Michigan location founded November 2006
Owner: Kenneth King
Platinum-Level Computer Care Advantage Client Since June 2007

Applying for FDA approval is a difficult journey through a highly regulated environment with strict documentation guidelines. Ken King Consulting, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, provides regulatory consulting and document management services to assist developers of drugs and medical devices to navigate that complicated route.

Colleen Foley is the IT Manager for Ken King Consulting. As such, she is responsible for ensuring that Ken King Consulting’s global clients, employees and consultants have 24x7 access to the critical documentation they need for the FDA approval process.

In order to do so, “first and foremost, above all, the quality of services we need from our technology provider is beyond critical,” says Colleen. “If we don’t have highly skilled support providers, we’re not going to be in business very long.”

Lack of adequate service motivated Colleen to look to a new provider in the spring of 2007. “We had a general dissatisfaction with the quality of services being provided, the cost of services being provided. We really thought – we knew – that we could do much better.”

Three Critical Areas

Ken King Consulting’s number one priority was a high technological skill level. Because of their global clientele, information must be accessible on demand, 24x7. “We have a fairly sophisticated IT infrastructure,” says Collen. “We needed someone who could run the gamut of technology from the desktop all the way up and through our network, working with our ISP, and so on. I needed someone who could cover all of the bases.”

Besides a higher quality of service, Ken King Consulting was also looking to reduce unforeseen technology costs and find a true technology partner rather than just someone to call when things went wrong.

An Unusual Solution With Unexpected Benefits

The unique fixed-price business model of the TAZ Networks Computer Care Advantage Plan caught the attention of Ken King Consulting. “Technology expenses can add up very quickly,” notes Colleen. “Here was someone who was willing to share some of the risk with us. TAZ Networks had confidence in their ability to keep things running smoothly. We weren’t going to be running into situations where expenses suddenly ran up through the roof.”

After meeting with different providers and putting them through a due diligence process, Ken King Consulting signed on with the TAZ Networks Computer Care Advantage Plan in June 2007.

Besides providing the ability to budget for technology costs, signing up for the Platinum-level service had another benefit. Colleen no longer felt handcuffed by hourly costs from picking up the phone and calling for advice ahead of making technology decisions. “With other organizations, if I have to pay for the call, and it’s going to cost me, that’s an incentive not to call,” she says. “With this model, I’m encouraged to call them, bring them in on the ideas up front, let them help me make some decisions. Not only do I get highly qualified consultations, but we’re making a combined decision that’s the right thing for the company, and allows them to do things the way they need to be done.”

Reliable Service, Reliable Pricing

Ken King Consulting is now able to provide a nearly seamless experience with their document management service. Their clients, employees, and consultants are able to log in and receive the information they need without a second thought as to whether the system is going to work. Colleen says, “They expect it to be there and it’s there. We’ve had minimal service disruptions, typically due to things no one can control such as power outages or utility company fluctuations. Our uptime is excellent.”

In addition, they find that being able to budget for a year with a fixed-price agreement is a huge relief. Notes Colleen: “Without a fixed-price agreement, budgeting becomes a real challenge. Your expenses can grow very rapidly. That’s not the case here.”

Has the TAZ Networks Computer Care Advantage helped Ken King Consulting grow as a business? “As we bring in new clients and do demonstrations, we can speak very confidently about our ability to provide our global anytime services, because we have been doing it, we are doing it,” shares Colleen. “I have extreme confidence in our ability to provide what we promise because the technology support is now a really solid part of our business.”

Colleen wholeheartedly recommends TAZ Networks to any small business looking for a technology partner. “TAZ Networks is a top provider in the area. I want them to succeed just as much as I want us to succeed.”

Life sciences organizations needing regulatory consulting and document management can learn more about Ken King Consulting at www.kenkingconsulting.com or call (734) 822-5464.

Contact TAZ Networks at (810) 355-2280 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .