CRN Fast50: Growing fast, running ahead

Efficient Data Communications blazed out of the fire that consumed the dotcoms in 2001.

Founder Andrew Lowy had the idea to build a business that fostered relationships with medium to big businesses and, a year ago, with independent schools, after he was made redundant from Dimension Data.

EDC provides unified communications, wireless and core technologies in the data centre using Cisco's platform, he said.

A key factor in the success of the 18-person Sydney business was the ability to work with "best-of-breed" systems integrators for those technologies where it lacked internal expertise, Lowy said.

"EDC focuses on working with our clients to understand their business," Lowy said. "EDC has longstanding relationships; we take on ownership and deliver what we promise without any compromises."

The company doesn't "sell" its wares, he said: "Our customer relationship manager looks after our clients to continue to improve EDC's service delivery; the objective is to build strong client relationships."

The decision last year to court private schools, which led to a "significant revenue increase", grew out of the Federal Government's funding for the Digital Education Revolution, he said.

Lowy hoped to amplify that fillip through the $75,000 marketing prize to the winner of the CRN Fast50.

"I believe that we would have a strong chance to be the No. 1 fastest-growth company [in the CRN Fast50]," he said.

"If EDC is successful in winning the competition we would like to leverage from the marketing funds provided by CRN to continue to grow our business."

Lowy was proud that the business had won a $12 million deal to upgrade 80 Catholic schools to learning network environments by the end of the year.

The high-speed, 10 Gbps optical fibre backbone network with 1 Gbps switching ports and 802.11a/b/g/n wireless linked classes of 30 to 40 students throughout the school wherever learning takes place.

"EDC has worked closely with Cisco, Microsoft and Apple to achieve a seamless client connection experience to all wireless network users," he said.

"This solution gives teachers the ability to get on with their lessons without technical disruptions and therefore increases their training time."

Lowy said to be successful in business "you need to be passionate about what it is that you provide to the customer".

"As long as you have a strong passion and believe in what you are trying to achieve you will have success."

That philosophy infuses the business' internal dealings and weekly team meetings, he said. "Each staff member works with their manager and life coach to identify areas of strength and what they enjoy to do. We then make sure that most of what they do at work is aligned to strength and on the job enjoyment.

"This leads to highly motivated staff members and it comes out in their exceptional customer service and team collaboration. EDC also has quarterly team events that are focused on team building and personal growth."