1stFold WebSolutions

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I previously worked at Holistic Analytics, a consulting firm that I founded.

What challenge were you trying to address with 1stFold WebSolutions?

I needed help with web development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at 1stFold WebSolutions performed full-stack development for several websites. We had some projects where they focused only on the frontend. From the beginning, their team was involved in requirement gathering, wireframing, alignment with the business owners, and other interpersonal factors.

For the frontend, they used JavaScript. The backend work was in WordPress or custom-coded PHP. On and off, their team has been completing small projects. They’re currently working on a significant project that is planned for 12 weeks.

What is the team composition?

I mainly worked with their technical team.

How did you come to work with 1stFold WebSolutions?

I was looking for someone offshore because development in Ireland is expensive. I found 1stFold WebSolutions on Elance.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested €30,000 (approximately $33,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in 2015.

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

Their team is great during the initial stages. They’re tight on milestones and deadlines. Since their team manages everything in a specific way, we never had an issue with delivery. They excel at forming the groundwork of projects.

How did 1stFold WebSolutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Along with delivering on time and within budget, their team provides useful documentation. We used Trello and had conference calls through Skype and Google Hangouts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the projects was quite challenging. It was a custom-coded PHP related to getting referrals and traffic to websites. It was in the digital analytical space and involved tracking successful and unsuccessful references.

If someone referred another user to buy something on the e-commerce website, I had to make sure it was all tracked right because of payment. It was a detailed project that required a lot of precision. The team at 1stFold WebSolutions delivered that successfully.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any complaints, which is why I keep using them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an investment banking firm. We provide advice to companies looking to buy or sell other firms or to raise capital from private investors. I'm a managing partner.

What challenge were you trying to address with 1stFold WebSolutions?

They joined us to assist with a website refresh and update. We needed to completely overhaul our website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were involved with everything to keep our site running and up-to-date. They migrated and updated existing content, added new content, improved the look and feel for the site, and updated the backend systems. The entire package was modernized, and our routine maintenance procedures and policies were clearer.

What is the team composition?

Our principal point of contact operated as the project lead. I’m not sure how big the team was on their side.

How did you come to work with 1stFold WebSolutions?

We posted a project online and they submitted a proposal. Their references were good, so we decided to use them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration started around 2012 and lasted about six years. We recently moved to a bigger firm to accommodate our business growth.

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

The site was very professional looking, with an upgraded UI that was very contemporary. They did a great job providing a state-of-the-art image for us. We received a lot of positive feedback.

How did 1stFold WebSolutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was very good. They kept the development process moving forward and on track. We communicated primarily through email, and occasionally via Skype.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness was very strong. They were always available to make a change or resolve an issue and were a key player in our success. It wasn’t a complicated site, but they created something within our budget that fit our needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any negative things to say about them; we had a very positive experience. When we moved to a different developer, it was simply because we needed a bigger firm.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Understand what you need and be as specific as possible.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company provides liquidity solutions for digital assets. I’m the CEO.

For what projects/services did your company hire 1stFold WebSolutions?

We hired 1stFold WebSolutions to re-design our corporate website.

What were your goals for this project?

To have a more dynamic, professional, and modern website that presents a better image of our company to our prospective customers.

How did you select this vendor?

We used a freelancer website and selected them from the competition.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed the website in line with our requirements, then searched for relevant images and videos for on it. Working with our team, they put together this content in the right places. Finally, they developed the whole site. 

Throughout the project, any changes and adjustments were made as and when required, including improvements to the initial plan.

What was the team composition?

I only dealt with Aamir (CEO, 1stFold WebSolutions).

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

My company is still in its very early stages, so no metrics are available yet. I believe the website is very good. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was dealt with well, with no hiccups. Everything was finished in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The speed of delivery and their professional attitude impressed me.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. I recommend them to other people in need of professional web development and design services.