What experience have you had in the IT sector? When and why did you get the idea to start your own company?
I have been associated with the It industry for a very long time, since school days, when computers just appeared, I was interested in programming. I think that in order to start your own company, you need to know not only your business, but also accounting, so I also graduated in accounting. Later, I worked as a project manager for the implementation of ERP systems. I have implemented ERP systems and warehouse accounting systems in more than 20 countries. After that, I wanted to work on the other side as well, and I got to the position of financial director for the “Flying Tiger Copenhagen” store chain in the Baltic countries.
This is also where the idea of founding my own company arose, because it was necessary to offer solutions for “Tiger” stores on an international level, and it was necessary to think about how to standardize IT systems.
Thus, in 2010, the company IBSC, or International Business Solution Center, was founded. At that time, the IT industry was developing, there was a transition from accounting systems to ERP systems – it was the right time and we had something to offer.
When was created company’s own solution – Resico?
While working on the implementation of ERP systems in the “Tiger” network, I realized that Latvia’s strict legislative requirements and small market with low solvency have their own benefits, such conditions force entrepreneurs to keep more accurate records from the very beginning of the company. During this time, I already had a vision of how a warehouse management system would work if I were to create one. At the same time, I thought that there are so many “startups” that are already doing something in this segment. However, when I came closer to the solutions created by “startup” entrepreneurs, I noticed that they are full of enthusiasm, but they often lack experience and understanding of the industry, company processes, so the solution turns out to be ineffective in practice. It gave me the courage to create my own solution.
What is Resico’s transcript?
Resico is a word game of the words Reliable, Simple, Competent. When we wanted to create our own product – a cloud solution, we felt that we had enough accumulated experience, hence the word Reliable. In retail, it is very important that the solution works all the time and that the stores are open. Simple – stands for simple, this is also the idea that it is convenient and easy to use. We had noticed that it is difficult for people in the store to use complex solutions and it takes a lot of time. Competent – stands for the team of muses. We were no longer such a “Startup”, we had worked in the industry for more than 10 years and understood how it all works, so we also had a clear idea of how we could do better. We wanted to convey this competence to a wider audience.
What do you think is the key to the success of any business? Is IBSC using it and succeeding?
The basis of a successful business is a manager with enough patience and willpower to go and develop his idea. Make mistakes many times and keep doing – the more you do, the more you will get something.
Since we are an IT company, our only resource is people. As a company manager, I always feel that you should not impose your vision on employees. When the company’s team is strengthened, they form your company as people, and you agree together on the company’s values that must be adhered to.
A company is made up of people. I have been fortunate to find hardworking, passionate and professional staff who are now building IBSC themselves. Similarly, the value of our business is also human relations externally, with other companies – our customers.
Of course, the key to any business is also discipline. In retail, for example, this applies to sellers – they need to be reminded about how to arrange the shelves, how to use the cash register, do the inventory, it doesn’t matter that it happens every year, it even needs to be reminded. There must be discipline, if it is not there, then the structure and image of the company will disappear. We also use this success key at IBSC.
What sets IBSC apart from the solutions offered by the rest of the market?
Our idea to differentiate ourselves was to create a modern solution with high quality service – we don’t want to sell and forget about the customer, we want to build good relationships and we want our customer to be successful. If our client is successful, our business can also expand as they may need more POS systems and such.
We had noticed in the market that in the segment of cash register systems and sales management systems, everyone just wants to sell more and there is no communication. We wanted exactly the opposite – we wanted to build good cooperation with the client. We never hide, we never withdraw into ourselves – we always talk and try to solve any situation.
Who are IBSC’s target customer? Tell us about our current clientele.
From the target audience of customers, our business is quite broad, because our Resico solution has no limitations – it can be used by both large and small companies.
We can call our target audience customers who want to cooperate and build good relationships. If the client doesn’t want to push and dig deep, then we won’t be able to help either.
One of our advantages is that we are also an international company. We have customers in more than 20 countries. It is often convenient for a Latvian company that wants to start at the international level to use our solution, because it can also be done in another country.
Our company also has a distribution network where we offer the Resico solution to partners who distribute our product in a particular country. For example, in Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Singapore, Australia and elsewhere.
How would you describe the company’s main mission and company values?
Our main mission is to help trading companies work better, more modern and more efficiently. In my opinion, this is an opportunity that all trading companies should take advantage of, as Resico is very well priced for the large investment. Hours and hours of work were hidden under each pod.
Regarding the internal values of the IBSC company, I have always thought that every employee should be like a master in his own garden, in the sense that if you see a problem, you also take responsibility to solve it. It should also work outwards – with our customers. We do not hide from all the problems and quibbles that arise for customers, we take responsibility and try to solve them.
