Plego

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m Amy Brusselback, and I’m the co-founder and principal at Design B&B. We are a design and brand strategy agency that has two offices located in Chicago and Baltimore, respectively.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Plego Technologies?

We were hired by the Chicago Parks District to create a multi-media marketing platform, and we needed assistance developing the web and app components of their platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Plego to be our technology partner for the Chicago Parks District’s website and app development. We came up with overall program such as its design and identity, while they handled its technical aspects. They attended client meetings that required greater technical knowledge with us, so they could answer the client’s questions. The site was specifically created for southeast Chicago, a subset within the broader Chicago Parks District. They collaborated with us to ensure that our proposal would technologically integrate with what Chicago Parks District already does. The app is a virtual scavenger hunt based in the different park systems, and targeted at various age groups in order to create an experience either the whole family or older people that may not be there with kids.

We wanted to include gaming techniques for the app by including leaderboards, score counts, and accolades as people moved through the program. Plego completed all the programming for it. They worked with our team to determine what aspects and functions would be most feasible to implement and most likely to be used on phones within the targeted community and population. Initially, we wanted to include GPS capabilities for this app. Plego clearly provided us with information regarding GPS programming such as the large amount of memory space it would take up, which our user base wouldn’t be able to handle that on their phone. In this way they guided us on what was most practical for the app as well as what would leverage the best execution of our vision. The app is available for both iOS and Android; iTunes is currently working to make it available in the App Store.

How did you come to work with Plego Technologies?

We were referred to them through a mutual contact, and we didn’t consider any other companies. They are also a minority owned partner, which we needed.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent $48,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The approval process for this contract took longer than anticipated, but we began working together in June 2017 and completed the project in September 2017. We have a 2-year contract, and we expect to collaborate with them again in the spring.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received a lot of positive feedback from the client, which they gathered through observations made from others and their key stakeholders about the program. We’re happy with the website and app, but we will get a better sense of the program’s full impact in the spring because there isn’t as much park activity during the winter season.

How did Plego Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They were adaptive and flexible throughout our collaboration. They were responsive throughout all of our interactions. They had representation present at all of our meetings, so they stayed engaged and involved. I’m a novice when it comes to understanding the technical backend of development, which is why we hired them, and they were fantastic. They were willing to ensure that everything ran smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I work in the design industry, which is highly populated by egotism. However, I didn’t experience any of this while working with them. For instance, although they have design capability, we didn’t use them for that purpose, but they never tried to interject their designs into the project. They focused on meeting the needs of the client by using the best functioning interface for the product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is a marked difference in the industries we operate in, despite being adjacent. For example, our methods of billing differ. This was more of an annoyance because we didn’t get paid from our client until the project was completed, but we had to pay Plego upfront.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Boom Industries, an Internet company that supplies digital games to the restaurant and bar industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Plego Technologies?

We needed someone to create our games and manage our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have a few different games that Plego has developed: a spin-to-win type game, trivia, night at the races, bingo, etc. The games are web-based and displayed on TVs at bars and restaurants through our website, with other gimmicks and promotions from the location.

Plego also maintains our e-commerce website, and they’re currently developing a mobile version of our trivia game. They do dev, design, and all the support.

What is the team composition?

Including the owner, who's very involved, three people are on our team.

How did you come to work with Plego Technologies?

We put out an ad, and they called about it. We interviewed around eight developers in total, but we chose Plego because they were definitely capable of delivering what we need, and the other firms didn’t impress us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since November 2013, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re pleased with Plego’s work, and none of our clients have complained. If any games need to be fixed or updated, Plego does it. They supply exactly what we want, and the games are successful.

How did Plego Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

They don’t supply 24-hour service, so if a game goes down in the middle of the night, I have to wait until the morning to fix it. Some bars are open until 2 or 3 in the morning, so that can be an issue. But other than that, they do a great job.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If I don’t like what they made, they’re willing to fix it at the original price we discussed. It wasn’t always like that, but we’ve come to have a great partnership. I’m still with them because they provide good customer service and work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would love 24-hour service.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own Animated Vision, which is an interactive marketing company that produces custom web applications for furniture manufacturer clients. We develop online furniture design tools and do 3D modeling and photorealistic images.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Plego?

We needed to migrate our sales support tool from MySQL to SQL when our client base and the number of listed products grew too large for the former. We required a partner familiar with PHP to build a new database with increased capacity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, the team learned our software, how it’s integrated with our web applications, and subsequently designed a schema to scale the database. They built integration tools to allow communication between the old and new databases. That helped execute product updates, revisions, and deletions. After completing the database and its integration points, the team built out the support.

Since we’re a small company, we use Plego on a number of related projects. This has been our practice since the initial engagement. We’ve collaborated on custom web and e-commerce projects in addition to digital communication between our applications and client web services. Currently, they’re helping to migrate our existing WebGL platform to another vendor. Other services include: PHP, programming assistance, PayPal integration, JavaScript, and HTML.

How did you come to work with Plego?

They are the successor firm to a company we previously worked with. We were not satisfied with that company; Plego’s management resolved those performance gaps.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000 - $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been partnering for 5-7 years and the work is on-going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since our business is based on a subscriber model, we measure this project’s success by client attrition. We would have lost larger accounts in the SQL development did not occur. It’s very important to us that our databases are stable and can accrue additional information. Our tools are managed on a daily basis and need to be operating 24/7.

How did Plego perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated with Amin [Managing Partner, Plego] closely. We had bi-weekly meetings with his team. Overall, they’re very competent; we never worried about deadlines. They hit milestones without charging more than the original estimates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re rates are very competitive for the volume of work they produce. They tend to complete tasks on-time and on budget.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make both sides are on clear on the project’s parameters and set objectives. Those initial meetings are crucial because they allow Plego to work on ‘auto pilot,’ which is convenient for the client. They do a great job with that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

At Jessup Manufacturing, we make adhesive coated films that go into many industries; everything from other manufactured products, to transportation, to even some medical and consumer goods. I’m the VP of marketing and strategy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Plego Technologies?

We needed to create a product information management database. Plego is strong in structured data, so we hired them to create our product information database that we use today.

We also had rebranded and repositioned the company, and we needed to create a new website along with that. We had multiple websites for different brands, and we decided to consolidate them into a single corporate website that would span all these brands.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the product information database, Plego Technologies started from scratch. We didn’t have one place where all the product information resided. We basically mapped to our enterprise system for certain types of data on the standard parts that we sell that would be part of our engineering master. Then we added marketing data, such as short and long descriptions, feature bullets, and photographs.

We use the database internally and externally. We’ve created a standardization, and it’s a resource to everyone in the company for product information on standard products. It gave us a huge productivity boost and helped us with the quality and accuracy of all kinds of information uses. It’s kept up to date, and it’s a central repository. There’s clear accountability for who keeps the data clean. The external benefits are very significant also. We sell through distribution, and many of our customers have online stores, so we provide data feeds from this database to our customers. That’s a critical benefit to them.

For the website project, in addition to creating the site, the task was to import all the relevant pages and information from the other four existing sites. That was a considerable task. We had started down a path, both creatively and technically, with a different company. We found they did not have the capacity to do all that we wanted. We went to Plego, who was working on the database project at that time, and asked if they had the capabilities. They said they did, and they helped us create that website and get it launched. Since then, they’ve been providing maintenance and updates. WordPress is the basis for the content, and then we decided together to change the hosting of the websites from GoDaddy to Rackspace, with a dedicated server.

We had specific ideas about how we wanted the website to function. We got some samples of WordPress templates and had them tested technically by Plego. An independent design firm did the design, and then we handed it off to Plego. I work more with the principles of the firm, so I can’t even say how many team members they had on our projects. I know they have a larger team, and my connection with them is limited. For example, if we have enhancements or bugs to be fixed, we load it into a tracking program called Lean Testing. Other team members review it, but I don’t deal with them directly.

How did you come to work with Plego Technologies?

Plego Technologies worked for me when I was with a previous employer. I hired them to do another product database, some web maintenance, and enhancements.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started work in September of 2014, and we launched the website in December of 2015. Our relationship with Plego Technologies is ongoing for maintenance and updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I don’t have specific metrics on hand. I can say that there have been significant increases in traffic to our website. As far as the productivity gained from the database, it’s so high that it’s like night and day. During our transition, we literally went from weeks to prepare documents for customers, down to minutes. It’s a great leverage that we have now with this database.

Both projects are great regarding reliability, functionality, and stability. Since these were developed uniquely for us, we had some bugs to fix, but that’s part of having applications. We worked through them.

How did Plego Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Plego Technologies is very good. I like that they are very service-minded and customer-focused. We use Lean Tracking to track bugs, and we have used Basecamp, which is useful for people outside the company.

What did you find most impressive about Plego Technologies?

I would say the service level is really one of Plego Technologies' strengths. They certainly know the technology, but their ability to respond to customers is impressive. When you’re talking about technology tools, they’re 24/7. Sometimes needs come up over the weekend or at any time, and it could be day or night. It’s very valuable to me that, if we get an attack on our site on a Saturday night, I can actually get a response from Plego. I think that is a strength. They clearly understand business applications very well. They’ve been great partners.

Are there any areas Plego Technologies could improve?

I guess the only thing would be, as my company grows, they’re a small, lean company. I would hope Plego Technologies could keep up with us as we grow. They’ve shown no signs of not doing that.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Co-Founding Member, President of an other industries company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Small start-up focused on digital age/verification solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Plego to accomplish?

• Review Existing Proof of Concept Architecture
• Update with current mobile methodologies
• Create a seamless UI/UX

SOLUTION

How did you find Plego?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Plego over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Plego were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We had an existing Proof of Concept application but the developer we had worked with closed shop.  We connected with Plego to discuss updating the PoC to incorporate current mobile app methodologies as well as streamline the UI/UX experience.  Deliverable is a tool we can use to present the concept and vision to potential investors.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• App functioned as envisioned
• Project came in on time and in budget

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

Very responsive to our needs (email, voicemail, texting).  Assisted our IT partner with infrastructure migration.

What was your primary form of communication with Plego?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

• Very easy to work with.  Fast turnaround on modifications and changes.
• Experienced in current app development methodologies including evolving flexibilities (both technical and end user expectations). 
• Very accommodating with scheduling changes and timelines when needed.
• Great interpersonal skills. 

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

They are great to work with. Will be teaming with them again when we are funded.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing of GM Lighting

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

LED lighting

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Plego Technologies to accomplish?

• Brand new redesign for GMLighting.net
• WooCommerce Enabled Product Catalog
• AI Chatbot
• Improved Navigation

SOLUTION

How did you find Plego Technologies?

Online Search

Why did you select Plego Technologies over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Plego Technologies were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We recently had Plego completely redesign our website, and the results have been outstanding. The new design is significantly more user-friendly, with a modern and intuitive UI/UX that makes navigation effortless. Plego also implemented a chatbot feature, allowing visitors to quickly find information without needing to call our office. Their attention to detail and focus on improving the user experience has truly transformed our online presence. Highly recommend Plego for anyone looking to elevate their website!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

End user satisfaction.

Fresh new look and feel

Reduce Customer Service Need with AI Chatbot

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

They deliver on time and work efficiently within the customer’s timeline, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. 

What was your primary form of communication with Plego Technologies?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Plego doesn’t just build websites or tools - they transform them into intuitive, engaging, and results-driven digital experiences.

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

Overall, working with Plego Technologies was a very good experience. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Sales & Client Relationship Manager of VSI Risk Management & Ergonomics

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

VSI Risk Management & Ergonomics, Inc  provides ergonomic consulting services to help mitigate employee injuries and improve overall employee performance. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Plego Technologies to accomplish?

• To redesign VSI Consulting’s outdated website into a modern, user-friendly platform that reflects their ergonomic expertise, improves navigation, enhances brand storytelling, and increases client engagement.

SOLUTION

How did you find Plego Technologies?

Online Search

Why did you select Plego Technologies over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Plego Technologies were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Plego gave our website a new modern look and optimized the website's SEO. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Increased user engagement and time on site, Improved lead conversions through an optimized “Contact Us” page Higher organic visibility from SEO improvements Positive client feedback and brand credibility uplift

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

Plego was very easy to work with. They delivered everything we wanted in a timely manner. They gave us exactly the type of website we were looking for. 

What was your primary form of communication with Plego Technologies?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their previous work experience was impressive.

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

No