Now celebrating 50 years serving Tampa Bay, WCC remains a second-generation, family-owned business with local ownership, local management, and local service technicians. That means decisions are still made locally, customers have direct access to the people responsible for their account, and service is provided by people who know the market they serve. The technology has changed considerably over five decades, but WCC’s commitment to responsive service and long-term customer relationships hasn’t.
As the office technology industry continues to consolidate, those qualities can be easy to lose. Here’s a closer look at what sets WCC apart from “the other guys” and why those differences matter to customers.
Key Takeaways
- WCC Business Solutions has served Tampa Bay since 1976 and remains a second-generation, family-owned company.
- Local ownership keeps management and customer accountability close to the businesses WCC serves.
- WCC backs its service with a guaranteed three-hour response time from local certified technicians.
- Long-term employees and experienced technicians provide continuity and familiarity with customers and their technology.
- Ownership, service resources, response commitments, and accountability can all affect the experience you have with an office technology provider.
The Office Technology Industry Has Changed
Consolidation has reshaped the office technology industry. Independent dealerships that once served a specific community may now be part of a national mega dealer, manufacturer, private equity portfolio, or larger corporate organization.
An acquisition doesn’t automatically mean that service will decline. Large organizations can offer extensive resources, broad product portfolios, and standardized processes. But a change in ownership can also change how a local office operates.
Decision-making may move outside the community. Management structures can become more complex. Service territories may grow. Technicians and account representatives can change. Policies that once could be adjusted locally may now require approval from somewhere else.
For customers, those changes matter most when they affect the experience of getting help. When a copier is down, or a department can’t scan an important document, the name on the equipment matters less than how quickly the provider responds and whether the problem gets resolved.
Why Does Local Ownership Matter?
Local ownership keeps management, service resources, and customer accountability close to the businesses being served.
WCC was founded in Clearwater in 1976 and remains locally owned and operated. Its team lives and works in the Tampa Bay area, and decisions can be made locally rather than being sent through a corporate structure.
Not every customer issue can be resolved with a standard answer. A recurring service problem may need to be escalated, equipment may need to be replaced, or a business may need a solution tailored to its specific requirements. When management is local, there is a shorter path to the people with the authority to make those decisions.
Gordy Link, President and CEO of WCC Business Solutions
Relationships Have Time to Develop
Long-term relationships are difficult to build when account representatives, technicians, or ownership continually change.
Over five decades, WCC has built relationships with Tampa Bay businesses while developing a team with extensive experience in office technology. That continuity means customers can work with people who understand their equipment, their environment, and often their history with WCC.
There is less time spent explaining the same environment to someone new every time support is needed.
How Quickly Will Your Provider Respond When Something Goes Wrong?
When your copier or printer goes down, how quickly your provider responds matters. Rather than simply promising good service, WCC guarantees a three-hour response time from local certified technicians. If WCC can’t fix the equipment, the company says it will replace it.
WCC customers have seen even faster response times in practice. Lokey Automotive Group, for example, reported an average one-hour response time for maintenance calls, while St. Luke’s cited faster response times as one of the results of working with WCC.
The Value of Seeing the Same Technician Again
Experienced technicians are more likely to be familiar with the equipment they service and the problems that can come up over time. When technicians stay with a company, they also have the opportunity to get to know their customers and the equipment they use.
That familiarity can matter on a service call. A technician who has been to the same location before may already know the customer’s devices, previous repairs, and recurring issues rather than starting from scratch each time.
WCC points to experienced technicians and long-term employees as an important part of its service model. After 50 years in Tampa Bay, the company has also built decades of experience supporting businesses as office technology has changed.
Technology Has Changed. The Need for Good Service Hasn’t.
The technology WCC supports today would be almost unrecognizable to an office worker in 1976.
WCC now provides multifunction devices, Managed Print Services, advanced scanning, workflow automation, VoIP phone systems, bottleless water systems, collaboration technology, and other business solutions.
What customers need from the company providing that technology, however, is remarkably familiar.
They need someone to answer when there is a problem. They need technology appropriate for the way their organization works. They need people who understand what they’re supporting. And they need a provider that remains accountable after the sale.
The products may continue to change. The responsibility to support the customer doesn’t.
What Should You Compare Besides the Copier?
When comparing office technology providers, businesses should consider ownership, service capabilities, response commitments, technician experience, and accountability alongside equipment specifications and pricing.
Two providers may offer comparable equipment, but that doesn’t mean they will provide the same experience over the life of the agreement.
Before choosing or renewing with an office technology provider, ask:
- Who owns the company?
- Where are management decisions made?
- Are service technicians based locally?
- What geographic territory does the service team cover?
- Is there a guaranteed response time?
- How experienced is the service team?
- What happens if a problem can’t be fixed?
- Will you have consistent contacts who know your business?
- How easy is it to reach someone with the authority to solve a problem?
The answers can tell you just as much about what to expect from a provider as the equipment specifications and price.
50 Years in Tampa Bay and Counting
Since 1976, WCC has watched office technology change from traditional copiers and printers to connected, digital business systems. It has expanded the technology it provides while remaining locally and privately owned.
Customers can get modern technology without giving up the personal accountability of a local provider. They can work with experienced people who understand the Tampa Bay market. And when something goes wrong, WCC backs its service with a three-hour response-time guarantee.
If your current copier or office technology provider is taking longer to respond, feels less personal than it once did, or has changed since an acquisition, it may be time to see what a local alternative looks like. Contact WCC Business Solutions to start a conversation about your current technology and service needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask before switching copier or office technology providers?
Ask about ownership, technician locations, service territory, average and guaranteed response times, escalation procedures, equipment brands, contract terms, and what happens if a recurring problem cannot be resolved. These questions can tell you more about the service you’ll receive than equipment specifications alone.
Can I switch providers if I’m already in a copier lease or service agreement?
It depends on the terms of your existing agreements. Review the lease and service contract, including expiration dates, renewal provisions, remaining obligations, and equipment return requirements. A prospective provider can then help you evaluate your options and determine the best time to make a change.
Does working with a local office technology company limit my technology options?
Not necessarily. An independent local provider can partner with major technology manufacturers while maintaining its own local service and management structure. WCC provides office technology from major manufacturers along with managed print, workflow, communications, and other business technology solutions.
About WCC
For nearly 50 years, WCC Business Solutions has been helping Tampa Bay businesses work smarter. From print and imaging to VoIP phone systems and video conferencing technology, we offer a full spectrum of solutions to support your team and streamline your operations.
Gordy Link is a leader in the office technology industry as the President and CEO of WCC Business Solutions. He is known for his commitment to customer-centricity and leveraging innovative training and development initiatives to deliver high-quality technology solutions. Outside of the office, Gordy enjoys spending time with wife and daughter, and indulging in his passion for the outdoors.
