Company's New Approach Saves Clients Up To 70% Off Their IT Costs
The Ascent Technology Center will provide full-spectrum technology services to its clients and is expected to employ nearly 300 local technology professionals when fully staffed. Ascent offers technology consulting, custom software development, CRM/ERP/PLM systems integration, web content management, and IT project outsourcing to clients in the Pittsburgh region.
"We believe that, throughout the last decade and a half, the U.S. IT services industry has not mounted an effective campaign to reduce the cost of IT projects and has sent the work offshore rather than do it here. One result is that the Bangalore region of India has grown their technology industry by billions of dollars and 170,000 workers over the last few years. So, we are launching such a campaign in Pittsburgh today," said John Twigg, Chief Executive Officer of Ascent. Twigg has spoken on the detrimental effects of offshore outsourcing on radio and television programs as well as at numerous technical and business events. He also represents the interests of U.S. members of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers in meetings with legislators in Washington D.C.
Jim Trotta, VP of Business Development for Ascent and previously an alumnus of Tier-1 providers IBM, EDS, Deloitte & Touche, and Ernst & Young added, "The goal of the Ascent Technology Center is to provide rapid and affordable local solutions to solve our clients' critical business issues such as increasing sales, improving customer satisfaction, reducing costs, and maximizing profits. Ascent has perfected its model over the last three years and already has a 7-0 record vs. offshore firms of keeping work here in Pittsburgh. Why not make offshore outsourcing irrelevant while increasing the career opportunities for our local technology professionals and students? We've already proven that our globally-competitive business model works and we've been recognized for it by both the Pittsburgh City Council and the Pennsylvania Senate."
Ultimately, Twigg foresees a trend where his lower IT costs will enable clients of any size to increase their use of technology to be more competitive. "A 2004 Deloitte Consulting study showed that Pennsylvania manufacturing firms lag the U.S. national average in productivity by 11%. As many of these firms experience increasing competitive pressures over time, they realize that information technology and process improvement are the two important growth engines that they must have to compete -- and that only a local partner like Ascent makes these engines affordable," he concludes. "What we do is identify, prioritize, and execute those improvements that bring the largest business value. Our clients are kept close to their projects and intellectual property.
"But where the rubber really hits the road," Twigg suggested, "is in cost reduction. As of today, our existing clients will get an immediate drop of 30% or more in programming costs if they aren't on the lower rates already. And, our consulting rates for enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems will be close to 70% below traditional ERP providers, lowering the total cost of implementation of such systems dramatically. So now, for example, a small manufacturing client can have the ERP system they really need instead of settling for just an accounting system."
About Ascent Systems, Inc.
Ascent Systems provides strategy-driven capabilities, process improvements, and technologies that are critical to the growth and prosperity of its clients. By focusing on smaller, achievable technology milestones, Ascent Systems can field new capabilities much faster and can make the acquisition process less costly, thereby achieving expected results on schedule and within cost. Ascent Systems proudly employs a 100% U.S. resident work force.
For further information:
Jim Trotta
Public Relations
Ascent Systems, Inc.
412.795.4444
Email Contact
www.ascent-systems.com
Web site: http://www.ascent-systems.com/