The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry has revolutionized the way businesses operate, providing convenient and scalable solutions for a wide range of needs. Behind the success of any company lies exceptional leadership. Effective leaders in this dynamic and fast-paced industry possess unique skills and qualities that enable them to navigate challenges, inspire their teams, and drive innovation. Peter Horwood, Founder of ITIQPro, is one such effective leader.
When Peter was ten years old, people started saying he would be an entrepreneur. Recalling the past, Peter says, “I didn’t think much of it, but along with my father’s excellent advice, I got a business degree (majoring in business use of IT and information as well as taking even more courses on marketing) and formed my first full-time company while in second year University – which allowed me to directly apply what I was learning to my business.”
Peter began his journey in corporate solutions in 1980, where he established a company that achieved an impressive 75% market share in municipal accounting. Concurrent with that, he had ventures in GIS development before GPS technology became widely used. The seasoned leader also developed a SQL network consisting of numerous master-master databases across North America, specifically for pipeline optimization. During the beta phase of Mosaic, he deployed his initial website and server, which served as a data source for his customers for the following decade. This website replaced the bulletin boards that were previously utilized.
The Inspiration Behind ITIQPro’s Establishment
According to Peter, his inspiration to start ITIQPro came from observing the competition at the time and feeling
that he could offer a better product and better service to address a need—the fusion of offline mobile and online base—that was being largely ignored and, amazingly, is still only given lip service by other CMMS companies today. However, he faced many challenges like every other entrepreneur; the biggest was Capital. To overcome this, Capital was privately funded by him and his partner, whom he acquired complete ownership from in 2019. The primary driving force behind the venture was the feedback received from their customers, which played a significant role in shaping their motivation and direction.
Under his leadership today, ITIQPro has a strong presence in the CMMS SaaS landscape, quietly serving various industries and organizations, ranging from small gyms to large enterprises. Their collaborative partnerships with dealers such as Cascadia, Asset Pro Solutions dba Maintenance Connection Canada, MC Global, and Accruent have expanded their reach and reinforced their position as a trusted CMMS provider.
Empowering Organizations with Cutting-Edge CMMS SaaS Solutions
Since its establishment in 2003, ITIQPro has been a pioneer in offering a wide range of Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) SaaS options to a diverse client base, both online and offline. ITIQPro specializes in providing solutions for Asset Management, Work Order Management, Inspections (both internal and for clients), Punch Lists, Purchase Order Management, Inventory Management, Mapping and GIS, IT User Management, as well as sophisticated tools for seamless integration with other systems and offline access when internet connectivity is unavailable.
One distinguishing feature of ITIQPro is its belief in data ownership, allowing customers to retain control over their data without being held hostage by the SaaS platform. This flexibility extends to the choice of SaaS or on-site deployment, with the ability to switch between them as needed.
With an impressive clientele spanning the globe, ITIQPro serves organizations that possess assets crucial to their operational success, conduct in-house or client inspections, and require project management capabilities or snag lists. These customers encompass major shipping companies, renowned corporations like Honeywell and FORTNA, retail giants such as Home Depot, military establishments, correctional facilities, local governments of various sizes, hospitals, schools at different levels, and universities. ITIQPro has earned a well-deserved reputation in the industry through its commitment to excellence and innovative solutions.
Break The Mold, Make A Statement
ITIQPro prioritizes understanding the unique requirements of different industries and delivering customized solutions instead of focusing solely on technology. This approach has been instrumental in its success, particularly in the field of CMMS. One of the key offerings from ITIQPro is its comprehensive offline/online mobile solution, which supports a wide range of devices such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, and 4K screens. With optimized and customizable background sync, its products provide exceptional user interface (UI) customization, seamless integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and comprehensive IT quality user management. By combining the best aspects of SaaS and offline capabilities, ITIQPro creates solutions that are universally accessible and user-friendly across all devices.
Find a need that many businesses have, then set out to help as many of them as you can. While the saying “The customer is always correct” is not valid, “Treat all customers, big and small, with respect”
What sets ITIQPro apart in the CMMS industry is the unparalleled flexibility and customization options its solutions provide. Clients can tailor the UI based on company, user class, repair center, and even individual users. This level of personalization ensures a smooth and intuitive experience for all users, accommodating their specific needs and preferences. Additionally, ITIQPro’s CMMS solutions incorporate advanced features such as preventive maintenance (PM) and predictive data analysis using DataHub. This allows seamless data imports from various sources, enabling companies to leverage actionable insights and effectively save and generate revenue.
Embracing New technologies
ITIQPro has relied on word-of-mouth and direct sales to promote its products and services, which has worked well for the company. However, with the increasing speed of security risks, it is essential to adapt quickly, and SaaS can provide a fast and safe solution for customers if designed and run correctly. Since upgrades can happen quickly with SaaS, and relying on outdated software is becoming too risky.
Peter explains, “A SaaS, for most purposes, provides the possibility of being the best and fastest way to adapt – upgrades can happen very quickly if you design your SaaS and related software correctly. This doesn’t mean that SaaSs automatically give you this benefit, but for those who design SaaSs and run them with this in mind – they provide the safest solution to their customers. The days of buying software and using it until it dies are fading away, there is too much risk in not getting upgraded software on a regular and emergency basis.”
Major Achievements
Peter and his team were successful in a market dominated by outdated technologies and concepts, as well as low-cost, low-value solutions. They provide their customers with a significant amount of value by being at the higher end of lower-cost solutions. They look for clients who will benefit most economically from adopting their software. “We keep our technology up-to-date instead of relying on 20 or even 30-year-old software that is not able to provide value in the security risks and innovative technology that are constantly coming out,” says Peter.
Current Industry Scenario
In Peter’s opinion, initially, COVID-19 had a significant negative impact. Companies that used their software and went out of business obviously stopped purchasing from them. However, by meeting their basic needs, Peter’s ITIQPro has grown its client base, experienced growth in 2022, and anticipates that all losses will be recovered in 2023. Since the exceptional leader and his team have been working from home for a long time, this aspect of COVID-19 had no negative effects on them; in fact, the improvements in meeting and communication software benefited them and allowed them to carry out their long-standing tasks even more effectively.
Key Milestones
In 2023 and beyond, ITIQPro plans to leverage over 20 years of design ideas while prioritizing customer feedback to deliver excellent solutions. It is committed to addressing its customers’ most pressing needs. One major goal for the company is to recruit exceptional programmers who can contribute to a dynamic and customer-focused team, ensuring high productivity.
Chart Your Course With Expert Advice
As a Founder, and veteran professional, Peter says, “Find a need that many businesses have, then set out to help as many of them as you can. While the saying “The customer is always correct” is not valid, “Treat all customers, big and small, with respect” is, I think, a more accurate, though more cumbersome, way of saying what was intended by the statement.”