HamilTEK Solutions

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am recently retired from my position as an administrator/quality assurance lead for a research laboratory within a non-profit university. Our laboratory performs clinical and pre-clinical research in the field of medical mycology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

The project involves creating an updated database to replace the laboratory's custom Microsoft Access database that was no longer going to be supported by the university. The new database will be housed on a dedicated SQL server.

SOLUTION

How did you select HamilTEK Solutions and what were the deciding factors?

HamilTEK Solutions was subcontracted by DeVore Technologies, the company who first designed the original database.

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

The project included:

1. Working with the university IT department to assure that requirements for the SQL server were met,
2. Re-creating all tables from the original database and assuring all were linked properly,
3. Resigning new queries to enable recovery of data,
4. Importing all historic data from the original database and ensuring that no data was lost, and
5. Working with an independent company of system validators to ensure that the database is compliant with the Federal Code.

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

We only worked with Zach Hamilton, the owner of HamilteK Solutions, and with Craig Koteles from DeVore Technologies.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

HamilTEK Solutions delivered a complete, accurate, fast system of data storage and processing. The system has not yet been fully validated by the independent consultant, but has passed all parallel testing performed by the laboratory.

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

I primarily worked remotely with Zach through email and zoom because of the pandemic. He was always very responsive to my questions and handled all issues in a timely manner. Zach also made several on-site visits to work with me and handled the final in-person training of the staff.

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

Zach is very committed to making his business grow and is willing to work long hours to satisfy his customers.

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

The only difficulty we had working together was the fact that the individual details of the laboratory data were not at all familiar to Zach. Once he understood the different pieces and how they had to fit together, the end product was very efficient.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own an interior design company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HamilTEK Solutions?

I needed an invoicing solution that would help me differentiate items that are and are not taxable. We needed a better way to keep track of everything I was providing to clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created an app that helps me organize and keep track of my invoicing materials. Prior to hiring them, I was having trouble monitoring invoices for services that were and weren’t taxable. They developed a system through the app that organizes those files intuitively. Now, whenever I’m inputting an item for a client, the app presents suggestions based on selections I’ve made in the past. That makes it very easy to build an invoice.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Zach (Owner). 

How did you come to work with HamilTEK Solutions?

Zach and I joined a business network at around the same time and began speaking about our companies. There, we were able to identify what each of our businesses needed from each other. When speaking about my issue with invoicing, Zach said that he could solve my problem through the development of an application. We hired him because it sounded like he would be able to come up with something that meets our needs. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $500–$600 on the app. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When I print a document using the app, I’m impressed with the professional look the layout and design give my business. Invoicing via Word or Excel was complicated, and now it’s as simple as designating whether the invoice is for a service or product and populating the items. I’ve gone from spending two hours on a complicated interior decorating invoice to spending a quarter of that or less.  

How did HamilTEK Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

He detailed what the process would look like by conducting a discovery phase with me. I appreciated his ability to identify my needs at the start of the project. Because of the thorough discovery phase at the beginning, we didn’t need to interact too closely during the development process. He contacted me a few times with clarifying questions but worked pretty independently. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

He’s down to earth and very knowledgeable about the industry. I like dealing with partners who are as humble as Zach. His personal qualities made it very easy to talk and work with. I feel very comfortable working with him. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open with your frustration with your current situation and what you’d like to see from the solution. Zach is eager to listen and come up with solutions that work just for you. He’ll customize to your needs, so don’t hold pertinent information back.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Global LED Solutions. My company converts buildings over to LED lighting and we are able to serve customers with no upfront cost. We conduct a free savings analysis for the customer. I have a contract worker that was doing all the analyses for us and then put a proposal together, and I have someone to put together to the invoice.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HamilTEK Solutions?

We then figured out what the rebate is from the power company which is with the same person who puts the invoice together. I then have to go through and approve every invoice, and then it goes back to the original guy who put the analysis together and who puts the proposal together.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took our analysis process from six people touching one file, down to two people. Zach (Owner) figured out the code for the savings analyses, figured out how we can make sure the customer can do this with no upfront cost, pretty much meaning if our monthly cost for the project is less than what we are saving them per month. Once I approve the invoice, everything is all put together instantly whereas before it would take several days.

What is the team composition?

I work with Zach.

How did you come to work with HamilTEK Solutions?

They were referred to me. I had heard of them here and there and their name would pop up. I was at a business meeting with other business owners, and although Zach was not present, he was referred by someone at that meeting.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent between $10,000 and $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in October 2018, and the work is ongoing. We will do projects on and off.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I like talking about Zach as he is probably the best I have ever had that I have hired because of how much he has helped me. Just in a year, with all those people that don’t have to touch this paperwork anymore, we are up by $100,000.

Our sales have gone way up and time seals deals, so when we initially would count on a building to start the bidding process, it would take us a week or two to get back in front of a customer, and now we are down to 24 hours only because I don’t want the customer thinking we threw something together really quick. We went from a week or two to one day which has increased our sales.

In taking two weeks, the customer can be hesitant to hire us because if that took two weeks, in their mind they are wondering how long the work is going to take us.

How did HamilTEK Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

It is perfect. Anytime we have set up a meeting, he is always there. He had to reschedule one time, but he let me know a couple of days ahead of time. When I call his cellphone, if he doesn’t answer and I leave a message, he gets back to me the same day. He is very prompt.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The main thing I like about HamilTEK is that they are never trying to oversell me. If I have an idea, they will let me know a different route to go that will save me more money instead of doing exactly what I said. Their customer service and support are flawless. Zach is on it immediately. He doesn’t complain or bill me for little minor things, and the software development is just perfect; it is mind-blowing. He is never late, he is always on time, and does what he says he will do.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When things go wrong and it isn’t on his side, he just goes in and shows us how to do it. He might come into the office to show us and he could bill us for that, but he doesn’t. I am only saying that because that is the only spot I could see for him as a business owner where he could make a little more.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When software is being developed, there is a lot, not just on HamilTEK’s side, but also on the customer’s side that needs to be done. My advice would be to not drag your feet with that. They are always ready to go to the next step, but during the process, depending on what the plan is, the customer or business owner has to approve the first process and look at everything they have done, and then Zach is ready to move right on.

Show him everything. Initially, I had a plan of what I wanted to have done, but instead of just showing him the plan, I decided to show him the whole process of how we work. That way he has a full understanding of how to do it instead of being like a robot and just fixing the one thing that I thought. By doing that, he has offered many suggestions, and the development has stayed on the same price as quoted but there is so much more to it than I initially thought I wanted.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an LED Lighting company who facilitates an energy efficiency program to local and non-local businesses across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas.

With offices located in Boardman, OH, Meadville, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Jacksonville, FL and Tampa, FL. My position with the company is handling all customer related warranty requests as well as Administrative Assistant.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired HamilTEK Solutions to build out an application for our energy consultants to use to conduct our energy savings analysis'.

In the past, we were having to use an outdated excel sheet version of the savings calculator and having to input all the information manually onto homemade proposals, invoices, etc.

We knew there had to be a better and smarter way to combine the process and add more accuracy with our calculations. That is when we found HamilTEK Solutions.

SOLUTION

How did you select HamilTEK Solutions and what were the deciding factors?

Myself personally, do not know how we came to choose this company, that was entirely up to the owner. He found him, himself.

But for me, I believe the deciding factors were simply his natural abilities to create great products. I worked with Zach from the very beginning of this project and I was completely blown away how fast and efficient his work was. Not to mention his work ethic alone.

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

I am unsure of what technology was used. Again, that was all reviewed with the owner of the company.

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

Just Zach and he was so great to work side by side with!

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the project is still ongoing, I can say it was and still is amazing working with Zach. He takes care of our every need in a timely manor and addresses any issues we are having immediately. The outcome of this project has exceeded our expectations and has improved productivity within our sales team overall.

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

Like I mentioned above, it has been perfect working with Zach.

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

The fact that the experience felt personalized. Which it basically was.

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

Not at this time.