Frequently Asked Questions
- What's different about Ekaru? Several things: (1) First and foremost: we specialize in small business. Your account matters to us, no matter how big or small. (2) Ekaru engineering talent covers engineering skills all the way up to corporate CIO level expertise - we can make your mouse work and we can implement a sophisticated customer relationship management (CRM) solution for you. (3) We are about "one-stop shopping" - you can get strategic advice from us, buy your computers from us, and take care of your Internet connection, email, printers, web site, and more. We want to become your trusted IT department.
- What kinds of clients do you work with? Ekaru's clients span many industries including law, printing, accounting, financial services, artists, marketing firms, success coaches, you name it! Our clients range from single-person businesses up to 50-100 person companies, plus a few much larger clients.
- Ekaru specializes in small business but I have been told my technical problem is very challenging - can Ekaru help? Yes! Our engineering talent is pretty amazing. We have been awarded patents, managed international manufacturing organizations, designed the first single-board CODEC for videoconferencing, built microprocessors from scratch, designed and implemented regional and international voice, video, and data networks, served on National Science Foundation committees, and developed advanced medical imaging software applications . . . just to name a few feathers in our caps!
- How do I know that I won't wind up with a system or solution that is obsolete in 6 months? Technology evolves very rapidly, and there is no guarantee that any purchased product may not become obsolete as newer technologies come to market. However, Ekaru follows a conservative 3-point philosophy of technology deployment: (1) Specifiy "main stream" technologies from stable, well-established companies whenever possible. Product life cycles are longer, and risk of supplier going out of business is lower. (2) Seek "lowest cost of ownership" solutions over cheapest purchase price. High reliability and performance is dramatically more cost effective than saving a few bucks at purchase. (3) Avoid "bleeding edge" technology!
- How do I know how much my project will cost? Ekaru provides written proposals with estimates on all jobs. If we run into additional technical problems, we discuss it with you before going over the estimate, so you have control of your expenses. If you are more comfortable capping your budget in advance, we will work together with you to meet your goal.
- I don't want a service contract. Can I still use Ekaru? Yes, some of our customers want the "peace of mind" to have a scheduled monthly visit by Ekaru, and others just want to use us for solving problems, and doing new projects. Its up to you.
- I don't have a technical problem, but I need some advice selecting new productivity software. Do you do that? Yes, it's an important part of what we do. We maintain relationships with many of the top technology vendors and offer strategic advice as to how to make your business more productive with the right technology.
- Everything works right, but I just don't know how to use it. Can Ekaru help? Yes, Ekaru can send a "technology coach" to your office to help you and your staff get the most out of your business applications, e.g. managing projects in Outlook folders, building sales plans in Excel, setting up credit card processing and automatic invoicing in QuickBooks, and developing standard fax and stationery templates in Word.
- I run a small business and want to do some of my work from home. Can Ekaru help? Yes, we have helped numerous clients set up secure, remote access so they can enjoy the flexibility that they want - part of the reason they became entrepreneurs in the first place!
- I'm not looking for just a repair person --- I want my technology to help my business grow. How can Ekaru help? Ekaru has significant management experience including running venture-backed businesses, and consulting to Fortune 500 companies. We understand that technology is strategic to business, not just a tool.
- Your hourly rate sounds expensive - why shouldn't I just go to "the computer guy" who charges less per hour? You're right, our hourly rate isn't the cheapest, but we believe our value is the best, and so do our clients! We provide expert engineering talent and we have experience with many businesses. Because we do the job right, the total cost ("cost of ownership") ends up being less. Also, we never charge for time when we get stuck on something that we ought to know. In addition, our management provides CIO-level engineering expertise, so we do the job right.
- Isn't it cheaper if I buy my computers, software, and other IT equipment directly from CDW, Dell, or some other webtailer or retailer? Not always and not much. Ekaru gets reseller discounts not available directly to the end user, and we add only a modest markup to cover our costs of procurement and handling. We know how much time can be spent looking for the right item on a web site, or shopping at a retail outlet. And how much money can be wasted by configuring a system wrong or purchasing the wrong solution! Ekaru offers technology procurement as a service to our customers so that you can use us as a one-stop-shop for all of your technology purchases, and have the confidence that you are getting the right product for your needs at a value price.
- Do you have references available? Do we ever! We pride ourselves in keeping our customers happy and working with us for many years. Go to our Clients Page to see examples of how Ekaru has helped other businesses like yours. If you'd like to speak with one or more existing Ekaru clients, let us know and we'll set it up for you. And if you'd like to become an Ekaru reference, just tell us; we will always seek your permission in advance of any potential prospect call, and out of respect for your time, limit the number of times we make such a request of you.
