Rural Outsourcing firm Saturn Systems is celebrating 20 years in the software development and IT consulting business this month. President and founder Keith Erickson started the company after moving back to Duluth from California in 1990; the company has now grown to 35 employees and two locations in Duluth, Minnesota and Charleston, South Carolina.
President Keith Erickson remarks, “While Rural Outsourcing is a relatively new term, it only put a name on the business model we have used for 20 years, high quality services at lower cost based on our location away from a major metropolitan area.”
Saturn Systems performs custom software architecture and development work across the United States offering an alternative between high cost metro area consulting rates and the compromises that come with using offshore services. The company tagline “Offshore to the North Shore”, a reference to its headquarters on the north shore of Lake Superior, is catchy and drives home Saturn’s position as an offshore alternative.
Rebounding from the technology downturn of 2003, Saturn Systems has grown at a steady 25% annual rate right through the economic downturn. Dubbed rural outsourcing, rural sourcing, onshoring or nearshoring, the model has worked well for Saturn. Scott Risdal, Vice President of Business Development commented, “People in the industry understand the value of the model immediately, it just makes sense”.
Saturn Systems received its start back in 1990 when founder Keith Erickson moved back to his hometown of Duluth, Minnesota from Santa Barbara, California. He brought his work with him by contracting with his employer in California. Through the 1990’s Saturn Systems projects were centered on the world of device control – using software to communicate with and control intelligent electronics. Much of the work was defense related culminating in long term work developing software to control data acquisition systems at the Department of Defense AEOS Space Surveillance Telescope located on Mt. Haleakala on the island of Maui.
Starting in 2000, Saturn Systems diversified its project mix to include enterprise web applications and systems integration. Since then the enterprise application work has grown to 60% of the revenue stream for the Duluth office, with device integration continuing to be a significant factor and making up the balance.
Finally, in 2003 Saturn Systems added a third significant business line in the form of onsite federal contracting and opened a branch in Charleston, South Carolina. By virtue of its status as a HUBZone certified small business, Saturn was able to break into the federal contracting market and now employs ten staff in Charleston.
In addition to acquiring top talent from three local universities that offer multiple computer science related degree programs, Saturn Systems finds many of its engineering staff among people who relocate to Duluth for the lifestyle. Located on Lake Superior, Duluth offers endless opportunity for the outdoor activity crowd, and a great quality of life overall. “We get a steady stream of qualified developers who want to come to Duluth if only they can continue their career, Saturn Systems provides that opportunity”, says Risdal, “our location in Duluth is a huge advantage”.
Source:http://www.prweb.com/releases/saturn-systems/rural-outsourcing-20th/prweb4391384.htm
