Arc-One
Upstart 13 Empowers ARC-One to Rescue Lagging Project and Recapture Lost Opportunities
Upstart 13 partnered with the multinational consulting firm Seidor to salvage ARC-One’s flagship project, a software modernization project focused on overhauling their blood establishment computer software (BECS) platform.
At Upstart 13, we are passionate about building software people love, which is an ethos that shined through during our collaboration with ARC-One and Seidor.
The Story
ARC-One Solutions is a partnership between the American Red Cross (ARC) and OneBlood. As the two largest blood centers in the United States, these entities have a wealth of resources and expertise in software design and blood-related service solutions.
The partnership was formed with a key purpose in mind: developing a next-generation Blood Establishment Computer Software (BECS) platform. The BECS solution was intended to fulfill over 50% of the blood supply needs in the U.S.
The Business Challenge
Despite their size and abundance of resources, ARC-One was struggling to meet its deadlines for the BECS modernization effort.
Prior to partnering with Upstart 13, the two organizations were unable to consolidate their talents and teams in a productive manner, which caused the project to fall nearly one year behind schedule. Moreover, the work streams were siloed and wasteful, and the teams were monolithic.
To say that the project was in dire straits would be an understatement. From a financial perspective, ARC-One had sunk vast financial resources into the BECS platform, but it was still months away from delivering a market-viable product.
Our Solution
Upstart 13 and Seidor identified a series of changes that would allow ARC-One to tap into its expansive resources and get the project back on schedule. We introduced agile business practices designed to promote less waste and expedite development cycles. Our professionals also reshaped team structures and plugged the right people into the ideal roles based on their unique talents.
Perhaps most importantly, we created units of work that were specific, measurable, and manageable. These changes promoted exceptional transparency and removed the silos that had previously undermined the productivity of ARC-One’s team.
Ultimately, ARC-One stabilized the project, which resulted in demonstrable product deliverables that met the FDA’s strict standards for a 510(k)-cleared medical device.
Why Arc-One Chose Upstart13
Upstart 13 has a proven track record of taking on lofty projects and orchestrating complex teams in a way that maximizes resource allocation while simultaneously promoting efficiency. ARC-One identified Upstart 13 as the ideal partner to salvage the promising BECS project and provide a fresh perspective.
Together with Seidor, Upstart 13 empowered ARC-One to scale its talent while simultaneously providing them with a clear mission. Adding transparency and clarity to the project development workflow allowed Upstart13 to deliver on Phase 1 of the project.
Moreover, we were able to retain much of the Phase 1 team, which will support overall project success and an improved return on investment.
About Upstart 13
Upstart 13 provides a dynamic suite of services, including analytics consulting, technology integrations, app development, and business intelligence. Our team focuses on personalized solutions that solve the unique challenges that clients like ARC-One face.
