Launching a pilot program with expert on-demand talent
Overview
Within 15 minutes, the Slice team found an expert and kicked off the project
Slice, a one-stop-shop business platform for independently owned pizzerias, brings the visibility and efficiency consumers have long associated with big chain pizza delivery to local businesses. To stand out against other meal delivery platforms, Slice gamifies their consumer rewards program to drive adoption and continued orders among pizza lovers.
Creating a delightful mobile experience at Slice is a top priority for the product design team, who live for exploring fresh ideas that 'wow' customers and keep them engaged. One idea that had the team buzzing was introducing eye-catching 3D badges to the rewards program—an innovative way to breathe new life into the user interface.
John Allen, a senior product designer at Slice, worked with professional freelancers on Contra to present this idea to his executives, without sacrificing his evenings and weekends. The result? A winning digital rewards concept that earned the CEO’s green light.
The Challenge
Decisions at Slice are typically backed by a tangible business case, which means getting funding for a new project isn’t always easy. This is especially true for novel ideas, which lack historical context and ROI.
This pitch required a fresh solution: a live product feature demo. John needed a sure-fire, cost-effective way to bring this idea to life without putting strain on his small team. The answer? Flexible talent.
3D badge for Slice's rewards program, created by a Spline expert on Contra
The Solution with Contra
Contra made it easy to hire an expert, so the Slice team could focus on their launch
While there was plenty of internal excitement around 3D badges that motivated users to come back and complete challenges, there weren’t any free hours or earmarked budget line items to design a pilot.
Slice had quickly scaled over a couple of years, building up their full-time workforce to keep pace with the company’s needs. The brand has fully taken off, with more projects demanding attention from the team. Finding new, full-time talent can be a bit of a challenge—something John wanted to avoid. He needed expert, reliable professionals who could click into place and execute on his vision.
Compared to the quality of talent on other freelance platforms, the contractors on Contra were a game-changer for Slice. John met Contra’s founder at an event years prior and kept them in mind ever since. When he needed a freelancer, he got on the platform and filtered his search by “Spline experts”—a 3D design tool. Within 15 minutes, he found and vetted his new contractor, kicking off the project.
“I’m so glad I tried Contra. It helped us break free from processes and hierarchies. It’s obvious to me that there’s value here.”
– John Allen, Senior Product Designer at Slice
Outcomes
Slice's partnership with Contra built an internal case for leveraging flexible talent. Assembling the right team can be challenging, especially for innovative projects with niche skill requirements. And in the past, finding and onboarding suitable talent quickly enough to make an impact has been notoriously difficult.
From discovery to onboarding, Contra was a stark contrast. John was able to easily find and vet a highly skilled 3D designer within 15 minutes, and seamlessly onboard them to create textured 3D badges that elevated the rewards environment. This creative pilot ultimately sold the CEO on the project—and unlocked the means to get it done. By bridging time and skill gaps in areas the team couldn't previously prioritize, Contra empowered Slice to bring innovative ideas to life efficiently.
“It would easily have taken a few weeks to a month for someone on our team to learn a new tool like Spline.”
– John Allen, Senior Product Designer at Slice
John's decision to outsource the 3D badge for Slice's rewards program project was clearly a win. Not only was he able to successfully pitch the project to executives and acquire support, but he also gained confidence in leveraging flexible talent to extend the team’s capabilities. Contra accelerated project outcomes and empowered John to break free from traditional resourcing constraints.
