Thinkwise Solutions Ltd.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're a shipping company, and I'm the IT infrastructure manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkwise Solutions Ltd.?

We needed to do a data center upgrade and migration. We hadn’t upgraded or migrated our data center infrastructure for many years, so we needed to reach out to people that have been dealing with it on a regular basis. We also wanted to make sure that we’re not leaving out new technologies that we’re not aware of. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We use Chris (CEO & Principal Consultant) and his organization as a trusted solutions advisor to guide us in technologies that we should be considering. During the discovery phase, they start by knowing where we are and where we want to be. Based on the direction that we want to take, Thinkwise will advise us on technologies to use, and then we talk to vendors.

They also have a good cloud technology background. Since we’re not familiar with all the cloud offerings out there, they help us understand such offers. Then, we look for vendors for the managed service and data center side of things. They also help us when we’re evaluating those vendors, and their inputs are taken into consideration. 

An example of that is when they recommended using Zerto, which is a good product for replication tasks. The migration is ongoing, and we’re also currently using them for an evaluation of Office 365. 

What is the team composition?

We work with three different people, and Chris is our main contact. I reach out to him, and he engages other resources.

How did you come to work with Thinkwise Solutions Ltd.?

Chris and I worked together previously so I was very familiar with him. We kept in touch even when he started his own company. This project was an opportunity to work with him, and it made sense because I knew what he could bring to the table. I recommended him to my superior, and they liked him, so we received approval to move ahead. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged with them in January 2020, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although the migration project isn’t complete yet, we’re happy with the way things are going and with their team’s inputs. We’re satisfied with the choices we’ve made so far. They’re very open and adaptable. Additionally, they stay within budget, so everything is good. 

The first several months of launch after the migration will be a bigger proof of success. Their impact on our business will depend on how modernized our infrastructure will be. The metrics we’ll be looking at will include better response times, availability, and ease of migration. 

How did Thinkwise Solutions Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

From a communication perspective, Thinkwise is versatile. They’re not stuck in a certain direction, and they’re able to adapt based on what we have. Moreover, they do most of the work remotely since there’s no need for them to be working in-house. However, we've met a couple of times.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the things that are very valuable to us is their real-world experience — it’s relevant and current.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any. They deliver what we need, and there’s nothing that they’re missing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re going in for advisory services, you have to keep an open mind. Taking the time to listen and learn from Thinkwise is the best way to approach the project. They bring a lot to the table, and they’re adaptable and willing to learn during the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are two businesses within one: we run a pension side and an investment management side of our business. We manage a huge portfolio of assets. I'm the senior vice president of information technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thinkwise Solutions Ltd.?

We struggled with our cloud migration project, which is a strategic imperative for us. We needed to move 100% of our computing infrastructure to the cloud by the end of 2019.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first step was to revisit our business case. Based on their experience with other organizations, we asked them to look over our principles and guidelines. They pulled everything together in terms of cost and reaffirmed our plan. Then we started the rest of the project.

They did a deep dive into our computing environment and costs and then compared those conditions to the cloud. Today, they work for us in two capacities. They are a mentor and guide for our cloud team. They meet regularly to make sure we're on track and to share ideas, and we work with technical staff for the migration.

What is the team composition?

We struggled to find a partner who had done this before. We spoke to a number of firms, several of which were in the midst of this kind of project, but we had trouble finding any testimonials of successful, completed work. Thinkwise came with experience and legitimate testimonials, and we could work directly with the individuals we met during the sales process. For me, that sense of ownership and accountability set them apart. We found them through one of our VPs who had worked with them at a previous company.

How did you come to work with Thinkwise Solutions Ltd.?

The project started off with two primary points of contact, and they brought in a few other team members who worked through the majority of the program.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost was very reasonable, and the benefit was right for us.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from August-October 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything they do exceeds our expectations, and we've had a very positive experience.

How did Thinkwise Solutions Ltd. perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive. I can call them after hours or meet them face to face. We communicate through multiple channels, and I rarely have to wait for them if we need to chat.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a lot of experience, and the people we speak with are the same individuals who do the work. We know that they'll deliver a quality product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I am hard-pressed to come up with anything negative about their work. They're a phenomenal partner for us.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I don't have any specific suggestions. My only advice is to know what you need from them and be prepared.