Success Stories
Local CPA Firm "Goes Thin" with Terminal Server
Did you know that "dumb terminals" are back? Computer geeks call them "Terminal Servers."
Marketers then renamed them to "Thin Client Servers." Whatever the name, it describes a central computer that
is shared by multiple users. Terminal servers offer many benefits like time savings, less maintenance, better security,
and easier remote access.
Read more...
Sutinen Consulting installed and has maintained a terminal server system for Opsahl,
Shelpp & Company, P.S. CPAs in Longview, Washington, for a few years. Erika Agren, Administrator, shared her experiences
with us.
Why did you choose the terminal server?
Our biggest problem was updating the software on every workstation. During tax
season we have frequent, sometimes daily updates. The updates had to be installed
at each workstation and other users could not access the data while they were being
installed. It took huge amounts of time and was just a headache.
How did the terminal server improve that?
I no longer have to maintain workstation desktops. No more going to each workstation to download
software and operating system updates. I just do one update on the server and it affects all users.
How did your users adjust?
I would say there was very minimal adjustment for the users. Their log in process changed but that
was about it. The adjustment was only on my part - the server administrator.
Which programs do you primarily use?
Microsoft Word and Excel, QuickBooks, and accounting industry specific software.
What do you not like about the terminal server system?
My biggest frustration is that not all software is out of the box compatible with a terminal
server, but Sutinen Consulting has been able to work around that and get my non-compatible software to work
on my terminal server.
You have two office locations. How has the terminal server helped you with managing that?
We were able to eliminate the server from our second office, which saved me tons of time.
The time I had to spend on server issues was cut in half because I only have one server to deal with now.
All my Vancouver users log into our terminal server that is located in our Longview office.
The terminal server can be used for working remotely. How has that impacted your business?
It has been great to have access from a remote location. It has allowed me to work from outside
the office when convenient for me.
Overall, how do you feel the terminal server has worked for you?
I am really glad we changed to a terminal server. It is so much easier to maintain.
I would not go back to any system where I would need to maintain desktop computers for each user.
Remote, But In Touch
Cascade Construction, a 40-employee construction company with operations in Longview, Tri-Cities, and
Moses Lake, was juggling with keeping everybody on the same page. Job supervisors in the different locations
needed access to email and calendars. Owners, bookkeeper, and accountant needed access to Quickbooks, often
simultaneously. Furthermore, "Power Users" needed the ability to use the full power of Outlook when on the
road, at home or at the office. Communicating effectively with its core staff--around 6 people in total--
was challenging.
Read more...
The old peer-to-peer network just wasn't cutting it anymore. "It was increasingly obvious that our
technology environment was not up to the job," says Mark Questad, President of Cascade Construction.
"With such a distributed company, we knew we had to make it easier for our employees to perform their
basic job functions."
Cascade Construction knew it needed to get with the times--and fast. It approached Sutinen Consulting, Inc.,
to design a solution that would bring its technology environment up to date and make the lives of the staff
easier.
Sutinen Consulting devised a solution that incorporated Microsoft® Small Business Server 2003, which
provides email, scheduling and cell phone integration, and Windows Terminal Services 2003 for secure remote
access to QuickBooks.
The first step of the upgrade was to get staff up and communicating with Outlook, and enabling QuickBooks
remote access for the accountant and office staff. The second step was getting Outlook Anywhere going for the
remote "Power Users," and finally Cascade Construction adopted Windows Mobile cell phones with real-time,
live email and scheduling capabilities to help staff remain better connected when on the road. This new mobile
technology has empowered Cascade Construction staff to provide rapid e-mail replies to customer inquiries, save
on travel time returning to the office, and access corporate files while on the road.
"The Small Business Server system has really sharpened our communications," says Questad. "My
staff can now keep on top of our various projects, know what is happening with suppliers, sub-contractors and
customers. This allows us to get through the projects on time and on budget."
Less Paper, More Productivity
William (BJ) Boatsman's accounting office
invested in a new computer system two
years ago with the intent to "go paperless"
as much as possible. Sutinen Consulting
designed and installed a system consisting
of a new server, workstations with multiple
monitors, computer faxing and scanners at
each desk. Read about their experiences:
Read more...
How have scanning capabilities at each desk helped with paper management?
We are still learning and adjusting, but it
has been a real convenience to have
individual scanners at each desk. We are just
beginning to realize reduced paper management
with this being only our second
year of using Document Management
Programs for our tax files. So far it is going
well. It gives me some peace of mind knowing
the volume of storage boxes will be
going down in the near future.
How have the scanning & multiple monitor
capabilities improved your productivity?
The ability to scan at our individual desks
makes it a lot easier to send multiple forms
of documents to our clients in PDF format
via email. Also using the scanners to fax
from our desks has been a nice convenience.
The multiple screens are by far the best
decision we could have made in this system
upgrade. We are always working in a least
two programs simultaneously and often
three or four. Having the three screens to
see all of them at the same time has created
a noticeable improvement in our work
productivity.
You receive your faxes through the server
(delivered via email). How has it worked for
you?
It is nice to have instant notice of the
receipt of a fax on my desktop and I really
like being able to delete junk faxes without
having to waste the paper and ink to print
them out. It is also nice to have the ability
to store important faxes in folders for later
reference.
You have now had the system for two tax
seasons. How would you describe the
reliability of the system?
So far the system has behaved well. We
have a lot of confidence in this system and
have had very few problems. I believe an
important key to the quality of this system
to operate reliably has been regular maintenance
by Sutinen Consulting's capable staff.
How are your clients impacted by your new
capabilities?
I think the best thing about our system
with regards to our clients is that they don't
really know much about how our system
affects them. Since we have so few problems
and everything works so smoothly and
efficiently they don't hear much or think
much about it.
