Modern Signal

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

The product serves a vital programmatic need for us. This time last year, we were using a set of Google Sheets that I had connected, and, as you can imagine, that was not a well-functioning system.

So far, everyone seems to be happy with it. There were a couple of kinks to work out, but, even at launch, the system was ready to go. People are overwhelmed with how easy it is to use. I’ve also heard from a few individuals that the design is sharp. We haven’t gotten a lot of feedback, which I see as a good thing, and the reviews that we have gotten have been very positive.

How did Modern Signal perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was excellent. We’re very happy with their customer service. Most of the issues that we faced were from our end, but Modern Signal was always prompt, clear, and realistic about what they could get accomplished and by when. 

Even when we steered away from the project plan that we set out at the beginning, they were still able to meet every deadline. It took us a while to tailor our expectations at the beginning, but that was more of a problem from our side.

The communication was precisely the way we’d hoped it would be. They were very responsive and often got things done a few days before their official estimate. That being said, whenever we had urgent deadlines, especially towards the end, they met those.

Modern Signal is also great about troubleshooting. We’ve had relatively few issues, and once we bot everything set up, they were on it. It’s been a positive experience, and Modern Signal is incredibly easy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their work is excellent. They’re among the top consultants that we partner with. To be fair, we haven’t worked with other firms that provide the same services that they do, but their responsiveness and overall customer service stands out. 

The most notable thing was their ability to listen effectively. It’s reflected in the quality of the products that they create. Modern Signal took the time to understand our issues, our organization, and our needs. We just needed a simple system, and they delivered exactly what we wanted. The quality is high without having any unnecessary features. In addition to being kind, effective, supportive, they’re very affordable.

Are there any areas they could improve?

With any organization, you go through a period where you have to understand the other group’s style. We had some things to work out at the beginning, and we didn’t end up hitting the deadline that we set, but that was mostly on our end. There’s nothing structural about their business that needs to change, though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go for it. Modern Signal is efficient and has a broad range of skills. You will probably be able to use them for other projects as well. They’re a great one-stop-shop, and we plan to continue working with them. If you have technology needs, at least check them out, because they can save you time and money.

I was very glad when they asked about this. I do enjoy having the opportunity to share the great work that they've done. I would highly recommend them to other organizations, particularly non-profits that don't have the size of budgets that for-profits do.

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

Given our business rules, out-of-the-box solutions require too many customizations to be worth the purchase. Consequently, our team always uses Modern Signal for development because we know they’ll deliver the quality we expect. For example, we chose Modern Signal over other plug-ins and providers for a new certification management program. Since we’re upgrading our association management system in the next two years, we were concerned that no other vendor had the direct experience to handle any challenges or rework needed.  

Similarly, we went with a custom build for our online store and registration process. Modern Signal built the store from scratch and our users found it intuitive without experiencing any major issues. I’ve never seen a project—especially a registration feature—receive unanimous praise. I cannot speak more highly of them.

How did Modern Signal perform from a project management standpoint?

The two primary project managers work differently, but both accommodate us as a high-maintenance client. We’ve struggled on our end to find a project management system that works for us because our team doesn’t have a traditional or formulaic approach. Rather, Modern Signal works with us to reprioritize items when we run into scheduling challenges. There’s fluidity in overcoming these hurdles because our relationship is incredibly strong. We communicate via a tracking system, email, phone, and web conferencing. Our teams rarely meet face-to-face.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Modern Signal delivers on their promises and stays within budget. The team is also honest. For example, they recently persuaded us not to go through with a $30,000 project because the potential solution wasn’t a good investment. Most other vendors would’ve taken our money and let us realize that outcome on our own. After a series of bad experiences with partner agencies, we deeply appreciate our robust and interactive relationship with Modern Signal. The teams have frank collaborative discussions when challenges or disagreements arise. After years of working together, I completely trust them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Whenever we provide feedback, they try to make it happen and cram more work into their schedule. Modern Signal should feel empowered to tell us to back off and scale back our ask. Since none of our requests have changed the budget, they may have felt compelled to accommodate all of our stakeholders’ ideas. But we don’t need to make every idea work; there are plenty they can discard.