Invision Technologies a one-call shop for its clients

ALBANY — Invision Technologies CEO and managing partner Jay Pollock and partner Jay Carpenter look comfortable in a server room, as well they should. After all, that’s the heart of their business.

But Invision Technologies, the pair say, is about much more than servers.

“We do pretty much everything related to technology; we’re really like an all-in-one shop,” Pollock said “Our core used to be computers, that’s what Invision was known for. But as we evolved, we do pretty much everything under the technology umbrella for small businesses and for residential customers on the security side.”

The company helps small- to medium-size businesses manage their IT infrastructure and implement new technologies that take their operations to the next level. Invision specializes in serving the professional services industries, government, education and manufacturing facilities. Currently, the majority of the firm’s clients are located within a 90-mile radius of Albany.

“What we do benefits our clients by creating exclusivity for the client,” Carpenter said. “So if anything goes wrong, they only have to make one phone call. Even the technology that we don’t necessarily provide, like internet service — we partner with different providers — and copiers, we assist in vendor management as well. Same thing with software. For some of attorneys, we are the go-between.”

Invision was founded in 2007 with the stated business goal of empowering communities through technology. The firm started as a computer network services operation but quickly grew into a complete technology services business, offering solutions for computer networking, telephone systems and low-voltage infrastructure installations.

In 2013, Invision purchased Atlantic Tel-Com Inc. (ATC). Since 1981, ATC has been serving Southwest Georgia using leading-edge telephone systems, from the original digital systems to modern-day voice over IP, or VoIP, systems.

In 2015, Invision acquired Alarm Detection Technologies. Founded in 1998, Alarm Detection was an Albany-based firm that specialized in commercial and residential alarm systems, as well as fire alarms, access control systems and camera surveillance systems.

“What we try to do is bring everything together for our clients. Some of it is complicated, so if you don’t do it everyday it’s hard for them to know what the best solution is,” Pollock said. “You may go by what you saw on TV, and that’s about all that you know. Getting it all to play nicely together is a lot more difficult than you would think.

“We try to keep everything in one group so the clients aren’t bouncing around looking for help.”

It all fits into what Pollock calls a “managed environment.”

“Most of our clients pay us some sort of monthly agreement, whether it’s for their computers, telephones, security or whatever,” Pollock said. “And with that comes the ability to just make a phone call or send an email and get help with whatever they have going on related to technology.”

Invision currently employs more than 30 individuals and is led by three partners; Pollock, Carpenter and Andrew Robinson.