Axess Lab

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of Instant Advisor, a digital tutor tool that makes it easier for employers to manage employees with super skills.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Axess Lab?

I hired them to assist in the process of developing and testing a prototype.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals for the project were to find out the needs and demands from employers, employees, and coaches.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was looking for expertise in digital accessibility and Axess Lab was recommended to me by a business contact.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We conducted interviews with experts, researchers, and HR managers. The output from those discussions was the basis for the prototype that we later tested on a chosen group of users. Axess Lab did all the technical project management, UX development, and testing. They also produced a short animated movie.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of a project leader and a UX designer from Axess Lab and myself.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project was critical for the business since it served as a proof of concept and was an important step for our stakeholders.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was very effective, as I had great trust in the team. We focused on progress and achieving results rather than following up with constant reporting.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I’m very impressed with the level of expertise in the company. They’re all at a senior level and share their knowledge generously.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There's very little they could improve. Maybe they could grow their business so that they can take on even more projects with a focus on digital accessibility.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in business development for Iris, an education company. We coach people with disabilities to get a job. Iris is an external company that works for the unemployment office.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Axess Lab?

Before we started developing the app, we interviewed the hiring companies and the group of people that needed the jobs most. We were granted money to develop our job matching app, and we needed someone to develop it for us. The app matches people with disabilities with companies that want to hire them.

In Sweden, if you’re an employee looking for a job, you have to go to an unemployment office.The idea is to not use a traditional CV or papers. The employer describes the job through a video, photos, and a little bit of text. Applicants have to answer a couple of questions to apply for the jobs and they can answer with a video or with just their voice.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our web app from scratch. They thought through everything to make it as accessible as possible and used our accessibility rules for site impairment, cognitive disabilities, etc. They did the design and UI as well.

What is the team composition?

I coordinated with a project manager. If I had questions, I talked to the project manager and he’d contact his developers.

How did you come to work with Axess Lab?

I heard from other people that Axess Lab was excellent.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost one million Swedish kronor (approximately $110,400 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2017 and the work is ongoing. They will complete the project at the end of March.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app helps us to achieve our goals. Many people find it difficult to go out and look for a job. The community we serve is not especially talkative due to their social health problems. This app makes it possible for them to look for a job without having to visit the companies. It’s adapted for this group of people that needs it the most. It has a strong impact on what we’re doing.

How did Axess Lab perform from a project management standpoint?

They worked in an agile methodology. We used Jira where I could follow every step, allowing complete transparency. We had meetings every four weeks to go through everything. They always responded quickly to questions and tasks. They are truly good-hearted people, and they always focus on accessibility.

They spoke to me in simple language that I could comprehend and took the time to help me understand everything. They’re exceedingly patient and thorough. They helped me to make the right decisions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their skills and accessibility are impressive. They’re interested in people, and they take time for everyone involved in the project. There’s always good communication, and they’re nice people.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re growing and are short-staffed. They have to hire more people, and it takes new people time to know what to do, which is understandable.