Member Spotlight: Sophisticated Systems, Inc.

Provide us with a brief summary of your business’ services.
Sophisticated Systems, Inc. (SSI) offers a unique and comprehensive set of Information Technology (IT) products and services that drive business results. Instead of focusing singularly on one product or service, Sophisticated Systems, Inc. sets itself apart from its competitors by being a “one stop shop” for IT through the following business offerings:

Technology Services

Our Technology Services Group (TSG), has significant experience in providing top-tier IT support. Coupled with a comprehensive toolset and a proven support model, our engineers provide clients with best-in-class technology support and consultation. TSG provides Managed IT Services, on-demand IT support, network monitoring, vulnerability scanning and remediation, virtualization, cloud service and solutions, professional and project-based services, network/system design and implementation, network security, structured wiring and cabling, customized assessment services, and deployment services.

Deployment Services

Our Deployment Services Team is a vital component to our Technology Services Department. In addition to being the primary end user device refresh partner for a large University and the University’s Medical Center, we have also become a leading Chromebook deployment provider for K-12 schools throughout Ohio and into surrounding states, deploying over 50,000 total units in 2020 alone.

Product Services

Our procurement team maintains partnerships with top technology manufacturers and niche solution providers to ensure that we can provide our clients with the hardware, software, licensing, maintenance agreements, etc. that they may need.  Beyond our ability to connect our clients with top-tier products, we offer unique value-add services, proven product experience, and logistical support. From order placement and product delivery through after-sale support, our dedicated sales team handles every detail to ensure a positive buying experience.

Resource Services

Sophisticated Systems’ Resource Services Group provides a broad range of IT consulting and staffing solutions to our partners. Our IT staffing solutions help our partners optimize the most strategic and variable component to their success–the right people. Our strength is our ability to truly understand the needs of our clients and recommend and implement strategic staffing solutions to meet highly specific resource requirements.

Sophisticated Systems’ full-time placement offering provides our partners with the option to hire highly-skilled IT professionals directly to their team, both within and outside of the Columbus region. Our full time placement team sources, qualifies and presents candidates who meet or exceed the requirements of our clients.

Sophisticated Systems Staff Augmentation services provide our clients with highly-skilled, technical professionals to assist with software development and implementation efforts under the leadership of our team or client project management. Our reliable, innovative IT professionals give our clients the flexibility to fill specific project needs without the expense, delay, or inconvenience of a lengthy internal recruiting and assessment process.

Tell us about your company’s mission and values.
We are an IT solutions firm whose strength is in our mutually beneficial relationships and aligned interests. Every decision we make, and every action we take, has one overriding purpose: to earn success for everyone involved.

With this in mind, we have identified values that will help us to achieve success for our clients, our partners, our team members, and our company.  These values are: Ethics, Integrity, Excellence, Commitment, and Respect.

To accomplish our mission, while staying true to our values, we have also developed SSI’s Pillars of Success.  In every decision that we make, whether near term and tactical or long term and strategic, we use these pillars as guide posts to ensure that we are consistently moving in the right direction.

SSI’s Pillars of Success:

• Client Satisfaction
• Continuous Process Improvement
• Employee Satisfaction
• Profitable Growth
• Community Engagement

What are the services you use the most (or are looking forward to using) from the Columbus Chamber?
The Columbus Chamber provides us with insight on the business community, as well as connections to potential clients, partners, and resources.  We take advantage of Chamber-led events, leverage Chamber-based marketing opportunities, and utilize the Chamber’s research and business intelligence services.

How do you stay engaged with trends that you see in your industry?
We’re in a fast-paced, continually evolving industry.  If we don’t keep up, we get left behind.  We consistently engage with our clients and our partners to stay in tune with what our clients and the market need, and the solutions that are available to serve those needs.  Individually, our team members are natural learners, and as an extension, their learning process and increasing knowledge permeates the entire organization.

What is your company culture like?
We think of our team as a family.  We work hard and are accountable to each other.  We are very collaborative, and everyone is willing help a fellow team member whenever needed. As an organization, we believe in giving back to our community, and this extends throughout our culture – through individual actions, corporate giving events, and in our service to clients that are community builders themselves.  As an example of SSI’s culture of giving back, we’ve recently established a fund with the Columbus Foundation in which a percent of our profits are used to fund community initiatives.

What does it take to be a successful employee at your company?
Engagement.  As mentioned above, we are in a fast paced industry, and we have a highly collaborative team.  It’s very difficult to be successful in this scenario if you aren’t engaged.  We are careful about who we hire, so we know that new team members will be talented, but we also focus on the cultural aspect in the hiring process to ensure that we are getting the right fit.  This focus is on ownership, responsibility, and engagement.  If someone has these traits, they have the necessary tools to be successful at SSI.

What makes Columbus such a great place to do business?
Columbus is home for SSI.  Our company was founded by Dwight Smith in Columbus in 1990 and has been focused on serving central Ohio in the thirty years since.  Columbus is a dynamic city that continues to grow and thrive, with ample opportunities to connect and engage in all aspects of life – personal and professional.  Intentional efforts by city leaders (public and private) have created a culture of innovation, investment, talent, and sustained growth that is unlike anywhere else in the country.  We are honored and proud to be a part of this city and community. 

Social Media
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophisticatedsystems/
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/sophisticated-systems-inc-
Website:  www.ssicom.com