WPRiders

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the owner of a company that manages and promotes various online websites. Lately, we've been busy testing a couple of ideas in the HR industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WPRiders?

We hired WPRiders to develop the MVP for our new HR marketplace solution. We wanted to validate the hypothesis for our startup by launching a WordPress MVP.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal of the project was to validate the demand for the services we wanted to offer within our marketplace, as well as to learn as many things from our first customers as possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

WPRiders was the top recommendation from our long-term hosting provider. Their past recommendations served us well, and WPRiders former clients said they were pleased with the results they saw. Moreover, their blog featured articles about validating startup hypotheses via a WordPress MPV, which is exactly what we needed to do.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We wanted a two-sided marketplace (based on WordPress and WooCommerce), with local payment services integrated, so we could check if the clients would pay for the services listed on our website. We provided detailed requirements document defining all the functionality we desired, as well as some guides for the design side.

What was the team composition?

We first discussed the business details (requirements, offer, deadlines, other terms and conditions) with Andrei (Business Consultant, WPRiders). Then, we communicated with Carmen (Digital Project Manager, WPRiders) about all the technical aspects of the releases.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We received the MVP we needed and have run different tests, producing valuable insights about our main hypothesis. We've also gotten orders through the site, giving us happy customers.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team complied with the deadlines established in the contract. Communication was mostly by email, and the project was first delivered on a dev-site, where we could check all the features and functionality before publishing. After our green light, they moved the code to the live environment. Months later, the website is still running smoothly, despite us including new services and WordPress releasing new plugins and updates.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

One time, we needed a feature implemented with very high priority, and they did indeed prioritize it. The overall impression they gave was one of a high-quality, dedicated, customer-oriented team that’s capable of great results. Also, we found that their blog and case studies to be a useful resource for online entrepreneurs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s always room for improvement, but we can’t think of something specific right now.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of See How Support, a web development and web design firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WPRiders?

I was hired to convert an older system that had several Wordpress plugins, and we were experiencing a variety of integration issues. The system itself was very inefficient, and as I was attempting to consolidate different segments, I realized that some of the work was beyond my skill set.

I hired WPRiders to take on the phases of the project that were beyond my capabilities. For example, I needed them to connect a Formidable Forms implementation to WooCommerce, so that actions conducted in Formidable Forms could generate content in WooCommerce.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WPRiders has implemented a variety of integrations for a course registration platform. They’ve focused primarily on e-commerce tools that let users purchase premium courses. The team has connected multiple third-party systems to the platform, occasionally using APIs to facilitate implementation.

Though they’ve dealt with a variety of tools and plugins, much of their work has been with WooCommerce integrations. We’re currently moving into a new phase where they’ll be setting up communication between WooCommerce and a popular accounting tool. We plan to connect the system to Salesforce eventually.

What is the team composition?

We have a business consultant, a project manager, and a developer assigned to our project. The business consultant has more of a macro view of the project, whereas our project manager serves as our direct point of contact.

How did you come to work with WPRiders?

I searched on a freelancer site for people that were skilled in Wordpress and Formidable Forms. WPRiders showed up as an organization that had relevant experience, and they responded to me when I reached out.

I knew this particular freelancer site was reliable, and I contacted some people from the site to ask about WPRiders. I’d never heard of WPRiders, but everyone I spoke to said that they came highly recommended. I had a few discussions with their team about how they would approach the project, and we began working together soon after our initial meetings.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started development with them in September 2018, and our work together is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team is completing work that is outside of my abilities, and I wouldn’t have been able to do this project without them. WPRiders is an integral part of the success of this product.

How did WPRiders perform from a project management standpoint?

The freelancer site that I found WPRiders on offers a chat-based forum, and we use that occasionally. We track most project tasks through Google Docs, and my company provides a proprietary project management tool that we use as well. In terms of communication, we have frequent video calls through UberConference and the video tool that they prefer.

For the most part, WPRiders is quick to complete tasks and is on time with every deliverable. The time difference can occasionally be a bit of a problem. There’ve been times when they’ve needed an answer from my client, and they’ve had to wait until the next day because my client is asleep when they’re working. These waiting periods tend to slow down the progress of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate the way that they’ve handled personnel changes. Continuity gaps in coding projects happen often, and they’ve done a terrific job of handing off work to different developers.

WPRiders is also very good at finding the most efficient way to finish project tasks. They’re mindful of our budget, and their team balances efficiency and comprehensiveness with our financial constraints. They’ve been very responsive to our concerns and are willing to make adjustments when necessary.

Are there any areas they could improve?

At times, WPRiders has struggled to understand the needs of our client, especially during the early stages of the project. There were times when I would give them a requirement, and they would return a deliverable that was coded correctly but didn’t make sense from a user perspective. I run into this problem with almost every programmer that I work with, and they’ve been better than some others. Thankfully, we’ve been able to lessen the frequency of miscommunications through screen sharing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As I said before, the time difference is a bit of a factor, so be aware of that when you start a project with them. I try to work with their schedule and am usually available when they’re working. I’ve become more aware of the problem as our partnership has progressed, and I’ve tried my best to compensate for it.

Visualization is very important. Showing concepts with diagrams, videos, and other visual aids will speed up the entire process. Looking back, I wish that we would've prepared for the project with more than just verbal descriptions.

Using video conferences can also be extremely beneficial. Sometimes, explaining your ideas with just a phone call or email can lead to a lot of back and forth.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the business development manager at Fred Beans Parts, an automotive parts center.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WPRiders?

We had created a first-of-its-kind digital returns program that our customers were hesitant about using. The program was using several services, like Zapier and WebMerge, and a few WordPress plugins. We needed to streamline these into one service to improve performance and cut costs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My team presented WPRiders with a working example of what we wanted. They updated the format and content of our automatically generated PDF. They also batched our PDF emails. The team added a dashboard to our WordPress page and worked on data formatting.

What is the team composition?

Our project team leader was Alex (Full Stack Developer, WPRiders).

How did you come to work with WPRiders?

Our company put out an RFP on Codeable and received about ten proposals. We ultimately chose WPRiders because of their availability, experience, and cost.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from September 2018–March 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Customers are no longer reticent about the returns program and have expressed satisfaction with the update.

How did WPRiders perform from a project management standpoint?

Despite the time difference, WPRiders communicated seamlessly and met all of our timeline goals. They were very accommodating of the many modifications my team made to the project as it progressed.

Their team used PHP and JSON. We communicated via Codeable.

What did you find most impressive about them?

WPRiders was extremely responsive. If they could not resolve a problem immediately, they provided a timeframe and adhered to it. Although we are no longer engaged in a partnership with them, they have quickly troubleshot and rectified any issues that have come up since launch.

Their WordPress capabilities were very strong.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there were no blatant things that could be fixed or improved.

Any advice for potential customers?

Go into the project well-prepared and with clear set objectives. This applies to any technical project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re building an online platform that connects teachers to students. It’s an educational website with several services, including homework help and online video classes in different disciplines, including English. I’m the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WPRiders?

I’d been trying to build the platform since 2016. I had worked with some local companies in Chicago until 2018, but they didn’t work out, so I needed a new partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a system for students to book teachers, which we’ve been working on for three months. Teachers have full control of their schedules; while students can check those schedules and book the teachers accordingly.

There is a form containing things like class types, levels, and the number of textbook pages the student wants help with. Students can also attach files and after submitting a form, it is sent directly to all teachers with relevant specializations.

They built the system on WordPress, though I took care of the design. I may give them more work in the future because their technical development section is good.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with Marius (General Manager, WPRiders) a project manager, and a full-stack developer.

How did you come to work with WPRiders?

I found them on Codeable, after posting a query. We started working together and I haven’t had any challenges with them; they understood mine immediately. It was as though they read my mind.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in May 2018. A new milestone was delivered in November—we’ve had 6–7 thus far.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re confident about their work, which they do really well. When I ask them for something, they do it one hundred percent. That’s what I was missing with other development companies.

The website is online, but it’s not fully functional yet as I’m still working on its content. There’s been nothing wrong with it so far. I’ve been the one to make mistakes after playing with the deliverables before they were transferred to the live website, but I talked to them and they fixed what I did without saying anything. I liked that, especially because I hadn’t seen it with the other companies I worked with, which left me alone to deal with the problem.

How did WPRiders perform from a project management standpoint?

I like that Marius keeps in constant touch about changes and milestones. Marius insists I don’t pay until I’m one-hundred-percent satisfied, which is good. We use Codeable's messaging system for communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve been impressed by their speed and quality. When I ask them for something, they read my mind and even complete my sentences sometimes. I haven’t had any difficulties explaining things to them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing against them. Their pricing is also surprisingly good.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Have your ideas ready before placing an order, rather than just throwing things around. It’s helpful to use paper and pen to explain the requirements because even though their English is good, visuals are helpful to explain how certain things should look.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a managing partner of a consulting company specializing in health and safety in parts and services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WPRiders?

We needed help in developing a web-based application to automate some of our internal processes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had been working with developers for mobile iOS and Android applications. Many times, the developers wanted a lot of money for the first stage of development and then required more for each update, and none of the versions met our expectations. WPRiders offered us a web-based solution with a highly iterative development process.

They spent a lot of time solidifying exactly what was necessary for the first version of the application, developed it within a month, and I’m now releasing it to the market to gauge the reaction and decide whether or not to move on to the next phases. The application improves our processes and our processes for transferring information to our clients, especially urgent information.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact was the project manager and two other team members. I’m sure there were people behind the scenes, but I wasn’t involved with them.

How did you come to work with WPRiders?

We had known the owner of the company for several years and I mentioned my struggles working with mobile app developers to him over the phone. He offered the web-based application solution and his company’s services.

What is the status of this engagement?

This phase of the project lasted for the month of September 2018, and we now have a separate contract with them for ongoing app maintenance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application has saved more than 100 hours of routine work per month. In a much more general sense, they helped me gain clarity around the requirements of every development stage, which will ultimately save the company time and money.

How did WPRiders perform from a project management standpoint?

What stood out the most in their project management was the amount of time and focus they put into solidifying all of the technical requirements. We spent a lot of time developing a clear image of what was needed in all of the phases.

At the beginning of the project, I approached the application wanting every feature I could think of, but they really helped me focus on what was necessary during the first stage. They examined our requirements, timeline, and budget to develop the best plan for the project. Every week, we received weekly progress updates and two days before the deadline, they analyzed the app to guarantee it met all or the requirements.

What did you find most impressive about them?

WPRiders valued our relationship and our long-term project goals over making a sale. They took the time to identify exactly what we needed for each phase of the project so that we didn’t spend superfluous money. They were thinking of us first, and because of that, we plan on continuing to work with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My main advice is to have patience during the process of identifying the technical requirements. As an entrepreneur, it can seem like a lot of unnecessary time spent, but going through the entire process ends up being extremely beneficial in the long-term.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner and CEO of Stack. We develop and operate multiple online services, ranging from dating apps to small business startups.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WPRiders?

We needed WPRiders to help customize and fix bugs on one of our Wordpress sites.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to solve all of the errors made by the original developer. Additionally, we wanted to have new customizations to increase the speed and overall performance of the site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We searched for developers online and considered many Wordpress experts. We chose them because of their excellent reputation and they stood out from the other vendors in their field.

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

To begin, our point of contact gathered our requirements and planned their scope and budget for the project. Then, they modified the logic within the Wordpress theme so it would function properly — this required a significant amount of coding on the backend. They fixed our cross-browser compatibility issues. Their team also reconfigured several plug-ins and migrated the entire site to a new hosting service.

What was the team composition?

I interacted with Marius, the head of the company, throughout the project. I worked with one developer for during the development stages of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site’s performance has increased by 80%, which we hope will lead to an improvement in its ranking on search engines. We’ve seen an increase in traffic and a decrease in bounce rate since the project was completed.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their system for managing the project was very simple yet effective. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have a fast response time and communication within their team is strong. We were always on the same page; it was refreshing to work with a company like them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the project manager of RebelCode, a WordPress development team that works on plug-ins for a major blog.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WPRiders?

We engaged WPRiders to design and develop a custom WordPress website along with a plug-in.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the final version to reflect our initial designs and be easily navigable. The site also needed to help customers better understand our products.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We reviewed a number of local and international web development agencies. We chose WPRiders because they met our requirements, were thorough in their questions, and provided a quote within our budget.

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

WPRiders developed the site on the Genesis framework and created a WordPress plug-in called WP RSS Aggregator, which allows users to easily integrate rich site summary (RSS) feeds into their sites. The team also helped us achieve certain design elements in code, implemented them, and fixed any bug.

What was the team composition?

We worked with two separate developers; the turnover occurred around halfway through the project. We also interacted with 2–3 developers at any one time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The site was functional and aesthetically pleasing. The bug fixes ironed out any small issues that cropped up. Since its launch, the website has performed well and now helps new users find plug-ins and understand what they do better.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The team was always available via Asana and email. The majority of the communication was quick and clear, which allowed us to stay on top of the progress. Skype calls were also productive when needed.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Asana made the process clear and issues or delays easy to monitor.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They should better organize the communication flow between email and Asana. In the beginning, we weren’t clear on how they expected us to use the channels. However, we got a better understanding as time went by.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former head of marketing for an AI solutions company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WPRiders?

We were launching a new program in the U.S. and needed to update the accompanying website. Its frontend was dated, clunky, and could use new copy. We brought WPRiders in to revamp the site altogether.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

WPRiders redesigned our site’s infrastructure and developed the backend using WordPress. We hired another third-party designer to create the UX, but WPRiders was responsible for developing and implementing the frontend. They also integrated the site with HubSpot so that it could run automated marketing programs. Ultimately, they delivered a lead generation website that promotes a software as a service (SaaS) advertising technology.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Marius (General Manager, WPRiders), a project manager, and one other resource.

How did you come to work with WPRiders?

I found them on Codeable by looking for developers with WordPress experience. After reaching out to Marius, I interviewed him and looked over the company’s portfolio. I liked what they, had to offer and appreciated Marius’s responsiveness. We felt comfortable with this team, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $36,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project took place from November 2016–May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The website’s previous build consisted of too many interactive elements that disrupted the UX. Its poor design resulted in low web traffic and an even lower conversion rate. Thanks to WPRiders, the site now looks like a professional SaaS platform that can rival our competitors in Silicon Valley. By building on WordPress, I could make changes to the site without having to hire third-party designers. Overall, their efforts have increased sales and helped change the U.S. market’s perception of our company.

How did WPRiders perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re flexible and able to accommodate frequent project changes. I had to educate my team to ensure they could provide WPRiders with actionable feedback. Marius worked to overcome this challenge and was patient with us. Both teams did their best to correct miscommunications and accomplish the work successfully.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They follow through with what they promise, so I know I can rely on them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything worked out well, but I wish we could’ve communicated more at the start of the engagement. However, I was the one who was unavailable. I’m happy with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The future clients of WPRiders need to communicate their expectations for each project. Also, it’s imperative to provide feedback promptly so that their developers can move forward on schedule.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a consulting company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Consulting Services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire WPRiders to accomplish?

• Custom Software Development

SOLUTION

How did you find WPRiders?

Other

Why did you select WPRiders over others?

Other

How many teammates from WPRiders were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Custom software development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Technical expertise

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

The project management for my initiatives is as very effective with responsive communication and on time delivery.

What was your primary form of communication with WPRiders?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I am most impressed with their level of technical expertise to be able to take on a variety of tasks.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of three e-book websites, including BookBarbarian.com. My sites help readers find discounted books from popular authors and publishers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WPRiders?

I needed to modify several plug-ins and forms on my sites. I was also looking for someone to manage my WordPress site and update my plug-ins monthly to ensure that everything worked properly.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to automate several tasks to free up my time, make the sites easier for customers to use, and minimize their downtime.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them on Codeable.com and selected them over other candidates because they responded well to my job post. They showed a high level of knowledge about the issues I faced.

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

They redesigned code for a calendar plug-in, which they integrated with Gravity forms, and introduced auto-posting on WordPress. They handle all monthly plug-in and WordPress updates as well as site backups.

What was the team composition?

I work with the founder, who has different team members work on the projects as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I have more free time and peace of mind now that the sites are stable and easy for visitors to use.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

I have one primary point of contact who delegates work to various team members. It’s been extremely effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I like their responsiveness and high-level expertise.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

I can't think of anything. I've been quite pleased with them.