Fourmeta

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at a company that sells home hair color products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fourmeta?

We hired them for web development services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fourmeta provides us with web development services. They built our e-commerce platform using Shopify, working in conjunction with an in-house consultant. Although they used some templates, the team also used custom fields to deliver specific and bespoke features that we needed. The team developed a custom frontend web app using React. They also built a headless API-based Shopify stack. We migrated from a Shopify template solution into the web app Fourmeta developed in order to increase our platform's speed. 

They've also helped us with design and user research at points when we've needed custom development. The purpose of our site is to inform customers about our products and their benefits. Users can select hair colors available in four categories of products, including permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary hair color, so we have collections pages. Customers can buy our products as a one-off or purchase a subscription. Currently, Fourmeta maintains the site and responds to incidents and issues. 

What is the team composition?

We've worked with the owner and a tech lead. 

How did you come to work with Fourmeta?

They were already our provider when I joined the company.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $200,000–$300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around Summer 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before migrating to the web app, our page load times averaged 5–8 seconds. Since we've migrated, we've had a 100% improvement in page speeds. Our Lighthouse report is much improved as well, increasing 2–3 times. 

How did Fourmeta perform from a project management standpoint?

They didn't have a dedicated project manager at first. The development team is offshore, and I wasn't able to have a direct relationship with the people actually doing the work. They were also working on a project management tool I didn't have access to. This all created a bottleneck and a lot of overhead for the tech lead and founder, who weren't able to meet their entire demand. We arrived at a situation of overspending, lack of communication, and poor expectation management. We had to resolve that between us, and the situation has improved since. 

When I joined the company, I organized the work into weekly sprints and created a board to document the work in Trello. Then, I realized they were duplicating the information on Monday.com. They've also shown signs of improvement in this regard. Meanwhile, on-time delivery is an area where they excel; they pull out all the stops to meet deadlines and deliver what we need every time. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should improve their project management. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be clear about working methods, frequency of communication, and transparency of your workflow and work in progress. Ensure that there's a project manager assigned and build in time for QA.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Partner of real estate company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Property auctioneers and estate agents

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• SEO
• Social Media
• Branding
• Marketing

SOLUTION

How did you find Fourmeta?

Referral

Why did you select Fourmeta over others?

Referral

How many teammates from Fourmeta were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

SEO improvement

Website details

Social media

Branding

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

SEO

Social media

Branding improvements

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

Very well

What was your primary form of communication with Fourmeta?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They are pro active which I like. They have a skilled team with each member having different skillsets

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

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO & Co-founder of Smarthost

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Smarthost is a property management company that specializes in short and mid-term rentals, assisting homeowners in maximizing their earnings from their properties.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• High quality web design
• To position Smarthost as one of industry leaders
• To enhance our digital presence

SOLUTION

How did you find Fourmeta?

Online Search

Why did you select Fourmeta over others?

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

How many teammates from Fourmeta were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We initially enlisted the services of Fourmeta to transform our website, https://www.smarthost.co.uk. Our primary objective was to revamp specific web pages and features in accordance with our provided brand identity guidelines, ultimately positioning Smarthost as leaders in the industry. Meeting strict deadlines and delivering high-quality results was of utmost importance.

The initial scope of work was executed with precision, leading to an extension of our collaboration to encompass the redesign and Webflow development of additional sections on the website. Our partnership continues, with ongoing projects aimed at enhancing our digital presence.

Furthermore, we introduced an innovative project: the Smarthost Interactive Map Platform. This platform is designed to showcase real estate properties from various developers, with Smarthost serving as a vital intermediary between developers and potential buyers. We also plan to offer post-purchase property management services to buyers, providing a comprehensive solution.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our partnership with Fourmeta has proven to be highly successful, productive and promising. The revamped sections of our website now closely align with our brand identity guidelines, effectively elevating our online presence and solidifying Smarthost's position as industry leaders.

The continuous projects have been meticulously executed, resulting in top-notch outcomes that improve our website's functionality and user experience. The Smarthost Interactive Map Platform project, currently in its planning phase, signifies a promising stride toward our objective of connecting buyers with developers. It also underscores Fourmeta's dedication to discovering innovative solutions for our business.

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

The workflow between our internal team and the experts at Fourmeta proved to be exceptionally effective. Their team upheld open and efficient lines of communication, ensuring that project objectives were not only met but were also achieved within the designated timelines. This collaborative and transparent approach has played a pivotal role in fostering our successful partnership.

What was your primary form of communication with Fourmeta?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What struck us most about Fourmeta was their unwavering commitment to meeting challenging deadlines and seamlessly aligning with our brand identity guidelines. They demonstrated a unique combination of creativity and technical expertise, which translated into exceptional web development and design solutions. Their dedication to innovative projects, like the Smarthost Interactive Map Platform, highlights their forward-thinking approach.

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

Our collaboration with Fourmeta has been overwhelmingly positive. Enhancing documentation for future maintenance could further streamline our processes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the head of marketing and sales management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted a website that was attractive, user-friendly, and easy to manage.

SOLUTION

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

Fourmeta services were within our budget and they were experienced in the type work we needed.

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

They did work on the backend to allow the website to accept orders, communicate with our fulfilment center and customers, and give interactive responses without daily management.

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

We worked with one point of contact on this project, which made it extremely easy for us to communicate our needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within one month of launching our site, we were overwhelmed with sales. It operated flawlessly from the first day, and our customers have responded positively to the ease of use and layout.

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

We arranged a detailed timeline through our point of contact. Follow-ups and general communication was handled via email and phone, which made the process easy and effective.

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

Fourmeta impressively delivered clear, concise, and prompt communication.

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

We could not identify any outstanding areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company is the small but powerful force behind your favorite beauty products. We created original founding brands by collaborating with big names in fashion and entertainment. We believe in six values, our creed. By adhering to them in business, in our interactions with each other, with our clients and in the recruitment process, we remain true to our culture and the foundation on which the house was originally founded. My mission is to help our comopany grow. I run Marketing Tech, which provides cool, smart, customizable websites and landing pages, as well as app marketing training and consulting to help the company get results from their app or website implementations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We have been working on Shopify, but with a better understanding of Fourmeta, who are Shopify Experts, we started using analytics, reports, and suitable applications from the store that could help us in our work and better control inventory management, customer feedback, and product discovery on the website. Since more than 90% of users use mobile devices, app development and adaptation to mobile devices had to be redesigned.

SOLUTION

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

Our team found the company on the Shopify Experts portal and was also recommended by several of our colleagues who met with the Fourmeta team. After discussions with more than ten other companies, Fourmeta proved to be the perfect choice for our brand as they had a better understanding of our vision and understanding of our revenue model due to their extensive knowledge and recent experience with similar projects. Time and budget were also important considerations as other companies offered deadlines that were not suitable for the current phase of our company.

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

Fourmeta divided the project into several stages, during which it was planned to design, agree, rework, system configuration, integration and launch. The look and feel of the old website has been updated, retaining the brand identity and introducing new features and navigation styles that improve the user experience. Functional releases were ready for user testing and feedback every two weeks. Improvements were made during each sorting thanks to key suggestions from their developers. In order to expand the reach of the target audience, the Fourmeta marketing and search engine optimization team worked on Facebook ads, Google ads, keywords, SEO content integration on the website and analytics, which further allowed us to strategize our marketing campaigns and increase direct traffic, improve rankings. and total business income. Their consulting services in product research and planning have resulted in better customer knowledge and tactical planning of purchasing goods from our suppliers at better prices and in accordance with customer demand.

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

I mostly worked with the Project Manager. The team dedicated to our project had about 20 people with a dedicated manager from the beginning of the project who was the main point of contact for all activities. We were well connected with all the departments throughout the project as and when needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As expected from the team, the project was completed on time and we launched the website earlier than expected. Our main goal was to improve the user interface and features of our web portal. The brand personality, look and feel of the brand were well expressed through various web portal strategies and applications, marketing ad campaigns and SEO content, resulting in a 270% increase in website traffic and a 2% increase in conversation rate.

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

They are very competent and meet their deadlines. We mainly used video meeting and email to stay in touch.

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

Hy is very patient and organized. If something unexpected came up, he was always able to handle that. They have been extremely helpful for mentorship and guidance for any value added services that they could provide. Mentors from their team also helped in scaling up our business globally which was highly appreciated. Project delivery was quick and came out to be exactly as we wanted.

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

No. They did a great job.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

product owner

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Fourmeta to develop a shopify store.

SOLUTION

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

Response rate Quality of work

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

• subscriptions management
• product creation wizard
• UX research & design
• UI prototyping
• Business analysis
• Business logic development 
• feature improvement and maintenance
• code refactoring due to best practices
• React.js, Gatsby.js (front-end) 
• Shopify CMS, PHP (back-end)
• Apollo, GraphQL (for client-server communication)
• Gatsby Cloud (as the production environment)
• Klaviyo (for mailing)
• Google Analytics(standard features)
• Facebook Pixel(standard features)
• Google Tag Manager (for SEO and marketing tasks)

How many resources from the Fourmeta team worked with you, and what were their positions?

A team of developers and a project manager worked with us

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Increase in sales by 2 times, constantly growing traffic and the number of new customers

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

We used Slack for communication and clickup for project control. We also used e-mail, we constantly received weekly results for the week of the project.

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

Of course, the result of the project. And of course. same quality of work

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

I don't think so.