What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Partnering with Computan has really given us confidence in our abilities and services in the digital space. Before working with Computan, we were obviously able to execute projects, but working with them has given us a new level of confidence in knowing that we can deliver to clients exactly what we want to, and that we're not going to be hampered by any lack of development knowledge on our side.
Over the years, we've thrown so many different kinds of things at them, and there's never been a situation where they said they couldn't do it. They always come through. We’ve had different urgent situations, such as a site going down, and they have always jumped right in and solved the problem. They really act like they're part of our company and that they want us to succeed as well. We have been able to continue to grow our client base, especially in the digital space, because of that.
How did Computan perform from a project management standpoint?
It’s great. They’re very communicative. My team sets the pace, so at times when we’re working on more intensive projects, we set up weekly calls to check in on the status of various things they’re working on. When it’s slower, we don’t talk until we have something we need them to work on. They’re just very responsive to our needs. They’re super flexible to fit into our workflow.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their desire to help us succeed sets them apart. I feel like they really care about doing the job for us, and they understand the client-side pressure. That’s reflected in the fact that they've never said ‘no’ or ‘I don’t know’; instead, they say that they’re on it and will look into it, and they get it done every time. Their level of caring and dedication is great.
Are there any areas they could improve?
From a project management standpoint, some more communication within their own team could be helpful. I sometimes get the feeling that they’re not all talking to each other. For instance, if one person working on a project isn’t available, we’ll have to wait for them to come back on shift. Other times, two different people will pick up a project and not realize that someone else started it. There could be a little more internal communication, but that’s not something that has had a negative effect on us; it’s just something I’ve noticed.
Any advice for potential customers?
Be really clear about what you want. We’ve been most successful on projects when we’ve provided really specific examples and mockups, such as diagrams down to the half-inch of where we want something placed. That has made the communication easier, because in some cases, there is a language barrier.
Anytime I felt the communication was weak, I’d ask to have a call, and that solved it. The more clarity and communication that you can provide to them, the more you’ll get back.
The project has been successful. Each site has performed well according to Moz and Google Analytics. Computan consistently meets requirements and delivers on time. They’re flexible and work around the client’s schedule.