Technology isn\u2019t just for Fortune 500 companies.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the mantra of Kent resident Michael O\u2019Brien, 23, and Auburn resident Jared Anardi, 28. It\u2019s also the basis on which the two have founded their new consulting company, Praece Strategic Technology Consulting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to arm the small and medium business,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cThere\u2019s no real barrier that keeps them from using the same technologies as these huge companies. It\u2019s mostly just a mind-set barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brothers-in-law O\u2019Brien and Anardi have been interested in bringing technology to businesses for years, they said.<\/p>\n
While attending Auburn High School, O\u2019Brien even started his own company, called Pacific Applied Innovations, hiring out his technological expertise to the businesses of family friends. The Pacific Lutheran University graduate now also works at Redmond-based XKL, which produces hi-tech optical telecommunications systems.<\/p>\n
Anardi also has had his hand in business technology for quite some time, working for two Microsoft partners \u2014 CIO Trust and Ascentium \u2014 installing Microsoft business applications. The Washington State University graduate now works full time for Praece.<\/p>\n
The two said they first got the idea for the new consulting company working with a variety of large companies at their previous jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would see all these technologies really benefiting big companies, but there are a lot of small- and medium-sized businesses that would really benefit from the same thing,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cWe want to give them that same strategic push.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several large consulting companies dominate the business technology market, they said, catering to Fortune 500 companies but often snubbing smaller businesses looking for similar solutions. That\u2019s where Praece comes in.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien and Anardi plan to cater to area businesses with 20-100 employees \u2014 even so-called \u201cmom-and-pop\u201d shops \u2014 providing them with some of the same technologies used by large corporations.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll start with what they call a \u201cstrategic technology audit,\u201d meeting with people from each department \u2014 from secretaries to CEOs \u2014 to discover their needs and business goals. Then they\u2019ll help implement systems that are designed to streamline information access, increase communication, bolster marketing potential and provide secure data storage.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the main issues we come across a lot is a term called \u2018siloed information,\u2019 where employee John down the hall has access to a file but no one else does,\u201d Anardi said. \u201cWe\u2019ll equip companies with systems that basically throw all company files onto a network \u2014 an intranet \u2014 so they can be easily accessed by everybody in the building 24 hours a day, seven days a week.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said another technology rarely used by smaller businesses is an automated customer-relationship management system, called a CRM. A CRM creates an information link between a company and its customers, collecting and computing valuable marketing information about customer needs and purchase habits.<\/p>\n
He said these seemingly expensive systems have become much more attainable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe price of these systems have really come down, so they\u2019re actually affordable for these smaller businesses,\u201d Anardi said.<\/p>\n
Praece also will utilize open-source programs to further decrease costs for smaller companies. O\u2019Brien said some of those open-source programs are the same systems used by Fortune 500 companies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that we can get that exact same software and deploy it for these smaller companies is really cool,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n
No one system will always work for every company, he said, so Praece will also customize systems to meet each company\u2019s business goals. The company has contracted with six specialists \u2014 including programers and Web developers \u2014 to help them do so.<\/p>\n
The Praece founders are in the process of beginning work with businesses in the construction and print industries, they said, and they\u2019re busy meeting other potential clients. They say they\u2019re confident that their young consulting company will continue to grow.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmall and medium businesses drive the American economy, so we think there\u2019s plenty of room to expand,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cWe\u2019re definitely in this for the long haul.\u201d<\/p>\n
Learn more about Praece at www.praece.com or call 253-217-7129.<\/p>\n
Contact Daniel Mooney at 253-437-6012 or dmooney@reporternewspapers.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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