IDE3

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Office manager of Hauska i partner d.o.o.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We specialize in strategic communications consulting and cover various areas from stakeholder relations management, risk and crisis management, organizational relations to media relations. We are prominent consultants in the field of organizational development, employer brand development, and sustainability and social responsibility, as well as support in sustainability reporting processes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire IDE3 to accomplish?

• Analysis of the situation, advice and strategy for the digitization of operations and maintenance of our IT system
• Support in developing and implementing a business digitalization strategy
• Maintenance of our IT system and support

SOLUTION

How did you find IDE3?

Referral

Why did you select IDE3 over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

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

At one point, we realized that we needed to improve our work equipment, way of working and digitize in order to improve efficiency, competitiveness and provide a better experience for customers and workers. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• The project was done in stages and it was known exactly what was being done and when, and what the next steps were.

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

The company provided excellent support during the entire implementation process. Their team of experts was available and flexible, always ready to answer our questions and resolve any concerns. Their transparency and open communication allowed us to be involved in every step of the project.

What was your primary form of communication with IDE3?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Given that we conduct 90% of our business through IT systems, reliability, expertise and speed are very important to us. The company maintains our IT system extremely reliably and provides the support we need. Their quick response to problems and high level of technical expertise ensure that our business runs smoothly. They are always there for us when we have questions or ask for advice.

Are there any areas for improvement or something IDE3 could have done differently?

Everything works great, I have no room for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a design engineer at Metrika d.o.o., an engineering company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

We needed IT support. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IDE3 serves as our main IT support partner. Their tasks include doing regular hardware and software maintenance and proposing new solutions for our system. As part of our annual review, this year they’ve proposed some changes in our system. Moreover, they manage software, hardware, servers, and other programs as needed.

One of the projects they’ve worked on is acquiring a new server. This included the migration of data from the old server to the new one. They’ve also implemented office suites on all of our old and new devices and built a hybrid Azure AD system so that we can enable SSO.

What is the team composition?

We work with about seven people from their side.

How did you come to work with IDE3?

We found them through an online search.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about €10,000 (approximately $11,000 USD) so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2010, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, we’re very happy with IDE3’s services. They’ve taken care of acquiring equipment and making sure all our systems, software, hardware, and devices are up and running and working properly. They also resolve all our issues accordingly; I can’t remember a time when they haven’t been able to solve an issue.

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?        

Overall, it’s been really easy to work with them — they work efficiently and deliver on time and within budget. Also, whenever we have an issue, they’re very quick to respond.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with their great communication skills and responsiveness. Also, their technicians have a great grasp of our system.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything that IDE3 needs to improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Contact IDE3 — they have expertise in all areas, and I believe they will be able to help your company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Konoba Berekin, a restaurant and events company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

We needed help with custom software development. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IDE3 provides us with custom software development services. Initially, we provided them with every tool we used in order to create something that we could implement in our company. We also talked a lot about our business, core business needs, and the purposes of the software. From there, IDE3 proceeded with the work, developing a new program for us that could track our reservations, store our data for future clients, and improve our overall business for the next several years. They made it the best tool we can use.

We are still working with IDE3 in baby steps; we look forward to continuing our partnership.

What is the team composition?

We work with 3–4 people from their side.

How did you come to work with IDE3?

We found them through a Google search.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent €10,000 (approximately $11,000 USD) on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together with IDE3 in December 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re really satisfied with IDE3’s work.

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?

IDE3 manages the project very well — they deliver on time and on budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

IDE3 always delivers on time and is quick to implement any changes we request.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that we’d have IDE3 improve on at this point. We’re really satisfied with their work and happy that we’re working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We definitely recommend working with IDE3. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner and general manager of EMPLOYMENT POWER, a recruitment company based in Croatia with branches in five different companies. We recruit large numbers of crews to work on cruise ships. Our team has 17 people altogether.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

We had an application that we used as a database. However, we needed a more modern solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially gave IDE3 an overview of what we wanted and a brief we created with an external advisor. Then, they created the majority of the application from scratch.

Since then, they’ve done several upgrades to the original project. We’re currently working on the fourth iteration of the app, and IDE3 provides monthly maintenance.

They’ve also offered hosting services, but we have a server in-house. However, when we changed to the cloud, they helped us with the process.

Additionally, we’ve worked together on different approaches.

What is the team composition?

The founder is always involved in our conversations, and a senior project manager is also fully involved. Additionally, a task force programmer is in charge of the entire development process. In total, we have about five teammates working on the project.

How did you come to work with IDE3?

We created a tender and had several offers come in. IDE3 was experienced enough to carry out the entire project. They clearly defined the expectations for our application and its database and were mid-range in price. Additionally, they were a young and enthusiastic team that matched our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

The original project cost was around $14,000. With the additional development, it’s close to $25,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2015 and went live in December 2017. It took us a while to transfer all the data from our original database. However, we’re still working with IDE3.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our main goal was to transfer as much as possible of the application-filling process to the candidates, and IDE3 has delivered a product that opens our possibilities for that. The old database was good and reliable. Although it never broke, it was very old-fashioned. Our application is now more modern; they’ve developed an excellent product, and we’re absolutely satisfied.

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?

Their time management is excellent; they’re very responsive to all tasks. We’ve exceeded the budget, but it was expected. Additionally, their project manager has worked in our office to understand all the protocols we’ve implemented.

We use Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Team, and Slack for communication. We’re also in the same city, so we can meet in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a young and dynamic group of people. IDE3 understands our needs, and they’re highly professional. We’ve made an excellent choice.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s turnover in both industries, so we’re always meeting new people, which might be challenging for them. It can cause misunderstandings and changes in plans, but we’ve worked together through it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’ve already recommended them to similar businesses. In addition, I suggest creating a written list of all the project tasks and requirements. Don’t confuse them and constantly change the tasks or add new things that could slow down the project. Screen your needs first and then write them down.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the technical director of KROMA Wash Systems. We deal with every aspect of the car wash business, including equipment, chemicals, spare parts, and services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

A few years ago, we decided that we wanted to start being producers and not just distributors or resellers. Because of this, we began to build and invest in our own production facility, and we needed help with digitalization and an IT transition for our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IDE3 is our managed IT services provider. They've provided a complete hardware and software solution for all our computers and networking. First, they offered their services offsite and later began supporting us onsite as well; they've come to our facilities 2–3 times. 

They've delivered a new server, project base, and software support for all the computers. They purchase and install Microsoft Office, SOLIDWORKS, and AutoCAD for us. The team offers maintenance and support for all our systems. We're still waiting for some features because we're moving into a new building and they have to wait for us to build a new structure. 

What is the team composition?

We've worked with three people onsite and around 10 teammates offsite.

How did you come to work with IDE3?

We found them through the consulting office we were cooperating with, one of Croatia's biggest providers. This partner told us they had a company that could meet our needs and connected us to IDE3. We chose them because o their price, delivery time, and response speed. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around €30,000 (approximately $30,000 USD). 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2022, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I give IDE3’s work high marks. Thanks to them, our systems are stable, and efficiency is high. When we have issues, we send a claim via email. The team replies within a few minutes and calls us within half an hour.

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email and have a direct line to their technicians. We can call them directly when something urgent happens, and they respond in seconds. As for deadlines, we’ve never faced any problems with delivery times. They do things when they say they will and sometimes even faster than promised.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with IDE3’s competence and speed. They’re the fastest in our market and offer new solutions. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could improve their price. Other than that, I have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should be prepared with your ideas, know your location, and have all the plans for your network and ISP provider. If you have all the information, you’ll have no issues with IDE3, and they’ll be fast.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive manager of the European Financial Planning Association, a nonprofit organization. We’re a certification and examination body; we organize exams for financial advisors and issue a certificate for those who pass the exam.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

One of our main assets is a registry of certified advisors, which contains a list of people who pass the exam. We needed to develop a software solution to manage this registry. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IDE3 developed and is now maintaining a custom software solution to help manage our list of certificate holders. The product is for internal use and has a simple design. For external use, they created an iframe that serves as a public search tool for our registry, which we inserted into our website.

The main focus of the software was QC. We usually import our data from national offices, which use very different systems and approaches. When creating a European registry, IDE3 helped us create a homogeneous approach to ensure that the data quality is on the same level. 

Within the solution, information has to be recorded in a certain way to derive analytics from it. The program also needs to be kept updated because certificates can expire or be terminated before they expire for different reasons. IDE3 has made some minor changes and has done additional development. Currently, they provide maintenance for the solution. 

What is the team composition?

My main contact is a project manager, and I also have contact with the developers. Additionally, I keep in touch with the owner. 

How did you come to work with IDE3?

I found them on Clutch. Google searches didn’t work for me and finding a vendor was challenging. Then, a friend who works in IT suggested I use Clutch; I found the service superb and the site well-structured. I made a list of potential providers, and then we made a shortlist and interviewed candidates. We originally picked another vendor that didn’t work out, so we came back to IDE3.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around €20,000 (approximately $21,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our main goal was to have a functioning high-quality register, and that’s working well. The public search tool is also important because it represents our brand to the wider public. The IDE3 team is fast to respond when something goes wrong — they always answer within a day. 

Something important to us is how IDE3 responds to additional questions or requests and whether they charge extra for them. The team doesn’t charge excessively, and they always state additional costs explicitly within documents. When I ask a question, and they don’t mention money, it means we won’t be charged, which is important for trust in our partnership. 

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re good at project management. Although there were delays in the original timetable, they were always well-communicated and explained. There’s never been a sense of the work not being done, which is the main factor. 

Our communication is primarily through email, and we’ve had a couple of Google Meet talks, particularly at the beginning and during milestone deliveries. They also use Mantis Bug Tracker.

What did you find most impressive about them?

IDE3 delivers what we request. They understand what we need and deliver it; that’s not easy to find.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was a time when we had a real shortage of resources on our side due to holidays and sick leave, and IDE3 was urging us to finish the software development. They escalated the situation quite strongly. This has been the main drawback for me in our whole collaboration. I’m not sure that’s something they can work on, though, and we haven’t had any other negative experiences with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to make sure the contract is detailed and then reviewed by a legal company with experience with software development contracts.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a partner in a consulting company. We deal in tourism consultancy, doing management consulting in all services related to tourism. We founded the company in August 2016.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

When we entered our new offices, we called IDE3 to plan everything related to the IT infrastructure, computer software, and so on.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IDE3 has provided 360 IT consulting services. First, they entered the office and identified the connections. They told us what type of IT infrastructure we should buy, including computers, servers, and so on. Then, they connected us to the phone companies and solved everything.

From that point on, they’ve been at our disposal. When we send an email, they answer quickly. If we have some issue with the computers, software, or network, they’re our IT guidance. They do on-site work when they have to do something physically within the company, but 80% of the work is off-site. They have software that allows them to see everything.

We just received their annual reports and recommendations. We're thinking about migrating everything to the cloud.

What is the team composition?

Up to now, we’ve worked with 6–7 people from their team. They have some kind of scale — there are 1–2 people for IT infrastructure, two other people for day-to-day issues, and so on. We deal with different people depending on the issue.

How did you come to work with IDE3?

I used to work for a big company, and IDE3 provided the services there. We were satisfied with their service, so we started working with them when I entered HD Consulting.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent €35,000 (approximately $40,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

My first contact with them was much earlier, but we officially started working with them in August 2016 with this company, and we’re still collaborating with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The system is working, and there aren’t any problems. Our data is still on a server, but we’ll move it to the cloud, and we know it’ll work right when we do it.

When we started to work from home, there were some problems because not everybody had the appropriate bandwidth connection. However, this wasn’t IDE3’s issue.

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. We receive a short report every month regarding everything they’ve done, so they keep it transparent. Also, every time we have to make an investment, they give us options, and there isn’t a change in their price. Everything they do is within the budget.

To communicate, they have an internal tool in which we type in the problems we have, and they answer immediately. We also use all kinds of Microsoft Solutions, and we’ve agreed they’ll provide education on this.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Firstly, they’re swift. When we write or call for a problem, they act within a couple of hours, which is very important for us to function. Secondly, they’re user-friendly. Even though they explain heavy IT stuff, they always talk to us in user-friendly language so everybody can understand.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any suggestions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as detailed as you can when you first contact them so they can have a great response. If you explain the problem in simple ways, they can address it well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the General Secretary of The Croatian Journalist Association, an NGO chamber for journalists that represents most of the journalists in Croatia. I've worked in my role for seven years, and I'm in charge of the organization's financial, organizational, and administrative aspects.

We are not just an ordinary NGO because part of the organization is nonprofit and another is for-profit. We have a massive building in Zagreb where we rent offices and other business estates. We also do some event management in our large hall that we utilize for organization conferences and events. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

We hired IDE3 to help us build a custom software system; they also offered some IT services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IDE3 worked with us to develop a digital platform database for our members so they can have access to their profiles on the back- and frontend of the database. They'd created our initial database 6–7 years ago, but it was old and needed modernization. We received money from the European Commission to improve our database. We have very complex hardware and software systems, so IDE3 created simpler software systems for our databases. This project allows all 2,000 members of our organization to customize their profiles and access useful information from our organization. 

Now, IDE3 provides maintenance and hosting services for all of our software systems.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is Ivan (Founder and CEO), but we've worked with about 20 teammates from IDE3 over the years. 

How did you come to work with IDE3?

IDE3 was already working with our organization when I first came on board, and I'm not sure how we got in touch with them. However, I've known Ivan for about 20 years; we used to work at a famous radio station together. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested €60,000–€100,000 (approximately $67,000–$111,000 USD) with IDE3. 

 What is the status of the engagement?

The company has been working with IDE3 for over 10 years, but I first began working with them in October 2015, and our partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The digitization of our database has made our work so much easier, and our storage rooms are no longer filled with paper files. We have a lot of members with a lot of data, which has saved us so much time recovering that data.

We're so happy that we're going to utilize this opportunity to continue digitizing and applying new solutions to make our work easier.   

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?

IDE3 has become so close to us that we regard them as an in-house team — we completely trust them. Their team is accessible and pleasant to work with; they rotate in on projects depending on what needs to be done. We communicate with them via email and phone calls, and they respond quickly. However, IDE3 does prefer written communication to avoid any inconveniences in the future.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is nothing for IDE3 to improve.  

Any advice for potential customers

I'd advise customers to be very specific and detailed in their requests for IDE3. If customers present their ideas well, IDE3 will develop a good product. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the B2B and CRM specialist for a leading home appliance company in Croatia. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

We hired IDE3 to provide call center services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, IDE3 only provided us with call center services that were mainly focused on answering customer calls and potentially resolving customer issues. However, after a few months working on the call center, we expanded the scope of work to include CRM development. We provided the IDE3 team with documentation to outline our needs and existing software. From there, IDE3 created the CRM design and then developed it. We managed our projects and employees through the CRM. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with three teammates from IDE3, including Petra (Business Analyst) and Ivan (Founder and CEO). 

How did you come to work with IDE3?

I inherited the project from a former colleague, who found IDE3 through a referral. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested over $10,000 with IDE3. 

What is the status of this engagement?

My company has been working with IDE3 since November 2020, and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I've only been working on this project with IDE3 for three months, but I'm delighted with IDE3's work so far. They're very friendly and have provided a lot of quality advice to improve our company. 

How did IDE3 perform from a project management standpoint?

Typically, I communicate with IDE3 through phone calls and email. If there are project issues, we use an online application to convey and resolve them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I am really happy with IDE3 because their communication is excellent. Unlike other firms I've worked with, I don't have to wait a long time for a response to any of my messages. I can contact anyone from their team to resolve any questions or issues and they'll respond within a few hours. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

At this moment, I don't think there is anything IDE3 can improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd advise customers to know exactly what they want from a project with IDE3 and listen to the advice IDE3's team provides. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there? 

I’m the managing director of Micom Elektronika d.o.o. We are a trading company that is part of a larger group of companies covering southeast Europe.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with IDE3?

We needed an IT support partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

IDE3 is our IT service provider for the entire company. They maintain our existing networks, computer systems, implement new solutions and technology, and change fiberoptics and network connections as needed, among other efforts. They also have remote access to our network and manage everything, including drives, servers, backups, and printers.

In addition to that, their team makes recommendations on IT issues to help improve security levels and backup systems.

What is the team composition? 

We work with 6–7 people from their team, including their CEO, a technical director, and other technicians.

How did you come to work with IDE3?

They were working with us when I onboarded as managing director.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent less than $10,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around January 2013, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re knowledgeable and make excellent recommendations. Also, when we have an issue, they quickly understand it and provide solutions on time. Overall, they know what we need better than we do, and we’re satisfied with every aspect of the engagement.

How did IDE3 perform from a project management perspective?

They are available to consult and suggest solutions whenever necessary. We have meetings on an as-needed basis to discuss a new project.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

They don’t require us to repeat ourselves or have several meetings to understand our needs; they get it and find appropriate solutions quickly. Additionally, they're a polite team, and we enjoy working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there's anything they can improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Present your needs and expectations clearly, and listen to their advice.