SADA & Google Apps Success Story: Z Gallerie

Read up on the Google Apps guest post by Z Gallerie's Howard Kolodny, VP of Information Technology, to learn more about how the cloud suite is helping large retailers streamline operations (just in time for the holiday shopping season, too!): Z Gallerie goes Google and moves its 55 retail stores to Google Apps.

Customer
Z Gallerie is a Southern California-based home furnishing, home accessories and framed art retailer with 55 stores in 19 states. The company was started as a poster shop by 3 siblings in 1979 and has grown into a national furnishings store with over 1,000 employees.

Challenge
Z Gallerie was looking to upgrade their entire store network’s email and productivity applications and bring them to the cloud, but had concerns about security since the only computers located on premise were also cash registers. Because Google Apps would be deployed in all 55 stores across 19 states, there was a need to minimize software installation and maintenance efforts as well as train employees to get them up to speed on Google Apps. In addition to assisting with migration and deployment, Z Gallerie engaged SADA Systems to help train its administrators and end-users on the Google Apps suite.

Solution
SADA coordinated on-site and remote Google Docs and Email training for 150 users. Utilizing a classroom setting where SADA’s trainers engaged Z Gallerie employees to actually use the new Google Docs and Email functionalities helped them hit the ground running on day one. SADA helped ensure a high adoption rate by:

• Adapting curriculum and training style to a retail store setting making sure employees were able to see the value in working with Google Apps
• Creating customized training material for employees to follow along with during training and to review outside of the training sessions

Results
As a result of Z Gallerie’s collaboration with SADA, the stores were deployed on schedule with no productivity down time due to effective change management. Z Gallerie Vice President of IT Howard Kolodny notes that the company has “been pleasantly surprised by how easy the adoption process was. Many of our employees were already Google users at home and so already know how to use the new applications. The employees particularly appreciate how many paper based processes can now be moved online improving efficiency and communication at each store.”

The stores are now preparing for Black Friday and the busy Holiday shopping season. With Google Apps deployed, the company anticipates seeing a big boost in productivity as tasks such as supply orders, stockroom reports and other manual tasks are now streamlined in the cloud.

About Google Apps Partner SADA Systems
SADA Systems, Inc. (http://www.sadasystems.com) is a privately held information technology consulting, outsourcing, and development firm founded in 2000. SADA started as a Google partner for its search technology, and is proud to be one of the world's first 10 Google Apps partners, having participated in the Google Apps official launch campaign in February of 2007. SADA is highly experienced in Google Apps migration, implementation and deployment for the enterprise, education, non profit and government sector.

The City of La Cañada Flintridge decides to move to the cloud

As a long time IT services client, SADA systems is happy to help the City of La Cañada Flintridge move to the cloud.

Having previously handled the IT services of La Cañada Flintridge's government offices, SADA comes prepared with unique insight into their infrastructure and work flow processes. This will be especially helpful to determine the most efficient way to migrate the city's email data, provision users, manage the transition for end-users and more.

The decision to move to the Google Apps email and calendar system was prompted by an aging and increasingly temperamental on-site server. Rather than continue with the server and risk losing communication capabilities for weeks in the event that it shut down, council members on Monday approved plans to engage in Google Apps migration.

Read more about the decision here.

User Renamer for Google Apps Success Story: Monkey Mac

User Renamer for Google Apps by SADA Systems helps consulting firm Monkey Mac Consulting Inc. save time and IT resources.

About the application
User Renamer for Google Apps allows Google Apps admins to quickly and easily change usernames/names of Google Apps users. Admins download the User Renamer for Google Apps and enter the old username, enter the new username, and the process is done. Google Apps even keeps the old username as a nickname, so your users will continue receiving messages sent to the old email address.

Customer
Founded in 2006 by Luis Giraldo, Monkey Mac Consulting Inc. was born from a client’s own description of how she felt when trying to figure out her computer. This Mac consulting firm aims to assist Mac-based organizations and individuals increase operational efficiency, increase long-term cost savings and align their business goals with their technology goals. Monkey Mac specializes in Mac OS X Server, Cisco Networks, Daylite, LightSpeed and MoneyWorks and currently serves several dozen clients.

Challenge
Monkey Mac has been using Google Apps since 2004. The web-based office tool suite certainly helped streamline operations and lowered financial overhead with its $50 per user, per year pricing structure. However, Luis Giraldo, President and Technical Director, was not impressed by the tool’s rigidity regarding usernames. Renaming a Google Apps user account was near impossible. A viable workaround consisted of backing up the old user’s Google Docs, exporting calendar items, exporting contacts, downloading email messages, creating a new account, importing Google Docs, importing calendar items, importing contacts, re-downloading email messages and finally deleting old account.

Monkey Mac’s tight IT resources did not allow for tedious and time-consuming tasks. Giraldo searched the Google Apps Marketplace for an application that would:

• Be easy to install and set-up
• Do exactly want he needed it to do

No more, no less.

Solution
Giraldo came upon the User Renamer for Google Apps at the Google Apps Marketplace. Drawn in by the 5 star reviews and low price, Giraldo purchased and implemented the User Renamer.

True to its advertising, the app was able to rename a myriad of Google Apps users. Giraldo comments that “I'd been wanting to change a user over for quite some time, and User Renamer made it absolutely quick and painless. Great value, does what it says it does, and I don't know how I ever lived without it before.”

Results
The User Renamer provides Monkey Mac with long-term functionality as the company or his clients experience turnover that requires continual name changes. While the application has saved Monkey Mac time and allowed staff to focus on business critical issues, Giraldo notes that if the username being changed is an admin, Postini doesn't make the new username a Postini admin automatically.

Because this application is specifically for Google Apps, the customer must plan accordingly and point the system (Postini or another external utility tied to the email), rename the account and make sure the old application points to the new emails.

User Renamer 2.0 is currently in the works and will address this issue and feature additional functionalities such as bulk renaming and more.

Interested in installing the User Renamer for yourself?

About Google Apps Partner and Developer SADA Systems, Inc.
SADA Systems, Inc. is a privately-held information technology consulting, outsourcing, and development firm founded in 2000. SADA started as a Google partner for Enterprise Search, and is proud to be one of the world’s first 10 Google Apps partners. SADA is highly experienced in Google Apps migration, implementation and deployment for the enterprise, education, non profit and government sector. SADA develops custom applications for its Google Apps clients and has recently begun to release its most popular applications to the public.

Google asks "How much is faster collaboration worth to businesses?"

As a Google Apps partner, one of the most common benefits of switching to Google that we hear from our clients is the cost savings. But after over 3 years of Google Apps migration and deployment services, we know that the benefits don't end there.

Google recently contracted Forrester Consulting to assist with the question, "How much is faster collaboration worth to businesses?" The consulting firm helped measure the "Total Economic Impact" that a typical company who have transitioned to the cloud can expect over the course of 3 years. Forrester's Google Apps report detailed some interesting findings. Below details what a typical Enterprise level company with about 18,000 employees with multiple offices around the globe can expect to see by utilizing Google Apps for 3 years:

• Over 300% ROI
• Dramatically improved productivity
• Break-even under 7 months or faster
• Net Present Value (NPV) over $10,000,000

Read more about the Forrester report at the Google Enterprise blog.

SADA featured in TechRepublic's recent webcast "Best Practices for Moving to Google Apps"

TechRepublic's recent Webcast, "Live TechRepublic Webcast: Best Practices for Moving to Google Apps" featuring Google Enterprise Head of Deployment Alex Diacre provided some great insight on how easy it is for organizations to deploy Google Apps.

In addition to going over the latest in cloud computing technology and how it can help the business, Diacre spent some time highlighting how, Google Apps partners, like SADA Systems, can help organizations migrate from their legacy system to Google Apps.

So what contributes to a successful deployment? Diacre mentions that a moderate and steady roll-out pace causes staff to focus at the migration and deployment goal at hand. Another important point is to have the pilot end-users to really use the product and actually incorporate Google Docs and Sites in their daily activities. Post deployment support is key to fully adopting the cloud suite--as users start getting used to Google Apps, they will begin to see the value of utilizing the cloud functionalities.

Diacre goes on to mention that Google Apps Partners, namely SADA Systems (thanks for all the shout outs!), are really helping to bridge the gap between Google Apps and on-premise systems. SADA helps to integrate SSO, password synchronization and a number of other custom applications and training to help customers feel more at home with Google Apps.

The cloud is fast becoming the preferred option for IT departments around the world. SADA is happy to be available for those looking to transition to the cloud!

Site Copier for Google Apps featured on official Google blog!

Happy Apps Tuesday! The Google Apps Marketplace features a handful of integrated web apps that supply additional functionalities. We were fortunate enough to have our Site Copier for Google Apps recognized on the Google Enterprise blog:

http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/11/google-apps-marketplace-welcomes-8-new.html

Need to copy a site now? Try the Site Copier for FREE! Download a trial between now and Nov. 30th. Click the button below to get the Site Copier for your domain today:



Learn more about the amazing functionalities of our new app at the Site Copier for Google Apps Marketplace listing or on CloudToolkit at go.sadasystems.com/sitecopier.

Introducing SADA's newest Google application: Site Copier for Google Apps!

If there's one thing that us SADAians love, it's an easy to use app. Our 200+ Google Apps client list come from different vertical, different parts of the world and different work cultures that call for different types of IT solutions. One request we had noticed crop up time and time again from our clients is the desire to copy sites not just within the same Google Apps domain, but across multiple domains. Developed initially for specific clients, the Site Copier for Google Apps offers Google Apps customers the ability to copy any site for which a user is the owner to the Google Apps domain the tool is set up for.

The Site Copier for Google Apps is an easy-to-install, easy-to-use add-on to the Google Apps suite. Simply type in the URL of the Google Site you wish to copy to your domain (format: http://sites.google.com/a/domain.com/[GoogleSiteYouWantToCopy]/), and name the copied version of your site... Voila! You have now have an exact copy of the Google Site on your own domain. See, we told you it would be easy. All you need to do is be the owner of the site you are copying. You may only copy sites to the one domain you set up the Site Copier for.

Perks?

• No expiration date
• Easy setup
• No additional hardware to host the app

Some reasons why you’d need the Site Copier:

• Migrate pages off a defunct domain to a new Google Apps domain
• Streamline branding across new/old/acquired sites (copy the template)
• Quickly assimilate multiple sites onto a unified domain

“Google Apps customers who own multiple sites located on different Google Apps domains can now replicate those sites across multiple domains. Say a user creates a site on a test domain and you wish to move it to production on another domain. The Site Copier for Google Apps allows the user to do this quickly without the assistance of technical resources.” explains Tony Safoian, President and CEO of SADA Systems, Inc.

SADA Systems has a history of developing necessary cloud computing solutions with a simple, user-friendly UI. Prior to the development of the Site Copier for Google Apps, we released the User Renamer for Google Apps which also features an easy-to-use UI, simple pricing structure and provides increased functionality to the Google Apps suite.


Site Copier for Google Apps will be available for purchase Nov 9th from the Google Apps Marketplace. Only $9.99 for a one-time license and $49.99 for an unlimited license. SADA will be running a launch promotion between Nov 9th through the 30th--download the unlimited version for free until the end of the month! Download a FREE version today!



P.S. Check out our feature on the Google Enterprise Apps Tuesday blog. Thanks for the shout-out, Googs!

SADA Systems named as one of the first Ingram Micro Cloud Services Network members!

SADA loves spreading the word about the cloud which is why we SADAians rejoiced as Ingram Micro named us as one of the first members of the newly minted Ingram Micro Cloud Services Network. In addition to providing traditional IT services for the past decade, SADA Systems has been delivering cloud computing solutions to companies and organizations worldwide since 2007. Our inclusion in the Cloud Services Network allows VARs and solution providers to connect and partner with an us to learn how to leverage the cloud computing technology, develop cloud solutions for their clients and and discover ways that SADA can apply its years of cloud expertise to accelerate business initiatives.

"Ingram Micro is really responding to forces in the market and demand for cloud expertise. A lot of VARs don't have in-house expertise and are looking to connect with someone because they see this opportunity but can't capitalize on it," said Tony Safoian, president and CEO of SADA Systems. "We hope to establish some relationships with VARs who don't see cloud fitting into their strategy in terms of capacity development for some time."

A survey conducted last summer by Ingram Micro revealed that 80% of VARs plan to include cloud services in their future business plan, but less than 20% consider themselves cloud services providers. The Ingram Micro Cloud Services Network aims to promote cloud education and usability in the VAR community. SADA intends to help educate and support VARs and solution providers in the cloud computing space in turn allowing them to build their business in this budding industry.

AuthMagic for Microsoft Online password sync featured on BPOS Solution Showcase!

Our BPOS (now Microsoft Office 365) password sync solution has been featured on the Microsoft Online Services Partner Solutions Showcase Migration Solutions! AuthMagic for Microsoft Online (AMMO) is a comprehensive enterprise level solution provides secure, fast password synchronization for BPOS customers.



Download the AMMO white paper to learn more about what this solution can do for your company!

SADA & Google Apps Success Story: Kansas State Department of Wildlife and Parks

SADA Systems assists state department of wildlife and parks with a Google Apps workaround to comply with strict federal IT guidelines that limited storage to U.S. only data centers.

Customer
The Kansas State Department of Wildlife and Parks oversees more than 30 state parks, nature preserves, and fishing lakes and employs roughly 420 employees in five divisions: Executive Services, Administrative Services, Fisheries and Wildlife, Law Enforcement, and Parks.

Challenge
Before SADA, Kansas State Wildlife had already been a Google Apps customer for a few months and loved the collaboration and communication capabilities. This forward thinking organization was preparing to migrate all of its email users to Google Apps, but ran into a slight hiccup--due to government regulations, Kansas State Wildlife is required to maintain its email storage strictly on U.S. premises. Gmail is stored in hyper secure databases all over the world so the goal was to find a way to limit the organization’s email storage to only route to U.S. data centers. With the help of SADA Systems, the department was able to fine tune a solution.

Solution
After identifying the organization’s specific needs and comprehensively evaluating government regulations for email storage, SADA developed a viable workaround that ensured complete compliance with aforementioned security policies.

1. SADA migrated data from existing Google Apps and legacy email accounts to a secure SADA test domain.
2. Google deleted all data & mailboxes.
3. Google set up the Kansas State Wildlife accounts so emails would be stored in the U.S. only.
4. Afterwards, SADA enables user provisioning and completes the Google Apps email migration.

But what happened to emails sent to users during the migration when Gmail was essentially turned off? SADA modified Google Message Security, powered by Postini, to quarantine and hold all messages sent to Kansas State Wildlife during the migration period. Once the email migration was complete, SADA released all quarantined emails. Because the timestamp was retained, users were able to see each message in the order they were received.

Result
With the help of SADA’s thoroughness and knowledge of the Google Apps suite capabilities, Kansas State Wildlife was able to retain the Google Apps communication and collaboration tools it had come to love.

About Google Apps Partner SADA Systems
SADA Systems, Inc. (http://www.sadasystems.com) is a privately held information technology consulting, outsourcing, and development firm founded in 2000. SADA started as a Google partner for its search technology, and is proud to be one of the world's first 10 Google Apps partner, having participated in the Google Apps official launch campaign in February of 2007. SADA is highly experienced in Google Apps migration, implementation and deployment for the enterprise, education, non profit and government sector.

SADA & Google Apps Success Story: Lyon County, Nevada

SADA Systems helps one of Nevada's largest counties transition their systems to the cloud (while adhering to strict government IT policies).

Customer
Named after Civil War General Nathaniel Lyon, Lyon County is one of the nine original counties in Nevada founded in 1861. Complete with a rich history and beautiful landscape, Lyon County has always been at the forefront for new technologies.

Challenge
The good people at Lyon County, Nevada had been curious about the collaborative powers of Google Apps for a while. Their current system at the time could not keep up with the county’s growing calendaring needs. While Lyon County had considered upgrading its outdated email system, the staff was bound to its legacy email system due to heavy calendar usage and fear of potential IT and end-user downtime.

Although staff was acutely aware of the limited nature of the current email system, many members of the staff were quite accustomed to the UI and experience. The IT department needed to ensure that the Google Apps learning curve was as low as possible to ensure efficiency throughout the bustling county office. SADA’s goal was to implement a seamless transition from legacy email system with trained Google Apps Champions leading the way.

Solution
Lyon County engaged experienced Google Apps Partner SADA Systems to migrate, deploy and train over 300 users. SADA completed the calendar sync, global address book and email migration over a weekend which resulted in a seamless user experience for staff the following work week.

With Google Apps successfully deployed, SADA set off to train Google Champions. Driven by the old proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” SADA provided in-depth webinar training for over 50 staff members from various departments within Lyon County to curtail dependency on the already overwhelmed IT department. End-users and was also given training material, webinar templates and a Google Site customized to Lyon County’s training needs and requirements. Within hours, Lyon County had fully trained Google Champions ready to go on Google Docs, Gmail, Calendar usage and more.

Hazen Adams, IT Director at Lyon County, comments that the “training was awesome.” He also adds that “We moved to Google Apps this summer and were anticipating big problems with the migration. But everything went really well, SADA really came through... I think the thing i am most impressed with was the support always available and willing to help.”

Result
SADA’s migration expertise and savvy Google Apps trainers enabled Lyon County to achieve a sense of IT autonomy and provided staff with the means to hit the ground running after deployment. As a Google Referred Partner for Google Apps Training, SADA

While Lyon County was SADA’s first small government customer, they were certainly not the only. SADA’s experience in migrating various government agencies and deep understanding of the needs of the public sector helped to streamline Lyon County’s transition to Google Apps.

“We moved to Google Apps this summer and were anticipating big problems with the migration. But everything went really well, SADA really came through.”
- Hazen Adams, IT Director, Lyon County, NV

About Google Apps Partner SADA Systems
SADA Systems, Inc. (http://www.sadasystems.com) is a privately held information technology consulting, outsourcing, and development firm founded in 2000. SADA started as a Google partner for its search technology, and is proud to be one of the world's first 10 Google Apps partner, having participated in the Google Apps official launch campaign in February of 2007. SADA is highly experienced in Google Apps migration, implementation and deployment for the enterprise, education, non profit and government sector.