EMERGE

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we collaborated with Jonathon (CEO, EMERGE) and various members of his team to scope out the project. Then, they started developing the product pages for our company website. Scheduling around a product launch that involves translating copy into 14 different languages yields a tight timeline. The rebranding aspect required close collaboration to find effective visuals and to take our messaging content in new directions while developing impactful copy. This required a lot of internal oversight, so their project manager gave me the background information that informed their decisions. I’d present their creative deliverables to our executive stakeholders for approval.

We’d hold regular meetings with them, sometimes three or four times a day, to review images, creative decisions, and strategic direction. As with any project, we experienced ups and downs like not getting administrative approval on something or having to make significant changes to design elements. EMERGE was able to maneuver through that process and complete the project on schedule.

What is the team composition?

In addition to Jonathon, we interacted with a project manager, their creative director, and at least two other resources. Once development began, the primary working team consisted of three people.

How did you come to work with EMERGE?

This was our first project with EMERGE. Johnathon was introduced to me by a colleague who’d worked with him in the past. Once the rebranding project started, we requested bids from creative agencies based in the U.S and considered several different firms. Ultimately, we appreciated the thoroughness of EMERGE’s proposal the most. Not only was it strategic, but it was creative and specified deliverables, timelines, and pricing. Hiring them was an easy decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project took place from April 2014–March 2015.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Emerge Interactive developed a cloud-based application that guides visitors through a tour of our Customer Experience Center. They insisted on a design meeting at the beginning of the engagement. We talked through all of the use cases and interface screens to establish a detailed development plan.

Our tour guides use the app to cast vignettes on various monitors around the facility. The vignettes walk our guests through different Aruba scenarios like a waiting lobby, a retail experience, and a digital workplace. Not only does the software look attractive to potential customers, but it also functions seamlessly throughout our campus and performs backend administration tasks without disrupting the experience. We use Heroku to support the platform.

To further enhance both the visitor’s experience and our ability to sell solutions, the app is integrated with several of our existing products. For example, the app’s primary integration is with our location-based service. Within the context of the space, visitors can use the app to figure out where they are and different things will happen depending on that location. Several experiences within the facility are built around that functionality. Other software integrations within the app include a mobile campus robot and a conference room scheduling system. While the app is complete, they’re currently working on adding integrations with a wireless smartphone charging company.

What is the team composition?

We initially spoke to a salesperson, several project managers, and their CEO when defining the scope of work. Aubree (Project Manager, Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise) and two developers took over the project during implementation.

How did you come to work with Emerge Interactive?

We considered a small handful of software developers that have done work for us in the past. Emerge Interactive possessed the app development expertise we looked for in a partner and also knew how to create experience-focused designs. The other candidates we considered lacked the ability to deliver on both fronts. Additionally, their location made communication easy.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2016. The space opened in March 2017, but we contracted them to provide ongoing maintenance as needed.

What was the scope of their involvement?

The application is fairly robust. It has an augmented reality component, which makes for difficult work, to say the least. It is also a straight-up social app. There’s a lot of liking, following, friends lists, and commenting on posts. It’s an interesting combination of robust backend database kind of work, as well as some cutting-edge client-side technology. It is a challenge, but it’s interesting to start meshing augmented reality with social media.

I first reached out to Emerge to help me with the strategy. They helped me create a game plan for how to tackle the project. Then they went through some more traditional processes, beginning with airing out the scope, the feature sets, and the creative side. They put together the graphics and user experience, which is sometimes the most difficult thing. We sorted through that user experience before we even started doing any code.

Then we went into development. That’s when they put their head down and started creating the product in earnest. At this phase, I’m receiving builds, which I’m using for demos. That’s been nice, as I can show the investors what we have. I can talk to the traditional ad agency. Emerge has been handling mobile app tactics, which I would call mobile app ad agency work, but I also have a traditional ad agency. Having a demo to show them has been good.

The next phase is going to the MVP, which we’ll put out to a group for testing, then we’ll go to the app store.

How did you come to work with Emerge Interactive?

I had two false starts with this app, so I wound up asking around to find the best possible provider for this particular technology. That’s how I came across Emerge. I had worked with part of their team prior to this app, on another project of mine. I had approached Jordan Bryant about another app. During that process, Jordan’s company merged with Emerge. I had a meeting with some of their executives. Their business development interests aligned with a project like this. A big factor for me was whether they could execute on the project. After two stalled efforts prior to this, I wanted to make sure I was choosing the right partner. So far, that’s been shown to be true.

How much have you invested with Emerge Interactive?

I’ve invested over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in September of 2016, and the work is ongoing.