Simon Crump, alongside Managing Director Rob Holmes, founded RGS IT in 2000. Over the last 21 years, they’ve worked hard to provide expert IT development and consultancy services to a diverse range of clients in HR, utilities, and logistics, among other sectors.
Here, Simon explains what’s different about our approach and how his passion for keeping up with tech trends extends far beyond his day-to-day work.
1) What is special about RGS?
Our team at RGS won’t expect you to know every detail of what you want when you come to us or expect you to define it upfront. We always keep an open mind and will work with you to explore how technology can promote transformational change within your business.
Our twenty-plus years of experience in guiding organisations through this process allows us to see possibilities that you may never have imagined.
2) How do you build long-lasting relationships with clients?
We’re not in the business of stamping out boilerplate systems, raising the invoice, and then moving on. We see each client and each project as unique and for this reason, we always build tech that will stand the test of time and meet every organisation’s desired functionality. We want to work with clients to maximise their tech’s utility for as long as there are more benefits to realise. And, since the world of tech moves so fast, there is always an exciting new opportunity around the corner that we can’t wait to implement.
3) What do you love most about what you do?
I relish the opportunity to understand an unfamiliar business where I can apply and adapt all the knowledge I’ve acquired working with other businesses, while exploring something completely new to me.
The most rewarding part of the job is by far when you witness a client go from doing things on paper or in an unmanageable tangle of Excel spreadsheets to having a coherent, transparent online system that their customers and suppliers can interact with easily. No one has to enter data twice or search around for hours for some insight that they know must be there somewhere but can’t quite put their finger on. The more information you have and the easier it is to access, the better decisions you can make – this is our aim for every organisation we work with.
4) What is the biggest problem clients have to overcome when working with you?
Sometimes it can be hard for people to let go of old processes and embrace new, more streamlined ones, but they soon realise new tech allows you to work smarter. A lot of businesses we work with are used to making incremental changes to their software and we come in and make transformational change. This can be a big leap and for some it can be hard to summon the vision to explore the limits of what is possible. So, for me, one of the biggest challenges is getting clients to see the bigger picture and expand their imagination of what can be achieved with creative technology. But, as soon as they do, there’s no turning back!
5) Do you find technology takes over your life?
If technology is taking over your life, you’re using it wrong! Technology should be an enabler that helps you do what you want, not something which you battle with for the sake of it. Used correctly, it can create new opportunities and even a new playground!
I like to spend my time cycling and snowboarding, or playing bass guitar, and technology helps make all of these things more rewarding. For example, promoting music, even live gigs, is almost entirely done online these days, and you can’t get an audience unless you understand how social media works. Playing to an empty room is something every musician has done, and it’s soul-destroying, but social media gives you the opportunity to connect with your audience and get some idea of the turnout you can expect before you even arrive at the venue.
Cycling is even more tech-focussed as there is so much data to collect and analyse; from heart rate and cadence data, through to the distance, speed, and elevation of your rides, and the Strava leaderboards on your favourite climbing segments. As the legendary cycling coach, Dave Brailsford, realised to the incredible success of British cycling, it’s all about marginal gains – and the tech is essential to achieving those!
With snowboarding, just as much as cycling, the weather is a key part of the experience. Modern weather monitoring apps can tell you exactly when it’s going to rain (or snow!) and how long for and live weather radar lets you plan when to go out and when to hide, whether to go high or stay low. Knowing how to use this tech properly just lets you have a better day out.
Click here to meet the rest of the team or to find out how we can transform your organisation’s tech, get in touch on 0845 855 0550.
