The Second Decade, by Rich Muth, CEO and co-founder
OSI’s second decade was marked with significant changes. As 1999 came to an end, we bade a bitter-sweet farewell to our Micrographics operations. The document retention industry was moving past microfilm, and OSI’s senior staff decided to focus exclusively on our print and mail services. We officially changed our name to Output Services, Inc. As we added more and more customers in the transactional print arena, we needed a faster and more robust operating system. We were determined to offer enhanced data-handling capabilities on the safest, most secure platform available. After months of research, OSI converted to a Linux operating system, an Oracle Database, and a new, powerful server. These came online as we moved into OSI’s specially designed facility in Boulder, CO in January 1995. At over 16,000 sq. ft., the new building felt like it would never be filled. Yet, within a few years, OSI had added several new machines in order to keep up with demand. Each room-sized addition to our production capability improved speed and redundancy. But, our building was filling up. A Longmont satellite location was added to handle material storage and redundancy. The computer industry was growing and evolving as well. Data security became a major priority. Senior Management was on-site at midnight 1999 to be certain that the Y2K transition came off without a hitch. OSI was rapidly becoming one of the largest mailers in Boulder County, and we concentrated our efforts on securing the best possible postal rates for our customers’ mail. Our production staff put enormous effort into protocols and QC procedures for our mail pieces. OSI also became adept at hosting electronic delivery of documents. Our technical staff was honing our ability to segregate file types – kids’ accounts, senior accounts, localized addresses, special needs, etc. All of these efforts facilitated direct marketing to selected populations within a customer’s client base. Our goal was to enable our customers to dictate the design and content of their documents, rather than forcing files to fit into a pre-designed mold. We became adept at customizing output. Our production staff and our support staff made it all happen with enormous heart and resolve. But there was no time to rest on our laurels. As the early years of the new century unfolded, new opportunities and challenges loomed on the horizon. The print industry was shifting attention to the latest and greatest output. Digital color printers were being developed, and OSI was gearing up for the transition.