Feb. 2, 2004 Now Technology Has a Human Face Lighthouse Strategic Group Develops a Far-Reaching Extranet for Reston Virginia's Data Systems and Technology, Inc. FAIRFAX, VA -Lighthouse Strategic Group, a provider of business process outsourcing solutions to organizations of all sizes, finds that many small businesses are only recently able to embrace these technologies because they were previously unaffordable. "Perhaps one of the most significant changes since the start of the new century is the ease of use and increasing affordability of technologies previously reserved for large companies with huge budgets. These factors equate directly to increased accessibility for small businesses," says Norman Rich, Lighthouse Strategic Group's President and CEO. "In the past, few small, non-tech-oriented businesses could afford the costs or have access to the expertise required to take full advantage of technology as a medium for improving day to day business processes." Rich speaks from experience having spent the last decade providing solutions to Mobil Oil, SAP, Black and Decker, and many more of the world's largest corporations. While Rich acknowledges that small businesses have always been innovative in their use of the Internet, he believes that today's small business owners are different because they are finding new uses for technologies that other "more savvy" Web players abandoned long ago. Reston's Data Systems and Technology, Inc. (DST) is one example of this trend. As a contractor that has provided technology-related services to the federal government for more than a decade, DST is no stranger to technology's ability to transform business operations. Faced with marketplace consolidation and the ever-present need to manage costs and increase efficiencies, DST is using the Web to differentiate itself and improve on its ability to communicate with customers inside and outside of the company. According to Jonathan Speed, DST's President and Chief Executive Officer the firm boasts more than 60 employees in multiple locations. Speed feels that his employees are the firm's key differentiator in the marketplace. Speed asked Lighthouse Strategic Group to help the company leverage this fantastic resource-the one resource that is truly unique to DST-utilizing the best qualities in its people to define the company's key characteristics. The sales process for government contractors is long and expensive, and sales cycles of more than one year are commonplace. Lighthouse Strategic Group is developing a solution that will not only enable DST to market its services more efficiently and effectively, but to merge many of the technologies the firm uses everyday with other aspects of DST's business development process. "Sometimes, technology managers can be so focused on delivering great solutions", says Rich. "that they fail to appropriately value their people. We were excited to discover that DST is an exception to this rule." Lighthouse Strategic Group is working with DST and other government contractors in an effort to change this trend by introducing many of the marketing and branding solutions that private sector firms use to differentiate themselves and create marketshare. "Most government contractors focus all of their marketing efforts on securing new contracts, but strengthening existing relationships can be even more important to long term success," says Elise Yacobellis, Lighthouse Strategic Group's VP of Business Operations. "This is a particularly exciting project for Lighthouse Strategic Group given the profound implications of the services provided to all Americans by firms like DST," says Yacobellis. "In creating this Web site, we are expanded upon DST's belief that, in technology, there's no underestimating the value of the human element." The new DST Web site will be divided into two segments, all designed and coded by Lighthouse Strategic Group. A privately accessed portal (code-named SpeedWay), will be designed to make important data, analysis tools, and resources available to employees, partners, clients, and vendors through a highly robust and integrated delivery platform. The corporate site focuses on customer relations, general information, and employment opportunities within the company. The site is scheduled to launch by March 1, 2004. We've always seen ourselves as a leader in the provision of high-quality technological resources, but our marketing investments will be wasted if we don't effectively present our capabilities to the world, says DST's president, Speed. Lighthouse Strategic Group is creating a site that provides easy access to information about DST and its people as well as the company's ground-breaking technology solutions so that customers everywhere can understand how to employ these solutions for success. Lighthouse Strategic Group is a professional services provider that provides business process outsourcing, strategic planning, marketing/communications and Web-enabling solutions for its Fortune 1000 and emerging clients worldwide. Lighthouse specializes in developing systems that support internal and external customer audiences. Clients include: Heinz Family Philanthropies, Arnold Worldwide, America Online, Best Software, The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, The Retired Military Officers Association, American Society of Information Security Professionals, and Avanade among others. CONTACT: Norman Rich President, CEO 571/436-2163 Email: norman@lighthousestrategicgroup.com Back to Top