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Hayes Software, an Austin, TX based company with nearly 30 years of experience, has been a leader in the education market. Their core offering – real-time asset tracking for schools and districts – has revolutionized how educators manage everything from projectors to computers.
- Industry: Software + Education
- Services: App assessment, UI/UX design, app rebuild, QA, testing, release
- Platform: XAMARIN
The Background
Born from a passion for supporting educators and streamlining school operations, Hayes Software Systems was founded by a visionary who recognized the impact efficient asset management could have on student learning.
However, after years of success, their Windows mobile solution faced obsolescence as platforms stopped offering support.
To stay ahead of the curve and confidently navigate the future, Hayes Software approached ISHIR with a critical challenge: building native iOS and Android apps for their asset tracking solution
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Hayes Software faced a development challenge. They needed a modern and flexible mobile solution for their core product, requiring an iOS and Android app built from scratch. However, their lack of in-house mobile development expertise meant any native app solution would necessitate reliance on external contractors for ongoing maintenance, creating potential complications. ISHIR was tasked with assessing the existing app, then strategizing the most efficient way to rebuild or develop a new solution that addressed Hayes Software’s needs while minimizing their dependence on external resources.
THE VALUE WE DELIVERED
Hayes Software approached ISHIR with a specific vision for their mobile application. However, our team’s deep expertise uncovered a more efficient path – a Xamarin app leveraging their existing .NET expertise. This solution delivered several key benefits:
- Cost Savings: By salvaging functional aspects of the existing solution and leveraging Xamarin, we delivered a future-proof app at a 30-40% cost reduction compared to a complete native rebuild.
- Increased Efficiency: Xamarin’s .NET foundation allowed Hayes Software to utilize their existing Microsoft developers for maintenance and future updates, eliminating the need for external resources.
- Empowerment and Future-proofing: The chosen approach provided Hayes Software with greater control over their app’s evolution, allowing them to make changes and updates independently.to significantly improve usability and drive user adoption post-reinstatement.
WHAT LIES AHEAD?
ISHIR’s collaboration with Hayes Software wasn’t just about delivering a mobile app; it was about empowering them for the future. By leveraging Xamarin and their existing .NET expertise, Hayes Software has gained a solution with several advantages for the long term:
- Reduced Ongoing Costs: The reliance on in-house developers for maintenance and updates minimizes dependence on external resources, leading to potential cost savings over the app’s lifecycle.
- Scalability and Future Development: Xamarin’s compatibility with various platforms allows Hayes Software to easily expand their app’s reach to new operating systems in the future, if needed.
- Internal Development Expertise: The chosen approach fosters a deeper understanding of the app’s architecture within Hayes Software’s team. This empowers them to make informed decisions about future development and customizations.