Queryon

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network working with more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. My position is Officer for Data and Knowledge team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Queryon?

Before hiring Queryon the organization had a bad experience with the IT consultant that we were working. We had to distributed databases and we needed to build a unified system.

SOLUTION

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

We shortlisted 3 companies and decided for Queryon because we really liked the time and efforts they had put in their presentation. The team were excited for the project and were really open to hear our feedback and make changes accordingly.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

The scope of work was separated in two phases. First, the task was to develop a Quick Win dashboard for the staff based on the data that we already had. They checked the data quality and worked closely with us to build the dashboard. The second phase of the project consists in building a data warehouse . We will start to work starting from January 2023.

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

We worked with a team of 4 members. We had a person of contact that was a data engineer, but had scheduled calls every week with the team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Starting to use the dashboard has made our work easier. The PowerBi platform is easy to use and to manage. It also helped us to get rid off the VPN solution that we had in the past.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They had a great communication system. We scheduled weekly call and they were very punctual. The communication was through Teams and email.

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

The team we worked with was great. It made the process run smoothly. The expertise and backgrounds were their biggest asset.

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

There is nothing actually. Just the time differences since we operate in Europe and their team in USA, but not really a problem that we couldn't solve.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for the city of Bethel, which is a municipal government in Alaska. I work as an IT director so I facilitate administering the network computers, making sure that all buildings stay connected to each other and that all employees get what they need. I also manage servers and other IT-related matters.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Queryon?

We’re a very unique city in Alaska because half of our town has water and sewer piped into their houses. As the city has grown over the past century, we now deliver water to houses through large water trucks. However, trucks break down sometimes and houses get flooded if the pipelines aren’t set up correctly.

We also have a lot of challenges communicating with our customers because more often than not, we receive calls asking if the delivery truck has already been to their house yard. As a result, we’re looking at ways we could track the trucks and send alerts to our customers. In addition, we’re looking to go digital so that our utility foreman will be able to create and assign routes to different truck drivers. The benefit of that is if a driver suddenly gets sick and has to go home, the utility foreman can assign that person’s route and spread it among the remaining drivers available.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were thinking that we could give tablets to our truck drivers to go around with, in order to further digitize our operations and help us communicate with the public. We wanted our drivers to hit a button as soon as they successfully drop off the water to a house which would trigger a text to our customer saying their water was delivered. We also wanted a similar thing to happen if the water wasn’t successfully delivered to a particular house.

As a result, the Queryon team helped us get tablets that were suited to what we were looking for in terms of size, capability, and battery life. They also built our Android app from scratch because we couldn’t find an off-the-shelf option for what we were looking for. Moreover, they guided and directed us as to what types of hardware and technical support we needed to make our software work, so we ended up setting up a web server. In the end, we bought a bunch of tablets with protective casings, and Queryon integrated the software on all those devices.

The only thing we supplied to them was the background information and technology they needed to use. Since we had very slow internet in our place and we could only have 3G cellular service, the team had to consider that during the development phase. Queryon is now spearheading our testing processes.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with Queryon’s two software engineers and project manager. We also briefly worked with their owner who helped us get started with the project.

How did you come to work with Queryon?

We were in a very rural area in Alaska so it was hard for us to implement any kind of technology. Due to that, we put out an invitation to bid for companies who would be able to develop our software. Queryon was one of the two companies that answered the invitation to bid, and since their bid was the cheapest, we chose them. Moreover, they understood our limitations, and they were confident they could give us a solution that would work for us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in November 2020, and we continue to work together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Queryon has been very wonderful; they have excellent communication skills, and they help us every step of the way. If they’re able to achieve the three milestones we require from them, we’ll consider our project a success.

For the first one, we want to track our water and sewer trucks, and we want our foreman to log into the portal and see where each truck is at — if they’re 30%–50% through with their route. The second metric is if we’re able to successfully send alerts to our customers regarding their delivery status. The last metric we’ll consider is if we will be able to 100% operate digitally. 

How did Queryon perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager has been on top of everything. Queryon is very transparent; we’ve never been to a point where we don’t know what they’re up to because we have weekly meetings set up and on those meetings, key members of the project from the city and employees from their side are always present. We use Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and email to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very confident, friendly, and easy to work with. I’d be very willing to work with them in the future if we have future software development projects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Maybe they could’ve another trip here in our town to see how their software works during the testing period. They did make one trip out here at the start of the engagement to see the operation in person, which was crucial so that they could give us something tailored to our needs.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You’d be able to get a fair price and competent workers in your project. I also didn't have any complaints about the knowledge level of their engineers. Whoever works with them in the future would probably get exactly what they want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing technology at a global commercial real estate company. I look after our entire digital product stack, including the website. Much of my work has to do with analytics, however.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Queryon?

We have a great set of digital touchpoints across the globe. Using these touchpoints, our company wants to know more about our customers and prospects so that we can provide them with better products and experiences. 

This process is called “unleashing the data”, and it has always been a challenge for us because data is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Given that, our engagement with Queryon focuses on making data consumable for everyone who needs it in their job. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Queryon’s main deliverable is an analytics dashboard built on Microsoft Power BI. Beyond the static dashboard, they’ve also coded some portions of the platform using .NET and other Microsoft-centric programming languages. 

Currently, we’re finalizing the project, but it’s only the first phase of what our company wants to do. As a result, we have internal discussions around extending our partnership with Queryon. If that happens, their scope of work will include the many projects our company will do moving forward. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with a total of five people from their team, including Kathy (Director of Business Development), who serves as our account manager and the overall team leader. We also work with a project manager, a data engineer, a frontend engineer, and a training video producer. 

How did you come to work with Queryon?

I went to the Microsoft Certified Partner (MCP) website and filtered through companies that had Power BI capabilities. The site showed me a list of around 12 companies, and I checked them one by one. I selected a handful and called each of them, including Queryon. 

After our interview, Queryon truly wanted to understand what we needed. They also wanted to deliver something that was creative and impactful. On top of that, I liked their approach; they listened to our needs so that they could build something based on them. In the end, I decided that they were the right team to engage for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and the engagement is technically ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our team’s main goal is adoption. Given that, we measure success by checking whether our marketing and brokerage teams are using the product. At least 50% of our user base should be using the dashboard — this percentage indicates that the product is valuable for them — and we’re already on the path of reaching 75%. In other words, we’ve already surpassed our adoption goal. 

Apart from that, we’ve received verbatim feedback around user satisfaction related to the dashboard and its capabilities. Our company has 74 offices across the globe, and the vast majority of them have given interesting statements about the product. One of them has even described it as a game-changer. 

How did Queryon perform from a project management standpoint?

Queryon’s project management is great. They don’t only accomplish tasks; they also over-deliver multiple times. Meanwhile, we don’t use any project management tools. Rather, we use more structured notes and follow them closely. We put tasks in our SharePoint and Teams files. Then, our teams follow up on these tasks in our recurring meetings and phone calls. We also use other Microsoft 360 tools when sharing documents, status updates, and goals in our Zoom meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Queryon is creative and provides technically sound solutions. Specifically, they’ve uncovered flaws in our data and cleaned them up. This indicates that they’re highly proactive. In the end, the product has been great, which is what we want to be the foundation of everything we do.

Moreover, the level of attention that Queryon provides is outstanding. Their team also does their due diligence. They dig deep and inspect everything about the product to ensure that it’s long-lasting.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve fallen a little flat on the training aspect of the project. Our teams have been in the process of helping other teams learn how to use the product. For that, we’ve tried doing a set of training videos. Based on this experience, we’ve noticed that Queryon’s training competency can still improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Provide comprehensive details around your goals. Even though Queryon is great at reading through what you like, it’s always better if you provide exactly what you need. When you’re working with them on a contract basis, make sure to list your needs in the order of priority. That way, they can address your needs from the most crucial task to the least important one relative to your timeline. 

Speaking of timeline, timekeeping is also critical. The team is going to go deeply into solving your problem because they want to build impeccable solutions. Given that, you need to keep an eye on the clock to some degree. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of finance at a healthcare company. We have offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Matanuska, Kenai, the North Slope area, and Aluetian. We provide personal care assistance to the disabled and elderly across the state.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Queryon?

In 2017, our executive director at the time decided that we needed additional IT assistance, as we didn’t have our own IT department. We also needed to improve several of our internal processes, especially in the area of manually processing, recording, and gathering information.

We considered upgrading or implementing automation to help with record-keeping and information gathering.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Queryon is helping to implement automation for our electronic health records (EHR) system. We wanted to improve our IT system and internal process instead of using manual timesheets, which can be easily altered.

We are in the final process of implementing the automation. When our new executive director took a look at the software, he decided that it was too complicated and that we needed to start from scratch. Queryon restarted their analysis, even though everybody had agreed on the first one. It seems like every time we get a new executive director, everything shifts around a bit. We are still working on completing the implementation of the federal requirement because the deadline has been moved to January 1, 2021.

We are also working on creating new accounting, donor management, and HR software, which is in the final stages of development.

What is the team composition?

I’d say we work with 1–2 employees. They assigned Nicholas (Consultant), and we also have a high-level manager overseeing the project.

How did you come to work with Queryon?

I wasn’t involved in the initial selection. Our advocacy directory had a relative or friend who works at Queryon, and they advised our former executive director. Instead of doing another proposal request or general solicitation, they decided to go with well-regarded, word-of-mouth advice.

To add, Queryon is also in a contract with Raspuntin’s Foundation, a high-level and well-known foundation that does a lot of charitable work across the state.

What is the status of this engagement?

We officially started working with Queryon in October 2017, and we are still working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Queryon’s main person on the ground, Nicholas, has been very helpful. He also volunteered to handle the major conversion, assimilation, and transferring of data to the software company for implementation.

This has been a blessing to our staff, as they are drastically overwhelmed with the training and learning of the new software. Nicholas’ work has helped our staff maintain their current job functions. He has been a major asset to the implementation.

How did Queryon perform from a project management standpoint?

Nicolas would usually be on-site for meetings and updates regarding the process, efforts, and activities in getting us to the end goal of the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?e

Other companies came to us and expressed their interest in working with us, but we ended up not going with them because Queryan has been handy, available, and helpful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of so far. There have been no complaints from any staff members about something that Queryon has not been able to do.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep regular communication with them since you don’t see them every day. I contact them via email or phone. I would also tell them that Nicolas knows his stuff.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of IT at Rasmuson Foundation. Through grantmaking and initiatives, Rasmuson Foundation aims to promote a better life for all Alaskans.

I am responsible for managing the Foundation’s IT infrastructure and business processes, directing the planning and implementation of enterprise IT initiatives and systems, and overseeing technology partners and contracts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Queryon?

Rasmuson Foundation has relied on Queryon as a trusted and core partner since its founding in 2015; Queryon CEO and key staff members have also supported the Foundation in other capacities for nearly two decades.

In addition to ongoing software and web development, they provide business and process analysis, project management, training, operational support, and IT consulting to help advance the Foundation’s mission.

What were your goals for this project?

Queryon was originally contracted to replace the Foundation's grants management system and take over the troubled implementation of a new website that had run over budget and behind schedule with a previous vendor.

Without internal IT staff at the time, the Foundation relied on Queryon's guidance and expertise to successfully complete these projects which are still in use.

SOLUTION

How did you select Queryon?

Queryon was selected based on experience working with Queryon CEO and key staff since 2001 when they were hired to develop the Foundation's initial IT infrastructure.

Due to the success of this longstanding partnership, the Foundation trusted Queryon's ability to meet our software and web development needs.

Describe the project in detail.

Queryon was responsible for walking us through the entire process of evaluating our current grants management system and website to implementing a solution that met our needs, including ongoing support and development.

Without internal IT staff at the time, Queryon was critical in the success of these implementations and staff filled many roles.

What was the team composition?

We work with a project manager, business analyst, and 1-3 developers depending on the scope of work and resource needs at any given time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

All of our grant applications are now accepted electronically in the grants management system that Queryon implemented and the website they finished implementing is still in use.

While we originally had a vision in mind, we have been able to accomplish much more with Queryon's support.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Queryon's electronic system for tracking projects helps streamline work and regular meetings help ensure communication and projects stay on track. As a customer-focused company, Queryon is proactive in their communication and have always been quick to respond to any needs or issues that arise.

They also provide monthly status reports to help us track progress and challenges.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The depth of their expertise and knowledge of best practices combined with stellar customer service, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to our success has consistently produced exceptional results and allowed us to maintain a very successful partnership.

Are there any areas for improvement?

With weekly project meetings, we are able to discuss any potential areas for improvement in real-time and this has resulted in clearer expectations and a more productive partnership.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

President

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Queryon?

Power BI Modifications

SOLUTION

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

Search, recommendations and multiple interviews

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We needed a refresh of Power BI since it was built internally and the data models were not performing well.

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

2 - a technical resource and a client service person

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project ran smoothly. They were extremely responsive. Any delays were on our end and they were very understanding of our work demands.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective.

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

Combination of skill set and communications

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

No. They were a great combination of technical expertise and service to help translate to non-technical resources.