Silverchip

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a multimedia developer for a documentation software company that is very focused on user experience. We make tutorial videos to ensure users are getting the most out of our system, and we advance that system with new features and benefits.

What challenge were you trying to address with Silverchip?

We wanted to rewrite our system. It had taken off a lot quicker than the directors and everyone involved in the company had anticipated, and with that came a lot of issues. The system became slowed down, and there were a lot of processes that should have been a lot quicker for the end-user. The system was set up pretty rigidly, so we made the decision to rewrite the system completely. 

We needed to take the strain off of the database and have the speed cycle return to the end-user a lot quicker. We also wanted to make the system a lot more open in terms of its use, rather than keeping it pretty regimented as it was previously. The speed at which data is returned as well as the customizability of the system were the biggest things.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Silverchip provided full development services and did database architecture to open our system up to server markets and more users across the board. It was a full rewrite and redo of the system architecture that they had previously done. They completed it using React and JavaScript, and I believe C++ was used as well. They helped us create a template builder that allows clients to present to us how they’d like to use the system, which is a pretty big feature. 

What is the team composition?

Initially, we normally liaise with the directors to outline and scope any projects. All levels of developers, frontend and backend, are involved in some capacity, depending on where we are in the project.

How did you come to work with Silverchip?

I wasn’t part of my company when the partnership began.

What is the status of this engagement?

My company began working with Silverchip in May 2014, and the work is ongoing.

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

The system’s speed for the end-users is a lot greater now. The template builder feature has opened our system up to a lot more industries. The usage of the system is up not only with current clients, but it has also taken off with new clients and industries. I would say it has been a success overall.

Silverchip is always getting in touch with us regarding new technologies and developments within the industry that they can deploy within the system itself. They regularly look at using the most up-to-date technology that is available on the market. It is quite a difficult industry because the system is used on a lot of lower-end devices. Silverchip manages that margin well; they cater to the most recent technologies but also take into consideration these devices.

How did Silverchip perform from a project management standpoint?

They are pretty good. We have used quite a few different channels, but right now we’re using Jira and Slack. Everything is raised as a ticket, and we also have weekly calls to summarize what tickets have been and will be worked on. We have a 12-point testing process before anything is released, both internal testing on their end and end-user testing on our end.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like the balance of them being personal and approachable, but also being a company that can do all aspects of a project quite well. You can tell that they are a team of quite tight-knit developers with different skill sets. Their approach is clear from the onset. Things are always clear and concise, and we know what is going on and what is needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Communication was probably one of their weaker points, but it has improved a lot from the beginning of the project to where we are now. That is something they have worked on quite a lot. Delivery dates are mostly met. I think they are pretty good in terms of what they do. One of the main issues has been addressed, and we are pretty happy with it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Meet them and see what kind of people they are. You will realize that they are quite a close-knit team, and they have a passion for this work; this isn’t just a job to them. You can tell they are always striving to learn something new and implement that, whether it is a new technology or advancement. They enjoy what they do, and it shows in what they deliver to their clients.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a UK government-backed organization where I’m the data and digital integration lead.

What challenge were you trying to address with Silverchip?

One of the first things I did when I joined the organization three years ago was to construct a large integrated data architecture. I hired Silverchip to help me with this project.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re government-backed, so Silverchip had to go through a strict procurement process, but they passed with flying colors. They then helped us develop a big data architecture and CRM with 18 platforms and another 4–5 coming on stream, building all the integrations, as well as our website and web applications. 

They made it in such a way that we can go into every platform to see things firing on the integrations day by day, some every five minutes, and others daily. Most of them do big quarterly syncs. 

The team has also developed a couple of innovation-based platforms for us that are focused on digitzing some of our manual processes. These platforms are password-protected areas hosted on a website where people are able to register and go through a workflow and submit ideas. 

Silverchip incorporated an assessment area for those ideas on one of those websites and that allows us to give feedback to the submitters and to other stakeholders. They did all of this using a variety of software including C#, .NET, JSON, and different APIs.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with around half of the current team. Jamie (Founder and COO), Liam (Founder and CTO), a couple of developers, and some project coordinators have all helped us with this project.

How did you come to work with Silverchip?

I’d worked with them at my previous organization, which was an agency that was not full-suite and had to contract digital work. So, I got to test Silverchip via this organization and they were great. Our relationship grew from there and they came with me when I switched companies. There’s not a lot they can’t do which is why I chose them. 

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working for my current organization in August 2017 and the engagement is ongoing. I joined in July 2017 and have been working with them since.

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

I don’t have much in terms of KPIs, but they’ve been instrumental in helping us construct the architecture and getting platforms to feed one another. Working with them has given us a lot of insights. It’s been phenomenal, really.

In fact, we’ve extended our outreach and have been able to provide more services to more organizations in a more tailored fashion. This has helped a lot with personalization and automation around our marketing and digital communications. The benefits are immense.

Thanks to Silverchip, we’ve digitized some of our processes which has given us a great overview of our contacts and the organizations we’re helping. Now, we can track them across digital platforms.

How did Silverchip perform from a project management standpoint?

Silverchip works as an extension of our team and they react very well. We have a Slack channel and we use Jira to make sure everything goes to plan. They work with the other agencies that we’re using and there’s never been an issue about that. They’re able to hold their own with other agencies.

I gave them deadlines that they have to abide by and the project cordinators work on making sure that they’re on track. I enjoy working with them.

A couple of developers have really stuck to our work and built up a knowledge of it which is exactly what we needed given the detailed nature of our work.  Additionally, our organization is adopting Cyber Essentials, and we’ve asked them to do the same.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I tend to not use agencies, because I’m quite technical myself. I only bring them in when I really have to, which means that I call upon services at the clever end of development—that’s where Silverchip comes through. 

To give them a bog-standard website creation project would be to do a disservice to their capabilities. At my previous organization, I worked with them on 3D modelling, digitization of processes, and AR and VR app developments. 

They’re really good, confident software developers with solid coding skills. I see them as an extension of our data team and we just couldn’t do this work without them.

Silverchip has done various projects with us, aside from the ongoing ones, so I wouldn’t be giving them work continually if they didn’t perform. The team has done really well so far.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I probably could’ve named a few things a year ago but they’ve actually put those things into place. In addition to investing in project management software recently, Silverchip has two studio project coordinators and they’ve significantly improved how they communicate with clients. I'm hard-pressed to think of anything.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

If you’re considering working with them, just do it. Don’t think twice.