Tag Archive for 'Delivery Management'

Buyers:How to best use LimeExchange?

Published
by
Product Team
on September 15, 2008
in Business, Freelance, Freelancing, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Small and Medium Business and outsourcing
. 2 Comments

With this post we are only trying to bridge the gap for our users on how to best use LimeExchange for their outsourcing needs and offer some guidelines, which they should consider before jump starting a project.

Tips for all Buyers

1. Who to select, In doubt? Get a sample assignment conducted!
• Use ‘Proof Of Concept’ feature to get a Pilot/sample assignment executed
• Provide details for POC project, at time of project posting, and define your expectation on deliverables
• Shortlist from providers and award POC
• Collaborate and communicate using IM, PMB for getting POC executed
• Evaluate POC submissions based on Quality of sample delivered, communication and collaboration

2. Minimize my Financial Exposure and risks? Go ahead, Define delivery milestones with payments!
• Provide complete details while posting a project
• Define a comprehensive Terms of Engagement (TOE)
• Divide your requirement into Milestones
• Attach payments with Milestones
• Set expectation in terms of deliverables for each milestone.

3. Manage my project? Use LimeExchange tools to effectively manage!
• Use Project Kickoff Checklist (PKC) and tell your provider your expectations
• Communicate risks/issues using Issue Tracker (IT)
• Insist on Status reports to get progress update on milestones, project
• Communicate & Collaborate using Private Message Board (PMB), Instant Message (IM)
• Schedule a session to have a dialogue

4. Utilizing Business Network? Provide feedback and ratings!
• Release final payments from Escrow
• Provide feedback on your experience with provider
• Provide and use published rating, to take help and help your network

5. Safeguard me against Non-service? Use Mediation and Arbitration services!
• Funds are safeguarded by our Escrow services, they get released only when you want them to be released.
• Escalate issues to provider using Issue Tracker (IT)
• If nothing helps, log the requirement in the Dispute Assistance workflow, use provided services

Just apply these simple guidelines while outsourcing and get a positive experience.

Provide us with your valuable feedback on our enhanced features specially designed to make outsourcing the easiest and simplest job for you.

We are with you at every step of the way, so let us know at any time in case any assistance is required on support@limeexchange.com

Update: Introducing RSS feature and Enhancements

Published
by
Product Team
on August 22, 2008
in Business, Freelance, Freelancing, Innovation, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Service Providers, Small and Medium Business, Technology and outsourcing
. 39 Comments

MindShareOver the last few days, we have introduced several enhancements on LimeExchange, starting from RSS feeds, to providing Instant Messaging (IM/Chat) during Proof of Concept (POC), Pilot phase To making it easier for all our users to understand and use Business Agreement (Business Agreement has now got a new name – Terms of Engagement).

Let us first apprise you about RSS feeds that we have introduced. Now you can stay informed of all the updates on LimeExchange. By using RSS feeds, you can know real time about updates on:
• LimeExchange news
• Projects
• Service Providers
• Contests, and
• Questions & Answers

You only have to subscribe to the RSS feeds to remain updated on all fronts. Feed reader will keep updating the feeds so that you do not miss anything important even while you are not logged in to LimeExchange. You can also choose the time frequency for updation of the feeds and the categories and subcategories for which you want feeds. We leave it for you to decide what is most important for you.

Another improvement in our project workflow is the introduction of Instant Messaging (IM, Chat) during Proof of Concept (POC). Now, buyers and service providers can remain in touch through IM during the POC period also. Besides this, PMB (Message Board) which was always available would only help improve communication and collaboration.

We have also made little changes in the workflow concerning Terms of Engagement (earlier, known as Business Agreement). Now, users have two options while sending Terms of Engagement (TOE). They can either opt for default TOE or they can create their own TOE and send it to the other party. If they choose default TOE, the entire project is converted into a single milestone. If users wish to set several milestones for a project, they can create their own TOE. Payments are attached with Milestones.

Like always, we await your views on our recent enhancements. Write to us, Post your comments on our Blog, send feedback and suggestions to feedback@LimeExchange.com or support@LimeExchange.com

Introduction to (POC) Proof of Concept

Published
by
Product Team
on July 31, 2008
in Business, Freelance, Freelancing, Innovation, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Service Providers, Small and Medium Business and outsourcing
. 2 Comments

After going through a tough selection process, you have shortlisted some providers but some questions still keep bothering you …..Which one to choose? Who can provide the best quality? How to judge the skills? Would the provider meet your expectations?

project management, POC

We, at LimeExchange get a constant feedback from buyers that selecting a service provider based only on a resume like profile is difficult and without much incentive it’s hard to encourage a service provider to develop and submit some sample work during the bidding phase of a project.

SolutionAs a solution to all these questions, LimeExchange has introduced Proof of Concept/Pilot projects feature. A proof of concept or a pilot project is a sample work which a buyer provides to a set of multiple service providers to gauge and compare the quality and execution standards, thus minimizing the risks of initial dealings, and finally awarding the project only after complete evaluation.

As mentioned in our blog Online Services Marketplace – Further Considerations #1, which discussed about the risk involved in outsourcing. A buyer needs to evaluate a service provider’s work before awarding him a project. Similarly, the Service Provider also needs a platform to showcase his knowledge and skills. In a competitive scenario, actions would speak louder than words. Service providers can submit a sample of work to show their quality service to a buyer and get nominally paid for the effort.

How does POC- Proof of Concept work?

  1. A buyer can ask for POC or pilot project only before executing the deal.
  2. Buyers pay a small amount to the short listed providers working on a POC project. This helps in protecting the interests of the providers and to excites them to invest their best efforts.
  3. The final provider gets selected by the buyer, after going through a selection process.
  4. On the basis of quality of service shown, skills, knowledge and expertise the chosen one would get the best chance to execute the project.

This works as a key tool for Buyers and Service providers to minimize their pre-sales risks, evaluate and understand each other completely and conduct business fairly.

So take a quick tour of our help section to understand how ‘POC’ works: POC Help.

We expect our readers to come forward and give us their feedback on our new feature. Come and register on the site for free to try the proof of concept feature to avoid risks and ensure the best deal. As LimeExchange being the best outsourcing marketplace striving hard to make outsourcing a piece of cake for all its patrons…

Our Effort to enhance management of online services

Published
by
Product Team
on July 31, 2008
in Business, Freelance, Freelancing, Innovation, LimeExchange, Person to Person Outsourcing, Product Update, SMB, Service Providers, Small and Medium Business, Technology and outsourcing
. 2 Comments

What all it takes in managing a deal? …Frankly, It takes quite a lot!

LimeExchange here is trying to provide all of you …with some of our enhanced project management tools to support the buyer and the provider to conduct and deliver better. These new incorporated features will facilitate the buyers and providers in maintaining smoother business dealings.

project checklist, PKCFor a healthy project execution, it is important that the buyer communicates the expectations early, check points, deadlines and all the requirements clearly to the provider. This gives fair idea to both the parties on the area of work and assessment. At LimeExchange, you can use Project Kickoff Checklists through which a buyer can ensure that service provider has all the necessary information to meet the project objectives. At the same time the provider can understand expectations and respond early and better for smooth execution of the project.

Issue TrackerSimilarly, the new Issue Tracking system at LimeExchange now helps a Service Provider and a Buyer understand “who owns what” with an automated task, issue management system with reminders. It comprises supervising the tasks, controlling the issues and defects towards the project closure. You can now mitigate your risks, issues online.

These new features coupled with the existing ‘Milestone based payments‘, as a performance assessment process, through which a buyer can set milestones for a given task and pay the provider based on its completion, and efficient communication and collaboration channels between buyer and a provider like ‘Private Message Board (PMB)‘ and ‘Instant message (IM)‘, now managing an outsourcing assignment with a provider who might be sitting thousands of miles away from you increasingly minimize the risks associated.

Why not take a quick tour of our help section to understand how ‘Project KickOff Checklist’ & ‘Issue Tracker’ works: PKC Help, IT Help

At LimeExchange, we are striving hard to provide you with more advanced management, communication and collaboration tools … so come and give us your suggestions and advice on these new enhanced features…for making outsourcing a simpler job to manage for all of us…