ## About the Team ### Our Story Planet Argon was founded in 2002 to help organizations get more value from the software they already have. For over 20 years, we’ve specialized in Ruby on Rails, guiding teams to preserve and adapt their applications instead of rewriting them. We help clients extend the life of their code, avoid costly rebuilds, and keep their businesses moving forward with reliable, long-term support. ## Locations (1) ### Portland, OR (Headquarters) - 3055 NW Yeon Ave #5767 - Portland, OR 97210 - United States - 16 - 20 employees - Phone: + 1 503 847 9214 ## Connections - Shalaka Teli (Gadre Infotech Pvt. Ltd.) - Nick Korbel (LabArchives, LLC) ## Contact Planet Argon [Send a message](https://clutch.co/profile/planet-argon) ### Connect on Social - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/planet-argon/) - [Facebook](https://facebook.com/planetargon) - [X](https://twitter.com/planetargon)