Funktional

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the Managing Partner/Co-owner of Accent4Professionals . We’ve been supporting the Business Services Sector for more than 20 years, both in the language training and language assessments in the recruitment process.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

Language Assessments- is a service provided by Accent for Professionals, which has been operating for over 20 years. Language Assessments offers corporations and recruitment companies remote recruitment support, verifying the language skills of job candidates and conducting language audits of employees.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We liked their approach to the project. Even though we were under the impression that a simple landing page would be enough, we’ve decided to see their point of view and realized that in order to fully achieve the goals we set, a bit more work needed to be done.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The agency has defined the strategic direction and the creative concept. They focused on a transparent presentation of the offer and benefits, as well as dedicated illustrations that added lightness and a unique character to the project. During the workshops which kickstarted the whole project the agency convinced us to present the service in the way they recommended.

Funktional made a website design and implementation, UX / UI project, communication concept, information architecture and dedicated illustrations. The site has become clear, functional and encouraging to buy the service as we hear from our new customers.

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

The team consisted of a Project Manager, UX/UI designer, Creative Director Brand & Communication Strategist and Web Developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most measurable outcome was, that we have wanted for the website to work as a first salesperson in our organization, and it did. Our clients who contacted us after viewing the website already had a lot of knowledge about what we do, so we didn’t have to explain everything by ourselves and skip straight to creating the offer for them.

It’s fair to say, that the business goals for the website were reached through a very pleasant cooperation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was all very organized. The workflow has been very effective. From the moment we briefed the team until the final delivery, everything went very smoothly.

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

I think the most valuable was the approach which suggested us at the very beginning, that we need the website to be more than we’ve previously assumed. Funktional with its proactive approach convinced us during the workshops, that it would be better to put in some more work into the website and prepare the whole strategic process which the website should respond to. We trusted them with that and they delivered.

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

To be honest - this project went really smoothly. I didn't find any significant areas of improvement. I’m very happy with the results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Paulina Staruszniak, and I’m Brand Manager at Maspex Group. I'm responsible for development and strategy of Tymbark Brand. Also for design and execution of marketing campaigns.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

We turned to the Funktional Agency to create a new website for Tymbark (Maspex Group). The website had to be adapted primarily to our clients - the users of mobile phones. We also wanted to build a flexible and intuitive CMS system that would be a great support for our marketing and sales department. Our old website didn’t follow the current trends and was not adapted to the strategic assumptions of the brand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have already worked with the Funktional Agency on other projects as the Maspex Group. We already know each other and we know that we have a great time working together.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We started working on the website for Tymbark with a kick-off meeting, and then the agency offered workshops. During these workshops, we focused on the needs of our clients, but also on the business needs of the marketing and legal department. In our company, these two departments are responsible for editing the website in the CMS system. Such workshops were a bull's eye - we set all the assumptions at them. After the workshop, a strategy was developed, and then page mock-ups were prepared.

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

I worked directly with Project Manager (Paweł) and Creative Director (Ania). UX designers, developer, copywriters, strategist, and designers worked on the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our website works as it should - it does the job. It was very well received by our clients. Our employees are great at working with it - this CMS is very intuitive. Thanks to it, we reduced the risk of errors while editing the website and we accelerated the time of editing products on the website.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They had great project management skills and very talented UX designers. Everything was planned in advance and executed on time. We progressed according to the original plan.

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

Their ability to translate words into UI was phenomenal. They delivered a final product that made sense to all of us. They focused on understanding problems and our needs.

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

...

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My name is Violetta Kursa and I’m Chief Investment Marketing Specialist at Kraków City Development Agency. ARMK is a municipal company whose basic tasks include the implementation of strategic undertakings for the city of Kraków, in line with the adopted Kraków Development Strategy "I want to live here. Kraków 2030 ". One of the main areas of the company's activity is the development of the “Wesoła” district with historic 19th-century buildings, purchased by the Municipality of Kraków from the University Hospital in Kraków. Moreover, the Company coordinates the development of investment areas in the economic development zone "Kraków Nowe Miasto Płaszów - Rybitwy" and "Kraków Airport Balice".

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

We hired Funktional to prepare a brochure which featured our newest project in Kraków

SOLUTION

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

We found Funktional Agency on the internet. They had an interesting portfolio and extensive experience. We asked for an offer and a preliminary quote. It turned out that we talked well and the offer meets our financial expectations.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

While implementing the project and preparing the brochure, we wanted to clearly arrange all the information important for investors. It was also important to properly compose the information with photos and technical drawings

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

We worked with a graphic team and a representative of the agency. The graphic designers were responsible for the implementation of the project, while the Project Manager and Business Manager for the entire work organization and delivery of the project on time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone liked the design, and the technical information were presented in a very simple and available way.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was consequently always very smooth and professional. Members of the team were proactive listeners and consistently responded to our questions. They were always there when we needed them with outstanding communication and project management skills!

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

The project was prepared in accordance with the guidelines and in a very short time. We fit within the budget and everything was on time.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the production manager at PanDruk. We offer care and management of printing services as well as a wide range of online printing houses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

We wanted to change the image of our printing house. For this, we needed an agency that understands the modern approach to our services, i.e. printing. We needed to build a new UX/UI project in such a way that it was as readable as possible for our clients and could fully present our offer.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We have been cooperating with the Funktional agency for many years. They are our partner in strategic activities. We decided to work with them because they know the requirements of working with a printing house like hardly anyone, and to realize our vision of the new website, we needed a partner who would be able to play our role.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Work on the project began with understanding our needs. Funktional agency employees, through appropriate research and analysis, got to know our industry and competition. During the workshops, we understood our business better and saw the opportunities and threats. The workshop showed our strengths as a company and how we should communicate with our clients.

Working on the design of a new website is the transfer of our dreams and desires into one project. Implementation and development are somehow a precision of the agency. First of all, we wanted the mobile first approach, so that our clients could easily get to know our offer, even in difficult conditions, and commission us a new task.

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

The team consisted of a project manager, two Senior UX/UI designers joined by a UX designer. Their UX & Creative director was also in the process and provided a lot of support. For the website to function as well as possible, it was implemented by one of their developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After publishing the new website, we received many positive reviews. Our clients agreed that the new website better communicates our strengths, the range of our services and our approach to clients. We are still working on the development of the knowledge zone, where our clients could learn more about services, and above all about working in the print management model.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Funktional agency employees approached the project with an analytical and open mind. At each stage, each of the employees showed professionalism. Communication with the agency was at a high level, and the use of the iterative work model allowed us to understand our team with agency designers.

Focusing on our problems was the key point in the realization of the project. At every step, we were surrounded by professionals who showed us the direction of our activities. The cooperation went smoothly and at the same time, we gained enormous knowledge about our industry and competition.

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

What intrigued us was the methodical approach to project implementation. Proper building of the schedule of activities showed us at an early stage that we are in the right hands.

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

It is difficult to pinpoint any area. They were able to bring our vision to reality. Particularly noteworthy is the knowledge of strategy and branding.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO & Co-Founder of The Codest. We are a custom software development company that helps businesses grow. We have +10 years of experience in building digital solutions for fintech, ecommerce, SaaS and adtech companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

We were tasked with creating a new version of a complex e-commerce platform for one of our international clients. We needed an external vendor with experience in UX/UI for large scale e-commerce as our internal design teams were fully booked.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They came highly recommended and their portfolio, including the redesign of Sferis.pl, one of Poland’s largest electronics e-commerce stores convinced us they were right for the job. We liked their approach and processes which seemed really mature and highly developed.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We started out with a kick-off meeting which showed us they were a good choice by focusing on all the important things. We aligned on the project requirements and functionalities.

They run the product discovery phase, current platform audit, UX workshops, product strategy, customer research, benchmarking, prototyping, UI design, heuristic analysis and UAT in regard to design. They were very responsive throughout the whole process and adapted to client changes and requirements.

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

The team consisted of a project manager, 2 Senior UX/UI designers joined by a UX designer. Their UX & Creative director Ania was also in the process and provided a lot of support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One week after launching the updated platform our client saw improved conversion rates and reduction of abandoned carts. Client loved the upgraded user experience and the design which is clean and modern. We are still working on CRO for the site and I guess most notable results are ahead of us, however everyone involved feels that using Funktional for this project was a great choice.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was all very systematic. We relied on tools like Figma, Teamwork, and Zoom for design, project management and communication. They kept things transparent and updated us weekly on the progress.

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

The industry experience of Funktional is reflected in their approach and deliverables. They are very professional. You can see that every step is process-based and their communication is on a very high level.

All the meetings had an agenda and were summarized in a comprehensive manner. They focused on understanding the problems and needs before discussing the future plan of action. We were surrounded by experts and that made our cooperation very pleasant and fruitful.

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

I do not see any. They are great at what they do and their experience with strategy and branding provides an added value.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

With the experience, superior engineering, specialized manufacturing methods and a complete dedication to the perfection of our products, we have been a trusted manufacturer of lightweight composite elements for various purpose vehicles for decades. Funktional organizes marketing for our company in all aspects: gadgets, rebranding and marketing advises.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

Our company had merged with another, leading us to reorganize many aspects of our organization. Among other things, our name had changed. We hired Funktional to help us with the complex branding process of our new company, including creating a new logo, marketing materials, and web page.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to bring together the histories and missions of our previous two companies and unify them all under one umbrella. The new branding had to be in line with our business strategy and we wanted Funktional to eliminate any confusion and concern regarding our merger, clearly positioning us as a modern, forward-thinking and professional company.

SOLUTION

How did you select Funktional?

We selected Funktional after inviting a number of agencies to pitch their branding concepts for our company. The ideas that Funktional brought to us perfectly captured what we were going after and we trusted that they would bring our brand to life. We felt that this was going to be a great and collaborative partnership.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They designed the logo and other branding elements. Together we decided upon color, typography and iconography which were then incorporated into our marketing materials that Funktional also designed, including a PowerPoint presentation template, internal company folders and catalogues, a trade stand, animations, and website. Corporate film and photo sessions were also created in collaboration with a production house. They additionally designed logos for our four sub brands consisting of our products.

What was the team composition?

They designed the logo and other branding elements. Together we decided upon color, typography and iconography which were then incorporated into our marketing materials that Funktional also designed, including a PowerPoint presentation template, internal company folders and catalogues, a trade stand, animations, and website. Corporate film and photo sessions were also created in collaboration with a production house. They additionally designed logos for our four sub brands consisting of our products.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

At the international InnoTrans fair in Berlin the new name and branding was publicly presented for the first time. This was a landmark event for 3A Composites Mobility and the high attendance and positive reception that our stand received was very exciting for us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We were worried about undergoing such a complex project, but Funktional eliminated any cause for stress. They were great about communicating with us throughout the entire process and elastically adapted to our needs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am highly impressed with how much they understand our direction and help us bring our vision to life. The delivery of all the projects were of the highest quality and every single material created for us was consistent with the rest. We felt extremely taken care of.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We felt extremely satisfied with the final result of our branding - I cannot think of areas for improvement!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a manufacturer of 3D printers. I’m the marketing director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Funktional?

 We wanted to build a new website and needed support with UX design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We have an internal team design team, but we needed someone with expertise in user experience that could help us design the best workflow. Our team provided a website design that was reviewed by Funktional, and they guided us through what to change in order to increase engagement and conversion. 

After we finalized the design, they took care of the technical aspects of the project. The website was built in WordPress, and it’s integrated with our CRM. 

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with two people: one project manager and a lead technician. 

How did you come to work with Funktional?

We did extensive research and sent our brief to eight companies in Poland. Based on our meetings, we asked for offers and found that Funktional was best suited for our needs. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2019, and we completed the project in February 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We saw an increase in web traffic. Comparing September 2019 and September 2020, we saw a 150% increase in traffic. 

How did Funktional perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was good during the project. Everything ran smoothly, even when they made changes to the team composition. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very flexible. We had some unusual requests, but they were able to work with our internal team well. We’ve had no problems with the website. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be nice if they could’ve implemented a tool to help us pinpoint bugs on the website. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Prepare a very good brief and requirements so Funktional can put together the best team for your needs. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Saveinvest. We're a land developer. We purchase large amounts of land and split it into plots for our customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Funktional?

Our website was not functional and didn’t fit our needs. We needed multiple websites developed for each of our properties.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They designed and developed four new websites – each for a different location. The websites allow customers to see the plots and their prices. The websites were done in WordPress. They also helped with branding, including designing our logo.

What is the team composition?

Our main points of contact were Hubert (CEO) and Pawel (Project Manager). 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent roughly $40,000 in total. Each website cost approximately $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in March 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a good product, but the old website didn’t show that very well, forcing our price point lower. With the websites Funktional has created, we can charge more appropriately. Our revenue has increased from around $500,000 per year to $800,000 per year.

How did Funktional perform from a project management standpoint?

Pawel is easily available, and the team is communicative and responsive. They’re willing to work after hours and on weekends when needed. We used Google Documents to collaborate on the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They bring their expertise into the conversation to help us get the best results. When we present ideas, they give honest feedback if they think there are better ways to do something. We work together to come up with the best solutions and give the websites the most put-together look. The service they provide is far better than anything we’ve experienced with previous vendors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are times they seem a bit overloaded with their workload.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to their ideas, work together, and trust them. Pawel is great to work with as a project manager.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the E-commerce Marketing Director of Sferis.pl. We’re a multi-brand e-commerce platform with a strong position in Poland. Our clients rely on our nearly 22 years experience in the fields of best service, attractive prices and customer-oriented experience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

We’ve reached out to Funktional to help us tackle two main challenges: lack of clarity & coherence in our strategy after switching from selling mostly electronics to a wide range of multi-brand products. We also had outdated branding that demanded change. We decided to find external help and consulting services in order to ensure a fresh approach and to optimize the resources engaged in the project.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed an updated strategy and branding that would reflect the changes we went through in both product range and business model and allowed us to reposition the brand. We wanted to achieve a strong association with modernity, care, and reliability.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Funktional came by the word of mouth - as a high-quality cooperation recommendation. We did some research and after two meetings with their CEO - Hubert and the creative director Ania we felt that the company's attitude and approach stood out in comparison to other agencies we talked to. Hence, we decided to start this project with Funktional.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They spent a large amount of time asking questions and listening to us. They learned about our organizational goals and history, did extensive research, conducted brand workshops, prepared the new strategy, developed the new logo together with communication guidelines and put it all together as a complete brand book.

What was the team composition?

We first talked with Hubert (CEO @Funktional) and Creative Director Ania who both gave us the pitch. Then a project manager took over, but Funktional takes a team approach to their accounts, which allows you to connect with multiple people that all bring something special to the creative process. I worked directly with the CEO, Project Manager and the Strategist.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since working with Funktional, we have received many positive remarks about our new logo and image. Our newly implemented strategy has led to a significant increase in sales. Everyone within our organization loves our new brand identity.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Some time mid-project we have experienced some minor difficuties in communication but this was quickly taken care of. In general, our project manager was great to work with. We used phones, email or text. He was very communicative and patient. When I had a question or concern he would find the answer and get back to me in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was most impressed by their commitment to really learn and understand our organization during the whole process. It felt like they truly cared about our mission and vision and had a vested interest in our success. The team is extremely creative and took extra steps to create our brand image. .

Are there any areas for improvement?

We are overall very satisfied with the services delivered, though there is always room for improvement. With the next project I would recommend to focus a little bit more on the communication side and make sure that the framework of the project has been entirely understood by everyone involved. However, I must point out that once we highlighted any irregularities to our project manager, they were swiftly taken care of so I would not hesitate to collaborate with Funktional on future projects.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

The company is an integrator of modern information and medical technologies. We rely on over 10 years of experience and have implemented our solutions in over 200 institutions in Poland.

The company is dynamically developing and focuses on merging dedicated IT solutions with diagnostic imaging. I’m the sales director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Funktional?

We brought in Funktional to help us with our B2B marketing program and campaigns. They’re in charge of all our trade materials to ensure we’re catering to our customers.

What were your goals for this project?

We aimed to align our communication to our Client’s needs and generate a steady flow of leads

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

They came recommended by a friend. Upon further research, we found that they had a desire to collaborate with us, and their services fell within our budget.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

They created, designed, and modified our trade marketing materials and prepared campaigns in order to raise awareness and generate leads.

What was the team composition?

We first talked with Hubert (CEO @ Funktional) who gave us the pitch and built the team. Since then, we’ve been working directly with their project managers who take care of everything.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we started working together we changed how the Clients perceive us. Current communication represents our image accurately, which brings us to the next level. We also have a steady flow of leads which makes our business more predictable

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. They keep us on our toes, making sure everything is done on time and even letting us know if we’re behind. It seems like they’re part of our internal team as opposed to an external partner. We use phones, emails and Teamwork platform.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They’re ruthless when it comes to staying on schedule. That’s something that’s pretty rare in our experience. I’m personally happy that they balance their creativity well with given deadlines.

Funktional is very committed to the success of our company and was instrumental in translating our business objectives into actions that delivered results. We’re fortunate to have Funktional as a partner.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, there aren’t from my perspective.