Client Success Stories - CRU Solutions - Baumgarten & Company LLP

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Success Stories > CRU Solutions Success Stories

Baumgarten & Company LLP

“It’s easy to communicate with the tech staff at CRU. Even though we have IT support in house, CRU understands our business and knows that when we are calling them we really need their expertise.”
Ken Gulling, Business Advisor

Baumgarten & Company LLP
Certified Public Accountants and Business Consultants

Employees: 14
Founded: 1946
Headquarters in Cleveland, OH
www.baumgartencpa.com

Challenge:
To locate a technology company with integrity that would offer right-sized solutions to complement the firm’s internal technology capabilities.

Solution:
An initial engagement with CRU Solutions on a small project began an ongoing relationship based on knowledge and trust.

Results:
Baumgarten & Company has confidence in CRU Solutions as a trusted business advisor and in CRU custom servers and desktops to help keep the firm running efficiently.

In the 1960s, Baumgarten & Company was one of the first local firms in Cleveland to have a computer system. Over the years they have continued to use technology to its fullest to meet the needs of their clients. While they have technical expertise on staff, they have worked with many consultants and vendors over the years for efficiency.

Ken Gulling, Business Advisor, was referred to CRU Solutions in late 2004 to assist with a firewall. As Ken describes it, “We had a ‘doorknob lock’ on our client data and really needed a ‘deadbolt’. I received quotes from companies who wanted to build a high-security system that was beyond both our needs and our budget. I explained what we were looking for to Jim Kerr at CRU, and he recommended a solution that met our needs without overkill.”

Based on that initial experience, CRU Solutions was invited to complete a Technology Health Analysis (THA) to analyze Baumgarten’s network and server.

The THA report determined that the server was not quite ready to be replaced, but should be budgeted for replacement in the next 6 – 12 months. Rather than replacing the server in the fall as recommended, Baumgarten elected to hold off on the server replacement until after tax season. Unfortunately, during tax season the old server was pushed beyond its limit.

CRU stepped in to help and fixed the server within a couple of hours. The firm was up and running again the same day.

The decision to switch from a well-known computer brand to CRU custom hardware was not an easy one for Baumgarten to make. In the past, they had bought computers for the entire office from a local computer builder who went out of business soon after. In addition to prepaid service hours lost, Baumgarten discovered that the computers all had different “insides”, making servicing them difficult.

However, based on Baumgarten’s previous experience with CRU and the positive relationship that had been developed between the CRU team and Baumgarten staff, they decided to give CRU computers a try on a limited basis. Their first computer purchase was desktops in 2005, which to their delight had all the same “insides”, making servicing much easier. Baumgarten has purchased a server and more desktops since.

Ken also believes that trust and integrity are key aspects of Baumgarten’s relationship with CRU Solutions. “We know from experience that CRU will recommend what’s best for our business and they will not sell us a bunch of stuff we don’t really need.”

Larry Yunaska, Partner, echoes Ken’s sentiments. “We receive honest advice,” Larry says. “Working with CRU Solutions has meant integrity, quality, reliability, and a good value for the dollar.”

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