Ankit Designs Inc.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Freight Carriers Association of Canada

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Membership owned, non-profit trade association serving the Canadian for-hire, commercial trucking industry and the shipping clients they serve.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ankit Designs Inc. to accomplish?

• To design a replacement website to support the continued efficient operation of the business
• significantly improve the 'back office' operations of the business
• significantly improve the security of our digital environment

SOLUTION

How did you find Ankit Designs Inc.?

Online Search

Why did you select Ankit Designs Inc. over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Ankit Designs Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

A little over a year ago, FCA determined that they needed to substantially upgrade or replace its existing website to upgrade its functionality and security features. The FCA website was intentionally designed as a business tool meant to support the operational management of the Association, as opposed to a marketing and advertising platform aimed at attracting new clientele. At the core of FCA's business is a weekly technical bulletin which is distributed to more than 2,500 users as a paid subscription service.

The timely and efficient delivery of its weekly bulletin is essential to FCA's success. After much research, FCA identified Ankit Designs Inc. as the leading candidate to satisfy its website requirements. An introductory video conference was scheduled with Adam, Ankit Designs CEO to explore mutual fit. As a result of that introductory meeting, FCA selected Ankit Designs to create the desired solution. 

After further investigation it was determined that a full replacement website would best serve FCA's long-term requirements. Several subsequent video meetings were scheduled with Adam and one of his lead developers, Julie to define the full scope and specs for the new website and develop the timeline and budget for the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• An efficient process to create and distribute a weekly technical bulletin to approximately 2,500 user subscribers. 
• An efficient on-boarding process for new, qualified customers 
• Increased security for our operations digital internet presence

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

• After initial meetings were concluded to define the scope of the entire project, Ankit Designs created a Scope of Project document with defined timeline and milestones. 
• Video conferences were scheduled periodically to review functionality of product and timeline 
• Feedback on issues was handled by either email or video calls
• Responsiveness was excellent; issues and their resolutions were always documented and reviewed with us for accuracy

What was your primary form of communication with Ankit Designs Inc.?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Without a doubt, the most impressive quality of Ankit Designs Inc. is the professional but completely personable nature of the people we dealt with. Nothing was ever lost to 'tech speak' and we were never 'talked down to' as non-technical users. Discussions were always serious, but with a touch of fun and humor to keep it real. And their finished product documentation was thorough and meticulous.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Ankit Designs Inc. could have done differently?

None come to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President of Lumar Food Safety Services Ltd. We specialize in food safety, quality and technical support for the food industry that includes auditing, training, and consulting services. We add value and benefit to your business by streamlining processes and programs; ensuring efficient and effective business processes and compliance that results in saving time and money.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ankit Designs Inc.?

To create, develop and maintain our website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We chose Ankit because of their pricing, flexibility, friendly yet business -like approach.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Ankit Designed my company Lumar Food Safety Services website in 2017 and it looks perfect, till today I receive compliments. They developed from start to finish checking in along the way to ensure I was happy. This was 7 and 1/2 years ago and I can not recall the specific stages. But do recall there were stages and I was updated an briefed at each one and feedback was solicited.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Since the start (2017) I have worked with: Aynka- CEO and Thomas- Project Manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It looks professional and very easy to navigate. The team is easy to work with and patient. They ensured I was completely satisfied with the product. I receive compliments till today on the website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

What I like the most about the service was the prompt, friendly, businesslike approach. They handle things very efficiently and are available for any questions we have. We still have an ongoing relationship, whenever I need updates to the site for new information. They also keep us updated on monthly reports, so we know how our site is doing.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I was impressed at how young the owner was, his wealth of knowledge, patience and understanding. He understood that this was not my area of expertise. I felt that I could trust his suggestions and that I would not be nickel and dimed as a new and small company.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a wood door manufacturing business. Our company has over 30 years of experience in the architectural woodwork industry, servicing builders, developers, contractors and architects throughout North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ankit Designs Inc., and what were your goals?

Our outdated website was created over 5 years ago and was in need of full re-design and re-development. Ankit Designs created a brand new website for us - our goals were to dive deeper into our products, showcase products better, and improve our brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We searched for many web developers, Ankit Designs was our top choice as the team was very responsive, friendly, and took the time to understand our needs and requirements. Ankit Designs created a phenomenal proposal for our new website, we were fully aligned with the team as they took significant time to learn about our products.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We started with a meeting to discuss requirements. Ankit Designs put together a proposal for us. We then proceeded with a kick-off meeting to discuss scope of the project.

We spent a significant amount of time on the Copy; Ankit Designs took the time to truly understand our products. Ankit Designs created mock-ups for us of every page before proceeding to the development phase.

The team was very easy to work with and accommodating throughout the entire process.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2 people from the vendor's team worked with us, Thomas (project manager), and Adam (CEO). Thomas was amazing to work with and really dived deep into every detail to ensure our new website would express everything we want it to and also be functional for the viewer. It was great to be able to contact Adam directly if any assistance was needed throughout the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

After launching our website, we have seen a 50% increase in traffic with no significant marketing in place. We have received double the amount of inquiries on a weekly basis. We have gained non-recurring and recurring clientele from our new website, in just a few months from launch.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project manager (Thomas) updated us 2-3 times a week with new progress. We mainly worked with Google Docs to create the Copy of the website. We went back and forth with Thomas, making updates of our content which he would revise and review with his team. This process worked really well.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

A team that works together and takes the time to understand your requirements. Ankit Designs will not upsell you, they will create a website that aligns with your needs and deep-dive into the small details to ensure perfect execution. Ankit Designs' process of creating beautiful websites is a game-changer in the industry.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Paymate Software is a company that has been offering HR and payroll solutions to U.S. and Canadian businesses of all sizes for many years. As a Marketing Associate, I develop and update promotional materials, track customers, leads and prospects, assume responsibility for social media platforms, and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ankit Designs Inc.?

Our company hired Ankit Designs with the intention of revamping our existing company website. We needed a fresh, appealing visual to present to our customers that also needed to be easy to use and navigate.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals for this project was namely a complete, well-designed webpage that would lead to increased website traffic. A further extension of this goal would be an increase in conversion of visitors to customers.

SOLUTION

How did you select Ankit Designs Inc.?

We researched online for a list of several vendors to choose from. After discussions with each vendor and careful consideration, we decided to go with Ankit Design because of the smooth discussions we had with them, and also their technical expertise was exceptional.

Describe the project in detail.

We had a lot of back and forth communication throughout the duration of the project. Ankit Design determined our needs and requirements, drafted samples for us to review and give feedback, proceeded to make revisions. This process repeated several times, and it was an enjoyable experience working together with their team.

What was the team composition?

Both of our companies each had one main point person for communication. We each then had our team that was responsible for this project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was a success as our new webpage was positively received by our existing customers. We also saw more online traffic, and started to receive more inquiries about our products.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team at Ankit Designs was very responsive, and frequently kept us up to date with work progress. Communication was clear, and they always tried to work out all the details to avoid any mistakes or misinterpretations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their technical expertise was definitely something that stood out amongst the list of vendors we initially reached out to. And of course, their communication skills were top-notch, which made the entire project flow very smoothly without any issues.

Are there any areas for improvement?

If we had to name something, then it would be the overall delivery time of the completed project. But this was not much of an issue as it was still completed within the estimated time frame. We believe that work quality is more important than simply finishing a project as fast as possible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO for Penny Appeal Canada, a relief and development organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ankit Designs Inc., and what were your goals?

Our website needed a complete overhaul as we wanted to have a more user friendly experience for our supporters to our website, while making an educated decision on donating to Penny Appeal Canada.

SOLUTION

How did you select Ankit Designs Inc. and what were the deciding factors?

We reviewed multiple proposals and spoke to several partners however after speaking with Ankit Designs, we were fairly confident this was the right partner for us given their experience in web design/development and just their willingness to work and collaborate with their clients.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Kick-off meeting Requirements gathering meeting Process flow design review meeting Mock design review meetings Essentially, Ankit made sure we were part of the journey with them and didn't work in silo.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

There were about 3-4 people from Ankit Designs on the project; all of whom were amazing to work with and always responsive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Launched the website ~5 hours ago and have received numerous messages from supporters on a job well done and how we have "changed" the charity industry with our website.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Asana, Asana, Asana!

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Just their level of transparency.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There were some minor issues with the launch - none of which were Ankit's problems but more with our web hosting. Ankit was quick to provide solutions to ensure everyone has a seamless experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a field microbiologist but in relation to my engagement with Ankit Designs, I’m the president of a volunteer organization called Ontario Food Protection Association.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ankit Designs Inc.?

We needed support for our website. We previously worked with Ankit but then engaged another provider, which didn’t work out well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

While with a different provider, our website was hacked. We then engaged Ankit Designs which solved our problems and improved the site. They previously made website design proposals and implemented them too. We created most of the content, but they also suggested some pieces. Ankit Designs now maintains our website and supports its security.

What is the team composition?

Adam’s (CEO) my main point of contact but he also has a team that supports us.

How did you come to work with Ankit Designs Inc.?

A board member recommended Ankit Designs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re spending on average $3,000 a year.

What is the status of this engagement?

It initially started in August 2016, and then we worked with another provider. We later re-engaged Ankit Designs and still work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have peace of mind working with Ankit Designs unlike with our previous provider, which was unbelievably bad. There was a lack of transparency, and their team nickeled and dimed us. That’s the complete opposite of Ankit Designs. Our relationship with them is stress-free. Their team delivers, so we never have to worry about them. We receive a lot of compliments from our board members and sponsors on our website’s design. It looks great.

How did Ankit Designs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Adam’s a great communicator and always picks up the phone. No matter the time, I can always reach him. He also follows up with emails on the project’s progress, so it’s a good collaboration. The cost of their services is also competitive. If I were to rate Ankit’s project management, I would give them nearly a perfect score.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ankit Designs provides reliable communications and excellent transparency. Adam doesn’t price-gouge us too. He understands that we’re a non-for-profit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could work on their sales process.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate with them. If you’re open and clear, everything will turn out well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a legal professional.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ankit Designs Inc., and what were your goals?

I hired Ankit Designs to create a personal branding website for me. My goal was to launch a blog and mentorship platform on my personal website for aspiring legal professionals.

SOLUTION

How did you select Ankit Designs Inc. and what were the deciding factors?

I decided on Ankit Designs Inc. after seeing some of their recent reviews online and their work over the years. I have personally heard great things from their clients as well which helped me make that decision.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

I am not very technologically-savvy but Ankit Designs Inc. did a great job with helping me understand the process. They built a WordPress website for me that allows me to publish my content as needed and represents my personal brand.

We had an initial meeting, then a needs assessment, and then started the project. Once we started, we worked on the copy doc, then they developed my website. There were some testing and feedback phases and it worked out well.

There were weekly communication if not daily and the team was very helpful along the way.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with Adam and Thomas.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We just launched my platform recently and I have already received many leads through the mentorship platform Ankit Designs built for me. My blog has also received several compliments on design.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Project management was smooth and efficient. Ankit Designs took the time to understand my goals and my vision before they started which made the entire process a breeze!

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The most impressive thing about Ankit Designs is their attention to detail and the unique approach to design. They really spend time getting to know their client and understanding their goals.

I described the aesthetic I was trying to go for and Ankit Designs was able to translate that to my website in the best way possible.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I had such a smooth experience with Ankit Designs Inc and will be returning to them for my future projects. They did things right the first time and as such, I don't have any recommendations for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager at Hakka Ren, a Chinese restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ankit Designs Inc. ?

Our website was designed very amateurishly, and a redesign was long overdue. We knew we needed a professional touch for our redesign to make the site more functional.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled the redesign of the website. The goals were to improve the functionality of the website and get more eyeballs on our brand. We wanted a call to action on our website — something to trigger them to come in from the website.

We entirely abandoned the old site, and they built this one from scratch. It was more design than redesign. They developed the site using WordPress.

What is the team composition?

Primarily, Adam (Founder) was our main point of contact. We also had Thomas (Manager), who was the project manager. We had two consistent points of contact.

How did you come to work with Ankit Designs Inc. ?

I actually hired a different company first. We were halfway through the project, but I wasn’t happy so we stopped. I was looking for a vendor that was more transparent and that better understood the restaurant industry, how to reach our target market, and my vision. I was Googling them, saw they had great reviews, and went with Ankit Designs.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $6,500 for the entire overhaul and redesign.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began work in January 2020 and finished in July of the same year. The site went live on July 15th.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It just launched, and with COVID-19 I’ve been very busy and haven’t checked the statistics. However, the site’s been well-received. We launched the site on social media, causing an uptick in business despite the COVID-19 situation.

How did Ankit Designs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They handled everything very well — I loved it. They’re amazing to work with. They’re very transparent and kept me informed along the way. They provided weekly updates and we collaborated on a Google tool. They’re very professional.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very candid and professional. Their timeliness is also impressive — they deliver exactly what they promise when they promise it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m very happy so far. I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get all your assets ready, like your copywriting, images, and more. Make sure it’s ready first, and then you can sit back and let them take the reins.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an analytics consulting company, and I’m the marketing director. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ankit Designs Inc.?

We were looking to rebrand and redo our website to better communicate what we do here.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were tasked with giving our brand and uplift through a new, completely custom WordPress website. We’re in a technical field, so the site needed to both represent us well and communicate our value to potential customers. 

What is the team composition?

I emailed weekly with our project manager and spoke with the CEO as well. 

How did you come to work with Ankit Designs Inc.?

While doing some research on web design and development companies in the area, I narrowed it down to five potential options. They stood out immediately by coming into our office to get a better feel for our services and vision. That meeting gave them the most insight, so we decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a little over $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from November 2019–May 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site looks way better than we imagined and is clearly very high-quality. They executed very well to deliver what we needed.  

How did Ankit Designs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a weekly update on their progress and answered my one-off emails in a timely manner, even during off-hours. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very knowledgeable in defining custom graphic design elements. The backend of the site was also very clean and organized, allowing us to make updates easily. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them and let them be creative. We gave them the reigns, and they delivered better results than we would’ve expected that way.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a puppy match-making service, and I’m the president.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ankit Designs Inc?

We needed help with building our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created our website, logos, and helped with future plans. They also consulted on our social media and ideas for blogs.

What is the team composition?

Adam (Owner) is our main point of contact. We also interact with Thomas (Project Manager).

How did you come to work with Ankit Designs Inc?

I found them on Google, along with a lot of other places. Other places didn’t pick up, and if they did, they’d quote me astronomical prices. When I talked to Ankit, they were very personable and we set up a meeting the next day. We got a quote that seemed reasonable. Just by answering the phone and seeing their portfolio, I knew they would be a good fit.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested 10,000 CAD ($7,000 USD), initially. Now, we’re up to 30,000 CAD ($21,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2017, and our engagement in October 2017. We’re still collaborating on other versions of the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Now, we get 4,000 visitors to the site per month, even as it’s been inactive for the past two years.

How did Ankit Designs Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve built a good relationship over the years. I know the whole team by name now.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their responsiveness is great, they always answer whenever I call.  I’ve never worked with anyone else so I don’t know who I could compare them to.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would love to see them grow and expand into a larger company. They definitely deserve it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend that they go see them in person. It’s much more productive that way.