In this interview, we had a great pleasure to talk with Mr. Aleksei Kazakov from 1bx, a web hosting company from Russia.
Taking a few minutes to read this excellent interview and learn more about it.
Can you tell us a bit more about the story of 1bx?
The company as such appeared in 2016. The idea to start my own hosting came to me after an experience of disgusting service from one hosting provider, which is known for its low prices and disregard for the client. I myself am a developer of CMS 1C-Bitrix and initially hosting was done just for my own needs (development and support of my clients ‘ projects)
We started by renting one dedicated server from a very large provider. But as time went on, the rental equipment was replaced by its own, specialized network and server equipment appeared, and administration specialists appeared. At the moment, we rent several racks in a Tier 3 data center
What are the main services and products that 1bx is offering?
The main directions are still 3:
– Dedicated server rental
– Rent of VPS servers based on KVM technology
– Providing our clients with ready-made annual packages for the implementation of their e-commerce ideas
We noticed that your website is in Russian. Is the Russian market your focus for clients? Are there any plans for expanding to other countries?
Yes, at the moment we are focused exclusively on the Russian market and have no plans for expansion yet
There are a lot of customers who don’t have a clue about web hosting. What is your approach when contacting those clients?
When working with such clients, we first find out their needs. Very often, the person who wants a website has no idea HOW to make it at all and WHAT is necessary for this. The second step is to determine the level of technical training of the client and understand his vision for the development of the project. Accordingly, based on this, we already offer him some services. In 90% of cases, a simple hosting for 399 rubles is enough for a novice user, but over time, when the client’s business is gaining momentum, more powerful and expensive solutions are needed.
Our motto is to grow together. We never try to offer the client more than what he really needs right now. Therefore, our clients have been working with us for years – they grow, their business expands and, accordingly, we get more profit.
Speed is very important as a service for a lot of customers. What are the speed solutions that 1bx is offering to customers?
For example, at the beginning of this year, we purchased top-end platforms based on SuperMicro platforms with NVMe disks and processors running at 4.8 GHz (it is important that the processors are server-based, and not desktop, as offered by 90% of other providers in the Russian Federation). All equipment is announced by the manufacturers in 2020. As soon as it appeared in Russia, so it appeared in our country.
What is the most significant characteristic that makes 1bx unique in today’s evolving web hosting industry?
Specialization in CMS 1C-Bitrix, understanding of customer needs and methods of spot work with customer problems.
Talking about evolving web hosting industry, which trends and technologies we can expect to come out on the market in the following period?
The main directions will be the automation of routine tasks, the “container” assembly of the services provided, and the rigid templating of standard solutions
What are the signs of a great hosting provider that any customer should look for?
Openness and clarity of information from the hosting provider. 95% of the customer’s questions should be answered only with the information on the provider’s website. The provider’s offer must clearly indicate the characteristics of the resources that the client is going to purchase.
What advice would you give to a potential customer when choosing a web solution?
Do not count the one-time costs of the project, but the costs that the project will have during the year, two years, and five.
Finally, any additional thoughts that you would like to share with the hosting community?
A message to my colleagues- stop misinforming your customer! The truth will still be revealed. The message to potential customers: spend a little more time choosing a hosting service. You will not change it for months and you should be comfortable working from the first minute, otherwise, your favorite thing will turn into torture!
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