Fooz

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are software developers, but we specialize in creating dedicated software for bigger companies. We are not frontend developers; that's why we chose Fooz for our website. I'm the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fooz?

We needed a new website. We didn't have time to focus on the website, so we chose them to help us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a good website from scratch using WordPress CMS. They were responsible for the UX design and the deployment of the site. It wasn't a big project. It was a frontend website for our company to show our services. They were also responsible for creating copyrights for our website.

What is the team composition?

Three members and maybe more were involved. I spoke mostly with the project manager. At the end of development when the site was deployed, we also spoke with the developers because we needed integration with our HR system.

How did you come to work with Fooz?

We found them on the Internet. I looked at 10 or more companies, but we liked their website a lot, which was why we chose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €6,000–€7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from June 2017 to November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their quality is very good. We are happy with what they did for us. The first deployment had a lot of bugs, but we had our own testing so we had a chance to test the site thoroughly. After that, they fixed all the bugs, and the site worked very well. Everything was delivered within the defined scope and met our expectations.

How did Fooz perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated via email and conference calls. We had a fixed budget. They did what they were expected to do. They showed us their progress, and we told them if it was okay or not.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have really good graphic designers. This is what they do best and their main advantage.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should work on meeting deadlines. We had some problems because of this. We made some changes during the project so they are not fully responsible for the delays though. We are really happy working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner of an advertising agency that provides graphic design, web design, and online marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fooz?

We lacked the in-house capacity to do larger projects, so we needed a partner experienced in online shops to provide website development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve worked together on a number of WordPress projects. Our first collaboration involved creating a startup’s website with an easily manageable CMS. We started by handing them a mockup that included the client’s priorities and then they build the site, incorporating WooCommerce.

After successfully completing this first project, we’ve continued to rely on Fooz.

What is the team composition?

Michal [Kaźmiercza, CEO, Fooz] and Anna [Project Manager, Fooz] serve as our reference points on each project.

How did you come to work with Fooz?

We’re both part of an international network for entrepreneurs. We met Fooz online and started talking about doing projects together.

How much have you invested with them?

About €8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2017 and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Most of our projects are still ongoing. The completed websites are functioning properly and haven’t experienced any crashes.

In terms of cost, they stick to their estimates and allow me to focus on the marketing aspects.

How did Fooz perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate daily through Skype to coordinate milestones. Careful planning allows them to anticipate any difficulties that may arise. They’re always there when we need them and are willing to work after hours if the client makes any sudden change requests.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Michal is very dedicated. He provides input on each project and handles each one with care. Once we complete a project, he calls to ask for feedback and we discuss ways to improve in the future. He’s more than a service provider for me; we’re a working team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Perfection is impossible, and any project has occasional snags. Fooz’s effective communication means I know who to contact in the event of a scheduling delay, and I can trust them to solve the problem. This is really what counts.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You’ll get better results if you have a clear goal in mind. They’ll ask for clarifications if need be, but projects run more smoothly if you provide precise instructions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Lemon Rockets, which is dedicated to usability and graphic design. In addition, we also code programming sites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fooz?

I was looking for a fast and trustworthy partner that would be able to develop a WordPress site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was a very demanding project. We had done the detailed design on our side of things and it included graphics that were hard to code. They were very specific to the robotic and automatic area. There was also a very complicated subpage with technical drawings that had a lot of text labels. I didn’t have an internal developer that would’ve have been able to code a subpage like this in a WordPress platform.

Since then, we’ve collaborated on more projects with them. I do the mockups within my company, but specific Fooz designers who are very experienced ocassionally do WordPress design.

What is the team composition?

I work with the same project manager for each collaboration. I also work with five or more WordPress experts, some of whom I know. For more complicated WordPress projects, I also communicate with their designers. It all depends on my customer’s decision.

How did you come to work with Fooz?

I spent almost two months searching for a reliable WordPress developer, and by accident, I came across Fooz. I asked them to take a look at our details and the design, and they agreed to make a proof concept. It was very well done. After this first trial, we started to work together.

How much have you invested in them?

I have spent approximately between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in June of this year, and the work is ongoing with other projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My customers have been very satisfied and have told their friends about their work as well. This is the first group of projects we’ve considered very low risk because of how trustworthy the programmers are that are working on them. My income is bigger because of these projects.

There haven’t been any bugs. Anytime we do something together, I am confident in their experience. They can estimate, in a very precise way, how long and complicated the task will be. They come up with solutions for coding in WordPress as well as a lot of additional plugins. They have a very experienced developer, Wojtek, who is really good and solves problems internally.

They are very good, and I am very satisfied. Because these are projects for clients of my company, I need our partner to have an additional level of reliability and ability to execute in a timely manner. At this point, we haven’t had any problems time-wise in any of our collaborations together. I’ve cooperated with several other companies and freelancers who code in WordPress, but Fooz is the only trustworthy one I’ve met.

How did Fooz perform from a project management standpoint?

They are the only company I have worked with that is predictable. They are always on time, and are able to meet tight deadlines. They connect well with people and are very responsive. They reply within the same day, and even within the same hour for urgent requests.

From the very first email I sent, I found that they were very trustworthy. We have a lot of detailed communication through telephone calls and emails. I cooperate with the developers using a common Google document, where I can explain or describe specifications. This is the only company I know of that will precisely describe what is going on in the project.

The project manager, Anna, is very reliable. This is the first time that I have had less work to do because of an external partner. She is very well-prepared, the processes are clear for me, and I know what the deliverables will be in the next steps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The work is very high quality.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Respondent 1:  The Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas is a research and development unit that offers services to public administration and cooperates with other research institutes. We also do consulting and research projects for industries. I am in charge of the office of projects coordination marketing and research commercialization.

Respondent 2:  I work in the same office. Izabela [Respondent 1] is my boss.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fooz?

Respondent 1:  We needed to provide some more visibility to the institute to highlight the type of services we offer. The rationale behind the need was that the institute has been restructuring its operations. We also wanted a list of our websites so that what we actually do is better communicated to our stakeholders. The website was outdated and nobody liked it.

Respondent 2: We wanted the website to be more accessible through mobile phones and tablet. The previous website was more challenging in that matter.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Respondent 1:  The key issue to finding the right agency to provide the services was to define the scope of service, because we had to follow the public procurement rules. Once we agreed that Fooz would be doing the work for us, there were further negotiations with them on how to proceed. Fooz was extremely helpful in helping us to scope the actual layout, functionalities, and architecture since they have an extensive knowledge of how these types of websites should work. They’re attentive to our concerns and our wishes. They gave good suggestions based on our expectations, which was much appreciated. There were three people we communicated with but how the work was divided within the company, we don’t know.

Respondent 2: We were offered several designs, of which we chose one and gave our final authorization. They were able to provide this very fast. Then we proceeded from there. The boss, project manager, and one IT specialist were who we communicated with.

How did you come to work with Fooz?

Respondent 1:  We had to find an agency that would provide high-quality service for a reasonable price. We got some recommendations of some agencies to whom we should address our request for a specific service; Fooz was within these agencies. We decided what we wanted to develop and went into a lot of detail. We also wanted someone who wasn’t too far away geographically: It was important for us to have face-to-face communications with them at times. One of my colleagues recommended them because Fooz built their website as well. We looked at their website and saw what they offer, and we liked it. We asked for a portfolio and Fooz provided a good one that we liked. It met our expectations. We had a limited budget, and what they offered us was what we wanted. Another positive thing, we wanted the website to be done in an uncomfortable period, shortly before the end of the year, but Fooz was available.

How much have you invested with Fooz?

Respondent 1:  We spent $8,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

Respondent 1:  We started working with them in October 2016 and they agreed to provide support for six months. There are still some minor issues being corrected.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Respondent 1:  I can tell you that before we launched the new website, it underwent some internal changes. The general impression was very, very positive and the functionalities were also positively evaluated. Everybody’s surprised that there is something different right now on our website and something that is very pleasing to the eye.

How did Fooz perform from a project management standpoint?

Respondent 2:  Our communication was good. Any requests to correct some minor issues in layout or in functionalities was done quickly. We are very happy that we decided to cooperate with them.

Respondent 1:  They are quick in reacting, which is quite important: it’s a project for them, but it’s also a project for us. Since one of the objectives for us was to do the project quickly, they really responded very, very quickly, but at the same time, they were quite focused on the materials they needed and the requests they had. Overall, I think that contact is smooth. If there were delays, there more delays on our side rather than theirs because we didn’t respond on time because we were too busy to process things. They were ready whenever the material was provided.

What did you find most impressive about Fooz?

Respondent 1:  Their creativity, openness and their capacity to adapt to the client’s need is impressive. They have the ability to recognize those needs properly - this is a critical skill when you do the work and this is a very specific kind of a work. You really have to have the capacity first to understand what the client really wants. Get the information from the client and support the client if he or she has a problem to express what they actually want. These are quite unique features. They are not imposing things; they are proposing based on what they heard from the client.

Are there any areas Fooz could improve?

Respondent 1: The cooperation was very good and there were no problems with communication. The layouts were nicely presented. The intermediary status of the development of the website was nicely communicated. They have good tools for that.  

Respondent 2:  The training on the website was good, but it might not have been enough to help non-IT people upload content.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a Dutch Internet company. We develop the backend of web applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fooz?

Sometimes we need extra help for frontend design, and that is where Fooz helps us out. We didn’t have the capacity ourselves to develop the frontend. I met Michał [Kaźmierczak], the CEO of Fooz, and we created all of the designs, wireframes, and graphical impressions, but we didn't have the frontend developers to work on the project at that time. They offered their help, and they did a great job.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fooz tried to work with the things we use normally. We use Bootstrap in our projects for frontend developing, so they used Bootstrap. We also used some Agile software to keep track of the progress, bugs, and feedback that we have, and Fooz adjusted really well and fine to what we would like. The second project they did for us was not a big project, and it only took them about eight working days to develop the frontend. 

The product Fooz helped us with is for an app a sports agency uses for their ERP system. They use UNIT4, which is quite a well-known resource management system in The Netherlands. What they do is sell shirts and whole equipment for teams. When an order is placed, a lot of things have to come together — financial data and all of the requirements of printing and adjusting to clothes, etc. Right now they don't have a system where they can work together with the customer, and what we are developing is a web application that allows the employees of the company and the customers to work together on the order. They share the design of the shirts, approve it, and fill in all of the printing options. That creates an estimate for the price of the whole order, which is validated by someone else. They then send their delivery address and their invoice address and everything like that to eventually get the order right to implement in the resource system. What Fooz did was create all of the design that allows the customers and employees of the company we work for to work together and make that happen. 

How did you come to work with Fooz?

Michał and I are connected in the same business group but in our own countries, Poland and The Netherlands, respectively. He sent me an email that said, “Does it also suck when you don't have enough frontend developing power to develop projects?” That message was spot-on and exactly the position I was in: at the time, I didn't have a frontend developer that could develop this project, but I had backend developers ready to work on it. I thought that was funny, so I contacted Michał, and he was traveling through Europe, so he came to our office. I thought, “Yeah. This seems like a really nice guy with good ideas for design.” So we gave the design to Fooz, and it was nice working with them.

How much have you invested with Fooz?

We’ve done two projects now, and I think we’ve spent €2,500 ($2,700).

What is the status of this engagement?

I think we started working together on the first project in February 2017. It was a template that we wanted to change, and they did the design work for that. The second project was the one that I'm talking about right now, and that was in March 2017. They’ve completed everything, and we do have three frontend developers ourselves. If we don't have enough capacity in our own company, I will gladly use Fooz again.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

It’s hard to share any statistics, but I was really pleased with their work. They understood our project and were quickly up to speed. I also liked that they tested the project really well in different browsers and on different devices, so there were only a few bugs. They were also quick to resolve those issues, and they were quite ahead on everything, so if there was something that wasn’t completely worked out, they mentioned it, they saw it, and they talked about it. 

How did Fooz perform from a project management standpoint?

Michał was basically a project manager, because we spoke about the functionality within the screens and about how it should work and be intuitive for the user. I think only one frontend developer worked on it. Basically, the team was one project manager and one developer, so two in total.

We had a fixed-price deal for this project, but I think they worked a little bit more on the project than estimated upfront, and the delivery was on time. We didn't have a really sharp deadline, but they delivered the project when they said they would, and our feedback was implemented quickly too. Only a few days later they already had worked on the feedback as well. That was really nice.

Fooz works quite well from a project management standpoint. Michał was on holiday during the project, so he gave the project lead to a project manager called Anna. At first we didn’t have much communication, but when I contacted Anna about their timetable and schedule the communication was picked up. It was only a small project, so not much communication was needed, but the communication was good when certain screens were done or certain things were checked and we could review it ourselves.

We made all the wireframes for every page. We used a digital tracker for our feedback according to our own Agile scrum program that we use to develop. Mainly, we had wireframes and graphic impressions sent. At the beginning of the project, we had a small project documentation, and next to that we wrote down all of our feedback in the digital tracker, and they used the status to update us when things were ready. 

What did you find most impressive about Fooz?

I think the commitment of Michał as a person is the most impressive thing about Fooz. They are not a very big company right now, but they are really involved with their clients. Even if the project is smaller, they try to adapt and get to know the client well. They’re not too business-like. They’re personal, and I like that because I think that if a company is a little personal with a project, the quality of the product and the communication are a lot better.

Are there any areas Fooz could improve?

I can’t think of any ways Fooz could improve right now. I liked everything. It was really nice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

INVESTEKO is an environmental company that deals with environmental protection, waste management, and waste to energy. I’m manager of international relations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fooz?

We needed to update our website so that it has more of a modern look. We had an existing website that another company had built on a different platform. Fooz is also helping to build a website for another company we have.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fooz designed and built the website using WordPress. I had an idea of how I wanted the website to look. We met with them, told them what we wanted, and they were receptive. They also designed some brochures for some projects we were working on. We worked with two people from their team, a designer and also the head of the company. It was very easy to convey our ideas to them. That’s what I liked the most in our relationship. They were open to my feedback about their work. They were very responsive to my emails. That made a good impression on me.

How did you come to work with Fooz?

We screened a few companies in Poland. We hired Fooz because their price was the best and their reviews were positive. We also saw previous work they’d done.

How much have you invested with Fooz?

We spent $5,000 with Fooz over the course of our relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

For the most recent project, we started working with Fooz in October 2016, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I’m very happy with the website. It’s very easy to use. I like it in the sense that I was part of the project. It functions perfectly so far. The work has been on time and on budget.

How did Fooz perform from a project management standpoint?

Fooz was good with communication. They’re quick and professional in their responses. We communicate via email and phone.

What did you find most impressive about Fooz?

The team at Fooz is creative and open to criticism. If there’s something you don’t like, they oblige the client. They’re quick in their response. I’m satisfied with our relationship.

Are there any areas Fooz could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Digital Marketing Specialist of CloudFerro

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Trusted by ESA, EUMETSAT, ECMWF, DLR, and many more, CloudFerro provides the next generation cloud computing services with a focus on big data sets, dedicated to specific industries such as the European space sector.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Fooz to accomplish?

• Fooz has been hired to update and modernize the website, incorporating current trends to elevate its aesthetic appeal. Additionally, Fooz has been tasked with ensuring a consistency between the main website and the CREODIAS platform.

SOLUTION

How did you find Fooz?

• Referral

Why did you select Fooz over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Understanding of the customer's needs

How many teammates from Fooz were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The project involved refreshing the website's visual elements to enhance its appearance and appeal to users. The website provided flexibility in creating and managing content, allowing easy customization and updates. The project includes integrating the Gutenberg editor, allowing for more intuitive and flexible content creation. The scope of work also involved creating a twin e-commerce platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

New website came with a user friendly layout and very fresh look, which definitely has changed the user experience of our platform. Additionally, the project included e-commerce implementation, which opens a new line for distribution of our services.

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

Project management was effective and responsive. They conducted weekly calls to summarize the work, indicating a structured communication and progress-tracking approach.

What was your primary form of communication with Fooz?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Understanding our needs, commitment to the project and responsiveness is definitely a huge advantage of working with Fooz.

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

Fooz executed all tasks punctually, and our collaboration unfolded seamlessly without any notable areas for improvement or alternative approaches.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Silesiasolar Sp z o.o.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

SilesiaSolar Sp. z o.o. is a dynamically developing company specializing in renewable energy solutions, with a particular emphasis on photovoltaics. Operating in Poland, especially in Silesia, the company offers comprehensive services related to the design, supply, and installation of photovoltaic systems for households, businesses, and agriculture.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Fooz to accomplish?
Our objective was to be able to independently create pages, such as landing pages, and showcase our chosen projects. The primary purpose of our website is to promote our photovoltaic services effectively.

SOLUTION

How did you find Fooz?

Referral

Why did you select Fooz over others?

Good value for cost

How many teammates from Fooz were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Our partnership with Fooz has been going for four years, during which they have continuously developed and added new features to the website, ensuring its ongoing maintenance and upgrades. We wanted to refresh the old website and add new functionalities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website was refreshed, and new functionalities were added to create a transparent and lead-generating website.

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

The collaboration was successful as Fooz promptly addressed all inquiries and worked towards resolving any issues that arose. They implemented all our requests and suggestions.

What was your primary form of communication with Fooz?

In-Person Meeting

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

Flexibility, good ideas, trust.

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

Faster responding for additional changes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of EXPLITIA S.A.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Semcore is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, SEM, and comprehensive online marketing solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Fooz to accomplish?

• As Semcore, our specific goals in partnering with Fooz were to enhance our client’s website's user experience. Fooz has been instrumental in helping us to elevate their online presence.

SOLUTION

How did you find Fooz?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Fooz over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Fooz were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Fooz provided a comprehensive range of services during this project, including website design and development, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) enhancements, and content optimization.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Improved website performance, enhanced user engagement and positive user feedback.

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

Communication was a strong suit of their project management approach. We had regular meetings to discuss progress, goals, and upcoming tasks, which allowed for a transparent and collaborative working relationship. Fooz consistently provided updates on project status, ensuring that everyone involved was on the same page.

What was your primary form of communication with Fooz?

Email or Messaging App

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

Their team's commitment to transparent communication, professional content management, appropriate server selection, and responsiveness to our client's needs demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the project's success. Fooz was a great partner to work with and deliver results to our client. Additionally, their ability to provide content management training was crucial to the effective administration of the site, and good server selection ensured the stability and efficiency of the project.

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

I don’t think that there are any areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of AMVET

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

AMVET is a veterinary hospital in Krakow, specializing in the treatment and prevention of animals such as dogs, cats, lagomorphs and rodents.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Fooz to accomplish?

• Our primary goal was to have a compelling website that effectively communicated the essence of our practice. We wanted a simple, clear, and fresh design, reflecting our commitment to animal care.
• The website needed to prominently showcase our expert team and the comprehensive range of services we offer, with a strong emphasis on our dedication to the well-being of animals.

SOLUTION

How did you find Fooz?

Referral

Why did you select Fooz over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Fooz were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Fooz provided us with a range of essential services throughout this project. They started with mockups, which helped us visualize and refine the design direction. Additionally, Fooz integrated an external calendar system, allowing us to efficiently manage medical appointments and provide a seamless experience for our clients.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They made the design elements, resulting in a visually appealing and user-friendly website.

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

Yes

What was your primary form of communication with Fooz?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Integrating an external calendar for medical appointments was a game-changer, significantly improving the client experience. Clients can now easily book their appointments online, increasing engagement and convenience. Moreover, the ability to download essential documents directly from the website has streamlined our information-sharing and communication processes, saving time for both our team and clients. 

Adding specialized listings sourced from CPT with a table of contents made it significantly easier for clients to find the needed information, boosting customer engagement. Overall, Fooz's work has improved our website's functionality and user experience, leading to more satisfied clients and a more efficient website.

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

Everything was well organized and delivered.