Killer Tool
I have demo’d Feature Plan before, and been very impressed.
My major feeling is that Ryma (the company that builds the app) has a crystal clear understanding of what they want to accomplish. My demo was done via phone — I believe I had trial software, but am not 100% sure. I went back to their site as I thought about writing this post to see if I could find a trial or something so I could include screenshots, but alas, it was either not availalble or I failed to locate it.
There is something I’m saying, I think. Take my example — I’m evaluating how other products out there stack up to my homegrown spreadsheet / doc tools. Now, were I able to find a downloadable demo on the Ryma site, I’d have a much clearer view. Instead, if I want to check out the product, I can either get a candy-like 5 minute Flash-based demo (which is fine), or contact a Sales person, which not so fun. The last thing I want to do is answer questions such as, “why are you interested?” and “what did you like and not like?” and all that stuff. Blech.
I just want to check the product out again, see if it’s changed at all since I saw it over a year and a half ago. I’d reckon to think that others feel the same way, but can’t be 100% sure. If anyone from Ryma reads this blog, is that a metric involved in determining the success of the cross-channel sales strategy?
I have nothing against Ryma — they are a fanstastic group. I’ve met their VP of Marketing at a TPMA event and even had some contact with one of their product managers; these guys are on the ball, no question.
One thing I do remember from the demo was how stuffed the user interface was when I first saw it — option and function happy a litlle. Maybe it’s not in their target definition to go after smaller orgs, but I’d look at it much more carefully if there was a stripped-down, low-cost version that I could grow into my companies day-to-day product management and program management activities.
Anyone out there that’s gone through a similar reality check on what they are using for an ongoing product management tool? If so, any interesting findings?
June 27th, 2006 at 5:25 am
Adam, we certainly could achieve your goal of using a slim-down version of FeaturePlan. In fact, I recently implemented one of our customers who are using only 20% of the functionality and they were VERY happy after we reduced the clutter (one person’s clutter is another’s treasure
) for them. We also have a low-cost version that you could use and grow into. Small companies are, for sure, in our strategy. Small companies can become big companies real fast. In fact, one of our customers has more than doubled their PM organization in the past 6 months. Check out our customer list, there are big companies and small companies.
Here are a couple press releases to help you quickly see some of the changes. Or you can contact me, and I will do a private demo for you. Me and you, no Sales.
http://www.featureplan.com/ryma/press-releases/pr16.htm
http://www.featureplan.com/ryma/press-releases/pr17.htm
Anyway, check out our blog and our website.
Thanks
Stewart
July 12th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
I just wanted to follow-up here and thank Stewart for giving me a solid demo, and access to a 45-day trial. I’m making some headway in showing this around the company, and I truly feel it will help us in the short- and long-term should we decide it’s the right time to implement right now.
Thanks again guys. You acted quickly and FeaturePlan kicks major ass. You surely have a fan for life.