Service Offers Something Everyone Can Use—Free Money

Grand Rapids, MI—An innovative new program from technology consulting firm C/D/H provides one of the things we all can use most in a tough economy—cash.

Called the IT Operational Cost Audit, the program charges a flat fee for performing the audit. If the audit doesn’t produce cost savings of at least three times the amount of the fee, C/D/H guarantees the client will pay nothing.

“Our goal is to do the best thing for our client,” said Sarah Woodruff, marketing coordinator at C/D/H. “We have great expertise in evaluating a company’s IT structure and helping maximize its value. We have the confidence to say, ‘If we can’t create exceptional value it won’t cost you anything.’”

The audit analyzes a client’s technical, financial, business and infrastructure environments to find the most effective use of hardware and software assets, financial resources and human capital.

“The audit process was not disruptive at all,” said J.J. Swain, systems administrator at RBC Ministries, where C/D/H performed an audit. “It was very easy to walk through everything with them; they were very organized, so it was easy, yet extremely beneficial.”

Why do the audits work? The IT infrastructure at a company is a collection of decisions made over a period of years. As a result, the systems may not function as efficiently as they could. Often times companies already own the software they need to achieve these improvements, it is just that they don’t use the features effectively. In many cases that means there is low-hanging fruit that can yield big improvements in productivity and cost savings.

An example of the program’s effectiveness is the recent audit done at Grand Rapids-based RBC Ministries, which could save the organization about $298,000 over the next three years. One suggestion C/D/H made was to apply new software to RBC’s servers, which allowed the ministry to go from 60 servers down to 14. This not only reduces emissions, but it also cuts back on maintenance and electricity costs.

“We’re that much closer to the client and their initiatives and goals, and we know their environment inside and out,” Woodruff said. “We’re hoping they know the true value we provide as well. We really do have their best interest at heart.”

Founded in 1990, C/D/H serves clients in business, government and education with technology consulting that is experienced, unbiased and client-focused. The company has offices in Royal Oak and Grand Rapids from which it provides clients with consulting services in the design, management and implementation of information technology infrastructure. C/D/H is certified as a Novell Platinum Partner, a Microsoft Gold Infrastructure Partner and also has earned top levels of certification with Cisco Systems, VMware, and Citrix.