Factory

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am managing an EU-funded project for a company that runs a center for unstructured children play. One activity within the project includes investments in digital presence. My role is (among other things) to help the company management in finding a suitable provider of web development services.

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

Company is getting ready to enter an international market, and current website required an upgrade in terms of functionalities, content and design. We wanted a reliable and competent provider of website development services, in order to strengthen our digital presence.

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

We heard of Factory from our business partners. They were highly recommended, based on our partners' excellent experiences. Besides recommendation, we decided to choose Factory due their demonstrated expertise during the negotiation process (they were able to precisely identify our needs and which aspects of our current web presence could benefit from an upgrade), professionalism (they were very responsive during our communication), and value.

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

We had a kick-off meeting with a sales representative and we discussed all aspects of the website upgrade. Then, we received a detailed project write-up and schedule - for our review. This helped us to grasp all aspects of the project and planned activities. As a result of that, we included a few more website functionalities in the project and made it even better.

During the process, sales representative was constantly available for answering our clarification questions. Once a project was precisely defined, a project manager was assigned to us and she was coordinating developers (we needed a complicated WordPress theme update), designers (new brand identity was applied) and us (clients). Everything went smoothly, even when we encountered a few minor obstacles due to the limitation of our website hosting services (different vendor).

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

Two: a sales representative and a project manager.

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

New website immediately gained visibility at the international level due to the implemented improvements. This enabled us to gain our first international customers within the first week since the website went live.

In particular, we noticed a significant improvement in SEO for a relevant keywords and content quality related KPIs: time on site and page views increased, and bounce rate decreased. We also got positive feedback from our clients, who immedialy noticed that the website is improved in terms of usability and content.

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

Facorty.hr team is excellent in project management. Both sales representative and project manager were highly capable, with superb communication skills and highly responsive. We used e-mail, Google Drive and Google Meet (this was our preference, and Factory.hr accepted all our requests). We used HelloSign for signing the contract remotely.

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

I would stress two things: competences and professionalism. During the whole process, I felt we are working with an experienced and strong provider of IT services.

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

Honestly, I can't think of anything that I could suggest at this point. The process Factory uses is streamlined and robust, and I would choose them anytime I need a IT-based services.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an account manager at Kala Presence, a digital agency.

What challenge were you trying to address with Factory?

One of our clients develops special creams for runners, and they needed a complete digital marketing service.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We outsourced our client’s development needs to Factory while my team did SEO and marketing. Factory developed an e-commerce website from scratch. The purpose of the website is to inform potential clients about the product and to sell as much of the product as possible. 

What is the team composition?

I was in contact with one person, who distributed everything to their team.

How did you come to work with Factory?

Our client needed help with development.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from January–April 2019. 

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

Altogether, they did a good job. Our clients were happy with the website. 

How did Factory perform from a project management standpoint?

The cooperation was very easygoing. Factory was very organized. We just sent them a list of expectations and things we needed them to do, and they completed all of our requests on time. 

Factory sent us any additional ideas that they had, and we discussed them. I communicated daily with their product manager. Factory also met the deadlines we agreed upon. It was a perfect fit for us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did everything that we needed them to do. I was pleasantly surprised that they kept us updated on their progress. We could see every phase that they were working on.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything; they did a great job.

Any advice for potential customers?

I would definitely recommend them. Anyone with a bigger development project should go straight to them, because they know what they’re doing and will do an amazing job. 

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of Local Experience d.o.o owner of www.avarbo.com- a startup from Croatia which connects all local people who want to be a tourist guide, meet new people, show beautiful places in their hometown and make money from it!

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

Since my project is a startup idea, I needed a complete visual identity, landing page and custom website development.

What were your goals for this project?

My idea is to present all the beautiful places in Croatia for tourists, and enable awareness for local people to work with tourists. Since this idea is brand new, we needed to come up with buyer personas, both tourist and local guides. Our project required detailed research before we event started to develop the website.

How did you select this vendor?

My trusted friend gave me a recommendation for them and their business, so they were the obvious choice.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The first phase was to design a complete visual identity for my brand new business. Factory design lead presented us with the book of visual identity where we could choose between three different logos, tagline, font, etc for our visual identity. After developing design materials, the Factory designer presented us with buyer personas for our business and after my approval, he created a complete UX/UI design for our website. The second phase was to develop a website and landing page so we can collect emails of all interested local guides. In every phase, the Factory team provided quality suggestions where we matched our ideas.

What was the team composition?

Our project manager had a team of 4 people, UX/UI designer, QAA and 2 developers. If we needed some advice, our project manager managed to find the solution between the whole Factory team, which gave us a stable point of contact. Also, the project manager introduced us to the Growth-Driven Design methodology, which would let us quickly build and test every idea we have for our project.

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

Our project will be live in a couple months, but we already have more than 1 000 interested people in our base.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We knew every information about our business even before we asked for it. It led us to fully trust our project manager with decisions regarded in our project. We had regular weekly meetings, and they always followed up and stayed on top of everything. They ask questions, are always on time, and are easy to reach by email or by video chat.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The attention and thought they put into their work were noticeably better than any other firm we considered. They’re responsive, and we’re pleased with their work so far.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Anything that happened was typical of this kind of project, and we had an excellent experience.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the manager of Kurija Janković, a four-star heritage hotel.

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

We wanted a website to present our services and visually demonstrate our hotel’s architectural heritage.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted direct online booking in order to avoid commission fees.

How did you select this vendor?

Factory is a well-known IT firm in Croatia and they seemed like the obvious choice for us. They provided us with the first design and we fell in love with it. The design was elegant and presented our hotel in the right way.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Our main goal was an intuitive booking system that could also showcase our hotel. Following the development phase, Factory provided QA.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager, a designer, and a WordPress developer. Our main contact was the project manager, whom we called if we had any questions or new ideas.

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

We’ve seen an increase in direct reservations, which we’d hoped for from the beginning. The development of a blog on our site also brought more online visitors and increased our visibility.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We communicated smoothly through calls and email. They quickly and thoroughly answered all of our questions.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They brought impressive expertise to our project and they offered lots of ideas on how to achieve our goals.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re completely satisfied.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a project manager at Avaz.ba., an online news portal in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We cover politics, showbiz, lifestyle, and international news.

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

We needed to develop an iOS and Android application.

What were your goals for this project?

We publish many articles every day, and we wanted readers from around the world to be able to read them wherever they are. We also wanted to be seen as more of a leading portal in our own country.

How did you select this vendor?

Factory had experience working with big news portals like ours. Their expertise and the quality of their proposal convinced us they were who we needed to work with.

Describe the project in detail.

We started with several calls regarding details like our main goals, KPIs, design ideas, material guidelines, budget, and deadline. After, we received a wireframe and design proposal that we agreed to with a few small changes, which were handled through InVision. Then, Factory developed our mobile application and connected it to our existing web solution’s backend. They also provided QA.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a project manager who supported us and kept us informed at every step. There were also two Android developers, two iOS developers, and a QA resource.

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

The app launched two weeks ago and already has over 200,000 downloads. Additionally, user feedback has been excellent. They like the app’s design, usability, and speed.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager was easy to communicate with. He provided us with fresh information and talked about our next steps in development. He respected our time and paid attention via emails, phone, and Skype calls.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were entirely dedicated to our business and provided us with accurate feedback. Throughout development, they contributed original ideas and fresh designs to build a better solution. Their friendliness was constant, and they provided everything we needed.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, not that I know of. I hope they continue their great work.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of a platform that connects jobs with job seekers. The idea is fresh and new to the Croatian market.

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

We wanted to help people find a job and turn their time into value, and needed a website to connect workers and employers.

What were your goals for this project?

Our main goals were to easily connect people and put money in their pockets.

How did you select this vendor?

We contacted multiple service providers, and other IT companies recommended Factory. After our first meeting we knew they were the right choice. They had concrete, comprehensive answers to all our questions.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

In the first meeting, we discussed transforming our vision into a tangible product. We decided to build an MVP to gain traction and understand how our visitors use the portal. After every discussion, the designer implements changes.

What was the team composition?

We have frontend and backend developers, a full-time project manager, and a full-time QA tester.

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

The process has been extremely smooth. With help from HotJar, we've reconfigured the registration process and removed fields that users didn't understand. We've successfully registered 95% of our users and gained more than 30,000 active users in just five months.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They respect our time and pay attention to us through emails, phone, and Skype calls. We've benefitted immediately from our decision to work with Factory. Communication is the key to our success. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Working with Factory is a great experience! Their skilled team brings excellent ideas and solutions to the table. They know their industry and work hard to fulfill our demands. 

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They should continue the great work and keep our platform growing!

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a Director at Daily Fantasy Rankings, a hub of daily fantasy sports providing news and results to the Australian DFS community.

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

Our company website was created in 2016, but we were no longer satisfied with the design and the backend development. We contracted with Factory to provide solutions for all of the troublesome aspects of our site.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a fluid backend system that can support the numbers of inquiries we receive through our website.

How did you select this vendor?

A friend had used their services before and recommended them to us.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Factory provided extensive backend development and support, which included advice for restructuring the database. They improved the overall performance and allowed room for the website to grow. After identifying bottlenecks in the coding and the database design, they provided solutions to these problems. With their help, we have added numerous enhancements and features to the site, and they continue to provide ongoing support.

What was the team composition?

We have one project manager and two developers—one each for the frontend and backend. My only interaction is with our project management, however.

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

Our website performance has improved, which has allowed us to add new features to the site. User registrations and website traffic have increased since Factory’s involvement began. With these enhancements, we are confident we can continue to increase our following.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Communication is the key to our success. They are collaborative and do their best to work with us to fully develop our ideas. They speak English very well, and all of our discussions are productive. If we ever have a misunderstanding, they are patient and willing to explain their processes. We are very satisfied with the workflow.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge in the IT field is strong. They are skilled at ideating new features that can help our business. I am excited about our continued partnership.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

No, they have been a joy to work with.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a lead developer at Index.hr, the leading Croatian news portal. We have about 100 employees that help us share stories covering politics, business, sports, entertainment, and various featured content. We publish over 200 pieces daily to our website and mobile app and each month we get over 160 million views.

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

We needed a mobile application that could properly support all of our content and users and also assure that our breaking news coverage was immediately accessible.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the application to be profitable for our business and increase accessibility for our readers. The application’s main functionality was to intuitively aggregate our news stories and instantly update with our most recent content, videos, and photos.

How did you select this vendor?

Our business partner recommended Factory for the project, and the results have been great.

Describe the project in detail.

We provided wireframes and determined the functionalities we wanted, then Factory completely designed the platform in alignment with our brand colors and general company guidelines. The team developed the news aggregation app for both iOS and Android devices. Finally, we linked our social media accounts to the platform to increase audience engagement. The Factory team provided QA services throughout the project.

What was the team composition?

Factory provided a project manager, an Android developer, iOS developer, and a quality assurance analyst.

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

The app was downloaded over 1,000 times within the first three months after its launch.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team provided consistent project updates through email, phone call, or Skype. They showed a high level of respect for our company and our time. Factory was very attentive and involved in the process. We had differing opinions at some points, but we ultimately decided on what was best for the app and our business.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed by their ability to work with our internal IT specialist. Working with an outsourced company was challenging, but Factory had good collaborative skills. They listened to our in-house specialist and they worked together to find the best solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room to improve, but they continue to provide great work.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a marketing manager at Tehnocentar. While we started as a wholesale seller of consumer electronics, we’re now one of the largest audio, visual, and IT equipment distributors.

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

We needed to develop an online store to organize all of our offers and show off all the products and services we offer.

What were your goals for this project?

Our company had decided to modernize, and we needed new ideas and a fresh look for our site. We were looking for better UX, and the ability to incorporate Facebook games.

How did you select this vendor?

We were friendly with a few members of Factory’s team and we knew that their track record was full of successful, creative projects that we loved.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

We had meetings to discuss our goals and ideas very often in the design phase. They were very interested in our goals and wanted to know every detail in order to reach the best possible solution. We received wireframes, mockups, and designs for our whole site. They introduced a Microsoft Dynamic system and developed applications for our games on Facebook. Recently we changed the slide bar on our homepage and Factory provided and implemented a new design.

What was the team composition?

From the beginning of our collaboration, we’ve had a project manager to support and inform us about our project at every step. Sometimes, the project manager includes developers to discuss some of their ideas.

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

Our new website allows better inventory tracking than before, including all the products we have at our warehouse. It also provides a complete overview of our easy to use sign-up process.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had very frequent meetings, either via Skype calls or email. Our project manager was reliable and quick with every demand we had. They provided excellent service and support.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They showed understanding, patience, and care for our web shop. They listened to, were accepting of, and reacted thoughtfully to any idea we had. They guided us to develop the best web shop possible.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

We just want them to continue their excellent work.

Please describe your company and your position there.

With years of research in transformers, rotating machines, switching devices, wind turbines, and rail vehicles, The Končar Electrical Engineering Institute offers unique solutions to control and monitor electric power, renewable sources, and railway equipment and systems. The Institute’s qualified and accredited laboratories provide diagnostic and on-site testing of electrical equipment and mechanical components. The Institute also has an independent organizational unit to assess product conformity to international, European and Croatian standards. I am a digital marketing specialist.

For what projects/services did your company hire Factory?

We needed a new website to solve problems caused by the functional constraints, obsolescence, and complicated maintenance of the existing version. Because we lacked the necessary internal resources, we decided to enlist a web development agency. After comparing several potential vendors for this project, we decided Factory would be our ideal partner.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals were to improve our online presence, improve the usability of the website, and enable better, more streamlined interaction with website visitors. We wanted a user-friendly website in order to create a positive user experience and achieve our communication and sales goals.

How did you select this vendor?

Not only were they a personal recommendation from a reliable source, but their expertise, knowledge, and professionalism really set them apart. We are also impressed with their proposal for our website and their great existing references.  

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Factory completely designed, developed, and launched our website. They provided their knowledge and expertise to help us with cost and time estimates, social media promotion, wireframe and design materials, and custom-made features. 

What was the team composition?

From designer and web developers to our project managers, Factory has been excellent. They were always available with answers to all our questions and solutions to any challenges. In addition to email, we also communicated via Skype, which proved to be a faster, simpler way to stay in touch and collaborate. Factory recommended the Productive app for better organization; it served as an excellent tool for tracking project progress, updating task status, and sharing feedback and discussions. 

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

The new website is a custom WordPress solution that meets all usability standards. Using interactive graphs and forms for faster search and content filtering, the website provides a complete overview of our solutions, services, and activities in a clear, user-friendly way. It now facilitates easier implementation of other digital marketing activities, improving our online presence, and the enhanced UX has led to a growth in queries from contact and demo request forms. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management was top-notch throughout the duration of the development process. From meeting deadlines to consistent availability, they were a reliable and supportive partner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are a team of young, enthusiastic people who are passionate about their work. Their simple communication, patience, guidance, and recommendations helped us achieve what we wanted: a new website we love. 

Are there any areas where they can improve?

Working with Factory was an excellent experience and exceeded all expectations.