Terrific Tech: For every industry, there's a technological innovation supporting its operations.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy
• Position: TELECOM & TECH

When Samson Tug and Barge needed to modernize its computer network, GCI customized a full-scale solution. The Sitka-based, interstate shipping company had new networks installed in eighteen locations, made upgrades to eighty computers--and gained access to what Vice President Cory Baggen describes as a "legion" of IT people, Thanks to GCI's team, Baggen was able to take a two-week vacation in Panama this spring--without needing to have her laptop or the internet available to troubleshoot work-related technical problems. "I knew the business support team would cover me, and I wouldn't have to worry about anything," says Baggen, who has an IT background and fills multiple roles at her company.

GCI has provided IT and technical support for Samson Tug and Barge's users, servers, and network for more than ten years. "They're perfect for us," Baggen says. "The management of the company is stellar; they really look out for Alaska businesses."

Each Industry Has Unique Needs

Companies like Samson Tug and Barge represent a diversity of economic sectors in Alaska, and they depend on various technology solutions to meet their specific needs.

"In a perfect world, having one general technology solution would be wonderful, but it would also be improbable from a practical viewpoint as every industry is different and has distinct requirements," says Matthew Craig, a senior consultant for CTG, which has an office in Anchorage and other locations worldwide. "There are many technology solution providers in the marketplace trying to achieve a one-stop-shop technology solution," says Craig, who is working remotely out of the Alaska office from Houston, Texas, "Many of these technology solutions excel in certain areas but are lacking in other areas, which requires organizations to review various technology solutions based on their business objectives."

Choosing a technology solution requires a solid understanding of a business's workflows and work processes, Craig says. Many organizations may choose a technology solution based on what other organizations use, or worse yet, based on how well the technology performs during a presentation/demonstration. "The important thing to remember is that technology is an enabler to an organization's work processes," he says. "As such, it is critical to first evaluate or review new or existing work processes before you identify and evaluate technology solution(s) that complement them."

Industry-specific technology is successful if it meets the customer's needs, solves problems, and opens new opportunities, according to Jim Gutcher, vice president of strategy and product management at Alaska Communications. Therefore, his company makes a conscious effort to tailor its network solutions to meet the needs of the customer. "Our customers are the experts in their respective industries," he explains. "Each industry has unique needs and use cases. We collaborate with our customers and our in-house subject-matter experts to create network and IT solutions that enable their success."

For example, some industries use applications that rely on large amounts of real-time data to make decisions, such as artificial intelligence (Al). But for Al to work effectively in real time, a connection with low latency (transmission delay) is a must, Gutcher says. "In this case, we would provide a solution with low-latency, reliable connectivity and the use of cloud resources to drive a business result for the customer," he says.

Customizing business solutions is also the norm at GCI. which caters to a myriad of industries. Lori Davey, GCI's vice president of business sales, explains: "Our customers choose the technology...