KRUTSCH

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder and CEO of Sidewalk Dog Media. For consumers, we’re a resource for dog lovers in Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver, and Chicago. And for brands, we serve as a multi-channel advertising vehicle to reach this particular demographic.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRUTSCH?

We had usability issues on the site. Users would say that they couldn’t navigate the platform or find information. For our type of website, our bounce rate was high. Overall, we wanted to improve retention, the number of site visits, and bounce rate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

KRUTSCH performed a user study to help us better understand our demographics and how we could improve the platform’s functionality as well as design. Following the study, their team provided summary observations and suggestions for UX improvements. We’re done with phase one now that we have the information we wanted. We need to move forward with the site redesign, which is great because it’s not a total rebuild.

How did you come to work with KRUTSCH?

Ken (Founder & President, KRUTSCH) and I worked in the same building. Once in a while, we would talk. I was fascinated with his work. They focused on UX, which we’d never really done with our site. When I realized we needed help with this, I reached out to KRUTSCH and that’s how the conversation started.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the course of our work together, we’ve spent about $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project around June 2019, and our work’s ongoing. We’re going to move forward with them to redesign the website. We’re a tiny company so I’m waiting for the best time budget-wise, which is going to be the first quarter of 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t been able to implement their recommendations because that’s part of phase two. But, I’m really happy with the information KRUTSCH presented. Their team took a lot of time to understand our demographics. Even though I've had my business and website for ten-plus years, UX isn't my specialty. They made recommendations that I wouldn’t have thought about.

When we started the project, there wasn’t a guarantee that we would continue to work together. I needed to see how the project went and how we worked together. I could’ve taken the information and moved forward with a different vendor if the experience wasn’t good. But the collaboration has been great.

How did KRUTSCH perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed excellently. Every deadline has been met or results have been produced in advance. When it comes to the schedule, I tend to be the one holding the project up.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Frankly, I was concerned about moving forward given my previous experiences with web developers, freelancers, and companies. I had several conversations with Ken, which I appreciated. He spent extra time to help me understand what we were signing up for. I don’t know that I would’ve been able to move forward otherwise.

KRUTSCH has been super patient. I had a lot of questions and I’m the owner of a small business, so working with clients like me is an educational process. They made me feel like I couldn’t have a dumb question. Their team was willing to answer the same question multiple times, explaining concepts in a different way to ensure my understanding. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything right now.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Include them as one of the company’s in consideration because I was pleasantly surprised at how easy KRUTSCH was to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

We’re the Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood. We regulate the public school and early child care across the state. We also provide and maintain information of workers in the private and public industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRUTSCH?

We needed to hire an external resource to do a user study on our quality rating improvement system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

KRUTSCH started by interviewing some of our users and directors across the state. Those people volunteered to give their feedback on the existing system that we’d built. Then KRUTSCH presented us with the findings. Next, we contracted with them to provide a new design based on the user feedback. They’ve given us the wireframes for that new design. Right now, we’re working on a new contract for them to handle the development and implementation of the design in our existing system. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Kenneth (Founder and President, KRUTSCH) and Emma (UX Designer, KRUTSCH). Ken has been our project lead. Emma did all the interviews and is now doing the design.

How did you come to work with KRUTSCH? 

We put out a call on LinkedIn for proposals, and they were one of the firms that responded. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our original contract was for $12,000. We amended it up to $49,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first contract began in April 2019, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

KRUTSCH has done very well so far. We’ve just finished up the amendment to the original contract. We’re in the process of amending the contract again to continue working together. 

How did KRUTSCH perform from a project management standpoint? 

They're very responsive and flexible. All of our contact is via phone or Zoom calls. Most of the time we speak with KRUTSCH twice a month—sometimes less, sometimes more. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

KRUTSCH did quite a bit of research on the project. They took it upon themselves to learn about the early childhood and licensing industry. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

We haven't had any major problems. However, I wish they'd understood that we’d have a lot of feedback and want to see several iterations of the design. We could have fought more on the design, but they were pushing for payment toward the end.

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Make sure you voice any concerns or questions. They'll bring you recommendations from their perspective. If you feel like it has to be a certain way in order to meet your needs, keep explaining it to them and they’ll bend to your preferences.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the president of Da Vinci Software. We specialize in web-based products. We also offer IT and consulting services through our professional services division.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Krutsch?

We have used Krutsch for a total of three projects. For this one, we needed help with UX design and development for a client project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Krutsch supported us across several projects, providing analysis of our business workflow and prototype production as well as UI development in some cases. 

For a recent client project,  Krutsch assisted with constructing frontend registration capabilities for a clinical trial system. They created storyboards and high-fidelity screens for the product. Additionally, they conducted UI development for the prototypes. The projects were completed using Angular Typescript, allowing us to use the latest bootstrap technologies to improve the website’s responsiveness. 

What is the team composition?

There were two UX designers and about 3–4 offshore UI developers. 

How did you come to work with Krutsch?

I was originally introduced to Krutsch through a third-party recruiter.

How much have you invested with them?

Overall, we have spent between $50,000–$100,000. We like their willingness to negotiate the price based on our needs. They do a great job of communicating what they can offer for the value we want. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Krutsch since 2016. This project for our client just wrapped up in May 2019, so there is no ongoing work right now. But we plan on continuing to work with them. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The biggest metric for us is the great feedback we’ve received from stakeholders. We have a great relationship with our customers because of the strong work Krutsch produced. Additionally, our client wants to do more work with their team because of the solid final product. 

For our own projects with Krutsch, our internal teams have been impressed with the work and development process. 

How did Krutsch perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided a detailed statement of work (SOW) and closely tracked deliverables throughout the project. They set impressive expectations for themselves and lived up to them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team is extremely talented. In the past, we have struggled with finding UX designers with the level of skill that Ken (President & Founder, Krutsch) and his team have demonstrated. They definitely have a good process and a system for success. 

We also appreciated their honesty throughout the project. They were always willing to use their expertise to guide us onto the right path and professionally let us know when we were wrong.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, our experience with Krutsch has been great. There were some miscommunications, but we still plan on working with them in the future.   

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would highly recommend working with Krutsch because we have always had great success with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director of engineering, at an IoT Company that solves business and mission-critical problems through a combination of hardware, software, and services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRUTSCH?

We brought on KRUTSCH to develop the UX/UI of a web-based product. We wanted to take a different approach to usability. With previous products, the UX/UI had been homegrown and developed by engineers for engineers, and we wanted to change that method with our new product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They served as an extension of our development team, handling the UX design based on requirements of what we were looking for. They produced low fidelity mockups, wireframes, and a design language. They also created style sheets and did some webpage development. After doing the UX work from scratch, and they helped implement the pages in conjunction with our team. 

What is the team composition?

Ken (Founder & President, KRUTSCH) was the UX lead. Overall, we worked with 3–4 people.

How did you come to work with KRUTSCH?

We knew KRUTSCH from a previous project and a previous company, so we were well aware of their abilities and reputation.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $200,000–$999,999 with the team.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in 2016, and the project ended in 2017. It was roughly a year-long engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had regular discussions weekly or every other week to review progress. 

How did KRUTSCH perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided a project outline of what they were planning to deliver within a rough timeline. 

We did make changes along the way, but, overall their work stayed close to the outline.

They were also very good at communicating the status of the project. There was one time where they were a little bit behind due to staffing issues, but they made up for it afterward. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were very personable and competent. They have great creative talent.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind at the moment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My biggest guidance would be to put boundaries around the creative parts of their work. If clients don’t know what they need, it’s very difficult for a company to come up with a design that’s aligned with stakeholders’ thinking. It’s key to communicate requirements and high-level goals during the creative process. There should also be checkpoints along the way.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of OrangeTree Employment Screening, a background screening solutions company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Krutsch Associates?

We hired Krutsch to build our candidate portal, allowing anyone going through the authentication and credentialing process to monitor the status of their screening so they can provide any missing information or dispute false information. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Krutsch designed and developed a web-based candidate portal from scratch using Angular. The system allows candidates undergoing a screening process to follow the progress of reporting in order to provide additional information if needed. 

They're also working on a similar platform called Build Your Own Solution, a lead generation marketing website that allows potential clients to become familiar with our industry and pricing model so they can design their own products and services. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with a couple of designers and developers.

How did you come to work with Krutsch Associates?

Our VP of technology had worked with them in the past, so they were highly recommended to us. 

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we've invested over $250,000 thus far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since around May 2016 and we're currently working on a third and fourth project with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After our first product launched, we conducted a large survey of candidates and over 90% of users found the system to be user-friendly and intuitive. It's been a game-changer for us in terms of operational efficiencies–we've discovered an easy way to gather critical information for our clients. 

How did Krutsch Associates perform from a project management standpoint?

They're good about scoping out work and communicating with our team through phases, even though some deliverables end up taking a little longer than originally anticipated. They manage our expectations well and are very responsive to our needs. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're great listeners and designers. First rounds of wireframes require minimal iteration, and they know what types of designs translate well to consumers. They also push back or provide feedback when they know something won't be received well by the marketplace, so I appreciate that they're not just doing anything to make us happy; their intentions are to deliver high-quality products that truly meet our needs. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Even though many delays have to do with changes we've requested to the scope, they could improve how they communicate any shifts in timelines. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as clear on the goals of the project as possible and be open to their feedback, because they're experts in design and have a good understanding of how the marketplace will respond. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the CEO of an app startup called See A Star LLC. Our app allows celebrities to seamlessly connect with their fans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with KRUTSCH? 

Because I’m not an IT person, I relied on KRUTSCH to help me develop my idea into a functional web-based and mobile app for my business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

KRUTSCH designed, implemented, and deployed our celebrity connection app from scratch, including both web and mobile versions. I provided them with the initial idea, and the team fleshed it out before writing the code.

Our solution offers an intuitive experience to help celebrities engage with their fans. Besides one-on-one chat features, they also built in group video conferencing functions and added security measures to protect all users. The tech stack included Amazon-based technologies, Top Box, and Stripe.

Currently, our product is live on Google Play and The App Store, and we’re getting ready to launch our business. KRUTSCH continues to support us by building our promotional website.

What is the team composition?  

I mostly work with Ken (Founder & President, KRUTSCH) who leads a larger team of about 18 behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Krutsch? 

One of my colleagues referred us to Ken to see if he could help us. I approached him to get some ideas, and he put together a proposal for the engagement.

How much have you invested with them? 

So far, we’ve spent about $125,000. We’ve compared their pricing to a few other companies in the Minneapolis market, and their costs are very fair.

What is the status of this engagement? 

Their work started in September 2018 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The apps are now live in the stores, and we’re preparing to launch our business. From what I’ve seen, the apps will be very successful.

How did KRUTSCH perform from a project management standpoint?

What I most appreciate about KRUTSCH is that they’re always available. Nowadays, it can be tough to find time to chat, but they’ve made it a point to be available for questions. They’re very respectful toward me and my team when we don’t understand something, and they’re willing to sit down and explain where they see the project heading. I’ve also noticed that they involve us by asking for suggestions on how we’d like to see our app.

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Compared to other companies I’ve worked with, KRUTSCH is far more personable. Not only do they put in the effort to listen to our needs, but they also provide respectful feedback. On top of that, they think outside the box, suggesting several helpful avenues that we haven’t even considered.

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, there’s nothing that I can think of. They’re a top company, and we don’t feel like just another client to them. Their work goes above and beyond my expectations, and I’d recommend them all day long.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take the time to listen to their feedback because they’re brilliant. It’s also important to believe in their work. There have been some cases when we’ve discussed an idea, and I just had to trust that they knew exactly what they were doing because they were the experts.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the IT Technology Manager of a nonprofit medical rganization.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Non Profit Medical Institution

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Web site refresh
• Improve navigation
• Clearer vision

SOLUTION

How did you find KRUTSCH?

Referral

Why did you select KRUTSCH over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from KRUTSCH were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Refresh existing web site 
• Gather feedback from key user groups 
• Identify top users issues to address 
• Provide a modern look and feel that addresses the top user issues

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Feedback from the user group meetings & user analytics 
• Documented user issues to address 
• Deliver new design language - including mockups & css

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

Krutsch worked well with our project team. We met on a regular bases where they shared the work they had completed. They were eager to gather our feedback and make changes or help understand the direction they had taken.

What was your primary form of communication with KRUTSCH?

Virtual Meeting

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

I found them to be very engaged. They put in the effort to understand the purpose of our web site and that understanding of our business allowed them to build a better solution for us.

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

Nothing comes to mind

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP os Sales and Marketing of Discover Strength

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Personalized Strength Training

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Website Redesign

SOLUTION

How did you find KRUTSCH?

Online Search

Why did you select KRUTSCH over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Other

How many teammates from KRUTSCH were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We wanted a full website redesign. We needed a simpler and easier user experience. We wanted to showcase our growing locations and make it easy for our prospects to find the nearest location.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We didn't have any measurables. It was purely more about the simplicity of the design

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

yes they were very timely and responded to all needs

What was your primary form of communication with KRUTSCH?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

Working with the team was great. I would give feedback and they would be able to take it and switch directions to deliver on our vision

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

I would have liked to have more visibility to the site as it was being produced, other than just a recording of the video. Sometimes it was hard to give feedback because I couldn't see the site.