Agile IT Reduces IT Costs by 60% & “Finds a Solution When No One Else Could,” says Melbrod Financial
The financial market is complicated, subject to myriad regulations, competitive, and above all fast-moving. The right information technology and systems are of course required by all organizations in all markets, but in no other industry is there so much on the line in terms of “dollars in, dollars out.”
This means that financial companies are extremely sensitive and cautious in making IT investments. Some of the IT companies serving the largest financial firms in the world—e.g., Chase Bank, Morgan, etc.—have contracts wherein the IT company can be financially penalized should systems go down for any length of time.
Melbrod Financial is not Morgan. It is a smaller company that offers full service tax planning and preparation with services ranging from a simple individual income tax return to corporation, LLC, trust, and gift tax returns. That said, its needs are no less complex and immediate than those of the “big guys.
Melbrod was suffering from high costs in IT service and support, and was not getting the service it required either. These “IT headaches” had to stop, and so the stakeholders in Melbrod began their search for a new firm, and after a few trials (and errors) with other companies, Melbrod chose Agile IT to address its every IT need.
The Challenge
Simply put, Melbrod was spending a lot and getting little back. “We needed help in every IT aspect of our business and our current provider wasn't as professional as we would like,” says George W. Melbrod, Jr. President of Melbrod Financial. “We needed somebody to help us immediately when problems would pop up in order to prevent any interruption to our business.”
Another issue Agile IT discovered was not really an issue at all: Melbrod was set up and using Microsoft Online and Outlook, the best cloud solution available, but was not getting enough from its functionality. This is a “hidden benefit” that the experts at Agile IT often uncover for clients.
Typically, most clients have the software and systems they require for success; they’re just not using these systems for maximum efficacy. I.e., there is often a lot of power left untapped in existing IT systems, and Agile IT’s first check in any engagement is to ensure that existing systems are delivering all they’re supposed to. The last thing an Agile IT consultant will do is come in and recommend new technology prior to any detailed analysis of existing systems.
The Solution
“Agile IT helped by looking at what we needed…and the challenges we faced because of restrictions by our regulating body… Agile IT found us a solution that worked when nobody else could,” says George Melbrod.
Part of what Agile IT delivered was a more effective email platform that took full advantage of the functionality offered by Microsoft Online. Using this platform along with Outlook meant that the Melbrod team would be more completely and immediately synched up, which always delivers a lift in productivity across all people and departments.
Agile IT “…helped us get Outlook working like it was meant to be with shared calendars, contacts, folders for e-mail, all synced up on every device for every user.”
The Result
Not only did Agile IT help optimize Melbrod’s existing systems and solutions—and provide users with the insight and training required to effectively use these systems—it also became Melbrod’s full-time IT service and support provider.
Going with Agile IT over its previous IT services and support provider saved Melbrod 60% in monthly IT costs. Not only that, these savings were delivered with no contract and no commitment via Agile IT’s “pay as you go” model.
The best part is that these savings did not mean any reduction in the quality of the service or availability of technicians. In fact, it meant just the opposite.
“There is always someone on the other end of the phone or e-mail that responds to every issue that pops up,” says George Melbrod. “They solved our e-mail/calendar nightmare that we were told by others couldn't be fixed. We know they can help us in any future project as we expand… They have really helped us get the most out of our computers to really help our business work more efficiently.”