Its roots may lie in providing information technology support to clients, but during its decade of success, Sobo has transformed into a specialized advisory firm that guides clients on IT, operations and financial strategy with the goal of supporting client growth.
 
The Atlanta-based company focuses on strategy, rather than simply day-to-day IT support, which enables clients to expand and innovate thanks to improved workflow and meaningful use of the latest business technologies.
 
“With traditional IT support, there is not a value add,” says Robert T. Burke, Jr, Sobo president. “Support can keep systems working, but it does not push the needle when it comes to helping a business grow. In fact, companies often know they have problems but don’t know what the underlying causes of their issues are, so technology takes the blame and gets thrown under the bus.”
 
Sobo helps clients address the root cause of their challenges, which is just as likely to be a process or people problem as it is a technology one. With a team consisting of experts in technology, business strategy, operations, finance and human resources, Sobo is equipped to advise on multiple areas of business to define and solve real issues. And the company can tackle implementation and training as well as dishing out the advice.
 
But that is not all that makes Sobo a one-of-a-kind firm.
 
Understanding that small businesses comprise the majority of U.S. companies – 99.7 percent, according to the Small Business Administration – Sobo has focused its efforts there. The company provides the range of services typically available to large corporations but out of reach for the smaller players.
 
“Small businesses employ the majority of people in this country,” says Burke. “However, there has been a lack of access to credible business advisory services that small businesses can actually afford. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Bain, Deloitte and others provide these services to large corporate clients. Small businesses need advisory services around technology, operations and finance but cannot afford the enormous sums the established consultancy powerhouses charge for their services. At Sobo, we are changing that discrepancy.”
 
Sobo analyzes the individual needs of clients to make appropriate recommendations. Rather than asking what a client needs, Sobo helps define that. Because when it comes to small business owners, they may be experts in their field, but many are at a loss when it comes to technology or strategy. Steering clients toward greater efficiency and productivity results in increased profitability.
 
“Small businesses want to thrive, they just don’t always know how,” says Burke.
 
With Sobo, they can discover how to do just that.