Houston: We have a solution

Hamilton-based IT solutions company Houston Technology Group is looking to increase its presence in the Tauranga market.
Houston, established by chartered accountant Alan Chew 24 years ago, has operated here over the past decade but the work has been driven, and serviced, out of Hamilton.
Now, the company has opened its own office in downtown Tauranga and is staffed by a team of three - Solutions Consultant Des Barry and two technicians. Another technician will be hired over the next few months.
"The company has looked at the Bay more closely in recent years - it's a blossoming market," said Mr Barry. "Not all the IT providers have stayed around and Houston has taken a cautious approach by developing a list of clients from outside."
Houston supports computer networks and supplies information technology solutions for businesses - and in particular it offers packages that reduce costs and increase productivity, such as speech-recognition software and automated-dictation technology.
"We've assisted veterinarians visiting farms," said Mr Barry. "Instead of waiting and writing up their reports back in the office, they can use a Bluetooth handset and take notes inbetween appointments. This can save a vet one hour per day."
Houston is targeting medium-sized businesses that have 10 to 20 IT users. "We want to build relationships and act as their IT manager, providing advice and technology to make them more productive," said Mr Barry. "They have invested in an IT system but they are not big enough to employ their own technicians. We will take the IT support out of their hands; it means they don't have to invest in servicing their own solutions."
Houston will provide in-house technical support or it can log into a client's site from its own office and manage/monitor the system.
The company has developed a  useful "disaster recovery" programme. It supplies "two boxes" that take an image of the client's server and data. One  box is stored offsite  and the two are switched every month.
"If a server dies or is stolen, we have the offsite image that can be loaded  on to a standby server, and we can have the client's system back up and running within one to two hours," said Mr Barry.
Some of Houston's clients include accountant Ingham Mora, SILC (Supported Living BOP), Kiwi Bus Builders in Tauranga, Kawerau District Council, and QE Health and Te Puia in Rotorua.
Mr Barry, who will be driving the new business in the Bay, worked for Elite Business Systems for more than seven years, first in Hamilton  before switching to the Tauranga office four years ago. He joined Houston  last November.