Businessware Technologies

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of OpenWager, Inc

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We offer dynamic Sports Data & Sports Betting tools to consumers all over the world

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Businessware Technologies to accomplish?

• Provide users with a powerful tool to access real-time sports statistics and insights using interactive and intuitive chat interface
• Deliver up-to-date sports statistics and betting insights in real-time.
• Utilize advanced AI to interpret user queries and provide accurate, context-aware responses.

SOLUTION

How did you find Businessware Technologies?

Referral

Why did you select Businessware Technologies over others?

• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Businessware Technologies were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The project involves developing a chatbot powered by the ChatGPT API and a database
(Amazon RDS) to provide users with accurate sports statistics. The chatbot handles user
requests about sports data by analysing the latest sports statistics.

1. A user-friendly front end that allows for natural language interactions.
2. An API gateway to manage requests and integrate with external sports stats
providers.
3. Data preprocessing capabilities to structure and prepare data for user queries.
4. Integration of LLM to interpret, generate, and enhance responses based on user
intent.

Key Deliverables:
1. Implement the ChatGPT API to process user questions and generate responses.
2. Connect the chatbot to an Amazon RDS database containing sports data.
3. Develop logic to classify user messages into categories (e.g., simple questions,
database queries, or bet requests) using ChatGPT function calling or tagging.
4. Enable ChatGPT to either query the database for relevant data or respond directly to
user questions based on the message type.
5. Send the entire chat history (user questions and answers) to ChatGPT to maintain
context, with mechanisms to handle context size limitations (e.g., truncating older
messages or limiting session length).
6. Use ChatGPT to generate SQL queries for database interactions, with examples of
user questions and corresponding SQL queries added to the prompt to improve
accuracy.
7. Implement vector search to find the most relevant examples of user questions and
SQL queries from a knowledge base, ensuring accurate query generation.
8. Mitigate any possible risks, e.g. address the risk of incorrect SQL queries, mitigate
the risk of exceeding the model’s context size, explore alternative database solutions
(e.g., Elasticsearch) to reduce context size requirements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

1. The Amazon RDS database for sports data (CORE section) and the Messages
database were successfully implemented.
2. The OpenWager API with token authorization (.NET) was completed and integrated.
3. Basic support for user questions using ChatGPT (Python) was implemented,
enabling single-question processing without chat history.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Businessware Technologies demonstrated strong project management skills throughout the
engagement. They were highly organized, proactive, and communicative, which ensured the
project stayed on track and met our expectations.

The team have outlined the scope of the project and timeline, and have adhered to the
schedule, delivering all key milestones and deliverables on time. We appreciate how the
team provided realistic timelines and delivered solutions to any problems promptly.
The team was responsive to our feedback and needs. They regularly scheduled check-ins to
discuss progress, address concerns, and align on next steps. They were also flexible in
accommodating changes to the project scope.

Communication was clear, consistent, and transparent. The team provided detailed updates
on progress, challenges, and next steps, ensuring we were always informed.

What was your primary form of communication with Businessware Technologies?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were impressed with their project management: they delivered items on time, responded
promptly to our needs, and maintained a high level of professionalism throughout the
engagement. Their ability to balance technical expertise with clear communication and
flexibility made the collaboration smooth and productive.

The Businessware Technologies team were eager to implement changes and do research to
find the most optimal way to implement the system, while retaining full transparency of the
development process.

We also appreciate their way of communicating and explaining technical concepts in a clear
and accessible manner, making it easy for us to provide meaningful input and feedback

Are there any areas for improvement or something Businessware Technologies could have done differently?

The services we received fully met our expectations and we are satisfied with the project
development.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Integra Sources

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Integra Sources develops custom embedded electronics and software. We specialize in IoT systems, computer vision solutions, and robotics. We create embedded software, mobile, desktop and cross-platform applications, and cloud solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Businessware Technologies to accomplish?

• Developing the AI part of project with high experience.

SOLUTION

How did you find Businessware Technologies?

Other

Why did you select Businessware Technologies over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Businessware Technologies were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Businessware Technologies have developed an AI-powered desktop app for in-the-field disease diagnostics. Their main goal was to create a system which would connect multiple parts of the project (specialized medical tools, a cloud database and an AI module) and provide a convenient way for in-the-field patient examinations. The project consisted of multiple steps, the scope of which was agreed upon before the development process had begun. The first step was to establish a connection with a medical tool’s firmware and collect data from it. 

Next, the first iteration of the app needed to be developed and its core functions tested. The last step was to develop the final version of the app and make it tablet-friendly as the app would primarily be used on a tablet. The team we’ve worked with accomplished the tasks on time, went above and beyond to provide the best service even when the work went outside of the project scope. 

The core functionality of the app is as follows: 

• Patient registration 
• Signing of examination consent forms 
• Aid in performing medical surveys and patient examinations 
• Record patient's respiration Run an AI-powered analysis of the recording 
• Sync data with cloud storage 

The development team has used the following tech stack: AWS, PostgreSql, Python, Node.js, .NET, Amazon RDS, Amazon S3, AWS Lambda, BLE, WP.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The desktop app is fully functional and has all features we have agreed upon. All milestones were achieved on time.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

All deadlines the project had were met, and the team followed the schedule precisely. The communication was timely and transparent, we contacted through emails and video calls and have always had a clear understanding of where the project was at.

What was your primary form of communication with Businessware Technologies?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were impressed with how experienced the team was. They have helped us make the project better by suggesting changes when necessary, and have shown great proficiency with modernAi and cloud technologies. The strict adherence to schedule was also something that stood out to us.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Businessware Technologies could have done differently?

We are happy with the outcome of the project, and will most likely come back to Businessware Technologies for additional development.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a machine learning (ML) consultant for an AI software company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Businessware Technologies?

We hired Businessware to build a portion of our software stack, specifically our web-based design tool. They used the AWS infrastructure. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The services Businessware provides to us range from project management to software, mobile, and web development services. They also provide ML development. Using the AWS infrastructure, they also work on our database functionality, load balancing, and the creation of ML tools. Moreover, the team is also responsible for deploying software on AWS and designing its UI.

What is the team composition?

We work with them on a consulting basis, so the team composition varies. We have no full-time resources from them, but we’ve worked with a total of about 8–9 people. Our main point of contact is Andrey (Business Development Executive), while the project manager is Gregory (Mobile Team Lead).

How did you come to work with Businessware Technologies?

We met businessware through Upwork. On that platform, we screened about 30 companies through different stages, including technical assignments and interviews. In the end, we chose Businessware. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2021, and the partnership is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Working with a remote team can be challenging because of distance and language barriers. Despite that, working with Businessware has been easy for me. I’ve managed different teams before, and they’re one of the easiest teams to manage. 

Moreover, we’ve been able to build the first version of our product with their help. In fact, we’re ready for public release in six months. On top of that, the software they’ve built can support hundreds of customers at the same time. For comparison, the software we’ve built prior to meeting them can only support one client at a time. 

How did Businessware Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

Businessware’s project management has been good on my side. I’ve insisted on having two meetings with them per week, and that has also been key to the success of the project. To communicate, we use Zoom for video calls; we also have a ticketing system.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their high-quality professional work and quick delivery time. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since working remotely has been difficult, we’ve not always communicated clearly. That being said, we’re now meeting twice a week with one-hour calls for each meeting. We also have video calls for two hours per week, and that has been a fantastic help for our communication problems. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Insist on having a clear scope of work before starting the engagement with Businessware. If you don’t, their team can’t give you value because they won’t know what you want. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

SELF team is an independent mobile unit focused on a broad external expansion. We look to the future. Our solutions are designed for tomorrow business models paving the way for new blue oceans. I work in Self as a project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Businessware Technologies, and what were your goals?

The project for Energy Endustry. The goal of the project is to modify the emergency automation system.

SOLUTION

How did you select Businessware Technologies and what were the deciding factors?

Our collegues recomended Businessware Technologies as а reliable and responsible partner. We needed to close some positions in our project team. They help us to do that quickly and efficiently. The most important deciding factors price and quality.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Step-by-step modification of the system. In eight months, we delivered three major updates. Technologies used: .NET; MS SQL.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Two people. One team lead and one developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The project is completed. The project goal has been achieved. In the course of their work, the team members proved to be self-organized and qualified, capable of finding solutions to complex problems.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

Communication tools skype,zoom,jira.telegram.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The developers are proactive and perfectly join the team.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Spread their values to other teams and the market as a whole.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of a small startup called Moxxon ApS. Our product is an app that helps with Dementia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Businessware Technologies?

We needed to develop some new features on the app and fix some bugs left from the previous developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They delivered a web app and a mobile app, making them stable through cleaning them up a lot. Their work involved stitching together and cleaning up old code.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Andrey (Business Development Executive), a head developer, and several other developers.

How did you come to work with Businessware Technologies?

Our previous vendor was taken over, rather hostilely, and since then the quality of the work and communication has dropped drastically. Andrey contacted me on LinkedIn, and he used to work for the first company. I never worked with him then, but he wrote and said he was available to help on other projects. After some Skype conversations, I felt he was trustworthy.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from September until December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Their job was to make the application ready for a proper Google Ads campaign. It wasn’t before, and it’s ready now. It’s clean and working properly. The whole installation and flow work seamlessly, and it didn’t before. I’m totally proud of the product.

How did Businessware Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated in Microsoft Teams, and they gave me access to their tracking system. I’ve never had this kind of overview before.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have very, very good communication and they take a short time to answer questions. Deadlines and promises were kept as well, and they informed me if there was something extra that had to be done that we weren’t aware of.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Actually, no. They’ve been brilliant. People normally say you can only choose two of three attributes: being fast, being good, and being affordable. Businessware Technologies has all three.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should work with them. They’re very talented, trustworthy people who are honest about deadlines.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the CTO at this startup company in charge of both maintaining a legacy application that several persons before me failed with miserably while simultaneously design and realize a world class digital market based platform. In addition to the cloud based platform there was the need to create two mobile applications and a web based application. I was responsible for translating business requirements into a technical solution and oversee accurate design, implementation, validation and deployment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Businessware Technologies?

Businessware was requested to take over daily troubleshooting and maintenance of a disaster to an application while simultaneously creating a replacement application per set design specifications.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals for the project was to create a digital marketplace where haulers submit silent bids on various junk removal needs from clients. The client selected a hauler of their liking based on price, star rating, availability to pickup the items and other criteria. We handled not just the transaction, but digitally overseeing quality of work performed.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Businessware was selected because I have used this vendor for many projects throughout my career for over 10 years. They are very professional, knowledgeable, quality conscious, reliable with excellent work ethics.

Describe the project in detail.

The digital marketplace platform and software running on it worked on the principle that a client with junk removal needs snaps several photos of the junk to be removed. A brief description is provided together with desired pickup days and time. All haulers in that geographic area receive a notification and via the hauler app they can see the work to be performed. If they like, they can submit a silent bid, ask additional questions from the client using 1:1 chat. The client selects the hauler based on price, star rating and availability.

What was the team composition?

Team composition was a number of back-end and front-end engineers who worked with a UX designer. There was a database expert, project manager and project lead.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The initial quality was phenomenal and allowed us to increase our revenue to triple digits in a matter of months. We were able to scale very well on the AWS platform. Customers were happen as well as senior management. The project was realized on time and under budget.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Engineers assisted with cooperation by having daily meetings and working hours where we have a significant overlap. This allowed us to quickly come to alignment on issues. Engineers and team leads were always available over Slack, Skype and email. We received weekly reports of work performed and hours spent on various issues.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Very knowledgeable of various cloud platforms, web based technologies and how to create an enterprise scalable solution right the first time. Their estimates were accurate and delivered a very high quality product under budget.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very satisfied with all employees, their knowledge and work ethics. As mentioned previously I have collaborated with Businessware for over 10 years and there is not reason why I should not choose them for future projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT manager for Exciting Windows. We sell custom window treatments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Businessware Technologies?

We engaged Businessware Technologies to help us develop a CRM database with email blast capabilities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The CRM system allows our clients to send email newsletters to their end customers using an attached program. Our clients can input contact lists, track sales, and generate reports. Multiple teams in different locations can use the system as well.

Businessware Technologies build the CRM system using Microsoft ASP.NET and a SQL server customized to our needs. We provided industry-specific requirements in advance. Their team has completed other projects for us as well, such as migrating our systems to new servers.  

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Oleg (CEO, Businessware Technologies) and Dmitry (COO, Businessware Technologies). They lead a team behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Businessware Technologies?

Our CEO found their team before we even started our company. We wanted to create a technology that existed in other industries but not in ours.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2003, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The length of our partnership is a testament to Businessware Technologies’ high-quality development work. The CRM software and subsequent projects their team has completed for us are integral to our business. We’re an industry leader thanks to them.

How did Businessware Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

The team excels at managing a smooth workflow. Businessware Technologies delivers on our requests on time, and they respond quickly to questions and issues as they arise. We use email and Skype to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Highly skilled and professional, Businessware Technologies is fantastic to work with. They consistently produce top-notch software, reporting, and technologies for our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. We’re pleased with the collaboration so far.

Any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend Businessware Technologies for all Microsoft ASP.NET and SQL programming and similar projects. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of product development at a recruiting software startup called ARI.

 We create recruiting software for college coaches to track information about their recruits and athletes, communicate with them, and understand them better. It's essentially the same concept as a CRM, but applied to the college athletic market. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Businessware Technologies?

 Our company creates recruiting software for college coaches to track information about their recruits and athletes, communicate with them, and understand them better. It's essentially the same concept as a CRM, but applied to the college athletic market. 

We approached Businessware Technologies to help us create the entire solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the start of process, we created the statement of work, outlined the phases of development, and set expectations for each one. We told them we wanted to build a single-page web application and a mobile app. Businessware Technologies helped us thoroughly understand what our goals, gave us feedback, and suggested specific technologies to use. 

I briefly considered developing the app for both Android and iOS, but that rarely works well. We discussed the pros and cons of options like using React Native to create both at the same time. Based on their advice and our defined objectives, we decided to focus exclusively on iOS first.

During the first phase, I focused fully on the UX for the web application. A mix of our teams collaborated on the UX design for our mobile app. I provided them with a full wireframe of the application I had created beforehand. Once the plan was complete, they started developing our solution.

Businessware Technologies has an excellent design team. Moving away from a single scope of work, we’ve started handing off individual feature requests and estimations to put together the development schedule piece by piece. At this point, I scope out each feature I want and rely on their team to skillfully design it. 

What is the team composition? 

It was quite a large project. The team included five web and backend developers, three engineers for iOS, 1-2 QA testers, and at least one designer. I coordinated with a project manager. 

How did you come to work with Businessware Technologies?

My contact who’d worked with Businessware Technologies before had been quite pleased with their work. I interviewed another development firm, but Businessware Technologies performed much better during the interview process. Offering a clear rationale and alternative ways to meet the objectives differentiated them from other development firms. 

What is the status of this engagement?

After we first contacted Businessware Technologies around August 2017, we spent a few months finalizing the details of the contract. Our project began in late November 2017 when we initiated the statement of work. They’ve provided a couple thousand hours of work across the year and a half we've been working together so far.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We actually just launched within the past few weeks, so I’ll have better metrics within a month. The 40 beta users we released the software to absolutely love it. In general, we've gotten fantastic feedback so far. It’s been overwhelming, to be honest. We'll have to do some hiring soon. 

In addition to being great engineers, they stood apart from the competition as a team of problem solvers. They work hard to understand a client’s needs and find out how to deliver. 

How did Businessware Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We regularly communicate back and forth. I email my project manager daily, and he always gets back to me incredibly fast. His detailed and thoughtful responses show a thorough understanding of the project. Email has been the only way we've communicated. 

Businessware Technologies creates accurate estimates for each feature we're considering. We examine what we can accomplish each month within our budget and plan accordingly. Since they always keep me aware of the timeline of execution, we can let our users know when to expect releases. They offer full transparency for the entire development plan. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Coming into this project, I was relatively new and had a limited background in computer science. They help us navigate the development, worked well with our team, and found the best tactics. 

They recognize and prevent risks that could lead to software bugs, and discourage us from taking that route instead of just signing off on another 80-hour bill. 

Businessware Technologies is very thorough. They challenge themselves to research the best options for new types of work. If something isn't possible, they tell us and offer a close alternative that will still meet the main objective in a different way that we originally planned. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I haven't worked with many other development firms, but everything I've gotten from Businessware Technologies has been great so far. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Everyone budgets differently, but I prefer to use hourly contracts. We don't have to waste time continuously making scope documents, and it allows us to move faster. 

I suggest starting with that recommendation. Businessware Technologies works quickly to begin with, and the flexibility of hourly billing further enhances this strength.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're an IT [information technology] consultant working on everything from websites to custom software. I'm a business consultant for the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Businessware Technologies?

We've typically used Businessware Technologies for engineering support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I'm a business consultant working on specs and functional requirements on site. I then use their programming team to develop the software itself.

We mostly use Microsoft technologies, primarily .NET and SQL Server. We've worked on internal business automation software for companies.

One of our clients is an aluminum recycler based in Pittsburgh that needed warehouse automation, materials tracking, and business process automation. They received different types of materials that needed to be processed for recycling and they needed to track the items throughout the process in order to locate them easily for shipment. The client had nothing to start with, so we went through a business process analysis and documentation phase, and used Businessware Technologies to build the solution from scratch.

I typically document functional requirements and insert them into a workable document. Businessware Technologies works with FSDs [functional specification documents] or SRS [software requirements specification]-type documents, starting out with what they call vision documents, which include screens as well as functional elements. This is usually a good place to start when doing estimates.

There were 3–4 people from Businessware Technologies' team who worked on the project, including a team lead, a senior person in charge of specs, and around 2 programmers. We have worked with Businessware Technologies on larger projects, using up to 6 coders.

How did you come to work with Businessware Technologies?

Businessware Technologies approached me while I was doing some consulting in Indianapolis for a client. I was managing our relationships with offshore partners, so Businessware Technologies' email came to me, and I sent them a small engagement.

How much have you invested with Businessware Technologies?

Businessware Technologies work has amounted to tens of thousands of man-hours, but I can't provide specific figures.

What is the status of this engagement?

We have been working with Businessware Technologies for 16 years. The project for our recycler client has been finished, and we continue to handle its maintenance. We have larger ongoing projects with Businessware Technologies.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

In terms of automation processes, I'm sure we've saved clients millions of dollars through the years. This is our primary focus.

How did Businessware Technologies perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Microsoft Project on a consistent basis in our collaboration with Businessware Technologies, but we've used other tools like TeamGantt and Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about Businessware Technologies?

The consistent quality of Businessware Technologies' resources is outstanding, compared to other companies I've used. Businessware Technologies has good hiring and training processes, and they have very little turnover. I am working with the same resources now as I did a long time ago.

Are there any areas Businessware Technologies could improve?

Businessware Technologies' written communication is good overall. Spoken language varies from developer to developer, so we tend to work mainly by chat and email. This could be an area for improvement.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Businessware Technologies?

Clients should have some idea of the specs they're putting together. Businessware Technologies will help in this regard, and they have written specs for our company, but it certainly helps to put thoughts down on paper. Working with someone who is not at the next desk requires some organizational discipline.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was updated by the client on February 5, 2020. New content is below.

SOLUTION

How much have you invested with them?

Well over $1 million at this point

What is the status of this engagement?

We are still working ongoing on several larger software projects at this time, some in development, others in ongoing maintenance.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with the vendor evolve?  

We now have a dedicated team with them, and it’s worked out great.

How did Businessware Technologies address the challenges that arose?

We have a core of dedicated resources, with other consultants rotating on and off our projects as needed.

Describe the impact this engagement has had on your business.

It’s been great for us to have consistent support ongoing, as well as being able to ramp up specific skillsets as needed.

How was project management handled?

We have dedicated or contract-based points of contact on all projects that work with our project managers.

Is there anything that the vendor did well or that you would consider a strength?

Highly qualified programmers with low turnover, and that have good communication skills. They’re easy to work with and consistent in response and quality of work.
 
In what specific areas can they improve?  

For us, the relationship really couldn’t be better.  
 
What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?  

They’re great to work with on both small and large projects. Working with off-site engineers requires more discipline than walking over to someone’s desk, which has been very positive for our organizational processes/discipline by extension.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Innovation Asset Group deals with intellectual property related matters for different companies. Specifically, we work with the entire intellectual property life cycle, from the beginning where an idea takes place, to submitting to invention, rating it for its business worth and value, filing patent applications, following it through with the United States Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO] or European equivalent, getting a patent application, keeping up with it, calculating the work and so on. This would basically be the entire life cycle. 

We create software tools to manage this life cycle and it is in this capacity that Businessware is helping us write software. I worked with Businessware for over eight years throughout my career in various capacities and I’m still coming back to them.

What is your position?

I’m the Chief Technology Officer [CTO] in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Businessware?

We wanted to create software for our client use.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

They have been mainly involved in software development. There’s also been some software maintenance. 

How did you come to work with Businessware?

I evaluated 2,000 companies. I contacted them with certain problems to solve. I think it was about database synchronization and I asked all of them to propose how they would go about doing our project.

Using this elimination process, I narrowed it down to 10 - 12 companies. Then, I flew over to Russia to talk to them and see what their operations are, how well they could scale the processes. The dozen companies were narrowed down to 3 and from that point on it was just a business decision on which company we were going to use.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

This year we spent $200,000. There are projects of various sizes. The large projects are one year in duration.

What is the status of this engagement?

It has been ongoing for many years with no plans to stop.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

User feedback indicates that our clients are extremely happy. One of the latest software pieces was recently deployed by a Fortune 500 company in Beaverton, OR and they’re super happy with it.

How did Businessware perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m completely satisfied. Businessware is very easy to work with and they make very good technological decisions. They have a very smart team in Russia. I met the team in person and worked with them at their facilities for quite a few weeks. It’s a perfect symbiosis between them and us.

What distinguishes Businessware from other providers?

They speak very good English. They’re highly educated and they can perform proficiently on the entire software stack, ranging from database design to communication, user interface, design and implementation. We work with everything from horizontal to vertical applications which are massively scalable. On these we use only Microsoft Azure cloud based software which serves like software as a service model.

Is there anything Businessware could have improved or done differently?

We have been growing together. We have worked in such harmony that any problems that we encountered initially have been resolved by now. In that sense, I can say there’s nothing negative I can comment on.