Vincit

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of digital operations at KCRW, a nonprofit NPR radio station in California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit California Inc.?

We needed some custom development within our mobile app. The frontend designs were already done in-house, but we needed Vincit to build it out.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vincit restructured our app using React Native to allow users to access and stream our news and music channels, incorporating Spotify and Apple Music software. When we play certain songs on the radio, users can get a preview of the music through the app and skip around different tracks. They also integrated other APIs, including Salesforce. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with a project manager who oversees their technical development team, managing those resources out of offices in Finland and California. We probably had about six people in total on the project, working in sprints.

How did you come to work with Vincit California Inc.?

They submitted a proposal during our RFP process after finding the opportunity posted on social media. After we narrowed our choices down to 10 firms, we ultimately chose to work with Vincit based on their amicability, professionalism, and a strong portfolio. 

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spent around $150,000, plus our regular retainer costs.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2018 and launched the app by August of the same year, but we still have a retainer agreement with them. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The new iteration of the app Vincit built has significantly upgraded our platform overall and attracted more users. They helped streamline our code, so certain features are now all in one place and more convenient for users. By using React Native, we're now able to more easily update both versions of the app as needed. We're also very happy with the overall new look and feel of it.

How did Vincit California Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very clear about their processes, but also flexible as needed if the scope changes. They've done a good job of meeting our needs within our budget, so we're very happy overall. We communicated through Slack for the most part and had meetings over the phone every other week. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're a good balance of professional and serious, yet approachable and fun.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's not in our scope of work, but it'd be nice if they continued to check in with us and propose new features after the app launched. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a strong and detailed scope of work, because anything is possible. As our scope of work changed, we had to increase our budget, but their team is good about trying to stay within the original budget as much as possible. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the digital marketing and communications manager for a global powersports company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit California?

We needed a partner to implement a strong mobile strategy and implementation to reach our customers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started our partnership seven years ago, with some basic mobile technology. Now, things have changed quite a bit, and Vincit California’s main responsibility is developing our mobile apps. We have two—one for each product line—and they’ve designed, built, and updated them numerous times, even rebuilding them from the ground up at times. They built the apps in React, for both Android and iOS.

What is the team composition? 

We work with an account manager, two developers, and the president when it comes to higher-level stuff.

How did you come to work with Vincit California?

They acquired the company that we used to work with. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since 2011.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The leads generated through the mobile apps convert higher than any of our other resources. 

How did Vincit California perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly calls and use Basecamp and Trello to track work. Our level of communication adjusts according to our needs and the phase of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They code well and quickly, never missing a deadline. They scale to our needs, and we’ve been impressed with the quality of their work. They’re on the cutting edge of technology for their field.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be more proactive and creative, pushing back with solutions that we may not have originally considered.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Communicate frequently and trust their expertise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Click 2 Drive, an online driving school that's been around for 27 years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

We engaged Vincit to help us build a mobile app to make our platform more accessible to students.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vincit designed and developed a mobile educational app for iOS and Android from scratch, working off of basic wireframes and requirements. They incorporated features that allow for email notifications to be sent to students, mobile log-in, and other instructional information.

What is the team composition?

We mostly worked with Dalip (Head of Business, Vincit), as well as a senior mobile developer.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

I found them through social media.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $50,000–$70,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from around December 2016 through May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Vincit successfully delivered to our specifications. Users and employees like the UX overall—it's user-friendly and straightforward.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

They were detail-oriented and on top of tasks throughout the project. We mostly communicated through in-person meetings, email, or over the phone.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It's a more detailed process than we expected, so I definitely recommend trying to have your app as thought-out as possible in the early phases, providing their team with details, sketches, wireframes, etc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president of operations at an escrow company in California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

The engagement with their team started when several colleagues and I branched off of an existing firm and needed to rebrand. This included a new website, logos, stationery, etc. We continue to work with them on new projects that strengthen our brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our first goal was to establish a web presence. The Vincit team started by designing and developing a simple landing page, and we’re now working together to implement a variety of interactive features that we’ve come up with over the last three-plus years. Initially, we provided messaging and some specific ideas on functionality. They followed up with in-depth competition analysis, and the new features are still currently in development. They’re also creating a brand book for our own internal use.

What is the team composition?

Originally, we primarily worked with Dalip (Head of Business, Vincit). Our companies have grown together, which came with its advantages and its challenges. Since the beginning, Dalip has shifted to focus on enhanced branding for us, including ways to make our site more robust and our social media more engaging. We also started to work more closely with Brian (Account Manager, Vincit), who has recently taken a lead on our project. The whole team has been exceptional for us.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

A partner who no longer works with us initiated the connection, which predates my time with the firm.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $20,000 on the first version of the site, and the phase we’re working on now is ongoing.

What is the status of this engagement?

The Vincit team started working with us in the first quarter of 2015, and we’re still currently working on features for the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The brand book is set to be completed next week. This will be the first deliverable for this phase of the project, but we’ve been very happy with the engagement thus far.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

Their emphasis on following up has been outstanding throughout the engagement. They provide weekly updates, which we didn’t explicitly ask for, but they’re very proactive in their approach to communicating with us. We always know what’s been accomplished in past weeks and what the goals are for next week. Communication is primarily via phone and email, but their office is relatively close by, so we also meet in person fairly often as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was very excited about their approach to learning about our business. The real estate industry can sometimes come across as dry and mundane, but the Vincit team was able to add a fresh and modern element to our brand. After studying our competition, they were able to identify and recommend several areas for us to stand out in the field.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Any issues were on our end. This was our first time working through a project like this, and we likely could’ve been more clear around some of our requirements. They’ve done a great job interpreting our ideas and translating them into actionable project goals.

Any advice for potential customers?

Remember that they’re a creative company. Let them do what they do best, and be open to seeing things differently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of MOVI Valet. We’re in the process of developing an app for a ticketless valet system that allows you to pay, tip, and request a car.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

Since I don’t have a technology background, I needed someone to bring my idea to life.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vincit developed my app for iOS and Android, and handled marketing and branding, doing everything from scratch. In the beginning, I only had an idea of the app, so they helped me come up with wireframes to bring it to life and assisted with choosing a logo and brand colors. They also integrated any new ideas I came up with.

Two platforms were built. One was client facing and the other for business processes, which included several reporting features and tools to track what’s being collected.

What is the team composition?

I initially worked with Dalip (Head of Business, Vincit), and then interfaced with their art director for a little while. After that, a senior full-stack developer took over to put the app together. Now, I work with their marketing coordinator for promoting the app.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

We went through a bidding process with several companies. I needed a vendor that was organized enough to communicate what they’re doing and the process behind it, which was something Vincit was able to do, unlike other companies. A colleague of mine knew Dalip and recommended his company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2017 until August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app is fully developed and set to go live next week. I’ve had people take a look at it to give me their opinion on the wording and the aesthetic, and there have been very minor changes. Everyone says that Vincit did an amazing job with the app’s build and design. I’m pleased with the product and have sent people their way.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re excellent. They were always available to answer any questions I had and offered several means of communication, though we mainly used email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

From a marketing standpoint, they’re amazing. The work they put forward is something I haven’t seen from other companies.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with a clear and concise idea of what you want. I went in with a blank canvas, which wasn’t the worst thing but wasn’t the best either. If I had gone in with a clear concept, the process would’ve been faster and I probably wouldn’t have needed as much guidance. This made it a bit harder for me to find out what I wanted.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of SumoDen, a licensed merchandise dealer. We used to be a wholesaler, but recently moved our sales to the direct-to-consumer channel.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

We needed a developer to build a B2C website from scratch for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vincit developed a custom site on Shopify from scratch. They designed the layout to best showcase and organize our numerous product skews. Sparkhouse, their in-house media company, shot all the site images including product photos. The team spearheaded our branding strategy meetings. They presented an array of options for color schemes, layouts, and placements and sizes of different buttons. After we selected our favorites, they built wireframes. We started off with basic assets since we planned to modify the design for A/B and conversion testing. 

Their best contribution was the #MySumoDen hashtag idea. Customers put hashtag products they purchase to put them into their “den.” It took longer than anticipated to iterate our mascot concept, but we appreciated their attention to detail. I remember seeing a dozen sketches they drew to extend the idea in different directions. Several in-depth meetings later, we agreed upon the ideal version. Since this image will be featured on all our products, we don’t want to have to change it any time soon.

What is the team composition?

We worked with five total resources including the founder himself. Our project manager was involved in about 65% of the project. After the wireframes were complete, we scaled down to two developers.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

One of my partners had previous business experience with Dalip (Head of Business, Vincit) and referred us to Vincit. Having an in-house photo and video production studio made hiring them an easy decision. We liked what we heard and were found their portfolio impressive.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June to October 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Vincit came up with the innovative #MySumoDen hashtag concept that’s centric to our entire rebranding strategy. Everyone we’ve shown the final version of our mascot idea to has indicated the team hit the nail on the head in terms of making it appealing and relatable.

They built a custom platform that’s thoughtfully tailored to all our needs. I like both the original site’s design and the temporary layout they’re using to solicit user feedback. Streamlined navigation makes our many product offerings easy to browse. Sleek, attractive presentation encourages customers to actually purchase items that catch their eye.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

The team works efficiently and communication has been consistently reliable. Our project manager helped ensure sure everyone was on the same page. Their in-house photography and video production agency enables them to serve all our needs under one roof. It was much easier to communicate with that internal team than a third-party subcontractor.

Meeting in person helped clearly convey our needs. They promptly compiled and sent us summary notes following each discussion. These reports included set deadlines for implementing new features. We extended the original timeline for positive reasons. As we approached the final iteration, 1–2 critically needed UX modifications emerged. The team flexibly accommodated our requests for these major changes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their absolute greatest strength is excellent customer service. I appreciated how hands-on the Dalip personally was. The founder was a pillar of reliability from the beginning. I really appreciate how thoughtfully they ensured everything was done to our liking. I can’t think of any comparable vendor who would work that hard so close to the end of an engagement.

Vincit had the patience and integrity to give us honest assessments and work diligently to maximize our brand. They never took a formulaic or contractual approach. As we approached the final stages, they virtually went back to the drawing board to make major changes in the service of delivering the ideal end product.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the account director of a digital advertising agency. We do brand strategy, creative, and technology work for Fortune 500 companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

We needed to develop an app for a national council but lacked the necessary expertise in-house. We outsourced the project to ensure quality development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the app our client needed using React Native and PhoneGap. They would eventually service and support the client directly.

What is the team dynamic?

We interacted primarily with the project manager and senior developer.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

I’ve known about them for a long time. It was critical we got the project done so we considered at least 4–5 other vendors. Vincit’s previous work really stood out among competitors as they had experience building their own algorithms and working on A.I. projects. Having been impressed, we brought them on for the project.

How much have you invested with them?

I think we spent $30,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place in 2014 and lasted 6 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app turned out great and the client loves it. They knew we were outsourcing the project and were so happy with the results, they now work directly with Vincit for app support. We were happy to give Vincit that business because ultimately, it’s about best serving the client.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

There are always challenges, but overall everything went smooth. They shared Basecamp with us so we always knew how development was going. We also created a Trello board for backlog management.

During meetings, it was great to get a general production update from the project manager, but the senior developer’s insight was extremely valuable. This developer would also talk to the client and could break down technologies using analogies and examples. Not many developers take a client-facing role so that was a huge advantage.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Having worked with a number of agencies and vendors, I greatly appreciated Vincit’s transparency throughout the engagement. Additionally, I was impressed with their technical approach to the project. Instead of blindly taking orders, they consider how to best provide a solution and work towards that. This leadership pushed us to reassess our business and the processes we have in place.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their pricing seemed inconsistent at times so negotiations took longer. This was due to a misunderstanding of what they were trying to outline within their documents.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When searching for an app development vendor, it’s important to vet them not only from a price perspective but from a process perspective as well. Understand how a firm approaches solutions and decide if that benefits your client. What’s great about Vincit is they will lay out their process in detail, thus eliminating ambiguity.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a hot sauce manufacturing company, with apparel and other miscellaneous accessories on the side. I run the e-commerce portion of the company and handle the website and all the orders that come in online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

We had an outdated non-Shopify website that was run by a shopping cart. We needed someone to develop a Shopify website for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built our new website with Shopify. We wanted inventory control and more control on our end. Before, we would have to contact someone else to do minor changes. We had a vision of what we wanted the website to look like and they had a vision as well.

What is the team dynamic? 

Almost their whole team was on board with us, listening to what we wanted to do with our website, brand, and idea. We all shared our concerns and ideas and came up with a long-term plan, which really was amazing to see. They worked well with us, and synergistically with each other. Everybody knew what his or her role was, which put us at ease from the get-go.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

Our social media team put us in touch with them.

How much have you invested with them?

It cost $1,000 for the facelift of the website, $350 for photo editing, and $160 for a template purchase on Shopify. Since then, we've gone to purchase a different package plan.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2016 and, initially, the work lasted 2–4 months. We're now working with them again.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our users definitely saw a change for the better; they liked it and our sales increased. Our website is now much more engaging and you can that customers enjoy spending time on it.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

Amazing. They were in contact every week. Brian (Account Manager, Vincit) is persistent and that's what we needed with the way we work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They're an amazing team, company, and people.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what your company needs and wants before you meet with them to make things a lot easier on yourself and them. If you or your company don’t have an end goal, you may not get what you need. If you have a clear picture in mind, you won't be disappointed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a law practice specializing in personal injury work. I’m the president and managing partner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

We wanted new branding to help propel the firm. We had a few concepts, but neededa designer to help us through the process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They put together a couple of logos and discussed marketing strategy. They helped us through every step, from my vision to the design, to production. We did all the implementation on our end, but they made sure our branding compatible with our website, social media, and digital marketing, as well as our letterhead, business cards, and other print media.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked with about four people in total. We worked on all the little details of the logo and conceptualized the best ways to make it successful. I had a project manager who oversaw the project and anyone involved.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

I did a lot of research online, and considered at least five companies. I was really impressed with their work, and the vision of their projects. I spoke to Dalip (Head of Business, Vincit) and he came to our office to meet. We got along really well. They’re younger, which fit my target audience and my implementation strategy.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2016. They delivered the final product that August.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My intake has more than quadrupled in the last year, especially in terms of my retention rate. I attribute a lot of that growth to their recommendations. We did a lot of the work after marketing, but we wouldn’t be where we are without their help. I’ve had nothing but compliments and amazing results.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

They were 100% on point, and I have zero complaints. They responded quickly to emails and phone calls, at all times of the day, and even on weekends.  They met all my concerns head-on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did an amazing job putting everything together and were meticulous through the entire process. They never made us feel like a small client, and always treated us like a priority.

Their approach is personal, like working with a friend. Even now, if I reach out to them for anything, they’re naturally personable.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I run a startup called QBIQ, which produces educational material and products for football quarterbacks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Vincit?

Our app allows coaches to test their quarterbacks’ responses to different scenarios. The coach creates a playbook, and the player predicts the outcome from the offensive and defensive information he’s given. We started the wireframe but needed a team to refine it. We wanted to be sure our ambitions were realistic and would give us the best return on our investment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed the iOS app. We discussed concepts and created a workflow and user walkthrough. It was a consultative process, and we made adaptations collectively. They helped keep us within the scope and our budget parameters.

What is the team dynamic?

Our project manager was Brian (Account Manager, Vincit), their art director was our designer, and we had an engineer. We worked with all three at various stages.

How did you come to work with Vincit?

I worked with Dalip (Head of Business, Vincit) at a previous employer, so I knew he had a lot of experience in this area. I knew I could trust him.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $26,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started discussions in April, and launchd the app in July. App development can be a lengthy, painful process, but this project felt much faster than four months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Version 1 is available in the app store now. We’ve had very few crash reports, account creation is solid, and feedback has been good. Apps like this can be difficult to debug, so we’re happy we haven’t needed any hotfixes or updates because of issues. Everything was built to our specifications, and though we’re still early in product development, I’d categorize this a success.

How did Vincit perform from a project management standpoint?

The timeline was well communicated. They were understanding of any questions, working points, or sanity checks we had. Brian and the engineer always got back to us within a day. Their responsiveness never lapsed, especially at the end when we were debugging the system. They wanted to finish the project as much as we did, but never skimped or cut corners. They gave us a solid product, and they delivered it when we needed it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They understood our brand and were excited about it. We’re not their biggest client, but they weren’t just checking the boxes. They saw our potential, and their interest in us added value to the process.

Advice for potential customers?

Have a firm idea before you enter any engagement. If you don’t, your costs will go up. Also, be open to Vincit’s feedback.