Punchcard Systems

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a software company providing cloud based software that helps companies manage and demonstrate the value of their company’s and personnel’s project experience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Punchcard Systems, and what were your goals?

I hired Punchcard to develop the Minimum Viable Product for my software. I identified a pain point in managing company and personnel experience, so we developed a software to link project experience with personnel resumes. This information is then able to export to a word document for modification and inclusion in company deliverables.

SOLUTION

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

I don't know how to develop software so needed to engage a company that did. I explored moonlight options, but was not confident in that pathway to deliver on my needs. I was referred to Punchcard through a mutual connection, met with them, and was pleased with their approach to development. They gave me confidence they would be able to deliver. I called a mutual reference that used Punchcard for development of their software, and they gave me a great review.

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

We completed an initial discovery sprint to identify the foundational requirements that I needed my software to do to be able to prove out the concept. From there, two development sprints were completed to get to a working MVP of the software.

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

The Punchcard team consisted of 6 people. 1 - Project Manager 1 - Software Development Lead 2 - Software Developers 1 - UX Lead 1 - UX Designer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to achieve the objectives of developing the key functionality of my MVP. Additionally, Punchcard's QA/QC ensured that the outcome was working software that did not have any underline bugs or quality issues. Additionally, they had strict adherence to project schedule and delivered on time for every sprint (their delivery style ensured this schedule adherence).

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

Their project management style was a good balance of meetings to ensure communication and alignment of objectives and getting things done. The sprint strategy was extremely effective to ensure we had clear outcomes and the end of each sprint eliminating most surprises. Additionally, the sprint strategy was effective in forcing tough tradeoff decisions to be made, but having Punchcard clearly lay out the options and cost/benefits of each.

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

The people were fantastic to work with. Fun, hard working, extremely knowledgeable, honest (even when presenting tough information) and willing to stretch their commitments and deliver. Additionally, their questioning and problem/solution discovery pushed towards a simplified solution (which was better than what I had envisioned). It is easy to make something complicate but hard to make something simple.

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

I can honestly say no. I put my trust in their team, fully bought into their process, and they delivered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager of growth at connectFirst Credit Union. We’re one of the largest credit unions in Canada and Calgary.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punchcard Systems?

We needed help to launch and improve our website. We had a complex relationship with another technology partner, so we were limited to using a specific template. Overall, our goal was to drive up appointments.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Punchcard Systems helped us to break and create new templates for our website. They basically worked on design and development from scratch, but with a few added challenges. In particular, the challenge with the design was that we were developing our brand, so they had to take some liberties and interpret what our brand would be. 

The platform was basic; it allowed users to browse products, log in, and access online banking. The team used Figma and Umbraco. Additionally, Punchcard Systems built a microsite on WordPress, and they helped us with maintenance.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 teammates on the project, including Maria (UX/UI Designer), Robin (Technical Team Lead), and Farhad (Full-Stack Developer). Eric (Managed Services Coordinator) was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Punchcard Systems?

Our former VP of brand worked with them in a previous organization. He introduced us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $85,000 CAD (approximately $62,000 USD) on the initial website development.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December 2020, and they launched the site in May 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the first month, we increased the appointment bookings by 250%.

How did Punchcard Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They were the best at project management. Punchcard Systems kept us on task and used an agile approach. We’d never worked with agile development before, but focusing on the resources and getting things done on time was incredible. All in all, everything was perfect.

We had a Microsoft Teams call every morning when we were in a sprint. Additionally, we just kept an email correspondence.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team was highly skilled. They were all wonderful, and we looked forward to working with them every day.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I honestly don’t have anything to point out. Whenever they could improve something, we discussed it, and they took the feedback immediately.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to follow the process. We never had to do anything to get more out of them. We trusted them, and they delivered the best product they could.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the senior director of operations for CPA Insurance Plans West. We provide life and disability insurance to individual CPAs and their families and offer medical and dental employee benefits to small accounting firms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punchcard Systems?

We contracted them to help find a new benefits management system and customer communication platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They first did a discovery phase to figure out what our needs were and then went into the market and found the right technology in terms of what we needed. We then moved to another contract where they completely rebuilt our website, and implemented tools that would allow customers to receive quotes.

The deliverable for the first project was basically to be able to find potential solutions that we could go with. They went out into the market, found a bunch of different things, and did the RFPs that matched the specific needs that we had. After that, they helped us build a presentation to present to our board for approval.

After the contract ended, we started a second agreement with them that was around building the website from scratch along with the quoting ability and online application forms they essentially did all of the development work for that and connected it to our backend system.

We're now in the process of doing another complete rebuild of the platform. The team has also been providing minor tweaks, improvements, and additional features.

We've also been doing two big pieces of work that we break into two sprints. We do two three-week sprints twice a year, and those are usually spent rebuilding something on our website, building in other types of tools that can generate leads, or implement a smoother transition in terms of customer onboarding.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we had about six people, including a project manager, one or two graphic designers, and a couple of developers that would help assess the technical risks.

For the most part, they've stayed consistent in terms of the other pieces of work that we do, such as the website and the bigger sprints.

How did you come to work with Punchcard Systems?

I had actually met and worked with them on a custom SaaS project from another startup. We chose to work with them because of their customer-centric approach.

It seemed great to be able to get someone that we knew would find the right solution, as well as get all of the missing pieces and connect everything for us.

How much have you invested in them?

The first two original contracts would've amounted to about $150,000 CAD (approximately $111,900 USD), then we spend about $80,000 CAD (around $59,600 USD) on a yearly basis.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around March 2020, and our partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I think the thing that makes them stand out is the on-time delivery — we're able to launch on time and on budget consistently. the team is also exceptionally good at making sure that the scope matches the outcome.

Moreover, we've seen a double increase in the number of people that were generating and following up with leads. They've been a very significant partner in terms of our renewal process, as it used to be quite convoluted. They've really helped us reduce it to a five-minute exercise of being able to get customers to communicate and get them onto the portal.

In terms of what that means to our numbers, we've seen a 20% increase in terms of completed applications.

How did Punchcard Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

They're exceptional from a project management standpoint. We basically always launch on time, and if there's a delay, they make us aware of it in advance so it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Other than that, we're part of their daily huddle, so we know exactly what's going on throughout the whole process. We use Teams to interact and have daily stand-ups, which have been consistently seamless so far.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What's impressive about Punchcard Systems is no matter what the task at hand is, they're always able to find high-quality solutions and piece together different tools to deliver a great product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I honestly can't think of anything they need to improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It would be beneficial for anyone to have the ability to identify which tools to implement in your project. I would advise you to have a conversation about what tools to bring in and experiment with putting it all together.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and company collaborator at Ubuntu, a social venture that works with BIPOC students to help them find purposeful employment while making a social impact. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punchcard Systems?

We were creating a platform with various criteria for students to execute and receive certification for. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first step of the project was the discovery phase, where Punchcard Systems asked a lot of questions about our company. They helped us define our value proposition for students. We also determined what was necessary for the MVP and what were just extra bells and whistles. 

During the second phase, we created the platform flows, analyzing mock-ups and ensuring the colors and designs fit our brand. Punchcard Systems started the third phase of the project, which was platform development, while still iterating on mock-ups and building the backend. We provided them with a lot of feedback during the iterative process. 

After testing, we sent out the platform to students for additional feedback. We then communicated this feedback to Punchcard Systems, who used that information to iterate a final version of the MVP. The platform was then moved to Azure instead of being tied to our website hosts, which would’ve been a large investment. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with 12 teammates, including the developers, brand developers, a project manager, and the principals. 

How did you come to work with Punchcard Systems?

We hadn’t done a project like this before, so I did a lot of research through our network. Everyone I talked to had good things to say about Punchcard Systems — no one had issues with them and enjoyed their processes. 

I then got a one-page proposal from Punchcard Systems, and we discussed the project's scope before we finalized the partnership. I liked that they would work with us on the business side of the project, even if it meant they got less work. It was clear Punchcard Systems was focused on pleasing their clients. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $70,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was from May–August 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t had any complaints or technical issues from the MVP. Our branding manager absolutely loved the platform design. The most significant metrics for me were staying within budget and the platform being bug-free, which Punchcard Systems accomplished. 

How did Punchcard Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

Our collaboration was very good. We had meetings with their entire team so that any issues could be addressed immediately. Their team was extensive, so they could fill in resources to provide expertise when their other teammates were on holiday. Whenever I raised a concern, they responded quickly. 

Punchcard Systems’ team worked in sprints and had daily sprint meetings where we communicated updates and changes. They also used a platform, which I could access and provide input on, that tracked progress and tickets. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Punchcard Systems did a good job honing in on the specifics of our business and understanding it. They really listened to what we wanted, implementing feedback right away. Their team was a true partner — the questions they asked helped us focus on what we wanted from the platform and our business. While building the platform, they helped us build our business by enabling an analysis of what our company needed. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could’ve provided more information about the development process at the beginning of the partnership.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of Birdie Break, a tech-enabled on-demand childcare service. We connect parents with prescreened sitters for the date and time they require and handle all the booking and payment processes on our platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Punchcard Systems?

We launched as a website, but we always envisioned our business as a mobile app. Since we had no tech experience in the founding team, we went through numerous independent contractors and other avenues that led nowhere. We needed someone that could effectively build our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had an initial discovery sprint. We’d already been operating for three years, so we had a clear idea of the processes we needed and how our users used the platform. Also, we provided them with complete wireframes of what we had envisioned for the app. Punchcard Systems helped us to fine-tune everything and streamline the processes. Then, they went into development using an agile methodology, which allowed us to pivot when needed.

The app had profile creation for parents and sitters. The booking system worked as a bid system where parents could create a booking request, and sitters could submit their profiles. Then, parents could review the profiles, choose the one they liked, and book them on the app. The payment was also processed through it.

Punchcard Systems built the app for iOS and Android. They used React Native, Microsoft Azure for the database, and a Stripe integration for payment processing. They also worked on UX/UI design and frontend development.

What is the team composition?

We had a team of five: a product designer, a project manager, and frontend, backend, and full stack developers.

How did you come to work with Punchcard Systems?

We had mutual friends in the startup community in Edmonton.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $220,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in April 2020, and they completed the app in October 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our app currently has over 3,000 parents and 500 sitters signed off. We’ve never had any issues with it, which is a testament to how it was built.

How did Punchcard Systems perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was wonderful. We never felt so well taken care of by a tech company. They kept us on track, and the timelines were very effective. Also, they constantly updated us on what was happening, so we were involved, but it didn’t add to our responsibilities. It was a great experience.

We primarily used Microsoft Teams, but sometimes we just communicated through emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciated many things about working with them. First, they had a straightforward and effective process to approach a project like ours. It was well thought out and based on the success they’d had in the past. We also appreciated their agile development style, which allowed us to expedite the process and pivot quickly if needed. Moreover, the collaborative process was outstanding. We got along with everybody and felt we were part of the team. They were open to feedback and expected us to be as well. All in all, it was a really positive experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We weren’t familiar with Microsoft Teams when we started working with them, so we had to learn how to use the platform in addition to beginning to work with the new team. Maybe they could have more options for clients to work on the collaborative platforms they use. Also, we weren’t used to daily stand-up meetings, so we had to incorporate them into our days. However, once we got into it, we understood their purpose.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The most effective way to work with them is by being part of the collaborative environment. If you want to build something without getting involved, it won’t be a successful experience. Be open to feedback and keep the communication lines open.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the Project Manager for the M365 Project. Upon launch of M365 within the organization, I am now a Primary Care Manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Punchcard Systems?

We hired Punchcard to design, build and launch the M365 platform for our entire organization.

SOLUTION

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

We put out an RFB and short listed 3 design companies. Punchcard was by far the most dynamic, comprehensive and knowledgeable. Their team of qualified professionals were able to zone into our business initiative/priorities and cater their proposal to our expected outcomes and needs.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The project's goals were to build and launch successfully a new communication platform such as M365. We looked for new ways to communicate, store information, build on capacity for collaboration and detach from a server to cloud based technology. The first 3 months were gathering of information to ensure that Punchcard was able to design/build a platform that was intuitive and catered to our specific organizational needs.

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

We had the project manager, plus a team of designers, engineers and IT consultants assist every step of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The launch was a complete success and now our organization has a secure way of sharing and storing information. The biggest gains were seen in how we now communicate. Chats and Teams were a big transition, but the successful outcomes are seen daily with how well everyone uses the platform. How did we ever function before M365 and the Punchcard team?!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent workflows, with regular touch-ins, meetings and evaluating our weekly milestones were vital to the success of our project.

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

Their collaborative nature, kindness and most of all patience! Knowledge and skillsets were impressive, and they were able to teach everyone with all different skills levels to use the platform.

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

If I could recommend anything, it would be to increase their change management strategies for larger organizations. They did wonderfully though!