Client Case Studies - Industrial Packaging Supply
iCorps Technologies—the single-source IT vendor for one of the Northeast’s oldest packaging companies—applies its unique whole business approach to customized technology solutions that support Industrial Packaging’s business and drive the company’s profitability, productivity, and success. A Need for ChangeIndustrial Packaging has seen many changes in the industry since its founding in 1953. This dynamic corporation in Oxford, Massachusetts sells packaging films, packaging equipment and provides custom contract packaging for its clients, which include many fortune 500 companies. For much of its 53 years in business, Industrial Packaging had relied on its employees for manual accounting, sales, and inventory record-keeping. During the 1980s, it moved some of these back-office tasks to a mainframe platform. “Until 1999, we were using an old UNIX box,” explains Mike Mills, Vice President of Operations at Industrial Packaging.“ Dumb terminals on everyone’s desks were used primarily for order entry, accounts receivable, billing, and general ledger work.” As time passed and the business grew, the inefficiencies and limitations of the older mainframe platform became more obvious. “We knew we had to move away from that,” says Mills. Finding the Right Technology PartnerAn important first step in that move was finding the right technology partner—one that could broaden the company’s IT capabilities and handle its technology needs, since Industrial Packaging had no dedicated internal technical staff. iCorps Technologies’ comprehensive outsourced IT services were a perfect complement, and would give Industrial Packaging the power and flexibility to handle any aspect of its technology requirements as needed. iCorps was called in initially to help with a few problems that Industrial Packaging was having with its mainframe system and soon performed an in-depth audit of their existing systems, processes, and future business objectives. The goal was to create a stable, reliable, secure technology infrastructure that would improve productivity and profitability, and allow Industrial Packaging to focus fully on its core business. iCorps’ key recommendations were to replace the old mainframe system with a new local area network (LAN) and a Windows-based file server platform, email, remote access, and firewall security. iCorps implemented the changes, and to ensure that the new system continued to perform optimally, also established a proactive maintenance program with scheduled visits, and a 24/7 help desk. The BenefitsThe move to the file server platform afforded the company many benefits, including improved internal and external communications and increased efficiency, staff productivity, and workflow. iCorps enhanced Industrial Packaging’s sales effectiveness by establishing a secure and reliable remote access solution. And it strengthened the reliability, security, and stability of the company’s entire technology infrastructure. A Strong PartnershipThroughout their long relationship, iCorps has served as a key strategic partner for Industrial Packaging, helping them manage their changing business needs and growth. And over the years, iCorps has helped the company achieve significant milestones: A Moving ExperienceIn 2003, prompted by business growth, Industrial Packaging faced the major task of relocating and consolidating the firm’s two locations in Worcester, Massachusetts and Killingly, Connecticut. iCorps handled all IT for the move including the planning, project management, and seamless implementation. “iCorps is our strategic partner and a valuable IT consultant. We’re in business together. I look to them not only to maintain our current IT structure, but also to provide a vision of how technology can work for us in the future as we strive to reduce costs.”Mike Mills, Vice President of Operations
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