Changes
in technology come fast—very fast. Moore’s
Law says that computer capacity doubles every 18 months.
For the Delta, that is both good and bad news. Good news
due to the fact that there is a wide array of computer
and technology services available right here provided
by companies that are on the leading edge of what is needed
in the Delta now and what will be needed in the future.
There is the bad news, too, however. The downside of fast
developing technology is that many business and residential
technological users often wait until the time is “right”
to make the best technological investment. Technology,
however, waits for no one and while a business belabors
their decision, they could be missing out on technology
and services that may make their business run smoother
and more efficiently.
So, why wait? Get ready to enter a brave, new technological
world right now, Delta tech leaders say. From smart copiers
to cable modems, from DSL to Internet security, there
are a plethora of options and they are waiting right here
in the Delta for the savvy business owner to take advantage
of them.
One form of technology that every office has is a copier,
and there was a time when copiers did just that—copy
things. Copiers still make copies, but now the print instructions
can be given from the comfort of your own desk, and the
old copier has been replaced by a machine that can fax,
scan, and print.
Charles Peeples, manager of the Greenville branch of Connected
Office Products, says that today’s new line of copiers
is not only convenient, but they save businesses money
with every page they print. In fact, according to Peeples,
businesses can save an average of six cents per page with
this new type of machine. They can also save physical
space within the office and save money by buying only
one service contract rather than one each for small printers,
faxes, and scanners.
Billy Steen, regional manager of Southern Duplicating,
agrees that businesses need to invest in the latest generation
of copy options.
“The greatest need of our customers is to cut the
cost of operating within their offices by bringing digital
equipment into the work place. We offer a wide range of
digital copiers, printers, fax equipment and scanners
that can be combined into one unit and can save the business
money, time, and space,” says Steen. “You
now have the ability to make every copy and original by
printing finished sets to your digital copier/printer,
fax from books or through your network from your digital
copier\fax, and scan from books or store larger document
to your hard drive on the printer with your copier\scanner.
We can now also offer all of this in color at a fraction
of the cost of just a couple of years ago.”
Another plus of these new machines is speed, as Peeples
explains, “Next-day is not fast enough anymore when
it comes to sending documents and information from one
location to another. These machines enable businesses
to scan information directly into a computer file to send
as an email attachment. They can also scan documents in
and save them to a CD which provides a more secure, convenient
and space-efficient manner of document storage.”
Providing customers with document storage options has
become an entire business within itself for companies
such as Document Imaging Solutions. This Cleveland-based
sister company of Key Solutions, is a reseller of Laserfiche
document imaging software. This type of software is especially
useful for professions and governmental entities that
are paper-heavy such as accountants, lawyers, and doctors.
“We can help anyone who wants to turn their paper
documents into an electronic format,” says Keith
King, president. “A business can achieve easy document
distribution, accessibility, security, and can make multiple
copies of their documentation. It also provides easier
development of retention schedules.”
The software is sold in a manner that is very adaptable
to each business’ needs and gives the client full
control over their documents once they have been downloaded
into the electronic format.
“One thing that distinguishes our software is that
it is modular—you only buy what you need,”
explains King. “Another favorable attribute is that
the software is not a service which you buy and pay a
monthly fee for someone to host your documents; the software
resides in your office and you are in total control of
your documents permanently. This gives the business more
document security and control.”
For many companies the question is not how to incorporate
new technological options, but, rather, how to keep the
ones they have up and running with very few, if any, interruptions.
Key Solutions has spent much of the last year focusing
on just that. With Delta locations in Leland, Greenwood,
Cleveland, and Clarksdale, they are poised and ready to
comprehensively meet the technological needs of Delta
businesses and meet those needs in a manner that allows
for as little interruption of daily business operations
as possible.
“We have moved more towards service. We sell hardware
systems, PC’s to handhelds, but our main focus is
service,” says Key Reifers, president of Key Solutions.
“We have technicians on staff who are committed
to providing same-day service to anywhere in the Delta.”
Some businesses need a company that can provide comprehensive
services and meet all of their technological needs. One
such company is Synergetics Diversified Computer Services,
Inc., originally located only in Starkville, but now with
offices throughout the state, including a Delta branch
in Cleveland.
The goal of Synergetics is to become the information systems
staff for businesses that may not have the demand or the
money to hire an information systems person or persons
full-time. By taking advantage of the services provided
by a company such as Synergetics, businesses can have
access to the latest technological resources and their
applications without having to designate personnel to
design and input these options. Synergetics has a large
educational client base, but the new resources that they
are putting into practice have strong business applications
as well. One of these new resources is video conferencing.
David Palmer, CEO of Synergetics, explains, “Educational
Video Conferencing is an interactive solution that removes
barriers for distance learning, professional development,
field trips, special events, and meetings. It lets districts
plug into other district’s resources allowing them
to offer their students and teachers access to courses
they may not otherwise be able to offer. There is currently
a lot of interest in this technology from Mississippi
educators. Its business applications allow businesses
to conduct meetings without incurring travel expenses.”
Educational clients are also a part of business for Peay
Computers who not only sells hardware, but also provides
technical services for the Clarksdale schools. Peay Computers
of Clarksdale and its related consulting company, TPK,
Inc., have a long-standing reputation in the Delta for
providing quality and service and for also meeting the
comprehensive information technology needs of businesses.
Under the umbrella of TPK, Inc., Pat Peay, owner of Peay
Computers, offers contract IT services to small- and medium-sized
businesses for a flat monthly rate and also provides recommendations
on hardware, analyzes business software, handles installations,
networking, and third-party liaisons, and remains available
to clients as an IT consultant.
In addition to IT services, Peay Computers also has computers
in stock or will build them to a client’s specifications.
All computer warranty work is done locally and the company
also offers peripherals such as printers, digital cameras,
scanners, hubs and routers just to name a few. Peay computers
sees the trend towards more homes becoming networked much
like businesses have been in the past and can totally
set up a home for networking from cable installation to
computer hardware. Looking toward the newer wireless technology,
home computer users can go wireless in their connections
through using Peay’s services
Another business that is looking toward new types of technological
services for the Delta is TecInfo, Inc.
President of TecInfo, Greg Hayman, says, “We spent
the majority of 2003 researching and developing products
that we feel that businesses need in order to move forward.
Affordable document imaging, Internet security, which
includes internal and external network connections, and
corporate Internet liability solutions and Spam protection
are just a few of some of the things we have developed.”
Hayman goes on to say that the new services that the company
is offering come directly from TecInfo’s attempts
to meet its own needs.
“We, like many businesses, have suffered with employees
not being able to work because their computers are inoperable.
Faced with this problem frequently, as many companies
are, has made us take a real close look at what was happening
within our own network,” explains Hayman. “Our
research in our internal network shows that many problems
are eliminated by insuring that appropriate business use
of the company computer network is managed.
“Many companies, including TecInfo, have had to
deal with Internet liability which includes potentially
costly legal issues, expensive repair costs, and employee
security and liability. As a network and Internet integrator,
TecInfo will be assisting businesses as they become aware
of these risks and have to integrate changes into how
their computer networks are used. Today, TecInfo experiences
little or no PC problems; hardware failure is about the
only problem we experience and that happens infrequently.
This is a solution that every business owner, CEO, and
manager will want to incorporate in their networks immediately.”
A form of Internet accessibility that is becoming more
and more available is the use of cable modems. This type
of modem provides high-speed Internet access that does
not go through the traditional phone line or DSL.
Natalie Criss is the new Internet Business Manager for
CableOne. Criss’ job is to develop cable Internet
use within all of the Delta service area, explains Pete
Peden, General Manager of CableOne’s Cleveland office.
“We are a preferred connection by many businesses
because cable is a dependable, high-speed Internet connection,”
says Criss.
Even with many businesses choosing to explore and use
cable Internet access, Criss goes on to say that more
should look into it.
“More businesses need to explore adding cable access
to their offices,” she says. “It is an easy
and affordable technology to take advantage of and taking
advantage of cable modem access can be done at a very
affordable price. Also, an added benefit of the technology,
is the availability of an excellent local support team
from right here in the Delta to meet all service needs”
As Criss points out, businesses and individuals in the
Delta need to be aware of the new technological services
available. In fact, many technology service providers
feel that one of the greatest technological needs of the
Delta is to take advantage of the options that are already
in place.
“One thing that the Delta can do to become more
advanced technologically is for more people to have computers
in their homes,” says Peden of CableOne. “The
more computers there are the more opportunities are given
to us to expand our high-speed Internet services into
the community.”
Jim Raines, chief technical officer of Synergetics, agrees
with that point of view. “Delta business leaders’
biggest technological need is for information about what
types of technology exist and which types of technology
will prove to be most beneficial in their businesses.
The need is not only for hardware, software, and Internet
access, but, also, for solutions. Businesses want to know
and understand, so they can appropriately plan and budget
for technology. They want to know ‘how will this
help me’ and ‘how will we use it.’”
Hayman also concurs. “The greatest need for the
Delta in regards to technology use is utilizing and understanding
the technology that is already here. Because of the rapid
changes in technology and wanting to get the latest new
thing, some businesses tend to hesitate and miss some
of their opportunities. As the information age comes of
age, the Delta will have to decide to what degree it will
participate. We need to understand how to use our existing
technology economically and efficiently.”
Perhaps the largest technological trend that will affect
the Delta in the future is wireless access. Both CNN.com
and USAWeekend ran articles in one week regarding the
trend towards using more and more wireless technology.
From cellular phones to handheld computers, the country
is going wireless, but is the Delta ready?
“The existing telecommunications infrastructure
from cable to phone lines is in great need of upgrading,”
says Pat Peay. “Wireless is coming in just at the
right time because, in many cases, the interested corporations
are not at a point where they are willing to make the
continued investment in upgrading this infrastructure
in the Delta. So, since upgrades need to be made, the
timing is good for changes for companies to come in that
will bring the Delta more in line with the nationwide
wireless developments.”
Dr. Brent Hales is the Director of Delta State University’s
Center for Community and Economic Development and President
of the Mississippi Delta Technology Council. He sees the
need for the Delta to be prepared to provide wireless
access throughout the area. “There are opportunities
for the Delta to continually keep up with the national
trends, however, the infrastructure for wireless access
is not available as of yet. Wireless service is extremely
limited and there is no wireless Internet company that
serves the entire Delta as of yet.”
Hales continues by saying that without the provision of
this access, the Delta is limiting itself in regards to
how the area can attract new business and industry.
“Without comprehensive wireless access, you are
taking an entire segment of the telecommunications industry
and prohibiting the Delta from using it and prohibiting
Delta business and economic development entities from
developing it for future use,” says Hales.
Raines of Synergetics sees the viability of wireless access
and its applications. “Wireless connectivity is
a very viable option for businesses to connect their Local
Area Networks. Synergetics’ implementations of wireless
connectivity are definitely growing. With wireless solutions,
our customers have to focus less on the physical placement
of their computers and printers.”
The desire to meet and anticipate the needs of the Delta
has had no overarching drive, no central body, according
to Hales. With the establishment of the Mississippi Delta
Technology Council, however, technological service providers
are hoping that that will change.
“We are trying to create that umbrella organization
that will try to promote technology so that Delta can
have the same opportunities as other parts of the country
and showcase what is already available so that people
can effectively use it,” says Hales.
The Delta’s technological future has the potential
to be very bright. The technological services are out
there; it is a matter of Delta businesses taking advantage
of these services. It is also a matter of Delta business
and economic development leadership being willing to upgrade
the wireless access that will allow the Delta to be on
equal footing with the rest of the country. DBJ
