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Preferred Energy

Preferred Energy (PES) — Software as a Service Conversion (SaaS)

"My fears and concerns (with offshoring) where alleviated by having a local contact who was not just relaying information back and forth but who seemed to understand that he needed to have a firm grasp of my goals before assigning the work overseas." Rick Kohl — CEO Preferred Energy.

The initial objective of Softjourn's work with this client was to build a web-based tool for use by internal consultants to aid in providing their services to their clients as well as enable Preferred Energy to sell their service to another target level directly via the website. Previously PES consultants worked with several databases and spreadsheets in order to provide their services to clients. The new application includes functionality for: client registration, multiple subscription levels, subscription expiration reminders, data entry process for entering rate plans and bills, data verification, and a 'Question and Answer Wizard' which enables the subscribers to determine the best energy rate plan for them.

Softjourn started with the definition of the new service to be offered which began with working sessions with the CEO. Requirements were defined, outlined the look and feel of the application by providing several designs for the client to choose from, developed a prototype and then provided the final solution. Between the US and Ukraine, up to five persons worked on this project at any one time (management, product management, designers, developers and testers). According to Kohl, "Every attempt has been made to provide an excellent product. Issues where addressed promptly and through the entire process I felt that I had a partner not a contractor."

The application will allow PES to provide better service to its clients by having all analysis, account history and follow-up items in one place. PES consultants can quickly respond to client and utility requests for information and make updates as they go. Client historical usage becomes readily available. In the near future, clients will have access to their account information 24/7, allowing them to generate usage and cost reporting, do their own utility follow up, and do cost accounting for various departments.

For the long term Softjourn will provide IT support for the application as well as definition and development of future versions of the service.

Technologies used:

  • PHP
  • MySQL
  • Linux