Orases

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Realty Connection. We’re an online recruiting and retention CRM platform focused on the residential real estate industry. We help managing brokers grow their businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

Our online CRM is fairly complex because it ties into various MLS data sites across the country through a vendor relationship with Terradatum. The software has evolved significantly since we first rolled it out. I wanted someone to step in and do a full audit, improving the security if features were lacking, making recommendations to increase the speed, and thinking about future versions of the software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided them access to the server, which was Rackspace. They went in and looked at the code, the security features, and the version control that was in place. They then reviewed some of the efficiencies or lack thereof around how the data tables worked. They came back with an extensive report detailing these findings.

From that report, we outlined a strategic plan to tackle some of the more critical items, on which they worked with our team in India to fix. Together, those teams put in place some version control to patch up some security issues.

We also migrated from Rackspace onto Amazon Web Services (AWS). They were instrumental in sizing the server we needed and recommended splitting up some of the pieces onto two different services; one with the data and one to handle the programming engine. They also outlined a plan for our future evolution, as time and resources would permit.

What is the team composition?

We had a main point of contact and she would bring in individuals as needed. We had discussions with at least four individuals through her. I don’t know how many more people worked in the background.

How did you come to work with Orases?

I searched on Clutch and interviewed 3–4 firms that I felt were suitable for what we wanted. We don’t have anyone in our U.S. office that is well-versed in programming, as our programming team is in India. Orases stepped in on the U.S. side to oversee what work had been done and managed some of the critical recommendations.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March–September 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work is outstanding. They’ve given us an understanding of our software that we hadn’t got from talking with our programmers in India.

They were able to lay out some immediate fixes, which we addressed, while also focusing on some long-term projects for different versions of the software. When we’re ready, we may bring them back to assist with other versions of our product.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered everything that we wanted from a project management standpoint. We don’t have the in-house expertize for that, but they were able to take the ‘programming speak’ of our Indian team and transcribe it into things that I could understand as a non-programmer. They were able to take what we wanted and our concerns, and map them out into a process that programmers can use. They speak in a language that programmers understand.

We used Basecamp and had weekly meetings. We also had discovery sessions where our main point of contact would bring her team in to learn what we were trying to accomplish and how various pages feed into each other.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They called it as it was. They didn’t overpromise and underdeliver like a lot of software companies do.

They would give feedback if something we wanted was a little complicated, then offer ideas to simplify the process, make it more efficient, and make it run faster. I found that they got involved with the creative process, rather than just handing the developers a whiteboard and running off.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only downfall is that they’re a U.S. company so I have to pay U.S. hourly rates. There’s the argument you get what you pay for in that regard. I’d like to use them going forward, but I need to get our resources to that level. They provide services I wanted, but not at a price I could pay for at the time, beyond project management.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing and advertising for Augusta Cooperative Farm Bureau, Inc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

While my current company hasn’t done anything with them formally, we’re in the process of finalizing some projects for them to take on. That being said, most of my experience with Orases took place while I was working with a different company. We were building custom websites for clients but lacked the internal resources necessary to deliver polished products. Leveraging the complexities of the project made us realize the need to hire an outside web development firm like Orases.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Orases is custom web company that can do anything and everything. I’ve worked with them on multiple projects, but they primarily built intricate websites for a variety of our clients. All of the sites required e-commerce functionality and creative design. This effort included developing extranets for clients so their staff members can access backend data. Orases reliably delivered on all fronts.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with 10-12 members of their staff. This includes developers, designers, and project managers.

How did you come to work with Orases?

We heard about them because of the educational outreach presentations they hold within their community. However, they were referred to us directly by a mutual colleague.

How much have you invested with them?

Cumulatively, we’ve spent roughly $800,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first started working with them in April 2014 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their approach to teamwork, collaboration, and communication is impeccable. Orases does a great job of managing project scope and producing an accurate representation of each Client’s vision. They hear what clients want and can deliver in a lot of different ways.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re probably the best company I’ve ever worked with in terms of project management. In web development, project management is everything. If you don't have an excellent project manager, then you don’t have much of anything. The senior leadership at Orases are great at hiring wonderful people and that’s one of the main reasons we continue to work with them. They engage with us in any way we need them too. This includes webinars, FaceTime, phone calls, and in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Keeping up with the trends and transitions of e-commerce and web development is a never-ending task. However, Orases manages to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies. Their knowledge and talent set them apart from other firms. Furthermore, we appreciate that they’re a large enough company to handle substantial projects, but also connected enough to foster a team-oriented environment.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Call and meet up with them to discuss your project. They’re certainly willing to listen and fulfill your needs if possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for the National Football League but specifically for the NFL Foundation. I am the philanthropy coordinator for the foundation, so I manage our charitable grant programs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We were in the process of overhauling our grant management system. We needed something easy and that could manage our whole workflow from the application to review to integrating with our payment system. It needed to be seamless from the frontend user applying for the grant through the review process and the payment.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided them with some brand and culture guidelines and gave them enough creative freedom to do what they think was best for the user. They built the website to have an email and password login and then allow users to have access to all available grants for their user group. The backend is our main hub to coordinate all of the grants, players, clubs, and applicants.

With as much volume as we have, there is always an application being reviewed or processed. We have so much data that wasn’t easy to sift through, but they were key in delivering us what we needed right now and also helping create a new system so that information could easily be prepared in reports and disseminated.

We also had them build an external website for a separate grant program that was linked to our foundation website through the backend.

What is the team composition?

Overall, we worked with a half dozen people. Two of those were regular contacts, and one was daily.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested more than $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in 2012 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All grant recipients are asked to complete a feedback survey, which includes an ease-of-use question, and we usually get positive feedback. Our team has also been so impressed with Orases that we recommended their services for another internal website.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

We have meetings three times a week, and we’ve been using Basecamp for other communication needs. They have been good at executing what we give them, which can oftentimes be limited in terms of creative direction or what we want. We don’t make it easy on them, but they’ve always been helpful and responsive. We couldn’t do our business without them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall responsiveness has been refreshing. Their willingness to be nimble and work quickly around issues has been extremely helpful. We’re slim on our team here, so they have been valuable additions to our staff.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our communication was disorganized at times, but then we made the transition to Basecamp and solved all those problems.

Any advice for potential customers?

We have been slow to adopt certain technologies, so we found it best to trust their expertise and their understanding of the services they provide.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a small business that focuses on safety and regulatory compliance, with a specific focus on the forest products industry. I’m the Vice President and COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We wanted to add value for our customers and asked Orases to help us create something simple and easy to accomplish this. We wanted to create a mobile app, with a web platform, that would allow our customers—generally small mom and pop shops—to record safety-related issues that could easily be sent to our web dashboard. This would improve safety and organization while streamlining the process for compliance issues.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This is our first effort with development and Orases really took the lead with us. This probably was not the most technically difficult project they’ve ever had; however, we’re bringing specific industry information that they probably don’t have a lot of experience with, and yet they’ve made successful efforts to learn about the field. We began by sharing our thoughts and goals, and they listened to what we wanted and gave feedback to help steer the direction of development. Then we moved on to the discovery phase, where they shared wireframes and collaborated with us thoroughly.

Orases developed the iOS, Android, and web platforms with an emphasis on UX for our specific clients. They created a dashboard component, that I can access on a desktop, where all the mobile application information flows to. The application itself helps customers do daily vehicle inspections and provides a method for drivers to make notes, provide photos, and list any defects, all of which are then funneled to the dashboard. All in all, this helps all of us identify possible safety issues and what might need attention.

What is the team composition?

We have a main point of contact and, when we share a weekly call with them, usually also speak with a developer. There are about three to five other developers working in the background.

How did you come to work with Orases?

I actually first found them from Clutch. I read their reviews and did my own investigating into their work and then spoke directly with the owner, Nick Damoulakis. That conversation pretty much sold me to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $100,000 in total thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began development in October, 2017, and are still working together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we’re still in the middle of the development process, we’ve been pleased with the way things have gone. We have slowly made our customers aware of what is coming and have gotten some positive feedback.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re superb at sticking to deadlines and to budget. We use Basecamp and email to communicate, and the communication is fantastic and dynamic. They have their own process and stick to that while keeping us updated about their calendars, timelines, and budgets. They are also adept at providing pertinent information. They have been very engaged and very involved while communicating with us throughout the process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Nick has put together a great team, many of whom we’ve enjoyed talking with. They’re focused and driven, but not to the point of being pushy or forcing a situation. They genuinely want us to be happy with the end product and want to deliver our vision.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would tell someone to do your homework beforehand. Bring as much information to the table as you can concerning how you visualize the end product. Make sure that information is appropriate and helpful for fully discovering what you want to do and what direction they need to take.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of a full-service advertising agency with a focus in the food industry. Our key core competencies include sales promotion for retail as well as brand strategy, creative materials, and digital execution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We’ve partnered with them for over 12 years, now, and they serve as our primary partner for intensive technical development. So far, we’ve completed around 50 projects together, involving custom software, custom coding, and HTML.

Recently, we won a bid for a complex, large-scale project. The client needed a custom software with numerous plug-ins that allowed their site to interface with Salesforce and transfer data. We’re currently engaging Orases to develop the software while we handle the visual design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, the client provided us with technical documentation, which Orases used to build the software and integrated it with Salesforce. Because the client had a lot of SKU codes in the marketplace, they needed a way to transfer large amounts of data to work with their category manager buyers. To solve this, Orases implemented multiple API plug-ins, which allowed Salesforce to grab the market data in real time.

Beyond that, the software could also capture and transfer data about food safety/quality issues to the client’s teams in the field. Furthermore, it featured finance functionalities, which were relatively complex to implement. They’ve recently finished the bulk of the development and have transitioned into more of a support role. They tackle any spin-off projects and additional work as they arise.

What is the team composition?

While I’m not sure how many developers they’ve assigned in the background, there are 2–3 dedicated points of contact.

How did you come to work with Orases?

A friend of mine had worked with them before and referred them to us. We’ve been working with them ever since.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work for this project began in September 2016 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client has been extremely happy with the software and overall process. She praised Orases for their transparency and customer service as well as their quality work and commitment to deadlines.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Building on the client’s feedback, I appreciate their high-level project management. They have processes in place that keep them on track in terms of deadlines, milestones, and deliverables. As for communication, they have a weekly call to keep everyone up to date.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The fact that we’ve worked together for over 12 years, which is nearly as long as I’ve had this agency, speaks for itself. I’ve never felt the need to find another vendor. They do exemplary work and have everything I could ever want in a partner.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Compared to other companies, Orases conducts a thorough discovery phase, which is essential in this type of work. As such, the client needs to understand the complexity of the project beforehand and identify the expected deliverables and time lines. Don’t underestimate the importance of the discovery phase.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the operations manager for an orthotic and prosthetic practice. We work in Maryland, Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We were trying to create an easy to use inventory system. We needed something that could be used for stocking products—both for the offices, and custom products for patients. If something was going out, we would be able to receive the inventory, and thus see how many items were in stock at that particular time.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They handled design as well as development. After many discussions about our ideas, Orases provided us with wireframes. The product is a combination of a web platform and a software solution. After implementation, the project manager and developer were on-site taking notes and making adjustments as needed.

What is the team composition?

We had a dedicated project manager, and we worked with a team of three to four people, which included developers.

How did you come to work with Orases

The owner of our company had worked with the owner of Orases previously.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $350,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2015 and it launched in May 2016. Now, we have an ongoing collaboration making tweaks to the product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The software is very easy to use, and it makes life easier for everyone. The system sends us purchase orders in a clean and organized way.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They had fantastic performance on this end. We communicated over phone and email, and because we’re close in proximity, we’ve also gone to each other’s offices to work together. We had weekly meetings in order to discuss what exactly we wanted, and to make sure everyone was on the same page in terms of what was being created for us. The project manager and a developer were usually present for our weekly call.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everyone we’ve worked with has been extremely personable. They’re very easy to work with, and they definitely listen. They take the time to make the changes we want and really understand what we’re looking for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

It’s important for clients to explain what they want from the start. If things change down the line, Orases will be more than willing to work with us to make the best software possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m co-owner of Irwin Stone, a stone product supplier in Rockville and Frederick, Maryland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

In the beginning, I needed help with our overall technology (e.g., servers, email).

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They set up a virtual private network (VPN) between our Rockville and Frederick offices. They also set up our email, which they still host, and our original website. The site was primarily informational to create awareness. Over the years, we redeveloped the site multiple times and eventually used a different company. The other company had a great reputation but it turned out to be a big disaster. They were using a platform that wasn't widely supported, which caused lots of problems. It was storing a lot of needless records and getting bogged down. We ended up going back to Orases. They had to dismantle the code and rewrite it in something more widely supported. That was about five years ago, and we’ve kept the site with them ever since.

What is the team composition?

Our main contact is Nick (President, Orases). At the peak, we had five people working on our account.

How did you come to work with Orases?

They came highly recommended from a graphic design group in Frederick.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the years, we’ve spent around $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first started working together in 2001 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did a great job. I’ve only gotten positive feedback, both internally and externally. I was eternally grateful for their effort to get the website up and running again. In terms of email, no news is good news. Their hosting service has been pretty much invisible, so that's good news.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Orases is very responsive, and I always have a lead person assigned to our account. I’ve been to their office multiple times but we mostly speak by email or phone. Communication is the key for me in dealing with any vendor. They keep me informed on where they are in the process, if they're hitting their deadlines, and what they need from me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everybody from Orases is a quality person, not just a good technician. They all communicate well. The company seems to be well-managed and well-organized. I've never gotten the sense that they're all over the place or out of control. Most technology firms are very good from a technology perspective, but they're typically not very good at running a business. I don't see that with Orases. They’re always organized and responsive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I can think of.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don't have any advice, but I would absolutely recommend them to anybody that needs their services.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work in finance for a national governing body.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We were looking to improve member value by offering our own software free of charge to members.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Orases helped us outline the project through a discovery phase. Then, they developed a web and mobile app, including UX design.

What is the team composition?

We work with four people, including a project manager and a UX specialist. Their CEO and CFO have been apart of conversations as well.

How did you come to work with Orases?

Our CFO had been introduced to Orases by word of mouth. We had a phone call with them to outline what the project might look like and went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $500,000 on phase one of the project. We haven't confirmed the details of phase two yet.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off the project with them in May 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Orases has been amazing from the start. They've been flexible with our budget limitations as a nonprofit and we've been happy with the progress of the project thus far. Mockups of user websites look fantastic.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a great working relationship with them. They've put in the time to understand our industry and needs, so we can have efficient and intelligent conversations with their team. They really did their homework.

Their workflows have also been spot on. We use Basecamp and stay in touch through phone, GoToMeeting, and email. They're great at taking notes and mapping out agendas and next steps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Having their CEO so involved has been very impressive. He jumps onto our bi-weekly calls with the team and stays informed on the whole process, so he can step in when he feels he needs to.

They don't miss a beat. They share information well internally, so we never have to spend time bringing someone up to speed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They've done everything that I've needed them to in order to satisfy our requirements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust the processes they outline, because they really know what they're doing when it comes to project management, workflows, and schedules. However, they're also flexible and can adapt should the need arise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Atlas Home Energy is a home services company focusing on energy improvements. I’m a co-owner, co-founder, and manager of the business.
We do a lot of data collection in the field, as part of energy audits on homes. After the assessments, we put together energy reports, detailing all the areas where a customer can improve their house. We also provide them estimated energy savings and a quote for those improvements, based on which customers can decide to move forward with the work. Finally, we send out crews to implement those improvements.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We collect a tremendous amount of data for energy audits, contracts, and work orders. The challenge was transferring all that data to each document type. We used to create each one using separate programs, which led to data loss. We were looking for ways to make the whole process more efficient.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re implementing a digital data-collection system in the form of a mobile app. We started by undergoing a two-or-three-month discovery process. We met with one of their program developers, who established the functionalities of the solution. It needed to collect data from the field, work offline, take pictures, and so on. We created mockups as we went through the process, based on the functionalities we described.

They designed and developed the Progressive Web App (PWA), along with the backend system where all the data is synced. It is then used to generate all the documents we create. The app is setup to work on Android devices; it works to some extent on iOS, though certain features aren’t supported. It will work properly when the operating system expands its PWA compatibility.

What is the team composition?

The majority of the work was done by four of their people. We mainly worked with the project manager and the program developer. When we needed to discuss more complicate functionalities, we also had meetings with the developers themselves.

How did you come to work with Orases?

They developed our customer-facing website a couple of years ago. We initially met them through one of our employees, who had gone to school with someone on their team. When we ran into the current challenge and I asked them about it hoping to get a referral. They told me they could do the work and were happy to take on the project.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work has been just below $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February or March 2017. The beta version was finished a month ago and the app is currently being launched. We anticipate having an ongoing relationship with them to develop additional functionalities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone at our office is excited by the app and surprised by how fast it operates. It offers a number of additional features, beyond the current processes. The app has a clean interface and it works effectively. We do have some bugs to work through, but the app is doing what we were hoping it would, which is all we could ask for.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

Their general approach to setting expectations and planning the process was very smooth. I wasn’t sure about how to tackle a project of this scale, but they had a lot of experience with similar tasks. It was clear from the beginning that they had the whole scope in mind.

I was initially under the impression that we would start development right after the first meeting, but they recommended we go through a discovery process. In hindsight, it was very effective for outlining and organizing all the features we needed. We were able to determine what we wanted and what would have been too expensive.

They were good at seeing the big picture and making sure we wouldn’t exceed our budget. They were also good at scheduling general meetings and keeping us updated. We’ve met weekly over the past year and, as we got closer to the delivery date, we increased that to almost every day.

Their project manager was extremely accessible—we could get hold of her whenever we needed to. They were transparent in terms of resource allocation, completion dates, and any possible issues. We felt that they were a partner rather than a contractor. We had a good working relationship overall, in terms of communication and determining what needs to be done.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the best things about them is their passion for what they do—from the program developer to the project manager, and the actual developers. We could tell that they pride themselves on making the workplace more efficient. They were genuinely excited about the different features and functionalities we discussed, and how those were going to help us. This made the whole process enjoyable. We never felt that we were working with a contractor that only focused on the numbers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When we ran into problems, I sometimes felt that I wasn’t getting the full picture. It could take a couple of days of them working internally until I got an update. However, it wasn’t ever anything crucial.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

SVP of the Retail Banking Group at the Frederick County Bank.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Orases?

We wanted to redesign our 5-year-old website, which was stagnant, not user-friendly, and unappealing. It did not show our brand’s personality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked with our team and the external marketing firm that we use. They were responsible for overall functionality, but specifically built the backend while the marketing firm designed the frontend. Integrated bank services into the new website included: investor relations software, financial calculators, and online loan application software. The team also made sure our website compliant with ADA and WCAG.

The team used 24Watch, their software, to complete the redesign. The site launched November 20, 2017.

What is the team composition?

I met with the project manager and lead designer on a regular basis. In between meetings, I coordinated with the project manager. There were 8-10 team members behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Orases?

We considered them 6 years ago for a similar project but chose an alternative company due to the cost differential. Then, we reconsidered them for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began May 2017 and ended November 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The positive feedback that we’ve received reflects our personality and brand image. Practically, the site is more user-friendly and simpler communication lines have generated more points of contact with clients. However, the site is too new to say how these results affect our bottom line.

How did Orases perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed beautifully and were particularly impressive under pressure. Our project manager had to step aside 10 days prior to the launch due to a medical emergency. Although I panicked at the timing, the team was well-organized for the transition. Her replacement hit the ground running, communicated well, staying on deadline and budget.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were great partners for us and the marketing team. All three are locally-owned businesses in the community, which we considered integral to the collaboration.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. This was my first web project and the team was very patient with all questions and requests.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Stay open-minded and go for it. Clear communication and business objectives are key.