A Partnership Based on Commitment and Trust
There is a lot at stake when an organization enlists a vendor to develop a custom app, like Crosby Hops’ self-service customer portal. A number of elements are required to ensure success. Perhaps the two most important elements are commitment and trust.
Crosby Hops never doubted that CSG was all-in, from start to finish. It didn’t take long before Blake realized CSG’s commitment to the project went far beyond our mutual appreciation for craft beer.
“We’re a growth-oriented business. The individual development of our staff is very important. And that’s not always just about going to a class or a seminar. A lot of that happens in the trenches,” said Blake. “Our team got better being around the CSG team. CSG’s senior leadership did a really good job mentoring our team.”
As with any custom software project, it’s crucial that both the vendor and the client see eye-to-eye in timing, costs, and overall vision. Oftentimes, this requires the vendor to educate themselves on their client’s industry.
“I always felt like you guys were highly engaged mentally with what we wanted to accomplish. Credit to you for capturing that data, for learning it, and for working hard to understand our business. That’s pretty rare actually,” said Blake.
With the implementation of a modern customer order portal, Crosby Hops is better able to deliver hops to brewers while strengthening the like-minded community of lovers of hops, ales, lagers, and special suds. This family-owned business is unique in that they are not interested in delivering a commodity as much as they are interested in cultivating value for customers.
Similarly, CSG embraces the value-add in working with clients from all walks of life. It’s always inspiring to see a client’s vision come to fruition. Additionally, broadening the internal team’s knowledge and expertise in a new industry better helps CSG serve future clients.
“We don’t only preach but we live by example in how we choose vendors like CSG,” said Blake. “We get the outcomes we want, which is quality work, quality relationships, and business outcomes and innovation that we need to continue to be industry leaders.”