Raising the Bar, Reducing Costs

Most of the time when you‘re calling a techie it‘s because something is not right. An email stuck in a firewall or an error message on the printer has you tapping in the IT department’s number, silently praying this problem won‘t delay you too long.

On the other end of the scale, a server crash has you thumping the telephone, roaring to the heavens over your lost business and frustrated customers.

It’s hard to imagine an area of business in the 21st century that remains untouched by technology, and since the 1980s we have seen the rise of the IT expert towards the very top of the commercial food chain - how would we survive without them?

This is a question answered by IT Force, a company started in 1999 to provide independent consulting and technical services to IT departments. The concept of out-sourcing key areas of any commercial enterprise was alien to many Irish businesses, but the advantages and economies have become apparent over the past decade and IT Force currently enjoys growth of about 15 to 20% per year.
 
The founding partners - Joe O’Reilly and John Bergin - were confident with their concept. They had seen an increasing focus in the industry on the lucrative sales of hardware and software, with precious little effort put in to the support services needed to make the most of these expensive commodities. It was a source of frustration for companies, but an opportunity for IT Force.

They set about employing a pool of IT experts capable of delivering and maintaining IT projects, big and small, far more economically than companies could provide for themselves. They could raise the standard of service and reduce staff costs for their clients while freeing them from IT headaches to focus on their core business.

IT Force currently employs about 45 people through their base in the Guinness Enterprise Centre in the heart of Dublin, with an additional 20 professionals on contract. Their staff can work remotely or on site for clients, and by having a pool of talented professionals, there is always someone down the line who can provide a solution to any particular problem. They have made a policy of encouraging their staff to retrain and educate themselves when it comes to technological solutions in the industry, particularly through their heavy-hitting partners Microsoft, Citrix and Cisco.

IT Force divides its business into two distinct areas. Managed Services remote and onsite IT services for smaller businesses - typically with between 10-100 pc users. Essentially the entire IT function is outsourced here, offering the client a wealth of highly-skilled expertise typically for what it would cost to employ a junior IT member of staff. They have 40 to 50 clients in this mode. IT Force can offer complete planning, implementation and ongoing support for IT systems.

Their Managed Resources sector helps deliver larger IT projects, offering an existing IT department all types of infrastructure staff including helpdesk, desktop support, network administrator and engineer, project manager and specialist IT consultants. Their clients here are typically government departments and large corporate bodies such as financial institutions.

AIB, Failte Ireland, the Departments of the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, and the National Library of Ireland are among an impressive client list who have entrusted IT Force with essential aspects of their IT operations.

Not long after the company was founded, IT experts the world over were taken down a peg or two when the Millennium Bug threat transpired to be little more than a damp squib. It was a difficult time to be knocking on doors, Joe admits, but they kept faith with their product, and with a little help Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB) who took preference shares in the company, they rode out the tough times to establish a good reputation and solid business growth.

Further assistance in the early days came in the form of DCEB’s business mentor, Brian Davitt, who helped devise a clear marketing and PR strategy. Harnessing the internet also provided a boost to the company, with clear examples on their website www.itforce.ie of the work they have undertaken for clients. Most importantly, their clients were happy to voice their satisfaction with the IT Force service, and word of mouth and networking helped grow the business further.

DCEB chose to take another tranche of preference shares in 2004, bringing their total investment in the business to €100,000. The company has maintained a steady course, and looks well placed to ride-out the choppier economic waters over the next year or so.

Photo: Joe O'Reilly

© 2008 Dublin City Enterprise Board. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the permission from the D.C.E.B.

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