Scanning and IT Services move to Columbia

Its Official!  Seras has moved all major operations to Columbia, South Carolina. The new office space will provide the necessary space to accommodate growth as we continue to work with more and more customers in need of records management and document scanning services. With the addition of new IT and document scanning customers, Seras is now equipped to handle any and all requests for the greater Columbia, SC area.  Click here for more information about our services. With three new document scanning stations and plenty of room for remote IT Services support, the new facility will be a big boost for Seras.

Operations were previously located in Rock Hill, SC and the new office is centrally-located to offer the fastest response times available to businesses in need of computer and IT services.  The IT Services division has expanded and now has the ability to offer professional off-site troubleshooting and configuration of hardware including PCs, servers, and other products.  Seras can even pickup your equipment and re-build or service it at our new office and return it to you.

The new office is located at 6941 North Trenholm Rd, Columbia, SC 29206

Contact us today for a free evaluation!

Document Scanning Project Completed: PSTA, Columbia SC

Seras is pleased to announce that it has completed yet another high quality document scanning project for Palmetto State Teachers Association (PSTA)!  PSTA needed more space in their Columbia, SC facility to help sustain their growth, efficiency, and the high levels of professionalism for which they are known.  After some consideration, Seras was chosen to perform PSTA's required document scanning and organization based on professional communication practices, strong references, and a very high commitment to security and the protection of client information. Over the last couple of years, Seras has provided document scanning to scholarship foundations, construction companies, law firms, surveyors, property management firms, and a number of other clients in Columbia and in other cities around the state of SC and beyond.  The motivation behind document scanning varies, but is usually related to one of the following items:

Space: Every inch of an organization's office space is valuable, and the most efficient use of said space can dramatically enhance profitability, customer satisfaction, employee morale, or a number of other critical operating factors - effective records management frees up this valuable space

Protection: Once information is gone, its gone - a simple document scanning program can easily protect against threats from fire, flood, or other catastrophic loss

Access: Shared file cabinets are accessible, but extremely debilitating in many situations - document scanning allows for easy sharing between employees at the click of a button whether they are in the same office, the same state, or the same country

Organization: filing and hard-copy records storage can be overwhelming with laborious re-shuffling to keep things in order - document scanning programs allow you to organize and effectively sort every document within your business

Security: Locked file rooms create cumbersome security protocols related to key control, alarms, cameras, written policies, and any number of other time-consuming activities - a secure document scanning service creates a number of quick and easy options for securing data from employees, customers, vendors, and identity thieves

The records management, and specifically the document scanning, industry is always changing with regards to image types, storage, and shared storage opportunities.  However, these core motivators for the transition to scanning seem to remain the same.  Placing a value on document scanning that is specific to your business takes only a few minutes and includes documented flexibility related to image clarity, budget requirements, organization, and several other critical factors that may or may not be related to your particular business.

More information about Palmetto State Teachers Association can be found by visiting their web site: www.palmettoteachers.org.

Micheal joins our Computer Services Team - Columbia SC

The Seras Team is excited to announce the addition of Micheal Clark to the Information Technology and Computer Services division servicing the greater Columbia, SC area. Micheal Clark is a recent graduate of Georgia Regents University (formerly Augusta State University) and majored in Communications. He has always found technology fascinating and keeps up with the latest news and reports. Micheal is an experienced technician working the retail store side and is looking forward to moving his skill set out into the field. Going forward, Micheal will continue to add to his list of certifications and working knowledge base. Specific areas of service will include a number of helpful service options:

• Typical break/fix problems - repairing broken parts such as optical drives, hard drives, wipe and reloads, data back ups
• Speeding up your system and removing unwanted, threatening programs
• Updating your system to meet constantly changing software requirements
• Troubleshooting your network - from low WiFi signal to connecting to shared devices like printers
• Building and implementing new computer systems into your existing work environment or for other specific needs

Seras prides itself on offering very flexible service plans to meet your specific budget and service requirements, which could range from one-time services to a hassle-free monthly programs. Call Micheal today for a free consultation.

Seras also provides document scanning and information management services to customers throughout the Southeast.  A document scanning program with Seras can help to enhance the overall security of your operations, enhance employee morale, free up valuable storage space, and provide a number of other various benefits.

Greater Charlotte Area Shred Day Scheduled

Seras has scheduled yet another free community shred day for the greater Rock Hill and Charlotte markets!

Who: All consumers in the greater Charlotte NC area that have confidential paperwork to shred

What: Up to 5 bags or boxes of free shredding performed on-site in a mobile shred truck provided by Shred360

When: March 27th, 2014 from 10:00am - 1:00pm

Where: Sisk Memorial Baptist Church, 115 Massey St, Fort Mill, SC 29715

Consumers may include staples, clips, and other paper-related items with their paperwork, but trash, glass, and other hazardous items are not permitted.  Check our web site in the future for additional free shred days in the Rock Hill and Charlotte markets and call us today with questions or comments!

Choosing IT Services in Columbia, SC

Outsourcing services can be an overwhelming experience with so many available options in the greater Columbia, SC market.  All of the service providers promise the fastest, most efficient services because they truly want to provide the best possible IT services to their customers.  The problem lies in the ability of providers to actually do what they claim they are going to do!  Nearly all of potential service problems arise from issues related to one of three areas: 1) Expectations, 2) Organization, and 3) Communication. A thorough consultation with prospective customers that allows for the sharing of detailed information about both parties is crucial to getting off to the right start.  Most IT services are provided by locally-owned companies, which can add a great personal touch to the relationship building aspect of outsourced services.  However, organizational management problems arise because the founding managers of the business have a highly technical background with limited to no business management or organizational experience.  These local owner-operators have the technical expertise to fix your most complicated problems, but often have difficulties with the basics of asset management for their business.  Thus, expectations are set very high for the customer, but are not always met due to general organizational inefficiencies on the part of the vendor.

Effective communication is critical in any outsourced service situation - both direct communication between customer and vendor, and the organization and tracking of communicated information.  The number one complaint among current users is that "my IT company doesn't show up when they say they will and we never hear from them" and secondly "that a new tech gets here that doesn't know our system or current situation and we have to explain it all over again".  Open and active communication with easy access to decision-makers is crucial for both parties in an outsourced IT service arrangement along with accountability through proven customer service logging procedures.

So, remember to evaluate potential IT service vendors:

• What expectations for speed and quality are they attempting to set and have they proven that these expectations can be met?
• What systems and people are they using to remain organized and efficient and are these systems adequate?
• What is the service provider's attitude towards communication?  How easy is it to reach the person that I will need to contact for help?
• What backups does the vendor have in place related to customer service, technical emergencies, organization, and communication?

Scanning and Shredding for a good cause in the Charlotte Area

Seras completed another successful free Shred Day for consumers in the Rock Hill, Charlotte, and Tega Cay areas last week.  Seras was also able to collect a truckload of food items, office supplies, and clothing for The Haven, along with monetary donations.  Thank you to all of the participants that brought a donation for The Haven.

Many consumers are concerned with identity theft and need a safe secure option to destroy sensitive information such as: litigation and legal documents, medical records, credit and financial information, and other information that could be problematic if it got into the wrong hands.  Several small businesses visited the event as well.  Many small businesses are working to become paperless, thus reducing the amount of hard-copy paper work flowing through their office.  The most efficient way to do this is through a detailed document scanning program that includes destruction of the material following the scanning process. Shred360 was on site at the event providing shredding services, while Seras greeted participants, directed traffic, and collected items for The Haven.

The Haven is a men's transitional shelter located in Rock Hill, SC.  For more information about the organization or to donate, please contact Toni Elliott at 803-328-0052, or visit their web site: http://www.thehavenmensshelter.org.