Bit Space Development Ltd.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company that focuses on nonlethal weapon innovation. We try to improve upon the weapons police officers use.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

I needed someone to audit the code of specific software and processes.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I needed Bit Space to take our existing code, decipher it, and reorganize it to make it user-friendly. Unfortunately, the code was built by an engineering firm that we hired to develop software for us, and they didn’t do a good job.

What is the team composition?

I work with three high-end engineers.

How did you come to work with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

I submitted an RFP for a different project, interviewed about 14 companies, and Bit Space came out at the top. Through that project, I gained an understanding of their technical prowess, and I was impressed, so I hired them for this project.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent $190,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in November 2020, and it’s ongoing.

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

Considering the project and the scope of the work, Bit Space has done an incredibly impressive job.

How did Bit Space Development Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management has been spot on. We utilize Slack and Asana to communicate, and it’s been super easy to work with them. The engineering team also works directly with my engineering team — we don’t need a middleman, which is a very good thing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with their flexibility. We have a statement of work that we initially defined, but there have been inevitable changes to the scope. The Bit Space team has adapted and made adjustments in real-time, which is super beneficial. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any complaints about the team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Bring them a clear project that they’d want to do.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re an 115-year-old construction company called PCL Construction, and we operate throughout North America. I lead a division called Special Projects. In the last 14 months, I've also headed the development of new sanitization products called PCL Pure Products. I serve as the operation lead and quasi-inventor for everything that sanitizes things.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bit Space Development Ltd?

We had a couple of different challenges. For example, I normally fly to all of our offices and help our folks there. This also holds true for how we do our business development and define our work. I needed Bit Space Development to create a virtual environment for me, in which I could walk clients around the things that they're looking to build or the services they're looking to buy. 

The other challenge we wanted to address with them was to develop all of the sanitization equipment, whether it's for retail, airports, or hospitals. We have to apply a prescription to everything we're trying to sanitize to make sure it does what it’s supposed to do. We needed a smart way to make what we do adaptable.  

What was the scope of their involvement?

Bit Space Development has sourced various parts of hardware, covering the gamut of putting controllability into the things that we build. We go through various testing stages with them for different pieces of hardware to figure out the best and most cost-effective way to do something. Then, the team develops intuitive ways to market those products using the virtual world. They help us go from building products to taking them to market.

They’ve also tested out a wide variety of different sensors and the ability to control, monitor, and send that information. They’ve helped me take the laboratory testing data that we've produced — testing all the different pathogens that concern people, from COVID-19 to salmonella — and program, run, and monitor the lights that we use to do the sanitation. Bit Space Development has helped us adapt what we do using sensors and also connect and control them in different ways. They pull data from usage as well. 

They’ve helped with the development of online platforms and their integration into devices that we deploy. The team has also done general prototype development for software, hardware, and firmware. Bit Space Development has built a virtual environment to omit the need for travel, which has been tough these days.

Overall, they’ve contributed to the whole integration piece of making something smart. They’ve been able to make it super smart, easy, and adaptable to different use cases, which has been very helpful.

What is the team composition?

The team has been growing steadily. Having started with 1–2 people, we’re now working with 7–10, depending on what we need at any given time. Right now, they're building a bunch of units that we've finalized. An electrical engineer is looking at building some other prototypes.

How did you come to work with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

I initially met Dan (CEO & Founder) 4–5 years ago. He was heavily into construction, safety, technology, and VR training. We were both looking for a better way to provide interactive environments for clients in the market. We started developing something together, and Bit Space Development was always working in a different, creative, and innovative way. We were collaborating on different aspects of different parts of the market when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. 

I needed some out-of-the-box thinking. I knew that Dan liked to do things that have never been done before, so I posed the question and Bit Space Development jumped right in. They offered advice and ideas right away. 

The biggest piece I’ve appreciated is the speed at which the team can learn, pivot, and change; that's what has made it successful. Sometimes, something works until you get it out into the public's hands, and then changes must be done quickly. David has been able to mobilize himself and his team to make really interesting results happen in a hurry.

What is the status of this engagement?

For this project, we had a quick discussion in May 2020, and we started working on it in June 2020. We have a deal in place, where we just keep working together and try to figure out how to help people on whatever scale they need. We’re in a continuous development phase, so I don’t think that we’ll ever wrap this collaboration up.

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

In general, once we have something implemented and set up the key understanding of how the end user wants to do it, the equipment that we deploy just runs without failure. We deployed one unit in November and, after a week or two of figuring out the best way to use it, it ran smoothly. Bit Space Development makes you not have to think about it, which is great when you sell a product and want to get everything done. 

I can’t get into this project’s details, since we have some trade secrets on what we do and how we develop. However, the way we've controlled how we sanitize things and being able to validate that we're doing what we say we're going to do has been a key feature. That makes our product different from everybody else's.

For another project, for example, we put one of our devices in a well-known grocery chain’s 13 locations. They’ve had a lot of good things to say. Through Bit Space Development helped us develop the technology in the way that we run and support it, and it's simple to use. It’s interesting that we can gather the statistics on our machine’s usage to know how many times it’s been used in real-time, and it’s doing what it’s supposed to. We also track the analytics of the products we sell to customers and provide them with a dashboard to review those analytics. 

How did Bit Space Development Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Most of my communication goes directly through Dan. When we have something specific or we encounter a challenge, he brings on the specific team member who is leading it. For example, for the application development for our customer’s integration, he’ll bring on his lead. Then, the lead takes charge and explains, in terms that I can understand, the things we can do and develop. That lead also helps me integrate with the client.

When I have a hardware problem, he brings somebody else on, and we talk and troubleshoot. Overall, Dan understands my problems and brings the appropriate members to work toward the solution, implement it, and move on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are able to do far more work with far fewer resources in a shorter period of time at a better cost. With Bit Space Development, you get a better deal and a better product in the end. Dan is willing to stand behind what he does and put his own skin in the game up front to see if he can solve the problem. 

Furthermore, I don’t have to pay the bill right away. Bit Space Development is willing to explore upfront to see if they can add the value that I need; that means a lot. Some people just want us to pay them first before working with them. I’ve built up a lot of trust with the company, particularly Dan, and I know he’s only going to do what he thinks he can do. So far, I haven’t found his limits for that yet.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing I’d say they could improve is the supply chain management. I say that with a caveat that everybody in the industry is having supply chain issues right now; there are not enough pieces to go around for everybody to build. Bit Space Development is doing a pretty reasonable job with it, but there’s probably a more organized way to work with it. However, it’s pretty minor — I get what I need, when I need it.

Any advice for potential customers?

Be really clear on the problems that you want to solve, and they’ll let you know where they think they can fit in, or if there are different approaches. 

Before you start working with them, understand what your problems are so that you utilize their time better. Sometimes, the problems are better stated as an outcome, such as ‘I want to make this happen, but I don't know how to do it.’ That gives them the leeway to think any way they need to in order to make it happen.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Vice President of North Forge Technology Exchange. We are a hybrid incubator, accelerator. and the innovation partner for the Province of Maniobta. We have Canada's largest publicly accessible fabrication lab in North America.

For what projects/services did your company hire Bit Space Development Ltd., and what were your goals?

Development of a VRSafety Orientation Experience at our Fabrication Lab. Our goal was to develop a course that would provide an understanding of the potential hazards associated with the use of high risk equipment as well as the safety precautions required to prevent those hazards from occurring.

How did you select Bit Space Development Ltd. and what were the deciding factors?

Using VR Safety software, Bit Space Development captured the equipment rooms and high-priority equipment in the Fabrication Lab and augment it with information about the machines and safe work procedures that are required for working in the shop. We will have interactive safety hotspots that members can click on that will load further safety information.

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

During the project Bit Space Development worked towards the development of VR focused training resources specifically designed to enhance the safe work practices for manufacturing and fabrication lab spaces. During this project they developed and streamlined a process for creating this content, adapted our web-based SaaS tooling to deliver the content, and created a scalable and sharable set of course content which will be used in the North Forge Fabrication Lab. A summary of technical activities: Content planning – the initial course planning using the XR content builder process - Content shooting – onsite content capture. - Hotspot creation – initial work produced by the XR team to translate the starter content provided by the working group. - Content support – Working with the working group to insert hotspot and embedded content into the XR learning environments. - Development of review builds 1 & 2. - Pilot and deployment of course content delivered by our VRSafety tool. - The procurement and set up of Pico VR hardware at North Forge. - The deployment and optimization of the VRSafety Pico application for deployment to the lobby.In addition to these items the technical team advised North Forge on sanitization and safe operation practices for the XR equipment via the UV cleaning systems deployed to the space. This will allow for the sanitization of the head mounted display between users in the physical space.Along side the VR based training we have also deployed a web VR based training experience which uses the same content and is considered an accessible alternativefor users who can not use the VRSafety VR headsets. This can be used via the iPads already present in the space

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

Dan Blair, CEO Bit Space Development Kevin Carbotte, Marketing Director, Bit Space Development Gabriel Lascano, CTO, Bit Space Development

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

Bit Space Development finished the project for us on time and within budget. And this will all completed during a pandemic and we were very fortunate that the team adapted so well to working virtually.

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

Bit Space Development utilized microsoft project for the work plan and timelines, ASANA Project Management and SLACK for contact communication.

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

They always found solutions to our business problems. The are a very knowledgeable team.

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

Nothing to add here.

Please describe your company and your position there.

At the time that I was working with Dan and BitSpace Development, I was the Executive Director of the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba (CSAM). CSAM is a non-profit organization run by and for the building construction industry in Manitoba, with governance provided by the Winnipeg Construction Association’s Board of Directors and the CSAM Advisory Committee. Established in 1989, CSAM has earned the reputation as a leader in the safety landscape of Manitoba, as well as within the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations.

For what projects/services did your company hire Bit Space Development Ltd.?

CSAM was involved in a two-year research project with the Institute of Work and Health surveying construction companies on the subject of Leading Indicators used in the Safety and Health program. The challenge was how to display the results of the research project and to provide a platform for the survey and benchmarking reports to live on past the research phase to ensure that companies could measure and react to progress in years to come.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to build a platform that would allow companies to take the survey, benchmark the results against anonymized aggregate data to show where the company stood against other construction companies in Manitoba The baseline data provides participating firms with an opportunity to benchmark their safety performance against other companies within their trade and region of Manitoba’s construction industry in areas such as safety culture, employee engagement, hazard identification, and ergonomics. The Dashboard, INDICATOR then provides links to resources to help improve scores for each of the survey measures. The intention is to move the needle on an organization’s average score for each measure and raise the standard of safety in Manitoba.

How did you select this vendor?

Having worked with BSD as a Project Advisory Committee member on multiple previous projects, Dan Blair and BitSpace Developments were well known to me. I had engaged with two other companies within Canada but Dan’s approach to his business stood out from the rest. During the initial concept meetings, BSD asked lots of questions and demonstrated a desire to fully understand the requirements of the project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

In phase one of the work BSD developed a dashboard to display the results of the research project which included secure login for companies, tabular and graphic representation of the data and the ability for companies to retake the survey with an algorithm to produce benchmarking reports that compare to the original research project reports. In phase two links were developed to resources that were designed to help to improve scores for each of the survey categories.

What was the team composition?

CSAM Representatives – ED, Training and Communications Manager, Operations Manager. BSD Representatives – Dan Blair CEO/Founder, Chief Technology Officer, Design and Developers.

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

The successful completion of the project has provided Construction companies in Manitoba the opportunity to measure the effectiveness of their safety and health program and safety culture. By being able to compare against the mean results of other companies within their trade and region of Manitoba’s construction industry in areas such as safety culture, employee engagement, hazard identification, and ergonomics. It will give firms a wholistic perspective on their safety efforts where they can compare their results year on year to see improvement. With links to resources the Indicator dashboard not only tells companies where you need to improve, but it also shows them how.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Communication lines were set up between CSAM staff and BSD with regular meetings to discuss progress and look forward to the next stages. Dan was also involved in meetings with the IWH research team. His input was instrumental to how the dashboard developed which ultimately ended up with a very useful and functional product.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Dan is creative, flexible and has a very can do/will do attitude. This attitude is contagious which is evident when working with the BSD team. Dan immerses himself into everything that he does, on a previous project involving working at heights, Dan took a full fall protection course and spent time on job sites to fully understand the issues. Dan was always available for discussion and problem solving which kept the project on track and within budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have been working with BSD since the very beginning and have seen this start-up grow from humble beginnings. The growth does not seem to have affected the quality and efficiency of projects, I am convinced that under Dan’s leadership BSD has a very bright future.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the training director of Piping Industry Technical College. We’re the training arm of UA Local 254 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union. I run the day-to-day dealings and training. That includes training premises as well as training contracts with indigenous groups and everything from military to hospital to service workers. We do all kinds of work beyond our membership as well.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

We work with electricians as subject matter experts. In this engagement, we were creating a VR program funded through workers’ compensation. It was a grant proposal written by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and we came in because of our expertise.

What was the scope of their involvement?

BSD provided VR development services. Although it was through IBEW, they built a version of the program for our use. We use it for our pre-apprentice students and at trade shows. The solution allows high school students to get an idea of what the job site looks like. Upon initiation, BSD came to all of our job sites to record site issues and show what an actual one looks like. The VR solution lets students walk around and through a 360° view of a typical job site.

The VR program is an application we run through a series of phones we have here. We put the phones into Google Cardboard headsets. We use the program in our classes and for additional trainings beyond that. It’s not necessarily intended for the program but gives us more resources and avenues for other courses.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Dan (CEO & Founder) for 99% of the engagement. There was another man who came with him to record the job sites, but I didn’t interact with any other individuals besides that.

How did you come to work with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

We came to work with them through IBEW. They had bid on other projects that BSD was already involved in so that’s how they met. I personally met Dan year ago on a welding project I was a subject matter expert for.

How much have you invested with them?

I wasn’t part of the financial part, but I’m pretty sure it was between $50,000–$70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from October 2016–June 2017.

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

The application has been a handy tool in our trainings and trade shows. Showing students our job sites and capabilities has been effective. Also, the app has been good in terms of pulling up bits and pieces of it for unforeseen opportunities. However, it’s difficult to quantify how its grown our business, but it’s definitely had a positive impact. It’s been a helpful tool to have, and we use it anytime we get a chance to.

How did Bit Space Development Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job with project management. I’d send an email, and they’d respond within 10–15 minutes. Their responsiveness is top-notch. BSD is one of the fastest companies in terms of communication, and I’ve dealt with a lot of IT companies.

They provided monthly reports and emails throughout the engagement to update us on project status. That was more than we needed for the size of the project, so it was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The high quality of their work is their most impressive trait. They did an excellent job with the application, and we’re very satisfied.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. We’d been talking about starting other projects with them. It just depends on funding, because it’s not something we fund ourselves. I’d definitely work with them again.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about your expectations and what you want. Understand that BSD is not of your business. They’re here to augment your business. So, your job is to be clear in order to get the results you need. They’re good at what they do, but if they don’t understand it may be because you didn’t tell them exactly what you need.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of apprenticeship and training for the Manitoba and Nunavut region of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. We are a union organization that also provides for the educational needs of our electricians. We have our own school, which I am also the director of.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

In Canada, our northern regions are incredibly remote and rural, so we can't provide the same services that we do in city centers. 

Manitoban laws stipulate that for every apprentice electrician on a job site, there must be a journeyman on the site. This makes required site visits difficult and close to impossible in the North.

We went to Bit Space Development Ltd. to figure out how we could recreate a job site virtually to provide our training, without actually having to take students to the job site. 

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We wanted to use AR and VR technology to bring the job site back to the classroom, instead of taking the classroom to the job site. We engaged with Bit Space Development Ltd. on a project that would move the required safety training for electricians in remote regions to a VR platform.

Their role was figuring out what form this project should take. As the experts in this space, they worked with us on how to make the courses and learning modules. Like with cell-phones, VR and AR technology changes all the time. Bit Space Development Ltd. helped us pick which AR and VR platforms we should use and buy.

Once we decided on a plan, they developed the program for us.

What is the team composition? 

I worked exclusively with Dan (Owner and CEO, Bit Space Development Ltd.). I believe he had quite a large team behind him, as well. We also had a hired project manager to help oversee this project.

How did you come to work with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

We reached out to several companies, got quotes, and met with their teams. Based on those interviews and our assessments of their cost-effectivenesses, we went with Bit Space Development Ltd.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested $100,000 CAD (approximately $76,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began work in February 2017, and the project was finished in April 2018.

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

The technology is working well for us. Every school struggles to recreate the real world within the lab setting. With regard to the content and the makeup of the program, what we created with Bit Space Development Ltd. has worked wonders for us.

Having said that, there are some hurdles associated with VR and AR. For instance, some people can’t wear VR goggles for long. Regardless of those challenges, we’re very happy with the content and Bit Space Development Ltd.

How did Bit Space Development Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

We had zero issues with our timeline. The project finished ahead of schedule, and there was little frustration. They bent over backward to meet our needs and then went above and beyond with support throughout the whole process. 

We primarily worked in-person with them. Their office was a 10-minute drive from my office, which made communication very easy. If there was a step that required me to put the goggles on and start working with the software, it wasn’t a hassle.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Dan and his team were very proactive and reactive, and they were great to work with. Whenever there were any bumps in the road or if something didn't work, they were very quick to find a solution.

Are there any areas they could improve?

One constructive piece of feedback I could give is that they occasionally forget that you’re not in the VR/AR industry. They get so excited and will occasionally start throwing around acronyms and industry terms. I'll have to slow them down and ask for an explanation in English. But, this was also a testament to their passion and work-ethic; when they get on a roll, they just don’t stop.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you work with them to explain your industry. If you put in the time to explain what you want, it will be much easier for them to deliver it.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Manitoba Construction Sector Council is a not for profit organization funded by the province of Manitoba to address the HR needs of the construction sector.

For what projects/services did your company hire Bit Space Development Ltd.?

BIT Space Development Ltd. works MCSC and construction companies to develop virtual reality and augmented reality activities to engage and inform youth and adult learners in the classroom. MCSC and BIT completed three projects with funding through WCB Research and Workplace Innovation Program to improve the way safety in taught in the workplace.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the Hazard Awareness VR project was to inform youth about the 10 hazards on the construction site.

How did you select this vendor?

BIT Space Development Ltd partnered with MCSC on other projects that were hugely successful so we knew they were the right fit.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

This project has been supported by a grant from the Research and Workplace Innovation Program of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba. IBEW is attempting to change safe work practices of new entrants in construction by identifying, controlling and reporting incidents of safety hazards on the worksite. There are 5 modules developed for this hazard awareness resource that uses the latest virtual reality technology.

The five modules will include the following hazards:

1. Slips, Trips and Falls

2. Struck by, caught between

3. Fire, explosion, toxicity and asphyxiation

4. Ergonomics, elements, noise

5. Electrocution

Desired outcomes of this project:

 an increased awareness of safety hazards

 access to innovative safety tools by organizations who support youth transition to work in construction

 improved safe work practices of youth working on construction sites

Background The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in partnership with boilermakers, pipefitters, painters, other affiliated unions of the Manitoba Building Trades and the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba developed a series of virtual reality resources that will allow youth and new entrants in construction to spot hazards, assess risk and develop a plan to prevent injury.

With the use of 360-degree imagery, youth will virtually walk through a worksite. They will look up, down and around the site using oculus lenses. They will spot hazards, assess the risks and as a result, they will be able to explain how to work more safety on a construction site.

When youth click on the icon they will learn about each hazard and what needs to be done to avoid injury. This is an interactive way to teach safety and one that is as close to real life situations without actually being there. It is not enough for youth to hear about the hazards on the worksite.

They have to see it and experience what it looks and feels like. This will provide another tool for youth to learn about safety and one that is completely in line with the way youth learn today. It is important for youth to see hazards from trades outside of their own scope.

This is because trades work collaboratively on the same site and youth may start in one trade and switch to another trade over time. Exposure to all hazards is of greatest importance.

This will not replace current safety training only serve to supplement and enhance the way safety is taught to our youth and new entrants. Note: This application is intended as an awareness application and does not replace safety training at local safety associations or on the job training. Content is specific to the Province of Manitoba and uses examples that may not apply to all situations.

What was the team composition?

MCSC Executive Director compiled an advisory committee made up of Safe Work MB, Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, Boilermakers Union, Construction Safety Association of Manitoba, PCL and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to guide the direction of the project in partnership with the BIT team.

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

As a result, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers won a national award for their innovative strategies and their commitment to youth/adult learning. The resources have been disseminated across Manitoba in 40 remote Indigenous communities to youth grades 5-12, at career fairs and in schools in Winnipeg to over 3,000 youth. This technology is introducing educators to the changing face of learning.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The Executive Director of MCSC collaborated with the CEO of BIT Space Development to monitor progress throughout the project. BIT always went above and beyond expectations for the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The vendor's willingness to meet the needs of the customer was most impressive. If the advisory wanted something changed during development, BIT made every attempt to make the changes without question. This was excellent customer service. Their ideas were innovative and financially within reach. BIT helped us find the hardware at a reasonable cost to support the software developed. In addition, they helped us demonstrate the new hazard awareness at events across the province or were willing to have folks drop by their site to try it out!

Are there any areas for improvement?

none that I can think of

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of safety and training at the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. We represent road and infrastructure builders in our province, and I specialize in training industry workers.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bit Space Development?

We brought them on to remodel our training program. New entrants into the workforce have to go through what we call "the road builder safety training system." We were seeking a more applicable and realistic training tool—so we engaged Bit Space to create a VR training program.

We were also operating on a legacy website that required updating. We wanted designs and functionalities that would help us streamline some of our administrative tasks.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Dan (CEO & Founder, Bit Space Development) and his team took our existing 15-module training course and converted each into a VR setting. They would physically walk through different construction sites to capture the specific environments so that they could recreate the scene in VR.

They also created video tools for flagger training (the people on construction sites who use flags to direct drivers). They’ve developed a few videos to enhance the learning experience—it’s very different from just listening to someone with a PowerPoint, in a classroom.

As for the website, their team spearheaded a complete redesign. We had an initial discussion about the design and features we wanted. We were quite behind the times, so they’ve helped us step into the current state of the art.  

They’ve consequently integrated several plug-ins, so we now have functions like online course registration, online payments, and even e-commerce. At the moment, they’re working on a learning management system that enables our clients to easily access online learning aids.

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with Dan. There were several others involved in our meetings and the production processes, but he was my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Bit Space Development?

He was referred to me by the Manitoba Construction Sector Council, which is a government-funded organization dedicated to promoting and training the emerging workforce.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $40,000–$75,000.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in May 2016, and the engagement is still ongoing. They’re currently continuing to work on our website.  

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

Dan and his team have helped us use different technology to provide creative classroom solutions. With the VR training experience—the feedback from our students has been extremely positive. They’ve offered a learning solution that far outshines our old conventional training.

Their work on the website has also made things on our end easier. Our new website is user-friendly, as they’ve made all resources easily accessible to our clients, customers, and students.

How did Bit Space Development perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s difficult to speak to the management approach because the projects were extremely collaborative. For the VR projects, we had a third-party project manager, and the website was internally managed.

I did really appreciate the extent that their team interacted with ours. In order to capture construction environments as realistically as possible, they took a very hands-on approach. The product of the engagement was extremely good, and I think the direction they took the projects in was creative and interesting.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a personal stake in ensuring that they provide excellent service. In one instance, Dan updated our training instrument—at his own cost—to make the product even better. He’s extremely client-focused and personable. It was a real pleasure working with the team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were pleased with everything we got from Bit Space. I think we focus more on how we’ve developed and learned from our engagement with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This applies to work with any creative supplier, but make sure to be involved in the project. Don’t just tell them you want something, and expect delivery—be part of the process.

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I work for the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. We’re a membership-driven nonprofit organization to help service members in the community.

What challenge were you trying to address with Bit Space Development Ltd.? 

We wanted to create an app called Winnipeg VR. We wanted to give small business owners the opportunity to showcase their business and services through an interactive app.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Bit Space Development Ltd. was responsible for all components of the app. We gave our input, but their team really took the lead. I don't know what technologies they used off the top of my head. The app is for both iOS and Android.

They also connected with our small business owners. We worked together to identify which members to showcase on the app, and then Bit Space Development Ltd. went out into the community to film the business owners. 

What is the team composition? 

Dan (CEO & Founder, Bit Space Development Ltd.) is our main point of contact. At least four members of their team have worked on our project. 

How did you come to work with Bit Space Development Ltd.? 

We're a community-driven organization, and Dan is an active member of the Winnipeg business community. He also sits on our small business advisory board. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent at least $15,000 CAD (approximately $11,400 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement? 

Our project began about a year and a half ago and the engagement is ongoing.

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

We’re very happy with the close to 50,000 app downloads. The app showcases the Winnipeg market in Asia, which is a huge accomplishment. Bit Space Development Ltd.is responsible for the app going global. It’s a really positive offering for our members.

How did Bit Space Development Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint? 

Their team does great work. Dan has good ideas, but he excels at listening to the community and bringing their ideas forward. He’s able to work at the grassroots level to develop a unique product that’s specific to the community. 

Bit Space Development Ltd. is accurate with their timelines, which I appreciate. Dan is a man of his word. If he says he's going to do something, it'll be done. He always makes time for us based around our schedule. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Bit Space Development Ltd. is able to create something from nothing. They focus on the end user even when a product needs to serve a wide range of people. Dan worked with everyone from the mayor of our city to a small business owner with 1–2 employees. He provides each person with the same level of customer service and expertise. They’re an amazing company. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

I don't really have anything negative to say. If our members had any concerns about the project or format, we bring it to their attention and they always respond with solutions.  Winnipeg is slow to adapt VR technology but I'm hoping this app will encourage more people to jump on board. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Come with a list of your wants and needs. The more specific you can be, the better Bit Space Development Ltd. can understand what would make you happy. Dan will find a way to make it happen. The challenge is getting what’s in your head down on paper so that you can communicate it clearly. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a community liaison at Safe Workers of Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization focused on providing safety and health training awareness and resources for workers in the province of Manitoba, Canada. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

We reached out to Bit Space to develop a VR training app that would allow us to educate people about workplace health and safety through an immersive, interactive experience. We had done a lot of campaigns in the past but wanted to try something different to catch the attention of young workers about to enter the workforce. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we met with their team to brainstorm ways we could use VR technology in an educational format to grab the attention of our target audience. Then, they designed and developed a VR platform for iOS and Android called Level Up, which is an experience that immerses users into three different types of working environments: fast food, retail, and construction. Within the workplace simulations, users then interact with a supervisor and are asked to perform a hazard assessment of the workspace. This allows us to educate people about workplace hazards, workers' rights, and how to reduce injuries.

What is the team composition? 

We worked with Daniel (Owner and CEO, Bit Space Development), as well as a team of 4-5 others. 

How did you come to work with Bit Space Development Ltd.?

Our marketing team put us in contact with Bit Space, and we already had somewhat of a relationship with them before the project came up. We were impressed by their portfolio of work and knowledge in the VR/AR space. We also liked that a lot of their previous work was focused on creating educational platforms.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together for about a year from 2018 to 2019.

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

Prior to having a VR platform, we participated in a lot of career symposiums and events, but trying to generate interest from young people in workplace health and safety issues has always been a challenge. Now that we have a VR platform, people line up at our booth like it's a ride at a fair. The VR experience is so exciting and new to most people that it's been a hugely effective tool for us. I never imagined it would have such a significant impact on what we're trying to do: get people interested and talking about important health and safety topics. 

How did Bit Space Development Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

Daniel was phenomenal to work with; his correspondence was always very prompt and thorough. Their team was responsive and quick to troubleshoot any issues or questions we had throughout the process, especially when we were using the VR equipment for the first time. They were also more than willing to send someone to meet us to walk us through how to use the software. I couldn't have asked for a better team.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They could be taking on bigger, more lucrative projects from any company, but they're actually passionate about the kind of work nonprofits like ours are doing. It was also just great to be supported by a team willing to make our vision happen. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, but we're in constant discussions with them about how we can continue to evolve our campaign, and they've been very open to our ideas and feedback.