Back in 2010, I was working with a hardware manufacturer (Intermec => Honeywell) and my largest customer at that time was Blockbuster Video. They were my bread and butter for 20 years both in a technical and sales capacity. I built life-long friendships during this time and will be forever thankful BUT the world changed (As it tends to do from time to time) and my bread-and-butter source was coming to an end.

Funny thing … you wake up in 2004 and realize your biggest customer was Blockbuster Video then you’re partying. You wake up in 2010 and realize Blockbuster Video is your largest customer then you’re panicking! 😊

This technology disruption fueled by online streaming improvements that eventually killed Blockbuster Video forced me to pivot from a hardware focus to my first love … software development. My time in the hardware world had come to an end.

My idea? Do something different.

My plan? Do something different.

In 2010, The Cloud was young and unproven. BUT it was growing. This is where I wanted to land next so in October of 2010, The Data Collection Center was born.

I wanted to help bring data collection to the cloud. No, I wasn’t the first but there was still room for me.

I started the coding process and developed Three products:

1.      The IdyllicWMS (WMS = Warehouse Management System) – No code, Cloud based warehouse management system that is inexpensive and made for the SMB (Small to Medium Business).
2.      Machine Watch – No code, Cloud based WIP (Work in Process) system designed to track work orders through the manufacturing process.
3.      CSVCollector – No code, Cloud based system for simple scan and send to a spreadsheet-based applications.

Our first customer was onboarded in Jan/Feb of 2011.

Since then, we’ve added custom programming, some great smart people and grown with hundreds of customers.

Am I rich and do I have a yacht? Nah … still drive a Ford.

BUT I get to code EVERY single day and LOVE it! I love waking up and asking myself, “What can I do to make my product better?”. BUT I’m not the quintessential programmer who stays in the office. I love traveling to customer sites and seeing how my customers use my product and how it is helping them. It gives me an immense about of satisfaction and drive. I’m very lucky to be able to do what I’m doing and hope it never ends!

Now, I turn to you my customer/partner. The ones who showed trust and believed in us.

I want to thank you all for your support. I don’t know what the future holds for us but I’m having a blast and will never forget what you guys have done for us!

Thank you

Sincerely,

Marshall Ellis

The Wizard of the Wide and Narrow,

Buddha of Barcode, 

Brother of Backscatter and Check Digit of Automation