Meritide was started in 1999 focused on providing businesses with solutions for their existing business systems – for the purposes of increasing the ROI on existing business systems without the need to rip and replace these systems. The company was started by Patrick Irestone as a way to introduce services and solutions to the marketplace that he felt were not being offered by others based on his business and technology leadership experience at companies such as the Star Tribune and Medtronic. Early customers that utilized these integration and web enablement services included American Express Financial Advisors, the University of Minnesota Stores, and Lerner Publishing. Meritide provided these companies with internet based business systems that were integrated directly into their legacy business systems, a solution Meritide still offers our clients today. After successfully building these integration and web enablement practices, Meritide began an infrastructure management practice and partnered with Peregrine Systems and then Remedy Systems.
Today Meritide is still strongly focused on integration and web enablement – but has broadened its solution offerings. Meritide uses its Blueprint Methodology to deliver additional business value from existing systems by uncovering existing underutilized functionality, by introducing the use of third party tools and modules, by identifying open source software options, and through the use of software provided as a service. The use of custom software development is also utilized but only after reviewing other options first.
Meritide has a strong group of management consultants, business analysts, architects, and developers that work to provide business solutions to companies through a 4 step project process. Meritide can help companies get more out of their legacy ERP, CRM, and HR systems and can also help adopt the latest technologies such as Microsoft SharePoint, web services, and .NET development. Companies such as Renewal by Anderson, TREND Enterprises, and Bellacor rely on Meritide to provide businesses with innovative and cost effective solutions to increasing their business ROI through the use of their existing systems. Meritide has also participated with companies to develop completely new software packages and software products when what was needed could not be found through existing software products.
On the IT solutions side of our business, Meritide partners with BMC Software to provide infrastructure management solutions and implements and supports BMC’s flagship Remedy product as well as their Service Desk Express offerings. Meritide is staffed with experienced ITIL consultants and product specialists that can help companies successfully implement BMC’s service management platforms to ensure that IT can support the business needs of a company in a manageable, sustainable, and cost effective manner. Meritide has worked with the IT groups such as the Mayo Foundation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota, Medica Health Plans and Select Comfort to provide infrastructure management and support solutions.
Meritide provides strategic and innovative business and technology consulting and direction to company leadership through an assessment process that includes a complete review and analysis related to people and roles, process and policy, and technology and systems. This assessment can provide a company with a 3 year plan for improving and aligning technology and software solutions with the business needs of a company. The recommendations that come out of this assessment covers both short and long term direction to improve business systems to match the needs of the business. This assessment addresses issues that come up as company business processes change resulting in systems that don’t match the new process or as companies add new acquisitions, product lines, services, or software packages that need to be fully integrated into the business process.
Meritide has selected technology partners who provide third party technology & tools for the solutions we implement and support. Meritide has chosen to partner with companies who provide key solutions that add to the value of our core offerings. These partners include technology companies like Sitecore who provide additional functionality to Microsoft SharePoint and companies like AlarmPoint Systems and Kinetic Data that provide additional functionality for BMC Software.
Meritide strives to become a trusted business and technology advisor for our customers and unlike traditional staff augmentation or outsourced providers, Meritide will get to know your business, your people and decision makers, and your current technology so that we can provide the best possible solution to align your IT efforts and business systems to your companies advantage in your marketplace.