Case Studies - Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs)
Remote Offices and Users—Tighter Customer Integration Through VPN
Profile
A regional real estate firm with 20 offices and 300 agents across the Mid-Atlantic region is looking to utilize its property comparison database and report-writing tool more effectively among its highly mobile sales force. Market research indicates a desire on the part of clients to expedite communication of this important information, and doing so electronically would dramatically improve the pace at which this information is shared. The research also reflects that competitors have gained an edge through quick, timely email communications.
Challenge
As with most SMBs, the firm has limited IT infrastructure, staff, and budget. However, in order to maintain a competitive edge, they must find methods of better leveraging their current system to accommodate time-sensitive and confidential information. Given the nature of the agents’ diverse and demanding schedules, the span of their geographic territories, and the growing crises of theft of highly personal/confidential information, the agency needs to:
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Guarantee the highest level of security in handling confidential client information.
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Offer the flexibility and simplicity of anywhere-anytime application access.
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Provide a simple, user-friendly platform and minimize expensive hardware and support costs.
WorldExtend™ Solution
Installing the WorldExtend IronDoor agent onto a server at the company’s data center enabled them to offer secure remote access to user’s email accounts through a faster, less costly, and safer method than the alternative solutions on the market.
As the agency continues to grow in locations and staff, they are prepared to support an unlimited number of users securely and at a fraction of the cost of competitive solutions. The WorldExtend IronDoor agent provides a platform that empowers instant access to an enterprise’s network.
Results
All 20 offices and 300 users have anytime/anywhere access to their property comparison database and have email access to their clients and prospective clients thanks to IronDoor's Application Publishing capability. Additionally the confidential information exchanged between the two parties is done with the 128 or 256bit SSL encryption provided by IronDoor.
The potential for improved customer service ratings and subsequent growth is compounded by the cost savings of a centralized IT management system.
Remote Offices and Users—Application Publishing
Profile
Hamilton Physical Therapy Services (HPTS)—a regionally focused healthcare organization—realized that they had the opportunity for rapid regional expansion. As with most small organizations they had limited operational budgets available to them for financing their expansion.
Challenge
Given the complex nature of healthcare billing systems, strict HIPPA requirements and the company’s dependence on an IT infrastructure to manage their billing systems and scheduling software (PTOS Software) PTOS. HTPS needed a secure,
simplistic and cost-effective approach to deliver PTOS to multiple offices without having to invest in additional network infrastructure by having to undergo additional training or add servers and staff.
Initial Approach
HPTS first tried to solve this challenge by implementing a traditional client/server architecture. This required significant time and expense associated with installing the client software and latest updates to each PC, securing the network and server set-up and maintenance costs.
Despite the time, effort, and expense of setting up their network, maintaining proper performance levels and a poor end-user experience forced HPTS to seek alternative arrangements for delivering their necessary applications, or be forced to limit their plans for future growth.
WorldExtend™ Solution
HPTS utilized WorldExtend to solve their problem. The WorldExtend solution consisted of installing PTOS and other mission critical applications in it’s datacenter where it used WorldExtend IronDoor to host PTOS to multiple offices and users. Since applications were centralized it was much easier to apply upgrades and patches and push those changes onto remote users in branch offices. Additionally IronDoor made it much easier to administer necessary applications to new users using the WorldExtend Application Portal.
Results
After using WorldExtend’s IronDoor to publish PTOS, HPTS was able to quickly and efficiently open a third office without the limitation of a growing IT cost and was manage its IT requirements from a single location.
When HPTS was later acquired by U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (USPh), they immediately recognized the value of WorldExtend IronDoor and the WorldExtend Application Portal. With 364 locations in 42 states, USPh has chosen WorldExtend IronDoor as their corporate application delivery standard for all remote offices and users across the United States. WorldExtend currently delivers PTOS to over 150 users in 73 different offices. Additionally WorldExtend offers USPh a multitude of solutions for their application publishing needs in addition to IronDoor, including the IronDoor Application Cloud for offices that wish to host their own software.
