Vertical Motion

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a technology company focused on seafood trade. We build profiles on companies and help connect suppliers and buyers based on the different products that they’re trying to sell.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vertical Motion?

We’re still a very early tech company, and we have an internal development team, so we brought Vertical Motion on board as a consultant to provide an overall audit of our technical team and help us organize everything so we could be more efficient in the way that we operate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vertical Motion came in to have a look at what our team does and how we currently operate. They reviewed our team’s processes and internal protocols to give us recommendations.

First, we just have them look at our general site. Then, we gave them access to our GitHub and our project management tools like Asana and Jira.

We were developing using a tickets system, so their first recommendation was to reorganize and build on 1–2-week sprints. For this purpose, they gave us training on how to do that, and they trained our tech lead to take on a managerial role for him to be actively involved in the planning of those sprints.

Additionally, they gave us feedback on the metrics that we should use to measure the speed of our developers. That way, we could assign them tasks and associate hours to them to track our junior developers easier.

There’s also a knowledge component, so Vertical Motion looked at our technology readiness level in the next phase. They gave us some training, feedback, and guidance on where we were at the time and how to advance to the next milestone, organizing what we needed to do each day.

Vertical Motion’s team continues to provide a lot of consulting. They do other audits around code reviews to see the quality of our development and how our tickets are being done, organized, and checked by the peers.

What is the team composition?

We work with three people from Vertical Motion: Jason (President), Tyler (Marketing & Communications Specialist), and another person who I believe is their internal project manager.

How did you come to work with Vertical Motion?

There’s a program here in Canada that has a lot of executives and entrepreneurs in residence, and Jason was referred to me by someone who runs that program. This person told me that Jason helped early tech companies with small teams to get on the right track from the beginning.

How much have you invested with them?

The whole project is going to cost us under $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in April 2021, and our engagement is ongoing, but it will end in about a month.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The velocity at what we’re developing now and our team’s general speed has increased by around 20%. In addition to that, we’ve seen other benefits from collaborating with Vertical Motion. The overall product quality that we’re delivering and our team’s general cohesiveness in the way that they work together have improved.

Now, we’re seeing, acknowledging, and dealing with unforeseen challenges before they get to a stage in which they affect what we develop. Thus, the success rate of our deliverables is higher as well. It’s hard to put a number to it, but I estimate that it’s 50% less likely that we deliver something with an error.

How did Vertical Motion perform from a project management standpoint?

Vertical Motion is very responsive. Although they’re very busy people, they always manage to make time for us and immediately respond when we call them. The team is available across multiple channels as well, and we can reach out to them by phone calls, email, text messages, and tools like Slack and Discord — we’re always able to reach them.

Additionally, there is a very nice balance to our engagement. It’s not just us going to them for help, but they also check in on us. They don’t just ask if everything is ok but also give us recommendations on things that they look at, discuss, and think that might be interesting for us, which is very nice.

Generally speaking, Vertical Motion is very friendly, knowledgable, and experienced; we can tell that they’ve done this many times and worked with different teams. We’ve noticed their experience level, and that’s why we follow whatever they recommend.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Vertical Motion definitely knows what they are talking about. Our developers have instantly resonated with whatever they recommend, and they’ve given us action plans and instructions on how to measure the results afterward — it all comes from a place of experience.

We’ve worked with some other consultants in the past, and they sometimes made recommendations that didn't really make a difference. However, we've followed Vertical Motion's recommendations and noticed immediate differences, which has been very valuable.

As we can see the process and the way it’s being measured, we’ve been able to gauge the results and see how they’re helping us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any recommendations on how they can improve. If I weren’t happy in any way, I wouldn’t be offering to leave this review. I think that they’re really great, and there’s still a lot for us to learn from them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Sometimes, it’s difficult to see the benefit of working with a consultant that’s not building anything for you. However, you’ll get to see what that benefit looks like by having a conversation with them.

In my case, I saw a real tangible increase in our productivity and speed. Working with Vertical Motion is definitely an investment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Admazing Savings is a collection of merchant sponsor ads bringing savings to our client group on services and products. We offer our product to five different regions across central Alberts (Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge). As business manager it is my overall responsibility to coordinate all aspects of daily operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Vertical Motion, and what were your goals?

Our previous CRM system was very antiquated so a decision was made to embrace the services of Vertical Motion to bring our IT to a place that was workable for us.

SOLUTION

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

A previous partner in the company brought this vendor to our attention based on a previous project that this vendor had completed.

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

Vertical Motion has been completing development of a CRM with connection to our current mobile app. The new CRM system they are developing will assist in management of advertisers and fundraisers, management of digital coupon book via mobile app, management of subscriptions for mobile app, redemption and coupon verification processes. These elements have been completed in two week sprints which allow us to view and test new elements often.

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

Currently there are: Jason Jones: Owner/Senior Tech Gwynn Kirk: Website Design and Development Pablo Cafiso: Lead Programmer Bill Copeland: Coordinator/Facilitator However, we have previously worked with 7 other developers/facilitators that are no longer with the vendor. We trust that we will be working with the new group for a more extended period of time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The initial project of the app development was delivered and functional while adhering to the timelines set by the vendor. We have had the mobile app continuing to meet our functional needs for the past two years. The new project development of the CRM System is underway and expected to soft launch on June 1st, 2021.

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

The management style is largely coordinated through emails and bi-weekly zoom meetings. The creation of a facilitator position has helped with communication and time management during meetings. We recently met our new facilitator online and are comfortable that there will be no hiccups moving forward.

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

The individuals are extremely knowledgeable and talented at what they do.

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

The follow through of deadlines was not always evident however, this appears to be getting better.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at a large nonprofit that connects consumers with trustworthy businesses. I oversee inbound and outbound communications strategy for B2B services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vertical Motion?

We were looking to elevate how we showcase our brand, specifically with reference to our print and online marketing materials. We also had a few ideas around our approach to mobile branding and wanted to find a graphic design studio that included overall strategy as part of their process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, we had a list of collateral that needed to be replaced. Our materials have various purposes, mediums, and target audiences that need to be considered in distribution, so we started our engagement with Vertical Motion with an analysis of those specifications. From there, we began to discuss different directions for the brand, along with options for templates and overall communications/messaging strategy. Their work encompassed media kits, logos, branded email campaigns, Excel sheets, and other consumer engagement materials. We’re currently preparing to take on the next round of collateral in the next month or so.

Additionally, the Vertical Motion team managed design and development in creating a mobile application for our loyalty and rewards program for iOS and Android. Its most essential feature is a detailed search function, but it also includes referral management capabilities and a loyalty/rewards platform. Its multi-tier format allows each of our locations to list all their approved businesses, which makes them searchable for consumers. If businesses want to add loyalty programs, they can reward consumers with a $5 gift card to a business of their choice (iTunes, Starbucks, etc.) for completing specific tasks.

What is the team composition?

I work with an account manager that helps us with strategy and defining the scope of work. They also liaise with the development team, although we’ve had some direct contact with them as well. There’s often open dialogue that includes the graphic designer or the developer to make sure we get the concept across.

How did you come to work with Vertical Motion?

We were introduced to them by a colleague that works in the area. After working with other groups on a variety of other projects, I did one introductory project with them and it was a great experience. Since then, we’ve moved forward with them on several other projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2016, and the engagement is currently ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve collaborated with several branches in other parts of North America, and we’ll frequently get complements and questions about our various templates. In terms of quality, the work that Vertical Motion provided has received a great deal of positive feedback.

How did Vertical Motion perform from a project management standpoint?

When it comes to communicating with us, they’re very attentive and open to new ideas. They’ve effectively managed our expectations and we’ve been impressed with every deliverable. The team is efficient and easy to work with, which has yielded a great experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They turn around projects quickly, communicate openly, and provide high-quality deliverables. Vendors rarely offer that combination of service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. They’re experts in their field, and the quality of their work has been impeccable.

Any advice for potential customers?

They do their work based on the expectations that you set. It’s important to set out the scope clearly at the beginning of the engagement, rather than try to make adjustments later on. Maintain open communication and check in as frequently as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of RealOffice360™, which is a real estate software as a service (SaaS) product. We have a CRM for real estate agents.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vertical Motion?

We were in the idea/concept phase and we were looking to produce a working minimum viable product (MVP). We needed a technology partner to provide a quick and cost-effective MVP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We sat down for a couple days with our founder and their leadership group for the discovery phase. We went through our vision and developed the total scope of our project. Then, Vertical Motion came back to us with a series of recommendations for implementation to get us to the MVP stage. We signed off on it and agreed to go forward.

It took time to get a product we could see because they built it from scratch. Once we could look at it, we started to give feedback more frequently. Once the development cycle shortened, we were allowed to get our MVP into users’ hands.

What is the team composition?

Jason (President, Vertical Motion) was our primary point of contact. Our design team worked hand in hand with their development team. They also hired an external candidate that we hired on after the project.

How did you come to work with Vertical Motion?

We found them through Google. We evaluated several potential partners. One of our core evaluation criteria was that the project management team and staff had to be local with everyone in the same area. We also evaluated based on fit. We wanted somebody that understood the startup space and the importance of maximizing every dollar spent and putting it to the most efficient use in the most time-effective manner. From the first meeting, we felt our goal could be realized. We had comfort and trust from the first meeting that allowed us to make the decision.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2015–June 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They successfully completed the project. We were able to sell our MVP to a third-party consumer and achieve first revenue. We were also able to achieve recurring revenue. They built a scalable solution that allowed us to not only test product market fit but also generate revenue in the meantime. That is a testament to the quality that Vertical Motion put out. They met their deliverables and timelines. It was positive overall.

How did Vertical Motion perform from a project management standpoint?

Once the project started, we set up a system that, every couple days, we would revisit progress to date, issues, or hurdles that we encountered and address decisions that needed to be made.

They went above and beyond the normal standard model. They allowed us to have a team take the initiative and develop it. We set out from the start to make it feel as though we were on the same team working together with open communication. Jason was great at being the quarterback for the flow of conversation. If we needed to talk to somebody on the team, those communication channels were open and available at any time. We were open to sit in on daily and weekly sprint meetings when required or if requested. Vertical Motion always promptly addressed any interaction. They were the right people to work with. They didn’t treat us like the traditional client. The treated us as team members, which was critically important in our situation. We were all in it together figuring out the most efficient way to do it. They were open and receptive to collaboration.

Our design team and their development team worked together, at times under the same roof, and at times through Skype, Google Hangouts, or Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I liked their holistic approach. They want you and your project to succeed. They work with you to try and find the right way to make the product and project work. They utilize and leverage their past experiences. Vertical Motion helped us come up with a product and project that is successful and workable going forward. They delivered a level of trust that any company looking to take on a third-party consultancy should hold in the highest regard. They did a stellar job. Everything from communications to managing our expectations to the delivery of the product was impressive. They exceeded all expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them the opportunity to present what they can bring to the table. Be open and receptive to their ideas, proposals, and wealth of knowledge and experience in the development and technology space. In our experience, Jason would tell us something, and we’d come back a couple weeks later and tell him he was right. If you can shorten that learning loop and listen to them the first time, it would be greatly beneficial.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My husband and I operate a two-person publishing company. He writes an oil and gas newsletter for retail clients, and I am an executive of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vertical Motion?

We had to quickly develop a website that would host our newsletter. After our initial survey of potential clients told us they wanted us to continue with this project, we had a looming deadline to create the website. Time was of the essence, but so was professionalism.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had the site built in stages. To start, we needed a platform to host the newsletter and provide a gateway for subscribers. We relied on them to guide us on what to purchase and how it would be arranged. In later stages, we added more pages, like our corporate philosophy. They are constantly helping us improve. They also help with marketing efforts and provide ongoing technical support for the site.

What is the team composition?

We work closely with a web designer, a developer, and an accounting strategist.

How did you come to work with Vertical Motion?

I do a lot of consulting and teaching, so I presented the idea to my network of colleagues, and several firms were suggested. I called Vertical Motion first, and we connected immediately. We talked on the phone and had a meeting, and they assured us they could provide everything we needed. We liked them, and we didn’t look any further.

How much have you invested with them?

I would prefer to not disclose those figures.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2017, and it is ongoing. They are heavily involved in the production of the newsletter. We develop the newsletter in the format that we’re comfortable with, then we send it to them, and they put it online, and send it to the subscribers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They built our site in just two months, and it looks extremely professional. Our newsletter is now available on WordPress with a WooCommerce plugin. The site has received glowing reviews. It’s beautiful and a little edgy, and it completely aligns with our personality and the image we want for the company. Their marketing efforts for print ads and trade show banners are in tune with our vision.

How did Vertical Motion perform from a project management standpoint?

They have exceptional organizational skills. We regularly talk on the phone, and we share a lot on Google Drives. We meet in person periodically to develop plans for the next period. We’ve got our production schedule arranged for the next year, and they know when our marketing campaigns are coming up. With their help, we’re able to plan ahead as much as we can. They’re very responsive, and it all exceeds my expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

With either the website or logos or marketing projects, they always had timely solutions to different problems.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It feels like we're co-creating, and it feels like we're more partners than clients. I can't think of anything that would make it easier.

Any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend taking advantage of their specific packages that make long-term projects more financially reasonable.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

The organization is the Humane Society in Calgary, Canada.

What is your position?

I was the resource development manager for the Humane Society.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Vertical Motion?

At the time we partnered with Vertical Motion, apps were up-and-coming, I guess you could say, and I saw the need, along with our communications director, for the shelter to have something mobile that our supporters, people who wanted to adopt animals; just everyone in general could utilize to have an easier access to us.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

We were involved with the initial concept, and we had several meetings with the Vertical Motion team and, of course, meetings with our internal and external stakeholders. We brought Jason Jones [CEO, Vertical Motion] and the Vertical Motion team in to consult and say to them, "This is what we're envisioning. How can we get there?" They worked almost side by side with us for that project.

How did you come to work with Vertical Motion?

We approached a few others, and we had a few meetings. Jason and his team worked with us the best, and were able to present, in a slick and professional manner, what we would be looking for at the end. Our focus was how it was going to look and function for our stakeholders and, by far, the Vertical Motion team came out way ahead.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

I think we were looking at about $20,000 to $25,000. With us being a nonprofit, we had several aspects of it sponsored.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

This was many years ago, but I would say the upload from both the iTunes and Android platforms were, for us, astronomical. It was even featured in that particular year's annual report simply because it garnered such exposure globally.

What distinguishes Vertical Motion from other providers?

Speaking personally, their attitude very much mirrored our teams, and I can see them being able to mimic any work environment. They more of a team of colleagues as opposed to a starving supplier. Vertical Motion looked at it as a partnership and treated it as such.

In hindsight, are there areas in which they could improve, or things you might do differently?

I would have to say I can't think of anything.

BACKGROUND

What is your position? Please describe your organization.

I am the IT [information technology] manager for a company that services and sells release valves, gauges, and instruments, primarily for the oil and gas industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Vertical Motion?

We have a website for our customers to see their service reports online, and it's a pretty big part of our business. Customers really rely on it, and we get a lot of feedback. The problem is that it was outdated, and we needed a new website with modern features that looked refreshed and actually act like a modern website.

SOLUTION

How did you come to work with Vertical Motion?

We looked around online for various companies in Calgary that did this sort of work, and was impressed by Vertical Motion's website and what they've done. What stuck out when we evaluated them was their previous clientele and some of the examples that we saw from their portfolio.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Our partnership is in the $10,000 to $50,000 bucket.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

We have had good positive feedback from people who have used our site. We're not really a public face, so we don't really have much for that. Like I said, mostly just positive feedback.

What distinguishes Vertical Motion from other providers?

Vertical Motion truly knew what they were talking about and had some good ideas about how we could improve our site, and some things that we didn't really think about ourselves. We didn't get that pushy sales guy vibe from them.

In hindsight, are there areas in which they could improve, or things you might do differently?

I can't think of anything offhand.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization. What is your role and responsibilities?

We have six clinics in Calgary where we provide physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, podiatry, yoga, and sports therapy. I am the communications director and marketing manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal for working with Vertical Motion?

We were looking for a patient loyalty program – something that would help grow the business and reward our patients and keep them coming back to us.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

Vertical Motion provided iOS and Android application development.

What was your process for selecting Vertical Motion?

One of our patients was one of the owners of Vertical Motion. They spoke to us about the concept of an app, and we decided to pursue it.

Can you give a sense of the size of the initiative?

Our app development cost is in the $1,000 to $10,000 range.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics or metrics on the project?

Our app traffic and subscribers are growing steadily. It's been very well received.

What differentiates Vertical Motion from other partners?

Vertical Motion's account management was amazing. Our account manager was great from listening to laughing. If there was a problem she'd get back to us right away. In terms of development, it was entirely their goal to make sure we were completely happy with the final product. They were making changes to what we wanted to see and making changes on their end so we could have it in time. Vertical Motion is super friendly and super professional.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently?

No. There's been quirks, but they've worked out. Quirks on their end they addressed immediately and apologized profusely.