Flexible Metal, Inc.: Keeping IT Running Smoothly With a Cost Savings Benefit
For Flexible Metal, Inc., IT reliability had become an uncertain proposition. The firm had burned through two IT support firms, both of which promised the world but failed to deliver. The first firm was unable to successfully connect the company’s new facility in Hamburg, MI, with the Tucker, GA home office. The second firm was always looking to avoid blame.
“Empty promises strained the relationship between us and them,” says Flexible Metal Director of Sales and Engineering Michael Goodrich. “They blamed Flexible Metal for their inabilities to get things done. There was always an excuse.”
Goodrich’s Internet search for a new IT firm brought him to DynaSis’ Web site, where he clicked on a Chat box and asked “are there any IT companies that actually do what they say and can be trusted?” When the operator replied that DynaSis was absolutely committed to that very goal, Goodrich was ready to talk. “That was on a Sunday,” he says. “On Monday morning I had a voice mail from DynaSis Vice President Chas Arnold. We had a few phone calls and then he came in for a presentation.”
A Reliable Partner
Arnold told Goodrich that DynaSis would provide its Digital Veins service—a proactive IT maintenance and support service— for a fixed monthly fee. Goodrich could predict exactly what he would pay every month, with no hidden surprises, and DynaSis would ensure everything ran smoothly. Goodrich was sold.
“They would provide 24×7 support for all of our users and our servers at both of our offices here and in Michigan. The Digital Veins service would be integrated into all of our computers,” Goodrich says. “In Michigan, even though they don’t have onsite representation, if users have an issue, they submit a ticket or email and DynaSis takes care of the problem.”
Goodrich, who previously relied on backup IT expertise from two of his engineers, was excited by the offer. Not only would he finally get the no-excuses service he needed, but if things went well, he could permanently pull his engineers off IT support and get them back to focusing on their designated assignments, full-time.
Bottom-Line Benefits
Five months later, Goodrich couldn’t be more pleased. “With DynaSis, we pay a fixed amount and if they go over, that is their problem,” he says. “If they don’t fix anything that month, they make money and we make money because we don’t have any IT problems. They have been outstanding and have gotten a lot of high praise from our people.”
Goodrich’s Digital Veins service covers all his servers and 60 desktops all for a substantial savings over his previous firms. “With our last company, we began tracking the amount we were spendings,” says Goodrich. “Over a six-month period we spent almost $50,000 to have them come in and fix things they had already fixed. Not only is it cheaper for us to use DynaSis but we are getting professional service, we don’t have issues and we are able to do what we are supposed to do,” he notes.
“There are basic IT fundamentals,” he concludes. “Email is one, backup in case of crashes is another and the third is having information on your network be accessible. Working with DynaSis, I don’t have to worry about these things.”
Goodrich also loves the fact that it now takes no effort on his part to ensure the firm’s IT infrastructure is working effectively. “DynaSis is self-managing. It is in their best interest to have us up and running so they don’t have to spend money on us. It is in our interest to be up and running, too, so we’re working towards same goal.”
About the Client
Flexible Metal Inc. designs and manufactures metal tubular assemblies to meet customer requirements for diesel and gasoline engines, automobiles, on-highway and off-highway vehicles, agricultural vehicles, engine generator sets and a wide variety of original equipment applications. Founded in 1954, the privately held company has 180 employees working at its two locations in Tucker, GA and Hamburg, MI. For more information, call (770) 493-1100 or visit www.flexiblemetal.com.
