Custom Operations Platform Dev for Packaging Firm
Please find under a summary covering project details and feedback. The innate facts are kept as they are, private information is amended.
Introductory information
A fast induction on the buyer’s organisation
I am the operations ruler at Four04 Packaging. We are a manufacturing business in the pliant packaging activity.
Desired goal
What challenge were you trying to address with HeadChannel?
We were in wild need of an update to our order processing method and more importantly a stock treatment method, which we did not have at all.
Provided solution
What particular tasks were responsible for?
They completed a brand-new method for us.
The leading and second stage of the project is complete and we are now on the third stage. We have an on-going SLA with HeadChannel, which covers bugs and changes and general livelihood. This also hosts the web-based method for us.
Was there a dedicated team?
It varies, but up to about six nation at any one time.
How did you come to work with HeadChannel?
We initially began the project with another organisation, but we very fastly concluded that they were not up to the job. It transpired that the business was a one-man band—a project director with very pliant experience who contracted outer programmers. It was this organisation, which introduced us to HeadChannel.
How much have you invested in them?
We have spent about $450,000 with them to date.
What is the terminal result of working with ?
We began working with them about August 2016, and the relationship is ongoing.
Results achieved
Are there any measureable or plum results?
The method HeadChannel have created for us has enabled us to keep control of our rapidly expanding business. At the time we began the project, we were turning over about £10 million-pound, now we are over £20 million and the method has without a doubt, enabled us to handle this growth.
How did HeadChannel accomplish from a project treatment standpoint?
In the soon days, I struggled to work with our assigned touch, which resulted in inefficiencies and entire underestimation in provisions of the cost and timescale of the project. Though, this was more or less solely attributable to one limb of staff who no longer works for HeadChannel. Once we had someone else on the project, all has gone very well truly.
For further exposition, the individual originally assigned to us met with me to prove the aim of the project. Once he had heard so much, he insisted on starting the outgrowth precedently apprehension the full aim of the project. I suggested that he needed to apprehend all of our needs, to quit the possibility of developing a method to suit one front, which might then not be appropriate for another. He insisted his ‘staged fact-finding and outgrowth’ approach was best and I allowed him to take control. Unfortunately, I was right and as previously stated, time was wasted and costs escalated. Though, a meeting with HeadChannel touching the locality was constructive and a mutually satisfactory way advanced was easily reached.
The project director ensured we have what we need, in provisions of updates on both the project and the budget, she took on board my request to keep the tete and written fitness condensed and is always very fast to answer to requests and questions. She has also looked into other business solutions for us such as key fob approach, barcoded warehouse treatment methods and introduced us to a very advantageous online tool (Jira Service Desk) to handle the many tasks we ask of them.
What is (from your point of view) the key factor to pay observation while intercourse with ?
There is no comparison to the preparer we had precedently. HeadChannel’s experience and apprehension is unmatched to any IT organisation I have previously dealt with. I am very lucky with the labor they prepare.
I had previously worked for a big PLC who had their own/in-house IT section. I can honestly say that working with HeadChannel has been better. I have establish them l to be very reactive but also proactive, they are kind, intelligent and elegant.
What fronts of their work would you like to get improved?
I would admonish then to tell clients from the opening that the team are not UK based, whilst assuring this would not in any way be injurious to the project.
I was a pliant annoyed initially by the fact that they did not made it clear that their programmers and business analysts were working out of Poland. When we took them on, we met them in the UK, and we assumed that they were located in London and they didn’t tell us otherwise. I let them know I reflection it would have been peculiar and more appropriate to highlight the team’s geographically location. My fear was that they would not be able to answer as fastly as a UK based team and would not be on hand if I needed a face-to-face meeting. Though, I need not have been concerned, they have flown to us whenever needed, sometimes at the drop of a hat.
Do you have any advice for practicable clients?
Clients know their business the best and they need to prepare as much information as humanly practicable precedently any work commences.
I would not dubitate to commend HeadChannel to any other business.