I N THE HOT S EAT
A better way of doing things
Rhonda Ridge, founder of Ab Initio Systems and creator of the AdminBase
installer management system, discusses her time working in the industry.
GGP: What was your route into the industry?
Rhonda Ridge (RR): Just over years ago now I
was working as the financial controller at a Swindon
based window and door installation company. As
such my duties extended way beyond the accounting
side of things as every aspect of the business would
ultimately impact on the finances.
Much of my job was the usual accounts queries
on sales and of course, overheads and purchases.
And trying to pull together all the various notes and
scraps of paper led me to believe that there had to
be a better way of doing things. I looked for one, but
no such thing existed and so I took time out with
what I had learned and created AdminBase.
Since then we have continuously developed
AdminBase and of course it is quite a different
animal now but the basic tenet, of providing a single,
focused management and reporting system for
installation companies of all sizes, is still at the heart
of it.
GGP: What changes have you seen since then?
RR: In some respects the industry is similar to what it
was years ago and more. However, window, door
and conservatory installers generally have become so
much more professional and in response to a buying
public that is more sophisticated. The industry is
more competitive, there is a far greater choice of
products, and the expectations of homeowners are
far greater than before, as everyone has access to the
internet.
May www.ggpmag.com
This is probably why we have been successful
with AdminBase: Installers have had to become
more efficient both in the way they portray
themselves to their customers and also in terms of
managing their business, from marketing through to
after sales service and cost control at every stage.
GGP: How would you describe your role at Ab
Initio and what is the most challenging thing
about it?
RR: Well, as managing director, I am behind every
function of the company although as we have grown,
I have had to learn to delegate which I have often
found challenging…AdminBase is my baby after all.
But I have some great people around me, including
my family of course – my two sons and husband
Mark work in the business – and having managed to
come to terms with the need to delegate, I am now
able to look at the bigger picture especially as I am
no longer rushing around trying to do everything
myself. This allows me to consider strategic issues,
at how we can keep updating AdminBase using the
latest technologies and also, by simply listening to
feedback from our ‡, or so users.
GGP: If you didn’t work in this industry what job
could you see yourself doing?
RR: A doctor! I love medical dramas. However, I
can’t stand the sight of blood so I am not sure how
that would have gone…
GGP: What is a typical working day for you?
RR: My day is mainly based in the office, managing
my team and making sure I am available to answer
their queries and that they understand our objectives
in what they are currently focusing on. A good part
of my day is spent planning and specifying new
features for AdminBase. We release an update with
new functionality almost every month and we always
get plenty of suggestions from our existing customer
base that we try to implement as quickly as possible
so that they have a system that fits their business
needs right now.
GGP: What is your proudest moment
professionally?
RR: Ah that is easy: Many years ago, when
Shepley Windows bought licences for every one
of their installer customers to make it the single
administration system used throughout its very
significant installer network. And even though much
has changed since then and Shepley no longer insist
on their customers using us, many of those installers
continue to use AdminBase.
GGP: How do you like to spend your time away
from work?
RR: I love to read, travel, entertain and my husband
and I are keen Ceroc dancers!
GGP: Where do you see yourself in five years’
time?
RR: In five years, probably doing much the same…
it isn’t that long really is it? But in Œ years’ time I
might be looking at taking more of a back seat and
leaving the day-to-day running of the company to
the younger people who are driving the company
forward now. But it will always be my baby…I will
never be able to completely let go.
“window, door
and conservatory
installers generally
have become so much
more professional”
/www.ggpmag.com
