A Global Enterprise Helping Companies Get Better Return on Investment: IFS in North America

“Commitment means being true to our principles and to our customers in the short term and in the long term.”

IFS was founded in 1983 by five engineers from the University of Linköping, Sweden. They dreamt of starting a company that was different; somewhere people really wanted to work that was a distinctive business partner for customers. Their new company quickly earned a reputation for reliable, innovative software. After establishing in Sweden, IFS began a global expansion bringing its enterprise software expertise to North America in 1995.

Conducting business in North America for more than 20 years, IFS is designed for complex operations in complex industries. IFS doesn’t try to be all things to all people. Instead, IFS software is optimized for specific industries. These industries include: Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Asset Intensive, Energy & Utilities, High Tech Manufacturing, Industrial Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Process Manufacturing and Service Providers. Using this business approach, IFS focuses not just on developing innovative software, but also on transforming the markets it applies to. Because IFS focuses on industries it knows, its highly experienced consultants offer deep industry knowledge and future-proof products that bring customers closer to their business.

IFS develops and delivers agile, component-based software for enterprise resource planning (ERP), enterprise asset management (EAM) and field service management (FSM). Available worldwide, its user-friendly software lets you meet, and even anticipate, changes in technology and business so that you can stay one step ahead of your competitors.

In Conversation with the Team
We asked IFS executives about the company’s success and how it continues to maintain an innovative culture. Investment in employees, teamwork, diversity, product and dedication to customer success drive IFS forward.

How successful was your first project rollout?
“Our first customer was Barsebäck Nuclear Power. The founders of our company were absolutely committed to meet the very stringent deadlines that were in place, so they literally pitched a tent on the grounds and worked double shifts until the job was done. This mindset of superior customer service set the tone for a corporate culture that is still very alive today in our organization,” said Cindy Jaudon, President and CEO of IFS Americas.

‘It is difficult to start a venture. But far more difficult to maintain it’- How would you interpret this saying?
“Whenever starting a new venture an abundance of excitement and energy builds because it is new, presumably different, and your customers are front of mind because their success drives your success. As the venture grows with more people, more structure becomes necessary. It is often difficult to transition to a more structured environment while keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive. At IFS, we work to preserve this entrepreneurial spirit by staying focused on our customers in order to bring them the best value and return on investment possible. When the customer is the focus of the organization, it becomes easier to maintain a positive culture for all and have long term success,” said Jaudon.

Into the Future
“Our goal is to continue developing and selling the best enterprise software available and to always give our customers a business solution that fits their need. To achieve that, we will need to continue to attract top talent and invest in developing our employees to exceed the expectations of our customers. For us, it’s not just a job-it’s a mindset,” said Steve Baker, Human Resources Director at IFS North America.

It is All About Customers Anyway!
IFS works with its customer base and the markets it serves to identify changes and functionality desired in IFS solutions. IFS is very interested in feedback from the customers regarding specific functionality enhancements. These enhancements are prioritized by the local User Group and IFS R&D to determine the enhancements to be included in a future release.

According to IFS’s yearly customer satisfaction survey – 98% of IFS customers subscribe to on-going maintenance and support services, 92% are more than satisfied with IFS facilitation of business processes and 94% are more than satisfied with IFS as a whole. In addition to IFS’s powerful user interface, user experience, and the overall flexibility of the software, IFS customers most often comment that their experience with IFS is positive because of its people.

Meet the Key Executive

Cindy Jaudon, President and CEO: As president and CEO of IFS Americas since 2004 and a member of the IFS Executive Committee, Cindy Jaudon is responsible for growing the IFS footprint in the world’s largest and most demanding markets.

During her tenure, Cindy was instrumental in two key IFS acquisitions: Metrix LLC, a best of breed service management supplier, and LatinIFS, a reseller of IFS Applications in South America. She has also led the IFS Americas team to steady organic growth and achieved unprecedented satisfaction and retention levels in the North American customer base. Prior to assuming the role of president and CEO, Cindy was the global industry director of IFS’s Industrial Manufacturing and Aerospace and Defense solutions, where she helped IFS assume a dominant position in both sectors. Cindy has more than 25 years of consulting, sales, and management experience in the enterprise software market, including a senior executive role with Effective Management Systems, which was purchased by IFS in 1999.

She also held positions at several mid-size and Fortune 500 companies, including Mitutoyo, C.N.A. Insurance and Deutz-Allis.Cindy completed her MBA from Benedictine University in 2003 and holds a B.A. in management information systems from North Central College in Naperville, Ill.

“Possessing an entrepreneurial mindset and seeking to add value to a product, meeting or assignment is crucial to making strides in today’s marketplace.”