Holliday Rock, a leader in the Southern California construction materials industry operating over 35 locations throughout California, was facing a combination of operational and strategic IT challenges. These included high connectivity costs, a lack of IT strategy, and inadequate vendor support. Their previous Managed Service Provider (MSP) functioned primarily as a reseller, offering limited strategic guidance and no ongoing optimization of their IT environment.

Seeking to address these issues, Holliday Rock engaged with Opkalla to reduce costs, modernize connectivity, and establish a trusted IT partnership. By implementing a new aggregator solution and SD-WAN deployment, as well as consolidating IT vendor management, Opkalla helped the organization save $40,000 per month while enhancing IT operations and aligning technology with business goals.  

Challenges

With fewer than 10 IT professionals supporting more than 35 locations statewide, Holliday Rock’s lean team faced several hurdles. The organization was burdened by excessive connectivity expenses, locked into contract renewals that featured skyrocketing fees and poor service quality. Vendor management was also fragmented, leading to unmanaged IT renewals, inflated costs, and limited visibility into services and licensing. The internal IT team was stretched thin across a wide geographic footprint, making it clear they needed more than just another vendor. They needed a partner that could function as a true extension of their internal resources.

Solution

Opkalla took a hands-on, consultative approach, designed to drive both immediate cost savings and long-term IT success. Opkalla Technology Advisor Samantha Brooks collaborated closely with decision-makers and stakeholders to fully understand the organization’s needs before recommending a technology solution. Prior to introducing the Holliday Rock team to any vendors, Samantha thoroughly vetted each solutions provider to ensure they aligned with the client’s specific requirements. By evaluating the organization’s existing connectivity contracts, the Opkalla team quickly identified substantial overcharges and transitioned Holliday Rock to an aggregator solution, which consolidates services from multiple carriers into a single, streamlined platform. This move alone resulted in a $40,000 monthly reduction in costs.

To modernize and strengthen network infrastructure, Opkalla implemented a comprehensive SD-WAN solution using Cato Networks and CommandLink. SD-WAN is a software-based approach that makes networks more reliable, secure, and easier to manage. This deployment significantly improved network reliability and performance across all locations. In addition, Opkalla oversaw a seamless transition away from the previous MSP, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

As another part of the engagement, Opkalla assisted in optimizing the organization’s Microsoft licensing agreements, introducing improved cost controls and increased transparency. All IT renewals were moved under Opkalla’s management, allowing for more effective pricing negotiations, better contract visibility, and improved service. Beyond these improvements, Opkalla also became a long-term strategic advisor, delivering IT guidance and understanding the organization’s needs holistically. Samantha attended every call with the vendor, even after the sale. She served as a key liaison between the client and the project manager, ensuring smooth communication and quickly escalating any issues that arose during implementation.

Results & Impact

Holliday Rock achieved immediate and measurable results from their partnership with Opkalla. The transition to a new connectivity model generated $40,000 in monthly savings, dramatically reducing unnecessary spend. Samantha and Opkalla’s Microsoft experts provided the team with clear visibility into their existing Microsoft licenses and offered strategic recommendations to optimize their budget. This approach helped Holliday Rock avoid unnecessary costs on excess licensing or support, while giving them greater control over a critical area of their IT environment.

With additional support provided by Opkalla, the internal IT team was able to redirect their focus toward mission-critical initiatives. Opkalla continues to serve as Holliday Rock’s strategic IT partner, delivering cost efficiency, operational clarity, and technology alignment at scale.