idea box

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

The work was well-received by our internal team. The only thing we struggled with was the timeline, taking into account how long it takes for the system to get operational. There were challenges along the way, but their team was great at dealing with them.

How did idea box perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, their team performed well. Adam was our project manager, focusing on face-to-face interactions with our team. We had meetings regarding design structure, architecture, and how we wanted everything to flow.

We also held progress meetings where we went over any changes. If there was a change, their team would go back to development and then meet back up with us. As a project manager, Adam was responsive. When we had issues, he was always on top of them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their company isn’t working on more than 20 projects at a time. They give their clients their full focus. We didn’t want to work with an agency where we would be one of a thousand. We took a lot of time and effort in selecting a company that would meet our goals in the first try, and idea box delivered on that promise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I would’ve appreciated setting the expectations for big challenges in the beginning. There were several challenges during the engagement, which is no one’s fault. I think if the possibility would’ve been explained at the start, that might’ve made the journey a bit easier.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have a wide variety of experience with a whole range of projects. Their team is able to bring different expectations for various industries. That was valuable to our team.

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

Phase one has been deployed. It's only been live for 12 months, and we’re already in six or seven countries. We run about seven apps on the platform, and it's responsible now for probably half of our business. We have much bigger expectations for it in the future. 

For us, success is where the platform doesn't break. Due to issues with our previous platform, we didn't do as much pre-testing as we would’ve liked. That was quite a risk. A few things didn't work because of the lack of testing. Now there’s a clear picture of what success looks like for the next phase. We'll continue to work with them over the coming months to make sure at least 95% of messaging gets through, as well as rectifying any other issues. 

How did idea box perform from a project management standpoint? 

Adam doesn't over commit himself, but he does sometimes overthink things, which can cause a delay. I’ve been upfront about how to manage that trait, and it’s seemed to work. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I most appreciate their honesty and integrity. Also, they're true developers. I've been disappointed over the years with other firms that tell a wonderful story in the pitch process but can’t deliver on during development. Previous developers used third-party software, which meant the IP we own was limited since they used someone else's IP for the key elements. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their main weaknesses are in administration management. As a small business, I need them to invoice earlier in the process. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sit down and get agreement on all milestones. Have clear stage dates for each milestone. Make sure the payment terms are clear and tie payments to the milestones. Those are common issues when working with a small business. Overall, Adam is brilliant and passionate. His developers are head and shoulders above others.