Office Systems : Case Study
See how Principal's advice enabled a smarter purchasing choice that resulted in effective, up-to-date working practices for an expanding accountancy firm.
Number Crunching, Paper Scrunching
Calculated Moves
Autumn 2009. Jonathan Baggot, accountancy firm Stephenson Sheppard's Managing Director, had taken over ownership of the company with Steve Brett a year earlier. They could no longer ignore a mounting issue: lots of paper and no scanner.
Jonathan Baggot explains.
"More and more people expected us to email them scanned documents – it became embarrassing that we didn't have any scanning facilities. We wanted to look like the modern up-to-date firm that we are."
Something had to be done.
So Many Variables, So Little Time
The product choice needed to match the firm's investment and growth strategies – and the Directors' vision of a paperless office.
"Principal gave us a choice of different models with all the pros and cons, and we made the final decision," says Jonathan Baggot. "The sales approach was soft, upfront, and informed."
Stephenson Sheppard chose two Konica Minolta C280 devices that would meet all copying/scanning/faxing needs and, importantly, be compatible with existing terminal services and document management software.
It's the Thought that Counts
It was not Principal's product knowledge alone that impressed the accountants.
"Principal offered more than the other companies we looked at," Jonathan Baggot says. "As we were thinking of doing more in the long run than just buying scanners, it made sense to go with them."
Principal's expert advice on handling the transfer agreement made an impact too. "They were very proactive on that," Jonathan Baggot continues. "They helped us work out the cancellation terms, drafted the letter, and advised us on our contractual position with our incumbent supplier. It's fair to say that they took the pain out of the contract transfer." So the devices were installed and a service agreement set up.
It All Adds Up...
Jonathan Baggot is more than satisfied with the result.
"They have exceeded expectations," he states. "Everything went smoothly. Any obstacles that came up were swiftly dealt with. It all happened on time, just as they said it would. The training was good – the previous supplier didn't offer training. The level of communication was impressive throughout."
...To More than the Sum of its Parts
What does Jonathan Baggot believe is the main benefit of using Principal?
"Their level of service," he answers. "They are professional, knowledgeable, easy to deal with, and easy to get hold of. They have not promised anything they haven't delivered."
