Intuit QuickBase
success story
profile
{algo+rhythm} is a brand experience
agency for the digital world. The
agency specializes in the creation
of branded marketing experiences
across digital and emerging platforms.
Its dedication and approach to UX
(user experience) distinguishes it
from other such agencies in the
marketplace. {algo+rhythm} has
offices in both Dallas and Fort Worth,
and more than 50 employees. Its
client base includes middle market
and Fortune 1000 clients such as
Dr. Pepper, Pier One Imports,
American Airlines and Reliant Energy.
industry
Advertising, Marketing, Technology
website
www.algorhythm.tv
quickbase applications
Project management
who’s using quickbase
All of {algo+rhythm} account service,
project management and production
staff.
Intuit QuickBase
100 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
Waltham, MA 02451
http://quickbase.intuit.com
corpsales@quickbase.com
The Challenge:
“ Project profitability was difficult to measure
“ Workflow needed to be streamlined
“ Microsoft Project was too time-consuming for {algo+rhythm}’s task management and
resource allocation
The Solution:
“ Single view of projects and resources keeps {algo+rhythm} on track with
client deliverables and billing
“ Online application library provides a framework for rapid application development
“ Automated e-mail alerts help prevent missed deadlines
The Results:
“ Increased job profitability by 20 percent
“ Saved project managers four hours each month on reporting
“ Reduced new business acquisition costs by 20 percent
Digital Media Firm Designs a Simpler Approach to Project Management
with QuickBase.
It may have started out as a small web design company seven years ago, but today
{algo+rhythm} is a major player in the digital media world, delivering niche video production
services and the ability to leverage open-source web content to its customers’ advantage.
The agency has completed more than 400 projects since its launch and now manages up to
30 jobs daily. Tasks are complex and deadline-driven, and involve multiple team members in
the U.S. and offshore.
But rapid growth created project management challenges for the company. Keeping track of
project deliverables and staff resources was getting increasingly complex, and management
needed better insight into job profitability. They hoped Microsoft® Project™ — along with
third-party time-tracking software — would be the solution, but it turned out to be too complex
and time-consuming.
“Many features in Microsoft Project simply don’t apply to projects like ours. Customizing
the program to make it work for our specific needs was time-consuming and practically
impossible, which is not good for a time-based business like ours,” said Jason Horany,
Chief Operating Officer at {algo+rhythm}.
Another problem: Getting useful data out of the previous tools was laborious and prone to
errors—and Horany said he couldn’t generate the reports that his management team needed.
Out Goes Complexity, in Comes Functionality.
Horany liked the IT simplicity and low up-front investment associated with web-based, software-
as-a-service applications, but also knew he needed project management software that would be
easy for some of his non-technical staff to customize. He looked at Salesforce, @task, eProject,
ProWorkflow and QuickArrow before ultimately choosing QuickBase as his solution.
“I was looking for an application that was intuitive, yet flexible enough to allow me to create
applications to support my workflow, and QuickBase seemed to do this better than any of the
others,” said Horany.
 Intuit QuickBase
success story

Horany was thrilled by the ease with which users were able to get QuickBase to work for their
business. {algo+rhythm} built the project management application out of a template found in
the online application library, and customized the application by removing fields that weren’t
the overall experience
needed. The process took just a few weeks. Over time, when a new metric or report was needed,
“QuickBase has  Horany simply configured the application to capture the new data. The end result: Horany had
a fully functioning project management system that gave his entire staff 24/7 access to project
enhanced the way  status, tasks and deliverables.
we manage projects… “The application library is tremendous. It provides so many examples of how other companies
we’re able to see  are using QuickBase to solve business problems—including some problems I didn’t even know
I had,” remarked Horany.
how and where 
After the project management application, Horany built other applications to track employee
resources are being time off, manage new business opportunities and to-do lists, and even do online recruiting.
used. As a result, Now all internal employees use QuickBase daily for tasks in sales, production, accounting,
customer service and management.
we’re able to maintain
“The e-mail notifications and the subscription functionality are outstanding. If there is a project
profitability better that starts slipping, I’ve got triggers that deliver notifications before problems can escalate and
than ever before.” impact deadlines or billings,” said Horany.
 The project management application makes it easy for managers to forecast revenue and
— Jason Horany compare profits with job costs. And the time-off system helps manage employee sick and
COO, {algo+rythm} vacation time, critical information needed to keep tabs on out-of-office time that could
potentially impact job deadlines.

Horany also found QuickBase to be the most reasonably priced application when he compared
the price per user, since the cost of using QuickBase went down as he added more users.
He started out with a 10-user license and has since increased it to 20 users. “The acquisition
of new user accounts is available on demand. I like the fact that we can add users as we need
them. We buy licenses in packs of five, so we always have some left over, which is convenient,”
said Horany.

“QuickBase was a perfect fit. The “software-as-a-service” model meant we didn’t have to incur
a capital cost for software and hardware, but it’s also so functional that I am able to solve many
business problems I have.”

Greater Profitability is Now Within Sight.

Since implementing QuickBase, Horany has the technology advantage he was seeking for
{algo+rhythm}. The project management application they created has improved job profitability
by 20%, now that project tasks are streamlined and unproductive staff time has been reduced.
The report generation that was cumbersome with Microsoft Project is now streamlined, saving
{algo+rhythm} 40 employee-hours per month. The cost of pursuing new business is reduced
by 20% now that {algo+rhythm} account service employees have at their fingertips the metrics
needed to accurately estimate the cost of proposed work. New business has improved by
20%, now that account service staff can more accurately manage new opportunities and target
resources appropriately.

“QuickBase has enhanced the way we manage projects. By comparing budgets to estimates
over the lifecycle of the project, we’re able to see how and where resources are being used.
Intuit QuickBase As a result, we’re able to maintain profitability better than ever before.”

100 5th Avenue, 7th Floor

Waltham, MA 02451

http://quickbase.intuit.com
corpsales@quickbase.com