ExplainVisually

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and producer at a company that produces commercials and other forms of ads. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ExplainVisually?

I needed ExplainVisually to create animation videos. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially had a couple of calls and concept presentations. ExplainVisually then came up with storyboards, and we had several rounds of revisions. We provided them with voiceover recordings, and they worked on animating the video. Our teams worked in tandem with the end client and went through multiple rounds of revisions until we ultimately delivered the videos. There were three two-minute videos. 

What is the team composition?

I interacted with 2–3 people from their team, but my primary point of contact was Maciej (CEO). 

How did you come to work with ExplainVisually?

I found them through online research. We also had several calls with various animation companies, and we selected ExplainVisually due to a combination of style and price. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $30,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from April–December 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

ExplainVisually was easy to work with, and I was happy with their work. There were minimal rounds of revisions when we got to the animation stage because they were thorough. 

How did ExplainVisually perform from a project management standpoint?

They were always on time; the team responded to me quickly, even with a 10-hour difference between our time zones.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were accommodating and had quick turnaround times. On top of that, their services were affordable, and they did what they said they would do while taking direction from us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be thorough in giving directions. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

"Ariadna is a nationwide research panel, where we collect the opinions of Polish people on various topics concerning everyday life. We cooperate with leading centers in the field of social sciences. We collect information that we later we analyze statistically."

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We worked on a few projects together. ExplainVisually created animations presenting our organization and its goals and a video about our research results.

SOLUTION

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

We wanted to show our research and teach people about or mission.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We sent the company all the materials needed to create the animations. Then we received the first draft of the script. After two rounds of feedback, we moved to the next stage - storyboarding. We saw first drafts of the pictures and how it would combine with the videos we provided. In the end we received the animations.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with a few people from the animation studio.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The film is presented at various meetings and speeches. In addition, it serves as a business card that we send in emails to our clients, which allows us to show a broader picture of the scope of our work.

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

Contact with the person managing our project was efficient and took place in a nice atmosphere. the conversations took place mainly remotely, which was very convenient for both sides. Everything took place on schedule.

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

It is a very dynamic team. They have heads full of ideas for every industry. They advised and suggested something we would not have thought of.

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

No objections

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director at BPSC, an ERP software company for production companies in Poland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ExplainVisually?

Our product is relatively complex, so we wanted to explain the idea behind it and our company’s history in a short, accessible way. We decided to create a 90-seconds animation to explain the concept behind our software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

ExplainVisually was involved in the brainstorming, script, and whole animation production. They did a traditional stop-motion animation; it was bespoke for us. We were responsible for creating all the text, but they did all the work on our behalf. They took care of the mixing, music production, and video editing.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people. In the beginning, we were in contact with the CEO. After that, most of our communication was with a project manager and a senior animator.

How did you come to work with ExplainVisually?

We were interested in explaining things less conventionally. ExplainVisually’s founder presented a TedX talk in Poland about graphically demonstrating complicated and lengthy topics. From that moment, we got in contact with them, and we decided to have a project with them a year and a half later.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around €5,000–€6,000 (approximately $5,000–$6,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our partnership in October 2017 and finished this animation project in February 2018. Since then, we’ve had a couple of smaller projects, so we’re still in contact.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We published the video on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. So far, we have almost 7,000 views on YouTube, 27% average watch time, and 49 subscribers thanks to the video. However, our main idea wasn’t to create something viral; the video serves as an explanation for our sales team to use in the first contact with potential customers.

In that sense, people reacted well to the video. They remember the video’s animation technique because they often see CGI. Also, our competitors have two-and-a-half or five-minute-long videos, so ours is relatively brief. Overall, the opinions are positive.

How did ExplainVisually perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was well-managed. We were in constant communication; they kept us in the loop with changes. In general, the project management was above average.

We strictly used emails to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were under-market average in terms of pricing and above average in quality.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would've been great if they’d used a designated collaboration tool instead of emails. Other than that, I don’t see what they could improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Start by brainstorming and creating a detailed brief.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

cyber_Folks helps companies create easy to use and manage online stores. my position is head of saas product marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

To produce an animation showcasing what we offer – in a modern and engaging way to have an engaging and informative video materials to use in our marketing campaigns.

SOLUTION

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

Recommendations from other marketing professional on a closed group, linkedin communication, professional and good looking case studies on the website.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We started with a call and discussing our needs, goals and expectations. Then we conceptualized the video, discussing every detail. The whole process went quickly and we got the final animation in a month.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I was the decision maker on our company's side. We worked with two people from ExplainVisually. We were signed a project coordinator, who we were in constant contact with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Good looking video / animation which we can use on the website, during events and 1:1 meetings with prospects. Now we can shorten our way of describiing how our product can help and realise client needs.

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

They are very open, friendly, and easy-going but also professional and specific when needed.

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

Very good ideation phase. After first meeting, I've got a very good idea about the idea of the video with detailed description about every step. It impressed me a lot.

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

Everything was perfect. Nothing to add.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Opole University of Technology - one of the 19 state technical universities in Poland. It is based in Opole and has more than 6,000 students. We provide education mostly in the area of technical science but also in the fields of management, tourism, sport and physiotherapy. Our scientific and educational potential is built by high-class academic and research staff.

Thanks to collaboration with the finest local companies and valuable foreign partnerships, our students get a first-hand practical knowledge and skills adjusted to the requirements of the current global market standards. Our research transcends traditional fields of engineering, combining the specialized technical sciences with economics, administration, sport and medical sciences. OUTech is composed of 6 faculties. I work as an Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator in the International Relations Office of our University. My main tasks are to manage Erasmus student and staff exchange program.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

To produce a whiteboard animation about Erasmus+ and its value.

SOLUTION

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

The company was found over the Internet. After reviewing the portfolio presented on the website, they were asked to prepare the cost of the service drawing. The price offer, good communication and the concept of preparing the animation were the factors that determined the choice

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

First we chose the style of the animation – we liked whiteboard animation (drawn by hand) the most. We filled out a brief and had a long call with the studio to discuss all the details. The production process included a few steps, including: a script, a storyboard and animating.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

I was coordinating the project from our side. We worked with a project coordinator from EV and a few other people – script writers and drawers.We started with a workshop and sending the company all the materials they needed. Then we received a script and a storyboard. After making some changes and discussing the overall concept, the studio drawn and recorded the animation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The prepared animation is used to promote mobilities under the Erasmus + program. It is expected that for the next few years it will serve to inform students of our university about the possibilities offered by the program.With the help of social media, it is made available to a wide group of recipients before starting the recruitment process for Erasmus+. The result is not measured yet. Recruitment interviews are only about to begin.

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

The individual stages of implementation were carried out within the set deadline. Communication with the company was very good. Thanks to the use of tools enabling communication over the Internet, it was possible to meet on-line to establish all the details. Both parties were also in constant email contact.

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

At every stage of our work, we could count on full commitment. The company is a specialist in its industry, which is why we received very important tips, proposals and suggestions throughout the entire process. The service was provided comprehensively, and the animation fully reflected the concept we assumed. Graphics prepared for the purposes of animation are precisely made and correspond to current trends.

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

I have no comments or suggestions what could be improved.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

At GoNextStage we provide our Customers knowledge, experience and competencies regarding digitalization and optimization of business processes. We are supporting them in their digital transformation journey using low-code platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Creating an engaging explainer video about our offer – focusing on what makes us unique and different from other companies.

SOLUTION

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

We do love to work with experts. We have been observing ExplainVisually on LinkedIn and we really appreciated the knowledge and content they are sharing with community.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We had a workshop during which we discussed our goals and company's philosophy. We sent all the materials needed to write a script. We had three revision rounds of the script - the same apllies to the storyboard. If needed, we did calls throughout the production process to make sure the final results meets our goals.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Martyna who was a project manager and Maciej who was a creative director. They were inspiring us and support in brainstorm session as well as kept as on project schedule. We were constantly giving a feedback after wach milestone of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Together with ExplainVisually we have created great video showing our GoNextStage value proposition. We have noticed much more new comers on our website and collected good feedback from our Customers.

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

The are working in agile style, providing frequent updates. They are close to customer work. The team was easy to communicate and we quickly found a common language.

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

They are impressive, experienced, and have a creative way of working. supported by listening and understanding your needs.

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

Honestly? Nothing that comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CMO of Flobotics, an RPA (Robotics Process Automation) development consulting company that automates dual and repetitive processes for companies worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ExplainVisually?

We were looking for a straightforward solution to explain our complex robotics processes, technologies, and service to people.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first came to ExplainVisually with the brief, initial voiceover file, and idea to discuss what we wanted out of the product. We also provided some animation references and basically conducted an entire workshop to finalize the requirements.

We then recorded some samples of the technical process, including the narration, and implemented them into the video production.

What is the team composition?

We worked closely with the CEO and the marketing specialist.

How did you come to work with ExplainVisually?

We came across ExplainVisually through a network recommendation by our CEO. We shortlisted a couple of other companies, but quickly decided to go with ExplainVisually because we knew the people within their internal network.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–August 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The video has been instrumental in getting prospective clients to interact with our website, and it has done a successful job of shortening the conversation and helping them understand what we do.

How did ExplainVisually perform from a project management standpoint?

They were quick and responsive from a project management perspective and helpful in implementing our ideas into the video.

Moreover, they proactively listened to our feedback and presented many ideas for the project so overall, the collaboration was great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were impressed with their cost-effective approach and quality of deliverables.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise you to clearly understand what you want to do and trust them in terms of storytelling, because they can simplify your ideas.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Please describe your company and your position there. TESCO is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer and a Fortune Global 500 Company. I have been a Operational Community Manager for Central Europe, responsible for TESCO operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

For what projects/services did your company hire ExplainVisually? TESCO does a lot to avoid wasting food. But the awareness of our actions among employees and clients was pretty low. We wanted to raise it. And we had a lot to tell. Every month in Poland alone, it saves an average of over 200 tons of food from being wasted.

Over 270 shops in Poland donate food to Food Banks and Caritas Poland and 450 local charities. Thanks to this, over 450,000 meals can be prepared each month for the neediest. TESCO also works in three other ways. The first one is a standard price reduction for products with short shelf life.

The second is to give up the “two-for-one” promotion for vegetables and fruits so that customers do not buy more than they need. The third way is the “Perfectly, imperfect” product line.

These are vegetables and fruits like potatoes, apples, or carrots, which do not have a perfect shape but are just as tasty, juicy, and fresh. Thanks to this line, farmers and producers can sell chains of “Perfectly Imperfect” vegetables and fruits that would otherwise be rejected and wasted only because of their irregular shape.

SOLUTION

How did you select ExplainVisually and what were the deciding factors?

How did you select ExplainVisually? We had worked with them before as they prepared for us an animation about TESCO Foundation.

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

As TESCO was closing their fish departments, it created some free space on shops’ walls. We painted the walls with chalkboard paint to use these spaces for communication with our clients. We asked ExplainVisually to analyze, synthesize, and visualize the key information about the actions we take to prevent food waste.

Based on their infographics, we asked them to prepare real hand drawings in one of our shops. As the feedback was excellent, we asked them to do it in the other 20 shops around Poland. The project went well and got a buy-in in our HQ in England.

So we decided to prepare projects also for Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. However, a new challenge emerged. In these countries, we needed bigger infographics – 15×3 meters and 30×3 meters. This would have meant a few days of work for the illustrator, and there was little time.

We decided to ask ExplainVisually to prepare a huge sticker based on the previous graphics. However, we wanted to keep the atmosphere of handwritten drawings, so we stayed with a simple form.

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

They had a project manager, designer, and multiple artists that hand-drawn our infographics.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success? The results of the pilotage were very encouraging. The reaction of the TESCO customers surprised us. People who came to do Sunday shopping stopped by the infographics, discussed food waste, and asked the staff for more details of the action, congratulating them on their current activities.

It not only increased the awareness and engagement of our clients but of our employees too. There were spots on the chalkboards where employees could insert information on how much this particular shop has saved food. They were very keen to keep it up to date and felt very proud that they can be a part of something bigger.

We have raised awareness among both clients and employees. Thanks to these projects and our other activities such as workshops and webinars about food waste - around 60-70% of food in Poland that is still in a condition good enough to be eaten are being shared, even despite the COVID.

There was also another perk, as this action opened HQ stakeholders for more outside-the-box actions like that.

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

I’ll just say that I’ve worked in TESCO for over 10 years, and they’re one of the two best suppliers I have worked with.

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

Their fantastic flexibility and ability to prepare great visual synthesis.

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

No idea. Maybe they should teach their clients more about what they do as some people think that they only do animations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Carlsberg, is an international company producing beer. I am HSE Manager for Southern Europe and Baltics in Carlsberg.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ExplainVisually?

We wanted to make our Health and Safety training more efficient and interesting. Many guests visits our factories and they need to be educated about what they can and can’t do. That’s very important because violating these rules can lead to accidents and even death. As we have “Zero accidents” policy, Health and Safety Education is very important to us. Our previous solution – presentations done by H&S specialists – were long and not very interesting, so the guests often were not following them carefully.

What were your goals for this project?

That’s why we asked ExplainVisually to provide videos that would explain the rules in an interesting and clear way so the guests can follow them and remember the most important points. Additionally save time for the face to face trainings

SOLUTION

How did you select ExplainVisually?

Other departments of Carlsberg Group has worked with ExplainVisually and recommended them to us.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

They have analyzed our existing Health and Safety rules and reviewed pictures of our factories. They prepared the script and storyboard which has visualized different parts of our factory and our rules in practice. After that they prepared an animation. It has been very popular among the Group so we asked them to prepare - apart from the universal English version - customized Norwegian and Estonian versions.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

I’ve worked with a project manager but as far as I know they have scriptwriters, storyboardist, illustators and video editors.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have helped us to achieve two outcomes: 1) Save over 10 000 working hours of H&S Specialists. They have spent ca. 500 hours a year on these trainings across plants. As now we don’t need a designated H&S specialist to conduct these trainings anymore they can focus on more important projects. It translates to 70-100 thousands € in savings.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was very good. They respond quickly and really understand what we have meant when we were giving them feedback on various stages.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing was their ability to understand our complex H&S rules quickly and prepare a video that was super clear and interesting.

Are there any areas for improvement?

For now I don't see any