ADD Systems welcomes its 53rd anniversary on February 22, 2026. With this milestone, we have gratitude for the past and an excitement for the future. No matter how many years we’ve reached, being grounded in the present is what keeps us moving forward. ADD Systems’ continued success comes from its people. All of our team members, whether they be engineers, account managers, implementers, customer service reps, and more, all work toward the goal of serving our customers.
Engineers and Clients Coming Together
“I’ve always been impressed with the close relationships ADD employees have with their customers,” said Ed Debrot, Vice President of Engineering – Mobile Development. “I see this whether it’s visiting a customer onsite, an off-site meeting, the many phone or Zoom calls, and certainly more organized events like AUG meetings and the BTC. Strong relationships allow ADD to get to know its customers and their business. It is certainly something I cherish.”
We have aimed to create a culture of lifelong learners. ADD employees know that every day brings new challenges to tackle and that technology never stops advancing. The energy and c-store industries serve many because of how essential they are, but creating the right product stems from understanding the nuances of those who live in these industries every day – having an awareness of both the big and small benefits software can bring them.
“One thing that never surprises me when visiting a customer onsite,” said Debrot, “is that I know I will always come away with something I wasn’t expecting. Working in the mobile department, it’s crucial to see how our products play in the real world. This is especially true when going out with a driver for the day. Little things like placement of equipment in the truck, seeing how drivers react to on-screen prompts, and listening to how they respond to something we’ve done. The feedback is great, both the good and the bad. It’s great to see the pride and care our customers put into their daily tasks firsthand and know that we can be helpful in making their jobs easier and more profitable.”
Our engineers, with both our back office and mobile products, are, in many ways, the backbone of ADD Systems. Because our clients are involved with the evolution of ADD software, it will always be important that the entire ADD team works in tandem with clients to create products that help make their daily tasks more efficient.
“I have great optimism in our future because I’ve seen how far we’ve come in the recent past,” said Debrot. “Our goal is to continue to make our product line more device-agnostic so that our application will work seamlessly across various operating systems, hardware, screen sizes, and formats.”
A Holistic Approach, from Prospect to Long-Term Client
Whether we meet with a prospect for the first time or catch up with a decades-long customer, ADD Systems strives to be attentive to their needs. We want to understand their challenges and know what software features can help alleviate them.
“In the ADD world, the sales rep sticks with the whole process, especially with a brand-new customer, to get them through the process because the brand-new customer has never had an experience with us,” said Grant McAllister, Major Account Manager at ADD Systems. “The Account Managers generally have spent quite an amount of time with our new clients and know them better than anybody.”
“In the beginning, to help get things started, it’s in everyone’s best interest for the sales rep to work with the customer, the project manager, and the implementation team in order to make sure that the customer’s needs and wants are met,” McAllister said. “We’re probably the opposite of most sales teams, where many are incentivized to just sign new customers and then forget about them. Well, in our world, we’re the exact opposite. We’re incentivized to make sure we go through the whole process from the sale to implementation to long-term customer and make sure they’re happy every step of the way.”
Over the years, McAllister has seen the essential elements that need to come together for a successful onboarding process. As mentioned before, what’s most important is not the signing but making sure the critical pieces are in place for a long-term customer relationship. He calls these elements the “Three Ps.”
“The people, the product, and the process,” McAllister said. “If we have the right people on both sides – the vendor and the customer. If we have understood their business processes, and then configure our option-driven product the way they need it. If those three things come into alignment, you have a really good success rate.”
Always Moving Forward: The 2026 Business Tech Conference
The Business Tech Conference (BTC) continues the spirit of bringing ADD team members and customers together. It is our triennial user conference that features opportunities to connect for ADD users, employees, and partners. Sessions, new product announcements, and evening activities take place this year in Disney World, May 18-22, 2026, but its roots go back to the 90s:
“Our first event was in 1998 in Morristown, New Jersey,” Amy Katsigiannis, BTC and Special Projects Coordinator at ADD Systems, explained. “It was a one-day gathering with clients and employees, featuring small sessions designed as a brainstorming day for both groups. After that, the concept gained momentum. We recognized the importance of listening to our clients, and the most effective approach was to bring everyone together for networking, collaboration, and growth.”
The Business Tech Conference is representative of the model ADD Systems has always had: Listening is key to continued success.
“ADD Systems recognizes that our clients are the true experts in using our products,” Katsigiannis said. “That’s why we host events that foster collaboration among clients, so they can share ideas and help shape our products to bring the most benefit to their businesses. We want to understand what they’re looking for and what they need from us to be successful.”
“It’s such a positive experience,” McAllister said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had anybody in all these years who, once they went once, didn’t want to come back. In many cases, most of them have been repeated attendees, or they sent other people or brought more people.”
Thank you to our clients and partners, whether you’ve been with us for a long or short time, for helping us reach 53 years! Celebrate ADD Systems’ anniversary with us by attending the Business Tech Conference.
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