Clearview 226 - September 2020 | Page 55

Proud sponsor of the Software & I.T. Solutions feature Software & I.T. Solutions AdminBase Apps brought the system to the front line Continuing on the theme of balance Rhonda reflects upon her early years with the business: “I do agree that women may have to share more of the burden sometimes but again, in my own world we are very much a family business, supported by some excellent people. My husband and sons work with me in the business and we achieve a good balance between work and life. When I started Ab Initio and launched AdminBase in the late nineties we also had a young family and that was a testing time simply because there were not enough hours in the day. But I was convinced that I had the right product, it was being well received when I pitched it to potential customers and indeed, many of those who put their faith in me when I began, remain loyal customers today. “That in itself was a great motivator: I worked all hours, fitting everything in around a young family of course – though so too did my husband Mark – but I was driven, determined that this would work. And actually, any resistance I may have found was simply commercial – we have always found that our main competitor was habit – ‘we do it this way and have always done it this way’ – not any notion of bias.” When asked about her proudest moments perhaps it is not surprising that AdminBase comes close to the top, though with her family leading. But such is the passion for her product and business, that a more casual conversation might suggest otherwise: ‘I might be accused of being quite obsessed about my business,” says Rhonda, “but I believe that may be better described as ‘passion’. Family is first in everything, but as we are privileged to be largely in control of both, I am able to balance my attention to both.” Reflecting on the business, would Rhonda have changed anything? “Actually, nothing really significant,” she replies. “You can consider that as being either very lucky or perhaps we have generally done things the right way, made mostly the correct decisions. But actually, I do not believe that there are many totally right or totally wrong decisions, just some that might be better than others. And, where we are today is the sum of that I believe. “By that I believe that I am now able to take a more strategic view of the business, looking at the bigger picture, howe we may improve key aspects for our customers, look at new technological innovations such as Artificial Intelligence, advanced interfaces to look at how we may input data, talk to our machines and so forth, to make the AdminBase experience better, to always move forward. But I am as motivated as I have ever been…because I genuinely think that we are better than we have ever been….as a business, but also as a family…But I am far too young to consider retirement,” Rhonda says with a flourish. We asked Rhonda what advice she would give herself at the start of her career? “Cliches I know, but I would tell her – and more to the point perhaps any young person today - that it is all about hard work…and belief,” responds Rhonda. “Belief in yourself, in your product and in your ability to bring it all together, to make it happen.” AdminBase has achieved the status of being the UK window and door industry’s most prolific window and door installer back office management system, something that offers Rhonda immense pride. But what is next for AdminBase? “In just the past year alone we have introduced mobile tablet-based apps that take AdminBase into the customer’s home for the salesperson, the surveyor, the installer and the remedial engineer for when they go to sign the installation off. Those added a huge dimension to the system. “And recently AdminBase became available as a web-based version, allowing users that require it, convenient and secure remote access to their company’s data, at any time. This allows installers to effectively run their businesses from anywhere in the world, although actually, it brings the flexibility that our restricted, lockdown-threatened businesses need to prosper. “Our lives have been changed forever with the disease that has stricken our planet this year. What we are doing is as relevant as it ever was, though perhaps now with a fresh imperative,” concludes Rhonda. The right thing at the right time then; just as it was in 1995. CLEARVIEW-UK.COM » SEP 2020 » 55