The Context
For accounting firms, IT and business technology plays an integral role in daily operations, with downtime from network failures having the potential for lasting and damaging effects to business. Accounting offices rely heavily on reliable IT, including software programs such as Microsoft Office, PFX Engagement, Lacerte, and Creative Solutions Fixed Asset software. Year-round, but especially during tax season, accounting firms need to operate with the full confidence that their network is safe and secure, allowing them to meet timely deadlines and fulfill the needs of their clients. Network failures, system crashes, or lost files can be disastrous to both the firm and the client. As such, the need for a proactive and complete IT has become abundantly clear to local accounting firms.
The Client
LaChall Lee is a five person accounting firm located in Lewes, DE. As a relatively small accounting firm, LaChall Lee prides themselves in providing personalized, quality service to every client. Reliability and trustworthiness are key components of their business, and as a result, the firm requires secure and reliable IT management. LaChall Lee offers a range of services to their individual and business clients, including accounting, tax, audit and consulting services, as well as bookkeeping , budgeting analysis, and financial forecasts and projections. During tax season, the staff at LaChall Lee works primarily from the office, however during the offseason the team mostly telecommutes. 100% of the workload at LaChall Lee utilizes IT.
The Problem
Before partnering with Cards Technology for all of their IT needs, LaChall Lee was using a local IT consulting firm. According to Charles Lee, unnecessary downtime as a result of IT failures was negatively affecting productivity. “We wanted a more responsive firm managing our IT. We cannot afford any down time during our tax season. We hoped Cards would be more proactive instead of reactive in managing our IT.”
The Choice: Cards Technology
While LaChall Lee was not having to rely on in-house staff to handle manage their IT, they still found that they weren’t experiencing the proactive approach to IT that they needed. With an increase in workflow during tax season and the heavy workload completed remotely, the need for a dependable IT company that the team at LaChall Lee could trust to completely manage all of their technology needs became more and more apparent. Cards Technology was selected, and has been serving the firms business technology needs since January 2014.
The Results
According to Lee, since partnering with Cards Technology, the firm has experienced little to no downtime as a result of IT failures or network crashes. “Because of their quick responses, we are definitely more productive at the time any issues arise.” In addition, Lee has been satisfied with the quick response time and proactive approach to IT exemplified by Cards Technology. “Cards Technology treats us and responds to our issues in a manner that we try to treat our own clients. We have yet to have an issue that Cards has not addressed in a prompt and timely manner. They have relieved the concern I had previously of whether anyone was actually managing or supervising our IT environment,” said Lee.
As a result of their strong partnership with Cards Technology, LaChall Lee is able to focus on their clients, instead of worrying about whether their IT is being effectively managed. Cards Technology provides 24-7 IT coverage and monitoring for the accounting firm, along with quarterly and annual reviews. What’s more, Cards Technology works in conjunction with the team at LaChall Lee, establishing a comprehensive plan for future IT needs.