Facet Interactive

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Leader of a medical company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Heathcare services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Facet Interactive to accomplish?

• Lead generation public websites
• Salesforce sales funnel optimization

SOLUTION

How did you find Facet Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Facet Interactive over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• Depth of understanding of our business and needs

How many teammates from Facet Interactive were assigned to this project?

Various

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

Facet supports the business through large-scale, strategic website development projects as well as ongoing enhancements that include custom development and integrations. Additionally, Facet performs foundational and strategic sales and marketing technology support through business analysis, setup, configuration, development, automation and optimization for our company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For web: 

• Projects completed on time and on budget. 
• Increased site traffic. 
• Increased site conversions. 

For sales and marketing technology: 

• funnel optimization. 
• Increased conversion rates.

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

Projects are always completed on time and on- or below budget. The Facet team is always reachable and addresses concerns immediately. Facet is able to pivot when needs or internal resources and contacts change.

What was your primary form of communication with Facet Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Facet Interactive brings an unprecedented depth of knowledge, and then makes it deeper by taking the time to truly learn the business and platform architecture. Facet has been able to scale up quickly and is able to bring a stable of expert resources very quickly.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing communications manager at an advanced mobility company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Facet Interactive?

I use Facet Interactive to maintain the Drupal backend of our website. They’ve also built a web app for me. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Facet Interactive handled Drupal backend development tasks and collaborated with the web development team we were using. I didn’t have direct interaction with them during that project.

I currently have them on retainer to maintain the Drupal website and keep it functioning. I don’t interact with them a lot, however — they usually send me an email about what upgrades they’ve done, and that’s essentially all my interaction with them. They’ve done security patches and do whatever needs to get done to keep our server safe. The team has access to our hosting, but they don’t provide it. 

Moreover, I’ve once used them to develop a web app for me. It’s a URL-shortening app. I input a URL, and the app shortens it and lets me track how many times it’s been used.

What is the team composition?

I mainly work with Jordan (CTO) and Peter (CEO). Another person has worked on the website, but I don’t have prior interactions with them. 

How did you come to work with Facet Interactive?

They were referred to us. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $7,500–$10,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

They started maintaining the website in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The web app has been good, but I no longer use it. Nonetheless, it did exactly what it was supposed to do and helped me save time. 

How did Facet Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

Facet Interactive’s project management is generally good. We often communicate via email. I sometimes call them when I need clarification. I mainly talk to Peter, but Jordan has also been great. They’re responsive whether I use phone calls or emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re great at understanding technology. Since I don’t know all the latest updates in technology, they explain things to me. That’s truly helpful. Overall, they seem to be truly up-to-date when it comes to technology. They’re also responsive and knowledgeable. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, it takes longer for them to get back to me. However, they’re a smaller company, so I understand that they’re wearing many hats. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a business services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We connect credit-challenged consumers with nonprofit counselors who help them attain credit well-being for life.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Facet Interactive to accomplish?

• Manage offshore full stack developers
• Help develop digital integrated experiences for connectors and counselors

SOLUTION

How did you find Facet Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Facet Interactive over others?

• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Facet Interactive were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

1. Gain an understanding of mortgage lending process 
2. Manage a team of offshore developers 
3. Leverage robotic process automation and APIs for third-party integrations 
4. Migrate platform to AWS

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received industry awards for our platform’s financial inclusion We have achieved ability to scale connector and counselor onboarding We have reduced the cost and complexity of onboarding new partners We have been able to own our customer mobile experience versus outsourcing that to a third party. We can easily size and scope new work and forecast effectively.

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

Good communication via tools such as Slack, Jira, and FreshDesk that help keep all parties abreast of project process and tickets. Regular checkin with our testing and Product teams. Willingness to address offshore delays proactively and negotiate reasonable accommodations for all parties. Flexible with respect to cash flow and budget constraints.

What was your primary form of communication with Facet Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Facet is more than just an IT consultant, they're an important part of our executive team and add value to marketing, operations and business development.

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

There's nothing they need to improve on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Car Care News Service. We are a provider of copyright-free content about automotive maintenance and repair.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Facet Interactive?

Initially, my website went down and I was experiencing Drupal issues, so I needed help identifying the problem. From there, I brought them on board to update the software and implement their solutions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their involvement began with troubleshooting our website. After hearing their diagnosis and recommendations, we hired them to fix the site. They updated our software and implemented a new security system, which included changing the site’s protocols as a preventative measure. Additionally, they integrated a new feature for reporting analytics.

Their team provides maintenance for the platform, and we’re planning on redeveloping the entire site in the future.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Peter (CEO, Facet Interactive), Jordan (Drupal Architect, Facet Interactive), and another teammate who helps with solutions and maintenance.

How did you come to work with Facet Interactive?

I reached out to Facet Interactive after getting referred by one of my clients.  

How much have you invested with them?

So far, I've spent around $25,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2017, and they continue to provide site maintenance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since implementing Facet Interactive’s recommendations, we’ve seen a significant increase in site visits, content downloads, and users of our materials. The site has over 13,000 active users and between 250–350 media outlets accessing the content daily. The platform is faster, more secure, and receives higher traffic.

Additionally, my understanding of the website has grown, so my users and potential sponsors can have more confidence in the company.

How did Facet Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team sets up videos conferences with me, so although we’re in different locations, it feels like we’re getting the face-to-face interaction I need. We often have hour-long phone calls to discuss their approach and progress–they’re very communicative.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to identify an issue before I’m aware it exists makes them a great asset. Their team keeps me up-to-date on the latest trends, which makes me more valuable to my clients. As a team, they’re proactive, insightful, and provoke creativity in every project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It could have been more beneficial for my budget if I had to spend less time establishing my needs and industry in the beginning. Although it was helpful, I ended up running on a tight budget because of the time spent educating their team on my marketplace. It could have been better, in the long-term, if they had immediately worked on solving the issue.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m VP of operations at Paladin Risk Management. We provide risk management services for construction companies and their insurance brokers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Facet Interactive?

We created our own enterprise data management system when the company started. Our needs have changed as the years have passed. The amount of data we process has continued to grow, which has stretched its information management capacity. We realized about a year and a half ago that we needed help fixing it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Facet Interactive systematically reviewed our entire system. They're currently working with us to rewrite and refactor the code. They’re also enhancing our system so that it continues to grow with our needs. It serves as our proprietary information management system. It’s the tool we use to conduct our business internally, and our clients have access to it as well.

One key functionality they’ve worked on is the system’s ability to generate and send automatic emails to clients. There were issues with our clients receiving the emails, which was related to the code not being written properly for the number of projects. They're giving us more bandwidth and flexibility in the system to grow.

What is the team composition?

We work with several members of their team. We primarily work with two of their digital analysts, and they are using several offshore people for our project as well.

How did you come to work with Facet Interactive?

I think that our old programmer referred them, but that decision predates me.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $148,000 this year.

What is the status of this engagement?

I joined the project after it was already underway, but I believe it started mid-2017. The engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our clients are now regularly getting automatically-generated emails from the improved system. That’s the most tangible result of the work that they’re doing to retrofit and rebuild our system, so that it functions properly for the size and amount of information.

How did Facet Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They are really thorough in terms of communication. We have a weekly stand-up call with everyone who’s working on the project. They use an account management system that allows us to go in and check the status of our tickets. I can see an estimation of how many hours each part of the project is going to take and what level of priority it’s been assigned. They lay everything out in a clear manner so that I understand each step of our processes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re good at predicting the next area of revision or restructuring needed for our system. They can tell which areas need support. Their ability to identify the problems within our system and respond quickly is commendable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It sometimes feels like the projects take more time than they should. However, usually, any delay is due to them being so thorough. It also requires extensive testing anytime they make modifications to our system.

Any advice for potential customers?

It depends on what somebody needs in terms of specific projects. I appreciate their ability to communicate complicated concepts in terms that somebody without a technical background can understand.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief success officer of Axelerant. We’re a delivery partner for agencies and enterprises regarding software development, quality assurance, and other IT-related services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Facet Interactive?

We hired them to aid our marketing strategy efforts by developing a more approachable brand identity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Facet Interactive developed a digital marketing strategy to better position our company towards software development firms and mid-sized marketing agencies. This included defining and executing a marketing plan. To do this, they redesigned some fundamental elements of our existing website and shaped the company’s new identity. Once the significant developments were complete, they helped us schedule future content releases and frequently reviewed analytics to refine our marketing strategy further. They also helped establish our brand guidelines and storytelling.

What is the team composition?

Jordan (CTO, Facet Interactive) and Peter (CEO, Facet Interactive) were our primary points of contact. They did a lot of the work themselves, but also allocated a designer and a content specialist to assist with various aspects of the project.

How did you come to work with Facet Interactive?

Jordan was the product owner for one of our clients. We collaborated with him on a project and enjoyed the experience. After developing a mutual trust with his team, he communicated to us that their expertise includes marketing. We considered several companies but ultimately chose Facet Interactive.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project took place from April 2014–2016. However, we still check in with them each month to discuss strategy execution.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within a month of the new website’s launch, we experienced a 20% increase in business. This growth would continue each month for the following six months. Furthermore, the site’s overall traffic doubled over the past two years. These stats are impressive, but it’s more important to increase conversions from clients that meet our ideal customer profile. After a few months of working with Facet Interactive, we were pulling in 1–3 extremely viable leads each week.

How did Facet Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

We both use Jira for project management tasks and have linked a communication tool between the two systems to keep them synced up with each other. We engaged in daily standups and utilized a scrum methodology to identify deliverables within each given work cycle.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re process-oriented and use technology to enhance their deliverables. While recognizing that marketing is a creative endeavor, they apply known principles to replicate success. They’re the kind of partners that we can grow with and I admire their ability to provide mutually beneficial results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the digital director and a project manager for a large portion of projects at Drupal Connect. We are mainly a Drupal website development and support firm, but we also provide our services for similar sites like Ruby, Magento, and WordPress.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Facet Interactive?

We needed help with our AdWords campaign and some website rebranding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Throughout both the AdWords and rebranding campaigns, Facet Interactive provided an outside perspective, created and implemented design concepts, and boosted sales initiatives. Additionally, they helped with social media marketing through blog development and content management.

What is the team composition?

We worked most directly with the CEO.

How did you come to work with Facet Interactive?

I’m not positive, but I believe it was through word of mouth.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in 2016 and the AdWords campaign finished about a year later in 2017. They still provide some services, like SEO. We also reach out to them sometimes when we have questions for our own clients.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Both the AdWords and SEO campaigns have dramatically increased our sales and search ranking.

How did Facet Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated through Slack or Zoom. However, they’re very flexible and would be able to use different online communication tools. We would also have phone calls or video conferences. They are very communicative and personable. Their project management goes beyond overseeing or maintaining the project; they want to be involved in the details.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Facet Interactive is very well organized and has an established workflow, which makes them easy to work with. We never had to ask them to do something twice. They make and maintain connections through video conferences, and have attended several Drupal conferences. They’re easy to get ahold of and meet with in person.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have established business goals going into the project. If you’re able to clearly communicate your requirements, Facet Interactive can quickly create a realistic roadmap to help you achieve your objectives.

BACKGROUND

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

• IT Support

SOLUTION

• Referral

• Referred to me

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

• Virtual Meeting

BACKGROUND

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

• IT Consultant
• Build Website

SOLUTION

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

• Increase productivity of our recruiting team.
• Increased web traffic.
• 4 straight years of revenue growth

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Partners - Director of MacDermid Alpha Electronics solutions

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Specialty chemicals for the electronics manufacturing supply chain

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Facet Interactive to accomplish?

Develop a website for a specific (automotive) end-use market

SOLUTION

How did you find Facet Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Facet Interactive over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Facet Interactive were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Site which had specific landing pages for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electronic vehicles (EV), Interior and lightweighting landing pages. Site was developed with the user journey in mind and the ability to access supporting assets and multimedia during this journey.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They delivered a site that set the benchmark for visuals and usability in the rest of the organization.

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

Project management was excellent, with a clear guide on WIP and completed items. We had a weekly sprint call and additional in-depth project meetings as applicable.

What was your primary form of communication with Facet Interactive?

Virtual Meeting

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

Good cultural fit. They felt part of the team.

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

Yes. We had to learn and adapt to the JIRA methodology.