
57RYLAND TECHNOLOGY |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2018
What we do
We develop contracted customised
web applications tying together
multiple elements of IT software and/or
hardware. As an example, we developed
systems for a car service company
having been subcontracted to provide
both the back-end administration
system and the mobile app used by
individual branches. The mobile app is
used to book cars in for a service while
at the same time updating the head
office system that stores all customer
information across all branches.
Meanwhile a web-based application,
used by the head office, accesses this
data and is used to view summary data
of the various branches and provide
top-level management reports.
Another example is a client for whom
we developed a uniform management
system. The system utilises RFID
technology, with microchips sewn into
uniform garments. We were required
to interface with large uniform
dispensing machines as well as RFID
scanners that track the uniforms
through their use cycle, and record
movements in a central database.
The system allows administration
of the uniform inventory and the
employees to whom they are assigned,
including interfacing with HR systems.
Anextensive reporting engine allows
crucial analysis of inventory to maintain
stocks and identify savings.
Our customers
Ryland has a wide and varied customer
base built up since its inception
in 1990. Customer satisfaction
and retention is a key ethos of the
company which has led to several
long-term clients who have used our
services over many years. For example,
the client to whom we supplied the
uniform management system has been
with us for over ten years and the
client in the car service industry has
been with us for nearly twenty.
Growing the business
At Ryland Technology’s inception, I
was the only member of the business.
We have grown steadily year after year
and are now a team of ten. This small
size enables us to give a personalised
service to our clients. Our reputation
has predominantly spread through the
word-of-mouth recommendation of
satisfied customers.
Recruitment challenges
Our greatest challenge has been with
recruitment – we work and provide a
specialised value-for-money service,
and we struggle to recruit people who
can do this job to the quality we expect
and promise. The ideal employee
would have to think outside of the
box, communicate well with a client
and be able to delve into the technical
intricacies of leading-edge systems that
are often not well supported – this is
a combination the average developer
often struggles with.
At a macro level, going forwards,
I want to see significantly more
investment in the teaching of the
computer sciences in school and
university, which would lead to greater
numbers of high-quality candidates
coming through into the workplace.
Incorporating computer science into
Ryland’s experienced,
UK-based developers
build long-term
relationships with clients
What
distinguishes
us from other
software
houses is the
fact that we
focus primarily
on custom
development
– we do not
sell a product,
we sell a
service
“
“