MetaPro Systems Inc.

One Size Raely Fits All

MetaPro Systems and Bob Avallone are featured in the latest issue of Take Action the e-mail newsletter of the Society of Professional Consultants. To learn more about SPC visit their website www.spconsultants.org. Michael Katz of Blue Penguin Development wrote the article entitled One Size Rarely Fits All. Excerpts from the article are printed here.

Problem:

A company that specializes in providing services to the real estate industry discovered that a software product imbedded into its client solution was gradually becoming outdated. This growing incompatibility weakened the service offering, and threatened to undermine the effectiveness of the product.

Solution:

MetaPro Systems Inc., a Lexington, MA based software consulting firm that specializes in developing automated, custom solutions, was able to devise a cost effective repair, solving the client's problem in a single day.

Story:

Linda L King provides consulting services to the real estate industry from her office in Reading, Massachusetts, and has been doing so for a number of years. One of her services involves the automation of a complex set of required legal forms.

In recent months she discovered that newer computer configurations - specifically, those that interconnected with networks or via USB ports - were unable to print the forms properly.

Although relatively minor in the context of the overall package, the print capability was a necessary piece. Ms. King went back to the original software company for help, however they were no longer willing to support it. Her company was faced with either imposing a costly upgrade across its entire installed client base, or moving to a brand new solution.

Not liking either option, Ms. King decided to call colleagues with contacts in the software development field, looking for someone who could custom build a fix for the existing platform. She found her way to MetaPro Systems, and its president, Bob Avallone.

Result:

With just a single day of billable time, MetaPro put together a solution that worked seamlessly with the existing software, and that enabled one step printing across all configurations.

According to Bob, "This problem is not uncommon in software. Companies often abandon older platforms, forcing their clients to spend time and money just to retain the functionality that they've had all along. In Linda's case, we were able to bridge the gap with a relatively simple one time modification."

Lesson:

Getting the technology in your office to run smoothly is an essential piece of the puzzle in operating a profitable business. Fortunately, the "one size fits all" solution offered by many vendors need not be your last line of defense. Bringing in an expert consultant to retrofit what you've already got in place will often save you both time and money.