Supporting Our Singapore Office

Staying Connected Across the Globe: Supporting Our Singapore Office

At Sigma Design, collaboration doesn't stop at our front door. With a talented team operating out of our Singapore office, our Business Technology department plays a crucial role in ensuring that our colleagues, located halfway around the world, have the tools, infrastructure, and support they need to do their best work every single day.

A few months ago, BT team member Zach Colbert made the trip to Singapore to complete a significant infrastructure migration project. We sat down with him to hear about the work, the team, and his experience.

A Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade

The primary purpose of Zach's visit was to execute a major overhaul of the Singapore office's server infrastructure. Like many organizations, Sigma Design relies on virtualization technology, physical servers that run multiple virtual servers, each handling a different function for the business. Managing and maintaining those virtual environments requires what's known as hypervisor software.

Due to changes in the industry, it became clear that migrating to a new hypervisor platform was the right move for Sigma Design. Sigma Design's BT team took action. Zach spent time in advance preparing the new server hardware at our Camas, WA headquarters, learning the ins and outs of the platform, and developing a clear migration plan before ever boarding a plane. The result was a smooth, well-executed transition completed within the trip's timeline.

"We kind of had everything planned out really well ahead of time. I didn't have to work through the weekend and I didn't have to work any super late nights — which was great."

— Zach Colbert

How BT Supports Singapore Day-to-Day

The infrastructure migration was a significant milestone, but it's just one facet of the ongoing support Sigma Design's BT team provides to our Singapore colleagues. Since taking over management of their infrastructure, the team has built out a robust and reliable technology environment for the office, including virtualized server management, cross-Pacific file synchronization, enterprise-grade network security, laptop management and software deployment, help desk support, and regular monthly maintenance cycles.

The People Behind the Work

For Zach, one of the most rewarding aspects of the trip was the opportunity to connect with the Singapore team on a personal level. Each day, the group headed out together to one of Singapore's famous hawker centers (open-air food courts where dozens of vendors serve up local specialties at remarkably affordable prices).

"They'd take us to their favorite places. Whatever we were feeling that day — laksa, something else — they knew exactly where to go. It was a great way to get to know everyone."

During those shared meals, they had conversations about life in Singapore, the neighborhoods, the hidden gems, and even the iconic tourist spots that earn their reputation. Marina Bay, Zach will tell you, is worth every bit of the hype.

Looking Ahead

With new hardware in place and the migration complete, the Singapore office is well-positioned for years of stable, cost-effective operations. The combination of remote management, a local support partner, and a collaborative team culture ensures our colleagues are never without the support they need.

It's a reminder that great technology isn't just about the systems, it's about the people who build, maintain, and care for them, no matter where in the world they happen to be.