Orases

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Software Development of Sylvan Learning

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Empowers parents to provide the tools needed to set their children up for success in their educational realm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Orases to accomplish?

• Create a new content management system to house our 19,000 lessons and a new lesson management system to serve the lessons to students via a device agnostic web application

SOLUTION

How did you find Orases?

Referral

Why did you select Orases over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Orases were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

The key deliverables are the new CMS and LMS systems. We literally have hundreds of pages of specifications and documents that define the scope. We also had hundreds of hours of meetings to make sure that we were always on the same page. Orases did an incredible job with listening and offering input as needed to ensure the scope was what we desired even if at times we did not know what we fully desired

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Orases worked in an agile manner that had multiple phases and sprint cycles. We had weekly meetings to discuss the progress towards the outcomes and to manage/discuss any budget questions or concerns. Orases did a great job of ensuring we would not be surprised at any given time.

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

Orases were very timely on delivering items as scheduled. If for some reason there was a roadblock or something that may cause a missed deadline, they would reach out to us early and often keep us aware of the situation. In large projects that span a year or more, that is all you can ask for is constant and honest communication and Orases delivered that time and time again. 

What was your primary form of communication with Orases?

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

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

Orases have an insatiable desire to meet or exceed our goals. They work tirelessly to make sure deadlines are met and promises are kept. Our system was very complex, and we knew they would have to learn a lot on the fly, and they never backed down from the challenge. 

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

I would say the only area that could have been an improvement was not on Orases but that we internally would have spent more time on our expectations ahead of project commencement to give Orases a clear path forward from the start. The internal team were still deciding on what was required to be in the project, some in the first phase which led to us sending Orases the wrong direction at times. Orases were very gracious and understanding and helped guide us through this process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO of an automotive technology company specializing in programming and calibrating advanced driver-assist systems. We’re a startup on the verge of opening.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We needed help developing our proprietary software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Orases is building our proprietary software's MVP. The team is also responsible for the software's UI/UX design. The software will serve as front-facing software for customers to schedule services via our customer portal. The platform will also provide updates and alerts regarding where the car is in the calibration or service process. The software will have an estimating tool that will send the estimate immediately to the customer and alert them when an estimate needs approval. 
Additionally, it will notify the customer when the car is complete and ready for pickup or if it's in transit going back to the customer. The software will also be a home for all the reporting that goes along with our services. The documentation is provided via that portal, and there is a historical record for each customer of the different vehicles we’ve worked on.

The software aims to take our internal processes regarding how we service vehicles and put them into the software. It’s a map for our techs on how to pick up a car, service a vehicle, and all the steps we do to ensure that. After this MVP launch, we’ll collect enough data to enhance our operations and efficiencies based on that data. Then, we’ll build more solutions once we know what we’re trying to solve.

The app will be available for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices. The tablets are connected to our equipment and are Android-based. We can also use our software via our scan tools. Each office has TV monitors throughout the shop and in the office space that will reflect the dashboard of reporting from the software. This will help us understand how many cars are in line, the anticipated delivery date, and if a vehicle needs approval for an estimate. We can also put some performance metrics for our techs.

Orases has also integrated our calibration tools and some off-the-shelf solutions like QuickBooks and HubSpot into our proprietary software. We’ve built API connections to integrate third-party solutions and share data with the software. 

What is the team composition?

During the discovery phase, we worked with six teammates who learned about our business and mapped out the general concept. Since signing the contract, we’ve been actively working with five teammates, including Kevin, a team leader, a primary developer, and a teammate specializing in code development and integrating HubSpot and QuickBooks.

How did you come to work with Orases?

My partner and I have worked on startups and evaluated different ideas and companies; we started looking at Orases around two years ago. We’ve developed software before to help manage our companies and learned a lot from that process. We went through a long period of evaluating different software companies. An attorney friend of ours recommended Orases. 
We had a Zoom call with Nick and provided a flowchart of the business. We started meeting with the team in person and looked into who they had done business with and the software they had developed. From a cultural perspective, we learned that Orases was a company similar to ours. 
Other companies we talked to were trying to take pre-built solutions and morph them into the software we wanted to build. We went through a discovery process of 2–4 hours, where we had an open exchange of ideas. The team showed genuine enthusiasm about our concept, and we could feel it. The discovery process sealed the deal.

Orases wasn’t the cheapest, but we felt they could build a unique product for our company. We weren’t trying to do something broad for the entire industry; we wanted something unique to our company. Our companies lined up well.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $279,000–$285,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the development process in February 2024. We’re wrapping up the MVP, and the beta testing is finishing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Orases has built an outstanding first phase of the software, and their enthusiasm for the project is evident in what they produced. We’ve compared the software to our internal processes and how we service our customers. We’ve asked if it’s possible for the software to do something, and within a couple of days, Orases has shown us. The software is clean and responsive, and the team provides thorough demonstrations. I’m amazed at how well Orases takes our ideas — this has been the easiest company I’ve ever worked with. 

We’ve had some bugs during beta testing. One aspect is that we upload the repair order from our customer. We’ve had some issues with uploading and crashing the system several times. We haven’t had real-life online testing yet, but the initial run needed to be tweaked. Orases doesn't test the software once and say it’s working; they find ways to try to break it or confuse it. We’ve learned a lot by doing that. I appreciate Orases' willingness to test the software and push the limit. When something fails, we go back to the drawing board and try to fix it. We hand the team general problems, and they propose solutions.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Orases hasn't missed any deadlines; if anything, they’re ahead of schedule on most deliverables. We requested Orases to put a VIN number into the system so the VIN number could hold the advanced driver assist systems on that vehicle, which is through the National Highway Transportation Board database. I figured it would take Orases six weeks to deliver, but it took them a week.
If something arises, the team leader keeps us organized and on task. Her communication is outstanding. I prefer talking on the phone to email. If I call and she’s not available, she calls me back within 30 minutes. We also meet with the primary developer three times a week via Zoom. Besides my meetings with the development team, I have monthly meetings with the management team, in which we go through our scorecard and all the project updates. 
Orases is easy on the budget. We know what we want to build and the budget, and I know what we spend every month before the bill comes. We use Confluence for project management. All the notes and recorded calls are there. If one of us misses a call, we can go into Confluence and watch the call. All the notes and tasks that are due from anyone on the team are there.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to highlight our team lead and Kevin L. What I appreciate the most is that they listen very well and are able to take the ideas of a person who isn't a software developer and bring them to life in an efficient way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Orases’ ability to connect with us is impressive. The team is genuinely invested in us being successful. Orases goes above and beyond, researching our industry and learning more. They've become my friends. Nick reaches out periodically to see how my partner and I are doing. We have a very unique relationship. I’ve spent a lot of money and will probably spend more, but it doesn’t feel transactional. What Nick has built at Orases is remarkable. 
In the past, software development projects annoyed me because I felt I was working with people who didn't have a human connection. Orases' ability to connect with people on a human level and listen is pretty remarkable. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is nothing I can point to. We’ve had mistakes in development, but nothing has upset me in this process. I’m beyond satisfied.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest and bring the vision of what you want to build. Don’t try to limit it, and trust Orases. The team will take your feedback to develop the product. Orases isn't going to make arbitrary decisions on their own. Be open about what you want because Orases won't make you feel bad because you aren't familiar with software development projects, which can be intimidating for many people. Trust the team's ability to take your words and put them into real life. Don’t rush the discovery process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a couple of companies, including an ATM company and a company providing wireless internet connections.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We needed to create an online portal to manage data control. We had worked with another IT company and had this portal built about 12 years prior to meeting Orases. To create this portal, our former IT company used outdated technology and didn't update it because it wasn't even upgradable.

Due to these issues, our portal failed every month. It billed customers incorrectly and caused us monthly grief. Despite having a faulty product, the company we worked with appeared not to be looking towards upgrading the technology stack, so we decided to hire and consult with Orases.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Orases has helped develop a mobile-friendly web app to replace our legacy portal. Initially, we gave them a blueprint of what we needed, showed them the portal we had in place, and gave them access to the backend of that portal so that they could see what was going on.

Then, Orases came back to us and told us that we were using very old technology. Therefore, they wouldn't be able to take what we had and upgrade it. Instead, they proposed to start over with a new portal from scratch using new technology. Since then, my team has been collaborating with Orases.

What is the team composition?

We've been working directly with around four of Orases' developers, who work for us as our day-to-day developers. I also know Nick (CEO), who has been involved in a couple of calls. In fact, he and some of his employees came to our office for a meet and greet.

How did you come to work with Orases?

My team used search engines to find development companies. Then, they started calling to find the best partner. We consulted with Orases and a few other companies, but we ultimately chose Orases based on some other projects that they had worked on.

We also really liked how Orases handled themselves. Choosing them required a very long interview process because it was a lot of money for us. As a small company, spending $1 million on a project was very difficult for us. Still, Orases brought the right people to every call and presented themselves better than any of the other companies we interviewed.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $1 million–$1.5 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around April 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since my team started collaborating with Orases, they've been extremely happy — I hadn't seen them that happy in years. Orases' work has been flawless. We bill our customers on the 15th of each month, and every time that date arrives, I hold my breath. However, Orases always gives me a call and tells me that every bill went through successfully. Therefore, the main success metric for me is that our new portal does what it's supposed to do and sends the bills properly.

This product isn't something that will grow my company alone. My company grows from different things, but it can't work without this product. Thus, this product isn't aimed at company growth but at company management and billing.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Orases has performed above excellent. We have weekly meetings and constant calls, and most of our calls are through Microsoft Teams. Overall, Orases communication has been phenomenal throughout our engagement.

One time, we had a problem, so they stopped everything they were doing to fix it. I had never seen a problem getting fixed so fast. Moreover, the follow-up on it was phenomenal. Their team ensured that we knew what the problem was and made sure to put things in place so that it never happened again.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I would like to give a shout-out to Denise (Digital Product Manager).

What did you find most impressive about them?

Orases has taken this project almost as if it were their own, and they seem to think along the same lines we do. Whenever we have an idea and start talking about it internally, Orases usually presents that idea to us before we present it to them.

Moreover, they've taken every call and delivered more than what was expected. Whenever Orases promises something, it is more than what's expected. Still, they deliver even more than what's promised, which is a bonus — that's how they operate. Their team is clear, and they never fall short of expectations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything Orases could improve on.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

The best part of our collaboration with Orases is the engagement in our communication. You need to communicate with them because it's key. If one side breaks down in communication, the project can't move forward.

We have a very strong team dedicated to communication on our end, and Orases is extremely good at communicating as well. They've even told us that we're one of the best customers they've had due to our strong communication. Whenever a customer doesn't get back to them, it slows the project down. Therefore, if you're going to work with Orases, you need to lear communication skills because they're very good in that regard.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Fivestar. We're a sports platform located outside of Maryland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We needed support to develop our website. Our goal was to build our platform on time and under budget and to solve our leading problem, which we continue to do daily. We wanted to develop a product that allowed seamless transactions between creators and athletes. The creators market is growing, and there are thousands of sports creators worldwide, whether amateurs or professionals. For us, the pain point is how to sell or transition those assets from creators to athletes and their families. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After engaging with Orases, we had a discovery phase and a number of meetings to ensure the team understood what we were trying to accomplish and build. From there, Orases has built and launched our product in seven months. The team has delivered a platform that allows creators to sell their sideline shots, highlights, and photographs to the athletes they photograph. Orases has collaborated with our internal team on the platform's UI/UX design. 

After completing the app, Orases spent a couple of weeks ensuring there were no bugs before going live and starting our marketing efforts. Before this platform existed, creators used Dropbox, CashApp, or social media platforms for transactions. Orases has built a platform with features such as group upload so creators don't have to upload files one by one. Users can create a gallery, and buyers can preview assets before purchasing them. 

Before our platform existed, users would pay the creator the fee they asked and hope the photos' quality was good. On our platform, buyers can preview images and videos with a big logo of our company on top of it to ensure they don't screen-record it. Orases continues to provide maintenance and support. 

What is the team composition?

We work with around four teammates from Orases, depending on the work we have planned for each week.

How did you come to work with Orases?

My CPO found Orases. We had previously developed a product using a group overseas. For us, it was essential to bring the development of this product into the store, and we started researching service providers in Maryland. We interviewed and engaged in discussions with various companies, and Orases was the clear front-runner in building the product we were looking to bring to the market. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Orases built our website from April–November 2023, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've seen an increase in metrics since Orases launched our website. We've built this platform because we saw an opportunity to drive revenue, and we've been doing it since the first day it was launched, except for Christmas. We have 275 creators selling their work on our platform and 103,000 highlights posted for sale. Our user count continues to increase, and we're watching metrics increase largely due to Orases and their efforts.  

The team is everything we want a partner to be in terms of their involvement and knowledge base in every part of our product's development. From a functionality perspective, Orases offers a seamless transaction. Ultimately, my job is to discover how to make the transaction between creators and athletes seamless, and Orases has helped me achieve that. 

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Orases has delivered our work on time and under budget. The time Orases has spent building our platform is incredible. We interact primarily via Slack and communicate through email and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm impressed by Orases' ability to deliver the product on time and under budget and their ability to be a partner. During discovery, we found that the team was open to our ideas, helped us define the problem we were trying to solve, and built something that fit our vision. I can't say enough about Orases — they're genuinely incredible. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything Orases can improve off the top of my head. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I suggest being very communicative. This was my first time working with a company like Orases, and in retrospect, I wish we had involved the team at the beginning of our product's ideation process so they could be a part of that. I suggest getting Orases involved as early as possible so they can be more helpful than they were to us, which they've been extremely helpful. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Assistant General Manager of Heritage Training And Shooting Center

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Heritage Training Center is a premier training facility and shooting range located in Frederick, MD. My position is Director of Sales + Range Operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Orases to accomplish?

• The custom software company provided Heritage Training and Shooting Center with a tailored software solution that streamlined their booking system, enhanced customer management, and improved overall operational efficiency, ultimately enhancing the overall experience for their patrons.

SOLUTION

How did you find Orases?

Referral

Why did you select Orases over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Orases were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Assessment of current software systems and business processes
• Collaboration with Heritage staff to gather requirements and define project goals 
• Design and development of a customized software solution tailored to Heritage's specific needs, such as a booking system, customer management tools, and operational efficiency enhancements 
• Integration of the new software with existing systems, such as inventory management or financial software 
• Testing and quality assurance to ensure the software meets all functional and performance requirements 
• Training for Heritage staff on how to use the new software effectively 

Key deliverables may include a fully functional and user-friendly software solution, documentation of the software, features and functionality, ongoing support and maintenance services, and a successful implementation that improves Heritage Training and Shooting Center's operations and customer experience.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Some measurable outcomes include increased efficiency in booking processes, improved customer satisfaction, enhanced data accuracy, cost savings, increased employee productivity, enhanced scalability of the software solution, and improved reporting capabilities for better decision-making and tracking performance metrics.

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

Orases had excellent project management - including the timely delivery of key project milestones, proactive communication on progress updates, and a responsive approach to addressing our needs and feedback throughout the development process. Their team demonstrated a strong commitment to meeting our requirements and ensuring that the final software solution aligned with our business objectives.

What was your primary form of communication with Orases?

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

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

The excellent customer experience, their expertise in software development, and their ability to translate our business needs into technology solutions.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President, Operations of Wireless ATM Store Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We sell and support cellular devices as a micro-ISP with a heavy focus on providing connectivity for payment-processing equipment and similar business critical assets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Orases to accomplish?

• Build an interactive device management platform for our wireless customers and administrative staff to use for reporting, troubleshooting, billing, and organization.
• We also needed them to takeover, support and enhance our existing e-commerce website.

SOLUTION

How did you find Orases?

Clutch Site

Why did you select Orases over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Orases were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Build a custom software platform and database that would consist of over 80,000 cellular devices assigned to over 1,200 unique clients. There needed to be a high amount of flexibility for our administrative staff to modify devices, service plans, customer assignments, etc. There needed to be an extensive amount of API integration between the platform and the carriers' platforms (Verizon, AT&T) as well as the devices themselves. 

The scope also included the ability for the platform to aggregate usage for each device and subsequently create monthly invoices to be distributed to each client. The system also provides the ability for our administrative staff to easily submit ACH transactions to our bank for all of the monthly charges owed. Additionally, the system has a robust module for determining how and when devices receive configuration and firmware files in an automated fashion. 

The project also required an elaborate dashboard to be built that consolidates an extensive amount of data and provides attractive visualizations and metrics. Key deliverables for the project consisted of work being uploaded to a beta environment periodically for user acceptance testing, as well as a final "launch" of the portal in July 2023. We are still in an ongoing contract and are regularly testing and releasing new features to the portal since the launch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customer base. The responsiveness, speed, and efficiency of the platform has been much higher than expected, and lightyears better than the platform that our previous software vendor provided. The launch of the platform to the live environment was near seamless.

 We have maintained an amazing rapport with our team at Orases during the entire project, which helps facilitate a highly productive process as we continue to move forward with new work. As a byproduct of the the way the platform was built and the understanding of our scope, we have much more visibility into the inner-workings of the database, which ultimately has added productivity to our staff's daily responsibilities. 

We are able to utilize software tools provided by Orases to have full transparency of the flow of stories/items that are being worked on, in testing, ready to launch, or completed.

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

The project management at Orases far exceeds any project management we have experienced with any other vendors. The team is highly responsive, organized, works well together, and always transparent. It has made our participation in the project much easier to manage. They met deadlines most of the time, and when unable to, we were always given a fully transparent rationale for the need to extend when needed. 

I have never had any experience with Orases where I felt there was a lack of responsiveness at all. They've understood our needs from the very beginning and are always thinking of ways to find the best solution for all of our requests/requirements.

What was your primary form of communication with Orases?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We found that their existing portfolio/clientele was very impressive. During the project, their unique approach in terms of project management transparency and access to all team members on a recurring basis was extremely helpful to us and made the project efficient and productive, with little to no need for any rework due to scope misunderstanding. 

They also leverage great software products for project management. The amount of interest in our business model and "why" we were requesting certain features was also very unique and impressive and something we had not encountered at all with previous software vendors.

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

I cannot think of anything that would drastically stick out in terms of improvements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the CEO of an advertising & marketing company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We specialize in SEO, ads, content marketing, and WordPress development/hosting, elevating businesses through digital excellence.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Orases to accomplish?

• Overcome previous challenges with offshore developer outsourcing by providing a robust, on-time, and within-budget solution using PHP and React technologies.
• Develop and maintain a multi-tenant workflow management system and customer portal for comprehensive content management.
• Streamline the workflows for planning, writing, editing, QA, final review, and posting of blogs, service pages, social media content, newsletters, and more.
• Replace inefficient systems like Asana with a tailored solution to improve organizational efficiency and content management.

SOLUTION

How did you find Orases?

• Online Search
• Referral
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Orases over others?

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

How many teammates from Orases were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Orases was tasked with the creation of a sophisticated workflow management system utilizing PHP and React. This system was to replace our previous chaotic setup with Asana and other tools. They focused on developing a platform that supported our end-to-end content development processes, from planning and writing to QA, final review, and posting. Before this, our attempts to outsource development were unsuccessful. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The implementation of this system revolutionized how we manage content creation, significantly improving efficiency, reducing errors, and enhancing collaboration across teams. Overall, we can take on more work because of the system, we spend less time on QA and client meetings for feedback, and we are considering turning our system into a SaaS product.

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

It has been a game-changer in managing workflows and has directly contributed to our growth and ability to handle larger, more complex projects.

What was your primary form of communication with Orases?

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

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

Working with Orases was like getting a fresh perspective; their approach is methodical, thoughtful, and aligns with our objectives. We were really wowed by their ability to keep the initial development under 12 months. They completed the initial demo in 6 months, and the application was live in 8 months. The real heros were the PMs. They did a great job translating our requirements.

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

Orases's performance and delivery exceeded our expectations, leaving little room for improvement. Their team adapted well to challenges and always found solutions to meet our needs.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Sr. Director of IT & Operations of a non-profit company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is the unifying champion for quality youth mentoring in the United States. Our mission is to close the “mentoring gap” and ensure our nation's young people have the support they need through quality mentoring relationships to succeed at home, school, and ultimately, work

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Orases to accomplish?

• Develop Requirements for a new system
• Develop a new system and transition the organization to it
• Support Management for the new system

SOLUTION

How did you find Orases?

Referral

Why did you select Orases over others?

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

What was the size of Orases’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

We own and manage a country-wide mentoring volunteer system. After going through an unsuccessful rollout and partnership with a previous vendor, we sought to find a new partner who supports our vision and has experience rebuilding an entire system. Through an RFP process and recommendation, we found Orases and agreed to move forward with them. The project involved a complete redo of requirements, approval of Phase 1 requirements, the redevelopment of the system, testing, training, and launch plans.

Additionally, we agree on a support management contract to continue with further improvements and enhancements. We are currently in discussions to plan phase 2 of the volunteering system. They are also working on developing another system of ours that includes integrating it into the volunteering system.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• We launched the project on time and included all of the phase 1 requirements, plus some added items. We also observed a reduction in user support requests, which means the system was built easily and was user-friendly.

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

Their project management is impeccable. The PM and Team were easy to work with and made us feel heard. They valued our input and ensured we were comfortable with the designs before it was considered final. Most importantly, they managed to pivot and were flexible with last-minute changes. All hands were on deck. We certainly made the right decision to partner with them.

What was your primary form of communication with Orases?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their BA walked us through the requirements and design sessions phenomenally. They were patient and ensured we understood the details clearly. They quickly learned the system and process, making these sessions seamless and effective. We were very impressed!

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

There was a last-minute change of resources, which required a bit of delay in onboarding.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of Technology for an association of immigration attorneys.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

It was time for us to update our custom e-commerce store which was about 10 years old. The goal was to develop something within our custom AMS and not continue to have an outside product that connected.

We also had new products we wanted to sell that wasn't easily handled by the previous system. We also needed to be mobile friendly and give users a better experience with digital files.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Orases is our primary technology vendor. We are in a multi-year project plan with them to integrate all of our separate systems into one larger system. Key to continuing to work with them has been the work they have done on prior projects

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

The project went through a detailed discovery and then a development process. The platform is built in cakePHP. It integrates with our custom AMS and accounting system plus two external vendors for e-learning and a warehouse for physical products.

Key deliverables included a back-end product management system, a front-end store for users and an administrative checkout for our internal customer service teams

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

A project manager, a UX person for requirements gathering, a lead developer, 2 additional developers and a QA person.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Final deliverable was excellent and both staff and users were very pleased with the product. Ongoing support and adjustments have also been very smooth. Our staff is happy with the easier product creation interface and access to better sales data.

As part of this process we did learn that our own organization needs to work in a more waterfall environment and to complete all discovery before beginning development. Orases has been accomodating and future projects are following that structure

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

For this project we used Basecamp and Redmine as our project tools. During the discovery phase we met 2-3 times per week over Zoom and during development once every 2 weeks. Redmine tickets were used to track individual elements and their status.

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

The entire team at Orases is really easy to work with. They're also very prepared for meetings and take excellent documentation

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

Bringing new team members up to speed in our complex custom environment can be time consuming. But Orases seems to have developed a good plan for onboarding and we haven't had many issues.