TTT Studios

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of product engineering for a computer software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with TTT Studios?

We needed to implement quite a few new features into our main product to make a deliverable with a particular client. The web application was very frontend-heavy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

TTT Studios provided resources for frontend development using a React and JavaScript tech stack. They interacted with our in-house team here and participated in daily standups, retrospectives, and story estimations. They also provided QA services and kept up with our regular releases and regression tests. TTT Studios felt like a part of the in-house production team we have here.

The team improved the performance and the overall user experience through our app. They did a lot of cleanup in the way we manage our tables and our very heavy user interactions with our data. To be able to display that in a meaningful way to our customers is always a challenge. Taking that information and presenting it in a seamless UI has been very helpful.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two developers and one QA person. The main points of contact were Nick (Project Manager, TTT Studios) and Jose (CEO, TTT Studios).

How did you come to work with TTT Studios?

I had worked with TTT Studios on a much larger project, and they were the main development team at the time. They rewrote the entire legacy app into a brand-new tech stack using .NET and React. I worked with them for about year, and the experience was very positive. They were very professional, their code was very well-written, and they were a good culture fit and vibe. Given my prior work experience with TTT Studios, I knew I could depend on them to jump on board very quickly and integrate with the team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August 2017–July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When one person from TTT Studios went on vacation for about a month, we could see a significant drop in the project’s velocity. It’s hard to separate work that only they did—TTT Studios was a part of the team as a whole.

The team was very professional. The developers respected the libraries that we have and the way we interact with them. They stayed flexible and receptive to feedback, and they were willing to wake up early to coordinate with us.

How did TTT Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

All the project management was handled from our side. With the developers and QA person, we communicated via Slack. We coordinated hours to do our daily standups together through Zoom. We also used a tool for story estimations and retrospectives. Even though TTT Studios was very far away and our teams never met face-to-face, we really feel their presence here.

What did you find most impressive about them?

TTT Studios was reliable and transparent about what they’re capable of doing. They raised risks early. They were aware of our deadlines and called us now and then to see if we need additional help or if there was anything more they can do. They were very empathetic to their clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I did not see a very well-structured QA practice from them, but it could be due to the nature of the engagement. Their developers could have adopted more of a testing mindset as well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re in Toronto, getting to know the team is absolutely essential. Try to overcome the barrier of being in different cities through video chat. In my last engagements, I flew over there to get to know the team better. It then became a lot easier to know who I’m talking to, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and their likes and dislikes. For anyone working in Vancouver with them, get to know TTT Studios. They’re very enjoyable to work with. They can be professional as well as good, friendly people. It keeps things fun and productive.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief product officer of Olive Technologies. We’re building an AI platform that helps businesses buy and sell technology. My co-founder and I come from the enterprise software space, so we’re building a product to automate a large part of the sales process in that field.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Two Tall Totems?

We wanted to build a platform that served as a marketplace between technology buyers and sellers. We already had a firm idea of how the app should look, including fully developed designs and documentation for which frameworks and infrastructures to use. Since I wanted to work with a familiar tool stack, I needed resources who understood Python and React.js. We engaged Two Tall Totems to develop the first iteration of the platform and plan to continue developing this version over the next few years.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially went to them with about 70 pages of designs and documentation for how we wanted the app to work. They then went through them with a fine-toothed comb, making recommendations for better practices. They suggested numerous performance enhancements as well as interesting custom-engineered pieces to bolster the app.

From there, Two Tall Totems developed the first iteration of our platform—from the database to the entire application stack—in a flexible, modular way. They built a robust infrastructure and automated all of the processes, making it easier for us to run with the product afterward. There were a couple of complex components in the app, but the team had a good grasp of all of the technologies involved. This included Python, React.js, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and a content delivery network (CDN) storage.

At its core, the platform connects people to technology based on their requirements. For example, if someone wanted a new email service, they might specify needing web access, browser authentication, multiple inboxes, and so on. Our platform checks those requirements against a database of solutions, mixing and matching available technologies to fulfill user needs.

It’s a dynamic process that uses a fairly complex algorithm. The platform rechecks all inputs in the database every time a user submits a request to find an appropriate solution. As a result, there’s a lot of processing involved. We reshuffle the results based on the order: the more requirements there are, the more accurate the solution list will be.

What is the team composition?

We typically worked with a team of four full-time resources: David (VP of Operations, Two Tall Totems), a project manager, a frontend engineer, and a backend engineer. They also assigned a couple of QA specialists as needed.

How did you come to work with Two Tall Totems?

I found them on Clutch. Because we had specific technical requirements for the designs, frameworks, and infrastructure, I narrowed my search to vendors who could work with Python and React.js. In total, we came up with a shortlist of about 20 companies and contacted each to see how they’d handle our project. We wanted to get a feel for the organizations and how we might work together.

Although they weren’t the cheapest, we ultimately selected Two Tall Totems because they were the strongest agency by far, and they were local. The entire team was stellar; everyone either had a Master’s degree or insane engineering abilities. Their communication was startup-friendly, and they were dynamic, young, and fun. We got the perfect vibe from them, and their culture aligned with ours.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $90,000 CAD (approximately $69,300 USD).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s too early for metrics since we don’t have any clients yet. One of the challenges we face is that we need to have data to populate the system before it’s usable to clients. Over the next few weeks, we’ll go in to load in data so that we can invite beta clients to the platform.

From a qualitative perspective, we do have some preliminary feedback. Before we went to Two Tall Totems, all of our designs were created in collaboration with beta customers. One of their feedback sessions involved capturing workflows and figuring out how a client might use the app. When we brought those design specifications to Two Tall Totems, their team helped us refine them and built exactly what we wanted. Beta testers have seen the demo and also love it.

How did Two Tall Totems perform from a project management standpoint?

The dynamic was great. Their project manager served as our direct point of contact, but we also had access to the rest of the team. We used Slack for all of our back-and-forth communication in addition to weekly meetings.

While we could have had more in-person interactions given the proximity, we didn’t necessarily need weekly contact. The meetings were really focused, and they always had a strong agenda about what they’d done and what they planned to do. This was also an opportunity for them to ask rapid-fire questions. They’d listen to our comments and implement those changes. It was a good way of keeping everything on track.

Considering our strict budget and timeline, they managed to finish the engagement within three months. They were on target with every sprint and met our milestone for the launch. The team even did extra work, making small, unprompted changes that were well-appreciated. Having a regular cadence with just the right amount of back-and-forth kept us from slowing down.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility is one of their greatest strengths, in terms of timing, collaboration, design expertise, and engineering. When we'd come in for meetings, they were always more than willing to facilitate the discussion all the way through to the complex engineering issues. With the designs, they were able to trust us as the domain experts and forego their typical end-to-end development process. They knew we were experienced enough to produce reliable designs, so they felt confident proceeding straight to the engineering phase.

As for the team, they had exceptional skill sets thanks to their engineering and design abilities. Even though we asked them to work with a technology stack that they didn’t often use, they still delivered exceptional results. We actually couldn't tell that they weren’t using their full-time toolset; rather, they produced work that was comparable to firms specializing in those technology stacks, which was great. It’s a testament to their people’s caliber and intelligence.

Finally, Two Tall Totems is just a really cool community. They’re a small team, but they function like a family. Good skill sets and flexibility are key to their success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any direct feedback on anything they could’ve done better. While our engagement was limited, this was due to our strict budget. We had to have fewer meetings and reduce inter-team collaboration to fit the budget. However, they understood what we wanted to do and were transparent on the things they’d have to cut. We knew about this going in, so I don’t consider this a negative.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Be flexible with the process because Two Tall Totems has the expertise to run things. We came in with strict parameters and processes but remained flexible. Had I been more hotheaded and insisted that they stick to the specifications, we wouldn’t have received the product we have today. They were able to make recommendations that ran counter to my initial thoughts, but it was for the better. Trust that the team knows what they’re doing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the IT manager of Harbour Air Seaplanes. We offer scheduled flights and tours from Vancouver to Vancouver Island.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Two Tall Totems?

Our large maintenance department needed to track tasks done on each aircraft, including the time spent on each task, so we decided to build an app.

Previously, another vendor developed a passenger-facing iOS app for researching and booking flights, but we didn’t like the support they provided, so we needed to find a new development team for the new project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked with them on several projects. The first was developing our task-tracking app, and do so in a way that made it easy for our technicians and maintenance managers to use on their iPads.

Since they performed well there, we asked them to help configure the passenger app. They made some useful updates, provide general support for the app, and are now building it out for Android.

We also handed over our web development to them. As with our previous app developer, our previous web developers didn't provide good support, and we didn’t have a great relationship with them. Plus, they weren’t local. By comparison, Two Tall Totems’ team visits our office in person to discuss progress and updates, and are always timely in terms of support and development. We’re developing a new site using another vendor, but if it had been up to me, Two Tall Totems would’ve been my choice for that site as well.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with their president and VP of operations directly. They’re nice people, and I get along well with them. I work with the main engineer and two web developers.

How did you come to work with Two Tall Totems?

We wanted to work with a local Vancouver company on the maintenance app project. We researched online and contacted three or four companies. We really liked Two Tall Totems' proposal, support, and communication.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $75,000 CAD (approximately $58,000 USD) thus far. The app development itself was a set rate.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in 2013 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The maintenance app they developed made tracking hours for specific maintenance tasks on aircraft much easier. It’s also made the maintenance department much more efficient.

We can now easily determine who performs which task, which tasks take longer, and who should be assigning them. In terms of labor hours, the app increased our company's overall productivity.

How did Two Tall Totems perform from a project management standpoint?

We had an extremely fast three- to four-month timeline for the initial app. They were quick at drawing things up, getting a design, talking to us about how it would work, and actually building the app. The day-to-day planning and app design were done more with the maintenance managers on our side. Their team communicated well with our managers and expertly explained technical jargon.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're an innovative company. I visited their office and everyone I’ve spoken to there seems happy and productive. I would like to work in a place like that, where the owners are engaged with the company as well as the day-to-day design and development processes. Their environment is productive and I have a good connection with their team and owners.

I have a good connection with the team and owners, but our relationship continues to develop further. I have nothing but positive things to say about them. They're always helpful and timely, and the products they create for us are excellent.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Head of Product at Health2047. We are a venture creation company with the goal of helping the healthcare system evolve and mature in a way that will benefit physicians and patients through technology focused activities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Two Tall Totems?

We were looking for a partner to assist us in developing a functional prototype to help us explore patient and physician interaction in a meaningful way.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Tall Totems developed a software stack with an Apache Cassandra backend, a React Native web application frontend, and a native iOS application. We completed the project in two phases until the initial prototype was delivered as a clickable wireframe. We then validated a few of the critical flows for authentication and user management before running tests. For the first half of the project we handled design internally, but as things got more complicated we passed that over to Two Tall Totems as well.

What is the team composition?

Our team lead was their Director of Technology who was very understanding and clearly understood the architecture of new software design patterns. A team of four developers, two iOS developers, and one web and Cassandra backend lead supported him.

How did you come to work with Two Tall Totems?

A trusted friend referred them to us. We then engaged them through a RFP along with two other vendors, however Two Tall Totems was more competitively priced, and we were confident they were capable of delivering the project.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of the project was around $650,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from September 2016–June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Unfortunately I cannot say that the product itself was successful because we eventually realized that we were trying to solve a problem that wasn’t a large enough issue. As a result, we had to curtail the project until we have a better business case for pushing it. However, that is the business we are in as venture creators and it does nothing to take away from the work Two Tall Totems performed.

We have been able to use the product in a number of demos in order to demonstrate what we think the future of healthcare will look like. This has helped us articulate some of our goals as a company both internally and to potential clients. The product also successfully demonstrates things like a unified authentication flow and a simplified approach to managing patients in a direct engagement between providers. So, while it is hard to qualify is as a successful launch, it has been a very useful internal tool in helping us sell our vision build our future.

How did Two Tall Totems perform from a project management standpoint?

They did very well. They almost always met deadlines and estimates, and if they were unable to they would work overtime to make it up to us and explain why they were delayed. We communicated through daily stand-ups and would email and chat through Atlassian. Their Head of Architecture even flew out to see us at the start of the project to go over specifics with my team. I would say we had a pretty seamless engagement and were very tightly coupled together.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to go above and beyond to make sure that they hit their deliverables really stood out. Their president really knows what it takes to build a long lasting partnership, and if they made a mistake they picked up the bill and made it right. They are one of the most qualified teams I have ever worked with, and they really care about each project. For example, we had a few questions after launch, and they reengaged with us right away for no charge.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They did a really great job, but I think they could have better communication tools like burn charts to help us monitor progress. It would also have been helpful to have a better sense of how money was being spent, but that is really the only areas for improvement.

Any advice for potential customers?

You have to know what your overall strategy and goal is for the project, and articulate it in terms of business and why you want to achieve this goal. Their team is really motivated by great business challenges, so asking them to just be a dev shop and not a true partner will get you less out of the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the former CEO of an online dating app company called SuperDate. We connected people based on shared interests in real life activities and events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Two Tall Totems?

We approached Two Tall Totems for end-to-end software development services. They provided the design, project management, development, and operational work for our first mobile product.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a mobile app that would become the core of our business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I’m not sure how we chose them because we selected them before I joined the company.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They delivered a full mobile application, including backend services, hosting, and client UI. Initially, we started with a poor-quality, web-based prototype as a reference to develop the iOS version; later, they built the Android iteration. They used Adobe, Asana, GitHub, AWS, and Sketch to develop the app, and the whole effort spanned around a year.

What was the team composition?

They assembled a team of about seven people, consisting of a designer, a project manager, and multiple developers who worked closely with our in-house designer. Their three executive-level members were also regularly involved.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Previous engagements with other agencies left us wary of external development companies; however, Two Tall Totems produced results that far surpassed our expectations. Along the way, they provided stable builds to demonstrate the work done, and we used these builds to raise money for the company. As such, they were instrumental in furthering our business’s progress.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They had reasonable costs and estimates and regularly met commitments and deliverables. As for collaboration tools, they used Slack and G Suite to manage the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their company was well run since the owners were also experienced software developers. The three executives were regularly involved and made sure that we understood how committed their team was to the project.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They’re a well-rounded development company that can handle end-to-end projects. However, if they could find a way to integrate agency-quality visual design, either through hiring talent or a partnership, it would help set them apart even more.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was VP of technology and operations at a society that helped small- and medium-enterprises get products and services to market. The organization ceased operations earlier this year when we couldn’t secure enough public and private sector funding.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Two Tall Totems?

We had a client that used a .NET-based software platform, which crashed at 11 a.m.–due to usage patterns–on a daily basis. They hired us to assess the application, optimize its backend and database, and then rebuild the frontend to create a modern and intuitive look and feel. Wanting to leverage third-party expertise, we engaged Two Tall Totems as part of a larger effort to build a network of trusted partners for future collaborations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We did a Deep Dive analysis on database structures and call routines, during which we discovered significant fragmentation. Once we resolved the daily crashes, both sides proceeded to build the new frontend, targeting the desktop version in an attempt to make it responsive. We ran two-week sprint with deliverables at the end of each sprint. Rather than provide ongoing support, we aimed to train the client’s internal team to do enhancements and maintenance in-house. Two Tall Totems developed an API after we decided to extend the backend to a different external interface. The team also groomed the backlog and prioritization by working with the client’s product owner.

What is the team composition?

The team included a product manager, a solutions architect, and a Scrum master.

How did you come to work with Two Tall Totems?

I knew the co-founders from the company’s success and had maintained a relationship. Although it would’ve been easier to hire a vendor near the client’s location, Two Tall Totems fit our mission to partner with firms that could help accelerate our enterprise clients’ growth.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent at least $500,000 CAD ($376,540 USD). We had a prime agreement with Two Tall Totems. We had structured rates with then resold those services to the client at a markup.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in June 2017 and the partnership ended in May 2018, when our organization dissolved.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, our partnership maintained the client’s competitiveness and increased their capacity. Likewise, the client was ecstatic and expressed their enthusiasm via testimonials and press releases, one of which specifically mentioned the vendor. Dire things would have happened if Two Tall Totems hadn’t got involved. The client retained them after our organization ceased operations to complete the project and scale in-house development resources.

How did Two Tall Totems perform from a project management standpoint?

We used the appropriate tools and processes for agile development. We utilized Jira to manage the backlog.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have incredible ethics, dedication, and follow through. For example, we created a six-day “war room” session to launch the frontend interface and extended functionality. Even though we ran an agile environment, that tactic was necessary to accommodate the complexities of large enterprise clients. Having everyone in one room for extended periods of time accelerated productivity and fostered camaraderie between teams.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We ran into accounts receivable challenges with the client, which affected our relationship with Two Tall Totems. But they stuck with us and even got too nice–perhaps even too lenient–when tension escalated and we threatened to cease work. That commitment effectively demonstrated their loyalty.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a realtor with Shane Gray Realty, a division of Sutton West Coast Realty.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Two Tall Totems?

We needed someone to design, develop, deploy, host and manage an innovative, seller-experience management tool.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to automate the archaic process of managing real estate feedback provided to Sellers after an open house or private showing.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I met one of their founders, who described their core competencies and identified similar iPhone app projects they’d done successfully in the past.

Describe the project in detail.

The solution tracks a buyer’s experience after visiting an open house or private appointment through an iPhone application, instantly reporting to the listing’s realtor/seller. It also emails individual reports and summary reports to the client. They provided turnkey, end-to-end resources, ranging from conceptual design, project management, and programming, to testing, implementation, hosting and product improvement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The solution has generated tens of thousands of dollars in client retention and new client acquisitions. Their solution is innovative and unprecedented in the industry! It’s a key differentiator, so it continues to dazzle our loyal clients.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They set up efficient communication channels which made correspondence nearly instantaneous.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Aside from their professionalism, their depth of knowledge and ability to deliver our solution in a timely, cost-efficient manner stood out to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We’ve been very pleased, so there aren’t any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner of Three29. We provide website and mobile application design and development, as well as digital marketing services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Two Tall Totems?

We had a potential client that needed a mobile app developed. We couldn’t do it with our in-house staff, so I reached out to Two Tall Totems to see if they could take on the technical part of the project, while our team did the frontend design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our first project was a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-enabled screen sharing application with document markup capabilities. It was originally built for the legal sector, allowing an attorney in court to hand the judge an iPad, while using another iPad themselves. The attorney could then circle and mark areas of a document that they wanted the judge to look at, and those annotations would sync. Those iPads were also hooked up to projection systems in the courtroom.

They built the technology that transferred the markup data and the other data on the screen, from the iPad to the other devices.

Since then, we’ve contacted them for projects that were outside our realm. They’ve been maintaining one of those projects for the past 12–18 months. Again, we handled all the frontend and server-side work, while they provided the app development we weren’t able to complete in-house. They've developed both Android and iOS apps for us.

What is the team composition?

We interface with their developers directly, sometimes with the project manager, with Chris (President, Two Tall Totems), and with David (VP of Operations, Two Tall Totems). I've been in direct contact with the principals and our development teams interact directly with each other.

How did you come to work with Two Tall Totems?

They found me. I put up a posting asking for a development team that could help with our attorney app. Two Tall Totems answered it and we hit it off, so we started working together.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve done $150,000–$200,000 of business with them in the last three years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2012.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our projects have run smoothly. They do what they say they will and they get the work done on time. We tell our clients when we externalize parts of projects, and they have always been happy with Two Tall Totems’ involvement.

All software will have bugs, but they’ve been on top of fixing things right away. We have a 30–60-day window after launching projects, during which they will make fixes as part of the initial contract. This is a matter of software maintenance. They’ve been transparent about anything needing to be done.

How did Two Tall Totems perform from a project management standpoint?

We have monthly sprints for maintenance and incremental app work. Those are not as short as in the case of in-house development, where we would have weekly sprints. We make a list of features, bug fixes and updates that we want, and loop through those throughout the month, pushing a new app update at the end of the sprint. For bigger projects, they spec everything upfront and build based on those specs.

Most of our communication is done through email. Our client communicates with us through a system called Rally. We pass the information on to Two Tall Totems, but we’re not connected in a mutual project management system with them. They’re easy to get hold of and we have a shared Slack channel.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their principals are honest about what they can and cannot do. Things are not overly-inflated and they're able to provide the simplest answer for every project. They have a wide range of skillsets and experience, so I know that when I bring something to the table, they'll be able to get it done. They're able to give us a budget and a list of what they can and can’t do, rather than taking on projects they can’t actually handle.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Every now and then, the communication with developers had some issues, but those things have all been ironed out. There’s nothing major that I can mention.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I advise clients to get some sort of idea of what they want building before sitting down in a meeting, even if it's only loose specifications. A conceptual idea alone will not make for a very fruitful conversation with a developer, compared to actually taking the time to outline what we want an application to do, and what the needs behind it are.

UPDATED REVIEW

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Urbanity Marketplace. We’re an online marketplace platform provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Two Tall Totems?

We needed a vendor to develop our mobile platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Two Tall Totems designed and developed our hybrid apps for iOS and Android using React Native. During our first meeting, we evaluated their skills to see if they could adequately provide the features we required. Then, we collaborated to design the app’s UI/UX. They developed all the code for user activities such as browsing, chatting, posting photos, making and accepting offers, and leaving user reviews. Additional functionalities include verifying users through social media logins and enabling purchases via PayPal.

What is the team composition?

Three designers and four developers worked on our platform. This included a VP from each department.

How did you come to work with Two Tall Totems?

I googled mobile app developers close to my area. I met with several firms but initially envisioned working with Two Tall Totems, so I selected them.

What is the status of this engagement?

They worked with us from September 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This was our first mobile app, so I don’t have a point of reference to compare them to. The app got 200 downloads within its first month without any marketing effort. Internally, we’re quite satisfied with the quality of the app. We’ve since hired more developers and they’re impressed with the stability of the app’s code. Two Tall Totems took the liberty to build this app with integrity and scalability. It was designed to last several years instead of a few months.

How did Two Tall Totems perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via Slack and I was never left out of significant events within the development process. One of their developers had to leave the project shortly after the work started. This set our schedule back one month. Luckily, they kept me informed of why it happened, how it happened, and what they were offering to correct the situation. While it was an event I would’ve preferred not occurred; I approve of how they handled it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The longevity of their code is a quality that’s unique among development firms. Two Tall Totems put in the effort to ensure we won’t need a costly backend update for some time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t always hire the cheapest vendor possible because you get what you pay for. Two Tall Totems is certainly not the cheapest firm out there, but they’re worth every dollar.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Fusion Software produces retail software. We provide point of sale (POS), warehouse management systems, and marketing information platforms. I’m the director and head of marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Two Tall Totems?

We were building the backend of a platform for promotion, marketing information, and brand management. We wanted to add a mobile application to the platform. We would manage everything centrally from our platform, but needed a mobile component for customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We brought them our idea and concept, and they helped us with the scope. They provided suggestions and options, asked us about our needs, and looked at the future that the market and the technology would support. They provided us all that support before fully engaging in the actual development.

They developed iOS and Android native applications that are fully integrated with the backend we built. The mobile devices have digital ID cards that replace or coexist with plastic cards for memberships and user category labels, such as Platinum Gold.

They gave us a mobile platform that integrates with our APIs, and developed some APIs for the mobile applications as well. The applications aren’t just for one use; we can add more functionalities to them. They produced a much better version of our backend.

Our gift card system feeds from our backend, but allows us to have a mobile wallet in the device. Users can buy, share, and use gift cards with our POS. We’re introducing those functionalities to the app. Our system has a loyalty program that now fits perfectly with the mobile components.

Users can use the apps to stay updated on their loyalty points. They can exchange the points for a gift card or make purchases from their phone. It fully integrates with our POS and e-commerce platform. There are a few other modules as well. 

What is the team composition?

There were six or seven people involved. We engaged directly with their VP of operations and CTO for the technical elements. We also engaged with their president, who runs the corporate side of the company. Those three led the project. They allocated their lead iOS developer and two others to work on development. We had a designer for the interface, which was really good.

How did you come to work with Two Tall Totems?

I met their VP of operations in a social situation. When we decided to go into mobile, we wanted the best developers but didn’t want to start our own team. They had a lot of experience with mobile applications.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2015 until February 2017. Now that we’re developing in-house, we stay in conversation with them. We still keep up a good working relationship and use them as consultants from time to time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had no complaints, and Apple and Android haven’t rejected any of the applications. The reviews and client comments have been great, whether received directly or through iTunes and Google Play. They built a solid platform for us.

How did Two Tall Totems perform from a project management standpoint?

We worked in stages and stayed in constant contact through Skype. In the beginning, we used Google Calendar to set everything up. They started implementing other tools later. They were really well organized.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were solid, professional, and knowledgeable. Their development approach was creative. They were engaged in their clients' needs and interested in helping them succeed. We gave suggestions, but their experience provided the solutions we needed. They looked not only for an immediate solution, but also for one that would work in the future. I didn’t see any flaws in their operation.