KDG

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the controller of a staffing service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG?

We’re transitioning to another platform for our payroll system. The new platform doesn’t have invoicing capabilities, so KDG was engaged to transition our software and migrate our data to Zoho Books.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

KDG transitioned our software from QuickBooks to Zoho Books. They’re also building a custom invoicing solution using Zoho Creator. It takes data from our payroll system, creates an invoice, and sweeps it into Zoho Books. We’re currently moving into the testing phase.

What is the team composition?

For the migration project, we worked with two people. There are three individuals working to create the custom invoicing platform.

How did you come to work with KDG?

They were introduced to us by our payroll company.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in September 2019, and the invoicing project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The migration project was seamless, and a complete success. For our current project, the team has frequently followed up with us, so the process has been very smooth.

How did perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been excellent. We hold weekly calls, or more if necessary. We haven’t experienced any issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication and customer service are absolutely stellar. I’ve never worked with a vendor that communicates that well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any negative feedback whatsoever.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The key to a successful working relationship is to ensure that everyone’s on the same page at all times. Don’t hesitate to tell them exactly what you need, because there’s no doubt that they’ll be able to find a solution.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Smart City Locating, where we find people apartments. We’re based in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

We were initially looking to improve our internal CRM system. We were working with a system called Zoho, but we found ourselves experiencing a lot of lead waste. Our real estate agents were forgetting to follow up with us, so we needed a platform that would incentivize their engagement.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

While we were initially interested in adding custom features to our existing Zoho software, the team eventually built a custom CRM for us. This solution was very much the result of scope creep because after talking to their team for a while, we realized we needed an entirely new system to address our structural needs.

Kyle (CEO, Kyle David Group) and Zach (Software Developer, Kyle David Group) helped write custom scripts for Zoho. Eventually, we flew them down to consult with us about our system and decided to create a full-blown custom CRM. They were an obvious choice since we’d established a great working relationship.

They created an action-incentivized system where no lead could exist in the CRM without a follow-up date. That way, we could ensure that our real estate agents would update their progress in the software. This new system facilitates the apartment-finding process because it enables agents to keep track of their client connections.

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with Kyle and Zach, who worked to architect the new software. I know that they managed a larger team on the implementation and development of it.

How did you come to work with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

We initially contacted KDG because they were certified in Zoho development. We decided to stick with them even after the scope switch because we had a great rapport.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent close to a million dollars.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2017 and launched the system in November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Through our new software, we increased our revenue-by-head by an enormous margin: 38%. They’ve created a phenomenal product that eases the administrative process for us and our agents. They were great through-and-through.

How did Kyle David Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Due to our specific business process, we hired an in-house product manager to oversee the project management. That way, the agents and the developing team could have a go-between. So, we only utilized their project management for the first 5­–6 months of the engagement, but it was very smooth. We communicated via weekly video calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re excellent at architecting a great product. I really like the way that they’ve built the system, and the engagement itself was very educational. I learned things I wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for them.

Now, they’re even working with us to transition into having an in-house developer. They’re so helpful, and genuinely good guys.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d say that design isn’t their strongest suit. While they’re capable of building a powerful, sophisticated product, they could improve their visual design skills.

Since we’re a young and trendy company—and since great UX/UI seems to be an industry standard—we brought in a UI guy to design the frontend. While our software was for internal use and not customer-facing, I think they could benefit from hiring a great designer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d go into the engagement with a plan. It helps to wireframe your desired requirements so you can stipulate what you want.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CUPRAP is a voluntary organization of communications professionals from colleges, universities and independent schools dedicated to advancing the understanding of higher education and enhancing the professional development of its members.

CUPRAP members work in public relations, media relations, marketing, publications, sports information, web and graphic design, and more. Founded in Pennsylvania in 1980 as one of the nation’s few statewide organizations, CUPRAP members now come from many states. Today, CUPRAP has nearly 350 members from 100 institutions. I am the association's executive director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire KDG | The Kyle David Group?

In 2008, CUPRAP hired KDG to design a very basic website. Eight years later, technology had changed considerably as did our organization. To continue to grow, we needed a much more user-friendly and interactive website that also looked professional. We also needed it optimized for mobile use.

What were your goals for this project?

The site needed to be refreshed, redeveloped and redesigned to provide options for joining CUPRAP, learning about its offerings, registering for events, and keeping in touch with other members’ activities.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

KDG's founder, Kyle David, had been a long-time supporter of our organization and had spoken at our events for many years, sharing his expertise to our members during professional development events. Many of our member institutions had used Kyle and recommended his group very highly.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The team at KDG, who have spent over fifteen years in nonprofit website design, was focused on making the job CURPRAP members do easier so they had more time to make a difference in the world of higher education. KDG introduced CUPRAP to MembershipWorks, a data management software, in order to lessen a great majority of the workload. Before MembershipWorks, much of the membership data CUPRAP officials gathered had to be done manually. There were constant email reminders that had to be created in regards to collecting membership dues and notifying members of late payments. Forms were needed to register for various events. Throughout every step of the membership process, forms, payments, and data were gathered. CURPRAP needed a way to make this process not only easier for the members in charge of it, but also more organized.

What was the team composition?

Matt Harwick, AVP/Design led a team of designers and web developers. Matt continues to be our main contact and his customer service skills and technical expertise are outstanding.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

With the new software, all membership data and news can be stored in one place and managed digitally. Collecting and processing payments is now easier and more efficient. Event registrations are now simpler. CUPRAP even has a way to manage and categorize their membership lists. In another effort to improve usability, the new site was also optimized for mobile.

Those using a cell phone or tablet were unable to access CUPRAP’s old site. Since practically every adult now uses a smartphone, CUPRAP was missing a sizeable amount of possible web traffic. By ensuring that the new site worked and looked well on mobile, KDG helped CUPRAP expand its audience.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Before starting the development of the project, the opinions and suggestions of the men and women using CUPRAP’s website every single day were sought. All CUPRAP members were sent surveys and polls in which they outlined the most important web features they believed the new site should have.

Topping the list were features such as updated events and recent CUPRAP news. Implementing the features members of CUPRAP both wanted and needed ensured that their experience with the site would be a positive one. The site was fine-tuned and tested over several months to make sure it was practically perfect before launch. It was a very smooth roll out.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Outstanding customer service and an amazing work ethic shared by all the employees at KDG. Everyone there is extremely knowledgeable in his or her particular area of expertise. At the helm is a very experienced, smart and people-focused leader with an exceptional work ethic who cares about his clients as individuals, not just revenue generators.

Are there any areas for improvement?

KDG, keep doing what you are doing. It is working out well for you and your clients.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of G Technology, an electrical contractor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG | Kyle David Group?

Our main challenge was communication between our office and employees in the field, so we reached out to KDG to help us develop a software to bridge that gap.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

KDG designed and developed a field management software, connecting internal office communications from the field to the office. They initially met with our team to go over requirements and goals, and then provided wireframes followed by development. The platform allows employees to enter and track work orders, time, payroll, materials, equipment, and notes. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with about four people at first, but we now work with a couple more as we move into different phases of the project. 

How did you come to work with KDG | Kyle David Group?

We'd worked with a different firm in the past, but their deliverables were a complete mess. Then, a friend of mine recommended KDG, so we reached out to them and liked their solutions much more.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested about $50,000 on the first phase of work, which includes a foundation of a platform we've started to use, and we anticipate it will cost about the same for the next phase. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since April 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The first version of the software they built has already streamlined many internal workflows, allowing our team to start inputting work orders and tracking time. Our new ability to track the status of different projects in one place has significantly benefited different departments throughout the business. 

How did KDG | Kyle David Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very attentive, proactive about following up in communication, and dedicated to ensuring the software is running properly. Whenever we experience any bugs or issues, their team is quick to fix them, provide testing, or even go back to the drawing board when necessary.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very professional and bring a lot of great ideas to the table. They apply their expertise to help us avoid pitfalls, providing feedback where they can improve the product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I'd recommend working with them regardless of whether or not the scope of work has been clearly defined. They're good at guiding clients and providing advice on different solutions specific to the organization's needs. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP of advisor relations at Keystone Financial Management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

Our website became inactive, so we needed a vendor to redesign and develop it to not only restore our online presence, but also to improve it. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

KDG redesigned our website after meeting with us to go over our goals and challenges. In addition to design and development, they also created content and completely managed the project on their end. 

What is the team composition? 

I worked with a marketing manager, designer, and the assistant vice president of design.

How did you come to work with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

KDG purchased and moved into our former office space, so we already had a personal relationship with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $10,000 altogether.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2018–April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've received a lot of great feedback regarding the new website, which more effectively tells our story. We definitely have a higher rate of customer satisfaction online now thanks to the improved layout and functionalities they implemented. 

How did KDG | The Kyle David Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed well above average, consistently tracking progress and staying in regular communication with us throughout the engagement. We spoke at least once a week and tracked milestones through Zoho Project. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Their communication and proactive project management sets them apart. They didn't let anything slip through the cracks and provided a lot of helpful feedback along the way. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can't name anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come prepared with project goals and as much information as possible, so their team has a lot to work with. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and founder of Exeter Orthodontics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

We wanted to build a new website to increase patient acquisition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We didn’t have a clear vision for the website, so we allowed KDG | The David Group to lead every stage from conception to execution. They initiated the project with a brainstorming meeting and moved on to develop the site according to the specifications that they mapped out. After a successful first launch, we employed them to build a second company website. Their team currently monitors our social media accounts and promotes our business via PPC marketing.

What is the team composition?

Their owner is our main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

After working with them at past dental practices, I knew that they were qualified to help us.

How much have you invested with them?

To date, we’ve spent close to $1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in 2006. We launched our first site in 2011, and our second website debuted in 2013.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We use a mix of direct mail, billboards, and TV commercials to promote our business, but none of those methods bring us success like KDG | The Kyle David Group’s digital marketing.

How did KDG | The Kyle David Group perform from a project management standpoint?

We used to speak multiple times a day during development, but we transitioned to biweekly correspondence post launch. Operating as an extension of our team, they share files and status updates through various G Suite apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

KDG | The Kyle David Group is phenomenal at everything, but customer service is their greatest strength. They actually listen to our feedback and apply it to their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They haven’t given us a reason to look anywhere else for digital marketing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Customer success is their top priority, so it’s a great idea to let them take charge.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO and founder of BluVault. We're a management consulting company that focuses on implementing cloud-based procurement software. We do integrations with different cloud software as well. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

Our company innovates with technology to solve business problems for our clients. We have a service offering that we wanted to build a tool to manage. It's called supplier enablement. We do research, obtain, and update vendor master information to provide our clients.

Along the way, we decided to use technology to manage information and run email campaigns to the suppliers. We started building a platform to do so and hired KDG | The Kyle David Group to help fill in technical capabilities we lacked internally. They had the right programming capabilities and experience using the Zoho Creator platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, KDG | The Kyle David Group provided ad hoc support. I found they had the capabilities and knowledge we needed. Our project was less structured than most they probably do. The only common theme was when I called to ask for help. We handed off several types of tasks as we experienced challenges using the tool in production. KDG | The Kyle David Group addressed these problems and made enhancements to evolve the platform over time into a robust tool we can use for big companies. 

They've also helped us with a couple of large projects for clients in Germany, another European business, and corporations in the US. They expanded the platform so it can support multiple languages and automated several tasks to make the tool as efficient as possible. Now, we didn't need an administrator to manage everything manually. 

What is the team composition? 

We worked with 2–3 programmers, one of which ended up changing roles over time. KDG | The Kyle David Group also assigned us a project manager. 

How did you come to work with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

I searched on Google for a team with the particular software coding skills to use Zoho Creator. KDG | The Kyle David Group are certified developers on that platform. I tried some contractors I found through various online postings where developers can negotiate rates, but none of them were reliable. 

I needed to work with a dependable team who could help us troubleshoot and solve problems. We accepted the premium that costs compared to offshores vendors and picked KDG | The Kyle David Group. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $10,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2017. Our ongoing work comes in waves. We've used KDG | The Kyle David Group for a few different development projects and are moving onto a second tool on the same development platform. The team provides significant support. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

KDG | The Kyle David Group gives us a competitive advantage. To my knowledge, we're the only company in this area that has a proprietary technology to support our supplier enablement service. Our clients understand and appreciate that it makes a lot of sense. The technology serves as an accelerator and enables us to create value. It definitely helps us manage projects and close more business. 

How did KDG | The Kyle David Group perform from a project management standpoint?

It's not the easiest platform to learn how to use, and KDG | The Kyle David Group did a great job managing the project. Being a certified developer provides certain advantages. Our company didn't want to go that far down the path since we're not trying to build a business around using these tools. We're just trying to solve business problems. It's supposed to be a low code platform, but it turns out we really needed professional programmers to get it to do what we wanted. Without their support, we would have gotten stuck a long time ago. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was most impressed by how quickly KDG | The Kyle David Group gets the job done. They solve problems efficiently at an affordable rate. Those are two important criteria for success. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

One of their challenges as a growing company is having a work queue. Their availability is limited to we sometimes have to wait in line. They weren't available for the fourth quarter, which is significant. Not being able to deal with more capacity could drive business elsewhere. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

KDG | The Kyle David Group does a good job of managing the project and client expectations. They line up the right resources to deliver. I'm certainly happy to recommend them to someone who is looking for help based on the work they've done for me, but I don't know anything else about the other capabilities other than what I've seen for the specific language in programming. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Autopom! provides extended auto warranties for insured drivers nationwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

We’ve used Zoho CRM since 2010, but we weren’t capable of programming the system to accommodate our unique business needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their first task was to build an app that calculates sales commissions using our Zoho CRM data. Pleased with their results, we asked them to assume the management role for our blog. Each month, they work with our freelance writer to publish SEO-friendly content; their team also drafts an accompanying press release to publicize the articles. The Kyle Davis Group also collaborates with our affiliates to develop landing pages and guest blogs. To enhance our lead generation, they integrated an automated live chat feature that logs essential client information into our website and CRM. They’re currently focused on migrating our entire platform from HubSpot to WordPress, in addition to redesigning our website’s frontend.

What is the team composition?

Their marketing manager served as our main point of contact, but we also worked closely with their senior software developer and one of their UX designers.

How did you come to work with KDG | The Kyle David Group?

We discovered their company in my search for Zoho CRM specialists. Through their website, we found that had an impressive background in Zoho CRM systems, but also SEO, digital marketing, graphic design, and web development. 

How much have you invested with them?

To date, we’ve spent at least $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything that KDG does translates into success. Before they started providing SEO services, we had less than 1,000 leads in total; we’re now getting 1,600 qualified leads on a monthly basis and a substantial increase in site traffic. Our payroll process has also improved significantly with the app that they built for our Zoho CRM.

How did The Kyle David Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re currently working on multiple projects for us, but their exceptional planning skills have yet to decline. We use Google Docs and the project board on Zoho CRM to coordinate the schedules and keep of our progress via regular phone conferences and emails. So far, they’ve met every milestone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We couldn’t ask for a better partner than The Kyle David Group. They were initially brought on board to enhance our Zoho CRM system, but they eventually became a one-stop-shop for all of our online needs. With unmatched expertise in SEO and CRM, their well-versed team has a viable solution for any problem that arises. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’re incredible, so it’s impossible to think of anything that could be refined.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Small businesses looking to expand in size and reach should reach out to The Kyle David Group. We’ve grown exponentially since we started working with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m currently the CEO of a healthcare consultancy focused on health technology. Prior to that, I was a senior VP at Yaffe & Company, which is when I most recently worked with the Kyle David Group.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the Kyle David Group?

Yaffe & Company wanted to fully rebrand and expand its service offerings. We were looking for a firm to help us determine how to market these offerings.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They made a strategic evaluation of our existing website and talked with us about which markets we’d redirect into. Next, they researched the market to understand where we sat versus our competitors. Once they had that data, they sat down with us to develop a new branding strategy and a new website.

What is the team composition?

One of their UI/UX designers served as the lead on our project.

How did you come to work with the Kyle David Group?

I’ve hired them for a number of different business ventures over the past decade and always found their work to be of high quality. They’re professional and have always finished projects on time and on budget. With this project, I felt like their proposal offered not just a technological solution, but a creative one, in terms of where we wanted to move strategically and how to implement our new services.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from May 2017–January 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

User traffic and engagement increased after we launched the new site. We also saw a rise in the number of people submitting inquiries about our services or signing up for webinars.

How did The Kyle David Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They used Zoho as our primary communication tool. It allowed the rest of their team to stay up to date after our conference calls with the project lead. Those notes were always posted very promptly so that we could follow up if their team had any questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve always admired the overall quality of their work and the commitment of their team. They’re active listeners who took the time to understand the company’s challenge in order to realize our goals. They proposed multiple, creative solutions that gave us room to choose the best-fit approach for each step of the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. I think my successes with them over time are why I’ve gone back to them repeatedly. They’re consistently responsive across all levels of the company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a contractor serving as a business analyst for a manufacturing company in the Lehigh Valley.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KDG?

We needed to shut down any of our applications that were running on Lotus Notes and move them onto a new platform, since Lotus Notes was no longer supported. Our applications require a chain of custody, so we needed seamless routing process that allowed people to have the application online, eliminating paper and email trails.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a web-app for internal use using Zoho Creator. We chose Zoho after evaluating a number of “low-code” platforms and found Zoho the best value for the scale of app solutions we needed at the time.

KDG also built iOS and Android mobile apps for us. Currently, they provide ongoing maintenance for the applications that are up and running, and they’ll continue to help with new app developments.

What is the team composition?

We have a project manager who pretty much handles everything, and we act as liaisons between our respective sides. I’ve also worked with two developers specifically. One of them is the primary one who helps maintain the system and develop apps, and I’ve just started working with the second.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together for about two years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re extremely valuable. We have people internally that are learning the Zoho system, but it takes a very different developmental mindset: it’s not as simple as drag and drop, you really have to look at the backend logic. We would have been able to implement the solution without a partner, but not nearly as quickly. We continue to work with KDG because they turn things around very quickly and they can troubleshoot quickly.

How did KDG perform from a project management standpoint?

We have an online forum where I can put in issues, comments, questions, and concerns and then they’ll respond back through that. I can put up a screenshot of requirements and they’ll respond in there. I communicate with one of the developers through that portal and with the other one by email. It just depends what their preferences are.

KDG is very quick in communicating and getting back to us, and if there’s ever an issue we can’t handle quickly they’ll investigate it. If they can’t handle something they’ll send it to Zoho Creator and kept us updated on that dialogue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The amount of knowledge that they have within the application is vast. I can ask them any question and they’ll give us the best way to do it, plus alternative options. We've never once had a problem with them not being able to do something or not being able to do it a certain way.

I've worked with a lot of vendors before, and KDG’s ability to think outside of the box amazes me. I can hand something to them and they’ll think about it in a different way than I did and make it easier, cleaner. They can also switch between working on several applications quickly, which is really impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The quoting of timelines. Sometimes, if I ask them for a timeline they’ll say I’ll have it next week, but that doesn’t always help me. My customers want to know exactly when they’ll have something and I need to be able to tell them. They could definitely make their timelines more definite and specific.

Any advice for potential customers?

If you’re going through the process of interviewing a vendor, make sure you know what your software can and can’t handle. Specifically, in the case of Zoho there’s a lot of things it can’t do that Zoho’s support center can’t help with. If a client didn’t understand what they were getting into with a specific software that could put KDG in a bad light, even though they’re not to blame.