KnowAtom is a small business that’s making big changes to science education in classrooms across the US. The Massachusetts-based company provides hands-on science curriculum tailored to state standards for Grades K through 6. Their program saves teachers time and money by providing both classroom-ready teaching materials and supporting resources for students and parents that are focused on science, engineering, and technology. They also provide afterschool and summer camp programs that engage kids with interactive science projects ranging from the creation of mini-ecosystems, to building robots.
Early in the start-up phase of their business, the company was able to manage with individual cell phones for sales staff. They had no cohesive network in place. But as word of their innovative science education programs spread, this team of enthusiastic educators and curriculum specialists began looking for a better way to support their business and keep their staff connected.
CEO Francis Vigeant explained that the company initially considered a phone system using traditional landlines, but they were concerned that it would prove too maintenance-heavy and cost-prohibitive. They needed something more flexible and scalable; something that could provide state-of-the-art communications and allow remote access for sales personnel who were reaching further into US schools every day. “We looked at a few other options, but we knew what it would come down to was a decision between a VOIP or a traditional landline solution” said Vigeant. “We also wanted easy-to-use voicemail and polycom phones.” As a teacher and curriculum expert with a passion for science, Vigeant wanted a system that was worry-free; one that would let them remain focused on their goal of making 21st century science concepts more accessible to young children. With staff numbers growing to 14 at the height of their busiest period, and plans to release an online distribution channel to give them national reach, the KnowAtom team needed a dynamic solution that could respond to these changes.
The Sutus Business Central was chosen by the KnowAtom team as the more flexible, affordable option. It would give them all the telephone and internet features they wanted, while allowing for continued growth and expansion. “One major attraction for us was the remote office features” explained Vigeant. “We didn’t want to have our sales people having to come into the office to get information and use the phones. Because the Sutus solution comes standard with a VPN, this was now possible.” The company also gained access to a wider array of advanced data and network functions that come standard with the Sutus Business Central, including file server, email server, router, firewall, wireless access point, and automated backups.
Initially sceptical about a technology platform touted as an ‘all-in-one solution,’ Vigeant reported that the Business Central lived up to this claim without compromising quality. “Usually when something is offered as an all-in-one solution there are a lot of question marks about what that really means. Often there are a lot of bugs that have to be worked out. We really haven’t run into any of the usual bugs in the system with this.”
The company’s decision to go with the Sutus option over a traditional multi-devise solution brought down the costs normally associated with a major IT investment. Vigeant estimated that a traditional solution would have been two to three times the cost. Thanks to the bundled features of the business central, and the company’s decision to use VOIP, there are no other monthly bills showing up on their statements.
The quick install and user-friendly help menus of the Sutus business central secured even more space on the company’s balance sheet by granting them greater autonomy and control over their technology. “It provides all the professional interface without all the management costs” said Vigeant. “As a small business, we really appreciate the fact that it’s a stable, scalable platform.”
Kept busy with a growing number of requests from teachers and other educators, the KnowAtom team has little time to deal with technology issues. “At the end of the day, the less we have to think about it (our network) the better,” explained Vigeant. He credits the easy-to-use help menus of the Business Central for allowing more seamless transitions in personnel as the company grows. “When we add a new person to the sales team we don’t have to have to make a call to order a new line. Now, we just hand over the phone and tell the employee to go directly to the BC200 interface and we’re done. We don’t have to pay someone to do this for them.”
Overall, the KnowAtom team has found the Business Central to be a “very stable VOIP system” said Vigeant. It also gives the company all of the interoffice communications they need. There is no need for a front desk person, and no additional wage costs incurred as all incoming calls are managed by the auto-attendant features of the Business Central.
KnowAtom LLC Success
Move to more advanced Voice Over IP (VoIP) phone system saved on capital costs and eliminated one major monthly telephone expense
Auto attendant features eliminated front-desk position, saving over $65,000 in annual wage costs
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