Recovery Crew

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Found in: Case Studies

Most people get laid off at some point in their lives. In Georgia, however, the Department of Labor seeks out displaced workers, so it can help them get back on their feet.

Being There
When a Georgia business faces the reality of employee layoffs, a rapid response team sets up camp on the company's premises or rents nearby office space to help former workers find new jobs. These temporary transition centers offer training, electronic job searches and resumé assistance. It is imperative that the centers provide user-friendly and reliable computers that are accessible to users of all skill levels, said John Dunn, employment and training consultant for the Georgia Department of Labor.

Voters elected Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond in 1998 on a platform that challenged the state's Department of Labor to make its services more agile. Thurmond's leadership prompted the department to experiment with Gateway's Profile 3 desktop in 2001. Dunn said he was surprised that he could fit 10 Profile 3s in his compact car the first time he used them. Now the department has 120 Profiles, equipped with Intel® Pentium® 4 Processors 521 with HT Technology.

Dunn said Gateway Profiles are ideal for squeezing into a minivan, eliminating the nuisance of loading 20 desktops in a large truck when outfitting a remote site. The transition centers occasionally operate for as long as two years, but three months or less is the usual duration. The Profile's compact size makes setting up the temporary centers a breeze, said Dunn.

"I can deploy more computers to more sites quicker with lower transportation costs," Dunn said, adding that the Profiles predominantly use industry standard parts. "They're easy to work on and repair."

A Better Fit
Reliable computers are central to Georgia's transition services. For years, Dunn said, he searched for models better suited for Georgia's mobile centers than the traditional desktops he normally used. What he really wanted was a cross between a desktop and a laptop. Setting up 20 or more desktops on location was an arduous chore, but laptops presented ergonomic problems and security issues. He wanted a system that would provide the comfort of a full-size keyboard, but was easily moveable and convenient to place in tight work areas. After some shopping around, he bought 12 Gateway Profile 3s as a trial
and hasn't looked back since.

"It's a good compromise between a desktop and a notebook. If you're looking for space savings, portability and a reasonable cost, the Profile is a good choice. There's not a huge cost difference between a separate component desktop and a Profile," Dunn said, adding that Profiles are easier
to secure than laptops.

The Profiles also are equipped with integrated floppy drives, which many companies don't offer in such compact devices. Systems that require a separate floppy drive are problematic because the drives often get separated from the computer.

"We still find that we need a floppy for our customers," Dunn said. "You can afford to give customers a floppy, but you can't afford to give them a CD, much less a flash drive."

Superior Service
Dunn said Gateway support technicians are the most reliable he has ever encountered. Gateway put Dunn on its account management program, and the service stunned him. He said he rarely waits longer than 30 seconds for a support technician to pick up the phone, and he can describe his problem without going through a list of scripted questions.

"Over the years, I've dealt with a lot of technical support staff, and you just can't get any better than Gateway's account management team. They know PCs and know their product," he said, adding that Gateway's sales representatives are appropriately attentive.