APPSOFT

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We have a cloud-based ERP solution that provides software to large enterprises to automate and streamline their operation. My role in the company is the director of digital transformation and automation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with APPSOFT?

Our team needed to integrate Microsoft Outlook with our cloud-based ERP solution. More specifically, we needed a solution that handled every time there’s an important email with an attachment that a third-party business wishes to file into the ERP system. We needed to have something integrated into Outlook so businesses could push the email into our ERP system with a click of a button.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The project is quite straightforward. We gave APPSOFT the login information to our cloud system. They then used Visual Basic to build an executable file that’s effectively like a plugin for Outlook. We designed the plugin with all the interface buttons detailing how we wanted it to look and feel, including logic and workflow, and then we gave the designs to APPSOFT.

About a week or two later, we received the first version of the solution and it was just okay. We gave it back with our feedback and suggested improvements. APPSOFT improved the solution in the second version, and we tested it out with our clients. We took the client feedback, and the developers made the changes. There was a three-tier cycle to get to the first version of the working product.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked directly with a project manager as well as programmers, this has been valuable.

How did you come to work with APPSOFT?

I found APPSOFT online through an outsourcing company. We seemed to understand each other via our conversations and we connected. I gave them the job description, and we moved forward from there.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve invested about $6,000–$7,000 over the years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the summer of 2018, and the engagement is ongoing. The software development process is never complete, and they handled an upgrade about a month ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve had a positive impact on our company, and I’m quite happy with the quality of the work. APPSOFT has met my expectations. They provide good value for money.

Our users have saved time by using this Outlook plugin. Previously, if a client wanted to file an email with important attachments, they’d have to write the email, export the email, save the attachments in the folder and then go into our system and log on to find the order or contract they’re working on. They’d then have to click to browse and then save the document to the email. The whole multi-step process was reduced to a simple right-click push.

How did APPSOFT perform from a project management standpoint?

They have very effective project management skills and use Jira. APPSOFT always delivers on time and within budget; they’ve been very responsible. For any issues that have come up — even post-development because it occasionally occurs — we can always come back to them with any bugs, and they take care of it within a matter of days.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their pricing is reasonable, their team is reliable, and they go above and beyond what I ask for.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They do good work, and I wish for them to continue.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your homework for the project before finding a supplier to deliver. Be precise and clear about your requirements.