Southern Staircase: Right-Sizing Effort Leads to IT Excellence
A DynaSis Case Study
When a leading stair and stair parts provider in the southeastern U.S. found its revenues sharply curtailed due to the real estate bust, company principles knew they had to take action, and quickly. The firm implemented a company-wide “right-sizing” effort to reduce unnecessary expenses.
Part of this effort was overhauling of the firm’s IT solution, which had previously involved a full-time IT resource. The firm turned to DynaSis for an on-demand solution, not only saving money but also gaining the benefits of professionalism and expertise.
Not So Right.
By the time Southern Staircase decided to right-size its technology department, management recognized that a full-time IT staffer might not be the best fit for the company or its employees. “Our IT person was not necessarily an expert in all things,” says Southern Staircase VP of Operations Randy Scott. “I wanted access to a higher level of expertise in short-term management of our network and long-term decision making.”
Previously, Scott says, “Internal resource and the senior management team made the IT decisions. We had done a lot over time, but in many cases we spent too much money or chose the wrong solutions to support the business.” Scott reports that service was poor and, in some cases, departments were using the wrong equipment for their needs.
Finding Better Answers.
Southern Staircase initially sought an IT partner through referrals, but then found DynaSis while searching online. The company liked DynaSis’ pricing structure but was equally impressed with its depth of knowledge.
Southern Staircase entered into an agreement with DynaSis for server monitoring and management, including patch application, backup management and verification, as well as network troubleshooting and problem solving.
Southern Staircase went live with DynaSis in May 2011 and Scott says the difference was evident as soon as the transition began. “DynaSis did a great job of helping us during the transition. They helped us fix all kinds of problems with networks and servers. They helped us implement solid procedures that assure our systems remain up.”
DynaSis also gave Southern Staircase critical business continuity protection it had previously lacked. “Before DynaSis, backups were not being done at all,” says Scott. “We were very vulnerable. Now, we are backing up our systems effectively.”
A Brighter Future
Scott says Dynasis’ level of expertise has given the company a substantial edge in its IT management, positioning it not only to save money, but to improve its operations, both now and down the road.
“We’re getting help with long-range planning,” says Scott. “A lot of our systems are antiquated. We need to think about solutions for the long term, and they are making recommendations for that.”
Scott says he expects to reduce IT support costs by 50% with DynaSis, as compared to his previous arrangement. He also expects to save money, over time, on hardware upgrades and other improvements that are specifically targeted to his needs.
“We’re in a better place for having made this change,” Scott says. “DynaSis has been great. When our systems go down, they come back up quickly and effectively. I’m confident that the business is going to be supported properly moving forward and, therefore, we’ll be positioned to give our clients better service.”
About the Client
Based in Alpharetta, GA, Southern Staircase is a leading seller of custom, pre-built stairs and replacement stair millwork and other parts. The firm builds everything from grand, free-flying curved stairs and spiral staircases to traditional post-to-post stairways. For more information, visit www.southernstaircase.com.
