Coreblue

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and director of TutorHero, an online learning platform for children ages 7–11. It offers online tutoring and access to resources for English and Math.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Core Blue?

We wanted them to build a tutoring platform that would enable remote learning.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, Core Blue helped us do some market research. We looked at what other platforms offered and where the gap in the market was. We found that a lot of platforms either had a tutoring resource or they had questions and assessments, but they didn’t have both.

Once identified the gap in the market, they designed the platform, focusing on how the users would interact with it. They specified everything from how users would sign up and log in to how they would use our resources. It was very important for the site to be easy to navigate because children are our primary users. Once we solidified our designs, Core Blue developed the platform using a React framework.

What is the team composition?

I worked with one project manager and three developers.

How did you come to work with Core Blue?

They’re a local company so I saw a press release about them and other people in the area have recommended them. When we talked to them, they listened to what I wanted and were very professional. I wanted a partner that really understood what we were trying to accomplish and could translate that for our users. They were approachable, and overall, a good fit for our company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about £100,000 (approximately $140,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2020 and finished the project in December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re definitely attracting traffic to the site. We’ve also received some really good feedback from students. They love the interactive features and how easy it is to use. It’s very engaging.  

How did Core Blue perform from a project management standpoint?

They checked in with me regularly throughout the process. If I wasn’t completely happy with something, they made suggestions to change it.

They were also very transparent throughout the process. It was very clear what stage they were in, what they were working on, and what they needed from us at all times.

We held video calls on Zoom at the beginning of the project and when we hit each milestone, but used Slack to communicate more frequently.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was very impressed with the quality of their work. They clarified our ideas and made sure they knew exactly what we wanted. On top of that, they were able to translate my ideas for our users. In that way, they were very collaborative. They produced the prototype very quickly so I had a good idea of how it would come together.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind. Overall, we’re happy with the final platform.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate what you would like, but remain open to their suggestions. They have a lot of industry experience, so you should carefully consider their ideas.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

As the managing director of a real estate company, we have been considering moving CRM suppliers, and decided to explore options of creating something bespoke for us as a business and to set us apart in our industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Core Blue, and what were your goals?

We took the whole journey with Core Blue, discussing the concept and budgeting all the way through to developing the functionality, user interface and on-brand design.

SOLUTION

How did you select Core Blue and what were the deciding factors?

We wanted to work with a business which we felt really understood how we would intend to use the system day-to-day and the real-life application of the software so that we could build something not just fit for purpose but best in its field.

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

This was an end to end project which took us through building a full frame work for the software, admin panel and ultimately on-boarding and training users.

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

6 members of the team including the management team acting as project leads and different developers at each stage of the build.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our project was delivered both on time and on budget and has fits the brief we set out in terms of function and reporting.

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

A transparent project management tool allowed us to monitor progress without us feeling like we have to invest lots of our time giving feedback and ensuring things were on track.

We have interactive tools to engage with the team and give real-time feedback.

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

They had the ability to understand our industry and our 'why' for starting the project.

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

As they are always striving for how best to fulfil a function sometimes all the choice and options can be overwhelming and whilst efforts to create something perfect are commendable some times you have to get back to basics and keep it simple.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of an other industry company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Saas start-up in the B2B leisure travel sector. I am the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Coreblue to accomplish?

• Do a feasibility study.
• Develop the MVP backlog

SOLUTION

How did you find Coreblue?

Clutch Site

Why did you select Coreblue over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Coreblue were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

When researching and speaking with potential technology partners we were looking to work with a business that not only understood the technology required but could also understand the business and the market we operate in. Being a non-technical founder, it was essential to me to find a partner that I could trust from the outset, with a view to working with them as we take our product from ideation through to MVP and on to future phases.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Output was delivered as described and on time. Coreblue supported us in a wider context, making relevant introductions and being on hand to act as a sounding board on some of the commercial planning. Having arrived at the end of the Discovery process we have developed and matured the idea together and are in a place where the specified product is superior to the initial concept as a result of the technical and commercial input.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We communicated over email, phone, Google Meets and in-person meetings. The initial project involved predominantly planning and research so CoreBlue conducted a number of technical “spikes” into areas of technical uncertainty and produced a comprehensive development plan along with estimates and general themes/phases of work which are comprehensive and form a longer-term development roadmap. 

Despite having a named project manager PM we also have direct access to developers and the commercial team so we can interact directly with those completing the work which helps to break down any communication barriers that can occur.

What was your primary form of communication with Coreblue?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Coreblue took a consultative approach, collaborating closely with us to comprehend the business objectives and jointly determine the optimal means of fulfilling our requirements through the technical solution. They exercised prudence in not rushing into solutions, instead, meticulously assessing their feasibility, all the while maintaining a commitment to timely delivery.

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

None