Paper Leaf

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Manager, Marketing & Communications of ATCO

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Natural gas and electricity provider

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Paper Leaf to accomplish?

• Audit website
• Improve functionality based on customer needs

SOLUTION

How did you find Paper Leaf?

Referral

Why did you select Paper Leaf over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Offered the services applicable to the work we needed to do

How many teammates from Paper Leaf were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

After transitioning from a main website to two separate sub-domains, we wanted to check the state of the sites and ensure the navigation and content made sense for our customers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

To come away with research to support a new approach and navigation to the sub-domains based on customer feedback.

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

Yes. The tools used to keep the project on track worked well and allowed us to see how things were progressing as well as keeping us on track with our action items.

What was your primary form of communication with Paper Leaf?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The team was easy to work with and very knowledgeable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Paper Leaf could have done differently?

There was only one component of our project that we wish could have been a service offering from Paper Leaf, and that is access to a broad database of people in the service territory we were looking to survey. In the end, we had to find our own people for the project, and it wasn't ideal, but we made it work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a marketing and communications manager at Electricity HR Canada. We’re a national nonprofit organization that is largely funded by government grants. We make sure that all of the people responsible for Canada’s power grid have what they need to be prepared for HR challenges, including research, resources, and programs. We have a team of 15 based in Ottawa.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

We’ve been developing an online training program to help people develop skills that they need to transition into their careers. It has a number of complicated components to it and involves building out very specific platforms. We don’t have a lot of in-house resources so we wanted a partner for this project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Paper Leaf develops custom software for us. We started with a kickoff process, ensuring their team was well structured and that we had access to their project management tools. 

They helped us build out a completely dedicated platform that facilitates mentorship. It was a very customized build. They used a starting foundation, which they heavily modified to fit our needs. From there, they ensured there was a tremendous amount of admin control and flexibility so that we could evolve the program. 

Paper Leaf handled all of the design work, from wireframes to mockups to completed designs. They took our existing brand standards and site design and made an adaptation that suited the specific audience of this platform. Our regular brand is more corporate, and this platform is more youth-oriented. They translated our branding into something that appealed to this younger audience.

They also helped us build an online learning management system. Their team helps us tighter up our overall digital infrastructure and has taken over the maintenance of our websites and digital properties.

What is the team composition?

We work with a handful of team members from Paper Leaf. We work directly with Kerryn (Project Manager) on a regular basis, but we also work with Kayla (Operations Director), who makes sure everything is aligned with their resourcing. Their designer Jenelle (Designer) is phenomenal. Our initial developer was Zac (Developer) and additional iterations after that were handled by Sarah (Developer).

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

We have an open and transparent procurement process to find partners to work with. We had to run this process a couple of times because we weren’t satisfied with the initial proposals we received.

However, Paper Leaf really stood out to us. Not only was their proposal strong, but they made a clear effort to understand our organizational needs and what the project outcomes should be. I know a good agency when I see it, so we decided to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $150,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement began in September 2020. We’ve launched our initial mentorship platform and the online learning management system, but have an ongoing maintenance contract with Paper Leaf.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve only just launched the programs, but feedback so far has been outstanding. Everything that we’ve heard from our partners, our network, and our stakeholders has been positive. They’re thrilled with how the work is looking. 

We’ve seen great uptake of the platforms so far. In less than a month, our mentorship platform has over 200 users with no paid promotion. It’s a fairly niche platform, so that’s a substantial uptake for the sector. A large part of that is a combination of how approachable and effective the design is. The platform is very usable and streamlined. 

I’ve worked with a lot of development partners over the years.. Frankly, Paper Leaf has exceeded my every expectation and continues to do so. I recommend them to everyone. Our CEO gave a special shoutout to their team at our last board meeting. 

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams use Asana to collaborate. We also have regular bi-weekly check-ins and provide them with regular feedback sessions for major milestone events. 

Additionally, we created a shared Slack channel to expedite quicker questions. We onboarded to some of their programs which have elevated our project management, but they also met us halfway by joining our Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Paper Leaf put in a huge effort to really understand us and what success looks like for this project. We do very complicated technical work that none of their team had a background in. They invested a tremendous amount of time into learning this and communicating with our team about any questions they had. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, their team has been really transparent. It’s been great to work with them. When they were acquired by another company, the CEO reached out to me to address any concerns. I take that as a sign that they’re doing exceptionally well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You get what you put in. Meet them halfway. Anyone that engages them in the same way we did is going to get great results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of CayCan Safety Consulting. We’re a transportation compliance company. We help make sure trucking companies are properly following legislation. We’re also auditors on behalf of the government.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

The transportation companies we’re auditing frequently fall down on several sections of the audit, and a lot of that is traditionally done by a paper and administrative process. We engaged Paper Leaf to start developing some electronic solutions. Specifically, a mobile application to streamline those processes so the transportation companies can increase their compliance and reduce their administrative costs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a brand-new mobile application for us. Focusing on phase one, which is out and live, we created a mobile vehicle inspection application for commercial transport drivers in Canada. It guides drivers through all of the items they’re legally required to inspect on a commercial vehicle prior to putting it into operation. It also cross-references a schedule of potential defects that they mind throughout the operation. It will then automatically risk-rate the inspection to determine if the vehicle is safe to operate for the day or if it needs to have repairs done immediately or in a timely manner. It will also generate all of the legally required paperwork to prove that that inspection was done. Finally, it stores that inspection document in an online database for the required amount of time, per regulation.

We had a concept in our head regarding what it needed to do and how it should function. We weren’t able to put that into wireframes of images beforehand though. We’re now kicking-off further phases, tackling more of what the government audits look at, automating those other tasks as an update to the app and, now, web platform.

What is the team composition?

I was assigned a project manager. We initially dealt directly with Jeff (Owner, Paper Leaf) to get everything set up, and then we got assigned a manager who’s been checking in with us frequently.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

Word of mouth. I talked to a few other industries that have been developing mobile apps and tried to do some research. I valued having a company that was local to me for face-to-face meetings. I thought that would be valuable for both sides of the project. After due-diligence, I met with a few companies, and Paper Leaf made me feel the most comfortable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $120,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been pushing this out as a preliminary showpiece to our clients, and every single one is blown away by how user-friendly it is, as well as by the automatic risk-rating feature, which takes away the responsibility of making that determination from the driver.

Part of the reason we’re pursuing additional phases is that the companies that have seen what we’ve already developed are excited to implement the solution but want additional features. They’re comfortable with starting to move forward and give commitments after the first round.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

They use Asana for project management, and they’ve assigned me access to be able to view and comment on all our project boards. At any time, I can open the Asana site or app and see what our agreed-upon tasks are that need to get done, as well as our priorities for the week. It also tells me what they’re waiting for me on, whether that’s feedback, review, or approval.

They also send me a weekly project status update email that covers all the tasks that should have been done this week. We’re scheduling bi-weekly update phone calls to see if we can address any roadblocks, but there haven’t been any delays so far. In fact, it’s come in faster than anticipated for a few things.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their personable staff understood what I wanted from a non-technical perspective. Their initial setup for building the project and process to determine the features we wanted and how to develop the app was really fantastic. Instead of having us come up with all the definitions of how the app should function, we focused instead on the end result we wanted to see each of the user stories be able to tell. Then, we worked backward from there on features and functionality. If we hadn’t have done that step, we wouldn’t have had outside-the-box thinking, and our app would be just a carbon-copy of our competitors’.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, no. I’m very happy. The only thing I could say is I’d like to have spent less money, but I know I’m getting what I’m paying for. The price isn’t even a negative.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Dedicate your time to be able to properly participate in the free project planning meetings. Be sure you’re able to think about those user stories and scopes when the project get’s assigned.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager of marketing and communications at a community college. We service 27,000 full-time students every year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

We identified that our main website had some issues—it’s out-of-date and not mobile-friendly. Acknowledging that we don’t have the capacity nor the time to build a new site, we hired Paper Leaf to build a microsite for the School of the Arts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project involved web development and design. First, we worked with a discovery team that identified the user personas, conducted a needs assessment, looked at our information architecture, and addressed our desires.

The process entailed a lot of back-and-forth correspondence that was aimed at discovering the most ideal, modern design. It also had to satisfy a lot of different stakeholders within the college. The site was developed using WordPress. After the site was built and designed, our internal team took care of loading the content. The final phase was a hand-off to our web development team.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Jeff (CEO, Paper Leaf) when we first finalized the contract.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?­­­­­

It was through word of mouth. Plus, Paper Leaf quoted and won the proposal for the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on the project from November 2018–June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The final art microsite was aesthetically pleasing and mobile-friendly. Those were our two biggest functional desires.

It’s hard to provide hard metrics because we’re still in our recruitment year. Until we have final enrollment numbers for the School of the Arts, I don’t really have any statistics to share.

Our general SEO could be better because the site has been hard to locate and hasn’t rendered quickly on Google. That’s a little bit disappointing but not a reflection on Paper Leaf’s work.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Asana. It allowed all stakeholders and individuals who worked on the project to be included in various timelines, projects, and to-do lists. The tool was very useful, so it was easy to view our schedule and progress. I saw when things were meant to be finished and when they were actually finalized. Having that timeline in front of us was really effective.

We went around the tree a few more times than anticipated on design, and they were patient with that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a small company and were easy to get in touch with. We developed a personal relationship by the end of the project. That stands out to me the most. They understood their industry and environment, which was important to us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Communication could’ve improved. They had a little bit of employee turnaround while we were working with them. This made it hard at times to keep track of who we were meant to be communicating with.

I would’ve liked to have more direct contact with Jeff. He was the lead when we initiated the project, and we didn’t really hear from him again. I was led to believe that he was going to be quite involved in the project, which he wasn’t. That could’ve been communicated better. The team leads changed hands as well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a mental health organization. We help individuals and family members with mental health or substance use concerns, as well as those affected by suicide. I'm the communications lead for the organization, and I'm responsible for all of our branding, websites, social media, and events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

We needed help with one of our websites. We had major registration issues, and we wanted a site that was more comprehensive and intuitive.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a lot of complex needs, and we ultimately developed five different websites. The sites all needed the same branding, look, feel, and backend resources, but each needed a unique URL, admins, and resources to serve different locations and regions. Paper Leaf came in and worked with us from start to finish to determine our priorities and goals. We wanted something that users of all cognitive levels could access. The site allows users to register for classes, get email or text reminders, cancel a class, or join a waitlist. After classes are complete, all that data can be archived.

Paper Leaf did everything for us. They worked off of some existing branding standards and guidelines, but they gave everything a fresh, modern look. They did all the wireframes, and they worked with us to make sure all our goals were met. Everything was built for fresh code, and all five sites sync together. The sites are built in WordPress, and they added a variety of plugins. They built in CSV exporters and importers that allow us to upload and download all the data on the sites, and they added a Twilio plugin as a messaging service.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a fantastic project lead, and we were also in contact with the designer and the developer. We could approach any team member directly if we had questions, which made the process easy.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

We sent out an RFP and got a number of responses. Paper Leaf hit all the points we needed in their response, and we felt comfortable talking to them in our initial selection call. They answered all our questions well, and we had a good feeling that they would work for us and meet our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost was around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from March-August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They provided analytics, and they're projecting a 160% increase in our website traffic over where we were last year. The sites work much better than anything we had previously, and navigation is much clearer than before.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

I was so impressed by their project management skills. They use Asana as a project management tool and tracker, and they're so easy to communicate with. Everything they did was laid out clearly, and I always knew who was responsible for what. We got weekly status updates with tasks they had completed, the issues they faced, and the information they needed from us. We had a phone call twice a week, and they were on top of their project management and timelines. They were top-notch in every respect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We're in the same time zone, but we're about three hours away from each other. That didn't prevent anything from being done properly. They came to our offices for a kickoff meeting, but they were so easy to reach by phone or for screen-sharing sessions. They never let the distance become a problem.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would have been helpful to have some guidance about what we should do after launch. I've communicated that with them already, and it's the only thing we could have collaborated on more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear about your project from the start. Sometimes, their work feels on the expensive side, but we got what we paid for. They gave us exactly what we needed and provided impactful service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the president of a small nonprofit called FireSmart Canada, a group that aims to educate the public on wildfires.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

We wanted to develop an app for iOS and Android to allow Canadians to access our information and resources on wildfire prevention. Now that times have changed and people look for information online, we are moving away from paper-based resources to a mobile app. This allows us to keep research updated and relevant.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Paper Leaf came up with everything from scratch. They started with a project planning meeting and developed a prototype. We’ve completed the first phase of the app and are working on starting the second phase of development.

What is the team composition?

I work with three key contacts. We work with Katie (Project Manager, Paper Leaf), who has been sensational. John (Developer, Paper Leaf) and Tony (Developer, Paper Leaf) have worked on web development and design.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

I searched on Google and started calling companies. I phoned eight companies in Canada, but I was most impressed in my discussions with Jeff (Owner & CEO, Paper Leaf).

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $70,000 CAD (approximately $52,000 USD) with Paper Leaf.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in February 2019 and is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I shared the prototypes of the app to my colleagues and fire departments across the province, and they’re extremely impressed with the mobile app. It functions well and looks great. Paper Leaf’s team encouraged me to add analytical tools, but I don’t have any metrics to share yet.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management skills and communication skills are spot-on. We use Asana to coordinate our efforts. I meet weekly with the team and talk about the project. It’s worked really well and has become a standard I expect from contractors in the future.

What did you find most impressive about them?

People who work in the wildfire awareness industry have many disparate ideas and struggle to bring them together, but Paper Leaf took all the feedback and ideas generation into consideration when building the app. They are highly skilled at taking the time to understand a client’s business and needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. I wish I had more work to do with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am one of the managing partners at Escape City. We are an escape room entertainment company that operates locations in Edmonton, Alberta, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

We were looking for someone to help us with web design and development for our escape room company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the time we engaged Paper Leaf, we had opened a second location, and we were in the middle of preparing to launch a third and grow from there. We had outgrown our Squarespace website and needed something new that could scale with us. We also had some unique challenges to address regarding how our services are booked. Ultimately, any new website that we introduced needed to integrate with third-party systems and uphold the high standards we have for our brand.

Our RFP discussed what we looked for and why certain elements were important to us. But we also made sure to expand on those comments in our first several meetings with Paper Leaf. We went into great detail about our needs. From there, Paper Leaf developed all of the wireframes and designs.

What is the team composition?

We worked closely with a project lead, a developer, and a designer. They worked in concert to make sure that the website worked properly and was as we had envisioned.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

We sent an RFP to several firms in Edmonton and Western Canada. Although we recognized the importance of SEO in our business plan, we prioritized companies that had the development backbone to produce a functional site and integrate the necessary third-party systems.

Paper Leaf was among the responses we received, and they proved they could juggle the responsibilities of design and development to the extent that we needed. After several rounds of meetings, we selected them to build our website because of their system and processes.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $25,000–$30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked on this project from February–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the launch of our new site, the average visit time is up from one minute to about three minutes, and our bounce rate has decreased. Our sales have increased by roughly 25% in the last month. Not all of that can be attributed to the website, but it has undoubtedly played a part in that success.

Our customers and employees have also reported that the website is working well for them. Right now, we are happy with the end result.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

Paper Leaf’s processes were transparent and easy to follow. At any given time, I could check in on our progress and learn about what work is happening. They also never missed a deadline. If anything, I probably delayed their work by not getting information to them in time. They were on the ball and always pushing the project forward.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Generally speaking, it is hard to find a firm that does a good job with both the design and the development side. They seem to have a really good mix of both. They understand it needs to work and function the way their client needs it to. But at the same time, they used their creative instincts to fit the website into our business and brand seamlessly. I am very happy with my choice to hire them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. I think they did an exceptional job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Kunitz Shoes, a family owned and operated shoe retail company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

Our website was non-transactional and didn't display our inventory. We needed to have an entirely new website developed.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed and designed our e-commerce website from scratch. They built out the data integration components to interface between my in-store inventory systems and the transactional website. It’s a WordPress website using WooCommerce as the e-commerce component. They built a custom inventory integration, which is called an importer. We work off an FTP site. It’s all mapped nicely and gets pulled into WooCommerce through this data importer. It runs detailed reports and updates inventory hourly, which is as close to live as most people are going to get in my business. The e-commerce website was launched in April 2016.

We work on a monthly retainer with them. We have a constant backlog of things to optimize and new features to add. They help us keep up with e-commerce because it’s constantly changing. 

What is the team composition?

They’ve gone through a couple of restructurings. They currently work in a team mode. There’s a project manager and three to five folks with varied skill sets. Combined, they’re able to figure out any problem that I encounter. If I have a specific question for the data specialist, I go to him.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

We worked with them 4–5 years prior to this project when we were looking for graphic design help. We received a couple of recommendations, and we called them up. They took on our graphics work, and then, they developed a website. As they grew, our needs grew simultaneously. Then, we contacted them three years ago, ready to go to the next level.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2015, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

One of the greatest benefits of working with Paper Leaf is that we've learned how to creatively leverage what we're doing in the digital landscape. Not only do we have a high-quality product, but the process of creating it has helped us figure out where we fit in our market. The Paper Leaf team helps us identify opportunities and solve problems. Their willingness to iterate with ensures we come to the optimal conclusion.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

I have weekly transactions at a minimum with Paper Leaf. We’ve never missed a deadline. They’ve done a good job of understanding my needs. 

In terms of emergency service, I’ve always been able to reach them on a weekend. Someone typically responded within an hour, even after hours.

What did you find most impressive about them?

There’s a general enthusiasm when they approach our problems. Shoe retail is generally not the most exciting business, but when I sit down and start talking the nuts and bolts of how to build out a component that would help me sell some shoes online, I sense genuine enthusiasm from them. When they approach a problem, it’s with that same drive. 

Their shop is a walk from where I am. In-person meetings can't be replaced with phone conferences. Having a local shop is an added benefit of working with Paper Leaf.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Earlier on in our work, it was hard for me to clarify that my industry is very fast-paced. If there’s a problem or breakdown, it has to be addressed now. We talked about that, and they’re great at it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Before you engage a design and development firm like Paper Leaf, be clear on what you’re looking for and what you need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a nonprofit health organization. We work with rural communities throughout the province of Alberta to help them attract and retain health professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

We wanted to pivot toward video storytelling to communicate our mission. However, our website was outdated, and we found it challenging to integrate functionalities related to storytelling, blogs, and social media. We engaged Paper Leaf to build a more user-friendly site optimized for these features.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We first identified what we wanted our website to do. We based our requirements on the existing hierarchy and added areas that we wanted to include but weren’t able to at the time. Paper Leaf then built the site with an entirely new CMS—WordPress—and design from scratch. 

They incorporated rebranded design elements and a layout based on our old site. They also helped migrate content from the old site to the new one. The website is responsive and works well on a desktop or mobile platform. It includes a social media gallery, easy navigation to frequently visited resources, and a call to action on every page. The team created style templates for specific pages and levels in the site that we can use as needed.

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

We were looking for vendors proficient in WordPress. Paper Leaf demonstrated expertise in that CMS as well as up-to-date knowledge on the latest technologies and web design practices. They had a youthful vibe that we wanted to reflect in our site. Their portfolio also displayed responsive, visually appealing, and user-friendly sites that contained functionalities that we wanted on our website.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2018, and the website launched in December 2018.  Paper Leaf now provides ongoing support services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website launched to an immensely positive response. We receive frequent inquiries through our contact page and compliments on the new site’s layout, imagery, and color scheme.

Paper Leaf continues to host our site, fix bugs, and provide monthly updates as well as any modifications on demand. We’re satisfied with their work, and we’re launching a second phase of development to incorporate new features soon.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

The project fell behind schedule, but that resulted from delays on our side. The Paper Leaf team remained flexible, prompt, and responsive throughout the engagement. The project manager made sure the project ran smoothly when I wasn’t available. She kept me in the loop if anything needed approval on our end. She also was open to our suggestions and finding solutions to issues that we raised. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their expertise and professionalism stood out the most. Paper Leaf knows what they’re doing and can reliably deliver a top-quality product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their high-quality services can come at a cost-prohibitive price. We experienced sticker shock at times, but the end product was worth it. We also would have appreciated slightly more flexibility built into the final system when we decided to expand the scope and add specific features midway through the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have a fully developed vision of your website before starting a project with Paper Leaf. We came up with ideas halfway through the project and as a result, have had to start a second stage to integrate these add-ons.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior manager of public affairs for the Canadian Automobile Association in the national office. We’re a federation of eight independent clubs across the country. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Paper Leaf?

My team does public education regarding road safety, environmentally friendly driving, consumer representation, and air travel. We worked on several of those topics with Paper Leaf, but the biggest project was our school zone safety web app. 

Our clubs were executing a yearly campaign using pen and paper to document dangerous driving in school zones. We compiled their information in Excel and relayed it back to the school, school board, and, sometimes, the media. When the media latched on to the story, we realized pen and paper weren’t sufficient. We worked with Paper Leaf to build a tool that would improve our process for our clubs. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We discussed our problem, and Paper Leaf put a couple of solutions together. Because we're a federated model, and there were two clubs doing this campaign with pen and paper, there was also the opportunity that, if we made it easy enough, other clubs would pick it up and replicate the campaign in their areas. After a bit of brainstorming and refinement, we settled on a web app built on WordPress, which allows us to make changes internally. Paper Leaf was responsible for the overall design and look of the app. 

The project continues to evolve because more of our clubs are picking it up across the country. We've been enhancing it every year and making it more user-friendly based on the feedback we receive. As new clubs come on board, they bring their own requirements. Specifically, we added a component so a municipality working with one of our clubs could access the app. The city has its own login information, and they can go to their schools in their region, collect their data, and store it in a secure database. If multiple municipalities are inputting data, our club can see all of it, but the municipalities can only view their own data. 

As the national organization, we can see massive trends that are happening and collect general data to share with the government about what is going on in school zones. Creating the three levels of the databases was the most important requirement; the national organization can see everything, the club can see its region, and the cities only see their own data. Paper Leaf continues to manage new development tasks. 

What is the team composition?

I work with a project manager most of the time, and I’ve worked with a head developer and the main designer minimally. For the school zone project, we had two developers to ensure we finished on time. They may have other people behind the developer and designer.

How did you come to work with Paper Leaf?

We inquired with several agencies and evaluated which would be the best fit. My counterparts at the Alberta Motor Association said they had heard of Paper Leaf, and that they came highly recommended. They ended up offering the best deal and had the best plan. Since we began, their responsibilities have ballooned. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in 2017, and it’s an ongoing engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project management has been a huge value. Having someone who can translate my requests to the designer and developer to make sure I get what I ask for has been great. Paper Leaf makes sure the developers and designers are all on the same page. All I have to do is send them a note to add something or ask where we are, and they take care of it.

With the school zone safety app, they were on calls with our clubs so if one of our clubs wanted to add something specific, Paper Leaf was there to give their opinion and suggestion. They think about the ultimate goal of a button or function, and if they don't think it will work, they dig deeper to figure out why we want that function, or if there is another solution. Their expertise has been extremely valuable.

How did Paper Leaf perform from a project management standpoint?

This was my first experience working in a sprint model where we built part of the app and then evaluated it to see if we were on the right track. The teams from our clubs said the plans made sense, but that they wanted to add other features as well. Then, Paper Leaf went back to do more development and we reevaluated. Instead of dumping all the requirements on one sprint or going halfway or all the way and realizing it wasn’t what we wanted, we were able to pause early on.

They took baby steps, which was another reason why it was great having them on board. They used a program with a simplified yet workable wireframe that we could click to make sure things made sense. They built on and refined the design with every step, as they developed further functionality. 

They use Asana to keep me up to date with everything. If I have questions, I can ask, but they also provide me with a weekly report on the projects, especially long-term projects, to let me know where they are. Their project management is one of the reasons we keep coming back to them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their project management, as well as their expertise, are impressive. They look at my requests and determine whether it would be a valuable addition before agreeing to it. If it is, they find a solution and move forward. If not, they aren’t afraid to push back and let us know there might be a better alternative. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I'm aware of. When we changed project managers, their knowledge transfer was great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want and what your goals are instead of simply having a list of what you want them to do. Present them with your ultimate goal; Paper Leaf is excellent at extrapolating from that.