Services Offered

Accelerators

SaaS Accelerator has developed accelerators for several leading ecommerce, SEO and social networking platforms that not only speed development but insure that the application is created in a way that takes advantage of the platforms capabilities and avoids any inherent weaknesses.

The Magento(tm) Accelerator

We are partnering closely with Magento to develop a core knowledge base, project management templates, key development shortcuts and overall best practices. We are using these to ensure that our project management and development teams are able to leverage the key features in Magento Enterprise to make your online business really soar.

Our partner methodology injects key Magento personnel into the solution development process for architectural reviews and code reviews that make sure your solution is developed to the highest standards possible for a Magento solution.

We combine our core Magento knowledge with our teams expertise in all other areas of ecommerce technology and services to be able to deliver our clients world class ecommerce solutions. Our teams understand online marketing, internationalization, demand generation, conversion optimization and advanced operations.

Business Strategy and Planning

Creating and operating a SaaS or On-Demand company is unlike any other business. Our experts have spent years learning the differences between planning and executing a traditional business and the 24/7 operation required of a SaaS platform. We understand how to build business models, business plans, financial models and investor presentations that are able to not only raise money but actually work in the real world.

Our practice has focused exclusively on helping our clients build brand new, on-demand business or transition their current business to an on-demand, saas model. We can help startups and early stage ventures understand their strengths and limitations and then help them craft a strategy to deliver an on-demand business in the least amount of time, cost and effort.

This transition starts with the assumption that running an on-demand, 24/7 business is unique. We work with our clients to understand the markets, build a plan and execute on that plan successfully.

We partner with several leading think-tanks, most notably the Vecker Group, to make sure that the strategy created is one that can be implemented and tracked as the business moves through the natural lifecycle of its business.

Solution Development and Development Oversight

SaaS Accelerator provides two distinct services in this area:

Solution Development

We have teams of business analysts, project managers and developers that deliver Enterprise level ecommerce projects. While our focus is on on-demand platforms, we understand that every solution we deliver is a mash-up of on-premise and on-demand systems that must be brought together to create a solution that can grow as your business grows on the web.

We have a unique methodology that assures success at this extremely complex task. We not only recommend but we take the time to understand the platforms we use to create your solution. Every platform we have encountered has its unique strengths and weaknesses and our experts take the time to understand these before we incorporate them into your solution.

Solution Development Oversight

Many of our clients have entered into arrangements with software vendors and other development organizations that are not going as planned. Given the complexity of a modern ecommerce solution, this happens more often then we would like. Sometimes it is due to poor understanding of the real requirements, sometimes it is due to a lack of communication but most often it is due to a lack of delivery capabilities across the broad spectrum of technologies that must be employed to create a robust solution.

If your project is in this category, we can help. SaaS Accelerator can use our experience to help turn around your project and make sure you get a solution that meets your real needs. We can work with your internal team and your external integrators to identify the key shortfalls in the project and most importantly, rapidly fix the issues. Our experience is that often by identifying and fixing a few key issues, most projects can get quickly back on track.

While everyone has the best of intentions, software companies are often not focused on solution delivery and integrators in today's world most often rotate personnel in and out of projects so rapidly that they don't have either the product understanding or the domain expertise to deliver as expected. Our job is to fill in those gaps where we can and make sure the project is a success.

In the very worst case scenarios, our experts can assist in the evaluation of a project to determine where serious errors occurred and work with our clients to minimize the damage and maximize any potential cost recovery that is available.

QA and Testing Services

QA and Testing, especially in a mash-up, requires a distinct methodology that we have developed over several years. We utilize offshore testing resources with on-shore management to develop use-case based test plans that allow us to regression test entire solutions when new features are put into production.

QA in a complex SaaS or on-premise environment, is essential to the smooth operation of a business, especially when there is revenue on the line. We work with our customers to "right-size" the QA and testing process to minimize the intrusiveness while maximizing the level of solution coverage in each test.

Finally, we work with our customers to develop quality standards in every area of the business. If it is an end-user deliverable, it represents your company and needs to be on-message, well written and support a business need. We work with your organization to become a true "learning" organization so that Quality becomes the standard, not the exception.

Operations

SaaS Accelerator has professionals that can provide assistance in all aspects of the operation of your site. We can help in marketing, merchandising, security controls and reviews, order fulfillment and customer service. We can help you build a team that provides 24/7 coverage in network operations, customer support and any other area that requires trained personnel to interact with your systems, partners and clients.

PCI Compliance and SAS 70 Compliance Services

Over the years, we have developed an expertise in helping companies acheive PCI or SAS 70 certification. We have worked with both merchants and service providers to help them prepare for their audits as well as to help manage the auditors through the process. While many auditing firms say they provide similar services, most don't have the in depth technical knowledge to creatively develop methods or compensating controls to help your company achieve this in the least possible time and expense.

We can analyze your current standards, methodologies and protocols and provide your company the least costly and disruptive way to reach compliance.