Meet the team: Shane Taylor

In this blog we feature Shane Taylor, Sales Manager at ECI Software Solutions' Manufacturing division. We sat down with Shane to learn more about his role within the team and how Ridder iQ ERP helps UK manufacturers boost efficiency, automate tasks and drive growth.

What does your role at ECI involve?

I joined ECI back in November 2021 as an account manager and new system sales rep, and I’m focused on selling ECI’s range of manufacturing software.

I’m based in Lincolnshire, at ECI’s UK headquarters, but my role allows me to travel around the UK and Northern Ireland, visiting manufacturers and demonstrating how our enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can help their business.

Following the launch of Ridder iQ in the UK and Nordics earlier this year, we’ve expanded our European sales team and my role has shifted slightly. I now also work closely with the team in The Netherlands, as that’s where Ridder iQ was first established.

So far, the response from UK-based manufacturers to Ridder iQ has been really positive. We’ve already implemented Ridder iQ in several businesses, and we’re talking to a number of others about how the software could help them work smarter and drive growth.

Can you tell us a bit more about the Ridder iQ software?

Ridder iQ is a SaaS (software-as-a-service) ERP solution. The software is specifically designed and developed for the manufacturing industry.

Ridder iQ in its earliest form was developed by a Dutch manufacturing business back in 1982. They needed a solution to optimise ways of working, as well as help them to continually meet market demand. Drawing on years of experience and customer insight, the software was born. Following ongoing development and investment, Ridder iQ was then acquired by ECI in 2019.

What are the main challenges facing manufacturers?

Across the UK and Europe labour shortages are creating challenges. As competition for talent grows, automation is increasingly being seen as the answer.

Alongside this, you’ve got evolving sustainability and environmental regulations putting pressure on businesses to reduce their environmental footprint. We’re already talking to some forward-thinking manufacturers about how ERP solutions can help them to keep an accurate track of their supply chain and implement more sustainable practices.

The final major challenges are the changes to global trade policies, geopolitical tension and the UK’s exit from the European Union. These events were a sharp wake-up call for many, with import and export delays and shortages of certain products highlighting the fragile nature of the global supply chain.

All of these challenges put pressure on manufacturers to optimise processes, whether that’s utilising technology to take on the manual and monotonous tasks, or gaining a better overview of profitability - our software can help in a number of key areas.

Why should manufacturing businesses consider Ridder iQ and is the investment worth it?

Remaining profitable and meeting customer requirements are certainly two of the main priorities for manufacturers.

Ridder iQ automates customer relationship management (CRM), costings, bill of materials, work preparation, purchasing, inventory management, production planning, hour registration, personnel and financial admin, as well as offering extensive reporting capabilities.

By connecting the entire business digitally, users can be sure that each team has the latest information. Should the sales team take a call for a new order, they can instantly check the inventory and production planning schedule to see what timeframe the order can be fulfilled.

Of course, not every business requires a complex ERP package. That’s why we also offer Ridder iQ Essentials, a solution that has been developed for manufacturing businesses with up to 25 full-time employees.

How can businesses get in touch with you and your team?

Our next event is the Scotland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition on the 23rd and 24th October. If you want to hear more about Ridder iQ and Ridder iQ Essentials, come and find us!