SMART I.T. Services Blog

Tech Tip: Secure Your iPad

2012-01-12T09:31:00.004-05:00

While mobile devices such as iPads have increased convenience and provided some business benefits, these devices are not without risks.

Here are some basic steps you can take to improve the security of your iPad.

Configure mobile devices securely.
Some simple configurations can aid in the security of your iPad. Enable password authentication, ensure SSL protection is enabled, utilize remote wipe capabilities, and avoid using auto-complete features that remember user names and passwords.

Connect to secure Wi-Fi networks.
Avoid joining unknown Wi-Fi networks.

Update mobile devices frequently.
Be sure to maintain up-to-date software including operating systems and applications.

Utilize anti-virus programs and configure automatic updates if possible.
Just as your PC should have a proper anti-virus solution, your mobile devices should be equipped with anti-virus protection where possible.

Use an encryption solution to keep portable data secure in transit.
If confidential data must be accessed or stored, make sure users have installed an encryption solution.

Properly wipe devices and dispose of properly.
Get your device properly wiped – don’t just pitch it!

Develop guidelines for acceptable iPad and mobile device usage.

Additionally, there are solutions that allow you to secure and manage multiple devices that include functionality like device tracking, profile management, and preventing unauthorized app downloads. One such solution is SMARTmobile Security from SMART I.T. Services. Contact us to learn more about how to secure your mobile devices and make managing them a breeze with SMARTmobile Security.

Security Bulletin: Microsoft Outlook Reading Pane Vulnerability

2011-11-08T13:32:00.000-05:00

We all have our preferences when it comes to how we work. Our Microsoft Outlook settings are no different.

Many people like to have their inbox set up with the reading pane to preview emails at a glance without fully opening them. This is a common practice that, unfortunately, opens up users for unwanted viruses and threats via email.

Emails sent to your inbox containing viruses or malware will install the threats when the emails are viewed in the preview pane, whether or not you've fully opened them or not.

To avoid this potential danger, simply turn off your Outlook reading pane. To do this, go to View > Reading Pane > Off.

This should be done for Outlook Web Access as well because the threat is the same.

Is Your Agency HIPAA and HITECH Compliant?

2011-06-06T15:51:00.005-04:00

Does your agency have a benefits side? If so, you are required to protect the health information of your clients when transmitted via email.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, passed as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), calls for protected health information (PHI) to be rendered unreadable and unusable.

Encryption is a logical and easy way to protect client information sent via email. There is a lot of confusion on the subject, so we have setup a page on our website with more information about HIPAA and HITECH compliance.

While you're there, you can learn about the solution we offer to help you achieve compliance.

Learn more.

Michigan Agents Gather for the Nation’s Longest Running State Technology Conference

2010-11-15T12:44:00.004-05:00

The longest running state agent technology conference in the nation, Great Lakes Automation Day (GLAD) was presented by the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents on November 11, 2010.

The event drew over 150 agents to hear presentations from agents on the leading edge of technology, carrier technology representatives, agency IT leaders, and more. GLAD’s day-long format was topped-off with numerous vendor booths and wonderful networking opportunities.

Steve Brooks of B & B Premier Insurance Solutions kicked off the day with his keynote presentation regarding the latest tools and opportunities for agents to grow their personal lines business, despite intense competition from captive and direct agents.

Mike Steger, Communications Manager at Michigan State University, followed with a fast-paced session that highlighted 45 technology tips in a mere 45 minutes. His presentation included a slew of websites and resources, most of which are free to agents, which can be used for improving online presence, productivity, and more.

After two additional sessions and a delicious lunch, Jerry Fetty took the Kellogg Center stage to present Mobile Computing Today. Jerry discussed the latest developments and reviewed a variety of devices, emphasizing the need to understand how agents plan to work remotely in order for them to select the mobile platform and device that will allow them to be the most productive.

A concurrent Michigan NetVU user group meeting rounded out the information-packed day.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the SMART I.T. Services and MySalesResults booths and congratulations to Ashley Whitney of Harbor Brenn Insurance Agency, winner of our raffle for an Archos 2.8 internet tablet device. We hope to see you all again at the MAIA’s Annual Convention on February 22-24, 2011 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan!

How to Protect Yourself Against Malicious Online Pop-ups

2010-11-04T13:45:00.003-04:00

Malicious online pop-ups are becoming more and more complex, making it harder for everyday users to decipher what is legit and what is harmful. These pop-ups go so far as to trick you into installing malware on your computer, potentially compromising personal and company data while making your computer run slow.

This webinar recording provides you with guidance for preventing the installation of malware on your computer.

Webinar: Exploring Windows 7 and Office 2010

2010-07-21T09:11:00.003-04:00

You have probably heard the hype and seen the commercials, but what are the features of Windows 7 that everyone’s so excited about? Microsoft recently released Office 2010 as well, but what are the enhancements that may be valuable for your agency?

Get your first-hand look at both by joining us for “Exploring Windows 7 and Office 2010,” our free webinar on July 28, 2010. You will get to see the new features of Windows 7 that can help your agency increase productivity, enhance communication, improve security, and more. You will also get a peek at Office 2010 to see all that it has to offer.

Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Time: 10 AM - 11 AM EST
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/644177642

Protect Your Agency Against Fake Anti-Virus Software Pop-Ups

2010-07-21T09:03:00.001-04:00

An online threat becoming more and more problematic is fake anti-virus and anti-spyware software pop-ups. You may have run into these malicious pop-ups when you're surfing online. A seemingly legit pop-up appears saying, "Your Computer Has Been Infected!" The pop-up prompts you to click it to buy software to rid your computer of the infection.

However, clicking on the pop-up actually installs malware that it claims to be helping you protect against. The malware can compromise your personal data, make your PC extremely slow or unusable, and more. Worse yet, if you proceed to buy the software that the pop-up presents you, your credit card information falls into the hands of thieves.

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself:

• Do NOT click on any pop-up that advertises anti-virus or anti-spyware software, especially a program promising to provide every feature known to mankind. In general, do not click on any pop-up advertisements, as many of them are malicious.
• Use ALT + F4 to close a pop-up window... this is the only safe method for closing one.
• If a virus alert appears on your screen, do NOT touch it. Do not use your mouse to eliminate or scan for viruses, and DON'T use your mouse to close the window. Contact SMART Services immediately. Clicking anywhere on the pop-up will allow the software to install itself.
• Never open an email attachment unless you are POSITIVE about the source.
• Do not download freeware or shareware.
• Avoid questionable websites. Some sites may automatically download malicious software onto your computer.

What You Missed at Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2010

2010-06-25T15:50:00.000-04:00

Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2010 Photos

2010-05-19T11:25:00.003-04:00

Thank you for attending Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2010, presented by SMART I.T. Services! Check out some photos below from this seminar that took place on April 29-30, 2010.

MySalesResults Joins SMART I.T. Services, Inc.'s Suite of Insurance Agency Technology Tools

2010-02-04T15:16:00.003-05:00

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI (February 1, 2010) – SMART I.T. Services, Inc., an information technology services provider focused on serving independent insurance agencies, recently acquired MySalesResults, a web-based sales management tool designed specifically for independent insurance agencies.

MySalesResults will join SMART I.T Services’ set of IT services and solutions for insurance agencies, including proactive network monitoring and management, data backup and standby server, electronic document management, communications solutions, and more.

MySalesResults is designed to be a simple, effective, producer prospecting and results tracking tool. It allows producers to track and manage their prospect pipeline throughout the sales process and it allows managers to review producer sales results compared to their sales goals, by individual producer, department and agency.

Jessica Stevenson, Account Executive for MySalesResults, will continue with MySalesResults providing sales and customer support to agency customers throughout the United States and Canada.

“MySalesResults is a well proven and respected tool for agencies to manage their sales team. It is a welcome compliment to the technology services we currently offer to independent insurance agencies.” stated Jerry Fetty, Founder and CEO of SMART I.T. Services, Inc.

Hetrick & Associates Insurance Agency from Marquette, Michigan, along with Jessica Stevenson and a program developer, created MySalesResults in 2006 as a solution to streamline their sales management and tracking abilities.

“We are confident that Jerry and the SMART I.T. Services team will bring MySalesResults to the next level of success in the industry. We have brought MySalesResults from an idea, to an actual service that independent insurance agencies utilize throughout the United States and Canada. Agencies find success in MySalesResults assisting them in organizing and managing their producers, sales processes, and goals. We are also looking forward to working with Jessica and continuing as a customer of MySalesResults,” said Scott White, VP & Sales Manager of Hetrick & Associates Insurance Agency.

About SMART I.T. Services, Inc.
SMART I.T. Services, Inc. is an information technology (IT) services provider that has been serving insurance agencies since 1991. Agencies have turned to SMART I.T. Services, Inc. to reduce their IT costs, increase productivity, and gain peace of mind. Additionally, SMART I.T. Services is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner and is certified under the Managed Service Providers Accreditation Program (MSAP) by the MSP Alliance. SMART I.T. Services is also the only endorsed and recommended technology services provider of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). For more information, visit SMARTservices.com.

Gearing Up for the MAIA's 19th Annual Convention

2010-01-27T10:57:00.007-05:00

The Michigan Association of Insurance Agents' 19th Annual Convention is right around the corner and will take place February 23-25, 2010 at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. This conference is the largest annual gathering of insurance professionals in Michigan.

Jerry Fetty (SMART I.T. Services) and Wayne Joubert (MAIA) will be presenting The Benefits and Pitfalls of Using Social Media at Your Agency on Tuesday, February 23rd at 1:30 pm. You will see examples of how some agencies are using social media to extend customer service and build relationships. The session will also explore some of the pitfalls and how to make sure social media tools are used appropriately.

You can view all of the other great convention topics and get more information here.

Be sure to drop by our booth #41 and find out about our technology services and solutions that can save your agency money, increase employee productivity, and reduce risk.

The Newest (and Coolest Looking) SMART Services Vehicle

2009-12-09T11:34:00.008-05:00

Check out the latest edition to the SMART Services vehicle fleet - a 2009 Chevy HHR. The car is decked-out in a colorful graphic wrap that features circuits, chips, cables, and other computer components incorporated into a classic "hot rod" look.

Click here to check it out on YouTube!

GLAD 2009 Recap

2009-12-07T16:04:00.005-05:00

Great Lakes Automation Day (GLAD), presented by the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents, turned out to be another excellent event. Great presentations were given throughout the day by Steve Anderson, Angelyn Treutel, and SMART I.T. Services very own Bryant Caudill (pictured). Agents learned about leveraging social media and having an online presence in order to nurture relationships, build new ones, and stand out amongst the crowd.

Steve Anderson kicked off the event by explaining why people and business professionals need to pay attention to social media. After Angelyn Treutel showed the audience how her agency is incorporating social media tools as part of its sales and customer service strategy, Bryant Caudill demonstrated how to set up a Google AdWords account and campaign to drive traffic to an agency’s web site.

Vendor booths, lunch, and a whole lot of networking rounded out the busy day. Thank you to everyone who stoppped by the SMART I.T. Services booth(s) at the show (we had two of them). It was great to see some familiar faces and some new ones as well!

Are You Being Buried in Paper?

2009-11-18T09:43:00.005-05:00

Learn how the latest docStar software can take your agency from being buried in paper to best practices by attending this free webinar on Monday, November 23rd.

This 45 minute session will show you how docStar's electronic document management system helps you virtually eliminate paper and associated costs, find documents quickly and easily, allow remote employees to access documents from any location, increase overall productivity, and more.

Date: November 23, 2009
Time: 1 pm Eastern

Register: Click here to register for this free webinar

Great Lakes Automation Day (GLAD) 2009

2009-10-22T09:50:00.006-04:00

The Michigan Association of Insurance Agents will be holding its annual Great Lakes Automation Day (GLAD) event on November 6, 2009 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Michigan. The theme for this year's event is "Agencies in the Age of Social Media."

Do you think social media is just a fad? Come find out what the experts think about its potential benefits and the best practices to utilizing it at your insurance agency.

Speakers for GLAD 2009 include Bryant Caudill of SMART I.T. Services, Steve Anderson, and Angelyn Treautel of the IIABA's Agents Council for Technology.

Don't miss out on this great event! Visit http://www.michagent.org/ more information and to register.

Webinar: Best Practices for IT Budgeting

2009-10-02T13:36:00.006-04:00

Proper IT budgeting can help your business reduce unexpected costs, minimize equipment downtime, strategically plan the usage of your IT resources, and determine the return on investment of your IT expenditures. Research also suggests that companies with successful IT budget management are able to prevent budget overruns and get the most out of their infrastructure.

Join SMART I.T. Services for a webinar on October 28, “Best Practices for IT Budgeting,” and learn how to maximize the effectiveness of your IT budget.

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am EDT
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/166350627

SMARTservices.com Gets a New Look

2009-09-28T15:35:00.011-04:00

We are pleased to announce that we've redesigned our website, SMARTservices.com.

Our revamped site is now on a content management system (CMS), enabling us to make continous updates and improvements on the fly. Please bare with us as any minor tweaks and changes are made to improve functionality.

The site contains the integration of video, social media, relevant news feeds, and more to provide visitors with a variety of information and resources. Check it out!

Another Successful Lunch & Learn

2009-09-24T13:02:00.004-04:00

SMART I.T. Services would like to thank everyone who attended our Lunch & Learn on the topic of electronic document management. Turnout was excellent and feedback we received was very positive.

Jerry Fetty of SMART I.T. Services presented the many benefits of electronic document management and Rusty Keighron of DocStar demonstrated the latest and greatest features of DocStar 3ten.

Information about our next Lunch & Learn being held in Grand Rapids will be available in the coming weeks.

Only a Few Seats Available for Our Lunch & Learn

2009-09-17T16:26:00.006-04:00

There are only a few seats still available for our Lunch & Learn on September 22, 2009. The event, "How to Save Money & Increase Productivity with Electronic Document Management," will show attendees how electronic document management can help reduce costs associated with paper, improve employee productivity, create workflow efficiencies, improve responsiveness to customers, and more.

Date: September 22, 2009

Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (Please arrive between 11:30 am and Noon)

Cost: FREE - lunch will be provided

Where:

SMART I.T. Services

34715 Van Dyke Ave. (Van Dyke & 15 Mile, next to the Best Western Sterling Inn)

Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Register today at smartservices.eventbrite.com.

What You Need to Know About Archiving, Data Retention, and Backups

2009-08-27T15:57:00.004-04:00

Our webinar, "What You Need to Know About Archiving, Data Retention, and Backups", from August 26 is now available for viewing on our YouTube channel.

Upcoming Webinar: What You Need to Know about Archiving, Data Retention, and Backups

2009-08-06T13:23:00.001-04:00

In this day and age, proper retention of company data is not only important, it is critical to staying in business. With the ongoing risk of data loss and regulatory compliance concerns, there has never been a better time to make sure that your archiving, data retention, and backup practices are adequate.

Join SMART Services for our free webinar, “What You Need to Know about Archiving, Data Retention, and Backups”, and discover strategies and best practices for protecting your data and minimizing your risk of data loss.

Title:
What You Need to Know about Archiving, Data Retention, and Backups

Date:
Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Time:
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT

Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/315312826

Webinar: Online Threat Forecast & Prevention Strategies

2009-07-24T14:30:00.002-04:00

Viruses, spyware, phishing scams, and other threats are constantly evolving, posing potential harm in the form of data loss, compromise of customer information which could lead to a lawsuit, slow network performance, and more.

Watch our webinar, "Online Threat Forecast & Prevention Strategies", to learn more about the latest online threats and how to help protect against them.

SMART I.T. Services Hires Vanni as Account Manager

2009-07-16T09:52:00.004-04:00

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI (July 16, 2009) – SMART I.T. Services, Inc., information technology services provider, recently announced that Doug Vanni has been appointed Account Manager for the company.

Vanni’s responsibilities will include marketing SMART I.T. Services’ automation and technology services, including S.M.A.R.T. Services®, electronic content management, intelligent telephony, and other solutions, as well as managing existing accounts.

Vanni brings with him 10 years of sales and marketing experience with extensive knowledge of the insurance industry, most recently working for a leading comparative rating software provider. Vanni has a background in Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service and earned an M.B.A in Marketing from St. John Fisher College of Rochester, NY.

“I have known Doug for years and he is highly regarded in the insurance industry for his relationships and professionalism. He will be a great asset at our company and we are please to have him on our team,” stated Jerry Fetty, CEO.

About SMART I.T. Services, Inc.
SMART I.T. Services, Inc. is an information technology (IT) services provider that has been serving insurance agencies since 1991. Businesses have turned to SMART I.T. Services, Inc. to reduce their IT costs, increase productivity, and gain peace of mind. Additionally, SMART I.T. Services is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner and is certified under the Managed Service Providers Accreditation Program (MSAP) by the MSP Alliance. For more information, visit SMARTservices.com.

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Kleinschmidt Insurance Partners with SMART I.T. Services to Reduce IT Costs and Increase Efficiency

2009-07-14T10:47:00.004-04:00

ANN ARBOR, MI (July 14, 2009) – Kleinschmidt Insurance of Ann Arbor, Michigan, an independent insurance agency, partnered with SMART I.T. Services, Inc. of Sterling Heights, Michigan to help improve their productivity and profitability by moving their agency management system in-house. Kleinschmidt’s agency management system, Applied’s The Agency Manager (TAM), was previously hosted off-site by a third-party.

Kleinschmidt made the decision to bring their agency management system and related infrastructure back in-house to help increase speed and operability of the system, which will lead to increased employee productivity and reduced downtime.

New infrastructure for the agency includes technology such as Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 with Microsoft Exchange, SMART BDR Backup and Disaster Recovery services, and more. In addition, they opted for a proactive approach to managing their network by selecting the S.M.A.R.T. Services® Platinum program offered by SMART I.T. Services.

Since moving their agency management system back in-house, Kleinschmidt reports that their network is running faster, allowing employees to be more productive.

“Moving Kleinschmidt Insurance’s agency management system in house will provide them with a much more stable, reliable, and robust system. This will result in increased productivity and reduced costs associated with productivity loss and downtime,” commented Jerry Fetty, CEO of SMART I.T. Services. “Overall, they are investing in the future of their insurance agency by making these strategic decisions.”

About Kleinschmidt Insurance
Kleinschmidt Insurance is an independent insurance agency that has been insuring businesses and families since 1926. The agency represents more than 25 insurance companies to provide business, home, auto, life, health, and other insurance solutions. For more information, visit kleinschmidtinsurance.com.

About SMART I.T. Services, Inc.
SMART I.T. Services, Inc. is an information technology services provider that has been helping insurance agencies increase their productivity and profitability since 1991. SMART I.T. Services is the only managed services provider in Michigan certified under the Managed Service Providers Accreditation Program (MSAP) by the MSP Alliance. For more information, visit SMARTservices.com.

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Extreme Technology Makeover Update

2009-07-10T16:14:00.004-04:00

SMART I.T. Services recently caught up with Holly Rossell of Action Insurance, winner of our 2009 Extreme Technology Makeover, to talk about SMARTweb Defense, a solution for curbing unauthorized employee web surfing and defending against threats like viruses and spyware. Check out the footage as Bryant Caudill of SMART I.T. Services trains Holly on the in-depth reporting features of SMARTweb Defense.

Wouldn't it be nice to receive SMARTweb Defense for your business? Apply for our next Extreme Technology Makeover and it could be yours, too!

Webinar: How to Get the Most Out of Outlook 2007

2009-06-25T12:31:00.002-04:00

Microsoft Outlook 2007 users - our "How to Get the Most Out of Outlook 2007" webinar is now available for viewing on our YouTube channel. Presented on June 24, 2009, this informative webinar shows you how to automate tasks, increase productivity, and make your life a little easier with Outlook 2007.

Managing Spam and Employee Web Browsing

2009-05-27T14:37:00.003-04:00

93% of organizations have had a virus, worm, or trojan horse successfully infiltrate their network through email (Source: Osterman Research, Inc.) and 30 to 40% of internet browsing is non-job related (Source: IDC Research).

Spam emails are more than just a nuisance – they pose threats to your network security and contribute to lost productivity from having to manage them on a daily basis. Unauthorized employee web browsing is not only a productivity killer; it increases the chances of viruses infiltrating your network and can lead to security breaches.

Our "Managing Spam and Employee Web Browsing" webinar from May 27, 2009 discusses how to prevent spam and associated threats, as well as prevent unauthorized employee web surfing. This webinar is broken into five parts and is viewable by clicking here.

Lunch & Learn at the IIAI Conference Center in Indianapolis

2009-05-05T09:57:00.008-04:00

Hey Indianapolis area agencies! You're invited to join SMART I.T. Services on June 16, 2009 for “How to Reduce Your IT Costs 30 to 50%”, part of our quarterly Lunch and Learn series.

This hour-long event will be hosted at the IIAI Conference Center.

• See how to reduce costs associated with network performance and downtime
• Learn how you can reduce your business cost of data,
• Discover how to cut costs and reduce threats associated with spam email messages and unauthorized employee web surfing
• Door prizes
• Lunch is provided compliments of SMART I.T. Services!

When:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Where:
IIAI Conference Center
3435 W. 96th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46268

Cost:
FREE! Registration is quick and easy - click here to register.

Proper Data Backup and Recovery Methods

2009-04-22T13:21:00.005-04:00

20% of small to medium businesses will suffer a major disaster causing loss of critical data every 5 years. (Source: Richmond House Group)

Watch our "Proper Data Backup and Recovery Methods" webinar presented on April 22, 2009 to learn best practices for keeping your company data safe and secure.

This webinar is part of our webinars playlist created within our SMART I.T. Services, Inc. YouTube Channel. Now you can go straight to our webinar playlist so you don't have to sort through our numerous videos to find what you're looking for. Now that's SMART!

It's Back... Extreme Technology Makeover 2010

2009-04-08T13:47:00.005-04:00

SMART I.T. Services, Inc. is proud to announce that entries are now being accepted for our Extreme Technology Makeover 2010 giveaway. Action Insurance of Utica, MI won our 2009 giveaway. You could be next!

This makeover includes technology that can help increase employee productivity, gain overall efficiencies, reduce IT costs, prevent data loss and associated expenses and increase overall profitability. Does this sound like something your business could use in these tough economic times? Then enter for your chance to win our Extreme Technology Makeover by clicking here.

Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2009 Opening Video

2009-03-30T12:23:00.003-04:00

By popular demand, the grand opening from Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2009 is available for viewing, featuring Jerry Fetty as Super Smart IT Guy.

Extreme Technology Makeover Video Submission for Action Insurance

2009-03-27T11:12:00.006-04:00

Action Insurance of Utica, MI was the winner of SMART I.T. Services' Extreme Technology Makeover. They were announced as the winner at Take Your Agency to the Next Level on January 30, 2009. Check out their creative video submission for the technology makeover!

Webinar: Creating and Maintaining a Free Intranet Site

2009-03-03T14:59:00.005-05:00

Keeping information and company resources organized can be challenging. In today’s economy, it is especially important to have your systems as organized as possible to maintain optimal efficiency.

On February 25, 2009, Bryant Caudill of SMART I.T. Services presented "Creating and Maintaining a Free Intranet Site," a webinar that gave a first-hand look at what Microsoft SharePoint has to offer and how to easily organize your company resources by setting up an intranet site of your own.

Follow along as Bryant guides you through setting up a sample intranet site using SharePoint. This webinar is broken up into 6 sections, clocking in around an hour. Visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/smartitservices to view the complete webinar.

Stay tuned for our next webinar, "Increasing Productivity with Remote Workers," taking place on March 25, 2009 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am.

Lunch and Learn - Lansing

2009-02-23T16:50:00.004-05:00

Hey Lansing area agencies! You're invited to join SMART I.T. Services on March 26, 2009 for “How to Reduce Your IT Costs 30 to 50%”, part of our quarterly lunch and learn series.

• Learn how you can reduce your business cost of data,
• Discover how to cut costs and reduce threats associated with spam email messages and unauthorized employee web surfing
• Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of our “5 Ways to Increase Your Agency’s Profitability” report, commissioned for the benefit of insurance agencies like yours
• Lunch is provided compliments of SMART I.T. Services!

When:
Thursday, March 26, 2009 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Where:
MAIA
1141 Centennial Way
Lansing, MI 48917

To register, visit http://www.smartservices.eventbrite.com/

Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2009 Wrap Up Pt. 2

2009-02-06T14:13:00.001-05:00

Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2009 Wrap Up Pt. 1

2009-02-02T16:17:00.024-05:00

Thank you to everyone who attended Take Your Agency to the Next Level on January 30, 2009! This year's event was another success, with the overwhelming favorite session being "Ask the Geeks", where Jerry Fetty and Bryant Caudill answered a wide-range of technology and automation questions.

Not only did attendees walk away with a wealth of information and guidance from SMART I.T. Services, many left the seminar with some great prize giveaways just for attending.

The biggest winner of the day was Action Insurance (pictured left with Jerry Fetty) of Utica, MI, who were awarded with our $60,000 Extreme Agency Technology Makeover. Hetrick & Associates of Marquette, MI and Burr & Company of Grand Rapids, MI were also finalists for the makeover. In the coming months, Action Insurance will receive a variety of technology solutions to help increase the productivity of their agency.

Check back often for videos and additional tidbits from the seminar. In the meantime, check out a few pictures from Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2009 below.

Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2009 is almost here!

2009-01-09T14:16:00.006-05:00

Take Your Agency to the Next Level 2009 is fast approaching. Be sure to sign up now before it's too late! This annual seminar presented by SMART I.T. Services takes place on January 30, 2009 at the Best Western Sterling Inn Conference Center in Sterling Heights, MI.

Discover the latest technology and how to implement it to increase productivity and profitability

Learn how to get the most out of the technology you already have

Extended "Ask the Geeks!" session based on feedback from last year's seminar - bring your questions for the geeks!

Find out what other agencies like yours are doing to stay competitive in this soft market

Click here for more information and to register!

Happy Holidays!

2009-01-05T13:57:00.000-05:00

SMART I.T. Services, Inc. would like to wish you happy holidays and a very prosperous new year!