Kwix Global Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We manufacture swimming pool equipment and appliances. I'm shareholder director of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kwix Global Solutions?

We wanted to create an app that automates swimming pool equipment and pool operations. The purpose is to enable pool owners to turn lights on, change disinfection levels, and adjust water temperatures remotely.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app is for iOS and Android. We had to develop the hardware and firmware to operate all the equipment. They liaised and worked with the hardware and firmware developers, discovered how the equipment operates, and built an app that reflects what the equipment does. They were responsible for the user experience and made an intuitive app that allows the pool owner to make changes by remote or on their phone.

We ran trial runs of the equipment as it was developed. When the hardware was completed, they reviewed it and made adjustments to the app so everything coordinated together. We're currently working on those adjustments.

What is the team composition?

I work with a direct sales contact and the head of their development team. I speak with them twice a week.

How did you come to work with Kwix Global Solutions?

We found them through word of mouth, and I knew one of our contacts in a past role. I called them and asked if they were interested in working with us on this project.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent $100,000 on this collaboration.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working with us in February 2018, and the work is ongoing. The process was delayed by the hardware and firmware developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't released the app as yet, but we hope to go live within a month. We've shown what we have to some of our clients, and all of them are excited about the look and feel. Users love the modern design and intuitive navigation, especially compared to other apps in the marketplace.

How did Kwix Global Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very professional and excellent project managers. They have a very good understanding of what I want, and they took my basic ideas and made them interactive and engaging.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to understand our goals and translate them into a fantastic user experience was amazing. It's a complicated product that they didn't have any previous knowledge of. There are a lot of functions within the app, and all of those elements have to interact with one another. They distilled everything into an interconnective and easy-to-use tool.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any areas for improvement for them. I'd love for development to move faster, but their active time developing was only about six weeks in total. It's impressive that they've completed so much in such a short time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them detailed specifications of what you want and what the outcomes need to be. That way, they'll quickly grasp what you're looking for. Spend time preparing before you bring your project to them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO and founder of Love Organic Produce, which connects community-minded consumers with local organic growers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kwix Global Solutions?

We hired them to build an app and website for my online marketplace.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a website and app that would be easy to use with efficient user journeys.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I reached out to a number of prospective vendors and made my selection by taking into account their level of engagement, cost to build, and ability to work together effectively.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They designed wireframes, then developed the app and the website. They also did testing, set up servers, and integrated payment capture solutions.

What was the team composition?

I mostly liaised with the client director.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They built a solution that matched user needs, and that allowed us to launch our business.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We found their project management to be of middling quality. I was, however, very satisfied with my relationship with the client director.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were frequently in contact and very responsive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Keeping clients aware of key completion dates would be a good idea. I found it difficult to stick to time frames, which made the delivery later than I’d hoped. I would prefer to be managed more tightly. They should secure a fixed team to work on the project and set milestones to ensure consistency.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of a new positive impact company, focusing on a number of global impact areas including enviro-friendly product ranges. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Kwix?

The initial challenge was to design and build a complex, multiplatform app and website. Throughout the build, we have encountered a number of technical obstacles which have been overcome thanks to the Kwix team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kwix began our project by providing complex designs and recommendations based on extensive market research. The formal questionnaire provided supported clearer understanding ensuring everyone was on the same page. Ongoing communication and explanations assist in clarifying some of the more complicated issues we have encountered so far. The Kwix team has been an integral part of the project. Their experience, professionalism, and encouragement have helped bring together this unique build.

The application build itself is ongoing. It’s a large backend build, and we have addressed a lot of areas for phase one—looking forward to bringing the remaining together.

What is the team composition?

Our main points of contact are Aman (Co-Founder & Project Manager, Kwix) and Chavi (Head Designer, Kwix), but there are also a number of developers and programmers working across our iOS, Android, and web-based platforms. 

How did you come to work with Kwix?

We found Kwix through online research and a recommendation from our IT specialist. We were looking for quality developers that understood what we were putting together. It's a more complex application that required technical know-how along with leading innovation and a quality finish.

We looked at several larger international organization but hoped to work with a local, Australian firm. I found that Kwix had a personal touch, they didn't just treat us as another client. We enjoyed inital conversations with Aman and Len (Co-Founder, Kwix), and we've since been more than happy with our decision to work with them

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $120,000 AUD (approximately $84,500 USD) to date.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Kwix in November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There have been many potential complications throughout the process, all of which Kwix was able to find a solution for. There will be more to come, but they’ve already achieved success in a couple of key areas of concern. The quality has been exactly what we were hoping for. We're striving for world-class quality, and we haven’t been disappointed so far.

This was the first time we’ve built an app ourselves which presented us with a steep learning curve. The team explained to us how it would all progress, updating and recommending along the way.

How did Kwix perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been fantastic. The support and direction of the team have really kept the project moving along. Milestones and timelines are continually monitored. Communication is clear and precise.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I most appreciate their level of communication, support, experience, and project coordination. The Kwix team seems to go the extra effort explaining technical issues and providing answers/results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We have been extremely happy with the Kwix team, it would be difficult to fault them based on our experience so far. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have early consultations and be clear as possible on what the build requires. This will allow the Kwix team to gain a clearer understanding, which can result in more possible options.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the director of a company that offers an employee management system and related services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kwix Global Solutions?

We hired Kwix Global Solutions to add a leave management feature to one of our product. 

What were your goals for this project?

In addition to meeting all provided specifications, the solution needed to be reliable and thoroughly tested while engaging the necessary communication channels. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Of the four vendors we shortlisted, Kwix Global Solutions was the most knowledgeable and cost-effective and employed a milestone-based approach.   

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

I appreciated their agile methodology, which greatly improved the speed of completion. Kwix divided the project into two-week sprints, then used iterative development to complete the requirements in smaller segments. 

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of three developers, one tester, and one project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new leave management module has helped us generate more business, open new revenue streams, and establish a better foothold in our market. 

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management was effective with on-time delivery. They took the time to understand the requirements and followed the specifications exactly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They excel in iterative prototyping.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There were none. They managed everything smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of Swimming Pool & Spa Warehouse, a distributor that sells pool and spa equipment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kwix Global Solutions?

We needed to redo our website for the pool and spa business. Kwix Global Solutions also redesigned a site for another division of our company that distributes pool pumps.

What were your goals for this project?

We'd had an existing website for 10–12 years, but it wasn’t up to date or working adequately.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A friend of mine recommended Kwix Global Solutions. The previous company that worked on the site kept needing more money. I was cautious in the beginning, but my friend had used Kwix Global Solutions and made me more comfortable. I tried them out, and they fixed my issue.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

Kwix Global Solutions built our e-commerce website for the pool and spa business. We sell pool pumps, salt, chlorinators, and all other related products through the site.

I had initially hoped to just make some changes to the existing website, but the pages weren’t working properly. Instead, they started developing a new website from scratch. The team added different products, photos, and content, created a shopping cart, and changed the entire theme.

Their second web project was a website for just for one pool heating product. It only has about 5–6 pages. Kwix Global Solutions currently works on SEO for both our sites.

What was the team composition?

Most of my contact during the site development was with the project manager. We also worked with a graphic designer and a web developer from Kwix Global Solutions.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Kwix Global Solutions expanded our 5–6-page site into a platform with 21–22 pages. They kept adding to our website until it ended up how we wanted. Since we feature 60—70 products on the site, it was a massive undertaking.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Kwix Global Solutions has done very well. They told me what needed to happen for the redesign and carefully walked us through the beginning stages. I appreciated this guidance because I don’t have a technical background. After I spent 30,000 AUD (approximately $24,000 USD) on my first website, it crashed, and I had to redo it again. This is the third time I’ve rebuilt it, and now it’s finally working well. They sent diagrams for me to approve and changed anything I didn’t like. It was a smooth process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Kwix Global Solutions has been very honest with me. If I wanted anything extra, I knew the cost up front. Not to mention, they stuck to their word. If they told me something would take three weeks, they were done in three weeks. Here in Australia, a firm will tell you three weeks, but six weeks later you’re not any closer. They completed 3–4 milestones per project.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

No. They’re a good team, which is why I’ve worked with them multiple times and will continue to use them for SEO.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the director of an IT company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kwix Global Solutions?

We contracted them to develop an alert system app for iOS and Android devices with an accompanying backend.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop an app on both mobile platforms that allowed family and loved ones to feel safe.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We approached and interviewed three vendors. Out of all the options, Kwix Global Solutions was the best choice in terms of cost.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

With our app, users can select emergency contacts from their contact list. If there’s a problem or if something goes wrong, users can trigger an alert button that sends a message to their elected contacts, notifying them of the situation. This function features live tracking between all parties. While we haven’t launched the app yet, we’re looking at the next stage and figuring out how to go live.

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of two app developers, a designer, and a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

There’s always room for improvement—that goes for everything—but I’m pleased with their work. The app has evolved over time, and I’m happy with the way it performs and runs at the moment.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They listened to my instructions, and if they weren’t sure about something, they always came back to check. I appreciated that they didn’t just work independently and spend weeks developing code in the wrong direction. Rather, there was good communication between us. They proactively updated us on what they were doing, so I found them strong in that respect.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I’m happy with the team’s responsiveness and their work on the app’s interface. I hope to continue working with Kwix Global Solutions to develop my project further.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

Their response time could be a bit quicker. Although, I suppose 30 minutes isn’t too bad, and I’m just set in my ways.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I work as a project manager for an electronic management system company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kwix Global Solutions?

Kwix Global Solutions was hired to develop mobile apps for Android and iOS, along with an integrated website that would automatically capture, store, and evaluate the driving habits of student drivers. The information gathered would then be a basis for their required driver hours prior to obtaining a license.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to create a simple and accurate method for student drivers to log their compulsory driving time. The envisioned app would replace the manual paper log book and solve the subsequent problem of manipulation of time logged by learning drivers via the manual method.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Prior to finding Kwix, we engaged with two other companies that could not complete the project. We selected Kwix because we felt comfortable with their understanding of the technical issues of our project. They performed well on a difficult task as an initial test, and we offered them the full project.

Describe the project in detail.

After presenting Kwix Global Solutions with a brief, we progressed to developing wireframes and a design. We developed a timeline for all milestones. The key functionality of our product is to ensure the correct capture of live drive time, allowing accurate data to be logged and evaluated.

The main challenge we encountered was incorporating the legal driving requirements for the six separate states of our country. All states have different totals for required hours—one would need 120 and another would need 75, for example. Integrating that information into the automated system required skillful coders.

What was the team composition?

My main contact was with a project manager, but we were also assigned two senior iOS and Android developers, a backend programmer, and a designer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have had extremely positive feedback on both the apps and the web from real-time users, and we are currently in discussions with the numerous state government departments to further develop the service. The final app did not have any bugs or flaws as these were identified and rectified prior to the last round of testing.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a positive and productive working relationship. I did not need to directly communicate with any of the developers because the project manager was prepared at every juncture.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was extremely impressed when Kwix Global Solutions were able to solve the technical calculation challenges faced with the multiple state requirements. They managed to create one app instead of six to encompass all requirements. This was an extremely difficult project, but they succeeded tremendously. I think a key factor is they knew how to correctly gauge our requirements without promising something undeliverable, which we experienced with other vendors.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a blog called The Way I Vogue.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Kwix Global Solutions?

We needed to redo our site to make it more appealing.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a modern look that would drive more traffic to our site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I’ve used Kwix Global Solutions once before to do my first ever site.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

I had a particular theme in mind that I thought would be more attractive to my audience. The site groups certain blogs together and is informative for visitors. They made sure it was easy to use and that I can also use it to promote my business brand.

What was the team composition?

I dealt directly with a web developer and a designer. I preferred it this way, as it was a small project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I discovered that the theme I picked had certain limitations, but Kwix Global Solutions sorted it out by doing extra coding to enhance my theme. The programmer delivered on time, and the site was ready for our launch.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We worked well together. They kept in contact and made all small changes non-chargeable, which I was happy about due to my budget.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They delivered on my timeline and budget and were easy to get along with. I wasn’t forced to chase them down. They also had great ideas about how my project should function.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

There weren’t any. They did their job professionally.