DevStack

Please describe your company and your position there.

Virtual College is a learning technology company that creates online training solutions for businesses of all sizes. I was the product owner for the company websites and was largely responsible for managing website development activity.

For what projects/services did your company hire DevStack?

DevStack won the contract to develop a new company website for Virtual College. The existing website was difficult to maintain in terms of content management and looked dated in terms of its design. It also needed to integrate the company's new learning management system.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals for the project were to deliver a new corporate website that reflected the evolving Virtual College brand, that integrated the website with the company's new learning management system, and that delivered a better experience for users in terms of UI and content - encouraging users to transact more through the website and to enquire in increased numbers about bespoke training services.

How did you select this vendor?

A number of vendors pitched for the project. DevStack were chosen because of their previous track record of delivering work to time, quality and budget for Virtual College. They were also chosen for their approachability and readiness to go the extra mile in providing a tailored service, listening closely to Virtual College's needs.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

DevStack developed the website on the Sitecore and uCommerce platforms. They integrated with external applications including the Braintree payment platform and the Enable learning management system. Following a discovery phase, they provided a detailed quote for the project along with a project timeline.

Following design, development and testing were done over a number of sprints that allowed us to see how the website was coming together and be reassured that DevStack's work was meeting specification and quality criteria. DevStack assisted our IT department as new infrastructure was set up and provided close support throughout the launch and in the weeks that followed.

What was the team composition?

The DevStack team worked closely with the Virtual College team on the website project. The overall team contained UX designers, back-end developers, testers, and digital marketers. There were also a number of stakeholders across the organisation, from senior management to sales, marketing and customer support.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The website increased the volume of e-commerce transactions, had a positive impact on SEO rankings and organic traffic, and led to a number of efficiency-savings within the business. It also helped to better position Virtual College as a provider of bespoke training solutions.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was very hands-on with regular communication between DevStack and Virtual College. Risks and issues were raised and tackled head-on and costs kept under control so that the project was delivered within the agreed budget.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Clients have access to technical expertise but in a way that is very straightforward and approachable. Their honesty and trustworthiness mean that they can be relied upon to deliver on their brief with minimum fuss. They are transparent about the work required and have a strong attention to detail throughout delivery.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are very few areas for improvement. Development is certainly their specialism but I know they are able to offer clients other services such as digital marketing advice. I am sure they will look to offer additional complementary services in the future.