Heed AI Consulting

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO for Green Food Avocados. We sell avocados.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Heed Consulting Group?

We were experiencing the need to upgrade our systems. We had to get server upgrades and put in place networking systems that would allow us not to go down. All of our servers were cloud-based to ensure we didn’t lose anything and that our company would still be able to function if there was some mad event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Heed Consulting Group helps with our daily help desk work. They help my employees with passwords and printing. They also manage our IT infrastructures. I have two different locations that need to be managed—one in California, and the other in Texas.

Their team manages the firewalls, emails, and our whole infrastructure. A lot of our salespeople are remote access. We have to make sure they’re protected and that they can access the company infrastructure.

What is the team composition?

I primarily work with Michael (CEO). He’s my go-to guy and acts as a project manager. Depending on the level of the job, they will refer different technicians.

How did you come to work with Heed Consulting Group?

Our existing technician, in my opinion, was lacking. I also think the prices were a bit inflated. I knew Michael previously from another organization, so I reached out to him and put some work out to be bid.

It was about a $60,000–$80,000 job, and they came in very price competitive. They understand the infrastructure and took control. Overall, they provided the level of work that I was seeking.

How much have you invested with them?

The overall investment has been between $60,000–$80,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Heed Consulting Group started in January 2020. I have a yearly retainer with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

If my employees aren’t calling me, that means they’re happy. It means nothing is broken. The other day, they had to go out to my warehouse in Riverside because we were having some Wi-Fi issues. The technician came out to resolve the problem, and the hotspots were fixed within a few days.

That is the level of work that I expect from an IT company. We do depend heavily on our Wi-Fi system because we have to scan our codes and trucks coming in and out. We’re pretty much a paperless environment.

How did Heed Consulting Group perform from a project management standpoint?

All work requested is done through email. I usually get a response within minutes, or not longer than an hour. They have the access to access any of our infrastructures remotely. A lot of troubleshooting can be done remotely to either fix or resolve issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I like the fact that they pick up the phone. A lot of companies now just send an email, and you’ll get an answer hours later. But with Heed Consulting Group, they always pick up with the phone and get the problem resolved.

I relate that to their growth. They’re able to respond to their customers’ needs. We’re a small to mid-sized company, and our time is crucial to our business. Without their responsive approach, there would be a damper on our business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have a technical background, but sometimes the users of these computers aren’t computer savvy. I have to explain to them that sometimes they have to make it simpler for the users. I’ve had to have them understand that my employees will explain things differently as well. It’s nothing major.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be specific on what you’re looking for. Have them do an onsite visit. You may think you have had a good computer system for nine years, but in ten years, things can change a lot. A server even brought last year is considered old. Their team can come to visit without any interruption to your business.

Introduce them and have them take a look at your technologies. They can run a scan on a computer and find all of the weaknesses and vulnerabilities. The ability to explain that in a way that the average person can understand is beneficial. Michael is good at simplifying that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO of GreenFruit Avocados. We’re a wholesale distributor and supplier of avocados.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CAM Business Solutions?

We kept having issues with failing internal network service in our warehouses and it resulted in lots of lost time and productivity. We hired CAM Business Solutions to replace a previous IT contractor and resolve that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we let them access our servers to monitor activity for 24 hours. Once they’d assessed the quality of our service, they dispatched employees to two of our sites and did assessments of our equipment and connectivity. They then produced a plan of action based on the assessments, which involved replacing and reinstalling our routers.

Now that we’ve resolved that issue, they’re supplying hardware for us as we transition the location of our main office.

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with their founder and one other IT support staffer. They also facilitated contact with third-party software providers for us as needed.

How did you come to work with CAM Business Solutions?

I’ve worked with them before while at a previous company. Prior to having our current problem, we’d been in the process of planning to move offices, so I reached out to them to get price quotes on new servers and office equipment. The contractor we’d been using gave us a high price in exchange for slow service, so we decided to switch.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2018 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They resolved the initial technical issue within a week. The diagnosis of the problem took less than 24 hours and they were able to schedule the maintenance to solve it so that we weren’t offline during business hours. We had a few small hiccups due to disconnecting the server but got everyone back online quickly. It took some time to reset the remote access points for all of my employees, but everything’s working smoothly now.

I’m very grateful to them because our previous IT contractor had replaced the router twice without solving the problem.

How did CAM Business Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

This was a challenging task due to the complexity of scheduling the downtime and they handled it well. Not only that, they helped us with some things that were outside the scope of their work, which they didn’t need to do. They’re very proactive and will try to resolve problems before they become significant.

We managed this project via phone, email, and in-person visits.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They responded quickly, resolved our issue smoothly, and offered a fair price. I felt like their company offered good value.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’d be nice if they had a better understanding of my infrastructure but that takes time. We’re working on it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Understand your problem and your desired outcomes before you bring someone in to work for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of IT at a food processing company. We manufacture food products for big-box stores and individual restaurant chains.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with CAM Business Solutions?

Our company has locations in Texas and Los Angeles. Since I am in Texas, we use CAM Business Solutions to provide desktop support primarily for our Los Angeles facilities. They do a variety of small projects as well.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

CAM Business Solutions provides desktop and network support for Windows and Mac OS computers. The team assists with HP network switches, which we previously had to replace physically. They have also reimaged machines and completed Windows updates. In one instance, we had a fire at one of our Los Angeles facilities. The team helped us reach a deal via mediation to move materials out of the location.

What is the team composition?

We have one point of contact that serves as manager.

How did you come to work with CAM Business Solutions?

A former colleague recommended them as a good resource for our Los Angeles facilities.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2016 and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team is impactful. They keep us up and running with minimal downtime. I can’t be in two places at once and CAM Business Solutions get things done in my absence. They resolve problems and help us run critical issues. Example problems include desktops being offline and network performance.

How did CAM Business Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

The team works a little slower than we’d prefer, but they complete every task. Overall, CAM Business Solutions handles the projects with minimal oversight, even if they have to work at an executive’s home in Los Angeles. The team is picky and wants us to resolve issues immediately. Likewise, our partnership may have issues around unrealistic expectations. I use email to set up a project’s baseline and they’ll follow up via phone to discuss specific issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team gets the job done without causing any trouble. We can trust them to be honest and keep within the parameters for each project. Unlike outside consultants, CAM Business Solutions doesn’t try to tell me how to run my network. I provide the criteria and they come back with solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Vendors need to keep their skill sets up to date with current technology. To that end, CAM Business Solutions has had some problems on the Mac OS side. Their performance with Windows is more consistent than with Mac OS; the latter isn’t their wheelhouse.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should understand the cost of replacement procedures and after-hours work. A few bills surprised us because we thought after hours work starts at 7 P.M., but they start billing it 6 P.M. We needed clarification earlier, but it was a minor issue in the end.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the owner of Robin Kellogg Associates

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provides creative website, blog, article, and book content for small business owners.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Heed AI Consulting to accomplish?

• To learn more about AI and how it can help my business.

SOLUTION

How did you find Heed AI Consulting?

Networking

Why did you select Heed AI Consulting over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from Heed AI Consulting were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

I had the pleasure of working with Heed AI Consulting on developing ways that I could use AI to expand my business offers and to use as an online tool to spark my imagination in my writing projects. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I learned not to dispose of AI at face value but to see it as another tool to use in my business.

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

Michael Bowers was incredible. He kept appointments, was never late, and did a lot of homework specially geared toward my business goals.

What was your primary form of communication with Heed AI Consulting?

Virtual Meeting

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

Michael himself. He is a fount of knowledge and is truly one of the nicest people I have met. They were easy to get along with and knew how to explain technical information to non-techie people.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Heed AI Consulting could have done differently?

No. I was extremely satisfied.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO/Owner of Chatbot WordPress Professionals

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Supply and create AI Websites, Chatbots and phone Services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Heed AI Consulting to accomplish?

• Implemented AI to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for higher-value activities.
• Leveraged AI-driven analytics for data-backed decision making and improved marketing ROI.
• Enhanced customer service with AI-powered chatbots, boosting engagement and satisfaction.
• Optimized web design and content with AI, improving user experience and conversion rates.
• Implemented AI-driven personalization for targeted marketing campaigns.

SOLUTION

How did you find Heed AI Consulting?

Online Search

Why did you select Heed AI Consulting over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Heed AI Consulting were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Scope of Work:

•  AI Assessment and Strategy:
  • Conducted a comprehensive audit of existing web and marketing infrastructure.
  • Identified opportunities for AI integration and automation.
  • Developed a tailored AI strategy aligned with business goals and objectives.
• AI Implementation and Integration:
  • Implemented AI-powered tools and platforms for task automation, data analysis, customer service, and web optimization.
  • Integrated AI seamlessly into existing systems and workflows.
• AI Training and Support:
  • Provided comprehensive training for staff on how to use AI tools and platforms effectively.
  • Offered ongoing support and guidance for maximizing the benefits of AI.

Key Deliverables:

• AI Strategy Document: A detailed roadmap outlining AI goals, implementation plans, and expected outcomes.
• Implemented AI Tools: Fully functional AI-powered tools and platforms for automation, analytics, customer service, and web optimization.
• Training Materials and Resources: Comprehensive training resources and materials to empower staff to leverage AI effectively.
• Performance Reports: Regular reports tracking the impact of AI on key performance indicators, including productivity, ROI, customer satisfaction, and web traffic.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• 35% reduction in time spent on repetitive tasks due to AI-powered automation.
• 25% increase in marketing ROI through AI-driven data analysis and campaign optimization.
• 40% improvement in customer satisfaction ratings due to enhanced AI-powered support.
• 20% increase in website traffic and 16% increase in conversion rates due to AI-driven web optimization and personalization.
• Positive client feedback on improved efficiency, productivity, and overall business performance.

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

Heed Consulting demonstrated exceptional project management throughout the engagement. They adhered to a well-defined project plan, providing regular updates and progress reports. All deliverables were completed on time and within budget. The team was highly responsive to our evolving needs, adapting their approach and solutions accordingly. 

They actively sought our feedback and incorporated it into the project to ensure alignment with our goals and expectations. Their proactive communication and collaborative approach fostered a strong working relationship built on trust and transparency.

What was your primary form of communication with Heed AI Consulting?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

Heed AI Consulting's deep understanding of AI's potential in the web and marketing space truly impressed me. Their ability to translate complex AI concepts into practical solutions tailored to our specific business needs was exceptional. Their commitment to not just implementing AI but also educating our team on its effective use was a unique and valuable aspect of their service. 

Their holistic approach, combining technical expertise with a focus on empowering our staff, sets them apart as a truly transformative partner in our AI journey.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Heed AI Consulting could have done differently?

While Heed Consulting delivered exceptional service overall, there's always room for improvement. One area where they could have done better is providing more upfront clarity on the potential challenges and limitations of AI implementation. While they did a great job managing expectations once the project started, addressing these aspects earlier could have further prepared us for the realities of integrating AI into our workflow. 

Additionally, offering more comprehensive post-implementation support, such as regular check-ins and additional training resources, could help ensure that we continue to maximize the benefits of AI in the long term.