Challenger Manufacturing was named the first ever winner of Winnipeg’s Extreme Technology Makeover Contest, courtesy of solution providerEPIC Information Solutions. This $50,000 opportunity was designed specifically around assisting one small business expand and streamline their business using technology as the backbone to that success.
“We realized that to be more competitive we have to work more efficiently,” says Mirek Byczynski, owner of Challenger Manufacturing. “A new system will drastically improve parts management, production coordination, sales department communication, office work and marketing. In spite of our awareness of the problem we couldn’t afford the expense.”
“We’re very excited for this opportunity and look forward to working with EPIC Information Solutions to get up to speed with today’s technology and become even more competitive in the North American market, as well as in Europe and South America, which are areas we have set our focus for 2009.”
Challenger Manufacturing is a locally owned company that specializes in the manufacturing of smaller, easy to maneuver, and less expensive street cleaner trucks. These easier to service models use a traditional and proven design in combination with the newest technology to create a mechanical high-performance sweeper.
“The objective was to provide the opportunity for companies in Winnipeg to take advantage of the kind of IT restructuring usually reserved for bigger budgets and larger companies,” says David Reid, President and CEO of EPIC Information Solutions, a 2008 Channel Elite Award winner for for Best Channel Marketing initative. “Smaller companies often have other issues and needs with higher priorities than IT spending, and as a result, the importance of IT as a contributing aspect of the business tends to get overlooked. What we are hoping to do is demonstrate how important IT is in today’s marketplace.”
Working with major partners Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Cisco, EPIC Information Solutions offered the opportunity for one business in Winnipeg to have their information technology infrastructure completely revamped and redone – at zero cost to them. More than 75 local companies submitted their applications online stating why they needed an IT makeover, but ultimately, Challenger Manufacturing was chosen because they best fit the criteria assigned to help pick the winner.
Companies with anywhere from 5-50 users were invited to submit their applications through the EPIC Information Solutions Web site at www.epic.ca. The chosen company will receive a complete assessment and overhaul of their IT infrastructure, with a value of up to $50,000. This includes all-new HP hardware, including desktops, document management and a server, as well as the necessary software. EPIC Information Solutions will also be contributing managed services, online education, help desk support, and Web site design and hosting. The total amount also includes optional services like VoIP phone systems, disaster recovery, and a variety of other add-ons.