Debt collection agencies, hospitality, and healthcare providers have something unexpected in common: They all need reliable technology that can help them address the growing cyber threats and evolving regulations.

Whether it’s forming a defensible position to comply with new requirements tied to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), establishing phone lines guests can use in an emergency, setting up communications solutions for an owner-operator or building redundancy across locations, technology is the backbone of modern business. However, identifying and deploying the solutions that enable business is daunting to many companies, even those with in-house IT teams.

Tailored Solutions for Changing Regulations

Debt collection agencies Kinum, Inc. in Virginia and Midwest Credit & Collection in central Illinois are among the many companies that have turned to TPx to help them adjust to changing federal regulations.

Updated regulations meant the companies were reclassified as financial institutions. With the new designation came new GLBA requirements, and the companies knew they couldn’t tackle the changes alone.

“Having a partner that was there every step of the way put all of us at ease,” Kinum Director of Technology Nicolai Cockrill said. “It hasn’t taken up a wild amount of my time to implement. I didn’t have to come to a screeching halt on other things we’re doing, so we didn’t lose momentum on our other important initiatives.”

Ensuring Consistency and Efficiency

In Arizona, Resilient Health wanted to ensure its technology stack was consistent and redundant across locations and eliminate its previous mix of IT solutions. The results were immediate at the locations where the organization deployed TPx solutions.

“We’ve already noticed improvements in stability and a decrease in support requests at TPx-enabled sites,” IT Manager David Wahl said. “The metrics clearly show improved trends in response time and issue resolution times.”

Prioritizing Guest Safety in Hospitality

For Buena Vista Inn in Anaheim, California, hospitality is only as good as a guest’s safety and well-being, and ensuring guests can reach emergency services quickly and reliably is paramount. However, as the hotelier’s new management quickly learned, easy tasks like establishing emergency phone lines sometimes become complex.

The same approach works for owner-operators like Jill Harris of Ruskin, Florida-based Gates Vacation Properties.

As a small business owner, Harris quickly learned that not every solutions provider was willing to tailor their offerings to her needs. However, once Harris contacted TPx, she found a partner willing to work with her to establish the right-sized solutions for her needs.

Meeting the Needs of Small Business Owners

While these companies had different needs, they all found a trusted and experienced partner in TPx that helped them develop and implement a customized approach that met their needs and helped them solve a business challenge.

Businesses face real challenges, but it’s too easy for many companies to deliver off-the-shelf solutions that may not solve a particular problem.

Finding a partner willing to work with a company shouldn’t be among them. A true partner will listen to an organization’s problems or challenges and devise a unique solution that meets its budget and expectations.

Are You Ready for the Modern Business Landscape?

Do you feel prepared for the modern business landscape? If not, let us know how we can help. We partner with companies large and small in every industry to deliver reliable IT solutions that help businesses increase their resiliency and mitigate the unexpected.

The post Keys to Customer Success: Listen then Tailor Your Approach appeared first on TPx Communications.

In the heart of hospitality lies a commitment to guest safety and well-being. For Buena Vista Inn in Anaheim, California, ensuring that guests can reach emergency services quickly and reliably is of the utmost importance. But when the inn’s new management sought to establish emergency phone lines, what should have been an easy task became a complex challenge.

Emergency Communication Challenge

Buena Vista Inn’s new management recognized the crucial need for guests to have access to 911 services in case of emergencies. With an existing Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system in place, they sought a straightforward solution – four new phone lines integrated into their current infrastructure – but they quickly discovered that many telecommunications companies were more focused on sales than service.

Sudesh Kumar, who oversees the inn’s technological requirements, faced a frustrating quest for a solution. All the inn needed were four new phone lines. Instead, companies proposed costly alternatives like cloud-based PBX systems or elaborate setups involving IP phones and extensive cabling.

The TPx Solution

Kumar found what he needed in TPx – a partner committed to understanding and meeting Buena Vista Inn’s precise needs. With a clear grasp of the inn’s requirements, TPx seamlessly integrated four new phone lines into the existing PBX infrastructure. This approach not only fulfilled the emergency communication mandate but also proved cost-effective, bypassing unnecessary hardware expenditures.

Ensuring Safety, One Connection at a Time

With TPx’s expertise, Buena Vista Inn secured essential phone lines for emergency purposes and saved costs by leveraging their existing PBX system and avoiding costly hardware upgrades. By optimizing the existing system, Buena Vista Inn achieved enhanced functionality while minimizing expenses—a testament to the efficiency of TPx’s approach.

Reflecting on Success

With the new phone lines operational, guests can now rest assured that emergency services are just a call away. Reflecting on the partnership with TPx, Kumar expressed gratitude for the smooth and efficient process. “We needed a solution for this situation, and to my surprise, we couldn’t find one. TPx understood what we needed and gave us what we wanted. They were on top of everything, and it was a smooth operation,” Kumar emphasized.

A Testament to Partnership

Buena Vista Inn’s experience highlights the importance of choosing the right partner when addressing critical operational needs. By collaborating with TPx, the inn was able to streamline communication infrastructure and ensure a secure guest experience.

At TPx, we recognize that every business – whether a sprawling enterprise or a cozy inn – has distinct needs and challenges. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond mere transactions; it’s about forging enduring partnerships built on trust. Together, we can turn technology challenges into opportunities. Connect with TPx and experience the difference firsthand.

The post Customer Spotlight: Buena Vista Inn – Ensuring Seamless Emergency Communication appeared first on TPx Communications.

A Proactive Approach to Changing Federal Regulations

In the ever-evolving landscape of federal regulations, businesses must adapt swiftly to remain compliant while maintaining operational efficiency. For Midwest Credit & Collection, a locally owned agency in central Illinois, this reality hit hard when federal regulations reclassified them from a debt collection agency to a financial institution. With new requirements looming, they faced a daunting challenge: ensuring compliance with limited resources.

The Challenge: Navigating Regulatory Changes

Midwest Credit & Collection is a locally owned and operated collection agency based in central Illinois. For more than 70 years, the company has prided itself on its long-standing relationships with its clients, maintaining relationships through trust and success in returning high collections of clients’ receivables.

While the company has about five collectors and a couple of administrative staff members, given its size, it doesn’t have a dedicated IT team. Instead, it relies on a local consulting firm to help with IT needs.

However, when the company needed to comply with new “safeguards” requirements tied to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Midwest Credit & Collection team knew it needed a partner with experience helping companies of all sizes understand, prepare for and comply with ever-changing regulations.

The Solution: Developing a Comprehensive Strategy

Midwest Credit & Collection found the perfect partner in TPx. Together, they successfully implemented a comprehensive approach to ensure it took a defensible position against changing federal regulations.

“I have a background in accounting; I’m a CPA by trade. I don’t have an IT background, so I don’t know about many requirements tied to the safeguards rule,” Midwest Credit & Collection’s CEO and President Kacy M. Harlan said. “It was very overwhelming for me at my initial read.”

TPx was crucial in helping Midwest Credit & Collection develop, implement, and maintain a written information security program that protects customer information through administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. To comply with FTC Safeguards Rule guidelines, businesses must continuously monitor, manage, and maintain their cybersecurity plan.

“Changing regulations have always been a concern. I trusted that the controls we had in place through our IT vendor would prevent anything bad from happening,” Harlan added. “The safeguards were a bit of an eye-opener. There were some things we should have done that we weren’t doing, and maybe there were things we should have done a while ago.”

The Results: Streamlining Compliance Efforts

TPx’s deep experience in helping companies build and maintain a defensible position made it more cost-effective for Midwest Credit & Collection than asking its existing IT consulting firm to take on additional responsibilities. It could also do so while spending less time in-house on compliance, knowing expert resources are just a phone call away when needed.

Businesses face audits and significant fines for non-compliance, making a defensible posture imperative. With TPx taking the lead, the Midwest Credit & Collection team could focus on what they do best: helping clients increase their cash flows.

“At first, all the requirements and the cost seemed daunting and overwhelming for us as a small agency,” Harlan added. “Once we decided to proceed, it was seamless and organized, with lots of communication with the TPx team. From the start, it seemed very thorough, and I knew what my tasks were, or my IT person knew what his tasks were.”

The Benefits: Peace of Mind

For businesses grappling with compliance concerns, the message is clear: proactive partnership is key. Working with TPx has given Midwest Credit & Collection peace of mind, as the professionals monitor its controls and processes to ensure the company’s defensibility.

By collaborating with seasoned experts like TPx, companies can navigate regulatory complexities with confidence, safeguarding their operations and reputation in the process. If you’re unsure about your company’s compliance with the new Safeguards Rule, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experts. Together, we can chart a course toward regulatory resilience and business success.

The post TPx Customer Spotlight: Midwest Credit & Collection appeared first on TPx Communications.

Staying Connected in the Sunshine State

When Jill Harris decided to start her own vacation rental company, she needed technology that would allow her to run her business no matter where she was. After all, catering to travelers isn’t a Monday-to-Friday type of job.

As the owner-operator of Ruskin, Florida-based Gates Vacation Properties, Jill Harris serves others looking to step away from the grind for a respite. Like so many solopreneurs these days, Harris found it hard to take the occasional break if she didn’t have the technology that would allow her to monitor her business even when out of the office.

To be successful, she needs to be connected whenever her clients call, no matter where she may be. To find the right solution, she knew she needed to find a partner who could help make her business dreams a reality.

The Challenge and Opportunity

As a small business owner, Harris quickly learned that not every solutions provider was willing to tailor their offerings to her needs. However, once Harris contacted TPx, she found a partner willing to work with her to establish the right-sized solutions for her needs, including a business phone number and UCx with Webex.

“I use it on my cell phone and on my laptop,” Harris said. “More times than not, I’m on my mobile device when calls come in. I may use the conference lines on the laptop, but I’ve also used it on my mobile device.

“Wherever I am, if I have to be able to call for work, I have that flexibility, whether it’s a coffee shop or sitting in my car,” Harris added. “It offers flexibility, which is one of the things that I was excited about. When I learned about its different features and functionality, it definitely sold me.”

The Solution

Harris entered the partnership without any preconceived notions, and what she found with TPx was a company willing to help tailor the solutions to her needs, not offer an out-of-the-box solution with features that wouldn’t benefit her business.

“As a business owner, it’s helpful for me to use some of the other offerings and services, such as the WebEx meetings, as an extra incentive,” Harris said. “The model was new to me with WebEx and other offerings. I’m pretty excited about it and using it, trying it out to see how it works.”

“The way the system works has been the best solution for me because I can answer the call from anywhere,” Harris added.

The Results

In TPx, Harris also found a partner to scale with her as her business evolves, giving her a competitive advantage.

“I’m a huge networker in the marketplace and have other business ideas or potential ventures that may come across. This can require setting up calls or having conferences with a diverse range of people to discuss these opportunities,” Harris said.

“The pleasant surprise to me was the level of customer service and interaction with the TPx team,” Harris said. “When I did have questions, I received prompt responses, and the level of customer service was excellent. If I have a concern, being able to call and quickly address my concern is paramount.”

The post TPx Customer Spotlight: Gates Vacation Properties appeared first on TPx Communications.