Challenge
The challenges posed by recent economic volatility have motivated customers to seek new, cost-effective ways to run their business. As they explore new options, application providers are looking for innovative ways to adapt their offerings to meet this change and maintain a competitive advantage.
A Progress Application Partner for over 20 years, Vermont Systems, Inc., (VSI) specializes in developing software products for managing recreation and parks operations for municipal, county, state and federal military governmental entities, as well as private businesses with similar needs. For 25 years, Vermont Systems, Inc., (VSI) has maintained its market leadership by continuously evolving the application underlying its RecTrac suite of products to meet changing industry needs.
To maintain its competitive edge within this niche market and to continue providing customers with the best solution to fit their requirements, VSI recently initiated a three-phased strategy focused on transforming its client-based product into a SaaS solution.
“We have seen a shift in the industry, with more customers looking to adopt a Web-based solution,” explains Giles Willey, President of VSI. “Many customers within the industry have multiple sites, with the recreation department based at city hall plus ancillary sites like five pools, thirteen parks, etc.—some of which are only open a few months a year. For them, investing in big infrastructure costs isn’t practical. Also, as IT groups have been downsized, some of the smaller departments can no longer afford an on-premise solution. Consequently, we have found ourselves disadvantaged at times, missing opportunities with smaller organizations. Unlike some of competitors, we see significant potential in also serving the smaller markets.”
VSI engaged Progress Professional Services as both a mentor and collaborator as it embarked on its transformation project 18 months ago. “We never considered any option other than Progress,” says Willey. “Why reinvest in something else when we are perfectly satisfied with what we have? The cost is affordable for our customers; Progress continues to provide reliable, low maintenance and robust technology; and we’ve never had any significant issues. That is an amazing track record for a 23-year relationship.”