Small Business Case Study

"I knew I had to get a phone system. And with the system Ketchum installed, I saved money and I've gotten more functionality." - Michael Gull, MentalShock

In today's new business economy, size has taken a back seat to skill and talent. Internet start-ups are focusing on their core competencies, rather than trying to expand into other arenas. This keeps the company nimble and flexible and allows it to concentrate on what it does best. While this new model is exceptionally successful and has revolutionized the way the world views business, smaller companies are finding that many technologies especially phone systems-are designed almost exclusively for large companies. These companies may be relatively small, but they still require a phone system with all the features found in modern private branch exchanges typically found in larger companies.

This was the dilemma for MentalShock. A full-service web development firm with deep roots in internet consulting, this Campbell based company is the epitome of an extremely successful new economy business. Their mission is to help established companies transform themselves into successful e-companies and to help build new e-startups from scratch. Founded by former USWeb/CKS employees (now MarchFirst), MentalShock's vision seeks to combine the expertise of a large firm with the flexibility and agility of a boutique shop to better address the unique needs of internet startups.

"We needed a phone system to handle our growing company," said MentalShock's Chief Mental Officer, Michael Gull. "We had six people at the time and we were planning to expand. We were looking for something with more functionality, and as a small start-up, we didn't have a lot of cash. We took a look at the older PC-based systems, and I was worried about the expendability."

Fortunately, Ketchum Integration had the perfect solution. Knowing that even at their ideal size MentalShock would like to stay relatively lithe, Ketchum Integration implemented the Praxon PDX system. This system gave MentalShock the functions they wanted, while also staying within their budget. Designed specifically for small businesses, the Praxon PDX is easy to use and attractively priced.

One of the primary benefits of this system is the functionality it provides. The Praxon PDX is a full-featured telephone system that includes a host of other capabilities for data networking, messaging, and internet access. One function is particularly popular at MentalShock. Praxon PDX allows voice mail integration with TAPI compliant e-mail systems, so you can get your voice mail as a .wav file in e-mail.

The intuitive Virtual Console allows end users to control calls from their desktop with ease. "Praxon is pretty self-explanatory," says Michael. Because administration is controlled through a web browser, administrative functions such as adds, moves, and changes are easy. "Administration from a website is great."

Ketchum Integration was happy to implement the right system for MentalShock, and Michael agrees, "This was definitely the right move for us, and I'm happy we found a solution."