Redefining Normal

I was talking with Bill at Taylored Systems the other day about everything that has happened this year, and he remarked it looks like we need to redefine normal. This last year has bought about many changes from the challenges that everyone has faced with the economy. The normal of 2007 and 2008 is not what we have seen in 2009, and though things have progressed this was definitely a year to remember. It would be great if on January first we could just flip a switch and voila everything was fixed, but life doesn’t work that way. Instead we need to search for the new normal.

Taylored Systems has moved from being just a telecommunication company to being a business technology company. In this time of challenges Taylored Systems has expanded its line of products from telephone systems and carrier services (dial-tone and internet) by adding:

• BDR (Backup Disaster Recovery)
• Business Continuity Planning
• IP Video surveillance
• Emergency response/nurse call systems
• More complex IT solutions
• IP Door access systems
• Zultys IP phone system

Since 1982 Taylored Systems has seen many changes in the business technology industry. We are now in the midst of another large change in our industry to a new normal. Normal is now IP based. For dial-tone we have seen it transition from analog (POTs) to digital (PRI) to SIP. We have seen phone systems shift from mechanical key to electronic key to TDM. We are now watching the industry move into a SIP based system. The normal is changing, and we are changing. Our sales team has been forced to understand IP and more complex networking and data applications, rather than simply phones. Because troubles can come from a number of diverse sources, our technical staff has to be trained in a variety of different arenas to provide the service and support our customers have come to expect over the years. The benefit is that everything is on the same network so it may be different causes, but they are all managed from one central source.

By diversifying what we do, Taylored Systems has found a new normal for a non-normal time, and will continue to seek ways to overcome whatever comes at us in the future.

Taylored Systems celebrates the fact it was a challenge, but we have persevered and are looking forward to the New Year and searching for the new normal. Everything progresses slowly during a recession, but those who can redefine normal are the ones who will survive and move forward no matter what challenge is placed in their path.

This was Mary Couch's latest conversation with Bill Taylor.