Meet Bill Long: Driving ERP Success for Manufacturers

This month, we feature Bill Long, regional sales consultant for M1 at ECI Software Solutions. We sat down with Bill to learn more about his role within the manufacturing team.

ECI: Describe your role in 50 words or less.

Bill Long (BL): I'm part of the ECI M1 ERP team, which means I help small and mid-sized manufacturers in my region find the right software to streamline their operations. I enjoy understanding their unique challenges and demonstrating how technology can make a tangible difference in their day-to-day operations.

ECI: Tell us a bit about your background and the path that led you to your current role.

BL: I started my career in document management with an industry leader. They provided me with a strong understanding of business processes and customer focus, which has served me well. Throughout my 20-plus-year career, I have concentrated on software with a focus on business intelligence, analytics, and process automation. Before joining ECI, I was working with a startup software provider that worked with building product manufacturers. I wanted to continue working with those same types of manufacturers to help them succeed, which aligned with ECI’s mission.

ECI: What does your day-to-day work life look like?

BL: I work from home in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area, about 20 minutes from ECI headquarters. I spend most of my days meeting virtually with my team and prospective clients, from owners and executive leaders to engineers. They represent a wide range of discrete manufacturing, from metal and electronics job shops to defence contractors with government compliance needs. I also get the opportunity to meet my clients where they are and see firsthand how we can help them. That’s my favorite part!

ECI: What advice would you give to someone just starting in your industry? Any words of wisdom?

BL: Take the time to really listen to your customers to understand how technology will impact them personally. Meet them where they are.

ECI: What excites you most about working within this industry?

BL: What excites me is that the manufacturing sector has the greatest potential (outside of healthcare) for digital acceleration and growth. ERP and emerging technologies that can automate processes and connect machines are helping drive that change. There are generations of family businesses that need our help to remain competitive, scale, and grow. That is exciting!

ECI: What do you find most challenging about working within this industry?

BL: Noise. There is a lot of noise around ERP, MRP, MES, APS, etc. The average manufacturing decision-maker has a lot of information to sift through, which is available to them, to make it meaningful to their business and process.

ECI: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned since you began your career?

BL: Be human. We can be so caught up in projects, deadlines, and expectations that we lose sight of the joy that interacting with other human beings can bring.

ECI: Since you started working in the industry, what changes have you witnessed?

BL: I don’t want to date myself, but I’ve “seen” a lot. I had a nickname, “BillLong.com,” when I started my career, because I gravitated towards new tech as the .com boom was just getting started. Lately, the most significant change has been in cloud computing, where the speed of data and application interoperability has created lower cost efficiencies that were previously reserved for larger organizations with substantial tech budgets. This enables the adoption and integration of AI in every aspect of your business to increase efficiencies. That’s going to be exciting!

ECI: What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?

BL: I love to be outside. I’ll gladly take a day of yard work, absorbing some sunshine and fresh air over being inside any day. I enjoy hiking Colorado's 14ers, kayaking, cooking meals for friends and family, and experiencing new cultures, particularly through Latin American travel.

ECI: What book would you recommend for anyone to add to their ‘must-read list?

BL: If I had to pick a genre and book, here’s one that you’ll enjoy as a non-fiction memoir. It’s from Bill Bryson's book, “A Walk in the Woods.” He’s a clever writer who will keep you laughing and engaged. Plus, I share a love of hiking.