We officially started the production team working on Red Rover in May. Our goal was to be done at the beginning of August. We worked hard to make sure we had a set of pilot schools lined up who could start using the software in August for the beginning of their school year. We were excited, they were excited, Red Rover was going to be a revolution in student orientations.
As we got closer to our deadline, we realized we weren’t going to make it. So we told all the pilot schools that it would be done a week later than anticipated. That hurt, it was our word and trust.
Then mid-August came and even though we didn’t feel totally confident in the software, we were tired of putting the schools on hold and so we tried to set up demos. Unfortunately, the demos either froze or stalled at various parts. While on the phone with schools, I would toss a quick joke to brush over the faults in the software, but inside I was hurting. Again it was our word and trust.
Now it’s mid-September and Red Rover 1.0 still isn’t finished. Frustrating, I know.
The pilot schools are set up and if they wanted to, they could start. But with slowness and bugs, I don’t blame them for not fully utilizing it. I don’t blame them if they don’t trust us or the software anymore.
If I went to buy my one-of-a-kind dream car and of the three times I test drove, it stalled or froze 3 out of 3 times, I would probably pass and wait for someone else to try it out first. I would wait for someone else to get all the kinks out so I don’t have to waste my time and energy being the first one. That hurts.
To win the pilot schools back is going to be an uphill battle. We are committed to Red Rover and hope to have it ready for use soon. But if you don’t believe me I can understand why. And that hurts.
