In the business marketplace, companies and organizations often try to position themselves for growth by incorporating an arsenal of technological tools and high-tech office gadgets.

However, if that technology does not align with a company’s strategic plan, some might argue that it repre- sents little more than wasted money and counter space.

Source One Solutions, Inc. a Fort Wayne-based technology services consulting company, helps remedy that all-too-common dilemma by partnering with area businesses and organizations to create innovative technology solutions that work for them.

A New Model

Source One’s inventive approach to technology is driven by the belief that an organization’s business plan and technology plan go hand in hand. According to Tim Gerig, Source One’s vice president and chief operating officer, when the two are in sync, there is a better chance of being successful in the business world.

The company’s employees strive to become client advocates. They take the time to listen and learn about an organization’s short and long-term goals, establishing an open and honest relationship along the way.

“When you work with Source One,” says Sharon Sallot, Source One’s director of operations, “the first thing you get is a business partner that will communicate with you.”

Education is a big part of the process. “There is a model to maximize your investment in technology,” says Jeff Beights, Source One’s president and CEO. “We focus on the big picture for the client. What is the best way for them to spend their money on technology?”

Dr. David Pruis, assistant superintendent for operations and human resources at the Duneland School Corporation on Chesterton, Ind., describes the Source One team as knowledgeable, thorough and professional. The employees do not come in and suggest an overwhelming list of mandatory upgrades or must-have equipment, Pruis says. Instead, they take the time to learn about the ins and outs of an organization.

“They want to know what our vision is,” Pruis says.

Creating a Technology Plan

When meeting with a new client, the first goal is to assess the organization’s current equipment and analyze its func- tionality.

To get a better idea of a system’s effectiveness, Source One employees spend a lot of time learning about the client. They routinely ask a series of open-ended questions, including, “Where is your business today?” and “What things are you trying to accomplish now and a few years down the road?”

As the client answers these questions, the Source One team is able to fully understand what is working well and what may need to be revamped.

Source One also creates a documentation trail, an exercise that helps the com- pany create a snapshot of an existing sys- tem’s strengths and weaknesses.

The next step, then, is to strategize about the kind of computer system that will help the client achieve its goals. Ideally, the plan that evolves out of this process will help the client become more efficient, more profitable and more technology-savvy, Sallot says.

A Roadmap for Success

Source One Solutions strives to be a resource for businesses that want to foster continued growth. By forming a business partnership, Source One can work with a company to develop a global plan or master vision, Gerig says.

That approach goes against the all-too-common business practice of being reactive in regard to technology. Companies that adopt that kind of lackadaisical stance often implement one temporary solution after another.

“Alot of business owners find them-selves reacting to immediate problems as they arise,” Gerig says. “They fight the fire that’s hottest that day.”That haphazard process, however, can lead to productivity concerns and added financial burdens, Gerig says.

In fact, when looking at the overall life-cycle of a network, research shows that most companies spend roughly four times as much on the management of the system as they do on hardware and software, Beights explains. In many cases, this is likely the result of buying less expensive equipment that ultimately requires a greater level of service and support.

Source One, on the other hand, recom- mends that its clients invest in sound equipment that is configured by certified technicians — a move that ultimately will reduce management costs, Beights says.

“We call this IT investment manage- ment,” he says.

Penny Whiteman, firm administrator at Hunt Suedhoff Kalamaros LLP, says Source One Solutions helps create long- term solutions that drive success. “They are a solution provider,” Whiteman says. “They do not offer a quick fix. “We’ve managed to grow our business without a lot of pain because our technology is in place and it is sound,” she adds.

“They gave us technical stability, which was critical for us to grow the business.”

Whitman also says Source One brings an unparalleled level of integrity to the table. “They’re sound as well as principled in dealing with their clients,” she says.

Tom Salzer, president of Moake Park Group, agrees.

"We absolutely love Source One," says Salzer, who describes the experience of working with the company as extremely positive. Two weeks ago, for example, Source One technicians installed a new server over the weekend. By the time employees arrived at work Monday morning, the entire system was running flawlessly, Salzer says. often implement one temporary solution after another.

“Alot of business owners find themselves reacting to immediate problems as they arise,” Gerig says. “They fight thefire that’s hottest that day.”That haphazard process, however, can lead to productivity concerns and added financial burdens, Gerig says.

In fact, when looking at the overall lifecycle of a network, research shows that most companies spend roughly four times as much on the management of the system as they do on hardware and software, Beights explains. In many cases, this is likely the result of buying less expensive equipment that ultimately requires a greater level of service and support.

Source One, on the other hand, recommends that its clients invest in sound equipment that is configured by certified technicians — a move that ultimately will reduce management costs, Beights says.

“We call this IT investment management,” he says.

Penny Whiteman, firm administrator at Hunt Suedhoff Kalamaros LLP, says Source One Solutions helps create long- term solutions that drive success. “They are a solution provider,” Whiteman says. “They do not offer a quick fix.

“We’ve managed to grow our business without a lot of pain because our technolo-operation,” Gerig says. “In today’s world, you have to be efficient all the way across the board.”

A Good Investment

Occasionally, businesses and organizations suggest that they can’t afford to think long-term; they say they have only enough money in their budget to address immediate needs.

The Source One team, however, says companies can’t afford not to look at the big picture when it comes to technology. Being proactive is always favorable to being reactive, Gerig says. “Those clients who have tight budgets and are struggling with the technology they have are the businesses we can help the most.”

A calculated plan can pay dividends down the road, making it possible to plan for the costs associated with growth and development. “Technology is a great thing, but it can also be a very expensive operation,” Gerig says. “In today’s world, you have to be efficient all the way across the board.”