Bespoke Software | Team Extension | Mobile Apps
We have been providing software development services for over 15 years to many SME as well as blue-chip clients.
At HeadChannel, we translate the needs and goals of B2B and B2C businesses into reliable software solutions where utility, ease of use and efficiency are key factors and where state-of-the-art technical solutions minimize both future operational costs and risks. By implementing the best UX and CX practices, top technologies and project management methodologies, we give our clients a competitive advantage in business.
We have built all sorts of bespoke software, from dynamic websites to complex web-based or mobile applications, for organisations such as:
- FIFA
- Nestlé Purina (pet foods brand)
- Smiley (the happiest brand ever)
- The University of Winchester
- The William Pears Group (one of the UK’s largest property companies)
- Hospice UK (formerly known as Help the Hospices, the UK’s leading charity for hospice care)
- Four04 Packaging (one of the leading packaging producers on the British market)
- Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (industry body)
- Prepay Solutions (European leader in pre-paid cards and services)
- At Your Service Group (provider of waiting staff and services at major events)
- Research Institute for Consumer Affairs (national charity)
- Good Hotel Guide (independent publisher of hotel advice)
- JC Decaux (leading outdoor advertising company)
- BBC Haymarket (magazines, exhibitions and events)
- …and many more.
We were recently awarded funding by Innovate UK for our part in a project involving South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Teesside University.
We are part of the Mayor’s International Business Programme which helps the fastest growing tech companies to break into international markets and as such have access to some fantastic help and resources.
We are a member of The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, the 100th livery company of the City of London, combining centuries-old tradition with a modern focus, energy and innovation.
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Portfolio
The William Pears Group, NHS, Hamways, The Method, Talistar, Four04 Packaging, Bedford College, Crabtree Property Group, Tycoon Gaming, FIFA, Nestlé, Purina, The University of Winchester, Smiley World, Access Partnership
A Life in a Day: immersive patient experiences
“I feel that A Life in a Day will really improve my practice. In a busy hospital, it can be quite easy to distance yourself from the reality of what patients go through. This experience will make me think more about the experience of patients between their treatments and how they cope with it. I will be able to empathise even more with them in the future.” James Lochrie, Specialist Oncology Pharmacist, Royal Free Hospital, London
Studies show that if people working in healthcare are able to understand and empathise more closely with patients, the level of care and quality of treatments offered can significantly improve.
But how can you truly understand the burden of disease unless you know what it is like to live as a patient yourself?
A Life in a Day is a unique, immersive patient experience that offers participants the opportunity to walk in a patient’s shoes for up to 24 hours and experience what it would be like if they suffered from a specific disease or condition.
The goal of the programme is to increase empathy and understanding of patients, The 2018 research study undertaken by the University of Westminster showed that A Life in a Day programme delivers statistically significant impact to (p<0.00025) in the following areas:
- Increases patient empathy
- Increases understanding of living with the condition and impact on friends, family and work
- Increases confidence talking to stakeholders about the condition and its impact on patients’ lives
What sets this programme apart is that unlike other disease simulation programmes, you don’t stop what you are doing to take part. Using a unique combination of an app, live role play and wearables, the experience integrates into your normal daily life.
It starts when you wake up, continues as you go to work and stays with into the evening – mirroring the patient experience and offering an unparalleled glimpse into what life would really be like if you had to live with a particular illness or condition.
Initially developed as an in-house patient awareness programme for a global pharmaceutical company, A Life in a Day has now been delivered in over 30 countries and translated into 10 languages. We have experiences in Gastroenterology, Oncology and Cardio-vascular disease, with a host of new therapy areas in production.
Participants to date include:
- Healthcare professionals
- Policymakers and politicians
- Patient support groups
- Research specialists
- A range of pharmaceutical company employees
The results have been incredible, with even highly experienced professionals acknowledging that it opened their eyes to the true patient experience and made them think differently about what patients deal with:
The Method’s vision is to make “A Life in a Day” an essential experience for anyone working in healthcare in order to improve the lives of patients through increased empathy and understanding.
There are numerous unique features that make this programme innovative, powerful and effective.
1. A unique live experience combining the App / Live Role Play / Kit.
The App
Participants download the app in advance of the live experience. On the morning your experience starts, the app sends interactive challenges to your smartphone, reflecting the choices, challenges and dilemma’s that patient’s experience every day.
Over the next 12-24 hours, challenges disrupt your day in the same way an illness or chronic condition might, asking you respond and provide evidence you have undertaken activities by sending photos and answering questions. Your actions (and inactions) have consequences and dictate the journey you experience on the day.
“You feel sick, get to the nearest bathroom before the timer runs out. Send a photo of the sink when you arrive”
“It’s time for your medication. Do you remember which pill should you be taking next? Choose from the options below”
“A senior colleague is asking you to stay late, but you feel terrible. Will you prioritise work or your health? Message them your response.”
Live role play
Professional role play actors contact you by phone, taking on multiple roles throughout the experience. Based on real conversations, you are confronted with the difficult realities and painful dilemma’s that patients face every day.
A doctor calls “There are some challenging choices to be made.”
Patient support calls “Let’s talk about how you may need to adapt your life if things progress.”
Work calls “We need to discuss what happens if your condition means you can no longer function in the role you are in.”
The kit
Prior to the live event, you receive a sealed “kit” of items that you are instructed to carry with you and open when instructed during the experience. These physically enhance the journey and help bring it viscerally to life.
- Wearables to simulate discomfort/sensations
- Medical items the patient might interact with
- Smell/blood/ liquids for a visceral impact
2. Integrates with your life
Unlike other patient simulations, you experience how an illness would impact you at home and at work. You don’t just learn about the disease, you feel its impact.
3. Innovative technology
The platform behind the app was designed to enable our team to build, adapt and create the patient journeys without the need for specialist developers to get involved every time we wanted to change something.
The built-in Journey Creator allows us to tailor templates effortlessly, clicking on timelines and adding specific challenges from a drop-down list, as well as adding links and changing the responses users receive for each challenge at the click of a button.
In addition, the app can be manipulated in all sorts of complex ways in real-time by our delivery team. We can add and amend challenges instantly during live events, enabling us to be responsive to participants as they navigate the challenges.
We can upload new languages quickly and easily and the app adapts both to the time-zone our participants are in, as well as to their local language.
This flexibility means our small team is delivering programmes globally to thousands of participants from laptops in our HQ in London.
The success of this programme has led to many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies engaging us to deliver this innovative experience for their employees, customers and stakeholders, transforming the empathy and understanding of disease around the world.
Project facts:
- Team - Developers 7 (Team Leader 1, iOS dev 1, Android dev 1, Backend dev 2, Frontend dev 2), UX Designer 1, QA 1, BA 1, PM 1.
- Project management - Scrum for production and Kanban for maintenance.
- Technology - .NET Framework, jQuery, Android SDK Java, iOS, AngularJS, HTML/CSS, SASS.
https://headchannel.co.uk/a-life-in-a-day-immersive-patient-experience-322
The application won two awards at the Learning Technologies 2020 awards:
· Best use of mobile learning – GOLD
A truly inspirational project which has demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the psychological relationship between a user and their mobile device. This is proof that successful mobile learning can be achieved with little technological innovation but instead focusing on the users and the expected outcomes of the project. The thoughtfulness around not only immersing the user into the perspective of their patient audience but also doing related tasks were inspired.
Best use of simulation or virtual environment for learning – SILVER
This submission scores top marks for innovation. As a soft skills training programme, it is one of the best the judges have seen. Attention to detail and thorough research underpin an impactful and truly original simulation of the patient experience
You can see the list of winners here: https://www.learningtechnologies.co.uk/learning-tech-awards
Greater productivity, greater efficiency and greater collaboration.
Every day, Universities receive a colossal number of phone calls from individuals ranging from students and staff members to marketing agencies and donors. It is crucial, therefore, that the telephone systems of Universities are specially adapted to manage and deal with such a high number of calls in the most efficient and effective way possible; satisfying the caller, the call-centre staff, and the University.
The University of Winchester recognised the importance of developing and maintaining this type of service. They invited HeadChannel to develop a more personalised service that would allow staff to access more information about the caller. This, they hoped, would enable them to deal with telephone requests more successfully.
How did they do this? The solution HeadChannel was brought in to resolve the technological issues faced by their client, the University of Winchester, and boost the efficiency and productivity of their telephone service and business needs. This was achieved by integrating the University’s Mitel-based phone system with their Radius CRM system, as well as developing a combination of desktop and web applications.
In order to appreciate the benefits of this integration, it is important to first understand the nature of the systems involved. The Mitel-based phone system is a cloud-based service, allowing multiple users to connect and collaborate remotely using the same telephone system. In a University setting, this allows callers to connect with a range of University representatives that might be physically separated, across the University site. In addition, the Radius CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system allows users to store and manage contact information. Using the Radius CRM with the telephone system, therefore, allows staff members to access information about incoming callers.
By integrating the Mitel-based phone system and the Radius CRM system, the University of Winchester was able to automate many tasks previously completed manually that took up valuable time. This transformed the use of their phone system; improving the productivity, personalisation, efficiency, ease and collaborative potential of staff at the University.
How did HeadChannel benefit the University of Winchester?
Greater productivity
By removing a large bulk of administrative duties, the CRM frees up time for staff to engage in more important and challenging work. Further, the staff at the University of Winchester can now assign short notes to each phone conversation; demonstrated by the image below. This allows them to respond quickly to the needs of the caller.
Greater efficiency
Instead of manually recording new contacts, the call-centre staff at the University of Winchester can now more efficiently add a caller’s details to a blank contact form that pops up when a caller is not associated with an existing contact.
Greater collaboration
Different teams, physically separated, are able to work together using a shared online platform. This improves the opportunity for better communication and collaboration. For the new system, if a caller’s name is not recognised then staff are able to search the Radius contact database for the caller’s name. Where the number is associated with more than one contact, staff have the opportunity to select the caller’s name from the list. The image below demonstrates how easily this can be done.
A more personalised service
If a caller’s details are recognised by the system, their personal details will be displayed as soon as the call comes through. Further, whenever a call comes in, staff can now access information about any previous history of communication with the caller. The type of information available for staff is demonstrated below. This allows the staff to better understand the context of the call, even at the start of the conversation. This, in turn, makes the caller feel valued. Better understanding increases the likelihood of the caller’s needs being met more effectively and efficiently, and this increases the chance of higher caller satisfaction.
Greater ease
The use of a cloud-based CRM system removes the need for software to be installed on each computer simply to access contact information. Data becomes easier to share, update and move between teams as and when required by the service.
By integrating the University’s Mitel-based phone service with a Radius-CRM system, as well as developing a number of applications, HeadChannel was able to effectively meet the needs of the University, and help them to build an improved and effective telephone service.
Project facts:
- Team - Developers 5 (Team leader 1, Mid backend dev 3, Frontend developer 1), QA 1, BA 1, PM 1.
- Project management - Waterfall.
- Technology - central point of system is HRPI server. ASP.NET MVC application, VS, SQL Server, JDK, NetBeans, Softphone (Xlite/Ekiga), PacketSender.
https://headchannel.co.uk/greater-productivity-greater-efficiency-and-gr...
Real estate mobile game
Property Magnate is an up and coming mobile real estate game, available on both iOS and Android, that has been designed to emulate as closely as possible the real world of property development in the UK. Read the full case study. We created Property Magnate which offers for sale over 30 million cyber versions of real properties available in the UK. Using data from Zoopla, which gathers information such as house prices and area trends, as well as property pictures, we were able to build a powerful app which enables players to buy properties at a pre-set price and provides them with a lifelike experience.
Smiley World Salesforce and Smartsheet
We created a server application which works in the background, requiring no action on the part of the Smiley World staff. Read the full case study Smiley World (the owner of the Smiley brand) use a number of different systems to track the worldwide use of their brand and to manage the royalties generated. Two of those systems are the Salesforce CRM and an online project management and spreadsheet system called Smartsheet and these systems contain a large amount of common information. The staff of Smiley World were updating different parts of these systems on a daily basis and so needed a way to avoid both duplication of effort and errors caused by data being entered slightly differently in each system.
https://headchannel.co.uk/salesforce-and-smartsheet-systems-integration-322
Property maintenance portal for Hamway
To improve communication between property managers, tenants and contractors, the William Pears Group found themselves in need of a system which would simplify the process of managing property repairs. Our team developed software to help the company to remain competitive in the property industry.
Oprias is a web-based property maintenance management software enabling its users to both communicate with tenants and contractors with just one click and store all the necessary information online. The solution provides time-saving and problem-solving maintenance management tools for property managers and tenants.
Benefits
- Automation - every day, property managers receive an automated message concerning new repair requests and updates on existing jobs which allows them to save time and be sure they handle all of the requests,
- Communication
- Notifications – all stakeholders can set up and receive pop-up notifications concerning request updates and repair status changes,
- Full visibility
- Data synchronisation
- Qube integration
- Document storage
- Category orde
- Tenant satisfaction
- Attachments
- Reporting
College CRM and student records integration
The College and its challenge
On a daily basis, Bedford College manages the records of over 40,000 students, which they have gathered by manually entering information such as personal details and enrolled courses into the Tribal EBS student record system. Having recently taken the decision to use the Radius CRM to help with their marketing and enrolment processes they needed to be able to synchronise the records between the two systems in order, not only to avoid having to enter everything twice but also to ensure that both systems are kept fully up-to-date with minimal human intervention.
As there was no off-the-shelf solution to this problem they asked HeadChannel to help with the integration of the two systems, enabling them to maintain and support regularly automated synchronisation.
Success story
The college is now able to track with far greater accuracy the levels of interest and subsequent enrolment, fees paid and unpaid and the popularity of the various courses without having to worry about keeping the student records system updated as this is now handled automatically in the background. Following the implementation of this system, Bedford College is now considering growing the application and automating other processes such as SMS messaging.
All in One solution for staffing agency
Talistar is a leading provider of talent management software and strategic advice throughout the UK and European mainland and the Astrix platform, built especially for them, is a state-of-the-art recruitment software package that revolutionises the talent management industry. It offers a wide range of recruitment tools which enable businesses such as temporary employment agencies, hotels, restaurants and event management companies to streamline temporary staffing processes.
The platform provides a full circle recruitment offering, from growing and managing the talent pool through to compliance and finance. It handles every step of the recruitment process from application through to payroll and invoicing. The system was used by FIFA to manage the staffing of the stadiums in Brazil during the World Cup 2014.
ERP software for a production company.
As a leading player in the UK packaging industry, Four04 needed to replace their out-dated spreadsheets and replace them with a system which would strengthen their processes – beginning with procurement, through sales, manufacturing, invoicing and ending up with the distribution. The result, Opsys3, is a bespoke multi-user enterprise resource planning system which serves to guide the users through the, often complex, transactions between the buyers and suppliers of materials and services, warehouse and delivery staff and customers. The software allows Four04 to monitor stock levels at all stages of the process and utilise available stock in the most cost-efficient ways possible.
Why Excel spreadsheets could be limiting your company’s growth?
Four04 is a privately owned company which supplies packaging materials to a range of industries, but specialises in the food sector and is one of the leading packaging producers in the UK. Customer service, innovation and social responsibility lie at the forefront of their business goals and they promise a professional and passionate service to all their customers. In order to fulfil these promises, Four04 recognises that it is important to have the right tools and technology.
Better late than never. What did we have to work with?
Four years ago, Four04 utilised a range of spreadsheets linked with their macros to support the running of their business. Excel Spreadsheets are a powerful, convenient and immensely popular tool to use among businesses, particularly during the initial stages of business development.
Spreadsheets can store and analyse large amounts of data, and users have access to several data visualisation tools to efficiently display the results of data analysis such as pie charts, histograms and bar charts. More generally, Excel appeals to many businesses because it is cheap, accessible and easy to use.
Despite the numerous advantages of Excel, the software is constrained by limitations that can transform Excel into a burden on the development of a business, instead of a tool of support. As a business grows, and data multiplies and becomes more complex, Excel cannot handle or manage data in a reliable, efficient and convenient way. This happens for a number of reasons. As the data that needs to be input grows, the time taken to input grows, the risk of human error grows, the more information becomes spread out and the slower the Excel application works.
Upon evaluating their business model, Four04 felt that Excel was no longer suitable for their needs. The company uncovered a number of areas that needed to be improved and made more efficient.
This included their:
Supplies management
Delivery time
Production planning and monitoring
Logistics
Level of customer service
As they said; “We were in desperate need of an update to our order processing system and more importantly a stock management system, which we did not have at all”.
At the root of their problems, they realised, was the way that they were storing and managing production-related data. Four04 did not have an appropriate IT system to support their business goals. These goals included purchasing and incorporating a production plant into their organisation, increasing the number of customers, shortening the time-to-market of products and improving their financial liquidity by optimising the warehouse and production management.
The first steps. Devil is not so black as he is painted
In order to find an IT system that could better support their business goals, Four04 initially looked for an out-of-the-box solution. It soon became apparent however, that such a solution would require adapting the whole organisation to suit the requirements of the software. This would take up too much time and money and didn’t suit their long-term goals. Instead, they approached a small local software developer, but again quickly discovered that this path would not meet their requirements either.
They recounted “We initially began the project with another company, but we very quickly concluded that they were not up to the job. It transpired that the business was a one-man band—a project manager with very little experience who contracted external programmers. It was this company which, realising that they were out of their depth, eventually introduced us to HeadChannel”.
The start of something new
Right from the start, we recognised that communication, transparency and collaboration was vital for a successful partnership to flourish.
By highlighting the areas of greatest concern for our work together, Four04 made us aware of what they needed reassurance on, and what we needed to prioritise in our project for them. These areas included:
· The duration of the project
· The costs of the project
· The lack of IT knowledge and specialists among Four04 staff
Four04 also agreed to commit to cooperation with us around several key business areas. The focus of cooperation included:
· Observation and accurate analysis of business processes in Four04
· Identification of the bottlenecks in every company department
· Identification of the responsible decision makers among clients
· Analysis of the business development plans to prepare in the early stages for future development of the software
· The business and organisational goals that were set
The plan of action
Once we understood their greatest concerns and we had the opportunity to get to work on several key areas of cooperation, we started to build up our knowledge of Four04 and the goals it had for a new IT system.
We developed an implementation plan based on the following assumptions;
· We should solve the most significant problems in order to bring immediate financial results and help to finance future investments
· We should help to develop new processes in the company in order to improve efficiency and productivity
· We should ensure that the system we develop will be future proof. It should allow for the implementation of new features following the company’s development plans and it should be adapted for scalability and reusability
· The system we develop should consider market opportunities, threats and business goals
Based on these assumptions, we proposed a bespoke Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system with a modular structure and implementation planned for several years, which was synchronised with the implementation of the company’s business development activities. An ERP system is a type of software that organisations use to manage their day-to-day business activities. It connects different business processes together and facilitates a free-flowing synchronised data exchange between these processes.
It was important to make sure that the ERP system was configured for the specific needs and requirements of Four04. This was achieved by tailoring the individual modules of the ERP system to the areas that were highlighted as the most important for Four04’s operational processes.
This included:
· Stock control
· Price matrices (this enables a company to determine the correct price of products and takes currency rates into account)
· Product management
· Customer management system
· Order processing system
· Production planning system
· Purchase and sales invoice tracking
· C-level financial reporting
· Data analysis based on Power BI
We also aimed to give our client a competitive advantage by guaranteeing several key features. These included:
· Ease and efficiency of use
· Ensuring that the best UX and CX practises were put in place, in addition to the top technologies and project management methodologies
· Minimising future costs and risks
Behind the scenes: How did we do it?
Audit and consulting
We aimed to analyse and understand the business processes and customer problems of Four04. We considered the solution prepared by the previous software contractor and concluded that it would be quicker and cheaper to build the new system from scratch. This also allowed us to scale the system more easily in the future.
Technical and business design
We researched industry standards, and developed a solution that corresponded to existing business practices. We were even able to optimise some of these processes based on the information we collected.
Step-by-step implementation
We developed our system in step-by-step modules. This approach allowed us to deal with our most important problems first and then gather feedback for future work.
Ongoing maintenance
We aimed to deliver ongoing support and product development to Four04 as part of our commitment to excellent customer service.
Workshops
During the analysis and prototyping stage of our solution, we held regular workshops with Four04.
Research on demand
In order to fulfil our customer service promises, we took the time to consider and recommend further innovative solutions that could benefit Four04. We also advised them on the best technology and hardware solutions.
Much more than just development
Over the following four years, a successful and rewarding partnership has blossomed. The following lists the projects we have achieved together:
· Implementation of the stock control system
· Implementation of the manufacturing brokerage process
· Implementation of the production management and planning system, including the incorporation of the new production plant into the organizational structure
· Price matrices
· Product management
· Customer management
· Order processing
· Production planning
· Purchase and sales invoice management
· C-level financial reporting
· Power BI data analysis
The more we worked together, the more our mutual understanding developed and the faster our development of software and IT solutions became. The following lists a few of the benefits we have provided to Four04:
· Automation of many processes related to inventory and product turnover
· Significant reduction of storage costs due to elimination of losses, increase of rotation and reduction of inventory
· Seamless integration of the new production plant with the company structure
· Optimising and implementing new, more efficient processes adjusted to market standards
· Improved visibility of stock levels and availability
· Tracking selected changes per user
· Profiling system per permission
· Product specification templates
We feel that we can confidently judge our partnership with Four04 as a success. We feel privileged to have benefitted the company in a multitude of ways. This success is reflected in the dramatic business growth of Four04 since we started working together. The first year after the launch of our new system, the company’s profit increased by 30%. After three years, their profit growth doubled.
After being asked for feedback on the work that we have achieved together with Four04, The Operations Director described how “The system HeadChannel has created for us has enabled us to keep control of our rapidly expanding business. At the time we started the project, we were turning over around £10 million, now we are over £20 million and the system has without a doubt, enabled us to manage this growth”.
“As a direct result of HeadChannel’s contributions, the company has managed to cope with rapid and substantial growth. The team is very reactive, knowledgeable, intelligent, and polite. Their ability to read between the lines and proactively offer solutions sets them apart from other service providers”.
It brings us great delight to hear such glowing reviews about our team, our service and our partnership. We pride ourselves on our ability not just to fulfil but to exceed our client’s expectations, and we hope to continue to provide this level of service to Four04 and other clients.
Project facts
Team - Developers 6 (Team Lead, Senior backend dev 3, Senior frontend dev 2), UX designer 1, QA 2, BA 1, PM 1
Project management - Scrum for production and Kanban for maintenance
Technology - NopCommerce, ASP.NET MVC, AngularJS, Bootstrap, MS SQL Server, SingalIR, PowerBI
https://headchannel.co.uk/erp-lean-management-system-for-manufacturing-c...
Time management and invoicing software for freelancers
Working as a freelancer instructor it is often hard enough to manage your diary without having to keep track of which classes need to be invoiced and how many students attended. As an experienced instructor herself, our client spotted an opportunity to simplify the way freelancers work and so improve their efficiency.
Together with her, we designed and developed a responsive web app which enables freelancers to regain control of their classes. Reminding them where they need to be next, prompting for class numbers and automatically generating and sending the relevant invoices at the month end
Reviews
the project
Custom Software Dev for Education & Publishing Company
"We have been impressed by HeadChannel’s flexibility and the effort made to understand what we were trying to do."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am one of the directors of this education software and publishing company.
For what projects/services did your company hire HeadChannel, and what were your goals?
We wanted to convert our analogue music curriculum into a software programme for the interactive whiteboard in primary schools.
How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?
HeadChannel were recommended to us. We met with them and one other company who did not compare well. Their presentation persuaded us that they would not only be able to create the software but also look after the project going forward.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
The DaCapo platform has been built on a commercial version of the ABP.io framework that provides a complete infrastructure to create modern, modular, web applications. The framework is designed and implemented based on the latest technologies i.e. Microsoft's ASP.NET Core (REST API) and Google’s Angular Javascript framework (Client and Admin portals).
The ABP.io framework provides a multi-tenant architecture that allows each school to be set up as a different tenant so that access to the school’s data is secured on a low permission level. Additionally, it provides the ability to distribute the application in the SaaS distribution model with support for subscriptions and payments. A REST API, as the core of the system, has been implemented based on the modern and high- performance ASP.NET Core framework. In case of high load in the future it will be possible to migrate the whole system into a cloud solution without significant, high-cost, changes in development.
Thanks to many features on the technical level, like a modular and layered architecture, event driven communication and Domain Driven Design, the system is easily extensible and reliable.Authentication and authorisation is secured by the IdentityServer4 with the support of the contemporary and well-known OAuth2.0 standard.Data is accessed by Entity Framework Core ORM and stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database.Technologies used: Asp.Net Core, EntityFramework Core, MS SQL, Swagger, Quartz, Xamarin.Forms, Angular, Metronic, Bootstrap
The application is built on a flexible and modern framework which guarantees full technical support and which enables low-cost implementation of changes and no functional limitations. The application allows DaCapo not only to build a learning experience but also to manage the accounts of schools and teachers. The user can choose a variety of exercises (play cards, match cards, video) that were designed from scratch. Each exercise can have from one or many variants, which makes the system and user experience even more attractive. The application has been built as a SaaS solution which supports multi- tenancy to allow future system scaling.
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We have worked with three directors, one senior business analyst and one junior business analyst.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
Many more schools will be able to access our curriculum
The software will increase the number of hours per week that DaCapo music is taught in schools.
When the full system in place it will free up admin time by managing the subscriptions
It will change our method of collecting long term research in music education. This could possibly have a wider national impact over time.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.
Good and frequent communication via email, Googlemeet and Skype. Informal and very friendly and supportive.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
We have been impressed by HeadChannel’s flexibility and the effort made to understand what we were trying to do. The enthusiasm and interest and have also been welcomed and impressive.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
We haven’t always quite understood all the terminology and acronyms etc.. We think we should have asked more questions at the beginning of working together to be sure we understood the various stages and elements involved. However, our questions are always carefully answered.
the project
Software Development for Healthcare Company
"They delivered all the requirements and met deadlines."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the a healthcare centre. My role in the QuickFit project was to technically lead different aspects of the work and resolve any technical issues.
For what projects/services did your company hire HeadChannel, and what were your goals?
The project involved software development. As a result, we collaborated with HeadChannel to develop software for 3d reconstruction, data collection and storage.
How did you select HeadChannel and what were the deciding factors?
HeadChannel was among our top choices when the proposal was written, and they met all the criteria for this project. Their track records were remarkable as they had worked on multiple challenging projects, which showed their capability to handle this specific project.
Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.
We needed the following to be done in the software
- Produce Check socket for lower limb amputees using 3D reconstruction.
- Calibrate the sensors within the QuickFit system
- Defining the QTSS sensors' location on the model and transferring the coordinate system to the physical socket.
- Collect data from the sensors in the QuickFit system
- Feed the processed data into the socket design module of the QuickFit software package to adjust and optimised socket
- Repeat the test several times
How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?
We worked with four people throughout the project including a project manager, a business analyst and two software engineers.
Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?
All the requirements were fulfilled during the project and delivered on time. This helped us to improve the system over time and optimise the performance of the software at the end of the project.
Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.
The communication was excellent through emails and other platforms (e.g., skype and zoom). We never experienced any delays in response. They delivered all the requirements and met deadlines. They accommodated changes made during the project, which showed how dedicated and professional they were.
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
Communication was seamless and smooth throughout the project. The synergy between our team and HeadChannel was great, which lead to the delivery of a successful project.
Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?
We were very impressed with the whole team, and their performance was exceeded our expectation.
the project
Project Assurance Platform for Management Consulting Company
“Whether it’s a rough idea or a detailed one, they can take it and turn it into a good application.“
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a partner at a management consulting company based in the UK. We provide management consulting and innovation services to a variety of clients and governments as well as some private sectors mainly around the construction and asset-heavy industries.
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
We hired HeadChannel for a government project that we worked on with one of our clients. There was a construction process that handled the assets, and it was challenging to manage. We initially designed a solution or concept for how we could solve the problem.
We needed help to develop a platform based on that concept. It lets users track a portfolio of projects or a program, including milestones, program modules, interlinking workstreams, and dependencies. It enables users to understand the link or requirements from one asset to another and ensures the conformity and consistency of requirements throughout the program's delivery.
What was the scope of their involvement?
HeadChannel helped us develop the entire project assurance platform. We engaged with them in designing the architecture, development of modules, and the platform itself. They also provided us guidance on business analysis.
This SaaS platform is based on ASP.NET Zero. It uses Swagger for API management. The main components are Docker image for the deployment, various iterations of Python for AI models running in the background, and Angular on the frontend.
What is the team composition?
There were 3–5 people that I worked with. On the commercial side, we worked with Andy (Director) and Beata (Strategic Director). We also worked with Radoslow (Managing Director), Adam (IT Project Manager), Michal (Programmer), and a project manager.
They also provided us with a very competent business analyst that has helped us distill our requirements and technical components within the overarching framework.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
For us, it’s really important that they were UK-based. HeadChannel was also very receptive and flexible, which were among the key reasons we worked with them.
We have other partners, but they’re more transactional — we give them a requirement, and they either deliver or don’t. HeadChannel really looks to solve the problems. That’s why we work with them.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested about £40,000 (approximately $54,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started the project in August 2020 and finished in November 2020. This has been a quick build, but we’ve worked with each other on an ongoing basis for about a year.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
At this point, we don’t have any metrics yet since we’ve just completed the project, but we’re looking to ship quite soon.
The quality of their application has been really great. We’ve already demoed it to clients, and they seem quite impressed with the usability of the application. It’s been quite smooth in terms of how the UI was designed. We have clients on a waiting list to test the solution.
How did HeadChannel perform from a project management standpoint?
It was a partnership approach. We used JIRA to do local work and had a dedicated project manager and business analysts who facilitated the entire process for us. They also managed the JIRA backlogs.
All we did was feed the project requirements and clarify things. HeadChannel did all the heavy lifting on the analysis and management sides of things.
Depending on the demand and requirements, we had weekly or biweekly requirement reviews for clarification. At the beginning of the project, we had much more biweekly reviews. In the end, when the requirements were clearer, we had much fewer reviews. Our team also had live access to the development environment to see any updates being pushed in real-time.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The most impressive aspect was the developers' caliber and the fact that we didn’t have to specify things too much. We could give them a high-level vision, and they could turn that into a well-thought-out application. I’m also impressed by their ability to understand what was asked.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There’s nothing I could think of. We’ve been pretty happy with their service.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Think about the application that you want. HeadChannel can take it on from any part of the cycle. Whether it’s a rough idea or a detailed one, they can take it and turn it into a good application. However, if you work with them, you should have some clarity and documentation in terms of what you want.
the project
Mobile Development for Retail Solutions Platform
“They’ve delivered 100% of the requirements on time and within budget.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the Chief Innovation Officer of By Appointment. We’re a SaaS company that aims to assist retail companies in restarting their businesses in the wake of COVID-19.
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
I was looking for a partner to create our mobile application in adherence to our requirements. The app would be for businesses looking to manage their in-store capacity as well as their consumers.
What was the scope of their involvement?
HeadChannel created an app that enables stores to list themselves in the app. They can enter their opening hours, capacity, and other information. Shoppers can search for local stores and book appointments with them.
They have a comprehensive view of the stores’ policies, and whether they’re available for virtually-queueable appointments. They utilized .NET Core and Angular in a SQL database.
They analyzed the requirements and built the architecture before launching into front- and backend development. They then went into testing.
What is the team composition?
The team size and structure varies depending on the requirements. We worked with between 5–10 people, including a project manager.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
I’ve been working with HeadChannel for over a decade. I knew them intimately and also knew that they had the capabilities to pull off this project.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve probably spent around $100,000 for this project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We introduced the project in April, started coding in May, and released the first iteration of the app in July of 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They’ve delivered 100% of the requirements on time and within budget. We’ve been extremely satisfied with their work. Their testing has yielded phenomenal results — if we’re not completely there by the time we launch, they’ve ensured a complete fulfillment of requirements by the time we release the product.
How did HeadChannel perform from a project management standpoint?
They were exceptional on this front. They gave us timelines, budgets, and resource requirements. We held weekly management meetings to mitigate risks, accept requirement changes, and reorder sprints.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They have successful communication throughout the entire development lifecycle. This ensures a pleasurable engagement that results in a high-quality delivery.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, I don’t think so. They could possibly charge me less money — I’d love that!
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Engage them in the ideation stage. Otherwise, you can arrive at an idea that’s unnecessarily complex or unfeasible. You might end up spending more of your time on something that doesn’t work.
the project
Software Development for E-Card & Animated Content Company
"They were determined to deliver and please us as their client."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the director of an e-card business. Each card is a bespoke video delivered via WhatsApp.
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
We were looking for a solution to enable e-card delivery via WhatsApp.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They came up with a solution for initiating a conversation on WhatsApp once a client creates a card. They don’t have an open API. The first solution they presented was to have a button to start a conversation, on the finished order screen. We weren’t keen on that one. They came back with the idea to send an email once the e-card had been ordered, where the client opts in to receive a message from us on WhatsApp in order to receive the e-card.
They also helped find a solution for us to receive reports from our clients if they encountered problems. They came up with a system that allows those messages to reach us, and we can respond to make it right, in a cost-effective way.
The language they worked in was Node. The apps used were Twilala and Front.
What is the team composition?
Our initial communication was with Andy (Director). Michael (Senior Software Developer) was the first project manager. We got a new project manager midway through the project. I was also in communication with our developer.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
I did a Google search, and they were the first company on the list. I had a series of calls and meetings with Andy and decided to work with them.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent about €6,000 (approximately $7,400 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together on the project from February – May 2020. It just wrapped up at the end of May.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The new delivery system has increased our capacity by over 1,000%. The old system had a 30% failure rate, the new one has a 1% failure rate.
It’s too early to report any revenue at this point.
How did HeadChannel perform from a project management standpoint?
The second project manager did great. He spoke excellent English, was quite responsive, and went the extra mile to ensure our happiness and delivery of the best solutions. We communicated via email primarily.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They were determined to deliver and please us as their client. The most important thing to me was their willingness to do whatever it took to get the solution.
For example, in the middle of the project, they had achieved much of the scope, but there were a few areas that had worsened in the performance of the system. They didn’t add to the cost or refuse to do them since they weren’t listed specifically in the scope. Rather, they worked hard to fix those issues. They worked in the spirit of the project rather than the letter of the law.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, not really. The first project manager was not very communicative and just didn’t fit well with us. They took necessary action by switching project managers, and they fixed the problem.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Try to fully lay the scope out in the beginning. If you have any concerns, contact Andy and he will sort it out.
the project
Web App Dev for Marketing Agency
"Both projects have helped to establish a lasting connection with the clients."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
Beaconbrands is an advertising and marketing agency. We work for global FMCG brands as well as having a specialist healthcare division. I am a company director and have worked for the agency for over 10 years.
For what projects/services did your company hire HeadChannel?
We have worked with HeadChannel to create an asset management site for a large company. We have also worked with them to build a bespoke web app to help visualise the classification of psychoactive medications.
What were your goals for this project?
The assets site was to make it easier for local market teams to access and share centrally created creative assets. The web app was to help students and healthcare professionals understand the mode of action behind certain medicines and influence their studies or prescribing decisions.
How did you select this vendor?
We collected three estimates and had a meeting with each vendor. HeadChannel came back with the most serious and considered response. They asked relevant questions and made some suggestions for improvement.
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
They provided the CMS system, helped decide the site architecture/wireframes, hosting, troubleshooting for the asset site. They built, tested, refined, host and help maintain the medicines library. We provided the design input and handled the client.
What was the team composition?
Andy Green + account manager (various over the years) + developers.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
Both project have helped to establish a lasting connection with the clients. Both projects are still in use many years after being commissioned.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
The project management was fine. We have had a dedicated account person to look after the project. We are notified ahead of time if there is going to be any server maintenance which would effect us. No complaints.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
They're serious. They take the time to consider the project goals and then answer. They're not simply into the latest trend or fad.
Are there any areas for improvement?
No. They were the right people for these projects.
the project
ICT Platform Dev for a Financial Services Company
"From an organizational point of view, HeadChannel understands their clients and their needs very well."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of an impact investment boutique advisory firm based in London.
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
We were looking to build an ICT platform for one of our programs that is a tech-enabled education to employment lending platform.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The first phase involved scoping out the IT systems and infrastructure needs to devise a development platform. After that, we would move to the software development of the client application onboarding and data management system. Most of the work would be done using Microsoft-enabled technology. We had the beginnings of a manual system, but we were looking for HeadChannel to build it from scratch.
What is the team composition?
In total, we worked with five people. Two of the founders, a project manager, and two developers were involved.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
We came across HeadChannel while searching for IT development firms in the area. We chose them because of their strong client reviews.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent £20,000 (approximately $26,000 USD) on this project.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked with HeadChannel from April–June 2019.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our team decided to not move into the second phase that included the actual development of the platform. At this point, we’re using the output and deliverables from the first phase of work internally. We, as a company, decided that we needed to go more agile and develop some of the solution that they mapped out in a more modular fashion. We’re using HeadChannel’s work on an ongoing basis internally for development.
How did HeadChannel perform from a project management standpoint?
From a project management standpoint, they were good. They could’ve improved on having a more diligent follow-up. From time to time, the project may have been a bit to handle, but overall, it was well done.
What did you find most impressive about them?
During our proposal process, their team stood out. They seemed to have a good grasp of our needs and what we were looking for. We got a good feel for their organization, which is why we selected them. From an organizational point of view, HeadChannel understands their clients and their needs very well.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I think for a smaller company, like ourselves, we were looking for a more agile approach. If we would’ve entered a more modular type of thinking sooner, we could’ve worked with HeadChannel longer.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would recommend HeadChannel. Their solid team stands out for their excellent understanding of businesses and their needs.
the project
Custom Operations Platform Dev for Packaging Firm
"I would not hesitate to recommend HeadChannel to any other business."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the operations director at Four04 Packaging. We are a manufacturing business in the flexible packaging industry.
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
We were in desperate need of an update to our order processing system and more importantly a stock management system, which we did not have at all.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They completed a brand-new system for us.
The first and second stage of the project is complete and we are now on the third stage. We have an on-going SLA with HeadChannel, which covers bugs and changes and general maintenance. This also hosts the web-based system for us.
What is the team composition?
It varies, but up to around six people at any one time.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
We initially began the project with another company, but we very quickly concluded that they were not up to the job. It transpired that the business was a one-man band—a project manager with very little experience who contracted external programmers. It was this company, which introduced us to HeadChannel.
How much have you invested in them?
We have spent around $450,000 with them to date.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working with them around August 2016, and the relationship is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The system HeadChannel have created for us has enabled us to keep control of our rapidly expanding business. At the time we started the project, we were turning over around £10 million-pound, now we are over £20 million and the system has without a doubt, enabled us to manage this growth.
How did HeadChannel perform from a project management standpoint?
In the early days, I struggled to work with our assigned contact, which resulted in inefficiencies and gross underestimation in terms of the cost and timescale of the project. However, this was more or less solely attributable to one member of staff who no longer works for HeadChannel. Once we had someone else on the project, all has gone very well indeed.
For further explanation, the person originally assigned to us met with me to ascertain the scope of the project. Once he had heard so much, he insisted on starting the development before understanding the full scope of the project. I suggested that he needed to understand all of our needs, to avoid the possibility of developing a system to suit one aspect, which might then not be appropriate for another. He insisted his ‘staged fact-finding and development’ approach was best and I allowed him to take control. Unfortunately, I was right and as previously stated, time was wasted and costs escalated. However, a meeting with HeadChannel regarding the situation was constructive and a mutually satisfactory way forward was easily reached.
The project manager ensured we have what we need, in terms of updates on both the project and the budget, she took on board my request to keep the dialogue and written correspondence concise and is always very quick to respond to requests and questions. She has also looked into other business solutions for us such as key fob access, barcoded warehouse management systems and introduced us to a very useful online tool (Jira Service Desk) to manage the many tasks we ask of them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
There is no comparison to the provider we had before. HeadChannel’s experience and knowledge is unmatched to any IT company I have previously dealt with. I am very happy with the service they provide.
I had previously worked for a large PLC who had their own/in-house IT department. I can honestly say that working with HeadChannel has been better. I have found them l to be very reactive but also proactive, they are accommodating, intelligent and polite.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I would advise then to tell clients from the outset that the team are not UK based, whilst assuring this would not in any way be detrimental to the project.
I was a little annoyed initially by the fact that they did not made it clear that their programmers and business analysts were working out of Poland. When we took them on, we met them in the UK, and we assumed that they were located in London and they didn’t tell us otherwise. I let them know I thought it would have been proper and more appropriate to highlight the team’s geographically location. My fear was that they would not be able to respond as quickly as a UK based team and would not be on hand if I needed a face-to-face meeting. However, I need not have been concerned; they have flown to us whenever needed, sometimes at the drop of a hat.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Clients know their business the best and they need to provide as much information as humanly possible before any work commences.
I would not hesitate to recommend HeadChannel to any other business.
the project
Staff Augmentation for a Software Platform
"We’ve been in a partnership with HeadChannel for ten years, and I don’t see that changing."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a director at a software platform provider for a workforce management solution.
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
We needed to outsource a development team.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We outsourced a development team to build our system. The platform is a B2B system for companies to manage their workforce in the Cloud. There have already been three previous versions–their team, along with maintaining the entire platform, designed Version 4 and now Version 5. We’ve used a SQL database and an ASP.NET 5 framework for development. Now, we’re moving to a Core database.
What is the team composition?
It varies on the month. With an assigned project manager, we’ve worked with between six to 20 members of their team.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
After putting the project out there, they were one of the team companies we selected. When we whittled it down to the final three, their team had the best all-around proposal.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent €5 million (approximately $6.3 million USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started engaging with HeadChannel in April 2009, and the services are ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I have between five to 20 people working for me a month. We’re focused on what we’re delivering as a team rather than what the success ratio is. We can look at the number of bugs in a version that they developed and things like that. But as it’s our platform, it’s a slightly more symbiotic relationship. Everything has been well-received internally. They do deliver all that we ask.
How did HeadChannel perform from a project management standpoint?
Their project management style is good. It’s quite a complicated project, so there are some challenges.
What did you find most impressive about them?
We’ve been in a partnership with HeadChannel for ten years, and I don’t see that changing. They’re committed, taking ownership to have a successful delivery. Their team is great at project managing. With any business, there can be challenging bits, such as testing. HeadChannel is always willing and able to scale the team up and down. For example, we have a three-month up and down lead time for scaling the team, which they haven’t failed to deliver. It’s different than other engagements. It’s not only one project, like building a pencil. It’s like they’re maintaining my car and keeping it on the road.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There’s always room for improvement on both sides. But I think most people have to look at what they can learn. If there’s a willingness to learn, hopefully, the same mistake won’t happen twice.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Clients should make sure they’re clear in their requirements. As a project manager and platform owner, I think clarity helps stop any confusion.
the project
Application Development to Mimic Various Diseases
“They’ve given me the tool I needed to grow my business, and the app has received great feedback.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the owner of The Method, a company that provides innovative immersive learning solutions to businesses.
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
We’d developed an immersive patient experience program for a pharmaceutical client that was designed to enable people working in healthcare to get a better understanding of what it’s like to be a patient. People use the app, which assigns them a disease and interactive challenges that reflect the types of difficulties patients with that disease might have. The program was a success, but the app was not very flexible or easy to update. We wanted to be able to deliver multiple disease experiences through the app, so we began looking for a partner who could redesign the app for that purpose.
What was the scope of their involvement?
HeadChannel took the original concept and created a single app that enables us to populate it with multiple disease types without having to remake it from scratch each time. They created a template for the disease types and also made the backend admin system simple enough for us to run without having to hire a technical person to manage it. The app is solely designed for smartphones and is available in the App Store and Google Play. HeadChannel is currently working on a new version.
What is the team composition?
We mainly interact with the senior project manager, who acts as the interface between us and the technical team.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
Someone in my company had worked with them before and recommended them. I met with four organizations, and HeadChannel seemed the most excited and willing to work on the project. Their price was in the middle, and they had the capabilities we needed, so I hired them.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent £160,000 (approximately $202,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We partnered in April 2018, and the work is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They’ve done exactly what we needed, which is to create a simple to use template that can be adapted for multiple programs by non-technical personnel. They’ve given me the tool I needed to grow my business, and the app has received great feedback. It has about a 4.3 average with around 1,000 users.
How did HeadChannel perform from a project management standpoint?
They ensure they fully understand my needs before starting on anything, providing suggestions and feedback to make the product as good as possible. They have strong communication, and we mainly talk via Skype.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They took my vision and translated it into something that exceeded my expectation. They found new and exciting ways to improve it and clearly explained their plans in a way I could understand, even though I have no technical knowledge. Despite its complexity, they have managed to create something that anyone in my organization can update and use with minimal training, which was exactly what I needed.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We missed some deadlines, but they worked incredibly hard to always ensure our clients were unaffected.
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?
Allow them to take all the time they need in the beginning to do their business analysis–you will get the best results this way.
More schools can have access to the client's curriculum and the client can increase the teaching hours using the software developed by the team. They communicate via Google Meet and Skype. So far, the client is impressed by the team's flexibility and enthusiasm as they continue their collaboration.