Hamilton--Who Needs a Systems Integrator?

Integrator's Value-added
The integrator's value-added comes in making complex hardware and software configurations work over single and distributed sites—and includes ongoing service to deal with the inevitable crashes.

Interestingly, good integrators also help their clients with the financial aspects of technology investments. Beyond providing them with an optimistic spreadsheet, a good integrator will show clients exactly where savings are coming from and how to sell it to their own bosses. All Systems, for example, helped American Power Conversion (APC), a Rhode Island-based manufacturer of uninterrupted power supply systems, build its own in-house prepress department from scratch, as well as recruit trained staff and manage the transition with its prepress suppliers. Not only was APC able to recoup its investment in less than a year, but it has been able to use additional savings to expand into post-edit video gear to produce the firm's own television commercials.