Can you tell us about the inspiration behind aPeso and how the idea for the platform originated? What type of challenges does it solve for internal operational processes?

aPeso is a virtual currency we’ve been using internally as a bonus and reward system for over five years. It allows our employees to earn aPesos through various company-related activities and spend them on various platforms. We even integrated it with Veli Store, one of Georgia’s largest e-commerce platforms, to enhance the spending experience for our employees.

However, before partnering with Redberry and developing the platform, the process wasn’t smooth or user-friendly. Employees had to submit requests through a Jira-based ticketing system, which the HR team then monitored and allocated aPesos accordingly. It was a manual, very time-consuming, and inefficient process for both our employees and admins. 

Despite the difficult utilization process, aPesos were extremely popular among employees. That’s when we realized we needed a better solution. Our goal was to create a platform that would simplify the entire process, function like a neo-bank, and enhance employee engagement and admin experience through an all-in-one web platform.

What types of challenges did the existing platform have in terms of dealing with the administration processes?

The administration process was the most challenging for the HR department. They had to rely on Excel spreadsheets and manually collect data from each department about employee engagement and the number of aPesos each person should receive based on their performance and participation in company-wide activities every month. This process was not only time-consuming but also overly complex.

Even though the platform often caused headaches, employees eagerly counted down the days until they received their aPesos - many even planned their spending in advance. Despite its technical limitations, the system generated a lot of excitement.

Seeing that enthusiasm motivated us to rebuild the platform, which became a top priority in our company’s strategy and goals.

What were your needs when looking for a development partner, and why did you choose to outsource instead of developing the platform in-house?

We have a large in-house development team with around 20 product teams, but our internal resources were already fully engaged. This made it difficult to allocate the necessary time and personnel to a new project. The priority would always be for the internal team to be dedicated to our core product. 

While creating a new product team was an option, this was a one-time project with fixed goals. Bringing in new developers just for this project didn’t make sense, as they would have no tasks left once the work was completed. That’s why we decided to outsource and find a vendor who could handle the development for us.

When selecting the right partner, we followed our intricately structured vendor-scoring methodology, which consists of various factors like experience, project portfolio, whether we’ve worked with the vendor before, etc. This approach helped guide us through the selection process.

Naturally, we also make sure that all vendors meet the standards set by Flutter Entertainment. Before partnering with a vendor, they must undergo a thorough due diligence process established by Flutter Entertainment. This process involves evaluating factors like the company’s data protection policies, reputation, and credibility. Redberry successfully completed this process and received approval from Flutter Entertainment.

Were you decided on a specific tech stack for the platform, or were you open to vendor suggestions?

Since we were outsourcing this project, we didn’t impose strict limitations on the tech stack. However, we did have preferred technologies that our in-house development team was familiar with - just in case an urgent situation required their involvement or future maintenance. While we had some preferred options in mind, we remained flexible and didn’t make the tech stack a strict requirement for potential vendors.

What was the development and delivery process like with Redberry?

From the very beginning, our communication with the team was excellent, which set high expectations. I was confident that they could deliver a quality product, and they did - some parts of the platform turned out even more polished and refined than we had initially envisioned.

Redberry’s involvement went beyond development. Their team actively contributed ideas to enhance the product and its features and ensure that the final result was as seamless and user-friendly as possible. Their dedication and engagement in the process truly exceeded my expectations.

When we launched aPeso internally, the platform saw a huge surge in traffic, and Veli.store received so many orders that they decided to introduce special discounts for Adjarabet employees. So, this was a great validation of the platform’s success.

Are there any upcoming development plans for aPeso?

The platform now includes all the essential features we need. Our main improvement is expanding the shop by integrating additional vendors alongside Veli, which will give employees more choices and enhance their overall experience.

Plus, this year, we plan to roll out aPeso for our Armenian employees. With around 300 team members in Armenia, the platform will function similarly to the Georgian version but with a different selection of merchants tailored to that market.