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Geeks bring IT home

By: Joan Garrett
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Jim Ownbey

As businesses attempt to cut overhead in the midst of more difficult economic times, some are looking to outsource their technological support to geeks willing to travel, says the owner of a local start-up.

“It is amazing how this had ballooned,” said Jim Ownbey, owner of Geeks on Call in Cleveland.

Geeks on Call opened two weeks ago, but has already received more than eight service requests, said Mr. Ownbey.

Mr. Ownbey, who started the local franchise of Geeks on Call after leaving a job in appliance customer service at Maytag, said businesses with information technology departments could save up to 25 percent of employment costs by outsourcing their technological support.

Also, Mr. Ownbey said when businesses stop worrying about maintaining computers and hardware they can focus their efforts on pleasing customers and gaining market share.

Smaller businesses have traditionally used services like Geeks on Call, but Mr. Ownbey said harsh economic times have caused larger companies to think about switching.

“A lot of small businesses up here are doing that if they can afford it,” said Kevin Maxfield, director of the Tennessee Small Businesses Development Center in Chattanooga. “There are good companies around that are offering resonable rates for that type of service.”

Mr. Maxfield said it is smarter to use services like Geeks on Call than have someone on staff to deal with technological problems because it is cost affective.

“You don’t have issues all the time,” he said. “It’s sort of a use-as-you-need-them type of situation.”

While some larger businesses are outsourcing IT, many have proprietary software that can be hard for an outsider to service.

Mr. Maxfield said businesses thinking about using a service like Geeks on Call should communicate needs and stay within a budget.

For personal computer users, John Lovellette, senior technician for Geeks in Bradley and Hamilton counties said most people are afraid of computers

They don’t want to disconnect a troubled system for service and then have to reconnect it alone afterwards, he said.

“A lot of people want to have computers checked at their home,” said Mr. Lovellette, who is has an MCSC Microsoft certification and an A+ hardware certification.