Sharp 1

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I have a business in logistics, contracting with FedEx Ground. I’m the president of the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sharp 1?

I was looking for a route-optimization application for my delivery drivers to use so I could save money on fuel and vehicle maintenance. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app allows a driver to put in all the addresses for daily scheduled stops. It provides the best possible route, the shortest distance, and the fastest time. The app is built for iOS, as my drivers use iPhones.

Sharp 1 explained to me how app development worked, with the beta version and modifications that would be needed. We discussed the cost for each stage of the project. They communicated any issues to me and worked to fix them in a timely way.

Sometimes, they came out to our location to speak with the drivers, see what they were experiencing through their phones, and teach them how to use the app. So, they created user stories based on in-person interviews.

How did you come to work with Sharp 1?

I was referred to them through a friend. They showed me some of their prior work and told me they would work until I’m 100% satisfied.

How much have you invested with Sharp 1?

The whole project cost approximately $130,000–140,000. They stuck to the budget, and there weren’t any surprises.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March of 2015, and they delivered the app in 6 months. Since then, they’ve provided ongoing maintenance and support. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

If I need another app, I’m definitely calling them first. I’m saving about 20% on fuel, so I’m starting to recoup the money spent on the app. I haven’t yet compiled numbers about money saved on maintenance.

How did Sharp 1 perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated by text messaging and emails throughout the project. When our schedules allowed, we had meetings. The timing was very good; I thought it was going to take longer than 6 months.

What did you find most impressive about Sharp 1?

I think their design work is great. They stick to the budget, which is rare in this kind of business.

Are there any areas Sharp 1 could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any final comment to someone who is considering working with Sharp 1?

Give it a try. If you have a good product, they can deliver. There’s no question of their delivery.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a drone company. I run their digital marketing for the US. My work is comprised of social media, digital advertising, and influencer marketing. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sharp 1?

We first went to Sharp 1 last year when we were preparing for the CES trade show. We wanted to create an event for all the people coming to our booth. Sharp 1 helped us build a competition application to engage potential customers. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The competition allowed visitors to our booth to answer questions by text messaging. If the answer was correct, the application would send them on a scavenger hunt to find and answer different questions. If they completed the hunt, they were eligible for prizes.

I’m not very technical, so I just gave Sharp 1 the concept. They built it step-by-step, and I reviewed each stage. They made the final product easy for non-technical people to use. The app was built for iPad with a web backend on which I could make changes as needed.

On a second project, we wanted to collect data on people traveling through our booth. We had Sharp 1 build a data-collection application for iPad. There were iPads scattered around the booth that allowed people to enter their information, answer survey questions, and enter to win a free drone. The app locally saved all the data onto the iPad. Once we got a place with a Wi-Fi signal, which usually doesn’t exist in conference halls, it was automatically saved to a server.

How did you come to work with Sharp 1?

I got connected to their founder when I was in business school. He worked on a couple of development projects for me and did a fantastic job. When my current company needed an app developed, I went right back to Xavier and Sharp 1.

How much have you invested with Sharp 1?

We’ve invested around $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The scavenger hunt project ran from January to June of 2016. We engaged them for a second project in August of that year, and we continue to work with them. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The scavenger hunt worked very well. I thought it was easy to work with Sharp 1. They got the entire process completed in a very short timeline.

We used to have to build a different app for each event, but Sharp 1 built a backend that allowed us to customize one app for each event. They made it very easy to go on the backend and switch the questions and design aspects.

The data we collect with the app are very important to our company. We only get one chance to connect with people at events, so losing data is a big deal. That never happened with the product Sharp 1 built for us.

In the past, I’ve had to write down all the data in a notepad. With the app, people can enter data themselves, and I’m free to perform other functions. I captured roughly 200 people over a three-day event when I did it manually. At our last event, we had well over a thousand entries in the same timeframe.

How did Sharp 1 perform from a project management standpoint?

The entire process was always very easy. I gave them the goals for the project in an initial call, and they updated me every week. I thought they were very open to changes that we requested as the project progressed.

What did you find most impressive about Sharp 1?

I mostly appreciate that they were open to changes as the process moved forward.

Are there any areas Sharp 1 could improve?

I don’t have any suggestions.