Journey to Escape Online 5
- By Barry Collins
- Published 03/5/2008
Readers of this blog know that we are now having quite a bit of success with implementations of Escape Online 5 at both new and existing customers. And it’s no overnight success. We began in 1999, with research into development of a browser based application, but the platform proved to be inadequate for our product.
We regrouped in 2002, beginning development of Online 5, a true Windows application. Before we knew it, we had invested five years and several million dollars in development of all Escape modules! But when we showed Online 5 to customers and prospects, they confirmed that we were achieving our goal - the "ultimate school business system."
In 2006 we began converting existing customers and ramping up our sales effort. The response was overwhelming! Everyone who saw the software wanted it, and wanted it now. Between existing and new customers, our implementation resources were quickly overwhelmed. Our customer care team had been well trained, since they led the test effort for the new product, but it wasn’t long before the demand for implementation and support exceeded our capacity. And the line of customers to be implemented was getting longer – something had to give!
With the addition of a Chief Operating Officer, increased support staff, and better use of project management principles, we have been able to increase productivity and develop a workable implementation schedule. Additionally, these changes have given me the opportunity to do something I value - visit customers to see how they are doing, share what Escape is up to, and facilitate improving our product and services. I am now scheduling visits to all Classic and Online5 customers, starting with those that converted from Classic to Online 5 in 2007. Over the next several months, I hope to visit every customer.
Keep checking my blog as I detail my travels, sharing my observations and experiences on site.
Thanks in advance to all of our customers for your hospitality and continued support of Escape.
We regrouped in 2002, beginning development of Online 5, a true Windows application. Before we knew it, we had invested five years and several million dollars in development of all Escape modules! But when we showed Online 5 to customers and prospects, they confirmed that we were achieving our goal - the "ultimate school business system."
In 2006 we began converting existing customers and ramping up our sales effort. The response was overwhelming! Everyone who saw the software wanted it, and wanted it now. Between existing and new customers, our implementation resources were quickly overwhelmed. Our customer care team had been well trained, since they led the test effort for the new product, but it wasn’t long before the demand for implementation and support exceeded our capacity. And the line of customers to be implemented was getting longer – something had to give!
With the addition of a Chief Operating Officer, increased support staff, and better use of project management principles, we have been able to increase productivity and develop a workable implementation schedule. Additionally, these changes have given me the opportunity to do something I value - visit customers to see how they are doing, share what Escape is up to, and facilitate improving our product and services. I am now scheduling visits to all Classic and Online5 customers, starting with those that converted from Classic to Online 5 in 2007. Over the next several months, I hope to visit every customer.
Keep checking my blog as I detail my travels, sharing my observations and experiences on site.
Thanks in advance to all of our customers for your hospitality and continued support of Escape.