Ed Bentley
General Manager ERP
What does your role at LAKE involve?
I'm General Manager of the ERP side of the business. This means I'm directly responsible for all work involving SAP Business One, including sales and professional services delivery. I also like to stay hands-on and play an active role in customer implementations as well as helping colleagues with solution expertise and in-depth demonstrations during the sales cycle.
How long have you been with LAKE and what did you do before you joined?
I've been at Lake since 2010. Prior to taking on the General Manager role for ERP, I was a Solution Consultant, leading many SAP Business One implementations. Before joining LAKE, I studied Accountancy and Finance at University of Lincoln.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
I'll pick out three aspects that I enjoy most. I love being part of such a close-knit team of people, and I enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and getting to understand what makes them and their businesses tick. The part that I find the most rewarding is solving problems and delivering the perfect solution – no matter how big or small. The part I find the most exciting is helping customers turn data into meaningful information with real-time dashboards. This a real passion for me.
If you had to pick out three achievements or pieces of work that you're particularly proud of from your time at LAKE, what would they be?
On the service delivery side of things, a project that springs to mind is an implementation that we completed for Ian Mosey, a growing agri-business. The project was delivered in phases across 12 months and included work to streamline business processes and design an impressive suite of reports and dashboards. It was a challenging project, but I took a lot from it, and they got a great system at the end of it which we continue to invest in.
I'm also very proud of the work we've been doing on the sales side. I'm not a natural salesperson, but it is very satisfying being part of the team that shows customers what SAP Business One can do for them and helps them start their transformation project.
Finally, I must mention dashboards again. Over the years, there are numerous examples where reporting and information visibility has dramatically improved with the rollout of SAP Business One, and I'm particularly proud of the work on Financial Analysis and production order stock availability reporting.
What does your background, experience and knowledge mean for customers?
I bring a wealth of ideas to the table having worked across a diverse range of clients, from wholesale, manufacturing, food and drink large non-profits, etc. I love taking client requirements, understanding current pain points, interpreting them, and applying my expertise to deliver a solution.
I've also worked across all teams within the LAKE business including Administration, Finance and Service Delivery. This breadth of experience gives me the perspective and empathy to see the world from the point of view of the user, which is sometimes invaluable when trying to drive a programme of significant change.
What excites you most when you think about LAKE's future plans and the future of business systems in general?
When I look to the future and think about what excites me most, I would have to say machine learning and AI. I'm looking forward to seeing how we can tap into these technologies and tools to help customers drive continuous improvements.
What do you do when you're not working?
I enjoy cooking (and the eating bit that follows!). I love being outdoors and exploring new places in our campervan with my girlfriend. We've recently had a puppy (Ferdy) join the family, so lots of time is now spent out and about with him.
What is one item on your bucket list?
I'd really like to travel to East Asia - Vietnam or Thailand in particular. BBC Race Across the World has spurred me on to make this happen soon!
What would your specialist Mastermind subject be?
This is a tough one. If I could introduce a picture round, I'd have to do logos, otherwise I'd go for something related to geography. Capital cities maybe.
