TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

You weren’t born with an instruction manual.Yet, every crucial decision you take along this roller coaster ride has the power to change the course of your life.It’s not just the major path you choose in your profession, principles, passions and pastimes.It’s people, too.Fortunately, with the right relationships, you don’t have to walk that journey alone. Nor make your most courageous decisions without the strength, foresight and knowledge of a trusted adviser beside you.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY WITH A THOUSAND CROSSROADS AND NO MAP.

Information & communications technology to help you along your journey.Like it or not, change is the road ahead: constant and unending into the horizon.But nothing changes more constantly, inevitably or more overwhelmingly than technology.And with it comes a flow of information that’s on an exponential rise.To face this demands flexibility; to stay connected is critical.For those whose business relies on it – and that’s almost every business, these days – the advantages of embracing the latest hardware, software and systems dedicated to information and communications technology (ICT) can be truly transformative.The trick is to make sure you have a roadmap for the journey that doesn’t leave you stranded on the side of the road.

The four ways an integrated technology plan can transform your business.1. Improves business efficiency.2. Achieves better productivity.3. Ensures operational continuity.4. Contributes to sustainability.

So, here are the seven questions you need to ask yourself right now.1. Is your information and communications technology

advancing your business?2. Do you have a clear technology plan for your business?3. Are you up with the latest technology?4. Do you know what systems your business should be using?5. Do you use expert knowledge to keep your systems

running optimally and support its users?6. Can you access your clients and their information with ease,

from wherever you are?7. Are you confident your business could continue to operate

in the event of a disaster or disruption?If you answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, read this brochure and then have a chat with the Technology Services team at Hood Sweeney to discuss how we can tailor a solution for your situation.

Join the journey with Hood Sweeney.Since 1976, Hood Sweeney has shared life’s journey with every one of our clients.By getting to know them as people, we understand their needs, their hopes, their fears and their dreams.And with each year that passes, we find new ways to make those dreams a reality by adding new resources, intelligence and staying on the crest of our industry’s innovation.That’s why, today, we have over 100 staff in three offices serving over 3,000 clients throughout South Australia, including small-to medium-sized private businesses, agribusiness enterprises, health providers, not-for-profits and individuals, with services that encompass:

■ Accounting & Business Advisory+

■ Consulting and Performance Coaching ■ Financial Planning* ■ Technology Services ■ Finance#

Our success, however, is merely a reflection of what we’ve helped our clients build for themselves.So: no matter where you join us on your journey, it’s the first step towards peace of mind and prosperity.

Technology Services

* Hood Sweeney Securities Pty Ltd AFSL No. 220897 ABN 40 081 455 165

+ Hood Sweeney Accounting & Business Advisory AFSL No. 485569 ABN 30 007 696 595

# Hood Sweeney Finance Pty Ltd ACL No. 391396 ABN 12 113 454 014

What we do.The Technology Services team at Hood Sweeney specialises in reliable, cost-effective and scalable solutions for information and communications, including: ■ strategic planning and consulting on information technology ■ managing information technology projects ■ analysing and selecting systems ■ planning for disaster recovery and business continuity ■ total solutions for mobile devices and communications ■ designing technology architecture ■ supporting your network and infrastructure ■ help desk and user support ■ procuring hardware and software ■ outsourced CIO role.

For over 15 years, we’ve been helping clients across South Australia from private companies, publicly listed companies, government entities, not-for-profits professional services and small-to medium-sized enterprises with both the strategic plan and the hands-on operational support to put them on the right track with technology.That’s because we take the time to understand you and what’s driving your business, what kind of risks you might face and the kind of future your journey might lead you into.From that analysis, we then work out exactly what ICT you need and – just as importantly – what you don’t.We’ll work with you to develop a customised solution that improves your accessibility, connectivity and communications, driving business and adding value to your bottom line.We’ll also ensure your infrastructure and applications are protected, with preventative measures to reduce threats to your business, along with contingencies for when the inevitable emergency arises so your business can continue uninterrupted.Our dedicated, highly experienced and accredited experts are always on hand to ensure your network is continually monitored for threats, maintained for reliability and reviewed for improvement.

The right ICT will get your business on the right track.Cost efficiency.Investing wisely in information and communications technology will not only help you survive in the short term, but become more efficient and competitive in the long term.Two things are critical: making sure you have the right solution before you lock in to costly commitments and that you have the flexibility to keep right up to date in the future.That’s why Hood Sweeney partners with a range of leading providers to give you competitive rates along with regular, reliable updates for your hardware and technology: ■ Microsoft ■ Citrix ■ VMware ■ 3CX ■ Veeam ■ Webroot

■ Dell ■ Hewlett Packard ■ Toshiba ■ WatchGuard ■ Cisco

We can also offer financing options for your technology investment to help smooth your cashflow.

Productivity.Mobile and cloud-based technologies offer unsurpassed flexibility for business. Hood Sweeney will help you find the ICT solutions that allow you to use your resources more efficiently, increasing the potential to achieve higher profits and enhance the delivery of your services.

Business continuity.It’s not something you want to contemplate but it is something you have to plan for: a disastrous event that causes downtime and costs you income.Hood Sweeney will investigate the risks you face and prepare an action plan to ensure the fundamentals of your business would survive under such circumstances.

Sustainability.All of us have a responsibility to conduct our affairs, including ICT practices, to protect the environment.But the win-win of this situation is that by integrating low-energy technology alternatives, you also lower your running costs and add further returns to your business.

Technology Services

TWO THINGS ARE CRITICAL: THE RIGHT SOLUTION AND FLEXIBILITY.

How we’ll get you on the road to tomorrow.

Step 1 Consultation.

We listen to you to understand your unique requirements and then create a strategy, including: ■ A strategic roadmap for your overall ICT direction ■ An independent architectural assessment of your:

▪ Network security ▪ Data security and protection ▪ Network structure and energy efficiency

Step 2 Implementation.

We design and then implement solutions that will work now and grow with you, including: ■ An energy-efficient ICT system ■ A unified communications network ■ Architecture for disaster recovery ■ Upgrades and refreshes for your infrastructure ■ Remote and mobile accessibility ■ Procurement of hardware and software ■ Virtualisation ■ A business continuity plan

Step 3 Preservation.

We are committed to being there whenever you need us, with access to expert help, including:

■ Efficient service management ■ Help-desk services for over-the-phone support ■ Scheduled on-site preventative maintenance and

on-site critical-issue support with agreed service levels and response times

■ Remote support for servers, desktops and applications ■ PC, server and application roll-outs

Step 4 Evaluation.

We regularly review your ICT to give you peace of mind and ensure it always meets your strategic goals, including: ■ Periodic auditing and on-site reviews to verify your

infrastructure is optimised, stable and secure ■ Re-evaluation of your ICT plan against:

▪ Capacity planning ▪ Strategic capability

■ Review of your ICT strategy to make sure it remains up to date and continues to meet your business goals

Financial Planning

Join the journey with our specialist team.Whilst the 20 members of the Technology Services team at Hood Sweeney are all highly qualified and knowledgeable professionals, with extensive experience designing, installing and supporting leading-edge technology, each is also a fellow traveller on their own journey through life, like you.So, depending on their skills, knowledge and experience, they’ll understand the journey you’re on.And, depending on their role, they’ll each make their own contribution to the destiny of your business through our ‘client first’ approach.

Client relationship team.This dedicated team provides the upfront strategic consulting and solutions advice with senior leaders servicing Adelaide and regional South Australia, backed up by solutions architects and pre-and post-sales support.

Technical consultant team.This team is made up of technical specialists, our mobile troubleshooters, and the people on our help desk who will talk you through any problem, day or night.

Disability services provider takes a Can-Do approach to its IT challenges, drawing on Hood Sweeney’s outsourcing model.As a minnow in the IT ocean, vision and hearing support organisation, Can:Do Group decided that the best way of protecting itself and “future proofing” its systems was to swim with a big fish.Can:Do Group CEO Judy Curran says an IT review suggested that outsourcing was a practical way the organisation could rapidly modernise its IT and management systems to support its 20,000 clients.The Can:Do Group is the umbrella organisation for two of South Australia’s oldest charities, Can:Do 4 Kids —Townsend House (1874) for hearing and vision impaired children — and Deaf Can:Do —The Royal South Australian Deaf Society (1891). It also has a retail audiology arm Can:Do Hearing.

“It became clear to me that we were never going to be in a position to be able to have the entire skill set we needed, given our total size,” Ms Curran said.

Outsourcing IT to Hood Sweeney has also been critical in the process of transforming the Can:Do Group’s business model in a trial of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding model.

“Whereas in the past, our children’s services had a single client – the State Government - and we raised a single invoice a quarter and received a single cheque, under the NDIS model we have to raise an invoice for every service session we provide to every client,” Ms Curran says.

The group draws on the extensive operational and strategic planning experience of Hood Sweeney’s IT team led by senior director Keith Rutherford who acts as a “Clayton’s CIO” and has a seat at Can:Do’s senior leadership table.Hood Sweeney also provides an operational IT consultant who works in the Can:Do office two days a week, and it provides help desk facilities to support the one in-house IT officer who remains.

“We’ve had a total transformation of the business model – for us to have had Hood Sweeney available to us while we go through those exercises, while we identify changes to accounting packages, while we bring in the new CRMs (customer relationship management systems), has been critical,” Ms Curran said.

What I wanted was a single organisation that could be part of us at the times we needed it. Hood Sweeney had performed so well for us to that point, [outsourcing to Hood Sweeney’s IT team] was just obvious.

A Client’s JourneyTechnology Services

A REAL LIFE JOURNEY: How Hood Sweeney has helped Can:Do Group on their road to success.

Now, this is where your journey starts.To join the journey with Hood Sweeney, or to find out more about what we can do for you, please contact us.

ADELAIDE 11–16 South Terrace Adelaide SA 5000 PO Box 10516 Adelaide BC SA 5000 T 1300 764 200 (Australia-wide) T +61 8 8203 8400 (international) F (08) 8232 1968 info@hoodsweeney.com.au www.hoodsweeney.com.au

WHYALLA Suite 13, Level 1 City Plaza Building 15–15a Darling Terrace Whyalla SA 5600 T 1300 764 200 F (08) 8645 1059

KADINA 6a Graves Street Kadina SA 5554Office hours are determined by pre-arranged appointment.T 1300 764 200 F (08) 8232 1968

Hood Sweeney 2016©. The views expressed in this brochure should not be treated as any form of financial or taxation advice. Specific financial or taxation advice should be sought in relation to any matters referred to, and no responsibility is taken for any errors or omissions contained herein.