We make tech work. Mobile Apps & Web Solutions
We design and build digital solutions. We craft and deliver web & mobile software applications. Technical strategy, UI & UX design, React Native Apps, Umbraco CMS, Episerver, WordPress, Drupal, Veeva, iOS, Android and Windows application development.
Bluegrass was born over 20 years ago. With our roots in software engineering in the 1990’s we have emerged from the digital revolution and we continue to evolve, delivering robust and secure digital solutions.
Change is a constant, but what has never changed is our work ethic and passion to deliver excellence. Today, we help our clients drive business growth through insight-led user experiences, innovation and technology built to scale.
With offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London, our expert knowledge, experience and proven track record help us provide a unique offering, centred on service excellence.
We have delivered web, mobile apps and custom software solutions for some of the worlds largest brands across a range of diverse industries including financial services, pharma and healthcare, Retail and FMCG
headquarters
other locations
Focus
Portfolio
iClover Equity Maven PosTrack Sanlam Petrofac Plc Costain Plc Cloudreach DNAFit Aercap Allan Gray Coronation Fund Managers Adidas Dineplan Lichfields Western Cape Government Names & Faces Bloomable Janssen Pharmaceuticals Johnson & Johnson Various agency partnerships African Infrastructure Investment Managers
Numbersense WordPress Ecommerce Website
Project Brief
NumberSense approached Bluegrass Digital to create an eCommerce website to market and sell their mathematics programmes and workbooks online to their vast audience of schools, teachers and parents. The website needed to be redesigned and updated with the various supporting information and programme material that NumberSense offer their existing and new clients.
The objective was to make use of a trusted Content Management System for the website redevelopment in order to allow Numbersense to easily manage their content, stock and online orders.
As part of the eCommerce rebuild, we integrated with DawnWing to include an automated fulfilment and delivery mechanism.
Key Features
Strategic planning and architecture
UX & UI design
WordPress CMS Implementation
WooCommerce integration for online purchases
PayFast integration as a payment portal
DawnWing custom API integration for automated deliveries
Custom API integration for automated online APP tokens
Online blog and knowledge hub to drive community and add SEO benefits
Azure hosting services
The Result
A robust eCommerce store powered by WooCommerce that allows users to seamlessly purchase their products online; including physical workbooks and mobile app module purchases. The WordPress CMS includes stock management of physical products and integrate with courier partner DawnWing as well as existing mobile app partners, with automated order processing taking place through the website and no manual updates being required from the client.
The WordPress and Numbersense WooCommerce website solution enables the client to easily update content, add new products or manage existing product information and orders. The website design and implementation give Numbersense the option to customize their content within their set brand guidelines – giving them the freedom to amend their designs within the templates and page components.
Netpractice
Project Brief
Netpractice is a medical practice management solution which helps doctors streamline the various functions of running a medical practice from appointments, patient records, billing, medical aid claims and general support functions.
Netpractice approached Bluegrass to undertake the redesign of the user interface for their practice management software solution. In addition, Bluegrass was requested to provide advice on the UX and design for a new “Waiting Room and Waiting List” features that would allow the practice to better manage their walk-ins and existing waiting list of patients.
Our Approach
The process started with some initial UX workshops and analysis of the existing user journeys. We used our iterative UX and UI design process to deliver a new modern user experience, applying the latest design thinking and best practice.
Our UX and UI design process included conducting research and analysis, client workshops, ideation and user journey development, prototyping and final design evaluation. We finished the process by creating a component-based style guide to support the development team with ongoing development and implementation.
The Result
Our process ensured we became immersed in the project and allowed us to amplify the Netpractice team’s brief with best-practice solutions. The continuous engagement with the development team also ensured that the proposed UX prototypes matched existing and future API considerations – allowing for a smooth transfer to development and integration once designs are completed.
By taking into account future enhancements and features, Bluegrass was able to assist Netpractice in planning for future updates by providing designs and user stories for future enhancements and ensuring it will comfortably integrate with the current functionality and designs.
Pelagic Resources corporate website built on WordPress
Project Brief
Pelagic Resources was looking for a solutions partner that will assist them with creating a new Corporate website and profile that will illustrate their footprint in the African and Asian investment markets, emphasizing the success and case studies they have achieved since their inception in 2016. The site needed to make use of a Content Management System that could be easily maintained and owned by their internal team and should allow for a Chinese translation option to share their latest news and information with their Chinese audience. The main objective was to offer future investors a portfolio page and which client can use to refer to during new investment opportunities.
Key Features
UI Designs
Customised WordPress theme
Full content management with WordPress
WordPress Multilingual functionality for ease of translation to Chinese
Multilingual SEO optimization
Google Map integration
Creation of design of Corporate Profile brochure
The Result
A professional and reputable site that allows future investors to view the latest achievements, news and services offered by Pelagic Resources both in English and Chinese. The site’s sleek design and clear layout sets Pelagic Resources apart as a reputable firm and provides investors with easy access to their Corporate Social Responsibility endeavours, successful achievements and Corporate Profile.
WordPress was the chosen Content Management System for the website as it allowed Pelagic Resources to cater to their wide audience with a multitude of international languages and the ability to regularly update their website content with ease.
Bio-Oil Instagram mobile application for B2B marketing
Project Brief
Bluegrass Digital was selected by Union Swiss, makers of skin product brand Bio-Oil, to design and develop a new B2B marketing solution based on creating an Instagram-style mobile application. The purpose of the new mobile app is to provide distributors across the globe the ability to access brand content, news and information to support their marketing and sales initiatives. It is important that the new mobile app provides clear user journeys to ensure quick and easy access to content. The experience should invoke belief, pride and a compulsion to want to share its content with others.
Bluegrass Digital worked closely with Union Swiss team members to address the key challenges and ensure we deliver a solution that successfully meets the key objectives. The project followed an Agile KANBAN approach to deliver both the iOS and Android mobile app.
Key Features
UX Wireframe and UI Design
React Native mobile tech stack for Android and iOS
API architecture and integration
Authentication and secure login facility
Messaging, comments and like functionality
Firebase for Analytics and crash reporting
Offline functionality
Admin approval and user management workflows
Content reporting and moderation workflows
Integrated emails and push notifications
The Result
A robust mobile application that encompasses and successfully portrays the professionalism and styling of the Union Swiss-owned Bio-Oil brand. The agile KANBAN approach allowed for the team to be flexible with iterative UX and design process allowing us to use a phased approach to the rollout of new features.
By working closely together with the Bio-Oil team, Bluegrass delivered a mobile application that enabled distributors and partners of Bio-Oil to seamlessly collaborate and interact across over 117 countries worldwide
Johnson & Johnson Drupal Content Management
Project Brief
As Drupal platform experts, Johnson & Johnson South Africa have tasked us with maintaining the content for the Johnson & Johnson brand websites in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Included in our support is the design, UX planning and content management of the J&J brands on the global Johnson & Johnson Drupal platform to adhere to global brand guidelines and create an exciting and engaging experience for our consumers.
Services
UX planning and flow for customer journeys against the J&J consumer Drupal platform
Design of creation of website assets
Creation and population of pages within the Drupal CMS
Content management
Quality Assurance testing and proofreading
The Result
Creation of engaging online customer experience for the following J&J brands to improve the stickiness and time spent on site:
Neutrogena – www.neutrogena.co.za
• Listerine –www.listerine.co.za
• Johnson Baby –www.johnsonsbaby.co.za
• Savlon –www.savlon.co.za
• DoktorMom –www.jnjconsumer.co.za
• Benylin SA –www.benylin.co.za
• Rehidrat–www.jnjconsumer.co.za
• Sinutab –www.sinutab.co.za
• Stayfree –www.stayfree.co.za
Together with the J&J brand team, we have streamlined the scheduling and deployment speed for new campaigns and content to go live on the site.
Our quick turnaround time enables flexibility for any content changes and give the J&J Team complete control of their content and campaign information.
iClover Intranet
Project Brief:
Clover is a leading and competitive branded consumer goods and products group operating in South Africa and other selected African countries. Clover approached Bluegrass to build a single platform to connect and inform the Clover workplace, from the remote field-workers to those working in Head Office. The objective was to enable Clover employees to engage with their employer and stay up to date on the latest news, marketing campaigns and efforts from the various Clover departments.
Key Features
* Customised WordPress theme
* Full content management with WordPress
* Daily CRON job scheduled for birthdays and awards/ achievements
* IP Whitelisting for Clover employees only
* Deployment and hosting to Microsoft Azure
The Result
The result was a platform that provides organizational clarity and serves to reinforce the Clover brand and values across all departments and locations. The platform is updated daily with employee birthdays, celebrating each Clover team member on their birthday. The iClover intranet is a place where employee achievements and awards can be recognized with a special section allocation for the Clover Service Awards which names and celebrates the employees who have worked for Clover over a span of 10 – 25 years.
The benefits of an organisation like Clover having an intranet are endless. Intranet improves communication between employees and encourages knowledge-sharing between teams and departments. It also allows employees to access important information in one place. Organisations are able to store all company documents in a secure platform, making sure everyone has access to knowledge and can stay up to date.
PosTrack
Project Brief
PosTrack is a retail intelligence solution providing real-time insights into the success of FMCG brands in-store execution. Bluegrass was approached by PosTrack to develop their mobile application. After client launched the first version of the product with another development house, the client reached out to Bluegrass to rebuild the engineering scope for a trade intelligence app that enables client brands to track what is happening in retail spaces.
As the chosen development partners, Bluegrass were to provide suggestions on aesthetics from a user-journey perspective. React Native was the selected technology stack and the app was to be released on both iOS and Android devices.
Key Features
* Built using REACT NATIVE
* Retail campaigns feature allowing users to track campaign deployment in real-time
* New product launch feature that reviews on-shelf compliance with store pictures of each placement
* Asset tracking feature integrated with google map location pins
* User history reporting of in-app activity
* Push notifications
* Offline functionality
The Result
Bluegrass helped build a platform that is a fully automated, cloud-based and client-centric solution. The solution has a backend and a mobile-app side that allows customers to create campaigns and build bulk QR codes that are applied to the units.
The mobile app and dashboard technology allows brand owners to measure the success of their retail performance. Field teams have access to vital information, directly from head office, enabling them to review and act on real-time information. All functionality is available in offline too, meaning teams can continue to work regardless of temporary loss in connectivity.
Bluegrass chose React Native as the development framework as it uses the same code for deployment on iOS as well as on Android devices without compromising functionality and performance.
Equity Maven
Project Brief
Fintech startup Equity Maven was founded by a dynamic team of entrepreneurs and finance specialists. They approached Bluegrass to collaborate with them on developing an online banking-style business valuation tool, after realising a great need for a powerful tool that can provide accurate and useful valuations at a fraction of the cost. The tool is aimed at small business owners that are looking to sell their business or raise capital.
After reviewing and strategizing with Equity Maven, Bluegrass moved forward with the planning and delivery of the custom fintech platform to meet both business and end-user objectives.
Key Features
* Integration and creation of a comprehensive valuation report which includes
* A valuation figure calculator using a discounted cash flow methodology
* Technical valuation inputs taken from Refinitiv that draws from 40 million data points
* Sensitivity analysis of valuation assumptions
* Ability to save and store multiple valuations over time
* Industry benchmarking using key performance indicators against global industry averages
* Secure customer portal
* Umbraco CMS for product environment and content management
* Payment gateway integration with PayGate
* Hosting on Microsoft Azure
The Result
Bluegrass assisted Equity Maven with creating a comprehensive and robust fintech tool that allows companies to understand their business better than anyone with the assistance of the customized valuation calculator that shares a highly detailed, investment banking-style report, allowing businesses to understand and defend these assumptions in negotiations.
The custom fintech platform was built on Microsoft technologies using Azure application services as it offers the freedom to build, manage, and deploy applications instantly on an interconnected global network. It also provides the ability to scale out vertically and horizontally as the need arises. There are also huge savings for customers moving to Azure as it allows developers to host business logic that can be executed without managing or provisioning more infrastructure.
Umbraco CMS was the chosen CMS due to our expertise in Umbraco implementations, its flexibility and easy-to-use function which allows Equity Maven to take full ownership of their website with custom code and design freedom.
The site aims at helping business owners unlock the true value of the companies in an affordably, precise and efficient way.
Allan Gray Adviser Mobility Mobile App & API Integration
Bluegrass Digital is a React Native mobile development company. We were selected to join an internal product team to design and build a new mobile solution for financial advisers. We would collaborate closely with Allan Gray combining both onsite and remote working. Our key responsibilities involved app architecture design and mobile development.
The mobile application would be a first for Allan Gray and the industry with the aim to streamline the client onboarding process for financial advisers. An agile approach was used to allow the team to move quickly through sprint cycles from UX and design to development. The objective was to deliver a final working solution that automated client onboarding through the app and integrated directly with Allan Gray internal systems and existing processes.
The Result
A slick new iPad solution was released and entered a closed user testing phase with a selected number of financial advisers to provide meaningful feedback. An additional phase of enhancements and improvements followed user testing, prior to final testing and an internal production release for further review.
Prodigy Finance React Native mobile app
Project Brief:
Prodigy Finance provides student loans for international students across the US, UK and other countries. Bluegrass were approached due to our experience in React Native mobile development. We provided a team augmentation role to support their existing mobile team. This included product leadership and development roles to support the delivery of their mobile application for iOS and Android.
One of the services that Bluegrass offer to our clients is staff placement and the opportunity to place our qualified team members within client teams to help augment team by ensuring internal client teams reach their objectives and timelines.
We were also tasked around developing some of the more challenging features around their repayment loan calculator.
Key features:
* Placement of Product Owner role within existing Prodigy Finance mobile team
* React Native mobile developer to augment and support existing mobile team
* Combination of remote and onsite support working within client’s agile development methodology
* Provided leadership on user experience, backlog management, architecture and user story definition
* Development of key features for loan repayments and includes
* Repayment calculator
* Subscription payments
* User profile and account u
The Result:
Prodigy Finance has seen that the new international payments feature as developed together has been widely adopted by their customer base, while seeing spikes in the usage of features such as contact detail updates and the repayment calculator.
Dineplan App
Project Brief
When the team behind Dineplan, South Africa’s first instant booking platform for restaurants, were looking to create their app they wanted to include a broad list of features and functionality. An app that allows users to instantly book a table at one of their favourite restaurants in SA, the team wanted to make it easy to secure and manage a restaurant booking on the go.
According to Greg Whitfield, a director at Dineplan, Bluegrass was the standout choice for the project because of its previous experience using React Native. “We wanted to create an app that was simple for the general public to use to find and instantly book a table at any one of the 1 000 South African-based restaurants currently using Dineplan,”.
Key Features
- Android and iOS Native Apps
- Built using REACT and REACT NATIVE
- Location-based search functionality
- Full restaurant listing
- Browse and tag favourite restaurants
- Filter by cuisine, price, rating and other attributes
- Instant booking features
- Ecommerce integration for deposit payments
- Full restaurant listing with contact, maps and opening times
- Cancellations and booking amendments
What our Client says
“Bluegrass really helped us realise our ideas - while adding a few of their own - throughout the entire design and development phases.”
– Greg Whitefield, Co-founder
Coronation
Project Brief
Recognised as a world-class investment management company, Coronation were looking to implement a best-in-class content management system (CMS) for their web and digital offering. Coronation selected Episerver CMS and Bluegrass to deliver the solution.
The initial project objective was to re-platform the current website onto a new CMS and, perhaps even more importantly, rebuilding the website to meet their current and future requirements. As part this process, we were to create a digital style guide to ensure brand and style consistency across the new website.
Key Features
- EpiserverCMS implementation
- EpiserverConnect for Sharepoint and Salesforce integration
- Creation of a global digital style guide
- HTML/CSS3/SCSS responsive templates
- Localisation for multi-country based content
- API integration for fund price information
- AMcharts integration
- Improved deployment strategy
- Managed Hosting Support
- Ongoing Service Level Agreement (SLA)
The Result
Episerver now provides the platform to enable Coronation with their ambitious Omni-channel business strategy. Episerver will provide them with the tools to drive personalisation using built in AI and machine learning capabilities giving the potential to provide a personalised user experience for new and existing customers.
Allan Gray
Project Brief
Allan Gray required a new, engaging and dynamic online presence that would create a rich user experience with easy access to information and resources, driving increased user interaction and attracting new customers.
One important objective was the selection of a new CMS platform that met both the marketing and IT requirements. Following a vendor review process, the ASP.net platform Episerver was selected as the CMS platform and Bluegrass Digital as the implementation partner.
The Result
A beautiful investment manager website that creates a personalised customer experience for new clients, existing clients, financial advisors and institutional investors, supporting localised country-based content can be managed carefully and intuitively within Episerver.
Key deliverables in the project included:
- HTML5/CSS3/SCSS responsive templates
- Episerver 8 implementation
- Episerver FIND for reach search functionality
- Localisation for multi-country based content
- API integration for fund price information
- Sharepoint integration for Fund Factsheets
- Interative rich media content
- Investment calculators
Adidas
Project Brief
THE BASE JOBURG is the ultimate football venue – the only place in South Africa where players can play multiple formats of the game, test quality Adidas product, watch some of the country’s best talents and favourite professional teams. To further enhance the launch of the new launch, Adidas wanted a digital interactive experience to further promote and engage players with the brand both on and off the pitch.
Key Features
- User registrations and login authentication
- Player, team, and referee management
- Venue management portal
- Tournament management module
- Personalised dashboards, widgets and badges
- New team rating algorithm using the ELO rating system
- View player profiles and benchmark your goals and stats against other players
- Online bookings and account management
- Integrated scoring interface
- Referee mobile scoring App
The Result
The new website is the ultimate football community platform where players can register and create profiles, build teams, join leagues, view their fixtures and results, make bookings and much more. Referees can automatically log scores and player stats during game time using a innovative mobile app. The platform also synchronises player records with fingerprint ID recognition at THE BASE to allow for automatic entry to complete the seamless experience.
Western Cape Government
Project Brief
The WCG e-government strategy, which seeks to enhance service delivery through the use of technology, required us to conceive, design and develop a responsive mobile friendly ‘Municipal Website Platform’ for the Department of Local Government.
The platform would be built on Drupal and be used to roll-out to all municipalities across the Western Cape.
Key Features
- User Login & Registration, with profiles
- Service alerts and notifications
- Multi-lingual text translation
- Municipal services – details and emergency contacts
- A – Z Site Index
- Tenders – awarded and archives
- Documentation – download, print and FAQ’s
- Careers – jobs available, apply online
- Events Calendar – upcoming events, save to Outlook
- News – latest municipal news & archive
- Mapping –wards demarcation and councillor details
- Subscription – publications, newsletters and alerts signup facility
The Result
This platform now allows all the municipalities within the Western Cape to improve their communication channels to their citizens and evolve together in line with the Western Cape Government’s e-government strategy. The new platform was designed responsively as a “white label” solution using Drupal and provides for the ongoing roll-out to the 30 municipalities in the Western Cape.
Lichfields
Project Brief
Lichfields is a leading planning and development consultancy in the UK. Following a successful rebranding process, Bluegrass worked in collaboration with JWDK to deliver as their technical partner to deliver a new innovative website to reflect the new brand.
The key objective was to create Lichfields as thought leader in the industry by driving insightful content. This would require a content management system and Umbraco was selected together with its Lucene search engine capabilities to enable us to create powerful search features.
Key Features
- HTML & CSS Responsive Template
- Umbraco 7 CMS Implementation
- Intuitive navigation options
- Powerful search features using Examine with Lucene.Net
- Predictive search to enhance user experience
- Integrated lead forms using Umbraco Forms
- Managed hosting services
- Ongoing SLA support services
The Result
A stunning new website was launched in February 2017 showcasing the new Lichfields brand and identity. Powered by Umbraco content management system, the website provides a unique user journeys focused around its powerful search features using Umbraco Examine and Lucence.Net.
Names & Faces
Project Brief
The new Names and Faces app provides tools that help organisations build fast directories of their teams which help people orient themselves, feel more welcome and to encourage more real life interactions.
Bluegrass were appointed by Names & Faces, a start-up launched by Paul Galatis, to redevelop his prototype mobile application using React and React Native, the latest cutting edge technology for mobile development.
Key Features
- Cross-platform – Android and iOS Native Apps
- Built using REACT and REACT NATIVE
- Single codebase for lower cost of ownership
- Excellent performance
- Integrates with REST API
- People Directory with powerful search & filtering tools
- Supports multiple accounts and groups
- Profile categorisation and management
- Profile swiping, favourites and note keeping
- Encryption for added data security
What our Client says
“We’ve had a very healthy relationship with Bluegrass that has spanned almost a year now. More than anything, we’ve appreciated their willingness to explore new technologies at our request, always being open and honest about their capabilities and capacity. Our project has been consistently well managed, it has come in within budget every step of the way and we’re very happy with the results.”
– Paul Galatis, Founder
CMS Law
Project Brief
CMS is an international law firm headquartered in London, England with dedicated law and tax experts in over 70 offices around Europe. They were looking to roll-out a new mobile application to employees with the objective to provide everyone with the key messages for each of their practices, sectors and regions.
CMS engaged with Bluegrass, a experienced mobile UX and engineering company to design and develop the new mobile platform which will support devices across iOS, Android and Windows.
Key Features
- UX & Design development
- Simple, clean UI and navigation principles
- Xamarin mobile app development
- Cross-platform to support iOS, Android & Windows devices
- Firebase integration for notifications and app metrics
- Integration with Restful APIs
- Umbraco CMS for app content management
- App deployment via Microsoft Intune
- MS Azure services API and Umbraco
What our Client says
“Bluegrass just ‘got it’ and delivered an app that fit our requirements perfectly. The app has been a huge success for CMS, with consistently excellent feedback on the functionality, design and content.”
“The project management and development team were excellent throughout – great regular communication, honest advice and extremely personable.”
– Jenny Hallatt, Senior Brand Manager
African Infrastructure Investment Managers
Project Brief
African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) is one of Africa’s largest and most experienced infrastructure-focused private equity fund managers and required us to conceive, design and implement a refresh of their existing Umbraco Content Management System (CMS) website design and functionality.
The website needed to reflect their strong heritage on the African continent as well as provide clients with an accessible portal to access Fund information and investment professionals.
Key Features
- Planning and technical strategy
- Responsive UI design
- Umbraco CMS updates and implementation
- Online blog to drive community and SEO
- Azure hosting services
- Ongoing Service Level Agreement to provide support
The Result
A modernised website style with increased focus on usability to meet the needs of the modern-day investor. It perfectly showcases AIIM’s 19 years of heritage in the African content – positioning AIIM as the lead in Infrastructure Investment in Africa. Bluegrass was also able to support their objective of full site ownership through the development of a flexible Umbraco CMS that gives the team the ability to easily update their content within minutes.
Petrofac
Project Brief
Our initial task was to stabilise the current corporate website and hosting platform. The site was experiencing random downtime and errors. In addition, the content management system was not correctly implemented to the required standards resulting in the communications team struggling to fully manage the site content.
As a leading Umbraco Certified Partner, our first task was to stablise the existing website and move it onto a more stable and secure managed hosting environment. Our second task was to re-platform the site on a new version of Umbraco while including new website templates incorporating updated CI guidelines.
Key Features
- Information architecture review
- Content repository based on agreed taxonomy structure
- New designs with mobile breakpoints incorporating new CI guidelines
- New CSS template development including full digital style guide creation
- Full implementation of Umbraco CMS with multi-site set-up
- Enterprise deployment strategy with QA, UAT and Production environments
- Continuous Integration with ongoing Managed Services Support
The Result
As a leading international service provider in the oil and gas sector as well as a listed company on the FTSE 250, we delivered a new website platform that would ensure a secure, stable and scalable website.
Costain PLC
Project Brief
Since 1865, Costain has been improving the lives of people by deploying technology-based engineering solutions to meet urgent national needs across the UK’s energy, water and transportation infrastructure. Iconic projects include the Thames Barrier, construction of the Channel Tunnel and Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Bluegrass Digital have been working with Costain over the last 8 years. More recently, we supported the rollout of the brand refresh across digital channels. Apart from implementing the new brand guidelines, there was a need to refresh the overall user experience with improved navigation, content and layout without a full redesign.
Key Features
- UX workshop and Sketch protoyping
- UI design for improved navigation, home page and templates
- Application of new brand guidelines across the website
- Umbraco CMS implementation and functional development
- Upgrade of Umbraco CMS to new platform
- SEO Audit and improvements
- Migration of content to new templates
The Result
The new brand guideline principles together with some clever work of the existing styles and new templates. Along with fresh content and imagery, the website was transformed without the need to undertake a full redesign process. Further improvements were made in the content management system to provide Costain with more control over their content to help improve the overall user experience.
Bloomable
Bloomable.co.za (formerly SAflorist.co.za), is a leading online marketplace for local florists in Africa. They approached Bluegrass Digital to provide managed services for their existing ecommerce platform. Apart from ongoing development, code optimisation and managed hosting support there was a long wish list of enhancements. The first project was handling the rebranding implementation and migration to a new domain name including SEO and Google Tag Manager services.
As a technical partner, we will act as an extension of their team enabling the business to undertake ongoing feature enhancement with our wider team, offering UI design, development, architecture, DevOps, QA and project management.
Key Services
- UI design services
- Managed services from software development to DevOps
- Microsoft .NET (C#) development services
- Ongoing code optimisation and feature enhancement
- SEO support services
- Google Tag Manager implementation
What our Client says
“Bluegrass has been key to our success to provide a digital marketplace focused on helping people, communities and small business to grow. We are extremely impressed with the Bluegrass team and the level of effort and commitment, especially when they experienced challenges.”
– Melissa Cumming, Managing Director
DNAFit
Project Brief
Global wellness genetics company DNAFit required a new mobile app to help clients optimise their health. The objective for the new app was to allow clients to unlock their genetic profile and help them personalise their lifestyle choices. In order to meet these requirements the app would need to allow users to login securely to access their DNA data as well as personalised nutrition, fitness and health content, programmes and a personal coach.
We initially carried out workshop sessions with DNAFit to define the business requirements and project scope. The first phase of the project followed which allowed us to guide DNAFit and unpack their requirements and ideate further. We used an iterative UX and prototyping phase which resulted in the final wireframe prototype of the new app being delivered.
Key Features
- Adobe XD for wireframes
- Sketch for UI design support
- React Native mobile tech stack
- iOS and Android applications
- API integration (working with technical partner)
- Secure login facility
- Data visualisations and animations
- QA wizard and algorithm for Wellness Score
- “My Coach” chat feature
What our Client says
“The guys at Bluegrass have been excellent at working in a responsive and agile manner to help us bring our product releases out at speed, and on time.”
– Andrew Steele, Head of Product
Aercap
Project Brief
AerCap is the world’s largest independent aircraft leasing company. AerCap serves over 200 customers in approximately 80 countries and is the largest owner of commercial aircraft in the world. It was important that the new website clearly reflected the position of the company and ensured easy access to information for users. Bluegrass Digital were selected as technical partner to support international business communications consultancy Instinctif with the delivery of the new corporate website.
The new website followed a thorough content development, UX and design process. It was important that the website was designed and built to a high-standard. Additionally, a robust content management solution was required to support the corporate communication team in managing site content and features.
Key Features
- Planning and technical strategy
- HTML/CSS and JavaScript development
- Umbraco Razor Templates
- Umbraco CMS implementation
- Share price integration with NYSE 3rd party supplier
- Managed hosting services
- Ongoing Service Level Agreement to provide support
The Result
The result is a modern and professional new corporate website that represents a company that is a leader in its industry. The new site has been recognised by industry bodies and achieved a Silver for Best International Corporate Website at a recent awards ceremony in London.
Clover Pty Ltd
Project Brief
Clover was looking to replatform their corporate website with the major objectives of solving the inability to move at speed from a campaign broadcast and content administrative function.
Bluegrass worked closely with Clover’s digital marketing agency AMOK to review the key user journeys, information architecture and the user interface designs, to ensure they meet the required B2B and B2C content strategies and Clover brand team marketing requirements.
Key Features
- New html/css templates
- Custom built WordPress theme
- Full content management with WordPress
- Share price and chart integration
- Brand and product catalog
- Recipe finder and catalog
- Multi-faceted search results page
- Social media sharing options
- Deployment to MS Azure
Reviews
the project
Android & iOS App Dev for Cosmetics Company
"I only have the highest praise for Bluegrass Digital and their contributions to our business."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of a global skincare business, Union Swiss.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bluegrass Digital?
We have a global distribution network, so we’re in 155 countries. In every one of those markets, an independent company handles our marketing and distribution. We needed a platform or channel through which we could communicate with our distributors. We wanted a pioneering solution.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We briefed Bluegrass Digital on the project. As we knew what we wanted, we directed the design and wireframing processes. Their team then began coding the product.
They developed the app for Android and iOS devices. As a communication-oriented platform, their team built features to allow users to post images, copy, and videos. After the app’s initial launch, they added features. We’re still making changes as we move along.
The product enables us to share our work on a global scale and enables our distributors to show their work. It allows us to connect, inspire, and motivate one another.
What is the team composition?
The team’s composition depends on the project's stage. In the beginning, we worked with their solutions strategist. He helped us finalize the wireframes and design. Once they began to code, our technical team directly worked with their developers. There were also QA analysts on the project at another point.
How did you come to work with Bluegrass Digital?
We researched potential partners and then shortlisted three app development agencies. Those agencies submitted proposals, and we selected Bluegrass Digital.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent R 2 million ZAR (approximately $133,600 USD) on the project.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project started in March 2020, and we launched the app in August 2020. We’re still working with them.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They’re a top-notch business. We made the right choice by selecting them as a partner. Their caliber and approach to business align with ours. I only have the highest praise for Bluegrass Digital and their contributions to our business. They’re highly skilled.
How did Bluegrass Digital perform from a project management standpoint?
We always understand where we respectively stand. They’re good at staying on track from time and cost perspectives. They’re flexible and accommodate how we like to work. It’s been a great experience working with them.
Any technology development project has its bugs. When you’re live, bugs need to be quickly fixed. When we come up against challenges, the communication has been phenomenal.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Having an external partner working on the app has been brilliant. When we need to adapt the platform to add value, they’re accommodating. In the early days, businesses have to try to understand one another. We easily found ways of working with each other. They’re committed and invested in their work.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I can’t think of any areas for improvement.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
They have many South African and international clients. That was important to us because we’re a global business too. They’re a company that’s able to compete with the best of the best around the world.
the project
Mobile App UX/UI Design for Business Networking Startup
"Their project management skills separated them from other teams."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Digidex is a startup developing an on-demand business networking app. At the moment, it’s under development and will be launched around April–May 2021.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bluegrass Digital?
We approached Bluegrass Digital to design our app’s UX/UI.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I created process flows and amateur UI/UX examples to give Bluegrass an idea of our vision. I used Excel and created a functional requirements document that I sent to Bluegrass. I also gave them a color scheme for the product.
Bluegrass then established a team that moved my amateur wireframes in Excel onto Figma. Their team helped structure the platform, ensuring its flow was logical. For example, they established what would happen if users clicked specific buttons. Their team then moved onto the UI phase. They created a theme, colors, and buttons. Their team basically gave the app its look and feel. I
The app's goal is to replace business cards. It'll link with companies' internal systems and enable networking.
What is the team composition?
I initially engaged them in April 2020 and the project bounced around until May. After about two and a half months, the main people allocated to the project were Matt (Digital Analytics & Online Marketing Consultant), Darryn (UI/UX Designer), and a project manager.
How did you come to work with Bluegrass Digital?
I searched online for developers around Cape Town and found 15–20 different agencies. At the end of the day, it came down to 2–3 development agencies that had the right balance of skills for this project. After I approached them, I spoke to a sales consultant at Bluegrass who showed me apps their team previously built. Compared to the other shortlisted companies, Bluegrass had the greatest number of apps with functionalities similar to the ones I wanted my app to have.
How much have you invested with them?
I spent roughly $15,000 on their services.
What is the status of this engagement?
I contacted them in April 2020, and their team completed the design in December 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
For roughly two and a half months, Bluegrass made promises but didn’t deliver. I escalated the problems to the company’s leadership. From that point onward, the experience was much better. Bluegrass allocated the right people to the project, and they salvaged it.
The part of the team that designed my app was very strong. They not only listened but also took the product onboard and made it their own. Their team diplomatically challenged and questioned my ideas to make the platform better. I knew that those guys were invested in the product, which I liked.
When it comes down to the look and feel of the prototype, it’s exactly what we told them we wanted. They used the right color schemes, buttons, and theme. It looks professional and casual, which was the look we wanted for the app.
How did Bluegrass Digital perform from a project management standpoint?
After the project was handed to the designers and the project manager, they provided a breakdown of the process with milestones and costs. We initially had meetings twice a week and then reduced them to once a week. Each week, they came back with another finalized portion of the app. If required, we made tweaks here and there. We primarily used Microsoft Teams, but I also communicated with the project manager on the phone.
Their project manager was no-nonsense. There were a couple of times when I had to use links for demonstrations with investors, but the links didn’t work. I called the project manager who talked with Darryn and five minutes later, the links worked. This was at 8 p.m. too. The project manager drove that team hard.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their team possesses a broad base of knowledge. They have many team members who can contribute a lot. Their back-office team also performed well. Once the project coordinator took my project from their sales department, the project went smoothly. Their project management skills separated them from other teams. Even from the beginning, their non-development team was a well-run machine. That can make or break a project.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They need to focus on the initial part of the sales funnel. Bluegrass could lose a lot of business if clients have to go through the same sales process that I experienced. They also need to benchmark their prices because there are many development companies in South Africa.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Give them a bit of leeway to ask questions. Once their team understands your goals, they can provide brilliant ideas because it’s their field of expertise.
the project
Mobile App Dev, Web Dev & IT Services for Publishing Company
"Bluegrass Digital is very methodical."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I run finance and operations for a company that does online publishing.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bluegrass Digital?
It's been a long standing relationship, and they’ve helped us with various projects to do with web development and IT.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Bluegrass Digital has done WordPress development for us and has built campaign sites. At some points, they also did our cloud and hosting services. They’ve assisted with setting up new users and managing email accounts and on and off consulting when we need it.
Additionally, they built a mobile app for iOS and Android and they provided consulting services on that matter. We had a clear idea of what we wanted, but the team would give us suggestions on what would and wouldn’t work.
What is the team composition?
Nick (Founder & MD) is my main point of contact.
How did you come to work with Bluegrass Digital?
Nick’s brother works on the South African side of our company, which is how we knew about Bluegrass Digital.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent more than $500,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
I joined the company in August 2020, but the partnership began in about 2007. It’s still ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The site speed and ad loading speed of the app are excellent. I can’t complain about anything because everything has worked as they said it would.
How did Bluegrass Digital perform from a project management standpoint?
At the beginning, they gave us a detailed project scope broken up into phases. It’s a hands-on approach in terms of having the MD himself on the project. Their support is amazing, and they always get back to us with a ticket.
Bluegrass Digital is very methodical and always gives us a very concise and considered answer, even if it’s not necessarily what we want to hear. They’re very good with communication and letting us know where we are.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They have a personal element about them. It doesn’t feel like when you go to a big tech company where you’re one of many customers; it’s almost like we’re part of the family.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, nothing comes to mind. My experience with them has been good.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
If you go in with a clear idea of what you want to achieve, that’s half of the work done. That will help to keep your cost down and will be a good starting point for Bluegrass Digital to work on the project.
You can also brainstorm with them, but that will be more expensive. It depends on your budget. Additionally, make sure that the team understands what you want to achieve so that they can help you optimize it.
the project
React Native Dev & UX/UI Design for Sales App
"They stepped forward as a true partner and shared their views and recommendations on how to improve the project."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Eyona is a tech company that creates global software solutions for the FMCG industry, predominately in the liquor and restaurant space.
We own and create all our software and our competitive advantage is our capability to disrupt all B2B business processes that drive sales, holding businesses and their partners accountable.
Innovation is at the core of our culture; we employ only the best; and our passion is to delight all our customers through our products and services. I am the Chief Technical Officer at Eyona.
For what projects/services did your company hire Bluegrass Digital?
We approached Bluegrass Digital as our app development partner, to support us with the UX design thinking for the new Repforce mobile app and to develop the app using React Native technology.
What were your goals for this project?
Our Repforce product, empowers company sales teams and workforces, by enabling them to manage call routing, survey data, customised reporting tools and sales ordering capabilities and helps to improve the team’s sales performance.
Repforce is the benchmark liquor software product within South Africa and our main goal was to retain our competitive advantage, through new features, whilst improving the app user experience so that our customers enjoy using the app every single day.
How did you select this vendor?
We had heard that Bluegrass was the leading React Native development company in South Africa, having developed many apps in this technology for other leading apps.
Describe the project in detail.
We’d initially undertaken a design phase with another company, which we weren’t that happy about. Bluegrass was on boarded and immediately challenged the UX and the designs supplied and improved them.
Once we were all happy with the improved UX designs, the project followed a time and materials (T&M) approach and through an iterative process, Bluegrass developed the app, including integrating with the Repforce API, and tested the app end to end to ensure a high quality standard, before submitting to the App Stores.
What was the team composition?
The project was led and overseen by a Bluegrass product owner and included two React Native developers and supported by a QA resource.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The Bluegrasss team were able to demonstrate progress throughout the project and their detailed time logging reports allowed us to keep track of the original project estimates vs the actual time spent, on a weekly basis.
The project did come in over budget, however their rigorous project management process ensured that our expectations were well managed throughout – no surprises.
The new Repforce app has allowed our end customers to really transform their own business sales processes and has allowed us to steal some of our competitors big name brand customers. This mobile application is now the benchmark software product for the liquor industry.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
We followed the Bluegrass ways of working for this project, using Invision during the design stage for easy commenting and tracking of designs changes; Slack we used for quick and easy comms between our teams; and Jira was used to manage and track the project development progress.
Their product owner provided frequent updates and recommendations which allowed for changes to be made while keeping to the timelines agreed.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Bluegrass didn’t just action and complete upon our instructions and tasks given but rather they stepped forward as a true partner and shared their views and recommendations on how to improve the project in ways that benefitted both the end user and our business.
Are there any areas for improvement?
We are truly impressed with the way the project was managed, we find no room for improvement at this stage.
the project
Mobile App Dev & Web Dev for Retail Intelligence Company
"Their project management skills very much stood out."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
PosTrack is a trade intelligence solution. It allows fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands to track their retail execution around new product launches to boost sales. Our solution has a backend and a mobile-app side that allows customers to create campaigns and build bulk QR codes that are applied to the units. As those leave the factories and get placed, someone scans the unit using the mobile app, geotags it, and answers questions about its condition and placement.
The company is made up of just myself, and I have freelance people assisting me.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bluegrass Digital?
We went to them to develop our product.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I worked with another developer to get the first version of the product out, including the backend and the mobile app. It as a rough guideline, but it was incredibly poorly designed, and not sustainable from a code perspective. The project with Bluegrass involved rebuilding the scope.
They had a framework to work with, and I took the lead in terms of best practices on coding and outcomes. They gave me suggestions regarding the aesthetics, from a user journey perspective. They worked with my approval and collaboration, but the development was pretty much in their hands.
Bluegrass helps me with DevOps and AWS hosting as well. They also assisted with the backend Laravel web console. The most recent release of the mobile app was done for iOS and Android. It was built in React Native and used by our client brands to track what’s happening in retail spaces.
What is the team composition?
They had a team of 2–3 people working on the backend. On the mobile app side, there was one digital strategist, one core developer, and 1–2 project managers.
How did you come to work with Bluegrass Digital?
I found them through a friend in the industry who's more involved with DevOps and assisted me on a freelance basis. He’d worked with Bluegrass on another project and held them in high regard.
How much have you invested with them?
I’d put it in the region of 1,000,000 South African Rand (approximately $59,200 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started discussions earlier, but we started moving properly in November 2018. Our work is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It's still early, so we don't have any hard metrics as this point. Anecdotally, their expertise across the business spans from backend engineering to mobile app development. I found their development processes and final product very strong. They greatly improved the work that my original dev house delivered.
How did Bluegrass Digital perform from a project management standpoint?
From a process point of view, they’re able to coordinate the project across multiple team members using tools like Jira. They’re quite thorough with documenting their time, gathering feedback on each ticket, and subsequently moving those in the backlog into different processes. I found the sequential nature of their processes to be quite good.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their project management skills very much stood out.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I raised an issue with them regarding billing. There were times when I didn't have much visibility into their budget management process. This ended up not being an issue because they completed the work under budget. However, I would've appreciated seeing the billables listed earlier.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Based on my experience, Bluegrass is very much a mobile app dev house. They managed to handle our backed work as well, but I don’t think that's their core skillset.
the project
Web Development & CMS Suggestion for E-Commerce Solution
"Their positive can-do attitude is great. They listen, create, and execute within the agreed time and budget."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
We are a digital marketing agency, specifically focusing on email marketing, CRM, database management and mobile marketing solutions. I started at Digital Fire 13 years ago when it was a startup. I've assisted the previous owner in building the company and in July 2019 I acquired the business.
For what projects/services did your company hire Bluegrass Digital?
Whenever we need development work for our clients, we always turn to Bluegrass Digital. One of our big clients was after a very specific solution and we knew this was out of our scope internally. Bluegrass was able to build the e-commerce website the client was after and able to deliver on client’s requirements and expectations.
What were your goals for this project?
To provide our client with the best possible e-commerce solution that will meet and exceed their expectations.
How did you select this vendor?
They were referred to us by a business partner about 9/10 years ago.
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
They were asked to create an intuitive e-commerce solution and propose a suitable CMS platform which allows the client to personalize their sales offering. Digital Fire assisted client with the idea and concept, where after Bluegrass completed the design and development work on the Episerver platform. Bluegrass also completed all Quality Assurance testing and managed the project in collaboration with Digital Fire.
What was the team composition?
We deal with Nick (MD) or Mark (Operations Director), who oversee our projects.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
Unfortunately I cannot give you specific stats, as that is confidential, but I do know our client was very happy and satisfied with the final project and the suggestions Bluegrass made to improve the overall e-commerce site.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
Great! This is one of the reasons we always come back to them. They are timely and professional and you always know where you stand and where we are in a specific project, they are transparent in their approach and we appreciate that. They are easy to work with and always willing to walk the extra mile to deliver.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their positive can-do attitude is great. They listen, create, and execute within the agreed time and budget, which is rare these days.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Nothing springs to mind, we’ve only had positive experiences with them previously.
the project
App Development for Education Loan Company
"Their ability to assess the needs of our project and dive in with little context set them apart."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I worked as a Product Manager for international payments at a company that offers education loans.
For what projects/services did your company hire Bluegrass Digital?
We worked with both mobile developers and product owners from Bluegrass Digital to supplement our in-house team. We chose them specifically for their knowledge of React Native, the language we used to develop our mobile app.
What were your goals for this project?
We had a long list of features that our customers needed to effectively make international payments. These included a repayment calculator, subscription payments, and a page to update account details.
How did you select this vendor?
We selected Bluegrass Digital for their close proximity to our own offices (in Cape Town) and their expertise in React Native. They were quite flexible with working styles and quickly stepped into our agile development cycle.
Describe the project in detail.
This was an ongoing retainer more than project-based work.
What was the team composition?
We had 2-4 in-house developers working with 1-2 Bluegrass developers. I acted as the Product Manager overseeing the work, while a Product Owner from Bluegrass embedded in the team to work with them day-to-day.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Our international payments app - specifically the features that we developed together - has been widely adopted by our customer base. We saw spikes in usage of such features as contact details updates and the repayments calculator.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
As effective as it can be when you've got two different companies working together to implement a single project.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
Their ability to assess the needs of our project and dive in with little context set them apart.
Are there any areas for improvement?
It would have helped me if the folks from Bluegrass would have introduced more structure to the project; outlining timelines and deliverables for the team.
the project
Development Partner for Digital Marketing Agency
“Their ability to implement within our technological requirements and strict timeframes was impressive.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder and owner of Digital Fire and several other United Kingdom and South Africa-based businesses.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bluegrass Digital?
I needed a quality software development and production house to work with some of our medium and large clients. We had a very big client that we needed to satisfy, so we brought them on to assist with some of the requirements.
What was the scope of their involvement?
In these development projects, they worked through our company or directly with our client, depending on our needs and the scope of the project. For some projects, we would provide examples of similar solutions to guide their thinking and development. Other times, they were tasked with creating a solution completely from scratch. Notably, they worked often with Umbraco, doing CRM work for us.
What is the team composition?
I dealt directly with Nick (Founder, Bluegrass Digital) who was in charge of staffing developers to my projects and overseeing progress.
How did you come to work with Bluegrass Digital?
One of their partners reached out to me, explaining what they handle. At the time, my company was being asked to do more and more for clients within the realm of development. I saw an opportunity to bring them on as a partner.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent between $250,000–$500,000 so far.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the relationship in 2010, and our teams are still collaborating. I’m looking to do more work with their team for my other companies.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They always followed through on what they promised, working with up-to-date technology. They never produced anything that we were less than 100% satisfied with. I’ve been very happy with this partnership.
How did Bluegrass Digital perform from a project management standpoint?
The reason we continue to use their services was their exceptional project management services. We work with clients from around the world, but they were always able to manage the project efficiently from their location in Cape Town.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They understood the quality of work that we needed and delivered on time. We’ve worked on great projects together. Their ability to implement within our technological requirements and strict timeframes was impressive. They also exhibited a clear understanding of our market.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I can’t think of anything that they could’ve done differently. They’ve always delivered on time and accomplished what we’ve asked of them.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure you provide a strong, clear brief that details exactly what you want to achieve. The more work you do before the start of the engagement, the more smoothly the process will be.
the project
App Dev for Nutrigenomics Company
"The ability to exchange ideas and chat freely with them has been great."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the lead project manager at DNAfit. Our company offers at-home genetic testing that gives users personalized information about areas of fitness, nutrition, stress, and sleep.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bluegrass Digital?
We needed to develop an app compatible with both iOS and Android that allows users to access their personal information and communicate through a chat platform.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We did all of the design, but Bluegrass Digital was responsible for building the app for us. The application was developed using React Native. They created a platform that enabled users to communicate with our team and view results from their wellness tests.
What is the team composition?
I worked with a project manager and a small team of 2–3 people.
How did you come to work with Bluegrass Digital?
I’m not sure because it was before I was a part of the team. I decided to stick with them because they’ve already gone through the process of working with us; they really built themselves up. They already understand us and our business so it works well. Part of our company is based on South Africa, so it works well that Bluegrass Digital is based there, too.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in 2018 and the project is currently ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
It is good so far; it would be beneficial to get some expertise from them in terms of how well it is actually going to work for user functionality over time.
How did Bluegrass Digital perform from a project management standpoint?
They were good. We mostly used Jira to manage the project and Slack for communication.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The ability to exchange ideas and chat freely with them has been great.
Are there any areas they could improve?
Their communication skills could be better by including their manager, so I wouldn't have to ask about their progress and find what we need to catch up on.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Be engaging, honest, and open with them. Give them as much information as possible. By working closely with them, you can get your requirements across and get what you’re looking for.
the project
Ongoing Veeva Partner for Digital Agency
"I periodically look at other vendors, but I haven’t tried them yet—I’m satisfied with Bluegrass Digital."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the owner of a full-service marketing agency that specializes in digital projects.
What challenge were you trying to address with Bluegrass Digital?
One of my clients was looking to get materials onto Veeva, a marketing platform built for the pharmaceutical industry. I wasn’t familiar with the platform, so I reached out to Bluegrass Digital to make the project happen.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Bluegrass Digital is our go-to agency for all Veeva work for our clients.
The Veeva platform serves as a marketing tool for our clients’ salespeople. They can meet with a client and have all the marketing materials and information they need on a tablet. They can track usage, take notes, and access regulations for many markets.
By the time we bring Bluegrass Digital in, the creative work is done and vetted by a regulatory panel. Their job is relatively straightforward: they transfer materials onto the Veeva platform. This usually means source files—high-resolution PDFs and other visual content that needs to be programmed into the proper language so that it works in Veeva. They then smooth the appearance and make sure the functionality works properly.
What is the team composition?
We usually have four people working on any given project. Matt (Business Analyst, Bluegrass Digital) and Nick (Managing Director, Bluegrass Digital) do most of the work, an account representative gives us quotes and updates, and Mark (Operations Director, Bluegrass Digital) oversees everything.
How did you come to work with Bluegrass Digital?
In my research, I came across Bluegrass Digital when they posted a Veeva primer on LinkedIn Learning. It wasn’t enough for me to learn how to do it myself, but it did bring their services and expertise to light for me. I reached out and set up a call with Mark to explain what I was looking for. We went from there.
How much have you invested with them?
We spend £3,000–£5,000 (approximately $3,900–$6,600 USD) on each project.
What is the status of this engagement?
The first project went from June until September 2018. We’ve since done 8–9 projects together, and our partnership is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The first project had a tight timeline, but Bluegrass Digital still delivered precisely what the client was looking for on time and budget. Since then, for every Veeva project, they’ve met or beaten our deadlines and budgets. Our clients are very happy with their work—it’s hard to find someone who can do those services and who consistently delivers on time or ahead of schedule. Respecting deadlines is very important to our clients and us, so I appreciate Bluegrass Digital’s diligence there.
Their team also never charges us extra for small changes or tweaks that we request. I appreciate that flexibility. I periodically look at other vendors, but I haven’t tried them yet—I’m satisfied with Bluegrass Digital.
How did Bluegrass Digital perform from a project management standpoint?
We have a few dozen people we can reach out to over a Slack channel or Skype group. In our first project, when we were getting to know each other, we did a lot of Skype and phone calls. Now that we’re more comfortable with each other, text communication—such as email, WhatsApp, Skype chat, or Telegram—is our default. I also get regular updates about where they are on the timeline. Their team is easy to work with.
The time zone difference is a challenge—I’m on the east coast in North America, and Bluegrass Digital’s office is in South Africa. We’ve figured out ways to schedule things during the 4–5-hour window where we’re both at the office. They’re also responsive when they’re out of the office, but I don’t expect that from them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their timing and responsiveness stand out the most to me. Bluegrass Digital is very good at estimating how long a task will take and get it done within that timeframe or even earlier. A lot of vendors can stay under budget, but not everyone can deliver on time. Timeliness is critical in my line of work, so I appreciate that dedication from them.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The time zone difference is sometimes an issue, but I can’t blame Bluegrass Digital for it. Having them at an office down the street would make it easier for me to plan things rapidly without having to schedule so far in advance. However, we knew their location when we hired them, and their work has been fantastic.
Any advice for potential customers?
Bluegrass Digital is very good at adhering to instructions, so be as clear as possible about what you want them to do. Sometimes, we had them redo things because of some miscommunication on both ends. Make sure to plan for time zone differences as well. If you give them instructions the night before, they’ll often have the work done the next morning.
The experienced team at Bluegrass Digital successfully delivered the product, receiving praise from stakeholders and securing a lasting partnership. Their responsiveness and communicativeness enable transparent and effective collaboration. The dedicated team provides valuable expertise.