“There are different species of animals, and each involves different work. For example, one vet might have trouble handling birds, a detail that the receptionist working at a veterinary clinic would know. But, the software also needs to know this, so no bird owner books an appointment with this vet,” explains the Co-Founder of Vetstoria, Dr. Julien Renard. When your pet falls ill, these are the complexities veterinarians must consider when scheduling appointments. It’s a complex process that Vetstoria aims to change.
Vetstoria is a software built by veterinarians, for veterinarians to help them eliminate the complexities of scheduling appointments. Thus, allowing vets to focus on giving the best care to pets and a smooth experience for their owners. Since its inception in 2015, the company has been growing rapidly. The company now has offices in the UK, the US, and Sri Lanka while having an active presence in the APAC and EMEA regions. As vets worldwide continue to turn to its platform, its meteoric rise shows no signs of slowing down.
Empowering veterinarians with powerful technology
Vetstoria provides vet practices with the tools for real-time online booking, online payments, and much more. Collectively, these tools empower vets and the clinic staff to devote more time and resources to deliver the best care to animals. As Dr. Julien highlighted, given the different specialties of veterinarians, smooth scheduling is essential. Otherwise, the best possible care may not be available. Therefore, several complex factors must be considered when vet practices schedule appointments.
On top of the described complexities, there’s also a lot of manual repetitive work, such as endless phone calls, which veterinary practices must go through with scheduling. Vetstoria solves all of these problems through technology. Thus, allowing vets and front desk staff to provide exceptional pet care while offering a seamless experience for pet owners. Vet practices can seamlessly integrate their practice management software (PMS) with Vetstoria and can customize the booking process for appointments to match their requirements based on a series of intelligent triggers. It also facilitates video consultations without the need for a third-party application. So a pet owner can visit the vet practice’s website, schedule an appointment per their customized process, and make the payment in a few quick taps. Automatically, the appointment is also scheduled in the practice’s calendar.
By leveraging the power of technology to solve this problem, Vetstoria’s benefits are profoundly visible and enjoyed by all stakeholders. However, in its earliest days, many were skeptical, given the complexities of scheduling appointments for a veterinary practice. Yet, undeterred in the face of overwhelming odds, Vetstoria achieved what was once considered impossible.
The rise of Vetstoria: From tech startup to industry leader
Vetstoria began as an idea shared by two veterinary surgeons, Julien Renard and Julien Poublon. While in university, they were curious about using technology to help veterinarians. Their search for someone with technical expertise led them to Damjee Ediriweera, who joined them as a Co-Founder. Thus, the trio began their experiments and built an early prototype. However, the trio soon found themselves in a dilemma; as Dr.Renard put it, “The product we’d built was too early for the UK and too late for the US.”
This dilemma led them back to the drawing board as they searched for new opportunities. Vetstoria, in its current form, came about when it returned to its original core features. Since then, the software has gone through numerous iterations over the years. Through trial and error, it’s now the largest online booking software worldwide for veterinary practices. It currently serves 4000+ practices worldwide and supports over 30 practice management systems.
For many of its employees, being a part of this journey has been one of the highlights of their careers. Looking back, Software Architect at Vetstoria, Eranga Jayalatharachchi, shared, “I’m thrilled to have been a part of the journey that Vetstoria has come so far. Not only has the company enabled me to grow exponentially, but it has also given me the honor of forming and leading a team of engineers who keep me inspired through their growth. I can honestly say, without any regrets, that deciding to work with Vetstoria has simply been the best career choice I have ever made.”
The entrepreneurial culture of innovation within Vetstoria
Vetstoria began with 3 ambitious individuals and has now grown to over 90+ in Sri Lanka alone. As their team continues to grow, so does the culture within the company. Head of Projects at Vetstoria, Niroshan Madampitige, shares, “The culture at Vetstoria is built around collaboration and self-management. Employees are allowed to experiment within the guidelines; even if they fail, that’s alright. These are learning opportunities to help our team grow.”
The company now has a strong culture that promotes growth in a positive ethical manner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company began optimizing its execution framework using the trending Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). At Vetstoria, individuals are encouraged to tackle everyday issues to help the company grow. What makes these individual initiatives powerful is that each employee understands the impact of their role on the organization’s success.
Transparency to build camaraderie
At the beginning of each year, the Vetstoria team collectively agrees on annual goals. These are then broken down into quarterly goals, which are broken down to each department, team, and individual. Dr. Renard emphasizes the importance of shared goals to build trust across the organization. He explains, “When everyone knows what they’re working towards and how they fit into the bigger picture, this camaraderie comes naturally.” Throughout the year, the company also holds town hall meetings where everyone can share their views. All other social initiatives are built atop this foundation of transparency and trust at Vetstoria. “My favorite thing about working in Vetstoria is how we work. There are lots of opportunities for team collaboration, sharing our ideas, and being creative. Everyone brings a lot of passion and enthusiasm, which makes it easy to make work interesting and keep growing,” added the Head of Product Marketing at Vetstoria, Ishara Naotunna.
Helping individuals grow: Being at the frontiers of innovation
With its entrepreneurial operating system, Vetstoria has several initiatives to upskill its employees. Within its technology team, certifications are sponsored by the company. To put this knowledge into practice, the company encourages constant experimentation. To facilitate this, it hosts several hackathons where employees can further hone their skills and test ideas for new solutions. Additionally, with Vetstoria being part of the Petvisor group, its employees can interact with partner organizations to gain exposure to different technologies. The Head of Client Services at Vetstoria, Aazir Akram, shared his thoughts on these growth opportunities, “My favorite aspect of working in Vetstoria is the tremendous growth opportunities I have gained. I work with some of the brightest and most hard-working people who push the envelope for the company’s growth. Each day working at Vetstoria gives us new opportunities to learn and further our careers.”
Automating the future of veterinary bookings with technology
The veterinary industry is a large field committed to providing high-quality care to animals. With its robust platform, automating all aspects of scheduling appointments, Vetstoria has empowered practices worldwide. But the company isn’t resting on this success. Instead, it’s working on various new digital solutions to enable vets to devote their time and resources to providing the best possible care to animals.
With its ambitious growth plans, Vetstoria is actively expanding its team. Particularly in Sri Lanka, where its development team is based, the company has several opportunities for fresh graduates and experienced technology professionals. In parallel, its entrepreneurial culture enables the growth of its teams to help individuals achieve their personal goals while allowing the organization to succeed. Through these efforts, Vetstoria continues to expand into new markets and make life easier for vets to serve pets and their owners globally.