BEI Services’ Bud Karakey
BEI Services VP of operations, Bud Karakey entered the office technology industry in 1992 when he was hired by ADS (Automated Dispatch Systems) Communications as their installation engineer. At that time he was tasked with integrating copier dealerships’ telephone systems to the ADS computer dispatch system. He recalls that CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) was new and required a vast knowledge of telephony and computer experience to integrate the various telephone systems with the newest computer technology.
“From 1992 to 2004, I visited hundreds of dealer locations throughout North America and installed the ADS systems, automating the way technicians dispatched and closed their service calls,” he explains. “In 2004 ADS was acquired by EFI (Electronics For Imaging) where I served as the director of service for the EFI-ADS group. Then in 2006 we spun out of EFI and created MWA Intelligence where I was a VP in two positions for three years before landing here at BEI Services where I plan to end my career many years from now.”
Today, at BEI Services, Karakey’s days are long and multi-dimensional. He notes that since he works from home he’s at the office 24/7. He’s usually up between 5:00-5:30 a.m. to answer emails from BEI customers and employees. He cites the “great team” of men and women he works with who devise specifications for their developers to create new software functionalities and programs for their customers.
“I am also involved with interfacing with many of the ERP companies, copier and printer manufacturers, and supply companies concerning our products and services,” he adds. “I speak with many of our customers regarding the daily challenges they face in service, and what we can do to assist them to address these challenges. I also deal with a number of our customers in beta testing new products as well as reviewing issues and evaluating additional needs.”
Continues Karakey: “I also like to contact our customer’s to show them new functionality we have introduced, but we have not seen them use yet. It thrills me when I can show someone new features we created and they get as excited as we are when they see it. Steering BEI Services to the new generation of how business is done, and what is now expected from the businesses in this changing generation is a never ending job. At the end of the day my wife will text me to come out of my office and spend time with her.”
Karakey says it was a proud moment when he learned he had been recognized by his peers as an ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “I work with and know many of the others who have been nominated, and to be associated with these top industry leaders is truly an honor and personally fulfilling,” he says. He credited several industry figures for making a difference in his professional career, including EFI’s Bob Glovitz, Chris Ames, a consultant at Paragon Technology, Inc. and Mike Stramaglio of MWA Intelligence.
Asked what the biggest accomplishment was for BEI Services’ in 2016, Karakey pointed to the design, creation and release of their latest technician’s assessment and goal-setting module. He says it was a big hit with their customers. “It allows the supervisors or managers of the technicians to have a total understanding of the technicians’ performance in an easy-to-use, easy-to-consume user interface,” he explains. “It also allows the manager to easily set goals for the technicians and then see the trends of those goals over time. We are in the final programming stages of the management layer that will sit on top of the tech assessment program allowing management a clear view of goals set and achieved.”
Adds Karakey: “It will also make suggestions to managers on what items should be addressed per technician based on the performance characteristics of techs and company policies. I believe this new management tool will be the new wave on how service departments are ran and managed.”
Karakey points out that his perspective on the state of the industry is different than most because BEI Services does not sell directly to the consumer. However, as a dealership vendor, he says that he is always optimistic about the future of this industry. “When there is change, there are opportunities, and man are things changing,” he exclaims. “There are a lot of acquisitions going on throughout the industry by manufacturers, consolidators and dealerships, and I know from previous history this will create new dealerships popping up and creating even more opportunity. This industry is filled many entrepreneurs that will continue to strive forward keeping this industry very strong.”
To emphasize his enthusiasm at BEI Services, Karakey says he works with the best team of people on the planet and states colorfully, “We are a company that just gets s**t done!” He adds that there is always something new and different and he loves helping customers improve their businesses and increase their profitability. “Even if I have to drag them to success,” he says.
