UX/UI Dev & Design for HR Software Company
"Their ability to communicate with individuals without computer or software experience was also crucial."
5/5
4.5/5
5/5
5/5
Overall:
5/5
Review by:
Heyke Kirkendall-Baker & Steve Baker, President & CTO - Parity Software
Background
Project summary:
Buildable Custom Software provided design and development services to advance a platform for an HR software company. Following specifications, they enhanced the web app’s UX/UI and built reporting features.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
Heyke Kirkendall-Baker: I’m the president of Parity Software.
Steve Baker: I’m the CEO of Parity Software.
Opportunity / Challenge
What challenge were you trying to address with Buildable Custom Software?
HKB: Working with another company, we were behind schedule and over budget. We stopped selling our software because it wasn't where it needed to be. We needed to hire another agency to get the project back on track and get our program to the point where we could sell it again.
Solution
What was the scope of their involvement?
SB: Our company initially made the software, which Buildable made easier for our customers to use. The software allows employers to meet ongoing issues with pay equity at the state and national levels.
We provided them with specifications as well as access to our different accounts and servers.
HKB: I also gave them a PowerPoint to demonstrate the look and feel that I wanted.
SB: Buildable made significant changes to the UI, making it more familiar to our customers. For example, if you’re used to using Microsoft Word, you don’t want your program to look like a dull space program. Their team implemented more advanced reporting and feedback loops for our customers.
What is the team composition?
HKB: We primarily worked with four people from their team. There were a project manager and a developer. We also worked with Max (President).
SB: Another developer and a customer success teammate supported this project too.
How did you come to work with Buildable Custom Software?
HKB: I searched online for companies with UI and project management experience because our previous vendor didn’t have a manager to keep our project on track. I found a website and reached out to about five different companies. Within about 30 minutes, I received a response from Miles (Business Dev Expert). Buildable was the only company that responded in a timely manner. Miles wanted to schedule a meeting and learn more about the project. We met with the owner and Miles to describe our project and then decided to move forward with them.
How much have you invested with them?
HKB: We’ve spent about $35,000 on their services.
What is the status of this engagement?
HKB: We started our engagement with Buildable on this project in December 2019.
SB: Phase one is complete, wrapping up in June 2020. We’re currently working on what the next big phase will be.
Results & Feedback
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
SB: Their knowledge about current technologies and software development helped to produce a platform that looks like a 2021 product. Max’s background in database design was useful. Their team delivered what we wanted.
They were able to accept our ideas and turn them into working software. Buildable is one of the few companies that we’ve met that can understand non-software engineers when it comes to product definition and design.
HKB: Our previous vendor spoke over my head because I’m not a technical person. Buildable listened and translated my ideas, which isn’t always the easiest task. They also consistently checked in to make sure that their team understood what I wanted the platform to capture. Their team paid attention to my thoughts, which is the primary reason that we continue with them.
How did Buildable Custom Software perform from a project management standpoint?
SB: Buildable has a sensible and intelligent approach. A lot of people have good ideas but not a lot of people have access to senior engineers to run ideas through them.
HKB: Their project management was exceptional. We had standup meetings on a weekly basis. Their team would tell us what they accomplished last week and what they intended to accomplish in the coming week. They were on target.
SB: We used Zoom to communicate. They run an Agile-based system with sprints, so they’re on top of the project.
Buildable also used tools to design UIs and flows. They had a system that we used to track issues. Their team responded through the system too.
What did you find most impressive about them?
SB: Their team did what they told us they would do upfront. If they fell short, their team made up for it without charge. If we found a bug, they recognized the issue and fixed it.
We pushed their engineering team, which excited them. Buildable wanted to be a part of our success.
HKB: Their ability to communicate with individuals without computer or software experience was also crucial.
Are there any areas they could improve?
SB: I’m sure there are areas for improvement. But, they did what they said they were going to do. Our project was complicated, but the end result was good. We still have a good relationship.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
SB: Tell them what you want. Their team will tell you what they can and can’t do, so be brutally honest.
We told them what we wanted, what we could afford, and what we didn’t want to happen. Then, their team told us what they could do. If we hid the ball, we wouldn’t have gotten the end result that we wanted.
HKB: Be prepared to engage with them. If you don’t engage in the standup meetings, the project won’t be as successful.
5/5
4.5/5
5/5
5/5
Overall:
5/5
Email: connect@buildableworks.com
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