What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The website is officially up and running, and it represents us, our business, and our core values well. We saw a lot of activity at launch, and we’ve received very positive feedback from users on both the design and functionality. As we haven’t been live long, we’re continuing to work with ClearSummit to implement modifications based on user feedback.
We’re really pleased with a lot of the functionalities ClearSummit applied, especially the visual representation aspect of the portal. We wanted something different from the typical dashboard layout of investment portfolios, and ClearSummit helped us achieve that. Formatting and presentation are extremely important to us, and ClearSummit has taught us what platforms we could use to keep things succinct.
How did ClearSummit perform from a project management standpoint?
They performed really well. I have my own project management style, but I’ve learned a lot from them in terms of valuable tools to use. Since our engagement, everyone in my firm is an expert in Jira and in agile project management.
The entire process was very collaborative, and ClearSummit was always willing to dedicate time and effort to understanding both our product and any disconnects that occurred between our two teams.
A lot of discussion and knowledge-trading took place between our organization and theirs, as we’re both experienced in our respective fields. At times, we both had to be willing to understand why we were moving in a specific direction, and to compromise in order to navigate the project successfully.
ClearSummit was very amenable throughout that process, remaining receptive to feedback and available to speak with at all times. We never had a problem connecting with someone, from our day-to-day developers to some of the company’s top members. I had the opportunity to work closely with one of the founders, who made himself available to me whenever I needed.
It was a nice touch to have someone at a high level come down and actually work over the shoulder with the programmers, to get the project off the ground and be sensitive to our timelines.
What did you find most impressive about them?
ClearSummit’s entire team has great chemistry, and they all give total, 100% effort. We never witnessed anyone slacking, and it wouldn’t be unusual for me to receive an email late at night or early in the morning. That quality really makes them stand out.
They also bring a degree of maturity and sophistication to the project. While they didn’t have highly specific knowledge of our industry, they were able to speak to best practices and provide sound advice to our team. We really appreciated ClearSummit’s foresight and willingness to push back against our ideas when necessary.
Are there any areas they could improve?
ClearSummit could benefit from tightening up the QA process. They definitely provided QA and never gave us anything that didn’t get a pass or a look-over, but the nuance associated with our specific industry requires a different level. However, the team did adjust to our needs and develop that skill internally.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
When deciding who to work with for a tech project, develop a scenario to give them a small, bite-sized piece of the project as a test-run, to be confident in their capabilities.
All stakeholders are pleased with the final product ClearSummit delivered, particularly the portal. With a strong eye for design, the team represented the company’s practices and values well. Customers can expect a collaborative team who’s willing to offer advice and feedback along the way.