Azul Arc

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a social media recruiting platform for high school athletes, colleges, and fans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Azul Arc?

We were trying to make a service that was accessible, free for high school students, and free for fans, but paid for coaches. The goal was to create a central database for recruiting in high school athletics

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re in charge of designing my app. They grew the idea from basics. I dealt with a lot of developers before Azul Arc and they’re a breath of fresh air; they check in every week and get my approval on everything. I have access to everything. It’s for both iOS and Android devices. I had features planned out, but I let them come up with their own design and submit it for approval.

Exposure is a big problem for high school athletes because a lot of them don’t have the money to attend different camps or go across the country to deal with recruiting services. Most of the online services charge kids a down payment of $150 up to $5,000 depending on how much recruitment you need. I’m trying to make it free across the board to funnel all your information to colleges and college coaches. On the college side, they have to go through five different services to get all the information so I decided to put it all together.

What is the team composition?

I talk to five people on a daily basis. They have their own coding team who I don’t really talk to. I interact with the project managers and heads of design.

How did you come to work with Azul Arc?

They did a free class called a “Lunch and Learn,” and then I connected over the phone.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re going to spend around $34,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They use InVision, and I’m able to download it on my phone. It’s almost like seeing the app before the app and gives me something to show in my presentations to high schools and colleges. This also gives me access to changes and updates their making as they’re making them.

How did Azul Arc perform from a project management standpoint?

My team leader is Ming (Associate Product Manager), and she’s amazing, always answering my questions. I’m a night owl, so I’ll be up until two in the morning and she’ll respond as soon as she can.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is great. In my brief experience, anything with coding requires great communication. We always find common ground. If I can’t reach one person I can reach someone else. Initially, I talked to Joyce (VP of Sales), and she’ll still reach out and let me know she can help me with anything even though we don’t work directly together anymore.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Generally, I’ve been quite happy. I’ve worked with a lot of freelancers that had other things going on so this has been a breath of fresh air.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Always be upfront with whatever you’re looking for; don’t be afraid to communicate your ideas. Ask questions, too, because if you’re trying to develop something that hasn’t been done before then you won’t be successful without saying what you need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the chief marketing and strategy officer at a third-party hardware maintainer for data centers in enterprise clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Azul Arc?

We needed to rebrand and redo our content. Our website was disjointed and not user friendly. Additionally, it’s our company’s 30th anniversary, so we wanted to highlight that with this upgrade that would also help us stand out from the competition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the first phase, we focused on branding. This included updating our logo, image elements, color palette, font usage, graphic elements, and style. 

They also developed a new website for us. Our original website was developed using HubSpot, but it wasn’t optimized properly and the UX was clunky. They redesigned the site and we added new white papers, case studies, and service brochures. 

Their team is providing ongoing support with design and UX. 

What is the team composition?

There were three main team members, including a project manager, their most senior web developer, and a designer. There were a few other employees that assisted with the work from time to time. 

How did you come to work with Azul Arc?

They had a strong reputation for web development work, but it was their design abilities and understanding of what our needs were that led me to choose them. 

How much have you invested in them?

We invested between $50,000-$100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

 We worked together from November 2019-March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m happy with the deliverables. When they delivered something, they met all the specifications and added suggestions that could improve upon the final product. It was clear they were giving the project continuous thought. The team is passionate about their work and also highly logical. I’m extremely happy with the end result. 

How did Azul Arc perform from a project management standpoint?

They had an excellent project management plan that included deadlines and deliverables. They helped manage deadlines and keep me on track as I was creating content. 

There were a few items along the way that I flagged or adjusted along the way to improve the outcome. They understood quickly and we were able to move forward as soon as I brought something to their attention. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their collaboration on all elements and unrelenting focus on the needs of the target audience was impressive. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think there are some tools that could be enhanced a bit further. For example, SEO tactics like tagging keywords, writing title tags, and more. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

 I think their design skills ought not to be overlooked. They’re known for web development, but I think their design team should be engaged throughout the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Marketing and Communications at Speakeasy, a communication consulting company. Our company has about 60 employees, operations in the US, Amsterdam, and Shanghai and work with thousands of executives globally on their communication style and impact each year. I am responsible for our website management, content marketing, internal and external communications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Azul Arc?

Website Redesign and ongoing management and hosting

What were your goals for this project?

Redesign the website to reflect the brand and services of Speakeasy.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have a long-standing history with Azul Arc and knew that this project would be in capable hands.

Describe the project in detail.

This project was a complete overhaul of the old site to a more modern, UX friendly and faster site. It took a lot of work. The small details mattered.

What was the team composition?

One product manager and a UI designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the end, we produced a stunning site that is also functional and client-friendly. The branding on our site took a complete 360 and became more congruent with how we represent the company through other channels. We were pleased with the collaboration of both teams to pull this together.

Our CEO, Scott Weiss gave these remarks: "The Azul arc team listened to our needs and aspirations to sensibly create a design framework that was impressive. More importantly, they collaborated openly with Speakeasy’s digital marketing team that resulted in a superior outcome."

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our product manager, Stacey, and UI designer, Felipe were always there with expert suggestions on how to make our UX friendly for our clients. We meet regularly and kept the lines of communications open which was a recipe for a great workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Azul Arc was very familiar and knowledgeable of the Speakeasy brand. That knowledge allowed us to stay on top of the schedule and really create a site that is congruent with our brand.

Are there any areas for improvement?

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Vector Global Logistics LLC is an asset-free, multimodal company that provides top-class sea, air, truck, rail, and general logistics. We have offices in the US, Mexico, and Chile. I'm the managing director. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Azul Arc?

I've worked with Azul Arc for the last eight years on different projects, from designing our website and social media to helping us develop an online client portal.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goals were to design an elegant, functional client portal that integrated all the information from our operating system and to present it in an efficient, practical way. We wanted our clients to log into the system, see all their shipments and run reports, and filter the information to better manage their supply chain.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had worked with Azul Arc for our website and enjoyed their culture and business sense. Azul Arc is a professional company with dedicated, hard-working, creative people. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We asked them to dive into our operational system, build familiarity with its information fields, and propose a client portal that presented all the data in a simple, elegant, and user-friendly way. Their main challenge was developing a smart design that captured all the steps in our supply chain.

What was the team composition?

The team had a project manager, a lead designer, and a team of programmers with whom we didn't interact much. As in previous engagements, we also had a few meetings with the founder. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We launched the client portal a few months ago, and all our clients currently use it. This project has allowed us to keep clients informed while improving our overall coordination and effectiveness. This portal helps our clients track their shipments while making our operations team more efficient.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their approach to management is smart. They began with a few discovery meetings to understand not only the goal and scope of the project but also the culture and values of our team. During these meetings, they dove deep into our company and asked fundamental questions that went beyond the technical aspects of the portal. They asked about our clients, our communication styles, and the relationship we wanted to foster with our users.

It's an enjoyable, thoughtful, and highly effective process. They have helped us successfully develop our client portal, website, and brand image by truly partnering with our team. They take the time to go beyond the functional designs and get to know our values.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Azul Arc is a well-rounded provider with the technical capabilities of a large company and a committed, passionate, results-oriented team. We believe that a few caring people can change the world, so I'm happy to work with a company that shares our practices and values. 

Are there any areas for improvement?

In this particular project, there are few areas for improvement. They have done a great job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Funnel Metrics is a software as a service provider. I’m the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Azul Arc?

We hired them to help us build our sales management application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The application runs on Apex, Salesforce’s programming language. We had some requirements that called for specific functionality within a specific time frame. Our sophisticated evaluation system certifies overall performance of salespeople and generates scores based on quantitative and qualitative metrics.

They’ve met certain milestones and built all the necessary functionality into various sprint releases. We’re on schedule to deliver version 1.2 in early December 2018 and version 1.3, the production version, in early January 2019.

What is the team composition?

We work with one primary project manager and a secondary contact here in the States, then a head project lead, his direct assistant, and another two or three people in their offices in India.

How did you come to work with Azul Arc?

My CTO researched a number of companies and built a shortlist of three providers. We met each of them and were most impressed by Azul Arc’s CEO and his team. There was a level of comfort, and they really understood what we were trying to accomplish.

They took time to listen and made us think realistically about our timelines and other expectations. The other vendors just told us what we wanted to hear, but Azul Arc was open and honest with us. That immediate understanding and trust made us choose them over anything else.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The initial evaluation took place in July and August 2017 and we started building the code in September 2017. Our work together is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re very happy with the overall way toe project has been managed in terms of delivery dates, functionality, and budgetary considerations. We don’t have any ROI yet, as the product is still being built. That aside, they were a major help in getting us through our Salesforce security review. Salesforce does a stress test that most products will fail several times. With Azul Arc’s help, we passed on our second time through. We couldn’t have done that so quickly without their expertise and support.

How did Azul Arc perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is very strong and I give them high marks. We have a weekly standup meeting where we chat about upcoming sprints. The communication is good both in and out of those meetings. We’re a small company, and they’re a real partner to us.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their people is most impressive. Their CEO understands complex problems and helps us work through challenges in our overall methodology. They put us in touch with valuable outside resources, like a data scientist who helps us build out our models and products. The relationships they cultivate are of real value to us, and we’re fortunate to have them on our side. Their efforts have a huge impact on our operations and we hope to work with them well into the future.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They’re doing a great job, and I’m really happy we chose them as a partner.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sit down with them before you start your project to outline your expectations and requirements. They will assess your needs and give you an idea of how long your goals will take, which was extremely helpful for us and very thorough. We really appreciated the time they took to make sure we knew the costs and the final deliverables beforehand.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of VinoApp. We provide reviews of wines from Argentina. VinoApp will also be selling wines via our wine club in the United States next year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Azul Arc?

Azul Arc is redesigning our mobile application and is providing significant strategy guidance to prepare our app to include membership and advertising elements for the wine club.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to retool the app with a cleaner design. We hoped to add significant features and search options. Further, we are adding means for a third-party winery partner to promote their wines via the application.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Azul Arc because they offered an extensive design and development staff. We were impressed by their team’s strategic capabilities, personality, and attention to details.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected Azul Arc, they performed strategic research to examine the best practices of other wine applications. After they evaluated our previous app, we held a strategy session so that they could better understand our business’ long-term goals and our vision for the redesigned version. They later presented us with a wireframe that included an updated design and new navigation concepts. Once we gave our approval, they gave us weekly updates through the development process. It was an organized approach, and we were quite happy with them taking the lead.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager and a team of senior designers and developers. The CEO also took a personal interest in the project, so we worked with him as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are pleased with the final product. Since the project’s completion, we have contracted with Azul Arc to be our development team with an annual contract.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Their project manager has exceptional written and verbal communication skills. We received a written follow-up to all discussions and meetings. Any changes in scope were handled efficiently and professionally. Our engagement flourished because of their ability to pinpoint significant business advantages.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They offer strategic consulting, cutting-edge design, and a talented development team.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No. They are a complete joy to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the chief judge of the State Administrative Court for Georgia. We conduct hearings in all 159 of Georgia’s counties.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Azul Arc?

We needed to redesign our website, develop custom software for case management, and build a mobile app.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to design advanced technology for our court including a redesigned website, a case management system capable of storing over 50,000 cases per year, and a mobile app that made access to the case management system as easy as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched for nearly 10 years for a vendor to design software for our court. After several unsuccessful and disappointing attempts with other vendors, we found Azul Arc, who’s far exceeded our expectations.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They're building a three-part system. First, they redesigned our website. Second, they developed a custom electronic case management system and connected it to our website. It automatically dockets and assigns more than 50,000 cases to our judges in more than 51 locations and stores all associated documents. Finally, they’re working on a mobile app that acts as a public platform for litigants to file and retrieve files with the courts.

What was the team composition?

We work with two product managers, a creative designer, and two dedicated developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Litigants who appear before the court can access custom information through our website. Because of this, they rarely contact us by phone or visit our office for information about their case. The auto docketing and scheduling of all cases have allowed us to increase our caseload without having to hire additional employees.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They have a flawless system that works well with our court. Most importantly, Azul Arc assigned a high-level product manager with whom we can communicate at-will.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

It’s truly a pleasure to work with a group of brilliant, hardworking, and creative individuals. I often brag about the Azul Arc team and how fortunate I was to find them. Azul Arc’s professionals listen carefully, explore projects in-depth, study our business requirements, identify and meet key stakeholders, and design immaculate solutions.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

Azul Arc far exceeded our expectations. Although we first engaged them to redesign our website, we promptly expanded our working relationship with them to develop a complex case management system for us. Their work is flawless.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Fishtips

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Fishtips is an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of hyper current and hyper local fishing tips

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Azul Arc to accomplish?

• wireframe our app

SOLUTION

How did you find Azul Arc?

Referral

Why did you select Azul Arc over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Azul Arc were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We challenged Azul to help us document and wireframe our potential app

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Documentationof the architecture behind the app. 
• And visual wireframes of the main pages of the app.

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

Azul met with us every 10 days. They were very timely and professional. They responded sameday to any questions or communications.

What was your primary form of communication with Azul Arc?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Azul Arc hit a home run! Their team and process in executing the plan were very impressive.

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

Nothing! They did an amazing job!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a CEO and founder of Urgidoctor, a tele medicine app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Azul Arc?

Azul arc helped in with the initial concept and developing UI/UX

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched on line

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

Had frequent zoom discussions and the team came up with detailed project line and helped with UI/UX

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

My team worked under the project manager and the UI/UX team

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were please with the UI/UX design.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager was very easy to communicate with and understood the vision.

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

UI/UX was very friendly

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

Nothing significant