Fusionbox

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and executive director of Foster Source. We’re a nonprofit organization that serves foster and kinship families statewide in Colorado.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

We didn’t initially have a specific project in mind. When we met with Ivy (CEO), she thought we would be a good fit for their company. We told them about what we were doing, and we collaborated to come up with what we could do together moving forward. We had general guidelines of things we wanted to work on like UX/UI design for a WordPress website, a site audit, and site wireframes, but we were open to different ideas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They looked at our branding, and we worked together to determine what was essential to keep and what we could update. They helped us pick out supplemental colors that pulled everything in our brand together. 

Fusionbox also did a website audit where they installed a heat map on the site. They reported back to us where our clients were spending the most amount of time. They designed a wireframe for us with suggestions to reorder the navigation, clean up the site, and simplify it. 

We were working with another company to add a custom portal for caregivers to log in to access our services using Salesforce, and Fusionbox stepped in to collaborate on that project as well. They worked with the other company to design the frontend of the portal to look like the rest of the website using HTML. 

They are now providing us with tweaks and ongoing maintenance. When we have any events or updates that need to be made on the website, they handle that for us.  

What is the team composition?

We work with Ivy, Justin (Designer), Molly (Product Lead), and Will (Product Designer). 

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

We were matched with Fusionbox through one of our board members who knew their CEO. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before we worked with Fusionbox, our clients had to submit everything through various Google Forms found on our website. Having everything in one place has been an enormous improvement. Our work with Fusionbox has made our website look more professional, which has helped us land more funding. 

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is very responsive, and if there is an issue, they’re more than happy to jump on a Zoom to strategize how to fix things. We communicate with them through email and Zoom. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a unique understanding of foster care and the process, so we don’t have to explain and dispel myths surrounding caregiving within the child welfare system. Their team takes an interest in our work, and takes the time to learn what we’re doing, which shows in all of their work. They’re very approachable and always provide a welcoming environment for us. 

They’re incredibly flexible and have been collaborating seamlessly with other companies we work with. We know that they want what’s best for our company, and they allow relationships to guide their values. We’re incredibly grateful for everything they’re doing for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is nothing else they could be doing for us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Call them right away, you will not regret it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a digital product manager at an automated machinery manufacturing company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

We hired them to build out a web application that would allow our customer base to have access to everything they need in one location.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were in charge of the frontend and making sure everything was attached to everything on our backend. Another vendor worked on the backend. The frontend work was done with the Django framework. We just finished our engagement with them, and they’re not working on hosting or anything like that.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 main contacts, including Molly (Product Lead), Gavin (Software Engineer), and Will (Product Designer). We also worked with Clint (Software Engineer), but he’s no longer with the company.

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

They were already working on the project when I came on board, but I believe someone recommended them to us after working with them in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent a bit over $500,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February 2019–May 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We worked through the SAFe methodology with Agile tracking and Azure DevOps. Our metrics revolved around Fusionbox’s success at certain milestones. They were usually within the 90%-100% completion range around those objectives.

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

They always had their work completed on time. The cost did rise toward the end, so we moved more work offshore to remain within our budget. They did a great job with that. We communicated over Slack, Google Meet, and email. Jira helped us with collaboration in the beginning as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their product manager was great and kept everything very organized. Specifically, she was always overprepared and maintained communication.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We were hoping for a bit more of a futuristic outlook to keep us competitive with newer styles. This applies to both the features and the UX.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They did a great job of communicating. My only suggestion is to ask upfront about the technologies they’re going to use to see if you need to change the design at all.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Media Director for the Crowley Foundation! We are a nonprofit organization focusing on mentoring and building leadership skills.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Fusionbox reached out to us to help with web design. At the time our website was not in the best shape and our banding was all over the place. I was struggling terribly and didn’t know where to start. Ivy reached out at the perfect time and I’m so happy she did!

SOLUTION

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

The services were pro bono and I looked into the company and loved what they stood for “serious talent, fun people”. On our first meeting everyone was so nice and welcoming. I could tell that they really wanted to help and that I would enjoy working with them.

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

I gave them my vision and from there they brought it to life! They should me a square space template that we could potentially use with our branding. From there they filled in some information from our old site and added new information as well. Once it was complete they transferred the domain to our new site and we were up and running!

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

Ivy who is the CEO, Molly the project manager and Justin the senior designer. There were other folks involved in the beginning as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received a ton of positive feedback after launching the new site and rebranding our social media platforms using the branding guidelines FusionBox provided! Unfortunately I was not tracking analytics on our old site but since the launch I’ve seen the number of website views increase each month.

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

We had bi-weekly meetings, they were always prompt and ready to work! We met on Google hangout and communicated via email outside of meetings.

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

They stuck with us through all the craziness life threw our way. 2020 was a rough year to say the least. We are a family ran organization and experienced many close deaths in 2020 that took a toll on us. Fusion Box stayed dedicated and to us and showed nothing short of empathy.

A project that should’ve taken a few months took nearly a year to complete, I sure most folks would’ve given up on us but they did not. I am also extremely impressed with their ability to bring my ideas to life. I tend to be all over the place with my ideas and it can be pretty hard to hone in on exactly what I’m looking for but Fusion Box made it makes sense every time.

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

None that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of a branding and marketing agency. For this project, I worked in partnership with a PR agency. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Fusionbox?

We were working with a B2B manufacturing client and needed a custom website and customer care software package.

SOLUTION

How did you select Fusionbox?

They were already selected by the firm I was partnering with. I'd use them again with this kind of project without hesitation.

Describe the project in detail.

The team created a website and custom software solution for us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client moved off their customer care software investment, but the website has continued to drive results.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

What struck me most was their understanding of people: they're unlike other dev firms in that they are deeply attuned to their clients and also their client's customers. This results in UX/UI that drives actions their clients wish their customers to take, but also a clear project management experience.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their technical chops are unquestioned, and it's clear they pride themselves on being best-in-class technically.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a consulting firm. I handle technical oversight and special projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

I wanted to build a Django-based backend application. We engaged with them for their experience deploying full-stack applications to get our infrastructure correctly set up.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed the user sign-in authentication management system as well as a set of APIs to allow the desktop app to retrieve information and submit user feedback on content. I wanted to prioritize ease of development and deployment as well as managing rollbacks. 

They built the core set of APIs before directing their work to staging and production. We got the core infrastructure in place, and they accommodated my requirements and interests in Django, Python, AWS, and Heroku. Those technologies will allow for easier ongoing maintenance and product evolution by our team. 

We also used some of their frontend design specialists to develop templates and architecture, allowing us to manage the product following the engagement. Since then, we’ve called upon them for key architectural aspects and technical assistance. We collaborated very closely throughout the entire technical design process.  

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with a backend developer (the technical lead), a designer, and a project manager. The vast majority of our interactions were with the backend developer.

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

We found them through a Google search for Django development firms. I was looking for a talented, smaller firm and interviewed 4–5 firms. They had expertise in Django and building full-stack applications and impeccable references. I also thought that communication would be smooth, as both our teams are in the United States. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We launched our engagement in November 2019, and we’re still collaborating today. Due to expense management on our end, we’ve slowed our work with them. However, we still communicate and have an open relationship.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They function as an extension of our team, providing key architectural and design input. We were impressed with their ability to set realistic expectations and then follow through on their promises. My expectations were never set too high, and they helped us use any remaining budget on tasks that would add the most value to the project.

Their technical lead was committed to high quality and strong performance. I received healthy pushback from them when we suggested taking shortcuts. The frontend designer turned tasks around very quickly and was completely capable of the work.   

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

Working collaboratively, I didn’t feel that there was as much of a need for the level of project management provided. However, I understand that increased communication facilitates work and ultimately produces quality for me. Still, paying hourly for project management attention with an indirect effect on quality was a bit of a tough pill to swallow. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I can tell their management and engineering teams care about my project and are committed to producing quality work. They care about their staff and the clients/projects they choose to take on, sometimes doing pro bono work for charitable causes.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d recommend making sure that billed project management time truly serves the needs of the client and is communicated in a way that reflects that value to the client. I, as the client, should be able to clearly see and understand the benefit I’m receiving from project management activities throughout the endeavor. That said, they did proactively evolve their project management processes during the course of this project, so maybe that has improved. This is my one piece of constructive feedback, and they are an absolutely wonderful team and partner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of operations at Paterson Center. We do strategic planning for organizations and individuals. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

We engaged Fusionbox to help us build a custom online platform to host the strategic planning work that we do with clients. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first phase was a discovery process to help them understand what we do on a high level. Then, they asked a bunch of questions about how we hope to use the platform in the initial stages. They also asked about our long-term hopes for the later phases of the platform.

Once they had a good understanding of where we were headed, they built a prototype. Along the way, they asked us to engage multiple parties in demoing different stages and functionalities to ensure the product would be what we actually needed. During the development process, there was a lot of collaboration, dialogue, and reviews.

After our testing phase was established, we moved into the production and release phases. We had a successful initial release, migrating our clients from an archaic system to the cool new system Fusionbox created for us.

Since the initial rollout, we’ve worked with them multiple times to make improvements and add new functionality. Each time, it’s been a condensed version of the original phases with a heavier lift in the beginning. They’re doing a great job of understanding what our needs are, testing different options, asking us to select one, and then moving forward into production.

What is the team composition?

We have one main point of contact at Fusionbox. She does a great job of pulling in different folks depending on the conversation we’re having. For the majority of the time, the team has consisted of one person, but during all hands on deck meetings there can be as many as 8–9 people.

Molly (Digital Project Manager, Fusionbox) guides our work. She pulls in a designer for UX and visual layout services, and she pulls developers to talk about specific technical solutions for our problems.

We also have a great relationship with their billing department. The main billing contact was helpful in connecting us with another firm for a Salesforce customization solution.

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

We were hoping to find somebody local in the Denver area, so we started asking around. We evaluated a few different organizations. Fusionbox was recommended by another group that had helped us build our website. 

One of the things we really appreciated about Fusionbox was their transparent, open engagement process. Also, their focus on security was one of the factors that put our decision over the edge (we deal with sensitive client information). Mostly, it was their professionalism and relational approach that really won us over.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $500,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2016, and the partnership is ongoing. We just wrapped up another release last month.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve built in great opportunities for us to expand the original app. Instead of adding new authentication functionality from scratch, we were able to build on work they’d already completed. They'd anticipated needing to move in this direction during earlier stages. Instead of a major overhaul, we only had to tweak the existing product, which saved us money in the long run.

On the customer side, we were able to reduce our customer response time from a month to three days. That has been huge. We commit to a three-day, and we turn it around in a day and a half on average. It’s a night and day difference from our clients’ perspective, and that’s largely based on the comprehensive solution Fusionbox was able to create for us. 

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management has been really helpful. At the beginning of each project, they give us a couple of options for how we could approach the challenge. They like to under-promise and over-deliver, especially when it comes to the timeframe. They’ve been excellent at sticking to the timeline and budget they laid out in the beginning. 

If there’s ever been a delay or a lag, it’s been a conscious decision on our part to change something (e.g. deciding to add new functionality). From a project management standpoint, those changes have been flawless. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

At every level, we’ve been really impressed with Fusionbox. They have the ability to intuit our needs before we see them. They understand not just our immediate problems, but our long-term problems too. So, they’ve been great at guiding us through the technical aspects of what we don’t fully understand. The team is great at bringing solutions instead of just pointing out problems.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes when they develop and innovate new processes, we learn about it as it’s unfolding. It’s always an improvement, but sometimes it’s a bit of a surprise (e.g. their method of tracking hours). So, overall, the improvements have been good, but it would be helpful to have better communication surrounding them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Potential customers should keep an open mind, especially during the discovery process in the beginning. Potential clients don’t need a fully baked idea. They should engage with Fusionbox and let them draw out the bigger questions (e.g. the issue behind the issue) so Fusionbox can uncover new things. They elevate their thinking beyond the immediate to the long-term strategy.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and PR for Citywide Banks, which is a regional bank in Colorado.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

We hired them to redesign our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We totally overhauled our site and moved it to Python. When Fusionbox came onboard, we were reworking some of the content and presented that to their team. They helped us determine the best way to organize our information and then customized our CMS to best emphasize our products and services. They also designed everything in such a way that we’d be able to modify the site in-house after it was built.

What is the team composition?

There were four or five developers on their team.

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

I received a referral and then looked them up online. Based on what I found, we decided to reach out and set up a meeting. After talking with them, we decided to go forward.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from December 2014–October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got a lot of compliments after the new site went live. We saw improved search visibility and an increase in the number of clients that came to our site. With Fusionbox’s guidance, we had a stable site with pages that were easy to navigate. We didn’t run into any bugs. We’ve also been able to continue adding pages and modifying content ourselves, which has helped us keep the site engaging.

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

When we started out, we were communicating monthly via phone and email. As we moved into the production phase, we spoke to them weekly, and sometimes every day. We also used some project management tools during the development phase.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very responsive, and they communicate clearly. We especially appreciated how attentive they were during the launch process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t recall any issues with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important to get competing bids, but also to look beyond the price point and understand each team’s process. Try to find some of their other clients and ask how those projects went.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Hunter Douglas is a global manufacturer of blinds, shades, and other window treatments. As the manager of business systems, I assist the customer experience team with developing reference materials, specs, and pricing for our products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

We needed a talented UI/UX designer to help us build a robust calendar tool for the Salesforce platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fusionbox is helping us with several projects, but developing the Salesforce extension is their main priority. The calendar tool will have multiple user paths, an advanced scheduling system, and a search function that filters our dealers by location, roles, and name. Users will be able to access the extension directly via the Salesforce platform. We came up with the calendar’s design and features during a whiteboard session with Fusionbox’s team; they used the ideas to build a prototype wireframe, which they are currently using as a reference to create the calendar tool.

What is the team composition?

Fusionbox assigned a project manager to our account, but we also worked with the VP of strategy and a designer. 

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

I had worked with them about seven years ago on a similar project, so I knew that they could deliver a clean design and maintain an efficient workflow.

How much have you invested with them?

Overall, we have spent approximately $40,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project kicked off in January 2019. We expect to launch the tool in June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are very impressed with the deliverables that Fusionbox has produced so far. A third-party graphic designer even praised their ability to resolve our workflow issue from a UI/UX perspective. When we launch the calendar tool, we expect our Salesforce experience to improve dramatically; our larger dealers will finally be able to use a single platform for all of their sales needs. 

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager keeps us informed with weekly status updates, while the designer responds to all of our questions and concerns. In a room full of strong personalities, they facilitated the whiteboard discussion with ease.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fusionbox is a small shop, but they can deliver tremendous results. Most companies of their size have an amateur approach to business, but their team is highly professional in corporate settings.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They should consider taking more risks in their design work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Our experience with Fusionbox has been very positive, so I highly recommend working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the account manager at Cactus Marketing Inc., a full-service advertising agency based in Denver, Colorado.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

We reached out to Fusionbox to partner with us in hosting and managing the state's lottery, including its web and mobile platforms. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fusionbox initially conducted a review and discovery phase of the previous website, going over a plan forward for ways to enhance the platform. They then rebuilt both the website and mobile app from scratch. They've also conducted user experience testing after a recent initiation to update and enhance the mobile app they originally built. 

What is the team composition? 

We've regularly worked with 10 people over the years, who provide ongoing insight and leadership on the project.

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

We underwent an RFP process and were most impressed by Fusionbox's proposal.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested over $1 million in total. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since July 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Fusionbox has helped us significantly improve our platform over the years, increasing user downloads and engagement in the process. The consumer testing they recently conducted also provided a lot of great insight into ways we can improve the functionality of the app. 

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

They've always done a wonderful job of planning and keeping projects on track. They are very detail-oriented and conscious of our budget and timelines. They're also transparent and proactive when it comes to problem-solving as issues arise. During the development phase, we were in touch with their team daily and remain in close communication through regular meetings to this day. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is great about explaining the more complicated processes and intricacies of web development to our clients while providing them with a strong sense of security and support. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing off the top of my head–they've been a really great partner overall.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with any vendor relationship, make sure that all objectives and desires are clearly communicated from the start. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Emotional ABCs, an online emotional skills development program for children ages 4–11. We sell individual family subscriptions and offer a free version for schools.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fusionbox?

Initially, our program consisted of a website that sold DVDs, CDs, booklets, stickers, and other tangible resources. We were working on transitioning into a digital program with an individual developer for two years, but their company was acquired. We hired Fusionbox to finish the development of our online program and launch it. One of our specific goals was to make our program mobile-accessible.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fusionbox developed our platform’s backend using Django. They brought our program’s paid subscription and free school versions live. They are currently expanding the latter into a more complete paid version for schools, in which every student in a classroom has their own login access. They are migrating our frontend to React to make a more progressive web app that will allow our program to work on different browsers and mobile.

What is the team composition?

My team works with a project manager and front- and backend developers; we generally work with three developers at a time. The owner is also always available.

How did you come to work with Fusionbox?

When our original developer’s company was acquired, we used Clutch and other online resources to find another developer. My team wanted to work with a company rather than an individual; we also needed a developer that had expertise in Django. We contacted more than a dozen vendors and conducted interviews with each company’s CEO and software engineers. Fusionbox was our favorite, and they specialized in Django development.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged Fusionbox in November 2017. They launched our digital subscription program in May 2018 and the free school version in November 2018. Our work together is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have a business because of Fusionbox. Since we launched the free school version of the program, we went from having zero teachers and school counselors using our program to over 25,000 across the country.

How did Fusionbox perform from a project management standpoint?

The amazing project management has been the highlight of our work with Fusionbox. We always have a detailed roadmap that tracks progress. As the project changes, Fusionbox updates the roadmaps accordingly. There is a lot going on with this project, and having the roadmaps to reference has kept us on track.

The team is incredibly flexible and available. Our program has many activities and games, which Fusionbox organizes on a Trello board that has various channels and lists. They use Trello to share edits and iterations, and we can then send feedback and comments.  We communicate daily via Slack and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fusionbox has become a partner to us. They help us think through our next steps and provide helpful input. Since our program is for young students, it must be funny, educational, not too slow, not too loud, and not too soft, all at the same time. Fusionbox has gone beyond coding to help us develop the program with a specific audience in mind. They want to help us succeed. Our collaboration has felt like a team effort.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, they run into bandwidth issues, but we wanted a small company. If we’d gone with a larger development company, perhaps we wouldn’t have such problems, but we likely wouldn’t have the same close relationship.

Any advice for potential customers?

Find out what Fusionbox can or can’t do. We’re deploying them to develop our website and a web app, but I’m not sure about the exact details of their IOS and Android app development capabilities. Just tell them what you’re looking for.