Services for Small and Medium Sized Businesses

Virtual IT

Everyone in business understands that technology is a key factor in staying competitive and gaining productivity with the smallest possible workforce. With limited resources, all successful small businesses make value conscious purchases. When you shell out your hard-earned dollars for a new computer system, you expect to get results, not excuses.

Like other small businesses with ongoing technology needs, you may not have the in-house information services staff to solve technology problems or implement the solutions you have just purchased. 

Office Information Systems has experienced staff to assist you in selecting, implementing, and supporting the most appropriate technology for your small business. We afford you the time to focus on your business specialties while we do the “tech stuff.” As a small business ourselves, we also speak your language! 

For businesses with less than 35 desktop computers and one or two servers who cannot justify the cost of a hired full-time technical support person, we provide the reliable services you need -- when you need them. For those growing businesses that have a small technical staff, we provide the local backup you need to support your technology infrastructure that cannot be met by national hardware and software manufacturers or local retail discounters. 

We design timely ongoing technical support contracts with flexible adjustment to the weekly, biweekly or monthly on-site visits you require to guarantee the smooth operation of your daily business. We also provide fixed-price quotes for special projects and system upgrades. Common hardware and software products can be purchased from any vendor, but only Office Information Systems provides a total solution for your ongoing technology implementation and support needs. 

• Bay Area Small Business Technology Consultants Since 1982
• Local Area Network Infrastructure Design and Implementation 
• Internet Consulting and Setup of Basic Access 
• Network-to-Internet Integration 
• E-Mail and Wide Area Communications 
• Data Base Application Development 
• Hardware System Upgrades 
• Reliable and Affordable Ongoing Support Contracts 
• Microsoft Certified Partner 
• Authorized Hewlett-Packard Value Added Reseller 
• City of Oakland Local and Small Business Enterprise Certificate

Clients Include: 

• APL Maritime
• Convention Management Resources
• Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund
• Docs of the Bay
• Institute of Reading Development
  
  

Networking and Communications 

Small businesses are always seeking ways to maximize their limited resources, and computer technology is no exception. Computer buying decisions are often obstacles to “getting the job done” because of complex technology choices. Choosing the right server, software, or network component is a chore if you lack accurate information. 

Office Information Systems has many years experience in advising small businesses how to effectively implement and manage key information technologies such as sales applications, contact management, or small business accounting in a networked computing environment. By working closely with your employees, we ensure that our time and your precious resources are maximized. 

Our network solutions are built around Microsoft Windows. For networks of any size, we recommend at least one Windows NT server to handle larger loads, shared access, and common resources, while ensuring scalability to meet your future needs. Our company is a Certified Microsoft Partner™, which means we have special skills in integrating Microsoft server and workstation products with the tools required for your organization’s success. 
More and more of our clients demand not only the reliable file and print serving capabilities of Windows NT, but additional networking functions as well. We offer special expertise in email solutions (internal and external), Web browsing from every desktop, fax servers, remote access, and multi-site wide-area networking.

Office Information Systems can prepare technology assessment reports that give you a roadmap to future system upgrades. We design network configurations, and assist you in planning a network migration by helping to select the right hardware and software combinations. 

We offer installation and configuration services as well as ongoing support contracts. To guarantee the best possible working relationship with you, a lead consultant acts as the first line of support and single point of contact to be responsible for your computer systems. 

Here are some of the benefits of working with Office Information Systems:

• Many years of experience working with small businesses 
• Easy access to your offices from our East Bay location 
• Regular site visits on request 
• Microsoft Certified Partner
• Hewlett Packard Authorized Value Added Reseller
• other vendor partnering relationships 
• Economical quotes for hardware and software 
• Internet access expertise 
• Network solutions designed for the present and the future 

Clients Include: 

• Veritable Vegetable
• Atthowe Fine Arts
• Interactive Resources 
  
  

Software Development and Integration 

Off the shelf software is typically the ideal approach to solving computer related business problems. However, there are always certain data processing needs within any given organization that require a custom solution. 

Custom solutions sometimes involve picking a combination of off the shelf products and tying them together; other times they involve creating new software applications from scratch. Office Information Systems offers solutions utilizing both of these techniques, and is prepared to take your organization all the way from the initial design phase to the final implementation of your customized software system. 

You may have decided that you need a database application for managing production or inventory, or need a management system to track your projects or assets. Likewise, you may have an off the shelf accounting solution that does not completely meet your needs or expectations, and have decided to have it customized or integrated with another application.

 For these scenarios and others, Office Information Systems offers the following: 

• A needs analysis focusing on the overall design requirements of your customized system. 
• Recommendations on the best approach and toolset for creating your custom solution. 
• Commercial quality programming services using Microsoft Access, Visual Basic, SQL Server and other development products. 
• Installation and integration of existing software tools in your production environment. 
• On site support and training. 

Office Information Systems has recently developed software solutions for the following businesses in the Bay Area: 

• Institute of Reading Development 
• California Soda 
• Chemical Compounding 
• Convention Management Resources 
• Atthowe Fine Arts