HiFX IT & Media Services

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Oz Factor Pty Ltd is a men’s underwear brand. We predominantly sell our goods online, as well as through wholesale channels. I am the general manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HiFX IT?

We were looking for help with development. We'd moved our website from a site we built when we began the business to a Magento site, but the platform wasn’t customized to a business of our size and needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Though we came up with most of the design, they advised us on functions we could have within the website. There were challenges along the way, but we worked together to create solutions.

One of the functionalities was a multi-currency checkout. We had the whole backend built in a way that we could customize it in multiple languages, which allowed us to put in specific translations for every piece of content on the website, rather than letting Google do it.

We also had the ability to create value packs for our customers, specific to our requests and requirements. We had customized reporting, including specific requirements for certain government initiatives available to Australian businesses.

What is the team dynamic?

We were in contact with 2 or 3 people from the company. Mohan [Co-Founder, HiFix], was our point of contact. He put in the effort to get to know who we were and developed that relationship. The team consists of genuine and good people.

How did you come to work with HiFX IT?

They were recommended to us. When we saw the framework structure of the website and how it would function, it impressed me how they approached it and the way they put time into scoping out the project prior to requesting a commitment from us. It was always about what was best for us. After they ran us through our options, we went straight into the project together.

How much have you invested in them?

We haven’t spent more than $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work started approximately 6 years ago, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Over the years since working with them, our revenue has doubled through our online store, and so has our website traffic. Having a fast, functional, and responsive website with their programming and hosting is such an important part of the foundation of an online business.

We've had no real issues with loss of sales due to the website being down. It’s important to have the reassurance that they would respond and fix issues quickly if ever they did come up. In many cases, they wouldn’t charge us for small fix-ups and just do it as a part of their service. They were dedicated to supporting the system they built and took it upon themselves to always be there for us. It's been a solid solution, which is great value for money.

How did HiFX IT perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated daily at the start of the project. The time difference was a bit of a challenge, but because of how fast they responded and any tweaks were made quickly, I never felt I should've been dealing with someone locally. We communicate mostly through email for smaller things and face-to-face Skype as well. They get customized solutions done as quickly as possible. It's been an easy relationship to maintain.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They provide tailored and customized solutions that are spot on with what we want, in addition to their great communication.

Overall, their ability to come up with solutions on the fly, listen to our needs, and do it all in a good timeframe and a reasonable cost was great. There weren’t really any issues we had with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Design isn't their area of strength. But I can’t fault them on the technology side and the ability to provide a customized solution that we need.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be specific in everything you want, every single feature and detail, all the way down to what you want to achieve as far as SEO and performance. They will come to you with a solution with your needs, but unless you are specific at the start of the process, they are bound to miss things, as it is impossible to come out with a solution that will do everything.

Don’t develop a solution and then realize you want to add really complicated, customized features; they're building these sites from the ground up.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CEO of a virtual training company. We have a staff complement of about 30 people and are situated in Stephens City, Virginia. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what reason(s) did your company hire HiFX IT & Media Services Pvt Ltd.?

We have used HiFX for multiple projects ranging from developing our website and intranet to a full-blown learning management system [LMS] that is used in universities and training colleges worldwide. They also helped us launch mobile applications to support our company’s whole online strategy.

What were your goals for this project?

Our business relies on offering online training through various channels. Our training has to be accessible through our online portal, and we need to provide both mobile and LMS solutions to optimize our digital marketing strategy and ensure a great return on our investment. HiFX was instrumental in achieving our goals. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After many trials with other vendors, we realized HiFX was the best partner for all of our development projects. We have been working on various tasks with them for the last 15 years.

Describe the project in detail.

Our processes started with basic specifications, and HiFX developed a solution that surpassed our initial expectations. They met every milestone within our established timeframes, and the quality was superb.

What was the team composition?

We communicated with a central project manager, who would make sure that all development proceeded according to our specifications and that all milestones were reached on time. When necessary, we would also speak to the developers directly, but this happened rarely since the project manager was an excellent intermediary. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Due to the excellent effort by HiFX, we’ve remained a leading provider of online training for many years.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We used tools like Slack, Asana, and Skype for continual communication. HiFX was always available when we needed to discuss issues or fix items that needed immediate attention.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

In my experience, HiFX has the best developers from India. I have to commend their total honesty: projects are completed promptly and within budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

HiFX is a great company, and they take their work and professionalism seriously. I honestly cannot think of anything they need to improve.