IT services provider Queenstown IT has seen huge growth over the last three years and is currently working on plans to launch three brands, splitting operations into its main segments: MSP, ISP, and MSSP.
Founded in 2006, the company's approach to the IT service market remained relatively fixed, CEO Gus Sepulveda told CRN.
However, in 2018, there was an intentional shift toward cloud and digital transformation services that kicked off a new stage for the company and meant they had to undergo their own transformation.
After some shopping around, Queenstown IT settled on Datto’s platform to underpin its operations.
“It enabled us to really grow, which is amazing. It's really cool to see your little baby from conception, there was just myself on a little desk with a laptop, to having big offices, travelling around the country, helping businesses, enabling them – it's just such a cool transformation,” Sepulveda said.
He stated that by bringing on the vendor's RMM, PSA and Commerce platforms, he was able to triple the number of clients he was serving.
Being based in Queenstown, many of the company’s clients are in hospitality, which presented a challenge in 2019/2020 when the borders were closed and lockdowns implemented to prevent deaths due to COVID-19.
“It was a very hard and complex time, I have to say. Some of our hospitality clients, previous to COVID, were already onboarded with a level of solutions so, when we went through this period of hospot lockdowns, we gave them a little bit of help. We gave them some relief in terms of the monthly fees,” Sepulveda said.
Making allowances for these clients built invaluable trust and showed that Queenstown IT was genuinely interested in their success, he explained.
“We were able to still support them and continue on working and provide that business continuity at the moment that they were the most exposed, and probably the most vulnerable as well. And that comes with trust.”
Queenstown IT currently has six full time employed staff with two more joining in the coming weeks and the aim of doubling headcount by the end of the year.
It also works with a network of subcontractors around the country, which has allowed it to pick up clients across Aotearoa.
“It's pretty even between the two islands, I have to say. We've got some of our clients in Auckland – a lot in Auckland – in Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown,” Sepulveda said.
The rollout of the three new brands will be built around Queenstown IT’s three main vendors – Datto, Microsoft and broadband wholesaler Devoli. They, along with other key partners, will make the foundations for each of the brands, encompassing managed services and digital transformation, managed security services, and internet services.
Currently, the launch of these brands is still in the planning phase but Sepulveda is optimistic following a record financial year in 2021/22.
“It is very wild what's happening right now, things are getting pretty crazy out there in the industry that we're in, putting it in very plain words,” he said. “The fact that we that we that we grew that much, it’s great … and what's coming is even more exciting.”
While much of Queenstown IT’s success has been due to good timing, thoughtful strategy and considered use of tech, Sepulveda made it clear that it was genuine care and enthusiasm for the success of clients that paved the company's path to growth.
