December 10, 2012

Pittsburgh, PA—When they introduced a segment featuring Kayak Pittsburgh and B-Three Solutions, the hosts of TechVibe Radio focused on the way that the two Pittsburgh firms had worked together on a project that would benefit thousands of local residents.

Kayak Pittsburgh is a project of Venture Outdoors (www.ventureoutdoors.org), a non-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to promoting outdoor activities.  This year its three kayak-rental sites (North Shore, Millvale, and North Park) logged more than 20,000 customers.

Discussing the background of the project, Erik Lingren, Executive Director of Venture Outdoors, explained that Kayak Pittsburgh had needed a system that would link the check-in/check-out kiosks at the three rental sites to the database at the firm’s office.  Rentals had previously been logged manually.

Kayak Pittsburgh approached B-Three Solutions in March 2012, describing what they needed, and emphasizing that the project would have to be completed rapidly, because the target date was Memorial Day weekend, when the rental sites were scheduled to re-open.

B-Three submitted a detailed proposal, illustrating with screen mock-ups how the new system would guide the customer through the rental process.  The proposal included a diagram of the system architecture, a project plan and timeline, and a fixed price for completing the project.

Lingren told the TechVibe hosts that the fixed-fee approach was one critical factor in the decision to accept B-Three’s proposal.  Chuck Summerville, B-Three’s Director of Sales & Marketing, called attention to a second critical factor:  B-Three guarantees its work.  Summerville explained that every fixed-fee contract signed by B-Three includes a one-year warranty on the software developed.

The new system was developed, tested, and installed in time to help Kayak Pittsburgh to its most successful rental season to date.

TechVibe Radio is hosted by Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council (www.pghtech.org).  They interview local entrepreneurs, business leaders, and stakeholders behind the Pittsburgh region’s technology industry.  The program airs on 104.7 FM News Talk every Saturday at noon.

Broadcast segments are archived for online listening (http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=677225&cmd=apop).  TechVibe Radio podcasts can also be found on iTunes.  Just search “TechVibe Radio” under the Podcast section.