Using iRise, NPower is able to significantly reduce the time, cost and effort expended on software creation while also improving the user experience in response to the broad-based increase in demand for consumer-friendly software.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, NPower provides cutting-edge IT support and training to individuals and organizations who could not otherwise afford it. The national agency, operating in 45 U.S. states, provides its services through three different programs:
- The Community Corps, developed in partnership with JPMorgan Chase and Accenture, is an initiative to connect corporate IT volunteers with non-profits with IT needs.
- Technology Services Corps prepares underserved young adults to become IT professionals in the non-profit, public and business sectors. Many of these young adults go on to become business analysts and software developers.
- IT Professional Services helps non-profits operate, grow and transform their organizations through a range of professional services provided for discounted fees.
NPower is using iRise in a variety of capacities, from building application prototypes that better convey requirements to globally distributed software teams, to creating interactive, fully-functional simulations of upcoming applications for gathering feedback and design input from users.
iRise is a pioneer in the movement to improve efficiency in the software development process. The platform allows users to quickly assemble high-fidelity working simulations of proposed software solutions before actual coding. The simulations, virtually indistinguishable from the final product, let stakeholders "test drive" and fully experience applications early in the process, when making changes is both faster and less expensive. iRise prototypes also give developers an accurate visual blueprint of what to build.
"As a non-profit organization, NPower must maximize its human and financial resources wherever possible. With iRise, the productivity gain is undeniable," said John Nevin, Manager of Technology Operations for NPower's The Community Corps. "In the past, for example, communication with our offshore development support team has been an issue at times. With iRise visualizations we have a better way to convey requirements with our development partners. Iterations that used to take months can now be turned around accurately in a matter of a couple of weeks."
NPower has already used iRise visualization on several major projects involving both Web-based and mobile applications. "The way we see it, iRise allows us to practice what we preach," said Frank Pedersen, NPower Chief Marketing Officer. "Demonstrating applications with iRise creates a more efficient model for working. It has helped us establish common ground with our clients and results in better applications with user interfaces that people are comfortable with."
"NPower understands the sea change that is taking place in software development, to applications that look and feel like the best consumer software. This is a critical change in how software is developed and it cuts across all industries and sectors," said Emmet B. Keeffe III, CEO and co-founder of iRise. "This design imperative, along with the need for accelerated time-to-market and lower development cost, is the same whether the user is in the non-profit or for-profit worlds."
With thousands of projects completed successfully, iRise visualization has proven to be indispensable for enterprises in highly competitive markets, enabling them to take projects to market twice as fast, dramatically improving quality and customer experience, and eliminating up 50% of project cost. For more information about iRise products and services, go to www.irise.com.
About iRise
iRise is the world's leading provider of enterprise visualization software for business applications. Visualization has become a critical competitive advantage for businesses to more effectively communicate their needs to technology teams and give everyone involved the ability to interact with and fully experience applications before they are built. Companies of all sizes-such as General Motors, UPS, FedEx, Haworth, Manpower, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and hundreds of other-use iRise to "test drive" their applications before building, which accelerates time to market, improves customer experience, and drives cost down. Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., iRise is backed by Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, and Deutsche Bank, and has sales offices across North America and in London.
