Spiral Scout

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO at IM Action, an online marketing agency providing clients from a variety of business domains with services such as online strategy development, SEO, PPC advertising, social media optimization, and web analytics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Spiral QA?

We began our strategic partnership with Spiral QA over a year ago. Since then we have utilized their services to test our clients’ web applications and software products.  

What were your goals for this project? 

Our main goal is to make sure that our clients' web and mobile applications are stable and functioning as expected prior to kicking off strategic marketing campaigns. The applications need to meet both the needs and requirements of their target audience in addition to driving conversions. We always strive for a flawless look and feel as well as an intuitive, bug-free user experience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We worked with John Griffin (CEO, Spiral QA) on a couple of earlier projects with another company of his, and they did a superb job. When we needed a QA team for some of our other projects, we already knew about Spiral QA and were sure that they could execute on the tasks we gave them. 

Describe the project in detail. 

Spiral QA has performed web and mobile application testing for our clients, including functionality, usability, and performance testing. These software come from a range of business domains like IT, education and e-learning, gaming, e-commerce, and more. As a result, all of their software products are different, and most have rather complex backends; they’re either built from scratch or customized from off-the-shelf solutions. Spiral QA works to identify and resolve any technical issues they find. 

What was the team composition? 

Spiral QA is made up of a strong team of specialists, each with their own vast expertise and patience that allows them to dive deep into someone else’s code regardless of the technologies, frameworks, and CMSs in use. 

Most of the time we’re in touch with John and Kseniya Yuk (Software Testing & QA Engineer, Spiral QA). It’s so helpful that they have two international offices—basically, it means that at any time, day or night, at least one of them is available.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The Spiral QA team is thorough, finding technical issues and bugs that need to be fixed as well as actually fixing them. So far, we have worked together on projects for three different clients. For all of them, the Spiral QA team managed to identify existing issues, which allowed our clients to fix and improve their products either before the launch or after. This ensured minimum downtime. 

For example, we had a client with an e-commerce travel website that had a lot of visitors but very few conversions. Spiral QA performed usability and performance testing that uncovered serious UX issues and a few interface-related bugs. They provided the client with recommendations on how to fix them. Upon implementing the recommendations, the client’s key metrics improved significantly. The updates ultimately optimized the website for our marketing efforts too.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We are more than happy with the job the team does and how they interface, set plans and goals, and meet deadlines. Communication is one of their main strengths. The fact that they have two international offices in different time zones allows them to be available almost 24/7. We also have weekly calls and well-established reporting routines, which our clients consistently report as one of their favorite parts of working with us.  

What did you find most impressive about this company? 

I’m impressed with their strong communication and reporting routines because they ensure traceability and transparency. Besides that, Spiral QA has a professional attitude toward projects. They treat each client’s project like their own, and it definitely shows in the results.  

Are there any areas for improvement? 

No, I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a solar energy system manufacturer. We make charge controllers for off-grid solar energy systems, such as those found on boats, trucks, RVs, street lamps, and other solar-power electronics

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Spiral Scout?

We wanted to develop a mobile application to support a new product interface. We engaged Spiral Scout to help visualize, design, and implement that product.

What were your goals for this project?

The app will give our customers better access to operational data and insights into the health of their solar power systems.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I’ve known John (Co-Founder and CEO, Spiral Scout) for years, and Spiral Scout’s skill set felt like a good fit for this project.

Describe the project in detail.

Spiral Scout oversees the full life-cycle of designing and developing the mobile app. The app will interact with Bluetooth-connected hardware and provide real-time system and performance data on a customer’s solar installation.

What was the team composition?

Our two-person internal team works with John and a small team of engineers and designers from Spiral Scout.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While we are still working on this project, we have met internal project goals so far. Spiral Scout works diligently to transform our concepts into high-quality finished designs.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Spiral Scout makes the collaboration effortless and pleasant. We’ve divided responsibilities among our two teams to account for each member’s specialization; Spiral Scout has met their assigned goals more quickly and effectively than our internal teams has met ours. John serves as an excellent project manager, and he makes sure his team responds quickly to any inquiries.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

While we have a relatively small project, Spiral Scout has marshaled additional resources to accelerate certain stages as necessary. Their efforts have helped us tremendously.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’ve been highly satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a senior employee of a digital fundraising platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Spiral Scout?

We needed Spiral Scout to develop our iOS mobile app and perform front- and backend development for our website.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to ultimately launch our startup and catch the attention of an influential community. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We interviewed several development agencies, but Spiral Scout stood out as the most versatile and budget-friendly.

Describe the project in detail.

Spiral Scout developed the mobile app with a clean interface and recording functionality. The site was built to allow users to make requests and payments on the platform.

What was the team composition?

They provided a team of 6–8 engineers to build our designs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to bring the final product to the market and acquire our initial customers. The app and site had minimal bugs and allowed our business to appear professional.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a direct line to the engineering, design, operations, and sales departments. We had good communication between the teams.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was blown away by their ability to tackle every challenge. As a firm, they were nimble and agile, which made them unique.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We would have preferred paying an end-of-month statement rather than having random payment intervals.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product owner of technology at an online marketplace that connects users with deals from local merchants.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Spiral Scout?

We needed more in-house resources to develop an iOS app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We originally brought Spiral Scout on board to design a UX optimized interface for our iOS app, but their scope eventually grew to include designing our website and Android app as well. Their primary focus was on the web design, but they also spent a significant amount of time creating two unique profile experiences for advertisers and consumers on the mobile apps.

Before we send their work to another company for development, Spiral Scout completes a final review and troubleshoots existing bugs. Since we’re working with multiple vendors, they put together a technical specification document that explains our platforms in full-detail and includes instructions on how to build them.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with the project manager and design lead.

How did you come to work with Spiral Scout?

They came highly recommended by two trusted sources, so we decided to reach out to them. We knew that they would be a perfect fit for the project after the first phone call.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership began in January 2018 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After years of listening to the false promises of our previous web vendors, we’re pleasantly surprised to witness Spiral Scout transform our vision into a gorgeous and functional design. We already have a sense of how smooth the navigation will be from the models they’ve presented us.

How did Spiral Scout perform from a project management standpoint?

The project manager is very responsive to our needs. Overall, working with Spiral Scout has been a great experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re amazed at how consistent their designs have been for all five projects. Their attention to detail was a helpful asset in optimizing their high-quality designs for the end user. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve been exceptional in every area so far.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and co-founder of Wagfield. We offer force-free dog training solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the engagement?

Our website featured a significant amount of multimedia content. We asked Spiral Scout to perform simple development work, notably managing our content and working to improve the user experience.

SOLUTION

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

Spiral Scout offered a highly collaborative team at relatively competitive price. Their team designed, built, and launched our website using an intuitive content management system (CMS).

What was the team composition?

We worked with five to ten contacts around the globe.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The co-founder was very responsive and resourceful. All members were kept up to date on the project’s development through a variety of communication channels.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Spiral Scout took the time to understand our individual needs and goals. They developed a solution specific to Wagfield and our needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am one of three partners at a small financial services firm. We not only manage our own capital, but other families' as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Spiral Scout?

We hired Spiral Scout, who had originally designed our website, to streamline our web content, improve our site design, and make the site more mobile-responsive.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to standardize and improve the user experience across multiple platforms within a reasonable timeframe.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

One of our trusted technology partners in the financial services industry referred Spiral to us years ago. We worked with them on our original website development and design and chose to work with them again in order to vertically integrate our platforms and, consequently, reduce costs.

Describe the project in detail.

Before starting the project, we conducted a series of discussions with Spiral Scout outlining project goals and determining which webpages could be improved upon, added, or eliminated. Despite delays on our end, the Spiral team kept everything on track. They attentively corrected and improved on any issues that arose.

What was the team composition?

John (Co-founder, Spiral Scout) did an excellent job of coordinating his team's efforts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The platforms consistently function 24/7; if there are hiccups, John and his team are never more than an email away.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow between our team and theirs is both extraordinarily responsive and collegial.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

John and his team over deliver, pay close attention to detail, listen more than speak and care more than expected.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We'll keep trying to break things to help Spiral Scout find ways to improve. Thus far, we're very pleased with our relationship.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a corporate marketing manager at The Business Journals, the parent company of the Charlotte Business Journal.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Spiral Scout?

Our marketing department needed help to create games for our national sales representatives. Our sales team wanted to use these games during meetings to introduce our company to potential advertisers.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the games to be engaging.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We worked with them on a separate project with another vendor. We hired them for this engagement the following year.

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

They helped us select the game type; we wanted two-team and multiple-choice format that would be hosted locally for PC, Mac, and iPad. Next, the team helped us with functionality preferences, design, development, packing, and delivery.

What was the team composition?

I worked with the co-founder and a developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our sales reps loved the game and look forward to new ones each year. We’ve gotten positive feedback from clients; they find them more engaging and fun than traditional data-based presentations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team communicated timelines and budgets clearly at each step of the process.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They were friendly, helpful, intelligent, and professional. They were great to work with and we plan to use them again.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a new direct-to-consumer kitchen company selling premium products online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Spiral Scout?

Spiral Scout provided web development and web support and built email templates for our business.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed a pixel-perfect implementation within a strict deadline. We also wanted to minimize bugs and receive support when inevitable bugs did come up. (Thankfully, very few bugs happened.) 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We heard about Spiral Scout through a friend. We started with a small trial project and really enjoyed working with them.

Describe the project in detail.

Our top-tier branding agency handed over their UI/UX designs to Spiral Scout for the development work. Spiral Scout had the really tough task of building out a fully functioning, modern e-commerce site in less than a month. Since then, we’ve also engaged them in many follow-up projects.

Explain how the solution addressed your business challenge.

To compete in the e-commerce sphere, our site needs to act as the representation of our brand. Spiral Scout efficiently helped us launch a leading e-commerce site in under a month.

What was the team composition?

John [Co-Founder & CEO, Spiral Scout] made sure that the work met our standards. The whole team—including Anton [Project Manager & QA Engineer, Spiral Scout], Yahueni [Frontend Engineer, Spiral Scout], and Maxim [Frontend Engineer, Spiral Scout]—was focused on our entire project. They’re responsive and easy to work with for every task. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What outcomes or results can you share that demonstrate progress and/or success?

Our site is live and growing 20% month to month.

How effective was the project management?

We hit all of our initial deadlines, which is rare in the development world.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I really appreciate their efficiency. After working with a ton of agencies, I can say that Spiral Scout really keeps their promises regarding the project’s scope and speed.

What tips or recommendations do you have?

Outlining projects and having a clear idea of your goals beforehand will produce the deliverables you want. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Vice President of Operations at Consensus, a demo automation platform for large companies. We provide personalized demos of client products or services on demand, solving buyer enablement and reducing the amount of time in a sales cycle when repeat demos are required to close a deal.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Spiral Scout?

We needed to outsource some of our development work to help refine our platform more quickly, while cutting costs.

We have been moving upstream and targeting a lot more enterprise-level clients like Oracle, IBM and HP; our main focus is on customers with 250 or more employers. The needs of these clients differ from our smaller customers, which may call for services like single sign-on, a higher level of security procedures, and compliance with European laws.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Spiral Scout manages our entire development process. We needed to continue development and support of our already built platform and make improvements on it. Spiral Scout was brought in to work on some of the new features for larger clients to meet their specific needs.

What is the team dynamic?

We work with a team of 8, including the Technical Director, JD, a project manager, a frontend and backend lead, additional developers and a QA team.

How did you come to work with Spiral Scout?

We recognized the quality of work that Spiral Scout had been doing through their work with another local company, eLearning Brothers, who highly recommended them.

I had spoken to at least a half-dozen other similar companies before ultimately choosing to work with Spiral Scout.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with the for about 6 months, since July or August of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

We've kept the same team size, while reducing costs by about a fifth of what our previous local full-time team had been operating at. The rate of development and quality of work has been consistent, if not better, with Spiral Scout.

How did Spiral Scout perform from a project management standpoint?

Their performance has been top-notch despite the challenge of taking over legacy code written by someone else. The time difference has not been a problem; while their hours don’t mirror ours, we have significant overlap.

What did you find most impressive about Spiral Scout?

It doesn't feel like a normal vendor relationship, because they really take ownership, collaborate closely with us and take pride in their work. I’ve spent time in their office in Belarus, working with them personally for a week. JD also visited our office in the US and requested swag. It was good to see that they valued our partnership and were happy to receive sweatshirts, t-shirts and logo stickers from us.

Oftentimes, developers don’t have that emotional connection with the company, product or service. But with Spiral Scout, they were more invested and concerned with creating solutions and delivering the best products for the customer.

Are there any areas Spiral Scout could improve?

Over the last couple weeks, we've had some bugs, which is no fault of Spiral Scout. However, sometimes I’ll receive multiple emails that each include a simple task, so I may ask them to summarize the communication in to one email. So, I would suggest tightening up communications, specifically on action items.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Drew Altizer Photography is a photo agency that shoots parties for magazines. I am the owner of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Spiral Scout?

We needed a new website to be able to organize photographs and distribute them to the press, guests at parties, and clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They ran the project by helping us to articulate in a scope document what we wanted to do and then they built the website on a proprietary platform of their own. The website has an e-commerce component allowing clients to purchase photos as downloads and also to print through a third party.

They had to figure out some difficult features around metadata. Every developer we’ve used has struggled with it, but Spiral Scout made it look easy. They essentially built four websites in one website. The first one was a digital asset manager for our internal use as well as a distribution system to the media outlets we service. Then we have a website just for guests which is the e-commerce component. Then we have a system of delivery for our clients.

How did you come to work with Spiral Scout?

I found the Cutcaster website and found out that John Griffin had developed that. I contacted them because I knew they would understand metadata.

How much have you invested with Spiral Scout?

We pay them based on time and materials. We’ve spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them for a couple of years. The work has been ongoing with maintenance and updates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

People like it but I don’t know that it’s tied directly to them. They were able to solve some tough problems. The end user will either like the design or user experience but won’t be able to know exactly what Spiral Scout did.

How did Spiral Scout perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been very good, and it’s gotten better the longer we’ve worked with them. Spiral Scout has grown and expanded their process which has made things run better.

What did you find most impressive about Spiral Scout?

Their strength is in understanding and realizing solutions to problems. They’re very smart and curious about problem solving. They find the best solution for the problem instead of just finding the easiest way to solve the problem. My experience with three other developers has been that they’ve said they could solve our problems but couldn’t deliver on their promise. Spiral Scout is honest, and if they can’t do it, they will tell me.

Are there any areas Spiral Scout could improve?

The biggest area of improvement was at the beginning of the project with issues around communication. I now have a project manager who seems to make that much easier.