SYSTEM INTEGRATION -- Process Ins and Outs

Wall estimates it took less than $10,000 to put together a system that would have cost $50,000 or more to equal on a UNIX platform. A key factor in keeping its costs down was the company's involvement in setting up a local Linux users group.

"There's great camaraderie in the group, so we've been able to use that pool of talent for all manners of free problem solving," Wall says. The company maximizes its internal resources by cross-training staff members, he adds, while maintaining a close relationship with a small local firm to fill any gaps in IT resources.