System Engineering Professional Payroll Services Case Studies
Alpha One
- Streamlining the back office.
- Integrating the front office.
- Helping Alpha One fulfill its mission.
The Challenge
Since 1978, Alpha One has been helping people with disabilities in Maine to live independently. Among the many services Alpha One provides is assisting persons with disabilities in the hiring, training and compensation of Personal Assistants (PAs), who play a key role in enabling independent living. Processing the payroll for these PAs entailed entering timesheets into a payroll system, then duplicating the effort into a billing system in order to get reimbursement from the State. Not only was the duplication time-consuming, but it left room for costly errors. That's when we were called in to develop a better Software Solution.
The Solution
Systems Engineering developed a customized financial management system so that Alpha One's 60+ employees at offices across Maine need only enter the time once. From there, the system creates payroll checks, reports taxes and compiles W2 data, as well as automatically creating electronic bills to be forwarded to the state. Requiring fewer employees and getting more accomplished, Alpha One no longer needs to keep multiple sets of records, and does not have to handle the same information multiple times.
Results
For Alpha One and Systems Engineering, streamlining the back office PA payroll and billing problem was just the beginning. We are now implementing a SalesLogix front office solution to integrate a multitude of databases, spreadsheets, mailing lists and outdated DOS-based tracking software into a single enterprise-wide information management system that all Alpha One offices can access statewide. Not only is this centralized client data solution more convenient, but it is far more accurate and secure, better able to comply with government regulations, and will greatly enhance customer service and help Alpha One fulfill its mission to Maine's disabled.
"Our services depend on accurate information, delivered efficiently and consistently all across Maine. The people of Systems Engineerin have always worked hard to get an in-depth understanding of our needs, and to develop systems that make a real difference to our operations ...and the well-being of our consumers." -- Agnes Winship, Attendant Services Payroll Manager, Alpha One
- “You guys really came through for us this weekend. You not only came in on Saturday and helped me with a problem, but then we had a more catastrophic failure. (catastrophic would not be one of your terms). Our system was down: busy week-end, credit cards, file server, you name it. You came back in Sunday, Pronto, which I really needed and got us straightened out. It was terrific! Kudos to Systems" Engineering for doing such a great job.” - Casco Bay Lines www.cascobaylines.com
- “Our services depend on accurate information, delivered efficiently and consistently all across Maine. The people of Software Solutions have always worked hard to get an in-depth understanding of our needs, and to develop systems that make a real difference to our operations …and the well-being of our consumers.” - Agnes Winship, Attendant Services Payroll Manager, Alpha One www.alpha-one.org
- “If you want it done the right way the first time, these are the guys to use.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
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“We’ve got a solid network with minimal issues. They do quality work and are a great, dedicated group of people.”
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Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank
www.biddefordsavings.com - “We rely on technology 24/7 to be competitive in our marketplace. Years ago, I could give somebody a 13-column pad and a pencil and a calculator, and they were up and running. Those days are long gone. The importance of technology to my business on a 1-to-10 scale is a 10.” - Ralph Hendrix, COO of Macdonald Page & Co. www.Macpage.com
- “We had a thunderstorm hit us on a Friday night. It blew out all our outlets and took out our entire network. Systems Engineering came in that night and worked through the weekend. They had everything back up and running before everyone came in on Monday morning. That’s why I say Systems Engineering gives you peace of mind.” - Ralph Hendrix, COO of Macdonald Page & Co. www.Macpage.com
- "They have been trustworthy partner and they have helped keep us on task. The relationship allows me more time to do strategic planning and researching." - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- "I don’t know of any other supplier that has the depth and breadth that Systems Engineering has; from programmers, to Cisco engineers, VMware engineers, Microsoft engineers – no one else has that kind of expertise on tap." - Darryl Hendricks, Director of Information Technology, Preti Flaherty
- “I’ve dealt with a lot of engineers from different organizations, and these guys at Systems Engineering are just the best. I know whenever they come over to fix anything, it’s going to get fixed. I never had that reassuring feeling with other vendors.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “We’ve been very happy with their level of support and the knowledge of their engineers is phenomenal.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- "They are dealing with other banks and financial institutions so they see things I don’t necessarily see. They understand the needs of financial institutions and they take our needs seriously." - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- “With Systems Engineering it’s about the relationship. We’ve been burned by other vendors; to them it was more about shoehorning in their products and services into our environment. Systems tries to help supplement whatever you might been lacking; whether that’s manpower or some certain expertise, but they never try to force you into things.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “These are people who truly care about their customers. That’s a breath of fresh air in this world.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- "I have a lot of trust in these guys. They’re a key partner because they play a very important part in what we do. Strategically, they’re a resource. Technically, they’re a resource. I look to them to play a key role, not just to be a simple cost center that we’re paying every month to do this or that." - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- “I sleep better at night knowing we have a local technology partner with the resources of Cisco behind them. That makes me feel pretty good.” - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- “Systems Engineering CIO outsourcing has helped us align ourselves more closely with our different business units. That’s been a very important transition for us.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “Financially, you could never train or certify everyone on every single product we have here. If we did, my training budget would be 5-6 times larger than it is. That’s where Systems Engineering comes in.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “Like other nonprofit organizations with a limited staff and budget, it’s always a challenge; there’s less money for equipment, software, and manpower. Systems helped us by supplementing our staff and providing critical care support." - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- "We hired Systems Engineering because we knew that they were an organization that could keep us ahead of the curve. They brought over some very bright, hardworking trustworthy people to help us solve some highly critical IT issues. When it comes to client relationships, Systems Engineering conducts their business in a very similar way to the way we conduct ours. In other words, I feel as if I gained a partner. - Teresa M. Esposito COO/CFO of H.M. Payson & Co.
- "Systems Engineering works with me on my goals. They don’t try and sell me things I don’t need. They don’t push technologies that don’t fit. They listen to me and give me suggestions and recommendations. If they think I’m missing something, they are going to tell me. It’s a partnership that works to achieve the firm’s goals. For us, it’s about building long-term relationships and working together to solve problems" - Darryl Hendricks, Director of Information Technology, Preti Flaherty
