Our proof of concepts serve as tangible demonstrations to help our clients understand AI’s potential in their environments.

In today’s fast-paced world, government agencies are under immense social, political, and cybersecurity pressures to enhance productivity and drive down costs. Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a significant and transformative force in the current technological landscape, offering new ways to innovate and deliver efficient, cost-effective solutions.

OPTiMO has consistently led the way in adopting new technologies. We were particularly excited about the release of AI tools like OpenAI ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. As soon as they were available, our research and development (R&D) team focused on evaluating their potential applications, uses, and limitations to enhance our clients’ products and services as well as improve our own operations.

Exploring and Evaluation Relevant AI Tools

Amid the buzz surrounding AI, it can be challenging to navigate through the extensive information available. OPTiMO remained focused on answering practical questions:

• What current AI tools are best for our customers and OPTiMO?

• How should we smartly incorporate AI tools into our solution development processes and internal operations?

• How we can we tangibly demonstrate to our customers the potential and relevancy of AI in their IT solutions and environments?

We evaluated various AI tools, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, which are increasingly embedded in platforms we already use, such as Microsoft applications and development tools like GitHub and VSCode. Given their growing ubiquity and influence, we prioritized evaluating these tools first to ensure our adoption of AI is both strategic and informed.

For federal agencies, this evaluation process is even more critical, as AI must align with national security interests and mission-critical objectives. Equally important, its role in streamlining government functions must be carefully implemented to enhance decision-making without adding unnecessary bureaucratic layers.

One of the first steps we always take when evaluating innovative technology is engaging with the community around it. In the earliest days of Microsoft’s Copilot rollout, we invited Microsoft to give a talk to our organization about Copilot and OpenAI. This event led to deeper technical discussions and evaluations, allowing us to gain a comprehensive understanding of its features and potential applications.

Our integration of AI into everyday use is driven by a desire to boost efficiency and productivity. By automating routine tasks and offering intelligent insights, AI tools empower our team to focus on more strategic initiatives. However, we had to establish a strong foundational policy and evaluate each tool to not only position us competitively but also safeguard against the potential challenges and risks associated with cutting-edge technology.

Given the administration’s push for stronger supply chain security and a reduction in foreign technology dependencies, OPTiMO ensures that our AI solutions comply with federal requirements by prioritizing platforms built on secure, American-controlled infrastructure. This approach mitigates risks associated with adversarial AI threats and maintains national data sovereignty.

Ensuring Privacy, Security, and Compliance

Our primary evaluations revolved around privacy, security, and operational integrity. We conducted thorough assessments to find potential vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with our strict data protection standards. This process included reviewing AI models’ performance, assessing vendor compliance with industry regulations, evaluating their incident response protocols, and examining their track record in handling data breaches. Additionally, we assessed whether the AI tools had built-in mechanisms for regular updates and patches to address emerging threats.

To mitigate risks associated with data privacy and uncontrolled AI deployment, we developed a robust policy framework governing AI usage. We implemented controlled access measures, ensuring that only authorized personnel could use AI tools. This approach helps prevent unauthorized exposure of sensitive client information and reinforces our commitment to trust and integrity in AI implementation.

At a time when the administration is increasing scrutiny over cybersecurity threats, including AI-driven cyberattacks from foreign adversaries, our approach ensures that AI adoption does not introduce vulnerabilities. By leveraging AI to detect anomalies, enhance fraud prevention, and strengthen critical infrastructure security, we are aligning our strategy with national security priorities.

Advancing AI for Client Solutions

While our IT team focused on internal AI use, our R&D team explored AI’s potential for clients through proof-of-concept (POC) initiatives. These POCs serve as tangible demonstrations, helping clients understand AI’s impact on efficiency, productivity, and innovation.

For instance, in one POC, we built a chatbot using a client’s publicly available FAQ and integrated it with their existing services and APIs. This created a personalized and interactive user experience. In another POC, we leveraged AI-driven image analysis and machine learning to help marketers identify the most engaging campaign ads. Our rapid prototyping and development consistently exceed client expectations, whether the project involves a simple AI chatbot or a complex predictive analytics tool.

For federal clients, AI-driven automation is increasingly essential for reducing administrative burdens, cutting costs, and improving workforce efficiency. Whether through AI-powered document processing for federal agencies or automated compliance monitoring for financial oversight, our AI solutions align with the administration’s commitment to making government operations leaner and more effective.

By providing real-world applications and identifying AI’s benefits and limitations, we guide clients through strategic AI adoption. Our collaborative approach helps organizations maximize AI’s potential while avoiding common pitfalls, reinforcing the value of informed decision-making in AI implementation.

Navigating the AI Landscape with OPTiMO

Our structured approach to AI evaluation highlights OPTiMO’s commitment to innovation and excellence. By ensuring security, compliance, and strategic implementation, we enhance operational capabilities while driving efficiencies for both internal and client-facing applications.

As federal agencies seek to modernize legacy systems and improve operational efficiency, OPTiMO is committed to delivering AI solutions that help agencies achieve these goals without unnecessary complexity or risk. Our AI strategies are built to support cost-effective modernization, operational agility, and secure automation, ensuring that government IT remains resilient and future proofed.

AI continues to evolve, and we are dedicated to helping organizations harness its full potential. Ready to explore how AI can transform your operations? Contact OPTiMO today to assess and leverage the value of strategic artificial intelligence implementation.

Reach out to me at whombach@optimo-it.com and take the first step toward a smarter future!

Delivering powerful low code solutions within unified and secure cloud environments

OPTiMO’s journey with low-code development began modestly several years ago. While some team members had prior low-code experience, it wasn’t until we identified Microsoft’s Power Platform as the optimal approach to solve a client’s data control and quality challenges that we realized its true potential.

Today, OPTiMO eagerly uses Power Platform on projects when it’s appropriate for the clients’ needs and environment. In determining if we utilize low-code or traditional development methods, our solution architects and developers consider numerous factors, including the solution and integration complexities as well as the platform and schedule requirements.

So far, we’ve used Power Platform on multiple projects to design and develop tailored applications, automate workflows, analyze data, create chatbots, and more. We continue to be impressed by the cost efficiencies and enhanced agility a low-code approach enables as we support clients on their modernization projects. Equally important, because Power Platform leverages the capabilities of Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365, we’re delivering powerful low-code solutions within unified and secure cloud environments.

Low-Code Proved Optimal for Budget Formulation Project

Our low-code exploration ramped up as we were considering our approach to a large, complex client project. Our client organization faced significant challenges during the collection, calculation, aggregation, and transformation of its data requirements throughout fiscal-year budget formulation cycles. Manual processes slowed down data collection, analysis, and reporting. Staff used individual Microsoft Excel workbooks to maintain and manage their financial data, resulting in data redundancies. This created disparate information systems and repositories that inhibited the timely and accurate information required for effective decision-making.

We knew they needed a systems development and integration roadmap to streamline resource planning during the formulation of the agency’s annual budget. They also needed to optimize operational costs across standardized, secure platforms. However, our team believed traditional development methods would likely prove inadequate and too slow and that, instead, a low-code approach would be more effective.

After a thorough evaluation, we chose Power Platform as the best suite of low-code development tools to accelerate and optimize a high-quality solution for the client. Leveraging the platform’s seamless integration capabilities and robust tools, we created a streamlined budget formulation process and user-friendly, web-based portal, integrating it with systems of record across other Department components.

OPTiMO’s solution has resulted in increased efficiency as well as improvements to data quality, transparency, reporting, business intelligence, and customer service capabilities. As an example, during peak budget periods, the automation of their internal-facing Waterfall report

now saves individual Budget Formulation team members 6 hours per day, delivering net savings of approximately 2,340 hours annually. Our budget formulation solution concurrently supports five live budgets totaling approximately $10 billion, providing division leadership with a commonly shared, enterprise data management solution to facilitate effective decision-making.

Expanding our Power Platform Expertise and Innovation

Inspired and excited by the possibilities to accelerate and innovate solutions with Power Platform, our team intentionally expanded our expertise through training, certifications, and conference engagements. This investment enhanced not only our skills, but also our curiosity and creativity, driving us to develop more innovative applications for our clients and for OPTiMO’s own internal use.

For example, Power Platform allows for highly effective and rapid prototyping, enabling us to test and iterate on ideas quickly. This agility is invaluable in a dynamic agency environment, where the ability to pivot and adapt is important.

With each experience, we gained a clearer understanding of Power Platform’s strengths and limitations. These insights are critical in refining our deployment strategies and ensuring that we can maximize the platform’s benefits while mitigating any potential risks.

Through our years of working with Power Platform, we’ve clearly demonstrated its flexibility in handling diverse tasks efficiently. Equally important, clients are excited by how quickly we can deliver projects using a low-code approach. For example, we developed an MVP solution to one client’s challenge in a single day. Stakeholders were beyond surprised at our turnaround time. One of them said,

OPTiMO Created this from a PowerPoint presentation. We have never spoken before. I am amazed at what they could do. It would take us 6 months to come close to that. I just cannot believe it.

Currently, we are focusing on pushing the limits of Power Platform’s built-in automation testing, striving to develop even more sophisticated solutions.

More Low-Code Successes Ahead

Our low-code work is far from over. Microsoft, one of OPTiMO’s strategic partners, has smartly ensured its Power Platform suite of tools can be integrated seamlessly with cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). By combining these technologies, we can enhance application functionality and automated decision-making as well as deliver predictive analytics and personalized experiences. These advancements significantly increased the value OPTiMO can offer to clients.

With Microsoft continuously rolling out new tools and updates, we are excited about the future of Power Platform and eagerly anticipate its evolution. Our goal is to harness its full potential, ensuring that we can continue delivering powerful low-code solutions for our clients and our own organization.

In summary, our expertise with Power Platform has transformed how we approach development for certain types of client and internal projects. While we also do custom development for web, mobile, and backend solutions, Power Platform is firmly in our toolbox. As we continue to explore its capabilities and integrate it with emerging technologies, we are confident that Power Platform will remain a vital component of our project successes in the years ahead.

If you’d like to know how OPTiMO can help your organization leverage the benefits of Power Platform on your next development project, I invite you to reach out to me at whombach@optimo-it.com.

Enabling quick iterations achieves faster development cycles

I’ve had the privilege of working on numerous projects aimed at modernizing and innovating within the federal government during my long tenure at OPTiMO. One of our biggest successes in this journey involves the strategic use of rapid prototyping. No matter what technology stack or project scope we’re dealing with, our federal customers consistently focus on two main goals when it comes to implementing their visions: saving costs and minimizing risks.

Let’s be honest, innovation rarely equals cost savings and lower risk; it’s often quite the opposite. Unfortunately, this is a common issue in application development. Multiple recent studies show that a whopping 70% of IT projects fail to meet their goals. That’s a huge number in any industry, but in the federal market, it’s enormous!  That’s where rapid prototyping can help.

A Case Study: Custom Dashboard for Data Visualization

One of OPTiMO’s standout projects involved collaborating with a federal agency to develop a custom dashboard for data visualization. The complexity of the agency’s data and the need for a user-friendly interface presented a unique challenge. By utilizing rapid prototyping, we were able to present multiple, hands-on iterations to the client, incorporating their feedback at each stage. This iterative process ensured that the final product met all their requirements and exceeded their expectations. The rapid prototyping approach allowed us to quickly address issues, incorporate user feedback, and refine the dashboard, resulting in a high-quality, user-centric product.

Background

A federal agency responsible for managing large volumes of data required a custom dashboard to visualize key metrics and trends. The existing tools were outdated and lacked the functionality needed for effective data analysis.

Our Approach

We began by gathering requirements from the agency’s stakeholders and understanding their specific needs. Using rapid prototyping, we created an initial prototype of the dashboard, focusing on core functionalities and user interface design. This prototype was presented to the agency for feedback.

Iteration and Feedback

Based on the feedback received, we made several iterations of the prototype, each time incorporating new features and improvements. The agency’s input was invaluable in shaping the final design, ensuring that the dashboard was intuitive and met their operational requirements.

Outcome

The final dashboard was delivered on time and within budget. It featured advanced data visualization capabilities, real-time data updates, and a user-friendly interface that reached over 50 million consumers and business users. The agency reported a significant improvement in their ability to analyze and interpret data, leading to more informed decision-making.

How we do it at OPTiMO

Raw Skills and Rapid Development

One of the key advantages of rapid prototyping is the ability to leverage raw skills for quick development and design. Our team consists of highly skilled developers and designers who can rapidly transform ideas into functional prototypes, whether as a fully functional application or a click-through design. These prototypes are often used to gather valuable feedback from real end users, all before any coding begins, even for a Proof of Concept (POC) or Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This agility enables us to respond swiftly to client needs, explore new concepts, and deliver high-quality solutions in a fraction of the time required by traditional development approaches.

Faster Development Cycles

Rapid prototyping significantly reduces the overall time required for development and design. By enabling quick iterations, we can identify and address issues early in the process, ensuring that the final product is delivered on time and within budget. This accelerated development cycle is particularly beneficial for federal agencies with tight deadlines and urgent modernization needs.

Cost Efficiency

Early detection of issues and continuous refinement prevent costly changes later in the project. Rapid prototyping allows us to identify potential problems and address them before they escalate, minimizing the risk of expensive rework. This cost efficiency is a critical advantage for federal agencies operating under strict budget constraints.

Stakeholder Engagement

Regular updates and prototypes keep stakeholders engaged and informed throughout the development process. By involving stakeholders at each stage, we ensure that their needs and expectations are met. This continuous engagement fosters collaboration, enhances transparency, and builds trust between our team and the client.

Enhanced Product Quality

Continuous testing and feedback lead to higher quality products that meet user needs effectively. Rapid prototyping allows us to refine and optimize the product based on real-time feedback, ensuring that the final solution is robust, user-friendly, and fit for purpose.

Wrapping Up

So, to wrap things up, rapid prototyping is a tried-and-true method for speeding up modernization projects within the federal government. By focusing on innovation, saving costs, and minimizing risks, we’ve been able to use rapid prototyping to deliver top-notch solutions that cater to our clients’ unique needs. Even though rapid prototyping has been around for a while, it’s still not used as much as it could be, despite its huge potential to boost innovation and efficiency in federal IT projects. As we keep exploring new technologies and methods, rapid prototyping will stay at the heart of what we do, helping us achieve great results for our clients and aiding in the modernization of federal government operations.

Let’s Connect and Collaborate

Thanks for taking the time to read this! If you’re excited about the potential of rapid prototyping and want to see how it can work for your projects, let’s chat. I’d love to hear about your vision and discuss how we can help bring it to life while saving costs and minimizing risks.

Learn more about the benefits of rapid prototyping and how it can enhance your development project. Contact us today to find out how OPTiMO can help you leverage rapid prototyping for your next project.