The Consultant
OnDeckTech
• Apple Certified Systems Administrator (ACSA)
• Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (ACHDS)
• Apple Professional Service Provider
• Authorized Zimbra Integrator and Hosting Provider
• Apple Developer Connection (ADC) Member
• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
• FileMaker Certified Developer
The Client
Bagby and Company, Inc. is an advertising firm that provides comprehensive branding services for a variety of Fortune 500 companies. With 40 employees and counting, the firm relies on a mixed platform of Mac and Windows desktop computers. Email is a business critical application for this fast-paced business. Whether managing projects or simply staying in touch with clients, being able to share contact information and coordinate calendars is crucial.
Before hiring OnDeckTech, Bagby and Company was using their ISP’s POP3 email server and Microsoft Entourage as their mail client. Though Entourage offered calendaring and address book features, its capabilities could not meet the firm’s requirements for a robust collaborative multi-platform work environment.
The Assignment
Bagby and Company’s two main concerns were improved workflow efficiency and email security. Their existing POP3 email accounts prevented remote employees from accessing email downloaded at the office. In addition, their ISP’s email server didn’t provide enough security for Bagby’s employees to be able to access restricted client information remotely. With employees constantly on the go, and email and collaboration critical to their workflow, the firm needed secure remote email access and multi-platform collaboration—at a reasonable price.
After considering an investment in Microsoft Exchange Server, Bagby was interested in a more Mac- and Linux-friendly solution. That’s when an Apple Authorized Reseller referred them to OnDeckTech for expert advice.
The Solution
OnDeckTech, a member of the Apple Consultants Network, offers a wide range of consulting services, providing clients with comprehensive, customized solutions to help them achieve their business and technology goals. After assessing Bagby and Company’s email system and workflow, OnDeckTech recommended a cross platform solution based on the Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS):
- • The multi-platform Zimbra solution runs on Mac OS X and Red Hat servers, and integrates with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- • The solution integrates with Mail, iCal and Address Book on the Mac.
- • ZCS includes an IMAP email server with built-in Secure Socket Layer (SSL) capabilities, enabling more effective synchronization and secure remote access to email.
- • The Zimbra solution costs less than Microsoft Exchange.
“The fact that OnDeckTech holds so many Apple certifications was a key point when we were looking for a partner to help with our email and scheduling concerns—their membership in the Apple Consultants Network gave them immediate credibility. We were impressed with their ability to provide a complete solution that seamlessly integrated with our existing environment.”
— Jerry Pavelka,
Senior VP Information Technology,
Bagby and Company, Inc.
The final configuration incorporated Zimbra Collaboration Suite on an Xserve running Mac OS X, including PostFix email server, a MySQL database, and virus and spam filtering services. OnDeckTech transitioned the company’s Mac-based email client from Entourage to Apple Mail, and customized the Zimbra webmail site to match the advertising firm’s high profile brand. After migrating Bagby and Company’s information to the new system, OnDeckTech trained the in-house IT staff to administer the new solution.
But even more important than the implementation of the new technology was the manner in which the Zimbra solution impacted the entire company’s workflow efficiency and collaboration capabilities. With the help of OnDeckTech, the Bagby and Company staff was effectively trained to maximize all of the capabilities and new tools provided by the solution, which significantly increased overall productively company-wide.
The Benefits and Results
Once Bagby and Company chose to implement the new solution, it was only a matter of weeks before it was being used successfully throughout the company. As a result, Bagby and Company:
- • Saved money — They have saved thousands of dollars in upfront cost and ongoing licensing fees by using Zimbra and Mac OS X’s built-in tools, such as Mail, iCal, and Address Book.
- • Enhanced collaboration — Contact and calendaring information can now be accessed and shared from any location.
- • Supports multiple platforms — The firm’s email and collaboration system runs on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.
- • Improved workflow — The IMAP email server keeps email in sync, whether checked at the office or remotely. Employees have a single sign-on for all network resources, improving efficiency and IT management.
- • Addressed security concerns — Zimbra’s built-in SSL capabilities enable secure remote access to email without the need for a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
OnDeckTech is an authorized reseller, developer, and hosting provider for the Zimbra Collaboration Suite. With priority access to the latest updates, developer enhancements, and training from Zimbra, OnDeckTech continues to provide superior support and offer significant value to Bagby and Company—keeping the firm collaborating effectively.
For more information about OnDeckTech’s Zimbra solution, visit http://zimbra.ondecktech.com or http://www.macwork.com/category/zimbra/.
