12/21/2005
David Temple, President of Saratoga Technologies named in the BusinessTN List of Tennessee's Top Executives
Johnson City, Tennessee, Wednesday, December 21, 2005 — David Temple, President of Saratoga Technologies was today named among Tennessee's Top Executives in the December 2005 issue of BusinessTN's BlackBook List. (www.businesstn.com). The opening of the article reads:
There are many ways to take a picture of business in Tennessee. Sometimes, the picture is a snapshot - a company profile, a CEO Q&A, an earnings announcement, etc. Other times, we provide more of a panoramic view - ResearchTN's collection of varied efforts by different institutions and agencies to thrust Tennessee onto the international stage, for example. Yet with the possible exception of our Book of Lists, no single feature or issue looks through a wider lens than our TN250, a compilation of the top public, private and fastest-growing companies in the state. In taking a picture of so large a subject - the heart of Tennessee's economy - many details are lost. After all, every headquarters and every balance sheet is populated and generated by people. And the course of each company that appears in our TN250 has been set or at least guided by CEO's, CFO's and a host of other titled individuals.
With this in mind, welcome to Business Tennessee's first Black Book. Biography forms were sent to the executives at the companies on the TN250. Where there were gaps, we have filled in from other sources when available. In the following pages are a collection of close-ups taken of the people behind the companies that populate the TN250. Going beyond names and titles, the Black Book shows details - the education that prepared them, the boards and associations that benefit from them, the families that sustain them.
To read the full BlackBook 2005 visit http://www.businesstn.com/pub/2_12/.
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12/9/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. awards Operations Manager, Arnold Dixon Employee of the Year 2005
He and his wife will be given an all expenses paid vacation to London, England as a result. All Saratoga team members vote for an employee of the month that has shown performance that goes above and beyond what is expected. Each monthly winner is then voted on for the yearly award. Congratulations Arnold on a job well done!
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12/5/2005
Business Journal Article: Are You Leveraging Your Company's Web Site?
By: Teresa Mills
Click on the Magazine Cover to read the article.
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11/30/2005
Business Journal Article: Tri-State Conference: Leading Change in the MountainSouth Region
Click on the Magazine Cover to read the article.
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11/22/2005
Saratoga Technologies achieves Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Status
Johnson City, Tennessee (November 22, 2005) – Saratoga Technologies, Inc., today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in Networking Infrastructure Solutions and Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, recognizing Saratoga’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified partner, Saratoga has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven their ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
“We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program. This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers,” said David Temple, President. “The benefits provided through our Gold Certified status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers.”
“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies,” said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. “Today, Microsoft recognizes Saratoga as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, Saratoga had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.
Competency: Networking Infrastructure Solutions
The Networking Infrastructure Solutions Competency is for technology partners who have proven their proficiency in implementing solutions based on Microsoft Windows Server 2000 or Windows Server 2003 Operating Systems, or Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 and Small Business Server 2003.
Competency: Advanced Infrastructure Solutions
The Microsoft Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency is for technology partners that have proven their skill and expertise in one or more of the following specializations: Active Directory and Identity Management, Exchange Migration and Deployment, Storage Solutions, Systems Management and Hosting Solutions.
About The Microsoft Partner Program
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.
About Saratoga Technologies
Incorporated in the United States in 2001, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. is a regional leader in Technology Solutions in both the IT and communications areas. They have a variety of solutions working for clients in three continents: North America, Africa and Europe.
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11/16/2005
TEKsystems Announces Its Preferred Vendor Status with Saratoga Technologies in Knoxville, TN
Growing international technology solutions company sees value in TEKsystems’ services
KNOXVILLE, TN, November 11, 2005 — TEKsystems® (www.teksystems.com), the premier provider of technology execution services, announced its preferred vendor status with up-and-coming technology solutions company, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. (www.saratogaus.com). The recently awarded preferred vendor status was specific to the Knoxville, Tenn. area, but the opportunity has the potential for national implication as Saratoga Technologies expands in the United States.
Saratoga Technologies is headquartered in Johnson City, Tenn. and has offices in Knoxville, Tenn., Cape Town, South Africa, and London, England. Saratoga Technologies provides computer hardware sales and integration, networking services, communications services, and custom software solutions to both large and small companies in a variety of industries. TEKsystems’ staffing involvement will complement Saratoga Technologies’ business offerings and help the company meet its staffing requirements. Both companies hope this partnership will lead to additional business opportunities in the Knoxville and Tri-Cities areas.
"We are excited about this partnership because we are finding it increasingly difficult to find and hire good quality technical staff," said David Temple, president of Saratoga Technologies. "With the backing of TEKsystems, we can continue to grow our business uninterrupted and know that we are getting top quality resources.”
TEKsystems is ranked number one in the industry by IT Services Business Report as the nation’s largest IT staffing firm, and offers a full suite of applications, infrastructure, and communications services through its nationwide network. TEKsystems partners with companies of all sizes in virtually every industry to optimize the business value of IT by matching talented professionals with companies in need of services or technical expertise.
Sales Manager for TEKsystems’ Knoxville, Tenn. office, Michael Lopes, says, “We are very excited to work with Saratoga Technologies to assist in fulfilling their technical staffing needs. We expect this to be a great opportunity for both organizations.”
About TEKsystems
TEKsystems® provides technology execution services, helping businesses deploy high-caliber IT and communications expertise. With roots as the nation’s largest IT staffing firm, we’ve become a billion-dollar services company by blending superior client service with an unrivaled ability to source and manage talent to precise specifications, resulting in successful technology executions.
TEKsystems’ offerings address a wide array of applications, infrastructure, and communications needs, including technology deployment services, enterprise software support services, and asset management services. TEKsystems’ technical workforce, located in over 90 offices throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe includes more than 18,000 IT and communications professionals supporting over 2,800 clients. Visit TEKsystems at http://www.teksystems.com.
About Saratoga Technologies
Founded in 2001, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. provides IT and communications products, services and solutions to businesses and organizations with an emphasis on implementing technologies to reduce costs and increase productivity. Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, Saratoga has locations in the U.S., South Africa and England to better serve its customers. Saratoga was recently named in the BusinessTN Fast 50 list of fastest growing companies in Tennessee and was also listed earlier this year as the 30th fastest growing technology company in the United States by CRN magazine. For more information on Saratoga Technologies’ products, solutions or services, call 1-888-525-4220 or visit www.saratogaus.com.
# # #
Note to Media: Certain products and services listed in this document are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies. All TEKsystems news releases are available on the Internet, via the TEKsystems Web site at http://www.teksystems.com. Additional information on TEKsystems can be accessed on-line, and by sending an email to media@teksystems.com.
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11/11/2005
Saratoga Technologies unveils new software solution for VARS at TechSelect conference in Phoenix
Johnson City, Tennessee (November 11, 2005) – Saratoga Technologies, Inc., today announced its new management suite (ActNow!) targeted to value added resellers. The software is based on Microsoft's Small Business Accounting 2006 and can manage the entire operations and accounting of a small to medium sized VAR.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this solution to the VAR community to which we also belong. This allows us to help our colleagues manage their company’s,” said Piers van der Merwe. “Not only will the solution help them to run their own operations more effectively, but in the 1st quarter 2006 they will also be able to resell this solution. We will be releasing versions of the software designed specifically for different verticals in the service arena. Combined with their own hardware and integration services, VARs will be able to generate revenue from this product by offering a total solution to their customers.”
The ActNow! solution offers billing, scheduling, service contract management, technician management, electronic integration with suppliers, quotation tools plus much more.
About Saratoga Technologies
Incorporated in the United States in 2001, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. is a regional leader in Technology Solutions in both the IT and communications areas. They have a variety of solutions working for clients in three continents: North America, Africa and Europe. For more information about ActNow! visit www.actnowsuite.com
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10/25/2005
Saratoga Technologies acquires Bristol, VA based Blue Ridge Technology, bolstering its Virginia coverage.
Johnson City, TN – 10/25/2005 -- Saratoga Technologies, Inc. has acquired Bristol, VA based Blue Ridge Technology, located at 523 State Street. Bristol, VA 24210. This acquisition marks the ninth of its kind for Saratoga Technologies in just over four years.
"Saratoga is now able to offer customers of Blue Ridge Technology the same great services and products that our own customers have enjoyed over the past four years," said David Temple, President of Saratoga Technologies.
“Saratoga offers our customer base enhanced services that will carry forward the Blue Ridge Technology mission” said Stephen Powers, owner of Blue Ridge Technology.
Saratoga Technologies will be consolidating Blue Ridge Technology into their current location of 101 Med Tech Parkway in Johnson City; TN.
For more information about Saratoga Technologies or this acquisition, please call David Temple, President at 423-282-4220.
Incorporated in the US in 2001, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. is a regional leader in Technology Solutions, including hardware, internet solutions and custom software. They have a variety of solutions working for clients in three continents: North America, Africa and Europe.
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10/14/2005
Business Journal Article: Microsoft, What Have You Done For Me Lately?
By Suzanne Stouffer
Click on the Magazine Cover to read the article.
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9/30/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. and Medical Care, LLC Form Strategic Partnership to Offer Electronic Medical Records Solution
Johnson City, TN -- September 30, 2005—Saratoga Technologies, a leading
technology solutions company and Medical Care, a multi-specialty physician
practice utilizing Medinformatix electronic medical records and Medical Software
Solutions, a Medinformatix licensed reseller, today announced a definitive
agreement to form a long-term strategic partnership. Under the terms of the
agreement, Saratoga and Medical Care will offer an Electronic Medical Records
solution to healthcare organizations in this region. The combination will
create a comprehensive EMR solution that will be supported by experts in both
the medical and technology fields.
"There is a tremendous need for a comprehensive, affordable and locally
supported EMR solution in this area," said David Temple, president of Saratoga.
"Together, we will be able to offer a turn-key solution for small and medium
sized healthcare companies that need a technology/medical partner to work with."
"We have successfully been using EMR for over 7 years, and now teaming up
with Saratoga will allow us to deliver an unmatched solution to healthcare
organizations that have not yet been able to make the transition," said Steve
Hopland, president of Medical Care. "With the backing of Saratoga’s technical
expertise, we're able to offer the best in technology and support with the
experience to implement and use in a practical setting.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is the fastest growing technology for
physician’s offices. 85% of physicians are actively looking or planning on
implementing an EMR in the next 3 years. In this year’s State of the Union
Address, President Bush asks Congress “to move forward on a comprehensive
health-care agenda [including] a community health center in every poor county,
improved information technology to prevent medical errors and needless
costs. HIPAA regulations require strict control and limitation to access
of patient information that can only be practically implemented with an EMR
solution. Back-up copies of patient’s records become critical for patients
especially following natural disasters like hurricanes Katrina & Rita.
About Saratoga Technologies - Founded in 2001, Saratoga Technologies, Inc.
provides IT and communications products, services and solutions to businesses
and organizations with an emphasis on implementing technologies to reduce costs
and increasing productivity. Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee,
Saratoga has locations in the U.S., South Africa and England to better serve its
customers. Saratoga was recently named in the BusinessTN Fast50 list of
fastest growing companies in Tennessee and was also listed earlier this year as
the 30th fastest growing technology company in the United States by CRN
magazine. For more information on Saratoga Technologies, Inc., its
products, solutions or services, call 1-888-525-4220 or visit www.saratogaus.com
About Medical Care – Founded in 1987 and incorporated in 1997 Medical Care
LLC is a full-service professional medical office providing acute care as well
as health maintenance to Johnson City, Elizabethton, Hampton, and the
surrounding communities of Northeast Tennessee. Medical Care has used EMR since
incorporating in 1997. Medical Care specializes in primary care with
physician’s board certified in Family Practice, Pediatrics, OB / GYN, and
Surgery. Medical Care utilizes latest technology to improve patient care
and efficiency. For more information visit www.medicalcarellc.com
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9/15/2005
Saratoga Technologies expands into the Knoxville market with opening of Knoxville office
Johnson City, Tennessee, - September 15, 2005: Saratoga Technologies, Inc., a technology solutions company, today announced its expansion into the Knoxville, Tennessee market with the opening of a new facility located at 1209 Euclid Avenue, Suite 201, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37921. "Saratoga is pleased to open a full service office in Knoxville,’’ said David Temple, president of Saratoga. ‘’This facility will be entirely focused on providing world class technology solutions, products and services, locally to the Knoxville market. This branch is an important step, underlining our total commitment to serving this region with state of the art technology solutions.’’
The new Knoxville Branch will be managed by Knoxville native, Ron Jenkins, a 15 year veteran in the IT industry. “I am pleased to be a part of Saratoga and look forward to offering Knoxville the top quality that Saratoga provides,’’ said Jenkins “Now businesses in the greater Knoxville area no longer have to go outside the area or use multiple vendors in order to obtain professional technology solutions.’’ Knoxville native Ken McDonald has been hired as Senior Engineer and Saratoga is looking to hire additional quality technical and sales people from the Knoxville area. “Unlike many companies that expand into Knoxville, we are not just opening a small sales office that sends business back to the main office,” said Jenkins “We are opening a full service operation in Knoxville, for Knoxville, by local Knoxville employees.”
About Saratoga - Founded in 2001, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. provides IT and communications products, services and solutions to businesses and organizations with an emphasis on implementing technologies to reduce costs and increasing productivity. Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, Saratoga has locations in the U.S., South Africa and England to better serve its customers. Saratoga was recently named in the BusinessTN Fast50 list of fastest growing companies in Tennessee and was also listed earlier this year as the 30th fastest growing technology company in the United States by CRN magazine. For more information on Saratoga Technologies, Inc., its products, solutions or services, call 1-888-525-4220 or visit www.saratogaus.com.
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8/18/2005
Saratoga Technologies president, David Temple, inducted into the 40 under 40 Class of 2005
David Temple, president of Saratoga Technologies, was today inducted into the 40 under Forty Class of 2005. Read the entire live article here. It begins on page 38.
This induction brings the number of 40 under Forty classmen that Saratoga has to 2. Tim Story, Senior VP, Customer Relations, was named in 1998.
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8/11/2005
Congratulations to Tom Vanthournout of Zak's Furniture for winning this month's iPod shuffle give away!
Saratoga Technologies is randomly sending out electronic based surveys to our client base. If you receive an invitation to complete a survey please do so for a chance to win. For more information on the survey or the technology behind it please contact us at 423.282.4220. Thank you.
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8/9/2005
Saratoga is only Tri-Cities based company to make the 2005 Business Tennessee Fast50 List
Johnson City, Tennessee, Tuesday August 9, 2005—Saratoga Technologies was today listed in the Business Tennessee’s Fast50 List. “We are honored to have been recognized as a leading company in Tennessee and are proud to represent the 8 county, Northeast Tennessee region in the Fast50 list. Saratoga Technologies has, in just over 4 years, worked to provide outstanding products and services in the region and this has now been recognized state wide”, says Saratoga Technologies president, David Temple. The Fast50 list represented companies from numerous fields, different sizes and from several different areas of Tennessee. Saratoga Technologies was the only Tri-Cities based company listed in the Fast50.
The full article about the Business Tennessee Fast50 can be found here.
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8/4/2005
Technologies That Will Affect Your Business in the Next Two Years
By Piers van der Merwe
Change brought about by technology is a reality that you cannot ignore. The big question is: How will it affect your business? Here are some of the technologies with which you should be concerned.
VoIP Telephony
After a slow start, VoIP technologies are drastically changing the communications landscape. The technology has radically changed the way one local company communicates.
The company has offices in four locations, two in the USA and two overseas. All locations are connected on a VoIP network. The impact, however, is far greater than the cost savings. The real benefit is in the increased communication between these locations. Staff don't hesitate to place calls to colleagues in the other offices because they are like placing an Internet call.
Recent surveys have shown that the vast majority of large companies have either begun using this technology or expect to use it in the next three years.
Electronic Commerce
It is interesting to note that many of the wild predictions regarding the Internet that were
made in the late '90s have actually come true. Yes, there have been casualties along the way, but eCommerce and other Internet activities are strong and on the rise. So how is the Internet going to affect your company? It is becoming a major source of communications among you, your customers, suppliers and employees. More and more of your customers are going to place their orders over the Internet. There are a significant number of businesses in the Tri-Cities area who do more than 50% of their business over the Internet. Your suppliers are going to make it more and more advantageous for you to transact business with them over the Internet. Those companies that don't will be at an increasingly competitive disadvantage. The Internet will result in a more flexible workforce. For example, your sales force will be able to stay on the road longer or work from home because the Internet allows them to communicate with the office effectively from remote locations.
Security
Security is a big negative. This is one area that companies cannot afford to ignore. Viruses, spyware and hackers are a daily threat. It is essential that a business keep its operating systems patched, maintain its firewalls, update its virus software and back up its data.
Wireless Technologies
Wireless technologies, like cell phones or Wi-Fi, have already had a major impact on us. The technologies get better and better, allowing us to stay connected wherever we are.
The new office is wherever you are! Internet connectivity over your cell phone, a new technology called WiMax and a plethora of wireless gizmos like the Blackberry will keep workers connected whether they are on the road, at home or in the office.
Collaboration
A major trend over the next few years will be the embrace of collaboration tools over the Intemet.
These will include virtual office software like Groove Networks, virtual telephone nefworks like Skype and other Internet-based community initiatives. Companies will use the Internet to tap into the collective intelligence of not only their own employees, but other stakeholders in their markets.
In this short article, we cannot fully describe all the new technologies that are going to impact your business. However, in this competitive world, it is vital that you stay abreast of technology and implement those that are appropriate to your business.
Piers van der Merwe is president of Saratoga
Business Solutions. Born and raised in Southern
Africa, Piers graduated from the University of Cape
Town with o graduate degree in business administration.
He is a chartered accountant (CPA equivalent)
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7/28/2005
Saratoga Business Solutions Hires Suzanne Stouffer as Chief Operations Officer – Johnson City
Ms. Stouffer comes to Saratoga from a long service as Comptroller and IT Systems Administrator for the Phil Bachman family of dealerships. She brings with her 25 years of experience in financial management, human resources/employee benefits, computer systems administration, as well as corporate policies and procedures experience. She holds a B.S. from ETSU and has served on various committees within several community service organizations.
She will assist Saratoga in promoting the growth of their Business Solutions Division and corporate operations.
The Business Solutions Division of Saratoga Technologies, Inc. specializes in Microsoft Great Plains and Sage Software Accounting packages, SurveyNow real-time survey software, utility management software (S.U.M.S.), and custom .NET programming. For more information, contact Suzanne Stouffer at 423-282-4220 or visit us at www.saratogaus.com
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6/8/2005
Saratoga Technologies announces its entry into the telephony market with the acquisition of High-Speed Communications
Johnson City, TN, June 8, 2005 - Saratoga Technologies, Inc. today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Kingsport based High Speed Communications. Saratoga is acquiring 11 year telephony, wiring and fiber optic veteran, High Speed Communications, to fast track its entrance into the telephony market.
"We understand that offering a total technology solution is critical to our success and is what sets us apart from our competitors." said David Temple, president of Saratoga Technologies. "By acquiring High Speed Communications and integrating their product and service offerings into Saratoga, we will allow our customers to have easy access to an entire range of technology solutions including the communications portion. You will no longer have to deal with the headache of relying on multiple vendors in order to get your technology needs met."
"I am extremely pleased to formalize our long-standing relationship with Saratoga," said Tom Rutherford, president of High Speed Communications. "The combination of our telephony and wiring experience coupled with Saratoga’s network and IT expertise will mean faster adoption of IP based telephony by organizations of all sizes and types. This acquisition is a tremendous validation of our expertise and the skills of our employees. It represents a significant win-win for all our new and existing customers who will benefit from the great combination of IT and communications offerings from Saratoga Technologies."
Saratoga Technologies will now be able to offer PBX and IP based telephone systems, installation, training, ongoing phone system maintenance, cabling and wiring services and fiber-optic connectivity, all integrated with their existing network services. “With IP telephony really starting to make major headway into the marketplace, it will be more critical than ever to maintain the integrity of your network, and finding a good IT partner to work with will be an even greater challenge. We want to be able to offer our customers an entire range of technology solutions that reduce their costs, increase their productivity and ultimately add real value to their organization,” said Temple
High Speed Communications was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Kingsport, TN. For more information about High Speed Communications and its product and service offerings please call 1-888-525-4220.
Saratoga Technologies, Inc was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Johnson City, TN. This acquisition marks its 8th in four years. For more information about Saratoga Technologies and its product and service offerings please call 1-888-525-4220 or visit www.saratogaus.com
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6/1/2005
Saratoga Technologies and Sprint team up to offer businesses in the Tri-Cities region a total IT/communications solution
Johnson City, TN – 6/1/2005 - Saratoga Technologies, Inc. has become a Sprint Authorized Agent and will be able to bundle the entire line of Sprint products and services into their current IT offerings. "Our clients will no longer have to deal with multiple companies to have their IT and communication needs met.", said David Temple, president of Saratoga. "We can now offer communication and data services such as T1's, DSL and Centrex services bundled in with our IT services.”
Saratoga Technologies was chosen to be an authorized Sprint agent based on their size and experience in providing total IT solutions to organizations. "This will be a natural fit into what we are already doing", said Temple. "We are already offering our clients a full range of products and services covering their internal network, now with our new relationship with Sprint we can offer the communications portion as well. It's all about bringing exceptional value to our customers and making it easier for them to get the technology services they need."
Saratoga Technologies is a technology solutions company. For more information on the new Saratoga/Sprint relationship or about Sprint services that you can now get through Saratoga, please call David Temple, President of Saratoga Technologies at 1-888-525-4220 or logon to http://www.saratogaus.com Sprint is a leading provider of telecommunication and data services.
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5/9/2005
Walking On Air - Cover Story of Mobile Midweek - a CRN publication
By Kelley Damore CRN
3:41 PM EDT Mon. May. 09, 2005
Link to Live Article
Cynics say it’s like describing the taste of air or defining the universe: Just how do you concretely prove the return on investment for something as ethereal as wireless communications?
What’s the exact value of being able to read e-mail on your handheld device? What’s it worth to manage surveys on a wireless tablet? Clearly, the benefits are hard to quantify monetarily.
That’s why the key for successful mobile solution providers lies in the successful pilot: Because mobile and wireless ROI is, with few exceptions, in the eye of the beholder.
“We go in and run pilots when we can,” said Tracy Butler, president of Acropolis Technology Group, a solution provider in Wood River, Ill. “We’ll go in and say, ‘Why don’t you try it for 30 days with a subset of users? We only ask that if it meets your need that you would roll it out as soon as you can.’ ”
Metrics, such as how many more orders could be taken if a company deploys a wireless device, should be used whenever possible, mobile solution providers say. And the more vertical the application, the more likely the pilot project will bear fruit, they say.
“Warehouses where they’re picking and packing are really good places to measure ROI. We did that with one distributor, and their picking ratios are much higher now with fewer errors,” said David Temple, president of Saratoga Technologies, a Johnson City, Tenn.-based VAR.
Saratoga’s biggest forays into mobile computing thus far have hinged on its development of handheld, wireless applications for several industries, including utilities and health care. One example is the Saratoga Utility Management System (SUMS), a Microsoft Great Plains-based billing application that enables utility service technicians to take meter readings with handheld devices and wirelessly upload the results to the company’s database.
Saratoga piloted the application with Hawkins County Gas Utility, Rogersville, Tenn., and now is marketing it to utility companies nationwide. Saratoga also developed a Palm-based survey application for health-care facilities called SurveyNow. The solution, now being tested in the emergency rooms of Tennessee’s Johnson City Medical Center and North Side Hospital, allows hospital workers to survey patients before they leave the grounds and immediately download that information to a Web-based database. The benefit of both applications is self-evident, which makes them ideal candidates for pilots, Temple said. “Users get immediate feedback. And in the case of the survey tool, feedback goes from months to minutes,” he said. “So, if there is a problem that needs correcting, the cost savings can be enormous.”
Butler also swears by the impact of mobile pilot projects.
One example is the work Acropolis did for Southern Illinois University’s School of Dental Medicine. The school is scattered in three different cities, including one campus that comprises 16 buildings on 26 acres. It wanted to adopt a management application that would not only keep track of its accounting and financial needs but could be used for medical reference by students during procedures. That meant the solution had to have wireless capabilities and be able to deliver data in realtime to all three campuses.
Before the university was willing to purchase the application, it asked Acropolis to perform a proof of concept. The solution needed to include wireless access; Windows-based thin clients; biometric-based user authentication; rubberized, spillproof keyboards; LCD flat-panel displays; wireless printing; and bar-code readers and printers. It also needed load-balanced Citrix Systems MetaFrame servers to provide applications to all three campuses.
“I wish I could tell you we went in there and saved them lots of money. I can’t,” Butler said. “But their labs were under time constraints, and with the way their campuses are set up, wireless was the only way to go.”
Indeed, proving ROI on a mobile solution often is a tricky balancing act between actual costs and less-tangible factors, such as productivity or network performance. And sometimes the value simply isn’t there.
“We did a study here where our engineers took Tablet PCs running [Windows] CE, and we used Verizon’s WAN network card,” Butler said.
Despite an enticing price of $200 a month for “all the data you can eat,” sluggish transmission speeds made the WAN card less attractive, he said. “We put them in the tablets and ran apps to the guys in the fields, but the speeds were not quite there yet.”
So Butler didn’t try to sell the solution.
There are other times when the ROI is simply undeniable.
A classic example is Cemex, the $8 billion Monterrey, Mexico-based cement giant. In the late 1990s, it spent $100 million to internally develop a supply chain solution based on global positioning system (GPS) technology and was able to see specific improvements in its supply chain.
“In the past, they would deliver cement in a four-hour window, and they weren’t even meeting this window much of the time,” said Carl Zetie, an analyst at Forrester Research who studied the implementation. “The guys in the crew were waiting around for the cement to come [so they could] lay the foundation.”
Now, Cemex can give its customers a 20-minute delivery window and meet that projection 95 percent of the time because it knows the position of its trucks and traffic conditions. That information is relayed up its supply chain so that Cemex can throttle production up or down to meet the needs of the moment. All told, the implementation took over 10 years to get right, but now “they are the dominant leader in the industry,” Zetie said.
The proof is in the numbers: In its first quarter of 2005 ended March 31, Cemex posted operating income of $440 million, up 12 percent over the same period in 2004, while sales grew 43 percent to $2.6 billion.
Zetie classifies three ways to measure ROI when selling and implementing mobile solutions.
The first measure is situations where the solution provider can show simple operational efficiencies, he said. As an example, Saratoga’s Temple said if a service technician is able to make one additional service call or an insurance adjuster is able to visit one more client, the benefits are easily calculable for a prospective customer.
“So, if you have a service-level agreement that says you need to get a contractor to a job the same day, but you can’t, then you would have to outsource a contractor,” Zetie added. “And to outsource that contractor would cost $1,000. So, you can easily track it as $1,000 more per day per person.”
The second measurement for ROI is in perceived process improvement, Zetie said. With this measurement, there are bigger potential gains, but they are harder to quantify. For instance, a packaged-foods vendor needs to deliver service, quality and responsiveness to its clients. If it installed a GPS solution to track when sales reps called on their clients, the company could prove it met the terms of big service agreements. In turn, this engenders customer loyalty and tightens account control, mobile solutions experts said.
The third measurement of ROI is actual process reinvention, Zetie said. The best examples of this include United Parcel Service or Federal Express, which have completely reinterpreted their own customers’ expectations of the package delivery process, he said.
But there is a fourth—highly emotional—metric: the number of lives that could be saved. This has, in fact, been an oft-cited metric for wireless technology in the health-care industry, as it turns to wireless technology to reduce patient data errors.
“The ROI is enormous,” Temple said. “Health-care facilities have the issue of getting data into the system to save people’s lives. So, where you can show that you’re getting the data input quickly, you can show that there is less likelihood of mistakes. It’s not difficult to prove that there will be fewer errors if you reduce the number of people involved.”
Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital provides an example. Since the hospital first began computerizing its system for physician orders in 1993, medical errors have declined. There are far fewer instances where patients get the wrong drugs or the wrong doses, according to the hospital. In fact, Brigham and Women’s Hospital says its system of having physicians enter medication orders at the bedside directly into a computer programmed to catch these and other kinds of mistakes has worked to decrease serious medication errors by 55 percent.
Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare, which is testing wireless technology, also is seeing the ultimate ROI of saving lives. The test, implemented by Swedish systems integrator Hogia Raddningssystem, includes 51 ambulances and seven hospitals and uses many wireless technologies, including mobile computers, wireless LANs, wireless WANs and a GPS component.
“The positive results ... provide a blueprint for hospitals in other countries to follow,” wrote Jim Geier, founder and principal consultant of Wireless-Nets, Yellow Springs, Ohio, in a recent report. “In addition to saving lives, the concept of a roving wireless LAN can apply to similar applications, such as parcel tracking at delivery locations, evidence tracking at crime scenes, and repair order management at repair sites.”
Not bad ROI for such an ethereal technology.
Want your mobile computing sales to take off? Solution providers and analysts advise keeping an eye on the following four hurdles to keep from stumbling.
First, consider the size of the customer prospect when calculating your sales cycle and the target of your pitch. Small businesses and large enterprises are easier sells than midsize accounts, though for different reasons: Big businesses have cross-functional teams and the resources to handle IT projects, while at small businesses, the decision-making process is easy to navigate.
“We have found that midsize companies have the hardest time adopting mobile applications,” said Carl Zetie, an analyst at Forrester Research.
Second, address issues of security. Malicious threats targeting mobile devices are expected to increase in number and severity, according to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report. The report, which covers the latter half of 2004, notes that with many groups researching vulnerabilities in Bluetooth-enabled devices, the possibility of a worm or some other type of malicious code propagating by exploiting these vulnerabilities increases. Nonetheless, many solution providers report that security is less of a concern among their customers than it used to be. Why? Standards continue to improve, for one thing. Furthermore, security is no longer a differentiator; enterprises expect resellers to address security issues.
“We’re a Citrix [Systems] shop. So, if I can sell them on the security of Citrix, then the connection doesn’t matter. Security doesn’t come up that much,” said Tracy Butler, president of Wood River, Ill.-based Acropolis Technology Group. “The assumption is that’s it pretty secure.”
Third, if you’re looking to sell a solution for a field workforce, check in with potential users first, rather than their managers.
“One of the biggest failures is management telling you what the people in the field are doing,” said Zetie. “That’s because looking at a small screen is a dramatically less forgiving environment than a display in an office where you can yell over the cube and ask your officemate how to do something.”
Getting an application properly sized for a mobile device generally takes three iterations, he says.
Fourth, consider the limitations of wireless coverage. The reality is that all mobile enterprise applications are not fully functional everywhere. So, whether your customer prospect is in the rural Midwest, a shielded building in Washington or a basement in New York, the wireless devices on which these applications reside are going to be out of coverage at some point.
—Kelley Damore
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4/14/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. acquires the business of Kingsport based Altech, Inc., marking its seventh acquisition in four years.
Johnson City, TN April 14, 2005 Saratoga Technologies, Inc. today announced that it has acquired the going concern business of Kingsport based computer/printer services company Altech, Inc.
With this addition, Saratoga will strengthen its position as a total IT solutions provider by being able to now offer the printer products and services that Altech currently provides to its clients. “Customers are looking to reduce the complexity and cost of managing their IT infrastructure and drive efficiency with fewer suppliers," said David Temple, President, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. "We want to offer our customers the best value possible and we are continually looking for ways to bring more to the table.”
Altech’s current employees and owner will be joining the Saratoga Technologies team and business will continue to operate out of their current premises at 5400 Ft Henry Drive, Suite 1, Kingsport. This acquisition will now give Saratoga Technologies a physical location in the Kingsport area. Business will continue as usual and Altech’s current customers will benefit from the added products, services and resource that Saratoga Technologies offers.
"We are happy to have served our Tri-Cities clients for the past 14 years. We are excited about becoming a part of Saratoga Technologies. This acquisition will allow us to offer our clients a wider array of products and services to meet ALL of their IT needs at more competitive pricing. Now more East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia businesses will benefit from our expertise specializing in printer service and supplies." said Darrin Leonard, President of Altech, Inc. "With our added portfolio of printer solutions, Saratoga Technologies is better positioned to address the ever-growing needs of both our customer bases.
By acquiring the business of Altech, Saratoga will expand its combined revenue base and become an entity with greater financial scale and resources and have a greater footprint in the Kingsport market. Saratoga will now have combined staff in the Tri-Cities area alone of more than 30 people. This acquisition will create significant benefits for the customers and partners of both companies, including:
- Breadth - A broad range of IT solutions including servers, PCs, networking services, security solutions, internet solutions, business telephone systems, cabling/wiring and now a full range of printer solutions as well
- Depth - Leading-edge technology combined with expertise to design, implement and manage networks, security, storage, and IT
- Reach – Regional sales, service, and channel partner organizations supporting hundreds of small, medium and large enterprise customers right here in the Tri-Cities region.
For more information please contact the President of Saratoga Technologies, Inc. David via email at davidt@saratogaus.com or by phone 423.282.4220
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4/8/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. Expands Into Bristol Market With Acquisition of Star Technologies’ Customer Base
Johnson City, TN – 4/8/2005 -- Saratoga Technologies, located at 101 Med Tech Parkway, Johnson City, has acquired the customer base of Star Technologies, Inc. which was located in Bristol. This acquisition marks the sixth of its kind for Saratoga Technologies in just four years. Star Technologies’ owner/founder will be joining the Saratoga team and will continue to serve her customer base with the added capability of the full Saratoga team behind her.
"Saratoga is now able to offer customers of Star Technologies the same great services and products that our own customers have enjoyed over the past four years," said David Temple, President of Saratoga Technologies.
“I have been in the technology field for many years and am excited at the opportunity of now being able to take world class solutions to my existing customers.” said the former owner of Star Technologies.
Saratoga Technologies will be consolidating the business of Star Technologies at their current location of 101 Med Tech Parkway in Johnson City; TN. The new Bristol local telephone number for sales and service will be (423) 793-0500. Saratoga also has offices in Knoxville, TN, locally as well as global offices in South Africa and Great Britain.
For more information about Saratoga Technologies or this acquisition, please call David Temple, President at 423-282-4220.
Incorporated in the US in 2001, Saratoga Technologies, Inc. is a regional leader in Information Technology Solutions, including hardware, internet solutions and custom software. They have a variety of solutions working for clients in three continents, North America, Africa and Europe.
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3/28/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. Restructures Senior Staff to Better Serve their Customers and Improve Operational Efficiency
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has made some exciting changes in how it will better serve its customer base by adding a new senior position that will specifically be focused on the issues our customers are facing. This new role will involve helping customers leverage their current technology to improve business results as well as how best to leverage new technologies that are coming out. Tim Story will be taking on this new challenge as Senior VP, Customer Relations.
Taking on the role of Director of Operations will be newly hired Chris Patterson. Chris’ experience managing operations for a national wireless/data company will be a valuable addition to Saratoga and we look forward to continued growth under his leadership in this area.
"We are committed to providing the absolute best service available to our clients and if that means adding new positions that focus on areas that our clients have need in then we will do so," said David Temple, president, Saratoga Technologies. "Saratoga will continue to invest in people, technology and services that bring value to our customers."
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. is a total IT solutions company that is customer focused and offers products, services and solutions in three continents including North America, Africa and Europe.
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3/4/2005
Saratoga: Providing Total IT Solutions
By Quinne Bryant
Saratoga Technologies, Inc., of Johnson City was recently ranked as the fastest-growing Information Technology (IT) provider in Tennessee and the 30th fastest in the country by CRN, a publication of CMP Media LLC. Saratoga Technologies was the only Tennessee company listed in the top 50 growth organizations.
The award is based on an annual survey in the IT industry, according to Saratoga COO Tim Story. "Ninety to ninety-five percent of all IT companies enter the survey," he says. "This is our first year. The award is based on your revenue growth over a fiscal year. They also take into consideration what your company does, its reputation and overall growth."
Saratoga Technologies brands itself as a 'total It solutions provider.' "We do everything from hardware, custom software, service, phone systems, document imaging, Web site layout, cabling and wiring, disaster recovery, and serve as an expert security provider with several vendors, "says Story. "We're the premiere IT services shop in the region."
"For example, a customer comes to us with a need, or we find out what their need is," he adds. "One of the things that makes us unique is the ability to help a customer eliminate unnecessary or surprise IT costs that can ruin their budget. For what we do, we're the only one that does it that way in the entire United States."
"We don't rely on third-party financial institutions," says senior vice president Allan Walters. "Since we don't have to rely on them, we bundle in our service, hardware, consultation, and more into our customers' monthly payments. They don't ever have any surprises in their IT expenditures. It becomes a line item just like any other expense.
"The other thing that hugely differentiates us from other companies is that every other computer company supports a model called 'break/fix.' When you have a problem, a customer calls you," adds Walters. "The problem with that model is if you're only calling a company when something breaks, you're guaranteed a problem. What we've done is to say, 'Instead of focusing on that model, let's set up a plan where we can proactively maintain the computer systems so that there isn't a problem.' We're proactive, not reactive. It's similar to taking care of your vehicle. No one thinks of their networking infrastructure like their automobile. We focus on preventative maintenance so there are no issues to be faced down the road."
Another important component in Saratoga's methodology is its unique approach to customer service. Following the dot-com bust of 2000, computer companies that didn't ad value to their customers began to go out of business due to their reliance on selling large volumes of products in order to stay in business.
"Every company that started in the computer field back in the 90's was about selling - moving boxes," says Walters. "A lot of companies are still stuck in that mode. That is another overwhelming difference."
"Our focus is to make your business work better with less cost, to save your business money. It's very likely that we'll go into a place and say, 'You need to get rid of these five computers.' There might be a more economical way to run their business without just throwing technology at it.'
"We're also like a business consultant in a way," he adds. "If technology is not going to fix your problem, we're also there to solve all your problems. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the technology really does solve their problems because they do need that technology to run their business better. But there are other times we'll tell them that their business isn't being run in the most efficient way."
"A part of winning this award is the opportunity to attend an invitation-only CMP event where we'll get to meet with industry channel executives," says Story.
"We'll get to view the latest products and partner programs that aren't out yet to see how we can provide value-added programs to our customers. A lot of this is helping direct the channel, helping drive industry development, and we can also bring that back to East Tennessee."
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2/24/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. Achieves SMB Select Partner Designation from Cisco Systems
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has achieved the small and medium-sized business (SMB) Select Partner designation from Cisco Systems®. By earning the Cisco® SMB Select Partner designation, Saratoga Technologies demonstrates to customers that it understands and supports networking solutions for the small and medium-sized business market, defined as companies that have between 20-500 employees. The Cisco SMB Select Partner program provides Saratoga Technologies with a tailored set of resources, training offerings, and sales and marketing tools to enhance the company’s expertise in selling, implementing and supporting Cisco networking solutions for SMB customers.
"We are committed to recognizing, supporting, and rewarding channel partners like Saratoga Technologies who focus on the SMB market," said Surinder Brar, senior director, Worldwide Channels for Cisco Systems. "Cisco wants to work closely with partners who understand the requirements and business challenges of SMB customers and can support their specific needs."
Saratoga Technologies is part of the first round of systems integrators in the United States to achieve the Cisco SMB Select Partner designation which requires Cisco channel partners to demonstrate a focused business practice selling into the SMB market. In order qualify for the Cisco SMB Select Partner designation, Saratoga Technologies had to meet specific program requirements in the areas of training, employee certification, sales volume and sales mix.
The program offers SMB Select Partners with a tailored set of sales and technical resources, programs, training offerings and tools to help promote their success and address the needs of the SMB market. As a Cisco SMB Select Partner, Saratoga Technologies will enjoy several program benefits such as being highlighted on the Cisco Partner Locator, making them easily identifiable for potential customers and differentiating themselves from other resellers.
# # #
Copyright © 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document or Website are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (0406R)
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2/4/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. announces partnership with Hughes Network Systems to offer new Satellite Internet Program
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. has partnered with Hughes Network Systems of Germantown, Maryland to become one of the first companies in the U.S. to offer a new satellite internet program by Hughes.
Hughes, the world’s leading provider of satellite broadband service, has joined forces with Cisco Systems, Inc. of San Jose, California to launch a joint Cisco/DIRECWAY integrated router/broadband solution for small businesses that are unable to obtain DSL or Cable Internet service. Saratoga Technologies was chosen to be one of the first partners to take advantage of this solution based on their size and experience in providing other solutions to organizations.
The steady advance of new applications and Web-based services is making broadband connectivity critically important for business of all sizes. Yet, research indicates up to 40% of the 7+ million North American businesses do not have access to terrestrial (wire line) broadband connectivity. Because the satellite-based DIRECWAY offering is universally available across the country, these underserved businesses are prime candidates for this new Cisco/DIRECWAY service.
Saratoga Technologies is a Total Solutions IT company. For more information on the new Satellite Internet program please click here.
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2/1/2005
Saratoga Business Solutions is expanding and moving into new offices!
Saratoga Technologies, Inc., announced today that they are expanding their Business Solutions Division to new facilities in the MED TECH PARK. From February 1st, 2005, their new address will be 101 Med Tech Parkway, Suite 300, Johnson City, TN, 37604.
Saratoga has more than doubled its size over the past year and is now moving their Business Solutions division to new premises. Piers van der Merwe, Saratoga Business Solutions President said "We are moving so that we can better serve our customers. We are extremely thankful for the confidence that our customers have shown in us and we want to ensure that we continue to give our customers the highest quality solutions. The move to the Med Tech Park is exciting for us as that area in Johnson City is showing significant growth."
Saratoga Business Solutions, a division of Saratoga Technologies, Inc. is a business solutions company offering software and ASP based solutions as well consulting services focused on the financial and utilities industries. For further information please contact Saratoga Business Solutions Manager Angela Corvin at (423) 282-4220 or at angelac@saratogaus.com.
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1/31/2005
Saratoga Technologies, Inc. named Fastest Growing IT Provider in Tennessee and 30th in the USA by the CRN Publication
Johnson City, Tennessee, Monday January 31st, 2005—Saratoga Technologies was today ranked as the fastest growing Information Technology provider in Tennessee and the 30th fastest in the USA by CRN, a CMP publication. “This is such an honor and truly demonstrates that companies in this region can achieve at the highest level and compare favorably with national benchmarks. Saratoga Technologies has, in just over 3 years, worked to provide outstanding products and services in the region and this has now been recognized nationally”, says Saratoga Technologies president, David Temple. Among the list of 100 companies were multi-million and billion dollar companies from all parts of the United States. Saratoga Technologies was the only Tennessee company listed in the top 50 growth organizations.
To read the full article about the Fast Growth 100 click here.
Saratoga Technologies has been in business since 2001 and provides complete technology solutions to customers on 3 continents – North America, Europe and Africa. Saratoga has from its inception exhibited extraordinary dedication to customers, working along-side them to make their businesses successful. For more information regarding Saratoga’s products, services or solutions, please visit their US website - www.saratogaus.com or call their president, David Temple directly at (423) 956-4220.
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1/5/2005
Rich Oyler is moving into a new position at Saratoga Technologies
Rich Oyler is moving into a new position at Saratoga Technologies as our Project Coordinator. He will be managing several projects throughout 2005 and will ensure our growth continues smoothly. Rich has been a Saratoga team member since February, 2003.
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