Project Background
Industry: Construction Technology, SaaS
Services Provided: Product Management, Executive Advisory, Team Development
Impact: Enabling the transition from a $30K/user/year legacy system to a custom-built SaaS solution
Client Overview
Accurise is a construction project management company relying on a legacy scheduling solution that costs $30,000 per user per year. Frustrated with high costs and inflexible features, the company’s owners sought to develop their own SaaS-based scheduling platform to transition their users to a modern, scalable, and cost-effective solution.
Challenge
Accurise faced several challenges in moving away from their existing enterprise software:
• High User Costs – $30K per user annually was unsustainable for scaling.
• Rigid & Outdated Features – The legacy system lacked flexibility and modern integrations.
• Team & Development Gaps – The company lacked an in-house product and engineering team to build a new solution.
• Transition & Adoption Risks – Users were accustomed to the existing tool, and migrating them required careful planning.
Challenge
Sunrise Scheduling faced several challenges in moving away from their existing enterprise software:
• Rigid & Outdated Features – The legacy system lacked flexibility and modern integrations.
• High User Costs – $30K per user annually was unsustainable for scaling.
• Team & Development Gaps – The company lacked an in-house product and engineering team to build a new solution.
• Transition & Adoption Risks – Users were accustomed to the existing tool, and migrating them required careful planning.
Approach & Solutions
As the Product Manager and Strategic Advisor, my role was to guide the executive team in defining the new SaaS product vision while building the team and execution roadmap.
1. Product Strategy & Roadmap Development
• Defined the product vision to address the gaps in the legacy system while ensuring a competitive advantage.
• Scoped out core features including Gantt chart scheduling, collaboration tools, and cost forecasting to meet construction project needs.
• Developed a phased rollout plan, starting with an MVP for early adopters and iterating based on feedback.
2. Executive Advisory & Go-To-Market Planning
• Advised the executive team on pricing models, licensing structures, and monetization strategies for the new SaaS platform.
• Benchmarked the competition to ensure differentiation and highlight cost savings against legacy solutions.
• Planned a user transition strategy, including customer education, onboarding support, and data migration best practices.
3. Building the Development Team
• Sourced and onboarded engineers with expertise in construction tech, cloud-based scheduling, and real-time collaboration tools.
• Established agile development processes, defining clear milestones for iterative product development.
• Set up a hiring strategy to ensure the company could scale its product and support teams as adoption grew.
Results & Business Impact
✅ Projected 70% Cost Savings – Expected to reduce scheduling software costs from $30K/user to a competitive SaaS pricing model.
✅ Scalable & Modern Solution – The custom-built application will offer integration capabilities, real-time collaboration, and a user-friendly experience.
✅ Stronger Competitive Positioning – Owning their own software allows Sunrise Scheduling to differentiate in the market and drive higher profitability.
✅ A Solid Foundation for Growth – With a clear roadmap, strategic leadership, and a growing tech team, Sunrise Scheduling is positioned to replace the legacy system and scale adoption.
Key Takeaways
🚀 Building a SaaS alternative to legacy enterprise software requires careful transition planning and user adoption strategies.
⚙️ Executive alignment and a strong product roadmap are essential to avoid costly missteps.
👥 Investing in the right development team ensures long-term scalability and product success.
What’s Next?
Accurise is now developing its MVP, with plans to onboard early customers for beta testing. With a clear product vision, executive buy-in, and a growing tech team, the company is well-positioned to disrupt the construction scheduling space.
Interested in modernizing your software strategy? Let’s talk about how TKO Solutions can help.
