Orases

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a veterinary tech startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

Orases has developed our platform as a service (PaaS) solution for vets.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We’re working on a PaaS solution that allows veterinary professionals to connect with general practice vets for consultations. Orases developed the entire platform based on our needs.

What is the team composition? 

For the bulk of the project, we’ve worked with three people, but the total number of contacts is closer to 5–7.

How did you come to work with Orases?

We originally put out an RFP to see what developers would quote us, but we didn’t feel like we would get the customer service that we were looking for. From there, we started searching for companies that were more local, including Orases.

Upon meeting with one of their executive members, we felt that they would offer the client attention that we were looking for. They gave us the sense that they would hear and meet our needs, so we went with them.

How much have you invested with them?

It’s been about $400,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them since January 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While there are already similar products to ours on the market, Orases has helped us develop a platform that's better, faster, and more efficient. We’ve thoroughly tested the product before going live, and they're great at resolving bugs in a timely manner. Since then, we haven’t seen too many issues, which speaks to that QA process.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s been a great experience working with them. The team is responsive, communicative, and available when we need them. They always let us know well in advance if they’re going to be out of the office and provide a clear point of contact.

Our project manager has really come up to speed to support the project. If we ask for a new feature, they ensure that we stay within reason, letting us know how much something will set us before suggesting more cost-effective solutions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Even though I know they have multiple projects going on for other clients, we never feel like we’re just one of many to them. They treat us as if we’re a top priority. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Initially, there were a few misunderstandings around what we were looking for. That might have been because our project manager was slightly greener than expected, but that person learned very quickly. They’re now one of our strongest advocates to make sure things stay on track and budget.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We didn’t have the clearest vision about our product and kept changing our minds on a lot of things. That can be extremely frustrating for a developer, especially if they’ve already started working in one direction.

That’s why it’s important to know your own product as much as possible before approaching a development house. Orases can ask you questions to clarify your ideas, but you need to have that understanding.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a co-founder and principal of Leadership Techniques, LLC. We provide leadership and project management training and consulting to a wide variety of clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our Wordpress site was built over 10 years ago and was outdated so we needed to build a new site to make it more secure.

SOLUTION

How did you select Orases and what were the deciding factors?

We had done work with Orases in the past and know that they provide high quality products that we can count on.

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

We kept the original design, and discussed that the ecommerce portion was most critical so Orases researched and found the best solution for our needs.

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

1 - Wordpress developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just launched the site yesterday, but already find it is much "cleaner" and easier to navigate.

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

The developer was extremely accommodating to our schedule and very responsive. I set up a shared Google Doc so we could share updates and changes along the way, and that worked very well.

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

They are very professional and extremely responsive.

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

No areas of improvement - it was all very positive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Ruppert Landscape is a growing commercial maintenance and landscape construction company. Director of IT.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Orases?

Orases saved the day for us. We have a custom application that is used for core business operations and we were for all intents and purposes in a down situation. Orases is a top notch company that we have known about for a long time. We hoped they could understand our application and help us get it back on line.

What were your goals for this project?

We had to restore services which had been down or lagging for weeks. Need to restore our critical business function.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Nick had spent several years keeping in touch with us and just letting us know about opportunities and technology we should look at. He and the whole Orases team even hosted our IT team for our annual planning meeting. All of this was gratis and we were not a customer at the time.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The Orases project manager heard our problem and dedicated a high level database expert to our issue. He personally delayed his vacation in order to help us.

What was the team composition?

The Orases team was participating over the phone - which is not their normal course of business. They accommodated us because of our down situation - both in response time and meeting dynamics. Because of this we were not aware of the full team assigned to our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

After the Orases team heard our issue and asked some deeper dive questions they had their database expert speak directly with our lead programmer - and in the course of less than 2 hours the fix to our problem had been tested and put into production.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Very quick emergency project - Results would say extremely effective.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their flexibility to accommodate the customer and their expertise. We would not have been able to solve our issue on our own.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None were apparent in this transaction. I have nothing but positive things to say about this company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Here at RxGenomix, we offer a personalized pharmacy care experience that puts people on the path to optimal health. It is a comprehensive, highly scalable approach to personalized medicine that delivers actionable insights and real financial value to our customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We hired Orases to address the business challenge of creating a technology interface that enables patients, providers, and pharmacists to work cohesively within one platform to facilitate the feedback loop to patients in need.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Orases built a host of different functions for us on this platform, including lab ordering mechanisms all the way from ideation to report creation and delivery, and a communication bridge between patients and pharmacists in order to facilitate ordering and understanding tests and their results.

That kind of technology did not exist in the manner and strategy that we were trying to bring to the marketplace, so when we started working with Orases, they started by coming to the table and helping us brainstorm about ways to translate our requirements into something tangible that people would want to use.

Their role was primarily development. We brought some designers to the table that have helped with the UI/UX, but they handled the actual development work and asked questions and provided feedback as we went along.

What is the team composition?

We worked at any given point with around 2–3 full-time members of their team. Our two main points of contact were Larisa (Project Manager) and Mike (), but their CEO also made himself readily available to help with the project as well.

How did you come to work with Orases?

Our Chief Security Officer had an existing relationship with their team, and he was able to speak to them about what we were looking to accomplish and the capabilities they would be able to bring to bear on the project, and from there we decided that they were a good fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

The program began in March 2019, and we launched the first iteration in late November, but we are continuing to work with their team to add new features and provide better service to existing and future customers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have specific KPIs built to track or report on their progress, but as far as overall objectives, they have provided an incredible amount of value to us, not only in getting our product off the ground but also in continuing to clean up and enhance some of the original features and infrastructure.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

If I were to rate them more generally on things like turnaround time, responsiveness, or project transparency, I would have nothing but positive things to say. They make themselves available through all forms of communication, whether that was voicemail, text message, or email, and we speak to them close to 4–5 times a week.

I’ve been a project manager myself, and I know that I pale in comparison to Larisa. She is highly capable, and her leadership has been paramount in our success. I would love to work with her in any capacity because it was always clear that from the top down, they truly care about the customer experience.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of their best assets is their ability to listen and understand the customer at a high level, and then to be able to translate those requirements into technical avenues for delivering exactly what you asked for if not something even better. They have the personality and the skillset to handle customer-facing needs and the technical skills to be successful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our project is certainly a lot to tackle, so I think one thing they could maybe make progress on is in adding resources to their team. However, that hasn’t caused us any problems so far, and we’ve been able to talk openly with them about the possibility.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think transparency in communication is critical to a development project like this. Even if you can’t perfectly articulate your business needs, just getting things out verbally so they can see where your head is at and help you work towards a solution is incredibly important.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our company is Leadership Techniques LLC. We’re a two-person company that’s been around for ten years. My partner and I are the co-founders and principals. We provide project management and leadership training & consulting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We had an existing relationship with Orases. They built our first website, but we decided to refresh the website to update the look, technology, and security.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the website upgrade, their team updated the design of our WordPress site, focusing on a more modern look. They also updated some of the website’s features, graphics, and functionalities. The team at Orases also implemented third-party connections like our payment and registration system. Along with performing QA testing, their team also trained us on how to work the WordPress platform so that we can put in content ourselves. The website is now being prepared for SEO.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact is Javier (Support Technician, Orases).

How did you come to work with Orases?

We chose them because of a personal recommendation.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Orases started in 2010.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their team is still providing ongoing web support. Since we’re still transitioning, we don’t have detailed analytics yet, but they’re excellent to work with. Orases’ customer service approach is outstanding.

The meeting we had the other day with Javier was excellent. Their office has a beautiful conference room, and all of the technology is set up and ready to go. They answered all of my partner’s questions.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Since my partner and I are project managers, we were pretty impressed with their system. Javier gives us an estimate every couple of weeks. The site ended up being ready a few days early, allowing us to get in there when we expected to. Their ability to meet their estimated dates was right on target.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a solutions company that is full of experts in their field. All we knew is that we needed a website for people to register. Orases gave us all of the possibilities for a website that will bring us business. In terms of their technical expertise, the team at Orases brings a lot to the table. They bring ideas that we can apply to improve our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing they can improve. They’re great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to their ideas. They’re experts in their field. It is at the point where everyone knows what a website is, and everybody can use a website, but not everyone has the capabilities to create one. This is their team’s area of expertise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Disability Insurance Quotes. We fulfill disability insurance sales for insurance agents as well as consumers. Most of our business takes place online.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

Our website is hosted on Adobe ColdFusion, and hasn’t been structurally updated in over 20 years. There have been some recent changes to compliance laws in our industry regarding security, and it became clear that ColdFusion wouldn’t be able to support the new features we would need to implement.

We began searching for a development team that could help migrate our website onto a different server.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project has just begun, so the Orases team is currently focused on laying the groundwork and programming databases.

However, the team has implemented an instant disability insurance quote tool on our website that’s being used now. 

What is the team composition?

We work with a team of about five developers. About once a month, I meet with Nick (President, Orases).

How did you come to work with Orases?

I came across Orases on Clutch while searching for developers. I called Nick and we connected very well, so we decided to partner.

How much have you invested with them?

The project will cost about $800,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in July 2019 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we’re so early along in the project timeline, we don’t have any specific deliverables other than the instant quote tool, which we’re extremely impressed with. It’s a really unique feature, and we’re one of the only firms to offer it. 

As far as the progress they’re making at the moment, we’re very impressed with the work the team has been producing. I rarely have to make corrections. 

It's clear the team understands not just the current system they’re building, but also the one they’re working to correct.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Orases has blown my mind so far. The team is extremely particular and detailed. As someone who isn’t very detail-oriented, their ability to manage me shows how good they are at what they do. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Orases has a unique ability to give our company exactly what we need, rather than trying to fit their solutions to us. We really appreciate that. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are the most trusted pharmacy technician certification organization with close to 300,000 active certified pharmacy technicians. That makes up the majority of the market. Our mission is to advance medication safety by certifying pharmacy technicians who are on the frontlines of patient care. I’m the director of marketing and communications. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

Our website was antiquated, difficult to navigate, and aesthetically outdated. Because of all of that, it wasn’t effectively communicating our message or mission as well as we wanted it to. We turned to them to help us tell our story.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At first, they showed us wireframes before sending their sketches over to our designers. We went back and forth on design, but minimally. They were in charge of creating the site.

The navigation on the site has changed quite a bit with their help. With their team, we developed two distinct paths. People can find information in a standard way, searching based on credentials and using dropdown navigation options. However, we also looked at it from a customer experience standpoint because we serve individuals and organizations. When they arrive at the site, they can select what type of audience they are. That input will steer their journey on our platform. For instance, if you’re a technician, you can focus your user journey on career advancement.

We also worked on a candidate guidebook, which is critical in communicating processes and policies. Before, the guidebook was essentially just a PDF on the site. That wasn’t necessarily what we wanted because we wanted to be able to easily update and link to other pages. The integrity of the document was very important. They helped us make it more aesthetically pleasing and easy to read, and also provided necessary document controls.

They continue to update the site as needed, and we’ve also just elected to work with them on another site project.

What is the team composition?

Laura (Digital Project Manager, Orases) was our project manager. We communicated directly with her.

How did you come to work with Orases?

The graphic designers that we use on a regular basis partnered with Orases and brought them to us. That was nice because we had known the graphic designers for years and had grown a comfortable relationship. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in December 2018, and our team launched the site in October 2019. We’re still working with them to tweak the site as it evolves.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven’t had the opportunity to perform quantitative metric comparisons, but qualitatively we often receive praise on social media for the site’s ease of use.  Overall, our internal staff feels more empowered in marketing our products and credentials. It allows us to present information in a way that’s compelling and easy for people to understand. In short, it helps support our mission.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They set the bar for project management. I’ve worked with a number of consultants in the past, and several have been a bit disappointing. When hiring a partner, I expect them to manage the process. In our case, Laura has been phenomenal at managing the project and keeping us on task.

They communicated expectations for both parties. It was refreshing to have that clearly established in the beginning. I really credit their team with keeping the project on schedule.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The working experience was the most impressive. We could tell them about our concerns and dreams openly. They were able to translate our thoughts into something that makes sense. I was impressed with their ability to give us what we were asking for, and more. When something wasn’t right, they were able to make effective corrections. They took in our vision and made it into a coherent solution. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I was a little surprised by the final budget because I didn’t realize that some of our requests fell outside of the original scope. That caused a little sticker shock, and we had to reevaluate our priorities. I did appreciate how they communicated those changes though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Let them do their jobs. I’ve never had such a positive experience working with an outsourced company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

At the time of the engagement, I was the vice president of project management at Major League Baseball Advanced Media, which operated MLB.com, all 30 MLB team sites, and all MLB applications.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We engaged Orases to build out the digital experience for our Pitch Hit & Run program. We wanted to create a community-based application that allowed users to organize and run the competitions in their local area.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We involved Orases in meetings at the commissioner’s office and included them in some high-level discussions of what the application needed to be. Orases demonstrated a solid understanding of our desires and presented a thoughtful development plan for the product.

They provided us with initial designs, and we collaborated with their team to iterate more and optimize the experience. Those discussions drove the development process, where Orases ensured that the application captured all of the relevant information we needed while also storing user data appropriately.

Orases utilized JavaScript and HTML for the website’s frontend, which features an interactive map that shows users where competitions are held relative to their location. The user experience is such that people can create their own competition or join an existing one with a series of easy-to-follow steps.

What is the team composition?

We probably interacted with as many as 10 people. Our team included Nick (President, Orases), a project manager, a financial and legal adviser, and members of their technology and design teams.

How did you come to work with Orases?

I learned of Orases through a colleague who had worked with their team when they developed a very similar community-based product for the NFL.

How much have you invested with them?

Throughout the engagement, we spent approximately $750,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement spanned December 2014–April 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Orases worked under tight deadlines because we wanted to launch before the start of the next registration season. We wanted to rid our sign-up process of paper, so it was crucial that Orases deliver the application before that period started. It was a tall task to go from our idea to launch in about two months, but Orases made it happen, and we continued to enhance the product from there.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

We received timely information from their project management team. We had a good idea of what was going on even though we weren’t very hands-on with the project. Orases did a great job of communicating and remaining transparent throughout the engagement. Together, we developed an efficient process from a project management and delivery standpoint.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They plug-in seamlessly to a team and can handle the full project end-to-end. We developed a lot of trust in them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they accomplished everything we set out to do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust Orases, and let them use their wide range of expertise to help you innovate and execute. If you trust them, they won’t let you down.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a radiology-specific veterinary company. We provide telemedicine consultations to other veterinary hospitals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

Our company needed a tool to facilitate seamless communication with other hospitals. We hired Orases to help us develop a RIS (radiology information system) PACS (picture archiving and communication system) EMR (electronic medical records) platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Orases has been there since the beginning to help us brainstorm ideas about how to accomplish our objectives. We started from the 50,000-foot view. Since then, we have narrowed down the broad scope of requirements down to define our exact needs.

Orases guided us through the entire discovery process. We met twice a week. During each session, they helped us refine our concept based on our explanations. They suggested novel ideas to solve the image transfer issues we have been experiencing. Even though this is my area of expertise, they came up with new ideas I had never considered, 

The main deliverable they produced was a final document with everything the developers need to move forward. We haven't started the development yet, but the end product will be a web platform. Through the system, other hospitals will be able to send us X-ray images. It will enable us to send them back reports we write up.

What is the team composition?

We work with three people from Orases; a UX architect, project manager, and the head of business development.

How did you come to work with Orases?

I searched online extensively before I met and spoke with several companies in Silicon Valley. Orases offered a much more personable feel than most of the other companies we considered. 

As a small business, they were much more willing to talk about the overall project and how to address problems than a younger startup would.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we've spent $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first started discussions in October 2018. Our engagement is ongoing. Orases will also handle the development stage.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We just finished the discovery stage, so I don't have any metrics or statistics to share so far. Up until this point, everything has been positive. We haven't had any negative comments.
 

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed very well from a project management standpoint. They kept us up to date and contacted us daily about any new developments or questions they had. We would respond as soon as possible. Orases always answers our questions within a couple of minutes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The best thing about Orases is their willingness to work with us as a smaller company. They broke down the process with a project manager as well as a business development individual.

I appreciated that Orases took the process a bit slowly since I'm not familiar with software development. Their infrastructure is built so that they can work with larger companies as well. Clients of theirs include many sizable national businesses with recognizable names, all of whom gave them positive reviews.
 
Are there any areas they could improve?

Understanding the scope of the project before getting deep into the discovery phase could be beneficial. I know the purpose of the discovery phase is to figure out the exact requirements, but my only critique is that after I told them my idea in our very first meeting, it turned out to be a much bigger project. Some of that is unavoidable, though.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CIO of a healthcare organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We wanted to develop a new system that improved the features and performance of our grants management system. The finished product financially supports patients across the United States.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We did the requirements analysis and a detailed design process with them to decide which feature implementations would be most significant. We also went through best practices for load, penetration, and security testing. The original application was designed for renal professionals, but the new application has three tiers of users: renal professionals working on behalf of patients, patients themselves, and caregivers. We greatly enhanced the performance, features, and functionality, and gave applicants the opportunity to store profile information within the application. That eliminated the need to enter that information repeatedly on future grants and makes the application process much more streamlined. We also dramatically improved performance time in the new system, now averaging about 2 seconds or less for page response.

What is the team composition?

There were about six team Orases members involved in the engagement.

How did you come to work with Orases?

We sent out a targeted RFP and selected three vendors based on our research. Orases already had a grants management platform in their arsenal. We’re leveraging about 75% of the application functionality out of the box, with the remaining 25% customized for our business needs.

What is the status of this engagement?

The whole project lasted about 18 months. We started working together in June 2017, had a soft launch in November 2018, and completed the full launch in January 2019. We’re currently discussing enhancements and implementations for phase two.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was very successful. In addition to redoing the application, we also reduced the hours spent on our payment services. We used to print and send over 300,000 payments per year, most out of our headquarters location. As part of the shift to a SaaS model, we outsourced our payment services and now offer options for checks, debit cards, and ACH deposits.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They are excellent project managers, and I recommend them wholeheartedly. We had several in-person meetings, but we also communicated regularly via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service and responsiveness are terrific. We’ve never had any major issues with them, and they always respond quickly to any minor ones. Their project management, design, and testing are cohesive and well governed. There were multiple layers within this project, and they did well throughout.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any areas of improvement for them. We’re very happy with their work and look forward to working with them in the future.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with any vendor, do your due diligence and follow through on your methodologies, either agile or waterfall. This was a key part of our project success as it reduced risks early on. We led the initiative with a multi-vendor team, and they worked well with our aggregated team.