Codeswop

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the chief marketing officer of Irontree, a data management, cyber security, compliance, and continuity solutions provider based in South Africa. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Codeswop?

We engaged Codeswop to build a robust and secure customized website.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Codeswop designed and developed a website on WordPress, using customized code to create specifically requested features. They were provided with wireframes and requirements, but also made suggestions for best practices and additional design options. 

How did you come to work with Codeswop?

I knew the managing director and contacted him on Facebook. We started working together shortly after that. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $10,000 on the website and now work with them on a retainer.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking to them in October 2018 and finished the project in February 2019. We're still collaborating with them on new functionality and intend to keep working with them long into the future. 

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

They've gone over and above to deliver a customized site that exceeds our expectations. We've received a lot of positive feedback from our clients using the new website Codeswop created.

How did Codeswop perform from a project management standpoint?

While building the site, we held weekly video meetings, and they quickly provided a production environment so we could start populating content. They made themselves accessible through any channels we needed to be on, including WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, email, and phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's rare for a developer to be willing to create such a bespoke web solution for a business. They've also been very responsive and accessible throughout the project. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm not sure if it was possible, but I'd always like to have projects turned around more quickly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Challenge them and ask the right questions, because they're capable of delivering more than what's expected. We asked them for an interactive element on our home page, for example, and they ended up creating something that exceeded our expectations. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Mark1 Labs is a creative division of a media buying agency based in Cape Town, South Africa. I’m the creative director.

What challenge were you trying to address with Codeswop?

We don’t have a lot of in-house developers so for a lot of projects, we outsource our work. We frequently use Codeswop for that. They’re a resource that I can lean on for expertise and advice. They have the resources to be able to help us with tasks that we don’t have the ability to complete.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us with numerous projects ranging from gaming to more complex PHP type setups. One of the project was a CMS [content management system].

They also assist with the HTML side of things for us when we don’t have the scope or the manpower to take on the work.

What is the team composition?

There’s a project manager who handles the business side of things and 2 developers that we lean on for the more complex things. The project manager would facilitate the conversation between us and their developers.

How did you come to work with Codeswop?

We found them online. We looked at their work and they sent me references. We’re in the same city so when we need to have meetings, it’s easy for me to get where they are or they come to my office. It’s a really convenient setup. They’re very transparent with cost. They’re competitive compared others. They don’t unnecessarily charge for services. I appreciate the transparency of their business.

How much have you invested with them?

$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2016 until January 2018. They now provide maintenance for us. We have a few more things that may start work on.

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

A lot developers or companies that I’ve worked with in the past take their time. Codeswop pay great attention to detail and projects are done in a timely manner. Those are the most important things for me. They kept to very strict deadlines. My clients are extremely happy with the work that we’ve done with Codeswop.

How did Codeswop perform from a project management standpoint?

It was very positive. We use Slack or other management tools so I could keep track without having to directly chat with them. We set up boards to monitor the progress of the work. Every time they updated it, I got updates. It was really efficient for me and very effective for the way we like to do business.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability work on small and large projects and their scalability is impressive. Their skillset is extremely broad. They’re always up for a challenge and never say no. They figure out a way to get the job done. I can always lean on them and they give me advice.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could update their own website.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They should work on getting a workflow and project management tools in place. We use Slack or Trello to assist the streamlining. I’d recommend doing something like that from a pure productivity point of view.