Versett

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of Reach, an e-commerce acceleration platform for retailers who would like to go global.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Versett?

After we rebranded, we had a website that didn’t clearly show what we doing and used a lot of industry jargon. We wanted a new site that would drive conversion and speak to merchants in language they were familiar with.

SOLUTION

What challenge were you trying to address with Versett?
After we rebranded, we had a website that didn’t clearly show what we doing and used a lot of industry jargon. We wanted a new site that would drive conversion and speak to merchants in language they were familiar with.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first sat down with Versett to complete a very long discovery process. We explored who we were trying to reach and what language to use. Once we clarified our audience — merchants — and our customer acquisitional channel, we went over every piece of every page until we understood our target audience and what we wanted to get across to them.

Having a platform with a cohesive story was very important to us. Once Versett understood the layout, they built the website with a frontpage that targeted only merchants. They then created other pages that catered to the other audiences we serve. That way, the site is much more focused.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 people consisting of a messaging strategist, a graphic design strategist, and a product/positioning strategist. The team brought in extra resources from time to time. Justin (Product Manager) was our main contact. 

How did you come to work with Versett?

We got a recommendation from another provider.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from July until November 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve received five times as many leads on our main site on a weekly basis after just a few months. We’re also not seeing as many one-off leads that don’t relate to our services. Moreover, every client who has seen the new website has said positive things. We’ve had a couple of bugs after the fact, but Versett has fixed everything I’ve taken to them.

How did Versett perform from a project management standpoint?

What surprised me the most was that they actually stayed on track and delivered on time. In my experience, most companies start with a full plan that later becomes looser and less followed. With Versett, that was not the case. They provided a highly organized view of what’s happened, what’s happening, and what’s going to happen. They kept track of how time is left and what can we get done within time. Everything was efficient and well-done.

We communicated via Slack and email. Versett also shared information through platforms like InVision and Whimsical Sticky Notes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to truly understand our model deeply before they gave us any recommendation stood out. I also appreciated their strict adherence to schedules. In general, Versett was really professional and awesome to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Over time, it became clear that some items in the original engagement weren’t getting the same attention or focus as the main website. We addressed it but not as fully as I’d like. In the future, I’d ensure peripheral-seeming parts of projects are amputated or fully dealt with. This was a mutual thing we could’ve worked on.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a dedicated person on your team to work with them. They’ll need to be timely and ready with answers. Otherwise, you’ll end up burning through time and resources.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I manage the sales marketing team at a visual content provider. We offer a variety of services around licensing images and videos.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Versett?

We have traditionally released our visual trends for the year via a printed book, but we wanted to transfer that release to a digital experience. We hired Versett to scope out the design of our desired website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We relied on Versett to coordinate our design scheme and the strategy behind our user experience. We workshopped our ideas over a matter of weeks, which drove their ultimate design of the site. Versett helped simplify the types of materials we produce by identifying three overarching content buckets. They delivered final mock-ups at the end of the engagement so that we could develop the website independently or with another vendor.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one project manager, who was supported by 2–3 designers.

How did you come to work with Versett?

We learned about Versett through an internal colleague that had worked with them in the past. While other vendors that approached us had strict approaches to designs, Versett made the process very easy. I appreciated their focus on mobile and responsive designs—making sure that anything they put together would render and look good on any platform. Their approach to the UX and the design strategy felt current and relevant.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000–$200,000 with Versett.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–May 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gotten positive feedback about the design. Our online visitors enjoy the website and find it engaging and highly visual. As a visual brand, it has checked all of our boxes.

How did Versett perform from a project management standpoint?

Versett gave us access to their Quip project management platform, which allowed us to view their progress and timelines. Their team was communicative and organized, and they always made themselves available to discuss the project. Working with Versett was one of the best experiences I’ve had working with an outside vendor.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They strike an impressive balance between being creative and strategic with their project designs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We experienced some delayed deliveries, and I’m not sure if those were caused by a staff change or a heavy workload. Versett would let us know ahead of time, which we appreciated, but some deadlines shifted as a result.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Versett knows what they’re doing. I think they’d be a great choice of a vendor.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president and CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange platform called Bitvo.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Versett?

We're a start-up and we needed help building our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Versett built the entire platform from scratch. We had meetings where we discussed what we wanted our platform to look like and Versett provided the mock-up design, which we had to approve. Then, they created the wireframes and developed the user interface.

Essentially, they built three things for us– a marketing website, a cryptocurrency exchange website, and a mobile application. Our users can go on our marketing website to learn about our business, even if they don't have an account. If they decide to become a customer, they can choose to register for an account. After that, they're on the actual exchange website and can use the platform to trade their Canadian dollars for cryptocurrency or trade between cryptocurrencies. (We offer Canadian dollars and seven different cryptocurrencies). Versett also integrated the platform with Flinks, Canada Post, and two other companies.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about five members of their team.

How did you come to work with Versett?

They're a local company, and our founder had a prior relationship with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to $1,000,000 CAD (approximately $750,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between February–August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a very high-quality product. Their developers went above and beyond to get everything right from the first time, rather than waiting for us to correct their work. Our website is very professional compared to what our competitors offer, and the feedback from our users has been very positive.

How did Versett perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very good at managing our expectations in terms of the timeline. There was a lot to accomplish, so they often worked nights and weekends to meet our tight deadlines. We were constantly communicating via email and phone when we were building the platform, and we also had in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very competent and took their time to think about all possible solutions. Also, their attention to detail is exceptional. They really want to produce something they can be proud of.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd absolutely recommend them if you can afford it. They're on the expensive side, but they’re worth it because the quality of the product is very high.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Venn Coffee. We’re producing a premium manual coffee brewer and have nearly finished the initial manufacturing of it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Versett?

We needed services for product branding, company brand positioning, and website design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project started with a branding exercise to determine the names of the business and product. During the brainstorming sessions, we thought about our position in the market and what would be important to our customers. Versett then created a deck with two different approaches to branding and company styling. After we selected the name, the team proceeded to develop and design our website based on the brand guidelines we established. Currently, we have a live registration-style landing page and designs in place for the finished product and company fundraising pages, which have yet to go live.

What is the team composition?

The team includes a project manager, a UX lead, and a developer.

How did you come to work with Versett?

We did online research, but got connected to Versett through a mutual connection. I went to high school with the managing director’s wife. Our team reached out and they walked us through their past cases and service offerings. Based on their relevant experience, we felt comfortable with Versett and decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$199,999.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in July 2018 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results earned positive internal feedback. The brand and designs perfectly reflect our classical approach to coffee in a modern and high-tech world. We love the logo and collateral—coffee cups, stickers, items around the office, etc.

How did Versett perform from a project management standpoint?

The team’s quick work has exceeded our expectations. Versett outlined key milestones and objectives early on in the process. As a result, we haven’t missed a deadline because most tasks were completed in advance. The team is on our company Slack, which enables everyone involved to ask and answer questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Versett’s emphasis on UX and design distinguish them from other development and consulting firms I’ve worked with. They put considerable thought into those areas and how they fit with the website and business requirements.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, because the brand exercises and web design have met our objectives. Consequently, I don’t have feedback for improvement because we’re happy that Versett keeps hitting our targets.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If clients want the best user design and experience, they should hire Versett.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of InUnison. We’re a health and safety technology company that’s working to digitize the health and safety manuals, giving small and mid-sized businesses a cost-effective solution to manage their compliance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Versett?

We needed to build an MVP version of our product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided Versett with an idea, and they helped us build it out, starting with the design. We had weekly reviews with their team to look at different aesthetic options for the product. They understood what we were looking to do, and incorporated our feedback into each iteration.

Once we completed the design process, they developed the solution using React and Redux technology. Their team continues to help us implement updates, but we’re in the process of transitioning the project over to our in-house team.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a designer, a lead developer, and a larger frontend team. We interacted with everyone on a need-by-need basis; there wasn’t a single point of contact. This was our preferred approach.

How did you come to work with Versett?

We found them through a Google search. We considered other vendors, but Versett’s offer was the best at the end of the day. Their skilled frontend team was willing to guide us through the entire process. The designers and developers work with a very specific technology stack, so they could build a more specialized experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $200,000 CAD (approximately $150,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Versett in May 2018, and we released the final product in January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, we’ve received positive feedback from users for its seamless and intuitive experience. It works excellently compared to similar solutions on the market. Versett has been heavily involved in the project, so I definitely give them some of the credit for our success. We have had suggestions for additional features, but their team is helping us implement them while we move the project in house.

How did Versett perform from a project management standpoint?

We started the project on a biweekly schedule with a few interactions scheduled throughout, but the product started to diverge from our original goal. We decided to up our communication and touch base multiple time a week for sprint planning, check-ins, progress reviews, and any necessary ad-hoc meetings. Anytime we had a question, we could schedule a time to chat in person or over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They care about our success, but they’re not afraid to share their opinion. The Versett team won’t just blindly follow orders; if something isn’t right, they’ll let us know. They’ll push us to reconsider and guide us in the right direction. Most vendors strive to make their clients happy, Versett is more focused on their client’s success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Versett could be clearer with their limitations. The team wasn’t willing to work on certain parts of our app, and we didn’t find that out until the last minute. It wasn’t a budgetary issue, but it did cause a bit of a delay.

Specifically, we asked their team to work as full-stack developers for a period of time, and they initially agreed. Eventually, the engineering director intervened and requested that the team stick to frontend work to stay specialized. We needed to find another solution for our backend needs. It wasn’t a big deal, but we would’ve preferred to have this discussion up front.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of Prosper. We run a platform that connects users to career coaches globally.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Versett?

We engaged Versett at first to help us develop the UX strategy of our product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We already had a business case and an overall vision of our product. Versett led a collaborative effort to evolve that vision into a more expansive platform. They conducted rigorous user research and testing throughout the process. Once we had our set list of requirements, their team then delivered wireframes and sketch files. We took their designs and put them into development.

Versett contributed to other areas of our company as well. They created our initial brand, designed our iOS app experience, and further developed our website, which we’re about to launch. The team also provided a full-time, in-house designer who’s worked with us for 12 months.

What is the team composition?

Doug (Managing Director & Co-Founder, Versett) is our main point of contact. We also work with their New York design team; one of their designers works in-house alongside our team.

How did you come to work with Versett?

I found them on Twitter through a discussion about UX design. I later met Doug and shared the idea of Prosper with him very early in the process. He caught onto the vision, and our relationship developed organically into a formal partnership.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $200,000­–$1 million so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2018, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Versett delivered an MVP that looks more like a thriving product than a prototype. We’ve received positive feedback for its modern and clean design as well as its intuitive UI/UX. We’re highly satisfied with their work.

How did Versett perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is very organized and requires minimal oversight. Thanks to their technical expertise, they deliver high-quality products with excellent packaging that our team can easily adapt. Versett also rapidly resolves any roadblocks we encounter in the adaption. They work as a true extension of our team.

In addition to hosting their in-house designer, we’ve integrated them into our daily standups and our Slack which keeps the project running smoothly. We also use Zoom for video calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Versett provides every client—no matter how large the company or the project—with equal attention and respect. Getting to work with the founder makes us feel appreciated and valued as a very early startup. It’s been a pleasure to grow alongside them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Versett’s primary focus is design. While they’re building up an engineering team, mobile app development is not yet one of their greatest strengths. However, we’re highly satisfied with their phenomenal design work.

Any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to let him into your team and make them a part of your workflow.