Remote Experts: A look at Kraus-Anderson’s IT department during the coronavirus pandemic

It’s hard to believe that over a year has passed since the coronavirus hit the United States. Just like employees at many other businesses, Kraus-Anderson employees had to start working from home. The question was, how could KA’s employees have access to their work documents while still doing their duties from home? How could they communicate with subcontractors, clients and other partners?

Leave it to the technology experts in Kraus-Anderson’s IT (Interactive Technology) department. Normally, they help us with our computers at our desk, but they also have been a big help in getting our employees in working remotely.

“From the inception of the pandemic, KA has been heavily dependent on IT staff and systems for continuity of services,” said Kraus-Anderson Vice President of Information Technology Tony Peleska. “IT has had to adopt on the fly to the collaboration and toolset needs in the field and for “at home” offices. KA had a great foundation of systems to allow us to adapt to working from home quickly, efficiently, and effectively.”

Throughout this whole time, Kraus-Anderson employees have been using Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams, and other tools to continue to meet and work while everyone is at home. According to Peleska, we used over 2,000 Zoom meeting minutes and 20,000 Webex minutes this month. Compare that to pre-pandemic February 2020, when we used only 20 Zoom and 5,000 Webex minutes.

Judd Jennrich, KA’s mobile technology coordinator has said that the new system for mobile devices is working great. “We have over 300 devices now on the system and it has made deployment on the devices (especially during a pandemic) much easier. Jennrich also said, “The end users adapted very well to working from home and leaned more heavily on their iPads and iPhones for communication just for phone calls or with tools like Zoom and Webex. The feedback we have been getting from the support we have provided while people are working remotely has been really good.”

“Overall, I believe that our COVID-19 experience over the last year will change how we work in the future,” added Peleska. “We will continue to utilize Zoom and Webex, internally and with our customers. It has really brought a new and easy way to collaborate. Also, how we use technology and toolsets has changed, meaning more people trust the tools. I believe that the way we work has changed and will continue to adapt as we hopefully transition back into the office.”

Most recently Tou Xiong, IT Support Specialist, won the KA Core Values Award for his outstanding attitude helping employees navigate working from home. Tou is just one example of how our IT Team goes above and beyond each day to make employees’ jobs and lives easier while we navigate through this pandemic and working from home.