Ten-25’s Ryan Osborne discusses how his background in the timber sector is helping to fuel the further success of the provider’s Merchanter ERP software.
Ten-25, the company behind the Merchanter ERP software for inventory management and sales order processing, says that it has always believed in the power of deep industry expertise. And this year, it has taken its expertise to a whole new level with the arrival of new System Implementation & Project Manager, Ryan Osborne.
With a fascinating background spanning two decades in the timber industry, combined with a stint in IT, Ryan brings a unique perspective that promises to supercharge Merchanter and its impact on timber and builders’ merchants:
Q: Ryan, you’ve got a fascinating background in both timber and IT — can you tell us more about how it brought you to Ten-25?
A: It’s actually a two-part story. While working at Hoppings Softwood Products, I saw firsthand the potential of Ten-25’s software (Unitrade and UT360 at the time), especially for timber importers like us. I even helped Ten-25 understand our specific needs, such as forward contracting and Timber Certification, and develop relevant features, user experience and layout.
When Hoppings was sold, I moved to Silva Timber, using a different system. That experience, unfortunately, wasn’t ideal. However, it sparked a fire in me and I knew there had to be a better way to help companies transition smoothly to new systems.
So, I reached out to Ian (Oldrey, MD) at Ten-25, hoping to put my experience to good use.
Q: What unique perspective do you feel that you bring to the Ten-25 team?
A: I’m not just an IT guy; I’ve lived and breathed the timber industry for 20 years. I understand the language, the B2B and B2C dynamics, the seasonal ebbs and flows, the pressure of tight margins — it’s in my blood.
It helps me see things from both sides — the customer and the software developer — and bridge the gap between them.
“I’ve seen other systems trap you in rigid configurations because they don’t natively understand timber and building materials, and force you to rely on developers for every tweak. That’s a recipe for slow progress and hefty bills.”
Q: And how does Merchanter compare to other systems, based on your experience
A: It’s all about user control and flexibility. I’ve seen other systems trap you in rigid configurations because they don’t natively understand timber and building materials, and force you to rely on developers for every tweak. That’s a recipe for slow progress and hefty bills.
But with Merchanter, much of that can be handled in-house by users after very little training. It’s got a user-friendly and intuitive interface which anyone can grasp, and it integrates with other essential software systems like Xero, QuickBooks and Sage, so there’s far less upheaval than some other systems.
It is like giving customers the keys to their own system — no more waiting on developers for every tweak. They can adapt, optimise, and make the system truly their own.
Q: So, what do you want to achieve from your role as System Implementation & Project Manager at Ten-25?
A: I’m in constant learning mode, soaking up everything I can about Merchanter and Ten-25’s customers. It’s a fresh challenge, and I’m excited to be part of making a difference.
My ultimate goal is to hear someone say: “Thanks, Ten-25. You saved me an hour a day!” That’d bring me pure job satisfaction.
Q: Finally, beyond timber and tech, what do you spend your time doing outside of work?
A: When I’m not diving into tech, I’m probably lost in a world of music, art, or a good old-fashioned Dungeons & Dragons campaign. It keeps the creative juices flowing and is good problem-solving practice!
Aided by Ryan’s expertise and dedication to improving the industry, Ten-25 states that it is confident that Merchanter is poised to become an even more potent tool for timber and builders’ merchants. “Efficiency is king” and the firm asserts that Ryan’s arrival can be seen as further demonstrating its commitment to understanding the industry’s specific needs in terms of crafting software that “empowers, simplifies, and ultimately, saves valuable time.”
Click the following link for more information on Ten-25’s Merchanter software or to try a free online demo of the system:
