Executive Summary
Beebe Landscape Services faced fragmented network access and frequent storm-related outages at their rural headquarters, threatening critical winter plowing operations. Universal Connectivity resolved these challenges by deploying a secure hybrid network, a unified mobile phone app for field crews, and robust VPN access. This targeted redesign protected revenue during severe weather, restored seamless server access across all devices, and ensured full operational continuity.
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Expanded wireless server access while maintaining an isolated guest network
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Enabled real-time coordination between field crews and dispatch via a mobile app
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Provided off-site server access to maintain operations during storms and remote work
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Delivered personalized, on-site training to ensure rapid user adoption
The Challenge
A company like Beebe Landscape Services, which is built on superior customer service, requires superior communication tools. As inefficiencies arose throughout business processes, it became clear that there were problems in their communications. Digging deeper, they discovered that the challenges they faced were two-fold: One challenge revolved around wireless communication. The second dealt with the location of their office.
The first challenge arose because Beebe’s office staff utilized both laptops and desktops. Back in 2018, Beebe had contacted Universal Connectivity to set up their wireless network. Universal separated the network out into two separate networks, wired and wireless, for security reasons: The company does a lot of commercial work that requires privacy and security. The wired servers contained the internal information of the company, including pertinent customer information and contracts. Rich Beebe, the owner of Beebe Landscape Services, had access to these internal systems from his in-office desktop. When he went elsewhere, however, he used his laptop and would lose access to the information. He would have to use a VPN to create a remote desktop.
The second challenge arose as a result of the environment in which the business operates. The Beebe office is in a remote rural location, so they lose power quickly and for a considerable amount of time during big storms. The winter season was particularly difficult for them to cope with. A great deal of their business takes place in the winter with their snow-plowing services, so the ability to continue communicating during winter storms is a crucial requirement for the success of their business. Losing internet or phone service is an unacceptable business interruption and can result in the loss of thousands of dollars.
The Universal Connectivity Approach
With personal knowledge of the design of their office network, Universal Connectivity was called back in to solve problem number one, their network woes. The Universal Connectivity team pursued a new hybrid setup of the network. They created a new network by taking the existing wireless network and transitioning it into a guest policy, which means it provides guest access to the internet, but has no access to the company’s internal systems. Then they expanded the wired network wirelessly.
As a result, anything on an employee’s desktop on the network could be accessed remotely from a laptop. This allowed workers to get into the company’s internal server to access things like booking information and other client information, regardless of where they worked from.
To address problem number two, Universal Connectivity implemented a mobile app, which works in conjunction with their phone system. This allowed Beebe’s snow plowers to stay in touch with office workers while out on the road. The solution continued to help beyond the winter season with capabilities to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic and the work-from-home setup. The Beebe office staff gained the capability to work remotely. By using the VPN they can get anything off their file server from anywhere, whether they are working from home or visiting a client office. The user simply “VPNs in” as if they were in the office.
The Results
The newly routed network is still secure and safe for visitors that come into the office. It has increased the overall functionality of the business to provide better services to its clients. The routing has cut time and technical complexity. It is just as easy for employees to access documents on their laptops as it is to access things on their desktop.
The fully integrated mobile app allows them to keep up lines of communication between all workers and maintain call volume, even during their busiest season. Utilizing a VPN during COVID allowed the business to continue running. It is of note that an additional challenge arose as a result of the mobile app: Technology challenges caused one employee to struggle with remote access to the VPN. Chris Martin, our telecommunications technician, did a house visit and provided mobile app training with the employee. As a result, the employee continued to work and felt comfortable and confident in using the mobile app.
“I want to share what a pleasure it is working with Chris and the rest of the Universal Connectivity team. Their team is incredibly responsive and the follow up is just as impressive. Highly recommend Universal Connectivity to anyone looking for a communications partner that will keep you securely connected.”
Rich Beebe, Owner
About Universal Connectivity
Universal Connectivity® is a full-stack telecom and IT managed services provider based in West Hartford, Connecticut. The company partners with businesses to deliver managed IT support, secure connectivity for local and distributed teams, server and security management, onboarding and offboarding, and business voice services. Universal Connectivity® is built on a simple promise: aligned incentives, consistent and knowledgeable points of contact, and service that lets clients stop worrying about their technology so they can focus on their business. Your Link To Your World®.
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