Written by Nathan Thomas on July 1, 2004
Written by Nathan Thomas on July 1, 2004
a la mode has completed expansion of its headquarters here to accommodate a new data center and customer service department.
The new data center houses more than 100 servers, and is supported by seven full-time MIS staff. A 485 horsepower turbo diesel-powered backup generator protects a la mode customers from downtime in the event of a local power loss. The generator powers a la mode's entire 25,000 square-foot headquarters, including servers, when necessary.
Server storage capacity is more than 40 terabytes (TB). A terabyte is 1,024
gigabytes. Forty TB would store digital copies of all the books in the U.S. Library of Congress - and a backup copy of each; or about 50,000 four-drawer filing cabinets' worth of paper.
Recent expansion also accommodates a la mode's new customer service department, headed by Sean Shiplet, VP of Customer Care. The new department brings sales, 24-hour technical support and customer retention under one umbrella, focusing on the needs of all users of a la mode services. "Our group initiates or receives around 4,800 calls a day," Shiplet said. "Customers who have come to us from other providers of real estate websites or mortgage websites are used to hit-and-miss ‘callback' support, on their provider's schedule instead of theirs. Instead, we are committed to minimizing hold times and addressing each customer's needs as soon as they arise.
"Our recent expansion and reorganization is testament to that commitment," Shiplet continued. "As many vendors in the industry hunker down in anticipation of a receding refi boom, we continue to expand and devote resources to making sure our customers are productive and profitable."