Jola Interactive

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP Information Technology of Sherrill Furniture

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sherrill Furniture offers exceptionally tailored custom upholstery and casegood product made in Hickory, NC

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Jola Interactive to accomplish?

• Fully integrated consumer, customer, and sales force website to automate the Configure, Price, and Quote process.
• Visual Configurator to support over 3 Billion possible visual combinations

SOLUTION

How did you find Jola Interactive?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Jola Interactive over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Technical CGI Capabilities

How many teammates from Jola Interactive were assigned to this project?

10-15

What was your primary form of communication with Jola Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Jola was selected to help us build a fully integrated site built on the Magento 2 Commerce platform to consolidate our eight different brand consumer websites, our B2B website, and different salesforce applications and sites. 

The project also required a separate project for building out the CGI capability for real-time visualization of our product line, which includes over 1000 products, 20 programs, 4000 fabrics, 600 wood finish/species combinations, and thousands of other visual options. 

• 3D Visual Configurator 
• Finish Chips and Swatch Cart 
• Shopping Cart and Checkout Feature 
• Virtual Showroom 
• Full integration with our backend systems 
• SEO Optimization 
• Accessibility Compliance

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• We've completed all in-line upholstery models and actively working on new introductions. We've completed 7 of 15 upholstery programs. All UX/UI work has been approved and the site is actively in development.

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

We have a dedicated Project Manager that I have a weekly reoccurring meeting with to review open tasks and status of any in-process work. We also have weekly meetings with the CGI team to review current programs and models. There are also ad-hoc meetings as needed for work sessions, design reviews, and questions about processes. All of the meetings are very tight and focused with a set agenda.

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

There are two things that stand out about working with Jola. First off, their technical capabilities and understanding of our complex product offerings and unique processes are very impressive. We can explain some very complex product rules that take years of experience to understand and they are able to take those details and build out a perfectly tailored solution after a very short work session. 

The second thing that has been great, is their culture and values. They are very dedicated and work efficiently but they also respond well to project changes or challenges that are inevitable during a project of this scope. When there are issues, we have a very healthy relationship and can work through those differences is a very fair and pragmatic way.

Are there any areas for improvement or something {provider_name} could have done differently?

Of course, both sides could have done some things better along the way. I don't think any of those things were foreseeable and just part of the nature of growth and learning as you work through a project this size. The one area I am sure Jola wishes they had a better understanding of upfront is the complexity of our product and the product and construction rules of one line of the product may be completely different than another.

There is no way to grasp that level of understanding without a huge time commitment from both sides during the pre-sales phase.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the graphic design and social media manager at Verellen, a furniture manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jola Interactive?

We needed someone to develop our website. Our main goal was to specify the line in the furniture and fabric more easily for the customer and create a user-friendly experience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jola Interactive has developed our website from scratch. We initially did a discovery phase to talk about our goals, our furniture line, and how our business functions. We provided them with technical specifications for the dimensions and imagery.

They’ve used Magento for development, Amasty for the search plug-in tool, and Adobe XD for the design and mock-ups. The site has a shopping cart functionality through AppStart, and Authorize.Net does the credit card transactions. Customers with accounts can go onto the site, purchase pieces, and complete their transaction payments on one site. They can also order samples of fabrics and leather, which can be purchased online and shipped directly to the customer.

Currently, Jola Interactive continues to work on the website, adding features now that we have customers using it.

What is the team composition?

We’re mainly in contact with the project manager. Additionally, we’re in contact with the owner, a sales representative, and the main developer.

How did you come to work with Jola Interactive?

I found them online.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2021, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Jola Interactive was very helpful; there was a lot of handholding because they’d built many websites for customers in the same industry. Therefore, they were familiar with how it functioned, especially for B2B furniture manufacturers.

Their work definitely made the specification of our line much easier for customers. Users don’t have to dig around in our resource materials to find information. Jola Interactive created a sub-category with pieces already made and ready to ship. They also moved and combined that site with our site so everything’s available in the same place. Overall, the website now has an easy shopping experience that significantly benefits our customers.

How did Jola Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been very flexible. Jola Interactive has been generous at completing things for us; they’ve gone above and beyond. We communicate via Zoom, Google Meet, and Loom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re thankful for their experience in our industry. They’re experts in their field, and the team communicates on a human level with us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

One of the few issues we’ve had is the time difference. Although they’re quick to respond, everyone has to go home and sleep at some point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take time during the discovery phase to review the designs. Also, create a list of your goals for the site. During the engagement, ensure everybody is working on the same page, cross all your T’s, and get input from specialized people in different departments.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief digital officer of Moe’s Home Collection, a wholesaler of home furnishing products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jola Interactive?

We needed their development expertise to build web stores.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jola Interactive has developed two web stores, one for retail and one for wholesale, that fit our specialized requirements and integrate with our existing websites. We’ve provided them with our brand style guide. They’ve created wireframes, executed UX/UI design in collaboration with us leveraging Adobe, and reviewed the UX designs we’ve created internally. We’ve probably requested thousands of design elements throughout the project. They’ve also helped with third-party application integration and made recommendations, including the recommendation to hire an in-house digital expert.

The web store is fully integrated into our legacy systems. The backend of the web stores leverages Magento 2.4.5 with PHP 8.0, and is highly customized. The backend is hosted on the Magento cloud. The frontend has been built and hosted on a unique, customized progressive web app (PWA). Jola Interactive also utilizes GraphQL and React. An integration layer enables communication between the two web stores and our ERP system. The web stores and our ERP are connected to digital asset management and product information management systems. 

We’ve done user acceptance testing on our end, and Jola Interactive has done thorough QA testing on their end before deploying anything. Together, we’ve identified, prioritized, and resolved bugs.

The web stores are live and showcase our entire product catalog with unique capabilities. The “real-time inventory” feature is the most significant and reflects changes in inventory as sales occur via the web store and multiple other points of sale. The “smart cart” calculates and informs the customer of the estimated arrival time and cost of each shipment of an order containing items from multiple warehouses. This feature answers the customer’s questions without requiring them to contact customer support. Another feature, “smart claims”, enables the customer to submit an incident report related to freight, warranty, etc., directly into a ticketing system. 

Our internal team manages the web stores; we’ve hired in-house UX/UI designers to allow us to execute more designs going forward. They collaborate with Jola Interactive to maintain and develop new capabilities to improve our business operations and the customer experience. 

What is the team composition?

Apart from Michael (Founder), we’ve worked with a UX/UI designer, a project manager, and a lead full stack developer. 

How did you come to work with Jola Interactive?

Our owners were familiar with them. Jola Interactive was well-known in our industry and attended many furniture markets. They had a track record of building web stores, specifically for home furnishing wholesalers. They also specialized in Magento, which we wanted to use for our web stores.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The ongoing project started in mid-2019. Both web stores were live as of 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the first year after launching the retail web store, we saw an increase in site visitation of over 100% year-over-year (YoY). In the second year, we continued to enjoy strong growth with a site visitation increase of 70%–80%. The site resonates well with our customers. It’s too early to measure the impact of their work on the wholesale side.

Jola Interactive contributes to our strong digital presence and makes it easier for customers to shop with us, which is a core strategy of ours that we’re continuing to invest in. Their expertise adds value to our UX designs. The features they’ve developed create a transparent, self-service customer experience that allows us to easily and quickly address customer concerns. The development they’ve done also impacts more than what meets the eye of the customer. 

We knowingly adopted very new technology with PWA, and Magenta wasn’t quite ready for it. However, this new technology also presents many benefits now that we have it.

How did Jola Interactive perform from a project management standpoint?

We take a disciplined agile approach to our business, and this has carried over to the development project with Jola Interactive. We work in sprints, which are scheduled into our workflow with them. 

They offer flexible resources and expertise; they scale to meet our upcoming needs on a monthly or quarterly basis.

We’re in touch with them on a daily basis. We also have meetings with them 2–3 times a week about feature development, ticket management, or the overall business relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s not just their talent but also their attitude that impresses me. I’ve worked with many agencies, and none of them have been as invested in our needs as Jola Interactive. The way they collaborate and partner with us is outstanding. We consider them an extension of our internal team; that’s how embedded they are in our organization.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there are no shortcomings on Jola Interactive’s part.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t rely solely on the agency partner; it’s important to have in-house expertise that understands digital operations and digital sales.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Operations of an other industry company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We manufacture and sell furniture to businesses and designers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Jola Interactive to accomplish?

• Build a website

SOLUTION

How did you find Jola Interactive?

• Online Search
• Other

Why did you select Jola Interactive over others?

• High ratings
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Jola Interactive were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Jola worked with us to determine our needs, figure out what kind of site we needed, design our site and build it. They also provided great advice as we navigated unfamiliar territory. We now have a fully functioning website and are very happy with the result.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The design and creation of a website.

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

Jola delivered on time and was very adaptive as our needs changed during the project.

What was your primary form of communication with Jola Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Our account manager, Erin, always goes above and beyond what she has to do. She is extremely thoughtful and helpful.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Manager of a manufacturing company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Furniture manufacturing company and is the largest manufacturer of made-to-order leather furniture in North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Jola Interactive to accomplish?

• Create Digital 3D Models of Products
• Create Digital 3D Product Configurator and In-store Application
• Build New Website: Replatform and Redesign

SOLUTION

How did you find Jola Interactive?

Tradeshow

Why did you select Jola Interactive over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned
• Technical Skillset

How many teammates from Jola Interactive were assigned to this project?

15+

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

Jola has worked with our company (Palliser Furniture Ltd.)on 3 major projects, all underway simultanuesly for the past 14 months. These 3 projects can be defined as:

1. Animated 3D Modeling of over 1,500 products 
2. Development of 3D Product Configurator App, Front-end Admin Website for App, Back-end Admin Website for App 
3. Replatforming and redesigning of Website. 

The core strategic deliverables include the digitization of our product personalization process and sales lead generation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• 3D Modeling - can tangibly view the number of 3D Models that have been created. 
• Product Configurator App - is being physically installed as our store locations. 
• New Website - will generate sales leads for our store, which will allow us to capture a previously untapped segment of customers.

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

Project Management overall was superb - as both companies work well and communicate well together. Only minor hiccups were the use of multiple Project Management apps over the year, but was streamlined and condensed over time. Their development team is incredible, both from a talent and work ethic perspective. Due to the complexity of the multiple major projects happening at once, they have done a great job meeting high-level project milestones.

What was your primary form of communication with Jola Interactive?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Unique technical skillset, with an incredible range of WebGL programmers, 3D Model Artists, Magento Developers, and UX/Creative Designers - the technical team at Jola was always able to figure out a solution for a request from a technical point of view.

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

(1) Consolidation of Project Management apps that were used, but was streamlined near end of projects. (2) Communication of task completion dates, which did not always account for internal Jola QA before being shared with Palliser, resulting in some minor misalignment on delivery dates of tasks.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at a manufacturing company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Manufacturers architectural wood products and countertop surfaces

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Jola Interactive to accomplish?

• Create CGI images for us to market our products

SOLUTION

How did you find Jola Interactive?

Online Search

Why did you select Jola Interactive over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Jola Interactive were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We work with JOLA on an on-going basis to provide high resolution, high quality beauty images of our installed products to use in marketing materials. We have been very pleased with their level of work and the quality of the images we receive

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• images met our inspiration, company look & feel and the direction we wanted

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

they were very responsive and pushed timely projects through faster for us when needed

What was your primary form of communication with Jola Interactive?

Virtual Meeting

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

they fit our product space really well and does a great job creating very realistic scenes for us

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

I am pleased with the outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Information Technology of Global Views

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Design and wholesale decorative home accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Jola Interactive to accomplish?

• Create a Website

SOLUTION

How did you find Jola Interactive?

Referral

Why did you select Jola Interactive over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Other

What was the size of Jola Interactive’s team?

20-30

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

Jola designed, built, deployed and support our Magento based website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Working Website that performed better than previous website.

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

Deliverables were timely and communication was good on an deliverable that had to be delayed. They responded to needs immediately.

What was your primary form of communication with Jola Interactive?

Virtual Meeting

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

They have an intelligent & skillful team, extensive knowledge in our industry, and have always been responsive.

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

There are always areas that could use improvement. However, I feel that the project was completed in a timely fashion and hit the goals that we had established. The team that I worked with during the discovery, design, testing, and implementation phase was professional and overall a great team to work with.