What was the scope of their involvement?
Our software was not documented. We had a spreadsheet, a design, or a workflow diagram here and there. Cygnet has taken our old Legacy product and have been working through the entire coded program creating business rules with the screenshots updating the user interface to make it perform better and look more modern. They’re documenting the entire program. It’s been 13 years without any comprehensive systematic documentation.
At first we wondered if we should just rewrite it and start all over, but we have a hospital chain that hasn’t asked for changes so we focused on updating the versioning of the Java, PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, browsers, etc.
Sentinel has also modified our existing concept to deliver a new software product for skilled nursing facilities to centralize the invoice workflow automation and procurement to payment of vendors. This will help to remove paper from all AP/AR processes to save money. Medical rental billing is a niche market. It’s very complex and has to be secure.
As Cygnet got involved in the Chrome project they noticed some things that we could improve in security, performance and the look and feel of the UI. As they got more involved as a consultant they offered marketing assistance which I didn’t know they did. They find resources rather quickly.
Currently, I work with Himanshu, AK, Dhaval, and Vandana for the most part. They have more on their team, but if they need more or less, they make sure to get the job done. Cygnet’s comprehensive 61 page HIPAA analysis/audit was $6,000 compared to another bid of $17,000.
Without their review, we wouldn’t have known where we could improve our systems. Just to verify their assessment, we brought in outside IT experts who own their own software companies, and they agreed with Cygnet on what our priorities should be.
They’ve been very instrumental in systematizing our code. If you can’t document, you can’t make improvements because you’re just going by memory. You’re forgetting why a feature was created 13 years ago or find it is no longer applicable. What I’ve seen with most developers is that they like creating code but don’t like documenting the business rules or commenting on the code they write. Cygnet has made sure we have a living document of our software for years to come.
What is the team dynamic?
They have a core team. AK is the first person who got us on point and is the business strategist. Himanshu handles the coordination of their team. He is a business manager. It was a challenge when our existing developer was unable to meet the existing workload. Cygnet has been very patient. They understand what we’re going through because they’ve ran into it many times.
Vandana has been great at documenting the Legacy code. We’ve also worked with Bhavesh and Sabir. We’ve had a team of five that has been working through these projects and helping us find what we need. It’s hard to build trust when you’ve been burned so many times in the past, but they’ve earned my trust. I don’t think people understand the importance of the documentation and knowing where you are and where you can go in the future. Cygnet has been stellar in pointing out things that needed to be done.
There’s a weekly or biweekly meeting where they show the work they’ve completed. I speak with Himanshu three times a week. He’s on top of things. I’m surprised at that level of customer service given my past experience. Cygnet puts the customer first. They have sufficient developers to accommodate their customers. I feel confident that we’ve got some good experience on the team. They have level three developers or above, and the process is what makes someone with that level of experience even better.
How did you come to work with Cygnet Infotech?
We had to have the latest online compatibility. Originally we were working in IE and that’s going away. We called Cygnet originally to convert to Chrome and we were given a great price.
Our other product utilizes nopCommerce. I saw their affiliation as a gold member. They’re ISO certified which is a big deal. I’m a big fan of processes because they deliver outcomes.
How much have you invested with Cygnet Infotech?
We’ve spent $35,200 over the last year. We’re looking at a project that will be $150,000 if we launch a new platform. We found that their support and their work effort can complement an in-house systems analyst. We’re very impressed with their flexibility. They have the resources to work in four different languages and platforms. It’s a challenge to find one person with that experience. We can’t financially justify hiring four different people at $120,000 per resource per year. Cygnet really delivers.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in July 2016, and the work is ongoing.
While the work is ongoing, the internal team is satisfied with the process so far. Cygnet Infotech establishes a smooth workflow, ensuring effective communication and collaboration. The team is professional, hard-working, and knowledgeable.