The year is almost over – now it’s time for a little review! In this exclusive interview with Fred Al, TimeChimp’s CEO, we will have a closer look at TimeChimp's performance in 2023: from ambitious goals set at the beginning of the year to overcoming challenges and celebrating successes. Join us as we explore the narrative of TimeChimp's journey over the past business year. Let's go!

This year is coming to an end, so let’s reflect on what we have achieved in 2023. What were the primary goals for TimeChimp in the past year?

Fred: In 2023, our key objectives included migrating our front end to a more advanced technology, improving customer performance, and simplifying workflows. We aimed to expand our presence in the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as laying the foundation for future growth in Germany. Additionally, we also wanted to enhance our Net Promoter Score (NPS) and elevate our customer satisfaction through improved support. So with all this on the plan, we knew that this year would be busy. 😄

How did TimeChimp go about achieving these goals, and were there any adjustments made along the way?

Fred: We successfully migrated our front end from a technical standpoint and are now in the process of releasing it to our customers. Migrating to new and more stable technology gives TimeChimp a good base to work with so we we can improve the tool in the future without risking the software to crash. But whilst migrating we realised that we also had to make significant changes to our projects dashboard to provide a better version. Next to that we were investing in new resources across marketing, customer success, development, and our finance department. This means there a new people on board and we also give them the necessary tools to do their job in the best way possible. This was especially important to help our customer success managers to provide better support. Now we are better at understanding and communicating with our customers.

What were the primary challenges faced by TimeChimp in 2023?

Fred: Releasing new software to all users while ensuring customer satisfaction posed a considerable challenge. We aimed to minimise bugs and avoid major disruptions for a smooth transition. Additionally, headcount challenges, given market conditions, had to be navigated. But thanks to the dedicated efforts of our HR department, we managed to welcome a highly qualified group of new colleagues.

Looking back, what were the standout successes for TimeChimp in 2023?

Fred: Successfully releasing 30% of the migrated pages to 100% of our customers without major issues was a significant achievement. The second crucial milestone was marked by obtaining ISO270001 certification. This was very important for us so our new as well as existing customers can continue to trust us with their data. We now have measures in place that are continuously reviewed and updated to minimise data risks and also operate on European data centres by Microsoft Azure. Also, GDPR was a big topic and we have invested all possible efforts to be compliant. Next to that, our team witnessed growth with highly professional individuals in all departments, and our customer support has earned high praise in satisfaction scores. We also managed to expand into the German market and are starting to see the first results. 🚀

Reflecting on the past year, is there a key lesson that TimeChimp can draw from the events of 2023?

Fred: The key takeaway is that building a product for our customers is a daily task that requires time and precision. Good things take time, but they are worth it. Additionally, we learned that growing in the number of employees doesn't necessarily mean increased productivity; effective communication and mutual goals are crucial.

How would you summarise TimeChimp's performance in 2023?

Fred: It was a challenging year with shifting economic landscapes, but we successfully tackled numerous tasks to propel our growth. We've professionalized our organisation to seamlessly handle an increase in users and employees in the coming years. Overall, this year was very rewarding!

What excites you the most about TimeChimp in 2024?

Fred: Oh yes, next year will also be very exciting! In 2024, we'll have our new long-term strategy in place, providing a clear path and focus for our users and employees over the next five years. This strategic plan will guide our teams towards shared success and further solidify TimeChimp's position in the market. It also makes sure that we put new and improved features on our roadmap and follow through on those plans, so our tool will be even more focused on helping our users. I am really looking forward to seeing all of our strategic decisions being put into practice!

Is there anything you want to add to this end of the year review?

I want to end with a big “thank you” to all our loyal customers! I am very happy that we could help so many businesses to get the most out of their work day. Also, a lot of them gave us very detailed feedback that will help us to improve our tool. We are a growing business ourselves and appreciate this immensely!

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That concludes our insightful conversation with TimeChimp's CEO Fred Al! He has provided us with a comprehensive overview of the company's endeavours in 2023. As we look ahead to 2024 with a new long-term strategy, we anticipate continued innovation and growth. Thank you for joining us on this retrospective journey, and we look forward to witnessing TimeChimp's continued success in the years to come!