Meet the Team | Andrew Mamonitis

Andrew Mamonitis is the VP for Manufacturing in the APAC region. His role covers managing the sales team, services team, and support team comprising about 50 people across the APAC region.

His role is to ensure ECI is providing the right solution for manufacturers, helping them understand how technology can transform their business. He helps businesses gain visibility, improve efficiency, and solve their most critical challenges. 

With his background spanning technical roles, sales, and technology distribution, he brings a unique perspective to understanding manufacturers' needs.

Can you tell me about your role at ECI, your background and how long you've been there?

I've done a bit of a full circle in my career. I've worked in cybersecurity software distribution, consulted on implementing data quality systems, and now I'm back in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) space. 

I've been with ECI Solutions for two and a half years now, serving as VP for Manufacturing across the APAC region.

My career journey has been interesting. I started out studying accounting - though I never saw myself as a traditional accountant. My first real technical role was in tech support, where I ended up in Chengdu, China helping set up an office, which was a fascinating experience.

My first real sales role was at MYOB. I'd never considered sales before, but I absolutely loved it. I ended up moving to Kaspersky Lab, where I started as a sales director and became MD within 12 months. In this role I grew the business from almost nothing to $30 million, which was phenomenal.

After seven years at Kaspersky, I moved into software distribution. Working with multiple vendors was exciting - I could explore new technologies and provide broader solutions to customers.

Coming to ECI felt like a full circle moment. What attracted me was the opportunity to use my technical and sales background to help businesses transform through technology.  

What I love about my current role is that we touch all aspects of our customers' businesses - from production to finance to HR. It's a really rounded solution, and I genuinely enjoy it. I can work closely with customers, understand their challenges, and provide solutions that really make a difference to their businesses.

What makes ECI different? How do you help solve manufacturers' problems?

First and foremost, we're dedicated to the manufacturing sector. We don't try to be all things to all people. Our software is granular and powerful, specifically designed for manufacturers' unique challenges.

We've got a strong ecosystem of solutions around our ERP offerings. We're constantly acquiring new technologies, which means we can grow with our customers as their circumstances change.

But what really sets us apart is our people. We don't outsource support or services. Everything is handled locally out of our Melbourne office. Customers get direct contact with implementation consultants who understand their specific challenges. They're getting a partner who understands their business.

When a customer comes to us, we never push a solution unless we strongly feel it's a good fit. We want to understand what keeps them up at night. Is it cash flow? Supply chain complexity? Skilled labour shortages? We dig deep to understand their specific challenges.

Our M1 ERP solution provides one system covering everything from quote to cash. It is designed specifically for discreate manufacturers offering them ‘one pane of glass’ with full visibility from start to finish. No disparate systems, no communication issues between departments. It helps manufacturers get a crystal-clear picture of their business.

Our JobBOSS² solution is targeted at smaller job shop manufacturers who need a more focused, tailored approach to their business management software compared to the more comprehensive M1 solution.

What are the key factors for a successful ERP implementation?

From my experience, a successful ERP implementation comes down to a few critical factors.

The first and most important thing is understanding the customer's specific business challenges. We never push a solution unless we strongly feel it's a good fit. That means diving deep into their processes, understanding what keeps them up at night.

We'll often use their own data - their bill of materials, customer information, workflow processes - to demonstrate exactly how our system will work for them. It's about showing tangible efficiencies, visibility, and cost control.

Second, we're diligent about providing a clear statement of work. Customers need to know exactly what they're expected to receive. No surprises.

Third, communication is key. We run regular weekly updates to ensure the project stays on track. We're not just selling them a system fence and walking away.

Finally, when customers go live, we enter a hyper-care period. Our consultants are on standby, working closely with the customer to iron out any potential issues. It's not just about the go-live date - it's about ensuring smooth transition and adoption.

What are the trends you've witnessed over the years?

Businesses need to understand where they sit at any point in time. There's a heavy focus on profitability, but many don't understand cash flow. You can be profitable, but still get into trouble. In fact, most businesses end up in liquidation because of cash flow issues, even if they're technically profitable.

During COVID, supply chains became critically important. Businesses needed to establish supply chains and have fallback positions. We've had issues with cost of living, and utilities are going up substantially year on year, which has a big impact on manufacturers.

Finding skilled labour has become a significant challenge. With unemployment rates relatively low, and manufacturing requiring even more specialised skills, businesses are struggling to attract and retain quality people. The key is finding ways to reduce reliance on skilled labour or maximise the effectiveness of the workforce you have.

Manufacturers are wanting to become much more efficient. They want a clear picture of expenses, ways to manage those expenses, and methods to mitigate cost challenges. Technology can help remove daily admin tasks, allowing skilled teams to focus on what they're good at - manufacturing and growing their business.

The goal is using technology to provide visibility, efficiency, and the ability to track processes from quote to cash. In challenging times, the businesses willing to invest strategically are the ones that will typically grow and succeed.

What's your favourite part of your job?

I really enjoy it when we get a success story where a customer says, "You've just saved us thousands of dollars”, and they're actually putting their hand up saying, “Can I please be a reference?” I absolutely love that.