SirsiDynix Consolidates Offices; Refreshes Brand and Support Efforts
RSSOperations to be centralized in Utah; Relationship Manager program expands
Josh Hadro -- Library Journal, 05/12/2010
- Operations to be centralized in Utah; Huntsville and St. Louis offices to close
- New logo and Customer Support Center site to debut
- Library Relationship Manager program expanding from six to 16 staffers
SirsiDynix today announced to employees and customers its plans to consolidate nationwide operations to its newly dubbed SirsiDynix Technology Center in Utah, as well as expand its Library Relationship Manager (LRM) program and unveil a revised visual identity for its brand and website.
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For employees, the move primarily affects the company’s offices in Huntsville, AL, and St. Louis, MO. The company did not specify the number of staffers affected at these locations, but said that all employees would be offered a relocation package or the opportunity to work remotely depending on their job function. SirsiDynix added that there are “no plans to reduce our headcount.”
Regarding savings on facilities and operations, the company similarly offered few specifics, but noted: “We do anticipate saving costs through this initiative, however, we have a demonstrated record of reinvesting into our company for the benefit of our customers, and we plan to continue doing so.”
Expanded role for LRMs
The current LRM program has a group of six people dedicated to working with the company’s largest customers. Under the new program, to be expanded to 16 positions, the entire customer base will be assigned a specific LRM staffer “a name and face as a first contact with the company.” The company hopes to have the new hires in place by the third quarter of 2010.
According to the company’s statement, these LRMs will “work with libraries to identify how they are using the products they have so they can show customers how they can get more from the investment they have already made.”
Additional website improvements, including a new online Customer Support Center, are scheduled to launch in early June. A new logo will feature a blue and white color palette, a move away from the green and blue logo that came to symbolize the merger of two previous companies, Sirsi and Dynix, in 2005.
User relations
Among the most explicit moves on this front was the company's facilitation embrace of the merger of the two former users groups in 2009, now known as COSUGI or Customers of SirsiDynix Users Group Inc. (clarification: COSUGI operates independently of SirsiDynix, as did the former users groups). Attitudes among users at the inaugural COSUGI meeting in April 2009 ranged from openly optimistic to somewhat more hesitant, as systems librarians evaluated SirsiDynix’s stated focus on future progress.
Since then, the company has made a concerted effort to more carefully manage changes like those outlined in this announcement, and communicate more effectively with its customers.
