Communication Crafts

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of an Animation & Video Production Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Communication Crafts?

We needed an animation to clearly display what we do for ESG and how we can help other companies present their ESG policies. Animation was the clear route to go down as it allows for these core messages to be displayed effectively.

What were your goals for this project?

By utilising animation we hope that the core principles of the video are displayed clearly and in an engaging way.

SOLUTION

How did you select Communication Crafts?

We discovered them through word of mouth. After reviewing their past work we felt confident in their ability to produce high quality animation.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

Once selected, Communication Crafts were with us at every step of the journey. The initial brief was outlined (Including all guidelines which needed to be followed) and these aspects were verified over a Zoom meeting. An in-depth storyboard was then provided which provided ample information which gave a clear image of how the animation would look before it was ever produced. Once the storyboard was signed off, the first draft was provided. After supplying feedback the team then implemented these changes into the second and final version. The final product encapsulated our image for the project perfectly.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They were there every step of the way. Feedback was encouraged and acted upon fast.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Animation is a far more accessible medium, especially for a topic like ESG which would traditionally be presented through text. Because of this, the animation garners far more engagement with our audience.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team had strong communication and a clear scheduling process ensuring the project was kept on track whilst never keeping us in the dark.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed at how well they understood our brief. They have a wealth of knowledge of the industry. Thus, they know the standards to produce top-quality animation. This knowledge is then transferred over to the project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, the whole process went as smoothly as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m part of the R&D branch of an IT company. We have several offices, and our main one is in Singapore.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

We were looking for someone who could provide development support for an application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Communication Crafts developed part of our web app.

What is the team composition?

I was in touch with a project manager and a developer from Communication Crafts. I believe there was also an additional developer working in the background.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

We’d worked with them on a similar project a year prior, but I don’t know how they were found initially since I wasn’t part of the company at that point. Communication Crafts was recommended to me by the previous project manager so I chose them. 

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was between €12,000–€15,000 (approximately $14,600–$18,200 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

This project with Communication Crafts ran between October–December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We used an internal system to record all the bugs found during development, and the completion of the fixes was 100% by the end of the project. The work delivered by Communication Crafts was perfectly in line with our expectations. 

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

We had Skype calls with their team and used email to communicate. We also had a ticketing system in place.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We needed a certain amount of flexibility, and Communication Crafts provided it. We’d worked with other companies in the past, but they couldn’t provide the same flexibility as this team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they were fully in line with our expectations.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients need to be very clear with the initial specifications and have periodic follow-ups on the project status. There also needs to be a ticketing system in place to track both improvements and bugs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder & CEO of CBN Expert. We’re a startup company that provides software to measure, manage, and report carbon emissions in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

We had the first version of software developed to MVP by another company, and then I moved that version to Communication Crafts to build it out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Communication Crafts has been working on taking the MVP into a commercialized first version of the dashboard. They’re building the admin panels and physical commercial workings in terms of how people access it.

We’re putting in additional functionality and correcting issues that we had in the first phase. The nature of the assignment is to make sure that we have a product that works well and is scalable.

What is the team composition?

We primarily work with two teammates, and 2–3 others come in as needed.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

The partners who recommended the company that developed the MVP were the ones who found Communication Crafts and introduced me to them. I interviewed them and got some quotes, and we agreed that we would try out the relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about £25,000 (approximately $34,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in July 2020. We finished the first version, and we’re in the phase of agreeing on deliverables for the second version.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We took on 16 new partners in the last quarter of 2020 who have hit the ground running selling the product to their customers. They’ve all signed up and have been through the dashboard, and they’re happy to sell it to their clients. I see that as a big positive. 

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a relatively small project. I had to educate Communication Crafts on what the commercial drivers of my business are, which I expected to do. I had to make sure that they understood that any clunkiness or anything that didn’t follow logic would damage the end user’s impression of the software.

What they did was very well aligned with the principle that the more successful they can help me be, the more money I will spend with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In terms of value for money, there’s a significant difference between Communication Crafts’ price and that of the company that did our MVP. Even though they’re four hours ahead of us, I still get responses outside work hours, and they’re willing to learn. When I need access to people higher up the chain, I can get it easily.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re software development hands, so it’s always tough to get them to understand the commercial side of the business. It’s not their job necessarily, but what they’re delivering is designed to be a commercial product. 

They’re not bad at it, but it would help if they remembered that the product will be sold. It’s not necessarily criticism because they’re not commercial people.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be proactive in building the relationship and invest time in them. Make sure that what you’re asking them to do has as little ambiguity as possible. Additionally, share user feedback with them and tell them what you want to do, but be open to their suggestions as well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Jobsetter, an agriculture job placement company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

I needed them to develop my website. I had all the hosting on my domain, but I needed them to develop the site and fix some of the code.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They started with extant work, but they did a fair bit of code alteration. They didn't start from scratch, but they did a fair amount of work. The website is on WordPress. There's a login for both those posting jobs and those recruiting for jobs since it's both a resource hub for employers and those seeking work. There's also a map feature to filter jobs by map, which is difficult because some of these farms don't have addresses since they're really far out.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people mainly.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

I worked with them a few times with some other jobs. They did some really good work for me when I worked for another company.

How much have you invested with them?

I think it was about $2,500 AUD (approximately $1,800 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began work in July 2020, and the relationship is ongoing

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site functions well. They're quite speedy and knowledgeable. Whenever I was unsure about something they helped me navigate the decision-making process. They're willing to work on the project until it's done, and they've never told me to stop making requests. I like working with them more and more the more work with them.

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very communicative, if I ever had a question they answered it. We mainly communicated by email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to help stood out. They went above and beyond to help me understand what was needed. I'm not an expert on websites, so I'd frequently ask them if it's possible to do this or that. They would always come back with a really great answer. They're very easy to work with and flexible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I'm never quite sure what's in scope. I don't want to ask for things that I didn't pay for, so I'm always afraid that I ask for more than I paid for.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you really know what you want, they'll do a great job. If you're unsure, they'll take the time to understand but it's always easier to have a clear vision.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Business Development Manager of Blu5 Labs. We provide innovative solutions to support businesses in their daily challenge to prevent cyber attacks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Communication Crafts, and what were your goals?

We hired developers from Communication Crafts to support us in the design of the User Interface for a Management application. Our goal was to reduce time-to-market.

SOLUTION

How did you select Communication Crafts and what were the deciding factors?

We had already worked with Communication Crafts in the past and had a positive experience.

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

We prepared the project specifications, shared them with Communication Crafts team. Defined and agreed on the project plan (deliverables and schedule).

Uploaded the tasks on our Project Management System to track project progress and adherence to plan.

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

There was a project manager and two developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Cannot measure now since the product has not been launched yet. Just by showing it to customers, I can say that the feedback is positive in terms of user experience and usability.

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

The project was divided in Sprints of one week each. Every Tuesday the team would publish the new code. B5L would revise it, leave feedback on PMS.

Every Wednesday we would have a call to discuss tasks of next sprint should there be anything to clarify further.

In case of any issues arising while programming, we would jump in a call immediately to tackle the problem as soon as possible and avoid delays in the roadmap.

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

Surely the flexibility and great efforts to achieve what was required.

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

Timely communicate if the project may suffer delays from force Majeure events. Eventually adding developers if needed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a real-estate development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

We hired them to create a lifestyle video.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We tasked them with coming with a lifestyle video. We gave them a brief and a timeline of two weeks. They collected what we provided, purchased other lifestyle videos, and edited them for us.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people from their team, including a creative director.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

I put out an RFP to a couple of companies and chose them.

How much have you invested with them?    

We’ve invested $6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our work took place in March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I was impressed. I would definitely recommend them.

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

They were given two weeks but they came back in just a week. We communicated on WhatsApp.

What did you find most impressive about them?

 We were only allowed two changes, and they accommodated much more than that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were pretty happy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re an organized company, so you need to know what you want to achieve with them beforehand.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director for International Publishing Services, a global publisher and packaging specialist.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

We’ve had a couple of projects, but we initially engaged them to produce videos for one of our publishing lines.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

One of our books is a graphic novel, and they were first responsible for taking the books’ images and converting them into a motion video. We outlined what we wanted in broad strokes, and they came back to us with a detailed plan. They executed these videos well, so we decided to take them up for other projects, in addition to some more animated episodes.

They’ve also gone on to develop and manage our website and apps. Our previous developer had done a botched job of constructing our website, and they fixed it for us. They reengineered the iOS and web app from the ground up. The apps and website had a connected backend, so they had to navigate that in their reconstruction of them.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around 6­–7 people.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

We came across them when we were exhibiting at the London Book Fair. They approached us and introduced themselves as a service provider within the graphic video realm. They were recommended to us at a later time, and upon interviewing, they seemed very professional. We saw their impressive portfolio and decided to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere around $65,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began in August 2019 and the relationship is ongoing, as they’ve continued to take on more projects with us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve always been more than satisfied with the final product. On the rare occasion that there is something we’d like to change, they change it immediately so we never have to ask them twice.   Reactions to the videos have been brilliant.

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

They do excellently. They always create a date-driven project plan that has clarified deliverables and timelines. They’ll tell us exactly what they need and when it’ll be ready. They’re absolutely spot-on with planning, which we appreciate. We communicate mostly through email and over the phone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication skills are excellent. The level of detail they give you is second to none.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not from my perspective. I’m extremely happy with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re a reliable partner that’s able to provide the value that you’re looking for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the creative director at Two Fresh. We run a video marketing company and look after clients that are small, medium, and large in terms of providing video production services and digital marketing services. What we do is very video-focused.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

Animation is quite a complicated area in terms of creating it. We needed a good partner to execute our vision.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Communication Crafts are excellent and have been supporting us with design and animation services for a couple of years now. They are really strong at what they do. We look after a lot of the pre-production side of things and will provide them with examples of what we’re looking for. Sometimes we lean on them to come up with creative ideas as well. It’s a collaboration back and forth between us to get to the end result.

A lot of the work is shorter films, but they’ve also done longer projects for us. Our longest animation was 20 minutes long for an oil rig company, but we split it into three videos to make it more digestible for viewers.

What is the team composition?

I’m mainly in constant contact with two people.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

I think my business partner was networking and met the owner of the company. We’ve always used lots of animation partners but sometimes it is hard to find one that is great at what they do and great with communication, as well as cost-effectiveness. Communication Crafts ticked all the boxes in terms of ease of use, creativity, and good value; they’re just a good company to partner with.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent between $35,000–$40,000

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in November 2018, and the work is still ongoing. We have constantly been doing projects throughout this time. They are working on two different animations at the moment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They get our vision, and our clients are very happy with the work we’re producing for them, which is a combination of the work Communication Crafts does and the way we manage the projects. Communication Crafts are like an extended part of our production team. We constantly get good feedback and it helps us win more work as well.

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very good from a project management point of view. We get weekly updates about what they are doing and have a weekly phone call which they are often chasing me for because I know I can trust them with things. We also have a weekly Skype call, and once a year their boss will come over and we go out for dinner together. I never have any worries about project management with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the distinguishing parts of their service is that they are very good communication-wise and have creative skill sets to match it; they don’t just talk the talk. They aren’t just yes people but will challenge me if they think that what we are saying doesn’t sound right or isn’t a good idea. They’ll listen and study what we want them to do, and a lot of magic comes out of that way of working.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I like things fast, so producing things a bit quicker may be one of the factors in any service, but I wouldn’t say they’re really slow or anything like that. I am generally satisfied, to be honest.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I wouldn’t hesitate to work with them. They are good people and a good company. They are very easy to work with. I would say not to be too rigid with how you want things to be done. Adapt around them and things can work out quite nicely.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a small engineering software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

We were trying to build a web application and needed a development team to help us do that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The application we built is cloud-enabled, so we are working with .NET technology. Their developer helped us to turn our business plan into a working application from the ground up and is continuing to support its operation.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with one .NET developer from their team.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

I originally engaged with a consultant to find the best solution for my development needs. He suggested using an out-of-house team and connected me to them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in March 2018 and are continuing to work together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application was rolled out at the end of 2018 and has been successful so far. Communication Crafts has worked very well with our team over the course of the project so far. They are hardworking and provide really top-level work, but more than that they bring an excellent attitude to the job every day.

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

I communicate directly with the developer, so project management has been relatively simple. They’re always very responsive and helpful when we’re dealing with any issues. It makes my job a lot less stressful in that regard.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provide really good work at an even better price point, which was really important to us. Having that reliability at a price you can afford is pretty rare.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their management could probably take a little more interest in the actual product outcomes rather than just the completion of the work. More regular catch-ups could help with that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have very detailed specifications, including the technology you want to use and what budget you have to do it, before you begin the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a business development manager for Blu5 Group. We’re a company based in Singapore that specializes in security solutions. Our company provides hardware and software security solutions to businesses and government institutions. We manufacture our own chips to best achieve the maximum level of security software.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Communication Crafts?

We were releasing a new product and wanted to make some videos about it. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This was our first experience with creating videos. We really needed expert support from our supplier because we’d never written scripts ourselves. They created four videos for us. I had a storyboard, but it was too long, so we had to adjust it. We had no experience in doing that; the quote I requested included the script as well. I sent them the storyboard so they could understand what we were talking about.

I sent them additional information on the product. It’s difficult to make up a video on something technical that you’ve never seen before, especially when it comes to security. There was a bit of interaction when conveying the message, but other than that, I relied on them. I didn’t want to interfere too much.

What is the team composition?

Initially, I was in contact with the business developer, and then I was assigned a project manager who was very reactive and responsive. She was getting feedback from me, defining what I wanted and then conveyed the ideas to the developer. I also dealt with the person the project manager reported to. He was the one who officially sent out emails on her behalf.

How did you come to work with Communication Crafts?

I met them at a conference that I attended in London. When I was back home, I sent them an email and they responded very quickly. I had asked for quotes from the suppliers. While Communication Crafts had a slightly higher quote, I didn’t mind. I checked their website and asked them for references.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent €5,800 Euros (approximately $8,479 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project from October–November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The videos are not up and running yet. We’re launching our website, and the videos will be posted there. I appreciated the responsiveness and luckily we had enough material to act quickly as well. Since we already had a sort of storyboard, it was easier for them to understand the product and the message we wanted to convey. They were good.

How did Communication Crafts perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a very tight schedule because I wanted to show the video at an event. I was in contact with the project manager through Skype to discuss the technicalities, and she was excellent.

The people at Communication Crafts were very organized and kept me updated on the progress of the project. They sent me records every Monday, allowing me to know exactly what was going on. They would get in touch if there were any issues or if they needed anything, or even if they needed any advice despite the different time zone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were better than some European suppliers we worked with. I am happy with my choice. Sometimes it isn’t just a matter of price.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was a bit of an issue when it came to payment. I don’t know how the banking system works in India, but I don’t think it’s their fault. When you have to provide bank details to your customers, they need to know exactly what information to provide; nothing less, nothing more. If Europe is one of their markets, they need to know how payments are done from Europe to their account. Each country has its own habits, but in Europe, there are regulations which are quite common. Every time we are asked to make a payment, the details are always the same.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I have already passed on their contact information to some people I know that might have the need to make videos in the future. Trust them. Although I am very picky and demanding, I really wanted to leave it up to them.