When Expensive “Solutions” Don’t Add Up, Creative Thinking Does
Sometimes the most revealing conversations happen when operators are trying to solve a puzzling problem. That was exactly the case during a recent conversation between Greg Robertson, Notify’s SVP and General Manager and a multi-community operator managing 20 locations across the Southeast.
The Problem: Dead Spots and an Expensive “Solution”
The operator was experiencing frustrating dead spots with their paging system—areas where staff couldn’t receive critical alerts. Understandably, they were concerned about safety and responsiveness.
But the response from their current vendor? Replace the server—for around $10,000.
That didn’t sit right with their leadership, who already weren’t happy with the overall performance of their system, and even less so with the support.
During a conversation about another project, they mentioned this ongoing challenge to Greg.
The idea of a failing three-year-old server didn’t sit right with Greg, either, who pointed out that a well-maintained server should last five to seven years, minimum.
“When I hear about expensive solutions for problems that haven’t been properly diagnosed, red flags go up,” Greg says. “Why spend $10,000 on a server replacement when we don’t even know if that’s the real issue?”
A Creative Solution: Test Before You Invest
Rather than jumping straight into a costly replacement, Greg suggested a smarter path forward: trialing Notify Overlay as a diagnostic tool.
Here’s the approach Greg suggested:
We would install Notify Overlay at the community, and then have staff carry both their existing pagers and phones running the Notify app. If the dead spots disappeared when using the phones, they’d have clear evidence that the issue was with the pagers—not a failing server. If the problems persisted even with the phones, then we’d know the server truly needs attention. In that case, we could perform a system upgrade, replacing just the server hardware while preserving all their existing devices—no need for a complete system overhaul.
In other words, we use Notify to test before they invest.
This creative use of Overlay transforms what could be costly guesswork into a clear, data-driven decision. The result? A smart diagnostic approach instead of a $10K gamble.
The Takeaway
Sometimes the smartest move isn’t replacing a system—it’s understanding it better. Getting the diagnosis right is critical—just like in medicine, if you get the diagnosis wrong, there can be serious downstream consequences. To get it right, you need experts who truly understand your systems.
In this case, Greg’s creative use of Overlay as a diagnostic tool gave the operator a clearer picture of what was really going wrong, helping them avoid a costly guess.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
Whether modernizing what’s in place, upgrading key components, or starting fresh, it helps to have flexible options—and a team that knows how to guide the decision thoughtfully.
Wondering if your system issues point to something bigger—or just need a new approach? We’re always up for a conversation.
Reach out to Greg Robertson or Erich Klett directly or visit our website to learn more.
