Integricity – Then And Now

Integricity has been in business for 7 years and we can consider ourselves fossils in the IT industry. Some businesses have come and gone, while many are thriving. This article talks about the tools of survival and the differentiation one has to have to keep the business (and solutions) relevant in today’s business and internet world and burgeoning future. With this in mind, it is no coincidence our theme of the year is – Moving On Up!

Wow. As of this year, it has been seven years since Integricity first opened its doors to the public. Time has really flown, and we as a company have matured – much like vintage wine. As a service provider to thousands of companies today, we have witnessed many start-ups grow larger, while others have discretely left the business scene. What keeps us alive and kicking in this competitive industry and what are some of our tools of survival?

Some of the secrets to Integricity’s success, aside from reliance on God, are innovation, great business partners and the ability to keep up with the times. Find out more about our humble beginnings and where we are at today.

Starting Up…

The IT industry is an extremely fast-paced one. For most, it’s keep up or ship out! Since the Internet hit our Malaysian shores in early 1995, it has exploded and radically changed the way businesses are run. Realizing this opportunity, I delved deeper and deeper into the Internet and learnt as much as I could about its workings while still behind my college desk. It was important to read about the latest happenings on the Internet, and always keep my ears open for netspeak from others in the industry. Buzzwords back in those days were Windows 95, BBS, 14.4k modems and the Asiapac ISP.

The year 2000 was the year Integricity was birthed, and one of the most invaluable tools that I invested in was a trusty notebook (which I still have to this day!). It allowed me as an entrepreneur to maximize my output, whether at the office, home or on the road. Though it was a rather expensive investment at that time, it was worth its weight in diamonds and platinum!

Being connected to the Internet with a less-than-reliable connection can drive you up the wall, as it did for me in the year 2000. At that point, any form of broadband, much less Streamyx, had yet to arrive in Malaysia. Imagine running an Internet company that had to dial up via a 56k modem to access their servers. Of course, we have much better connections today, and I stress the importance of being well connected. Even today, there are some offices that subscribe for a meager lease line of 128kbps (which incidentally costs a lot more than Streamyx), and share the connection with several hundred employees! What fun is that!

Two years into the business, it was through a chance meeting with Warren that sparked off a discussion on a merger. He was running a successful business at that time too, and truth be told, we were competitors. Our visions seemed somewhat similar, and thus a larger Integricity was formed. A little later, Jek, who was a long-time friend of Alex’s came on board as the third director of Integricity, thus forming the triumvirate that is behind Integricity today.

Moving on Up…

The theme for our company in 2007 is “Moving on Upâ€?. It seeks to reinforce the fact we have been around for awhile, and need to think on a bigger scale in order to move on up in the industry.

We started Integricity by servicing the small to medium clients, which we still do and love, but we now aim for the bigger players. We want to play in the arena with those who appreciate the handiwork of our digital craftsmen. On a broader scale, Integricity seeks to forge ahead of our competition, and be ready for Malaysia when the critical mass of companies realise the need for a comprehensive web presence.

In order to move with the times, our core competencies have slowly been changing – from being a premium web hosting company in the year 2000, to what we are known for today – an integrated design and technology services provider. Under our roof, we now house web designers, art directors, application developers, technical specialists and operational staff. The constant that remains amidst this mad transitional buzz is the passion for what we do. We hire people who enjoy what they are good at, and we strive to achieve a proper work/life balance.

Much as we enjoy growth, we also realize the need for more formalised procedures and policies. Of great importance to the management of projects is the selection of tools that enhance efficiency and productivity. We do rely extensively on many internally developed CRM tools, but one open source software solution that we use for project management is activeCollab (Do check it out). We have also launched our corporate blog that is called “Beneath the Red Hoodâ€?, which gives our clients insight into our team and knowing us a little better.

Lastly, I’d like to share with you a little on our culture of excellence that has been cultivated within Integricity that has been created and knighted the term “Fanatical Serviceâ€? by Warren, one of our directors. We preach the concepts of going out on a limb to please and surpass expectations of our clients, and as a result, we do get a lot of recurring business from them. It has become second nature to bear in mind that our customers’ needs are very important, and we should strive hard to fanatically serve them. Yes, with a smile thrown in on the side too.

What’s Coming Up?

No, Integricity is not on the verge of an IPO. In fact, we enjoy being privately owned – and once again – no, that does not mean the directors laze around in their holiday homes for half the year, but it lends us the flexibility to make decisions and implement them quickly. We have been profitable every single year since our inception, but we are not about to rest on our laurels. There is a lot in store for Integricity, and we are extremely busy with expansion and diversification plans. Much of it is still classified (Sorry!), but firmed up plans will be announced soon.

On the creative services part of things, we seek to provide clients with new-fangled technology by keeping abreast of current international standards such as AJAX and Web 2.0. We will move with the times and be on top of the latest and most exciting developments – even Web 501.0 if need be!

We are seeking talented individuals for many portfolios, and we strive to find passionate people who wish to join our fun-filled Integricity family. If you know someone who can add value to an organic organization that provides creative and technology services, do refer them to us. You will not regret it and neither will they. Money back guarantees are offered.