Rare Crew

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a business analyst for a multi-business unit company that specializes in different areas around the media. We have an events division, which has mass participation events, and we also have a stake in the art world. We also own another group, an agency that looks after hairstylists, makeup artists, and that kind of area. Those artists work directly with celebrities. It is highly diverse, and we have an army of entertainment agents as well, and those are agents for movie stars, sports stars. We are heavily involved in sports as well. It is a big network of different workstreams and sections of the media.

In terms of my role, my primary focus is to manage software development for a few divisions.

I look after the software needs that those entities require. I’ll take all of their requests, do the analysis, and I’ll work with stakeholders directly to fine-tune what it is that they are looking for. I will also help in terms of their process just to make sure that the software will do what they need it to do, and when I say process, I am talking about logging sales, invoicing them, and if there is anything contractual.

It is making sure that the systems that these divisions use are up to scratch, and I will basically manage the relationship with our software developers, and manage their time and make sure that they are building the spec. The other half of that role is communicating with the stakeholders and managing their expectations and the whole process really from start to finish.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rare Crew?

Rare Crew is our development partner across multiple divisions. I am relatively fresh for this particular project. I was brought in specifically to finish a mini project that had started in January of this year. The development work was completed in February, but for many reasons, since February, they couldn’t get the work that had been done released to be live so that people could actually start using what had been built.

There were different reasons for that, and the business was completely focused on damage control. I was brought on in July to finish the project and actually get it out there so that the group and their users could start to use it. It was effectively stuck in purgatory for a while and needed to be released. I came in and did the coordination for that to happen, which involved testing, communication, and the whole roll out basically.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their main involvement in this particular instance was the development and testing. It is all built on a .NET framework. There were around 40 items of development that were delivered.

What is the team composition?

I work primarily with one person. He is the Rare Crew coordinator for this project. On his side, he will then speak directly to the developers on the project to relay requirements, fix issues, and other things. It streamlines all communication.

What is the status of this engagement?

I have been working with them since July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The impact has been extremely well-received. I have no qualms in saying that was has been delivered has been of a very high standard. It was a necessity for the business. It is all positive, and as far as I know, it’s all good.

I’m going to continue looking after that specific group indefinitely. This project has now been assigned to me, so whilst the tool has been there for the last few years, there are still initiatives and improvements that are sitting in the development pipeline that we are going to carry on delivering.

It might be that we do incremental releases for the next few months. I know that there is something fairly major coming in the next month or two, and it will be my job to deliver that, and then it will just be incremental improvements that will carry on until such a time where they see it as though they don’t need anything else.

How did Rare Crew perform from a project management standpoint?

We primarily use Microsoft Teams, and we get standard communication through email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are extremely proactive and extremely knowledgeable. I have experience working with them on other projects, and they just go above and beyond on everything I have ever worked with them on.

The team is all eager to please, very easy to work with, communication is always very good and always very clear. I think the main thing is that they go above and beyond. They always have our organization’s best interests at the forefront of everything they do.

Whilst they are an external third party, we don’t really look at them that way and they are more partners than anything. It almost feels like an internal relationship as opposed to a traditional third-party one.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think in relation to this project, myself and the person I am working with are just starting to dance with each other because it has only been since the end of July. He knows that I have a specific way of working and I will be making changes in terms of how things currently work with the project we are working on.

It is difficult for me to say, but there are always areas of improvement, but I can’t question the quality of the development work they do or anything from a technical perspective and communication is always good. In relation to this project, it isn’t something where I can’t state any areas that need improving because it is still early days working with them on this project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior business analyst for an entertainment agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rare Crew?

We needed help in building some internal tools, such as a CRM system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Rare Crew has developed a diverse array of CRM apps for us, building them from scratch — front- to backend. They’ve executed web-based solutions as well as mobile applications that integrate into larger CRM solutions. Typically, they build a solution that gets integrated into larger financial software, like SAP.

In one project, they integrated a booking solution into our talent listings, allowing individuals to book them for different jobs.

What is the team composition?

I work with 2–5 people on a weekly basis. The project coordinators interact with us and communicate with the team, some of whom don’t speak English very well.

How did you come to work with Rare Crew?

They were hired by a former employee, so I can’t speak to the selection process. We’ve continued the engagement, however, and they serve as our large-scale development partner.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together around December 2013, and it’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve developed tools that have made our employees’ lives easier, especially as our company continues to scale. They’ve made some critical integrations of our database, which have dramatically streamlined our operations.  

How did Rare Crew perform from a project management standpoint?

We have daily video calls. We used Jira but recently switched to an inhouse tool that they built for us. Otherwise, we communicate via Microsoft Teams, Skype, and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have excellent service and skills, ultimately delivering exactly what was requested. The employees all share a positive attitude and feel like they’re part of our team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything specific. They overcome difficulties well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a business and IT systems analyst for an entertainment company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rare Crew?

We needed help developing a custom CRM system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve supported our CRM development. They assisted in migrating our previous Microsoft Dynamics solution to a .NET. After building out an entirely new architecture, they enhanced and developed our sales and accounting modules.

What is the team composition?

We usually work with two teammates.

How did you come to work with Rare Crew?

I wasn’t directly involved in hiring them, so I don’t have insight into the process.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2013 and have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve overseen a seamless transition, and their support has been excellent. The new architecture boasts multiple features and complex plugins. In addition, their turnaround for development and problem resolution has been amazing.

How did Rare Crew perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a project coordinator who handles PM, which is overseen via Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re dependable and have good technical knowledge. They anticipate potential issues and proactively deliver multiple solutions. Over time, they’ve gained and demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of our product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. They’ve executed upon our expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have expertise in all areas, so I can confidently rely on them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Analyst of Endeavor

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Global entertainment, sports and content company offering services through its integrated capabilities of talent representation, content development, content distribution and sales, event management, marketing and licensing, and direct-to-consumer offerings

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Rare Crew to accomplish?

• Develop application based on business requirements

SOLUTION

How did you find Rare Crew?

Trusted Partner

Why did you select Rare Crew over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Rare Crew were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work encompassed the comprehensive design and development of an in-house application dedicated to conducting thorough risk assessments. This involved the seamless integration with external databases to enhance data accuracy and accessibility. Key deliverables include a robust software solution tailored for our specific needs, ensuring a streamlined and effective risk assessment process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Enhanced efficiency among business stakeholders, evident in the measurable improvement of their daily workflow and streamlined data management processes. Quantifiable metrics were employed to measure the impact on stakeholders' daily activities, providing concrete evidence of the project's positive influence on their work. 

The application garnered increased interest and active participation, garnering recognition throughout the larger company and program. This heightened engagement underscores the success and positive reception of the implemented solution.

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

The project management approach adopted by the team involved productive weekly meetings that facilitated detailed updates at each milestone, ensuring transparency and clarity throughout the development process. In addressing any queries, the team exhibited a hands-on approach, promptly addressing any issues that arose during the course of the project.

What was your primary form of communication with Rare Crew?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their exceptional thoughtfulness in every phase of development, coupled with their ability to quickly and thoroughly understand industry and company business processes, sets them apart. This showcases a commitment to meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of the client's needs.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Rare Crew could have done differently?

Enhancing status updates for each delivery phase could have helped better align expectations.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Analyst Enterprise Solutions of a global sports and culture company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a global sports & culture company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Rare Crew to accomplish?

• Work in licensing industry for a product approvals product.

SOLUTION

How did you find Rare Crew?

Referral

Why did you select Rare Crew over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Rare Crew were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

• Upgrade and modernize the 9-year-old approvals web platform and mobile app for improved performance using Angular technology.
• Enhance user experience through functional and workflow improvements in the UI, addressing client, brand manager, and licensee feedback.
• Consolidate three existing platform versions into a single system to reduce hosting, support, and maintenance costs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Performance Metrics: Achieved a minimum 30% reduction in user wait times through the implementation of Angular technology.
• User Experience Enhancement: Attained a user satisfaction rating increase of 50% based on feedback and surveys following the UI rework.
• Workflow Improvements: 20% reduction in the average time users spend on completing approval workflows.
• Platform Consolidation: Successfully integrated three existing platform versions into a single system, eliminating redundancies and achieving a 20% reduction in hosting and maintenance costs.
• Collected positive feedback from 80% of clients, brand managers, and licensees regarding the addressed pain-points and feature gaps in the reworked UI.

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

In the quest to modernize our product approval system within the Licensing division, RareCrew emerged as the catalyst for transformative success. Marian, their exceptional designer, worked wonders with a brilliant design that not only met our expectations but exceeded them. The standout moment was Marian's swift response to our urgent need for a video presentation for our client.

In under a week, he crafted an impressive design and a compelling video that left our clients in awe. RareCrew's project management was impeccable. Nishant, the project manager, consistently delivered items on time, aligning seamlessly with our project timeline. Their responsiveness to our evolving needs demonstrated a commitment to our project's success.

In essence, RareCrew, and particularly Marian and Nishant, played a pivotal role in elevating our product approval system, leaving a lasting mark on both design aesthetics and project efficiency.

What was your primary form of communication with Rare Crew?

Virtual Meeting

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

The most impressive aspect was their client-centric approach. RareCrew actively sought feedback, ensuring the final product resonated with users. Their commitment to a 99.9% system uptime showcased reliability, and the smooth user transition while migrating 9 years of data to the new system.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Rare Crew could have done differently?

RareCrew demonstrated remarkable generosity in accommodating our requests. They ensured that our concerns were addressed promptly, going above and beyond by handling requests and sometimes they even handled our requests after office hours.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Application Architect

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rare Crew, and what were your goals?

Custom Software Development

SOLUTION

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

about 4; all software developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Feature deliveries are very well organized and predictable across development and deployment resources. Communications on release deliveries are comprehensive and follow Agile practices. What is especially remarkable is the team's ability to react quickly to our customer's needs; we often have to blow up a sprint to accommodate regulatory changes and the team always responds and delivers.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Agile primarily, which is great for software development. It provides our customer with consistent feature deliveries which they appreciate. All work is documented as work items and the team is very good at understanding the requirements as defined, but also never afraid to reach out for clarification. They really handle the backlog well.

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

Their ability to deliver when they say they will. Very transparent about challenges, and very good at getting things right the first time. Many offshore development teams struggle with understanding the requirements and don't think outside the COA's when delivering features. RC absolutely understands software development and will automatically add or recommend implied requirements.

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

I don't think so. I think their process works very well. They manage the backlog expertly and deliver working software. When I review a release candidate, it is a very very rare occurrence that something got missed or misinterpreted by the team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Endeavor is a global leader in sports, rights management and events space. I run the global application and software development team at Endeavor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rare Crew, and what were your goals?

Our business is changing and we have a long term partnership with RareCrew to support our existing system for Media as well as building a new rights management and contract distribution solution to cater to the changing need of the business.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have an existing relationship with RareCrew and trust them to build the most secure, functional and cost effective solutions for us.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Rights & Contract Management solution.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

A mix of analyst and developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

RareCrew have always delivered projects on time and on budget.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

A well functioning team using an array of tools that makes the project management easier for everyone involved.

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

Their work ethic was impeccable.

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

nope