Astute Technology Management

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-founders and COO of Coffman Media.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Astute Technology Management?

We had expanded our office footprint and needed better coverage and a managed network. We reached out to Astute Technology Management to solve that network challenge.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us configure a managed PoE networking switch and advised us on what equipment to buy. We weren’t familiar with what to buy from an enterprise-level, so we leaned on the team to help us decide on what access points and managed switch to buy. 

So, they were involved in the equipment procurement and configuration and setup processes. Currently, Astute Technology Management is working on managing our phone solution. 

What is the team composition?

We work with two teammates.

How did you come to work with Astute Technology Management?

I had known of them for quite some time because we have mutual connections. Astute Technology Management came very highly recommended, so I felt comfortable reaching out to them. They were the first vendor that I reached out to.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $5,000–$7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in March 2019 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We are very happy with their services. 

How did Astute Technology Management perform from a project management standpoint?

Astute Technology Management helps us to monitor our networking traffic to make sure that we update the prioritization of traffic, which is done on a quarterly basis. If there are any issues with our phone system, we reach out to them and submit a ticket on an ad hoc basis.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very responsive. If there’s a ticket, they reach out in a quick manner — usually within 15 minutes — and acknowledge that there’s an issue, and then help to resolve it. Depending on what the issue is, it may take some time to resolve. That said, their responsiveness and communication have always been of a high standard.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with at least one idea that you want to accomplish and they’ll help you get to the end result. As long as you have the objective you’re trying to achieve, Astute Technology Management is great at helping businesses accomplish their goals without over-purchasing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Zilla. We design and build exhibits for trade shows and events.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Astute Technology Management?

We hired them for several areas of IT support. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We need them to set up networks within our new offices that we moved to, taking care of network security issues and other tasks that arise. Whenever we need assistance, they’re available for support and they provide ongoing business consulting. They’ve also helped us set up our phone system, enabling us to update and add lines. 

What is the team composition?

A few teammates, including Eric (Founder & President), have helped us along the way. 

How did you come to work with Astute Technology Management?

I’d known Eric because of our families, so when I knew we needed the support, he brought it to my attention that he could provide it. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since July 2019 and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve been 100% happy with the services and deliverables from them. We were outgrowing our space and adding new employees, so when we get back to working, we’ll continue growing our relationship with them. 

How did Astute Technology Management perform from a project management standpoint?

We usually use phone or email to communicate. We’ve never had any issue with their response time. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their wealth of knowledge of areas for us to work on stands out, along with their responsiveness. They’ve been able to walk us through the steps throughout the process and point us in the right direction, rather than us telling them specifically what we need from them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We haven’t had any issues, so there’s nothing I can think of. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re good at holding hands and walking through the right software and systems that are needed.