Edify Software Consulting

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Engineer of Abl Schools

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build software for school districts to help build their schedules for the upcoming school year as well as analyze outcomes of their past students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Edify Software Consulting to accomplish?

• Staff augmentation for software engineer capacity

SOLUTION

How did you find Edify Software Consulting?

Previous Relationship

Why did you select Edify Software Consulting over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Edify Software Consulting were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

A couple of projects we've focused on with the Edify team:

• Improved software and systems for data integrations with various Student Information Systems (we need to collect and standardize all of our customers' data into our systems).
• Web-based software showing analysis of student outcomes from historical data.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Reduced data integration time and pain.
• More empowered end users in the data integration process.

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

• Generally reliable to deliver projects on time and in scope.
• Flexible to our adapting needs and timelines as new information and prioritites surfaced.

What was your primary form of communication with Edify Software Consulting?

Virtual Meeting

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

During our work, I have enjoyed their culture of learning, curiosity, and partnership.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Edify Software Consulting could have done differently?

Initially, when we first started working with Edify, I think we both experienced pain around our software development process. We expect engineers to take an active role in scoping projects, exploring solutions, and determining requirements; which was not something the Edify team knew was expected of them at the start. We have improved this process and relaitonship over time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder of CourseKata

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

CourseKata creates and delivers interactive curriculum materials to the K12 and higher education markets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Edify Software Consulting to accomplish?

• To build a robust platform that would support our work

SOLUTION

How did you find Edify Software Consulting?
Referral

Why did you select Edify Software Consulting over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Edify Software Consulting were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
For the past 6 years Edify has worked as the core of our technology development work. They have built and continuously expanded and improved a platform that supports authors, teachers, students, and researchers working to improve student learning from online materials.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We have grown our annual students served from 0 to more than 10,000.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?
Edify has excellent project management. They do what the promise, and there are no surprises, either in timeline or budget. They are a very high-functioning organization.

What was your primary form of communication with Edify Software Consulting?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
They are responsive, easy to work with, and function as though they are part of our internal team. They not only do what we ask, but they offer suggestions for improving our product in ways we might not have considered.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Edify Software Consulting could have done differently?
At this point, no; we are very happy with their service.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of The NROC Project

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

NROC collaborates with educators to imagine, develop, test, and refine technologies that improve student success.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Edify Software Consulting to accomplish?

• Built the EdReady platform based on a pre-designed technical specification.
• Refine the EdReady platform based on early trials and usage characteristics.
• Help to maintain the EdReady platform in the face of growth and diversification of usage.

SOLUTION

How did you find Edify Software Consulting?

Referral

Why did you select Edify Software Consulting over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Edify Software Consulting were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

This project has been running for more than ten years, so there are more details than can be reasonably included. In summary, the project has evolved in tandem with the growth our business with the EdReady platform, roughly reflecting the following phases:

Phase 1: Translate a technical spec for EdReady into a working (beta) application. The technical spec was heavy on end-user (student) details but light on internal management specifications as well as reporting expectations. The key deliverable was the beta version of the platform, mostly dictated by the student experience.

Phase 2: Test and refine the beta release for student-facing refinements. Edify was asked to assume more responsibility for the design and development of the back-end management strategy and UX. Key deliverables included role-based access, a tab-based management console, and an initial reporting suite. Taken together, these capabilities comprised V1 of the full release for EdReady.

Phase 3: Ongoing testing and refinement based on usage characteristics, funded enhancements, and other business drivers. In addition to software deliverables, Edify stepped in to develop a contracted QA enterprise and also helped to address policy-driven platform enhancements, such as for accessibility and security.

Phase 4: Build a suite of 'helper applications' based on new business needs and new sources of funding. Edify played a major role in developing the technical specification based on the functional requirements in addition to the application development itself. Edify also expanded their role with our project by establishing a basis for contracted devops services.

Phase 5: With exponential growth of the EdReady platform came new obligations for performance, CI/CD processes, and related management challenges. At the same time, personnel transitions at Edify and at NROC meant that we needed to collaborate closely on retaining critical expertise and capacity while addressing pressing new needs. 
This effort is ongoing, and Edify remains critical to augmenting our software-development capacity, providing backup devops support, and staffing the bulk of our QA team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As written already, there have been many measurable outcomes over the deacde-long span of our working relationship. There have certainy been some challenges and hiccups along the way, but the most obvious demonstration of success is the fact that the EdReady platform - largely built, deployed, and managed in close collaboration with Edify - is used all over the United States (and increasingly internationally) and is probably now one of the most widely used, nonprofit edtech apps in existence.

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

There have been good periods and challenging periods when it comes to project management. Initially, the project management responsibilities were almost entirely delegated to Edify. The application did not yet exist, so there were no usage obligations and there were no external business demands to manage. By and large, that phase of project went according to plan and things were delivered on time.

With the public launch of the platform, the obligations we faced in managing the platform expanded dramatically, and more of the project management fell to assigned NROC staff. It has always been difficult to manage expectations in the face of continuous and unpredictable demands from end users as well as business partners, and that challenge remains today. 
There have been times when Edify-based project managers have handled these issues well, and other times when it hasn't gone as well. Regardless, the most important facet of our collaboration with Edify is their willingness to try to work within the constraints faced by NROC in a highly variable and unpredictable enterprise. 
Budgets can expand and contract quickly, and it is hard to build stable recurring revenue lines in education, so it has been critical to have Edify's support as we have navigated these twists and turns throughout these years of the project.

What was your primary form of communication with Edify Software Consulting?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

As previously stated, the most important aspect of working with Edify has been their willingness to work within the peculiar circumstances of our organization's mission and business. It is always the case that we could do more with more stability and resources, but we don't usually have that luxury. 
While these challenges have caused frustration in our relationship at times, the overarching narrative is one of finding a way to be supportive and productive regardless of the situation. Both of our organizations have evolved over time and I think we have become better at identifying which roles and expectations are reasonable and which are not.

Beyond all of that, Edify's commitment to the education sector is very admirable and extremely useful when translating technical specs into user-facing features. Also, as a rule, Edify's management team has also been open, transparent, and willing to work through issues together, which is something we value greatly in the relationship.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Edify Software Consulting could have done differently?

We had a couple of periods in our work with Edify when we were unable to retain some key team members (mostly because they left Edify entirely), which was really disruptive to our work and very expensive to resolve. I am not sure there is much that anyone could have done about those situations but they highlighted some of the risks we face as an organization by managing some of our more significant running obligations on contract.

There have also been a few developers or other personnel assigned to us who have not worked out, which is also not necessarily something that can be avoided. I think that our project is somewhat unique in Edify's portfolio, so there are considerations regarding the identification and assignment of developers to our project that are probably different from other contractual engagements. We continue to refine those understandings together.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO/CITO of Knowledge Elements/Lumerit Education

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A pioneering education technology company that enhances college degree completion and affordability for consumers, corporations, and international markets using a highly adaptable proprietary platform, serving over 24,000 students globally with personalized, efficient learning solutions through its innovative programs and services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Edify Software Consulting to accomplish?

• Ensure the seamless synchronization and transfer of data across multiple systems

SOLUTION

How did you find Edify Software Consulting?

Key Note Speaker at an Ed Tech Conference

Why did you select Edify Software Consulting over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Edify Software Consulting were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Project Overview: The project successfully achieved seamless data synchronization and transfer across multiple systems, leveraging a proprietary technology platform to enhance operational efficiency, student experience, and institutional collaboration. This initiative supported the mission of improving college degree completion and affordability for a diverse, global student body.

Project Scope:

Assessment and Planning:

• Conducted a comprehensive assessment of current systems, data sources, and integration points.
• Identified data synchronization and transfer requirements, including volume, frequency, and criticality of data.
• Developed a detailed project plan outlining timelines, milestones, resources, and risk management strategies.

System Integration:

• Designed and implemented a robust architecture for data integration, ensuring compatibility with existing platforms such as the Global Digital Classroom™ and Central Registrar’s Office™.
• Utilized APIs, ETL processes, and middleware to facilitate real-time and batch data transfers between systems.

Data Mapping and Transformation:

• Created detailed data mapping documents to define how data fields from various sources aligned and transformed into the target system.
• Developed transformation rules and logic to ensure data consistency, accuracy, and integrity during the synchronization process.

Security and Compliance:

• Implemented stringent data security measures to protect sensitive student information during transfer and storage.
• Ensured compliance with relevant data protection regulations, such as GDPR and FERPA, throughout the project lifecycle.

Testing and Validation:

• Conducted thorough testing of data synchronization and transfer processes, including unit, integration, and user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Validated data accuracy and completeness post-transfer, addressing any discrepancies or issues promptly.

Training and Support:

• Provided comprehensive training to staff on the new data synchronization processes and tools.
• Developed user guides and documentation to support ongoing operations and troubleshooting.

Monitoring and Optimization:

• Implemented monitoring tools to track data transfer performance and system health.
• Continuously optimized processes for efficiency, scalability, and reliability based on feedback and performance metrics.

Key Deliverables:

Project Plan:

Detailed project plan including timelines, milestones, resource allocation, and risk management strategies.

• System Integration Architecture: Design documents and implementation plans for the integrated data architecture.
• Data Mapping Documents: Comprehensive data mapping and transformation rules for all systems involved.
• Security and Compliance Report: Documentation of data security measures and compliance with relevant regulations.
• Testing and Validation Results: Detailed test plans, test cases, and results of all testing phases, including UAT sign-off.
• Training Materials: User guides, training manuals, and documentation for staff training sessions.
• Monitoring and Optimization Tools: Implementation of monitoring dashboards and tools with documentation on usage and optimization strategies.

Summary: The project enabled seamless synchronization and transfer of data across multiple systems, enhancing operational efficiency, supporting personalized learning paths, and maintaining data integrity. The successful implementation of this project ensured that the technology platform continued to meet the evolving needs of a global student base, contributing to the overall mission of improving college degree completion and affordability.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The successful implementation of the data synchronization and transfer project  led to several measurable outcomes that demonstrated significant progress and success:

Improved Operational Efficiency:

• Data Entry Efficiency: The unified student information system increased data entry efficiency by 300%, reducing the time required for data entry and minimizing errors to 0.02% of transactions.
• Course Registration Speed: The course registration process was streamlined, reducing the time from 20 minutes to just 5 seconds, significantly enhancing accuracy and security.

Enhanced Student Experience:

• Student Satisfaction: The transition to a self-service model for course registration boosted student satisfaction and reduced costs by over 45%.
• Global Reach: Over 24,000 students from all 50 states and 48 countries benefited from the digital classroom, with students earning up to 90 credits before transferring to their chosen institutions for degree completion.

Increased Compliance and Security:

• Data Security: Implemented stringent data security measures, ensuring compliance with relevant data protection regulations. This resulted in a 90% decrease in user support issues related to data access and integrity.
• Reduced Wait Times: Re-engineering of the existing infrastructure improved data access speed, reducing wait times by 25%.

Cost Savings and Resource Optimization:

• Cost Reductions: Overhauled vendor partnerships and optimized hardware expenses resulted in a 25% reduction in costs, leading to significant monthly savings.
• Annual Savings: The implementation of a cutting-edge network infrastructure boosted workflow efficiency by 30%, achieving $100,000 in annual savings.

Scalable and Flexible Learning Solutions:

• Learning Solutions Division: Enabled small and medium-sized colleges to offer any course, anytime, for any length, with no minimum enrollment, enhancing their competitive position in the digital era.
• Customized Degree Plans: Developed customized course-by-course degree plans, tailored to student learning styles, goals, available time, costs, and major, serving more than 1,000 colleges and universities.

Positive Impact on Corporate and Consumer Markets:

• Corporate Partnerships: Integrated educational platforms with corporate tuition reimbursement programs, enhancing corporate partnerships and aligning technology solutions with diverse business requirements.
• Degree Completion: Provided an affordable and efficient path to degree completion, addressing critical issues of college affordability and completion rates in the consumer, corporate, and international markets.

Summary: These measurable outcomes highlight the significant advancements achieved through the data synchronization and transfer project. The improvements in operational efficiency, student experience, compliance, cost savings, and scalable solutions underscore the project's success in supporting the mission of enhancing college degree completion and affordability on a global scale.

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

They implemented a structured and strategic project management approach.

• Timely Delivery: they demonstrated a strong commitment to meeting deadlines and delivering project milestones on time. They adhered strictly to the project timeline, ensuring each phase was completed as scheduled. This timely delivery was crucial in maintaining the project’s momentum and ensuring the end goals were achieved without unnecessary delays.
• Responsive to Needs: They were highly responsive to our needs throughout the project. Their team maintained open lines of communication, ensuring that any issues or concerns were promptly addressed. They proactively sought feedback and made necessary adjustments to align with our requirements. Their responsiveness contributed significantly to the project's overall success, as they could adapt to changing needs and ensure that the solutions provided effectively met our objectives.

Summary: The project management was characterized by thorough planning, robust system integration, stringent security measures, comprehensive testing, effective training, and continuous optimization. They delivered all project milestones on time and were highly responsive to our needs, ensuring that the project met its objectives efficiently and effectively. Their professional and adaptive approach was key in successfully implementing seamless data synchronization and transfer across multiple systems.

What was your primary form of communication with Edify Software Consulting?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their excellence stemmed from their holistic integration of deep industry knowledge, collaborative methodology, punctual delivery, unwavering quality standards, and cost-efficient innovation. This cohesive approach enables them to seamlessly convert intricate requirements into impactful, practical solutions, establishing them as a leader in their field.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Edify Software Consulting could have done differently?

None.  They were professional and responded in every instance with the appropriate tone and answer.