a COUPLE of GURUS

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive for an early-stage medical device company developing a toolset to improve the process of taking biopsies in the prostate cancer area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with a COUPLE of GURUS?

We needed to migrate from our hosted legacy email system to Microsoft (MS) 365, so we required a partner who could do it and provide us with ongoing maintenance and support. More importantly, we also needed a provider to host our legacy software application as a short-term solution. We were raising capital to buy a cloud-based ERP system, but we needed a hosting provider in the meantime.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, a COUPLE of GURUS assessed our needs and gathered all the information regarding our current systems and software applications that needed to be migrated. During this process, they discovered a lot of challenges because our software applications were fairly old. After the assessment, they generated a proposal detailing the timeline and cost of the project.

After agreeing on the proposal, a COUPLE of GURUS used their own equipment to migrate our software and data to their servers. Currently, they’re hosting our systems, so we pay them a monthly fee for that service.

a COUPLE of GURUS has also bought a new computer and peripherals for one of my employees, and they’ve installed a third-party cybersecurity system on all of our laptops for virus protection and data backup. Additionally, they provide us with an automated help desk system. Whenever we have an issue, we can generate a ticket. Then, they call us to help us solve the problem.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we worked with two teammates from a COUPLE of GURUS, one of whom was our main point of contact. Additionally, Jamie (Account Manager) has been our project manager and the main point of contact since.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2022, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since working with a COUPLE of GURUS, we’ve seen an increase in our system’s uptime and speed.

How did a COUPLE of GURUS perform from a project management standpoint?

From the start, a COUPLE of GURUS provided us with a very clear scope of work, facilitating the selling process. Throughout the migration process, they sent us a weekly email about the progress, detailing the time put into the project, which was very helpful. Additionally, although they went over budget, they committed to the proposal and didn’t charge for the overages, which we really appreciated.

Since then, a COUPLE of GURUS’ responsiveness to the tickets we generate has been really good. We work remotely, using Zoom and email to communicate. Moreover, the tool we use is called GURUS’ monitor, which I’m not sure if it’s their proprietary tool entirely or not.

What did you find most impressive about them?

a COUPLE of GURUS’ entire processes and systems they have in place are outstanding, as they make it very easy to work with them. Additionally, the quality of their communication is excellent. If a first teammate can’t help us with an issue, they escalate the issue to a second, higher-level teammate to get it resolved.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There have been no major issues with a COUPLE of GURUS’ services. A couple of our employees have had issues with their desktop and their MS 365 email system, but operation errors on our side might have caused those issues. Additionally, the computer setup for one of our associates took longer than expected, but part of it was due to our legacy infrastructure.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Set expectations properly and develop a completely clear statement of work so that they know exactly what you need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the IT manager of an auto repair company. We replace windshields and other car glass-related products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with a COUPLE of GURUS?

I couldn’t deal with all of our items on my own. When I went to management, they weren’t keen on hiring another IT person directly to help me keep up with my responsibilities. We needed someone to fill in as our IT department.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

a COUPLE of GURUS handles our cybersecurity. They install antivirus and monitoring software on all the devices in our building and do regular checks. They also send out phishing emails to our employees to see who’s more at risk of potentially falling to an attack. Then, they send a weekly newsletter with digestible recommendations that employees can do to avoid those attacks easily.

Moreover, we’ve worked with a COUPLE of GURUS on various projects. For example, we did a network overhaul. They replaced our network switches and wireless access points. Additionally, they worked with us to clean up and optimize our infrastructure.

We usually have a meeting for the project kickoff. They give us a quote, and we take it to our leadership to see if we can spend the money on the project. Then, we have another call with a COUPLE of GURUS to lay out all the specifics and how everything is supposed to go. We have one more meeting to ensure we’re all on the same page and review the supply chain because it can take a couple of weeks or months to get everything in. Once the supplies have arrived, a COUPLE of GURUS installs everything.

Our next project will be replacing our firewall.

What is the team composition?

Our main points of contact are Jamie (Customer Success Manager) and Ben (Level 2 Technical Engineer).

How did you come to work with a COUPLE of GURUS?

We searched on Google for companies within our area.  After we scrolled past the ads, we looked at review websites like Glassdoor and Clutch to see customer feedback. We ultimately contacted a couple of companies, but some took a long time to get back to us, so we went with a COUPLE of GURUS.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $15,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We initially reached out to them in February 2022, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We still work with a COUPLE of GURUS because they’ve managed to dramatically increase our network speed. We used to have employees who wouldn’t connect to the company Wi-Fi and instead used their phones’ data plans because our Wi-Fi was so bad. Also, we had many problems with our voiceover IP phones. a COUPLE of GURUS has looked at our infrastructure and configuration, and they’ve made recommendations about what we need to replace.

We’ve seen a significant decrease in problems. a COUPLE of GURUS gets in the middle of anything we try to tackle, and it’s nice to be supported and not be the only one dealing with issues. Overall, they can save me 6–7 hours a week or 30–40 hours if it’s a complex problem that requires thorough digging.

How did a COUPLE of GURUS perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is good in general. For the most part, a COUPLE of GURUS can solve a regular ticket in a week. Everything is usually done right away, and they reach out to us if there’s a delay. Sometimes there are slip-ups because tickets fall through the cracks, but it’s only happened twice. When I reached out to them about it, they gave me all the contact information I needed if it ever happened again.

The staff is communicative; they’re more than happy to have a conversation with us. We usually use emails to communicate, and they have an online ticketing portal and a phone line that we can call. For anything that requires multiple people or documentation, we use Microsoft Teams so everybody can be on the same page.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re willing to have discussions, take feedback, make recommendations, and change them based on those discussions. For example, when we did the network project, they initially pushed back against our request to get down to one switch. However, when we sat down with them and explained our reasoning, they were receptive to our ideas. We can rely on a COUPLE of GURUS to tell us if what we’re asking is pointless. Overall, they follow up and do a great job of ensuring their work gets fixed so we don’t have that specific problem again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our only complaint is about their ability to stick to deadlines. One of the projects took 4–5 months because the deadline was pushed back a couple of times. We can’t necessarily blame them because sometimes they can’t get the equipment without buying it from a sketchy vendor on the corner or paying an absurd amount of money, which isn’t something we want to do with our budget.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you communicate everything you want to do and the deadlines up front so everyone is on the same page. If you have a problem, just reach out through an email; they’ll get the right person to fix it and provide an update if you want to.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the project coordinator at a management consulting company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with a COUPLE of GURUS?

Our business model changed from in-office to virtual, and we wanted our phone options to be exclusively through Microsoft Teams. We needed help transferring our business phone lines into Microsoft Teams so we could drop our more expensive phone contract. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

a COUPLE of GURUS met with us and understood the scope of our project, identifying which numbers had to be ported. They then facilitated the transition from regular phone lines to Microsoft Teams. They also set up our voice mail and calling tree. After finishing their work, they conducted a brief training for our team. 

What is the team composition?

Jamie (Customer Success Manager) was our account manager, and she assigned tasks to other teammates.

How did you come to work with a COUPLE of GURUS?

Our boss knew a COUPLE of GURUS’ CEO. They were already working for our company when I joined six years ago, and we just continued working with them on this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $5,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from September 2021–January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

a COUPLE of GURUS’ work received positive feedback from our team. They successfully finished the project, and we had a positive experience overall.

How did a COUPLE of GURUS perform from a project management standpoint?

a COUPLE of GURUS was great at project management — they made everything super easy. They were communicative and stayed within our timelines. We appreciated that, since we were hoping to transfer our phone lines before our contract ended. They met all our expectations.

We collaborated through emails and Microsoft Teams. a COUPLE of GURUS also had a ticketing system for addressing our questions. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

a COUPLE of GURUS’ responsiveness was impressive — they were good at getting back to me. Whenever I need something, I hear from them very quickly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know your own needs first and have clear expectations. It’s also important to define your timelines and deadlines. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I handle all accounting and facilities administration for a small-to-medium sized Title Insurance company in the Twin Cities. We have about 45 employees. Our network consists of 6 servers and approximately 50 workstations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire a COUPLE of GURUS?

Managed IT services

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

While ACOG's ability to plan and execute is of the highest level, their professionalism in working with all of my users is unmatched.

Describe the project in detail.

We recently replaced three of our six servers, and all of our network switches, as our hardware was slightly outdated.

What was the team composition?

While COVID operations tried to make this project more difficult, my ACOG project leader was able to organize and manage a very successful project on it's scheduled timeline.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

While COVID operations tried to make this project more difficult, my ACOG project leader was able to organize and manage a very successful project on it's scheduled timeline.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

All communication and workflow with ACOG is extremely efficient. We never experience any avoidable delays or postponements. And all ACOG engineers are easily reachable for my entire staff.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their knowledge, speed, and professionalism are the best that I've ever worked with.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None that I have found

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a grocery wholesaler.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with a COUPLE of GURUS?

We have them on-call at all times as our IT provider.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Especially given the pandemic, there’s no busier industry than the food industry right now. On top of that, we were challenged by having to go completely remote. They assisted us with that effort by taking care of laptop purchases and setup in addition to any issues that pop up in our day-to-day. For instance, if a firewall needs to be implemented or I’m having an issue with my new computer, they’re able to address our issues remotely. 

In the office, they manage and maintain our equipment, making installations whenever necessary as well. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with between 5–7 of their resources. 

How did you come to work with a COUPLE of GURUS?

Our relationship predates my tenure of 10 years with my company.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in 2010, and our teams are still collaborating

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re accommodating in understanding the importance of being quick in this industry. There are some opportunities with large retailers that are essentially first come first served. They understand this and can address problems within minutes of us uncovering them. Someone on their team simply logs into my laptop remotely and begins troubleshooting. The speediness of their work is very impressive.  

How did a COUPLE of GURUS perform from a project management standpoint?

Whenever I’m facing an issue and reach out to them, they get back to me with support within minutes. I appreciate their ability to log into our computers remotely. That allows them to correct issues at a much faster pace than we would otherwise.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Over the years, I’ve become familiar with their team because the same people are typically assigned to our account. Because of our familiarity with them, I don’t have to explain our systems at all when issues pop up. They understand our company well and can quickly address issues with that knowledge. Additionally, they explain their work in layman’s terms, which keeps us both on the same page.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. They’ve spent years keeping our company up and running with no faults. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Call their general helpline— they can make IT trouble-free.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director Digital Solutions of Fuzzy Duck

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Fuzzy Duck provides branding, marketing, and creative services for small to medium businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire a COUPLE of GURUS to accomplish?

• Update firewall and wireless network.

SOLUTION

How did you find a COUPLE of GURUS?

Other

Why did you select a COUPLE of GURUS over others?

Other

What was the size of a COUPLE of GURUS’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Updated firewall, VPN access, and wireless access points.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Updated network and WAP

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The services and items were delivered within the timeline provided.

What was your primary form of communication with a COUPLE of GURUS?

• Email
• Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The equipment and installation just seems to work.

Are there any areas for improvement or something a COUPLE of GURUS could have done differently?

no

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a small accounting and consulting company out of Lake Elmo, MN.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire a COUPLE of GURUS?

We use The Gurus for out managed IT services and general IT expertise.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

A client of ours was using The Gurus and had referred us to you many years back.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

Managed IT Services on a monthly basis.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We have worked with many over the years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Not off the top of my head.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Excellent.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their response time is generally very solid.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not at this time

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We own and operate hotels and other real estate. I am the President & COO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire a COUPLE of GURUS?

We hired them to upgrade our Exchange server to M365 and will be contracting with them for our IT Managed Services.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Through networking we were introduced to aCOUPLEofGURUS and we asked them to submit a proposal for their IT Managed Services. They had a very thorough presentation and were competitively priced.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

They put together a detailed plan and scheduled for the project and provided weekly updates.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Project Lead Solutions Guru Technical Guru Client Success Guru Business Development Guru

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They finished on schedule and there was limited downtime for our team.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very good. Their communication was excellent.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

How response they were and their follow-up.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director of Operations at a CNC Swiss Precision machine shop.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire a COUPLE of GURUS?

Outsourced IT management.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal has been to have an IT company to help solve the problems we run into. They continue to accomplish this.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Recommend to us.

Describe the project in detail.

Outsourced IT management. They solve any IT issues we run into, as well as maintenance like daily server back ups. Help install new equipment, including a new server and all new desktops and laptops for remote work.

What was the team composition?

Their team is great. They have very friendly account managers and owners. The staff that helps over the phone and onsite when needed are very knowledgeable and all work together to solve the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We rarely have to call with problems. That's success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. They respond to emails quickly and phone calls right away.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They listen to your needs. They don't try to sell you on extras you don't need.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None