Looking for the right partner in cost-optimal region to deploy custom-built solutions to clients.

Background

Build-a-Shop is a Norwegian software service provider that creates dynamic retail portals based on a proprietary site-building technology. More and more, Build-a-Shop engineers were finding it difficult to focus on product development because their time was consumed by product deployment and professional services. Finally, it reached a critical point where even more engineers were needed solely to build customers’ sites. Build-a-Shop decided to look offshore.

The Case

Piqued by Ethos’ strong language and communication skills, both in Norwegian and English, Build-a-Shop felt this could be a good partnership. By Ethos learning how to use their proprietary web-designing software application, Build-a-Shop could now merely put a design to paper, send it to China, and rest assured that the HTML product would be churned out.

Solution

When Build-a-Shop first approached Ethos, it was an exciting partnership but not one without challenges. Learning the custom application would take investment on our part since our resources would be working with a new technology tailored only for this customer. At the same time, they were nervous about sending their work overseas.

Together, we devised a mutual agreement. Ethos committed a minimum number of resources who would learn and work exclusively on Build-a-Shop's proprietary tool. In exchange, Build-a-Shop guaranteed a minimum number of hours on an annual basis. Both sides had to put a bit of trust and faith into the relationship but it was worth it. In the end, it was a win-win.

Technology

Build-a-Shop first works with the customer directly to build the visual design. Next, Ethos translates the design with the functional specifications into a live site. This means that Ethos never needs to communicate with Build-a-Shop’s end customers directly.

Since Build-a-Shop’s development platform is a proprietary application complete with proprietary programming language, Ethos’ learned an entire new technology. The foundation is in PHP and HTML. Build-a-Shop's tool is web-based, allowing for Ethos to work remotely on the client’s onshore servers. The Ethos team is entire based off-shore, led by a Norwegian project manager in Beijing.

Through this partnership, Build-a-Shop is now able to focus more on product development and business strategy, and leave product deployment to us.