Ryland Technology

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We're a global supplier of automated distribution systems for uniforms in hotels and casinos. I am the Sales Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Ryland Technology?

We needed to replace a legacy inventory tracking system which used bar code labels as the unique identifier with one that worked with RFID chips. The application would be used by all of our customers and interfaces with our distribution equipment

What were your goals for this project?

We had employed our own developers in the past but found this arrangement to be vulnerable to staff turnover. We wanted an updated solution that would constantly grow as our customers' needs required. That meant having access to a team of developers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We initially approached Ryland because they were local to where our company was based at that time. Once we met them and got to understand their background we became very comfortable and asked them to quote on a brief we had written for the project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The project was based on the way that the legacy software was structured in terms of its screens and functions. However, we had no pre-set ideas about how this could best be deployed.

The application is always installed on our customer's server - not ours - and we needed a deployment solution that required the minimum investment from the client. After discussions, Ryland suggested a web application running on a SQL database. This architecture proved to be extremely adaptable and easy to install.

What was the team composition?

Rob Raine was and is the main developer who began the process and has continued it to the present day. For some parts of the project he has used other members of the Ryland team.

Occasionally Patrick has helped out with debugging when Rob has been absent. It has greatly helped to have had one person with oversight of the entire project from the beginning.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The legacy software was a necessary evil that was supplied with our automated solutions. However, the project software has now become the DNA of everything we do and on some occasions has been supplied as a standalone solution without automated equipment.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project was essentially task-based in that once the main framework was in place we added functionality in a modular fashion. This has enabled us to monitor delivery of each component and imposed discipline on the briefs we provided.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Although I drove the development of the project, the application is actually installed and supported by our technical team who are spread around the world. We have full confidence in Ryland to fix bugs or implement new developments, and that is extremely valuable to our business.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We have not found any issues that could not be addressed by a phone call or meeting.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an office manager at a real estate firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ryland Technology?

We needed help with financial modeling.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Ryland Technology worked on our financial modeling via Excel. They produced scripts that had the ability to be run behind the scenes and developed back-office running applications to help the data. Their team handled backend work behind Excel spreadsheets to help the formulas calculate differently.

Due to Microsoft limitations, we ran into an issue that made all of our old spreadsheets dysfunctional. This was caused by moving or changing file paths. All of this led to end-users struggling to update and pull data.

Ryland Technology took copies of the sheets and created a map that shows the full functionality of the model, where it's linked, and how it calculates data. From this, Jason was able to reformat the sheets, change the way the calculations work, and run macros to support the calculations. The whole aim was to get the spreadsheets working. Their team didn’t input anything major onto the spreadsheets, they just cleared and tidied them up so people could work on them.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Jason (Director, Ryland Technology).

How did you come to work with Ryland Technology?

A lot of companies use Excel for financial models, but it doesn’t work that well. There aren’t many specialists who can perform backend work on Microsoft products, especially Excel. Ryland Technology possessed the ability to do development work behind Excel spreadsheets — this is why I chose them. They were the only ones I found who could do this type of work.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2018, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ryland Technology has significantly improved financial data modelling for us. My managers have been very impressed with their standard of work because Excel spreadsheets run more smoothly and effectively.

Jason is very thorough. He conducts research and sends maps of how our data is laid out. He draws out and explains the maps so we can understand how the data is processed. What’s more, Jason explains how he plans to fix and make changes to the spreadsheets. Everything he has done is brilliant.

How did Ryland Technology perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been fantastic. Jason provides estimates of how long tasks will take and keeps us fully informed during execution.

What did you find most impressive about them?

No one else does what they can do. Ryland Technology works directly in Excel rather than needing to change things into an entirely different system. I’ve looked at every developer available, and they’re the only ones who can do this.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I’d have them improve on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ryland Technology’s services will be useful for other clients who operate on a post-Windows 2010 system where the limitations of Excel change and become more noticeable.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a health and safety consultancy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Ryland Technolgy?

We needed a software design for our products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided them with a draft outline of what we were looking for. Then, their team started building out the front page and overall look and feel. They handled wireframes and all sketches. Each time we needed a change, they sent it to us for review. In about two weeks, they had handled everything we needed.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two of their team members: a director and a developer.

How did you come to work with Ryland Technolgy?

They were a local company, so it was easy to get ahold of them. We found them while searching online.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $4,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the spring of 2019. It was completed in February 2020, but we plan on engaging them again in the future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work was excellent. They were quick to respond and provided a professional service. 

How did Ryland Technolgy perform from a project management standpoint?

They produced project milestones that allowed them to monitor where we were in the scope of the project. Their team exceeded all expectations. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their speed and willingness to speak with us in non-technical ways really helped us throughout the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything was good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend them for their service, speed, and communication.