Do IT Big

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and owner of an online motorcycle rental platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Do IT Big?

Initially, I built our platform using WordPress, which is a basic web builder. I wanted to grow my business, so I needed to engage a full stack developer with more expertise to build something more custom.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave Do IT Big a list of features to build a custom product, and they designed and built a web app to manage our bookings. First, we agreed on a two-month deliverable for the initial creation stage. I showed them our existing website and examples of websites that appealed to me. 

Once they showed us their portfolio, we agreed upon an initial outline for the UX/UI, and I gave them full reign over the design components. Then, Do IT Big created the design and basic features for the product, such as an online booking function. The team built a Figma layout to detail the functionality of each feature. They designed each page, including the checkout page. They also used Hotjar to determine how users would move through the pages and made suggestions for optimization. After sharing my feedback and going through multiple design iterations, I approved the design.

We split the development component of the project into four phases. The first phase consisted of designing the layout. For the second phase, they built the product on a staging site. Then, we moved to the third stage, where we tested the product. Finally, we reached the fourth stage, where we launched the product. Do IT Big was involved in each step to provide the necessary support. They used Angular for the frontend and Node.js for the backend.

What is the team composition?

The founder was our main point of contact, but 10 other team members worked on our project.

How did you come to work with Do IT Big?

I chose to work with Do IT Big because the founder had the skill set to build a custom product. He was willing to listen and accommodate my needs, even though I don’t have a technical background. I felt confident moving forward with the engagement because the founder went above and beyond to conduct a screen-share and show me how the team would go about the project. I liked that he was transparent and trustworthy. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2022, and the project concluded in March 2023. We hope to expand the partnership and work with them again. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m very satisfied with Do IT Big’s work; the platform works smoothly. They also modernized our booking system, which has made it easier for users to find and book our services. Previously, users had to call us or request quotes through our antiquated ticketing system. Our former platform had a lot of roadblocks, which the team has rectified with the new version.

Since we’ve been in business for a few years, we have a lot of site traffic. Do IT Big’s efforts have helped us convert more traffic into bookings because the process is so much easier. Before working with them, we had about 15 monthly rentals; now, we have 45–50 monthly rentals. As a result, we went from $5,000–$8,000 in monthly sales to $20,000–$30,000 after deploying the product. 

How did Do IT Big perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything went smoothly, and it was clear they knew what they were doing. The team held my hand and made my vision a reality, which was awesome. I essentially let them run with the project and checked in with them every few days. Whenever I asked for an update, they provided one. We worked iteratively; when we got lost, we went back to the layout matrix and worked task by task, which made things straightforward. 

The team met most deadlines. This was my first time working on a complex development project, and I learned that it can be challenging to meet all the deadlines. However, the team communicated delays well in advance and provided explanations. They also walked me through each issue and provided new time estimates that only impacted the project by a few days. Throughout the project, I felt like each extended deadline was justified due to unexpected roadblocks.

The communication process was painless; the founder shared his professional line, and we communicated via Slack. Someone else would respond when the founder was unavailable; they were always a phone call or text message away. We met every other day to discuss progress and review deliverables for each phase. During our meetings, we reset expectations and goals based on said progress. 

Moreover, the founder answered all my questions thoughtfully and provided clear, non-technical explanations. He understood the project's technical and business complexities, which was unique. He was really hands-on, and his business sense and technical knowledge made for a smooth transition from our existing product to the new one.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed with Do IT Big’s responsiveness. Despite the difference in time zones, they responded within 15 minutes any time I needed support. It felt like they would drop everything to fix the problem or glitch at hand. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I was satisfied with the partnership, but it would be helpful if they had a tool for us to monitor progress. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as transparent as possible, and show them every part of the project so that they can do their best work. Show them an overview of the project and tasks so that they can grasp it in its entirety. Always be honest with them because they have various skill sets. They’ll be honest if you request something outside their comfort zone, so give them as much information as possible. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a tech consultant/product owner at a jewelry brand from the Netherlands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Do IT Big?

We had a technology partner who built the e-commerce platform but we wanted to be less depending and we wanted to have more resources allocated to developing the platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Found them online and had a very good conversation with Ismaïl, we understood each other very well.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

We pay a monthly fee for a set amount of resources per week. We get assistance in database management, new issue development, requirement analysis and bug fixes.

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

Ismaïl is the main consultant, but we work a lot with Lahcen and Ayoub too. They have the time to fix things and they are always available for us. Ismaïl thinks with us on complex matters and advises us what to do in certain scenarios.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It is very helpfull to have extra IT resources at hand. We are more agile then ever before!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Ismaïl is a good communicator, as well as his business analyst / project manager Didier. They know what they are doing and they are proactive in their approach.

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

The speed at which they picked up the logic of our existing software was impressive.

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

There is always room for improvement of course, if the developers would be more senior themselves they could also advise us more. Now Ismaïl is essential to get the best advice possible. Ismaïl is very approachable though, so it is not really an issue.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Do IT Big, and what were your goals?

App development

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Service, expertise en price

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

It was an iOS app which needed to delivered within 6 months .

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

Project manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Increase in users and better feedback from users.

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

Frequent calls and meetings to maintain planning.

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

The quality of the work was fantastic. The communication was strong and crystal clear!

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

Nog really

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a co-founder of a software house. We build innovate software solutions for clients from nearly all industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Do IT Big, and what were your goals?

We wanted to revamp our website in order to expose the work we did it the past and attract new clients. We expected Do IT Big to provide modern design and help us prepare case studies.

SOLUTION

How did you select Do IT Big and what were the deciding factors?

We've found them on UpWork and after short interview we decided to hire them. The deciding factors were their portfolio and good understanding of our needs.

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

We started with initial meeting to introduce our company and describe in details our plans and expectations. It was enough for them to provide us few high level ideas/prototypes, which we refined during next few days. Finally we decided on the best one and they started coding. In next few weeks they delivered fully working website.

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

Our single point of contact was Do IT Big founder who managed whole project from their side. There were no communication issues and this model worked very good.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When new website was launched we observed noticeable increase of traffic from Google thanks to improved page speed, SEO and mobile friendliness.

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

We had weekly meetings on Zoom were we planned work for next project stage. To discuss minor things and solve any issues we used Slack. This was pure agile project with short sprints and constant feedback from our side.

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

They have a really good understanding of business needs and can easily match the right technology to solve business problems. During the meetings they were brainstorming with us and provided some really good ideas.

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

Nothing comes to my mind.