A diversified stock portfolio yields better net returns. Maintaining a diverse staff creates a working
environment rich in perspectives and methodologies. Clearly, diversity in business can provide stability and add value to your existing services.
But business diversification isn’t just selling more types of products. Developing a business plan that includes
well-researched, strategic efforts will not only expand the reach of the business, but also help increase the value of existing services.
In many cases, the benefits of diversification can be delivered to customers without a major shift in operation.
An established balanced business can implement a plan to increase its product line, territory or client base with no interruption of service to existing clients.
In addition to expansion, many companies diversify through the development of
partnerships with compatible industries. By upping both your quality and breadth of services, you raise the industry “bar”, requiring all competing businesses to do the
same or face appearing outdated.
A local business that has tapped into the benefits of diversification is NexLAN, and the resulting business model
has proven to be their key to continued success in the broad and challenging technology industry.
Remaining current is particularly difficult in the technology industry, where as
rapidly as a development is announced, another is poised to surpass it. Yet amid the fluctuation, NexLAN in Danville has maintained a balanced business that includes
diverse functionality, a wide-ranging client list and lasting partnerships with technology’s elite.
The three complementary segments of their diversification includes being the sole
local provider of business-only Internet access, providing Microsoft-based network support, and offering mid-tier accounting software solutions.
Together, these provide a solid base, allowing NexLAN to provide innovative solutions
without jeopardizing the foundation of their business. While all are related and complementary, each segment of NexLAN’s services has been individually developed.
As the only business-only ISP in Danville, NexLAN provides the most efficient
internet access for businesses.
“Many ISPs take the data from a handful of businesses and a multitude of home-users, send it over to Champaign,
where they add in more businesses and even more home-users before finally connecting to the backbone,” explained Kevin Stroud, President of NexLAN.
“In short, if your ISP isn’t business-only, you are being slowed down by the kid across the street. By choosing
an ISP that provides exclusive internet access, your business can avoid the home-user traffic that impacts your bottom line.”
In addition to internet access for local businesses, NexLAN is also uniquely qualified to support local computer
networks. As Vermilion County’s only Microsoft Certified Partner, NexLAN enjoys direct lines of communication to Microsoft staff, extensive technical training and elite
access to pre-release product information and program codes. By partnering with Microsoft for the past seven years, NexLAN remains directly linked to technology’s top
tier, adding to the stability and credibility of the business.
NexLAN’s staff includes multiple Microsoft Certified Professionals who have proven their knowledge in the latest
technology through rigorous certification exams. These network experts are equipped to provide a depth of service many businesses require. NexLAN is the solution for a
company who can no longer depend on a single-person “lone-ranger” for critical support.
NexLAN has also chosen to partner with AccountMate Software Corporation, enhancing their third function as a
mid-tier accounting solutions provider.
AccountMate is an ideal partner for NexLAN, having been ranked as the number one open-source software in the
mid-market by Accounting Software Advisor, an industry consulting group.
While NexLAN is a nationally recognized top-tier AccountMate Business Partner and the leading partner in the
Midwest region, the accounting portion of their operations is more than pushing software.
“We are a solutions provider first,” Stroud emphasized. “NexLAN’s staff is deep in core product expertise and
highly skilled at applying complimentary solutions such as bar-code scanning, inventory management, and remote office connectivity.”
This three-pronged functional approach to diversification has resulted in client base
varied in size, geography and industry.
They have designed and implemented innovative solutions for businesses ranging from “mom and pop shops” to the
international Fortune 500 companies.
For over two years, this client list has included Toyota-Scion of Danville, a Vermilion Advantage member.
“We acquired the store in September of 2002 and NexLAN was one of the first organizations we started doing
business with,” explained Bob Oltean, General Manager of Toyota-Scion of Danville. “Since that time, anything that we have needed, from building our web sites to setting
us up with our e-mail accounts as well as basic computer diagnostic help…we have always been able to count on [NexLAN’s] services.”
By diversifying to provide solutions that are in demand for businesses across a wide
variety of industries, harnessing the power of elite partnerships, and becoming experts in related vertical industries, NexLAN has found their key to lasting success.
Even though your business may not be technology, the root ideas and methods that
NexLAN has employed serve as a prime example of the immediate benefits of diversification in any industry.