Corporate Vision December 2017

54 CORPORATE VISION / December 2017 , Carolina Business Equipment, Inc. (CBE) has been providing business solutions to South Carolina since 1975. We spoke to John Eckstromas we take a closer look at the innovative company. Fully Managed IT Services, MPS and Business Solutions As an established leader, CBE performs like a 43-year-old start-up, with every day at the company providing a new challenge or opportunity. There is a sense of urgency encapsulated in the firm’s motto ‘will it amaze?’, which looks at astonishing the customers. With a 4000-strong established print base of MFPs & MPS, and a 14-year history of ever evolving IT services; the CBE team is constantly looking to improve the services, products and support provided to its established and new clients. John outlines the company mission, explaining what steps the company takes in order to reach the targets it sets itself. This is not intended to be a road map for how to start a managed network business, it is just a recap of how we went from a start up in the MNS space to the company we are today. “CBE strives to be a no excuses top level provider of technology and business solutions. We do not try to be all things to all clients, but rather be the very best at what we provide and deliver fully integrated we well thought out and cleanly executed solutions.” Following on from CBE’s aims of being at the top level of technology and business-related solutions, John states how the company marks itself out as the best option for clients, highlighting the infrastructure within the company as a key aspect of its success. “Essentially, CBE’s investment in internal infrastructure and support tools sets us apart from any provider in the territories we support. Rather than say we are the best, we strive daily to empower our clients to tell others that CBE is substantially better than anyone else in our field. Our constant efforts towards improvement and no excuses approach combine to set CBE as the pinnacle provider. In summary, a client can find someone to do it cheaper but they will not find anyone to do it better.” Being recognized as Most Reputable Business Solutions Provider 2017 in South Carolina in the Corporate Excellence Awards 2017, is a sign that the company is heading in the right direction. John explains what it means to the company to be recognized, before going on to explain what this means for the firm going forward. “It is always humbling to receive awards and we try to keep a proper perspective. This award helps to validate that we are moving in the right direction and encourages us to strive to be even better. Clearly, to have been picked by CV Magazine as the Most Reputable Business Solutions Provider for 2017, the IT Management group pulled together to talk about it. There is a term ‘Technology Disrupters’ that is common when you are a solutions provider. Long before that term was common, we at CBE have operated under the charge that we will bring solutions to the market place for the way business will be conducted. To be relevant, it is crucial to recognize the subtleties that are going on all around us, and to be able to adapt to what is happening, presenting solutions to the client base, so that they too are not sitting in the dust wondering what happened. Given the significant changes in the world as far as technology goes, we are often asked, “What is next”? Here is the answer, we simply don’t know. What is going on right now with mobility, social media, cloud computing and big data has put us in an era that is unprecedented. What we can tell you with conviction though is that, for most of you, if you do not embrace technology you will struggle to remain relevant in 1712CV20 your respective industries. The solutions that will be necessary to survive in a meaningful way will be developed by the SMB business. No longer are these being developed by the “Big Guys” and handed down. It is our job as the solutions provider to quarterback these often-complex solutions. “The concept of bringing business solutions to the market place for the way business will be conducted, is really something that was hard for most people to understand years ago. The forward-thinking nature of our entire management team is a testament that we are on the right track and in fact we are, in many cases, installing that track. Simply put, it means that we are yet again seen by an outside source as the premier solutions provider in the southeast. The award echoes our motto of “Will it Amaze”: and it is nice that we have been recognized for our ongoing efforts to provide quality business solutions.” Teamwork can be an integral part of a growing company, with John explaining that the teams at CBE are always training and communicating openly, something which they are encouraged to do. There are weekly meetings which means