Tech Partnership Transforms Shift Planning Software: How SixPivot Helped Ordo go From MVP to Market
- Lauren Rutter
- Sep 27, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 18
Industry: Workforce Management
Location: Queensland, Australia
In Partnership Since: 2017
Technology: Microsoft
Solution: End-to-end software development
SixPivot has partnered with Ordo, a Queensland-based shift planning software company, since 2017, providing the development firepower, cloud expertise, and strategic support needed to take the product from initial concept through to a commercially launched, market-ready platform. The partnership continues today, with SixPivot embedded within Ordo as its dedicated software development team.
How Ordo turned a shift planning idea into a commercial software product
Queensland-based co-founders Luke McGarry and Jason Fratus had a clear vision: a shift planning application built around the needs of supervisors rather than administrators. What they lacked was a development team to build it.
Rather than hiring in-house, Ordo turned to SixPivot in 2017, a decision that shaped the business's trajectory.
Seven years ago, we had an idea for a software product and turned to SixPivot for assistance. What an inspired decision that was!SixPivot has not only provided us with the developer firepower to build our solution from MVP through to commercial product but has also been a trusted business advisor and mentor. They have been with us for the journey… not just another IT service provider.
Jason Fratus, Ordo Co-Founder
Starting with an MVP, SixPivot's team worked alongside Ordo to define, build, and iterate on the product; applying startup-savvy development practices and cloud expertise to move quickly without sacrificing stability.
What SixPivot's development partnership with Ordo involves
The SixPivot and Ordo partnership covers the full lifecycle of software development and go-to-market support:
Continuous product development: SixPivot's dedicated team ensures Ordo's platform evolves in response to market changes and customer feedback, keeping the product competitive in a fast-moving space
Software stability and support: Ongoing engineering support maintains the reliability of Ordo's supervisor-centric platform, a foundation that builds user trust and contributes to customer retention
Pre-sales capability: SixPivot's involvement in pre-sales activities helps Ordo clearly communicate the platform's technical benefits, supporting more confident and informed purchasing decisions
Customer introductions: SixPivot has introduced Ordo to prospective customers, contributing directly to the growth of Ordo's client base
Microsoft ecosystem access: SixPivot's strategic relationship with Microsoft opens commercial and technical opportunities for Ordo, connecting the business to a broader partner and customer network
For innovators looking to build without boundaries, SixPivot offers more than development services. We establish a partnership that evolves with your business, from MVP to market leader, like we’ve done with Ordo. Our team brings startup-savvy development practices, cloud expertise, and a track record of building innovative software solutions.
Faith Rees, Founder of SixPivot
What makes Ordo a pioneer in supervisor-centric shift planning software
Most workforce scheduling tools are designed for administrators and planners. Ordo takes a different approach: its platform is built around the supervisor, the person responsible for managing people and outcomes on the ground.
Ordo's software simplifies complex planning interactions and motivates supervisors to achieve better planning outcomes. With an intuitive, touchscreen-first interface, the platform is built for adoption across all levels of digital literacy, removing the friction that typically makes workforce management tools difficult to embed in frontline environments.
The result is a platform that improves both the planning process and workforce engagement, positioning Ordo as a distinct player in the shift planning software market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ordo, and what does its shift planning software do?
Ordo is a Queensland-based software company that builds supervisor-centric shift planning tools. Its platform is designed to simplify complex scheduling interactions for frontline supervisors, using an intuitive touchscreen interface to improve planning outcomes and workforce engagement across organisations with varying levels of digital literacy.
What is supervisor-centric shift planning software?
Supervisor-centric shift planning software is designed around the needs and workflows of the person managing a team on the ground, the supervisor, rather than back-office administrators. Ordo's platform focuses on making planning decisions easier and more effective at the point of supervision, rather than requiring shifts to be managed centrally.
How long has SixPivot been working with Ordo?
SixPivot and Ordo have been in partnership since 2017, for more than seven years. The relationship began when Ordo needed a development partner to build their product from concept to MVP, and has continued as the platform has grown into a commercially launched, market-ready product.
Can SixPivot help software startups build a product without an in-house development team?
Yes. SixPivot operates as an embedded development partner for software startups and scale-ups, providing dedicated development capacity, cloud expertise, and strategic guidance.
What Microsoft technologies underpin Ordo's platform?
Ordo's platform is built on the Microsoft cloud ecosystem, supported by SixPivot's strategic Microsoft partnership. Specific technology components are available on request. Contact SixPivot to discuss the architecture in more detail.
