Server At Work

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Accounting Manager of Boddie, Plush and Branch, CPAs, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Boddie, Plush and Branch, CPAs, LLC is a mid-size, full service (sans audit) accounting firm located in Southwest Louisiana, our focus is on our clients, and with our over 100 years of combined experience serving clients in business, government and nonprofit organizations, and individuals, BPB CPAs is the solution for any of your strategic planning needs or tax, accounting, and corporate services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Server At Work to accomplish?

• Full Service IT Needs

SOLUTION

How did you find Server At Work?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Server At Work over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Server At Work were assigned to this project?

10-20

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

S@W came onboard when our ship was sinking. We were beginning to plan a transition to a new IT Company and when that decision was made, and we notified our then existing IT Firm, they dropped us with no continuity. The team at Server at Work understood the urgency behind our needs and immediately employed resources to get our most critical communication and platform structures up and running again. 

Over the course of a month, our network capabilities were redrawn and modified, modern equipment and servers, including segregation of existing resources, was employed. On a software level, as a CPA firm operating in the midst of time-sensitive deadlines, S@W advocated for us with our software companies and found actionable solutions to our most pressing software issues and developed plans for what happened when things did go wrong. 

Around the same time, our company decided to transition to a fiber-based networking solution with point-to-point communication, without S@W's countless hours invested into this project, it's likely we would still not be interconnected as needed having multiple offices here in Southwest Louisiana.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

SAW has consistently demonstrated to us their proven track record of being one of the best (if not the best) Managed IT Solution & Service Firms. All of our needs, concerns, and questions are timely addressed and given a high level of attention to detail.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Server at Work's project management is awesome. They are consistently providing updates and doing check-ins. Any time a project has seemed to drop or if we're not quite sure where something left off, all it takes is a simple call or email and we're good to go. Their system administrators are some of the best I have seen in the business.

What was your primary form of communication with Server At Work?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

One of the things that impressed me the most about this company is they actually started out as an in house IT solution around 30 years ago for a similarly positioned accounting firm in our area. 

While that accounting firm has different focuses than ours for the most part, this growth and deep in-depth knowledge of how accounting firms run, how our people operate and the hours they sometime work, and the issues they have seen in other accounting firms provides them with a basis to assist us that isn't found in most companies. 

They understand and can relate to us on some of our biggest IT operational issues, and it truly makes the difference between having an IT firm that is good vs. one who is great.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Server At Work could have done differently?

On very rare occasions, SAW's response time during critical events has been delayed. Overall, these events have been due to uncontrollable situations and as a firm we have developed contingency plans with SAW on what to do if we need to move to restart a crucial system and they can not respond. During tax season, one of our most critical and time intensive periods of the year, S@W consistently has the right people in place and works with us on early morning and late night updates, etc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of accounting for the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. We’re a full-service convention and visitors bureau. We market and promote Lake Charles, Southwest Louisiana.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Server At Work?

Our IT system is managed by Server At Work, who handles our network and computers at both of our locations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We initially had several discovery meetings for them to review our network and set up and discuss the issues that we had previously. The team fully manages our networks and takes care of our security, the networks for both offices, email, and subscriptions for Microsoft and Adobe.

We purchase the hardware, and they install and maintain it. As a government entity, we make purchases through state contracts. Once a month, they visit for server and network maintenance but handle everything else remotely.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Michael (COO), Matt (Systems Administrator III), and Nick (Operations Manager). Additionally, there is an entire team of technicians.

How did you come to work with Server At Work?

We were experiencing multiple issues with our previous service providers and decided to switch. Server At Work was referred to me by someone I knew in the IT industry.

How much have you invested in them?

We spend less than $50,000 per year. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Server At Work in January 2013, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Since our work started with Server At Work, we’ve seen a reduction in tickets and a tremendous increase in uptime. The quality of the team's work is excellent, and we’re very happy with the collaboration.

How did Server At Work perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re doing an awesome job with project management. The team is highly responsive and keeps us informed about where we’re at on a project or ticket issues. They strive to resolve issues promptly and efficiently. Many tasks can be completed remotely, saving on-site technician expenses.

There are two ways to contact them; through their custom portal or by email. However, we rarely need to submit a ticket. We mostly communicate through phone calls and email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is exceptional, with each member doing an outstanding job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We have no complaints. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I suggest contacting Server At Work and scheduling an appointment with Michael to review your network and address any issues. Listen to their recommendations and consider their managed services.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the City Clerk of City of Westlake

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Municipality

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Server At Work to accomplish?

• IT support with a proactive approach

SOLUTION

How did you find Server At Work?

• Referral

Why did you select Server At Work over others?

• Referred to me

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Server at Work came on as our 3rd part IT support provider.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our computers are maintained with a proactive approach instead of reactive. This has saved money in the long run.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They worked hard to get us set up without much interruption in our daily jobs.

What was your primary form of communication with Server At Work?

• In-Person Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their willingness to do whatever we needed them to do to get the job done.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Server At Work could have done differently?

Over the years there have been a few hiccups. However, all issues have been addressed and resolved in a timely manner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Server At Work to accomplish?

• lT Support
• Centralized phone services
• Increase online security

SOLUTION

How did you find Server At Work?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Server At Work over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Server At Work were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

SAW has provided all our IT services, support, and troubleshooting for my two offices. As well as our 3CX phone system for telework.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Amazing IT and security support for my budget as a nonprofit.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their support and management staff always responds as soon as possible to my business IT needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Server At Work?

In-Person Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Personable, knowledgeable, and professional.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Server At Work could have done differently?

Not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Integrated Financial Management, LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Retirement and financial planning and asset management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Server At Work to accomplish?

• IT Security
• IT Operational Efficiency

SOLUTION

How did you find Server At Work?

• Referral
• prior relationship with principal

Why did you select Server At Work over others?

Great culture fit

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Monthly IT Citrix platform & cybersecurity.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Ease of day to day business operations from an IT perspective.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

SAW always responds in a very timely manner.

What was your primary form of communication with Server At Work?

In-Person Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their very effective communication and responsiveness are impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Server At Work could have done differently?

None noted.