Sidebench

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the chief information officer at Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), a safety net health plan with about 1.2 million members within the Inland Empire. Our services include Medicaid, Medicare, and HMO, so we work on the provider side as well as on member engagement and maintenance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

We wanted to increase our member engagement and improve on how we communicate our services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sidebench developed iOS and Android mobile apps, acting as a full development shop for us from concept to finished product. One app acts as a member portal, where users can check claims, see their prior claims and HMO authorizations, and communicate to our internal staff. Users can also access their ID through the app, make appointments, and choose or change their primary care physician (PCP). We plan to also include wellness functionality to the app in the near future.

They provided both frontend and backend development of the apps, integrating them into our internal applications. They've also helped map out a communications strategy around member engagement.

What is the team composition?

Most of my interaction is with the president of Sidebench and one of his senior account managers. Our team collaborates with their team of developers and project managers as well, so we've probably worked with a total of 15–20 people.

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

We went through an RFP process and gave a handful of developers six weeks to deliver a concept to us. Sidebench had the best presentation.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the last few years, we've spent in the range of $3–4 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Previously, our member portal was utilized by about 1,000 registered users annually. Since releasing Sidebench's app, we've seen about 90,000 installs and close to two million transactions per year. It's received an average user rating of at least four stars in app stores.

How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?

We both run an agile shop, so their processes line up well with our in-house processes. As bugs come up, Sidebench's team is quick to fix them and make any iterations relatively quickly. We don't have any trouble reaching them and generally track projects and communication through Workfront, Slack, and Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They can transform a simple idea or concept into a concrete deliverable in a short timeframe. They do all the research and hard work in between without us having to worry. They've made it easy to add to our roadmap as needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They continue to become more experienced in the healthcare industry, so that's an added bonus for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Look for a partner that's flexible and able to fill in the blanks when you need them filled them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

John Armato: I’m a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine.

Ronald Ruby: I’m an endocrinologist.

JA: We’re the co-founders of RobustForLife, which is an early-stage business model that involves the use of a software to help prevent Type II diabetes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

JA: We’ve developed our own software and report-generating capability, which we’ve been sharing within a small medical community that focuses on the prevention of diabetes and its complications. Our challenge has been figuring out how to scale up our business and position ourselves in a way that can help us attract investors and new customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

JA: We brought in Sidebench to review the technical architecture underpinning our software, our server setup, and the way we’re linked to different hospitals and labs that provide data or services to us. Next, we asked them to build us a strategic roadmap and identify the steps we still need to take in order to grow our business and fully launch the software. They’ve also come up with marketing plans and consulted with us on website development and scalability. We tasked them with helping us plan how to move from a purely informational “brochure-style” site to a full patient platform when our service is totally up and running.

RR: They’ve finished the roadmap and some additional research tasks so far.

JA: We asked them to make a report on any FDA compliance issues we might run into, which they’ve delivered. Right now they’re nearly finished with the web design review.

What is the team composition?

JA: So far, we’ve worked with a production manager, a UX/UI designer, a business strategy consultant, and a web developer.

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

JA: A family member was a client of theirs and referred them to us. They also had previous experience working with healthcare-focused clients, so that appealed to us as well.

RR: One of the members of their team is actually a medical student, which made for an easy working relationship. If there were topics they weren’t familiar with regarding medicine or specific regulations, they were very efficient in connecting us to third-party sources who could answer those questions promptly and thoroughly.

How much have you invested with them?

JA: As of right now, we’ve probably spent around $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

RR: We started working with them in October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

JA: Their architectural review allowed us to avoid spending money on a technical expansion we didn’t really need. The information they provided in our roadmap has helped us move forward in talks with our investors. We now have funding commitments for the next phase of our plan, which is a pilot project. They’ve also affected our strategic plan in terms of modifying the final product so it generates information more efficiently and focuses more specifically on two specific groups of end-users they helped us identify.

How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?

JA: We usually meet twice per week. We found that transparency regarding expectations on both sides made the process run smoothly.

RR: In terms of communication, there’s a combination of in-person discussion, Skype calls, and online interaction. They were very easy to work with. They’re efficient and they outlined their costs and the total number of hours very carefully along each step in the process.

JA: We’ve worked with other vendors before and Sidebench’s level of service really distinguishes them. They respond promptly to every request, they’ve stuck to the timeline, and they stayed within the limits of our budget.

RR: We really didn’t think we could afford their services, but they’ve adjusted in order to accommodate us. They’re very thoughtful about how to proceed.

JA: They’ve been able to find creative ways to accomplish our goals within the confines that we have, which we appreciate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

JA: I don’t like investing money if it doesn’t get me where I need to go, so we were initially hesitant because of the cost. I’m glad we moved forward because they’ve delivered incredible value in return. Not only have they helped us work within the confines of our budget, they’ve also given us realistic feedback on how much money we should expect to spend as a new start-up.

And, the caliber of their employees is really impressive. We’ve worked with a lot of people over the years and Sidebench’s team stands out for their expertise, creativity, and flexibility.

RR: I’m impressed by their efficiency. If we have a meeting on a particular day, they’ll send out reminders in advance and be fully prepared by the time we talk.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

RR: Listen to what your consultants say because they’re usually right. That can be difficult, especially in our line of work, because you’re used to assuming you have the answers, but their team will use its expertise to guide you down the right path.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of global media operations for a media company. I oversee our company’s digital supply chain operation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

We were consolidating our marketing websites and needed their help designing a framework and UX that is cohesive with all our other sites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first steps included giving them a demo of the existing systems we planned to retire and talking about our vision for the new framework. Then, we provided high-level design principles for them to follow. They interviewed us to fully understand the business process and dug deep into the existing systems and designs.

They came up with a few proposals on how the new site could flow and be structured. We collaborated to further refine the designs and they presented the proposal to our executive management staff. Once that was approved, they provided us with the detailed design mockups and components we needed to build the site. In total, they designed 10–15 pages of mockups that went through four rounds of iteration.

What is the team composition?

We interacted with an assigned project manager and an analyst, but there was probably a larger team doing a lot of work as well. Additionally, their CEO was heavily involved in crucial executive meetings.

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

They came through a recommendation from either an employee or contractor that I was working with. We had discussions with them to see if they could deliver the right scope of work. They demonstrated their portfolio and we found their approach valuable. Therefore, we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $50,000–$100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from January–May 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Hired designers often have their own ideas they want to impose on the given project. The people at Sidebench were very good about listening and understanding the journey we need to go through for a successful transition. They stayed consistent with our needs and principles, but also added some flair and creative ideas. That kind of innovative thinking led to a more polished product.

How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?

The beginning of the project was a little shaky, but after a quick escalation, they got back on track. We’d communicate primarily through email but also had multiple meetings through WebEx. We had no issues with the budget and they completed the project within the expected timeline.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One area of the site didn't follow the specific themes that we were looking for, but they were asked by one of our executives to design it that way. They did an outstanding job of articulating some of the challenges with that theme and supported us in convincing the executive to move away from that direction. That’s impressive to see because most vendors just take orders and do exactly what you tell them. Sidebench had a good approach to pushing back and offering something above and beyond what we asked of them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Management level personnel could’ve been more involved at the beginning of the project, rather than waiting for us to escalate. That’s a minor complaint and overall, I’m satisfied with the way they performed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The ability of a company to understand our needs is extremely important. The listening aspect of a partnership is often undervalued. Looking at a company’s portfolio is standard practice, but it's vital for them to understand our vision and culture. Sidebench did an excellent job with that aspect and I’ve seen it lacking in other companies we’ve used.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Manifest, a health and fitness program for people who aren’t already participating in health and fitness.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

Working with other firms, I had issues melding design with development and wanted to find a vendor who could collaborate effectively across those domains. I needed a cohesive team to create my company’s mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I worked with two previous developers and had a version of the Manifest app complete. However, the focus changed and it had to be significantly updated. I had already spent a lot of money and it became apparent I’d have to hire a designer. I wasn’t comfortable moving forward with that plan and instead, hired Sidebench to redesign and develop the app from the ground up.

We’ve gone through workshops regarding the flow of the app and they’ve been very thorough in getting a full understanding of the concept before starting development. Now with a defined vision, they’re currently developing the app for iOS.

As a key feature, we have a proprietary formula for evaluating people's states as they begin the program and throughout the program. This ultimately yields an adherence score as a measure of success. Additionally, the app supports communication between our participants and facilitators. Another feature is that the app’s going to be extremely rich with video and written content compared to other fitness apps. Once completed, Sidebench will help me create a visual pitch presentation for pitch deck purposes.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with six members of their team including a project manager, development lead, design lead, and two supporting staff members. There’s also a business development manager. I assume there are more people involved with whom I didn’t interface.

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

Sidebench was referred to me by a trusted colleague. They felt like the right choice during the interview process. I appreciated some of their previous work and we had a great rapport, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent about $370,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2017 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have an internal team that works with Manifest and helps me gauge if the new design work is up to par. So far, everyone on the team is excited about what Sidebench is producing. Additionally, their business development manager introduced me to a contact who runs a health conference. That meeting led to us presenting Manifest at the conference and receiving a lot of outside validation of Sidebench’s work.

How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?

I'm not good at sticking with budgets or schedules, but they do a fabulous job. We have weekly check-ins where they go over what they're working on and so far everything has been right on-time and within budget. We communicate via email and Google Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They offer a thorough and organized process, but what’s truly notable is their creativity. Everyone’s input is extremely valuable and it helps keep me on-task. Communicating with developers is often frustrating, but that was never the case here. They're a young and exciting team with a fresh perspective. They have a really good pulse of current markets and strategies; they're a talented group of people.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work with like-minded developers/designers that understand your concept and have enthusiasm for the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder and COO of an online booking engine for substance abuse recovery treatment. We help match individuals to the appropriate facilities and level of care.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

We had a rudimentary web application that we wanted to take to the next level.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did UX/UI work for our web app, as well as some mobile design. The healthcare vertical is highly regulated, so we had to overcome some challenges from an aesthetic standpoint. They provided an initial comprehensive scope of work with all the features we wanted, followed by design builds for review. We gave feedback and made changes before landing on the final product.

What is the team composition?

They had two designers and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

We had a couple of local referrals. We started off with introductory calls and an in-house meeting with their team. I liked their clear, concise, and prompt communication style and their relevant body of work.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project went from August to September 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They came in ahead of schedule and increased our conversion rates in a portion of our funnel. The quality of their work went above and beyond our expectations.

How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fantastic. Our project manager was always available by phone or email, even on weekends. We had a lot of back and forth on Zeppelin, where they delivered all the mockups.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really understand healthcare and the design challenges within it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come up with the goals and deliverables you want, and do your due diligence before engaging an outside vendor.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company works on developing and distributing consumer technology products for the U.S. and Australian markets. I’m responsible for the technical aspects of the products that are being developed.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

We needed to design and develop a new mobile app to accompany a selfie drone. It was a free app that customers could download once they purchased the drone. The app had to be simple to use and provide easy access to social media. Our target market was modern tech and selfie lovers, but even nondrone enthusiasts should be able to learn how to use the app easily. This app would be deployed on both Android and iOS for phones and tablets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed two apps for the Android and iOS platforms, with a heavy focus on the complete UX/UI [user experience/user interface] design to allow for the easy adoption of the product. Sidebench managed the full development and user testing process all the way up to deployment. They managed the upload of the app to the App Store and Google Play. This included controlling regional deployment.

The app connects to a drone and allows users to control the drone. Users can also do live streaming, download media files, and post them on social media. Key features include simple onboarding screens, a link to Wi-Fi settings from the main menu, and an intuitive flight interface. Users have access to the drone gallery. Through the app, they have the ability to download the camera roll and link to social media.

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

We looked at in-house resources, outsourced teams, and a local agency in Sydney. We picked Sidebench because they were reputable. They were recommended by our U.S. affiliate office for their strength in design and deployment. We were advised that Sidebench was capable of turning around work on very aggressive timelines, which was the biggest factor in choosing them.

What is the status of this engagement?

This has been an ongoing development, from the initial app release to periodical updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The drone has only recently been released, so there is currently little data available for the app. However, the soon-to-be-released upgraded flight interface has had a very positive response from our test users, who say that the app design is clean and simple. They find it easy to use and understand.

How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Slack for daily communication and JIRA for more technical bug management. We have an aggressive timeline, with fortnightly sprints. For the first app release, they’ve successfully delivered despite incredibly tight deadlines.

Our largest challenge has been working with the hardware provider, who is based in China. This is a logistical nightmare since it involves three completely different time zones. Fortunately, Sidebench’s team is willing to work after business hours to allow better communication between all three groups.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Sidebench shows a real passion for the project and remains dedicated to the job. The team remains open-minded about changing requirements, making a great effort to satisfy these changes. Jay [Partner & Head of Product Innovation, Sidebench] and his team are great to liaise with. They make us feel comfortable and confident.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This is a new kindof project for Sidebench, especially dealing with a third-party backend solution that interfaces with hardware. The team has definitely learned a lot from this experience, as have we.

BACKGROUND

Melody is a mobile application that is revolutionizing the way people discover and create content. We are focused on media and content and are based in Santa Monica, California. Melody has ten employees. Our content localizes itself, so our target market is international and domestic. Our target audience is people from 15–30 years of age.

I am the CEO and co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We had two primary business opportunities. First, we engaged with Sidebench to create a POC [proof of concept]. In this regard, we tasked them with technological investigation, product architecture, and commercial viability. Their efforts to scope and validate our project yielded an excellent POC. In fact, this POC enabled us to cut time and resources when we began the build in earnest. More importantly, we needed the POC to raise money from our initial seed investors. They delivery was so slick and so functional that it helped us to raise more than twice our initial investment expectation.

Secondly, we worked with Sidebench to help architect the first workable wireframes. In this capacity, they provided tremendous help on the server side issues. On the client side, they developed beautiful, intuitive product designs that sped development. Our server-side and client-facing internal teams felt that the delivery was so well vetted that we were able to develop the minimum viable product with great effectiveness.

SOLUTION

We did an enormous amount of due diligence before selecting this critical partner. We met with at least eight separate technology studios. Sidebench delivered the most compelling vision.

Sidebench took our specs and ideas and added to them in ways that moved the product forward by leaps and bounds. The team they proposed was creative, engaging, smart, and accountable, and gave us a measure of confidence we did not get from other companies. Kevin, the founder, and his reputation as a tech/creative leader preceded our discussions. I had heard his name often and was eager to engage with him. We were even more impressed than we expected.

The scope of Sidebench's work was broad. They provided creative ideation, technological development, thought partnership, product expertise, client-side expertise, server-side guidance, branding work, and team training.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Sidebench was perfection. Their work was top notch. We were able to use the POC they created to raise triple our expected seed round.

Their work on the product development side was equally impressive. They expanded on our initial idea to help us create an even more compelling product. Through their tech guidance, we were able to remove potential server-side landmines. Their wireframes and design work saved us months of time and thousands of dollars in full-time equivalent contract work.

Sidebench provides a tremendous and unique service. Their combined expertise in areas as disparate as technology, product development, branding, and marketing is unique in the field and creates exponential gain!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of product and engineering for POPin, a crowdsolving platform for enterprises of all sizes. Our solution drives success for a company’s initiatives through the intimate engagement of its employees, partners, and clients. We offer Software-as-a-service via web and mobile apps. Currently, we have 35 employees. Our office is located in Orange County, California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

We recently launched version 3.0 of our product but did not have the resources to redesign our native Android app. We needed a high-functioning and focused team who could be an extension of our development team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sidebench did a spec-less port of our existing Android app to the new version 3.0 design. They only used our version 3.0 iOS and web app as the guidelines for rewriting an existing native Android app. It required lots of refactoring of the native Android code, as well as development and debugging. They had to work autonomously while staying in close coordination with our development team. We were not able to spare many support cycles for this, so they needed to be highly self-directed.  

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

Sidebench was a referral from a team member that had worked with them in the past. After considering a number of other firms, we concluded Sidebench had the right mix of UI/UX [user interface/user experience] design expertise and technical ability.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project duration was approximately three months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had a rough start. Sidebench had a disconnect very early in the project due to some resource shuffling, which we didn't notice for a few of weeks. Once they refocused, they were extremely timely and effective. They delivered fantastic quality and communication. They also seemed to be agile enough to roll with changes and execute without much guidance from us.

How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was managed by Sidebench, although they were deeply connected with our product development team. As a result of the early disconnect, they did overrun the very tight schedule by about three weeks. They managed to stay within our budget.

Are there any areas Sidebench could improve?

Had Sidebench maintained a weekly cadence of check-ins with our team right from the beginning, they would have realized the disconnect on their side much sooner. That would have prevented the schedule overrun.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Oakley, the subsidiary of Luxottica, an Italian eyewear accessory company, designs, develops and manufactures sports performance equipment and lifestyle pieces including sunglasses, ski/snowboard goggles, apparel, optical frames, and other accessories.

I was the Senior Global Loyalty Manager from 2013–2015 overseeing lead scoring, loyalty strategy development, and game mechanics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?

To ensure that the brand was on track to deliver on the $1 billion revenue goal for 2014, my team and I developed a loyalty program to identify and track the customer potential. We had very little quantifiable data for identifying the value of the returning customer and the opportunity to create more frequent customers.

We sought to retain customers by increasing the return rate in a 24-month period and expand the gateway product purchase beyond eyewear. We focused on delivering growth against the newly identified target audience of 25–45-year-olds, and increased engagement with young women who are more frequent shoppers of accessories and apparel. We worked to drive the order value up across the more frequent shoppers by driving awareness of the expanded product portfolio.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We looked at the current but limited customer e-commerce data to provide some customer benchmarks. We then identified two business partners for the enterprise system implementation, customer interface, brand design, and program strategy. The solution required data hosting and scoring, program mechanics, and a customer interface.

How did you come to work with Sidebench?

Six months into the program, we recognized our enterprise customer solution interface sorely lacked the quality we needed. We hosted a request for proposal to find a new partner to create an API solution with a dynamic interface representative of the Oakley brand. Sidebench won the bid against two well-established development firms, and the work was to be completed in 12 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Sidebench was incredibly well prepared for the work since day one. The detailed documentation and well thought through solutions impacted the work greatly. As a result of the quality, they even found areas of security that our enterprise solution failed to disclose.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a startup developing a digital fiction and storytelling platform working as a mobile app.

I am one of the co-founders of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench Studios?

I had some general design principles for the experience that we wanted to deliver. We were looking for a company that could help us with designs and workflows, enabling us to create a prototype.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sidebench Studios helped us with prototyping. We built our initial version using Proto.io. It's available on any compatible mobile platform. Sidebench Studios developed all the screens, workflows, and design documents for the app.

We worked with 4 people from Sidebench Studios' team, including a project manager and a designer.

How did you come to work with Sidebench Studios?

We were introduced to Sidebench Studios through a referral.

How much have you invested with Sidebench Studios?

The total cost of Sidebench Studios' services during our prototyping phase was around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Sidebench Studios at the middle of 2015. Our app is currently within a closed alpha stage.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've worked with some very good developers on this project. From their perspective, the documentation, screens, and workflows from Sidebench Studios were as well-constructed as possible. We had 2 different user testing groups working with Sidebench Studios, so we haven't made many design changes.

How did Sidebench Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

Sidebench Studios stuck to our timeline and budget. We mainly communicated using email, Google Hangouts, and Skype.

What did you find most impressive about Sidebench Studios?

We were very happy with Sidebench Studios. They took ownership of the project and provided many ideas. Sidebench Studios is a small company, but they have many talented people, which worked out nicely for us. The fact that Sidebench Studios was a local company was also great.

Are there any areas Sidebench Studios could improve?

No.