ZRIX

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is a network of community pharmacies with enhanced services, consisting of over 3,500 independently-owned community pharmacies across 44 states, as opposed to a large pharmacy chain. These pharmacies deliver services beyond dispensing prescriptions by also offering healthcare services. Within the company, I’m responsible for our market presence, including our website and messaging.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ZRIX?

We had a very outdated website built on a platform we couldn’t manage ourselves, so our goal was to build a marketing website with two key audiences. Moreover, we were working with a healthcare entity to be knowledgeable about protecting data and patient information. Thus, we also wanted to securely incorporate our data into a pharmacy locator solution and a network map, which would constantly be changing.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ZRIX has worked collaboratively with our data managers and our designer to develop a new website for us. Their scope has included selecting a template and taking the content we provided to build out the site’s different pages according to our needs. Moreover, they’ve trained us on how to use the site, and they provide hosting and support services ongoingly.

The site uses Drupal as its CMS. In addition to the pharmacy finder and the network map, ZRIX has also created a feature to display the over 100 videos we have of success stories. The site also has 49 separate network pages, so ZRIX will be training administrators and editors from those networks to manage their own pages.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with three people from ZRIX. I’ve also worked with Apurv (Director of Operations) and a page designer, but I believe ZRIX subcontracted this designer.

How did you come to work with ZRIX?

We’re owned by two other companies, and one of those was already working with ZRIX, so they came highly recommended. Thus, I communicated with Apurv, provided him with my requirements, and talked with him about the concept for the site and the capabilities we needed it to include. Then, they responded with a proposal, and we took it from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started communicating with ZRIX in around February 2022, but we officially signed the contract around April 2022, and the site went live in September 2022. Still, our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ZRIX has delivered a very clean and user-friendly website, which was one of our first requirements. It clearly directs our two key audiences to the two different bodies of content to meet their needs.

Before working with ZRIX, we had a static website we weren’t able to update or change. Now, we have a living website, which has considerably elevated our brand in just a few days and brought us to the 21st century. Although it is too early to track results, we now also have analytics, which will allow us to monitor what’s going on with the site and use that information to drive decisions and make adjustments.

How did ZRIX perform from a project management standpoint?

ZRIX has always been on time and on budget, and their support has been outstanding. We communicate via Skype and manage the project on Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

ZRIX’s commitment to the quality of their work is impressive — they put their clients first. Whenever they’ve told me they would do something, they do it, which makes me feel tremendous confidence in them as a partner. I know they have my back.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything they could improve on. If anything, our expectations of their third-party content and design support were misaligned, so it would have been great if we had a better understanding of what to expect from those people. Still, it had nothing to do with ZRIX.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have the content ready or at least a clear idea of what you want because the content will drive the design of the site.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a nonprofit whose mission is to promote international understanding. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMS Website Services, LLC (Zrix)?

We wanted a system that worked well for us. Specifically, we needed a user-friendly and accessible website that was also easy to navigate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

To jumpstart the project, we explained our challenges and needs, and CMS explained how they’d help us out. 

Essentially, they’ve migrated our website to a new domain and implemented structural changes to it. We’ve provided content, while their members have handled its design. Everything is built on WordPress. On top of that, their team is helping us create an online art gallery with content from one of our projects.

Throughout the process, we’re focused on having a seamless UI/UX and security — everything should be manageable both from the front- and backend. Continuity and speed are also crucial factors for us. 

What is the team composition?

We deal with two people from their team. One of them manages the project, and the other is a developer. 

How did you come to work with CMS Website Services, LLC (Zrix)?

We needed a web developer and made a public announcement. CMS reached out last year and did a few projects for us, and they were on time and on target. When we decided to have a longer commitment with a provider, we did more research and went through the hiring process again. We checked out other companies, but we felt most comfortable with CMS in the end. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $4,000–$5,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We first got in touch in September 2020, and the partnership is ongoing. Our most recent project started around March 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

CMS has been excellent. Since we’re a nonprofit, we’re not tech-savvy at all. They know what they’re doing, and they’re professional. 

How did CMS Website Services, LLC (Zrix) perform from a project management standpoint?

CMS performs well, and our experience has been positive. To communicate, we use Basecamp and email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team delivered results. Overall, CMS has been reliable and consistent. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Try them out. We’re a nonprofit, so reputation is crucial for us. Given that, if we recommend a company, it means we’ve had a good experience with them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Pointer Advertising, LLC.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zrix?

I was looking for a reliable developer to do ongoing work for various clients that I have.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CMS Website Services, LLC has been doing some WordPress work, custom coding, responsive coding, and HubSpot management. 

In terms of web development, which is their main responsibility, they recently made a custom membership badge for a WooCommerce website that I have. Currently, the team is working on a HubSpot blog, helping us to make it look the way we want it to. 

What is the team composition?

I have two main points of contact.

How did you come to work with Zrix?

After finding them on Google, I called them. I gave them a smaller project just to see if they would do it, and they did. I then decided to continue working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $3,000–$4,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in about January or February 2020, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Zrix is all about testing. I never have too many edits when they ask me to take a look at something. They’re quick to jump on work, which is great. A lot of the work that I do is for advertising agencies, and the team outsources when they need web or graphic design help. 

The problem that I had with other companies is that they would take too long to do the work that needed to be done. Zrix is very responsive, and they’ve helped me help my clients get their work done at a much faster pace. They do a really good job.

How did Zrix perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Basecamp, and they set me up on that as well. We communicate via Skype and email, but we also talk on the phone when I need to give them a bigger, more complex project. The team is big on understanding what I want before they dive in. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Zrix isn’t afraid to take on smaller tasks. This was another issue that I had with other developers because they only wanted the meaty projects and didn’t want to make little changes or do maintenance. 

But this team understands that even the smaller work is important. They’re not afraid to help me with something that takes even five minutes. The team understands that it’s not just about the money.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind right away. They’ve charged me a reasonable rate. In fact, Zrix recently did something small for me and didn’t charge me because it only took a minute. I have no complaints, even though I’m a picky person. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on the initial request because it will save time on having to review the work. Zrix makes it easy to work with you, and they do it practically. Even though they have professional tools such as Basecamp, they understand how to multitask and how to decide which tasks are most important. They’re very organized.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of an automotive business startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMS Website Services, LLC?

I hired them to help develop a website and application for me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked on the entire development and helped with the ideation process. I had most of the brainstorming done when I came to them, but they helped with questions I had over whether some ideas were possible or how things could be integrated. 

They then worked on all the coding, which was great because I have no background in that area. Then, they built the website out with admin pages and Stripe, and they also led me on walkthroughs of everything. 

What is the team composition?

I directly worked with two people, but indirectly I worked with 2–4 as developers supported them.

How did you come to work with CMS Website Services, LLC?

I recently moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and I wanted to start this project that I had been brainstorming for over a year. I wanted to hire someone in the area and went through 3–4 companies.

They previously used a software service system, they were in my price range, and they seemed to know what they were doing. All these factors caused me to pull the trigger and hire CMS Website Services, LLC.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent somewhere more than $10,000, but less than $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from July–November 2019. They have helped me with small troubleshooting things since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had a rough idea going in, and they ran with it. Their technical inputs were great—they made the forward-facing portion of the site look very professional. All of their work is quality. They’re really good at what they do—producing blue ribbon worthy-work with a quick turnaround time.

How did CMS Website Services, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication between us was great. They had a developer working with them in India that made the communication times slightly off, but they were incredibly responsive throughout the process.

I travel a lot, and they were incredibly accommodating. They quickly responded to my questions over email, and if I needed more context they scheduled Skype calls to make me understand what they were talking about.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Coming from a non-technical background, I was incredibly impressed with the guides they made. For my login page, they made a detailed PDF with images that went through the most minute and minor details to help me operate it.

If you’re like me and don’t have a technical background, they’re some of the best developers out there because of their patience and ability to teach me how to operate the product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project took longer than expected, but that was my fault. I travel and would be unresponsive for weeks at a time, hurting their ability to get stuff done.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Use Skype or give them a call more often. You'll get answers quicker, and they’re great at explaining things.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner and founder of a firm that provides career support for nurses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire CMS Website Services, LLC?

I needed design and development of my website, along with mobile app development.

What were your goals for this project?

I want a site with an easily navigable layout and an attractive visual design to support content presentation.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was referred to them by previous clients of theirs.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed and developed our website and provide ongoing maintenance. They also developed our mobile app.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a web designer and a small team of developers. A designated team member served as the single point of contact on their end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They created a great product for our business. The site has anchored our company by presenting content in a manner that attracts a large audience so we can make them aware of the other services we provide.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their project manager ensured everything went smoothly. We communicated through Basecamp, which made things very organized and easy to track. They’ve been easy to work with and responsive to our requests.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They provide excellent customer service. CMS is always prepared to make updates and changes to our website and app. They’re responsive to requests and easy to communicate with. If a problem arises, they work as hard and as quickly as they can to identify a solution.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re very happy with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the assistant technology manager for a public library. Our digital county library system is spread over 21 locations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMS Website Services?

We had an aging website that was, in short, a mess. We had a group of staff who worked in IT both in and outside of the organization. Together, we researched a number of websites and providers to establish our scope. We needed to address two things. Our old site was not Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. As a public library, it’s important for us to make these accommodations. Secondly, the site wasn’t mobile responsive. In fact, it looked terrible on smartphones based on our analytics.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CMS Website Services made our site mobile responsive so it could work on any device. They built our platform using Drupal 7 with a Microsoft SQL backend. As a team internally, we analyzed and pared down all of our content. The team helped streamline every aspect of the platform. We collaboratively brainstormed the best way to showcase our digital content. Matt Mroz (Lead Designer, CMS Website Services, LLC) helped us would come up with ideas. They excelled at incorporating our feedback.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a project manager, developer, and a designer from CMS Website Services. A few auxiliary resources supported their work.

How did you come to work with CMS Website Services?

We discovered a site we liked and wanted ours to have a comparable design. After reaching out to the business owner, they referred us to CMS Website Services.

How much have you invested in them?

We invested between $25,000–$50,000 in this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with CMS Website Services from June 2016–June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Counterintuitively, one of our best results was decreased page views. In reality, this is a benchmark of success for streamlining the UX and purchasing process. Previously, users had to click five different links to access our product catalog. This needless effort would show up as five distinct page views. Rather than indicating that users were electively spending more time on our site, it was really a testament to the poor navigation.

CMS Website Services designed most features with this problem in mind. They made our information and products easily accessible. Customers no longer have to waste time searching for what they want to buy. In line with our original objectives, they also our entire site ADA compliant. It can now be accessed and read on screen readers and has substantially expanded functionality compared to the old version.

How did CMS Website Services perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, I was pretty happy with the workflow. I served as my in-house team’s project lead in addition to my other ongoing duties. The team seemed to work the most at night, and our working hours overlapped somewhat in the mornings.

Our communication style was quite different for each stage. During the design phase, we held several meetings and phone calls. The development phase involved minor contact through Basecamp and a more straightforward execution of the scope.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CMS Website Services was responsive and flexible about contacting us and managing the project. They easily adjusted to our organization’s unique internal methodology. We’re very used to completing projects in-house.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do some research to define your goals. I would have done a couple of things differently in hindsight, which is no fault of CMS Website Services.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and president of Bernard Health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMS Website Services?

Our development needs usually exceed our in-house capabilities. We needed a reliable new partner. Previous vendors I’d worked with had disappeared mid-project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They delivered our flagship project BerniePortal, an online HR platform for small businesses. CMS Website Services has proficiently executed all our requests, which involve several technologies. The programmers write code primarily in PHP. Some of our projects were built on Drupal. We recently started using a Laravel framework. The development team has worked with several different libraries.

What is the team composition?

The team of more than 10 resources includes developers and project managers.

How did you come to work with CMS Website Services?

We interviewed several potential development firms. Ultimately, we chose CMS Website Services based on their strong references. They exhibited reliability and a depth of knowledge and skill.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $1 million-$10 million on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2008 and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

CMS Website Services values our projects as if they were their own. They’ve delivered comprehensively, every single time. The developers are comfortable working with a variety of different platforms and technologies. I can contact them day or night, and they’ll promptly address our needs.

How did CMS Website Services perform from a project management standpoint?

They do a tremendous job of organizing the project. We currently use GitHub and a tool called Waffle. In the past, we’ve used Basecamp and Pivotal Tracker. They’re flexible about the project management tools we use.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CMS Website Services is extremely dependable. I trust that any project we start together will get delivered. We’ve had prior contractors fail to fulfill promises. The team consistently works to expand their technical skills. My lead developer noted how thoroughly they stay informed about Laravel.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If we ever miss a targeted release date, it’s usually related to in-house problems. We are constantly working to improve our communication and protocols.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep in mind that you are the subject matter expert for your project. It’s easy to take industry-specific knowledge for granted. Explicitly communicate and document the scope rather than leaving it open to interpretation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the owner and founder of Good Earth Beauty, a website offering natural products. I also have an Amazon store, offer products wholesale, and have products in 10 stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMS Website Services?

When I was first starting my company, I needed help building my website and adding e-commerce functionality. Previously, I had bad experiences with a few vendors before finding CMS.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CMS designed and developed my website on Drupal and added a shopping cart feature. They continue to host the site and provide general I.T. support and maintenance services. Over the years, they've also redesigned the site two or three times as the business evolved.

What is the team composition?

I work with about six or seven people in total who are responsible for programming, managing the shopping cart, and design.

How did you come to work with CMS Website Services?

I found CMS through an online search. When I reached out to them, they offered to fix a few things via Skype on the spot. I never thought anyone would be able to do that, but they fixed what I needed, so I hired them. It was a brilliant strategy.

How much have you invested with them?

I've invested between 10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I've been working with them since January 2010 and they continue to host the website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Any task they've been assigned to, they've completed well. Each website redesign they've done has led to an increase in traffic and productivity.

How did CMS Website Services perform from a project management standpoint?

They always answer emails and Skype messages promptly and never miss any deadlines. In one instance, the site was down but they were able to fix it thanks to their 24/7 support. I've always been able to reach someone on their team when I need to.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I mostly appreciate their responsiveness and reliability. They're also pretty affordable and fairly priced. They don't round up their time on the final bill; they're transparent about the work they provide.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They've addressed and fixed anything that has come up over the many years we've worked together.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the president and CEO of MD Logic. Our healthcare technology company has been in business for 23 years. We sell electronic health records, practice management software, and revenue cycle management services to domestic and international physicians.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMS Website Services?

Ten years ago, we wanted to transition our site to Drupal. CMS Website Services was one of the few vendors proficient with that platform at the time. We partnered with their team to redesign our website to accurately depict our company and services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our new website on Drupal at our specific request. In addition to building new platforms, they've worked on external sites we manage. Despite being a software company, we only execute marketing and sales in-house. We outsource the actual development, hosting and maintenance of our sites.

CMS Website Services implemented the vision we conveyed. We requested a simple, easily modifiable platform that showcased news and events. Our in-house team didn't want to grapple with a learning curve. They made it easy for us to keep track of new updates in-house. Their team handles any substantial tweaks and add-ons. After reviewing updates on the test site, we approve them and they go live.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with resources from all their service categories. They assigned several developers and graphic designers to our project. On occasion, we interacted with the executive leadership.

How did you come to work with CMS Website Services?

We found them while researching vendors who were proficient at using Drupal. After interviewing a few of their resources, we decided to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the course of our extended engagement, we've spent between $10,000- $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with CMS Website Services for 10 years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

CMS Website Services is a quality company that gets everything right on the first try. I have great relationships with many of their employees. They're highly skilled at using Drupal and modern tech.

The platform works well overall. It's mobile responsive and has never crashed or gone offline. We haven't thoroughly assessed end-user feedback, but I've never heard complaints. Our customers mostly use our site to watch videos about our products. We've had minimal issues with posted content.

How did CMS Website Services perform from a project management standpoint?

We usually discuss the project during conference calls. There wasn’t much need for additional contact after we outlined the initial scope. They manage the workflow using BaseCamp. This tool lets me post comments and requests. It has an integrated email function and features images of the latest work. The team posts links to updates in real time. This method kept the project going without excessive oversight.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service is excellent. When you call them, they promptly respond regardless of the time of day. Even if they can't execute a task immediately, a developer or support resource will confirm receipt of your message. It's never an automated response. They monitor the work 24/7. They're trustworthy and consistently responsive. I'd give them an A plus.

Are there any areas they could improve?

My only recommendation would be to offer a quarterly payment plan that incorporates emerging tech and innovative new ideas.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

A thousand development agencies who can build you a new website. If you want a team that provides really good service, choose CMS Website Services.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a contracting marketing company. We provide scheduling, invoicing, and estimate software for contracting companies in the multifamily remodeling industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CMS Website Services, LLC?

I’ve used our software for the five years while working with my other company. I started another company to offer that software as a service to other contractors. However, we needed to redesign our in-house software and add functionalities to facilitate its use on a larger scale.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CMS redesigned the platform’s UI/UX and built out additional features. We oversee the software and input relevant data from jobs that come through our call center. Users can login and view everything within the scope of a job including its description, how much it pays, the project length, and the specific materials required to complete it. The software allows us to send schedules and progress reports to the property management companies that ordered the job. Once the work is complete, we send invoices to pay the contractors as soon as possible. The software is still in development and we’re currently testing it for bugs and considering additional features.

What is the team composition?

Their director of operations is our primary point of contact and functions as the project manager. The rest of the team consists of designers and frontend developers, but I’m unsure of their specific titles. So far, I’ve worked with four people from their team.

How did you come to work with CMS Website Services, LLC?

I searched online and interviewed five different firms. CMS took a lot of interest in our software and provided great references. Their quote was reasonable, so we decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $30,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2017 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new software is significantly more user-friendly than its previous iteration. It’s also responsive on mobile which is an absolute necessity in the construction industry.

How did CMS Website Services, LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

CMS manages their time efficiently and are responsive to sudden changes in scope. Some tasks take longer to complete than others, but they send frequent progress reports so I know we’re getting closer to launch each day. We use Basecamp to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re open to feedback and proactively make changes. Their quickness is definitely a strength compared to other vendors we’ve used. Additionally, I often had to describe an issue multiple times for our previous vendor to fully understand the problem. This is not my experience with CMS. Communication is never a struggle as I only have to ask for something once to see results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When the project started, their designers weren’t familiar with our company or what we do. As a result, their initial ideas were different than what we had in mind. We cleared up the confusion quickly, but they could’ve done more research when we first engaged with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Start testing deliverables immediately and send them feedback as soon as possible. I didn’t send my reactions to the first version for over a week. That wasted valuable time for both parties.